Just booked last minute trip from the UK to LAS. Arrive next Sunday (21st) for 4 nights. Staying at the Bellagio. Like fine dining, shopping etc. Are any of the Auto experiences worth it if you already have a 458 Italia ? Are the helicopter tours a rip off. Any recommendations/advice welcome
The majority of the helicopter tours of the Grand Canyon return safely. Is this your first time in LAS?
Fine dining, try Le Cirque at Bellagio. See if you can snag a table with view of the fountains. I think it was table 93 or 94. North will know. In my opinion, the white truffle prix fixe is worth the money. Secret Pizza and the Chandelier Bar at the Cosmo are cool. Shopping in the Bellagio is best, better than the Forum Shops at Caesars IMO. The wife loves the Tiffany there. Don't overlook the fun/cheap stuff like enjoying the fountain water show (Eiffel Tower restaurant across the street had a good view of it, so does Mon Ami Gabi), the pinball hall of fame, Fremont Street, the flower display at Bellagio, the Chihuly glass exhibit at Bellagio, Fat Elvis at Harrahs, there is a nice car museum at the back of Wyatt used to be Imperial Palace, etc. For shows, I've heard Absinthe is very good. You like cheap eats? Yelp up anything Hawaiian and you can't go wrong...T
If you want a helicopter trip then head to the Grand Canyon if you haven't been there. Honestly the exotic racing thing is old hat if you already have an exotic. If you just want to try to different car its OK. I tried a Mac 12c when it first came out just so see what it was like. It's great for people who want their bucket lists taken care of. Bellagio is a great place. Food really depends on what you want to eat. Still hot here but might be a little cooler next weekend. Its awesome to walk the strip in the evening now in shirt sleeve weather.
Shopping: North Outlets off Charleston and the 15. Nice stuff at a fraction of UK prices. My favorite show is Le Reve. Agree with Bob, the exotic deals can be fun to try new cars. Getting a rental car and seeing Red Rock, Valley of Fire or Hoover Dam also options.
If you like crude sexual humor and racist jokes about EVERYONE, Absinthe is the best show in town. For dinner, IMO, Bazaar Meats is the best meal in town. Mark
Ohared (and Tom C). Table 92 is the best at Le Cirque with table 93 a close second. Absinthe is hilarious. Go downtown during the day. See the World Series of Poker HoF at Binions. go into all the old joints. Go to the mob museum and the tremendous museum of neon lights (two-fer tickets available). The level 3 at Chandleier bar is best...also try Jaleo on same level (book or you'll wait). Go to Mixx at top of Mandalay an hour prior dusk and watch all the lights come on. Some people like the bare at the M.O. (34th floor?) but I didn't. Premium outlet mall north of town best discount shopping. Bouchon at venetian has rebounded if you like Keller's style. As Tom said, Mon Ami Gabi is a nice spot with good service and OK cooking...you can't reserve outside but sign up on wait list. There is no city in the world like Las Vegas
Keith, Great advice. Will investigate Absinthe. Anyone got 1st hand experience of the David Copperfield show, could do his 7pm show and then go to Joel Robuchon. Le Cirque or Michael Mina ?
I've been to Copperfield, it didn't really do anything for me. The show is good and entertaining, the tricks are amazing, but I still felt it was kind of "meh." We may have been on an off night. We sat front row; Copperfield looked visibly annoyed or pissed off the whole show. My impression was he really did not want to be performing that night. Mark
I'd recommend L'Ateleier de Joel Robuchon. When you book, ask for Rafael Garcia to look after you, he is the sommelier / manager. If you decide to go to Le Cirque PM or email me and I will make an introduction for you to the G.M. Of all the show in LAS, I'd recommend the Beatles Love at the Mirage. There are discount tickets everywhere for Absinthe and the older C de S shows, especially in summer heat (except Saturday nights). Le Cirque is far superior to M. Mina in my opinion
It's moving to the Cosmo is September! Absinthe is funny as hell and has so many dirty jokes and insults you can't believe it exists. But it's side splitting funny. The exact opposite of political correctness! I was actually part of the Copperfield show. I was invited on stage. It's a typical magic show with big things disappearing. It's ok. I liked the new Michael Jackson show at Mandalay bay. I think they are re-tooling Beatles Love but it was one of my favorites. I liked LaReve at Wynn more than O but both are impressive if you want to see an aquatic show. And I do like downtown Freemont street. There are some casinos there that are still old Vegas. You think it's 1959. I think some of the craps tables were installed then. . And where else can you get a fried Twinkie and see a million dollars in cash in $100 bills at the same time?
Second vote here for L'Atelier at the MGM. Most celebrity restaurants are a disappointment, I would never consider Mr. Robuchon's restaurants or its chefs celebrities, it's a true culinary experience. I went to the Speed Vegas race track for the first time a couple weeks ago and while it's up and running out of temporary tents, the main building wasn't open yet, I assume it is now. Great array of cars and because it 25 minutes or so outside of town it was dead, only one guy running with about 10 cars just sitting there. Seems like a better overall track experience than the half ass road corse at LV Motor Speedway. By the way, it's no surprise here, but according to the drivers the 911 GT3 and 458 are a tie for most fun around the track, everything else is a distant 2nd.
I'll be in Vegas in two weeks with my wife for a couple of days (I think 3 days in total). are there any special car things to see in Vegas? We'll have a rental car as we go to Grand Canyon and other National Parks too. our plan so far is to visit all the big hotels at the strip and that's about it for Vegas. I thought about renting a car on the Speedway (thought about a 430 Scuderia) but most probably will just decide about it when we're there... any hints what we shouldn't miss? Thanks! Martin
I still stand behind everything I recommended in my post #3. I've not done the Speedway thing, so can't comment. T
Zion national park is amazing. Easy to see in one day. A free shuttle bus will take you from location to location in the park. Really well organized. If you go to the Grand Canyon its a full day's drive to Zion. But from LV its about 2 hours. Bring hiking shoes and clothes.
Dream Racing at the Speedway is a blast, get a chance to drive a 430 or 458 Challenge which is unique vs a "normal" street car. For the Grand Canyon my wife and I did one of the helicopter tours there. Pick you up at the hotel, fly you there, land inside, eat lunch, time for pictures, fly back, drop you off at the hotel....all total, about 4 hours. Awesome way to see it and doesn't take up much time at all. Off the Strip we did a gold mine tour at Eldorado Canyon, that was a good time. Goodsprings NV has a "haunted" tour there if you're into that kind of thing, cool little old mining town.
we'll do Zion, Antelope and Monument Valley besides Grand Canyon I already heard that Zion is amazing, looking forward to the 1.5 hiking days we have there Martin