Questions about a road trip to Grand Canyon/Las Vegas?

[bonocomet]

Downtown is Fremont Street. Some feel it's worth it, some don't. It was the original "Vegas" before the strip went nuts.

 

[No spoken words]

Thanks for the info NSW! I will try my damnedest to be sober at the Canyon...but Vegas is an entirely different story.

But what do you mean exactly by this?...



What part of Vegas is "downtown"?...I am totally clueless here.

And I just got word that one of my friends already booked our rooms for Vegas, without me knowing, at the Stratosphere hotel. And I'm a little worried because it's a place that none of you guys even mentioned. I'm sure it will still be amazing and is probably not too far from the strip. But do any of you guys know anything about the Stratosphere? I hope it's cool.

ray:

Have fun at the Strat. Good lord.

Hey, it's still Vegas, right?

As was said above, Downtown is old school Vegas. It's just not my cup of tea, at all......but, some like it, including folks in here, so forgive my strong language against it.

Wow, the Strat. Good luck!!!!!

 

[GirlsAloudFan]

Ouch, that doesn't sound good NSW.

What? Is "The Strat" a shitty hotel or somethin?

I have a feeling you're holding out some information from me!

 

[bonocomet]

Oh and the Stratosphere is on the strip, just way down near the end and not in the thick of things, but it's probably less expensive that way. I haven't stayed there, but I'm sure others can give you more info. It's got an insane nuts rollercoaster on it's roof tho.

edit: oops never mind

 

[No spoken words]

Ouch, that doesn't sound good NSW.

What? Is "The Strat" a shitty hotel or somethin?

I have a feeling you're holding out some information from me!

"The Strat" is a nickname for the Stratosphere. It has another nickname as well, but I'll not mention it here.

 

[GirlsAloudFan]

"The Strat" is a nickname for the Stratosphere. It has another nickname as well, but I'll not mention it here.

You're being a little bit cryptic with your information here NSW!

Give me the dirt...I want to know. With the way you're talkin I have a feeling that the Stratosphere was a terrible choice of hotel. Am I wrong?

The funny thing is that I think my buddy picked that one because it was kinda inexpensive, but I just now looked at a list of the Top 10 Best Cheap Hotels in Vegas and it didn't even make the list. So apparently it's not even one of the better crappy hotels.

 

[KhanadaRhodes]

Is it because you're a tool?

no. who owns paris?

 

[RedRocksU2]

Duran Duran?

 

[No spoken words]

You're being a little bit cryptic with your information here NSW!

Give me the dirt...I want to know. With the way you're talkin I have a feeling that the Stratosphere was a terrible choice of hotel. Am I wrong?

The funny thing is that I think my buddy picked that one because it was kinda inexpensive, but I just now looked at a list of the Top 10 Best Cheap Hotels in Vegas and it didn't even make the list. So apparently it's not even one of the better crappy hotels.

You're going to die there. That's a little less cryptic.

 

[GirlsAloudFan]

You're going to die there. That's a little less cryptic.

Haha not if I wear my Kevlar vest!

 

[No spoken words]

Haha not if I wear my Kevlar vest!

I like when the streams get crossed.

 

[GirlsAloudFan]

It's got an insane nuts rollercoaster on it's roof tho.

Ooooh I like rollercoasters. So that's a good thing at least. I think.

I like when the streams get crossed.

But Dr. Spangler and Dr. Venkman told me that crossing the streams was dangerous. If you can't trust a guy named Egon, who can you trust???

 

[bonocomet]

Well as far as the actual coaster goes, I really don't know if it's a good one, I've never actually seen it up close. It's at the top of the tower, and you couldn't pay me to go up there. (I have an issue with heights so this one = insane nuts to me )

 

[hardyharhar]

Just checked Stratosphere's calendar. You might be paying around 35 for a room. It's a bit of a walk to get anywhere from there. You might get caught using cabs.

Now, on the other end of the Strip:

Here's why I like the Tropicana. It's relatively inexpensive (45 according to the current calendar), and it is a very short foot bridge into the MGM Grand (your almost closer to the MGM casino from the Trop than from the MGM rooms). Another few steps through the MGM and another very short foot bridge and your in NYNY. It has a good selection of food. And they have a rollercoaster too . Also the Excalibur is a short walk on the other corner. From here you can take a free short tram ride to Mandalay Bay. The Trop is also not too long a walk to Paris/Bally's, and the Bellagio fountains. Also very close to the M&M store . And the Tropicana has a very nice pool area. One of the last old Vegas pool's left. Rooms of course are just average, but decent, should be of little concern to you young 'uns.

As Louis Tully would say: That makes good financial sense

With two weeks to go, you should be able to cancel the reservations without any problems, if so inclined.

Food for thought. Have fun!

 

[Auhiz]

I stayed at the Stratosphere, just the one night, and lived to tell the tale. Got quite sunburned in that damn pool though. I second the suggestion of sunscreen.

Any chance of a side trip to see the meteor crater in Arizona? That's pretty cool, boring to some though. Also if you did that you could go a little further to Winslow, where you could stand on a corner or something. Or.. or.. you could just spend more time and money in crazy Vegas.

 

[DaveC]

Also if you did that you could go a little further to Winslow, where you could stand on a corner or something.

My Lord.

The actual corner is 2nd and Main, in case you do end up going.

 

[DaveC]

For some strange reason I can't edit my last post, but the corner's actually 2nd and Kinsley, not Main st. :brainfart:

 

[LarryMullen's POPAngel]

I do not share the Fremont Street love.

I don't care what was filmed there, it's a crappy hole in a bad neighborhood.

I agree with this - we went there in the early morning before the Vegas Elevation show and I'm shocked we made it out without getting shot.

 

[beegee]

I think when people try to do Las Vegas on the extreme cheap they don't experience it the proper way. The Stratosphere is a lower-end hotel with nothing going for it but the tower. I've been up there before. Once was enough. The surrounding neighborhood is a little shady. You'll have to walk or take a cab to the actual strip. Personally, I wouldn't stay there, but I'm sure it will be just fine. If it's a good trip you won't be in the hotel much anyway.

See, Las Vegas Boulevard is technically "the strip" so even if a hotel is fifteen miles from what the average person thinks of when they hear the phrase "the strip" (the length of boulevard from Mandalay Bay to Wynn) as long as their address is Las Vegas Boulevard the hotel can say that they are located "on the strip." It's really misleading to visitors.

Also, who mentioned The Aladdin? Was that you, NSW? It doesn't exist anymore. It's now Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino.

I know. I really do.

 

[MsPurrl]

I think you'd be better off cancelling your Strat ressies and getting rooms at the aforementioned Tropicana, Excalibur, or Luxor.

 

[No spoken words]

I think when people try to do Las Vegas on the extreme cheap they don't experience it the proper way. The Stratosphere is a lower-end hotel with nothing going for it but the tower. I've been up there before. Once was enough. The surrounding neighborhood is a little shady. You'll have to walk or take a cab to the actual strip. Personally, I wouldn't stay there, but I'm sure it will be just fine. If it's a good trip you won't be in the hotel much anyway.

See, Las Vegas Boulevard is technically "the strip" so even if a hotel is fifteen miles from what the average person thinks of when they hear the phrase "the strip" (the length of boulevard from Mandalay Bay to Wynn) as long as their address is Las Vegas Boulevard the hotel can say that they are located "on the strip." It's really misleading to visitors.

Also, who mentioned The Aladdin? Was that you, NSW? It doesn't exist anymore. It's now Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino.

I know. I really do.

That was me. I've never stayed there, and I've not been to Vegas since I moved to Chicago (14 months), so I missed the name change. Either way, you're of course dead on about everything you say, including the Stratosphere.....Bottom line, he's going to have a blast and hopefully hardly be in his room.

 

[Dalton]

I hate Vegas. All it is is a city full of sin and vice. That just isn't my kind of scene.

 

[No spoken words]

I hate Vegas. All it is is a city full of sin and vice. That just isn't my kind of scene.

You can lower your purity score there.

 

[beegee]

I hate Vegas. All it is is a city full of sin and vice.

There's so much more to Las Vegas than that few miles of road with its hotels and casinos.

 

[redkat]

O'Sheas might be a great place for you guys to gamble a bit. The tables minimums are lower than the rest of the strip. $1 beer, they play good music so the crowd is pretty young. It is smokier and definitely not as shiny as it's neighbors. I can't believe this one hasn't been torn down yet.

I'm liking Planet Hollywood much better than Alladin

I'm sure you'll have a great time no matter where you stay but if I could get out of the stratsphere I'd do it. Stay somewhere more central because everything is much further than it appears when it comes to actually walking from one casino to the next.

i'm pretty partial to NYNY

 

[No spoken words]

Let's just say it as plainly as possible:

The Stratosphere is a fucking dive, in the middle of nowhere. Try to stay elsewhere if you can.

Redkat. Hello. GAF, Redkat is awesome, listen to her.

 

[GirlsAloudFan]

Yeah, I'm gonna be meetin up with the group that's goin on the trip tonight for some drinks.

I will let them know about some of the things you guys have mentioned and I'll tell them that we should seriously consider looking into another hotel. I'm sure we will be able to work something out. I'm leaning towards Mandalay Bay, although I'm not sure how expensive it will be.

Thanks again to everyone for your input. I really appreciate it.

 

[redkat]

Redkat. Hello. GAF, Redkat is awesome, listen to her.

 

[anitram]

I stayed at the Mirage and I liked it quite a bit and the location was good. I do believe I went to the dinner buffet at the Aladdin though...and thought it was decent.

I hated Vegas, though, but liked the general area (out of city stuff). But I'm a spoiled person who lived abroad for about 10 years so Vegas looks really lame compared to most places. I think you can have fun if you take it for what it is.

 

[hardyharhar]

So how 'bout an update.

















A little Vegas sleaze would be nice