Your favorite Las Vegas hotel

[DC]

The lady and I are taking her little brother to Vegas as a congratulations gift for graduating college. Cashed in airline miles and only had to pay $60 in fees for round trip tickets for the three of us.

We've visited Vegas often over the years and stayed at several different places. Mirage, Excalibur, Bellagio, Mandalay, the Riv. Looking for something different that a college aged bro might enjoy. Having a poker room is not mandatory, but lots of scantily clad chicks is.

Please post your favorites and why. Also, looking for some good dining reservations. If you know of any hidden gems or different/funky restaurants please let me know.

We told him that in addition to the flight and hotel, we would also completely pay for one night out, i.e., dinner and a show. We LOVED Absinthe at Caesars and feel like he would too but open to suggestions as well. Sheri's Ranch is too far and the wifey probably wouldn't appreciate it.

 

[JimJohnson]

Well, for me, the Bellagio is the shit. Hard to top that one in my opinion.

Restaurants: BurGR at Planet Hollywood. Burger joint run by Gordon Ramsay.

 

[DC]

I went there. Felt like I was eating in a fucking cafeteria. I know, I know, it's a burger place. But I hated every minute of it. Tourist trap all the way IMO.

I saw a special on FN about Bachi Burger. Off the strip but looked great for burgers with an asian flair. Pork Belly dumplings, Kimchi, etc...

 

[Penny Traitor]

For a younger crowd...I would try the Hard Rock Hotel.

Runners up would be MGM or Luxor as their clubs are always packed with twenty-somethings.

 

[Nail Polish]

Im almost ashamed to say this, but I have never been to Vegas

 

[DC]

You have to go at least once to behold the spectacle that is Las Vegas. The architecture is amazing as is the food and gaming. I like the shows as well. But for the love of God, don't go between the months of April-August. Even September is borderline crazy.

 

[JimJohnson]

I went there. Felt like I was eating in a fucking cafeteria. I know, I know, it's a burger place. But I hated every minute of it. Tourist trap all the way IMO.

I saw a special on FN about Bachi Burger. Off the strip but looked great for burgers with an asian flair. Pork Belly dumplings, Kimchi, etc...

So the burgers were bad? It's ranked #95 out of 3,800+ Las Vegas restaurants.

 

[L GUAPO]

For a younger crowd...I would try the Hard Rock Hotel.

Runners up would be MGM or Luxor as their clubs are always packed with twenty-somethings.

Totally agree. I am a few hours away and have been there soo many times through the years. For a college-bound stud, Hard Rock is pretty good but it is off the main strip and has gone downhill the past few years but good crowd and awesome pool.

MGM. Always solid and has a kick-ass pool as well. They have good food there and not too pricey. Younger crowd and right on the strip with access joining a few hotels. I would go with MGM here.

Paris is too much family and not enough party...as is Bellagio and Venetian. Wynn is pretty good and the pool party is great. MGM has an amazing pool.party so go with that. Nice rooms too and you guys are gonna walk around.

 

[policeman]

Wife and I stayed at the Cosmopolitan and dined at Aria a few years back. Two of the newer hotels towards the end of the strip. Both were fantastic. I'd also recommend the Bellagio and the Venetian- great places.

Edit- check that- You are taking a 21 year old there- scratch my places- likely a bit too pricey and not quite a party scene like some of the others mentioned.

 

[Omeletpants]

Las Vegas is a ridiculous place. As you fly in it's a blob in the middle of the desert and you wonder "why is it even there". Everything in town is staged and nothing is natural. What's sad is walking through the hotel at 7am and seeing people gambling. Makes you wonder if they are having fun or it's a sick addiction. The town is full of service workers, whores, junkies, cab drivers and other interesting characters. Lots of pawn shops so that you can cash in on your assets to feed your gambling jones at any hour of the day or night. There is really no other reason to be there except to feed and feed off the strip. All feels plastic to me.

 

[Penny Traitor]

Totally agree. I am a few hours away and have been there soo many times through the years. For a college-bound stud, Hard Rock is pretty good but it is off the main strip and has gone downhill the past few years but good crowd and awesome pool.

For the record, I have not been to Vegas since 2009...so I will take your word on its current state. I was working a show at the Hard Rock, so I got put up there for free. It is a bit off the main strip, but if that's not an issue...I felt like the only guest well over 30.

Studio 54 at MGM was the most consistently best looking crop of 20 something girls that would be there on any given night...so if you want to be on the strip...MGM is where it is at.

 

[Gustavus Adolphus]

Only been once, so I'll say Luxor??

 

[Penny Traitor]

Las Vegas is a ridiculous place. As you fly in it's a blob in the middle of the desert and you wonder "why is it even there". Everything in town is staged and nothing is natural. What's sad is walking through the hotel at 7am and seeing people gambling. Makes you wonder if they are having fun or it's a sick addiction. The town is full of service workers, whores, junkies, cab drivers and other interesting characters. Lots of pawn shops so that you can cash in on your assets to feed your gambling jones at any hour of the day or night. There is really no other reason to be there except to feed and feed off the strip. All feels plastic to me.

I could not agree with you more. It was my thoughts that first trip to Vegas...that the reality is that town is really the saddest place in the country. I could not imagine spending more than three days there and could not even fathom how people actually live in Las Vegas.

Not a big gamer and getting too old for any interest in doing the clubs...so its lost whatever little appeal it had to me in the first place.

 

[L GUAPO]

For the record, I have not been to Vegas since 2009...so I will take your word on its current state. I was working a show at the Hard Rock, so I got put up there for free. It is a bit off the main strip, but if that's not an issue...I felt like the only guest well over 30.

Studio 54 at MGM was the most consistently best looking crop of 20 something girls that would be there on any given night...so if you want to be on the strip...MGM is where it is at.

They blew up Studio 54 over a year ago for being dead and a bit on the ghetto side. They opened pretty much the biggest club called Hakkasan and they have the best trance DJs there now as residents for the summer. Very good crowd there now and young. MGM is taking over and really nice pool party too. Hard Rock's Rehab pool party got played out years ago. I still like Hard Rock but MGM is awesome all around.

 

[DC]

Thanks for the input, fellas.

To OP-Las Vegas is what you make of it. If you like gaming (Poker for me), fine dining, architecture and the performing arts, it's great. That said, it is sweaty, dirty and sleazy at times.

All a part of its charm.

 

[Omeletpants]

Thanks for the input, fellas.

To OP-Las Vegas is what you make of it. If you like gaming (Poker for me), fine dining, architecture and the performing arts, it's great. That said, it is sweaty, dirty and sleazy at times.

All a part of its charm.

Not judging anyone that likes Vegas, but for me it is so uber fabricated that it's beyond any reality....except when you lose money then it's really, real

 

[clonetrooper264]

Not judging anyone that likes Vegas, but for me it is so uber fabricated that it's beyond any reality....except when you lose money then it's really, real

I would tend to agree. Imo you have to really like gambling or being around clubs to truly enjoy Vegas. The food there is pretty darn good, and that's what I like about it, but that's not quite enough.

 

[DC]

Eh...NYNY was okay. I should have booked a place with a poker room. Hit up Gallaghers once we checked in because we were famished from the pot cookies we ate in the parking lot at DIA. Got a nice 3 LB lobster-so delish. Saw Penn and Teller-eh, just okay. Gondola at venetian-eh.

 

[botfly10]

Its getting run down, but the Luxor is still my favorite.

Belagio is kind of a ripoff. Their basic rooms are the same as every room in vegas. You got to spend for anything better.

 

[botfly10]

I would tend to agree. Imo you have to really like gambling or being around clubs to truly enjoy Vegas. The food there is pretty darn good, and that's what I like about it, but that's not quite enough.

I like to go with a big crew when there is music or something in town and just stay up for three days and party.