Las Vegas - Fremont Experience or Strip?

[1001001]

We go to Vegas regularly, and we've never been downtown.

The Strip is where it's all happening.

You have absolutely no idea what you are missing. The Strip is nice, but Fremont Street is that and much, much more. You need to go.

I'm not against checking it out or anything, it just never came up. We always find so much to do on the strip we've never made the time and effort to go anywhere else.

We usually stay at one of the big casinos, like Caesar's Palace or the MGM Grand. We'll see a concert one night, a Cirque Du Soleil show (or something like it) the next, and then hit a fancy restaurant like Rao's or Shibuya.

Last time we were there we saw The Phantom at the Venetian, and then the next night we ate at Wolfgang Puck's, and saw Rush at the MGM Grand Arena. Gambled a bit during the day (and napped too!).

Hell you could spend 2-3 days inside Caesar's Palace without ever stepping outside.

So next time we go we'll take a look at what's down there and maybe schedule something in.

 

[Gryffindorian]

I love Vegas and although I stay on the Strip 95% of the time, I have also enjoyed going to Fremont Street downtown. It's fun to watch the LED ceiling light shows and shop at the thrift souvenirs stores in the area. Though I don't gamble, I see there are quite a few popular spots like the Golden Nugget and Binion's that people frequent at night.

One area you didn't mention is "Off the Strip," the long stretches of roads (Tropicana, W. Flamingo, et al) west of Las Vegas Boulevard. True, there aren't a lot of glitzy hotels in the area, but my co-workers and friends said they've enjoyed the accommodations and entertainment at some of the casinos like Rio or the Orleans.

Hope you have a great time.

 

[Captain Ice]

^Which reminds me. The best hotel in Vegas isn't on the Strip. It's in Summerlin. The JW Marriott is absolutely beautiful.

 

[Shatnertage]

Red Rock, which is on the west side of town, is pretty nice, and convenient to Red Rock Canyon if you want to do some hiking. Closer to me Green Valley Ranch is decent. Watch out for the resort fees at those places, though.

 

[Shatnertage]

Here's that Cosmopolitan story. The Trek reference in the first graph should be pretty easy. The Doctor Who reference in the second, I'm not so sure about:

http://weeklyseven.com/news/2010/december/09/shot-brass-ring

 

[1001001]

Re: Las Vegas Strip

On my most recent trip of las vegas in this year, I was stay in My favorite place is Nikki Beach Club,Café Nikki will make its debut on the Las Vegas Strip as a perfect complement to Tropicana Las Vegas Hotel and Casino. The menu offered at Café Nikki is a blend of American cuisine and flavors inspired by international dishes, and the ambition of the food makes it a worthwhile culinary journey.

-------------------------------

I see.....

 

[Scout101]

an excellent combination of bad english, copy and pasting from a press release packet, and all that in a first post on the BBS.

Good luck with that...

(Besides, the Tropicana is kinda a dump, and way down at the end of the strip, away from most of the fun stuff...)

 

[Pegaritaville]

I always stay on the Strip when I go to Vegas, but I'll head downtown at least once a trip. I actually enjoy gambling more downtown but I like walking and you can't walk very far downtown before you run into some skanky areas.

 

[Shatnertage]

an excellent combination of bad english, copy and pasting from a press release packet, and all that in a first post on the BBS.

Good luck with that...

(Besides, the Tropicana is kinda a dump, and way down at the end of the strip, away from most of the fun stuff...)

The Trop's actually making a comeback. They've put about $160 million in renovations. It's looking pretty spiffy. For a mid-level property, it's not so bad these days. I'd say give it a shot over Luxor/Flamingo/Bally's.

Went to the Cosmopolitan opening last night--pretty nice place. First casino I've seen with foosball tables in public areas. And some really cool steampunk art in the convention area.

 

[greenguy]

The Trop's actually making a comeback. They've put about $160 million in renovations. It's looking pretty spiffy. For a mid-level property, it's not so bad these days. I'd say give it a shot over Luxor/Flamingo/Bally's.

I agree. I haven't been inside but it looks to be far more promising now than the old Trop, which was beyond dingy for big Strip hotel standards. It also got pretty creepy at night. Flamingo is also falling apart, and I have not been to Bally's at all so I'm not sure how they are doing there.

Re: the question of the OP, I say do both. I hit Fremont when I want something a bit more "real" feeling than the Strip, but I'll usually stay near the latter. My preferred pad is the Summer Bay Resort complex a block or two east of the Strip---off-season rates hover at $60 for equipped one-bedroom condo units. It's a far better value than anything found on the Strip, which is fun and has great things to see but is all the same after awhile---the restaurants, the casinos, the bars are all monotonous and overpriced, with undesirable crowds and types of people, IMO.

If anyone hasn't checked out Fremont and Downtown, I highly suggest they do so for a more "real" party vibe that is older and less manufactured. There is often live music and much cheaper drinks as well.

 

[hamudm]

What about if you're there with kids (ages 6-14)? Fremont or The Strip?

You also might want to look at one of the condo-hotel places for your room. Vdara next the Bellagio and Signature at MGM Grand are two good examples. They tend to have a kitchenette, which makes it easier to stash some snacks for the kids.

Agreed. MGM Signature is the bee's knees.

Is it too late to say that Vegas is the greatest and most magical place on Earth?

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

Vegas has a monorail now, doesn't it? How far around town can you get with it? Is it useful for a lot of traveling if you want to avoid the heat?

 

[1001001]

The monorail goes up and down the strip. There are about 7 or 8 stops.

It is the Greatest Idea in the History of the World.



The first time we went to Vegas it hadn't been built yet. It's pretty fucking hot there!

 

[Shatnertage]

Vegas has a monorail now, doesn't it? How far around town can you get with it? Is it useful for a lot of traveling if you want to avoid the heat?

It's decent, but not great. It runs down the east side of the Strip, so if you wanted to get from New York-New York to the Mirage, you'd have to do a lot of walking back and forth. If you're staying at a hotel on the east side and are going to a convention at the Convention Center (or the Hilton), it's pretty convenient. If not, not so convenient.

BTW, next year's Star Trek Con won't be at the Hilton--they're moving to the Rio. It's an upgrade, IMHO.

 

[greenguy]

The monorail goes up and down the strip. There are about 7 or 8 stops.

It is the Greatest Idea in the History of the World.



The first time we went to Vegas it hadn't been built yet. It's pretty fucking hot there!

The idea itself is good, but I find it poorly-executed given how expensive it is and how few places it goes. Also, given that it is in the back of the hotels, you have to walk a bunch to get to the stations anyway. Last I was in Vegas it was $5 per ride. I probably won't be taking it again since all of this negates its benefits. I see very little point in using the monorail unless you're staying at one of the hotels on the line and you happen to specifically want to get to another one on the other side and you are too drunk to walk.

 

[Gryffindorian]

I've never experienced any problems walking, driving, or taking the monorail (Excalibur-Luxor-Mandalay Bay). Sure, it's hot in the summer, and the traffic can be heavy, but the Strip is mesmerizing and filled with life. I haven't tried the monorail next to MGM Grand that leads to downtown LV.

 

[1001001]

The monorail goes up and down the strip. There are about 7 or 8 stops.

It is the Greatest Idea in the History of the World.



The first time we went to Vegas it hadn't been built yet. It's pretty fucking hot there!

The idea itself is good, but I find it poorly-executed given how expensive it is and how few places it goes. Also, given that it is in the back of the hotels, you have to walk a bunch to get to the stations anyway. Last I was in Vegas it was $5 per ride. I probably won't be taking it again since all of this negates its benefits. I see very little point in using the monorail unless you're staying at one of the hotels on the line and you happen to specifically want to get to another one on the other side and you are too drunk to walk.

Well, that describes us!



Yes it's a pain in the ass to walk through the casinos to get where you're going, but that was the price of construction. The casinos needed their cut, so to speak.

The monorail is safe, clean, fast, and always on-time. Taking a cab in Vegas is like taking your life into your own hands sometimes. New York cabbies have nothing on these guys.

I guess there are plenty of options for everyone, depending on your preference.

 

[greenguy]

The monorail is safe, clean, fast, and always on-time. Taking a cab in Vegas is like taking your life into your own hands sometimes. New York cabbies have nothing on these guys.

I guess there are plenty of options for everyone, depending on your preference.

That is a good point and another benefit---the monorail is a better choice than a cab, especially if you have a show or dinner reservation to make. Each time I've had to hail a cab, I have waited in line for a long time and then just sat on the Strip in traffic, nervously upping the fare for tourist saps like me. I guess I'm just too cheap to ever have these other time obligations

 

[Shatnertage]

There's also a bus that runs down the Strip--it can be crowded and a bit of an adventure, but if you time it right it might be faster than a cab and more convenient than the monorail--and cheaper than both.