Mandalay Bay

[Mox]

House of Blues is inside Mandalay Bay, I've seen some really good concerts there.

Go see the Shark exhibit, I forgot what they call it but it's pretty interesting, like a walk through Aquarium.

The pool/beach area’s usually have plenty of things to look at.  


I'd say MB is one of the nicer (affordable) hotels in Vegas these days.

Mox

[BGBMAW]

go see the 2 gay tiger duo guys

[Creamo]

I think one of those guys got ate BGB.

Droop, if it's a wife trip, so be it. Don't gamble, bring swim suits and get catered too all day at the pool, get some sun, nap, some goofy foo foo drinks, rinse, repeat, relax. I admit the children were scared of me flying down the water slide with the white belly swinging, but you'll have children there. If they laugh too much, have them beat them up.

Then the only reason to have a nice room is to have comfy digs to shower in and sleep in, and of course to be centrally located. You will be on the strip so hit whatever entertainment is near that evening. Everything from Rock concerts to the bad shows with the Vegas girls. Choose what you want to see as you can find all kinda of AD flyers, walk to it, and enjoy it, it will be cheap. (About 15 minutes worth of Blackjack I'd guess.)

The best Steak Houses are there, hit one, again, 15 minutes of Blackjack total cost. Then go back to a nice room and put the Eskimo2 daily on her, lol, not being pissed you paid my state taxes. Then get room service in bed in the morning, go to the pool, repeat. You'll be $800 ahead and have had a blast.

To gamble is insane. Have fun.

[Ripsnort]

I had to read your post twice, Creamo, but I *think* I understood it.  I am not a gambler, but wife wants to do a few slot machines..and I wouldn't mind doing 37 minutes of Black jack (Yes, theres a reason only 37 minutes)  Our kids will not be coming with, so I am assuming I can hire someone to beat up the other laughing kids right?


Thks for the posts guys, I'm digesting them.

[Creamo]

It's easy really.

1. Roy of Siegfried and Roy got mauled.

2. Don't gamble, you'll be able to spend what you would have thrown away on Slots on Shows, pool boat drinks all day, and a good Steak House.  

3. Don't gamble.

4. I scared the children with a white belly flying down the water slide. You will too. Your not bringing your kids?= Good.

5. Don't gamble.

6. Your going to gamble, you will refuse to understand, even if you reread the post 5 times. That's why I pay no state taxes.

7. Staying at Mandalay Bay will put you close to the strip, and give a nice room to boot. Then you can do all the shows and have fun.

8. Don't gamble.

See?

[midnight Target]

There used to be small plane or helicopter rides out to Hoover dam or the Grand Canyon outta LV. Been a while though.

[Pfunk]

The house has the smallest advantage in one game only, and that would be blackjack.  My advise is to find a $5 table if they have them, if they dont then go and find somewhere that does.  If you are going on a Fri, Sat it will be very difficult to find any table under $10 a hand.  I had great luck finding $3 tables at O'Sheas and the Barbary Coast both are right next to the Flamingo Hilton.  

Neither are very "glitsy" casinos but they do have the cheapest tables.  There are pretty simple rules to follow in Blackjack on when to hit or when to stand if you memorize these you should not have any problem.  Basically the premise is to make the dealer hit if at all possible, unless you have what you think is a winning hand.

While the slots are good for the wife to keep her occupied, in all reality you are better off walking into the casino, heading up to the cashier and just giving them your money.  Slots have the worst odds, and nothing but blind luck.

http://www.blackjackinfo.com/blackjack-rules.php

[Creamo]

True, but you get the "Yes, theres a reason only 37 minutes" crowd in there and then the house just smashes the odds.

Was just entertaining myself posting, carry on.

[Pfunk]

Originally posted by Creamo
True, but you get the "Yes, theres a reason only 37 minutes" crowd in there and then the house just smashes the odds.

Was just entertaining myself posting, carry on.

True if you only plan on playing for 37 mins, just walk up to the table give the dealer all the money you planned on betting, say thank you and walk away.  My point being it takes awhile to win, and in 37 minutes it is highly doubtful you will win anything.  I have paid for a cruise off blackjack winnings, 2 trips to vegas, and one to Biloxi.  You have to get a "feel" for the table your at, some suck....(old people with no personality, crappy dealers etc).  Those type tables were the ones I couldnt win at.  One time I lost $120 within 4 minutes at 1 table.  I got up and left went and got some food, some liqour, and headed back to the tables with $10 that I borrowed from a friend.  It was a great table, lots of drunk folks hootin and hollerin, I stayed at that table for 5 hours, getting hammered on Crown and Coke.  Went back to the room with $700.  Blackjack or any other game (besides slots) is all about feeling, and in 37 minutes you wont get that.  So I would say Creamo is right.......just dont gamble.

[Fuzzy]

Mandalay Bay Hotel/Casino is probably one of the nicer hotels on the Strip, with the exception of Caesars, Bellagio, Venetian. Staying there puts you on the southernmost point on the strip, next to the Luxor. There is a monorail system linking the ManBay and Luxor. There is also a monorail system that runs the entire east side of the strip beginning at the MGM and running north to the Sahara Hotel/Casino.
As far as amenities, check with the hotel about package deals that include spa time. Before moving out here, my wife and I stayed there and were given free day passes to the spa. The HOT, hot, warm, cold tubs is really cool. Eucalyptus steam room with iced towels. Your own locker with fluffy white terry robe and personal grooming stations.  Not to mention the massage options, which will cost for sure.

The pool area is by far the best Vegas has. It has a lazy river, wave pool, bars, tube rentals, sand beach. Close by is the Shark Reef, which is basically an underwater tunnel in a huge shark tank. Expensive at $20/head but cool nonetheless.

Great restaurants and bars there. Definitely hit Red Square for some good times and hit Aureole for fine dining, especially if you like wine. You will dig how the lady retrieves the wine bottles.

I recommend taxis for getting around, and I'm sure you'll want to see the sights as well as visit other properties. Walking distances appear short enough, but due to the grand scale of things on the strip, only walk to adjacent properties (ie, don't think about walking from NY NY to Treasure Island.

The Bellagio light/water/music show is best seen at night, showings are q15'. Treasure Island pirate show is gone, replaced by hot chicks in water. Roy was mauled by his hetero-white tiger and is now in LA recovering and rehabilitating Sigfried is unemployed as the Mirage has cancelled their contract. Blue Man Group is a cool show and is next to you at the Luxor, $75/head. The Cirque De Soleil shows are awesome, except the Zumanity show at the NY NY is sexually themed and not as "artistic" as O and Mystere.

Good dining. Excellent dining pretty much anywhere you go. I would recommend Morton's Steakhouse on Paradise and Flamingo, Top of the World restaurant at the top of the Stratosphere, Lawry's for great prime rib, also on Flamingo. All are pricey, but definitely good eats.

Sahara has the most $1 blackjack tables. Hard Rock and Palms is where the beautiful young people kick it. Most casino minimum tables go to $10 after 1700.

Local sites, Hoover Dam of course, Lake Mead, the Strip itself, Red Rock Canyon, Mount Charleston. There are canoe/kayak/tubing adventures from the base of Hoover dam which should be ok as far as temps go in April/May. Rotor and fixed wing tours of the Grand Canyon and in general are pretty expensive, but if you must, knock yourself out!

I believe your wife works as a Nurse at a Trauma Center in Wa, if you want I can show her around the 3rd busiest Level 1 Trauma Center in the USA, probably the world.

hope this helps!

[Ripsnort]

Thanks Fuzzy! Good info all.

37 min. of Blackjack TOTAL TIME guys, not just one shot.  Play for 10 min. If ahead...quit, if behind, quit find another table.  But, I doubt I will have time to gamble..we'll be busy with other matters.

[Corwin]

I've stayed in quite a few hotels in Vegas for conventions.  Mandalay Bay is my favorite.  Checkout the bar Rum Jungle it's a cool place to have a drink and people watch.  The restaurant Auerole (I know, I know) is kind of cool too.  The food is good, if pricey, and the wine is kept in a tower where the wait folks have to "fly up" to get at some of the bottles.

I would recommend a trip to the Vodoo Lounge atop the Rio.  It's got a terrific open air view view from the rooftop patio.  You have to pay a cover to go up there but I thought it was worth it.  If the weather is cool it might be a tough place to stay outside for very long given the wind.  The other bar that I have heard is cool is the Ghost Bar atop The Palm.  It opens at 10PM and also has a cover.

If you want a resonable dinner in a nice setting try the Woflgang Puck joint (can't remember if it's Postrio or Spago)  in the Ventian.  Get a table outside and share one of his Chinois Chicken Salads.  

Somebopdy mentioned Morton's.  I ate there two weeks ago and it is nice but it isn't unique in any respect.

I'm not a gambler but Vegas is soooo over the top it's probably against my religion.  

Have a great time!

[Ripsnort]

Originally posted by Corwin
I've stayed in quite a few hotels in Vegas for conventions.  Mandalay Bay is my favorite.  Checkout the bar Rum Jungle it's a cool place to have a drink and people watch.  The restaurant Auerole (I know, I know) is kind of cool too.  The food is good, if pricey, and the wine is kept in a tower where the wait folks have to "fly up" to get at some of the bottles.

I would recommend a trip to the Vodoo Lounge atop the Rio.  It's got a terrific open air view view from the rooftop patio.  You have to pay a cover to go up there but I thought it was worth it.  If the weather is cool it might be a tough place to stay outside for very long given the wind.  The other bar that I have heard is cool is the Ghost Bar atop The Palm.  It opens at 10PM and also has a cover.

If you want a resonable dinner in a nice setting try the Woflgang Puck joint (can't remember if it's Postrio or Spago)  in the Ventian.  Get a table outside and share one of his Chinois Chicken Salads.  

Somebopdy mentioned Morton's.  I ate there two weeks ago and it is nice but it isn't unique in any respect.

I'm not a gambler but Vegas is soooo over the top it's probably against my religion.  

Have a great time!

I'm getting some consistently good advice, a co-worker practically told me the same thing (Voodoo and Ghost bar)

Thanks Corwin.

[rpm]

OK, I see you are bent on playing Blackjack. Go to Target and buy 6 decks of playing cards, shuffle them all together and practice. Blackjack in a Casino is a suckers game.
 Learn to play Craps. It's one of the very few games where the odds are not horribly slanted in the House's favor. My last trip to Vegas, I made back 3 days worth of Blackjack losses plus $1500 in a few hours at the Crap table.

[Pfunk]

actually in blackjack the house has the lowest advantage of any casino game.