Vegas Recommendations - An Ever Evolving Thing

Some friends of mine are going to Las Vegas in a week, so I offered some suggestions.  I figure, if I'm going to write a bunch, I should do it as a post.

Online Resources

The best online resource I've found is the Vegas Message Board, an online forum that's been active for over ten years.  If you have a question about travelling to Las Vegas, they've probably answered it. And if they haven't, they'll be happy to try when ask.  I've participated in the past (user name Quixote), but not much in the last few years.

Here's a list of every show in Las Vegas, for the next few months.  This is great for all the one-off shows that happen, but it also shows all the resident shows.  I generally use it to see what touring bands and comics are in town.

Places to Stay

I'm a fan of the MGM resorts, and they range from 1 to 5 stars, so you should be able to find something in your budget. That said, my current favourite resort to stay in is the Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas.  It is super expensive though.  My birthday is the lowest of the low season in Vegas, and the one time I stayed in the Cosmo for my birthday, it was about $200USD a night.  I've seen it north of $500.

Restaurants - Fancy and Expensive

• China Poblana @ Cosmopolitan is my current favourite.  It's a Mexican/Chinese fusion joint. Go for the prie fixe meal.
• Red Square Restaurant and Lounge @ Mandalay Bay.  Lots good here, especially if you like vodka and caviar.  If you're a caviar virgin (like I was) order the caviar pizza as your appetizer.
• L'Atelier De Joel Robuchon @ MGM Grand.  Again, a great place for the prie fixe, they offer a three course designed to get you to your show in a decent amount of time.

Restaurants - Hip, But Good Value

• California Pizza Kitchen @ MGM Park (by T-Mobile Arena).  Decent pizza, and appetizers.  Great place to just hang out with your crew.
• Holstein's Shakes and Buns @ Cosmopolitan. I recommend splitting a burger and freakshake with a partner.  Seriously, do not order one each, you will die.

Restaurants - Cheaper Fare

• Earl of Sandwich @ Planet Hollywood. This is at the south entrance of the Miracle Mile.  It's what Subway/Chachi's/Quiznos wants to be when they grow up. My favourite is the Holiday Turkey sandwich, and I have it once every trip to Las Vegas.  The brownies are decent too.
• Five50 Pizza @ Aria. Decent pizza, right off the casino floor.
• Cosmopolitan has a pizza joint on the third floor, completely unadvertised, at the end of an unmarked hallway.  Pizza is OK when you're sober and really good when you're drunk.
• Eggslut @ Cosmopolitan.  They sell egg sandwiches for breakfast.  It's a helluva line-up, but it's worth it.

Shows

These are just my favourites in each category.

• Comedy: Carrot Top.  No really.  Unless there's a comic you really want to see at the Mirage.
• Dancing Girls: Fantasy at Luxor.  I've seen better shows, but they keep getting closed dammit.  That sounds like I'm damning these ladies with faint praise.  They're actually really good.
• Cirque du Soleil: The Beatles Love.  Honorable mention goes to KÀ.  But really, they're all good.
• Anti-Cirque du Soleil.  Absinthe is a blast.  Don't sit in the front two rows though if you don't want to get picked on by the emcee, or kicked in the head by one of the acrobats.

Other Things to Do

• Luxor has a Titanic artifact exhibit.  Y'all know how much I'd love that, but my thing might not be your thing.  There's a Bodies exhibit beside it in the same lobby.
• The North Outlet Mall is better than the South Outlet Mall
• Limo Tour of the strip can be a lot of fun.
• Put Lyft on your phone (because they're less evil than Uber), it's probably the cheapest way to get around the city quickly.
• If you're not in a hurray, get a three or seven day pass to the Deuce, which is the bus that runs up and down the strip, ending at each outlet mall, and goes through Fremont street as well.  Basically, everywhere you want to go.
• Hoover Dam is fun and educational, as was the Atomic Testing Museum.
• The Pinball Hall of Fame is well worth a taxi ride and twenty bucks in quarters.  If you go there, check out NerdgaZms next door - the staff is fun.

Finally, don't slavishly follow my recommendations, carve your own path... and let me know what treasures you find.