Vegas, must do's.

[Biddy 62]

Finally booked Vegas for our 50th birthdays. Group of eight of us going at Easter, stopping in the Monte Carlo. Everytime i mention to folk i'm going they always tell me to go and see the Grand canyon. I'm looking for others.

[Simon Galloway]

Mixed group?  Sporty?  Shoppers?  Thrill seekers?  Pissheads?  Shows?  Fine Dining?

[Nakor]

The Vegas mob tour http://www.vegasmobtour.com/html/about.htm was a good laugh and gave you a cracking "romantic" view of Old Skool Vegas.

If you into Fish, tanks, sharks or the sea the Behind teh Scenes tour of the Mandalay Bay Shark reef is also amazing.
http://www.lasvegasconcierge.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=302:mandalay-bay-hotel-the-shark-reef-behind-the-scenes-tour&catid=136:attractions-and-activities&Itemid=40

Bellagio Conservatory and the Bellagio Art gallery are also good if you like that sort of thing, I did a Art and Wine trip around the Bellagio gallery was only about $30 and was very informative, and the wine was pretty good.

Lake Mead and the Valley or Fire are also worth a visit if you that way inclined.

[SirPerceval]

I've heard there's a soft cash game at the MGM

[Matt.NFFC.]

I've heard there's a soft cash game at the MGM

Very soft apparently.

[Simon Galloway]

Happy to give some more suggestions when you let us know what type of things you are looking to do.

As a few ideas, I'd say Hugos would make a good birthday meal choice.  Go to Tix4Tonite booth and you will prolly get a 25% off total bill voucher for $3.  The restaurant is downtown in 4Queens, 8 of you may as well get a stretch limo down there for the same price as 2 clapped out taxis.  Old school Vegas charm (starting to wear a little bit, but still very decent)  The price on the entree includes tableside salad to start, sides with the main, sorbet course, table dessert, bottled water, so no real need for anyone to order anything else, $50/head (before discount) does it.  The wine list is about the best European wine list you will find in Vegas, and very well priced.  The discount applies to wine as well.  The sommelier will be happy to give you some suggestions from his private stock too, not on the menu.  Not at the CUT/Carnevino level, but it is a pretty good meal and very very good value, particularly if you like your wine.

Whilst in Tix4Tonite, may as well pick up some show tickets too - whatever the group are into.  I never tire of CDS and can see them again and again.  Love and O are the best of those imo.  Absinthe is also well reviewed and any comedy headliner that takes your fancy would also work.

If your group golfs, lots of options there ofc, won't write a para to find out you don't golf....  If the guys do and the women don't, drop them off at Premium Outlets and you can both take as long as you want.

Red Rock Nature Trail worth a look

If you do the Canyon, would massively suggest a helicopter trip that lands in the canyon >>> long-haul car journey.

Could rent a boat on Lake Mead

Oh, and if you aren't committed, would think about changing out of Monte Carlo.  It's ok, certainly nothing to worry about and a decent location.  But there are some very decent deals flying around atm, I imagine you could probably get a much better hotel for the money - unless you already got a crazy price.

[Biddy 62]

All booked Simon i'm afraid. 4 couples not really sporty, deffo pissheads. I'm the only one pokering so i'll keep the MGM in mind. I'm thinking sightseeing stuff and nights out.

[Graham C]

Hellicopter to GC is probably the way to go, but when we went there (we came in from the south and went to LV after the GC) we drove and it was truely one of those moments that takes your breath away.  You can't see it on the way in to the National Park as there's quite a few trees about.  After we drove up for a while we saw some cars parked up and wondered what they were looking at and as we got close it was like when you stand still and the world zooms out, it was so so amazing.   Camped there overnight and sat and watched the sun go down.  

Lovely trip.

[Biddy 62]

With poker going to allow myself 3 maybe 4 tournies around the $50 mark, would i be able play this sort of tournie anytime?

[Simon Galloway]

Start off at Main Street Station lunctime, a drink in each casino downtown.  (MSS, Cali, PLaza, then onto Fremont)  Usually something crazy happening somewhere ~ and if not, you will be having plenty of fun yourselves by time you get to the Nugget.  Which will be a solid choice to eat too...  For me (adding Hugos ^^ another night) that's enough of Downtown, but others love it, so YMMV.

Can do a similar crawl on the Strip, start Mandalay Bay and work North and either see how far you get or just stop wherever looks like fun.

Depending on how young at heart the group is, some of the Lounge bars (Caramel @ Bellagio, GOLD @ ARia etc) are good without being full-scale techno nightclubs.  Unlimited choices of places to eat if dining will be the centre-piece of a night out.

[Simon Galloway]

With poker going to allow myself 3 maybe 4 tournies around the $50 mark, would i be able play this sort of tournie anytime?

These are going to be "10 a.m." tournies - check out the tourny schedule from cardplayer magazine available free in the cardrooms to see what time & where near you.  Might be better to use the same budget to play 2x noon tournies at Aria or Venetian if you want a better structure as a 'poker purist' ~ the 10am jobbies will undoubtedly be hyper-turbo, which is fine if you want a quick fix and not get docked too many brownie points.

[StuartHopkin]

Whilst in Tix4Tonite, may as well pick up some show tickets too - whatever the group are into.  I never tire of CDS and can see them again and again.  Love and O are the best of those imo.  Absinthe is also well reviewed and any comedy headliner that takes your fancy would also work.

Question re Tix4Tonite, if you get there super early in the morning do you get better seats.

I gave up on them towards the end of my last visit, they either only had balcony or rear seating available, or when they had the good seating areas it was obvious they were only allocated sides, rear stalls etc

Simon may correct me here but I think personally it would be worth choosing your shows pre trip and booking seats where possible either on ticketmaster or direct hotel sites to guarantee good seats.

[redsimon]

With poker going to allow myself 3 maybe 4 tournies around the $50 mark, would i be able play this sort of tournie anytime?

Monte Carlo is short walk to Aria. 1pm and 7pm tournies are $125 buy in so probably too pricey but cracking structure.

[Simon Galloway]

I think if I had my heart set on seeing show X, I'd book pre trip and lock up the best seats.  If it was a case of "let's see a comedy show/hypnotist show tonight" then it doesn't really matter and I'd take the discount tickets.  As for optimal times, I haven't used them enough to know for sure.  I have gone there and just baulked at the Q length several times tho and just booked direct anyway!  I have also had some pretty good seats just by asking "what else do you have further back" or whatever.  The restaurant vouchers are definitely worth doing if you can be arsed to get them.  "Dinner for 6 persons 8pm" for young poker players tends to be "dinner for 3 people somewhere else at 10:30" so the vouchers aren't worthwhile, but for a group of 50-year olds, there are plenty of higher-end restaurants offering decent discounts and table availability.

[Woodsey]

Whilst in Tix4Tonite, may as well pick up some show tickets too - whatever the group are into.  I never tire of CDS and can see them again and again.  Love and O are the best of those imo.  Absinthe is also well reviewed and any comedy headliner that takes your fancy would also work.

Question re Tix4Tonite, if you get there super early in the morning do you get better seats.

I gave up on them towards the end of my last visit, they either only had balcony or rear seating available, or when they had the good seating areas it was obvious they were only allocated sides, rear stalls etc

Simon may correct me here but I think personally it would be worth choosing your shows pre trip and booking seats where possible either on ticketmaster or direct hotel sites to guarantee good seats.

Yah, agree with this. Went to see Penn and Teller via them and the seats were so far back it was hard to see.