Vegas trips: first-timers and old hands

I%26#39;m curious regarding how other Vegas visitors approach their

trip planning to Sin City. My wife and I have been to la-la land

on 8 separate occasions in the past three years, including our

drive-through wedding experience. We love the town and the assorted avenues of escape from our daily lives . Gambling, the buffets, the gawdy opulence, the sum total reprises. What aspects of your trip planning and the locale itself are most important to you? Is it all about cost savings? It is for us; we

do the coupon thing, the gambling for comps(mid-level), rent our own car for transportation, and try to locate the best table games (rules and it%26#39;s effects on house odds) and /or %26#39;loosest%26#39;

slots and game promotions through assorted web sites just prior to our trips. Our planning phases involve an in-depth

search for flights, accomodations, and shows..it takes some effort to accumulate yet often saves hundreds of dollars in our experience. I%26#39;m just curious as nto how other vegas visitors approach their trips. Thanks!

Thank you

Vegas trips: first-timers and old hands

I try to get the cheapest flight, but I only use JetBlue. As soon as the flights are posted for the timeframe I want, I book it. I also book hotels and then keep checking the price to see if it has been lowered, and then call if it has. I do have a few nights comped on my trip in November at Fitzgerald%26#39;s. I could have all of the nights comped, but I just can%26#39;t bring myself to stay at the Golden Gate again because I swear it is haunted. I also do the coupon thing. I have the ACG, and it has saved me a lot of money. I also try to book shows ahead of time and look for discounts. This time I am paying full price because it is for Criss Angel%26#39;s show.

Vegas trips: first-timers and old hands

Although I like to go on the strip at night- I now prefer to stay, eat and gamble off strip. Been there done that as far as the strip is concerned. There is just so much more to Vegas than the strip. I try to find out what is new before I go and see one new attraction. I wanted to go to Spring Reserves this August but I ran out of time.

I will use coupons found in magazines but that is about it. The only other coupon I may use is the one from Roesemary%26#39;s website for lunch.

I rarely go to shows- Love was the last one I saw within a few months of its opening. I can%26#39;t think of anything presently being offered that I really want to see. I always rent a car.

I try to find two new ethnic off strip restaurants to try each visit. If need be I will just keep my eyes open as I drive around to see if something looks intersting and eat there. I don%26#39;t rely on reviews- I would rather just take a chance. Sometimes it works out and sometimes it doesn%26#39;t but I like finding my own places to eat. I always go to Rosemary%26#39;s and I have a list of restaurants I like and just pick from the list for my other restaurant choices.

If a new casino opens up I visit that casino and play a little to give it a chance to be my friend. Otherwise- I know which casinos I like, which ones I will gamble at and just stick to those casinos.

I generally fly Continental. I used to use US Airways (America West) but they no longer offer the deals I like. I will probably use them one more time because I have enough ff points for a free trip. But unless there is a huge difference in price from some other airline- I stick with Continental. I used to upgrade to first class when going to Vegas but I no longer do that because I want to accumulate enough points to go to China-preferably first class.

The aspect most important to me is comfort. I%26#39;m one whose mood is affected by my surroundings, so I always book hotels with that in mind. Does it mean I spend a fortune? No it does not. I may stay at a nice hotel, but I also do not spend money foolishly.

Like vp03, I%26#39;ve done the strip thing tons of times. Last May for the first time we stayed off strip, were at GVR in Henderson and we loved it. In fact, we went to the strip one afternoon, stayed 3 hrs and then went back, wondered why we were walking with the hordes of people on strip. That%26#39;s not to say we won%26#39;t stay on the strip again, but if we do it would only be for a night or two.

Again like vp said, when it comes to airlines, I stick with the same one for the most part, saving the miles for a First Class flight to some exotic location in the world. My husband wants to see the pyramids in Egypt, we both want to go to Moscow. To us, there is a wonderful world outside of going to Vegas.