[NEFARIOUS]

One other gem that hasn't been mentioned: Check out Dick's Last Resort; you get to taunt the waiters and get away with it... Except they humiliate you too, but it's hilarious since they give you a paper hat scrawled with a degrading comment and honor your request for napkins with the help of a leaf blower. The food quality is just alright though.

Local stuff? Once you get off the strip, most things are kinda mundane and just like anywhere else in the US, except 1. They do have locals-only specials that needs a Nevada ID (e.g. "$2 beer for Nevada residents" with outsiders paying $5). If you still want to go local, look for Blue Martini off the strip near Sunset Blvd, 2. Their roads are unusually wide even in the most deserted of areas, but frequently hiding with cops in radar guns (don't ask me how I know ), and 3. Speaking of deserted, it's almost sad to go through some residential areas; I've never seen so many half-completed houses in my life.

[zx10guy]

I was just there for my company's annual sales kick off. The novelty of Vegas wore off after the first time I was there. I grow tired of the aggressive strip club peddlers. Because after spending several days locked inside one of the various hotels attending work events, I don't want to be bothered by some @holes trying to push a strip club on me. If I don't make eye contact with you, I'm not interested. If these idiots try anything like this in NYC, there would be some people visiting the ER. I almost turned around and decked some jerk that screamed out of the top of his lungs when I walked by him about his strip club. It's one thing to avoid these dirt bags on one or two street corners/blocks. But when you have to wade through this cesspool through almost the entire strip, it gets old real fast.

Anyways, this last trip, I did find an Oasis in the circus bizarre that is Vegas. Just past the Flamingo, there is a strip offset from the main drag. It's sort of a paradise as there's no craziness, no dirtbags getting into your private space telling you about their strip club, no typical Vegas. It's lower key, clean, and actually pleasant. I walked past a piano bar which had an awesome band playing there. The bar was open to the outside and people were congregating around to enjoy the live music.

The other thing I did with a group of guys this last visit...I guess peer pressure was the Skyjump from the Stratosphere Tower. The guys said it was a zip line event. But that wasn't the case. It's a bit pricey for what it is...jumping from a building 108 stories (855 Ft) up. But after doing it once, I know what to expect and thought about doing it again to maximize my experience. Fortunately, a couple of the guys in the group were former military so we all got the military discount.

[K19BMW]

So I got back from Vegas 2 days ago and I had a great time! Thanks to everyone who recommend things to do/places to eat.

Some of my highlights are:

Got a 24 ounce porterhouse at Gordan Ramsey's Steak House
Saw David Copperfield (I still have no clue how he did some of his tricks)
Went to the Hoover Dam
Won $600 shooting craps (tables were terrible everywhere I went so just coming out ahead was great)
Free passes to the Mandalay Bay pool
Bacchanal Buffet
Went to Marque
Met Pete Rose

Some lowpoints:

Flying US Airways is TERRIBLE! None of their planes have tvs, most of their seats don't recline, and they don't even offer peanuts. The 5 hour flight from PA to NV was horrible. I will never fly them again.

I was upgraded to the new turbo mustang for my drive to the hoover dam and I was pretty disappointed in the car. Idk if the rental company can limit the cars performance somehow so people don't beat on it but regardless it felt like it had a ton of turbo lag and even when the turbo spoiled the car still felt slow. And yes I had it in all the sport settings (steering, trans, suspension, etc). My friends 2008 328xi unmodded honestly felt quicker than the turbo mustang.

Went to the Pawn Stars store and the whole place/atmosphere just felt lame.

Anyways, a great trip overall!

[ChrisMT79]

My best advice is do all of your sight seeing, shows etc... first and your gambling last. I'm not a gambler, so I made that mistake my first time there, won maybe $500, but then my gambling was done and had a few days left lol.

[gojumatt]

See absinthe

[UncleWede]

IF you had mentioned Pawn Stars, I would have saved you the time.

[gtron]

i imagine pawn stars is just another pawn shop but over priced with cameras occasionally in it.

am i off?

[P1]

I hear you on the US Airways comment. Just terrible.

[gtron]

most airlines are terrible these days.

people use to be excited to fly, now it's one of the must stressful things you can do.

[Stage1]

Sounds like a decent trip. I am out there next month for a conference (2nd time) and cant wait. The good thing is the meetings all day keep me from being a total degen and just sitting at a poker table all day...but Ill be happy to find some new restaurants and go back to some of the ones from last year. Only mistake I made last year was drinking to much the first night. Slowed me down a bit for the weekend

[K19BMW]

Originally Posted by UncleWede

IF you had mentioned Pawn Stars, I would have saved you the time.

Originally Posted by gtron

i imagine pawn stars is just another pawn shop but over priced with cameras occasionally in it.

am i off?

I mean we were already on Fremont St. so we weren't too far away but ya I went there with low expectations and somehow I was still undercut

Originally Posted by P1et

I hear you on the US Airways comment. Just terrible.

Originally Posted by gtron

most airlines are terrible these days.

people use to be excited to fly, now it's one of the must stressful things you can do.

Ya but US Airways has to be the worst. I fly to florida a lot on delta (2.5-3 hour flight from where I am) and even on a flight that short you get snacks, personal TV's, etc.

Now I take a 5 hour flight from Philadelphia to Vegas on US Airways and no tvs at all, no snacks, and the seats don't recline. I honestly couldn't believe it.

I actually asked someone working at the US Airways how they could have a 5 hour flight with no TV's and the lady said:
"when gas prices were high we removed the tvs to save weight. We saved about 500lbs per plane"
After she said that I looked at her like is everyone at your company an idiot! The plane I was on was an Airbus A320-200 which weights about 94,000lbs empty! Their is no way they are saving more than $5 per flight without the 500lb tv weight.

[j_marinelli]

If you like Italian food and wine try Battista's Hole in the Wall. Good food and all you can drink wine with meal.

[NemesisX]

My favorite italian place in Vegas is il mulino new york.

Menu: http://static1.squarespace.com/stati...t-2014-OUT.pdf

Everything I've ever had here is delicious, but I'm a huge fan of the pasta (particularly the fettucine alfredo, though technically this is more of an american bastardization of "italian" cuisine but it's delicious).

In addition to a regular tip they ask for a "captain's tip" which honestly threw me off the first time I saw it. I wasn't sure what the hell that was nor was I sure what was appropriate to tip, but that was a little bit of a turn off. I've dined at numerous 2 and 3 michelin star restaurants in Vegas and none of them have ever asked for a "captain's tip." It looked a little tacky.

[richardbb85]

where would you guys go, vegas or miami?

[K19BMW]

Originally Posted by richardbb85

where would you guys go, vegas or miami?

Well it depends what month you are thinking of going but I just got back from Vegas 4 days ago and I was in South Beach Miami in January but I would say I enjoyed South Beach more.

[richardbb85]

Originally Posted by K19BMW

Well it depends what month you are thinking of going but I just got back from Vegas 4 days ago and I was in South Beach Miami in January but I would say I enjoyed South Beach more.

end of june, it will just be me and my girl for a 4 days getaway

[K19BMW]

Originally Posted by richardbb85

end of june, it will just be me and my girl for a 4 days getaway

if it was up to me I would go back to Vegas. The reason behind this is much more pool type stuff will be open in June than it was now. When I went their were no pool clubs, the poolside casinos were closed, and most of the swim up bars weren't open.

Plus I would rather deal with the Vegas heat in June than the muggy, humid, florida heat

[NEFARIOUS]

Originally Posted by NemesisX

My favorite italian place in Vegas is il mulino new york.

Menu: http://static1.squarespace.com/stati...t-2014-OUT.pdf

Everything I've ever had here is delicious, but I'm a huge fan of the pasta (particularly the fettucine alfredo, though technically this is more of an american bastardization of "italian" cuisine but it's delicious).

In addition to a regular tip they ask for a "captain's tip" which honestly threw me off the first time I saw it. I wasn't sure what the hell that was nor was I sure what was appropriate to tip, but that was a little bit of a turn off. I've dined at numerous 2 and 3 michelin star restaurants in Vegas and none of them have ever asked for a "captain's tip." It looked a little tacky.

Either leave it out since they don't really do much, or just 5% at the most. On the other hand, if it's a crowded joint with an hour wait, but he prioritizes you and you practically walk right in without a reservation, or you intend to return to this restaurant within a short period of time and want to be taken to the front of the line, then slip him a $20.

[SLOWER]

Originally Posted by gtron

most airlines are terrible these days.

people use to be excited to fly, now it's one of the must stressful things you can do.

Originally Posted by richardbb85

where would you guys go, vegas or miami?

So.. did the $20 trick work?

I hate Miami. Such a douchey area. Check out Delray Beach. Minutes from the PBI airport and one of the greatest happy hour/dinner areas in Florida IMO.

[K19BMW]

Originally Posted by SLOWER

So.. did the $20 trick work?

I hate Miami. Such a douchey area. Check out Delray Beach. Minutes from the PBI airport and one of the greatest happy hour/dinner areas in Florida IMO.

Ya the $20 did work!

[SLOWER]

Nice glad to hear it.