Dunes closed in 1993, Sahara in 2011; so your 'brat pack' tour might be a little disrupted.
OK, here’s a list of places that we think are worth a visit in terms of shops, bars, museums, places to eat and go, based on many trips (more than we can count as it’s often a pass through or step off to other destinations).
Las Vegas Boulevard 'The Strip' is home to most of the big name hotels but there are others just off East and West e.g. The Palms, Rio, The Orleans, Hard Rock and a lot of small hotel casinos that generally cater for locals.
There are loads of interesting things to do off the main hotel areas and we suggest that you consider hiring a car (inexpensive) to allow you to explore.
Use hotel valets to park as it saves time using the self-park garages which can be some distance from the main hotel areas. Drive up to the main hotel entrance and head to the valet line, give the valet a couple of $ on arrival and $3 -4 on departure.
LV is generally safe for tourists, just watch out for pick pockets and bag cutters in open crowded areas e.g. Fremont Street.
None of the destinations that we have included are in areas that we would consider unsafe.
Use the internet to look up anything that interests you as virtually everything in LV is online and bookable online (with discounts).
WelderUp is definitely worth a visit if you like metal working and cars. They had an original Batmobile there in August last year. Closes 3 or 4 pm depending on day. Good gift shop.
1042, 3160 S Highland Drive
Pinball Hall of Fame for restored vintage pinball games (25C a game; value!).
1610 East Tropicana
National Atomic Testing Museum Very informative and a brilliant gift shop.
755 East Flamingo Road
Mob Museum. Plan for half a day if you include the add-on Crime Lab experience and Use of Force experiences (both brilliant). Afterwards have a prohibition drink in the Speakeasy. Great gift shop.
300 Stewart Avenue Downtown LV (very close to Fremont Street).
Neon Museum. Book online and book for the Brilliant Experience after dark. We were a little underwhelmed when we arrived and went into the experience area but, seriously, it’s one of the best things we have ever done. Great gift shop.
770 North Las Vegas Blvd
Miracle Mile Shops in Planet Hollywood; just don’t hang around. In, out and gone after your one mile walk.
Caesar’s Palace Forum Shops; definitely worth a visit; expect crowds but it can be fun.
If you want to go and shoot some handguns or automatic weapons (on full auto) head to the Gun Store. Expensive but fun, we shoot whenever we are in the US at local gun clubs but not in LV, as this is designed for tourists not enthusiasts.
2900 east Tropicana Avenue
Grand Canyon by helicopter; generally well liked by people we know who have done these, we always drive.
Death Valley; depends on how long you have in LV.
Food
Generally avoid the hotels, other than if you want to eat in expensive restaurants, or are going for the buffet option (queues are likely).
PM us if you want some info on which restaurants are worth the cost.
Under no circumstances go anywhere near the revolving 'Top of the World' restaurant in the Stratosphere; poor quality food served by pretentious pricks who are only looking for a very big and very fat tip at the end of your meal, and they’ll be hurrying you along to finish.
One exception is the saturday and Sunday Morning Brunch (8am - 1pm) in the Veranda restaurant at the Four Seasons Las Vegas (top floors of Mandalay Bay, non-gaming and with a separate hotel entrance and a lift from the hotel onto the MB gaming floor through a very discrete door).
Book ahead (702 632 51210 and hang out with the very rich and very famous; it was our favourite LV hotel until the MO opened. Definitely try the huevos rancheros!
Seriously brilliant breakfasts at The Coffee Pub
#2A, 2800 W Sahara Avenue
Gordon Biersch Brewery; great beers and pretty good food.
3987 Paradise Road
Main Street Station Triple 7 Restaurant and Microbrewery for ribs and burgers.
200 North Main Street, Down Town Las Vegas (near Fremont Street)
Rick Harrison of Pawn Stars fame (it’s on the next block) owns Rick’s Rollin Smoke BBQ & Tavern. The food is downstairs (and it’s very good and inexpensive. The tavern is upstairs and gets very busy).
Pawn Plaza, 725 South Las Vegas Blvd
If you have never experienced authentic Mexican food, head to Original Lindo Michoacan
2655 East Desert Inn Road
Best bars in Las Vegas?
Try the SkyBar at the Walfdorf Astoria (previously Mandarin Oriental Las Vegas) on the 23rd floor. Telephone a couple of nights ahead to book a window table looking out over Las Vegas Boulevard.
Waldorf Astoria Las Vegas
3752 South Las Vegas Blvd
702 590 8888
A late night bar that’s worth a visit?
Ultra Lounge and Bar at the Artisan Hotel
1501 West Sahara Avenue
Shopping
We suggest that you avoid the very expensive Fashion Show Mall.
North Las Vegas Premium Outlets
875 South Grand Central Parkway
South Las Vegas Premium Outlets
7400 South Las Vegas Blvd
Town Square
6605 South Las Vegas Blvd including
The Dog House for all your dog’s presents and treats.
#112 Town Square, 6659 South Las Vegas Blvd (also amongst the Miracle Mile shops) and
Whole Foods Market Town Square, 6689 Las Vegas Blvd
Comic Books Alternative Reality; say hello to the owner Ralph and tell him that the crazy couple from Bristol say hello!
#8, 4110 South Maryland Parkway (corner of SMP and Flamingo Blvd)
Almost adjacent is Cash 4 Chaos, a great shop for inexpensive alternative T-shirts and other fashion items (boots, weird stuff etc.)
# 27/28, 4110 South Maryland Parkway
Alcohol; step off Las Vegas Blvd, in almost any direction, and you’ll find plenty of inexpensive places to pick up some cheap beer, wine and spirits.
I’m sure that we will think of some other things in the next couple of days.
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