I am going to Reno and Vegas for half work-half play. I've never been. If anyone has ever been to Reno, please let me know what the nicest hotel is, cost no object, since boss is footing the bill. I am thinking about staying at the Bellagio in Vegas. If anyone has any tips please let me know. Thanks

Staying at Bellagio? Prepare to shell out some major bucks.

I'm writing this from Bally's (across the street). getting ready to head out.

Bellagio is pretty much dead center of the strip (new strip), which is cool. But like I said...VERY expensive. My favorite for rooms would have to be the Venetian. Every room is a suite. (Obviously, it's pretty expensive, too). Bally's is reasonable - my room (a suite) is only $55 right now (no major conventions in town).

Of course, there's a motel 6 across 15 from Excalibur that's only about $30/night. I've actually stayed there before (when work wasn't paying). Hey...it's a bed.

I've never been to Reno, but I'd stay at the Fitzgerald Hotel. It was built and owned by my Great Aunt and Uncle Fitzgerald. Though I don't know if it's one of the nicer ones or not. And when you see The Nevada Club casino, that was theirs too.

I would recommend the Luxor in Vegas... nice place, great breakfast buffet in basement... Also, if you are driving the X, check out Red Rock Park and if you are up for light offroading there is an unofficial OHV park just north of Red Rock (no marked turn off but you will see small red rocks up on the hill... but they really aren't small!)

Enjoy Vegas, be prepared for the heat!

El Dorado or Silver Legacy in Reno. Fitzgeralds is OK, but nothing special. If money is no object, I think you could get a high-roller suite (basically a large house) for a couple of grand a night and up Enjoy your stay and don't donate too much to the local economy...

Thanks for the info. Mobycat, I was also thinking about the Venetian. Whats better, Venetian, Bellagio, or Mandalay Bay? I'll be flying so I won't have the x... to bad. Thats why I want to be in the middle of everything so I won't have far to go. Iluvmyx, I just might stay there when I'm in Reno. I don't gamble much, but my boss likes to throw around money, but I usually pocket it, tell him I lost it and come home. Thanks everyone!

I've stayed at both the Venitian and Mandalay Bay and the rooms at the Venitian are alot nicer IMO. Mandalay Bay is at the very end of the strip across from the airport so expect a little more helicopter and airplane noise but it is a nice hotel. It has a pretty cool wave pool and beach. Wear your sandels if at the beach cause the sand gets extremely hot. The Venetian has multiple pools on the roof which is sthe 4th floor. The Sands convention Hall is conected to the Venetian so if there are conventions going on at the time it may be quite busy in there. The Venetian

Well, I'm back in DC. hot, muggy, and raining. SUCK!

Mandalay Bay is also home to the Four Seasons Hotel ($$$). Biggest problem with it, in my opinion...since it's at the southernmost end of the strip, be prepared for a LOT of walking (I wouldn't recommend driving up and down the strip). And Mandalay Bay I believe rivals Bellagio in prices.

Oh...I *can* tell you some places to avoid. At the top of the list I would place Circus Circus, unless you love kids running around.

Of the places I've stayed and seen the rooms, I'd rank them this way: (top to bottom)

1. Venetian
2. Harrah's
3. Bally's
4. Sahara
5. Circus Circus
6. Motel 6

Location, there are two major intersections (you'll know them by the walkway going *over* the strip).

1. Bellagio/Bally's/Caesar's/Flamingo
2. New York New York/MGM/Tropicana/Excalibur

If you aren't into gambling, I'd say go see either of the Cirque du Soleil shows. I've not seen either, but I've heard they are amazing. I'd *avoid* Sigfried and Roy. WAY overpriced. I've heard the Medieval Dinner at Excalibur is good - $40 pays for your food and a show (but no silverware).

Oh, and if you have the need for fear - go to Stratosphere and ride Big Shot. Skip the roller coaster. Big Shot...well...you have to experience it (especially at the top of a tower like that).

Don't miss "The Art of the Motorcycle" at the Guggenheim gallery in the Paris. The most incredible collection of motorcycles ever amassed. Also, as for getting around up and down the strip, there are free monorails that run through the casinos if you don't feel like walking or it's too hot.
Check out the Art of the Motorcycle here

Actually its at the Venetian

More web sites

Mandalay Bay

Bellagio

Hotel search in Vegas

hey, when are you coing to vegas? you should stop into Charlie Palmer Steak in the Four Seasons> its the same building as Mandalay Bay. I"m a bartender there, i'll buy you a drink and tell you the best places to go to.4exp: Voodoo Lounge- best view of the city, top of the Rio hotel/casino, live music til 3am, top four bartenders in the world for flairring. i lived here for 23 years, in know this place like the back of my hand. if you're driving out, i know some great trails too. have fun. & remember: they didn't build these resorts off of winners:)

BTW, Charlie Palmer Steak is voted by LVRJ the best steakhouse with award winning wine list, and best place to take clients. Ask for Sam at the bar.

Thanks for all the information. Sam, I'll be in Reno on the 8th-9th and then Vegas from the 9th-12th I think. I'll e-mail you when I get a concrete schedule. I'll stop by for that drink.

Holy crap, that is one hell of a system in your X If you were bringing it, I would have like to see it.

Speaking of Red Rocks Park, you might also want to check out Valley of Fire - next to Lake Mead area. They both are cool, but I'd go to Valley of Fire first.

Two words....Liberace Museum!

I'll probably be in Vegas for the weekend of July 4th and will check out Valley of Fire. I read that Bluffington Pockets trail near the Valley is a good 28-mile trail too, and also Rock Gap in Red Rock Canyon.

Anyone know if Pockets is a tough trail or an easy one.

Thanks

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Red Rock is a nice place to go for scenic, but not really difficult wheeling.

The last two times I was out around Vegas I tried to visit Valley of Fire and the surrounding area, but have still not yet had a chance. I did, however, do a little wheeling in the area just south of Valley of Fire, north of Lake Mead.

Here are some links that you may find useful when looking for alternatives to gambling while in Vegas:

Valley of Fire link 1

Valley of Fire link 2

Valley of Fire link 3

Ore Car Mine and a nearby slot canyon (look for a dirt road on the west side of the road labelled "Callville Wash North") There's some pretty good wheeling around there.

Trails in the Logandale region , north of Valley of Fire State Park, near Overton, NV (about an hour north of Las Vegas).

Bitter Springs Backcountry Byway managed by the BLM. This trail is long, bumpy/rocky, and sandy in places, but is completely suitable for a stock 4x4 SUV. It's very scenic.

Last time through this region, I had planned to drive the BLM trail and visit Valley of Fire, but we ended up playing around longer than planned in the Ore Care Mine area, and had to skip VoF.

edit: A GPS and/or a topo map of the region is helpful for navigating around this area. If anyone would like a Garmin Mapsource mps file containing the track log for the Ore Car Mine and Slot Canyon, e-mail me.

If you're not into gambling much, the other activities I would definitely recommend would be:

1) See the Cirque du Soleil show, Mystere, at Treasure Island. Expensive, but fantastic! And worth every penny!
2) Ride the Big Shot on top of the Stratosphere Tower - what a rush!
3) Go out to Red Rock Canyon and do some hiking or bouldering. There are various trails - some pretty easy and some that will give you a serious workout!
4) Take a quick trip to Buffalo Bill's on the California border to ride the Desperado roller coaster. Great ride!

Thanks Dean, I checked out those links and they are cool. I also printed out a few of them. Do you have any detail maps of VOF Bitter Mt. trail? It's a long trail and I want to make sure I won't get lost in 110 deg. heat in the middle of no where. . That will be sucks.

Also, will it be OK if I have a spare gas tank on the roof in that 100+ heat? Any concern?

Thanks

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I don't know about the spare gas tank, but here\'s a map for you.