The one time I went to Vegas, we stayed at the Aladdin. It stunk and the whole experience just felt dirty and nasty. Gah!

There are also some great Pay-By-The-Hour hotels available.

Is it the fiance's 75th? Nice that you're doing this for him. I've only been to Vegas once (for work) and stayed at Bally's. Don't stay there.

I say go without a reservation. There are guys on the sidewalks that are handing out cards and I think they might be a good source for information on good hotels and restaurants.

Whatever hotel you choose, they will try to get you to upgrade your room when you check in. You will likely get a room with a view of a blank wall if you choose not to upgrade.

Use the $20.00 trick.

http://thetwentydollartrick.com/

We just returned from Vegas. Stayed at Treasure Island. Good location, ok prices, lots of options for food and had a tram to the neighboring hotel - the Mirage.
Enjoy!

I'm going in a few weeks and booked at Bally's because it was cheap and the location is pretty good. Hopefully I won't have the same bad experience.

Another vote for Treasure Island. We greeted our son as he stepped off the bus at the Marine base at Twentynine Palms, California when he returned from his first Afghanistan deployment a year or so ago and all went over to Vegas, staying at Treasure Island. Location proved more handy than the Mandalay which was the stay on a previous trip.

A group of use (6 or so) were told to go to Mon Ami Gabi for dinner last year. We were so very lucky to get a table on the patio right at the railing. We were thrilled because we'd heard that was the best place to watch the Bellagio night time fountain show. Well, lo a behold, for the second time in history it was too windy for the fountain show! We couldn't help but laugh at our luck. But we enjoyed the food.

I loved dinner outside at Mon Ami Gabi...probably my favorite restaurant in Vegas.

I've only ever stayed at the Flamingo (just say NO) and Caesar's Palace. Caesar's was in a great location and the rooms were nice.

I'm not a Vegas person - I've only been twice in the last 20 years or so. Both times I stayed at the MGM Grand and I thought it was fine. It's close enough to everything - you can walk or take the train/tram/whatever it's called. I didn't remember the name of that restaurant at Paris that others have mentioned, but I know that's where we had a really good lunch and people-watched from the patio. Thumbs up for Mon Ami Gabi!

Jen - how did you like Ceasars? The hotel itself, I mean. I'm staying there when I go in the fall.

I've been there to eat (Spago) and, of course, have been to the forum shops.

I was there for a conference. The room was fine, not overly glamorous like some hotels I've stayed in (hello West Palm Beach...the Breakers was AMAZING) but much cleaner/nicer/newer than the Flamingo. I might have been a little disappointed had I been paying out of my own pocket, the price tag is a little high for it being just a nice clean room.

The location was amazing, so many choices for food right there, Bobby Flay's restaurant was good. I also spent an afternoon in the spa. BEST MASSAGE EVER. They have heated stone lounge chairs that you melt into and I could have stayed in there forever.

good to know.

thanks, Jen.

I've been to Vegas 6 times for conferences and am going back for the Fiserv conference in two weeks. First time, stayed at the Hilton, way too far from strip. Second and third time, stayed at the Mirage, I thought it was nice. Right in middle of strip. Next time, stayed at Mandalay Bay. At that point, I really liked that hotel the best. I am a walker, so I thought it was close to the action. Last two times, and this time coming up, I stayed at the Venetian/Palazzo. I loved that hotel the best. It is sort of right in the middle of the strip and the hotel is beautiful. That is my recommendation. If I were to go to Vegas for vacation, I would book the Venetian.

^^^this

Only drawback is they don't have a buffet, but it's not like you can swing a dead cat without hitting one somewhere else...

What on Earth makes you think of describing the ubiquitous characteristic of something by swinging a dead cat?

You sir, made me laugh today.

I am not a fan of buffets.

But what about Buffets?

Seriously, Deek - there are some great ones in Vegas. As weird as it is to say - "higher end" buffets.

Check out the one at Wynn.

I don't eat enough in one sitting to justify paying $30 for a buffet. At least, that was the cost of the one we ate at.

I try to avaid buffets entirely. It has nothing to do with the quality of the food, but if I pay $30 for "all you can eat", I'm not leaving until they have lost money on me!

The trick to getting your money's worth at buffets: Avoid pasta. It's cheap, and designed to fill you up.

I don't like other people pawing in my food. It is vulgar.

Sounds like you have a problem with other people's table manners. Do you do potlucks?

Yes, I probably do. No potlucks. Never.