Conference bookie::casino

    
    I am planning on visiting Vegas in October staying in the Hard Rock
    Hotel. Has anyone stayed there and how does it compare price wise to
    other Vegas hotels?   
    
    This is our 1st visit to Vegas. We will be there just for 2 days
    so any suggestions on must sees. It will be mid week when we are there. 
    Is there a difference between mid week and weekend , smaller crowds,
    cheaper rooms etc?
    
    
    Thanks in advance
    
    Des.

RE .16 -- Midweek is a good time to be in Las Vegas as far as room prices
are concerned.  In many (if not most) of the major casino hotels/resorts,
the room rates are lower from Sunday-Thursday and go up for Friday and 
Saturday.  A hotel listing at one of the Las Vegas Web sites 
(http://www.best.com/~lvnv/hotel.htm) says that rooms at the Hard Rock 
range from $65-$85.

I haven't stayed at the Hard Rock; the hotel part of it is pretty new
(within the last year or so, I think).  However, be aware that it is a
bit removed from the Strip, if you care about that.  Maybe they have a
shuttle to the Strip, I dunno (other places off the Strip do).  Though
if you'll have a car you won't have to worry about it.

As for must-sees, hmmm.  Two days is not a lot of time.  What kinds of
things are you interested in?  Shows?  Historical sights?  Natural sights?
Man-made wonders? (e.g., Hoover Dam)  Knowing what you like will help people
make suggestions.

If you have any flexibility about the dates you'll be there, try to check
whether any major conventions are scheduled then - that'll affect crowds,
of course. Although I doubt that many conventions are held at the 
Hard Rock. :-)  Some convention listings are available on the Web, but
they don't all list too many months in advance.

Here are some Web sites you may want to check out - some of these have links
to convention listings.  There's a lot of good info out there...

http://www.insidervlv.com/    (L.V. Insider Viewpoint Magazine)
http://www.pcap.com/lasvegas.htm  (L.V. Leisure Guide)
http://www.computerjournal.com/lv/informer.htm   (L.V. Informer)
http://www.vegas.com/ 	(Vegas.com)
http://vegasnet.com/vegasnet.html    (Vegasnet Online Magazine)
http://www.lvol.com/    (Las Vegas Online)

These should give you a start. :-)

Hope this helps!

- Nina

P.S. Also check out the NETCAD::HOLIDAY_TRAVEL notes file - there are some
Las Vegas topics in there (be sure to do DIR/TITLE=VEGAS).

    
    Thanks for all the info, Nina.
    
    We are really going to Vegas primarily in order to fly to the Grand Canyon
    and it gives us any oppertunity to see Vegas. 
    
    When you say that Hard Rock is some distance away from the Strip, who
    far approx. would this be?
    
    As regards interests, we are not that interested in shows, though Circe
    de Soleil is 1 show I would love to see. If there are natural wonders close
    to Las Vegas, within an hour or so travelling time we would be very
    interested.
    
    We are not planning on hiring a car and  are more independant minded
    travellars and not too keen on organised trips, so what is the best way 
    to get to the sights?
    
     Or is there just too much to see in Vegas to consider travelling?
    
    Again many thanks 
    
    regards
    
    Des
    
    
    

    Des,
    
    Since you are already visiting the Grand Caynon, I suggest you take-in
    the L.V. sites.  Save the "natural wonder" sites for you trip to the
    GC.  There is enough to see in LV, some attractions are at minimal or 
    no-cost.
    
    The Hard Rock has a free shuttle to the Strip.  One of the stops is at
    the Fashion Show Mall which is located on the Strip between Treasure
    Island and the Frontier.  From there you can easily walk to the major
    casinos in that area.  Treasure Island, Caesars, Mirage, Ballys, etc...
    The shuttle from the Hard Rock also goes downtown which has the Fremont
    Street Experience.
    
    Contact the hotel/casinos you are interested in visting and inquire
    about shuttle service.  If you take the shuttle to the Strip, grab the
    free shuttle offered by the Rio Hotel and Casino.  Their shuttle departs 
    from a station next to the Aladdin.  The Rio has an interesting Mardi
    Gras style parade that occurs every couple hours starting in the
    afternoon.  The floats are attached to the ceiling and run on a track
    over the casino floor.
    
    If you are into thrill rides check out the Stratosphere Tower.  On the
    top they have a roller coaster and a ride called the "Big Shot".  IMO
    they are worth the visit.
    
    Check out this web site, it has trip reports and rooms rates.
    
    http://www.aut.com/LasVegas/
    
    One trick on acquiring goods rates is to tell the reservation desk
    that you saw an advertisement in the Los Angeles Times or on the
    Internet.  The Imperial Palace had a $20.00 per night internet special. 
    It doesn't hurt to ask.
    
    Regards,
    
    Bill

    
    Thanks for all the info, Bill.
    
    regards
    
    Des