IgoUgo

Las Vegas Journals

Sin City 2007

A November 2007 trip to Las Vegas by Rockyhorror1978

Quote: A brief encounter with North America's mecca of consumerism in the desert.

Sin City 2007 Best of IgoUgo

Overview

Quote:
Las Vegas is a city that has something for everyone! It is the oasis in the desert. We went for only 5 days and are already planning a trip back next year to see the things that we missed. Some of the most memorable moments that we had in Vegas were not based around the casinos, but just people watching and taking in the numerous activities that Vegas has to offer. My personal favorite was definately the Eiffel Tower in Paris. From the top of the tower, you get the best view of the strip. You can appreciate the neon lights that adorn the casinos and resorts in one sweeping view. From Vegas, you can also take a trip to the Grand Canyon, AZ and view one of the most magnificent wonders of nature....Read More

Imperial Palace Las Vegas Best of IgoUgo

Hotel | "Imperial Palace Hotel and Casino"

Quote:
The Imperial Palace and Casino is not the most glitzy hotel on the Las Vegas Strip, but it is certainly the best price for location. It is located right in the center of the Strip, across from Caesar's Palace and beside the Flamingo and Harrah's. The rooms are basic and offer regular amenities (i.e., towel service, hair dryer, cable TV, etc), but do not go above and beyond that. We were offered the option of upgrading to a refurbished room for an extra $20 per night, but declined. We also paid a dollar a day surcharge for phone and internet usage. Having read other reviews, this seems to be a standard hotel charge.It is also worth noting that this is the only hotel on the strip with balconies. My...Read More

Member Rating 5 out of 5 on November 24, 2025

Imperial Palace Las Vegas
3535 Las Vegas Blvd. SO
Las Vegas, Nevada 89109
(702) 731-3311

Cheesecake Factory Best of IgoUgo

Restaurant | "The Cheesecake Factory"

Quote:
I am an avid fan of the Cheesecake Factory and consider myself a Cheesecake Diva. My boyfriend on the other hand was a Cheesecake Factory Virgin and had never experienced the deliciousness of a Cheesecake Factory slice before. As a seasoned pro, I found the service at this Cheesecake Factory to be phenomenal. Our server was incredibly friendly and even offer to see if she had any VIP passes for the clubs on the Strip for us! As always, the standard menu is inclusive and types of foods ranged from a grande burrito that is the size of a serving dish to a classic hamburger. The proportions are huge and nearly as soon as you are seated and have drinks a complimentary bread basket is br...Read More

Member Rating 5 out of 5 on November 24, 2025

Cheesecake Factory
3500 South Las Vegas Blvd.
Las Vegas, Nevada 89109
(702) 792-6888

Imperial Buffet Best of IgoUgo

Restaurant | "Imperial Palace Buffet"

Quote:
We did both breakfast and lunch at the Imperial Palace Buffet. This is one of the cheapest buffets in Vegas, and if you sign up for the Imperial Palace Players Club, you can get $5 off lunch or dinner, making it even cheaper.This is a basic buffet and covers all bases: salads, hot foods, and desserts. The food was functional: it filled your gut. While it was not horrible food, it is definately not a meal you are going to brag to your friends about years to come. For breakfast, the buffet offered eggs, toast, pancakes, breakfast burritos, sausage and bacon. It also offered salads, deserts and soup (just in case you wanted brunch?!). My boyfriend had the eggs and noted that they were...Read More

Member Rating 3 out of 5 on November 25, 2025

Imperial Buffet
Imperial Palace Hotel & Casino
Las Vegas, Nevada

California Pizza Kitchen - The Mirage Best of IgoUgo

Restaurant | "California Pizza Kitchen"

Quote:
This was a fun place to eat. My boyfriend and I didn't were looking for a quick bite to eat and stop here on a whim while in the Fashion Mall.

It was fantastic. We split an appetizer of spinach dip with tortilla chips and then I had the white pizza and he had a chicken Caesar sandwich with Scheshwan coleslaw. Both the appetizer and the main courses came out quickly and were hot! The portion sizes were large and filling.

Our server was friendly and funny! The atmosphere was very cool - very cafe/bistro like. We were able to sit outside of the restaurant in a "patio" in the mall. It was great for people watching and just enjoying the sights.

Member Rating 5 out of 5 on November 25, 2025

California Pizza Kitchen - The Mirage
3400 Las Vegas Blvd S
Las Vegas, Nevada 89109
(702) 791-7111

Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville Best of IgoUgo

Restaurant

Quote:
This was the funnest bar to be in. The bar staff were awesome, funny and friendly. The margaritas were the best I have ever had... I could actually taste the tequila! My boyfriend and I both got a 'Big Rita' each so we could have a souvenir glass to take home. It was a great deal. Margaritas were usually around $7-8 and for $12.95, we got a huge margarita in a take home glass. If you like Jimmy Buffett, you will love this bar. It plays none-stop Jimmy Buffett music. This bar also features stilt-walkers that will come to your table or the bar. These people are very friendly and will stop for a good 10 minutes to talk to you! There is also a small performance in which a 'hiker' goes ...Read More

Member Rating 5 out of 5 on November 25, 2025

Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville
The Flamingo
Las Vegas, Nevada 89109
(702) 733-3302

LaSalsa Cantina - Take Two Best of IgoUgo

Restaurant | "La Salsa Cantina"

Quote:
First and foremost, in the style of Simpson's Comic-book Guy: Worst service ever. We were seated promptly, but then ignored for the rest of the evening by our server. He came to our table three times: to take our entire order after waiting 20 minutes, to drop off our food and appetizers at the same time about 20 minutes later, and then to drop off the bill half way through eating, in the style of 'get out.'We had stopped at this restaurant on a whim. We were wandering the Miracle Mile Shops and were hungry. We had stopped to look at the menu and overheard another person say that they had eaten here before and really enjoyed it. In person recommendation: can't go wrong right?! The f...Read More

Member Rating 2 out of 5 on November 25, 2025

LaSalsa Cantina - Take Two
3785 Las Vegas Boulevard South
Las Vegas, Nevada
(702) 240-6944

Pure Best of IgoUgo

Attraction

Quote:
My boyfriend and I tried to go to this club on the Tuesday during our visit. We were able to procure VIP passes from a hawker on the street and therefore would not have had to pay the $25 cover charge. You are however expected to buy at least one round of drinks in your party (avg. drink price is $7.99). We dolled up and went down to stand in line. While in line we were turned away because my boyfriend was not wearing appropriate footwear. While we had been told that individuals wearing running shoes and work boots would not be admitted, we were not told that footwear had to be specifically dress shoes (i.e., black and shiny), not casual footwear. Despite not being able to get into the club,...Read More

Member Rating 2 out of 5 on November 24, 2025

Pure
Caesars Palace
Las Vegas, Nevada 89109
702/212-8806

Mystère Best of IgoUgo

Attraction | "Mystere"

Quote:
Mystere was the first Cirque du Soleil show to call Las Vegas home. Having read previous journal entries on Rough Guides, we had determined that this was the most traditional show and a great introduction to the Cirque du Soleil family of Performances. The show was phenomenal, including dance, traditional acrobatics and wonderful music. Each act was separated by a short comic interlude of traditional clown humor often involving the audience. Although the show started at 9:30, it was worth getting to the theater half an hour before the show. Photographers are wandering around the auditorium taking pictures of couples and groups. These pictures can be purchased after the show for app...Read More

Member Rating 5 out of 5 on November 24, 2025

Mystère
Treasure Island
Las Vegas, Nevada

Casino Royale Best of IgoUgo

Attraction

Quote:
This is the worst casino we went into. The service was insultingly rude. Whenever we had to deal with the staff (i.e., bartenders, servers, customer service) we felt like it was a major inconvenience and/or a group of cattle being shuttled from one area to the next. The staff were lifeless and unfriendly. This was apparent by their obvious disinterest in the customers. One of the advertised features of this casino is $20 of free slot play when you sign up for their Players Club Card. This is an obvious scam as only a limited number of slot machines were allocated for inclusion. Other than the free slot play, there was no other initiative to gamble with these machines. Playing the lottery is ...Read More

Member Rating 1 out of 5 on November 24, 2025

Paris Las Vegas Best of IgoUgo

Attraction | "The Imperial Palace"

Quote:
Since we were staying at the Imperial Palace, this is probably where we spent most of our time gambling. Not being big gamblers, we stuck mostly to the penny slot machines. We did however venture the tables to play with the Dealertainers. Where else can you have Tina Turner deal you blackjack or Madonna spin the wheel at roulette?! The dealers were incredibly friendly and willing to help explain the rules of the game or suggest how the game is played 'by the book.'The drinks service was awesome as well. The waitress stopped by frequently to see if you needed another drink and often brought you a drink if they noticed you were running low. The Dealertainers were just totally fun. On...Read More

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on November 24, 2025

Paris Las Vegas
3655 Las Vegas Blvd. South
Las Vegas, Nevada 89109

Lookout Tours Best of IgoUgo

Attraction

Quote:
We took the tour from Las Vegas to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon where the visitor center and lodges are. This is a long day. We were picked up from our hotel at 6:00am and taken to the Lookout Tour office where we given a small breakfast and had the tour explained to us. We decided to add the IMAX Grand Canyon Movie to our package at this point (an extra US$12.00/person). We then boarded the buses and started our day to the Grand Canyon. Our first stop was at the Hoover Dam. We did not do the tour, but were able to stand at the top of a look out point that gave an excellent view of the Dam. Between the Hoover Dam and the Grand Canyon, we made a brief pit stop to stretch our legs and buy...Read More

Member Rating 5 out of 5 on November 25, 2025

Lookout Tours

Las Vegas, Nevada
(800) 566-5868

Grand Canyon IMAX movie Best of IgoUgo

Attraction

Quote:
The Imax movie is a 30 minute introduction to the Grand Canyon at the National Geographic Visitor's Center just before entering the park. It costs $12.00 per person and is well worth the money. By viewing this movie you are able to see parts of the canyon that you will never see from the Rim and are given a brief history of the Grand Canyon.

The visitor's center in which the movie is located also has a few exhibits showing the original boats that were taken down the rapids of the Colorado River and the gear used today to do the same trip.

We both felt that we had a better appreciation for the Grand Canyon and the buildings that developed around it as a result of this movie.

Member Rating 3 out of 5 on November 25, 2025

Eiffel Tower Experience at Paris Las Vegas Best of IgoUgo

Attraction | "The Eiffel Tower Experience"

Quote:
This is one of the best ways to see Las Vegas, especially at dusk and the back drop for all of your photos can be the sun setting over desert foot hills that surround Las Vegas.From the top of the Eiffel Tower, you are given a 360 degree view of the City below. We got some of our most awesome pictures of the strip from this view. We were also able to view the Fountain Show at the Bellagio Hotel and Casino from the top of tower. This is the best way to see the show. You can still hear the music faintly and able to see how high the water shots up at some points during the show. You are given an unlimited amount of time to spend at the top of the tower, so be patient and you will be a...Read More

Member Rating 5 out of 5 on November 25, 2025

Eiffel Tower Experience at Paris Las Vegas
3655 Las Vegas Boulevard South
Las Vegas, Nevada 89109
(702) 946-7000

Fashion Show Mall Best of IgoUgo

Attraction

Quote:
This is a really neat mall to visit. By combining indoor and outdoor elements (i.e. putting escalators outside), it's difficult sometimes to determine whether you are in the mall or not. This mall has all the brand name stores available to shop at. This is not an outlet mall so be prepared to be regular price. It was great to wander in and out of the stores and see all of the merchandise for sale (especially at the stores that we don't have at home). It's also a great place to take a break from the casinos for people-watching. The staff in the stores were incredibly helpful and friendly. We only shopped at Payless Shoe Store, but were impressed by the service provided.

Member Rating 3 out of 5 on November 25, 2025

Fashion Show Mall
3200 Las Vegas Blvd South
Las Vegas, Nevada 89109
(702) 369-8382

Siegfried and Roy's Secret Garden and Dolphin Habitat Best of IgoUgo

Attraction | "Siegfried & Roy's Secret Garden & Dolphin Habitat"

Quote:
This is an awesome place to see the White tigers and white lions. These animals are kept so well and are active and healthy because of it. We were able to watch the animals interact with each other, as opposed to lying around as seen at other zoos.We were also able to watch the dolphins at this center. We were able to observe the newborn baby dolphin with it's mother. These dolphins were not forced to perform tricks, but we were able to see random play with the staff. Every time the staff interacted with the animals, a demonstrator was explaining what the staff were doing and why. This is definately one of the highlights of our trip and a must see for anyone traveling to Las Vegas....Read More

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on November 25, 2025

Siegfried and Roy's Secret Garden and Dolphin Habitat
Mirage Hotel, 3400 Las Vegas Blvd. South
Las Vegas, Nevada 89109
(702) 791-7188

The Miracle Mile Shops Best of IgoUgo

Attraction

Quote:
This mall is nearly like any other mall in North America or Las Vegas for that matter. The stores are the same as at any other mall. The only difference is: it's attached to a casino.This was previously the Dessert Passage at the Aladdin Casino and it is the only part of the casino that has been untouched. I'm sure that it will be revamped as part of the take over by Planet Hollywood sometime. This mall does have a theater in it and we didn't attend any of the shows. There is also a rainstorm that is pretty neat to see. You can actually see the sky above the location fill with dark clouds and slow rumbles of thunder as the storm approaches. At the top of the hour, the storm breaks and it rai...Read More

Member Rating 2 out of 5 on November 25, 2025

Mirage Hotel and Casino Best of IgoUgo

Attraction | "The Mirage Casino"

Quote:
This was my favorite casino. I might be biased because the first pull on a penny slot machine earned me $15 dollars! The previous theme of exotic animals and scenery has been replaced by the psychedelic decor of the Beatles. This includes the Revolution Lounge that plays 24 hours of original and remixed Beatles songs and the Cirque du Soleil production Love. Being a huge Beatles fan, this was also a very cool experience for me: winning $15 dollars with Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds playing in the background. This casino definately is trying to appeal to the Baby Boomer Generation that has money to spend. The one downside of this casino was the drink service was VERY slow. Whereas i...Read More

Member Rating 5 out of 5 on November 25, 2025

Mirage Hotel and Casino
3400 Las Vegas Boulevard South
Las Vegas, Nevada 89109
(800) 374-9000

Treasure Island Best of IgoUgo

Attraction | "Treasure Island - TI"

Quote:
This was my boyfriend's favorite casino. I can't imagine why. Perhaps it had to do with the scantily clad Sirens or perhaps it has to do with the $5 he won on a penny machine. This, however, was not my favorite casino. It offered nothing novel or new. The only feature that was available, the Sirens of TI performance, in front of the hotel was closed for maintenance. This was very disappointing. While it was neat to wander around and look at the casino, when you stopped to watch a table game, you were made to feel like you were invading someone's privacy or something like that.

Member Rating 3 out of 5 on November 25, 2025

Treasure Island
3300 S. Las Vegas Blvd.
Las Vegas, Nevada 89109
(702) 894-7111

Flamingo Las Vegas Wildlife Habitat Best of IgoUgo

Attraction | "The Flamingo Habitat"

Quote:
The Flamingo bird habitat is a neat outdoor exhibit of different species of wild birds. Some of the birds are not housed in exhibits and are free to wander around the space. We actually had pea-fowl walk up to us for a photo moment!The flamingos are housed right near the front of the exhibit and are fascinating to watch. It's like a large flock of lawn ornaments hanging out. The one warning I have about this area is it is covered in bird poo! So if you sit to take a picture or to relax, be sure to look before sitting.

Member Rating 3 out of 5 on November 25, 2025

Flamingo Las Vegas Wildlife Habitat
3555 Las Vegas Blvd South
Las Vegas, Nevada 89109
+1 702 733 3111

Lion Habitat at the MGM Grand Best of IgoUgo

Attraction | "The Lion Habitat at the MGM Grand"

Quote:
This was one of my favorite casino exhibits. I could have stood and watched the lions interact all day. The MGM Grand is currently housing two young lions in their habitat. These lions were fun to watch as they played together. We were not able to see the Lions from the front of the exhibit, so we went into the underground passage that went below them. From there, the lions were directly on top of us! It was awesome to see the lions so close up. We stood for about 15 minutes and watched them play fight and chew on the largest rawhide bones we had ever seen (approximately the size of house cats). This is an animal-lover's dream!

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on November 25, 2025

Lion Habitat at the MGM Grand
3799 Las Vegas Blvd South
Las Vegas, Nevada 89109
+1 702 891 1111; +1

Bellagio Fountains Best of IgoUgo

Attraction | "Fountains of Bellagio"

Quote:
This site is best seen at night as the fountains light up. Watching the fountains is like watching firecrackers. While music is played, the fountains dance by shooting straight into the air or waving back and forth. We saw the fountains perform to "Luck be a Lady Tonight" by Frank Sinatra. It was awesome to see during the climax, the fountains shoot what looked like the height of the hotel. The sounds of the fountains shooting was also very cool and sounded like fireworks. We saw this show twice, once from the ground and once from the Eiffel Tower at Paris Hotel and Casino. Both views were spectacular and both views should be seen!

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on November 25, 2025

Bellagio Fountains
3600 Las Vegas Blvd South
Las Vegas, Nevada
(702) 693-7111

Mirage Hotel and Casino Best of IgoUgo

Attraction | "The Volcano at the Mirage"

Quote:
This is an awesome sight. It was the first casino/hotel free show that we saw. While real lava is obviously not spewed from the volcano, the water is lit up in reds and oranges to simulate the lava. Fire is spewed from the top of the volcano and loud claps of noise simulating a volcano exploding make for a reasonably realistic experience. My boyfriend and I both agreed that this was one of the coolest free exhibits on the strip and went back a second time to see it!

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on November 25, 2025

Mirage Hotel and Casino
3400 Las Vegas Blvd. South
Las Vegas, Nevada 89109
(702) 791-7111

Manhattan Express Roller Coaster Best of IgoUgo

Attraction

Quote:
This roller coaster is probably one of the longest roller coasters I've been on. It goes around the casino's outside and ends in the casino. It is at the back of the Coney Island Emporium so it seems like it is part of a huge theme park. The line up to get on this ride was not long and we only waited 5 minutes to get on. Once you have paid for your initial ride, it is only $7 to ride again. We would have done the ride again, but it was our last day and there was so much more to see. We will definately do this ride again next time we are in Vegas.You are not able to take anything on the ride and have rent a locker to put your stuff in for 50 cents.

Member Rating 5 out of 5 on November 25, 2025

Manhattan Express Roller Coaster
3790 S. Las Vegas Boulvard
Las Vegas, Nevada 89109
(702) 740-6969

Flamingo Las Vegas Hotel & Casino Best of IgoUgo

Attraction | "The Flamingo Casino"

Quote:
This casino is most like every other casino on the strip. It doesn't offer anything novel or entertaining. If you love the colour pink, you will love gambling at this casino, otherwise you would probably be better off gambling at another casino that offers more in the way of entertainment. The drinks service at this casino was good. The waitress was attentive and was quick to approach us when we first sat down. Neither my boyfriend nor I won any money at this casino.

Member Rating 2 out of 5 on November 25, 2025

Flamingo Las Vegas Hotel & Casino
3555 Las Vegas Blvd South
Las Vegas, Nevada 89109
702-733-3111

Forum Shops Best of IgoUgo

Attraction | "The Forum Shops"

Quote:
This is a very cool mall to walk around... even if it will take 3 years salary to buy anything. Featuring a Roman theme, the forum shops are an extension of Caesar's Palace. The theme is carried through the Mall perfectly. No detail has been left unnoticed including a cloudy sky that adorns the roof of the mall. There are a few cool attractions at the Forum shops that we really enjoyed. This first is the talking statues in the centre of the shops. These are good campy fun. The statues talk and move about. They seem a bit dated as they are probably part of the original forum shops and not part of the additions. The second attraction is the F.A.O. Schwartz Trojan horse. In front of the...Read More

Member Rating 3 out of 5 on November 25, 2025

Forum Shops
3570 Las Vegas Blvd South
Las Vegas, Nevada 89109
(702) 893-4800

Grand Canal Shoppes Best of IgoUgo

Attraction | "Grand Canal Shops"

Quote:
The Grand Canal Shops are much like the Forum Shops at Caesar's Palace: high end boutique and designer fashions. The difference between the two malls is the Venetian features canal ways through out the mall with Gondoliers guiding their boats up and down the canals. Throughout the mall, you can also hear the gondoliers singing arias and other operatic pieces. This mall is definately romantic! In addition to the Gondoliers, there are also moving statues through out the malls. It is amazing to see how long an actor can hold one position before moving to another. It reminded me a lot of the statues in Covent Gardens, London. If you tipped these statues a dollar, they would incorpor...Read More

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on November 25, 2025

Grand Canal Shoppes
3355 Las Vegas Blvd South
Las Vegas, Nevada 89109
(877) 883-6423

When In Vegas... Best of IgoUgo

Story/Tip

Quote:
These are a few tips and suggestions that we would have liked to have known about before going to Vegas!1. It's Dry: Yep, Vegas is in the desert and only gets approximately 4 inches of rainfall a year, making a dry terrain. This can have a devastating effect on the body if you aren't prepared. Make sure you bring your sunscreen, aloe or oatmeal based lotion and some chap-stick with you. We didn't and by the end of 5 days we were both rougher than sandpaper and our lips were dried and chapped. If you're drinking, remember to drink water between drinks, otherwise you will have the pasties in less the 10 minutes.2. You're Living an Infomercial: Everywhere you go someon...Read More

Las Vegas on the Cheap Best of IgoUgo

Story/Tip

Quote:
Las Vegas is the mecca of consumerism. The money flows freely on the tables and in the stores. Every high-end fashion name has bought their corner of Vegas. This doesn't mean that you have be a high roller to have a good time. Here are some tips to do Vegas on a budget... and hopefully stick to it. 1. Plan how much you are going to spend on gambling and stick to it. Not being big gamblers (i.e., we can't rip up a $20 bill and not cry about it), we only planned to spend $50 - $70 on gambling. This is also part of your drinking budget since as long as you are sitting in front of a machine or at a table, drinks are free!2. Get the Players Club Cards. Just for signing u...Read More

About the Writer

Rockyhorror1978
St Catharines, Ontario

  • "I am the eternal student. I love to travel and try and go somewhere different every year. This year:..."
  • 7 journals
  • 0 photos
  • 46 reviews

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