Last minute scouting trip next wk - what hotel should i stay at?

Sara191431

Hola - I've decided to do a last minute scouting trip next Tues. to Thurs. as soon as my boss gives me the final ok today. I'm driving myself crazy trying to decide what Suite to use for our reception so I want to see them in person. Right now Excalibur, Imperial Palace and Circus Circus are around $20 a night.  Which one should I stay at?  I'm thinking Excalibur cause it's closer to Mandalay Bay as I'll be touring 3 or so Suites there. But I'll also be touring Aria, not sure if any other ones, but prob. not.

I'll also be doing cake tastings there while I'm there which I don't even know yet where all the bakers are I want to taste.

What do you think will be the best location for all this? Also, anything else I should try to do while there? Our ceremony is already at Flamingo, which I haven't seen in person so I may go take a peek at that, but otherwise my main concern is the Suite and Cake.

aegrish

Excalibur is not bad. IMO, definitely NOT Circus Circus...

junebug61103

I'd say excaliur also...Circus Circus was a hot mess and I really didnt like IP...we went to there Auro Collections and while in the elevator it literally sounded like it was going to break. Excalibur isn't the greatest but they have a decent location and some fun things going on on the casino floor.

aegrish

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_nevada-las-vegas_last-minute-scouting-trip-next-wk-hotel-should-stay?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local Wedding BoardsForum:91Discussion:a57bbe78-e4fd-4023-9195-c4f99c1a5872Post:45029e7b-b624-4836-b263-e17fef598354">Re: Last minute scouting trip next wk - what hotel should i stay at?</a>:
[QUOTE]I'd say excaliur also...Circus Circus was a hot mess and I really didnt like IP...we went to there Auro Collections and while in the elevator it literally sounded like it was going to break. Excalibur isn't the greatest but they have a decent location and some fun things going on on the casino floor.
Posted by junebug61103[/QUOTE]

agree. At least excalibur is in a good location.  there's always the thunder from down under show there! haha.

aerinpegadrak

We stayed at Excalibur on one of our scouting trips.  It's nothing really special, but it was reasonably clean, cheap, and in a good location, so that's all we really needed.  See if you can book through SmarterVegas.com, we got a lot of goodies for Excalibur like free drinks, free game play at the arcade, and free spa treatments.

direy25

Ditto PP's, I'd stay away from Circus Circus, a friend of mine stayed there awhile ago and said she had a horrible experience.  I'd also suggest Excalibur.  Are you going to have a rental car or are you relying on the cabs for your cake tasting & such? 

dvohnout

Excalibur. Their upgraded room was better than MGM IMO.

Sara191431

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_nevada-las-vegas_last-minute-scouting-trip-next-wk-hotel-should-stay?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local Wedding BoardsForum:91Discussion:a57bbe78-e4fd-4023-9195-c4f99c1a5872Post:9bb98355-8bbf-4c69-bd42-35c13e7845da">Re: Last minute scouting trip next wk - what hotel should i stay at?</a>:
[QUOTE]Ditto PP's, I'd stay away from Circus Circus, a friend of mine stayed there awhile ago and said she had a horrible experience.  I'd also suggest Excalibur.  Are you going to have a rental car or are you relying on the cabs for your cake tasting & such? 
Posted by direy25[/QUOTE]

Not sure on the rental car, I almost think I'd get more lost and waste more time by trying to find places.  Once my boss gives me the ok, still hasn't, I'm going to find out where all the bakers are and figure that part out.  Any suggestions?

Thanks everyone, Excalibur it is!

direy25

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_nevada-las-vegas_last-minute-scouting-trip-next-wk-hotel-should-stay?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local Wedding BoardsForum:91Discussion:a57bbe78-e4fd-4023-9195-c4f99c1a5872Post:c03db7b7-5dda-42ca-9789-5349be1d5fb1">Re: Last minute scouting trip next wk - what hotel should i stay at?</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Last minute scouting trip next wk - what hotel should i stay at? : Not sure on the rental car, I almost think I'd get more lost and waste more time by trying to find places.  Once my boss gives me the ok, still hasn't, I'm going to find out where all the bakers are and figure that part out.  Any suggestions? Thanks everyone, Excalibur it is!
Posted by Sara191431[/QUOTE]
I guess it really depends on how many places you plan to visit and how far from the strip they are.  When I went dress shopping there, the salon we went to was at least a $30 cab ride one way - don't quote me on this but my guess is that most of the bakeries aren't going to be on the strip so cabs could definitely get expensive.  When I went on a scouting trip and rented a car, I made sure to rent the gps as well, that was a huge life saver. 

ahhhitsshannyn

I VOTE CIRCUS!!! I am just a die-hard fan, but excalibur is fun too- but make sure you get the upgraded rooms they are very nice.

FOR SURE get a rental car. Our bakery was not to far of a drive but it probably would have cost 50 bucks in a cab. Then you have to think about that your cobbie is not going to wait for you and you will have to wander around until you find another cab!

aerinpegadrak

We've only ever driven in to Vegas, but on our first visit, we mainly used the Monorail rather than driving everywhere.  Definitely recommend the GPS, I don't know how we survived without having one.  There's a Fry's Electronics just south of the Strip if you want one of your own while you're out there...

specialjune

go to harrahs.com and you will be able to reserve any one of their many hotels on the strip for a good price. They own flamingo, planet hollywood, caesers, rio, paris, etc and they give you price comparisons for all. If you are a "total rewards" member they it will be even cheaper

LilMissScareAll

I just got a email for Luxor for $35/night.
 CircusCircus is kinda down from the other hotels.  I would stay at Excalibur/ Luxor if your going to be touring at MB, the walk to Aria isn't too bad from there either.

Figure out where all the places you wanna visit. And calculate how much it would cost vs a rental car. I hate driving in Vegas. We drive in, park at the hotel, and then I don't go back until its time to drive home.
Vegas has a pretty decent public transit system. www.rtcsouthernnevada.com/
All taxi rate in Vegas:
First 1/8th of a mile = $3.20
Each additional mile = 0.25
Waiting time = $22.00 per hour
McCarran Airport pickup fee = $1.20

angieconn

I'm doing a scouting trip this weekend, too! I would definitely get a car. All the hotels have free parking, and walking will take up so much of your time.

You said you were touring suites at Mandalay. Do you have an appointment?  I called today and they said there was no guarantee we'd get to see any of them. They didn't even give me a suggested day or time to visit.
We're leaning towards Vdara, but we also hope to look at Aria, Planet Hollywood, Mirage, Treasure Island, and Mandalay.

My room suggestion is Bill's. It's a hidden gem. It's nothing fancy, but it's always clean, great location (next to Flamingo), and inexpensive.  The best thing is since it's so small, you can walk from your room to the strip in less than 5 minutes.

Sara191431

Thanks everyone, I will be looking into some of those responses!  I'm going to map out all the places I need to go in the next couple days here, but I think I'll end up with a rental car.  I upped and moved to NY from MN a few years ago, drove across the country with just me and my dog....yet driving by myself in Vegas for a day is all the sudden scaring me, go figure:)

I think the first day I get there I will tour the Suites and the second day I'll do all the cake tastings and get a rental car for that.  Wonder if I'll be sick of cake:)

LilMiss - Thanks for all the info, that was very helpful!

kareevan

Yep yep! Stay at Excalibur the best of the 3 but they dont give you shampoos or soaps (at least the rooms my sister rented 3 weeks ago). Also rent a car from dollar.com they give the best rates for this city and offer a city rate. If you need anyhelp when you are here let me know. I can tell you there is Jean Philippe pastisserie in the aria and bellagio ( the guy who made my cake )  If he's within your budget, if not there is Freeds bakery and Caked of Las vegas (as seen on TLC) these both are only 20mins drive from strip. Have fun and hope all goes well.

Traceyd14

I was just there last weekend for my wedding and stayed at the Flamingo.  Everything was nice and clean.  My only complaint would be the water pressure.  IMO it was a good location too.