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Linda asked on 08/06/12

For several weeks now I have heard YES Las Vegas DOES have baloon rides and NO they do NOT have baloon rides. I do remember several years ago they did have them. I do think that would be once again a fantastic promotion and what a great way to video the area as well as take pictures.

thanks

Vegas Mate @ RateVegas answered:

Balloon rides? I’ve never hard of such a thing… The airspace near The Strip is close to the airport and controlled tightly. The helicopters that fly out of LAS are heavily regulated.

That said, I did a little research and it looks like this is something you can do in outer parts of the valley.

shadow asked on 08/02/12

Does the name Pete Wilcox ring a bell ? I heard that he was / is an Elvis sound a like and he was at Hooters. I remember he playes an Elvis like person on some of the old tv sitcoms like Alf, Cheers, Full House , etc etc. I was wondering if he is still at Hooters ?

Vegas Mate @ RateVegas answered:

Doesn’t ring a bell, no.

the shadow asked on 08/02/12

I noticed that you said that Denny’s and Casino Royale are still opened. I remember a few years back we went to an Outback steakhouse . I have forgotten where it was locaed and is it also still open ? I think it was either in the back or on top of a strip hotel.

thanks

Vegas Mate @ RateVegas answered:

Outback is also at Casino Royale, up on the second floor.

Alex asked on 07/31/12

Let’s talk beach clubs/pool parties:

I had been to ditch Fridays at the Palms and Wet Republik on Sundays, had a blast at both (back in 2010). We’re heading there at the end of August, and would like to do a Friday or Saturday pool party.. Some people have recommended Encore Beach club (we’re staying at Encore btw), while I have heard good things about Marquee Dayclub. Which would you recommend if we are to choose just one.

On another note, what’s the deal with the Marquee nightclub..any good? their website seems to only cover the dayclub..
Thanks,
Alex

Vegas Mate @ RateVegas answered:

Encore Beach Club is bigger than the Marquee Day Club and being a guest typically makes it easier to get in. They’re both a similar vibe but if I had to pick, I’d probably go with EBC. I think in both cases, you’d have a good time though.

As for the nightclub, Marquee is up there with XS as one of the two most popular spots in town. Also similar to XS, the club spills out on to the pool deck. It features multiple rooms with different DJs so if you’re not digging the vibe in one spot, you can check out the other spaces.

Dennis asked on 07/31/12

OOPS I did forget to ask a couple of questions my friends wanted to know the answers to. When is the I. Palace closing (if it is ) ? I the Casino Royale and O’Sheas completely shut down ? If I rememmber in one of those hotels there was a Denny’s ( they had breakfasts ) what happened to them ? Now is it safe to walk from Harrah’s to the Paris with all of the construction on that side of the streetr ? They are going to Vegas the middle of August so they wanted some updated Vegas info.

Thanks a heap again

Vegas Mate @ RateVegas answered:

Imperial Palace is being refurbished and renamed – you may see some downtime in 2013 but in the meantime, it is open, despite there being a lot of active construction which may make it less attractive to some guests.

O’Shea’s is gone. Casino Royale is open as normal. Denny’s is attached to Casino Royale and is still operating.

It should be safe to walk from Harrah’s to Paris, though on that side of the street they may have to go further than normal as the construction walk-ways add some mileage and can displace you. Might be easier to walk on the other side of the street.

Dennis asked on 07/30/12

Confusion time again. This is a great site for getting things straightened out. I know you have been asked this many many times but one more time please. Which is the best weay to get points to get rooms comped. at the Vegas hotels ? Is it how much money you put in the slots at one time or how long you have played the slots that day ? Example if I would play say four hundred dollars in the slots but only played about ninety minutes would that be better than say playing the two cent slots for three hours . Which would be better to earn the comped. rooms ? I have always said it was not the amount you put in the slots but how long you sat there and played the machine.

Thanks again

Vegas Mate @ RateVegas answered:

Most comp systems are based on theoretical loss and time is a factor (well, really it’s number of bets).

Losing a big wad in a couple of bets doesn’t do much to move the needle in most comp programs.

Ali asked on 07/24/12

I’ve been to vegas during the end of July before, and it was quite hot, even at night. How’s that compared to going at the end of August (last weekend of August)?

Vegas Mate @ RateVegas answered:

August and July are overall pretty similar when it comes to temperatures. It starts to really cool down in the middle of September.

Raul Valdez Jr asked on 07/15/12

What is Vegas like the 20th to the 24th? is it hard to get seating in a resturant compared to any other time of the year like in the summertime? Is it more crowded at this time of year?

Is it less crowded just before Thanksgiving and thus you dont have to wait so long to get a seat at a resturant?

Vegas Mate @ RateVegas answered:

By the 20th to the 24th, you’re talking about November? Thanksgiving and Christmas are pretty busy in Las Vegas and that’s especially true at restaurants on The Strip that make special meals for the holidays.

VEGAS TALKER asked on 07/14/12

Thanks ! One of my first Elvis sound and look a likes was a guy named Trent Carlini. I first saw him at the Imperial Palace as part of their Legends show. I understand he went out on his own and became a big Elvis fan favorite. I tink he was at the old Las Vegas Hilton or else the old Sahara hotel top attractions. Someone also mentioned to me he thought a guy by the name of Pete Wilcox had an Elvis show at Hooters. I am not sure if either one of them are still appearing in Vegas but if they are we would love to see them.

Vegas Mate @ RateVegas answered:

Sure, I remember Carlini. Not sure if he’s still around though – haven’t heard of him performing anywhere for awhile.

Rick asked on 07/14/12

I have seen videos on the Flamingo Metro suite but it is not available to use on their website ? Is it only for diamond and above total rewards members ? How could I find the nightly price of this suite ?

Vegas Mate @ RateVegas answered:

Many hotels don’t list all room types on their Web site. If a room type is not listed, the best way to get a quote is to call the hotel reservations line.

Vegas Talker asked on 07/14/12

For several years there were several Elvis tribute singers . Besides Big Elvis are there any other Elvis tribute artists ? Will the construction going on by the Flamingo still be going on in October and are you still able to go to and from the Flamingo without any problems ? The Flamingo Fab luxury rooms are they nice and do they have strip views ? Are the bathrooms really bad as I have read in other sites ?

thanks

thanks

Vegas Mate @ RateVegas answered:

The Flamingo construction will be ongoing for the next twelve months or so. Access to the property is preserved but expect everything that comes with construction: noise, pedestrian flow issues, etc…

Some Fab rooms have Strip views but not all of them do. The bathrooms are small.

As far as the Elvis thing, Big Elvis is by far the best known that’s regularly performing.

Sue Ayotte asked on 07/10/12

Tournament of Kings says it is unavailable. Sold out? How can I get tickets to it for sometime between December 3rd and the 6th?

Vegas Mate @ RateVegas answered:

Hi – not sure what method you’re using to book but your best bet is to call the box office.

Tom asked on 07/09/12

I remember back in the 1990’s, (themed casino era) many of the joints were always filled with people until the early 2000s when the themed places were de-themed. Do you think that if the de-themed hotels were to be re-themed, there would be more crowds drawn in like before?

Vegas Mate @ RateVegas answered:

It’s an interesting question… but no, I don’t. I think the overall driver is the economy, not the absence or presence of themed hotels. If the casinos thought theming would make money, every place would have a theme.

The period 2005-2007, starting with the opening of the no-theme Wynn Las Vegas, was some of the largest revenue producing years.

scott asked on 07/07/12

We recently stayed at Cosmo and had a room with a balcony—Awesome!!! What other vegas hotels offer balconies on the strip? Scott.

Vegas Mate @ RateVegas answered:

Virtually none, really. There are some suites at MGM Grand with balconies and some of the rooms at IP have small outdoor spaces but Cosmopolitan is set apart to a large degree but this feature.

Dennis asked on 07/07/12

Hi Hunter
Here are somecomped a questions my wife wanted me to ask you . If my room is comped and I charge my meals to my room and then at checkout I ask if I have comps avaiable to cover the meals and they say yes do those comps. come off my totalpoints on my card ? If they do does that lower my chance of getting comped. rooms on my next visit ?

Thanks

Vegas Mate @ RateVegas answered:

Yes, if you charge meals to your room in the manner you described, you’re paying for them with your comps. As you play, you are accumulating a balance of points and then when you check out of the hotel and your stay and meals are covered, you’re paying that balance with points. Nothing is free – you’re just using a different form of currency… a currency earned based on your activity in the casino.

Using your comps doesn’t impact your future offers. How much you play is what determines your points and future offers.

Caroline asked on 07/06/12

Great work Hunter – your site and app are great. I have a question about M Life. I have a discrepancy between my tier credits on the web site that I access from my computer and the mobile site that I access through my iphone of approx 10,000 tier credits. Have you heard of this happening to anyone else? M Life of course via phone is no help – will be in LV late July. By the way, can you give me a hint about the surprise on the new Vegas Mate version when I get to Las Vegas – I assume I have to have location services on? Thanks.

Vegas Mate @ RateVegas answered:

Thanks!

I’ve not heard of that specific issue but I hear countless complaints about the M Life Web site and its companion sites. The people at one of the in-casino booths should be able to help straighten it out.

As for Vegas Mate, yes, to see our little surprise, you need location services turned on. There are several different types of location services, ranging from the power-hungry GPS mode (which we use very briefly in the app to determine distances – then we shut it off) and very low-power modes for getting a very general idea of your location (these modes can tell where you are based on what cell tower you are connected to, something that’s already active so typically they use next to no extra power). For our new little ‘surprise’, we use the latter, represented in the status bar by a hollow location services arrow (in contrast to a filled in one, which signifies full-blown location services). Anyway, I don’t want to give too much away but it’s not anything super significant – just a fun little hello for folks traveling into town.

shadow asked on 07/03/12

This is a great site for asking almost any question about Vegas and getting a very honest answer. My question is rather easy I hope. In almost all of the hotels we have stayed at on the strip they had a very easy way of checking out by usig the tv. We loved it. Now I just read a review on the Flamingo and they said the Flamingo does not let you check out that way. Hunter do you know if that is true ? This will be our first time at the Flamingo.

Vegas Mate @ RateVegas answered:

Hey thanks! As far as on-TV checkout, Flamingo does offer it (or at least they did a few months ago and I can’t imagine they’d take it out)… That said, it’s often broken so maybe that’s what the reviewer meant? I too hate the check-out desk and now I’ve gotten to the point that I rarely check out at all. I just leave and call for the bill if I need it after the fact.

Linda asked on 07/02/12

Great job your doing Hunter. My question is will the weather still be warm enough to lay out by the pool around the first week of October ? By the way approx. what would be the cab fare from the Flamingo to the Golden Nugget ? I guess by now the coin slot machines are all gone right ? I use to love to hear the sound of the silver coins dropping down to the coin holder and of course those very fun to carry around cups filled with coins. As you can see I am a Vegas fan from a few years back.

Vegas Mate @ RateVegas answered:

Thanks! First week of October could be a little cool. Not freezing or anything but maybe not all that comfortable at the pool. That said, you’ll see a bunch of other people attempting it so if you’re not super-sensative to the cold, you may be fine.

Flamingo to the Nugget… will depend somewhat on time of day and day of week (i.e. bad traffic could screw you over) but generally speaking, $20 give or take.

You’ll still find coin based slots in a few places Downtown. Go check out The D and head upstairs – they have a vintage casino with older machines, restored. Also, the El Cortez has a bunch of coin slots. Have fun!

JSHaste asked on 06/28/12

Is or will Vegas Mate be available for Android devices?

Vegas Mate @ RateVegas answered:

Hi – thanks for asking. Currently no plans to support Android. Vegas Mate runs on iPhone, iPad and iPod touch.

dani asked on 06/27/12

We are planning a trip to Vegas nd my kids really want to see Tosh.0, but are not yet 18—they do however look that old (they are 15 and 16). How strict are they at asking for I.D at shows??? Would they ask at the door or when you buy tickets?

Vegas Mate @ RateVegas answered:

At The Mirage? The rule is actually 16+ and if under 18, with a parent. My guess is that they’re not all that strict about this but I can’t say for sure. Other places, like bars, clubs and the casino are quite strict.

Dennis B asked on 06/26/12

if you need any Vegas questions answered just stay on this site and Hunter will have the answers like these questions. Do you know if there are any strip hotels that have indoor pools so you can avoid the heat ? Does the Cosmopolitan Terrace one bedroom have a balcony that overlooks the strip?

Iis there a resort fee list somewhere that we can use so we will know what the rsort fees will be in each hotel ? Finally to your knowledge are the groups like the Coasters and the Platters still appear in Vegas. We are baby boomers and we group up in the 60’s and 70’s. The Orleans at one time always had groups from the era appearing there.

Vegas Mate @ RateVegas answered:

Thanks!

Other than what you might find in a spa, there are no indoor pools on The Strip.

Cosmo’s Terrace rooms do have balconies, though your view will depend on which part of the building they put you in. Most are overlooking either Bellagio or CityCenter.

As far as resort fees go, our iPhone/iPad app Vegas Mate includes all of that compiled information.

When it comes to groups like The Coasters, they’re often playing in Las Vegas (such as it is, mostly not original members) – check The Rio, where they’ve had gigs lately.

Andy asked on 06/22/12

Back for an update on music. With the Fontana Bar gone, you recommended the Mandarin Bar as a possible locale for live music and an over 20 something crowd. That worked. But now they have killed the live music at the Mandarin. Got another suggestion for live music and an over 20 something clientele? (Really, are they just trying to tell us to give up, head over to a Stations casino and join the slot club?)

Vegas Mate @ RateVegas answered:

Yeah, the situation is getting more and more bleak. Unless you like dueling pianos (which are cropping up everywhere these days), you’re stuck without a lot of good options. Bellagio’s Petrossian Bar often has a live pianist, if you enjoy that sort of thing.

Linda asked on 06/22/12

Hunter I forgot to ask you my main question . You see I still get the concierge job and the casino host jobs confused. Is the casino host more important than being a concierge ? Can a casino host get you room / suite upgrades easier than a concierge can ? Does a casino host have more authority than a concierge does ? Hunter for ages now I have been totally confused about those Las Vegas hotel and casino jobs.

Vegas Mate @ RateVegas answered:

See the previous answer… a concierge is great for securing show tickets, restaurant reservations or tee times. They’re not involved in room selection.

A casino host is like a salesperson for the casino. They are the casino customer’s liaison to the property. A casino host definitely can get you upgraded rooms, if they deem you an important enough customer. Casino hosts are empowered to do quite a bit for the customers that the casino wants to make happy. VIP casino customers would use a host for many things that a regular hotel guest might use a concierge for.

The two jobs have different spheres of responsibility.

tcbelvis@insightbb.com asked on 06/22/12

Hi Hunter
You have been so nice to answer my questions but I do have one or two more if that is ok ? I am not really sure what does a concierge really do at a hotel like the Cosmopolitan .? Can he make it possible to get better rooms at the hotel and is there a charge if he does get someone an upgrade ?

Thanks

Vegas Mate @ RateVegas answered:

The concierge is sort of like a butler for the property. They can help with stuff like getting show tickets or other types of reservations. They can help schedule a tee time. They can recommend restaurants based on your personal preference.

In Las Vegas hotels, they are not connected to the process of selecting rooms. That would be the front-desk clerks and their managers. Typically most guests have to pay for upgrades but it’s at the discretion of the staff and there are a lot of exceptions for all sorts of reasons.

Steve asked on 06/20/12

Hi Hunter,

I stayed at the Aria over the summer two years ago and the hotel policy was that they did not allow you to take drinks into the pool. Has that policy changed, I have stayed at the other MGM hotels (Mandalay Bay, Mirage, Bellagio, MGM Grand) and they never had that policy.

Thanks
Steve

Vegas Mate @ RateVegas answered:

Most often the biggest concern is glassware that can break poolside. If you bring plastic, they’ll typically let you through.

a vegas fan asked on 06/20/12

Thanks Hunter
I was told that the Signature hotel/condos. also had walk out patios in the one bedrooms. The main problem is that their location is next to nothing and the wald from your room to the casino is a nightmare. Have you heard anything about this place ?

Vegas Mate @ RateVegas answered:

Signature does have balconies, though it’s not on The Strip – it’s located behind MGM Grand and as you noted, it’s a bit of a hike to get to the casino or the street. That said, I’ve heard good things, plus since they are basically condos, you have a kitchen if you want to make or store some food.

Linda asked on 06/19/12

This one great site . Is there a list or a site I can go to that has all of the different hotel resort fees and is it true the Cosmo. does NOT have a casino ? Finally which of these months would have the lowest rates for Cosmo., P. Hollywood and Caesars- Jan. Feb. or March ? We would love to return to Vegas and stay at a 4 star hotel but not 4 star prices.

Vegas Mate @ RateVegas answered:

Cosmopolitan definitely does have a casino, though they’ve had some trouble getting a large number of people to play since it opened.

As far as specific prices go, they can vary often so your best bet is to look at their site or use an app like Vegas Mate on the iPhone or iPad which can give you prices. Of the three you mentioned, I’d expect Planet Hollywood to be a good bit less expensive than Cosmo or Caesars most nights.

A VEGAS FAN asked on 06/18/12

My friend asked me the other day if I knew how many hotels in Vegas actually have a patio/ balcony that someone could sit at and enjoy a great strip view ? I was not sure.

thanks

Vegas Mate @ RateVegas answered:

Almost none do. Cosmopolitan by far as the best offering for this sort of thing.

Dennis asked on 06/11/12

Hi Hunter
We love your site and answers. I am confused a little on how these slot players club like Total Rewards and all the other hote cards work. We have been gold card members at Total rewards for a few years because we are low rollers you might say. Here are my questions . How much money do you have to gamble a year to reach ratings like diamond , platinum, and seven seas ? Do you have to keep gambling that much every year to stay at those plateaus ? Is there a certain amount you must gamble to receive those suites and to have the hotel pick uou up and then return you back to the airport ? I am just really curious with todays economy just how do they keep that level of spending up ?

thanks Dennis

Vegas Mate @ RateVegas answered:

Hi!

The amount of money required isn’t something they publish and the formulas they use change all the time, though the Wikipedia entry does include some helpful information: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Total_Rewards

Once you do achieve that level, yes, you do have to continue to play every year to maintain it, or you will lose that status. Think of it like a frequent flier program…

Caesars does a lot of marketing and generally is very successful getting people into their casinos with programs like Total Rewards.

Peter asked on 06/03/12

Hi Hunter, still love the site, number one place to go for Vegas info and loved Vegas Mate (it’s really great) when I had an iPhone.

Currently planning my next trip to Vegas for 2013, should be when changes to Imperial Palace have been completed. My question and I suspect there isnt a definitive answer to this, so perhaps need your gut feeling. Imperial Palace has always been a great budget hotel, particularly considering its great location, following the changes can you see a hike in room rates to help pay something towards the changes/Linq?

Thanks.

Vegas Mate @ RateVegas answered:

Thanks!

As you suggest, it’s hard to say. My guess is that you may see rates increase a little bit but my understanding is that they want to maintain that location as a value oriented property.

Linda B. asked on 06/03/12

We have never been in Las Vegas in the month of October and I was wondering if the first week in October is still warm enough to use the swimming pools ?

Vegas Mate @ RateVegas answered:

Probably… This is typically when things start to really cool down but depending on how tolerant you are, it could work.

Mel asked on 06/02/12

Can you please suggest family friendly restaraunts in vegas that are not to busy , just didnt want to wait 1/2hr in line for a table with kids to get a table , also which all you can eat buffets are worth visiting , really appreciate your advice

Vegas Mate @ RateVegas answered:

A big part of how busy different restaurants are depends on when you’re in town. On a busy weekend, you can see long waits all over and there’s not much you can do, especially if you’re looking at casual dining and not fine dining where they take reservations. One possible strategy would be to try to dine at off-peak times to avoid some of the lines. Some restaurants, like Grand Lux at The Venetian or Cheesecake Factory in the Forum Shops, crank through their wait lists very quickly. Virtually all hotels have a cafe or coffee shop of some kind and some, like THEHotel or Encore are often less busy than Bellagio, Paris, or someplace else in the center strip. Lastly there are food courts at places like Monte Carlo that are basically fast-food.

As far as buffets, typically Bellagio, Wynn Las Vegas, Planet Hollywood, Cosmopolitan and sometimes Paris are considered top stops.

mel asked on 06/01/12

we are travelling from Australia and staying at a house in vegas from VRBO , we payed a deposit , how can we check if the person actually owns the house or not ?? or we have been scamed ??

Vegas Mate @ RateVegas answered:

Did the person provide references? You may want to check with them to see how their experience was.

Clark County has an online records service to check property ownership:

http://www.clarkcountynv.gov/Depts/assessor/Pages/RecordSearch.aspx

MEL asked on 06/01/12

Hi , we are actually renting a house , we are travelling from Australia and staying in Vegas , we are looking at going out 1 night for dinner my husband and myself , , we are wanting a sitter for our 2 children aged 3 and 8 , we are in Vegas from the 6th August – 13th

Vegas Mate @ RateVegas answered:

Hi,

I don’t have anyone specific to recommend. You might try the yellow pages.

When it comes to kids, I’m not an expert.

Mel asked on 05/30/12

Hi , we are travelling from Australia and staying in Vegas , we are looking at going out 1 night for dinner my husband and myself , , we are wanting a sitter for our 2 children aged 3 and 8 , we are in Vegas from the 6th August – 13th.

Vegas Mate @ RateVegas answered:

You may want to call your hotel’s concierge – they typically have lists of babysitting services that are willing to help you.

Dennis asked on 05/24/12

Hi Hunter
We are big Dancing with the Stars fans and I understand one of the Vegas strip hotels now have a DWTS show. I would love some info. on it so I can surprise my wife with tickets as a present for our 45th anniversary wewill be celeberating while we are out there in Oct.

Thanks

Vegas Mate @ RateVegas answered:

Yes, indeed you are correct. There is a new Dancing With the Stars partnership / show at Tropicana. The production includes former participants from the TV show and a whole lot of dancing. Unfortunately though, the show is ending in July so it looks like you’ll miss it – sorry! Happy anniversary!

stephanie asked on 05/20/12

is there 18 and over dance clubs anywhere in vegas

Vegas Mate @ RateVegas answered:

On The Strip, not really. The clubs are all 21+. Vegas.com actually has a pretty page outlining some of the specifics @ Vegas.com

Jeremy asked on 05/17/12

Hunter, thanks for all your years of hardwork on this site, i love the app too btw. Here’s my question. I’m a poker player and will be in L.V for the first time this Nov, Which poker rooms on the strip catter to lower limit players, ie 1-2 No Limit, 3-6 limit etc. I want the experience of a great poker room.( comfy chairs, happy polite dealers etc). Also do you know where i can get tickets to watch the November 9 final table of the world series of poker @ the rio and how much the tickets would be? also which hotels on the strip have the best poker room rates for the hotel.
thanks very much Hunter, best of luck.!

Vegas Mate @ RateVegas answered:

As far as lower limit poker rooms, typically Luxor and Excalibur are good spots but keep in mind that pros and locals know this too so they sometimes target players in those games to try to grind out a living. The Mirage, Harrah’s, The Flamingo and MGM Grand sometimes have lower limit games too. If they do, MGM Grand and The Mirage both have nicer rooms than what Luxor or Excalibur provide. If you’re willing to go off The Strip, check out The Orleans or The Palms. Hope that helps.

As far as the tickets to the final WSOP event, it’s not the easiest get… Most of the good seats are given to players and other VIPs. That said, last year the event was free so I expect they’ll do that again – they typically do first come, first serve day of the event – so be ready to wait in line.

Thanks… and good luck to you!

Linda B. asked on 05/17/12

Ooops maybe I said it wrong. I love your site and you give great information. I meant a website where people who have stayed in Vegas hotels on the strip and down town on Fremont st. give ratings of those hotels. I love your info. but I also like to read opinions of people who could rate the hotels say A is best B is nice C is average and D poor

Vegas Mate @ RateVegas answered:

We feature thousands of user reviews and ratings.

http://www.ratevegas.com/hotels

Linda B. asked on 05/16/12

I hope this is not a dumb question but several of us were wondering if their is a Las Vegas website we go go to to read about what is going on . Also is there a website that has updated ratings and reviews on the strip hotels and the ones at downtown Vegas ?

Vegas Mate @ RateVegas answered:

Ummm…

Romaman asked on 05/16/12

Do the people at Paris still greet/talk to you with a French accent?? I heard that they stopped doing this… Is it true?

Vegas Mate @ RateVegas answered:

Yeah, they’ve almost entirely dropped this, thank goodness.

Marlene asked on 05/15/12

First off, I find this a great site, very informative thx!!
My question is…. I am taking my friend to LV for her 50th Bday with her daughter. We are staying at the Flamingo and this will be all us girls first to the city….just wondering if you knew if the Flamingo would but a bottle of Champange in our room before we get in it, as a surprise for my 50 yr old friend so we all can have a toast when get in room? Thx again!!

Vegas Mate @ RateVegas answered:

Thanks!

My recommendation would be to call ahead and put the request on your reservation… then when you check in, remind them of your request and see what they can do. Last resort, call room service when you arrive.

Have a blast!

Linda asked on 05/14/12

We have not been back to Las Vegas for about two years. We were wondering what has been added to downtown Vegas and what is now closed in the last two years or so ? The last I walked from Fremont st to the Plaza after dark it was rather scarey and I thought I would never do it again but a friend told us it was much safer at night now. Is that true ?

Vegas Mate @ RateVegas answered:

A few notable changes: Golden Nugget opened a new tower, the Plaza completely shut-down and renovated, Golden Gate is almost done with an addition and The D Las Vegas (formerly Fitzgeralds) is being re-done. Rumors abound that more changes are coming to Fremont soon. Since The Plaza has been renovated, there is a steady stream of foot traffic and I wouldn’t worry about visiting.

Maria asked on 05/11/12

Which hotels on the strip do you NOT recommended staying in with an infant? Which are not so child friendly? Thanks!

Vegas Mate @ RateVegas answered:

Generally, I wouldn’t say any of the hotels are particularly infant friendly but especially hotels aimed at younger partiers like The Palms or the Hard Rock (not on The Strip) or perhaps those with a lot of extra walking (Aria).

Maria asked on 05/10/12

Is Vegas crazy crowded Labor Day weekends?

Vegas Mate @ RateVegas answered:

Yeah, pretty much. Any holiday weekends brings in the hoards from Southern California.

Linda asked on 05/09/12

Hi ! We love your site but we do have one more Flamingo hotel question. We the e. mail address of the management or the concierge at the Flamingo. I have just finished reading sever reports from Flamingo vistors saying that ever time you use their pools uou MUST have id or they will charge you. I also read that the Flamingo only has two people behind the desk to check you in. Now here is a question for you. Do you have any idea if the twenty dollar sandwich to get a nice upgrade will work their ?

Thanks

Vegas Mate @ RateVegas answered:

IDs to get into the pool or you get charged? That’s the first I’ve ever heard of that – sounds incredibly silly if it’s true… IDs are required to get into the adults pool, at least officially… and like many ‘deluxe’ pools they do sometimes have a cover (there’s no cover at the main pool). You’ll also want your room key. Depending on your age, they may not ask (you can choose to be flattered or offended I guess). As far as contact via email, good luck… They’re not really setup to handle that sort of communication. You’re probably best off contacting the desk via phone.

As far as behind the desk, it totally depends on the shift and time of day. Almost any Las Vegas Strip hotel could use a few more front desk clerks at peak times – every resort (even Wynn or Bellagio) has lines and you stand there hating the person in charge of scheduling the employees. That said, I don’t think Flamingo is any better or worse in this regard, on average. There are probably irregular times when they only have two or three people.

Maria asked on 05/05/12

Hi,

Me and my friend are going for a trip to San Fransico, Los Angeles and Las Vegas.

Our question are: Is all shopping taxfree (shoes, clothes, handbags) in Vegas/nevada?
Or is it the same taxes in all states we are passing?

/ Maria

Vegas Mate @ RateVegas answered:

In the United States, sales tax rates vary, typically by the county in which each state resides. Los Angeles, San Francisco and Las Vegas all have sales tax though CA taxes are typically higher.

Dennis B asked on 05/04/12

Is it possible to book two comped rooms on the same stay at the same hotel under my name ? thanks

Vegas Mate @ RateVegas answered:

You probably want to do this through a host to make sure one of the reservations isn’t cancelled.

Sean asked on 05/02/12

Can we book separate rooms for our kids in Vegas? When we show up and see that they are minors will they give us all the rooms we booked, cancel the kids rooms right there and make us all pile into one room, or just kick us all out?

Vegas Mate @ RateVegas answered:

You shouldn’t have any trouble booking extra rooms for your kids, though you’ll have to check them in – they won’t be able to check in themselves without a lot of extra trouble.

But extra rooms under your name? That’s totally fine.

Gary asked on 04/30/12

Was heading to Vegas when traffic was so bad, I ended up staying at Buffalo Bills in Primm for the first time and found the architecture and layout of this place very familiar to another casino…It was New York New York. Both properties have a lot in common (i.e. roller coasters, high, warehouse- like casino ceilings, cheesy themes… i’m just wondering, were these two places built by the same company? The two properties are very similar to each other.

Vegas Mate @ RateVegas answered:

They were indeed both built by a company that at the time was called Primmadonna Resorts (they partnered 50/50 with MGM to build NYNY and MGM now owns it outright).

Good eye.