Vegas Newbie 12/19-12/22: few questions

[lalalala]

Hi! Some friends and I are headed to Vegas from 12/19-12/22. We are three girls in our early 20s. Here's an idea we have of what to do but we would super appreciate any suggestions/advice! We do love the nightlife and a good party but we like to steer clear of the fratty scene. Also, our budget is flexible - after all it is vacation - but we are students so we're not looking to do anything crazy expensive like bottle service

-Thursday: we'll probably keep it simple, play cheap slots, dinner at Tao, followed by clubbing at Tao. Any advise on how to skip the lines at the club? Also, our room comes with full sized fridge so we were thinking of doing some light grocery shopping when we arrive to buy breakfast/snack stuff (maybe drunk munchie supplies) and some beer and such items. Is there a grocery store near the strip?
-Friday: We'd love to do some sort of naturey/light hiking/sightseeing type of things for late morning activities. Suggestions?
In the afternoon, we will definitely have some day drinking going on. I've heard Gold Lounge at Monte Carlo has some serious day drinking deals...is this true? Is there somewhere better? I definitely want to do the zipline on Fremont too. If there's more time in the afternoon, we want to grab lunch somewhere with a nice patio to people watch. Suggestions?
For the evening, I'm trying to talk my friends into seeing "Ka." They're not super excited about paying over $100 for a show they don't really want to see to begin with...so in case that falls through I'd love to hear other ideas for early evening pre-clubbing ideas. Also, how's the chinese takeout in Vegas? Its my fave...and I feel like we might need some down time in the room on Friday...
-Saturday: This day's activities are completely up to my friend, but I can definitely pass along any suggestions for funsies!
-Sunday: BRUNCH. Our flight leaves in the afternoon so we want to finish off the trip with some delicious Vegas brunch we keep hearing so much about. What are the best brunch places? Also, I'm all about the champagne wasted life. So bonus points for any place that has some sort of bottomless champagne/mimosa deal.

*random question: I'm the worst at heels...how crucial is it to wear them to get into clubs? Am I good with some classy flats or are heels just the unwritten rule I will have to deal with?

Thanks bunches in advance!!

[artedm]

Are you staying on the strip?
How are you planning on getting around?

The reason I ask is if your staying on the strip and want to do light hiking, freemont street you might be in for price shock if your planning on cabbing it around vegas.

I'm a guy but I would say classy flats bc your probably going to be doing a lot more walking/standing then you expect.

[Alex Lv]

Hey lalalala,

I read something about hiking at red rock canyon and valley of fire and both reviews were very positive.They're not too far from the strip (about an hour) probably can find a tour for about 50/pp or you can rent a car (I think even being >25 you could do it cheaper then a private tour).

To skip lines your best bet is to get on a guest list of some sort maybe you can text some of the hosts (there's a contacts section somewhere on the site)

For Brunch they're all great but the best on strip ones are wynn and mandarin oriental (I think you can add bottomless champagne deal for something $15)

&
If you book any shows make sure to get some type of deal either on deal websites like smarter vegas or at some of those ticket stands on the strip.

If you want to get into marquee friday we need at least two girls to make our ratio work so feel free to come with us!

[lalalala]

Are you staying on the strip?
How are you planning on getting around?

The reason I ask is if your staying on the strip and want to do light hiking, freemont street you might be in for price shock if your planning on cabbing it around vegas.

I'm a guy but I would say classy flats bc your probably going to be doing a lot more walking/standing then you expect.

We're staying at the Vdara. We mostly plan on walking and cabbing around except for Fremont and hiking. We want to keep all of our other activities around or on the strip. We are willing to rent a car for hiking since that is probably further...but we'll probably do a cab for Fremont street

[lalalala]

Hey lalalala,

I read something about hiking at red rock canyon and valley of fire and both reviews were very positive.They're not too far from the strip (about an hour) probably can find a tour for about 50/pp or you can rent a car (I think even being >25 you could do it cheaper then a private tour).

To skip lines your best bet is to get on a guest list of some sort maybe you can text some of the hosts (there's a contacts section somewhere on the site)

For Brunch they're all great but the best on strip ones are wynn and mandarin oriental (I think you can add bottomless champagne deal for something $15)

&
If you book any shows make sure to get some type of deal either on deal websites like smarter vegas or at some of those ticket stands on the strip.

If you want to get into marquee friday we need at least two girls to make our ratio work so feel free to come with us!

Thanks for the advice! And I'll ask my friends about Marquee. We haven't picked a Friday night club yet!

[polo3407]

Just returned from Vegas last week, first time as well! We ordered munchies/alcohol from Vons. You order online and delievery is free, it worked out great!

[artedm]

Ok
Since your a newbie, kind of on a budget- best advice I can give is try and plan everything out the best you can so you have an idea of costs. Because there are so many temptations in vegas! So easy to spend money!
Just so you know vegas cabs have really high rates. For example to go from the strip to Red Rock casino is about $50 each way and Red Rock casino is about 6 miles from Red Rock Canyon. Plus there is an admission charge of $7 a car to enter. Not sure if your looking to drop $150 on a hike.

There is a cvs and walgreens close by on the strip- both stores sell beer/liquor. Remember there is no open container law in vegas so you could be walking around sipping whatever out of a big gulp cup.

In terms of Bottomless drink deals with meals- the Aria Buffet which is right next to vdara runs a
All day, add $12.99 for unlimited Mimosas, Bellinis, Bloody Mary’s, Premium beer and wine on TAP, red and white house made sangria, sparkling wine. http://www.arialasvegas.com/dining/restaurants/buffet

Lavo Brunch on Sunday charges $30 for unlimited Mimosas.

I think the crazy brunch your thinking about is lavo Saturday brunch from 2-6pm with a dj spinning.

The Chandelier bar at cosmopolitan has a lot of really unique custom drinks and is close by but pricey-hangout.
The drinks are a lot cheaper on Fremont street- like $2 beers, etc.

Lastly- check all dj lineups so you get a feel for what kind of music will be playing. Light nightclub open friday/ saturday has the most crazy lights/production. XS at encore wynn has some of the highest reviews. Your not going on a major event/ holiday weekend so lines shouldn't be to bad esp. if doing presale tickets. Sometimes guestlist lines make you wait to create an image.

You could take a bus tour to the grand canyon south rim its $80 a person all inclusive including lunch but it takes up most of the day from 730am-930pm. That's the ultimate naturey/light hiking/sightseeing.

Have fun!

[BOLLO]

As far as heels v flats, you can have the best of both worlds and throw some dr schoels rollup flats in your bag. That way you can rock the heels walking in then pop them off and put the flats on once your feet get tired. I always bring them and am always very thankful I don't have to deal w/ street feet.

[kp3205]

A couple of suggestions that we did on our last 2 trips:

For food to put in the fridge sign up for a free account on www.vons.com and the first dellivery is free. You put in your order, pick the block of time to deliver and they call you when they arrive. Tipped the guy $10 and he brought everything up to the room when I met him in the lobby. Can get all of your food and alcohol in 1 spot. Made it so much easier for the group.

Don't bother with the Grand Canyon unless you are willing to give up an entire day. They have always run later than projected the 2 times we have done them.

Very cool tour of the old Vegas signs that are in the "graveyard"/ museum:

http://www.neonmuseum.org/

We always do Todd English Bar for one of their 2 happy hours the run daily. The Pub in Monte Carlo is pretty solid for happy hour also.

PBR Rock Bar has $1 drinks for the ladies on Thursday night which is at Planet Hollywood:

http://www.pbrrockbar.com/featured/l...very-thursday/

If you want to keep the drinking going on the cheap another way, though the $1 drinks probably won't be beat, Toby Keith's bar in Harrahs does Ladies' night Thursday nights $25 red solo cup all you can drink wells, wines and drafts for the ladies. Casual attire. Live country band and dj who plays a wide variety of music when the band takes a break. Wife and gf's are country fans so they had a blast.

Did the Mirage Champagne Brunch which the wife and her gf's loved. Good beer bucket prices for the guys also: Saturday & Sunday | 8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m With Unlimited Champagne

Zip line on Fremont at night takes about an hour. It was not running this past July on our last trip as they were doing some work to it. If you do that at night, Gold Diggers was a blast when we went which is in Golden Nugget down there. Free entry with the passes they gave out outside and music is everyhing under the sun.

If you and your friends like rides definitely do the rides on top of the Stratosphere. Have not done the jump yet. If not, still a great spot to take pics of the skyline at night from up there.

Hope this gives you some ideas/other options.

Enjoy.

[lalalala]

Thank you everyone for the incredible suggestions!!!

[CisternaChyli]

Oh for nature, you gals should head out to Red Rock Canyon; and preferrably go during the daytime, when you can see the rock formations and such. You can climb all over the rocks and go down into the caves and mini canyons and what not. Hoover dam is also worth a trip as well. I think the Grand Canyon is probably too much, its like 5 hours away, takes up too much time, etc. You can spend that time doing other stuff in Vegas.