Help with/review of Dec itinerary please! First timer!

I am getting so excited for my first visit! I think I have taken care of everything I need to book ahead of time. I would love it if someone could help me fill in a few holes though:

Dec 25:

DH and I land at 10:10, I assume after going through customs, getting bags,etc, our taxi will get us to the Signature by 11:30 at the latest?

Lunch: I have reservations at Emeril%26#39;s in MGM, not because I particularly want to eat there, but because I have read many times that it is crazy everywhere on Christmas day if you don%26#39;t have a res. Not sure if this applies to lunch too? Picked this place because it%26#39;s close, doesn%26#39;t look too expensive, and has pretty good reviews. Honestly, if it wasn%26#39;t Christmas I would just wander around to find someplace pretty casual for lunch. Do you think that will be too hard to do on such a busy day?

Afternoon: Plan to see some of the hotels/casinos and do some gambling. Figured we%26#39;d start with MGM, not sure where to go from there. Would like to be back in room around 5:00 to get ready. Maybe see how long MGM entertains us then hit up some of the other places round there, vs leaving MGM for later and just heading mid-strip?

Evening: Dinner at Eiffel Tower at 7:00. Hope to get a great table to see the fountains! Then ';O'; at 10:30. Figure if we have time between we can check out the conservatory at Bellagio. Will I be ok to just pick up the tickets right before (already bought) or should I go to Bellagio for the tickets in the afternoon (the reason why I am contemplating going mid-strip in the afternoon rather then hang out near MGM)? After ';O';, who knows, depends how tired we are, but I assume if we%26#39;re still up for it maybe gamble at Bellagio.

Dec 26:

Fix something easy in our room for breakie vs go where? If we%26#39;re up in time for breakfast that is!

Hit up some more hotels and casinos. Since it%26#39;s our first time I want to try and see all the big ones on the strip! Any suggestions on ones to group together, ie take a cab to place X then check out a few around there? I know the strip is big, but we really don%26#39;t mind walking. Find somewhere for lunch.

Afternoon: Not sure what time this is yet, but go to the UFC 92 Q%26amp;A and weigh-ins at MGM. I think I read this would probably be from 1-4? Then go play some more somewhere before dinner.

Night: After supper somewhere we will go to Lance Burton at the Monte Carlo at 10:00. I guess given our show location, any suggestions for a nice palce to go to dinner nearby? Pretty casual, given I think we will drop a lot of money at Eiffel Tower the night before (and given how the Canadian dollar dropped lately we won%26#39;t have quite as much spending money as I hoped). We like all sorts of food except hubby does not like sushi. Somewhere close to Monte Carlo for less then $100 for the two of us, with a couple of drinks each?

Dec 27:

Thought of maybe going to a champagne buffet? This will probably be our one buffet, though I am thinking of trying out Wynn buffet for supper one night too. Any suggestions for a Sat champagne brunch? I was thinking Paris, Wynn or Bellagio? And is there a best time range to go?

Afternoon: See the hotels and casinos we haven%26#39;t made it to yet.

Evening: UFC 92!!!

Dec 28:

Want to watch the Pats game, which starts at what I find a ridiculous 10 am! I have read GW%26#39;s Place (but this was an older post, is this palce still around?), Cavalier Gaming Lounge, and Fred%26#39;s Tavern are all Pat%26#39;s bars. Anyone been to any and can comment on which is the best? And how far they are from the strip (Signature)? We are a couple of 30 year olds, LOVE THE PATS, want to be somewhere with link-minded people where I can wear my jersey and cheer like crazy, or I will probably start getting very angry if there are people around booing my Pats :) Don%26#39;t imagine I%26#39;ll be up for drinking much at that hour but don%26#39;t mind being with some rowdies, as long as they are Pats rowdies! And any advice on what time we need to be there to get a good seat would be great!

Afternoon: Make our way round to any places we haven%26#39;t seen yet or want to go back to for some gambling.

Evening: Flight leaves at 7:30, so I guess take taxi from Sig around 5? That kills me, but it%26#39;s an international flight so I guess we need to be there early. I%26#39;m sure I won%26#39;t want to leave!

Well, I didn%26#39;t think this would be so long, so thanks to those of you who read it and I%26#39;d appreciate any comments and suggestions!

Help with/review of Dec itinerary please! First timer!

Sounds good overall. If you don%26#39;t want to spend the $ on lunch at Emeril%26#39;s, you could find something cheap at the MGM food court. Or you could take a taxi to the Venetian and go to Grand Lux. Not sure if it will be packed on Christmas though.

As far as checking out hotels/casinos go. I would just walk up the strip from the MGM and check out Planet Hollywood, Paris, Bills, Flamingo, Venetian and Wynn and then cross the street and work your way back down the other side of the street. Treasure Island, Mirage, Caesar%26#39;s, Bellagio, New York, New York. (I skipped listing some of the casino%26#39;s that I don%26#39;t think are ';must see'; but you can obviously go into each casino if you like.) If you can%26#39;t do all of this in one day, then try to do one side of the strip one day and the other the next day.

You can also check out the South Casino%26#39;s anytime since they are much closer. Maybe take a walk through the Excalibur, Luxor and Mandalay Bay. There%26#39;s not a whole lot to see at the Trop.

As far as food and eating for less than $100 with a few drinks, that may be a little difficult. How about:

Burger Bar at Mandalay Bay - it%26#39;s in the shops between MB and Luxor

House of Blues at Mandalay Bay

Grand Lux at Venetian and Palazzo

Monte Carlo Brew Pub at Monte Carlo

Mizuno%26#39;s Japanese steakhouse at the Trop

Rainforest Cafe at MGM

Gonzalez Y Gonzalez at New York New York

PF Changs at Planet Hollywood

Buffets - I would only recommend Paris, Wynn and Bellagio.

Remember that there is no way that you will be able to see and do everything, so relax and have fun.

Help with/review of Dec itinerary please! First timer!

You have got alot planned there and alot of eating. I love Emeril%26#39;s but I don%26#39;t know if I would do that for lunch when you get in and then dinner at 7. Way too much food IMHO. I usually do just breakfast and dinner when I%26#39;m in Vegas. All I can say is just go with the flow and enjoy, if you%26#39;re hungry eat if not then don%26#39;t.

This was my first thought too, about the first day,and scheduling both of those nice restaurants, I think you should cancel one of them, if you think you will be very hungry after the flight, maybe you should keep that one, you didn%26#39;t say what time it was for, but since your planning on being to your hotel and all by 11;30 i assume you have reservations for 12- 12:30... you will be finishing your lunch around 1:30 2 and then have another great place in 5 hours, expensive too, or just get something small when you arrive and have the 7:00 dinner to look forward too! p.s. I bet you are a very organized planning type :) have a good time!!

HA! I am very organized only when it comes to planning vacations, because I lke procrastinating from the real work I have to do!

I agree, I was also concerned about eating too much for lunch the first day, supper at the Eiffel Tower is definately what I would rather enjoy. It%26#39;s just that I%26#39;m sure we%26#39;ll be hungry for something when we get there, but not a whole lot, but I don%26#39;t want to wait in line for like an hour just to get a burger or sandwich. Maybe I will cancel Emeril%26#39;s, there has to be someone that can feed me quickly at lunch time, if worst comes to worst even room service would probably be quicker I guess?

I would split the strip up into 3 or even 4 sections top, being Strat, Riveira, Circus Circus, Mirage, Treasure Island, Wynn and Venetien. Middle being Planet Hollywood, Bellagio, Flamingo, Ballys, Imperial Palace, Harrahs, Bills and Ceasers and bottom being Monte Carlo, Mandalay Bay, NYNY, Luxor, MGM. Sorry if missed any off but you get the idea.

Just to let you know, that when you purchase your tickets to ';O'; you have to pick them up at least 2 hours prior to show time. If you don%26#39;t then they will re-sale them (even if you already paid).

Also, I prefer Bellagio buffet to Wynn. I have been to the Wynn buffet 3 times and will never go back. Bellagio on the other hand, is always excellent. We are not big buffet fans, but make sure to eat at one during our trip. I also like Emeril%26#39;s at the MGM. It is very good. I usually don%26#39;t like Clam Chowder, but at Emeril%26#39;s it is to die for. The Shrimp Po%26#39; Boy is pretty good. Save room for the Banana Cream Pie! It%26#39;s wonderful.

I am a big football fan too! I would suggest the Sports Book at the Hilton or ESPN Zone at NYNY. Be warned, there are football fans of all flavors everywhere. I get angry when people boo my beloved Cowboys and will throw down if needed ;-)

Just be prepared! Someone will be booing your Pats I guarantee it! Also, get there early where ever you go because the seats fill up quickly. We%26#39;ve gotten there as early as 8am! It sounds crazy, I know but got to have a good seat!

I hope you have fun and enjoy yourself......Good Luck

From one Pats fan to another - GW%26#39;s Place is still there but it is called something else now. I definitely would recommend going to a Pats bar rather than a sportsbook.

Thanks everyone for the help! Yes, I definately want to go to the game at a Pats bar, not a sportsbook. I will try and see what GW%26#39;s is now. Any chance it has turned into one of the other two I mentioned (Fred%26#39;s Tavern or Cavalier Lounge)?

I think it is more fun to hang out in the sportsbooks than in team-designated bars (unless we%26#39;re watching the Red Sox in NYC, then it%26#39;s Riviera all the way). Pats fans don%26#39;t take too much grief, and the team is doing well enough that they can be defended.

I agree with others that I wouldn%26#39;t do Emeril%26#39;s and Eiffel Tower in the same day. There are plenty of places to grab a bite after you arrive (no need to wait an hour in line either) to hold you over until dinner time.

I think Cavalier Lounge is the former GW%26#39;s Place. If not, you could spit from one and hit the other.