Offtopic: Gay Las Vegas?

[etoile]

Hi everybody! This isn't about cruising but it's a travel topic so I hope it will be okay.

 

My wife's work is sending her to Las Vegas in February and I get to go too! We've never been there before and we will be staying for about a week. I'm not sure yet what hotel we'll be in, the conference is at the Venetian but I don't know if we'll be staying there.

 

Does anybody have recommendations on popular things to do in Las Vegas? Is there anywhere you would strongly recommend we visit, or anywhere we should avoid? Will we have any problems if we are holding hands in public or anything like that? Are there any special attractions a gay couple shouldn't miss?

 

Thanks in advance!

[NYC95]

I wouldn't risk holding hands in public. Believe it or not Las Vegas is kinda conservative when you go off,The Strip.

 

I haven't been there in 2 years but as I remember there's not much in the way of gay things to do,other then a few bars. You won't be bored but you won't be overwhelmed either.

[cruising-PA]

My partner and I have been twice and hope to go again soon. I would definetly recommend Cirques "Zoomanity". It was beautiful. At one point there were these 2 guys dancing/arguing on stage, very dramatic. Then as the music changed and softened so did they and at the end they kissed. The guy sitting beside me was not impressed by them or by me standing and applauding.:D

We don't go off the strip but if I want to hold hands I will. Let someone try to stop me.

cheers,

PA

[canlobef]

Hi Etoile, Vegas is fun, entertainment, excess, extravagance all rolled into one. All the beautiful hotels trying to outdo each other, the buffets ( try the buffet dinner at Rio ), the spectacular shows ( Zumanity in New York New York, O in Bellagio, La Reve in Wynn, Kah in MGM ), all the gambling ( practically anywhere ), shopping ( try the Forum shops at Ceasars palace) and nightlife ( try Freezone : gay/lesbian nightclub across Gypsies, and the new hangout 8 1/2). Have a great time.... Angel

[garykool81]

Las Vegas, although quite fun (I love going there myself), is also filled with a good bit of white trash....so just something to keep in mind :-)

 

There are several excellent shows to see in town, and MANY superb restaurants if you don't mind dishing out a few hundred on dinner.

 

Cirque has two wonderful shows I won't leave Las Vegas without seeing: "O" in Bellagio is hands down their best performance anywhere that I've seen, and Zumanity in New York, New York is without question the most sexually charged (straight and gay) and hilarious one -- both are not to be missed.

 

The best spot to eat in town, in my opinion, is Picasso in Bellagio. The restaurant has been awarded the AAA Five Diamond award in dining (almost impossible to get in the first place) something like four or five years in a row. For a "mere" $300, my partner and I had the finest dinner we've ever been served -- everything from food presentation to service to atmosphere to quality was PERFECT. It was the only time I've eaten at a high-end restaurant and could not find a single thing to improve.

 

If you are an ocean-life lover, do NOT miss the aquarium at Mandalay Bay. It is one of the best in the country. You'll see full-size sharks (well over 6 feet in length), sea turtles, eels, jelly fish, etc., all in a fantastic environment.

 

If you love rollercoasters and thrill rides, you'll find Vegas to be an adult Disneyland. Do not miss the coaster at NY NY, the Sahara, Circus Circus (an entire indoor theme park), or the top of the Stratosphere, which has the most amazing views from the tallest building west of the Miss. River.

 

Best of all, Vegas has a lot of freebie shows that are actually VERY good. The dancing fountains of Bellagio are VERY romantic for first-timers. The pirate show at Treasure Island has AMAZING special effects, explosions....even a sinking ship (be ready to find a "good" spot to view the show at least 45 minutes in advance, though). A volcano erupts something like every 15-30 minutes in front of the Mirage.

 

If you love to shop, you'll fall in love. Not only has Las Vegas become a massive series of malls in almost every casino, but they are themed in a way that only Disney himself could beat. The Venetian features the streets of Venice, complete with a canal going through the mall that you can hop a gondola ride in. The Aladdin (being converted to Planet Hollywood....why????) features a middle-eastern theme that is superb. Paris of course is a mock-up of Paris, NYNY is complete with smoking manhole covers, etc.

 

Have a blast, and enjoy yourself! I think you'll find that one week is not nearly long enough to spend in Las Vegas. There is so much to see and do. Be prepared for sensory-overload!

 

:-)

[cruising-PA]

Gary: You r post was way more detailed than mine and now I want to return for sure. The dinner sounds wonderful and Picasso is where I will try when I go, hopefully for Superbowl again. Thanks for the great tips.

cheers,

PA

[JoeAndrew]

Another great "Cirque-like" show show is at the Wynn hotel..."La Reve" is amazing! We saw "O" the night before and loved it but "La Reve" had a lot of similarities since it is on/in/above water...but it is in the round and more artistic.

[Typhoon1]

Just ask Siegfried and Roy !!!!!!!!!!!!!

[High Hair High Seas]

Etoile,

 

We were supposed to be on this cruise with you, but moved to another cruise, then cancelled altogether due to a family emergency.

 

How was it??

 

Hope you had a great time and I agree -- VEGAS is a blast!! :D

[High Hair High Seas]

I've been many times and can't get enough of it!!

[bepsf]

I was there for Xmas this past year - stayed at Luxor (which is rather gay-friendly) and saw a couple of shows including Dame Edna who was playing at Luxor.

 

It was OK, but I missed the free roomservice, included meals and the camaraderie of a cruise...

;)

[iluvcruzn]

We've been to Vegas twice. We really enjoy it. I would suggest staying mid-strip, and bring really comfortable walking shoes. It's amazing how much walking you have to do in Vegas. You should definitely see "Zumanity" while there. If you enjoy shopping, try the Ceaser's Forum Shops and the Fashion Square Mall. Both of those are great. Whatever you do, you'll really like it.

[MattInFLL]

When I lived in L.A. it was much easier to visit, but I still seem to get there about once a year... anyway, I have to plug Zumanity because Cirque took a lot of heat for putting gay and lesbian elements into the show, and I want to support that (not to say Cirque has always had a good record with its own employees, but that's another story.) I bought my partner and I front row "love seats" and at the beginning the emcee called us out and asked us to kiss to start the show. It was a great moment.

 

Vegas is fun, but I just never think of it as a gay destination. The bars are odd because they don't get busy until well after 1 or 2 am, when all the hotel employees get off work....the strip is odd, because it really attracts a very mid-America crowd looking to let their hair down, but conservative nonetheless.... you need to go with a kitschy, gee-whiz-look-it's-an- eiffel-tower-replica attitude and just enjoy the show.

[etoile]

Cool! I think we are definitely going to see Zumanity, though we probably won't spring for the love couches - we'll save that money to see another show since we will be there for a while!

 

Has anybody seen La Cage at the Riviera (I think)? It looked interesting...classic female impersonator extravaganza?

[sweetsandnuts]

hi

 

Again this year we will be on a cruise in november then Las Vegas in February.

 

La cage is wonderful its about a 70 min show very professional fab costumes, worth the money but the best shows in town are cirque.

 

we were there last Feb and we saw Cirque show at the Wynn hotel..."La Reve"

 

well worth the money i think you need to sit well back anyway otherwise you end up with a stiff neck, as most of the show is in the air.

 

breathtaking.

 

we first saw Mystere at the mirage that was our first experience it was wonderful and it was the cheapest.

 

places to eat are EVERYWHERE, could not fault anything we had although the buffets get a bit repetetive.

 

Try going over to henderson for great shops, near and alongside sunset station, and the mall opposite. best time to is 1st thing in the morning its always empty.

 

Every day we trundled off to Blueberry Hill Family Restaurant on East Flamingo Near Maryland Parkway.

map

 

http://www.google.co.uk/maps?hl=en&lr=&q=blueberry+hills+restaurant&near=Las+Vegas,+NV,+USA&sa=X&oi=local&ct=title

 

We had a fabulous waitress called Lola, a nice lady in her fifties, who made our holiday.

 

she was such fun and she had the driest sense of humour just like mine.

 

All day breakfasts which suited us, and although she works or worked in the smoking section it was well worth it.

 

its just a goryfied cafe dirt cheap and, spotless clean and friendly very busy weekends and she does not work tues or wed.

 

tell her malcolm & jeremy sent you from the uk.

 

we will be there again in Feb and thats where we will be every day.

 

anyway enjoy your trip, get a car and get off the beaten track theres loads to see.

 

especially all the rubbish at the swap meet on decatuer every sat and sunday, well worth a visit never seen so much tat in all my life passes a good 1 hour on.

 

its expensive to get in 1 dollar each (he he)

however 1 year we went, we picked up a discount coupon each for 25 cents off and used it for fun.

 

 

and all the 99c stores we love em, very rarely buy anything but can't believe what they sell.

 

and then wally world (wallmart) theres hundreds of them.

 

and wherever theres a bingo thats where i will be especially terribles casino. they pay out big bucks. how do they do it?

 

you see vegas need not be expensive.

 

wherever theres a sale on in we go

 

 

buy it cheap sell it for a great profiton e bay when we get back

 

enjoy

 

mark & jeremy

[rainbowfish1969]

Hey! I go to Vegas every year to see shows. The three hotels I've stayed at recently are all very friendly. NYNY, Venetian and the Hilton. My favorite was NYNY b/c the boy behind the counter gave us an upgrade to a fantastic suite. My least favorite for service was the Venetian. That'd take a while to explain so I won't.

 

There's a real campy fun show you should see. 'Bite' (rock opera with nearly-nude female vampires) was at the Stratosphere last March. One of the most fun shows I've been to b/c it was so bad. Just be sure to get there early if you go and buy alcohol before you go into the theatre. And alcohol does make the experience more....

 

O is good. If Manilow is playing, good show. La Reve is incredible.

 

Have fun!

[bububr]

No matter what you choose, you will have fun. There is something for everyone.

 

My parents live in LV so I am there every year for my birthday in February.

 

Holding hands between women isn't such a big deal, with men its different so don't worry about it....

 

My partner and I actually like the Seafood buffet at the Bellagio on the weekends....Its not just seafood. Its sushi to Buffalo and beyond.

 

The strip is good for the sights and sounds, but Old LV is better for gambling in our opinion, and has the gritty air about it, as opposed to a family resort.

 

If you have a car, Red Rock Canyon, and Hoover Dam are fun to visit, and We're looking forward to seeing the new Red Rock Resort after watching Hells Kitchen this year.

 

Heres a lnk to a site that gives you daily scheduled events and shows:

http://las.vegas.eventguide.com/months/07feb.htm

 

Enjoy your trip!

 

Dave:eek:

[etoile]

We have nailed down our hotel! Now, don't laugh...we are staying at the America's Best Value Inn on East Tropicana, it was formerly the Rodeway Inn. We are staying there because my wife's per diem for hotel is a STRICT $114/nt, even though we will be staying there over President's Day weekend, when all the other hotel prices are astronomical. But ABVI and Motel 6 were within the budget limit, and ABVI has free wireless internet, so we picked that one. The location seems pretty good at least, and hopefully it will be clean and safe - in the end, that's really all that matters, because technically this is a business trip not a vacation!

 

Dave, thanks for the tip on the sushi at the Bellagio! I am not a sushi fan but my wife loves it, so I might take her there so she can get sushi and I can get something else. :)

[bububr]

Also if you guys like to go out...Saturday nights they have a new bar 'Krave" in the Aladdin....Its 'girl Bar night", or the other place close to your hotel that would be fun is 'gypsy'. We've never been to 8 1/2 but have heard good things about it. all of these are about a 1/4 to a 1/2 a mile or so from your hotel.

 

Dave:eek:

[LVMediaboy]

As a Vegas local (if I say 'Vegan' people think I don't eat meat), free free to bounce any questions my way.

Where you're staying will be fine, but it 'is' just over the freeway from the Strip. Though it is walkable to the Strip, you cross the freeway overpass. Strongly recommend a quick cab - at least to the Strip.

Lots of info in local magazine QVegas.

Krave at the Aladdin/Planet Hollywood has a popular Girl Bar on Saturday night. La Cage is fun - a classic.

As for hand holding the newer, bigger resort areas are fine - but remember there's 100,000 tourists a week from all over the world - so there could be a variety of reactions. The Riviera, where La Cage is, is in an older redeveloping area of the Strip with some gnarlies.

Vegas is doing much to grow gay tourism, so most major resorts are all gay friendly.

[etoile]

LVMediaboy, I'm confused. Are you referring to I-15? If so, then the Strip is between the hotel and I-15...you don't have to cross I-15 to get to the Strip from the hotel we'll be staying in. Here is the map with our hotel marked.

 

Thanks for the tip about crossing the freeway though! I had been wondering about hotels like the Orleans, which looks so close...but is on the other side of the freeway. Now I'm glad I didn't pick it, we would like to avoid having to take a cab to get anywhere!

 

Dave, thanks for the tip on Krave - we will have to check it out!

[MattInFLL]

FYI, if you do take a cab, there are "service" roads that run parallel to the strip on each side, behind the hotels... cabbies always take them when they don't have a fare, to avoid the grid lock on the strip... but don't always take them when they do have a fare so that the meter is running..so I always tell them to take them just to be sure.

 

If you want to splurge on a buffet, the one at the Wynn was amazing. My partner loves crab legs, and he couldn't stay away from the ones there.

[rthomasmke]

Greetings all…

 

LV was our favorite destination before the cruise bug bit. We would go every 3-6 months to deposit a few dollars, eat some good food, lay by the pool and drink free (well almost free). Throw a quarter in the slots slowly and make sure you tip the waitress when she comes around.

 

I agree with all the suggestions for things to do and see. Our favorite Cirque shows are “O”, Ka and Zumanity. Like MattInFLL, my partner and I were seated in the first row. After a couple of cocktails, I was cheering for the Emcee, next thing I knew the spotlight was on us, she asked if we were long time lovers and had us kiss for the audience. The place burst out in applause. After the show, two guys asked if we were part of the show. Said no, just two guys from Milwaukee.

 

Make sure you take in the gardens at the Bellagio. Always a theme related to the time of year, holiday, etc. If you have a car, go downtown. As someone said, the grit, old hotels, and a whole different clientele is down there. You can find free parking at the Golden Nugget, just make sure you validate the parking permit at the casino cage. The Golden Gate still has 99 cent shrimp cocktails. I agree that the gambling is better downtown or off-strip. The canopy light show, outside, is interesting especially when they play the 70’s/80’s version. If you are a Star Trek fan, then you must go to the Hilton. The Star Trek experience is well worth the cost.

 

We love the champagne brunch at the Flamingo. Nice setting, try to get a window seat. The Rio has a huge buffet, but is getting pretty expensive. You can take a shuttle from Harrah’s to the Rio for free. Blueberry Hill is excellent for breakfast.

 

Hotels we have experienced, have all been very gay friendly. We have stayed at Harrah’s, Bally's, Flamingo (wish it was still a Hilton), Hilton, Imperial Palace (our least favorite), Rio and Monte Carlo. The Flamingo is our favorite because of the pool.

 

You won’t run out of enough things to see or do. Make sure you give yourself a little extra time at the airport. It is always busy, 24 hours a day, and the security lines can be very long. There are multi-airline self check kiosks just inside the entrance. You can always check bags with skycaps and avoid the long lines.

 

Ok, have written enough….can you tell we love Vegas? Dan and I were supposed to be on the Crown Princess repo from NYC to SJU this week. When I lost my job we had to cancel. Oh well, maybe a quickie this winter.

 

bob

[etoile]

If you are a Star Trek fan, then you must go to the Hilton. The Star Trek experience is well worth the cost.

Not only am I planning to go there, but we are hoping they extend this package into February so we can stay and eat there too! The reservation agent said it currently only went through January but call back in a couple of months and they might have extended it. :D

[garykool81]

Etoile --

 

Forgot to mention, but you reminded me about the Las Vegas Hilton up towards Stratosphere. Even if you never have been a Star Trek fan, be sure to see BOTH shows/rides that they have there. They are very, very well done and fun. You will not regret it!