mikeyfly

I'd add to the comments about much outside of Vegas... right time of year you can be skiing 45mins-1hr out, glorious scenery, drive to Death Valley National Park... plenty of things to do

flyer200

Great question. My wife and I normally fly to NYC in First and spend a few days away from kids. Looking to take her somewhere different.

flyer200

sadly won't be first First

shows, food and people watching is what appeals

Swissroll

In 3 full days (4 nights) last year I managed to
Stay at Caesars Palace
Helicopter drop off into Grand Canyon (early start back by lunch)
Saw 2 Cirque Soleil shows - Absinthe(very naughty) and Michael Jackson(spectacular)
Zipwire down Freemont Street and then gambled at the Golden Nugget
Ate at 3 top restaurants
Saw Bellagio fountains and the pirate show at Treasure Island
Top of the stratosphere
Rollercoaster at New York
Played some blackjack (and lost) and slots (and lost)
Used the monorail
Visited probably 15 of the major hotels
Fired a machine gun

I slept well on the flight home

mikeyfly

Then you've chosen the right place! If none weekend remember to use the last minute ticket booking office for shows, significantly cheaper than face value

flyer200

with the utmost respect, we sound very different people

flyer200

Thanks. I'd want to do a show every night if possible (no Michael Jackson or cirque du soleil)

mikeyfly

Hedge your bets then! Pre book a couple and choose the rest when there! When are you going out of interest?

windowontheAside

You can do two shows a night if you have the stamina and deep pockets!

SeattleDavid

I'm with him - after my last trip to Las Vegas I decided I would never stay there another night – if I have to go I'll fly in and out on the same day!

On the other hand many people find it a fantastic place and with a rental car there are places to visit.

But why not go to San Francisco (on the A380), where you won't really need to rent a car. Or Seattle? Both very different than New York and great cities to walk around. A lesser known, but equally good option (though no direct flight from LHR) would be Portland, Oregon.

nrr

If your primary reason for going is gambling, my answer would be very different for those who want to see the city and surroundings.
A 1/2 day trip and tour of HOOVER DAM is realively inexpensive and worth it IMHO.

QueenOfCoach

I live just north of Los Angeles.

I, personally, don't much enjoy time in Las Vegas. I haven't been there since my niece's wedding in 2000 and have no desire to go back any time soon. I do very much enjoy the areas around Las Vegas, such as Hoover Dam, Death Valley and the Grand Canyon. We went to the Grand Canyon just last month, on the train from Williams, AZ, and really enjoyed ourselves.

You want to take your wife "somewhere different". May I suggest skipping Vegas and going, instead, to Los Angeles?

mikeyfly

As much as I disagree with you () I think there will always be a struggle to get return F to LAX, more so than LAS. I guess more chance to SFO and SJC sometimes..

Smid

It is many things to many people.

Some people hate it. They might approach it as somewhere to gamble. They might go there in the middle of summer where it's so scorching hot that it's unbearable. They might stay in an expensive hotel, and leave thinking its a hellhole having lost money to expensive food and gambling.

I don't do any of those.

I go there towards the winter time, when it's often a nice 70 degrees F of a daytime, need a coat at night. I stay at central strip hotels which can be as low as Ł30 a night (harrahs and flamingo). I eat at Ellis Island ($12.99 prime rib and microbrewed beer), drink at Ellis Island or Casino Royale ($1 a beer), and don't even gamble to get a free drink (nobody ever explained exactly how much that covered). Often stay downtown too, where there's open air free music every music.

I also use it a base to see the wonderful scenery around there. Helicopter and bus strips to "Grand Canyon" west (not really the Grand Canyon, but good), Death Valley, Red Rock. Longer trips to Grand Canyon South, Monument Valley, Zion, Bryce Canyon makes a nice starting point to a wonderful adventure...

Oh and there's usually some sort of show for some people. I loved La Reve, O and Mystere...

So depends on the way you want to play it...

Geordie405

As someone who lives in Las Vegas and has done for the last couple of years it's an amazing place and it really is up to you to determine what you make of it. Most people equate Las Vegas with The Strip - so the hotels, the casinos, the shows and the gambling. It can be that if you want it to be - but it can also be so much more.

People above have suggested Hoover Dam, Red Rock Canyon, The Grand Canyon (including by train from Williams, AZ), Death Valley, and various other parks etc. They are all fantastic options. There's a lot of live music (free too, at Fremont Street) including a lot of top acts some of whom are in residency at various hotels. The Bellagio has an impressive art gallery (to go along with the fountains of course) and the Venetian and Caesar's Palace are great for shopping and people watching!

As for when to visit, autumn and spring are probably the best seasons. It does get very hot here in the summer (I think it was 118F week before last) and even though it's a dry heat it's still hot! Although everywhere has good air-conditioning you will be outside on occasion and you will feel it. Keeping hydrated is a must.

Hope that helps. Feel free to PM me if you like. Happy to answer any other questions you may have.