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Member
Posts: 7
| Planning on going to the NFR for our Honeymoon, but I've never been to vegas and neither has he. So.....need to pick everyones brain to see what you have learned. What to do, what not to do. How to save money. etc. What round do you feel is the best to watch? Is it economical to try and get tickets for the 10th round? Words of wisdom would be helpful.
THANKS!!  | |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 667
 
| I went last year for the first time. We went to the actual rodeo one night, I believe it was Wednesday night?? THis is just my opinion but once you have been there and seen it one time its just as fun to go to different hotels and watch it on the big screens. The tickets are expensive but the experience is worth it. I would say that the 10th round is going to be hard and costly to come by.
Here is what I concluded, the food in Vegas is outstanding but VERY expensive. Like a hamburger is $15.00 (no sides)
The shopping is amazing, convention center, MGM, Mandalay Bay, Southpoint, ect. They are all great and all I can say is prepare to be amazed.
Taxis are not too bad. I generally spent between 15-25 every time I needed to go somewhere .
Hotels are not expensive at all during the week, and if you book far enough in advance, some have special rates.
It was an amazing experience for me and I plan on going back, but you need to be prepared to drop some serious $$$$$ on food/drinks/and shopping. Have fun with it. and Congrats! | |
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Member
Posts: 7
| THANKS!! A little nervous to plan this trip. | |
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 Expert
Posts: 2097
Location: Deep South | I agree with just buying tickets for one performance. I'd rather have had my money to spend on more shopping or things to do, and caught the rodeo in a casino/bar on the big screen. | |
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 I Prefer to Live in Fantasy Land
Posts: 64864
Location: In the Hills of Texas | Shayla5599 - 2014-06-05 1:13 PM THANKS!! A little nervous to plan this trip.
There are different things to do in Vegas and that is where you begin. A lot of time can be spent going and seeing all the different hotels as they all have their own little things to offer and see and many are free. The first year we went I think we went into every different one. Make sure to have and wear comfortable walking shoes as it seems no matter what you do you will be walking a lot.
If you like western style shopping, it's a shopping paradise with all the different venues. They are also adding a Hunter's Paradise shopping venue this week.
We always rent a car and the first year we drove out to Red Canyon and to the Hoover Dam and did a tour.
The 10th round will be the hardest ticket to get but you can probably find tickets in the nosebleed section.
Many of the hotels give you a fun packet with all kinds of coupons and we always use some of them. You can always go off the strip, especially if you have a car, to find cheaper food. We always end up at Outback for lunch. We don't do fast food but for those that do...that is a way to save some money. | |
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boon
Posts: 1
| 1. Spend the money for one night of decent seats- scalpers are horribly over priced. Do the ticket exchange.
2. A couple of the hotels have free concerts and are usually VERY fun.
3. Hotels usually have NFR pricing so most certainly mention that when you are booking.
4. I went out with a college group and we just winged it, and quite frankly had a ton of fun. I also have been out there with an organized group and had things planned for us, still a blast.
Personally I think you need 4-5 days just to take everything in :) | |
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 Member
Posts: 33
Location: Florida | I try to go every year. This year will be my 4th time. I just booked my flight and hotel for Dec 10-15. However I think Vegas, in general, is more exciting during the beginning. The previous years they have the santa marathon race, where they close down the strip and all these runners do the marathon dressed in all sorts of garb, its entertaining. They also have some Nascar event out there around the beginning of Dec and I think some County Music thing. So needless to say when Ive gone at the beginning of the NFR Vegas was PACKED with all sorts of people. The last couple years though Ive gone towards the end, and it has been fun too, but mainly just NFR goers. As for tickets, a lot of hotels will offer free NFR tickets (prob not best seats) if you book with them. Just gotta call and ask around. I know that Harrahs will offer tix with their rooms (but I think they dont start doing that until closer). Other ones like Southpoint, MGM, Silverton offer package deals, but you are paying for it as part of your booking, but the seat locations are better.
Hope this helps!!
Vegas is awesome, even if you dont go to the Thomas & Mack you will have a BALL!!! | |
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 There Could Be Aliens Out There
Posts: 1393
Location: North Central Kansas | Spend money on 10th round tickets in the lower seating area. Save money and watch on tvs or big screens in the casinos. | |
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The Advice Guru
Posts: 6419
| I have season tickets for the first 4 nights, so I don't factor them into the cost as you pay for them in feb.
The Friday at south pointe has the bucking horse futurity, there is admission, but these horses are amazing to watch, a few years I actually thought they were better then most of the horses at the NFR.
We always take one day we don't watch the rodeo and go somewhere else, last year we took a bus, helicopter, boat tour of the Grand Canyon, it was 300 person very worth it, if you go to the canyon spend the money for the full tour.
For shopping plan one convention centre per day, as there is so much cool stuff to see. Don't buy the first you see, shop around as there are deals to get.
I get a rental car so I can go wherever I want, it costs me about 2-300 for the week.
Food, if you are okay with the buffet become a member of the casino, it doesn't cost anything, each person gets a dollar or two off of each meal. Also the farther you get off the strip the cheaper the food is.
I also go to wallmart as soon as I get there for snacks, and beverages, this will also cut down on costs | |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 1037
| I also sent you a PM, but if you have any specific questions just let me know.
Before giving any advice, it really depends on your budget, for where you want to stay and what you want to do and see.
Believe me, the years I was in college and went were super frugal compared to what I can spend in one hour at cowboy christmas now  , so I can give you some pointers either way!
I have been to the NFR 11 times and we go to Vegas 4-6 times per year.
Its a blast and if you cant have fun in Vegas, you cant have fun anywhere! | |
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