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 Member
Posts: 21
| This is the first year I'm going out to the NFR, any help would be greatly appreciated! Where do you like to stay?
Is it worth buying tickets?
If not, where do you like to watch the NFR from in Vegas?
ect, ect, ect!
thanks! |
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 Toastest with the Mostest
Posts: 5712
  
Location: That part of Texas | If you've never stayed in Vegas, the one thing you need to know if whether or not your hotel charges a resort fee on top of the room rate. Some deals don't become so much of a deal when you have to add the resort fee on top of the daily room rate. You can do a search of hotels who won't charge the fee. Last year we stayed at the Tropicana (right next to the MGM Grand) without a resort fee and I paid $150 for a 4-night stay there, double bed room. We had next-door access to the MGM Grand without the MGM price and had access to the monorail system through the MGM.
As for tickets, some people save up their money to buy great tickets (plaza seating) for one night and then go to the casinos to watch on the others. OTOH, I've sat in the worst - almost top row - seats in the T&M and didn't think they were really that bad. Not the same as the Plaza seats but hey, I was there and got to see it in person.
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 No Tune in a Bucket
Posts: 2935
Location: Texas | I agree that everyone needs the T & M experience for at least 1 night. |
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Rad Dork
Posts: 5218
Location: Oklahoma | Go atleast one night and experience the feeling of it!! We sat in the upper section on a corner (pretty much the least desirable place) and still loved it.
Buy a monorail ticket and learn the route (they run a 72 hour special for $23-24/ticket) and it's sooo worth it.
We stayed at the MGM Grand and it was really nice, but on the southern part of the strip and I want to stay closer to the Bellagio and Venetian this year so we'll be staying at the Mirage.
If you stay at one of the M Life hotels be sure and give them your membership card everytime you check out where it's accepted... you'll earn points for money you're spending and those points add up to discounts the next time you stay.
Plan a LOT of time for the trade shows... it was overwhelming (especially when you have a shopping list or doing Christmas shopping). Have comfortable shoes and an extra bag to haul home your purchases in!
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Expert
Posts: 2531
Location: WI | I have been twice, went to the rodeo the first year. I had nosebleeds and would maybe go again if I had really nice seats. I enjoy watching the live streams in the casinos.
I stayed at Excalibur and MGM - liked them both. MGM was nice because they had the NRS show and nice viewing parties each night and nicer rooms, but Excalibur was cheaper and if you like to gamble they had cheaper tables to play. When we were at the MGM, we walked across the street to Hooters to do most of our gambling. I think I dropped $100 at the roulette table in MGM in about 8 minutes! |
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 Living within my means
Posts: 5128
Location: Randolph, Utah | I prefer to spend more money for good seats and go 1 night then have nosebleeds and go every night I'm there. My first time I had tickets 5 rows from the arena so I guess I got spoiled.
We usually stay at the Excalibur, it's a nice hotel with decent rates. It doesn't have a lot of food options except fast food but it is close to the MGM, and New York New York. |
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 Jr. Detective
Location: Beggs, OK | We stayed at MGM and shopped at NRS while we were there. They had everything, lol They also shipped it home for you very reasonably so that you don't have to drag it around with you and fly home! |
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 Expert
Posts: 1410
Location: Peach State | We're going this year. Staying at a smaller casino... Hooters has a deal where a room comes with 2 plaza seats. |
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Posts: 3006
Location: OREGON | following this post. I am hoping to go this year too  |
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 Leggs
Posts: 4680
Location: lexington KY | I personally stay at the Mandalay Bay, which works well for me. I go to the NFR to work and one trade show is there so it makes it easier. Plus the hotel is very clean. The first year I was there we took cabs everywhere. Now we rent a car, which I find MUCH easier for us, however it would depend on how much running around you plan to do. If you plan to be in Vegas for the last performance and fly out the next morning, I recommend getting to the airport SUPER early, the lines will be very long as everyone leaves Vegas then. I have flown home on the redeye and flown home the next morning and it is chaos that next morning. I have also stayed at the Luxor in the past, which I personally wouldnt recommend.
I also agree with saving your money and getting good seats for one performance. We did that one year and our seats were great and definitely worth the extra money, then we watched the other perfs in a bar. |
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  Witty Enough
Posts: 2954
Location: CTX | We have stayed at Planet Hollywood once, and Excaliber after that.... Just because it was a bit cheaper, we only get to the room to sleep, take a shower or drop off the stuff we bought.....
Friends are either in Excaliber or Luxor... so we are pretty close to meet up for breakfast and then shopping!! It's close to the MGM, prices are ok.
Enough restaurants if you like fast food, but also plenty good ones around. Might have to walk a little bit. Breakfast ends up being in a mexican place on the strip, very good bloody Mary's and Irish coffee's!! 
Mostly we take cabs to get around, but last year we ended up getting a limo so we could fit all 8 people in, in stead of taking 2 cabs. (price is about the same...) And we got the drivers phone#, so when we got done shopping, we'd call him and he would come over to pick us up...
We watch the rodeo from a bar in one of the hotels. But you have to get there early to get a good seat. (not a problem, send hubby to the bar and we follow later....  )
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Veteran
Posts: 100
Location: South Texas | Cranky b4 10 am where is the mexican restaurant you go to for breakfast? We stay at the Excalibur and the breakfast buffet is expensive in my opinion. Looking for other options |
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The Advice Guru
Posts: 6419
| I stay at the Gold Coast, it is off the strip, cheap, rooms are descent. The casino is small enough I can find the other people I travel with.
I rent a car so I can drive wherever I want.
Southpointe has a futurity bucking on the Thursday or Friday that is top notch. I heard they are having mini bucking this year children ages 6-9, this is way off the strip, hence why I like a vehicle.
Shopping
Mandalay bay
The sands
South pointe (small but good)
MGM
Las Vegas convention centre
For shopping look around, don't buy at the first place as some can be pricey
I go to wallmart as soon as I get there and stock up on water, beverages, and snacks I can keep in the room
Bass pro shop is neat to check out but again off the strip
Places to watch on a big screen
South pointe, but I hear you need to get there around noon to get a seat
Gold Coast is where we watch, cheap beer, and can get seats last minute
MGM, never been there to watch
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Expert
Posts: 1432
| We usually stay at the Excalibur. Reasonable rooms and they hve several fast food restaurants upstairs if we want something quick.
We rent a car so we can do whatever we want. Hve used taxis and limos in the past.
We usually get tickets from a contestant for at least one performance and watch the other performances on a big screen some where.
We also try to see a show after the performance..
Alot of shopping at the event centers.
I love vegas! A lot of things to do and see.. Hve fun!! You'll wanna go back every year.. |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 1037
| The first weekend is somewhat less crowded than the 2nd. During the week it is more enjoyable due to less people.
Cabs are expensive but the easiest way to get around. If you have never been to Vegas, there is so much to see and do you will most likely be walking up and down the strip ALOT!
Shopping takes up so much time due to the massive trade shows. We have been for so many years that we have seen pretty much all the shopping has to offer so now try to do other things.
If you are there for the Sunday of the NFR you should check out Elevate Sunday at the MGM. Its a great church service.
let me know if you have any specific Vegas questions :)
This is the first year I'm going out to the NFR, any help would be greatly appreciated!
Where do you like to stay?
Really depends on what you are looking for in a hotel.
MGM and Mandalay Bay are great because you can get an upscale room for less money that some resorts on the north end of the strip. They also both have easy access to the Thomas and Mack, just dont try to walk, its alot farther than it looks! Both also have a trade show attached for shopping. Both are very good, MB has more variety. Both have GREAT restaurants. Other great places to stay on the strip are Aria, Bellagio, Mirage (has the best viewing party IMO but really lacks in restaurants). I would NOT recommend staying at Monte Carlo, but we did watch the NFR from THE PUB there and it was a great time.
Is it worth buying tickets? YES it is absolutely worth it. There isnt a bad seat in the house and there is nothing like being there. Of course Plaza seats are nice, but anywhere is fine to sit. I have sat anywhere from the 1st row to the very top and had a blast everytime.
If not, where do you like to watch the NFR from in Vegas? Mirage, Any bar at MGM (if you want to go to the viewing party in the David Copperfield theater you have to get there super early in the morning for a wristband I do believe. haven't stayed there in a few years during NFR though so not sure)
ect, ect, ect!
thanks! |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 467
Location: A roping pen near you!! | polorunner - 2015-08-18 12:42 PM I personally stay at the Mandalay Bay, which works well for me. I go to the NFR to work and one trade show is there so it makes it easier. Plus the hotel is very clean. The first year I was there we took cabs everywhere. Now we rent a car, which I find MUCH easier for us, however it would depend on how much running around you plan to do. If you plan to be in Vegas for the last performance and fly out the next morning, I recommend getting to the airport SUPER early, the lines will be very long as everyone leaves Vegas then. I have flown home on the redeye and flown home the next morning and it is chaos that next morning. I have also stayed at the Luxor in the past, which I personally wouldnt recommend.
I also agree with saving your money and getting good seats for one performance. We did that one year and our seats were great and definitely worth the extra money, then we watched the other perfs in a bar.
Just wondering whats wrong with the Luxor. We are staying there this year. We are going out for the American Association of Equine Practioners conference and thats one of the hotels they offer a deal at. The meetings are at Mandalay Bay so we thought it would be good because it was cheaper and close to the conference . |
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Tried and True
Posts: 21185
Location: Where I am happiest | I've stayed about everywhere but enjoyed our stay at MGM the most. It is also the best place to watch the perfs. They show it in the theatre and they serve drinks in there, it is awsome! HUGE screen and it's as good as being there.We prefere to spend for the best seats possible one night and watch from the MGM the other nights. Nothing like being right off the dirt!! Sitting up high is a waste of even going truth be told. |
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Expert
Posts: 1695
Location: Willows, CA | We stay at the Mandaly most of the time and like it. Book now, there are still some deals to be had. I have also stayed at the Luxor. If you get the right deal there it can save you a lot of money and the rooms are fine. The other plus side at Luxor is the bridge across the street to Mandaly and all its great places to eat and watch the rodeo without going outside. You can usually get a good deal for tickets on the first night of the rodeo. Being a Thursday, lots of people are not in town yet. Spring for good seats for one night. Another good thing about the first nights perf is that you get to see everyone, as no one is hurt yet. All of the comments about all seats being good are true. T&M is smaller that it looks on TV. Go at least one night, there is a lot going on while they are doing commercials on TV that you don't want to miss.
Edited by winwillows 2015-08-18 4:17 PM
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Toastest with the Mostest
Posts: 5712
Location: That part of Texas | turnum - 2015-08-18 3:31 PM polorunner - 2015-08-18 12:42 PM I personally stay at the Mandalay Bay, which works well for me. I go to the NFR to work and one trade show is there so it makes it easier. Plus the hotel is very clean. The first year I was there we took cabs everywhere. Now we rent a car, which I find MUCH easier for us, however it would depend on how much running around you plan to do. If you plan to be in Vegas for the last performance and fly out the next morning, I recommend getting to the airport SUPER early, the lines will be very long as everyone leaves Vegas then. I have flown home on the redeye and flown home the next morning and it is chaos that next morning. I have also stayed at the Luxor in the past, which I personally wouldnt recommend.
I also agree with saving your money and getting good seats for one performance. We did that one year and our seats were great and definitely worth the extra money, then we watched the other perfs in a bar. Just wondering whats wrong with the Luxor. We are staying there this year. We are going out for the American Association of Equine Practioners conference and thats one of the hotels they offer a deal at. The meetings are at Mandalay Bay so we thought it would be good because it was cheaper and close to the conference .
I didn't like the Luxor because it was one of the hotels who charged a resort fee for each day on top of the room charge. It made our vacation package not such a great deal because of that. We could have gotten a much better room at another hotel for a cheaper price when you added the two of them together. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1037
| Red Raider - 2015-08-18 4:41 PM
turnum - 2015-08-18 3:31 PM polorunner - 2015-08-18 12:42 PM I personally stay at the Mandalay Bay, which works well for me. I go to the NFR to work and one trade show is there so it makes it easier. Plus the hotel is very clean. The first year I was there we took cabs everywhere. Now we rent a car, which I find MUCH easier for us, however it would depend on how much running around you plan to do. If you plan to be in Vegas for the last performance and fly out the next morning, I recommend getting to the airport SUPER early, the lines will be very long as everyone leaves Vegas then. I have flown home on the redeye and flown home the next morning and it is chaos that next morning. I have also stayed at the Luxor in the past, which I personally wouldnt recommend.
I also agree with saving your money and getting good seats for one performance. We did that one year and our seats were great and definitely worth the extra money, then we watched the other perfs in a bar. Just wondering whats wrong with the Luxor. We are staying there this year. We are going out for the American Association of Equine Practioners conference and thats one of the hotels they offer a deal at. The meetings are at Mandalay Bay so we thought it would be good because it was cheaper and close to the conference .
Resort Fees are pretty much everywhere now in Vegas especially on the strip. Here is a list of the only hotels without them.
Hotels That DO NOT Have Resort Fees:
· Arizona Charlie's Decatur
· Arizona Charlie's Boulder Highway
· California
· Cannery
· Casino Royale Best Western Plus
· Eastside Cannery
· Elara
· Four Queens
· Fremont Casino
· Hilton Grand Vacations on the Las Vegas Strip
· Hilton Grand Vacations Las Vegas Convention Center
· Hilton Grand Vacations at the Flamingo
· M Resort
· Main Street Station
· Platinum Hotel and Spa
· Wyndham Grand Desert |
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