I am getting so many good tips here. I thank you all.
My son (21) and I are going to LV mid July.
We are staying in town at the Golden Nugget.
I will rent a scooter for 2 of the 5 days since I have bad legs.
I still need some help:
What is the best transportation from the airport to downtown?
Where do they rent scooters?
We are on the cheap. Entire 5 day trip from DC is $960.
Includes RT air and hotel.
I love the tips here on cheap meals.
To get from/to the airport to Freemont, you can get a shuttle bus (cheapest), cab (second cheapest) or limo (least cheapest) outside by the taxi pick-up. Depending on how many people are in your party, the taxi can be about the same as the shuttle.
Avoid the cheap buffets and even most of the not so cheap buffets. You will get lots of extraordinarily bad food for your money. Better to go into a mid-ranged sitdown place and eat a nice meal in a relaxed atmosphere.
LV is like any other “major city.” It’s a get what you pay for deal. The myth that the high rollers are subsidizing the cheap buffets with their enormous losses at craps and blackjack is just that, a myth.
Golden Nugget is a nice place, probably the best on Fremont Street (downtown/’old vegas’). That’s a nice place to hang out, with plenty of cheaper games ($2-5 blackjack, 1cent, 5cent, 10 cent slots/video poker). The Golden Nugget buffet is good, but the cafe is better.
Be sure and stop by down the street at the Golden Gate for their great 99 cent shrimp cocktail (though I always go for the $2.99 jumbo shrimp cocktail, both are great bargains).
Not far from Fremont Street (2 short blocks away) is the Main Street Station, which has a great buffet, too.
Check out http://www.vegasexperience.com/ for some info on Fremont Street, which is where you will be staying. Lots of live music and antics.
The best way from the airport to the Golden Nugget is a cab, or a shared shuttle. Make sure the Shuttle takes people to Fremont street hotels. Just ask.
I don’t know about the scooters, sorry. Call ahead to the Golden Nugget and ask for the concierge - they may know.
You got a great rate - enjoy your stay!