Vivia Las Vegas...

...maybe not for us.  If you ever make plans to go to the Grand Canyon and Vegas, I would suggest Vegas and then the Grand Canyon.  When we got onto the strip it was sensory overload.  So many people, lights, buildings, music....just too much.  The problem was that we went to a very quiet Grand Canyon where you have time to breath and take it all in a little at a time (thanks to the fog/snow that only allowed us to see bits of the canyon at a time).  Vegas was just BAM!!! We got frazzled when finding parking and first parked in the Flamingo parking garage and made our way to the Imperial Palace.  When we got to the hotel it was pretty smoky (thanks to the casion being with check in) and a semi long line.  However, with only 3 and sometimes 4 people working the desk and a second line for people who had already checked in to skip ahead and ask mundane questions had us waiting for almost an hour.  I was not a happy camper.  But I decided to just breathe and think that I will be able to rest and lay down for a bit.

After checking in, we made out way to the room.  I should have known by the hall way what condition the room would be in.  The carpet was run down, dirty and very old...maybe from when the hotel opened.  I am all about cheap but this hotel was a little dirty.  To make matters worst we stayed in Tower 5, facing the strip.  This meant a band played live music all day until 2am...But I can't complain too much because I read reviews and saw the warning about Tower 5 and people who have stayed in the hotel told me to upgrade to a better room because the suites and deluxe rooms are updated.  So, I won't say it was a total waste because the location was ideal for around $30 a night.

After settled in the hotel we decided to walk around a little.  The first thing my husband spotted was McDonald's, he has a strange love for Maccas that I really don't understand.  He's a bit "frugal" and will settle for $1 mcchickens for lunch and dinner.  Walking around really helped us to get our barrings and take in Vegas. 

After finding some food we called it a night, and decided to have a late morning and get some sightseeing and walking down the next day.

We did the tourist bit, walked around took lots of pictures (over 400 for the entire trip) and did some window shopping.

I was uber excited to see a Max Brenner resturnat in the Forums shopping area.  However, I was quickly disappointed when I looked at the menu...It was a full own menu, not the dessert and hot chocolate one I'm use to from Australia.  So I did not go in, and decided to check out the fountain show.

The major plus about Vegas, is the free mini shows.  We saw the fountains at the Bellagio,

volcano at the Mirage,

and the Pirate show/dance or whatever it was, at Treasure Island

There may have been other shows that we missed, i.e. Fremont Street lights.  We went early in the day and the area was hella shady, imo, so we got back on the bus and made our way back to the strip.

The next day, we did more walking, made our way to the Vegas sign, which is in median at the end of the strip.  Along with checking out other hotels and casinos on the strip. 

Overall, Vegas was ok.  I won't be in a rush to visit again but it wasn't a waste.  My recommendations for Vegas:

1.  Don't buy any staple things, i.e. Water, snacks...on the strip, go father down near New York, New York. There are cheaper stores, we paid almost $4 for a bottle of water. 
2. There are a lot of people handing out cards, don't take anything, if you take one you become a target for the others down the line.
3.  Be prepared to be bombarded about "free shows and free dinners", the catch was a 60 minute time share speech.
4.  Have the buffet at the Bellagio, I hate buffets but the Bellagio had the best food.   I have read that you go for a late lunch and just stay long enough for them to put out the dinner items.  We went for lunch and dinner and there is very little difference.  The only difference I saw was that the offered sliders a lunch and larger meats at dinner...oh yeah, dinner had more seafood...the major plus was crab but it's not a make or break when choosing lunch which is around $20 per person or dinner, which is around $30.
5.  If you want a cheap breakfast, lunch, dinner...just hit up McDonald's, the prices there are still the same.  My husband paid $10 for a subway sandwich without chips and a drink.
6.  Fremont light show starts at 5:30...don't go earlier.
7.  There is a lot of window shopping to be done, and some affordable places like Gap, H&M, but mostly it's Gucci, Prada, and other stores that I don't even go in.

If you go, enjoy Vegas for what it is.  It's unlike any other city and most people will love it or hate it.