Las Vegas resort help

[FANERDAL]

Hi I haven't been to Las Vegas for at least 25 years. Would like to help my nephew and his wife celebrate their 20'th anniversary. They have never been there. Which HGVC resort would give them access to things to do and hopefully allow them to walk to a lot of places. Also they might just hang around the resort so if there are special things that any one offers over another would like that info to.
Thanks Fanerdal

 

[dayooper]

Hi I haven't been to Las Vegas for at least 25 years. Would like to help my nephew and his wife celebrate their 20'th anniversary. They have never been there. Which HGVC resort would give them access to things to do and hopefully allow them to walk to a lot of places. Also they might just hang around the resort so if there are special things that any one offers over another would like that info to.
Thanks Fanerdal

I would suggest either The Flamingo or Elara. Both are right in the middle of everything.

The Flamingo is in between The Linq and The Flamingo. It’s right across the street from Caesars and an easy walk to The Bellagio (and it’s awesome fountain show), Paris and The Venetian. A little further walk north is The Mirage and Treasure Island. It’s a little older, but still nicely appointed. The High Roller is directly behind the resort and it has a stop on the monorail right behind. The Flamingo Casino has The Go Pool, which is an adult only pool that runs from late morning to late afternoon. It’s like an outdoor “nightclub” and, as guests of HGVC at the Flamingo, you get a special entrance. The HGVC at the Flamingo does have its own pool that is much quieter than the Go a Pool.

Elara is newer, larger and a little further South. It’s connected to the Planet Hollywood Casino and Resort. It’s also easy walking distance to The Bellagio, Aria, The Cosmopolitan and Planet Hollywood. Planet Hollywood has the Miraicle Mile Shopping Mall (Elara has an exit right into the mall). You might be able to walk to Excaliber, MGM and Luxor, but those would be quite the hike. Elara’s pool is really nice and the rooms are thought to be nicer than the Flamingo.

HGVC on the Boulevard is a nice place too, but it’s on the north end and really only close to Circus Curcus and SLS. You would have to drive or taxi to get to where the action is.

Both the Flamingo and Elara are very nice and in the middle of everything. I would suggest one of those two.

 

[Janann]

I agree with @dayooper. My favorite was the Flamingo until the Elara came along. So first choice is now Elara, second choice Flamingo. One advantage of the Flamingo is the "secret" monorail access. You just walk down to a slightly lower level from the vehicle drop off lane, and then use your hotel card to open the elevator door. It goes straight up to the monorail without having to walk around the long ramps. But if the monorail is not in their plans, then this doesn't matter.
Here's a link to the location. If you spin around you can see the pink HGVC Flamingo building.
https://www.google.com/maps/@36.116...JhcWjODOMWibkkZrIqvA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656?hl=en

 

[Sandy VDH]

I too would rank Elara first, if points are not an issue, as they are slightly more points than Flamingo. Then I would vote Flamingo. If you want to be in the action on the strip.

If you just want to stay in Vegas for other reasons, then Blvd. would be my 3rd choice.

 

[buzglyd]

We still like Trump the best because the rooms are so nice and it’s close to nice shops and casinos. The Miracle Mall is nothing great. The Trump is much higher points so we usually book it Open Season. Boulevard is just way too far North. It’s nice but not close to anything.

The Elara rooms are tacky but Fine for Las Vegas. I would rank:

Trump
Flamingo
Elara
Boulevard
Karen

I’ve stayed at all but Karen

 

[dougp26364]

For us, we prefer Elara...…. but we've been to Vegas at least once a year since 1998 and we use to go multiple times per year back when you could still get steak and eggs for $2.99 or a decent prime rib dinner for $5.99. Once they started jacking the prices because the dot.com millionaires enjoyed wasting their money, we backed off to only going a few nights per year.

Having said all of that, I believe if I was going to send someone to Vegas for the first time, the Flamingo location might be the best. Center strip, easy access to the Flamingo and Bally's. Quick walk across the street to Ceasers and Bellagio and a free monorail from Bellagio down to the south end of the strip terminating at Aria. The location is likely the best for ease of seeing more with less walking.

However. Elara is swankier and more upscale. Full floor to ceiling windows to gaze out. In the one bedroom (at least in the Grand one bedroom units) a projection screen drops down and the wall becomes a huge TV (great for watching sports or feature movies). As mentioned above the Miracle Mile shops are nothing fancy but, there are several inexpensive restaurants in those shops that are a quick walk from Elara including some really cheap breakfast places. There's also a CVS and ABC store close buy for small grocery items like soft drinks, beer, wine, snack and souvenirs.

As for the comment that Elara's rooms are tacky, I suspect that would be the unrenovated former Westgate rooms (Elara was a Westgate resort originally). All the units we've been in have been basic HGVC designed rooms that I'd hardly call tacky. See the link to our photo album below.
https://dougp26364.smugmug.com/Travel/TImeshare/HVVC-Elera-1-Bedroom/

 

[buzglyd]

Ahhh, the updated rooms look much better than the Westgate version.

 

[DazedandConfused]

For us, we prefer Elara...….

As for the comment that Elara's rooms are tacky, I suspect that would be the unrenovated former Westgate rooms (Elara was a Westgate resort originally). All the units we've been in have been basic HGVC designed rooms that I'd hardly call tacky. See the link to our photo album below.
https://dougp26364.smugmug.com/Travel/TImeshare/HVVC-Elera-1-Bedroom/

I was just there in an almost identical room and it looked pretty much exactly like your pics from 2004. I can state that HGVC keeps this property in excellent condition.

 

[dayooper]

Just for comparison, here are some pics from the Flamingo:

Rooms: https://www.flickr.com/gp/131932250@N08/6484z7
Facilities: https://www.flickr.com/gp/131932250@N08/95G8fM

Trump Tower: https://www.flickr.com/gp/131932250@N08/L742d1


In the sticky, they have pictures from both LV Strip and a Paradise

https://tugbbs.com/forums/index.php...etailed-resort-affiliated-information.254931/

 

[FANERDAL]

Hi I haven't been to Las Vegas for at least 25 years. Would like to help my nephew and his wife celebrate their 20'th anniversary. They have never been there. Which HGVC resort would give them access to things to do and hopefully allow them to walk to a lot of places. Also they might just hang around the resort so if there are special things that any one offers over another would like that info to.
Thanks Fanerdal

 

[FANERDAL]

Thanks for all the help! This will help a lot to give the kids a good time...…..

 

[Blues]

Definitely agree with Elara! There are so many restaurants, shops, etc in the Miracle Mile that they'll never run out of things to do.

My wife and I just celebrated our 34th there. If you can afford it, a very romantic thing to do is one of couples packages at Costa del Sur spa in Southpoint. Of course, they'd need to be able to get over there; it's a ways away from the main action of the strip.

https://spacostadelsur.com/spa-services scroll down to "Couples Treatments".
Before and after your appointment, you can stay there all day in the couples' jacuzzi/sauna/steam room. DW and I even showered, re-dressed, and went to the buffet, before returning the the spa.

 

[Passepartout]

If you can afford it, a very romantic thing to do is one of couples packages at Costa del Sur spa in Southpoint. Of course, they'd need to be able to get over there; it's a ways away from the main action of the strip.

We have found Uber to be a very efficient and convenient to get around Las Vegas.

Jim