Just got back from Vegas!
I just returned a week ago, it was my first visit also. My husband had a convention for a few days and some friends also went to hang out. We stayed 5 nights and it was great. Some advice: a lot of cool places are closed on or offer something different Mon, Tues and Wed. Check out what's going on that night in a club before you pay a $10 cover charge. The Ghostbar is not so cool on Tuesdays

New York New York has some cheap places to grab lunch and breakfast, the roller coaster is fun, but really jerky, you might not want the all day ride pass. Check out the cheap 5 t-shirts for $10 places on the strip for souvenirs - they have a lot of stuff from the casinos. The Steakhouse at Circus Circus is awesome, and reasonable because side dishes actually come with the steak: My petite filet came with a salad, potatoe and asparagus and was about $30-$35. As mentioned, the fountain show at Bellagio is amazing. Get to the pirate show at Treasure Island early, it's kind of lame, but you'll be singing that goofy song for weeks! Taxis can only pick you up in front of hotels, and the hotels are farther apart than they look. Don't miss going in the Luxor, it's really neat inside, and they have Imax movie theaters and some neat shops. The monorail is not as convenient as they advertise, you still have a lot of walking to get to and from it, 5 people can fit in a taxi. Don't miss the Venetian, it is surreal inside, and Paris is a fun walk. The Mirage is nicer than I thought inside, If you want to see 6 dolphins and an elephant and a couple of tigers, then pay the $12 for Siegfried and Roy's Secret Garden. Not that great, but okay. Kahunaville In Treasure Island is a dueling Piano Bar, it's fun, they give out free tequila shots sometimes, just be sure to ask the pianomen if they know a song before you tip them to play a request - it felt like I was playing "Stump the Band". Just walk around and see it all. Oh, and when getting poolside drinks at the Bellagio, don't be surprised when the bill is $24 for two drinks! Have Fun!