Las Vegas guide and MSE thread 2016

I will apologies that this will not be an exciting trip report full of drunken shenanigans. Basically, I am currently training in additional Les Mills classes, so there was no excessive drinking. All mornings commenced with training in the gym and a porridge breakfast.

Background:
I like to be away on my birthday, but was not in 2014 (away husbands birthday) and 2015 (went in April as SF was much cheaper). 9th May 2015, my 39th birthday, and I am home wishing I was away on holiday when Thomas Cook email to say new route to LA (£411 per person). Within half hour I have booked.

Sunday May 1st.
Train from Leeds to Manchester. Staying at Radisson Blu. I really like this airport hotel, and it makes the start of the holiday nice and relaxed.

Monday 2nd May.
This is TC first flight to LA so they have laid on entertainment (not bothered about) and cakes (very happy about). Flight is fine, and premium TV is provided free. James Martin (chef / does TC food) is on the flight doing some testing at altitude and hands out some raffle prices. I tell him his food is nice, but there is not enough to feed a 5 year old. For the next 2 nights we are staying at the Embassy Suite LA Int Airport North. Great hotel and only 5 minutes on the free curtesy bus to LAX. Checked in, and just chilled out the rest of the day as there is absolutely nothing in the area.

Tuesday 3rd May.
5 minutes’ walk from the hotel is a bus station that takes you to Santa Monica for $1.25. I absolutely loved SM – great beach area and shopping (bought many Uniqlo x Liberty London items cheaper than can be bought in the UK).

Wednesday 4th May.
Fly to LV. Taxi driver asks us if we want to take the freeway to MGM Grand, husband gives him a polite no etc. Taxi fare is $16, and husband gives him $15 and tells him to do one. We stayed at MGM Grand our 1st trip, and that moment of walking in is something that will stay with me forever. Therefore, despite staying at MGM Signature we always get a taxi to MGM Grand and then walk through to MGM Signature. The ability to have a healthy, and cheap, breakfast is part of the reason we love MGM Signature (8 nights). Last 4 night were booked in a one bedroom suite – the layout of the room means that there is no one directly next to you. First 4 nights were booked in a standard room. We had many other hotels / offers booked for these night over the year, but decided to stay in 1 hotel. There was a $380 difference between a standard room and the one bedroom suite at the time of booking. Tried to upgrade on the phone a week before we set off, but was told they were fully booked (internet said the same). We did manage to upgrade at check in for $80 – a $300 saving compared to if we had paid when booking. Unpacked and walked about just soaking it all in – about our 8th trip, but it still gives me goose bumps. MC buffet (myvegas) – it is not the best buffet in the world, but we both just stuck to the pulled pork which was absolutely beautiful.

Thursday 5th May.
Cloudy start to the day, so go see concierge to get our free Blue Man Group tickets printed. 11:30 and the sun starts to hit pool 2 (our pool of choice) so we spend the rest of the day relaxing by the pool – much needed after rushing around SM. MC buffet (myvegas). 30 minute queue to get the reward, but husband spent it chatting to a woman who reads this thread (hello if you are reading). Evening equals our free seats at Blue Man Group – the comedy parts was not for me, but the musicality parts meant overall I very much enjoyed it. Free seats were front row on the very end, and yes you can see what is going on behind the scenes but it did not affect our enjoyment in any way.

Friday 6th May.
Rain is forecast for the next 3 days, so we buy a 3 day bus ticket. This turned out to be great, and something we will do in the future. We go to the south outlet. The ride here is very pleasant, but we come away with nothing. We receive 25% off Reebok as being instructors, are TK Maxx addicts, and generally have bought loads over the past years when the $ was a lot better. We eat at MGM buffet (myvegas) – overall the food was the worse of any buffet my husband had, but for me the steak was absolutely superb. After dinner we walk over to Bellagio to see kabuki on the fountains – 1st part was superb, 2nd part some fishing game was rubbish and clearly only designed to get your details, 3rd part was fine but in no way compared to the 1st part.

hi
and what a great trip it seems!!

thanks for the trip report,Im always a bit nosey in regard reading other peoples view/dealings with vegas n what not!

and a belated happy birthday!!:beer:
hope you dont mind doing the trip report,im sure its appreaciated by all

and good luck with the training!:T

Seldom_Seen_Kid wrote: »

Been putting a few bits a way this evening, and noticed we brought back 19 CVS carrier bags (95p saved); 9 body lotions; 14 soaps; and 27 pens.

:rotfl: us too. we have to stop bringing home the little soaps - we use them in the bathroom, but even having given a load to my MIL we have half a drawer full.

I always get sad when our US carrier bag supply runs out.

Good report Seldom Seen Kid. I think your taxi price was probably fine though, we paid $12 or so plus tip ($15+) to/from MGM a good few years back, maybe 6 years ago. We did a day trip to SF while we were staying there. I don't think $16 is excessive, there's an airport surcharge. We haven't had a taxi on arrival the last few trips I don't think, but in the past we've just asked the driver to take us via Swenson. Sometimes they say there's traffic.

I don't recall you mentioning a car at LA - was LA ok without a car? It's one place I found very spanned out, I wondered if it was do-able with public transport. We had a car when we went so didn't look into public transport.

I've still got some Wendy's spoons. Memories of Frosty's past.