Las Vegas guide and MSE thread 2017

doodle_bug wrote: »

25 March for 7 nights, looking at The Orleans at the moment, just less than $900 including taxes and fees for the 7 nights at the moment. Open to anything really.

Orleans is nice. We are staying there for a few days in April. The shuttle to the strip is great. Runs about every 20 mins and drops off by the high roller. Rooms are bigger than Monte Carlo and the have a food court for decent cheaper eats.

I hope you have a great time wherever you stay.

Thanks for the reassurance guys :T

Stuie - I probably did read your report,but can't remember what your referring to-remind me

Daughter says she'll only go on a direct flight, if not coming with us. The prices I'm seeing, not a chance So I basically see it as I either cough up just over 1k :eek: to BA or forget it and wait till our trip in August. I hate paying way over the odds for anything,lol! And gosh I'd be so annoyed if she wanted to sleep in all the time like always and just shop non stop,lol! Son isn't overly keen either What to do,lol! On a plus though, on Sunday I'll have 4 weeks to go :T

Apologies in advance - it's a long one.....

Background to this trip and it being in Feb rather than our usual late march/April preference is that it was an elaborate plan to surprise some family members.

My sister lives in Calgary and has done for the last 8 years. She left the UK with my 3 nieces who are now 16, and 13 (twins). They've since been joined by a 7 year old.

The 13yo twins are involved in competitive cheerleading and last summer were entered into a competition taking place in Vegas on Feb 17/18. So the planning began.


The twins in their Cheer uniforms.

OH and I booked up during a BA sale and got economy rtns from NCL for less than £450, there was also an offer on part pay with avois so used 30000 to get £300 off. Decided we'd upgrade to WT+ for the return flight for £75 each.

Pretty happy with circa £750 total for that.
So the plan was to keep our trip secret from the girls, but I then added my auntie and a friend to the trip as a surprise for my sister.

That's the background, this is the trip....

Early start to be on the 7:50 NCL - LHR, transfer to T3 for 12:15 to LAS. T3 was a bit chaotic. There's a temporary transit area during the construction work that's going on and it just felt unorganised. Didn't worry too much as we had plenty of time.

Uneventful flight, other than the four Swedish guys in front of us having alcohol cut off. Nothing OTT behaviour wise to be honest, just a bit excitable and were a bit too eager and often with drink requests. But then if I lived in a country where a beer was over a tenner I might fill my boots when it's free!

Landed 30mins ahead of schedule. OH and I could have used the kiosks but as we had a couple of first-time visitors with us we had to stand in line. Probably would have saved 30mins.

Got to rental car place 1hr 10mins after landing so not too bad.

Paris, checkin, no dramas. Now to spring the surprise - headed to mirage and waited in lobby for sister and the twins to come back from dinner, this was pre-arranged with sis. The reaction of the girls was just amazing, shock, tears and laughter followed. I then got my auntie to round the corner and the whole thing was repeated again!

Sisters hubby plus the 16 and 7 year olds arrive tomorrow and they don't know any of us are here either so more of the same to follow.

We headed over the road to Denny's mainly for a drink and chat but also for those that wanted to eat. Every time we get to Vegas I struggle with food on the first night. It gets to 7-8 and I think I must be hungry but aren't sure if I am or not. This time no different so I ordered only to find I couldn't really eat it.

Back to hotel via the new CVS next to Paris for supplies and Melatonin. Bed around 10.

I only sleep until 4. OH manages another couple of hours. Up and out around 8.

Breakfast is Eggs and I on W Sahara. It was eggsellent (see what I did there!:)) And good value.

From there we head out to red rock canyon before looping back to the south end of the strip.

Afternoon is a stroll along the strip before going over to Orleans to complete the surprise for the 16 and 5yo nieces.

Dinner at TGI which was better than I expected as I'm not a fan.

Friday and we have breakfast in Hexx for ease - I won't be recommending it to anyone, it was ok I suppose but over priced and nowhere near as nice as the day before at Egg and I.

North outlet shopping for a couple of hours then it's over to Orleans (via In n Out burger) to get our cheer on.

In n Out was for the 16yo who's only request on things to do in Vegas was to go there (probably the result of some TV programme or other influencing her!!). It wasn't great, although she loved it. Just not to our taste I suppose, and the name is a misnomer - waited ages so not in and out at all!!!

Orleans and cheer time. OMG I've seen nothing like it, 1800 athletes, from as young as 6 or 7 through to adults, plus the families and friends made the whole place seem like absolute chaos.

The comp ran from morning through to 10:30 at night, using the arena and all the conference rooms. Our girls were on at 2:50 so we spent maybe an hour in there watching them and the competition in their age group. The twins are what's known as flyers - the ones that get chucked about - and it was amazing to see them perform.

A couple of slight errors but today was worth 35% of the overall mark so all to play for tomorrow when the performance is worth 65%.

Back to paris and I spend a couple of hours watching hockey in the sports book while OH has a snooze.

We decide to stay local so only head outside for time to say goodbye fountain show and have dinner inside Paris at the dim sum/Chinese just outside elevators (I'll check on the name). Dim sums and our noodle dish we're both really good.

Couple of hours on the slots - mainly big bang theory which has been good to us so far, before heading to bed.

I'm awake at 5:30 but there's no rush to get up, we need to be at Orleans for 10 as the girls are on at 10:40. It's 7:15 now and we're still just chilling in the room. It's chucking it down outside!

So the rain persisted all day and caused a few flooding issues around town but it didn't affect our plans too much. After cheer - they finished 3rd but were a bit disappointed as a couple of minor mistakes cost them. I thought they'd done enough for 2nd but the winners were clearly much more polished.
Ha, look at me - amateur cheerleading judge!

South outlets for some real bargains at Ralph Lauren, mainly presents for our niece and nephew back home. Have to commend the service in here, I'm on their system from previous trips so when I tried to use a voucher for $25 off a $200 spend the cashier says "I've got a better one that that for you!" And applies 25% off the lot.

Ended up with kids hoodie, leggings and five t-shirts, plus a shirt for me and 2 women's tops for $180.

Then it's off to Walmart for supplies and for my aunt and friend to get some cheap souvenirs.

Dinner is meeting up with sister and family at Carmine's in Caesars - there's 10 of us, we order clams, salad, a chicken dish and 2 pastas and there's way too much!!! The portions are gargantuan, the place is designed as a family eating experience so 1 dish between 3/4 people is easily enough.


Me, the OH and four nieces.

Walk back as rain has finally stopped and catch Fly me to the Moon at the fountains before heading to bed for an early night. We're both feeling it a bit so looking to get a good few hours ready for Stirling Brunch tomorrow.

Morning comes and we pick up the twin nieces to take them shopping - they missed out the other day as they were preparing for their comp so we spend a couple of hours with them before heading to Sterling Brunch.

It's an extravagance but we enjoyed it last time here (June 15) so thought we'd go again as our holiday treat.
I felt disappointed in it, the service wasn't as good but we still managed a skinful of champagne.

The next few hours were spent with the family as they are driving (!!!) back to Calgary on Monday morning.

We stop by the fountains and call it a day about 10.

Monday and I'm a bit ropey but head clears up after a walk up the strip to fashion show - mainly to get stuff from Justice for our niece back home.

Chipotle grill for lunch - highly recommend - it's just a fast food place but really good.

Late afternoon we head to freemont and eat at Tony Roma's, mine was fine but OH got the spare ribs special against my advice and didn't eat any of it. I warned that prime rib can be fatty and she can't handle steaks with fat running through or around them so inevitably ate none of it.

Drive back to Paris and walk my aunt and friend up to mirage for them to see Love (we've been twice before).

We walk over to Palazzo to collect our tickets for the Baz Luhrman show on Wednesday night, and then carry on back down to Paris.

Tuesday and it's checkout of Paris day - us to move to Luxor (myvegas reward plus an offer booking), and my aunt and friend to take the 9pm BA flight to LHR.

We take a stroll through miracle mile before driving out to Hoover dam and then down to primm.

Luxor and check in, spend an hour walking through Excalibur, Luxor and Mandalay Bay and then it's off to the airport to get them there just after 6 - probably a tad early but they want to make sure they have enough time.

Once we get back to Luxor we head to Fat Tuesday (in the shops between Luxor and MB) to get the OH a drink. She has about half in about 15mins and is smashed!!

We walk up to T-Mobile arena to attend a 24hr open day showing off the arena and selling tickets for the new NHL team. I'm a big hockey fan so love it, we're on the ice (or the ice pad anyway), in the penalty boxes, on the bench, and all round the stadium. Very cool.


new arena


2 minute sin bin for being smashed!!

We come back south and Eat at Buco in Excalibur - food ok, service not so much.

There's a load left so we get it put into a couple of boxes and give those to a couple of homeless people between Excalibur and NYNY. We asked if they donate leftover food or just binned it. When they said bin it we decided to not let that happen.

Wednesday is just a do whatever day so we drive out to Walmart to grab supplies and some sweets to take home, then go back to fashion show mall for me to get an early birthday present - a pair of Nike Air Presto to replace the ones I have from a 2003 trip!

Another Chipotle lunch! (We really did love it), back to Luxor and chill for a couple of hours before walking to Mirage (via Michael Kors shop at Caesars) for a myvegas 241 dinner buffet. In my opinion one of the best value redemptions you can get. 13000 points, plus the $ equivalent of £26 for unlimited drinks as well as good quality food. The desserts maybe not as good as other buffets but we are savory rather that sweet fans so that doesn't bother us too much.

Then it's over the road for Baz - Star Crossed Love, a show by Baz Luhrman and based on his movies Romeo & Juliet, Moulin Rouge and Great Gatsby. I'd bought travelzoo tickets which gets you a free glass of champagne and VIP seating.

(I won't post the pic of the show again - but I have more if anyone particularly wants to see them)

No sooner had we sat down than an usher came over and asked if we would like a free upgrade to stage seats as there was an open table. Er yes please!

So we're sat on the stage watching the show!! OH absolutely loves it, not my cup of tea really but I could appreciate it.


Our Seats

Cross the road and have a couple of 241 drinks at 'the still' in Mirage which is the bar that used to be the Beatles lounge.

Walking back isn't an option as OH has some major shoe/feet issues. Try to download Lyft and use promo code but it's not playing ball so I book an uber.

(I eventually did get Lyft to download and inputted a code from one of the many flyers you can get on the strip - my advice is don't use those codes. What I ended up with is $2 off a number of trips (5 I think), whereas online there are plenty for $50 credit.)

Uber costs less than $7 from there to Luxor which is pretty good if you ask me. I remember on a previous trip a few years ago taking a cab from Cosmo to mirage and it costing $15 (inc tip).

Thursday and it's a lazy morning before Town Square then lunch at Raising Canes, which is another fast food outlet we just love and highly recommend if you're a fan of chicken fingers!

Bit of a drive just for the sake of it then a couple of hours back at Luxor before we head out to watch a hockey game and have a few drinks.

We end up walking up to Mirage again (we really should stay here again as we seem to spend a lot of time at this end of the strip even when staying at Luxor) and grab 241 drinks at The Still again (people at the entrance (the one closest to Caesars) giving out vouchers).

After food we walk back on the other side of the strip taking in the sights and sounds of our last night.

I measured the steps needed to get to and from Luxor - Mirage using what I recon is the most direct route possible on each side of the strip. There's not much in it - approx 7,000 steps in each direction with the east side only slightly less than the west. On the way up the midway point is the crossing from Cosmo to Bellagio. The midpoint, going south on the other side is outside the front of Paris.

For reference 3500 of my steps is roughly a mile. So a 2 mile walk each way.

Whilst on the subject of walking......We do a lot of it when in Vegas - for me it's a trade off, eat and drink without worrying as long as I'm getting in enough walking to work off at least a good chunk of it.

We averaged 19000 steps per day, with the single biggest 28,000. That particular day we did Paris - Fashion Show, shopped a while and walked back, then later Paris - Mirage and back.

Anyway, I digress.....

Last day and we have a lazy morning. As we've eaten late and eaten a lot in the last couple of evenings we've skipped breakfast and that's the plan today, just chill and pack until checkout at 11.

We fill the car and head back inside for myvegas Mandalay Bay 241 buffet. Good value at 4,500 points and $26.

I stick with breakfast options whilst OH has her fill of crabs legs!

Then it's off for a drive and to pick up a few last minute presents before parking back up at Paris for our last few hours on the strip.

I drop OH at the airport about 20 mins before the car has to be returned so we don't need to carry the bags on the shuttle and I head to the rental car centre. No issues dropping off and I'm back in about 25mins. We drop the bags and take our time getting through security, have a few drinks and a bite to eat and board at around 8:15 for the 9:05 flight.

Uneventful and we both sleep most of the way, the extra room in PE is nice but the biggest difference for OH is the bottom of the seat lifting to provide a foot rest. She's 5'1" and one issue she has on flights is that when reclined in an economy seat her legs dangle which makes sleep difficult. I'm informed she'll no longer take a long haul flight in economy where we want sleep! So any future bookings will be with a rtn in PE at least.

However we've just hit our spending target for avios 241 voucher so next long haul will be a rtn in business, whether that's to Vegas or not is another question!

No issues transferring at LHR and we kill and hour in T5 before boarding for NCL.

And that's it, if anyone has questions on any of it, fire away.

Just remembered we finally did the sign - my 8th visit and it's the first time we stopped and did pictures, can't remember which day, Tuesday I think!

I failed to mention we used the cityzen app in PBR at PH on Sunday after Sterling Brunch - no issues whatsever.