Las Vegas thread and MSE guide 2009

photome

The Bellagio Fountains

Gilly_flower wrote: »

hi,
I've been lurking for a while and trying to take it all in - fantastic thread - thanks to all who contribute.

Me and the bloke are doing a Virgin flydrive in mar-apr (thanks to Tesco clubcard points, of course...) and have 2 very short stops in Vegas:

30 Mar - 1 night Caesars Palace, Forum room
05 + 06 April - 2 nights MGM Grand, Grand Tower Room

Is it worth me doing the $20 trick or are these rooms OK "as is"?
And if they are worth the upgrade, are there any specific room types should I angle for?

ta!

Have you paid all the extras for the insurance on the carhire (you may have it coverd with the tesco points). If you havent, it nearly always works out cheaper to hire a car from someone else

Trust_2

The Sirens of TI

current total rewards leaflet up until end of March

Bally's Sidewalk cafe $5 off
Payard Patisserie and Bistro, buy a crepe and get a crepe free
Paradise Garden Buffet Flamingo $5 off
Flavors Harrah $5 off
& many drinks offers, and free t-shirts if you gamble so much

And as mentioned ust call in when you go past and they are happy handing over a leaflet

At present it is a $20 money off voucher against selected restaurants as well for new-signups

Trust_2

The Sirens of TI

show in the sky has a vote!

And it was not me honest....

Gilly_flower

photome wrote: »

Have you paid all the extras for the insurance on the carhire (you may have it coverd with the tesco points). If you havent, it nearly always works out cheaper to hire a car from someone else

I was just about to start a thread on this on the main board!

At the mo. I have just paid for 2 weeks rental (£25!) picking up from San Fran and dropping at LV. I've just been researching the options for getting my own CDW/excess (looks like questor and insurance4carhire do the biz). HOWEVER insurance4carhire said that some operators don't like people using their own insurance, as it's obviously where the make their money (£25 for 2 weeks and no drop off charge is good for me but less so for them!).

Anyone have any experience of this? (esp. with Virgin flydrive - think the car hire operator is Dollar)

trets77

The Bellagio Fountains

Gilly_flower wrote: »

I was just about to start a thread on this on the main board!

At the mo. I have just paid for 2 weeks rental (£25!) picking up from San Fran and dropping at LV. I've just been researching the options for getting my own CDW/excess (looks like questor and insurance4carhire do the biz). HOWEVER insurance4carhire said that some operators don't like people using their own insurance, as it's obviously where the make their money (£25 for 2 weeks and no drop off charge is good for me but less so for them!).

Anyone have any experience of this? (esp. with Virgin flydrive - think the car hire operator is Dollar)

we discussed this very subject a while back ( it was the 2007 thread !!).
here it is copy and pasted texted

Not sure about using Dollar as completly seperate company to your flights ect or if you have US liscense ect

but it is definatly the case if you book a Virgin fly drive that the prices do not include LDW ( or taxes) for your Dollar car hire.

this is Florida but it is the same for all USA with Virgin

http://www.virginholidays.co.uk/broc...nal_costs.aspx

you can drive off without it but i personally could not take the risk

$22-$26 a day on say a 14 night fly drive =$290 say so roughly £150

you can get a far better policy from https://www.insurance4carhire.com for £99 even though it comes with this Warning on Fly drives ( Dollar and Alamo are the companys it consisders problems)

http://www.insurance4carhire.com/ind...D=79&q=31#3 1. in this link the site kind of contradicts itself by saying first that it is not reccomended it,s USA insurance policy for fly drives and then says it will probably (HA) be okay. your going to be the loser if that probably does not work out i,m afraid

My Travel is pretty much the same deal
https://secure.mytravel.co.uk/AniteN...05&s=480662317

Basically it adds up to take Dollars insurance if you want the car hire in fly drive package ....or drive pretty much uninsured and we will keep your credit card with a gun to it's Head for the full retail cost of the car....GULP

Personally i think this is very sneaky as booking a Package through Travelbag for example you get all your insurance and taxes included in up front price which works out same or cheaper! than Virgin without insurance from my searching. all you need to pay for is some fuel when you arrive. i Know cause i,ve booked through Travelbag for New england fly drive and car hire is with Alamo . Booking clearly states that LDW/CDW ect is included ( although i suppose Virgin and My travel would argue that it cleary states on their booking that it isn,t !!)

I think it is done by virgin ect ...so that you either don,t know about it till A) you get there and are put on the spot or they get almost to the end of your booking with a Agent say and they leave it till last to bring it up by which time your so close to actually booking that you hopefully swallow it.

A travel Agent told me that this was well known about and was how Virgin made a good chunk of their profit on selling fly drives

while we are on the subject of car hire i shall re post this again
http://travel.timesonline.co.uk/tol/...=null&offset=0

there used to be a very nasty quote within the terms and conditions about Dollar not accepting any insurance other than it's own. so i really would think insurance4carhire is not the way too go.


price up the insurance with Virgin then get a quote from Carhire 3000 . only problem you might have is if you don't cancel the Virgin car hire , you may end up with Carhire 3000 using Dollar and having 2 cars/ bookings waiting for you at the desk.

Gilly_flower

Thanks for that Trets - I never would have found that bit of the thread on my own!

I have just got a great quote from carhire3000 - £199.75 for 12 days HOWEVER, it says "a one way rental fee may be added to your booking..." - I don't think I can find this out until after I have paid the £35 deposit. Anyone know if a 1 way fee is likely?

funkyfin2000

The Bellagio Fountains

whast about www.usrentacar.co.uk

we are using them in May

Gilly_flower

Thanks funkyfin - will check them out.

I have just rung carhire3000 - I spoke to a really nice chap in the call centre. They have offered a 12 day rental from SF to LV, 2 drivers, all insurances and no excess, and have waived the one-way fee, for £201 all in - I think I may bite their hands off!

Froggitt

The Fremont street experience

That looks good value.....even better than our LV-LAX rental at Xmas (unless its a teeny tiny car). Make sure they state "no charge for one way rental" on your voucher.

wdyw

Gilly_flower wrote: »

Thanks funkyfin - will check them out.

I have just rung carhire3000 - I spoke to a really nice chap in the call centre. They have offered a 12 day rental from SF to LV, 2 drivers, all insurances and no excess, and have waived the one-way fee, for £201 all in - I think I may bite their hands off!

What size of car and what dates? If its economy/compact its an awful quote, if its for a top of the range......

Give us a few more details and we can all try our usual sources for you.