Las Vegas thread and MSE guide 2009

Trust_2

The Sirens of TI

One word of caution and this is common sense the previous suggestion is for US to US use this is very very expensive to phone the UK

pebblesmax

The Bellagio Fountains

I use a Jolt mobile sim card as recommended by Martin. It has the same charges for both local and international calls. I've just ordered another for my next trip and am considering getting a T-mobile sim for longer useage since we go twice a year for quite some time. The problem with the T-Mobile sim is the high charge for calling and receiving from the UK. I will monitor my usage in May and make a decision then. I do a lot of USA texting while I'm there, but my parents also call me regularly. I'll let you know what my decision is.

stoneman

The Bellagio Fountains

pebblesmax wrote: »

I use a Jolt mobile sim card as recommended by Martin. It has the same charges for both local and international calls. I've just ordered another for my next trip and am considering getting a T-mobile sim for longer useage since we go twice a year for quite some time. The problem with the T-Mobile sim is the high charge for calling and receiving from the UK. I will monitor my usage in May and make a decision then. I do a lot of USA texting while I'm there, but my parents also call me regularly. I'll let you know what my decision is.

Just had a look at that but it costs £30 for the initial sim card then £10 each to have our phones unlocked, £80 total. Guess if you just want one phone then it could be a good deal, think I will buy 2 at WalMart. Read on a review forum that they usually come with $10 credit so you can try them out, if they don't work well then you can just take them back for a refund. (or some unscrupulous people might take them back when they leave);)

matbe

c_l_a_i_r_e wrote: »

Are you flying from London? I just did a quick expedia search for your dates and there's loads of options for 2 people under £1300 total for that week (sahara is £300 cheaper than your quote):
http://www.expedia.co.uk/pub/agent.dll?qscr=cmsh&subm=1&CMBTX_0_rgnm=Las+Vegas&dsct=&dnam=Las+Vegas&dlvl=&rtmn=&rtmx=&dcty=London+%28LON%29&ddpt1=24/10/2009&tdpt1=362&drtn1=31/10/2009&trtn1=362&cadu1=2&cSei1=0&cSen=0&crom=1&infs=1&cmbt=2&rdct=1&rfrr=-13022&eapid=0-3

Flights are pretty decent as well, with continental. It would be worth pricing up flights and hotel separately as from experience it usually works out cheaper, but expedia is a good place to start to get your bearings with regards to pricing.

Hi The £1300 price is from expedia but we want to fly from Manchester if poss. But for £300 would consider going from london, not too bad going out but coming home its awful when you land back and still have a 5 hour drive ahead.

I have been checking all the airlines but the price of flights at the moment is more or less the same as a package.

I have also seen some hotels near Freemont street we went up there last time and I really enjoyed it, it seems more relaxed but not sure about the hotels up there does anyone know any good places up there?

Thanks for your help.

pebblesmax

The Bellagio Fountains

Stoneman, the one I have just ordered is £18 with $10 of call time. It has gone up since last year, it was £15 then. My phones are already unlocked because we use a Spanish SIM in Spain. You'll have to let us know about the Walmart ones.

c_l_a_i_r_e

The Bellagio Fountains

matbe wrote: »

Hi The £1300 price is from expedia but we want to fly from Manchester if poss. But for £300 would consider going from london, not too bad going out but coming home its awful when you land back and still have a 5 hour drive ahead.

I have been checking all the airlines but the price of flights at the moment is more or less the same as a package.

I have also seen some hotels near Freemont street we went up there last time and I really enjoyed it, it seems more relaxed but not sure about the hotels up there does anyone know any good places up there?

Thanks for your help.

If you can go and come back a day later its a lot cheaper and with better flight times (thats with expedia from manchester) but i'm not sure how flexible you are.

Coatze_2

The Bellagio Fountains

Hi all

Just got back from my trip to Vegas with my fianc!e. Went last Thursday 2nd April. Well my first time to Vegas and it certainly wont be my last. I sum it up as a 24 Hour adult playground of madness and pleasure. Flights were with Virgin Atlantic from Gatwick. Check in was no problem and ample staff at check in, I purchased exit seats for £75(well worth the money) plus when you purchase this you get the window seat for free as the buffer on the door sticks out,but this is no problem as you can put your feet up. The flight was pretty good. Ample food and drinks provided. Arrived in Vegas and passport control was fairly busy. Waited around 45 minutes to pass through the control. The weather was good but informed right away by the cab driver that winds and rain could come on the Friday, the cab actually asked us if we wanted to take the streets or the Highway, we opted for the highway, metre went to about $28 on arrival at the Venetian. Felt a bit hard done by as researching proves taking the main streets work cheaper. Arrived with a massive smile when entering the Venetian the smell of polish just hits you when as soon as you hit the reception.

Reception line was ok at the Venetian. ***I had read about the $20 dollar trick and thought it was worth a chance** upon approaching the desk I had my dollars tucked between my credit card and driving license. As soon as I handed cards over the lady I said straight away ‘’is there any upgrades available’’. The check in girl could see the dollars and these were tucked straight under her keyboard. I Kept her talking and she cam up with a room on the 33rd floor of the Venetian with a strip view. She claimed that the value of the room was an extra $45 a night so I was happy that I may of gained somewhat of an upgrade. Either way I was happy when she further gave me some vouchers for a 2 for 1 Gondola ride,$25 to spend in the bar at Lavo, meal credit and some other vouchers for slots( was not too interested in the slots voucher as I don’t gamble).

We made our way through the Casino. The lights and noise of those fruit machines hit you. The sheer scale of everything is something of that you can only imagine in Vegas. The room was fantastic, all of two 32-inch plasma screens, and two sinks in my bathroom (madness) also mini plasma in the bathroom. I literally stood at the window looking at the strip with Mcarren airport clearly in view I was shocked by the scale of the hotels and could not wait to view the strip.

The first thing was to explore my other half showed me around the Venetian, St marks square and all the shops. I was well impressed but feeling very tired. We ended up eating in Grand Lux Caf! at Palazzo Hotel next door. I had seen pictures of the chicken pot pie(HUGE!!) and was well tempted but opted for Kentucky open faced turkey sandwich, well nice. Straight away I come to the conclusion that las Vegas is a city of hospitality and people are happy in Vegas, everywhere you turn people are greeting you and want to make general conversation.

Furthermore I proposed to my girlfriend on a Gondola ride in the venetian. We got her ring out there!! Its worth a look as the styles are so different from the Uk.

The rest of the trip was so good. Highlights are as follows. Hope this helps people who are going to Vegas.

· The cheesecake factory in Caesars palace is worth a trip, the cheesecake is quality(Cheesecake factory is part of the Grand lux caf! group)
· Be prepared to pay a good part of $7 for a beer in most of the platinum hotels i.e Bellagio, Wynn.
· Definitely go for a meal at the Stratosphere, I rated the food I had 20oz Rib eye and was cooked to perfection, the meal was pricey but the best views of Vegas are guaranteed!!
· We went to the Buffet breakfast at spice market buffet at PH used the voucher for $5 off the buffet per person cost roughly $11 each. Also the buffet at Treasure Island ($13.75 per head)(lovely steak and ribs)
· If you use the bus called ‘’the Deuce’’ it goes from one end of the strip from the Luxor HOTEL down to the Freemont street experience.( Fun place and more downmarket but so different from the strip!! Get a bottle of beer for about $2 in most of the casinos at Freemont Street) Single trip cost $3 a 24 hour pass costs $7.
· Defiantly take a trip to the Fashion outlet shops. You can purchase a ticket from Miracle mile shops or online before you go. The Ralph LAUREN shop is so good!! T-shirts $9.99!!! I used a voucher for 20% off a $150 spend.
· The Grand Canyon and Hoover dam was quality, although a 600-mile round trip worth every second!!
· If you are going night clubbing go to Club XS at the ENCORE! What an experience. A 9 million dollar club, go on a Monday night for free admission before midnight, also tip for the girls, if you’re on the strip in the day you may get approached by club promoters. My friends were also in Vegas a group of 4 girls. They got tickets for JET club at the Mirage where they were given free admission and 3 free drinks each! She told them there was a guy with them and he gave me a pass too. (IT DOES HELP AS THE GUYS QUEUE WAS AT LEAST A 30 MIN WAIT)

Vouchers attached

Spice Market
http://www.destinationcoupons.com/Nevada/Las_Vegas/spice-market-buffet/spice-market-buffet-coupons.asp

Ralph Lauren
http://entertainment.polo.com/emails/email_FOADestPoloBB.asp?sssdmh=dm21.160375&print=yes

lindsey_toffee_girl

The Bellagio Fountains

Wow it sounds like you had the best time ever its making me so so excited

Trust_2

The Sirens of TI

Coatze

Congrats on the proposal, presume the answer was yes

Trust_2

The Sirens of TI

Nokia2610 on AT&T $19.99 in costco if you have GOPHONE pay as you go

So if you have a Costco card this is an option?

COSTCO is by the World Market Centre, downtown