Las Vegas thread and MSE guide 2009 part 2

jackieblack

bardy wrote: »

I'm a Las Vegas virgin looking for help. I have read over 1,000 posts on this thread and the previous one,

:eek: Wow! That's dedicated research! Well Done You! :T

kandyflossxxx

September

jackieblack wrote: »

:eek: Wow! That's dedicated research! Well Done You! :T

Im the same,theres so much to take in, Has anyone played BINGO IN VEGAS, if you have plz let me know what its like,prize money,& where you played.........:p I LOVE BINGO !!!!:p

little_jem

October , November

little_jem wrote: »

Hi,

I am trying to plan our first trip to Las Vegas, well first time to USA actually! and whilst I am trying to read as much as I can I would really do with a little help please. We are looking to fly to vegas in October for two weeks but dont want to spend all that time in vegas as think it would be a bit much for us, we are very keep to explore the surrounding area and besides visiting the grand canyon and hoover dam has anyone got any other suggestions please?

I was thinking 1 night in Fleetstaff and 2 at Grand Canyon so its nice and leisurely, but would love a few more nights out of vegas exploring!

any advice would be greatly appreciated please.
many thanks jemma

A big Thanks to Trets77, Ferf1223 and wdyw for your replys to my above post, all much appreciated.

Have taken the plunge :j and booked our flights as am now sure we will find pleanty to amuse ourselves for two weeks. Here is what I am thinking:

Day 1 (7th oct) - Arrive vegas and stay for one night to recover from flight
Day 2 (8th oct) - head to death valley then onto tonopah to stay the night.
Day 3 (9th oct) - head to yosemite stay the night.
Day 4 (10th oct) - drive to LA stay the night.
Day 5 (11th oct) -la stay the night
day 6 (12th oct)- drive back to vegas, stay the night.
day 7 (13th oct) drive to flagstaff or williams (stay the night)
day 8 (14th oct) - drive to grand canyon (stay night)
day 9 (15th oct)- Explore grand canyon (stay night)
day 10 (16th oct) - drive back to vegas stay night
days 11 onwards (17th oct)to (21st oct) stay on strip in vegas

Would love a bit of feedback if you would be so kind, does this look reasonable?

many thanks in advance

aheaton46

Hi,

Booked our first ever trip to Vegas a while back, it's now almost here - next weekend. The information on this forum was invaluable so thanks everyone.

One question I hope someone may be able to help with. We've booked flights from Gatwick with Virgin. These have a few poor reviews but the non stop option was a big plus. We've only ever flown in Europe with low cost airlines before, so what can we expect from the flight? What do we get in the line of meals? Drinks? What do we pay for and what's included? I've seen mention of the in flight entertainment - what is this likely to be?

Thanks in advance

luci

September

A follow up to the long hauling story HERE

jackieblack

aheaton46 wrote: »

Hi,

Booked our first ever trip to Vegas a while back, it's now almost here - next weekend. The information on this forum was invaluable so thanks everyone.

One question I hope someone may be able to help with. We've booked flights from Gatwick with Virgin. These have a few poor reviews but the non stop option was a big plus. We've only ever flown in Europe with low cost airlines before, so what can we expect from the flight? What do we get in the line of meals? Drinks? What do we pay for and what's included? I've seen mention of the in flight entertainment - what is this likely to be?

Thanks in advance

We've flown with Virgin several times, including to LV in April this year.
Shortly after take-off they will bring drinks, then a couple of hours into the flight a meal (starter, main, dessert, cheese & biscuits) and more drinks followed by tea/coffee. More drinks again two or 3 times more throughout the flight, and a snack (something like a filled roll or wrap) a couple of hours before landing. They will also bring you an ice cream/frozen yogurt type thing about mid way through the flight.
Entertainment-wise, you will get seat-back screens showing a choice of about a dozen or more films, various tv shows etc which play on a loop. So if you're watching a shorter film say, there will be a break when it finishes (until the longest film is finished) then everything starts again.

More info here: - http://www.virgin-atlantic.com/en/gb/whatsonboard/inflightentertainment/index.jsp

This is all included - the only thing you'll have to pay for is any duty free you might want to buy.

(If you're travelling to Gatwick the night before, you can do twilight check in, get rid of your cases and get your boarding cards etc the evening before, which means you only have to turn up with hand luggage the morning of the flight and can go straight to security.)

Have a great time!

ferf1223

October , November

aheaton46 wrote: »

Hi,

Booked our first ever trip to Vegas a while back, it's now almost here - next weekend. The information on this forum was invaluable so thanks everyone.

Jackie's given a great answer for you as to what to expect in flight...there are a fair few issues with the in-flight entertainment on those Virgin planes so it cannot hurt to bring back-up...our last couple of flights I don't recall any issues but prior to that several in a row had issues either in all of economy or portions of economy...also, almost every time there's 1 movie I really want to see that channel isn't working. I mention this only so you're forewarned at the possibility and hopefully it will all work OK!

Have a great trip and hope you will come and tell us about it when you are back!

ferf1223

October , November

little_jem wrote: »

day 7 (13th oct) drive to flagstaff or williams (stay the night)
day 8 (14th oct) - drive to grand canyon (stay night)
day 9 (15th oct)- Explore grand canyon (stay night)
day 10 (16th oct) - drive back to vegas stay night
days 11 onwards (17th oct)to (21st oct) stay on strip in vegas

Would love a bit of feedback if you would be so kind, does this look reasonable?

many thanks in advance

We've not done the first part of your trip so can't comment...

We stayed 1 night at the GC and it was enough for us - but obviously others might want to explore more. If you're arriving from Flagstaff or Williams you won't have too long a drive to get their on your arrival day so that will be nice.

If you stay in the park, beware that the food served in the restaurants isn't that good - if we did it again we'd go outside the park and get fast food (and we don't eat much fast food!) My favorite part was the canyon at night - had a clear night and it was amazing.

One suggestion would be either on your way from Vegas to Flagstaff/Williams or on your way back from the Grand Canyon to Vegas - perhaps consider driving part of the old Route 66? The longest remaining intact section runs from Seligman to Kingman. It's a very leisurely, easy drive...minimal traffic...and didn't add too much time to our return trip over going via the interstate. At the start of the route in Seligman, we also stopped at the Sno Cap Drive in (they have tables outside as well) which was an experience in and of itself...not the best food you will have (perfectly acceptable, but not earth shattering) but an experience I doubt you will get anywhere else.

toontoon4

Can anyone advise if flying with BA or Virgin would be better?

trets77

aheaton46 wrote: »

Hi,

Booked our first ever trip to Vegas a while back, it's now almost here - next weekend. The information on this forum was invaluable so thanks everyone.

One question I hope someone may be able to help with. We've booked flights from Gatwick with Virgin. These have a few poor reviews but the non stop option was a big plus. We've only ever flown in Europe with low cost airlines before, so what can we expect from the flight? What do we get in the line of meals? Drinks? What do we pay for and what's included? I've seen mention of the in flight entertainment - what is this likely to be?

Thanks in advance

i also hope you are taking full advantage of the hold Baggage allowance . 2 cases @ 23kg each . if you can fit it all in one case each then spread it out over 2 , as i'm sure you will have loads of stuff to bring back . if you only have one case , then buy a suitcase in LV , for return journey .

The inflight entertainment has very recent films that may still be at the cinema , but the screens are woeful , as are the headphones . a good MP3 player and decent set of headphones are my priorities . you don't need overpriced noise cancelling phones , these are what i have and they work great on planes , and will fit in the seat headphone jacks ( which are 2 pronged but just stick the headphone jack in one and they work)

good luck on the Virgin flight and have a great time :beer::beer:

Day 1 (7th oct) - Arrive vegas and stay for one night to recover from flight
Day 2 (8th oct) - head to death valley then onto tonopah to stay the night.
Day 3 (9th oct) - head to yosemite stay the night.
Day 4 (10th oct) - drive to LA stay the night.
Day 5 (11th oct) -la stay the night
day 6 (12th oct)- drive back to vegas, stay the night.
day 7 (13th oct) drive to flagstaff or williams (stay the night)
day 8 (14th oct) - drive to grand canyon (stay night)
day 9 (15th oct)- Explore grand canyon (stay night)
day 10 (16th oct) - drive back to vegas stay night
days 11 onwards (17th oct)to (21st oct) stay on strip in vegas

your really banking on the Tioga pass being still open to get from Tonopah to Yosemite . however as you can see from the link above , it has not closed on your travel dates yet since 1980 , so you will almost certainly be fine .

Yosmite requires at least a day IMO . and driving 5 hours from Tonopah will mean a very early start to fit it in without rushing . see google map here
http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?hl=en&tab=wl

or are you planning on arriving into LA late at night on the 10th . ??

just a thought