Las Vegas thread and MSE guide 2009 part 2

Trust_2

October , November

Body clocks are wonderful , adjust your watch to the destination time when you board the plane, and stay awake as long as possible, vegas is much better at night!

Just back literally after 2 weeks in vegas, and it has been interesting,

Killers was fantastic, MGM saturday was mad, watched beach volleyball in mandalay bay on friday night...

Watch out for the traffic around the mandarin/crystals at present where all lanes go into one/two everything is slow moving, pedestrians can only walk down the PH side of the road, monte carlo - bellagio walkway is only open on friday/saturday nights.
(talking to one couple who had spent 2 hours getting from freemont to monte carlo) - taxi's are the quickest option at present but not the cheapest - they use the service roads.

MGM all day unlimited access buffet pass under $40
Excalibre just under $30

Just over 2 weeks to my next visit

jonnywells

October , November

Trust wrote: »

Body clocks are wonderful , adjust your watch to the destination time when you board the plane, and stay awake as long as possible, vegas is much better at night!

Just back literally after 2 weeks in vegas, and it has been interesting,

Killers was fantastic, MGM saturday was mad, watched beach volleyball in mandalay bay on friday night...

Watch out for the traffic around the mandarin/crystals at present where all lanes go into one/two everything is slow moving, pedestrians can only walk down the PH side of the road, monte carlo - bellagio walkway is only open on friday/saturday nights.
(talking to one couple who had spent 2 hours getting from freemont to monte carlo) - taxi's are the quickest option at present but not the cheapest - they use the service roads.

MGM all day unlimited access buffet pass under $40
Excalibre just under $30

Just over 2 weeks to my next visit

Im off as well in a couple weeks now, 7th Oct..............am getting far to existed already :beer:

Trust_2

October , November

Just started looking for flights and hotels for January
discovered I have been comp'd 7 nights in Paris hotel

main moneysaving rule in Vegas is join the players clubs don't shy away
if you are gambling $1 or $1m you get perks and for a small amount of gambling you get comp'd
they do not force you into anything you do not want not like high pressure time share people

ferf1223

October , November

I also think staying up as late as you can your first night is the best idea - even if it's only 9 or 10pm, it helps.

That said, when we fly direct it's a miracle if I am still asleep after 4 am the first few mornings. This is fine with me though - I really actually like Vegas in the wee small hours of the morning after a few hours sleep. There's always the casualties from the night before to people watch - and I kind of like some time when it's a bit quiet and calm. I do love Vegas at night, but don't love the crowds, so mornings are quite a nice time I think.

Like Luci most times when we've napped we've felt worse for it. After several trips we now don't feel such a need to cram so much in, and being Vegas - there's something to do 24-hours a day...so being up at odd times isn't nearly such a problem as it is in a lot of places.

trets77

neilbond007 wrote: »

Just booked 5 nights at the Strat (Friday 21 Nov - Weds 25 Nov) for $147!
Premier Guestroom - 1 King Bed (View / High Floor)

Location not great, but the price sure is...

i would have to agree !!! :beer::beer::beer::beer::beer:

ferf1223

October , November

Trust wrote: »

Just started looking for flights and hotels for January
discovered I have been comp'd 7 nights in Paris hotel

main moneysaving rule in Vegas is join the players clubs don't shy away
if you are gambling $1 or $1m you get perks and for a small amount of gambling you get comp'd
they do not force you into anything you do not want not like high pressure time share people

Totally, totally agree...and the Total Rewards programme seems to be the most generous for even relatively low rollers - especially slot players.

Did you check other hotels through TR though? I assume you logged into your account, went to reservations, picked Paris and there were 7 nights comped? Did you check at the other hotels in the group? We've been stunned to have comps at Caesars in the last year - never before...must be the recession!

I'm surprised that they're giving you 7 consecutive nights - I thought they had a limit of 5. Now I have to go and see what they're offering us for a future trip.

The other thing (I'm babbling, I know, but I adore the TR programme and website - so easy to use) is if there are 2 people staying in the room and they both have TR cards - try putting the other one's TR number as the companion - sometimes it works out less, sometimes it works out more (as with me and my husband)- but worth checking anyway.

carolann215

December ( including Xmas and New Year )

ferf1223 wrote: »

Totally, totally agree...and the Total Rewards programme seems to be the most generous for even relatively low rollers - especially slot players.

I've always just used my TR points towards meals or paying off what I've charged to the room at the end of my stay. Do you just leave the points on there for a chance of getting room comps?

Great excuse to have to go back again!!

ferf1223

October , November

carolann215 wrote: »

I've always just used my TR points towards meals or paying off what I've charged to the room at the end of my stay. Do you just leave the points on there for a chance of getting room comps?

Great excuse to have to go back again!!

Nope - the points are free to use as you wish and we use ours for food too - using them won't impact getting room comps. Try logging into Total Rewards and pick some random dates and see what they might be offering you. I find that we do much better logging in, clicking on reservations and going that way than going through 'my offers'. Currently in 'my offers' I get only reduced rates. If I go through reservations I can get 5 nights comped at most of their hotels (and I'm only gold - lowest level - we both play on my husband's account most of the time to get him to platinum).

carolann215

December ( including Xmas and New Year )

bongo2202 wrote: »

Thanks again for the info guys, really useful, does anyone have any hints for helipcopter trips to the Grand Canyon and whether its best to book in the UK beforehand or when we get there... and any recommendations for companies, cheers

Hi Bongo
I was in Vegas last week and 2 of my friends booked a helicopter to the Grand Canyon. We went to the place that looks like a caravan which I think was in between the Hawaiian Marketplace and the MGM. They got the $350 trip for $278 as there we 2 spaces left for that afternoons trip. It was the one that takes about 3 1/2 hours and picks you by limo from your hotel. Does the canyon then I think they flew down the strip on the way back. Theres another shop the other side of the HM that said they could do a good deal but when we went inside there was a big queue so didn't want to wait.
I'm not sure if thats a good price or not but looks OK compared to whats on the net. They said it was excellent though.

carolann215

December ( including Xmas and New Year )

ferf1223 wrote: »

Nope - the points are free to use as you wish and we use ours for food too - using them won't impact getting room comps. Try logging into Total Rewards and pick some random dates and see what they might be offering you. I find that we do much better logging in, clicking on reservations and going that way than going through 'my offers'. Currently in 'my offers' I get only reduced rates. If I go through reservations I can get 5 nights comped at most of their hotels (and I'm only gold - lowest level - we both play on my husband's account most of the time to get him to platinum).

Thanks Ferf.
I last used that card a couple of years ago now so I presume its expired now. I'm going back in December and staying at Planet Hollywood so I'll join theirs and the Total Rewards one.