Las Vegas thread and MSE guide 2009 part 2

ferf1223

October , November

sho_me_da_money wrote: »

Bottom line - I am a customer, who has paid VEGAS rates for food...

Another reason we're happy to tip 20%+ unless we're unhappy with the service - value for money, you get a heck of a lot more and/or better quality food than you'll get here...add that to the better service and tipping what we feel is a decent amount doesn't seem unreasonable to us.

I've never heard that locals tip 10% - where have you heard that? Having grown up in the US, 15% is pretty much considered standard for average service.

And ultimately, the reason service is so good is the potential earnings that can be made as a server - so the accepted level of tipping ensures good people keep doing the jobs and the customer keeps getting great service. I'd much rather eat at a restaurant where the staff know that good service = better tips than where the staff have little incentive to do anything other than the bare minimum (like here in the UK).

But that's just me.

stoneman

September

Kenny_Powers wrote: »

I can't believe people are talking about the static shocks!!!! Having been to Vegas 7 times i am always shocked every time i open a casino door - They all seem to have metal handles.

I have mentioned this millions of times and people just look at me with a blank face.

Thank you for making me realise i am not alone.

:beer:

You are not alone Kenny. The locals suffer from it as much as we do. It's to do with the low pressure. If the weather is changable like storms and such, it isn't so bad. Mind, last 3 trips (all in the early/late summer months) we haven't been shocked at all except for Walmart!! Spoke to a girl at Walmart and it drives them wild, they tend to all wear gloves in the food section to ward it off.

stoneman

September

Re tipping. OK, here are the facts. Chambermaids make $11-$13 per hour,(Luxor, MGM) not the $6 minimum wage plus tips that peope think. Cocktail girls make $12 per hour (PlanetHo, Luxor) as well. Waiters (in P.F. Changs at least) make $12 per hour plus tips. Valets make $11 (PlanetHo). It is just the thing in Vegas to tip more. I am from Philly where they still tip 10-15% MAX, but then again food is more expensive on the East Coast in resaurants
BUT, the IRS assess their taxes on the basis that every customer tips at least 9%. So, if you stiff a cocktail waitress she pays for your drink. And I have seen SO MANY people stiffing c/w's it isn't funny.

pebblesmax

October , November

ferf1223 wrote: »

Not to start a tipping debate, but I wouldn't say tipping 10% is tipping 'like a local'. Remember that waiters and waitresses make less than minimum wage - that's why service is so good in the US - the better the service, the better their tips.

I agree, 15% is acceptable, 20% is better.

We have a few friends that live in Vegas, always ask them what to tip, and it is always far more than 10%. More like 20%

A good rule of thumb for those not used to tipping is :-
Look at your bill, check what the tax for your transaction is, then double it. That will make sure you are giving a 16% tip, which is (so I've been told) quite acceptable for reasonable service.

This doesn't work when using a coupon. You should always tip on the full price before coupon.

Just saying. I

f you frequent places more than once and tip well, they will remember you and look after you. The majority of a servers wage comes from the tips they get.

duchy

August

I tip 15% and more if the service is exceptional. I'd expect them to hand the tip back to me if I tipped 10% and it certainly is NOT customary that the locals tip 10% . Most places do special rates for locals on production of Nevada driving licences..... often 10% off sometimes more (Maybe that's where the confusion came from or maybe the OP just encountered some very cheap locals.

An American friend tells me if he gets lousy service he leaves a penny tip. He says it gives a clear message that you didn't forget but were unhappy with the service.

I recall a poster on one of the Disney boards with a story that one of his friends was very upset to be barred from the Rose & Crown (the British pub) at EPCOT. He was sittinbg at the bar -stiffed the barman and then told the next customer he didn't need to tip as you never tipped in British pubs !! The bar staff asked him to leave. His friend put him right and then said "But you do tip in British pubs when you say "and one for yourself" to the bar staff. He was horrified and said "Oh no I've NEVER done that" !

Like I said some people are just cheap.

LDR_2

December ( including Xmas and New Year )

I've booked my first visit to Las Vegas and am staying seven nights starting 22nd Dec (my birthday) at Caesars Palace with my Good Lady Wife. We'll be there for Christmas. Yay!

This thread has been invaluable. Thanks to everyone who has contributed. :T

Any recommendations as what to do on Christmas Day would be gratefully received.

bebebelle

October , November

Long overdue trip report as Computer went into meltdown for a while .I am sorry in advance for hijacking the page.
For those that dont know Im bebebelle , hello all, and I won a trip to Vegas with Galaxy Radio. Went with my mum and we had a ball. red hot everyday ,yeah baby. 5 day trip ,stayed at Caesars ,flew Virgin. We just ate, and ate and shopped and shopped , so this is the foody and shopping report:rotfl::rotfl:. men look away now.

15 Oct 09- 20 Oct 09 left Manchester and got Ba internal flight to Gatwick. ( we nearly missed the Virgin flight as BA didnt check our luggage all the way through to Vegas)its funny now, (but not at the time):rotfl:Arrived in Vegas after a looooooooooong flight, cor blimey ,why didnt you all tell me. O i think you might of lol. Arrived at 2.45pm ish I think, was so tired. Checked in at Caesars and was blown away by our Deluxe room in the Place Tower( i hate that walk back to the room man). Overlooking the Pools ( heaven). So, even close to death tired, I dragged mum off to Cheesecake Factory. We had the Pork chops and spinach and a cocktail and they were fabulous and huuuugee, then we fell asleep lol. Before I forget .Special mention to Joes at Caesars shops ,fabulous service, great crab not so cheap , but well worth it. Also Serendipity 3 at Caesars where you can get a lil pales of potatoe waffles so cute. Up at 9.00am next day. We had breakfast at the Flamingo. Coffee and pastry for two $15.95( turned into a daily event). Coffee ok..pastry lush.Little outside area to eat breakfast, in need of a good clean, but good for people watching. Then off to Premium outlets by taxi( we went twice that week:o)my mum was in heaven. I got a few bits:o (bebe) my new found friend lol, mum got a few more than me bits( Guess, her new found friend):o:o. Although I preferred the shops on the strip to be honest. At lunch Saw Dairy Queen and was thrilled, had chilli hotdog and smoothie ( both were vile, save your money)One bite each and binned.So taxi back to the strip and went to craving at Mirage for our evening meal.Cravings turned out to be my fave buffet. I had loads of vouchers and kept forgetting to use them everywhere.Le Village at Paris my least, like a rugby scrum and cold food.I know some love it (sorry).
Shopping
Shopped at Victoria's Secret, Tiffany, Sephora, Mac, Walgreens ( like Boots), Bebe ( like Karen Millen ish), Forever 21 ( like New Look), Converse( like Converse lol), Cosmetics Company ( cheap mac ) Bath and Body Works,Torrid at Boulevard Mall ( young plus size fashion, like Inspire at New Look, but more pricey) the list goes on . Ladies PM me, for shopping questions. Im a queen of retail lol. $70 paid overweight baggage:o:o:o p.s vegas tax sucks ..sorry vegas , but it does. Got Taxi's everywhere , because i value my mums health, over my bank balance, now at £0.00 , but the bus service looked great in October.If your a curvy lady , the Boulevard mall rocks ($15 taxi from strip:eek: each way), 3 plus size stores under 1 roof, ask in Torrid, and they will direct you, not much else there though.Payless shoes ok too for cheap, you guessed shoes and bags.

Went to Imperial Place to buy tickets for Legends, told it had moved to Harrahs:rotfl:O what can I say. It was good in parts and dire in others, mum , loved Elvis. I loved Jerry Lee Lewis, (the kid needs his own show, are you listening Mr Webber / Cowell). Then went to Bills to see big Elvis, where we made some lovely new friends from Chicago, and had a drink or three. By day two the tipping was annoying me..I must be tight lol. A guy offered to take our photo on one of the bridges connecting the hotels . He worked for Caesars, and then demanded a tip :mad:.Well I have gone on enough.but that never stopped me before:rotfl::rotfl:.
went to a bar where they had smoking pipes and cigars outside the Mirage cant remember name .smokers will love it. We nearly choked to death. Nice cocktails and setting though, thinks it's Rhumbar, or something like that. I really love the Mirage , not sure why. :DBellagio fountains beautiful, Paris Balloon so pretty ( is this just me, I just love it), and MGM Lions need a bigger enclosure ( like being in a goldfish bowl), NY no comment, Flamingo, old style vegas, in tacky glory I love it.
sorry about spelling, im rubbish. Cant wait to go back. Pm me if you need anything clarifying.Sorry im a flamin chatterbox.Love and hugs Belle x

Cand

September

Sounds like you like shopping as much as me Bellebella. Glad you had a good time!

nvh

Triker / Bebebelle- absolutely brilliant trip reports - thanks a lot really enjoyed reading them!

Just looking through your photos now Triker (assume all these are yours?: http://www.flickr.com/photos/cheleann/sets/72157622530682673/ )

edit: i'm guessing they aren't yours actually as they don't tie in with your trip report! - i was initially going to post and ask you what all the pictures of signs were about!?


Airmiles / Tesco Clubcard
I'm getting really tempted to book for next September for my big "3-0" birthday now.... especially as it transpires we have enough points for 1 free flight using BA / Airmiles!

Just a heads up to everyone that if you use a Tesco clubcard, but never get around to redeeming points (so end up with approx. £167 worth of vouchers), then note that at the moment there is a special offer on on Tesco which means you can redeem them for 8000 airmiles which is enough for a direct BA economy flight to Vegas

There doesn't seem to be many (if any?) date restrictions either!

nvh

bit more info on the airmiles thing here - note that it only works if you haven't redeemed Clubcard points for airmiles before:
http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=2059519

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?p=26548391#post26548391

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?p=26548353#post26548353

http://www.hotukdeals.com/item/518918/double-airmiles-using-tesco-clubcar