Las Vegas thread and MSE guide 2009 part 2

Jordan

August

Looking at Vegas at the end of August 2010 (I'm not 21 till then...) however I have a few questions for the experienced Vegas'ers among us.

1) We want to book as soon as possible to get everything as cheap as possible and so far I've found the cheapest flights to be around £410-£420 going from Heathrow to Vegas with one brief stop-over somewhere in America (Atlantic, New York, they vary). Is this good, or will the prices get better or worse in general?

2) Following on from the last question if we do get a flight with a stop-over how long do we need to leave to transfer over to the next flight. For example. if we arrive in, let's say Detroit at 6pm and the flight to Vegas leaves at 7.30pm is this enough time? Or because we are 'foreign devils' (kidding! ) will we be stopped by Customs and made to fill out forms, etc. And how long do you guys think we should leave inbetween flights? 1, 2, 3 hours?

3) Probably the easiest question to answer out of the lot now, I know you need to apply online for ESTA (I'll do that in the New Year), but do we need to do anything else or do you just simply fill in the Visa Waiver Form on the plane on the way there?

Any help would be great guys.

Cheers.

Entertainer

Jordan wrote: »

Looking at Vegas at the end of August 2010 (I'm not 21 till then...) however I have a few questions for the experienced Vegas'ers among us.

1) We want to book as soon as possible to get everything as cheap as possible and so far I've found the cheapest flights to be around £410-£420 going from Heathrow to Vegas with one brief stop-over somewhere in America (Atlantic, New York, they vary). Is this good, or will the prices get better or worse in general?

2) Following on from the last question if we do get a flight with a stop-over how long do we need to leave to transfer over to the next flight. For example. if we arrive in, let's say Detroit at 6pm and the flight to Vegas leaves at 7.30pm is this enough time? Or because we are 'foreign devils' (kidding! ) will we be stopped by Customs and made to fill out forms, etc. And how long do you guys think we should leave inbetween flights? 1, 2, 3 hours?

3) Probably the easiest question to answer out of the lot now, I know you need to apply online for ESTA (I'll do that in the New Year), but do we need to do anything else or do you just simply fill in the Visa Waiver Form on the plane on the way there?

Any help would be great guys.

Cheers.

You fill out the ESTA a few days before you go or the night before in my case.;) I don't think that ESTA thing works anyway, as soon as you enter the info it immediately comes up with the result, it's like it doesn't do anything with the data as if it's all window dressing. Then it's the green form on the flight.

spalding

October , November

But by next year the ESTA system should be fully running, so wouldn't take that risk

tonyfoster

Had a couple of nights in Vegas last week squeezed in during trip back to family for Thanksgiving. First time visit, some of it I loved, some I hated. Will start with the bad:
Venetian - room great, but the perfume they pump into the public areas / casino is awful, made all 4 of us gag every time we went back in.
The !!!!!! / (girl to you in 20 mins) slappers - got on our nerves after 1 walk down the strip, at end of the 2nd day, was ready to scream at them, 'No I don't want a girl'. Just cos we were 4 guys walking down the strip didn't mean we wanted watch or have girls. Only on the last night did one club promoter click, and offer passes to a club of our persuasion.
Magician - Steve Wyrick - don't bother, if they have to ask you before hand to take your watch off and pretend he has taken it, then I don't really think he is that good a magician.
OK good stuff:
The Mexican restaurant in the Venetian, great food and cocktails.
The rooms at the Venetian, standard room, was plenty big enough. Can't see the need to upgrade.
The Canyon Ranch Spa at Venetian - had a great massage and then used the facilities, lovely.
Finally - 'O' at the Bellagio, amazing show and would defiantly go back just to see that show again.
Oh forgot, the fountains at the Bellagio, amazing, and hardly anyone watching them, so got to watch from a different view point each time.
All in all a great time, and a great way to get over the Swine flu that I went down with for the 1st week of the trip!!

Cand

September

I hate the perfume smell at Venetian aswell its sooooo strong! Doesnt stop me keep going back to go in the shops though.

Jordan

August

Entertainer wrote: »

You fill out the ESTA a few days before you go or the night before in my case.;) I don't think that ESTA thing works anyway, as soon as you enter the info it immediately comes up with the result, it's like it doesn't do anything with the data as if it's all window dressing. Then it's the green form on the flight.

Ok, so it's essentially a pointless process then! :P

Does anybody by any chance have any answers for my other questions, I know they're a little vague, but just a personal opinion/experience would suffice for me! Cheers.

1) We want to book as soon as possible to get everything as cheap as possible and so far I've found the cheapest flights to be around £410-£420 going from Heathrow to Vegas with one brief stop-over somewhere in America (Atlantic, New York, they vary). Is this good, or will the prices get better or worse in general?

2) Following on from the last question if we do get a flight with a stop-over how long do we need to leave to transfer over to the next flight. For example. if we arrive in, let's say Detroit at 6pm and the flight to Vegas leaves at 7.30pm is this enough time? Or because we are 'foreign devils' (kidding! ) will we be stopped by Customs and made to fill out forms, etc. And how long do you guys think we should leave inbetween flights? 1, 2, 3 hours?

AndyHo

£410-£420 is a really good price for August, especially after the PDT has just gone up. I would work on 1 hour to clear Immigration, Baggage Claim & Customs at your port of entry (and this is if you know what you're doing and the're not swamped. Then, depending on which airport, at least 1 hour to get from your arrival terminal to your departure terminal and check-in. I would then add 45 mins flex into this. You'll probably need a pee/smoke as well so call it 3 hours. Most airlines won't allow a dual booking with less than 2 hours anyway. Be aware you may be stung for baggage/extras charges with your onward carrier.

Hope this helps

nvh

re: flights - £410 seems good to me at the moment too - i looked a month or two ago and prices for August were coming in @ £600 (ish)

It may be worth waiting for any Christmas / New Years sales - www.Netflights.com will be worth a look at the moment to as they've just emailed me saying flights to Vegas from £378 (Delta presumably?) - It is all down to whether you'll kick yourself if in a few months they've gone up by £50 or £100 (or whatever!) There is no set rule for these things unfortunately, all about supply and demand!

Also don't keep checking prices after you've booked flights! (unless you want to risk kicking yourself that they've gone down in price!)

re: transfers - it depends on the airport - using your example of Detroit, we found it very easy to transfer there, with minimum time being taken up - reckon we could easily do it within an hour, though obviously it depends on whether your UK departing plane is running late (and is able to catch up). Assuming it's on time, 90mins should be sufficient to clear security, grab bags, drop them off again round the corner, and go to your next departure gate.

The above is my experience of detroit! So can't say for any other airports! I know some people feel other airports are absolute nightmares for doing this but i have no experience!

As said by people before, if you do miss your connection (due to delays or whatever) at least they will put you on another plane as long as you booked the journey all under the same ticket

Likewise re: luggage, in my experience, as long as it is booked under one ticket, the journey has been treated as the whole journey and not sub-sections / plance changes (ie. if carrier charges for domestic baggage, but not international, you shouldn't be charged domestic charges for any internal flights that form part of your entire journey) -- again, this is my experience of US Airways, Delta and Air France

re: ESTA, do it now - no reason not to do it really as it's free and should give you an immediate response. I believe it's advisable to do it before you book flights, just in case for some weird reason they refuse to let you in their country, saves you wasting a hell of a lot of money on a journey you can't actually make!

trets77

Jordan wrote: »

Looking at Vegas at the end of August 2010 (I'm not 21 till then...) however I have a few questions for the experienced Vegas'ers among us.

1) We want to book as soon as possible to get everything as cheap as possible and so far I've found the cheapest flights to be around £410-£420 going from Heathrow to Vegas with one brief stop-over somewhere in America (Atlantic, New York, they vary). Is this good, or will the prices get better or worse in general?
Good price IMO . take it if you are okay with the flight times ect

2) Following on from the last question if we do get a flight with a stop-over how long do we need to leave to transfer over to the next flight. For example. if we arrive in, let's say Detroit at 6pm and the flight to Vegas leaves at 7.30pm is this enough time? Or because we are 'foreign devils' (kidding! ) will we be stopped by Customs and made to fill out forms, etc. And how long do you guys think we should leave inbetween flights? 1, 2, 3 hours?
if your flight/flights are under a single booking with a carrier that has a connection , they should leave you enough time between connections by default. if you miss your connection due to immigration ect , they will put you on the next flight ect . they are obliged to get you to your final destination . longest wait we ever had was LAX and about an hour . you will need to collect your luggage and re check it for the next flight on the way out only

If for example your flight from UK lands in Detroit for your connection , this is classed as your point of entry to the USA . you will need to clear immigration , collect bags , clear customs then re check your bags for your onward flight . this sound like a lot , but in reality it is very easy . it means waiting to to a immigration officer who will check your Passport and VW form ect . they also take your photo and scan your finger prints . they will probably ask you a few routine questions about your stay . if there is a problem they refer you to 2nd interview . i have seen people being sent for this , but never had it happen to us so really don't worry .

the thing that could delay you here is if you don't fill out your green VW form ( which you get given on the plane ) properly ! .

being 1st in the queue for immigration won't automatically mean a quicker process as you will have to wait for your bags anyway . Clearing Customs has only ever been handing a white form ( which you also get on the plane ) to a guy . you will automatically be checked in for your connection to LV. you just need to check your bags , which usually means giving it a guy who slings it on the correct conveyer belt ( the correct luggage tags will be attached to your case at UK check in ) . USA airports are set up for this operation ( unlike UK airports IMO ) . it really will be a doddle .

on the way back you just check in for your flights back to UK and your cases will automatically be transfered to your onward flight , you don't see them again until back in the UK . you simply get off one plane and get on another . make sure that the green stub that will be stapled into your passport on arrival to USA , gets collected by either the Check in staff at LV or the boarding staff of your flight back to the UK . them forgetting to collect this can cause problems in the future and Virgin forgot to do ours once .


3) Probably the easiest question to answer out of the lot now, I know you need to apply online for ESTA (I'll do that in the New Year), but do we need to do anything else or do you just simply fill in the Visa Waiver Form on the plane on the way there?
there is nothing to lose by getting your ESTA done now . you don't need to put your flight and stay details in for it to be granted . you can add this info later . just keep a note of the ref number of your ESTA . doing it now gives you time to sort out the very small chance there might be a problem with your VWA and ESTA. don't google ESTA as there are fake websites that come out top of a google search . use the link in post 1


Any help would be great guys.

Cheers.

my answers are in RED

stoneman

September

blueybug wrote: »

Do you have to update this everytime you visit the states?
I went in September and I'm going back in 3 weeks time

No you don't, but it only lasts 2 years, so unless you can remember when you first did it you can update it again and will get another 2 years. There is going to be a charge of £10? from sometime in the new year, so we will be updating Tracys' ESTA just before the date it is implemented.