Las Vegas thread and MSE guide 2009 part 2

Indout96

September

For the last few years we have always just taken cash but this year I have loaded $4000 onto a FairFX card and the rest will be in cash, If that goes it will be hole in the wall time but as above we use machines in Wallmart / shopping centres for low charges. We are staying in a house again this year so will be hitting wallmart ect most days anyway.

johnpaul74

October , November

Hey guys, some good advice on currency here and methods. I will be using CCE for sure.

As for hotels, would people recommend staying at the IP? Tripadvisor praises it highly for the location and cheap price compared to other venues such as Ballys.

I'd appreciate your wisdom :beer:

whuuf

Last time we were in Vegas we used the CVS pharmacy between the Bellagio and Monte carlo (opposite Mcdonalds). They had a cash machine tucked away in the corner by the exit, which if my memory serves me correct offered free cash withdrawals. I'm pretty sure it was free as we wouldn't have kept hauling ourselves down there every other day otherwise.

Any Vegas newcomers do not withdraw from the hotel cash machines. They simply offer the worst rates in vegas by a long long way.

Wammer

September

johnpaul74 wrote: »

As for hotels, would people recommend staying at the IP? Tripadvisor praises it highly for the location and cheap price compared to other venues such as Ballys.

I'd appreciate your wisdom :beer:

It depends what you are looking for. If you are just looking for somewhere basic with no frills then it's fine, similar to a Spanish hotel room.

We have stayed there several times and the room has always been clean and comfortable. Make sure you get a deluxe room as they have been refurbished in the last couple of years. Whatever you do, don't get a Capri room as they are old an in a separate building at the back of the hotel.

The location is one of the best in Vegas as it is bang in the centre of the strip and across the road from Caesars.

Don't bother with the IP buffet as the selection is very small and the quality isn't good. Plenty of decent places to eat nearby.

However if you like a bit of luxury then the IP isn't for you. You can get more comfortable hotels for not much more provided you book direct with the hotel.

I am trying Bally's for the first time in a few weeks.

To compare rates at Harrah's properties go to www . harrahs.com , click on Hot Deals, select Las Vegas and go down to the calendar of rates where it says something like "Flexible with your dates?"

When are you thinking of going?

Wammer

September

whuuf wrote: »

Last time we were in Vegas we used the CVS pharmacy between the Bellagio and Monte carlo (opposite Mcdonalds). They had a cash machine tucked away in the corner by the exit, which if my memory serves me correct offered free cash withdrawals. I'm pretty sure it was free as we wouldn't have kept hauling ourselves down there every other day otherwise.

Any Vegas newcomers do not withdraw from the hotel cash machines. They simply offer the worst rates in vegas by a long long way.

I stuck my card into the ATM at CVS last trip and it said the fee was $2. The lowest I have seen is $1 inside Casino Royale.

Most of the hotel ATM charge $4.99.

I had read the suggestion of buying something with your debit card and getting cashback. I tried this a CVS, but was told I couldn't get cashback as it was an international card, ie not a US one.

rob_kzk

Hi All,

A newbie to the thread here with a few questions...

I went to Vegas for the first time in May for my brother in law to be's stag weekend and was hoping to go back next Feb with the wife for a different Vegas experience!

It's a Birthday surprise for my wife so didn't want to go too down market!

I've been looking on Expedia and I can get 5 nights in the MGM Grand with direct flights with Virgin for about £1,200 for the two of us. Think I would prefer direct flights as stopping over in Chicago in May seemend to make it a very very long day.

Has anyone got any views on this deal in terms of the price or can anyone let me know of any other way of booking this trip but for a few less £'s?!

I'm not set on the MGM Grand, although I guess that's the sort of level of hotel I'm looking for. We stayed in the Riviera in May which was more than adequate but just seemed a bit out of the way.

Thanks all.

Rob

Wammer

September

Price the flights and accommodation separately to see what the difference is.

You won't get the best rates on the MGM website at the moment as you need a promo code to get the best offers and they don't come out till 10-12 weeks beforehand.

You should be able to get the MGM for $59-70 a night mid week and around double that at the weekend.

Froggitt

December ( including Xmas and New Year )

MGM $49 deal was still there a week ago.....see fatwallet or vegaspromotions

KMcD

July

I'd like to say thanks to everyone on here who has answered my questions, either directly or just with general comments. Your advice has been invaluable and will no doubt save us a bob or two when we go to Vegas on Thursday:j.
Haven't been on a proper holiday since I was a kid myself and I'm so excited my kids think I'm nuts but they don't know the half of what we have planned . We are staying with family so probably won't have anything to report back about hotels and gambling is not really my thing (can't even win a tenner on the Lotto) but thanks to this thread I have found ideas for loads more stuff to do, places to go and restaurants to try.
However, I have one last daft question, does anyone have any suggestions as to the best way to beat the jetlag considering we have to leave the north of Scotland at stupid o'clock to get to Gatwick. In all we'll be travelling for about 20 hours before we get there and it'll still only be afternoon. I'm thinking my first few hours there will be spent crashed out on the couch!
Any advice greatly appreciated.
Karen.

pebblesmax

October , November

KMcD wrote: »

However, I have one last daft question, does anyone have any suggestions as to the best way to beat the jetlag considering we have to leave the north of Scotland at stupid o'clock to get to Gatwick. In all we'll be travelling for about 20 hours before we get there and it'll still only be afternoon. I'm thinking my first few hours there will be spent crashed out on the couch!
Any advice greatly appreciated.
Karen.

Not a daft question at all. In our experience it is best to stay awake as long as possible the first day. If you don't, you'll wake up at the crack of Vegas dawn the next morning, and need your bed at lunchtime again.

We also set our watches to Vegas time as soon as we get on the plane. I don't know if it helps, but my mind was definitely more in tune with the time change the first time we did that.