Las Vegas thread and MSE guide 2009 part 2

luci

September

Be aware that Britney doesn't sing live, she lip synchs. There were a lot of complaints following a recent concert at MGM that she spent more time off stage than on.

ferf1223

October , November

karie wrote: »

and 18kg carry-on. this seems a lot for carry-on - can anyone confirm?

we are hoping to rent a car and go and stay near the grand canyon for a night mid-trip. or maybe do a helicopter ride or something. any tips, website links, suggestions?? should we organise this in advance or to to a tour operator while we're there?

We're flying with American next trip and were astounded to see that the carry-on allowance is 40lb (18kg)...I know internally within the US carry-on allowances are much bigger than what we're used to (6kg on Virgin) but didn't realise that for the transatlantic legs we'd get the same.

As for your GC question - if you're wanting to stay at one of the places at the rim - you'd better start checking quickly...they normally book up quite a few months in advance but you may be able to get a cancellation. You may want to call and ask as website availability may not always be up to date.

http://www.grandcanyonlodges.com/

They are the only ones that have rooms on the rim, last time I checked they weren't listed on expedia or anything like that - we stayed at Thunderbird Lodge last year and it was amazing looking out the window and seeing the Grand Canyon...and walking out of your room and being right there. The stars at night were amazing. The rim lodges are more expensive than those outside the park though. We thought it was worth it.

There are also places just outside the entrance - in Tusayan, Arizona I believe...if you stay in the park you may want to go back out to eat as we found the food at the lodges in the park to be pretty bad.

They do have helicopter trips from the GC itself too - and remember that the helicopter trips from Vegas won't go to the South Rim of the GC which is the one you see in all the postcards.

Oh, and I forgot to ask - have you requested seats for your flights yet? If not, maybe do so ASAP. You can use https://www.seatguru.com to see the good/bad seats on each type of plane US Air uses and pick accordingly. Most airlines you can pick your seats online through their website. Seat requests aren't guaranteed, but it's nice to at least get in there and pick something you're happy with...in our experience it's unusual for them to move you unless there's some reason for it (change of plane, etc.)

Triker

October , November

Hi all, some advice needed if anyone has any experience.....would appreciate your help.

Been recently diagnosed with Post Viral Fatigue, its awful and leaves me with hardly energy as you can imagine. I am on a mission to get better....or at least more functioning.:o

Myself and hubby are due to go to Vegas in late october, I am being realsitic and looking for managable ways to do this still given my mobility problems.

First question how/where do I ask for a wheelchair at the airport? Would I be wise to book it now, early on?

Secondly has anyone ever hired a mobility scooter in vegas, where from and any rough idea of cost please.

Having been to vegas before I am aware of the distances and amount of walking involved so I'm under no illusions that I have to be realistic re my expectations.

Finally I have been looking at the shows, thinking the 'Love' one, is access for mobility challenged people adequate?

Thanks in advance for any info, I'm quite devastated with my condition but determined to make our trip ......I can't face cancelling it.:o

Btw we'll be staying at MGM.

duchy

August

American mobility laws are far stricter than ours all new buildings (which is practically everything in Vegas as they rebuild so often) is excellent. I doubt you'll have any problems with any of the shows. I saw a lady at the Flamingo showroom last trip in a wheelchair and they went out of their way to be helpful.

Book airport assistance with your airline ahead of time (they add it to your reservation-even if you didn't book direct-call the airline direct to add it) for all legs of the journey-free and easy although a tip is always appreciated by the mobility staff.

I am sure you'll be able to hire a mobility scooter a quick google search pulled up http://www.702scooters.com/ and they will deliver to your hotel.A week seems to be a reasonable sounding $120 for the cheapest (don't forget they'll add tax)

Good for you for not letting it stop your trip-Vegas is very accessable in a scooter or a chair-you'll be fine with a bit of advanced planning and I hope you'll consider writing a trip repoert when you get back to inspire others to do it too

Triker

October , November

Thanks duchy, I'm a great believer that theres always a way to do stuff. It's just finding it thats the issue..:D

duchy

August

battyboimatt wrote: »

Sorry, I wasnt asking dont want to be rude, I was just shocked "Ekkkk" I must just be a cheap skate lol

Oh I am too

I don't buy designer labels or top of the range skincare stuff or eat at the pricier resturants at home so it isn't an essential for me in Vegas either but I can appreciate that for stuff like that you get far more for your money in Vegas so for those that do it isn't an "out there" amount of money and it makes sense to stock up whilst there.

I will admit to having spent $280 on a single show ticket on my trip this month though but also a more reasonable $60 for front row at the Orleans showroom too

duchy

August

Triker wrote: »

Thanks duchy, I'm a great believer that theres always a way to do stuff. It's just finding it thats the issue..:D

Honestly you'll be fine -you see those scooters everywhere-often driven by little old ladies in their eighties travelling alone on their gambling trips and they manage just fine. You'll be bringing your own butler so it'll be a breeze

It's all in the attitude and you definitely have the right one !

Wammer

September

No problem getting a mobility scooter in Vegas, they are everywhere. However I would check the level of insurance that is included.

I read recently of someone who hired one in Benidorm, didn't know how to handle it and crashed in a revolving door at the hotel smashing it. They though they had "full insurance", but it turned out that only covered theft of the scooter.

On the subject of insurance, I take it you have advised your travel insurance of your medical condition as it would be one of the terms of any policy and you may invalidate the policy if you don't advise them.

N1CKC

October , November

On the subject of mobility scooters - I remember reading an article about people getting them who can walk with no problems. They were renting scooters as they didn't want to walk far in high heels!

c_l_a_i_r_e

July

Triker wrote: »

Hi all, some advice needed if anyone has any experience.....would appreciate your help.

Been recently diagnosed with Post Viral Fatigue, its awful and leaves me with hardly energy as you can imagine. I am on a mission to get better....or at least more functioning.:o

Myself and hubby are due to go to Vegas in late october, I am being realsitic and looking for managable ways to do this still given my mobility problems.

First question how/where do I ask for a wheelchair at the airport? Would I be wise to book it now, early on?

Secondly has anyone ever hired a mobility scooter in vegas, where from and any rough idea of cost please.

Having been to vegas before I am aware of the distances and amount of walking involved so I'm under no illusions that I have to be realistic re my expectations.

Finally I have been looking at the shows, thinking the 'Love' one, is access for mobility challenged people adequate?

Thanks in advance for any info, I'm quite devastated with my condition but determined to make our trip ......I can't face cancelling it.:o

Btw we'll be staying at MGM.

I'm so sorry to hear that Triker, but you seem to have a great positive attitude and i wish you all the best. It nowhere near the same thing but I went to Vegas last year on crutches after fracturing a bone in my foot. I just got a regular wheelchair from the hotel on the insistence of my OH and i'm so glad i did as it was a godsend in the end. How i thought i could hobble around vegas entirely on my crutches i'll never know! (btw the hotel can arrange for mobility scooters as well so you could email them and enquire about costs in advance?)

Contact your airline in advance and request "special assistance" so a wheelchair will be waiting for you at check-in and will take you all the way to the plane. I only informed the airline a few days before flying as thats when it happened in my case, but why not do it now and then its one less thing to worry about.

Between my hobbling and being pushed around by OH we covered probably as much distance as we'd usually do on any holiday. Having the car helped enormously of course, and i'd advise you to hire one if possible. There's plenty of wheelchair accessible doors and entrances everywhere, and by and large people were very helpful and considerate. The lifts in casinos etc are well signposted and we had no problems getting around.

All shows have wheelchair friendly seats, which are easily accessible. If you pull up the seating maps for the shows online you can see where they are.

We had left travel insurance to the last minute for our trip last year (doh!) otherwise in all honesty i probably would have cancelled if possible. But i am so glad we didn't as it worked out ok in the end and we had a fantastic time regardless. The wheelchair came in so handy for me as after a while on crutches every day i was just so exhausted and in pain, that it gave me the freedom to carry on enjoying myself which is what i went to vegas for in the first place:D