LA + Vegas, need tips and recommendations!

keepthereceipt

I AM HERE IN LA NOW. Arrived last Fri 21st. with family. I found this thread very useful.

So far we have been to the beaches in the south bay - Hermosa and Manhattan. These are great spots good for shops, restaurants and swimming. To eat, the Kettle in Manhattan Beach is legendary.

Also been to Universal Studios. Great entertainment but it was hot there. Fortunately they have these systems that spray fine mist over you in the queues and they weren't that bad - max of 20 minutes wait. Waterworld was good as was The Mummy and the Studio Tour.

Drove round Malibu, Sunset Blvd and looked at some of the big houses. Wow!

Planning to go to Beverley Hills and Venice Beach today. I really want to cycle up to Venice from Redondo Beach but it may be too hot for my family. There is a cycle path called the Strand which runs all the way up from Redondo Beach. Around 12 miles to Venice and it takes you throu Marina del Rey. I recommend this to anyone. You can rent bikes from $20 per day.

We'll be heading up to Santa Barbara by the end of the week. Will also visit Ojai and then perhaps visit some fo the wine district around SB - you may have seen the film Sideways - it was set there.

After that, over to Vegas - we are booked into the Flamingo for 4 nights. Got a family room mid week for $80 per night.

I plan to do the helicopter trip over the GC. I've researched all the options with Papillon and Maverick and I hope to get some sort of deal when we are there given the high cost. I'll let you all know.

After that we are touring Bryce/Zion/Monument Valley/Route 66 etc. All pretty flexible. If anyone is interested I'll try and post at intervals as we go.

Regards

Martin

tweetie_2

fatboyonadiet wrote:

Clashes with some of my dates, think a few other people on this thread are going then too, maybe we should arrange the next MSE meet in Vegas! Not sure how money saving it would be though, maybe we could hunt down bargains and gamble on 1 cent machines!!!

thats a fab idea! think the 1 cent machines are my limit on gambling anyway - i've no idea what to do!

wdyw

keepthereceipt wrote:

I AM HERE IN LA NOW. Arrived last Fri 21st. with family. I found this thread very useful.
Martin

Lucky b......

If you are flexible to be able to do Bryce on Monday/Tuesday 7/8 August, then I highly recommend the full moon evening ranger guided hikes. However, these are booked up quickly, so as soon as you get there, stop off at the ranger station at the entrance and find out whats available. If you are going to be there away from full moon time they also do astronomy sessions. also highly recommend the guided horse/pony/mule trekking!

Have fun.

GIRLPOWER_2

keepthereceipt wrote:

I AM HERE IN LA NOW. Arrived last Fri 21st.

Keep us updated, sounds like your having a fantastic time... do you have young children with you??

rob_welch411

Hi,

My mum and 4 friends are going on a trip to San Fran, LA and Vegas later this year.

The thing is they are all over 60/70, and do not drive themselves.

Wondered if anyone could recommend companies offering trips/tours when they are in LA. They are staying at the Marriott Los Angeles Downtown, and wanted to get a tour company to take them to Disney for a day, and for the Hollywood trip another day (including Sign, Star's Homes, Manns, beaches, etc.).

Any help would be great.

Thanks.

paulie558

tweetie wrote:

thats a fab idea! think the 1 cent machines are my limit on gambling anyway - i've no idea what to do!

Beware the 1c machines.On some,if you press the max bet button they are $30 a press!.
I was lucky on one though,came off with 900 dollars.

moneysaver

edda wrote:

We're off to the Luxor in Sept - never been to Vegas before

Any obvious tips from previous visitors that newbies there might not be aware of?

To save a bit of weight in your luggage if you are going to the pool area at The Luxor they issue you with towels for free same as in the rooms.

Free safety deposit box at reception area(use as much as you like 24hrs)

Join the One club for points if you are gambling.

We ate mostly in the Luxor Buffet the food was great & good value. At the Pyramid Cafe try the Chicken Caesar on Focaccia & the French Onion soup delicious.(Big portions)

If you are gambling on machines or tables you get free drinks( I tipped a dollar per drink optional). Play on the 1c machines & get the drinks work oout cheap.

Moneysaver

paulie558

Use the Deuce double decker buses that go from one end of the strip to the other.Taxis are expensive in Vegas.
Avoid the trolleybuses.They are very small and soon fill up,but go into most hotel car parks,so take forever to travel the strip.

Murphy_The_Cat wrote:

I really enjoyed the Luxor and it's Inclinators !!

The only down side of the Luxor is that it is at the End of the Strip, so that if you take a wander to t'other end, it's a long way back (and it is a looooonnng way if it's hot), but taxis are plentiful.

I liked the Luxor and would happily stay there again.

& I'll reiterate fatboyonadiets advice about ploughing through the thread --- although I've gt a freebie tip that MAY not have been mentioned before. Get to the Bellagio for the water display about 5-10 minutes before it is due to start, that way you'll get a proper view.

MTC

blindman

Priceline is not the best option for Vegas but for other areas here's a post on the ins and outs. Hopefully will clear some things up.

BTW the Betterbidding site seems to have problems at the mo.

keepthereceipt

GIRLPOWER wrote:

Keep us updated, sounds like your having a fantastic time... do you have young children with you??

Two boys 15 and 16. It would have been hard with young children at Universal Studios. It was so hot and humid.