Las Vegas thread and MSE guide 2010

gamboller

January , February

Day 1 Thursday 4th February
Day starts at 1am Galway Bus to Dublin for 6.40 flight to Gatwick
Virgin flight delayed by an hour Arrive Vegas in and around 320pm local time
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Get taxi to Huntingdon Press (to collect MRB)and then Signature and surprised to find we have $50 resort credit (had booked flight + first 4 days hotel on expedia package for 1180euro). Had Junior Suite in Tower 1 overlooking PH Towers with balcony. Just went to food court in MGM for quick snack and saw Lion habitat before heading to NY NY for the rollercoaster (241 with LVA) and onto M&M world. Had a massage with some water contraption both of us for $20 (board said $30 each I think) Then walked through PH and onto bellagio for the fountains show.[/FONT]


[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Day 2 Friday 5[/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]th[/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif] February[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Got shuttle from MGM to Fashion outlets in Primm $15 241 coupon (which I think everyone else had as well)Left at 9.15 Arrived 10am Received Green discount card which worked in most shops and bought clothes until returning at 3pm. Got the driver to drop us off at Fashion Show Mall around 4pm. I picked up discount card at concierge desk and we got Superbowl jerseys (20% off at Front Row Sports with discount book) and OH probably bought more Abercrombie gear. We had packed a lot of the shopping into our backpacks so decided for novelty to get the monorail back to MGM. Got changed into new Kenneth Cole clobber and went to buffet at MGM ( to use the credit up- it cost 62 odd + tip for both of us – not worth it) for NY NY for a few drinks at Times Square and Rok niteclub. The niteclub wasn't the greatest with Table service being pushed and toilets being messy despite attendant there to collect tips. Stayed for about 4-5 drinks before leaving.[/FONT]


[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Day 3 Saturday 6[/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]th[/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif] February[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Raining! Went to Mandalay Bay via tram from Excaliber and had nice meal (for breakfast around 11.30am there) in some Burger joint there. Went to Shark Reef (waste of time) and got UFC jersey. Expected there would be more of a buzz there with the fight on later in the day. Went to Luxor on tram and looked around there before getting taxi to PH. Joined A-list club and lost about $50 on the slots. Place was swarmed with time-share salespeople. Walked thorugh Miracle Mile still with an eye out for where to catch the Superbowl. Caso Cantina was doing $150 a head for party with Wanderlei Silva (UFC guy). I was tempted. Went to check out Flamingo but place was tacky so declined. Got the monorail back to MGM and got ready for KA (50% off anniversary special) later that day. KA was amazing. Can't recall what we did after it though. A few drinks no doubt.[/FONT]

gamboller

January , February

[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Day 4 Sunday 7[/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]th[/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif] February[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Went to Spice market buffet for breakfast ($5 off coupon) I had pizza slice and Special K. The bread was sugary (no wonder they have a diabetic epidemic). Place was swarmed with time-share salespeople. The bread was sugary (no wonder they have a diabetic epidemic). Rang HeliUSA to confirm booking for Tuesday. I was wearing a BUSH 25 jersey and my girlfriend was wearing a MANNING 18 jersey. The amount of times people commented on it was amazing. ( Rocky relationship etc) Then went to Lion habitat back at MGM for feeding time around 11am to 11.40. Backed Saints +5pts at 1.9. Went back to the room and went to lobby lounge in Tower 1 for the BIG GAME at 12 on the dot. Sat at the bar and got chatting to the bar man Craig who started a tab for us. Place filled up around 3pm with me drinking at a rate due to being offered another drink whilst halfway through one. Drank Corona bottles Guinness, Jameson, special shots ( Saintsation, Haterade and another). Craig was giving me triple measures of Jameson and an old guy Bob (cowboy type in for the George Strait concert) kept buying them for me meaning I had to buy him them back. Most of the rest of the day is hazy needless to say. Was in chatty mode and everyone was coming up to me asking for opinion and telling me when they were going :-) . Got invited to a wedding in Mandalay Bay the next day and ended up having a Swedish guy (GF says I was calling him Basshunter) (obviously i watched too much Celeb BB) coming with myself and the GF to NY NY for the rollercoaster. Went on it twice around 10pm (according to receipt) Went to bar in NY NY for a couple more before somehow making it home via McDonalds at MGM and “apparently” spilling my large Fanta.[/FONT]


[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Day 5 Monday 8[/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]th[/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif] February[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Moving/Hangover Day. Left bags with doorman and got limo to Premium Outlets at about 10am. Jeff the driver was outside our tower when we came out looking for a taxi. He offered flat rate of 25 dollars and talked of how he makes his money on tips when we got in. He gave me his number and told me to call him anytime a needed a taxi. Some guy rang him and he handed me the phone and told me tell the guy to f*** off I told the guy I just found the phone to which he offered me 50dollars to meet him with it. This Jeff guy thought himself quite a character. “ I make things happen “ Got coupon book at the outlets and Gf dragged me around the shops. Got regular taxi back to MGM and collected Superbowl bet at sportbook before collecting bags at Sig. And heading to Venetian around 3pm. 10 min line to check in. Was offered upgrade at $100 a night for Piazza suite (didn't try $20 trick) but declined (later regretted and went back next day to get it but was told I was in renovated suite and the one I was offered was around 10yrs old so declined but was happy I'd checked). Stayed in 7122 with view of pool (strip view was offered at 45 a night-declined).Collected tickets for BlueMan 7pm show (SMARTER40 code for blue zone tics) Checked out Wynn (declined Ferrari attarction) and after show went to bed as had early start next morning.[/FONT]


[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Day 6 Tuesday 9th February[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Up at 4.45am for 5.30 shuttle to airport with HeliUSA. Other couple in the shuttle were from Essex staying in CircusCircus and had had the previous days helicopter trip cancelled at the last minute which hadn't pleased them as they were heading home on the Tuesday. Helicopter trip was great with Roger providing interesting commentary but as said previously the ranch adventure was rubbish. Was back at the hotel at about 10.30 so asked about upgrade as detailed above. Did some slots and ate at Johnny Rockets at food mall Venetian. Gf slept in the middle of the day while I got Terry Fator tickets at tix4tonite FSM ( I think about $155 for both) and then onto join Casino Royale for funbook. Used 50 “free” slot credit in about 3 mins as realised it was unlikely to yield any legal tender. Played some variant of poker on a video screen (virtual buxom lady) that l didn't fully understand so cashed out when up by 20. Headed back to the room and got ready to go to the Mirage to collect tics and drinks before the show. Great performance but didn't wait to meet and greet as was HUGE line. [/FONT]


[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Day 7 Wednesday[/FONT] 10th February
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Went to bellagio and got tickets for 10pm show. Limited view was all that was left. (view was fine) Show was like Mystere on water. Very impressive stage but I really dislike the clown sequences that Cirque use. Went on the tram from Bellagio and checked out Aria and Monte Carlo (considered Frank Caliendo for following night but decided against as my gf wouldn't know any of the characters) Went back to the Venetian via the Mirage and bought some stuff at the Terry Fator shop and got 241 buffet at Cravings (LVA offer – 19.60 i think ?)[/FONT]

gamboller

January , February

[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Day 8 Thursday[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Had dinner at Mon Ami Gabi (after this forums recommendation and thinking Mix was too far away) Filet Mignon and Onion soup and I only had one beer and gf had one wine because they filled the water so often. The steak was the best I've ever had and bill was only $100. Gave the waiter $140 and was in and out in about an hour. Went to Eiffel tower and handed over LVA coupon for 241 but I hadn't read the conditions and had to pay $30. Got some nice pics and scared gf by getting down on one knee and asking her if she would tie my laces. Went to see Love for later showing (again tix4tonite) and gambled slots and drank at Duelling Pianos at Pallazzo. [/FONT]


[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Day 9 Friday [/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Checked out at 11 and got 1130 shuttle to airport from just outside the door for 6 dollars each + tip Flight wasn't until after 4pm so this was a wa.ste of time: I had expected better facilities at the airport. Flight was delayed as well which didn't help.[/FONT]


[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]I have left a lot out as my memory is poor. Also visited Tropicana Hooters(had steak there) and Excaliber but can't recall which night. Didn't use LVA book as much as I thought I would but had a great time.
[/FONT]

luci

May

Thanks for the trip report. Sounds like you packed a lot in.

Any plans for a return trip?

ferf1223

April

jaymjay wrote: »

Am I right in thinking that there are other ways in which to accumulate TR Points besides gambling? I think I read that you could use the cards for shopping and entertainment, would this include dining and drinks?

I think there may be a few exceptions on restaurants you can earn points at (some aren't HET owned)...and it looks like the points may take up to 3 days to credit to your card.

http://www.harrahs.com/total_rewards/earn.jsp

Just remember that reward credits expire after 6 months of inactivity so those without plans to go back fairly quickly may want to use up any points they have before they head home.

photome

tingtong wrote: »

Wow, I just tried this too - spent very little on our last trip and this is what I get:

7 nights, Flamingo
Deluxe - $365 ($570 not logged in)
Go Deluxe - $645 ($850 " " ")

Even offered IP for $195 for a whole week (the weekday nights were $15 each) !

Amazing saving really, just goes to show how important it is to join the players clubs, even if you hardly gamble like us. Sure I've read here about upgrading from Deluxe to Go room (for a charge). Is it something like $25 a night at check-in ?

I asked for a comp upgrade and got offered a Go room with view for $25 a night which I accepted

TangoBunny

September

Anyone know if you can use the MGM players card to get discounted rooms like you can for the Total Rewards card

ses6jwg

April

Can anyone recommend a cheap and up to date guide book for Vegas?

ferf1223

April

TangoBunny wrote: »

Anyone know if you can use the MGM players card to get discounted rooms like you can for the Total Rewards card

Not really - you can log into your account to see if you have any offers but as far as I know that's about it....they aren't as generous as HET.

ferf1223

April

ses6jwg wrote: »

Can anyone recommend a cheap and up to date guide book for Vegas?

The problem with any Vegas guidebook is it's outdated as soon as it's published because things change so fast...we bought 2 a few years ago for the in-laws and I was amazed how much mis-information was in both (some out of date by years).

Overall for a first timer either the Brit's Guide to Las Vegas or The Unofficial Guide to Las Vegas would probably be good - these are the 2 we bought - - but check the publication dates and make sure they are as recent as possible.