Las Vegas thread and MSE guide 2010

Vikki_74

October , November

How easy is it to get from McCarran airport to the strip &/or downtown using public transport? We're trying to sort out car hire & with an Avis corporate discount I get through work they're looking like the best bet for us, but only have an office at LAS, nothing on the strip etc. As we'll be driving up from LA rather than flying in, this means driving specifically down to the airport to drop off the car, then somehow getting back.

If I'm understanding things correctly, after dropping off the car at LAS we'd have to get one bus from the airport to the South Strip Terminal but could then get on the ACE to go either back to our hotel, the MGM (which i think is a northbound ACE stop?), or further up the strip / to downtown etc depending on what we decided to do that day. Does that sound right? And would this all be covered by the $7 24-hour pass?

Bearing in mind it'll be our first trip to Vegas, is this all relatively easy? We won't have luggage with us as we'll check in at the MGM first then drive down to the airport to drop off the car, but if it involves a lot of faffing about or a really long journey time we might end up just getting a taxi.

Any thoughts?

pebblesmax

October , November

Airport to MGM should only be about $12. If you want to get the bus, then the best route would be 108 from airport to Tropicana, then 202 along Tropicana to MGM/LVB. It shouldn't take long, we have done it several times. I think both those routes are every 15 mins.

ferf1223

April

Vikki_74 wrote: »

As we'll be driving up from LA rather than flying in, this means driving specifically down to the airport to drop off the car, then somehow getting back.

I'd check on this though...I don't think any rental agencies actually have desks at the airport itself - everything goes from the consolidated facility as far as I know.

So you won't actually be needing to get back from the airport - you will need to get back from the rental car facility...so I think you're right, you could get the ACE from the south strip terminal...the $7 pass is good for the premium routes including the ACE I think.

Vikki_74

October , November

ferf1223 wrote: »

I'd check on this though...I don't think any rental agencies actually have desks at the airport itself - everything goes from the consolidated facility as far as I know.

So you won't actually be needing to get back from the airport - you will need to get back from the rental car facility...so I think you're right, you could get the ACE from the south strip terminal...the $7 pass is good for the premium routes including the ACE I think.

Thanks for mentioning that - I assumed when I looked on the Avis site that 'airport' meant actually at the airport but you're right - it's at 7135 Gilespie Street which is apparently the consolidated car hire place. Not sure about getting from there to the south strip terminal though - on Google Maps it looks like you have to cross the 215 somehow, I'm thinking it may not be that pedestrian friendly?!

ferf1223

April

Vikki_74 wrote: »

Thanks for mentioning that - I assumed when I looked on the Avis site that 'airport' meant actually at the airport but you're right - it's at 7135 Gilespie Street which is apparently the consolidated car hire place. Not sure about getting from there to the south strip terminal though - on Google Maps it looks like you have to cross the 215 somehow, I'm thinking it may not be that pedestrian friendly?!

Not sure as I haven't tried it before...you could always take the free shuttle back to the airport and then take the bus as pebbles recommends.

But according to Avis' website they do have strip locations.

Palazzo, Venetian, Planet Hollywood I think based on the addresses (not sure if Palazzo and Venetian are the same one - different addresses on the Avis site).

Oh, and make sure you will not get hit with a one-way fee.

pebblesmax

October , November

ferf1223 wrote: »

you could always take the free shuttle back to the airport and then take the bus as pebbles recommends.

There is a bus stop fairly close to the Car Rental Facility, but I'd recommend what ferf says rather than having to wander around looking for a bus stop, especially if you haven't been before. The bus stop at the airport is at zero level and that's where the limo drivers park too.

Tashap

August

Vikki_74 wrote: »

Oh, and in case anyone read my previous posts re. a way of possibly getting Stripburger and other popular restaurant.com certs with 80% off...it works!

Here's what you do:

(1) Wait until an 80% off code becomes available part way through the month - usually posted on here somewhere, or will be emailed to you if you sign up an account at restaurant.com

(2) Go to the restaurant.com site and click on the "Gift a Gift" tab towards the top right of the page

(3) Scroll down past the gift cards to an option headed "Give Restaurant.com Gift Certificates", select the quantity and denomination you want e.g. 2 x $25 then 'add to cart'

(4) On the next page, enter the 80% off promo code , apply it to your order then proceed through to the checkout to pay as normal

(5) You will be emailed confirmation of your order which allows you click through and print &/or email it to yourself, or the same info should appear in your account

(6) On the first of the month when new certificates are launched, go back to restaurant.com, click on the "Redeem Your Gift" and input the certificate code number

(7) On the next page a message should be displayed confirming that the certificate has been approved and a credit for e.g. $25 has been applied to your shopping cart, and at the top right hand side of the page the same amount should be shown as "Credit Available"

(8) Proceed as you would on restaurant.com to find the restaurant you want e.g. for Stripburger input zipcode 89109 and a radius of 5 miles - restaurants are sorted by letter on the next page

(9) Choose the certificate you want, add it to your cart and when you check out the value of the certificate will be deducted from your available credit balance

Using the above method, I purchased a $50 gift certificate last week at 80% off using promo code PLATE, total cost $4. This morning from the $50 balance I've bought a Stripburger certificate for $25 (actual cost $2), a Ben & Jerry's 50% off certificate for $5 (actual cost $0.40) and still have $20 credit left to spend.

Sorry this has ended up a bit longer than I was intending, but I hope that helps someone!

thanks for this fab guide, being a restaurant.com "virgin" this is really useful. We are going to LV on the 23rd Aug, do you think I should wait and see if an 80% off code becomes available to get a Stripburger and Ben & Jerry's voucher, or use the 40% off using "bridal" which is working tonight? Sorry if this is a dumb question

luci

May

Tashap wrote: »

thanks for this fab guide, being a restaurant.com "virgin" this is really useful. We are going to LV on the 23rd Aug, do you think I should wait and see if an 80% off code becomes available to get a Stripburger and Ben & Jerry's voucher, or use the 40% off using "bridal" which is working tonight? Sorry if this is a dumb question

The new certificates only become available on the 1st of the month. Now that the $25 Stripburger ones have sold out there won't be any more until 1 September.

If there are any $10 ones left I would grab that now using BRIDAL for 40% off as they will likely sell out soon, possibly before the 50% off code becomes available probably tomorrow.

The instructions above are only if you are using a generic gift certificate to buy a restaurant certificate. You don't need to do that first.

Go to https://www.restaurant.com , put in 89109 for the zip code and choose within 1 mile if you want the strip and surrounding area. Then you can click on the restaurant and purchase directly.

Don't worry about not having a US address. Either use your hotel's address or your own with 89109 as the zip code and it will go through.

nvh

luci wrote: »

Go to www.restaurant.com , put in 89109 for the zip code and choose within 1 mile if you want the strip and surrounding area. Then you can click on the restaurant and purchase directly.

doing that will exclude the Mandalay Bay and Luxor restaurants... to see them, you'll need to do zip code "89119" and within 1 mile :beer:

bon appetit!

luci

May

nvh wrote: »

doing that will exclude the Mandalay Bay and Luxor restaurants... to see them, you'll need to do zip code "89119" and within 1 mile :beer:

bon appetit!

Stripburger doesn't come up under 89119 and 1 mile.

I usually check within 1 mile of 89109 and also 5 miles which takes in the Mandalay Bay ones and also Casa di Amore.

Can't see any restaurants listed for the Luxor. Which ones are they?

** Edit - All the Stripburger certs, including the $10 one, are now sold out.