Las Vegas guide and MSE thread 2011

WestHamDaz

Vegas only has enough to keep you interested for 3 night? wow!! To be honest, that's not the first time Ive heard that comment and generally it is people who havent been before who only think the area is just about gambling and playing slots.

We went for 15 nights in 2009, 12 nights in 2010 adn this year we're going for 17 nights. Havent been bored once, and doubt we'll get bored this year either.

This year we're planning on going to Primm for the shopping, plus the missus wants to go on the roller coaster. Probably gonna head out to death valley at some point during this trip and maybe drive up to the hoover dam (we flew over it on the way to the canyon in 2009 so we want a closer look). This time we're staying in hotels that we've not been to before, gonna eat at places we've not eaten at before, and do alot of other stuff we havent got round to doing in our previous trips.

After all that Im guessing there will still be stuff we havent seen/done so will have to go back again in 2012

Stoneman - interest plays you mentioned previously on blackjack. If the situation arises this summer I'll give it a go.

jammerr

March

Vikki_74 wrote: »

Thought I'd have a quick look at some hotel rooms for you but wow that week is really expensive! Quick example - a GO Deluxe room at the Flamingo if you were going Tues - Mon the previous week would be $55-$59 for the weeknights and $129 over the weekend...for your dates it's well over $100/night even in the week and $249/night for the Friday and Saturday, total $1245.

Oh wait - just realised it might be March Madness that week which would explain the high prices. I thought £460 for the Trop sounded expensive but perhaps it isn't if you take that into account.

i know! im absolutly gutted. the girflriends work has really screwed me over in this case, more expensive flights and the hotel has killed me. gutted.

thanks for everyones advice on the '3 days and your bored' comment. i thought this wouldn't be the case, otherwise this thread wouldn't be so popular. i'm sure they'll be loads for us to do.

duchy

May

StuieUK34 wrote: »

American Airlines Flights (LHR to Chicago to Vegas)
Just going back to that peeps
Sooooo, say my mum and her mate miss there connecting flight, do AA just get them on the next plane, with no additional charge ????
Reason i ask is, my mums mate has a son who lives in Chicago, so would be ideal if they had around 4 or 5hrs as such in Chicago airport as opposed to just the 2.........

If they miss the connecting AA flight because the flight from London was late AA will book them onto the next available one (they've done this for me and put me on another airline too if it was a long wait ) BUT if they deliberately miss it-they will have to pay to rebook. (Probably $150 change fee minimum but maybe more if flights are very full)

What they could do is deliberately book with a long gap-I've done this several times-booked a morning flight from London -and booked a much later connection so I've had several hours between flights. Chicago I arrived at something like 11am and left at 7pm. I cleared customs and put my bags back on the belt for the next flight-and then hopped on the train into Chicago for the day (station is built onto the airport). I've done the same thing with New York -we hopped onto the airtrain into Manhattan for lunch -before flying onto Vegas. With the time difference it makes for an incredibly long day but it's a lot of fun.
Sounds ideal for your Mum's mate as her son could either meet them at the airport-or they could just jump onto the train and meet him in the city. It's perfectly legit -and they aren't breaking any fare rules doing it this way-whereas just "missing" a flight could give them problems.

If you've already booked the flight (can't remember if you have or not) it might be worth calling AA to see what it would cost to change it now (might only be $150 to change) -or you could play up the fact your Mum walks slowly (they won't check) and it isn't enough time and see if they'll switch them to later at no charge -the other thing is if the plane looks really full on the Chicago to Vegas leg they might get a "bump" on the day.

duchy

May

Going back to the "bored after three days " thing.

I have friends I meet up with in Vegas who don't drink or gamble. They go for the shows, the eating out , pool scene and shopping and have yet to get bored with it. I do agree if people really don't research at all and don't venture from their own hotel they might get bored -but really three days doesn't even scratch the surface-even ignoring stuff like the Grand Canyon, Zion National Park, Red Rock etc. You have to wonder what people were expecting !!

duchy

May

jammerr wrote: »

i know! im absolutly gutted. the girflriends work has really screwed me over in this case, more expensive flights and the hotel has killed me. gutted.

thanks for everyones advice on the '3 days and your bored' comment. i thought this wouldn't be the case, otherwise this thread wouldn't be so popular. i'm sure they'll be loads for us to do.

Sit tight and keep watching hotel prices -there's still time for them to fall. I've switched hotels as late as three days before when prices fell.

jammerr

March

bearing in mind we're going in march maddness (:mad:)

what do you think of these prices

Treasure Island - £578 (£628 strip view)
Tropicana - £465 (duluxe)
New York New York - £618 (duluxe double)
Imperial Palace - £441 (dulexe) (refuse to do capri room!)
Hard Rock Hotel £- 415 (edit - not keen on this, off strip)

I have to say, the Hard Rock Hotel deal looks the best but its slighty out the way? free to cancel upto 13th march anyway! (edit - not keen on this, its off strip!)

Thanks guys. I'd like the rooms to be nice as I'm going with the gf (sorry I don't mean to keep mentioning that) if I was going with my mates I wouldn't care!

Thankyou all

StuieUK34

June

Not booked the trip, but i will be today... (booking via broker or...... booking flight and accomodation at the Trop )
Am liking the American Airlines flight for my mum over the Delta Flights....
It doesnt give the option when booking (via Opodo) to choose the flight with a large stop gap in-between.... guess worst case is she books, and then speak to AA to see if they will allow her onto the next flight ??? if not, then i guess my mums mate might get to have a coffee in the airport for about 10 mins maybe ?!

One thing i do worry about is:
The return part, it leaves Vegas and lands at Terminal 8 at JFK, then they have 2 hours before the AA plane takes off for Heathrow.... I've been to JFK 4 times, and it's pretty busy! although thats coming from the UK, never flown to JFK internally (only LaGuardia for that)...... If by chance they missed there connecting flight on the way back due to the AA plane being late, or held up with customs, there are 2 further flights listed by AA, but operated by British Airways.... am hoping the AA would put them onto that British Airways plane should they miss this connecting flight ?

duchy

May

Depends how long you're going for -what dates are these prices for ?

Treasure Island I think is nicer than NYC NYC for sure so I'd knock New York New York off the list on that basis.
Imperial Palace the rooms are tired but the location is fab. (Maybe more a mates than a couples hotel tho)
Hard Rock-never stayed there but I think if I was going to stay off Strip there are better options for that kind of money. I'd look at Gold Coast or Orleans instead. Palms sometimes has some good deals too.

If these were my only options I'd narrow it down to either TI or Tropicana personally.

duchy

May

Just call Opodo if their price is lower than doing it at www.americanairlines.co.uk and they will find you that longer layover if you book by phone . PM me if you need any more help with this part but don't book what you don't want -it'll cost to change later most likely.

Coming back shouldn't be an issue as they will check their bags in at Vegas and not see them til London -Two hours is ample -and yes AA have later flights if there is a flight delay. Stop worrying They don't go through customs at JFK btw,

StuieUK34 wrote: »

Not booked the trip, but i will be today... (booking via broker or...... booking flight and accomodation at the Trop )
Am liking the American Airlines flight for my mum over the Delta Flights....
It doesnt give the option when booking (via Opodo) to choose the flight with a large stop gap in-between.... guess worst case is she books, and then speak to AA to see if they will allow her onto the next flight ??? if not, then i guess my mums mate might get to have a coffee in the airport for about 10 mins maybe ?!

One thing i do worry about is:
The return part, it leaves Vegas and lands at Terminal 8 at JFK, then they have 2 hours before the AA plane takes off for Heathrow.... I've been to JFK 4 times, and it's pretty busy! although thats coming from the UK, never flown to JFK internally (only LaGuardia for that)...... If by chance they missed there connecting flight on the way back due to the AA plane being late, or held up with customs, there are 2 further flights listed by AA, but operated by British Airways.... am hoping the AA would put them onto that British Airways plane should they miss this connecting flight ?

StuieUK34

June

one more thing... Partner Airlines... Do Virgin partner with American Airlines as such ? and Delta ? or neither ?