Las Vegas guide and MSE thread 2011

ferf1223

March

Spursman180 wrote: »

tI would drive over the dam itself

You can't drive over the dam anymore...the bypass opened in Oct...pebbles and I were there for the Bridging America event in Oct when it the bridge was open to pedestrians...it still amazes me that we actually ran into each other there with so many people...we knew we were both going to be there, but when we arrived I thought there was NO WAY we would find pebbles.

We've been on the tour twice (the standard one, not the more expensive one) and enjoyed it...only went a second time as we took my in-laws. I do think that the views are pretty cool from the observation deck.

Ultimately, it's something to do that's not too far away and keeps us out of the casino for a bit.

duchy

May

Can't say it's ever appealed to me. I keep saying I want to do Zion National Park though -one day I'll fit it in (perhaps on a day I'm bored with Vegas )

totallybored

November / December

Just realised that I never did my trip report from Xmas. This was a last minute trip as we had a free week over Xmas and only booked about a month before. It was meant to be a cheap trip too.

Flight
The cheapest flight we could find was with Delta via Atlanta on the way out Xmas day and back New Years Day via Detroit. This turned into a nightmare, Atlanta had snow and we found out Xmas Eve that the flight from Atlanta to Vegas was cancelled. We had a very long conversation with Delta customer services in the US who managed to switch us on a flight Boxing day via Detroit. I would have been really upset about this normally but hubby was feeling very ill and didn’t think he would have been able to fly Xmas day anyway. I have to say Delta were quite good, we could have still flown to Atlanta Xmas day but there were no flights leaving so the guy we spoke to said we’d just be stuck in an airport hotel until the Sunday and he was worried there still wouldn’t be flights the following day. Also, we’d booked with Expedia (I know, I prefer to book direct) and the tickets had been issued by Air France but he called Air France himself to sort out the new tickets.

The flight itself was fine, no individual tvs but this means more leg room as there isn’t a box under the seat in front. Immigration in Detroit was a nightmare. We had a 3 hour connection, our flight was delayed by an hour and we only just made the flight as they had 3 desks open at immigration and a flight from Amsterdam, Paris and Korea had all landed just before us. Detroit airport is very very long from one end to the other and we had to run through most of it. I would avoid a connection here in future.

Hotels
We booked 5 nights at NYNY from a comp offer of $29 a night for a Park Avenue room. I wasn't too impressed, the lifts and coridoors seemed very shabby and grotty. The room itself wasn't too bad but would have been better without the huge dark woodern furniture and big TV (no flat screen) and the bathroom was a bit dingy. However, I do like the casino and the food court is quite practical. The location is also ok with it being close to City Center. I normally choose hotels for the pool but I'd probably stay there again if it was winter and I needed somewhere cheap to stay.

For our last 2 nights (one New Years Eve) I decided we needed to stay somewhere a bit nicer so booked the Mandarin Oriental as a treat. I posted on this after I got back but the rooms are gorgeous, especially the bathroom and the location is excellent but the service wasn't quite what I was expecting and I'd probably choose the Encore over it in future. I think if it was anywhere else in the world it would be an amazing hotel but in Vegas you can get a better room for less money.

Car Hire
Booked this though Netflights and included petrol. Had a bit of a problem as we arrived a day late to pick it up but the lady at the Dollar desk in NYNY got us sorted and was helpful.

Shopping
This is one of my main reasons to go to Vegas. We did our usual trip to the outlets at Primm, downtown and the south end of the strip. I find I need a car in Vegas to do all my shopping. We managed to have 2 large full suitcases going back (they were less than half full going) so I'd say we had a successful shopping trip.
　
Eating
The highlight would have to be the Cosmopolitan buffet and we went there twice. I don't normally like buffets but this was excellent and also very cheap. I loved how everything came in small dishes
Holsteins at the Cosmo - this is a burger restaurant and it was ok. I had a really good greek lamb burger but hubby had a burger with pulled prok that I didn't think was as good. I wish we'd gone to the tapas place instead but I think I'll try that next time.
Dos Caminos at the Palazzo - ok Mexican, not fantastic but we had quite a nice meal.
Aria buffet - went for breakfast one morning, found it good value with lots of choice.
In N Out - my favourite! I can't go to Vegas and not go to In N Out.
Room service at MO - this was surprisingly good as we ordered wraps and sandwiches late one night (we'd had a bit of a disaster trying to eat at Cafe Vetro in Aria) and it didn't seem too expensive. Only took about 15 minutes from ordering too which I was very impressed with.
The American coffee shop place in NYNY - standard coffee shop sandwiches etc that was ok
NYNY Foodcourt - there is a pizza place that serves excellent pizza slices. Hadn't tried it before but would definately recommend.
Sports Bar in Aria - we had a burger and sandwich in here and it was also very good, much better than I expected. I had a club sandwich that had real chicken in it (as opposed to the fake plastic type stuff that you get in the sandwiches in the deli in the Mirage).
　
Casinos
After my previous few trips Aria had become one of my favourites and this is why we chose to stay close in NYNY and MO. However, the Cosmo had just opened this time and this is where we spent most of our time (on the Star Wars slots!). The casino is very impressive, waitress service seemed good and there is a good choice of restaurants. There is also free wifi throughtout the casino which is very useful. I think we'll probably stay here next time. We did spend a couple of evenings in Aria as I still like the casino (got lucky in the High Limit slot area by only spending $5 too!!) but I definately prefer the Cosmo. As we've been to Vegas quite a few times now we didn't bother going to too many other casinos apart from Planet Hollywood and then one evening in the Wynn and Palazzo.

We also ventured out to the M resort one afternoon as we had the car and were a bit shopped out. I was surprised at how nice it was but the average age of people seemed to be about 70! I couldn't find any slots I liked either so we didn't stay too long.


I'm now debating about planning another trip. I would like to go again this year and stay at the Cosmo but I have a holiday planned in a couple of months time so I don't know if finances will allow Vegas this year too. I'm also not going to risk going again at Xmas as this is now 2 years in a row snow has caused problems (last time it was Gatwick that was the issue!) and it can be quite stressful.

ferf1223

March

I liked Zion more than the Grand Canyon overall.

secretmachines

July

hi everyone

looking to book a second trip to LV for the 1st week of July.
VA flights are about £100 less pp at the mo than they were last week (maybe due to the 5day sale). we want to travel direct and were happy with VA last time.

the dilemma i'm having is whether or not to book hotel+flight through Expedia (for example), or to do them separately. at the moment, expedia works out about £100 cheaper for the same package if booked separately.

but that's based on the normal internet rates for the hotel (Vdara)... their current offers are only valid until the end of May, so will probably have a new offer in a month or 2 to cover July?

luci

May

ogs20 wrote: »

What planes do thomas cook use for the MAN to LAS direct flight?
Cant seem to find any info on Thomas cook website or when i proceed to book?

Long haul is normally an A330-200 with TC.

trets77

secretmachines wrote: »

hi everyone

looking to book a second trip to LV for the 1st week of July.
VA flights are about £100 less pp at the mo than they were last week (maybe due to the 5day sale). we want to travel direct and were happy with VA last time.

the dilemma i'm having is whether or not to book hotel+flight through Expedia (for example), or to do them separately. at the moment, expedia works out about £100 cheaper for the same package if booked separately.

but that's based on the normal internet rates for the hotel (Vdara)... their current offers are only valid until the end of May, so will probably have a new offer in a month or 2 to cover July?

to play safe or gamble


no right or wrong answer .if your happy with the Expedia price why not . Personally i would book separate , but thats me .

why so set on `Vdara ?? i would go where the best deal is personally ( providing i'm happy with the hotel of course). the problem with having your heart set on a certain hotel is that you will probably pass over a great offer for a perfectly suitable hotel.

don't see it as compromise , see it as being smart and money saving .

ferf1223

March

totallybored wrote: »

However, the Cosmo had just opened this time and this is where we spent most of our time (on the Star Wars slots!)..

Thank you for your report! Really enjoyed it - now I want In-n-Out!

And Mr ferf1223 wants to know - which Star Wars slots do they have at Cosmo? He loves them, but isn't a massive fan of the ones with the multi-level progressive, the one with the speeder bike bonus...though occasionally the lowest progressive resets to a very high value and then we'll jump on them.

secretmachines

July

trets77 wrote: »

to play safe or gamble


no right or wrong answer .if your happy with the Expedia price why not . Personally i would book separate , but thats me .

why so set on `Vdara ?? i would go where the best deal is personally ( providing i'm happy with the hotel of course). the problem with having your heart set on a certain hotel is that you will probably pass over a great offer for a perfectly suitable hotel.

don't see it as compromise , see it as being smart and money saving .

Hi Trets, hehe yes to play safe or gamble... Oh the irony!
We stayed at the Vdara on our last trip and loved it, so we don't want to book somewhere different and all the while thinking 'this isn't as good as where we stayed last time'. But also on the other hand the excitement of staying somewhere new is appealing. At the mo, if we booked exactly the same trip as last time, it works out about £600 cheaper!
We'd be more than happy with that, but pretty sure hotels will bring out some new deals soon which cover July. But also our stay will take in July 4, so there might not be so many deals for then... Not sure how that works

ferf1223

March

I forgot to post about yesterday's Groupon, another spa one.
$50 for $100 Worth of Spa and Salon Services at the Westin Casuarina Las Vegas Hotel, Casino & Spa’s Hibiscus Spa


http://www.groupon.com/deals/hibiscus-spa-las-vegas

It's still available today it seems.

I already bought the groupon for the spa at Golden Nugget...but since the Westin Casuarina is not too far from PH and we have always said we should check out the casino, I'm kinda thinking about getting this one too...I'm also thinking - for $50 I could get $100 credit, an hour pedicure is $105 (before tip, of course). I would pay $50+ for an hour of foot massage at Hawaiian Marketplace...foot massage/pedicure different things, but still.

This is how I justify things I really do not need.