Las Vegas guide and MSE thread 2011

rubyroo

January / February

hi everyone i'm flying out to vegas this thurs and flying back sunday night. we're staying at ph towers and have already booked jersey boys for sat night 6.30pm. i've read the first page of the thread and as many pages as i could but if anyone has any suggestions of must do in terms of which casinos we should definitely try out and which is the best oulet mall etc all will be gratefully recieved! :j

luci

May

With only 2.5 days there I wouldn't stress about the best casinos. The Bellagio and Caesars are in easy walking distance.

I would recommend the Premium Outlets near downtown, but would suggest getting a taxi there and back, as you don't have the time to waste using the bus, and it should run about $15 each way.

ferf1223

March

I think part of the hesitation on using up a day of Vegas time to go to LA (and how much of that would be spent on travel) is how much there is to do in Vegas...we planned to go to the Grand Canyon - driving ourselves - our second, third, fourth trip...eventually we went on the 10th+ trip...because once we got to Vegas, there was just so much to do that we couldn't be bothered to go anywhere else.

If someone has their heart set on LA then I can understand the theory of 'we're right there, let's go'...some of us forget that not everyone will end up going back to Vegas over and over...but even though we go a lot, the time we did go to the GC and stayed overnight...we were so very much itching to get back to Vegas as early as possible the next day.

photome

August

sarahlasvegas wrote: »

What do you want to see/do? I guess that will help you plan how long you need fully.

Pretty much everyone i know hasnt liked it that much, bar one couple who loved it - so my early plans are early flight or bus on day 1, then late flight or bus back on day 2 (i would consider the bus).

I fancy seeing the stars, sunset blvd, and santa monica pier, that about it

I see you recomend trip to LA and staying overnight.

I would say that is worth it (if you must go to LA) although I would drive there and back. Its just to big/busy to do in a day IMO

But then again, there is so much to see and do in/around Vegas and I think that once you try to cram to much in to a short space of time, you end up coming back and thinking you didnt really see anything

duchy

May

With my (ex)travel agent hat on I'd say don't bother with LA -however it is the kind of nuts thing that I do myself -I've had days out in New York and Chicago enroute to/from Vegas by taking an early flight there and the latest possible connection out. We even did lunch in Manhattan once and then turned right around back to JFK to fly on. Another time we took the red eye out of Vegas -got to NYC at 8am rechecked luggage and had breakfast in Manhattan -had a wander then did the Duck Tour (highly recommended) and then headed back to JFK for a 6pm flight -long long day but worth it.

If you really really want to do it then plan carefully as it is very do-able but it may be at the expense of things you might have wanted to do in Vegas instead as you're only there for a week. Know exactly what tour you are doing and the time scales.

As a value for money trip -it doesn't qualify but heck it's your holiday and if you want to do it badly-go for it. You've quoted SouthWest flights-How much were JetBlue ?

If you do decide to stay overnight-consider Priceline-ing the hotel on Name Your Own Price.

mookybargirl

March

New restaurant.com code.

80% off until 28st Feb using code DINE.

bubble113

August

rubyroo wrote: »

hi everyone i'm flying out to vegas this thurs and flying back sunday night. we're staying at ph towers and have already booked jersey boys for sat night 6.30pm. i've read the first page of the thread and as many pages as i could but if anyone has any suggestions of must do in terms of which casinos we should definitely try out and which is the best oulet mall etc all will be gratefully recieved! :j

Hi

I would agree with Luci on premium outlets and going by taxi ( too many bags on the way back for the bus!).

For anyone like me that goes to the outlets a few times during their stay I have found offers do change even within a week. We shopped at Kenneth Cole with an extra 41% off and thought that was the regular outlet offer but went a few days later and found that the offer had finished. Happy that we'd bought coat, bags and watch earlier!

The mall located south strip has a DKNY outlet that was good for bags,purses and shoes. They had offers on that weren't the same as premium. I also go for SAKs off 5th avenue can be a bit hit and miss but have had bargains before.

There is a store near SAKs that also sells designer wear (doesn't look much from the outside) and twice a year they do a 70-80% off outlet prices, this is August (think around 5th) for one week to mark its opening and Black Friday week. Can be good for bargain Jimmy Choo shoes!

As for casinos I have stayed at PH quite a few times, always had success with $20 trick going from a basic hip room to a fountain facing resort room.
I like PH for music and atmosphere but sometimes CWs a bit slow. Its good for location, next door to Paris then a walk through to Ballys, I like both of these for gambling but not the best in terms of things to look at ( especially Ballys, old in style).

As Luci said bigger casinos, Bellagio (opposite PH) and Caesars within easy walking distance. Also new city centre and Cosmopolitan close.

bubble113

August

Sorry just realised you're at PH towers! I've only stayed at PH hotel but believe towers are only just behind the hotel x

jammerr

March

Just cancelled my 3 nights at The Plams ($69 p/night) and booked THE WYNN at under £100 p/night with onhotels.com

Their rates seem a little too good comapred to all other 3rd party booking sites.. but I am so excited.

Spursman180

March

My last trip to Vegas was Nov 09, I flew into LA and stayed 3 days in the Crowne Plaza, Commerce. It was for the Breeders cup at Santa Anita. My next visit in just over a week sees me end up in LA for the last 3 days again at the Crowne Plaza.

as others say if you want to do it then go for it, but it is also a cheaper flight starting or finishing in LA, no next time? right!!!

I will be taking a friend to the races and our last full day will be Paddys day, there will no doubt be an Irish bar full of shenanigans for us to embarass ourselves in somewhere in town, not as OTT as Vegas I'm sure, all the septics wearing ginger wigs and talking like Jimmy Cricket drinking green lager, culture at its finest.