Las Vegas guide and MSE thread 2011

adamg

August

duchy wrote: »

Finally everything is booked :j

Had a minor heart attack last night when my flight reservation that was supposed to be held til midnight vanished when I went to pay for it at 11pm -spent the next hour on the phone to Continental sorting it out. (Thank goodness for Sky's free calls to the US)
Couldn't get my first choice of flights back but am very happy with what I have for sub £450-out via Houston (new one for me) and back via Newark (ho hum). 2nd row aisle seats all the way.
Hotel is booked Caesars in a Forum room -Thank you TR and I have award flights from Vegas to Idaho and back for the other part of my trip. (Actually not everything is booked-need to book the hotel there but have a special rate for the marathon so no stress there).

when is it booked for duchy? im doing exactly the same route but have gone for 3-4 hour stop overs each time as its the gf first long haul flight.

nvh

joaniemerc wrote: »

Thanks, nvh. First trip to Vegas but we had figured that GC will be colder with a possibility of snow.

Is there definite snow in Dec/Jan at GC and does it get really bad does anyone know pls? I'm hoping that the Americans are better able to cope with snow than we are over here where the country comes to a standstill at the first flake!

I personally wouldn't consider it without having a 4x4 the main difference is you're 7000 feet above sea level - take into consideration Ben Nevis is around 4500 feet above sea level and you realise how high up it is and therefore how extreme the weather can get

Winter conditions at the South Rim can be extreme. Expect snow, icy roads and trails, and possible road closures. Canyon views may be temporarily obscured during winter storms. In such cases entrance fees are not refundable.

I'll try to dig out some pictures later of when we were at GC a few years ago (in December)

Take a read of these as well:
http://www.suite101.com/content/visiting-the-grand-canyon-in-winter-a265225

Average snowfall for December is 12.3 inches and average snow depth is 2 inches (in some ways I hate averages as you can never get an idea of the 'extremities' without the raw data - you could of course end up seeing no snow at all!!!)

I think it's just the usual precautions that need to be taken and it's not to scare you at all, but is just the obvious thing of 'being sensible' - this may mean snow chains would be advisable but i'm not 100% sure (we did it without)

Froggitt

joaniemerc wrote: »

Thanks, nvh. First trip to Vegas but we had figured that GC will be colder with a possibility of snow.

Is there definite snow in Dec/Jan at GC and does it get really bad does anyone know pls? I'm hoping that the Americans are better able to cope with snow than we are over here where the country comes to a standstill at the first flake!

We flew to the GC on Boxing Day......vegas sunny, shirtsleeves weather, no snow..........GC 12 inches of snow, minus 25 degrees celcius, four coats might have been enough.

Theyre used to snow at the GC so dont worry about it if you can fly there.

photome

August

joaniemerc wrote: »

On the subject of pools - any hotels with heated pools in Dec/Jan? I'm taking it all hotel pools are outside but just wondered if they are heated in the cooler months. We're staying at the Golden Nugget which looks like it has a great pool/shark tank scene going on - but will it be heated....

TIA

Most pools are closed over the winter, but some are open all year round If you look on the hotels own website it should tell you wether they stay open or not. I do know that you wouldnt catch me round a pool in Dec/Jan though, heated or otherwise!!!!

stoneman

October

joaniemerc wrote: »

On the subject of pools - any hotels with heated pools in Dec/Jan? I'm taking it all hotel pools are outside but just wondered if they are heated in the cooler months. We're staying at the Golden Nugget which looks like it has a great pool/shark tank scene going on - but will it be heated....

TIA

Platinum and Tropicana have indoor heated pools. Luxor has outdoor heated, MGM the same, both open in the winter. Theses are the only ones I have personal experience of but if you like the look of a hotel ring them up and ask.

photome

August

stoneman wrote: »

Platinum and Tropicana have indoor heated pools. Luxor has outdoor heated, MGM the same, both open in the winter. Theses are the only ones I have personal experience of but if you like the look of a hotel ring them up and ask.

Is the whole complex open or just one pool at MGM in winter. The pool I used there last summer wasnt heated

aldridgeboy

March

nvh wrote: »

sorry, can you say this again / elaborate? I think I get what you're saying but how do you actually do this?

Hi
There is a promo desk in the upstairs close to the walkway over to the Luxor. There is an option of two deals for either the Luxor Hotel, Excalibur or the 4 Queens in Downtown. It is either for Three or four nights and costs $124 dollars. You pay now but it gets refunded when you arrive so is in effect free. I didn't take the card that they give you as I said I would pop back so I didn't read the small print. I did ask whether it was possible to buy two and then stay for 8 nights but the lady didn't know. Once you have purchased it you ring up and reserve the dates you want and it can be any time in the next 18 months.
I got the impression that you would have to book it there and then and would not be able to get it on line si in effect would have to be in Vegas to get it

aldridgeboy

March

stoneman wrote: »

How's it free, you have paid $124 for it?
Do you mean it gets refunded completely or just deducted off of the bill?

Hi they sai that is the total cost and it gets refunded when you return

Triker

March

Been reading Tripadvisor and saw that The Sahara is to close on May 16th. On a few trip reports people were very critical of the state of the place, though for curiosity's sake I wanted to have a look as we have never been in. Will visit next week when we're there.
http://www.lvrj.com/business/sahara-hotel-to-close-on-may-16-117800628.html

aldridgeboy

March

AronS wrote: »

I don't suppose anyone has been to Krave nightclub and can offer any thoughts about it?

2 weeks tomorrow! woo!

I haven't been myself but it was part of the official nightclub and bar show party venues this week. It's known as the best gay nightclub in Vegas and two of the lads we are with popped in. They are straight and said it was a little " in your face" with naked men dancers and the like so didn't stay. But as it's in Planet Hollywood it s bound to be fairly decent.

There is a newish club called chateau at Paris that is on the first floor of the casino and has a large outdoor terrace overlooking the Bellagio. Well worth a visit and is also open in the daytime I believe.

Marquee in Cosmopolitan is without doubt the best club I have ever been in. I m over here with nightclub owners and they have all said the same. Simply stunning. If there are a few of you consider getting bottle service. You will not have to queue and if there is 8 or so you will also not pay the cover charge which ranges from anything up to around 40 dollars I believe in some clubs. You will also get a table and waitress service.

A good tip which we discovered only halfway through the week is you can negotiate these deals. We were told $1000 for Chateau and got it down to$750. My friend then went to a nightclub lecture as part of the Expo and they said $375 should be the price but club hosts will try and get what they can. So for marquee we had a table and three bottles for $1000. It sounds a lot at first but if say there is ten of you it works out a lot cheaper than paying in and buying what are expensive drinks anyway. Plus no queue ( and they are long queues here for the good clubs) and the pose factor of having a VIP table

Have a great time