Las Vegas guide and MSE thread 2011

HP_Sauce

March

Hi guys

Got back from our stay at the Encore on the 11th and after a week back at work we are ready to go again! The Encore is amazing, best hotel I have ever stayed in! We had a really good view of the strip from our room although we could hear the noise from the nightclub. This wasn't a problem for us and they did give us the option to choose another room at check in but we wanted the view.

This was our 2nd trip to Vegas so we still had some things to see that we didn't get chance to back in November. We visited the Secret Garden at the Mirage which we both loved, and we got to go to the Peppermill for breakfast which was awesome so thanks to people who have recommended that. Hubby is a massive fan of burgers so we ate at KGB a couple of times, Strip Burger a couple of times and also Cheese Burger in Miracle mile, all which we had been to before and would definitely visit again. Also we tried Grand Lux this trip, we like the food but the service was terrible!

As it was our first stay at Encore once we got to 150 points on our players cards we got comped 2 buffets at the Wynn so that was 4 free buffets, plus we were given $100 of resort credit when we booked which we used to get another 2. We used the buffet for breakfast and loved it...is it wrong to have cheesecake for breakfast?? lol.

This trip we managed to get out to the Grand Canyon. We flew in a helicopter with Maverick and at first we were a bit worried about spending so much money but I can tell you it was worth every penny as it was just amazing and we loved flying up the strip on the way back.

We managed to get to the other outlets this time (the ones past Mandalay Bay) but we preferred the Premium ones that we visited last time so we went back there too.

Shows are not our thing so most evenings were spent either playing roulette or on the slots. We are both now totally addicted to those Zeus 2 and Griffen's Gate machines, I can still here the music in my head! We also went to Kahunaville (sp?) in Tropicana and they were having a flaring competition which was cool.

We flew with BA and after flying with them both trips I think we might try Virgin next time purely for the earlier flight. When we go away we would prefer to get up on the last day and just go rather than waiting around most of the day before you can fly. Our flight home was delayed due to a security alert at Heathrow so that didn't help matters and then when we got back to the UK, despite making up time because of the wind, we then had to wait ages to get off the plane so they could bus everyone to get to the terminal.

Hopefully we are going to book another trip for October. We are thinking of trying the Cosmopolitan. We loved the Encore but don't want to get bored so thought it would be good to try somewhere different. How does the Cosmo compare to Encore? We don't want to to be disappointed as wish we had gone Encore after all.

ferf1223

March

HP_Sauce wrote: »

We flew with BA and after flying with them both trips I think we might try Virgin next time purely for the earlier flight. When we go away we would prefer to get up on the last day and just go rather than waiting around most of the day before you can fly.

Thanks very much for the report - enjoyed reading it...we returned on the 12th and are in the process of finalising our plans to go back in September.

The Virgin flight doesn't depart until 4:30pm, so not really a get up and go time either...we do like that it arrives earlier than the BA flight though...and being able to check bags earlier in the day and have a last few hours on the strip is OK with us. After being loyal to Virgin for quite a few years, then trying AA indirect - we'd thought we could see the benefit of indirect...but after now flying direct again, we're back with that as our preferred option...but we won't fly with BA.

ferf1223

March

lisalasvegas wrote: »

Do we still get discount codes for restaurant.com and if so does anyone have one?

Thanks in advance

70% off code good to 22nd March is SPRING.

pebblesmax

November / December

HP_Sauce, I thought that Kahunaville was at TI. (Not that I've ever been to it.)

stoneman

October

ferf1223 wrote: »

but we won't fly with BA.

Why is that?

stoneman

October

HP_Sauce wrote: »

Our flight home was delayed due to a security alert at Heathrow so that didn't help matters and then when we got back to the UK, despite making up time because of the wind, we then had to wait ages to get off the plane so they could bus everyone to get to the terminal.

This seems like an ongoing thing. We also noticed 2 other BA planes at the remote stand doing the same thing, it's not on. Write and complain, I did and they deposited 15,000 miles each into our accounts

ferf1223

March

stoneman wrote: »

Why is that?

They can't sort out the issues with their staff, for one - I know that there's always a risk that something will go wrong and a flight with any airline will be cancelled - weather, ash clouds, general industrial action, etc...but I'm not booking with an airline that has a poor track record re: strikes - even if the long-haul flights are less likely to be affected...not having our holiday ruined for something that's a known risk...this remote stand thing that's been reported several times recently...seating configuration (no potential for pairs in economy from what I understand)...flight times (don't like the late arrival, though I know you said it had its benefits).

scousemanblue

Ive got a lot of pages to read here before I decide to go phew !!!

pebblesmax

November / December

scousemanblue wrote: »

Ive got a lot of pages to read here before I decide to go phew !!!

Get yourself there!

wonderwallet

May

Sorry if I'm being really thick but I am following instructions from the 2010 Las Vegas thread on how to buy Restaurant.com certificates which say

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'

However, I can't see the above option, there are only options to buy Gift Cards of eGift Cards. Have they changed the name of the Gift Certificate to eGift Card or am I doing something really silly here?