Las Vegas guide and MSE thread 2011

photome

August

nvh wrote: »

noticed that MGM Grand now charge for 'Early Check-in'... wonder how much it is enforced?
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I think the days of cheap hotels in Vegas may be ending.

More and more resort fees

Early check in charges

Gtee non smoking room charges

Gtee 2 queen beds charges

All charges that have been introduced recently

ferf1223

March

mookybargirl wrote: »

I opted for the coconut ice cream from the little coffe shop when we visited M 2 weeks ago. It was lush :cool: Now, I want a hot dog though.....

I had some gelatto from there 2 trips ago and it was awesome - dark chocolate and something else.

I'm terribly sad about the loss of the self-service drinks machines...we were so ad when we discovered they had gone.

trets77

Jon_01 wrote: »

Can anyone clue me in with a few things...

I looked at going to Vegas a couple of years back but it fell through. Things have changed since then.

To try the $20 sandwich upgrade does it matter when you get to the hotel ?
MGM is tough place to try it . see links for $20 trick on post 1 . should not matter a great deal what time you arrive , more if the hotel is nearly full , MGM has 5000 rooms i think , unless there is something huge on , don't sweat it

I'm looking at the prices on offer at MGM Grand for the end of Nov, but can't find a flight that gets in much before 7 or 8 in the evening, or are there so many rooms it make no difference ?

very probably
Any recommendations for flights? I'm looking at the Delta site, which is coming in at around £400 a head indirect, any better deal direct?
£400 per person :eek::eek::eek::eek: book it PDQ thats a amazing price

And finally, can one tell me if the MGMG had good pool! My wife wants to spend at least a day just by the pool chilling out! (yes, I know!)...


Thanks.

my answers in red

ferf1223

March

I kind of want to buy one of these just to have a justification to go to a restaurant called Monstah Lobstah.

http://livingsocial.com/deals/33157-40-to-spend-on-food-and-drink?msdc_id=30

Just realised, they are on restaurant.com - was reading some reviews that mentioned it, but couldn't find them...realised I was searching within 5 miles of 89109 and when I expanded the search range it came up...so will go the r.com route if we go for it.

bubble113

August

Hi All

Just returned from week stay, great time. Will post a little trip report when the fuzziness and thick head has gone, OH said you may have to wait a long time in that case!

Cameraman

We've just booked our flight to vegas for our first visit next month!

Delta non direct all good flight times and short stop overs for £459 each.

The plan was to book the tropicana for 10 nights and Treasure Island for 4 but actually now thinking about the Stratosphere for the whole time and get a hire car too meaning we would have the freedom to go wherever whenever.

Stratosphere and a car is cheaper than Trop and TI without a car but would be interested in peoples thoughts.

Remodelled Stratosphere rooms look nice, but do we even need a car?

ferf1223

March

you don't NEED a car, but we find having one gives us so much more freedom - we can go anywhere we want - in the greater Las Vegas area and beyond. For 2 weeks we would most certainly want a car - the convenience alone is worth it we think...and some days we don't use it - it sleeps in valet or the self-park garage...but if at a moment's notice we decide we want to take a trip somewhere (even just a WalMart run) we can. Shopping is easier as we know we have a whole boot we can fill if we want to. And we just get to see much more than without a car. The bus system sounds like it's very easy but we prefer not to rely on public transport. But I'm not a big drinker, so I don't ever really have to worry about the potential to be somewhere and not be able to drive us back. We almost never take the car out in the evening, but we stay mid-strip and walk everywhere, or take a taxi if we're feeling lazy.

Personally, Stratosphere doesn't appeal to us due to the location..but we've never stayed there so couldn't comment from any personal experience...but location-wise, it's not ideal and I would think that having a car would save a lot of time at least. You may find that some days you run up to mid-strip, park somewhere central, and then wander from there - knowing the car is relatively close for your return trip.

I think 2 weeks in the same hotel - any hotel - would get a bit boring...I would split a week and a week at minimum...but that's just us.

pebblesmax

November / December

I agree with ferf, you don't need a car, but it helps.

We waited until our 8th or 9th trip before we tried having a car, now we tend to have one for the first few days and last few days of every trip. This time we're having one for a week to begin with. Not sure about the end yet. The bus system in the majority of Vegas is great. The only exception being the Las Vegas Boulevard routes, which get really busy.

Regarding the Stratosphere, it wouldn't be my first choice simply because of the location. Once the Sahara closes on 16th May, there will be a long trek from the Strat to anywhere else, and the immediate area isn't the most elegant. There are bus stops right outside though, so you wouldn't be stranded.

Cameraman

Thanks ferf and pebbles. As you can imagine were pricing up pretty much every option we can think of right now! Maybe first 7 nights in the Tropicana without car and 7 in the Stratosphere with. Will let you know.

photome

August

Cameraman wrote: »

Thanks ferf and pebbles. As you can imagine were pricing up pretty much every option we can think of right now! Maybe first 7 nights in the Tropicana without car and 7 in the Stratosphere with. Will let you know.

We always have a car, we like the having the option of eating etc off strip, ie Red rock casino and Green Valley ranch, 2 places that would be difficult and or expensive to get to without a car. (they are only examples)

I have stayed at the Strat, I like it and the new rooms llok great. The casino is good (one of the very few that have a double zero rullette wheel) and the buffet gets good reviews of late, great views from top of tower. BUT I wouldnt stay there for 2 weeks, prob not even for a week. In 2 weeks I would prob stay at 3 hotels and also go somewhere else for the middle weeknd, maybe GC for 2 nights or Sedona, LA etc etc, or at least off strip, maybe to the Orleans to save on the very high fri and sat night charges on the strip

I would have the car for the whole time though