Las Vegas guide and MSE thread 2011

duchy

May

Pebbles sawthe Lion King this week and said it was great-she also mentioned it was closing this year

We like the IMAX cinema at the Palms-saw the last Harry Potter there when it first came out -it was great in IMAX

BillTrac

April

scottish_lass wrote: »

Looking at doing this trip Canyon.

Take off from Las Vegas Airport on an exhilarating helicopter flight to the Grand Canyon. You'll enjoy a 45-minute helicopter flight each way, land deep in the canyon for a champagne picnic, and fly low over the famous Las Vegas neon Strip on your return. The Grand Canyon All American Helicopter Tour is a half-day tour,

My question is we are going in Aug and realise it will be hot. Would we be better going for a 7am or 8am or 3pm or 4pm slot.

Did this two years ago, even bought the dvd and photo which I was adamant we wouldn't.:rotfl: We did ours with Sundance. Limo pick-up, helicopter, champagne on the almost-canyon floor and flight back at sunset. It flies back along the route to the side of the hotels but all the way it's great. I wouldn't do it any earlier as you won't get the effect of everything being lit up. I am sure the heli companies will get the timings right. I even joked about him playing the 'Cry of the Valkries' which seems to be in every film about Vietnam, and he did as we approached the Canyon....

It probably cost more than it was worth, but you would only do it once I reckon.

Crikey, only been back three weeks and I am already looking to book for later in the year..:eek:

Gav86

ammonite wrote: »

Anyone seen the Lion King? I also fancy that! Are tickets cheaper to book in advance or once you are there?

We saw the Lion King and loved it to bits. Spectacular looking show, with great songs and very funny in parts.
I wouldnt hesitate in recommending it.

Wizbit82

July

Does anyone know anywhere that offers luggage storage (for a week) in Vegas (other than hotels)?

We fly in for 11 nights to get married on 14th July (from Manc), then off to Mexico for 7 nights for our honeymoon before heading back to Vegas for a further 3 nights (staying at the Mandarin Oriental). Really want to leave at least one, if not two of the three suitcases we'll have in Vegas whilst we go to Mexico as don't want to carry wedding dress/suits unnecessarily on connecting internal flights.

Thanks as always (read this site religiously every day, often 2 or 3 times, it's been like my bible for last 2 years!!!)

wonderwallet

May

scottish_lass wrote: »

Looking at doing this trip Canyon.

Take off from Las Vegas Airport on an exhilarating helicopter flight to the Grand Canyon. You'll enjoy a 45-minute helicopter flight each way, land deep in the canyon for a champagne picnic, and fly low over the famous Las Vegas neon Strip on your return. The Grand Canyon All American Helicopter Tour is a half-day tour,

My question is we are going in Aug and realise it will be hot. Would we be better going for a 7am or 8am or 3pm or 4pm slot.

We did this trip last week, booked through viator.com which was £100 each cheaper than booking direct through Sundance helicopters. We went on the last slot and it was still too early for the strip to be lit up on the way back (still great though, flying past the Stratosphere and seeing the people on the ride!) The helicopter was air conditioned and although it was hot when we landed we were only there for 30 minutes and most of that time were sat under a shelter eating our picnic. It was a fantastic trip and the highlight of our holiday!

ammonite

I think we'll go to see the Lion king - thanks for the reccomendations - any idea how to get tickets cheaper? They are about $86 each using Travel Zoo code. Anywhere not to sit? Partial views etc.?


Is it cheaper to book when in Vegas or before?

thanks for your helps!
Very excited!

Spursman180

March

spalding wrote: »

A quick few points to driving in Vegas would be great, what speed limits do they have?

Learn to use the cruise control, it was a tip an American friend showed me years ago, the police will pull you for a mile over the speed limit, I was 'tailed' early morning in March up in Reno for about 2-3 miles and it stops you getting 'jerky' on the pedal.

Road speeds change from block to block, when you go through a junction usually witin 50-100 yards of passing the junction the speed limit board is black numbers on a white background for that section of the road, the strip itself can vary between 30 and 45 mph. If I have a co-pilot their job is to call the speed limits as it is possible to miss them in heavy traffic, lanes merging etc.

Don't trust the speed limit indicated on the sat-nav they are regularly wrong, especially with temporary restrictions.

Do not speed in road work zones the fines are doubled.

If you happen to get a ticket then make sure you pay it, if you don't you will get a nasty surprise the next time you arrive at immigration, not only will you be expected to pay the fine and the premiums there and then, you will be detained to do so and you could be turned back.

Treat every other road user as a moron and expect the worst from them, it's not quite like freeway driving in LA but additional concentration helps if there is bad weather. If it snows stay away from anything with a California plate. When it snowed just before Christmas 2 years ago the news reported some 160+ collisions on the strip.

When pulling up at lights to go straight on, stay out of the right lane, as in most cases (except where it clearly says so ) do turn on red, you will be hooted at endlessly. They do like playing a tune.

In general it is a lot easier than driving over here, and the satnav does give directions slightly differently.

photome

August

Spursman180 wrote: »

If you happen to get a ticket then make sure you pay it, if you don't you will get a nasty surprise the next time you arrive at immigration, not only will you be expected to pay the fine and the premiums there and then, you will be detained to do so and you could be turned back.

.

Is that really the case? or are you guessing

I got stopped near laughlin and i had to make payment at the local sheriffs office although couldnt do it until after I had returned home as the ticket hadnt been processed. Eventually about 2 weeks after returning they had the details of my $400 fine and the nice lady in the office said "that seems to much to pay why dont I reduce that to a $175 ish parking ticket" to which I said thank you very much

My point is that they werent to bothered in me paying the correct amount so would they really log that ticket with homeland security, I doubt it, but I didnt want to risk it

Spursman180

March

photome wrote: »

Is that really the case? or are you guessing

I got stopped near laughlin and i had to make payment at the local sheriffs office although couldnt do it until after I had returned home as the ticket hadnt been processed. Eventually about 2 weeks after returning they had the details of my $400 fine and the nice lady in the office said "that seems to much to pay why dont I reduce that to a $175 ish parking ticket" to which I said thank you very much

My point is that they werent to bothered in me paying the correct amount so would they really log that ticket with homeland security, I doubt it, but I didnt want to risk it

Afraid so, I asked the Immigration guy at LA who was swiping my passport at the desk, he told me it was scanning a register of outstanding fines, penalties and the like and that if it flags that's what happens. I've had one friend who paid on return which is not a problem, but didn't call but paid by post. Worth filing away that a phone call might help.

Also unpaid tickets can lead to an arrest warrant which if served screws your ESTA and you may not even know about it until you try to renew.

Spursman180

March

Ha, I didn't add that much to our delight and his embarrassment the friend he was a motorcycle cop here, he used his warrant card as ID and they still ticketed him, and he had to report it when he got back to work. He wouldn't tell us what speed he was doing.