Las Vegas guide and MSE thread 2011

photome

August

Porthorg wrote: »

Is it the one on the first page? if it is I just found it and printed to read through with the missus later. Thanks very much.

There are so many choices of hotels it a nightmare.

Thats why I said splitting your hol between a couple of hotels is a good idea

ferf1223

March

ogs20 wrote: »

BA is 3.5% and our flights are coming in around £1400 for 2 & many of the hotel websites (hotelclub,hotels.com etc.) do between 10 & 12% off around £1200. These are the cheapest deals found before cashback as well so its a bonus!

The BA listing for Quidco says

Flight Only Cashback Exclusions: Cashback is not paid on Long Haul flights. Short Haul Club Europe and Club World flights do qualify for cashback (all other Short Haul flights are excluded from cashback).

ogs20

August

ferf1223 wrote: »

The BA listing for Quidco says

Flight Only Cashback Exclusions: Cashback is not paid on Long Haul flights. Short Haul Club Europe and Club World flights do qualify for cashback (all other Short Haul flights are excluded from cashback).

Didnt read the small print:mad:

nvh

Porthorg wrote: »

Is it the one on the first page? if it is I just found it and printed to read through with the missus later. Thanks very much.

There are so many choices of hotels it a nightmare.

Our Platinum Hotel reviews here:
http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showpost.php?p=36590005&postcount=6834

Our Platinum Pool review here:
http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showpost.php?p=36590029&postcount=6835

Our Platinum Hotel photos here:
http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showpost.php?p=36590801&postcount=6841

nvh

Right then you bunch of greedy food monsters - just stole the text from our trip report - we're not massive eaters but we tried out best!!!

First off, is a bit of BA plane food:


Day 1
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Dennys (Nr. MGM) (breakfast – Meatlovers Scramble for missus and Steak Burrito for me with drinks) – basic food was what was needed here after being up since 5am – happy with what we go - $24[/FONT]
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[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Margaritaville (Nr. Caesars) (lunch / tea - Volcano Nachos) these were an absolute mountain!! will put the picture of them on – we were going to have the quesadilla's to but were advised we'd die of being overfed if we did - $16 + another $16 on 2 x margeritas[/FONT]

before:


after:


[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Day 2[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]McDonalds @ MGM (breakfast - Sausage McMuffin for missus and I had bacon egg an cheese McGriddle and a sausage biscuit) – sorry, lazy option I know! Sausage biscuit was... interesting! ~ $12[/FONT]


[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Diablo's (Outside Monte Carlo) (lunch / tea – fundidos, chips, salsa for starters, followed by chicken and steak fajitas and margaritas) - this was a “restaurant week” set menu @ $30.10 per person for all of that - love this place and they knew we wanted to split the food so did it for us! (ie. I ordered fundidos, missus ordered salsa, so they just split the lot between the two of us) – really good service here[/FONT]



[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Day 3[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Starbucks @ MGM (breakfast to eat in the room – random selection of pastries and juices) - rip off but what do you expect from starbucks! ~ $23 [/FONT]


[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Blondies @ Miracle Mile (lunch – chicken parmesan sub for the missus and chicken caesar wrap for me – shared a bowl of curly fries and a corona each) – been past here a few times and it was a nice place to sit outside of and watch the world go by – portions were quite large too! - $44[/FONT]


[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]House Of Blues @ Mandalay Bay (late tea – missus had a blues smokehouse burger and I had the buffalo chicken sandwich, along with a pina colada and a corona) – we usually end up here after a few drinks – good as always! - $24 + $25 Restaurant.com voucher[/FONT]


[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Day 4[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Shop @ MGM (breakfast... purchased the day before – muffins and juice to eat in the room) - $6[/FONT]


[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Nathans @ MGM (lunch – bought a massive chicken club salad and a krispy chicken salad – just shared them) – absolutely massive – and quite nice too – ate these in the room - $23[/FONT]
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[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Greenbergs @ NYNY (tea – missus had a turkey toaster, I had a turkey club – both had diet coke's) – just a sandwich shop – nowt to yell about - $23[/FONT]


[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Day 5[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Peppermill (nr. Riviera) (breakfast – missus had a Lorraine Omelette with toast, I had Canadian Ham and eggs with an english muffin – along with juice) – always wanted to try this place – portions were big and it was tasty – service was quite slow in here but it was packed - $40[/FONT]
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[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]ABC Stores (nr. Hard Rock Cafe) (tea – just bought a load from the fridges – some white wine, beers, sparkling rose and some sandwiches and crisps) - $25[/FONT]
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[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]McDonalds @ MGM (errr... instead of a kebab?! - had a burger and chips around half 1 in the morning) - $10(?) - stupidly drunk so no photo!!![/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Day 6[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Jack in the Box @ Boulder City (lunch – missus had chicken fajita pitta and I had a chicken club ranch burger both with curly fries – also had two tacos and some tasty milkshakes (oreo cookie and a vanilla)) – always wanted to try this place and it was ok for a late lunch - $18[/FONT]


[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]General Store Furness Creek (tea – grabbed some sandwiches and beers from the store) – run of the mill, nothing to shout about but not many alternatives! ~$20[/FONT]


[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Day 7[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]General Store @ Furness Creek (breakfast – muffins / pastries / juice) – ok and no alternatives - $14 - sat outside the store to eat it and forgot the camera[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]General Store @ Stovepipe Wells (lunch – sandwiches, crisps, drinks) – ok and no alternatives - $18[/FONT]


[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Corkscrew Saloon @ Furness Creek (tea – open steak sandwiches with fries for us both and a massive plate of onion rings along with drinks) – steak was really nice, there were also a million onion rings – quite pricey but I had no issues with paying it! - $71[/FONT]


[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Day 8[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]General Store @ Furness Creek (breakfast – left overs from yesterday and juice) - $10[/FONT]


[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Subway @ Primm (lunch – missus had a chicken teriyaki sub and I had buffalo chicken sub with crisps and drink) – we didn't want to eat here but everywhere was packed! - $20 - no piccies here either as didnt take camera[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Platinum Room / Wal-Mart (tea – did a shop at Wal-mart to last us the next few days) - $70[/FONT]




[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Day 9[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Wal-mart food from the fridge! (breakfast / lunch - Bagels, cheese, salad, ham, turkey etc etc)[/FONT]


[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Stir Lounge @ Platinum (tea – happy hour so 50% off tapa's, and 50% off beer – had chicken skewers, flatbread & crispy shrimp – 4 coronas – also collected free bottle of bubbly (part of the offer we had booked under) – food was fantastic, and bar staff really friendly – happy hour was indeed very happy! - $40[/FONT]


[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Day 10[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Wal-mart leftover food from fridge! (breakfast)[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Stripburger (late lunch – missus had a southwest chicken burger, and I had cheese, bacon and onion strings burger – we also shared a basket of fries, onion strings and fried pickles – tasty stuff and a couple of cocktails too) – seemed ok food for the price! Really like the fried pickles (gherkins!) - $45 + $10 restaurant.com voucher[/FONT]
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[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Encore Shop (late tea for me – turkey bap or something like that – no price on it but turned out expensive!) - $9[/FONT]


[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Day 11[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]El Segundo Sol @ Fashion Show Mall (lunch – missus had pulled pork taco's, I had short rib tacos – both came with rice, black beans, salsa etc – mine was absolutely gorgous! Was worried about this place follow reviews I read but I really enjoyed it – it's new so maybe it took a while to get their act together (same owners as Mon Ami Gabi so not completely incompetent)! - had margarita and michelob ultra lime beer (tasty!)) - $45 + $10 restaurant.com voucher[/FONT]
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[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Cheesecake Factory (dessert! - a cherry cheesecake and a peanut butter chocolate one please waiter! - very nice! Very filling! As always, didn't finish!) - $18[/FONT]
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[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Encore Room Service (late drunken snack tea! - buffalo chicken wings, and 3 angus beef sliders) - $43 (I think!) - we got an the additional $25 resort credit knocked off this[/FONT]


[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Day 12[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Zooza Crackers @ Encore (lunch – missus had caesar salad, I had turkey reubon and some fries and soft drinks) – seemed fine, maybe a little pricey ~ $30[/FONT]
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[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Switch @ Encore (tea – Tomahawk Steak for two, fries, mac with cheese and a 'cheap' ($65) bottle of white wine, along with a 'dessert' cocktail and courvosoir) – fantastic food and a bit of a treat – service was absolutely astounding and the steak was a monster! Exquisite and worth every penny for the experience – novelty of the room 'changing' every half hour or so too ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XHUTUB1L7Io )- $225[/FONT]


[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Day 13[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Johnny Rockets @ Fashion Show Mall (lunch – missus had a smokehouse burger and I went for the cheese bacon double with fries – also had a cola with 'vanilla' shot and a butterfinger milkshake) – ok, this place is a chain but it feels so unique for vegas – old style diner – no cutlery tho! (unless you have the chilli burger) – it was a sight seeing me wrestle with my burger - $38[/FONT]

ferf1223

March

I just had tea and now am hungry all over again!

Great pictures. I took the plunge and tried the fried pickles at Stripburger last trip based on your review - loved them.

We're thinking of House of Blues as a potential restaurant.com choice for next trip so nice to have some more info.

What did you think of the McGriddle? My husband ordered one once years ago - didn't realise it would have bits of maple syrup in the bread component and was completely horrified. I love sausage biscuits...LOVE them...though prefer Burger King to McDonalds...one of the things I really miss living here - breakfast biscuits...I rarely eat fast food breakfast, but was devestated once at Paddington shortly after I moved here when the breakfast sandwich options were all served on rolls.

daz200

April

Buzz78 wrote: »

Re: Q4 - I rang City and Show / Low Cost USA yesterday whilst making a booking for the Mirage to ask this question.

I asked the girl twice and was assured that the total cost did include resort fees. Having received the booking confirmation it clearly states "Includes Resort Fees".

We've booked with City and Show / Low Cost USA many times in the past and always found them to be very cheap.

According to lowcostusa website resort fees are not included

"Resort fees - What are they? Are they included in the cost of my holiday?

On top of the cost of your hotel room, some hotels charge an additional resort fee that is usually in the region of US$20 per room, per night. Not all hotels charge a resort fee and there are plenty that seem to chop and change annually. Hotels are aware that guests are not particularly keen to arrive at the check-in desk only to find they suddenly have an unexpected extra cost to the price of their cheap hotel room so will sometimes give it a different name such as 'service charge' or 'hospitality fee' to hide it but essentially it is the same thing. Resort fees, if applicable, are always paid locally to the hotel so our prices do not include resort fees."

source:
docs/FaQs.aspx#ResortFees

daz200

April

Has anyone tried using Skype on the wi-fi at an MGM property like Signature/Vdara? I'm sure that someone said they block it...

luci

May

I've used a different version of Voip (not Skype) at lots of places including the MGM Grand no problem, although not Signature or Vdara.

nvh

ferf1223 wrote: »

I just had tea and now am hungry all over again!

Great pictures. I took the plunge and tried the fried pickles at Stripburger last trip based on your review - loved them.

We're thinking of House of Blues as a potential restaurant.com choice for next trip so nice to have some more info.

What did you think of the McGriddle? My husband ordered one once years ago - didn't realise it would have bits of maple syrup in the bread component and was completely horrified. I love sausage biscuits...LOVE them...though prefer Burger King to McDonalds...one of the things I really miss living here - breakfast biscuits...I rarely eat fast food breakfast, but was devestated once at Paddington shortly after I moved here when the breakfast sandwich options were all served on rolls.

glad you liked the old gherkins!

re: house of blues, i really like the place - i think it gets knocked down by americans a bit to be honest because it's a brand / chain (ie. hard rock cafe type thing) that probably prices itself a little bit higher than it should be, but we've had some nice food and watched some good bands in there (unfortunately you have to pay the extra entertainment tax for that though whether you like the music or not!!!) - certainly think it's worth a try with a restaurant.com voucher! - it's our 3rd time we've been so they must do something right!

i liked the McGriddle! I made sure that if i was going to do McD's, i did something i wouldn't normally have (or be able to get) here! - the biscuit was a bit too dry for me though and seemed a bit weird! was worth a shot though as it was on their $1 menu