Las Vegas guide and MSE thread 2012

ferf1223

VALUE FOR MONEY

wookeyhole1 wrote: »

thank you, it must be further than i thought xx

I checked googlemaps and I think it's probably about 2 1/2 miles each way - it's a straight shot, but not sure that it would be the best for a little one anyway as right along Las Vegas Blvd - there are sidewalks, but you don't really see many people walking along - and so also a fair amount of traffic going by.

luci

lesley74 wrote: »

Thanks again Luci. :T Looks like we'll book, just need to decide on the room. Do you get a better deal when you phone, or do you get the 20% off sort of rate anyway? Just curious if I should try phoning instead to see what's on offer.

Some reviews say it's 2 or 3 minutes from Miracle Mile if you catch the lights, really not too bad at all. I did also read about a shortcut to MGM, but the reviewer didn't explain what the shortcut actually was, so that is useful too, thanks. I'm thinking it can't be too far to Ellis Island for a takeaway pizza either.

I don't think you get a better rate by phoning as they usually quote the same as the website. However when I originally booked I called to change the dates of our second stay and they gave me the weekend nights for the same price as the weekday nights, but I think that was down to us being repeat visitors and staying for 3 nights and 6 nights in the same trip.

It's about a 15 min walk to Ellis Island.

vegasvisitor

VALUE FOR MONEY

Ah, that would be cold pizza then....however we could take the car. It's all too tempting to have some cheap drinks though while waiting on the pizza. I'm ashamed to say I went there for a pizza one night while at the Platinum, Kevin was in his shower and then pouring the wine and putting it out on the balcony etc. They told me pizza would be 15 mins or so, so I wandered to the bar, yes ALONE, and had a drink.:o I guess you can just do what you like in Vegas and no-one really cares!!

Triker

VALUE FOR MONEY

Hey Lesley, it doesn't have top be cold pizza as you can zap it in the microwave in your room.:D

I walked from the Carriage House to Ellis Island, at night, on my own and I found it a reasonable walk. I did stay on the lit areas and avoided the waste ground bit though. You could always cab it if necessary.

Bluemeanie_2

I'm planning to go April 2013. Flights for then on Virgin aren't quite out yet. Is it still generally recommended to book flights ASAP?
Thanks

fattybooboo

Hi,
My husband is looking to book up Las Vegas for his brothers stag do which he wants in november time. Is it better to book up a package deal now or wait until say June/July does it get cheaper the later you book?
I remember last year they went and booked in July and was £550. Now they are looking to book for November is it's £900.
They are looking to go for 4 nights mon/friday

Any help would be great. Or if you think booking flights and hotels separate is a better and cheaper way of doing it.

Thanks

Froggitt

From memory, Virgin have a sale of November flights late summer.

Booking separately is usually cheaper than packages. EXCEPT when you are booking Virgin or BA and not staying a Saturday night, when they royally take you where the sun dont shine. I dont think foreign airlines give you the same royal treatment.

blindman

HOTELS

Bluemeanie wrote: »

I'm planning to go April 2013. Flights for then on Virgin aren't quite out yet. Is it still generally recommended to book flights ASAP?
Thanks

IMHO NO

fattybooboo wrote: »

Hi,
My husband is looking to book up Las Vegas for his brothers stag do which he wants in november time. Is it better to book up a package deal now or wait until say June/July does it get cheaper the later you book?
I remember last year they went and booked in July and was £550. Now they are looking to book for November is it's £900.
They are looking to go for 4 nights mon/friday

Any help would be great. Or if you think booking flights and hotels separate is a better and cheaper way of doing it.

Thanks

With Vegas IMHO its always better to book flights and hotels separately.

Hotels
Look out for any big conventions\fights in Vegas, avoid weekends and obvious high season (4th July, New year etc) and you can usually get a really good bargain with hotels.
Lots of links on this thread as to where to look.

Flights
Look at historical flight prices to see what is the "usual" fare and try to stick with that as a guide to what you'll pay.

Think about flying to Los Angeles and have a one night stop over. If there's a few of you the saving can be great + you get over Jet lag with the one night in LA.

Look at LowcostUSA for some bargain hotel rates.

Example:
I'm goin to Las Vegas 31st May :j
Flying LHR -LAX first-£510 [£100 per person cheaper flight than LGW-LAS]
Hotel paid by award points :cool: but could be got on Priceline for about $70 per room.
Hire car is an extra £20+gas [300 miles = 10Gals =$40] to get to Vegas the following day.
Need the car for onward Southwest USA trip

3 nights at the 5* Palazo-£166 total per room-Booked in Nov thro Lowcost UsA:D
and thats Thurs-Sunday-usually a more expensive time.

Result
Cheap visit to LAS and warm feeling to know I've got what I want and not what Travel Agent wants to sell me.

ferf1223

VALUE FOR MONEY

blindman wrote: »

Look at LowcostUSA for some bargain hotel rates.
.

They do seem to have some good deals for higher-end properties...not sure they are as competitive on mid-range hotels though...worth checking the links on the first page for a variety of options to see what might work out best depending on what someone's after.

photome

VALUE FOR MONEY

Bluemeanie wrote: »

I'm planning to go April 2013. Flights for then on Virgin aren't quite out yet. Is it still generally recommended to book flights ASAP?
Thanks

Its a while sice i have booked with Virgin but when I have been with them I have booked as soon as the flights have been released and have always got a good price compared with leaving it later.

My advice would be if you see the flight at the price you are happy with then book it