Las Vegas guide and MSE thread 2012

secretmachines

VALUE FOR MONEY

mine expires at the end of July, so I'll apply for renewal this week... it's not worth risking for the sake of 'losing' a couple of months I guess!

MaggieBaking

Sorry, all new to me - from what I can gather you didn't need anything to get into the US but now you do? As I've never been before I just need to register and pay? How much is it?

stoneman

CASINOS

I have to go to the U.S. Embassy this Friday to renew my passport. Squeezing time pretty close as we are going to Vegas August 20 and they say allow 4 weeks to get it back.
I tried to renew by post a few weeks ago but got a letter saying they wanted to see me!! I couldn't get a date for an appointment for 3 weeks.
Been a naughty boy, the U.S. passport unlike the British one has 4 grids per page so the most stamps per page is 4, the British one you can jam as many stamps in as you like. I had run out of pages last year and still had 3 years to go before it required renewing. Now the last 3 pages have no grids on them but are supposed to be for Visa stamps and one time when I went to Tenerife they almost didn't let me in because there was no where to put a stamp, but he eventually waved me through. So when I got home I drew some grids on the last pages, and voila, I acquired 12 more places to put stamps.:beer: Well I have filled those up as well and now do need to get it renewed.
I think I might be in trouble for defacing the passport so if you don't hear from me after Friday then you 'll know they have carted me back to the States on Conair!!
And it only happens to be Friday the 13th as well.:eek:
I'm pleading ignorance and going to say that the Spanish border guy drew the lines on.:D

ferf1223

VALUE FOR MONEY

MaggieBaking wrote: »

Sorry, all new to me - from what I can gather you didn't need anything to get into the US but now you do? As I've never been before I just need to register and pay? How much is it?

http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/travel/esta-usa-visa

ferf1223

VALUE FOR MONEY

secretmachines wrote: »

absolutely agree, i think at even full price, it's well worth doing... the park+fly set-up is perfect. the car park is only a stroll from the hotel too, so you don't have to hang around for shuttles.

i think this is one of those case where VFM comes into play rather than being a hardcore money-saver... you could probably get a cheaper hotel and discounted parking, but for the sake of what would be just a few extra quid, to have a simple, relaxing start to the holiday is priceless! park outside the hotel, check in, stick bags in the room, park the car, wander back to the hotel, twilight check in, have a drink! then the next morning, just breeze through security.

Totally on the same page as you...sooo much nicer...still cannot believe how cheap it is - sure it has been far, far more expensive in the past...we had a discussion about it even, before we looked - decided that it was a special trip and we would treat ourselves and stay there - whatever the prices we were going to stay there...when it came up as less than £80 I was met with cries of 'BOOK IT BOOK IT!'....we normally upgrade to the executive room so we get lounge access (£30 more or so)...nibbles and drinks in the evening, contintental breakfast in the morning (which is just right before a long flight, anytime we go to the terminal for breakfast we end up eating something awful and processed and greasy and feel slightly ill)...and they have 2 computer terminals with printers in the lounge which is nice.

I think that the parking has 2 options, at least it used to...one was the one around the corner (Euro Park or something like that) and the other was the Summer Special which has a shuttle to get back to the hotel and back to your car at the end...having done both, it is SO WORTH the extra for the Euro one...have seen full Summer Special shuttles pull away with a LOT of people still waiting upon returning home...one thing you don't want is to stand around waiting for multiple shuttles to leave full when you're just off a 10+ hour flight.

ferf1223

VALUE FOR MONEY

stoneman wrote: »

And it only happens to be Friday the 13th as well.:eek:
I'm pleading ignorance and going to say that the Spanish border guy drew the lines on.:D

Will be thinking good thoughts for you on Friday! I haven't had to go to the Embassy since...well, a really long time...cannot even remember why I went the last time but found it stressful with all the security and stuff...everyone was nice enough, but felt like I'd done somethign wrong just waiting in the queue with all the fences and guards and stuff.

secretmachines

VALUE FOR MONEY

ferf - ooh i didn't know the executive rooms came with such perks?! how much is it usually to upgrade from a regular double, do you know?

we've done the No1 lounge a couple of times with Groupons... i'm guessing the difference is that the Hilton lounge is in the hotel and not the other side of security?

nvh

secretmachines wrote: »

ferf - ooh i didn't know the executive rooms came with such perks?! how much is it usually to upgrade from a regular double, do you know?

we've done the No1 lounge a couple of times with Groupons... i'm guessing the difference is that the Hilton lounge is in the hotel and not the other side of security?

I think all Hilton's have an 'executive' level (or levels) and associated lounge where you can get hot & cold bites and free drinks in the evening, and breakfast in the morning etc

When I've stayed in them its usually a few (high) floors devoted to people that pay more (or who are higher up the "hotel rewards" scheme)

baza52

CASINOS

When i go in Oct this year it will be 13 months since my last trip.
I have friends going out in August.
Is there any point in asking them to play a few bucks using mt TR and !!!!!! cards?
Cant get my head round the whole expiry thing.

MaggieBaking

Thanks so much for the ESTA info

Can I ask you all:

1 - what is your one "must do" place to Gamble?
2 - And where is the one place you "have" to go to eat?

Doesn't matter what the costs are etc, just looking to hear your very favourite places!