Las Vegas guide and MSE thread 2012

wondercollie

SHOPPING

I would rather read an honest "what I really thought" review than a "I just lurve the place".

This past spring I was amazed at how many beggars there were on the pedways and all claiming to be returned veterans. Mr. WonderCollie had just come back from A'stan and wasn't impressed. He spent a lot of time working with the US military and knew who was tossing the bull pucky.

Canadians tend to go down for 7 days max, unless they own property there. I find four nights plenty. For me it is an escape from -35C and snow. We tend to focus less the size of the room than what people in this thread do as really, you don't spend a lot of time in it.

I sleep late, have a wonder around the shops but very little really gets purchased as Customs is the devil to deal with and I can get most of the things up here with less hassle and at around the same price. Mr WC plays the odd game. But for us it's people watching, a couples weekend and his pager is off. Like you we spend time watching TV and just vegging. He likes Phoenix but I've never went with him yet (he golfs).

So, last year we did Vegas and Baltimore (I had a convention there) and honestly we wandered around DC, had a few good meals and just vegged.

I think what always throws me is the divide between the haves and have nots in the "richest nation in the world".

elantan

it is a very big divide, something we have noticed over the years, i have friends in Ohio, Michigan and Florida, we have visited several places in the usa over the years and was honestly shocked at some of the conditions people were living in. some of the places we visited were much worse than Castlemilk or Easterhouse in Glasgow when they were bad ( the two areas have improved over the years).

it's a different kind of poverty from Africa as well, when i was in Africa there was poverty, there were kids with no clothes or shoes and no food, and yet when i went to the states and saw the poverty there i felt it was more desperate, maybe it's because the people in the states have had things and lost them due to job loss etc where as in the part of Africa i was in they had never had them, but there seemed to me ( and this is only my opinion) an air of dignity about the Africans that western poverty does not have. i never saw an Africa person lying in their own filth for example, where as i have seen alot of that in western civilisation.

vegasvisitor

VALUE FOR MONEY

luci wrote: »

Re people liking Vegas for different things and some not liking it at all.

My brother and SIL are going to Vegas next week for 9 nights. They don't do sunbathing, don't gamble (not even the slots), aren't foodies and not much into shopping. They are going just to chill out and a holiday resort in Europe would be their idea of hell.

Will they like it? They must do as this is their third visit although they haven't been for 5 years.

The are staying in a 750 suite at Mandalay Bay and a wraparound suite at the Cosmopolitan.

Eh, OMG...can't imagine what they are doing in Vegas but each to their own...they must be finding something they link if they have returned.

photome

VALUE FOR MONEY

baza52 wrote: »

Me snobby? lol.
I just cant see the attraction with doing laundry on holiday.
I would rather my wife did it when we got home. so would she...
Im fully aware the Orleans isnt on the strip, i have only been 7 times. (8th trip next month)

What i wasnt aware of was the Orleans does not have a washing machine. why would i?
It just makes me laugh how some of the regulars plug the off strip hotels because they have a kitchen and laundry.
If thats your idea of a holiday to vegas then fine.

Its just miles off from what i expect in Vegas.

Personally I dont plug any properties with a laundry, and not bothered about a kitchen either, I do hold my hands up to plugging the Orleans, for reasons i have laready given, mainly the Value for money.

BUT why does it make you laugh ? Thats a bit sad

vegasvisitor

VALUE FOR MONEY

Just typed a load of stuff and deleted it by accident.

Ok, not had internet since we got here, just not been on at all. Now at McMullan's quiz where we met a couple from last year from England - really funny because we go to loads of the same shops and places as they do and we spoke to them quite a bit last year at the quiz. Funny.

Green Valley Ranch - love it. More about that later.

Orleans - bit of a downgrade. When hotel hopping you should work your way up but Orleans is a friendly old place. Never got a good place in the quiz despite teaming up with the Yorkshire couple. Oh well. Slot tournament - Kevin got $50 slot credit, I didn't manage to buy an extra space it was all full when we checked in yesterday.

We will have full internet access from Friday once at Platinum, so more updates to follow.

Shopping has been fairly successful. Haven't bought much, but what I have got has been very well priced. :T

Thermometer in the car said 109 F OMG. Struggled to put my specs on after leaving them in the car. Anyway, heading back to the Orleans now, but will give more updates later.

luci

I know Lesley. I'm just glad they aren't going on my recommendation, but because they've been before.

They only have one holiday a year and Vegas fitted the bill as a place to relax with a bit of luxury. 9 nights is probably too long to just relax, but I think it will help that they are staying on two hotels in different parts of the strip.

How's the trip going?

JennyJenJen

VALUE FOR MONEY

We went to the Orleans for the first time the other night with the intention of going to the cinema and having our first buffet (I dont eat very much so a strip price one would be a total waste of money for me). We didnt make it to the cinema as I have discovered that I love video poker (not at a bar) so missed the start time.

Not sure I would stay there not having seen the rooms or pool, but my impression of it was quite good, I think it has a more laid back friendly vibe than lots of the strip hotels.

Thanks for the help from those that gave it about where to get the shuttle from!

JennyJenJen

VALUE FOR MONEY

Speaking of the poverty, I was womdering out loud to my OH earlier about the people begging on the walkways. Do some of them beg 'professionally' so to speak? I have spent a while in india where I know this is common. Today I was quite shocked at the state of some of the people, they were really in a bad way. Am I being a bit of a bleeding heart to think that the casinos should contribute to some kind of help for the homeless, even if its just somewhere to get food and clean water? My OH pointed out that off the strip Vegas is just like any other town in america so they are probably on the strip as theres more money to be 'made' and probably there is some provision for the homeless off the strip like there is in most other places.

Just some ramblings I suppose and a bit off topic sorry!

vegasvisitor

VALUE FOR MONEY

luci wrote: »

I know Lesley. I'm just glad they aren't going on my recommendation, but because they've been before.

They only have one holiday a year and Vegas fitted the bill as a place to relax with a bit of luxury. 9 nights is probably too long to just relax, but I think it will help that they are staying on two hotels in different parts of the strip.

How's the trip going?

All going very well. Quite different - not been on the strip yet, but I guess we've not been here that long lol. I'll post more in a few days, Kevin's badgering me to get back over to the Orleans. Seems he's finished his beer now, and wants to go play his free play from the tournament. :rotfl:

secretmachines

VALUE FOR MONEY

wooooo happy days!
it's worth checking the VA seating plan every day (or hour!) in the week running up to flight time... just over 2 days until we fly, and all week, the outbound flight seat selection hasn't been available.

but just checked now, and not only was i able to select seats, but it's for the refurbed layout, outbound AND inbound!! AND got 2 seats in economy in the bubble for the outbound flight