Las Vegas guide and MSE thread 2013

Georgiegirl256

silvercar wrote: »

The discount ticket booth operation allows you to buy theatre gift vouchers without specifying date or show.

http://www.tix4tonight.com/las-vegas-gift-certificates.html

Think this is a great idea, as it could be used for a meal as well, if they didn't fancy seeing a show!

Georgiegirl256

ferf1223 wrote: »

I would consider somewhere else your first few nights, maybe...since PH and Cosmo are across the street from each other...it might be nicer to stay somewhere a bit farther away and then move to Cosmo and be at a different part of the strip...just a thought...though we did move from Paris to Cosmo once and it was OK but it does seem to be a bit more exciting to move somewhere a bit different...even if overall it's all still in the same general area.

It does seem that lowcostusa has the best rates for Cosmo and the higher-end hotels.

I would absolutely choose Cosmo over Bellagio...but I think Bellagio is overrated.

traveller - have a great trip!

Good idea about moving to a different part of the strip! I started looking at different hotels, ones still a reasonable price to keep our costs down, and came across the Flamingo....now, this is a hotel that I have never even been inside never mind considered staying there, but I really like the look of it!

So I was thinking of 5 nights there and 2 at the Cosmo, suggested it to my husband, and he's like "hmmm well, we're already booked now, what if they're crap and we're like 'oh we should have stayed at PH?', besides, I don't fancy moving once I'm settled" Grrrrr!! He can be a right !!!! sometimes! I'll work on him! If not, and we stay at PH, I'll be happy with that too though, as I like the vista, directly in front of the Belagio Fountains, central for everything, Miracle Mile shops etc, but you know what it's like once you've got something else in your mind?

I shouldn't have watched those YouTube videos of the Cosmopolitan and the Flamingo! I'm seriously impressed with those rooms at the Flamingo btw, I had judged that hotel all wrong!

martmonk

luci wrote: »

I don't think you will regret it. Unfortunately the Cosmo holds its price and there are rarely offers. However check their website as they do have offers on there.

Also, they used to give International guests free breakfast at the Wicked Spoon buffet, not sure they still do.

We benefited from this in 2012.
Early 2013 and it had changed so that you had to have booked direct with them on the 'International Package' to receive the free wicked spoon breakfast. i can't see that offer on the site any longer.

martmonk

nvh wrote: »

Lots of Cosmo talk, but I can't see the following mentioned so worth a reminder:

Marriott Best Rate / Look No Further Guarantee - as part of the Marriott autograph collection of hotels, you can utilise this to your advantage. Find the same deal, for a cheaper rate and they will match it plus discount an extra 25% - http://www.marriott.co.uk/hotel-prices/best-rate.mi

Just a word of warning - they knocked me back in my claim using booking.com as the comparison. I think some others may have been successful and of course there is always the chance that I had made an error somewhere along the line.
If you do intend to try this make sure you've booked a cancellable deal - some of the lowcostusa options are pay in full up front.

ferf1223

scottishgirl87 wrote: »

but does anyone have any suggestions for something to get them? Possibly even restaurant vouchers? We would probably spend around £50 on a gift but would be willing to pay a little more for the "right" gift.

Total Rewards do a gift card that might be worth considering.

https://www.totalrewards.com/TotalRewards/RewardsAndBenefits.do?page=trGiftCard

I haven't gotten as far as checking to see how international postage is calculated, etc...how long it would take to arrive but may be worth considering as it's accepted a ton of places. MGM may do something similar.

ferf1223

Georgiegirl256 wrote: »

Good idea about moving to a different part of the strip! I started looking at different hotels, ones still a reasonable price to keep our costs down, and came across the Flamingo....now, this is a hotel that I have never even been inside never mind considered staying there, but I really like the look of it!

So I was thinking of 5 nights there and 2 at the Cosmo, suggested it to my husband, and he's like "hmmm well, we're already booked now, what if they're crap and we're like 'oh we should have stayed at PH?', besides, I don't fancy moving once I'm settled" Grrrrr!! He can be a right !!!! sometimes! I'll work on him!

we used to be really against moving hotels too but now we like it...though we normally go for 8-9 nights so a little longer and normally 5 and 3 or 5 and 4..not sure I would move for 2 nights as you would have the day you check in and you may not get into the room until later in the day, then your last full day in Vegas, then the day you check out but that's just me...one thing that we do find is that packing to come home is much quicker and easier - as we haven't spread out as much at the second hotel...it is all personal preference...now I look forward to the move as it seems like a new start to the holiday...always try to move 'up' though...never 'down'. But I can understand not wanting to move as we didn't want to for years.

duchy

I'm not sure how the building work has affected the Flamingo but it's a nice hotel-very central - lovely pool and the Flamingos in the grounds are pretty (Buffet over looks the gardens but equally you could grab a coffee and pastry and eat alfresco out there)
Standard rooms have recently been refurbished - and the better rooms the Go rooms are a bit more individual if rather pink - TV in the bathroom mirror and $20 will usually get you an upgrade basic Go room to Go room with a view of the Bellagio fountains.

iamsancho1

nvh wrote: »

Lots of Cosmo talk, but I can't see the following mentioned so worth a reminder:

Marriott Best Rate / Look No Further Guarantee - as part of the Marriott autograph collection of hotels, you can utilise this to your advantage. Find the same deal, for a cheaper rate and they will match it plus discount an extra 25% - http://www.marriott.co.uk/hotel-prices/best-rate.mi

Marriott Platinum Challenge - Basically, sign up to the challenge and you get given status by default for the following 3 months - this is probably of less interest now that they charge a resort fee (that includes internet access), but in theory you should get free breakfast - i'm not sure how or if this works though - read more towards the end of this article: http://themilesprofessor.com/2013/06/04/marriott-rewards-platinum-challenge-unexpected-bonus/

Also, detail here that someone received the free breakfast, room upgrade (not guaranteed remember!), and was also able to utilise a dedicated platinum checkin desk: http://www.rewards-insiders.marriott.com/thread/6808

On the face of it, I'd say its worth a go as you should get some benefits!

Hope that helps

I booked through the Marriott and got the 25% off. Got a price from hotelopia.com and I arrive in less than 3 weeks

I didn't know about the platinum challenge though. Think I'll give it a shot and see what happens!

Mich81

Hovis91 wrote: »

We have done the day trip to LA last October.It was a good experience,we got picked up at Ballys at 6 .00am,there was only 8 of us in a shuttle bus,and we arrived at Hollywood sign by 11.00 ish.After taking many photos we then went onto Santa Monica beach and had 1 hour here.Then on to Beverley Hills ,saw all the landmarks,stars houses then onto Rodeo Drive to the Cheesecake factory for lunch.Last stop the drive to Hollywood,being shown again all the famous sights on the way.We then had a couple of hours at Graumans Chinese Theatre and the stars handprints.
I think we were back on the road for 6. 00 and back in our hotel 10.30 ish.It was a long day but I enjoyed the whole journey plus we actually thought Hollywood was a dive but loved Santa Monica.

Thanks, that sounds a great day, and I'm sure I'll be able to sleep a bit on the way there/back

I've been to Santa Monica before and loved it, but never done the Hollywood thing. Think we'll definitely go for it, and just have a pool day the day after to recover!

muppetbaby

Jude1964 wrote: »

Thank you. That is a huge help.. I think I am going to book MGM grand, then bellagio.. I think I will try get the wedding for £1000 and under.. I might try the we are getting married scenario, to get an upgrade., but to be honest I am a bit scared to do that,... ...
Right so should I book now, or wait a while..
I think it's the 2nd July 2014 that is our last night..
Think it is a Thursday .

The "getting married, can we have an upgrade" most likely will not work because so many people are in Vegas for weddings, special birthdays, anniversaries, etc, that they'd be giving away upgrades all the time. Do a google for "$20 trick" and you'll find useful tips on getting cheap upgrades, what to ask for, what to expect, likelihood of it working, etc.

We took a side-trip to LA, I found ridiculous cheap flights and a cheap hotel just off Hollywood Boulevard (scuzz central, as everyone else has noted), and we ended up missing our return flight LAX-LAS because of LA's horrible confusing sprawling public transport system. A bit of enterprising googling and we got a bus back later that same night for about $20 each, but be warned, LA is ENORMOUS, and lots of it really isn't worth seeing (especially from the back of the world's slowest cab when the minutes are ticking away :mad: )