Las Vegas guide and MSE thread 2013

vegasvisitor

Yesterday we jumped in the car fairly early and went over to Palace Station for b/fast. We didn't need much as we were planning on going to brunch around 3pm. Palace Station do a b/fast on a Saturday rather than a brunch so this looked to be a good option when going early in a car. We paid under $6 for both of us including tax and using a LVA coupon. It's quite a small buffet but it's actually ok.

Then it was still cloudy so we headed up to the outlets near downtown. They're building an extension up there, it's going to be even more huge!! We bought a few things but not a huge amount. We've got quite a pile of shopping sitting on the sofa in the room, we need to try to get it packed up today to head over to Platinum. I hope we can get checked in early.

So after the outlets it was back to the room for a shower and change to go to Bellagio Brunch. We looked at the local mag and it said 4pm, then I decided to check the Bellagio website and it said 330. So we took a taxi from Palazzo to Bellagio, traffic was busy so he said he would take us down the I-15 which we were quite happy with, and it was $13 including tip. Thought that was ok. Brunch was great as usual, was about $30 or so each, and then you pay a drink bump inside the buffet and you can choose between prosecco, bloody mary's, mimosas and margaritas. You only select one, and you get unlimited amounts of that one for $10 each plus tax (payable to server). It looks like this might be available at all buffets, not just brunch. Quite a good deal. The prosecco flowed freely, topped up regularly and actually we didn't really know how much we had because it was topped up before we finished.

Then we took the express bus down to Town Square, using a 24 hour pass at $8 so we could use it to come back. We then went into wholefoods for some smoothie and water for before the wine walk. Wine walk was really nice, we were talking to some 'locals' originally from Montana and LA, they were really nice and told us about another place out at Red Rock we need to go see. It's an old ranch. We saw it but didn't realise what it was. It is Howard Hughes' place and supposedly has been left as it was and made into a museum. Sounds interesting.

We then took the bus back and came back for a fairly early night, probably due to the quantities of wine!! There were 20 stations, serving an ounce of wine each. I make that 600ml in total, on top of brunch bubbles was a bit much to be honest. I did pour some out though, there were a lot more reds than whites and I'm not a fan of red. I feel ok now, but should have something to eat before driving over to Platinum in a while!! We don't need to be out till 11am, so we'll take our time as there's no point trying to go to the pool before that.

nvh should currently be at Platinum, I wonder if we'll see them (being a fairly small place as it is). Our plan was to go out for brunch today with it being Sunday, but i'm not really sure I can be bothered with any more bubbles after all that wine yesterday!! We have 6 more nights in Vegas, and we still have 2 Harrah's buffet dinner groupons (with drinks), yard drinks at Fresh gropuon, Blondie's happy hour groupon. We also wanted to see a comedy show, but I wonder now if we'll have time. We would also like to do happy hour at Stir (Platinum). Let's see if we manage everything. Might need to come back next year. :rotfl:

Bowski30

visidigi wrote: »

Progress finally made on our trip...

Flights Booked
Car Booked
LV Hotel Booked - MGM Grand with an offer was too cheap to refuse..
Terry Fator Booked...
Grand Canyon Booked...
Struggling to decide what Cirque show to go to, Beatles is $200 for two tickets unless we want a 'restricted view' for $165 (!)

We've now booked 7 days of 11- my blood pressure is finally dropping a little

Which Grand Canyon tour did you book - I am looking to book but can't decide which one Travelzoo has an offer on with Papillon - Visionary Air tour $219 for 2 which seems really good but it looks like a lot of people do the tour with the canyon landing

Froggitt

Bowski30 wrote: »

Which Grand Canyon tour did you book - I am looking to book but can't decide which one Travelzoo has an offer on with Papillon - Visionary Air tour $219 for 2 which seems really good but it looks like a lot of people do the tour with the canyon landing

Waste of money, unless that's all you've got. Doesn't even fly to South Rim, doesn't land in National Park.......view is the same as VS43 on the approach to LAS.

visidigi

Bowski30 wrote: »

Which Grand Canyon tour did you book - I am looking to book but can't decide which one Travelzoo has an offer on with Papillon - Visionary Air tour $219 for 2 which seems really good but it looks like a lot of people do the tour with the canyon landing

Bus one for us, we'll have had enough of planes by the time we're in LV.

http://www.viator.com/tours/Las-Vegas/Grand-Canyon-South-Rim-Bus-Tour-with-Optional-Upgrades/d684-3951SRB

Bowski30

Froggitt wrote: »

Waste of money, unless that's all you've got. Doesn't even fly to South Rim, doesn't land in National Park.......view is the same as VS43 on the approach to LAS.

Are you saying the Visionary tour is a waste of money or just GC air tours in general?

Bowski30

visidigi wrote: »

Bus one for us, we'll have had enough of planes by the time we're in LV.

Thanks visidigi the only problem is we are only in Vegas for 5 nights and didn't really want to give up a whole day too much to fit in

Mich81

The South Rim of the Grand National is part of the Grand Canyon National Park, whereas the West Rim isn't.

However, the South Rim is too far to be accessible from Vegas by helicopter so all the direct helicopter tours go to the West Rim.

I've been to the South Rim in the past, and though I wasn't overawed by it (much preferred Yosemite) it does look better than the West Rim - more of a wow factor.

I've seen some Bus Tours that go to the South Rim from Vegas and give you the option of a helicopter ride over it - but it'd be a long long day from Vegas - which personally I wouldn't find worth it - but if you want to see the real GC then you want the South Rim experience.

pebblesmax

lesley74 wrote: »

Then we took the express bus down to Town Square, using a 24 hour pass at $8 so we could use it to come back. We then went into wholefoods for some smoothie and water for before the wine walk. Wine walk was really nice, we were talking to some 'locals' originally from Montana and LA, they were really nice and told us about another place out at Red Rock we need to go see. It's an old ranch. We saw it but didn't realise what it was. It is Howard Hughes' place and supposedly has been left as it was and made into a museum. Sounds interesting.

That would be Spring Mountain Ranch. I have mentioned it several times in the past. It's only about 10 miles from the strip, and is a wonderfully tranquil place. Besides the ranch itself, you can have a tour of the grounds. There is a small lake just above the ranch closer to the mountain, that is just lovely. The water comes from a spring, and there is still the old pipe work they used to pipe the spring water to the ranch and buildings. For the animal lovers among you it could be worth a trip. We have seen herds of deer and burros in the grounds several times. It is also a venue for civil war reenactments a couple of times a year.

photome

ferf1223 wrote: »

I didn't - so if we get on at Bally's its direct back to Orleans then? That's good to know - thanks!

Yes it is and if you want the GC from the Orleans it a short hop, of course the drawback is getting from the GC back to Orleans is via Ballys and a wait,

jonesMUFCforever

jonesMUFCforever wrote: »

Right ESTA obtained Yah LOL

Now to book those flights for next March!!

Ok 2 flights Gatwick to Vegas and 9 nights at the Riviera booked £1275 all in. Good price ?+ went via Quidco so might get something back there.