Las Vegas guide and MSE thread 2013

vegasvisitor

Ok, time for my update on what we've been doing. Yesterday we moved over to the Platinum and got checked in right away. We then headed out for some 'supplies' at Target (and also some breadsticks and pizza from the pizza hut outlet in there for lunch), then back to Platinum and down to the pool. Clouded over though so we came upstairs and watched some of the tennis. Then down to Stir for happy hour, and over to Harrah's to use one of the buffet groupons. Buffet was fine, fresh salad etc, baked potatoes (favourite of mine), and reasonably good desserts. I quite enjoyed it, so I'm glad we have another groupon. We still have one for yard drinks at Fresh and also happy hour at Blondie's.

After buffet we came back via Flamingo and Margaritaville casino for drinks (good service again, although I think the girl went on her break from 10-1030 must remember that lol). Came back to Platinum.

This morning we got up a bit later than usual, around 9am, and then headed down to GVR or breakfast. Then a bit of extra shopping around Henderson because we felt we rushed it a bit last time and I saw a watch I liked at Dillard's down there. So Kevin got me that as my birthday treat. Back to Platinum at 230 and went down to the pool but it clouded over AGAIN I'm fed up with this weather....ok at least it's dry but my attempts at getting a tan this year are failing a little!!

Watching tennis again now and it looks like it will be over in time to go for happy hour at Stir....followed by some dinner. Not quite sure where to go for dinner tonight. It's my birthday and we might have appetisers at Stir and then just go somewhere for a main course. I'm half thinking Il Fornaio at NYNY or Trevi at Caesars. Might need to check menus to decide.

nvh

Hey Lesley! Cheers for the offer, we actually struck lucky in that they offered us the Platinum hotel car & driver for our move to Mirage! This was really useful as it was a really nice experience and he was happy to go via. (ok, out of his way!) to Ross Dress for Less up north, and he waited whilst we quickly grabbed one for $30 + tax... looks disgusting but will do the job and we can probably buy a few extra bits and pieces now too thanks for the advice everyone!

Saved our legs and although we paid him quite nicely, he was much better than the other options (and waiting for an unsuitably sized cab with a crazy driver!)

Looks like the storm is really coming in now - if it helps, we stopped at the national weather centre somewhere near Denver, and for some reason that I can't 100% remember, it said that if storms / bad weather are due in warm climates (which they seem to be for the next few days, as they have for the past few), then due to the way things heat up / cool etc over the course of a day, they will almost always hit in the PM we've been using our pool time based on this knowledge and its worked well apart from one day!

We did hit Stir last night... tried at around 6pm but it was heaving (and we prefer to sit at the bar), so went up to the room for a drink and came back down at 7pm... again, struggled for a seat at the bar, but managed to find a couple of stools at the end of the bar and stuck around till 8pm ---> let me know if you guessed right anyways the bar staff didn't seem as nice last night Claudia has been good to us whilst we were there but she didn't seem to be working... she takes a while to 'warm up' but she knows what she is doing and is friendly to repeat visitors! --> based on your PM incidently, we were neighbours too (our room ended with 7 )

Secretmachines ---> it was the outlets that caused the problem in the first place... I was too scared to go back there

vegasvisitor

Glad you got it sorted nvh. Now, just quickly as we're heading to stir now...but I remember 2 people coming in, sitting at a table full of glasses just opposite the bar, not getting any attention and walking out. Then a while later I saw another couple at the end of the bar (the entrance end, not the window end), then after that another couple came in and went in the back area for their drinks. I'm guessing you might have been the two at the end of the bar - light curly hair....either that you came in after we left. I'm not sure what time we left might have been around 7.

Glad you got the case sorted....enjoy the rest of your trip.

ailuro2

http://www.homebargains.co.uk/products/4878-dunlop-sport-utility-organiser.aspx we are taking three of these with us - they fold down to about 1" deep and are lightweight. They come with a strap to turn them into a big box shaped holdall. For £2.99 . I didn't think I'd find anything as cheap in Las Vegas. Bit late for the poster above - but wanted to share for those counting the sleeps before they fly ( not many to go before we fly)

stoneman

Sitting up in bed reading, nice relaxing coffee before the storm. Heading down to Heathrow for about 1. Should be in Vegas for 8 tonite. Not liking the sound of the weather.
Lesley, we will be in Stir about 6 on the 11th. Tracy is the girl in my avi so keep an eye out for someone who looks totally overdressed lol.
We also prefer sitting at the bar, but it is ridiculously deep!

visidigi

ailuro2 wrote: »

http://www.homebargains.co.uk/products/4878-dunlop-sport-utility-organiser.aspx we are taking three of these with us - they fold down to about 1" deep and are lightweight. They come with a strap to turn them into a big box shaped holdall. For £2.99 . I didn't think I'd find anything as cheap in Las Vegas. Bit late for the poster above - but wanted to share for those counting the sleeps before they fly ( not many to go before we fly)

Im really not sure I would want to put them through a baggage belt...

I must admit I go to poundland, stock up on vacuum bags and use them for bringing back all my outlet shopping. When I was in the US I picked up some which are roll up which means they work without a vacuum.

Proved very useful...

vegasvisitor

Tried to look at the avator, but I can't see it clearly even on a netbook. We'll likely be at happy hour tomorrow night but I've just re-read and realise you mean the 11th. We plan to be at Wynn for late lunch on Wednesday after returning our hire car, so unlikely we'll be back for happy hour. Might be there Thursday and/or Friday though.

The guy I thought might be nvh isn't - as he was at Stir happy hour again tonight so def not (since nvh is now at Mirage). Stoneman, will try to make this easy for you...since I know we struggled to spot nvh...we're both about 5'8", I have light brown shoulder length hair, Kevin has grey hair (what's left of it), and we're in our late 30s (lol, hope we don't look older). We tend not to sit at the bar...have sat at the same table both nights so far...it's over the far end of the bar, sort of before you head to the restrooms. If it's available we're likely to choose the same table. I've been having prosecco then margarita type thing in short glass, Kevin's been having berry mojitos if it makes us recognisable by drinks lol. Seems to be the same people in the bar each night. Cringed tonight when a guy was asking the poor bar staff to pose for him to take pics. eek. :rotfl:

Anyway, pop over and say hello if you see us! We'll probably be totally UNDERdressed lol.

Oh, and we will be totally trying to catch up on our tan at the pool, however only for 2 or 3 hour bursts, but keep an eye out for us there too.

ferf1223

nvh - glad you got it sorted!

stoneman - have a safe flight and great trip!

We're in borderline desperation countdown mode and today is 5 weeks until our last working day before Vegas...it's not the most exciting landmark in the countdown, but it's something.

ferf1223

on the shopping and room to bring it home thing - we always travel with 2 checked cases on the way out...one of them is a big case with a medium case inside it...that way we have a spare empty large 3rd case for the return trip.

Downside is that the cases aren't particularly lightweight so the person with the double-case has less weight allowance to work with on the way out but so far we've just about squeaked it (or AA or Virgin have let a couple extra kilos go, bless them)...it's one reason that committing to do laundry in Vegas works out well for us as we can bring less clothes with us.

ferf1223

stoneman wrote: »

Tracy is the girl in my avi so keep an eye out for someone who looks totally overdressed lol.

is it sad that it did not take me long to find this page of the 2011 thread...I remembered the food pictures.

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/2952818

I'm still disappointed I did not get a chance to meet Tracy though she did have an awfully good excuse not to join us!