Las Vegas guide and MSE thread 2013

secretmachines

Froggitt wrote: »

If you mean airplanes, then no, they land at the South Rim, by the national park. Scenic Airlines do a number of options, including pickup at hotel, bus to Boulder Airport, flight on a 12 seater to GCA, bus tour around the GC national park including stops for photos, shopping, drinks, and include a sandwich for lunch.

good spot Froggitt, it does refer to helicopter flights, but have re-worded it now

does anyone have general/MSE tips on withdrawing money / changing money / using credit/debit cards, etc... just read Triker's post and thought a little section on 'money' would be a good idea

Froggitt

Thanks, although I think the airplane tours are at least as expensive as the heli trips.

vegasvisitor

I believe I may be first (but not the last) to mention it this year.....should we have a section about laundry on the first page? :rotfl:

ferf1223

what about a link to the ACG Vegas Values report? Updated every Sunday. We normally print it out before our trip and bring it with us to read through when we get there in case there's some short-term thing we might not know about otherwise.

http://www.americancasinoguide.com/vegas-values.html

They also have a compilation of ongoing promotions

http://www.americancasinoguide.com/vegas-values/ongoing-las-vegas-casino-promotions.html

Not sure where it would best fit because it's such a variety of stuff.

And maybe Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art might be worth adding...isn't something that many people would necessarily expect in Vegas and they do have some really great exhibits.

http://www.bellagio.com/attractions/gallery-of-fine-art.aspx

And on the accomodation section perhaps a note about lack of tea and coffee making facilties generally, and options to consider? Given that most folks from these parts would just assume that there would at least be a kettle and a couple of tea bags might be in for a big surprise.

secretmachines

thanks ferf, have included those
i'm just wary of turning the thread into a full-on Vegas guide (there are 100s as we know!), so will keep 'general' info to a minimum, such as paid-for attractions - will try to keep the focus on being a MSE

Jon_01

Morning all and happy new year.

Looking like my wife and I and finally going to get to Vegas due to a !!!! up with our stay in LA in April! (odd how things happen!).

I've been looking at either the Vdara or the Aria. Looking for somewhere quite (a bit of an ask I know) and somewhere my wife will like.
Any recommendations from you regulars over there? And which is the $20 trick likely to work with best? Going to be there April 15 for 4 or 5 days before moving on to SF...

21yrold

Right then, I've done my research and as its our 1st time going to LV i figured we would stay central (checked via the 1st page list VERY USEFUL!)

We need to fly out on the 26th of October for 7nights so gives my misses time to rest before going back to school on the 4th of november!

Can anyone beat or help me get better deals than any of this?:

Booked seperate:
New york - $650 - £400 - £200 each
Hollywood - $1000 - £615 - £307.50 each

Direct flights - Virgin sat 26th from Gatwick - £1409 - £704 each


Thompson - Hollywood - £1025 with direct flights from Gatwick (sat 26th for 7 nights)
Thompson - New York - £986 with direct flights from Gatwick (sat 26th for 7nights)

Thompson - Hollywood - 1034 In-direct from Brum on (26th for 7nights)
Thompson - New York - £995 In-direct from Brum on (26th for 7nights)

Thomas cook - Hollywood - £945 Direct from manchester (26th for 7nights)
Thomas cook - New York - £945 Direct from manchester (26th for 7nights)

Expedia - New York - £935 Direct from Gatwick (26th for 7nights)
Expedia - New York - £885 In-direct Heathrow (26th for 7nights)

Expedia - Hollywood - £834 - In-direct from Heathrow (26th for 7nights)
Expedia - Hollywood - £928 - Direct from Gatwick (26th for 7nights)


Thanks for the help if you can give any as i know i've posted before and you've helped with the advice given

*Adam*

Your other half is a teacher, I assume?

I'd fly back Thurs or Fri because if you fly back Saturday you're not landing until Sunday afternoon and then she has to be back in school on Monday...ouch.

Oh, flights wise, cheapest direct is £686 at netflights.com from LGW. Indirect flight is £620 from MAN.

21yrold

*Adam* wrote: »

Your other half is a teacher, I assume?

I'd fly back Thurs or Fri because if you fly back Saturday you're not landing until Sunday afternoon and then she has to be back in school on Monday...ouch.

Oh, flights wise, cheapest direct is £686 at netflights.com from LGW. Indirect flight is £620 from MAN.

Haha yes she is!!

Ok i will check out the flights and hotels to fly back on the friday and get back to you

Thanks




*UPDATE*

Expedia - New York - £847 Direct from Gatwick (sat 26th for 6nights)
Expedia - Hollywood - £916 Direct from Gatwick (sat 26th for 6nights)

Flights on there own are £704 direct from virgin or £685 on netflights.com

Where is best if we are going to book the room on its own? Via New new york its roughly this for the 6nights $614 + $20 a night tax - £450 - £225 each?

secretmachines

Jon_01 wrote: »

Morning all and happy new year.

Looking like my wife and I and finally going to get to Vegas due to a !!!! up with our stay in LA in April! (odd how things happen!).

I've been looking at either the Vdara or the Aria. Looking for somewhere quite (a bit of an ask I know) and somewhere my wife will like.
Any recommendations from you regulars over there? And which is the $20 trick likely to work with best? Going to be there April 15 for 4 or 5 days before moving on to SF...

i'm a big fan of the Vdara, we've been to LV 3 times and stayed there every time. you'll definitely get the quiet you're after - as you've probably seen, it is more of a boutique-y hotel, with no casino, no restaurant, no smoking. but it doesn't lack atmosphere, and is connected to the Bellagio and a 1min walk from the Aria casino, so you don't have to 'travel' to get to where the action is
[edit - Vdara have just posted in their FB page "It takes approximately 120 steps to get from Vdara's elevators to ARIA Resort & Casino's North Entrance"]

it suits us down to the ground, it's central but 'away' enough from the action so you feel you can relax - we're not big drinkers/clubbers, so we appreciate somewhere comfortable and relaxing to come back to, rather than just having a room to crash in. the entry level rooms at Vdara are 'suites' by other hotels' standards. I've never tried the $20 trick there, it doesn't feel quite right - last time we booked an entry level room and thought we'd ask about an upgrade by just being pleasant and friendly. we had to $30/night for an upgrade, but that's much cheaper than it would have been booking that room.

Although we've not stayed in the Aria, it's a nice place and would be more than happy to stay there if we got a good deal. it's over twice the size of Vdara, so a bit less 'intimate', but nice nevertheless