Las Vegas guide and MSE thread 2013

visidigi

photome wrote: »

Visidigi.

the credit may be there, if you charge something to your room it may get wiped off then.

Re MGM I have stayed in most hotels on strip and some off strip and the MGM is by far the worst when it comes to customer service in my experience.

Not sure about all the Brits though I rarely encounter many

They found the credit, moved it from an old reference to a new one, have to say the visibility of the service and stuff p is really poor, really surprising given they have 10k rooms!

pebblesmax wrote: »

Visidigi, call the front desk and ask them for a move, if you can link reservations and clarification on the drink credit. They may be more amenable over the phone, and you might get better service. Some front desk agents have no manners, some are great, it's the luck of the draw.

I hope you enjoy the Mirage buffet, we quite like it, especially for free.

We didn't want to move as such, just. Wanted to avoid them thinking we had done it - they brought in de odouriser machines which helped, but just come in from terry fator (how does he do it!?!?!) and the smell is back, suspect it might be coming from another room.

The mirage buffet was okay, but only okay because we didn't pay, had I paid $40 for it I would have hit the roof...

ferf1223 wrote: »

I wouldn't go to the business centre - I wouldn't think it would be something they would handle...maybe the concierge, but likely you would get better prices booking something yourself either online or walking-up, I would think...though haven't done it myself...but I know that there are plenty of discounts out there in the free magazines you can find certain places (taxi and monorail station is where we got ours)...but sometimes I do think booking online can be the cheapest way to get the same thing.

Sorry, didn't make clear we already booked our tickets, I just needed to print them, the concierge did this via me emailing him the reservation. He called them to confirm the booking and we've got to be over at nyny for 6am tomorrow for pickup - south rim day trip, gonna be long but fun...

As for today, well we started off with the buffet at mirage, dropped $40 on the slots with no luck, the walk too and from the mirage made us realise we we're sore and decided we wouldn't manage much walking so headed out of the strip in the car - other half wanted to hit walmart for the bus trip supplies, we also did both Vegas outlets today, average, prices at Camarillo in LA still way better than anything else we've seen so far.

Went to In n out for the first time on the way back, OMG. I'm in love lol. Terry fator at the mirage was last, $100 for two tickets, good value overall and plenty of laughs. You can see why/how he's sold over a million tickets in his near 5 yr residency.

It's 10pm now and we're both crashing now ready for the 5am rise - Vegas has grown on me today I must admit, despite the slots making me feel like someone raided my penny jar.

martmonk

$29 -- Vegas Strip: Beer Flights & Apps for 2, Reg. $64
http://www.travelzoo.com/top20/14250310-1606624
Source: Public House at Luxor

Seems good to me - beer flights are four 'pours' - picture makes them look like 1/3 to 1/2 a pint

valid now - Jan 31, 2014
Reservations are not required; space is subject to availability. Valid Mondays-Wednesdays and Fridays during merchant's operating hours; valid on Sundays and Thursdays after the conclusion of NFL Football or after 9 p.m., whichever occurs later. Not valid on major holidays or holiday weekends.

$29 (reg. $64) for beer flights and apps for two at Luxor's Public House
A beer flight per person, consisting of four pours
Any two appetizers such as the buffalo shrimp or cheesesteak spring roll

and

http://www.travelzoo.com/local-deals/Las-Vegas/Restaurant/79143/Andres-Restaurant--Lounge?tz_adid=1601982
$99 -- Andre's: French Fine Dining & Drinks for 2, Reg. $190
valid til 2 March, 2014 (it's inside Monte Carlo)

For $99 (reg. $190), indulge in a three-course dinner for two from a Travelzoo-exclusive prix fixe menu, including a Kir Royal cocktail per person
Or, get this same dinner for two without cocktails for $89 (reg. $154)

visidigi

So today was the turn of the south rim of the Grand Canyon In a Day. And what a day it was. For a start, full day doesn't quite describe it, we attempted to get up at 5, ended up getting away with a single snooze and 5:15 called for battle stations. A quick shower and a shave (the latter just for me) and the two of us headed over to NYNY which was the nearest pickup for the MGM grand.

5 minutes early and we grabbed a quick bucket of caffeine and boarded the bus. A bus whichever we had hoped would take us direct to the rim, instead it was merely a Collection bus to the main office. A process it turned out occupied the first hour of the day, strangely with the shorter west rim tour getting departure priority. Go figure.

They tried to sell all the usual stuff and the green screen photo happened while you waited to be given the various tickets. We'd opted for the west rim tour and IMAX. All told the price for the two of us was around £116.

We set off, within an hour or so we were at the Hoover dam, spectacular, first time visit of us, a quick 20 minute photo stop and we carried on. 90 minutes later and we hit Kingman, AZ. They have a deal that they take you to McDonald's. So we have a bite to eat, Grab a Monster ultra from the gas station and it's back on the bus and on our way again within 20 minutes.

150 minutes later and we get to the IMAX, it's about 12 miles short of the actual rim, must admit, wasn't worth the money, but I had seen it before, other half didn't like it. Tour includes a lunch from the canteen, so it's a Pizza Hut express pizza for one, sandwich or Chinese box, with a bag of crisps and a soda. Healthy day so far, not.

We had 90 minutes at one view point, 30 minutes at another, so a full two hours at the canyon. Back in the bus and we start the lengthy return trip, it's 300 miles each way. aside from a gas station stop we end up back at the same mcdonalds for yet more food. This was by far the most annoying thing of the day, but far from unusual for these tour companies.

I'm in the bus as I write this, I'll post it up when I get in the hotel, which they guess will be around 10:30 - that's a Long day in any book, but importantly it's not that much shorter than it would take me if I drove it, and it would have cost me more in food and gas. So aside from a $25 tip for the excellent tour guide/driver I have to say that I'm still quids in overall. If you're on tight timeline I'd recommend the tour from viator, it's run by airbridge tours - to give you an idea, our 17yr veteran driver has taken over 500,000 to the GC and his knowledge and quality as simply exceptional. Tired now though!

duchy

photome wrote: »

Visidigi.



Not sure about all the Brits though I rarely encounter many

It's half term this week for a lot of the UK

pebblesmax

Duchy, we are at the Tuscany now. I'll ask them if I can look at the wedding facilities and hopefully take some photos for you.

21yrold

I'm back on the Philly plane !

Quick update, customer service has been amazing everywhere we went!! Fremont last night for ween was awesome !

Got seats together again hehe and don't think I've hit jetlag yet, not sure !

nvh

Palms for $39 plus $20 resort fee etc - weekdays, exclusions apply
http://www.travelzoo.com/local-deals/Las-Vegas/Getaway/80194

visidigi

Long story involved, but our Vegas stint ended early, have to say, those who commented about the MGM grand we're spot on. Service horrible. Obscenely expensive, full of hammered Brits - even the Brits were complaining that they kept meeting Brits...

We're in San Diego now, I'll post a full trip report soon, I hope!

ferf1223

wow visidigi...sorry to hear that and really interested to know what happened...hope all is OK...and sorry if whatever has happened has coloured your impression of Vegas overall.

I guess as it's half-term as duchy said there may be a lot more Brits than usual...we've never been at half-term (we have no kids so we don't have to book holidays around school sessions so we don't so we avoid the higher airfares)...but while we have sometimes encountered a few Brits during our trips it's certainly not been a particularly large number.

Georgiegirl256

visidigi wrote: »

Long story involved, but our Vegas stint ended early, have to say, those who commented about the MGM grand we're spot on. Service horrible. Obscenely expensive, full of hammered Brits - even the Brits were complaining that they kept meeting Brits...

We're in San Diego now, I'll post a full trip report soon, I hope!

Sorry to hear that

Before we went, we kept on reading reviews about PH bring full of loud hammered people (not necessarily Brits), and we were worried, as that isn't our thing at all. Luckily it wasn't like that, and we really like our stay there, and would happily stay there again. I guess what I'm saying is, I would have expected it from there, but not the MGM, but then again, I guess that must be a popular hotel with the Brits by the sounds of it. My mate and her chap stayed there, but it's probably perfect for them, as they like a drink or two.

Sorry to hear the service was horrible, I can see how that would totally spoil your stay