Las Vegas guide and MSE thread 2013

Ady87

Decided I would give you all a little update on the trip so far.

Left Saturday at 6am for the airport. Arrived with plenty of time for a 10am flight and was hit with the usual interrogation by Airport staff. I've experienced it before when going Florida but I still felt under a bit of pressure to answer basic questions right! The flight to Atlanta was painful. It's been many years since I've flow any thing over 3 hours so the 9hour 40min journey was a killer. That said, the Delta staff were brilliant. Comp snacks and drinks kept flowing for the entire journey and the inflight meal, Sweet and Sour chicken, actually quite nice!

We should have had a two hour layover but by the time we got through immigration and got to the gate I didn't even have enough time to grab as drink as they were already boarding zone 2. This flight at 4 hours was uneventful.

We landed in Vegas and got off the plane and we're instantly greeted by Wheel of Fortune slots. As everyone whisked past us I couldn't help but stick in a $10 bill and got myself a Spin after a couple of dollars. It was only a 30x credit spin so I quickly span the rest which took forever and headed to baggage claim. We joined a large taxi queue which went quickly as people around us looked for people to share cabs with but nobody asked us if we were heading the Cosmo so me and my girlfriend went alone. $26 before tip and he went through the tunnel but I wasn't too bothered, it was 2am UK time! Not very MSE of me.

As we were heading down the freeway past Luxor and turned in via Ceasers I was shocked at just how close the hotels were. I know they are huge and look closer than they are, but i was expecting a much greater distance between them and was pleasantly surprised.

First impressions of the Cosmopolitan were that it was almost overwhelming in size and beauty. The lobby and attached Vesper bar are great on the eye and I could barely contain my excitement. We had booked a One Bed Studio with Terrace and got offered an upgrade to a Suite with fountain view for an extra $30 a night. The difference in the rooms can often be over $100 a night so I grab the opportunity while I could!

The room is incredible. A corner suite sofa, a desk with huge TV and every socket you can image for USB devices and other such things. I can see why people complain about the open plan wet room and tub that you can see from the bedroom and balcony but me and my girlfriend don't care about that! The balcony is huge and the view of the Bellagio fountains, Ceasers, and Paris is breathtaking. I will get pictures up when I am back!

We took a quick shower and then headed down to the Casino at about 8pm, 4am our time. We grabbed some fast food and played some slots and broke even before retreating to bed about 10pm and getting in to the largest comfiest bed I have ever slept in.

This brings to a close day 1 of our trip. I will post day 2 when waiting for my girlfriend to get ready later as inevitably I will be chilling on the balcony with a beer as I wait! Weather is perfect by the way!

pebblesmax

Have a good time Ady. You picked a good week. It was quite chilly first few days of last week but back to pool weather now.

marsman802

Hmm weather not looking too clever for the 20th but I'm used to that lol.

We might hire a car and head to Death Valley - anyone gone there with any advice?

StuieUK34

Yeah, don't feed the Vultures!
(sorry, not been, done valley of fire and lake mead though)

Owenmc60

marsman802 wrote: »

Hmm weather not looking too clever for the 20th but I'm used to that lol.

We might hire a car and head to Death Valley - anyone gone there with any advice?

Go check out the salt flats. They are amongst the largest in the world (200sq miles) and really impressive! (I tried to post a link, but as I'm new(ish), it won't let me. Go search google, lots of interesting info and pictures of it!)

Obviously take lots of water and some spare fuel (can never be too safe in a sprawling desert)!

Jump down a sand dune!!

secretmachines

love it Ady, I'm sat here in the office reading it and very jealous!

Triker

marsman802 wrote: »

Hmm weather not looking too clever for the 20th but I'm used to that lol.

We might hire a car and head to Death Valley - anyone gone there with any advice?

It's a great drive.

Look out for the mountain goats and coyotes, I saw my only ever live coyote driving back from Death Valley.

There's a hotel and a camp site there.

Furnace creek resort.

http://www.furnacecreekresort.com/?gclid=CKyutuCL37oCFWTHtAodMS8Ahg


We ate at the camp site diner, ok food. I would have liked to have spent a night there.



Death Valley is amazing and we're going to head out there again ourselves in June next year where we'll be doing a whole family trip.

Usual safety rules apply, fuel, fully charged mobile phone, and water. I've advise maybe a cool box if possible to have cold drinks on hand.ETA, actually there's no cell phone coverage in Death Valley....


Great advice here....http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/ShowTopic-g143021-i2027-k1974539-o20-Summer_Travel_in_Death_Valley-Death_Valley_National_Park_California.html

Plus a camera, it's like nothing I've ever experienced on this planet, fascinating.

Spursman180

2nd day back in the office after a 2 stop trip, flew into LA on the 31st stayed in the Commerce until the Sunday, went to the Breeders Cup on the Friday and Saturday, managed to only lose $38 on the 2 days. I've seen lots on here about using public transport etc, LA in my opinion is definitely a hire car job. I had pre booked through Expedia and had a tough time at the Hertz desk as he was determined to sell me more insurance a bigger car and so on. Because I was driving to Vegas he said the small car I was going to get wasn't up to it!! That changed a bit when I asked him about why they were selling a service not fit for purpose (a car for hire with unlimited mileage?) and what was going to be a bigger car than I have at home? He conceded in the end but not without revenge, I was given the ugliest car I have ever seen, my apologies to anyone who has one....the Nissan cube ('Neesan Q'). It had body damage and was on Texas plates. Took me about 1/2 an hour getting someone to agree the sign off that the car was damaged.

Fortunately it was early evening 5pmish when I was on the road heading to Commerce, Texas plates is not an issue except when your sat nav takes you in a straight line through Compton, It was earlyish and rush hour so not an issue but later on surface streets it would have raised the concern levels.

The races are a great piece of Americana to be in amongst and only $25 entry on the Friday (with parking) but $50 on the Saturday also with parking.

The Commerce casino/ Crowne Plaza hotel is very comfortable as a hotel with for me the added attraction of the worlds largest poker room to play in. That was profitable. My sleep was disturbed getting used to the time difference with the added complication of the clocks going back on the Saturday night for me that's 2 weeks in a row. I was up and awake at 5am on the Sunday, got ready grabbed a Starbucks from the 24hr cafe in the poker room and hit the road to Vegas by 6am.

Driving out at that time was a pleasure and was able to drive steadily in very light traffic. My progress was such that my planned stop at Yermo for Peggy Sue's was too early for me and instead I motored on through to Primm and stopped in the Whiskey Petes IHOP for sirloin tips, one of my fav breakfasts equally favoured alongside a proper eggs Benedict. I was in Vegas for about 12.30 and was able to check in to the Orleans straight away. I was sitting down in the poker room there just after 1pm.

The rest of the week was much of a muchness with the highlight being the Omaha jackpot was hit on Friday for nearly $30k I was at the table but not one of the 2 significant hands so got a table share $582 tyvm.

Food and shopping, whilst in LA I shopped in the Citadel outlets (just along the road to the Commerce), bargain, 3 pairs of Levis (I needed a smaller size since I lost weight) $40 a pair, $120 + tax minus another $10 for some reason, fairly random I felt? but happy to take it. Ate in Rubys diner there which was all sparkly and bobby sox waitresses, did like the milkshakes for sure.

Did both North and South Premium outlets in LV, wanted a couple of jackets but only had one in my size in the South so drove to the North to get the other (no hardship) as usual assistants pounce when you come in and when I said I know what I wanted as the other place didn't have my size they wobbled a bit and when I paid I got another random $10 off for going out of my way to visit them?

I discovered the berry and pomegranate smoothies at Dairy Queen, a bit on the sweet side but still very nice. All I have to say is PB Oreos, I posted a picture for a laugh on FB for my friends, I'd spotted them in Walgreens for about $4, I had numerous requests and ended up buying 7 packs in Walmarts for $2.20 a pack, with them and the PB M&M's (still can't get them at the leics. sq. shop here) US Customs were suspicious enough to open my bags on the way back? Might have had something to do with the cooking knives and cleaver in there and not the PB aroma!!

The weather was great lowest 68f highest 74f, very palatable especially when I was being told that all it did here was rain. Had one of the refitted VA planes on the way back and it was fine, I had paid for an exit seat, yes you get the extra room but when you stretch out into the space you get kicked by people and staff walking past the kitchen when the lights are out, a definite negative.

all in all a comfortable trip and I don't let the little hiccups get to me.

Oh yes and the car, it drove and handled fine, I picked it up full, drove about 450 miles and gave it back full and had only put $42.50 in regular gas in to do so, very economic but still ugly, ugly, ugly.

Gatwick Immigration is a disgrace, nuff said.

My big shopping item was I bought the 11inch 256Mb MacBook Air in Frys along with the Magic Mouse and Superdrive. comparing the prices against the Apple shop here I saved £320. That is a result.

Next trip is likely to be March

ferf1223

Spursman180 wrote: »

All I have to say is PB Oreos, I posted a picture for a laugh on FB for my friends, I'd spotted them in Walgreens for about $4, I had numerous requests and ended up buying 7 packs in Walmarts for $2.20 a pack, with them and the PB M&M's (still can't get them at the leics. sq. shop here) US Customs were suspicious enough to open my bags on the way back? Might have had something to do with the cooking knives and cleaver in there and not the PB aroma!!

oh. peanut butter oreos...I am normally right on the case with stuff like this but missed these...must keep an eye out next trip though because...well, peanut butter oreos.

Our American food case is ALWAYS the one that has the TSA we opened this bag notice in it when we get home. Always. we assumed it is the suspicious rattling of the mac & cheese but could be high PB concentrations.

Thanks for the trip report - really enjoyed reading it and yes, those cars are really, really ugly - never have been stuck with one but I'm sure one day.

martmonk

Triker wrote: »

It's a great drive.

Look out for the mountain goats and coyotes, I saw my only ever live coyote driving back from Death Valley.

I've never seen any animal drive, nevermind a coyote!