Las Vegas guide and MSE thread 2013

Seldom_Seen_Kid

Having been 4 years running we decided to go somewhere different this year. Anyway, absence has made the heart grow fonder and I am keen to go back May / June next year.

Since I have taken my eye off the ball, I hope someone can answer a couple of questions :

1) Thomas Cook direct flights from Manchester is £485 + £80 (seat selection, food and luggage) = £565, and I am just wondering if it is a decent price nowadays?

2) Thinking of staying for a short period at Carriage House (stayed before and rate it), and just wondering if the work at Marriott’s Grand Chateau LV is of any concern, or does it have a known completion date for the main construction element.

Thanks.

jonnywells

In my eyes any direct price for around the £550 mark is a great price these days.

Seldom_Seen_Kid

Thanks for the reply. The dates cover my 40th birthday so fits perfectly, but normally just book as cheap as possible.

TC from Manchester direct have Wednesday 1st October to Friday 10th October for £465 + £80 (seat selection, food and luggage) = £545 for anyone looking to go then.

Vern58

marsman802 wrote: »

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

Bit of a slow reply, but, if you want to take the scenic route to Death Valley via the Tecopa Road/Old Spanish Trail, keep your eyes peeled and maybe slow down for the turning on Highway 160. We missed it as I was caning it and you get hardly any warning from road signs. I think I had about 0.3 of a second and a perfectly executed emergency stop in order to make it! I didn't. And there's nowhere close to turn around. I can't comment on its scenic-ness as a result!

I also recommend driving up to Dante's View in the park. It's awesome and you get a great view of the salt flats.

I think if you want to see most of the National Park, a day isn't really long enough unless you get up very early and return late, and/or have a very well-planned route. It's huge.

marsman802

appreciate all the replies on death valley - we've got a lot of info but will speak to some concierges out there to discuss a sensible, achievable option.

Ady87

Day 3.

We decide to check out the other side of the strip today and come out of City Centre and start heading towards Mandalay. I am wearing a Cassius Clay T-Shirt of a designer name that I have had a couple of years and within 30 minutes two people have asked me where I got it from. These feelings can't be described and it's why I spend extra on nice t shirts, again I am not very good at this MSE business!

We eventually stop at Hard Rock Cafe and before we can go in some geezer dressed like a mobster swindles a picture and tip out of us but I couldn't stop it from happening because my GF, bless her jumped right in and had no idea what was happening! We get seated in the HR on the balcony overlooking the Monte Carlo and I have Scrambled, Bacon, Pancakes and more Breakfast Potatoes. I am not that adventurous with breakfast but this was brilliant again. Our server, Jeff was excellent and as in all Hard Rocks they don't write your order down. This is useful when you get it right. A Sausage was left off my order and subsequently left off the Bill but I didn't raise it because I am an easy going guy and breakfast turned out to be big enough anyway! We take a stop at M&Ms world and fill a bag full of my favourite pretzel and peanut M&Ms to take home. They were eaten by day 4! Oops.

From memory, first stop was MGM because we were on that side. We remember liking the look of the rainforest cafe and have eaten at one at Disney and it is usually a nice setting for a chill out and some eats. Not managed to get back their yet. We take a walk through to the casino and have a look around. The place just looks great quality and majestic and I wouldn't have a problem staying here at all. The slots do us we'll here with me and K both taking Willy Wonka for a ride for about a $50 profit each. We can't find any other machines we want to play so we head out.

Next up was Excalibur and Luxor I think. Excalibur looks cheap fun and if I was staying down that end it wouldn't be a bad place to hang out but it is a different world from the Cosmo, though they don't try to be he same. We do like Luxor though. The lobby and view to the top is great and it's construction had us puzzled for ages. No wins in these casinos to speak off. Eventually we reach Mandalay and feet are starting to hurt. This is a nice looking hotel and despite it's location I would probably stay here. We play some slots and take a look around before getting some lunch at House of blues. I went for a Bacon and Cheese Burger with some great seasoned fries and K got a Club Sandwich. The service here was quick and very friendly. I think because it's basically guaranteed tips these people work very hard to satisfy (and maximise the bill & thus their tip %) but I haven't had one problem with our hosts yet.

We do stop at NYNY which was a nightmare to get out of. We manage to win some cash en route to the exit and have to backtrack to the cashier before getting out. Could have done with a bag of bread crumbs!

No evening meal for us this day because despite the long walk we are stuffed and have grazed on M&Ms at the slots. We grab some Millers on the way back to the hotel and have a soak in the tub with a drink before heading to the Casino for a standard night of slots and getting in to bed early.

Day 4 up next.

marsman802

I'm getting dangerously excited for next week now reading these trip reports.

Froggitt

ESTA only needs to be valid on your entry to USA date.

nvh

Hey thinlizzy. Can't beat the buzz of a last minute trip!

How many miles plus cash did u need?

Was there much choice in flights (or did u only look at particular dates)

Is that the LGW direct flights too?

Weighing up the virgin miles option as an opportunity. It's looking unlikely we go next year but with last trip being a bit of a stinker, I want to try and squeeze a cheap trip in (if there is such a thing). A bit of warmth would be nice tho so appreciate off peak availability is between

ferf1223

thinlizzyk wrote: »

My only niggle is my ESTA. It expires 14th Feb 2014. I'm assuming it will be alright to travel on it? Its not like a passport where I would have to renew right now? Anyone got any suggestions?

Assuming you are travelling on a UK passport you wouldn't need to renew your passport now either. There is much misinformation about this out there but your passport does not need to be valid for 6 months after you travel.

http://london.usembassy.gov/faq-passports.html#niv079