Las Vegas guide and MSE thread 2014

John259

Kit1 wrote: »

these hotels were central

At the risk of stating what might be obvious, you can check where they are using Google Maps:

Luxor
https://www.google.co.uk/maps?q=Luxor+Hotel+%26+Casino,+South+Las+Vegas+Boulevard,+Las+Vegas,+NV,+United+States&hl=en&ll=36.098944,-115.177832&spn=0.02514,0.052314&sll=37.6,-95.665&sspn=49.738899,107.138672&oq=luxor&hq=Luxor+Hotel+%26+Casino,+South+Las+Vegas+Boulevard,+Las+Vegas,+NV,+United+States&t=m&z=15

Excalibur
https://www.google.co.uk/maps?q=Excalibur+Hotel+%26+Casino,+South+Las+Vegas+Boulevard,+Las+Vegas,+NV,+United+States&hl=en&ll=36.099741,-115.174656&spn=0.02514,0.052314&sll=36.098944,-115.177832&sspn=0.02514,0.052314&oq=excalibur&t=m&z=15

Flamingo
https://www.google.co.uk/maps?q=Flamingo+Las+Vegas,+Las+Vegas,+NV,+United+States&hl=en&ll=36.115846,-115.174055&spn=0.012567,0.026157&sll=36.099741,-115.174656&sspn=0.02514,0.052314&oq=flaming&hq=Flamingo+Las+Vegas,+Las+Vegas,+NV,+United+States&t=m&z=16

Las Vegas Boulevard is The Strip and I-15 (Interstate 15) is a freeway (motorway).

You can also wander round in StreetView mode. This is at the intersection of the Strip and Tropicana Avenue, looking north up the Strip. To pan and tilt the camera, drag with the mouse. To move, click with the mouse, use the cursor keys, or drag the yellow man icon on the map:
https://www.google.co.uk/maps?q=Flamingo+Las+Vegas,+Las+Vegas,+NV,+United+States&hl=en&ll=36.100625,-115.172811&spn=0.01257,0.026157&sll=36.099741,-115.174656&sspn=0.02514,0.052314&oq=flaming&hq=Flamingo+Las+Vegas,+Las+Vegas,+NV,+United+States&t=m&z=16&layer=c&cbll=36.100762,-115.172814&panoid=MSVbV7FoZVrNRjo7-I8oYQ&cbp=12,353.13,,0,0.89

Sorry if this post tells you nothing new.

gamboller

Hi

planning 5th trip to Vegas Sept/October 2015. Just starting with this SocialRewards site. Think I read somewhere that social rewards pts are valid for one yr only. If I collect points between now and sep/oct 2014 will they expire or can I effectively get 2yrs validity? (Do TR credits expire in a year also??) out of them by transferring the points into total rewards credits in about a year??

Also I see my GF's TR card expires March 2015. Will I still be able to transfer credits to it from "her" SR account.

Hope the above makes sense

Edit:
Your Reward Credits will stay active as long as you earn one Reward Credit every six months. If you only visit once per year, there are several ways to keep your balance active:

So I guess by just transferring some SR points into TR credits every 6 mths we're good?? Wish I started on this SR stuff a long time ago. Serious chunk off hotel bills

Froggitt

Kit1 wrote: »

They were the 3 recommended by the travel agent we spoke to who had been to Vegas and these hotels were central and someone he knew had stayed in them. We have read trip adviser and am not sure as there are the obvious conflicting reports.

The only one that's central-ish is Flamingo. Personally I would not choose any of them unless I had a reason like it was all I could afford.


We went to Vegas twice over Xmas.....Venetian/Caesars/Signature. Note the price of all hotels triples or more a few days before new year, so we did 20-27 Dec or 21-28 Dec.

Wammer

Kit1 wrote: »

They were the 3 recommended by the travel agent we spoke to who had been to Vegas and these hotels were central and someone he knew had stayed in them. We have read trip adviser and am not sure as there are the obvious conflicting reports.

Sorry forgot to mention we have been looking online and came across the Marriott Grand Chataue 1 and 2 and wondered if anyone had stayed here. We have read that it is a little way out but we walk for miles when we can so don't think this would be a problem.

Luxor and Excalibur aren't central, they are to the south of the strip. Flamingo is the best of the 3 and is very central, but there are far better hotels.

Marriott's Grand Chateau is less than 5 mins walk to the strip and it far superior to the 3 you have mentioned, but much more expensive normally. It doesn't have a casino We usually stay next door at the Carriage House. When we stay at the MGM Grand, which is on the strip, it can take 10-15 mins to get from the room to the strip.

What is your budget for hotels? Then we can tell you what is in your price range. Be aware that 31st December is normally the most expensive night of the year in Vegas.

UK travel agents normally recommend low end hotels when there are far better available. However you are lucky that they didn't recommend Circus Circus.

Try getting prices for hotels on https://www.lowcostusa.co.uk

Kit1

Hi our budget is around £700 for the hotel as the cheapest direct flight we can get is working out at £1450 - as we have never holidayed like this before we are not sure what is a good budget for hotels and flights so your help would be welcome.

stoneman

Kit1 wrote: »

Hi our budget is around £700 for the hotel as the cheapest direct flight we can get is working out at £1450 - as we have never holidayed like this before we are not sure what is a good budget for hotels and flights so your help would be welcome.

Kit1
Welcome to the Vegas board, you have done the right thing by holding off booking with a TA, hang in there, ask questions, and you will be helped along by those here.

As has been mentioned you really want to be gone by the 30th of December as the hotel prices will rocket by then.

Pay little attention to trip adviser reports for Vegas. It is one of those flukes that it is the one place that draws mixed reviews.

Almost always book hotel and flights separately.

BOOK YOUR FLIGHTS FIRST There will always be enough rooms in Vegas for when you want to go. Hotel deals tend to come out about 10 weeks prior to your visit, but booking something you might like the look of direct with the hotel will only mean you placing a first night deposit, and if you find something better you can cancel what you have booked and not be charged.

ferf1223

gamboller wrote: »

Also I see my GF's TR card expires March 2015.

...

Edit:
Your Reward Credits will stay active as long as you earn one Reward Credit every six months. If you only visit once per year, there are several ways to keep your balance active:

So I guess by just transferring some SR points into TR credits every 6 mths we're good?? Wish I started on this SR stuff a long time ago. Serious chunk off hotel bills

The card may have a March 2015 expiry but that won't mean points will expire then - if memory serves if you earn a particular tier in a particular calendar year that tier will expire March the following year...so I think all cards have a March expiry date because the cards have your tier status printed on them so if you are (say) platinum in 2014 that will expire March 2015 so your card does too...you can get a new card printed after March 2015 with your current status.

Transferring SR points to TR has been said to reset the 6-month window. It doesn't work for everyone but you can also transfer points from the UK Player Rewards card to your Total Rewards card so if you are a member at any of their casinos you can transfer credits over and that will also keep your points alive, in theory...but the SR option is obviously really convenient for most of us.

Froggitt

Kit1 wrote: »

Hi our budget is around £700 for the hotel as the cheapest direct flight we can get is working out at £1450 - as we have never holidayed like this before we are not sure what is a good budget for hotels and flights so your help would be welcome.

Go a couple of days earlier and in your budget will be Venetian/Palazzo, Vdara, Mirage, Aria, Paris, and not just bottom of the range room types. All mid-strip and all above the three mentioned above in quality. Even Monte Carlo suite in your budget.

yozzer2006

Kit1 wrote: »

Hi our budget is around £700 for the hotel as the cheapest direct flight we can get is working out at £1450 - as we have never holidayed like this before we are not sure what is a good budget for hotels and flights so your help would be welcome.

Where are you flying from Kit1

Wammer

If you must fly out on Christmas Day and not sooner, I would go for 6 nights rather than 7 to avoid the high cost of rooms on NYE. However it would be a shame to miss NYE in Vegas if your budget can stretch to that night.

As Froggit has said, missing out NYE means your budget will stretch to far superior hotels than the ones suggested by the travel agent.

If you haven't done so already, read Page 1 of this thread for all the hints and tips about booking DIY and the best places to get offers on rooms. None of us pay full price or the price that is on the hotel website.

You could price flight + hotel on the likes of Expedia to give you an idea.

Also be aware that Vegas will be cold at that time of year so a hotel with a good pool isn't a priority.

If you are non-smokers then the Vdara is consistently recommended by people on here.