Las Vegas guide and MSE thread 2014

Kit1

photome wrote: »

Is there a reason you want to book with the travel centre?
I have never used them so not saying dont.

What do you want to use them for? a package?

if so have you priced flights and hotel seperately.

Stoneman may even have a contact at the Platinum but even if he hasnt have you checked their prices direct, same with flights

EDIT I hadnt read your earlier posts.

Do you want to stay on or off strip

Hi

Thanks I came across them online when l put in cheap flights. They had a live chat and asked could they help me find a good deal. They did come back with the best price so far (but l was reluctant to say yes - he did say it was the last 2 seats, so am worried the flight may be full) He also give me a better quote for the Platnium than l have managed to find on line even going direct which was about £300 more on their website. (l always worry too much )

Wammer

Kit1 wrote: »

Hi

Did you stay at the Platinum Hotel Spa? I just came across this one and think it may be more our thing than a hotel/casino as it has it'a own kitchen with fridge and we can do as we like food wise.

Thanks

If you want a kitchen then perhaps consider The Carriage House on Harmon. We stay there every trip. It is slightly off strip by a 5 min walk, but it is closer to the strip than the Platinum.

We always have a one bedroom suite, but even the standard deluxe rooms have a kitchenette. Most of the rooms have recently been refurbished, it is a very small hotel with only 9 floors and doesn't have a casino. There is no resort fee and there is free wifi and laundry facilities.

https://www.carriagehouselasvegas.com

Kit1

Wammer wrote: »

If you want a kitchen then perhaps consider The Carriage House on Harmon. We stay there every trip. It is slightly off strip by a 5 min walk, but it is closer to the strip than the Platinum.

We always have a one bedroom suite, but even the standard deluxe rooms have a kitchenette. Most of the rooms have recently been refurbished, it is a very small hotel with only 9 floors and doesn't have a casino. There is no resort fee and there is free wifi and laundry facilities.

https://www.carriagehouselasvegas.com

Hi

Hadn't come across this one when we looked but just looked and they are booked for most of the days we are looking at going but thank for the info.

Kit1

John259 wrote: »

Fair enough, but bear in mind that there are restaurants of all types and at all price levels in Las Vegas, everything from fast food to fine dining. Even without a car you can easily use the monorail, the bus service or taxis to get around up and down the Strip.

If you want to do self catering then it might be worth seeing if it's possible to rent a villa in Las Vegas - but without a car, distances may rule that out.

Thanks we just thought it was also be nice to have breakfast and cold drinks so if we just wanted a slow start we would not have to worry about rushing out and the non - smoking part is a big plus. :rotfl:

photome

Kit1 wrote: »

Hi

Thanks I came across them online when l put in cheap flights. They had a live chat and asked could they help me find a good deal. They did come back with the best price so far (but l was reluctant to say yes - he did say it was the last 2 seats, so am worried the flight may be full) He also give me a better quote for the Platnium than l have managed to find on line even going direct which was about £300 more on their website. (l always worry too much )

Was that the travelcentre in Norwich, my local travel agent?
If they had a good price that you were happy with I would say go for it

BUT do you really need a kitchen especially as its a special holiday.

You dont need to rush out anywhere as Vegas is a 24/7 town with eateries everywhere as John says.

The selection is endless and all Hotels have lots of different options for breakfast

Vegas isnt like anywhere else so if you havent been it is hard to get away from "normal" type holiday thinking.

I met some people at the weekend (in their 50s) who have been "everywhere" but only discovered Vegas last month and now cant believe they hadnt been sooner

What was the flight, I doubt it has only 2 seats left, although it may only have 2 at that price of course.

I think others have suggested the Venetian, that would be a great choice IMO

I get the non smoking bit being a plus, but the only place you get "smoked" on is in the casinos, all hotels have non smoking rooms (I have always got one)

stoneman

Triker wrote: »

Great report Stoneman, surprised about the issues with the Platinum, you've always raved about them, hopefully they'll pull their socks up.

Must say your MSE elite ways are great reading, you've prompted me to suss out (again) my BA miles for best deal.

Great score on the upgrade and the October stay

Thanks, I know what you mean about MSE elite. I have found ways to get the most for the least. I mentioned before that I had 3 trips booked, 1 BA Club World, 1 VS Upper, and 1 BA First.. Each of those cost us less in fees than you can get an economy ticket for. It's all about getting the right credit cards, buying/selling printer cartridges, reserving games and obtaining 3V cards, thanks all to Tesco.
Staying at the Platinum costs me little more than $100 a night including weekends, and of course there is no resort fee and a washing machine.

stoneman

Kit1 wrote: »

Hi

Did you stay at the Platinum Hotel Spa? I just came across this one and think it may be more our thing than a hotel/casino as it has it'a own kitchen with fridge and we can do as we like food wise.

Thanks

Yes that's where we stay, have done for the past few years. It's an 8 minute walk to centre strip.
If you get your flights sorted pm me and I will give you the email address of the director of operations who will give you a very good rate, far better than the ones you see advertised.

stoneman

photome wrote: »

Thanks stoneman,

just one issue, your you tube mustang link took me to a random guy in a camaro

You are right, it's me in the Camaro. Can't find the one of me in the Shelby.
Anyway, here is Tracy's run in the Shelby. 4.4 secs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3upAEKJraoQ
And her in the Challenger. Almost 1 1/2 seconds slower
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6GBShwGoyXY

John259

photome wrote: »

Vegas isnt like anywhere else so if you havent been it is hard to get away from "normal" type holiday thinking.

Very true, and FWIW the same goes for US road trips which are different again but in a very different way.

Apart from an actual visit and reading reports, it might help perhaps to get something of a feel for Las Vegas by wandering up and down the Strip in Google Maps StreetView mode, and/or watching some YouTube videos.

StreetView (on the Strip, outside Bally's/Paris, looking south, not far from the Platinum which is on Koval Lane one block east of the Strip). To pan and tilt the camera, drag with the mouse. To move click with the mouse, or use the cursor keys, or drag the yellow man icon on the map (apologies if you know all that).
https://www.google.co.uk/maps?q=The+Platinum+Hotel,+East+Flamingo+Road,+Las+Vegas,+NV,+United+States&hl=en&ll=36.113974,-115.172768&spn=0.012568,0.026157&sll=36.137875,-115.15749&sspn=0.025127,0.052314&oq=platinum&hq=The+Platinum+Hotel,+East+Flamingo+Road,+Las+Vegas,+NV,+United+States&t=m&z=16&layer=c&cbll=36.113773,-115.172778&panoid=7p0WgVvMZHVeIBVcK88hcA&cbp=12,160.36,,0,-4.65

Videos (pick out the relevant episodes from this playlist):
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL2683876FD1B9027B
(BTW I've no connection with the creators or YouTube, except as a viewer)

pebblesmax

Thanks for the report Stoneman. I'm glad to hear that Dollar have changed to Full/Full. It's much better all round. We have used Alamo for the last few trips for this reason. Will give Dollar another chance now.