Las Vegas guide and MSE thread 2014

photome

secretmachines wrote: »

We stay at the Vdara which is directly opposite, a couple of times we've been taken via the tunnel and up the i-15, and also up Swenson and then E Harmon.

I keep forgetting to pay attention, but I think it might be easier to access the Aria/Vdara by going up the i-15, so the tunnel's not out of the question. But I'm yet to drive it myself, so not really sure!

You could ask to be driven via the Kiss Mini golf, as I think that's on the way using the most direct route... You could just say you want to see where it is!

I would have thought Paradise and Harmon would be best as harmon goes directly in to City center/Aria/Vdara

John259

romangatang wrote: »

never driven abroad, does anyone have any useful tips?

Don't panic. Most of the time driving in the USA is much easier than in Britain.

You might like to do a virtual drive in Google Maps StreetView mode along the route from where you'll pick up the car to your first destination.

Make sure you know the different driving rules in the USA. One way of doing that is with the relevant section of a driver's handbook for just about any state (a few obscure rules differ between states but most things are the same everywhere). This is the equivalent of the UK Highway Code. Ignore the irrelevant legal bits, just concentrate on the rules of the road. Here's the handbook for Nevada (Adobe Acrobat/PDF format):
http://www.dmvnv.com/pdfforms/dlbook.pdf

Perhaps try exploring in StreetView and watching a few dashcam and road trip videos on YouTube to see how normal roads and freeways are laid out in cities, towns and out in the country. Here's one example, driving through the fairly small town of Bishop in California:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5fWTa8sTgSg

If you're not familiar with driving an automatic car, have a go in a friend's car if possible.

Owenmc60

romangatang wrote: »

When are everyone's trips? It's just under 60 days until we go now.

We are hiring a car as we are going to GC and HD, along with a trip to Red Rock if we feel like it. OH is doing all the driving but has never driven abroad, does anyone have any useful tips?

Also, has anyone flown with Thomas Cook to LV recently, I've never flown long haul and heard some horror stories about flying with them. Any tips for the flight would be good too!

I'm interested to hear about this too, as we're flying out on 3rd Aug (SO CLOSE :j :j ) with Thomas Cook from Manchester.

It would be great to hear of people experiences with them, whats the food/drink service like? And whats the in-flight entertainment like? Cheers! :beer:

bubble113

I go on 17th August!

I have flown with TC from Manchester but it was a few years ago now and have since flown with Virgin. I don't recall it being horrible and would go with them again if the price was right, it just seems price and days of flights that Virgin offer have worked better for us. I remember the IFE isn't as good as Virgin and luggage allowance was less. Food doesn't seem to bring any bad memories back so must have been edible!

Flying long haul is boring but so worth it when you get there!

ferf1223

photome wrote: »

To be honest i wouldnt worry about it.

I dont like being long hauled but then I know my around Vegas, for a newbie, just ask for the Aria (you could say I dont want to go through the tunnel) and pay the man at the end.
If he has longhauled you it will still be less than $30.

In the grand scheme of things he may overcharge you by £5 dont let that spoil your hols

This is our approach, really...we kind of make a game of it now...making sure that the driver is aware it's not our first time - we make reference to 'back for trip 2X!' or something like that and see if he longhauls us (about 50/50)...if we were to try to avoid it we woudl probably ask for the quickest route as that's what we prefer anyway and that may be the tunnel or may not be.

I absolutely understand why people get upset about being tunnelled since it's illegal...and probably people like my hubby and me not challenging drivers makes them more bold to do it to others so that is bad of us...

John259

FWIW I found this web page with some advice about reporting long-hauling: http://www.aboutfact.com/Las-Vegas-Taxi-Scam-Long-Haul

Froggitt

I always manage to long haul myself whenever I pick up a rental car at the airport!!! Especially in winter when its dark.

romangatang

John259 That's incredibly useful, thanks for that. We are picking the car up from the airport, then driving to the Flamingo. Will google map it and make a note of when to turn off etc. Can anyone tell me if the hotels are sign posted on the road? Am I right in assuming the car entrances are round the back or side of the hotel?

Oh Owenmc60 really close for you then! If you get chance, do you mind reporting back about how you find TC? We are flying from Manchester too. We haven't booked inflight meals so plan on buying a couple meal deals each at the airport.

Thanks, bubble113 glad to hear your experience with TC wasn't bad. We would have preferred to fly with Virgin but the prices we found were reasonable.

How do you all find the jet lag?

doodle_bug

My sat nav long hauls me as well.
I got a nice Garmin sat nav from Target there with lifetime map updates for £49. You will find a lot of good bargains in Target.

ferf1223

romangatang wrote: »

Am I right in assuming the car entrances are round the back or side of the hotel?

some are along the side, some have access right out front...most (all?) have a back entrance as well off the road that runs behind the property.

The hotels are enormous so they are their own sign posts, really. There normally are some signs as well but by the time you can see most you may be passing the turn...It can sometimes be a bit confusing knowing when to turn in if you are not familiar with the area - sometimes I make a move to turn too soon and realise I am lining up to turn into the property next to the one that I actually want and have to get back over. Traffic on the strip is normally quite slow and while there are plenty of people who won't let someone else over, there are others who will so you will be fine.

Worth noting that you will not collect your hire car at the airport itself but the consolidated rental facility.

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place/7135+Gilespie+St,+Las+Vegas,+NV+89119,+USA/@36.0600413,-115.1643417,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m2!3m1!1s0x80c8cf5e373bfff5:0xd440a10ea8ff9049