Las Vegas guide and MSE thread 2014

Froggitt

StuieUK34 wrote: »

All this talk about SatNav, there is an even better tool available, and its free!!!
Google Maps!!!

Plus, Google maps now has turn by turn voice commands, just like a satnav!!! So if you have data in the US, makes sense.


I couldn't get an offline turn by turn maps app working when last in the USA, even though I had downloaded all the maps before I left.

ferf1223

we used to uses printed google maps with turn by turn detail but we much prefer the sat nav now...we do go to the US 2-3x a year so the cost of the sat nav is well worth it to us. I also quite like the estimated time of arrival displayed and also always having a view when our next exit is coming up (and if it's a left or right exit).

iltisman

I also agree that a Walmart TomTom GPS is a good option especially in cities where selecting a good lane prior to leaving the freeway is important.
I also buy a $8 atlas for planning purposes .

Owenmc60

VegasGuy wrote: »

Owenmc60 wrote: »

Cheers for all that info! Do you know how much drinks cost? Also, what kinda food do they serve, we're on the Sunday flight leaving Manc at about 9:15am. Is it just one meal or a few?

Finally, do you know where I might find info on these referbed planes. We've loaded my tablet up with Vegas related films anyway, so we don't have to rely on an old IFE for the journey [/QUOTE

Food was OK standard plane food, we got two meals and the drinks are very expensive. And you can contact thomas cook with on line chat and they can tell you if your on the refurb plane. If it has a premium cabin it hasent been refurbished.

Wont let me post a link but if you type "thomas cook in flight magazine" into google you can view the magazine on line showing what entertainment will be playing on the IFE and the cost of drinks.

Cinny91 wrote: »

We flew with them in June and have no complaints! We were in the "premium" cabin, which really just meant extra butt room as everyone got the same service. They did about 3 cart runs during the flight, between meals and afternoon tea/breakfast. Food was fine, but we'd been on a diet pre-Vegas so I think we were just enjoying eating something that wasn't 90% salad Puddings were delish in their own right though! There's a little Boots and WH Smiths in the terminal while you wait so I'd just grab drinks and snacks from there. Pop them in your carry on and get them out as you need them That's what we did on the way back, mostly because I wasn't ready to let go of the little fat american bottles. But if you're talking about drink drinks, I don't think they were too badly priced.

IFE was fine for us, not dated at all? If you log into the portal where you put in your flight details you can download PDFs of the menu/movie guide which comes with prices. We had the touch screen doodahs, only tip would be when you click on "channels" just wait about 5 seconds and the channel list will come up. So many people were confused be the delayed reaction, and the films played on a loop on our flight.

Also found that the TC flights were the first to land, so it only took about 20 minutes to get through border control and out to the taxis. You also get given a little pack when you're leaving the airport from a rep that's full of free food/drink vouchers.

We're actually planning our next holiday with them in Spring, was wondering why all the flight options had changed on the booking forms VegasGuy. Are they just making the whole flight "premium" level?

Thanks alot for all that great info! Very helpful :beer:

photome

Froggitt wrote: »

Plus, Google maps now has turn by turn voice commands, just like a satnav!!! So if you have data in the US, makes sense.


I couldn't get an offline turn by turn maps app working when last in the USA, even though I had downloaded all the maps before I left.

you shouldnt need data to use google maps as it uses GPRS which is free i think

dedicated sat nav wins though IMO, although we have always used a map or nothing and hoped for the best, got lost a few times mind.

Got a sat nav for this coming trip though :T:T thanks to you know who!

photome

whats happening with the dollar, 4 weeks before we go

Misty_Blue

photome wrote: »

whats happening with the dollar, 4 weeks before we go

Same here; we have just under 4 weeks. Really wishing I'd bitten the bullet and bought a few weeks back!

doodle_bug

Target is nothing like currys, it's like walmart but mostly cheaper or a lot cheaper and the shops and staff are a lot nicer. We took a 3 year old without her buggy but bought a great buggy in Target for $17 (10 quid) it is great so easy to fold up and effortless to push.

ferf1223

Indout96 wrote: »

Target are an electrical discount supermarket (think Currys on steroids) and will probably be cheaper than Wallmart but harder to find.

Do you mean Fry's? Or Best Buy?

Agree that Target is more like WalMart than Currys...I like Target a lot, always have...it has its time and place and sometimes may have good deals on electronics but not sure it would be my go-to place for them.

vegasvisitor

StuieUK34 wrote: »

All this talk about SatNav, there is an even better tool available, and its free!!!
Google Maps!!!
I always use that before going to look at major roads and how to get to the places, and then write down the turns/rd names etc if it gets a bit crazy.....

When we drove from Vegas to our hotel in Santa Clarita, i google mapped it, and then wrote down the turns/rd names for my co-pilot (wifey ) to look out for...
Bit more fun doing it that way....
Don't watch the movie 'Wrong Turn' before planning something like that mind! hah!!!!
Seriously, google maps for the win for navigation!

I use google maps too. Problem with them (probably sounds like the movie you mention!) is that if you take a wrong turn you're knackered. I thought it might be easier than the way my husband goes....next left ah ah you need to get across and get off and then we miss it. Was worse in LA though, probably Phoenix won't be anywhere near as bad!