Las Vegas guide and MSE thread 2014

Froggitt

I now only do North and Primm.

romangatang

Thanks John - that view does look incredible. We have a fair bit of driving planned while we are there (Grand Canyon, Roos & More...) but I'm sure OH won't mind another ride out in the Mustang.

Frogitt is there any particular reason you prefer North to the South mall?

Also, when buying items in Vegas, is the sales tax already added onto the item like it is here with VAT or is it added on when you come to pay?

John259

All shop prices in the USA exclude sales tax. The same goes for prices in restaurants and for accommodation purchased while there (motels on road trips etc).

There are a few exceptions where posted prices are what you actually pay, for example:
Prices for fuel at gas stations (petrol stations) - but sometimes prices for paying cash are lower than for paying with a credit card.
Entrance fees for national parks etc.
Charges for toll bridges and toll roads (not that you're likely to encounter any of those in the Las Vegas area).

ferf1223

romangatang wrote: »

Hoping to do a bit of shopping while we are there, hopefully get some nice bits and pieces for Christmas presents but have seen there's a few outlets in Vegas (North, South and one at Primm(?) and wondered a) if they're worth it and b) which is better?

I'll speak up for South but I am not that fussed about some of the higher-priced brands...I know most prefer North.

Look at the store lists and you will see there is a lot of duplication between all 3 of them so in that respect they are much of a muchness (though as with all outlets you may find something in one size at one but not the other, etc)...but some have particular stores that the others don't...so to some extent it depends on what you like.

Sales tax is 8.1% (I think) on top of stated prices.

And if you are thinking about going sign up for the VIP club on their website and look through the coupons you can print out before you go....I always thank Luci for this tip (I miss Luci).

vegasvisitor

stoneman wrote: »

4th or 6th floor, cant remember which.
Or you could just get up early and run the strip, we do it about 8am and it's bearable as long as you stay on the side with Flamingo, Quad, etc, you are in shade most of the way and it's only about 80 degrees:T

Heading to look for the treadmill shortly. I can't be bothered with crossing roads but might try the strip another day if up earlier. Thanks.

vegasvisitor

stoneman wrote: »

Why doesn't that surprise me.

Seems that no matter how many times this is brought up they still don't fix it.

Shower door filthy. Not been cleaned in weeks I'd say. Also the worst bit - unidentified substance all over the phone beside the bed, either a big sneeze dried in or I dread to think what. On that note I'm off for a run now.

photome

Froggitt wrote: »

I now only do North and Primm.

Maybe you should give south another try, it has expanded greatly since we last went a couple of years ago to last week, and seems to have gone more upmarket, we still prefer North though.

The sales over labor day weekend were unreal, the calvin klein store had 60% off a lot of stuff and then further reduced by another 20% at the till

vegasvisitor

pebblesmax wrote: »

We've been when it's that temp before Lesley. Tony likes it hot. One time we were there in late June and it got to 114 F.:eek: We just went to Mount Charleston for the day.

You'll be fine. I like this time of year because it's good pool weather but it's hot when out and about. Can spend time indoors to cool down.

We did bonnie springs ranch yesterday. Really interesting.

nvh

Good to see you guys again Lesley - hope you continue to have a great time / great weather.

We have not long got home. Hate all that travel coming back. Always made worse by the annual "AA incompetency" (and grumpiness!) at LAS but we made it in the end and a letter of complaint to BA and AA will follow that up (he argued I wasn't Sapphire - despite having my card, a picture of the status, and a date well within validity, and refused to up my baggage allowance to 2 x 32kg, forcing us to re-pack whilst at the desk... embarassing - apparently the computer never lies so it must be me that's wrong and he wouldn't contact BA to clarify!)

romangatang wrote: »

We have a fair bit of driving planned while we are there (Grand Canyon, Roos & More...) but I'm sure OH won't mind another ride out in the Mustang.

Has Roos'n'more re-opened? Last I looked (around a month ago admittedly), it was shut and needed funding to bring it up to certain 'public standards'. I didn't mention it at the time as I wasn't sure if it was old news.

John259 wrote: »

All shop prices in the USA exclude sales tax.

I haven't found this everywhere - which is what makes it strange / confusing.

We went to the USS Midway (awesome by the way) in San Diego - no sales tax charged (or it was included in the price that was advertised - though unclear).

We went to a Maritime Museum in San Diego - sales tax was charged.

Whilst admittedly neither of the above are shops, I also bought "2 for $1 water" from a 'souvenir' (tat ) shop on the Vegas strip - no sales tax.

ferf1223

nvh wrote: »

Whilst admittedly neither of the above are shops, I also bought "2 for $1 water" from a 'souvenir' (tat ) shop on the Vegas strip - no sales tax.

it varies so much from place to place...but there is no sales tax on grocery/food items in Vegas...probably there are exceptions (when I was young and worked in a US supermarket hot food items purchased at the deli counter attracted a different level of sales tax to a can of spaghetti-os, for example).

I acknowledge that it could not be much more confusing.

And Roos 'n More is still closed including private tours (last I read they could still do the private tours but looking at their website that seems to have changed). Not sure what access is like at the moment with all the flooding.