Las Vegas guide and MSE thread 2014

Froggitt

There was a good documentary about building the Palazzo on Quest TV. Part of it involved renovating the Venetian. They literally stripped the rooms bare......curtains, bed, table, telly, sofas.....everything. And then put all new stuff in. That's how to do a renovation.

Yinster

OH wants to do the Grand Canyon when we are there in February. Can anyone give advice to the bus vs Flight plus which rim would be better?

John259

Yinster wrote: »

OH wants to do the Grand Canyon when we are there in February. Can anyone give advice to the bus vs Flight plus which rim would be better?

Grand Canyon West (aka West Rim) isn't the real thing. It's generally regarded as a third-rate commercial rip-off. It's about 100 miles west of the real thing in the national park. Grand Canyon West is where all the helicopter trips from Las Vegas go, and where the Skywalk is.

The north rim of the national park will be closed for the winter in February.

The south rim of the national park will be open, but the roads might be subject to snow and ice. The south rim is about 275 miles each way by road from Las Vegas, freeway standard from Las Vegas to Williams (US93 going past the Hoover Dam to Kingman, then I-40), then a two-lane but fairly flat and straight road to the park. Between Kingman and Seligman there's the option of taking Arizona State Highway 66 instead of I-40 for a big of old Route 66 (it's two-lane but reasonably fast; probably not wise in winter).

Accommodation in the park itself is very expensive and usually needs to be reserved many months in advance, although you can sometimes take advantage of a cancellation if you're lucky. There's less expensive accommodation in Tusayan which is just outside the national park's south entrance. There's a much wider range of accommodation, including mid-price and budget motels, in Williams and Flagstaff but they're further from the park (approximately 60 miles and 80 miles respectively). However, a day trip from Williams or Flagstaff is definitely possible. A day trip by road from Las Vegas is also just about possible but it's a long time on the road and not long in the park.

At least one company runs day trips to the south rim of the national park using small fixed wing aircraft which land at Tusayan airfield. Then they bus you to the park. They also offer an optional add-on helicopter trip over the canyon in the national park (for an extra cost of course).

Several companies run bus trips from Las Vegas to the south rim of the national park.

A bit of Googling will find the companies and their offerings. Just be sure to check where they go, Grand
Canyon West or the south rim of the national park.

The Grand Canyon section of the US National Park Service web site has a lot of useful information, and a map of the park (link in the left margin):
http://www.nps.gov/grca/index.htm

You can use the free shuttle buses to get around the park. In winter the Hermits Rest bus route isn't operative so you can drive up that road yourself if you have a car. That's where some of the best views are.

Hiking down into the canyon, something which not many visitors do, requires judgement of when to turn back. Like cyclists in the Tour de France, going downhill is much easier than going uphill.

Hope this helps.

silvercar

At least one company runs day trips to the south rim of the national park using small fixed wing aircraft which land at Tusayan airfield. Then they bus you to the park. They also offer an optional add-on helicopter trip over the canyon in the national park (for an extra cost of course).

We did this. It included collection by mini bus from our hotel, flight to near the south rim, helicopter ride into the canyon and coach trip to the rim, including time for walking round and a packed lunch. The coach then took us back to the airport for the flight home. It was a long day but well worth it.

The mini buses at both ends amalgamate people who have booked with different groups, so I imagine it is all the same tour whoever you book with.

For those that haven't flown little planes/ helicopters before, the little plane (20 seater) was far scarier than the helicopter.

masterwilde

so how many of you have hosts, and how did you go about getting one with mlife please

photome

masterwilde wrote: »

so how many of you have hosts, and how did you go about getting one with mlife please

I think Ferf answered that when you asked before.....I think she said they find you, rather than the other way round.

Not sure anyone on here has one

Froggitt

masterwilde wrote: »

so how many of you have hosts, and how did you go about getting one with mlife please

Here's mine

weiser

does anyone know the dates for springbreak 2015 cheers

photome

weiser wrote: »

does anyone know the dates for springbreak 2015 cheers

I think it lasts for most of March

secretmachines

weiser wrote: »

does anyone know the dates for springbreak 2015 cheers

http://www.ststravel.com/2014-college-spring-break-dates

Mainly 28 Feb - 11 Apr, with just a few colleges a week earlier and a week later.