Las Vegas guide and MSE thread 2014

jonesMUFCforever

Kit1 wrote: »

This will be our very first trip so feeling a little unsure but looking forward to it.

We are trying to make a list of places to visit so we make the most of our days there. We plan to visit Fremont Street and wondered if any of you lovely people who have been before us can tell us the best way to get there from the strip.

We have also booked a trip to the Canyon and to see Jersey Boys.

Any other ideas would be good too

Local buses take you there (or a cab) they stop just across the street from Fremont street. We went twice once during the day and the evening when the sounds and lightshow is on - well worth the visit.
Whilst down there we went to the Golden Nugget to see the gold nugget and the shark pool. (We were asked to show wrist band/room keys to get to the pool but we explained we just wanted to see the pool and they let us in).Also visited the Pawn shop from TV's History channel if that is your thing.


LOL we must have similar tastes - we also went to the Grand canyon - bus for us this time - it does take a long time to get there and back but we preferred this to flying. I won't recommend who to travel with as there are many operators depending on your preferences and funds available.
I was very impressed with the Paris hotel where Jersey boys performs - if you have time have a walk around the old Parisienne streets - we got tickets on the day at the half price booths all over the strip and in some hotels.


If you like magic shows can I recommend Penn and Teller at the Rio - they do a meet and greet after the show where you can get autographs and photos.
Have a great time whatever you do.

ferf1223

we used to taxi downtown in the evening, but now we take the SDX as it's quite a lot less expensive ($8 for a 24-hour pass you could use to do a few other things too) and not that long of a ride. I would not take the Deuce as it stops sooo often. It's quite easy to take the bus but I know some would rather just taxi and be done with it.

21yrold

lizzielie wrote: »

Thanks for that 21yrold! We have actually never made it to the Eiffel Tower, considered Mandalay and House of Blues, but staying at the Mirage, it would be a long way back to the hotel Will have to check it out though on our last night, as Hubby just booked our last night there using MyVegas. Anyone here been to Vegas of NYE and have some good tips?

I wouldn't say dont go up it, I hate Paris so I said to the GF we would stay at the Paris (which is great) and then its like we have gone to Paris lmao

I just wouldn't base my NYE on it, or any other night tbh!

I would recommended Mix lounge for sure thou, we got the bus down, got drunk and walked to the sign for photos haha, its a lot of fun..as much as you can make getting a bus lol

jodles16

Hello all! Just wondering what your personal experiences are of the Canyon tours, is it worth a helicopter ride? Sky walk included or do it once there? Go to the base? Budget is flexible at the moment as we are saving and have not booked yet, have seen so many packages for a variable amount of money and just wanted to know what the must do's are with regard to the Gran Canyon!

Thanks!

Jodles

photome

jodles16 wrote: »

Hello all! Just wondering what your personal experiences are of the Canyon tours, is it worth a helicopter ride? Sky walk included or do it once there? Go to the base? Budget is flexible at the moment as we are saving and have not booked yet, have seen so many packages for a variable amount of money and just wanted to know what the must do's are with regard to the Gran Canyon!

Thanks!

Jodles

IMO the must do, regarding the grand canyon is go to the south rim rather than the west rim (where the skywalk is).

Further away and worth an overnight trip IMO, to see both sunrise and sunset

photome

ferf1223 wrote: »

we arrive on the 18th so will miss you by a week. I am a bit anxious about spring break and March Madness...I hope that we didn't get too sucked in by the Virgin reward seat sale and end up regretting our dates. We'll have my in-laws with us and are planning on getting out and about during the days so hopefully the crowds won't be that bothersome.

Thats a shame.

We have been a few times during March madness, not really sure if it makes any difference

John259

photome wrote: »

IMO the must do, regarding the grand canyon is go to the south rim rather than the west rim (where the skywalk is).

Further away and worth an overnight trip IMO, to see both sunrise and sunset

Agreed. By road it's about 275 miles each way from Las Vegas to the south rim of the national park, so a day trip by car or bus involves a lot of time on the road, won't give you much time in the park, and won't allow you to experience sunrise or sunset. Map: https://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=Las+Vegas,+NV,+United+States&daddr=Grand+Canyon+Village,+AZ,+United+States&hl=en&ll=36.199958,-113.444824&spn=3.21347,6.696167&sll=37.6,-95.665&sspn=49.738899,107.138672&geocode=FdXoJwIdChsj-SnRffWkgre-gDGjebPV5tXMOg%3BFawlJgIdseBQ-Skl4_-VTxczhzGhniKadMLMuA&oq=grand+canyon+village&mra=ls&t=m&z=8
Apart from the distance, it's an extremely easy drive. From Las Vegas to Williams is freeway. From Williams to the south rim is a two-lane road but fairly straight and flat. The Hoover Dam is on the route, just east of Las Vegas. From Kingman to Seligman there's an option of taking Arizona state highway 66 instead of I-40 for a bit of old Route 66.
FWIW there's a tourist train ride available from Williams to the Canyon but there are no views of the Canyon from the train.
All the helicopter trips from Las Vegas go to Grand Canyon West (the West Rim, where the Skywalk is) which is about 100 miles west of the real Grand Canyon i.e. the national park.
However, at least one company runs day trips by small fixed wing aircraft from Las Vegas to Tusayan airstrip (just outside the national park) then you're bused into the park. There's an optional add-on helicopter flight over the national park but those flights aren't allowed to go below the rim.
http://www.viator.com/tours/Las-Vegas/Deluxe-Grand-Canyon-South-Rim-Airplane-Tour/d684-5235EXPLORER
Grand Canyon Village, the central area on the South Rim, has a lot of buildings and usually a lot of visitors. In summer there's a free shuttle bus along the Hermit's Rest road where there are better views, far less people and hardly any buildings, making for a far superior experience IMHO. In winter when that shuttle bus route doesn't run you can drive this road yourself. Throughout the year you can drive the road which heads eastwards for more overlooks and views, and time permitting the loop back via US89 and Flagstaff is interesting, with several national monuments along the route including Wupatki (ancestral pueblo people ruins).
To avoid the need to book accommodation months in advance and pay stratospheric rates for lodging in the park itself, you can stay in Tusayan, or to really save money stay in Williams or Flagstaff but they're some way away.
Videos:
A trip to Las Vegas and the south rim (includes some footage of the roads between them) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-UjRDToxqxY
Hermits Rest free shuttle bus route https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SCMRKElBkgA
Hoover Dam https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JSofKm1CYvU
Arizona 66 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YVd2iTCkYQw

ps StreetView:
In Grand Canyon Village https://maps.google.com/maps?q=grand+canyon+village&hl=en&ll=36.058009,-112.137124&spn=0.003144,0.006539&sll=37.6,-95.665&sspn=49.738899,107.138672&hnear=Grand+Canyon+Village,+Coconino+County,+Arizona&t=m&z=18&layer=c&cbll=36.058009,-112.137124&panoid=LJk_PqVbTQfIlM9uFn6nYg&cbp=12,12.29,,0,10.56
At Powell Point on the Hermits Rest road https://maps.google.com/maps?q=Powell+Point,+Grand+Canyon+Village,+AZ,+United+States&hl=en&ll=36.072282,-112.152354&spn=0.006287,0.013078&sll=36.058009,-112.137124&sspn=0.003161,0.006539&oq=powell&t=m&z=17&layer=c&cbll=36.072491,-112.152122&panoid=LfAeyNUSuD-HdpHNoQGayA&cbp=12,52.2,,0,6.57
If you're not familiar with StreetView: to move along a path or road click on the image; to turn or tilt the camera drag the image. If you do a virtual walk to the end of the Powell Point path you'll get some great views.

jodles16

Thank you Photome and John259, very comprehensive reviews! Hubby would definately consider driving out in Vegas, so it could be good even to hire a car for a two day trip! We are big nature fans and love the idea of staying out in such an amazing place!

So excited, I cant wait till we can afford to book!

Jodles

parcival

Agree - the South rim is by far the best. I would recommend staying overnight in Flagstaf which is an interesting place and the drive is easy and fairly pretty.

John259

Here's the Grand Canyon section of the US National Park Service web site. There's lots of practical information there, and a link in the left margin to a map of the park:
http://www.nps.gov/grca/index.htm
BTW if anyone's wondering:
The north rim of the national park is over 210 miles by road from the south rim, is far less developed, and is closed all winter.
The name "east rim" is occasionally used for the area along Arizona state highway 64 to the east of Grand Canyon Village, in other words it's the eastern part of the south rim.
Another video: a hike from the rim to the river and back up to the rim all in one day - something which only people who are extremely fit and know exactly what they're doing should attempt:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1VAgC6VsHAo#t=1692