Las Vegas guide and MSE thread 2014

marsman802

Hi Davey - there's not much scope for it to move too far in a few months however if you get a ballpark of how much £ you would transfer or how many $ you would want then you can see, depending on exchange rate, how much it could theoretically cost you.

A lot of the time you'll notice a cost difference that doesn't equate to too much.

I would say that 1.62 is good these days although checkout http://travelmoney.moneysavingexpert.com/ for the best currently depending on your location.

wr1ght

just booked for september staying in Aria cannot wait so exited
:j:T:beer::D

ferf1223

Happy new year, all.

secretmachines - thanks for such a great job on the 2013 and now 2014 threads...and photome and trets before you.

Triolette - we like Bally's...is it a great choice for a first stay? Maybe not...it doesn't have much of a wow factor, certainly nothing like many others...the casino is a bit meh...the pool is pretty basic (but has a deep end which is rare in Vegas).. I haven't checked what the schedule is for the construction out front but would think before September...I am not sure what we will make of the whole shopping area out front...time will tell. But the rooms are really big...and they've now renovated the south tower rooms...it's a great location as you know. It's probably a bit early for the best deals to be out - but if you can book it on a refundable reservation and keep your eyes open for deals closer to the time that might be an idea.

DaveyGee - the current exchange rate is the highest its been since August 2011 for what that's worth.

http://www.oanda.com/currency/historical-rates/

nvh

photome wrote: »

We could also spend a couple of days in Death Valley as there are so many sights to see, particularly like walking on the salt flats, the golf course and the sand dunes

Agreed if you just want to go to Death Valley so you can say "you've been", then you just need a day - if you want to see the sights though you will need more than a day (because they're quite spread out).

I don't want to sound like a broken record (apologies to the regulars), but I'd always recommend going and staying at Furnace Creek Ranch - http://www.furnacecreekresort.com/lodging/the-ranch-at-furnace-creek/ for at least 1 night. We've been at least a few times in September... it's a place I couldn't get bored of.

The rates there are 'flat' for the week (IIRC ~$150 p/night inc. resort fee?), so if strip prices rise at the weekend, it's a good time to checkout and hit the road (as you'll be going in an opposite direction to all the other traffic) and make the most of Death Valley.

It's a great place to chill and has a lovely spring fed pool... not to mention there is very little light pollution so you sit out at night with a beer / wine, staring up at the sky.

I don't think SecretMachines includes any trip reports pre-2012 in the first post so doubt you've seen this unless you've gone trawling back, but here's my TR that covers DV from 2010.... it's still valid.

Furness Creek Ranch – here for two nights in a basic cabin room (200's block) – we've stayed here before and although it's expensive ($153 p/night including rediculous $10 p/night resort fee!), and basic (compared to Vegas), it was also Labour Day weekend so one of the cheapest and quietest places to be! Not many dining options but this place has a great (perhaps unique?) pool, and quite a bit of wildlife roaming about... and oh yeah, it's a tad warm there too! (48 degrees in the evening... not sure if that temperature incorporates the ground burning your feet off and the 30mph hot wind in your face haha)

Death Valley
Got here around 4:30 on Saturday 4th, was 48c outside! Fridge wasn't working at first so got it exchanged.

Pool was nice as always, and went to the Corkscrew Saloon for a few drinks – missus had a 'shiraz' type rose @ $9 a glass, before downgrading to the Zinfandel @ $6. I had a couple of Fat Tires (draft) for $5.75

Rooms are basic and the air-con (unit fixed to wall) makes a 'thumping' noise every now and again.

We did 'North Valley' on the first full day (Sunday 5th) and 'South Valley' on the day we move back to Vegas (Monday 6th) so we can do Primm on the way.

North Death Valley – Went to Salt Creek (unpaved for a mile or so) – it was all dried up but in the cooler months of the year, they have 'pupfish' in the pools there. On the boardwalk out over where the pools would be, we kept getting chased by massive black flies... you could hear them buzzing from a mile away and they were probably completely harmless but we kept having to run just in case! Also saw some small lizards out ther on the boardwalks.

Went on to the Devils Corn Field (ArrowWeed resembling a corn field) and on the the Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes – got out for some photos – the missus had to walk really slowly as boiling hot sand kept going in her sandals!

Then moved on to Stove Pipe Wells village to get lunch

Then went on split off at Emigrant Canyon, driving through Nemo Canyon and up Wildrose Canyon to see the Charcoal Kilns – final 2 miles were unpaved but it was odd to go out there and see a dozen or so large kilns! They still smelt 'charcoaly' too! Weather was more bearble up here as you're a few thousand feet up

Finally went back and drove up to Zabriski point for sunset – was packed up there – loads of people and the car park full so you just had to abandon it anywhere!

South Death Valley – Went around Artists Driveway and also drove up to Artists Palette. Was going to do some other bits but unfortunately it was getting really hot with the mid-day sun and also we weren't sure we could cope with any more unpaved roads!

Drove on to Badwater (lowest point in Death Valley) for a picture of the 'sea level' sign high up on the rocks – was busy down here as coaches kept turning up with loads of people on them. Saw the only bit of natural water outside of Furness Creek here, where the spring comes up through one of the faultlines. Supposed to be fish & snails in the water but we saw none.

Walked down on to the saltflats for a bit of a mooch about too.

Golf – in the room, they had an 'Extreme Golf' offer advertised (that had expired on 2nd September!! doh!) which was club rental, 9 holes, electric cart, golf balls, tee's and ice bottled water for $30. I went to the course the day before our last day to enquire what the price was outside of this offer and book a tee time and ended up chatting to a South American guy outside the shop who gave me some tee's and golf balls as his bags were already too heavy for the plane. We had water in the freezer compartment of our fridge so just needed a price for the clubs and 9 holes (electric cart was included anyways) – was just $35 so decided I would do this on the final morning in death valley. Guy in shop said no need to book a tee time as not busy so got up at 6:20 the next morning (sunrise) – wow! What an experience!

It's the world's lowest golf course, the first (and possibly) only time i'll get to drive one of those carts and we saw rabbits, and coyotes as I went around the course! The missus even came and did some of the cart driving – at one point, one of the coyotes started running and ran straight past her!

I may have missed some bits out - so have a read here if you want - there's probably pics there too...
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/2174765

Any questions - just give me a shout or drop me a message

Note - although we've done Death Valley in a 4x4, I really wanted to hire a convertible on the above trip... note that some of the routes we did (mentioned above) are 'uncomfortable' (to say the least) where unpaved!!

photome

DaveyGee wrote: »

Happy New Year!

What is a reasonable/good rate for US Dollars?

Not been to USA in about 4 years but know its been around 1.5ish for a while. Have seen that travelex have 1.619 as the current rate, is this the best it has been for a while? Going to Vegas in May so wondering whether to maybe get some currency just now. Opinions?

Its a great rate at the moment but who knows what it will be like in May. I rarely buy any dollars before I go anymore and rely on my Clarity card in an ATM and hope that the rate is still up there when we go.

As you are not going until may you do have time to arm yourself with the best plastic

see the travelmoneymaximiser

nvh

nvh wrote: »

It's a great place to chill and has a lovely spring fed pool... not to mention there is very little light pollution so you sit out at night with a beer / wine, staring up at the sky.

I forgot to add that they have a convenience store on the way in to the ranch (down where the check-in / bar / restaurants all are etc), so as long as you take a bottle opener (or buy one from the store!), you can get beers and wine from there. They also sell sandwiches, bread, etc etc.

You get 'patio chairs' outside your room, and a fridge in your room... or we've just sat outside of the store before on the benches next to the thermometer

ferf1223

TBH the current dollar rate is tempting to me...we're not going until April but we normally bring our first few days $ in cash and use our Metro/Santander cards to withdraw the additional...since the rate is better than it has been for a few years I'm tempted to buy some and tuck it away and either feel proud of myself for doing so or being mildly annoyed that I jumped the gun.

duchy

Happy new thread and Happy New Year to one and all

Triolette

I think we've decided to forget about LA this trip and do California in a separate holiday in the future. I'd rather do vegas, Death Valley and Grand Canyon properly and LA, the coast And San Fran at a later date.

So... Is it better to have a better room in a good hotel, or a basic room in a better hotel. Decisions decisions.

marsman802

basic rooms in better hotels are absolutely great in my humble opinion.

The revamped rooms at the Tropicana are lovely and the "basic" rooms in the Palazzo are just unbelievable.

You don't want to spend too much time in a room anyway :-)