Las Vegas guide and MSE thread 2014

Ryan_f_3

Hello, just a quick question before I choose my seats, what is the bubble??

ferf1223

secretmachines wrote: »

I know we've done this sort of thing before, but it's fun and I'm getting excited about going!

You've probably also already noted that when we wake up on Saturday we're going to Vegas 'next month'.

What are the first things you do when you arrive in Vegas?

We are very much creatures of habit and not very exciting but we always get checked in, showered and changed in record time, call to make a reservation at PF Chang's (a good learn from many years ago) and hit the casino...so it's pretty much gamble, eat, gamble, bed.

The next morning we pretty much always leave our hotel and wander north stopping in the casinos along the way, stop somewhere for breakfast or lunch (Hash House A Go Go at IP or Grand Lux at Venetian usually - this trip we're thinking Peppermill) and pick up car at TI...then onto WalMart for supplies and coffee maker...back to home base and we're pretty much settled in for the trip then.

What are the regular things you have to do / places you have to go each trip?

We play a game I've mentioned before - we call it slot golf...18 'holes' each at a different casino, $20 each per hole played through once and we record our 'scores'...some holes are designated something specific (reverse - we get the other one's score; no choice - the other one picks the machine; $1 hole, etc.) we have a scoresheet I keep with me and then we tally up and see who had the highest return across the 18 holes. Probably been playing it for 10 years or so. Somewhere my hubby has a compiled spreadsheet with pivot tables and whatnot though it's probably a few trips out of date but it's kind of interesting to see over time which casinos are better to us based on a small sample.

Since we play slots anyway, it's a fun thing for us to have a bit of a competition in doing so.

Other than that we do mostly the usual sorts of things - I can't think of anything particularly unusual...and other than wandering the strip casinos, a few trips to the Station Casinos, M Resort, hitting some shopping centres and eating at PF Chang's, Earl of Sandwich, Stripburger, In and Out and Grand Lux it's mostly a where the day takes us sort of a place for us without that much that we do every single trip.

I suppose geocaching in Vegas is something that is a bit different that we do a bit of...that's become a must do each trip, I always have several that I want to go to and my hubby has started to humour me with a 'caching day' each trip which is fun (also keeps us out of the casinos for the day!)

Our trips are probably pretty boring in the grand scheme of Vegas, but we love them and are getting excited too.

ferf1223

Ryan_f wrote: »

Hello, just a quick question before I choose my seats, what is the bubble??

it's the upstairs bit on the Virgin planes from LGW - economy and PE seating up there now - smaller cabin, feels less crowded and hectic than downstairs can. Some prefer it, some feel a bit claustrophobic. We really liked it when we flew up there as it just seemed more peaceful.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HcdBQL4UnpM

Wammer

secretmachines wrote: »

I know we've done this sort of thing before, but it's fun and I'm getting excited about going!

What are the first things you do when you arrive in Vegas?

What are the regular things you have to do / places you have to go each trip?

We usually go to PH as that is the closest casino to where we are staying. Just have a quick gamble on the slots and back to the hotel as we arrive late on a BA flight.

We always go to the Premium Outlets North at least once and the South as well most trips.

We go to PF Chang's on our second last night for some reason. Usually go to Mon Ami Gabi.

John259

ferf1223 wrote: »

Zion was wonderful, we only went for a day trip...I actually liked it better than the Grand Canyon overall.

Here's another vote for Zion, IMHO it is one of the most beautiful of the US national parks and definitely well worth making an effort to visit if possible.

Utah state highway 9 heading east from I-15 to the Zion Canyon section of the park is increasingly scenic but relatively flat. After passing the town of Springdale, the park's visitor centre, and the junction for the park's scenic drive, Ut9 continues east and climbs with several switchbacks (hairpin bends) and a tunnel (no problem for cars, some restrictions for RV's); there are some stopping points along this road with excellent views.

The park's scenic drive road runs north from Ut9 to the Temple of Sinawava. This road is closed to cars in summer, when it can be accessed by a free shuttle bus service (park your car at the visitor centre on Ut9). IMHO the scenic drive is the best part of Zion and most definitely not to be missed. The scenic drive runs alongside the Virgin River at the bottom of the canyon. There are shuttle bus stops for the various points of interest, the lodge, and the hiking trails.

There's also a separate shuttle bus service from the visitor centre westwards to the various motels and restaurants in the small town of Springdale.

The hiking trails vary enormously. The Riverside Walk is flat and extremely easy, but it leads on to the Narrows trail which is considerably more demanding. The Emerald Pools trail is a little more strenuous but most people wouldn't find it a problem. The Angels Landing trail has some flat sections but also two quite strenuous steep sections with switchbacks, while the final section at the top is extremely dangerous and only suitable for the very fit and very brave.

On Ut9 east of the tunnel there's another rather different aspect of the park to see, including Checkerboard Mesa.

The park also has another section called Kolob Canyons, accessed from I-15 between St George and Cedar City. This is well worth a brief visit if you're passing on the interstate but probably not worth a special trip if you're tight for time.

Some distances from Zion Canyon:

Hurricane 24 miles (smallish town, adequate range of motels and restaurants).

St George 42 miles (large town, huge range of motels, restaurants and shops; impressive Mormon temple).


Cedar City 89 miles (medium sized town, good range of motels, restaurants and shops).

Kolob Canyons section of Zion NP about 40 miles.

Cedar Breaks National Monument about 80 miles (somewhat similar to Bryce Canyon but IMHO well worth a visit even if you're also visiting Bryce).

Bryce Canyon NP 84 miles (a series of amphitheatres with umpteen weird and fabulous rock formations).

Grand Canyon North Rim 121 miles.

Las Vegas 165 miles.

There's more information and photos on the US National Park Service web site and Wikipedia, and some good videos on YouTube, including the extremely impressive but extremely frightening "Extreme Hiking Angels Landing with the 7d".

nvh

I'm sure people were asking about this not long ago? Just in case you haven't seen:

Seldom_Seen_Kid

Seldom_Seen_Kid wrote: »

On myvegas can I book a weekend room at MC, and then can my wife book a weekend room at MC? I take it that it will then be easy to link the 2 together, and that they will not make us change rooms.

I am looking at booking Signature 26th May to 30th May as the rates are great, but the price shouts up for Friday 30th and Saturday 31st. We then travel home on Sunday 1st June.

Just hoping someone can answer my question above.
Basically, I would book the Friday night and my wife would book the Satruday night.
We have made the purchases, and I was hoping to book them with myvegas this evening, but twice I was on hold for 30 minutes and never got through.

EDIT : All sorted. Booking 1 room with 2 rewards on 2 accounts (wifes and my own) was no issue whatsoever. Gentleman on the phone stated that he had linked the bookings, and so we would not have to change rooms etc. MC May 30th and 31st here we come.

StuieUK34

see u there, were there for 5 nights from 28th !

evo1

So myself and 7 friends go to Vegas next month (11th -19th) and are wondering a few things - if anyone can help that would be brilliant.

Firstly, is there any news on the zip wire across downtown? I've seen lots of blogs and review websites stating early 2014 but no confirmation.

Would it be better to book excursions and activities before hand or when we're in Vegas? I'm worried about availability if we don't book in advance, however one of the lads believes it's cheaper to wait until we're out there due to the amount of booths and reps trying to sell deals - lower prices.

We also arrive in time for the Manny fight at the MGM - not holding out much hope of getting a ticket so can anyone recommend a decent place to watch the fight?

thanks all :T

photome

Slotzilla zip wire wont be open

http://www.vegaschatter.com/story/2014/2/12/201029/693/vegas-travel/The+New+Rumor+On+Fremont+About+Slotzilla

Most comments wish it had never been built and hope it will be torn down without opening


What attractions and excursions do you want

have you read the first few posts of this thread