Advice for internal usa holiday?

matchplayer

We are going to Chicago next year with our Inlaws. (Sept 2015)
We will be visiting their son in Chicago. (Our nephew) However after 4 or 5 days my wife & I want to go to Las Vegas for a week. As we are travelling out with our Brother & Sister in law, should we
A/. Book return flights London - Chicago 14 Days then do our own thing, return flights from Chicago to Vegas.
or
b/. Book outward flight with Inlaws to chicago, then stipulate what we want to do, go to vegas Certain date, & fly back from Vegas to London. or Fly back to chicago & return with the inlaws? Could easily leave a day or two either way so that connections wont be a problem!
Can anyone advise on what issues may arise? Know whether one way is lots cheaper than the other etc. any info greatly appreciated.

Voyager2002

A one-way and a return ticket generally cost about the same, so doing everything with one-way tickets would be expensive. You could ask an agent such as Trailfinders about "open jaw' tickets, allowing you to fly into Chicago and out of Las Vegas.

Sad that people have such a limited imagination that all they can think of doing in North America is visiting a large-scale casino. Alternative options include Montreal (with some of the best French restaurants in the world); the Canadian Rockies with spectacular views and scenery); the city of Vancouver with its great Anthropological museum and wonderful coastline...

ferf1223

I would not even use an agent...just go to kayak or similar and use their multi-city option.

Put in LON->CHI first leg and LAS->LON second

That will give you the open-jaw flights...I always book direct with the airline but that is just me...but I use kayak for pricing to narrow things down.

Then check CHI->LAS internal flights...and book those separately.

as you say, you won't be landing on the transatlantic flight and picking up the internal immediately afterwards so limited risk.

You could also try multi-city LON->CHI, CHI->LAS, LAS->LON...but we have found that normally works out more expensive -I have family near Chicago and we have done exactly this trip quite a few times before.

Keep in mind luggage on the internal flight - likely will not be included, you will likely have to pay for checked bags.

We are going to Vegas for the 23rd time since 2001 next month. There's a LOT more to do their than just casinos particularly if you have a hire car (including several lovely natural options). We love the casinos too...but would not go over and over if that was the only reason to go.

I'm quite happy with my limited imagination.

ferf1223

also - if you want you could just check the other option too...return LON->CHI and return CHI->LAS for comparison...if there was a reason to meet back up with family at the end this would be perfectly do-able.

I personally would find just about anywhere a let-down after Vegas...we have never made a stop on the way home after a Vegas trip...but again, just us.

blindman

matchplayer wrote: »

We are going to Chicago next year with our Inlaws. (Sept 2015)
We will be visiting their son in Chicago. (Our nephew) However after 4 or 5 days my wife & I want to go to Las Vegas for a week. As we are travelling out with our Brother & Sister in law, should we
A/. Book return flights London - Chicago 14 Days then do our own thing, return flights from Chicago to Vegas.
or
b/. Book outward flight with Inlaws to chicago, then stipulate what we want to do, go to vegas Certain date, & fly back from Vegas to London. or Fly back to chicago & return with the inlaws? Could easily leave a day or two either way so that connections wont be a problem!
Can anyone advise on what issues may arise? Know whether one way is lots cheaper than the other etc. any info greatly appreciated.

Do neither

Book a Return trip on AA
(I can't do Sept 15 to far ahead but looking at Oct 9th 14 as outbound:)

4th Oct AA99 LON-LAS which has to stop in ORD (Chicago)

The stop in Chicago can be a long one, easily 4-5 days before you catch the connecting flight to LAS

11th Oct AA 1587 ORD-LAS

17th Oct LAS-LON (if you do not need to stop again at ORD-or anywhere else on the way back)

All for the same price o£ 768.96 of a connecting flight with maybe an hour or so between.

No problem with luggage :cool:

Simples.

John259

Matchplayer, what are you looking for in Las Vegas? I'm wondering if it might be possible to find something within a day's drive of Chicago that would fulfil your desires. Pure gambling would be pretty straightforward because there are quite a few casino resorts within range, but the other aspects of Las Vegas such as the entertainment might be difficult or impossible. Just an idea.

blindman

John259 wrote: »

Matchplayer, what are you looking for in Las Vegas? I'm wondering if it might be possible to find something within a day's drive of Chicago that would fulfil your desires. Pure gambling would be pretty straightforward because there are quite a few casino resorts within range, but the other aspects of Las Vegas such as the entertainment might be difficult or impossible. Just an idea.

Have you ever been?

There is nowhere on the PLANET like Vegas :cool:

Not saying it's all good-but it's a must see in anyone's book IMHO

Gambling is just the tip of the iceberg.

Marmaduke123

A week's a long time for Las Vegas itself, a couple of days was enough for me. There is some fantastic scenery within driving distance though - Zion National Park about 2 and a half hours, Bryce about 4 hrs, Valley of Fire about 1 hr, Red Rock Canyon about half an hour. You shouldn't miss seeing at least some of the fabulous natural sights while you are in the area

ferf1223

Marmaduke123 wrote: »

A week's a long time for Las Vegas itself, a couple of days was enough for me.

and we go for 8-9 nights normally, usually twice a year, this trip is 10 nights...and we cannot wait...it's all personal preference like most of these things.

I do agree that getting out and about is a great idea...Valley of Fire and Red Rock Canyon are so close that they are nice diversions if someone likes that sort of thing but does not want to go too far...and so, so many things to do and see...so long as someone doesn't just arrive and say 'right! what do I do now?' I would be surprised if most people could not fill a week...research is key as there is so, so much available but not all of it immediately obvious.

Obviously I would suggest checking the Vegas sticky as tons of info there.