Las Vegas guide and MSE thread 2015

pebblesmax

Mandalay Bay buffet rewards are a voucher that you have to sign at the buffet check in. Nine Fine Irishmen Bogo rewards are also a voucher. We used the bogo entree and got a voucher for $35 which we were told in the restaurant could be used for anything.

I think all the others we used were just applied straight to the card.

azzap

StuieUK34 wrote: »

azzap
check back on Monday, i'll let you know
To note, we did it last year (drove from Vegas to LA on the Thurs, took 4hrs), and drove back to Vegas on the Sunday late morning, and took about 3hrs 45...
Just to note, we were in a Camero SS ;-) and Sheriff Buford T Justice wasn't always around....
On Sunday when we land in LA, i'll be getting us a big SUV, so I guess normal driving, so will post on Monday how long it takes us

We are picking up in LAX and the plan was to do a one way rental to Vegas and fly back to LA to connect with our inbound, however the cost of a one way car rental is higher than I thought. Even though the rental would be idle for our 4 days in Vegas, returning it back to LAX looks like the more affordable option, plus the drive seems manageabe. Any thoughts? We will also be in a big SUV this time.

Froggitt

Unless its changed, the rental companies listed on page one do one way rentals across NV CA and AZ......give them a call to confirm. ch3000 we used. We once flew to SFO, 2 days, flew to Vegas, a week or so with car, and then drove to LAX to drop off car and fly back.

Froggitt

A one day rental with a full tank of fuel thrown used to be a bargain.

azzap

Froggitt wrote: »

A one day rental with a full tank of fuel thrown used to be a bargain.

If that's still the case then a one way rental from LA this Vegas with a 'one day, one way' rental for the return could be an option. Saves keeping the car idle and potentially paying for parking, plus it sounds almost just as quick driving as it is flying back to LA from Vegas

Froggitt

Not many places in Vegas charge for parking.
Driving back you also get to stop at Rosie O'Donnels diner or whatever its called somewhere before Barstow from memory......

azzap

Froggitt wrote: »

Not many places in Vegas charge for parking.
Driving back you also get to stop at Rosie O'Donnels diner or whatever its called somewhere before Barstow from memory......

Two hotels we have in mind do. Albeit that's a choice and I see that most don't. Will need to look into rental costs properly of a LA > LA rental keeping the car in Vegas with us vs two one ways (LA > LV, LV > LA).

vegasvisitor

Short Trip Report from our recent trip 9-19th May San Diego/Vegas

Sat 9th May
Flew to San Diego, arrived at hotel (Best Western Plus Marina Gateway). Checked in around 10pm, put stuff in room and unpacked enough for that night and next day. Went over to Goodie's pub beside the hotel for one drink (to stay awake late and hopefully sleep late!).

Sun 10th May
Woke up too early, about 4am. Waited till it got light and went out for a jog at 6am. Went over to Walmart about a mile from hotel. Dropped snacks back at hotel. Drove down I-5 out onto the peninsula and then up through Coronado. Had a brief stop on the narrow part just south of Coronado and a walk along the front. Drove up to Zoo for it opening at 10am. Wanted to do other attractions near zoo but couldn't get parked (mother's day and very busy). Parked at USS Midway ($10 parking for day), did USS Midway which was very good, and then the Flagship Cruise. These were on our Go San Diego Pass. Drove back to hotel. Got changed and went over to nearest Olive Garden but could see hoards of people outside. Looked up Italian restaurants on Sat Nav which then took us to Italissimo Trattoria in Chula Vista. It was really good. Then back to Goodie's for a couple of drinks and to stay up late again to try to sleep!

Monday 11th May
Woke early again so waited till 6 and went for a jog down to the Marina again. Got to Safari Park for 9am for it opening. Spent quite a while in Safari Park. $12 to park I think, quite expensive considering zoo parking was free and in middle of city! Drove back down to a Comic Shop and got some breadsticks from Pizza Hut. Drove through La Jolla. Drove down to Outlets but didn't spend long there. Back to hotel for quick change. Took Tram to Gaslamp Quarter, went to Cheesecake Factory for dinner, then San Pascquale Wine Tasting at the Seaport. Then a Mexican bar/restaurant on Market Street for a drink then back on Tram.

Tuesday 12th May
Up Early, checked out at 6am and started drive. Stopped on outskirts of LA for petrol and McDonalds(lots of traffic!), and then onto Barstow. Missed the Subway that we tried to get with SatNav and ended up in a petrol station for crisps and a coffee (was tired). Stopped at Primm to use Travelzoo Gift Card then onto Luxor. Quick hour or so at the pool, then back to room to get changed and Pebbles kindly picked us up (Thanks Pebbles!) and we went to Stir with them for happy hour (well it was half price eventually). Stayed quite a while and chatted with them. Then we left Stir and went over to Aria to use our MyVegas 2 dinners reward. We paid for the drinks bump. I had 'prosecco' and I'm sure it wasn't prosecco and I struggled to drink it. Walked back to Luxor via Monte Carlo.

Will continue separately, want to post in case I lose this as my netbook loses wifi sometimes.

vegasvisitor

Wednesday 13th May
Drove to Red Rock for breakfast - 2/1 LVA coupon. Went over to old shops Canyon Pointe opposite Red Rock, then down to the new shops behind (South of) Red Rock. Quite nice but no bargains! Back to Luxor and an hour or so at the pool. Over to Planet Hollywood. $10 LVA coupon off Spice Market Dinner, then added drink bump, took it to $64 for both of us, paid with Social Rewards Points. Server left 'champagne' on table, so Kevin decided to drink it too. I googled it wondering how cheap it was, $5 a bottle. No wonder she just left it haha. Went over to Comedy Stop (Groupon) at Tropicana. Kevin got a beer $7 I think. I didn't bother. Walked back to Luxor.

Thursday 14th May
Walked up to MGM for breakfast, MyVegas 2 free buffets. This was very good and had good veggie labelling! They had these yummy potato and cheese balls. So I even ate savoury at breakfast. I normally have fruit and pancake or whatever. Was raining when we got back so didn't bother with pool and got car and went to the shopping that's just up the 215 from Arroyo Crossing. I can't remember the name. Is it maybe Fort Apache? Back quite early and walked up to Bellagio for late lunch. MyVegas 2 buffets again. Did the drink bump at 12.99 each. Much more worth it in Bellagio as it's nicer. The bubbles were much nicer than Aria. Had a strawberry daiquiri at the slots in Bellagio after and it was very nice too. Started heading down slowly, calling in at Diablo Cantina (Monte Carlo) happy hour, and Coyote Ugly also happy hour. Quite entertaining! Walked back to Luxor.

Friday 15th May
Checked out at 11am and went over to Sam's Town for lunch $6 with a LVA 2/1. For the price (even at full price) I was very impressed. Sister hotel of Orleans/GC, and the quality of the buffet seemed better than those! Then drove to Westin Lake Las Vegas. Couldn't get checked in till 2 unless we paid $25. Was 1pm so totally not worth it. Left our luggage and popped back to Walmart which was 10 mins away and passed the hour there. Back to hotel at 2pm, checked in then used the pool for an hour or so. Really nice setting at Lake Las Vegas, but very quiet. Headed out shopping for the evening, with buffet at Sunset Station (LVA 2/1). Back to hotel late and straight to bed. Had too many drink stops on the Thursday night so was quite happy not to have any that night!

Saturday 16th May
Morning at the Pool at the Westin Lake Las Vegas. Very nice. Went down onto the wee beach, where kayaks etc are included but Kevin's not into that kind of thing at all so didn't bother. Spent some time at pool before getting ready and heading for GVR for late lunch. MyVegas 2 lunch redemption so another free meal Over to Outlets south strip, then Arroyo Crossing. Then Sports Authority in Henderson. Back to hotel about 7pm or so and down to the bar. Bottle of prosecco $40 so not too bad. Sat with that for a while and headed to bed.

will continue...

vegasvisitor

Sunday 17th May
Pool in the morning, and then checked out at 12 and headed for Target on Maryland Parkway for some supplies on the way to Tuscany. Had some Pizza Hut breadsticks but I was totally paranoid as our passports etc were in the boot of the car and I hadn't wanted to open it and show the world our cases were in there in the carpark before going in! Checked in at Tuscany and wandered round the pools etc. Quite nice but pool was busy and no loungers. Went up and dropped the car at TI and walked over to Grand Lux. Happy hour not till Monday. Walked back over to Segundo Sol hoping for happy hour apps and drinks but it was a private party so was closed! Went over to Palazzo and had a couple of cocktails on the Drinks2U machines Over to Mirage buffet. Definitely not a favourite of mine and that hasn't changed but it was the best deal we could think of and we'd missed late lunches elsewhere by then. Still not good IMHO. LVA 2/1 $37 total including drinks so it was cheap. Stopped by Margaritaville Casino and then onto Linq and back to Tuscany.

Monday 18th May.
Not much sleep due to noise from the room above. We were almost packed anyway and it wasn't very sunny. Went for a wander around hotel and decided to go to reception and mention the noise. We had bumped into our neighbour on the way out the room and asked if he heard it and he said no so we guessed we were unlucky. Reception suggested moving us to top floor. When we got up there it was noisy with the planes, but later on we actually didn't notice it. So was cloudy so we headed out in a bit of a thunderstorm. Taxi to Rio. Buffet 2/1 LVA $23, paid balance with points from Social Rewards. Buffet wasn't as good as I remember but we always did dinner. Walked over to Gold Coast, put a dollar in then walked back for shuttle to Harrah's. Back into Palazzo Drinks2U, just for a short while, then went into Grand Lux and had cocktails on happy hour. Raspberry Cosmos were good. Kevin had berry mojito and said they were good. Then a blue moon (his drink of the holiday I think!). Ended up getting a small pizza on the happy hour menu as we weren't all that full from Rio buffet. I think I mainly had salad! That's my story anyway. Back out and another wee shot on Drinks2U area and then walked back to hotel via Carnaval Court. Had a drink on Social Rewards but sat for ages with it. Headed back to hotel for early night as was flying home next day.

3 months tomorrow we head back. This will be the first time we've been twice in one year. :beer:

We had quite a low cost trip! Our flights were courtesy of US Airways (points), Best Western Marina Gateway was about £190 for 3 nights, Luxor was free with MyVegas, Westin Lake Las Vegas was £40 per night, Tuscany was reasonable. Plus resort fees. Lots of free food and 2/1 food and drinks. Really quite a frugal trip. We did bring back the full luggage allowance though so did spend a bit in the shops!!