Las Vegas guide and MSE thread 2015

duchy

StuieUK34 wrote: »

oh, and I hate RESORT FEE's!! first time we have ever had to pay them!

Welcome back
Did you get hit for resort fees at all three hotels ?

StuieUK34

yes,
Got 6 out of 11 nights of R Fee's waived....

CarefreeGuy

Hi all, a little advice please.

I'm looking to spread the cost of Vegas prior to our September trip. We're pretty clued up and purchase the LVA and participate in myvegas which are both great helps.

Can anyone recommend some restaurants that I can pre purchase gift certificates from and spend on that when we get there. I'm aware that P.F Changs do them and also Bahama Breeze on Paradise Road. However, most of them seem to do cards that can only be sent out in the US rather than certs we can print off at home.

I'm also aware of a few Downtown but I'll only be popping there for the night and we have dinner plans already.

Any help will be very much appreciated.

Happy travels to all.

Mick

Ratison

For those asking about SatNavs, you can download something called NavMii (US version) while you have wifi (or at home), then download the map for the state you want, and it will save it for you, so you can use it without signal.

One tip if you do that, is to search for the places you might want to go when you're connected to the internet, as it's less good at finding places when you're not connected. Then they'll be saved in your recent places for future use.

Hovis91

duchy wrote: »

Looks like I'm sneaking a few days in Vegas onto another trip.
Vegas is a catch up with friends and pool time for two nights (one of my friends is Mormon so gambling and drinking isn't very high up the list this trip ). We're probably going to stay at the Tuscany for the girlie part of the trip but I have an extra night after they head out before I leave Vegas. MyVegas only has weekend nights available at NY NY and the Luxor -neither of which I know very well (they probably have CircusCircus and Excalibar too but neither appeal) so between those two which should I choose - I'm leaning towards NY NY as the casino I seem to remember was a bit nicer but it's a long time since I've visited either as most of my recent play has gone to Ceasars.

Thoughts
?
It's the Labor Day weekend Friday night btw so likely to be busy.

I totally agree with you and would choose NYNY over Luxor every time.OH loves Nine Fine Irishmen so we tend to go up there a few times each visit and as I am not so keen on Irish music I spend my evenings in the casino!!
We were there last year on Labor Day,it was very busy and also couldn't use Myvegas rewards either.

nvh

I'd go for NYNY too - no preference over casinos, but I think the location is slightly better, though the pool area at Luxor is larger if that's a consideration

martmonk

This follows my earlier post (page 78) and picks up where that left off, just after our first night at Luxor.

Again written as I go so jumps from past to present tense on occasion.

Day 6 - we just chilled in the room last night and watched a movie. Awake at 6:30 this morning so go for breakfast at 8. We can't be bothered to go far so end up at Pyramid cafe in Luxor. I have eggs benedict, OH has a cream cheese bagel with a side order of bacon and an earl grey tea. With tax and tips it comes to $30.

Just after 9 we hit the luxor pool and it's already 35 degrees, 39 as I type this at 11.
Notice lots of north west accents here and in the casino, must be a popular Thomas cook package from Manchester.

We'll be here until we can't stand it and probably head to south outlet this afternoon.

Only lasted until around 12:30!

Into the car and down to south outlets. I remember last year we weren't as impressed with south as we had been previously and today was very underwhelming. OH spotted a dress and a jacket she might get from Loft and I'm considering a watch from Coach but not much else there. If you are after Ralph Lauren gear for kids though the section in this store better than Primm for choice. Adult stuff is the same, as are the prices.

Deals just didn't seem to be at the same level as they have been in the past. For example last year I bought a pair of Diesel trainers in one of the sports shoe stores for $35, this year the cheapest pair is $69 with most at $99. Maybe there's a 'summer premium' we haven't suffered from before!!

Back to Luxor for a few hours before we head to Aria for Zarkana with the free show tickets (thanks again to Chyna-s).

The plan was to have the myvegas 241 Aria dinner buffet before the show but I've right royally screwed up - redemptions are only Mon-Thurs which I realise once we are in the q at the mlife desk and I'm hunting out the email with the code on it. (Day 6 is Saturday)
We will now use this on Tuesday before Blue Man Group at Monte Carlo.

Instead we go to the pub between aria and crystals which is pricey but nice, (used Travelex supercard). OH is saying I have to take her to Stirling Brunch tomorrow to make up for it!

Just a note on the Travelex supercard - I used it in Dublin on Monday, and again at checkin here at Luxor and although the transactions are showing in the app I'm yet to see any money leave the accounts (having switched the primary card from one to another yesterday morning). I'm typing this on Sunday morning.

Flamingo haven't taken any cash yet either (used express checkout) so might have to call in there later in the week if they've still not taken it, will be easier to sort any issue in person than by phone.

* update - Flamingo have taken cash, £57, which makes the three nights there £120 including all taxes and resort fees and three (almost) free breakfasts. I don't have an emailed receipt from them yet but it seems right, 3 resort fees and a couple of dollars extra for breakfasts would be around $90.
Still no supercard charges in current accounts (now 8 days since first use).

Enjoyed Zarkana but I don't think any of them are going to top Love for us. I saw O as my first years ago and Le Reve was OH's first. They were each of our favourites until Love. We might have to revisit them at some point and see if we still feel that way.

The strip is as busy as I've ever seen it on the way back. Bed at midnight hoping we can sleep past 6:30 which is the latest we've managed so far.

Day 7 - we don't rise until 8:30 which is a surprise! We Skype some family back home and I go and catch what is left of the eng game in the sports book.

At 11 we head up to Ballys for Stirling Brunch which I've booked for 12:15. $220 including tax and tip but it's worth it. We got through 6 glasses of champagne each, ate a load of lobster, steak, crab and lamb racks with the quality much better than any buffet I've been to.
Our server then filled up two plastic cups for us to leave with which must have been at least 1/2 pint!
I genuinely balked at the cost before we went but would do it again as a treat. No time limit either so we were there almost three hours. Left a bit worse for wear!

Through flamingo to the high roller to use the living social vouchers we have - $19 each. It was ok, wouldn't go back on it.

Make our way drunkenly back down the strip to luxor where we play some slots (well OH does as I'm too smashed by this point!). She doubles our money (only small stakes) so we call it a night.

I realise later that I've got a serious memory gap from around 6-8 pm - don't remember getting back from linq to luxor, don't use Stuies bin surprisingly!

Day 8 - the plan was to use myvegas 2-4-1 breakfast but I'm in no fit state. Instead OH gets a breakfast sarnie from the deli in Luxor and I throw up in the room! Down to the pool around 9:30 and the plan is to be here for the day. It's the hottest day of the year so far at 107 degrees so I'm in the shade as much as possible.

Make it to 3pm, freshen up and grab the car so we can get to the north outlets. Much much better than south, we don't buy much as we will go back later in the week.

Game 6 of the Stanley cup final sees Chicago win the game and the series, after the game we go to Mirage for our myvegas 2-4-1 rodizio at Samba Grill. With tax and tips it still comes to $70 but we both enjoy it. We did pampas at PH a couple of years ago and I feel that this is better.

Back at luxor and OH triples our slots money before we head to the room.
Tomorrow is another moving day as we head to signature for our last three nights.

vegasvisitor

azzap wrote: »

Ah, we should maybe hang back half an hour. This will be in 5 weeks time.

I would get yourself to the welcome sign and then hang back there. So you might get daylight and night pictures, then drive up the strip as it gets dark. You might not want to be on the freeways when it's too dark, so if you get to the sign earlyish, just take your time there!

vegasvisitor

CarefreeGuy wrote: »

Hi all, a little advice please.

I'm looking to spread the cost of Vegas prior to our September trip. We're pretty clued up and purchase the LVA and participate in myvegas which are both great helps.

Can anyone recommend some restaurants that I can pre purchase gift certificates from and spend on that when we get there. I'm aware that P.F Changs do them and also Bahama Breeze on Paradise Road. However, most of them seem to do cards that can only be sent out in the US rather than certs we can print off at home.

I'm also aware of a few Downtown but I'll only be popping there for the night and we have dinner plans already.

Any help will be very much appreciated.

Happy travels to all.

Mick

We are also going in September :j

I know what you mean about spreading the cost. Our last trip in May we had hotels paid upfront (only resort fees to pay), and had lots of myvegas and lva deals, and a couple of groupons too. We did a few happy hours, but really didn't spend a huge amount.

Next trip we have 8 nights at Platinum with only one night paid as deposit, 3 nights at Wynn again one night paid, and we have 4 nights at Green Valley which is paid in full. So we know we're coming home to a big hotel bill!

I hadn't thought of purchasing gift cards. Could be handy if you definitely want to go to those place. I see you mention Bahama Breeze - have you been to their happy hour?

Also, you say you have LVA and myVegas deals - do you have Social Rewards? Might be quite late but you might get something. And Groupon and r.com as well? That's quite like prepaying too. We've purchased a $40 groupon for Gaetano's in Henderson, Tropicana Comedy Club, Senor Frogs drinks. We also have a couple of r.com vouchers from last year, might see if there are any more before we go.

StuieUK34

Just wrote my trip report, about to post on here, its gonna be LONG one!!!! U may fall asleep reading it!