Las Vegas guide and MSE thread 2015

StuieUK34

I use usrentacar.com for my Dollar bookings, but I also have a 'Dollar Express' card, not sure it matters, but probably helps ?
Anyway, if your on a normal booking, your gonna get to the main check-in desk in the car terminal, u can try upgrading there and bartering on price, but unsure of how that would work.....

Say u pick up your paperwork from the main desk, you then goto the garage, where there is another booth...
2 options, try for an upgrade there, along with hinting that a handshake after makes u both happy (depending on size of upgrade).....
Or, as I did the first time, I went to the car I had been given, and then looked for a dollar guy just walking around the car lot, had a chat, said I want a better car, kinda showed in a stealth way that a handshake will make him smile, and he might hook u up
Luck of the draw I guess, and natural cheek!


or...................
Try your luck with this one (the upgrade voucher).... that and $10 to the garage guy
https://travel.bjs.com/promotion/bjs/carrental/BJs_Dollar.pdf
Technically the voucher isn't valid unless u booked via BJ, but garage guys getting tips don't care!

martmonk

This follows directly from Part 2 (page 79)....

Day 9 - We were going to do Mirage 2-4-1 breakfast (myvegas) and then come back to move to signature but neither of us are hungry after the rodizio last night so we decide to check out early and see if we can get into signature.

No self park at signature, you have to use mgm. In hindsight we should have used valet, or I should have dropped OH off with the bags at one of the towers as the walk with cases from self park to signature is a long one. Will definitely do that for checkout.

We are offered tower 1 with the chance of noise disturbance from two overnight pool parties at wet republic tomorrow night and Thursday night, or tower 3. I'm not sure the noise would affect us much but we don't mind a walk so opt for tower three to be sure.

Suite is great, very big, fridge, microwave and massive bathroom. We'd still choose cosmopolitan as our favourite. We've been to vegas in each the last four years (and a couple of times before that) and would rate the hotels we've stayed in as follows:

Cosmopolitan - location, view, pool, amenities and room size. (One bed terrace)
Golden Nuggett - best of downtown, great value.
Vdara - no casino so different experience, easy into Aria or Bellagio.
Signature - room size and amenities, private pool per tower but walk gets on nerves.
Luxor/Monte Carlo/Mirage - can't really split them, positives and negatives with each, Luxor maybe just too far south for us, Monte Carlo didn't impress for reasons I can't pinpoint, Mirage maybe just edges it of the three.
Flamingo - absolutely nothing wrong, room and corridors a little dated.

All of the above should be hugely caveated with price considerations. What we paid at Luxor, flamingo and golden nuggett was peanuts in comparison to some others for the same dates. When we first stayed at Cosmo we had a great deal which adds to the appeal for us. However the last 2 years the prices there have made it impossible for us to choose it.

We are keen to try Paris (I was there in 2003 but don't remember much - work freebie and drunk the whole time), Venetian and Palazzo so might have to bite the bullet on cost next time, which might be for my 40th next March. Haven't decided yet if I'd rather go somewhere else. I'm considering Chicago and/or Boston.

After unloading our stuff we finally head to mirage for our long awaited 241. We redeem at 11:30 so just into lunch rather than breakfast. All buffet prices at mirage now include wine and beer! I'm driving though and OH doesn't fancy drinking so she's on iced tea and I try a sprite zero cherry (won't be repeating that choice!) before going back to diet coke.

The selection is good - pork and prawn pot stickers particularly good. Dessert selection a little disappointing but for just under $26 total we are happy. We go for a bit of a drive and decide on the way back to call into south outlets to get the dress and jacket OH saw earlier in the week. We also take advantage of the kids department of the Ralph Lauren store to get presents for niece and nephew, along with a shirt for Father in law for Father's Day.

Stock up on fridge items on the way back, then down to the pool. It's 107, predicted to be 108 later and 111/112 later in the week. It's too hot for me so OH stays at the pool and I wander off for a couple of hours.

We head out at 6:30, walk through MGM, take a look in some shops on our way to Aria for myvegas 241 dinner. Two buffets in one day is probably OTT and neither of us eat a lot (comparatively speaking!), desserts are good, OH happy as a pig in muck with the crab legs, both hot and cold.

Back through to Monte Carlo for Blue Man group on the free tickets with our signature stay. We have a few mins so play and lose on some slots before we go in.
I can see the attraction but it's not really our cup of tea. By the time it finishes and we walk back it's midnight so bed ready for the 2 solid sunbathing days OH wants.

Day 10 - up, showered and Starbucks from tower 1 by 10 and we are out at tower 1 pool. The pools at 2&3 are connected and on the other side of the towers. They are therefore mostly shaded until around midday.

We make it to around 12:30 and take the gate exit behind tower 3 onto Harmon so we are inside miracle mile shops 5 mins later. Earl of sandwich to claim freebie courtesy of signing up to their newsletter. We add a Caesar salad and a fountain soda so total is $11 making it a super cheap lunch.

Return to bath and body works to get some hand sanitisers and a couple of presents before taking the strip route back.

We enter MGM via the door at the west wing bar and use the corridor there to significantly shorten the walk.

Pool at tower 3 for the rest of the afternoon.

After showers we go for a drive, ultimately to north outlets for the sun going down as it was too hot there earlier in the week during the day. I get a Ted Baker jumper and OH gets some(more) shoes.

Then it's off to Raising Canes for food, we've been looking forward to this since we booked up the trip. We ended up in here by accident last year when ihop was just too busy. There's one close to both the north and the south outlets. The drive in q is really long so we park up and eat in. I get a sandwich meal - 3 chicken fingers in a bun with lettuce and the secret sauce. OH has 4 fingers, both come with the superb crinkle cut fries. It's another cheap and cheerful meal at just $14. Drive back to MGM self park and walk through to signature.

Day 11 - Starbucks again for light breakfast and straight to tower 1 pool. At 1 we go over to Aria to use our 241 myvegas lunch buffet. It's actually surprisingly similar to the dinner offering, almost identical. A few variations in the Mexican and meat section but Asian is the same, and OH is happy that both hot and cold crabs legs are again available. Desserts are exactly the same.

We see boxer Adrien 'the problem' Broner, his ridiculous gold chains (rivalling Mr. T) and his huge entourage on both the outward and inward walk. Each time he's around the shops at MGM. He's fighting Shawn Porter this Sat and I later learn that the press conference is this afternoon so he's likely killing time before going to that.

Back to the pool (tower 3) for the rest of the afternoon before going to make some last minute purchases with the cash we have left - I get a watch and a t-shirt, OH a jacket.

Once back and parked at MGM we dump stuff at room in signature and use the gate to go across to PH. Use the other Earl of Sandwich freebie - I have the original (beef) sandwich, OH has chicken, bacon and avocado wrap. After that it's our last evening stroll down the strip. We stop off at Shake Shack (NYNY), strawberry for me, peanut butter for OH - shakes were really good, but then they should be for the price!

We were going to walk down to luxor so that OH could go to her favourite machine of the holiday (True Blood - only saw one in Luxor), but we're a bit 'walked out' so go back to MGM instead. $50 into Hangover is almost trebled and we call it a night. Checkout tomorrow at 11, car needs to be back at 12:20 so we'll head to Walmart for sweets to take into work, then it's a fairly long journey back - AA to DFW, AA to LHR then BA to NCL.

A note on getting to/from signature as I read a lot of conflicting timing on websites before our stay.

We like walking but are not speedsters, nor are we dawdlers, I'd say we are average speed. Walk from tower 3-2 is about 1 min, same 2-1. Then another 2-3 via moving walkways to the entrance to signature which is next to the entrance for the MGM pool. From there it's 10 mins to the strip or the self park through the shops and then the casino. Obviously this depends on how busy it is and whether you've got luggage. There are a couple of shortcuts we use, one I mentioned earlier is the west wing corridor. Head past Ka theatre and l'atelier restaurant and turn right. The door is keyed entry (not exit) some of the time so you can't always get through it if there's no one in front of you heading that way who does have a room key. Walk down the corridor, turn left for the lifts but go straight through the door (which also has keyed entry, not exit) and you are in west wing bar with the exit just in front of you. Shaves a good few mins off the time.

The gate at the back of Signature is right on E Harmon and the walk up to miracle mile is 5 mins. This is dependent on the lights for crossing the road which take longer than any other set in Vegas (or so it seemed). This walk is OK at night too. We did it in the afternoon sun once and it was a little too hot, but then walking up the east side of the strip from MGM would have been just as bad.

We concluded that although the walking was ok, it was doing it repeatedly that became tiresome, we think Signature is probably off our list for the future unless the pricing makes it irresistible.

That's it unless there are dramas on the way back, in which case I'll post them here.

Sorry it was three parts but I didn't do one last year so wanted to make sure I did this and the easiest way for me was to keep what is almost a diary.

If anyone has questions or wants more info or detail on a particular element, just ask.

vegasvisitor

Another Groupon 25% deal on today - code is SUPER25

nvh

martmonk --> go to Chicago for 3 or 4 days, then onto Vegas! drop me a PM if you have any questions re: Chicago - although we've only been once - we loved it - and happy to try and help

dannodw

Well the time has finally come.

After wanting to go to Vegas for the last 4 years, only for family problems, work problems, and pretty much every possible excuse, I am now planning to go for two weeks in November!

I had everything planned before, but I am now so out of touch with offers and bookings. Its taking me time to work things out.

Before I remember that booking everything separately was the cheapest way, however is that now still the case?

One 'problem' is that the person I am going with will only fly direct. Not a major issue other than the obvious £ increase. Still, I cant seem to find a flight below £650 return per person. It that the rough going rate now?

I've checked the usual places, kayak, skyscanner, travelup, virgin and BA Direct, even AA and Delta, but nope, £649 is actually the cheapest.

What hotel to choice, a M Life property probably. I have nearly 200k MyVegas points to redeem after all, but again, finding the cheap room rates is beyond me.

I have looked on lowcostusa for a package deal and for direct flights and 13 nights in New York New York, I am looking at £990 per person.

On Expedia with direct flights and 13 nights at the Mirage I am looking at £850 per person. Of course that doesn't include the resort fees I don't think.

Then there i the groupons, R.com vocuhers, MyVegas rewards... argh, so much to do, so little time as I need to get this booked next week ideally.

And breath

Any pointers, tips or promotions would be gratefully appreciated!

Thanks!

bobbyhibs

nvh wrote: »

martmonk --> go to Chicago for 3 or 4 days, then onto Vegas! drop me a PM if you have any questions re: Chicago - although we've only been once - we loved it - and happy to try and help

On a similar,kinda related note, if i recall it was around 3 hours from vegas to chicago(and would assume it was similar from chicago to vegas).We got flights from vegas to chicago>then back to edinburgh which was nearly 7hours,it was a long long day getting home though.
hope this may help a lil

StuieUK34

Fly direct to LA, then drive... Can work cheaper than £650
Although you will need Coffee and ProPlus!

pebblesmax

£650 pp direct is quite reasonable these days. It's gone up a lot recently in my opinion.

ACG

Ive just paid £1440 for 2 flights from Manchester to LV in Setepber/October.

Flights fluctuated marginally but did not drop below £700 pp.

jonesMUFCforever

ACG wrote: »

Ive just paid £1440 for 2 flights from Manchester to LV in Setepber/October.

Flights fluctuated marginally but did not drop below £700 pp.

I know its too late now but if you could have gone from Dublin then you might have got both flights for close to £700 or so.