Las Vegas guide and MSE thread 2015

pebblesmax

lesley74 wrote: »

Well, we are at Green Valley Ranch! 330am now and I've been awake for about an hour. Wonder if I'll get back to sleep! Hope so. Dreaded jetlag.

When we arrived last night we picked up a car from Alamo at the airport. The guy was determined to get more money out of me. He said we'd have a smart car with no trunk, and did we have luggage. Then it was these cars aren't suitable for Las Vegas you need air conditioning. So he was saying $13 a day but he'd give me it for $11! That works out close to what I paid in the first place so hardly worth it to get a focus or equivalent. I guess he knew they were short of economy cars! He said it would be a Fiat 500! He also went on about how we were liable for repairs to the car. Anyway, I went with what Pebbles suggested, went up to see what was there. There was a Fiat 500, a Nissan Versa, and a Hyundai something (about size of focus). So we have took that. Another couple of cars came into that row when we were waiting. Nothing terribly interesting.

Has been a while since we've had that sort of upsell game going on...I wonder if Dollar have us on file when we collect and know we're previous customers and don't bother trying it. All down to getting an upselling agent at the desk I suppose, just your luck. The car has 27k miles and the uphostry is a bit tatty. Pebbles, looks like you were a lot luckier than us at Alamo (or maybe it was a $20 trick).

Lesley, I never go to the desk. I just use the kiosks there. No upsell at all from the kiosk or the agents hanging about to help if you get stuck. Sorry, I should have told you that bit too. After the kiosk, it's down to the garage and the person directing you to your line of cars. It's him/her you need to tip for an upgrade, although just asking nicely did it for us a couple of times too.

We are Alamo insiders, but I can't add Tony for free on the website. I can do it all at the kiosk no problem.

Edit. Is it an Accent or Elantra? We have had both and thought they were OK.

bobbyhibs

baza52 wrote: »

the bubble is upstairs. There are economy and premium economy. Upper classis downstairs at the front

I think they mean the £50 cashback paid for the "extra" seat fee to sit upstairs

ah thanks for putting me right there!

is there any benefit for sitting in the bubble?
Im not much of a flyer i guess and often wanna try expand my knowledge!
thanks again

ferf1223

bobbyhibs wrote: »

ah thanks for putting me right there!

is there any benefit for sitting in the bubble?
Im not much of a flyer i guess and often wanna try expand my knowledge!
thanks again

it's a small cabin, less noisy, etc. We only flew in the bubble on one trip, the old configuration where it was all PE upstairs. We really liked it as it just seemed a more peaceful space.

vegasvisitor

pebblesmax wrote: »

Lesley, I never go to the desk. I just use the kiosks there. No upsell at all from the kiosk or the agents hanging about to help if you get stuck. Sorry, I should have told you that bit too. After the kiosk, it's down to the garage and the person directing you to your line of cars. It's him/her you need to tip for an upgrade, although just asking nicely did it for us a couple of times too.

We are Alamo insiders, but I can't add Tony for free on the website. I can do it all at the kiosk no problem.

Edit. Is it an Accent or Elantra? We have had both and thought they were OK.

I think it's an Elantra, but I might be wrong. I'll look when we next ues it. It's a decent enough car, but has light coloured fabric chairs so they have probably marked very easily...although it won't be as hot in the sun I suppose.

The guy at the desk was really annoying me. Doesn't help being of a long flight but going on about smart cars with no trunk etc. They were trying to get people to use the machines, but we waited because I sent over and looked and it had a thing to scan your driving license and it looked like it needed a barcode and mine didn't have one. Just remembered the guy even tried to get me to prepay my fuel saying it was cheaper. Even with it was (surely not?) it would take good judgement to return it empty.

It's really rather warm. My phone says it's 28 degrees just after 6am, so I take it that it didn't cool down much overnight. I was thinking of going for a run with a group this morning that go from The Districta at 6am, but I went back to sleep (only for under 2 hours but it's something!).

On the way form the airport we stopped at Walmart at Eastern for some water and cokes. And some fries from McDonalds because we were hungry.

Then over to hotel, got checked into East Tower at GVR - think last time we were in West Tower but it looks pretty similar to me. Seems a bit further away from the casino though. We then had to wait in the room quite a bit because the last guest left the safe locked. The guy eventually came to open it and there was a chequebook in it! Then walked over through The District. It was very hot! Back indoors and a myVegas drink each and then a drink at the machines then bed at 11 or so. Woke at 2, then back to sleep shortly after 4, then woke at 6. At least I got another sleep.

Plan for toady is buffet for breakfast (when it opens probably as I'm hungry already!, should be 8am which is on an hour and a half away now. Then pool for a while (whenever that opens, hope it's before 10), and then out shopping for a while. I think Silverton buffet for dinner because there's no myvegas deals for Saturday nights, and we have a 2/1 in the LVA. Ideal when we're out driving I think. Plan for the afternoon is hopping at Henderson.

nvh

Ah Car Rental.

We had a similar issue on our last holiday with Budget @ Kona, and Dollar @ LAX (I'd given up trying to use my Dollar Express card with carhire3000 bookings - it never gets done right!).

Kona insisted what we had booked was not sufficient for the 'landscape' of the island... blah blah blah upsale upsale upsale. In the end he said "ok, fine you have a Chevvy Sonic but it won't be ready for another 30 mins". In the end, I just ended up paying an extra $6 a day for a Chrysler 300 - well worth the upgrade cost (and suited us better) - proper top spec (inc. Sat nav, Reverse camera etc) so a useful upgrade, but narked about all the barriers that were put in our way.

LAX gave us an Elantra and insisted that I would need more than a full tank going to Vegas, and I'd be best to pre-pay fuel as it was only $80. Think it cost around $40 to fill it in Vegas!

Our bookings for our next holiday are both with Hertz direct, and we are eligible for "Gold Canopy" (which is essentially Dollar Express) so I'm looking forward to picking up a car for a change (...providing it all goes right and it avoids the dreaded long desk queues!) First time we've booked direct with any hire company and as there is a Hertz 'sale' on at the moment, it worked out a bit cheaper than anywhere else so pleasantly surprised (forgot the extra £3.03 from TopCashback tho!! lol ah well)

Anyways, have a nice trip Lesley! Beware the cocktails

stoneman

I once had a dog of a car, it had done 40K miles and rumbled when you did over 40 in it. So I took it back and immediately got a nice upgrade.
If I'm feeling that I dont like the car i'm given I sometimes just take it back, tell them the same story and always get a nice upgrade and an apology

bubble113

bobbyhibs wrote: »

hi there

May i be soo nosey and ask how you got seats in the bubble for free? im assuming the bubble is the upper class?If not im sorry for intruding.
Have you looked at hotels yet?what are you looking at?

Its one of thes things on my to do list is to fly with virgin (the top class is ever possiable) but have not booked with them as of yet

Hi

As others have said it's premium economy and economy upstairs. I like it if you are in economy as it is much quieter and service seems quicker. Virgin now charge you £25pp each leg to pre book your seat (it used to be free) It's £45 for exit/extra leg room seats so with the £50 cashback for price guarantee from Virgin (as I found flight cheaper on netflights) I will use it to book the seats. I don't like being charged for choosing your seat, I believe it's free 24 hours before you fly but pretty sure the bubble will be full then. I know I am still paying as I could have got the flight cheaper but it feels like I'm getting them free, if that makes sense!

Also very happy with £549pp direct, don't usually see it under £650...
I would also like to be turning left when I get on the plane...oneday ...

As for hotels I am waiting for MLIFE offer and see what myvegas has to offer....if anything next year. I do like off strip though so wiil probably do a few moves.

gamboller

Looking at a week in April or May of next year. Just checking TR a/c to see which dates are best for hotel rates. Don't need specific dates as no plan to attend any special event. Thurs to . Thinking of a Caesars property and then upgrade to high level suite for last 2 days

ferf1223

bubble113 wrote: »

I believe it's free 24 hours before you fly but pretty sure the bubble will be full then.

It's also free for flying club red members (the basic tier) 72 hours before you fly...but agree that the bubble will probably be full by then as a lot of people like it.

http://www.virgin-atlantic.com/gb/en/flying-club/membership-benefits/red-benefits.html

If you're travelling in Economy you're able to choose your seats for free within 72 hours of departure,

bobbyhibs

bubble113 wrote: »

Hi

As others have said it's premium economy and economy upstairs. I like it if you are in economy as it is much quieter and service seems quicker. Virgin now charge you £25pp each leg to pre book your seat (it used to be free) It's £45 for exit/extra leg room seats so with the £50 cashback for price guarantee from Virgin (as I found flight cheaper on netflights) I will use it to book the seats. I don't like being charged for choosing your seat, I believe it's free 24 hours before you fly but pretty sure the bubble will be full then. I know I am still paying as I could have got the flight cheaper but it feels like I'm getting them free, if that makes sense!

Also very happy with £549pp direct, don't usually see it under
£650...I would also like to be turning left when I get on the plane...oneday ...
As for hotels I am waiting for MLIFE offer and see what myvegas has to offer....if anything next year. I do like off strip though so wiil probably do a few moves.

Hi
and thank you for taking the time to give me a detailed feedback.

I seme to be in a bad habbit of doing things *packaged* etc hotel and flights together and i have found a good deal for the most part imo(near enough 2 weeks, 10 in vegas(mgm grand grand queen) 3 in new york ) flights and hotel for £1500 each with 1 stop over (going to vegas)
I had a little look at pricing things up myself(usuing a few of the sites on the first page) and didn't think the price was good.

I have said to my brother about getting extra legroom,exit seat and or maybe the premuium economy though ,though money is a little tight so we ll wait and see.

thanks again for the feedback and sorry for ratterling on!