Las Vegas guide and MSE thread 2015

vegasvisitor

Checked what kind of car it is yesterday when we were out. It's a hyundai accent. It's actually ok. Quite cheeky though how the hard sell was happening on the upgrade...saying it would be a fiat 500 with no trunk and that you need air con in vegas. And I ended up with a car which was fine anyway. It's got about 27k on the clock. It's an unusual colour though, pale blue, not a lot of cars that colour so it's easy to find in the car park! Went to Galleria yesterday and parked at Dillards but this time we were very careful not to come out at the wrong level into the car park. Strange place how they have bits of a seemingly flat car park on different levels of the shop. We thought our car had been nicked one year.

Yesterday consisted of breakfast at GVR around 8am (courtesy of myVegas), then we went to the pool for 9, sat till close to 11. It was really hot, 106 yesterday I believe. Then out just after 12, over to Stephanie street - various shops around there, then Galleria Mall, then some shops on Sunset Road. We missed a few shops over there as it got close to dinner time but don't think it's anything we won't see at other shopping areas. We had appetisers at Romano's Macaroni Grill on Stephanie Street. Not bad at all, we were just a bit peckish around 2pm. Was really cheap, 2 appetisers for $9.50, plus they still gave us bread so it was a decent feed and a couple of diet cokes for $20 including tip!

Dinner was at Gaetano's in Henderson, an old favourite. Used a Groupon deal. $40 for $20, but we got 20% off that when we bought it too. Bill came to $22 including tip. It's not the cheapest place, but the food is very good and I think it's great value with the groupon. We just had pastas (penne arrabiate and eggplant rollatini), and a glass of wine each.

Then back to GVR to drop off all our shopping at the room and downstairs for a couple of drinks. Used myVegas margarita and well drink/beer again for our first drink then parked ourselves at a machine over near the 'front' (carpark elevators), as we got drinks there last night. Doesn't look like the whole casino is covered by cocktail waitresses from what we saw. Had a couple of 'lightweight' midori's. Very tired last night again, was in bed by 11, and woke at back of 5 which actually isn't bad for me. Having to wait till at least 6am for gym to open....went in for a look yesterday and it's got plenty of treadmills and a nice lap pool outside so I'll go down shortly and use both.

Plan for today was out shopping then pool, but I'm tempted to reverse the plan. You seem to get better sun in the morning, and we'll rush back at 4 probably and it would be too late for pool or quality strong sun. We only sit for 2 hours max so it's better if it's stronger sun! No breakfast plans yet, but dinner plans are GVR buffet, and we might get a drink at one of the happy hours in the places in here. No idea what we could do for breakfast though if we go to the pool first today.

lizzielie

And all is booked! Going early December, so a little bit less than a 100 days to go

Flights from Malaga via Madrid and Chicago, and our return is via London direct from Vegas then on to Malaga. With a price of £900 for both of us, it was a fab deal for us. Leaving from our preferred airport would have added over £400 for the same dates, and overnight stay in London in both directions. So with cost and the loss of a Vegas date, it was really no contest. We probably could have saved a bit more, but with longer stop overs, heck it is a bit of a pain leaving from South of Spain to Vegas...

We've also booked all our nights at the Aria, and via their offer of a $50 dining credit per night. We're staying 8 nights in total, so a boost of $400 if they allow us booking 2 of the same offer (4 nights in hubby's name and 4 in mine). Cost was more or less the same as Mlife rate, so it made sense, an we won't be too upset if the offer isn't honoured.

Happy Days!

vegasvisitor

nvh wrote: »

Anyways, have a nice trip Lesley! Beware the cocktails

That's hard, especially when they call all drinks cocktails here!

I ended up with a couple of (small) mimosas with my breakfast this morning. We were planning to go out shopping early and back, but decided to do gym, breakfast, pool then shopping so we used an LVA 2/1 and got brunch at 9am.

It's the drink bumps at the buffets I also need to watch out for. :beer::A :rotfl:

Heading to the south strip outlets shortly, then shops at Arroyo Crossing, then back to GVR for dinner buffet. Got a 2/1 on myVegas for tonight - since I used up the LVA one this morning.

baza52

that reminds me to check LVA. Anthony Curtis gave me a free membership but I never bothered looking at it.

Have a great time Lesley

stoneman

From summer 16 (I found availability from as far back as April) BA are running 2 747's a day to Vegas, except Tuesday's when it's 1 a day.

For those of you that don't like getting to Vegas late the extra flight gets into LAS at 3pm

That's 13 flights a week from LHR added to the 6 a week from LGW, 19 BA flights to choose from. Showing that LAS is a top destination for BA.

All of the LHR flights will be 4 class so plenty of opportunity to sample First class if you have enough Avios. I have been searching reward availability and there seems to be lots of seats available, will be booking probably today for next April.

vegasvisitor

Well, we went shopping yesterday. Decided to go over to Arroyo Crossing and work our way back. When at Arroyo we realised there was no TJ Maxx and we've had some good luck in there the last couple of trips so we stuck it in the garmin to see what came up. There was one a couple of miles away. It's called Desert Marketplace and has a huge homestore attached. It's a really big store, nicely laid out and was fairly busy with people browsing (but not overly busy at fitting rooms, tills etc). We asked the guy at the check out if it was new and he said not really. We've just not been at that exact area before, it's just off the 215 out west of the strip from the airport. You can't see it from the 215 though, which is how we found some of the other shopping areas just by looking from the road.
There's not much else at Desert Marketplace, but I highly recommend this store for anyone who likes TJ Maxx! Arroyo Crossing is good for shopping too, and it's only 5 mins away.

We got back to GVR at 655, after rushing thinking we could catch a happy hour. Headed straight for Hanks as I thought I remembered seeing a happy hour there. Got there just in time, barmaid said we had 3 mins to spare but to take our time and she'd get them through as half price for us. Had a Bo-pini each which was a sort of raspberry martini. Quite nice. Took the shopping up to the room (the spare bed is now a mass of pillows and shopping!!), then quick freshen up and down for dinner at the buffet. The queue was huge though so we didn't get into the buffet till about 830. We had thought about getting a bottle of wine with the buffet, but just got a glass instead (could feel slight effect of that martini!). Bit of time on the slots to get our daily points as they're giving out points if you earn 5 points (finished yesterday). Not a huge amount but still something for free.

Had an early night shortly after 10, and woke up at 420 which is getting better!

Plan for today - pack some stuff (moving to Wynn tomorrow) and got lots of shopping to de-tag and sort receipts. Then we're going to go to the buffet, then the pool, then out shopping. Probably North Rainbow today. Dinner I think Silverton buffet, although it's over 50's half price on a Monday so I'm wondering if it might be awfully busy.

stoneman

All booked for next April. Getting the earlier Vegas flight from LHR that gets in at 3pm. I really like the later flight, gets in at 8, hotel, shower, put stuff away, out to Tuscany for a couple of drinks and slots, then to bed. Suits us to a tee. What are we going to do with all that time to kill??

Total cost for 2x First class return tickets £520 and 92500 avios each.

We are flying Virgin Upper to LAX in 8 days for about the same cost.

nvh

stoneman wrote: »

Total cost for 2x First class return tickets £520 and 92500 avios each.

Thanks... I was worried it'd be too lazy of me to ask how much that had costed in Avios

Currently trying to choose our next credit card strategy so this could be a winner if I go with BAPP (and redemption availability is on my side!)

edit: just realised that those costs sound as if you are using the 2-for-1

vegasvisitor

I'm not sure about early flight either! We got in at 630 this year (has ranged from 630 to 9pm in the past, depending on the connection from philly across to Vegas or wherever). Getting in at 630 this year meant we only had an hour or two to kill before going to bed and not having too early a night. This is my worry in Vegas, early night means up earlier and more tired next day. One time (long time ago our first trip) we did a Thomas cook flight and it got in early afternoon, I seem to remember we were dead on our feet by about 6pm, although we were at the Mardi Gras and walked to the strip and had a sit down meal at Trevi which was something else back then (Bertolinis or something?). We ate there the next couple of trips on our first night.

Bit cloudy this morning here, time to go for a walk then breakfast!

stoneman

nvh wrote: »

Thanks... I was worried it'd be too lazy of me to ask how much that had costed in Avios

Currently trying to choose our next credit card strategy so this could be a winner if I go with BAPP (and redemption availability is on my side!)

edit: just realised that those costs sound as if you are using the 2-for-1

Yes we are using the 241 voucher. If not using it then there are much more permutations, connecting flights etc (You can only use the 241 on BA flights), same money but up to a stagering 470,000 Avios for 2 of you.

You should find that reward Clubworld seats are easier to come by now that there will be 3 flights a day going to Vegas