Las Vegas guide and MSE thread 2015

photome

ferf1223 wrote: »

I can be a Brit for the day, we even have some Union Jack* flags we had for the car during a world cup a few years ago.

We are planning on going, but it will be down to how hot it is...as it is mid 30s for the next few days and I think that would be too hot for us...but the forecast has it cooling down, though showers on Sunday...too far out to know for sure. If the temperatures are reasonable, we are planning on going. I think it would be fun. Plus, I hear a rumour that they have fair food there, which was the best thing about NASCAR, I felt.

*my husband has pointed out that I am a crap pseudo-Brit...the flags I am remembering are Cross of St. George.

Ha ha, that would work, I think Bonhome is English

hope the weather is ok for you to go, they are bound to have funnel cakes (you cant get them in Blackpool)

Have a great trip

traveller

Winter Jasmine, Ferf, completely agree with your views on Vegas The whole Grand Canyon thing is the same for me, I really don't want to tear myself away from Vegas and if I'm honest, to me it looks really boring In 2013 we didn't get to go there all the valley of fire, but I was only upset about he Valley of fire, as to me i looks stunning. I do want to go to the Grand Canyon purely so my children can say they've seen it, but for me the VOF looks much nicer

John259

Just my opinion of course, but for me Zion is by far the best national park in the area.

traveller

John259 wrote: »

Just my opinion of course, but for me Zion is by far the best national park in the area.

Zion, I agree looks absolutely beautiful. As a non driver it's not as easy to access though I've seen pictures of it on loads of trip reports and it is stunning

John259

traveller wrote: »

As a non driver it's not as easy to access though

Something like this might be of interest:
http://www.ziontours.com

nvh

I can't find the exact way I want of saying what I'm trying to say (!?), so I'll just say "I found both Bryce and Zion slightly disappointing" (which is not true at all, as I enjoyed them!!!!).

I think the main disappointment was we had to go well and truly out of our way to visit them. That's not to say they were bad, but Bryce especially was a quick dart around in the car with a different view of much the same thing! - a bit like the Grand Canyon I guess (which I also enjoyed)

Valley of Fire seems a good 'starter' though as its an easy day trip / is more accessible and has plenty of variety (driving around etc).

Zion would've been better if Mrs NVH had wanted to tackle the narrows!

Zion (Springdale specifically) is a nice little town to stay though, and we've had a couple of good accommodations there

(no matter how much I read the above, it still sounds like I've had beers for breakfast - but hope you get the gist)

John259

nvh wrote: »

Zion would've been better if Mrs NVH had wanted to tackle the narrows!

Or Angels Landing???

There are some other good trails, the Riverside Walk (very easy) and the Emerald Pools (fairly easy).

FWIW I got as far as the top of the first set of zigzags on the Angels Landing trail, which was well worth the effort for this view:

http://goo.gl/DE4c7j

traveller

John259 wrote: »

Something like this might be of interest:
http://www.ziontours.com

Thank you :T At the risk of sounding like a terrible parent, i've a feeling it will be Zion and the VOF. If that want to see GC they can wait till they're old enough to take themselves :rotfl: We only have 15 nights, 3 of which may be spent between Anaheim and LA. I'm still trying to sort that bit out.We won't drive out there either, but hoping to do a day at Disney, universal and santa monica as well as take in the farmers market and the grove.It may be scrapped as I want relaxing on the balcony time too and not doing a thing

duchy

First trip to Vegas we booked a GC plane trip before we went........ I'm glad we did as in 15 odd trips we've never done it again but it was a really fun day out and I'm glad we did it. I'm not a scenary person but thought it was breathtaking.

I do think a lot of first-timers never get beyond the Strip itself which is a shame as a lot of the good stuff is off Strip.

I was with American friends this trip so we had a car. The look of horror on their faces when I said I had stuff to do at the Orleans and would meet them back at the Tuscany ......that I would consider trying to get anywhere without a car- was priceless (FYI Orleans free shuttle to C.Palace...cross the road to Ballys cut out the back of Ballys and stroll up the road to the Tuscany.)

We had a free Friday night to use at Luxor and it was horrible- No self parking left and a massive line for Valet . It honestly would have been both cheaper and quicker to have stayed at the Orleans and used their shuttle.

Next time I fancy Red Rock or Orleans for the weekend and skip the Strip Friday/Sat altogether.Both have plenty going on without the mess.

I'm wondering what else Benidorm has to keep going back (apart from Irish pubs and Full English -although there's a nice Irish bar in the Orleans too ) Perhaps they have more laundrettes ?

Unless I sneak another trip with the US girls in before the next trip will be my wedding (Tuscany's chapel has closed down dammit so looks like it'll be Chapel of the Flowers- One thing I hadn't realized was how many have really bad airport noise so scrubbed the outdoor ceremony idea after visiting quite a few. We had a lot of fun checking them out though.) so we'll need to organize some of the traditional Vegas stuff as my fiance hasn't been before so Canyon , Hoover Dam are must do's , driving into Vegas at night and up the Strip, shows, Linq etc etc

secretmachines

just to show a bit of love for the GC we went on our first trip to LV and really enjoyed it (West Rim, but let's not get picky!)

we did a Maverick helicopter tour which was an afternoon/evening. flew out over Lake Mead, Hoover Dam, etc. and landed in the GC for a drink and picnic. this was late afternoon so the light was amazing and it was SO quiet.

flying back as the sun was going down was really special, and we flew back into Vegas after-dark so got the 'neon experience' too.

The GC was really impressive (so goodness knows how breathtaking the South Rim is), but the whole journey was also an amazing experience. we also had a great pilot, who was ex-police, so had some stories

So maybe it's a thing to do on your first trip out to LV, as otherwise you fall in love with LV and don't want to tear yourself away from the amazing Strip! I think that's also why we've not ventured beyond the Strip as there is just so much to experience right there (apart from when we did the Scoot City Red Rock Canyon trip, which is highly recommened).