Las Vegas guide and MSE thread 2015

EssexExile

Seldom_Seen_Kid wrote: »

I nearly booked Denver, I know nothing about the place, but saw a great deal on a hotel.

I don't enjoy cities much but Denver is quite pleasant, probably because it's not that big. We use it as a base for touring around the national parks.
We going there again in May, staying in a hotel in Golden to the west of the city for a couple of days then touring for a while & ending in a house in Golden for a week.

Seldom_Seen_Kid

Thanks everyone. The main issue for us is that either of us feel comfortable driving. I wish it was different, as I knowit hold us back.

Denver looked promising as I thought we could have done some cycling out there, but I cannot find any decent information (places to hire a road bike, routes etc).

I will look at Portland.

San Diego is a great city. We went last year and loved it.

SF is a place that I feel I should visit once.

MissNobody

Winter_Jasmine wrote: »

We stayed there in June 2012 when the crazy heatwave hit (43'!) yet they never closed off any of the pool area. Same as you though - I loved the hotel and location but the pool area was disappointing

Sorry, remembered now they didn't close off 1 side of the pool, they just made sure all the huge parasols were up so the whole far side of the pool was in the shade, I think it was 1.00pm when you were allowed to put them down. The staff kept watch so any put down early were swiftly put back up.
The other thing was once you could decide to be up or down the parasols are so big that if a neighbour wanted theirs up it would shade about 8 other sunbeds.
Resort fees were not charged to us though so bonus there.

pebblesmax

I like Denver, but my info is old. I lived there in the mid 80's. I'd love to hear how it is now. If anyone goes, please do a mini TR.

nvh

I'll try not to take this too much further off topic, but if it helps...

EssexExile wrote: »

We going there again in May, staying in a hotel in Golden to the west of the city for a couple of days then touring for a while & ending in a house in Golden for a week.

The Coors Brewery Tour is a good (free) and interesting thing to do if you haven't done it already (and you're interested in beer ) - from memory, they support a lot of the businesses in Golden (the tour even takes you around Golden for a short part of it!). IIRC, if you do the tour, you also get discounts at certain other places such as restaurants in town (or something like that!?)

Seldom_Seen_Kid wrote: »

Thanks everyone. The main issue for us is that either of us feel comfortable driving. I wish it was different, as I knowit hold us back.

Denver looked promising as I thought we could have done some cycling out there, but I cannot find any decent information (places to hire a road bike, routes etc).

I will look at Portland.

San Diego is a great city. We went last year and loved it.

SF is a place that I feel I should visit once.

I liked Denver, and I know you mentioned cycling but I kinda think you may need a car, and you wouldn't necessarily stay within Denver for long (we started there and moved from place to place through the national parks). There is little to do in Denver City itself (in my opinion), so transport is useful for getting around.

IMO, San Diego can easily be done without a car, as can San Francisco Had great (and cheap) experiences using Uber in San Diego. Noticeably cheaper than using cabs!

Also might be worth considering Chicago - again, no car required there and a lovely place! (plus hub for American Airlines so can easily get there from MAN / LHR)

I enjoyed all of the above - really loved going up the Rockies... don't think I've ever been so close to lightening before! Amazing weather climate up there... (hail, snow, sun, thunder / lightening)





(...never been to Portland though I've made a note of it to look at, so thanks for the suggestion ajdj )

PS - thanks to whoever started talking about Denver... made me go back and look through photos of our time in Chicago, Denver etc... great holiday

John259

Seldom_Seen_Kid wrote: »

The main issue for us is that neither of us feel comfortable driving.

Have you ever driven in the USA? The freeways in the big cities can be fierce with multiple lanes and lots of fast moving traffic. However, the normal streets are much easier, but usually very much slower. In smaller towns and on the open road out in the country traffic levels are generally very low and driving is mostly easy and stress-free.

IMHO this video does a good job of illustrating a variety of driving situations in the USA:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oLaXIzbcZgE

Apologies if you've tried driving in the USA and know that it's not for you.

photome

wooh Hooh

Just checked in for tomorrows Virgin flight to Vegas, just a small matter of a local derby to attend (Norwich v Ipswich) this afternoon and then will be on way to gatwick for overnight stop first, hope to still make twilight bag drop but will be tight as have to drop son in Chelmsford on way down..

enough of my rambling

moreofthegoodstuff

I'm off to Vegas in May and just noticed there is a big fight on the day before we go. We are wanting to do a trip to the Grand Canyon by helicopter and also a cirque du soleil show, with vegas being quite busy, is it best we book before we go? (We want good seats for the show) and also, who should we book with if so?

We are staying at the Vdara, a couple of questions re taxis and tipping as we have never been to Vegas before/it's been a long time since I've been to America and I'm not sure of who to tip and how much! How much is a taxi to the Vdara from the airport and can we just pick one up from the airport?

As for tipping, do we tip at check in? (We have already upgraded as its for a 30th birthday) if so how much? Also how much in casinos for drinks? And when in restaurants, are tips already added to the bill? Just some general guidance would be good :-)

Froggitt

IMHO...........
- Cirque tickets from a tix4tonite from 10am on the morning of the show
- taxi $20 or so, say "no tunnel" to driver
- tip at checkin is usually for a comp upgrade
- casino drinks $1 per drink tip
- 15% in restaurants tip, not usually added on the bill

ferf1223

Which Cirque show? We would normally book in advance using whatever discount we can find online. I guess it depends which show, how flexible you are on dates and how important the show is to you.