Las Vegas guide and MSE thread 2015

stoneman

moreofthegoodstuff wrote: »

And when in restaurants, are tips already added to the bill? Just some general guidance would be good :-)

A good tip for tipping in restaurants is to look at the tax total, double that and you have it about right.
Never tip percentage based on total, you are then tipping them for the tax as well.

Seldom_Seen_Kid

Not feeling very well today, so skipping the research. A big thank you for all the comments thought.

Before I forget - San Diego - Thai restaurant http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Restaurant_Review-g60750-d606577-Reviews-Rama_A_Thai_Restaurant-San_Diego_California.html was superb. Back room is better than the front room.

Crispy_Ambulance

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.

SF is a lovely city and very easy without a car - public transport is really good and a lot of it is quite walkable. If you like cycling, you can hire bikes and cycle across the Golden Gate bridge and then get the ferry back again.

Seldom_Seen_Kid

I know this is the LV thread, but what it the general opinion on the number of days to spend in SF? 1 day would definitely be allocated shopping, and so was thinking maybe 4 full days. Something like : 1= cycling GGB - cheers Crispy Ambulance; 2 = Alcatra; 3 = other sites not done; 4 = shopping.

silvercar

Seldom_Seen_Kid wrote: »

I know this is the LV thread, but what it the general opinion on the number of days to spend in SF? 1 day would definitely be allocated shopping, and so was thinking maybe 4 full days. Something like : 1= cycling GGB - cheers Crispy Ambulance; 2 = Alcatra; 3 = other sites not done; 4 = shopping.

As little as possible. SF is my least liked US city, the cloudy weather doesn't help.

ferf1223

silvercar wrote: »

As little as possible. SF is my least liked US city, the cloudy weather doesn't help.

that's so interesting - almost every single person I know who has been has raved about it...we haven't been, but one day.

vanilla8

I would say 3 full days in SF.
We have been twice. shopping is Ok and there is a Ross and Macy's which has a Cheesecake Factory, but I seem to pick up more bargains in the outlets!

SF highlights:
Evening Alcatraz tour
Clam chowder in fishermans wharf
exploring the different neighbourhoods- lots of quaint shops and bars & restaurants away from the touristy Union square shops.
We stumbled across a movie screening in a park.
We enjoyed walking down the hills and getting the cable car back up :-)
There are some nice bars and restaurants in pier 39 that we took advantage of the happy hour in.
Highlight was the bike ride over the golden gate and into sausilito and getting the boat back (after a few drinks in Sausalito)

Winter_Jasmine

Seldom_Seen_Kid wrote: »

I know this is the LV thread, but what it the general opinion on the number of days to spend in SF? 1 day would definitely be allocated shopping, and so was thinking maybe 4 full days. Something like : 1= cycling GGB - cheers Crispy Ambulance; 2 = Alcatra; 3 = other sites not done; 4 = shopping.

We stayed for five nights over New Year in 2007/08 and thought that was perfect - we did lots but still have plenty of other things to see when we go back. We stayed at The Argonaut hotel at Fishermans Wharf - it's an absolutely lovely, lovely hotel - probably the nicest place I've ever stayed. I recommended it to friends two years ago and they raved about it as much as we did. The location is brilliant, really close to the end of one of the cable car lines and to loads of other stuff. They also have a free wine hour in the lobby every evening :beer: The doorman had a big jar of dog biscuits that he handed out to passing pooches, which I thought was very sweet

We had a day of shopping at Union Square, saw Lombard Street, visited Alcatraz, travelled on the cable cars, visited Ghiradelli Square and the Palace of Fine Arts, saw the sea lions. My favourite things were renting a tandem (from the cycle shop next to the hotel - Blazing Saddles) and cycling over the Golden Gate Bridge and seeing a hummingbird at the cable car stop near the hotel I can't remember everything we did but we kept busy!

It was freezing while we were there and the weather regularly flipped from dazzling sunshine to thick fog. I loved it, it's probably my favourite city (sorry Vegas!) It's beautiful and much cleaner and greener than other US cities I've visited.

Froggitt

From memory theres an In-n-Out Burger on Fishermans Wharf. http://aht.seriouseats.com/archives/2011/03/the-in-n-out-survival-guide-we-ate-every-single-item-on-the-secret-menu.html

ferf1223

nvh wrote: »

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)

you always have the BEST photos.