Las Vegas guide and MSE thread 2015

ferf1223

moreofthegoodstuff wrote: »

Thanks for the great advice there, I think I'm going to book the seat C tickets for the Monday night, it works out around $100 each so a really good deal! Am I right in thinking that includes all the taxes etc and we just have to print the tickets off? We are booking for two other people so want to get it right!

We haven't booked via the Mirage site for awhile so I'm not sure - sometimes if you are international you can only have the tickets at will-call and pick them up when you get to town...one of our shows (Olivia Newton-John) was like that last trip, another (Carrot Top) we were able to print from home...since Carrot Top is at another MGM property, assuming all of theirs are the same, then you should be able to print from home.

The total including taxes will be displayed before you put in your CC details.

ferf1223

we're home and still not 100% well, hubby is worse off than I am at this point...we made the best of the trip but it was quite annoying to be sick to some extent the entire time.

We did our best to enjoy ourselves, probably mostly missed out on dining options as we weren't particularly hungry and when we did eat it didn't normally end with us feeling any better (and sometimes made us feel much worse).

Still - it was time away from work and all that and we did enjoy it to the extent we could...it was nice seeing pebbles and Tony again a couple of times...and we did treat ourselves to an upgrade at Cosmo for our last 3 nights - we were offered a Wraparound Terrace room for $75/night upgrade fee...we have been offered that upgrade for $150/night before and declined, but decided since we had felt so rubbish we would treat ourselves for 1/2 that. It was an amazing room - best view ever...we have had great views from Cosmo before but this time were on the 52nd floor which was a bit lower and we liked it better...will post a video when I can get my hubby to upload it from his phone.

jadamcp

(if you haven't bought any chips you can only redeem 3 MGM rewards in total though)


If I buy chips can you redeem more than 3 rewards in 30 days ? it would be for food though.

stoneman

ferf1223 wrote: »

we're home and still not 100% well, hubby is worse off than I am at this point...we made the best of the trip but it was quite annoying to be sick to some extent the entire time.

We did our best to enjoy ourselves, probably mostly missed out on dining options as we weren't particularly hungry and when we did eat it didn't normally end with us feeling any better (and sometimes made us feel much worse).

Still - it was time away from work and all that and we did enjoy it to the extent we could...it was nice seeing pebbles and Tony again a couple of times...and we did treat ourselves to an upgrade at Cosmo for our last 3 nights - we were offered a Wraparound Terrace room for $75/night upgrade fee...we have been offered that upgrade for $150/night before and declined, but decided since we had felt so rubbish we would treat ourselves for 1/2 that. It was an amazing room - best view ever...we have had great views from Cosmo before but this time were on the 52nd floor which was a bit lower and we liked it better...will post a video when I can get my hubby to upload it from his phone.

Sorry to here about the illness ferf. TBH that was the reason we didn't ask if you wanted to meet up. We have been so unlucky lately with sickness in Vegas that we thought we might catch your flu so thought better not.
Anyway, did you end up cleaning up, saw you had a couple of good wins at least.

ferf1223

we had a few good wins and some reasonable ones, didn't end up coming back with much of what we took but we didn't spend it all and only took one back-up withdrawal while there (and brought it back with us) so we feel it was a good trip in terms of gambling.

Completely understand your not wanting to catch anything and we were relieved to see pebbles and Tony hadn't caught anything from us between our first and second meetings- we thought we were out of the contagious stage but I was still a bit nervous. We spent a few days before the trip with lots of family and several elderly relatives too and so far I think everyone has escaped it, thankfully. Another time we'll have to make plans to meet again when we're both in Vegas.

pebblesmax

It was lovely to meet you both times Ferf. Thanks for the look around your fantastic room. The view was great!

It was good to finally meet you and Tracy too, Stoneman. Sorry we didn't catch up a second time to say goodbye.

First week down, 6.5 to go.

We visited the Henderson Bird Preserve yesterday. A very interesting place if you like a bit of nature mixed in with the usual Vegassy goodness. It's free too, so even better.

ferf1223

pebblesmax wrote: »

We visited the Henderson Bird Preserve yesterday. A very interesting place if you like a bit of nature mixed in with the usual Vegassy goodness. It's free too, so even better.

This was on the list for this trip as my father-in-law is a bit of a birder, but we decided to park it as they couldn't come this time...I'm looking forward to checking it out hopefully next trip. It does sound like an interesting place and interesting that they have made a highlight of the wastewater reclamation ponds...

Winter_Jasmine

jadamcp wrote: »

(if you haven't bought any chips you can only redeem 3 MGM rewards in total though)


If I buy chips can you redeem more than 3 rewards in 30 days ? it would be for food though.

There's not really a definitive answer to this, sorry. Play Studios say that qualifying for additional rewards depends on lots of complicated factors but most people (including Stuie and me) report receiving a fourth reward after buying at least $50 of chips. I spent $56 over a few weeks ($9, $9, $19, $19) and got the fourth.

However, if you're looking at food rewards, whether paying the $50 is worth it is debatable. Each of the four rewards I've gone for (a night at Monte Carlo and three food rewards) are worth around $50-$60 including taxes so I've only broken even for this trip after spending to get the fourth. People have said that, up to now, once you get a fourth reward, you keep it so I'm playing the long game and hoping that if we get to go back again next year I'll still have four (and that the rewards will still be of a similar value to now)

vegasvisitor

I'm a bit gutted that the Mandalay Bay buffet disappeared. So far I have redeemed for 2 nights at Luxor (2 rewards) and 2 Aria Dinner buffets (1 reward). Hubby has redeemed 1 night at Luxor so has 2 redemptions remaining. I'm thinking Bellagio lunch x 2 (100,000 pts) and not sure what else. he has another 60,000 lps but no harm in keeping some for August/September!

We have also booked some hotels for August/September. 4 nights at Green Valley Ranch, Friday arrival $290ish total (excl resort fee), using a groupon deal plus the 10% discount code. 3 nights at Wynn on a $139 per night deal, includes 2 free buffets per stay. Always wanted to stay at Wynn, so finally got a deal good enough to do it. We have a further 8 nights still to book, I think we will see how we like Tuscany compared to Platinum then decide.

moreofthegoodstuff

John259 wrote: »

Would this appeal to you? It's a day trip by small fixed wing aircraft to the national park.
http://www.viator.com/tours/Las-Vegas/Deluxe-Grand-Canyon-South-Rim-Airplane-Tour/d684-5235EXPLORER
There are other companies offering similar trips but they might just be different booking agents.

Update: I found a promotional video for that trip:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ivGn7ehniGc

I think the 4 of us want a helicopter trip but thanks

I'm looking at this trip at the moment, it works out around 350usd each. There are some a lot cheaper that don't land, I just can't decide what to do! Also I still can't decide whether to book in the UK or when we are there?

http://www.papillon.com/las-vegas-tours/helicopter-landing-tours/grand-celebration-tour