Las Vegas guide and MSE thread 2016

dontone

Been asking DH to get the cases out for next week (he got one down from the wardrobe, so it was a start) so, in a moment of pre holiday excitement (or madness), I've just got the other one out of the airing cupboard, and ended up with the shelf above that holds all the towels empty it's contents over me - think of that scene in the Young Ones where the kitchen shelves mysteriously throw the dishes on the floor - banged me elbow on the door frame, and then gained bruises in various places 'cos the suitcase is quite bulky and it decided to go everywhere else when I lifted it instead of where I wanted it to go.
Anyway, I thought I'd look inside it, and found the Russian Doll equivalent of suitcases, thanks DH. And also found that we had a travel hairdryer, a roll of travel toilet roll and a set of toe nail clippers that have 'Las Vegas' printed on them.
On the up side, I did find our luggage tags and our 'Total Rewards' complimentary rucksack that we got in Caesars in 2008 when we signed up for the points cards. Pity I can't find any of them, we had about 4 or 5 of them from various casinos from 2008 to 2011. I wonder if they've deleted our details and we can sign up again?
BTW, is it worth buying case padlocks, or do they break them off? I can't remember. Ta.

Lovetotravel

Hi guys, I'm off on my NINTH trip to Vegas on 10 August, with a few days in San Diego, ending up flying out of LAX on 20 August.

It's getting closer and I'm getting more excited! Currently have booked the Golden Nugget, as I've never stayed downtown before (and it was £190 for 5 nights!) and planning on a night somewhere nice using MyVegas points.

Been keeping an eye on hotel prices, but can't see anything better.

dontone

Just looked on the Vegas.com website - apparently there is a Wayne Newton property tour.
Now, has anybody on here actually done it? It seems like one to avoid, but it seems so tempting (just so you can say you've been)

StuieUK34

messed up again last night!
Gambled in cosmo, drank lots of bourbon, played the anger hands (u slap lots of chips down cos of losing), so playing BlackJack, think I lost $850 in 3 minutes
had $175 left, so put it all down, and thankly I won, and my count back up to $400....
Went back to a 3caard table that I was on earlier, and same again, bye bye money!!
Buffalo Grand and Willy Wonka swallowed $120 (max bet) without any wins ($2 biggest win!)


Win some, lose some!! Off to old town tonight, so I hope, big money comes my way
got a heatwave coming later today, right through to sunday, wooohoooooooo !!!!!

bubble113

Booked for next year through Virgin flydrive which worked out nearly £200pp cheaper than booking direct on Virgin Atlantic. As it's a flydrive we get a "free" car however it's basic insurance, which as far as I can tell doesn't include CDW. As we usually hire a car using a UK firm CDW is always included and we know we don't need any upgrade insurance when we get there.

Paying to upgrade insurance on Virgin was £500+ which I wasn't going to pay. We have 2 cars as a group of us going.

Does anybody have experience of buying a separate insurance policy to cover everything? Or do I just to ditch the "free" cars and book as I usually do?

Thank you.

Misty_Blue

dontone wrote: »

BTW, is it worth buying case padlocks, or do they break them off? I can't remember. Ta.

I use the special ones designed for USA travel, where US security can open them and don't have to cut them. Two of my cases were checked last trip and the padlocks were put back just fine. We had no idea until we found the letter the cases when we got home.

StuieUK34

my case gets checked by US customs every year, will put a photo up tomorrow so u can see why !

Brats64

Never had a case checked in over 20 visits to the states.

We have the TSA locks on them....you can buy them cheap in most places nowadays from supermarkets to home bargains, B&Ms...those kind of places....as said,if they want to look,they can safely remove the lock,then put it back on without damaging it.

Brats64

While I'm here...no trip report....sorry bobbyhibs.

Just a few comments

Hotels stayed at

MSS. Not enjoyable this trip...uncomfortable bed,very noisy.
Monte Carlo....nice enough room,comfy bed,trouble at checkout over "made up" additional costs.
Orleans Hotel...excellent as usual...with nice new decor,and newer comfy beds,this is still our go to hotel in Vegas....no need to pay silly prices for something you spend little time in.

Food.
Ate too many buffets....many were myvegas...only Aria as good as previous visits.
Even Bellagio...usually my favourite....wasn't up to scratch.
Mirage buffet,not as good,and the first...and last..time we visited Spice Market buffet...I thought this was awful..wish we had never bought the groupon...not worth it,even at the reduced price.IMO of course.

Ate at Chin Chin for first time in many years....food was cold....never paid for it.Next door we ate in Greenbergs deli and really enjoyed the Reuben.

I posted mid trip about the $7.99 steak special at Ellis Island being ridiculous value,we went back on our final evening,and while it was still great value,the steak was only a very thin one,as opposed to the thick one on the first visit...still great for the price,but I like consistency....we'll be back a couple of times in September I'm sure.

Had the $24.99 special downtown at California's Redwood Bar & Grill
the steak wasn't too good,it looked great,but gristly and fatty meant a fair bit was left....maybe we just got a bad one.

Only went to one show this trip...and it was free...The Blue Man Group.

What the hell is that all about !!!...its just nuts.....very entertaining though.

Used myvegas for buffets,as said,and once again had $50 credit for piano bar at NY NY....Once again we thoroughly enjoyed this evening,the free drinks last about 3 rounds,then your enjoying yourself so much you have to stay until the evening ends at 2.00am...probably a false economy really,as its $15 each for the VIPs seating area...that just means you get a seat,instead of standing....and when the free drinks stop,it doesnt take long for your money to start disappearing,especially when putting down $20 a time for a request.

Finally,on this non trip report...sure I said I wasn't doing one last time,and it really ended up being one.....once you start a few lines it all come out:rotfl:

Gambling...we never used to gamble at all on our early visits,we had our daughter with us,so we couldn't loiter in the gaming area,nor did I want too...I was a very bad gambler on the horses for most of my young adult life,and lost most of my wages to the bookie,before I had ever even earned it.Vegas would have been a dangerous place for the "old" brats to visit.

Anyway....our daughter hasn't been the last few trips....away at uni:T
So we do play the slots a little the last few trips.

I can only say after this visit I remember why I stopped gambling all together.

On the last few trips when we have played,we have lost a little,then won a little.If we got a play for our dollars,we were happy with that.
The last few trips we have probably been about level,maybe won a little,maybe lost slightly...but either way,we had the "enjoyment" and "entertainment" for our money.

But this time was brutal....we just never even got a play.
Every time $20 went in a machine.....for both my wife,and myself...it disappeared in minutes.
We kept thinking next machines will be better...ok tomorrow will be different...downtown is bound to be a bit kinder...but nothing...for the whole trip.Now as we say,we aren't big gamblers like some may be on here,but we have learned to enjoy it as part of the holiday now.
So it did feel a little different that we couldn't even get a play for our money this trip.
As I say,if the old me had been here,I would have headed to the nearest cash point,and withdrew loads more money to "win it all back"

Thankfully I have gotten wiser as I've got older,and that "idiot" gambler isn't part of who I am anymore.....just as well really,or we wouldn't be able to go to Vegas in the first place:rotfl:

We can only hope that come Septembers trip we get a bit more of a play for our money...it will be a different experience this next time,as our daughter is now 21 and coming with us.So for the first time she will be able to do the grown up stuff with us...not sure if I m looking forward to it,or if I'm terrified of the thought.:eek:

traveller

Glad you guys that are out there are having a fab time! Stuie, that suite!!! Brats, not pleases to hear about Spice Market, I bought the groupon too and was considering getting another one from Travelzoo as they've extended the time on it now till October. I do hope they bring back the Paris one which I got in 2013. That was was lovely.

Lovetotravel, I'm doing a few days in San Diego too!Where about are you staying, we're at the Best Western Island Palms on Shelter Island
: )