Las Vegas guide and MSE thread 2016

silvercar

ali-t wrote: »

It will be a while before we could afford to go back but the travelling takes the shine off things for me so alternatives definitely need to be found. I found chicago to be very badly organised and lots of people with connecting flights panicking while the airport staff seemed very laidback and slow with their approach. If you have any inspiration about a less painful way to do things please let me know.

Whichever way you do it, you are in for a long flight and airport hassles. I sympathise and the way I do it is to change the mind set. Consider that your holiday starts when you leave home. My rules:

1. Travel direct: every plane change is one more airport to navigate, one more flight to worry about, one more potential delay.
2. Travel in style: Flat bed business class preferably.
3. Pre-flight lounge access, fast track check-in and security. Avoids the hussle and bussle of the airport.
4. Night flight in at least one direction. Alcohol/ melatonin/ sleeping tab/ drowsy med...whatever will help you sleep on a plane.

It needn't be that expensive. We save Avios with credit cards, convert Tesco points to Avios etc and book well in advance to get our flight choices.

ali-t

We were in cattle class all the way so yeah, i think it is about being smarter in future.

Misty_Blue

silvercar wrote: »

1. Travel direct: every plane change is one more airport to navigate, one more flight to worry about, one more potential delay.
2. Travel in style: Flat bed business class preferably.
3. Pre-flight lounge access, fast track check-in and security. Avoids the hussle and bussle of the airport.
4. Night flight in at least one direction. Alcohol/ melatonin/ sleeping tab/ drowsy med...whatever will help you sleep on a plane.

It needn't be that expensive. We save Avios with credit cards, convert Tesco points to Avios etc and book well in advance to get our flight choices.

Exactly this. I know it's not the case for everybody, but I agree with all the above. I would add airport hotel the night before, as well. I always think it only takes one crash on the M6/M25/Mwhatever, and you've missed your flight.

Re: the airmiles, took me less than 2 years of not particularly trying hard, to get enough airmiles for 2 Upper Class flights to Vegas through the Virgin Flying Club. I don't do economy on long-haul at all. It's nothing less than torture to me. Though for plenty of people, they don't mind and would rather spend the extra money while on holiday. You just have to figure out what's best for you and whether the extra comfort and space is worth it.

Smudge's_Lot

Hi to all, been reading as many pages on here as I can, we are off on 24 Aug, flying Premium Econ with Virgin form LGW to LAS, a first time holiday celebrating my 50th and son's 21st!!!
We have 3 nights booked in the Bellagio before we start our drive holiday, staying in a Companion Traveler Room.
anybody have a clue how basic this room is?
Is it worth the $20 handshake to upgrade?
Obviously after the long flight, wondering what to do to stay awake as long as possible. We have a Cirque du Soleil show on the thurs night, groupon tickets to the Eiffel tower for Fri evening and we leave Sat morning! A lot to fit in with only 3 nights! Then its off to the Grand Canyon, then LA and up the coast to San Fran!
So, am looking for advice of where to eat, I have read that the Wynn buffet is good, does that still apply?[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]

Misty_Blue

Smudge's_Lot wrote: »

So, am looking for advice of where to eat, I have read that the Wynn buffet is good, does that still apply?

The Wynn Buffet is excellent. Also the Wicked Spoon buffet at The Cosmopolitan, which is right next to Bellagio. Ellis Island is a little way off the strip, behind Bally's/Paris, but is highly recommended on here for good food at very good prices.

Are you sure that's the right name for the room at Bellagio? I don't recognise it.

Smudge's_Lot

Thanks for the quick reply!
Yes, found the room type confusing as I used Trivago and booked using 7ideas.com using a CC and paid just a deposit and then emailed the Bellagio and they confirmed the booking existed and the room type is
"[FONT=&quot]our run of the house resort room category"
still none the wiser...
[/FONT]

Misty_Blue

I would assume it's just a standard room. It never hurts to try for an upgrade. At the Bellagio, especially if it's your first Vegas trip, I would try and at least get one of the Fountain View rooms. As you're only there a short time, you're more likely to be successful with the upgrade. Give it a go!

Mich81

Thanks for the reponses guys - will probably be back once we've decided on dates (and which country we're getting married in)


One last question - would you rather go for an upgraded room at a 4 star hotel (MGM/NY NY) or a basic room in a 5 star hotel (Bellagio/Caesars) - very undecided.

Misty_Blue

Mich81 wrote: »

One last question - would you rather go for an upgraded room at a 4 star hotel (MGM/NY NY) or a basic room in a 5 star hotel (Bellagio/Caesars) - very undecided.

It's worth remembering that the star rating just refers to the hotel facilities and not really how nice the rooms are.

I haven't stayed in any of the above, but for me it would depend what the upgrade was at the four star. If it was only a one-step upgrade or so, I'd probably go with the five star and try and get a comped upgrade on check-in.

Is this a honeymoon? You could maybe look at the Monte Carlo instead of NYNY. That's more honeymoon-ey, to me. NYNY I would think of as more of a family hotel. Or, there is the MGM Signature, which is set back from the Strip but is a lovely hotel. 5 star, and you can get some great prices.

If you went for Ceasar's, research carefully as apparently some of the rooms/towers are very outdated and pretty grim, whereas others are really nice.

Samarkand

Just been to NetFlights and 7 nights including direct flight from Manchester staying in Tower at Excalibur is coming in at £596. I am tempted but only get back on September 10th and not sure if that is too soon to go back