Las Vegas guide and MSE thread 2016

pebblesmax

Vegas Bright.

http://www.vegasbright.com/

secretmachines

ferf1223 wrote: »

this actually reminds me - I was wondering what you guys have found to be the best way of getting out to the Strip from Aria is? I know we can go through to MC, or go through Crystals...are there any other routes we aren't considering?

if you head straight out 'the front', there's a small road (West Aria Place) which leads straight down to the Strip, it comes out opposite the Hawaiian Market Place.

if you head out 'the back' (as if walking to the Vdara, past the Jean Philippe patisserie - oh yes! - at the back of the casino), you see the Vdara straight ahead of you (on the other side of a roundabout where taxis drop off). Walk round to the right, towards Vdara and you have 2 options:

1) go down the outside steps to the right of the Vdara (by the dog garden) and you come to the valet entrance underneath the Cosmopolitan. You have to walk in the same way the cars go, but it brings you to the Cosmo lobby.

2) go into the Vdara, keep to the right hand side, and there's a walkway into the back of the Bellagio. It's about a 5min stroll from the front of the Vdara to the Bellagio conservatory.

rlc7

Hi all, great thread! I'm staying at the MGM for 7 nights in april with a group of 7 friends.


I was wondering if anyone can shed more light on the resort fees, some people have said they are mandatory and some have said they are not.


Thanks in advance

pebblesmax

rlc7 wrote: »

Hi all, great thread! I'm staying at the MGM for 7 nights in april with a group of 7 friends.


I was wondering if anyone can shed more light on the resort fees, some people have said they are mandatory and some have said they are not.


Thanks in advance

They are mandatory. However, if you gamble enough you may have the opportunity to have the fees paid with express comps accrued from that gambling. You still pay, but in a different way.

Other members will be more qualified than I am to explain this properly. I don't really gamble, but that is how I understand it.

Misty_Blue

Not just gambling either - if you eat in any of the hotel restaurants, order room service, use the spa...basically whatever you spend in the hotel, be sure to have it charged to your room instead of paying on the spot. That way when you come to check out, the hotel has a record of everything you spent and is more likely to waive or comp some of the resort fees.

Edited to add - At some hotels the resort fee is optional but you won't have access to some facilities like the gym, Wi-Fi etc. The MGM's resort fees are mandatory, I believe. IF you booked through a third party it will say in your T&Cs whether the fees and taxes are included in what you paid or have to be paid separately at the hotel.

duchy

Just in case anyone is using Air Canada's cheap fares to Vegas or heading to Canada as part of a longer trip- from next month Canada is introducing their own version of the ESTA called an eTa - works much the same way - apply online in advance and it's just a few quid.

lippy1923

So confused about the Grand Canyon tours. Wanting to do a quick fly over (about 15 mins or so) but can't seem to find it cheap at all. Reviews say the Skywalk glass walkway is a rip off and not worth it. A lot of reviews say don't bother with West rim, go south instead.... my heads spinning lol

Anybody on here been before and what did you pay and what was included?

I don't want to go all the way to Vegas and miss out on a fantastic opportunity but I'm so far gutted at the prices I have been seeing. I may have grossly underestimated the costs, thinking we would do a quick helicopter flight for around £100 pp.... apparently no where near.

Any advice/recommendations appreciated.

duchy

It's a fair distance
We compromised and dropped the helicopter and did a morning tour
Left at stupid o clock in the morning and got a sightseeing plane -(all seats are window seats) to the Canyon - and then drove (you could choose between driving your own jeepy type thing or be driven in a Hummer. Took photos gawped at the Canyon and had a bit of a wander then drove back to the ranch we started from for lunch then flew back to Vegas (Well that was the theory- in reality our Hummer got a puncture on the way back and rather than delay us waiting they sent a helicopter in to pick us up which was a bit of a bonus )
We were back in our hotel by twoish.

Cost was around £100 each which I thought was a decent price (worth shopping around on line we prebooked and whilst looking saw the exact same tour for fifty quid more online).

lippy1923

Thanks for the reply. Do you by any chance remember who you booked with?

bobbyhibs

Misty_Blue wrote: »

Not just gambling either - if you eat in any of the hotel restaurants, order room service, use the spa...basically whatever you spend in the hotel, be sure to have it charged to your room instead of paying on the spot. That way when you come to check out, the hotel has a record of everything you spent and is more likely to waive or comp some of the resort fees.

hi
im sure a few people have advised charging it to your room and im sure most of the hotels get it right but be careful !
My brother and i on our last trip to vegas last june(mgm grand) we chared drinks to our room (was a coke and 1 beer honest) and well when we checked out the $200 depost we put down when we checked in, well we were gonna get something like $35 back:mad:. They thought we (just the 2 of us) had order a cabana thing( i had no clue what the heck that was til i left!) for 3 days in a row and something else as well was charged to our room.

somehow, somewhere weather an honest mistake was made or not it may be worth making sure you write down, rmeeber what you charged to your room.