Touring holiday to Nevada, California & Arizona

Murphy_The_Cat

jackieblack wrote: »

I'd be really interested to hear what you think of the Excalibur, when you get back, as this is where we've booked a few nights to recover from the flight before we pick up our car and go off exploring on our trip next year!

We have some friends who stayed there a couple of years ago, but picked it because my daughter took one look at the castle and decided that was where she wanted to stay!

well for what its worth, a lot of Vegas devotees say AVOID the Excalibur as it attracts families, who want to take (shock horror) their children with them :rotfl:.
I suppose that it all depends on what you're looking for. For me, a large family room and a large pool with plenty of slides, fits the bill perfectly for my 2 nights in LV.:j

RichTeaBiscuit

Murphy_The_Cat wrote: »

cheers RTB.
with the link that blindman sent, and the suggestions that you & duchy gave me, I think that I'm now sorted.

Good luck with taking the plunge on booking the flights - did you read my thread about manipulating the American Airlines booking computer ?
For what its worth (for me anyway :rotfl:), once the flights were booked, it made the infilling a lot easier :j.

have fun.

My AA flights are chosen and on hold, for the cost of a phone call i'm going to try my luck with payment by Mastercard using the code. Cheers for the tips

malid

RichTeaBiscuit wrote: »

Don't forget Shark reef http://www.mandalaybay.com/entertainment/sharkreef.aspx

Murphy, I've been re-reading your thread again whilst planning our own similar trip for later in the year... I think I've got the route sussed, it's just taking the plunge and booking the flights.
Why I don't book pre-arranged holidays I'll never know.. I woke up yeterday thinking about a detour to Page i'd planned the previous night

Hi there
we've travelled extensively across the west coast - California, Arizona, Nevada, Utah - I WILL NEVER BOOK A PRE-ARRANGED HOLIDAY TO THE STATES. By doing it yourself, you get to go where you want to in your own time. I would say that it is cheaper, however, as Murphy the Cat says, if you chose to stay in better accommodation, you could pay more on occasions. Still better in my book.
I don't know what your route is, but we've taken a detour to page twice and sepnt a couple of days by Lake Powell. It has been well worth it. Hubby and teenage boys had a fabulous time by the lake.
Enjoy!!!:rotfl:

malid

Murphy_The_Cat wrote: »

well for what its worth, a lot of Vegas devotees say AVOID the Excalibur as it attracts families, who want to take (shock horror) their children with them :rotfl:.
I suppose that it all depends on what you're looking for. For me, a large family room and a large pool with plenty of slides, fits the bill perfectly for my 2 nights in LV.:j

H there

We have stayed at Excalibur on three occasions; the last time was in 2005. The lower floor area, intended for family/childern entertainment, is now looking a bit worn but nevertheless for a newbie, is good fun. The pool area is great and what I would regard as 'safe'. (they make lovely cocktails - and virgin cockatails for the children!). We we there in 1992 (ok long time ago but you get my drift) and our youngest had his 1st birthday there and we had a 3 yr old and 9 yr old. The buffet breakfast is recommended but this sort of facility is available in most hotels on the strip and well worth the money.
Great time at the pool and in the theme hotels on the strip. The children would enjoy Circus Circus - real circus entertainment, various stalls and a 'theme' park with rides.
LV doesn't sleep basically, so if you wanted to have a walk around in the early hours of the morning when the children wake up, it will be fine (less hot) and loads of places to eat cheaply.
I would definately not leave my childern in any creche; mine is always a family holiday. Ok, youwon't be able to gamble with the children but whilst gambling is teh main attraction of LV for some, it has changed to a family attraction over the years. :rotfl:

bina72

Murphy_The_Cat wrote: »

I'm currently thinking that we'll spend some (a lot ?) of time around the pool, but does anyone have any suggestions of things to do in LV, with a 1 year old and a 4 year old that doesn't need a car ? I don't need loads of things to fill loads of days, just ideas like 'walk up to the Bellagio and watch the fountains' or 'have you seen the gondolas in the Venetian'? etc etc.
The two nights in Vegas at the start of the hols are more for getting over the flight. Comes Friday morning when the car comes and we can start our Touring holiday properly.

If you have a look here... http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/ShowTopic-g45963-i10-k1796700-Top_125_things_to_do_with_your_Family_in_Las_Vegas-Las_Vegas_Nevada.html you might find a few things to do!

Murphy_The_Cat

bina72 wrote: »

If you have a look here... http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/ShowTopic-g45963-i10-k1796700-Top_125_things_to_do_with_your_Family_in_Las_Vegas-Las_Vegas_Nevada.html you might find a few things to do!

oh my goodness, there's enough to keep me going there for 6 months :rotfl::rotfl:

malid wrote:

H there

We have stayed at Excalibur on three occasions; the last time was in 2005. The lower floor area, intended for family/childern entertainment, is now looking a bit worn but nevertheless for a newbie, is good fun. The pool area is great and what I would regard as 'safe'. (they make lovely cocktails - and virgin cockatails for the children!). We we there in 1992 (ok long time ago but you get my drift) and our youngest had his 1st birthday there and we had a 3 yr old and 9 yr old. The buffet breakfast is recommended but this sort of facility is available in most hotels on the strip and well worth the money.

Thanks for your thoughts malid. I think that the Excalibur will fit fit criteria perfectly -- but the buffet breakfasts, I'm going to try to steer well clear of :beer:

duchy

malid wrote: »

H there


I would definately not leave my childern in any creche; mine is always a family holiday. Ok, youwon't be able to gamble with the children but whilst gambling is teh main attraction of LV for some, it has changed to a family attraction over the years. :rotfl:

Good thing Murph understood the humour in my creche comment...however.....I would totally disagree that vegas is a family attraction town. It has a few things left over from a few years back when Vegas did briefly market itself as family friendly (until they realised the campaign kept the gamblers away)but a town full of clip joints and with people passing out cards for hookers and advertising for adult shows is certainly not MY idea of a family attraction. Once your kids can read it can be a bit of a minefield-OK for a couple of days stop but certainly not a full blown holiday. I love Vegas but family friendly it isn't !

Murphy_The_Cat

I've just booked the Amtrak train tickets from Santa Barbara to San Luis Obispo (beautiful train trip BTW), for myself and my son. We're going Business Class, its a 2 and a half hour trip and the charge (incl discount, if anyone would like the discount code, please ask) is $58.50, or £29.25. It would be rude not to take them up on the offer :beer::j



p.s. coach class would have been $32.50, £16.25

RichTeaBiscuit

RichTeaBiscuit wrote: »

My AA flights are chosen and on hold, for the cost of a phone call i'm going to try my luck with payment by Mastercard using the code. Cheers for the tips

Gulp... I've just rung AA and it looks like the code went through, I've saved £100 on the flights... as soon as the email confirmation arrives I'll be one very happy bunny.
Our road trip is go!!!! :beer: :D:D:D:D :beer:

Murphy_The_Cat

RichTeaBiscuit wrote: »

Gulp... I've just rung AA and it looks like the code went through, I've saved £100 on the flights... as soon as the email confirmation arrives I'll be one very happy bunny.
Our road trip is go!!!! :beer: :D:D:D:D :beer:

Hurray, another satisfied customer. Isn't it grand ti save a few ££££££'s.
Now you've got the fun of organising your roadtrip :j:j



p.s. be sure to grab some 'good' seats on the plane as well !