Las Vegas guide and MSE thread 2017

pebblesmax

They don't have any specific rules on the ones I've bought so far.

Let me know if you don't get rid of all your points. We can put a point on for you at the end of our trip to prolong it a bit.

vegasvisitor

Thanks Pebbles, only way I could think of, but still kind of hard to get to next September. Have used some tonight again, Also realised we can get freeplay, so might do that if need be. I would be nice to keep them if it was easier. Quite like using them at Burger Brasserie for happy hour drinks in the passing (4-6pm) but that seems a bit pointless when HH and free wine hour is on at Stir at that time. Might just be about $100 between us now, and 4 nights to use so hopefully we will manage.

Jgantz

Hi All,


Been reading for a month or so while prepping for first trip in 6 weeks.


Staying at the Luxor for 6 nights on 21st Oct. (booked a tower room on advice I read)
Anyone know about the pool situation we were told the pool is open year round..
Flying Virgin out and Delta back. (Not really sure why that was 450 less hopefully a good choice)


Have a few questions below which I am sure have been asked many time so apologies, but I haven't been able to find much detailed info.


When we land I have read to use UBER/LYFT, I have Uber I use here in UK.
When the time comes where is the best place to download LYFT and where will give me the best codes to use in Vegas?
Also is the Wi-Fi at the airport free to use for booking after we land, as current phone package has no US data?


Tipping?
Waitresses and cocktail waitresses etc when do you tip for dinks, after they bring you drinks or before?


Tour.
We really want to do a helicopter trip down to grand canyon.
There seems to be so many offering the same trip, is there any you recommend.
(like the look of the tour that just goes out to west rim via hoover damn and the lake etc as we don't want to spend all day out)
Should we book a landing tour or non landing? And morning or Afternoon.
Is it best to book out there or here before we leave.


Can we use credit card most places like eating and bars, (prefer to get the best rate on no fee card)
Will just use cash for random bits, gambling and tips etc.


Started browsing Groupon, TZ and LS as advise on here. thanks


going to try and see 2/3 shows if we can, again should we book before or "gamble" and try get better price while there?


I have signed up to a MiLife card online (do I pick up when I arrive or at check in), if I am understanding right I use this whenever I buy anything MGM related, restaurants bars etc, gambling machines etc.
Then when we come to check out I ask then to review card and if they can do anything on the bill?
or am I way off the mark?


Any other tips would be most welcome.


thanks so much


James

bobbyhibs

hi Jgantz welcome to the board!
I feel i can help with some of your questions, though not all of them
as for tipping the waitress in the casino you ask them for x drinks(usually 1 per person ) and its usually $1 per drink and you tip them when they come back but i guess thats maybe minimium

As for your shows question i think its a bit hit n miss imo about booking up before or when you are there but i think IF you see a good price before you go and are happy with that price then go for it.
there were tickets booths tix4tonight , one was outside the mgm grand(not too far from the luxor) which offers tickets for shows the same day-night which sometimes saves money
I dont think gambiling for shows is a good idea unless you are playing big, though what big is i think depends on alot of factors.I of course would strongly advice NEVER to gamble for comps or discounts. only gamble what you can afford to lose, .When my brother and I went we stuck to a limit of $100 each per day and did stick to it pretty much- we did win sometimes which meant sometimes the next day we had more than $100 each to gamble.I would strongly reccomend settign a limit to what you gamble

As for your Mlife card each Mlife properity has there own Mlife desk, there are often sign posted and easy to find .You go to them with id to get your card.ceartainly use this when usuing the slot machines and the table games and buying mgm properities stuff, i think some shops in the mlife propertiies offer a small discount i think 5%( not 100% if this is still the case)

If i recall in reagrds getting your card reviewed again you go to the Mlife desk , and see what they can do for you ( im not sure how to ask i think its rating your play or something)
when my brother and i were there we went and spoke to the Mlife desk to see if we were able to get anything comped(free) and we had a bit of luck and if i recall we got a buffet each free and a couple of drinks free at the poolas well.
so speaking to the Mlife desk will help!!

have you thought/included resort fees as well?

hope this helps some , kind regards

StuieUK34

Book before you go, look on the likes of TravelZoo and Groupon....
Tix4Tonight = tourist booths...
ie: cost u a bit more ..
Example:
Book a "Penn & Teller" or "Jabbawockeez" show with Travelzoo, and compared to the Tix4 prices, they are cheaper as I compared when I was there a few months back...
Think the tix booth wanted $88 for Jabbawockeez 2hrs before show time.....


Cant recall about wifi in airport, although u get free wifi in the Tom Bradley terminal in LA (not helpful I know! )

bobbyhibs

StuieUK34 wrote: »

Book before you go, look on the likes of TravelZoo and Groupon....
Tix4Tonight = tourist booths...
ie: cost u a bit more ..

hi
thanks for the info in regards travelzoo and groupon, i have heard of groupon before though never did much buying there.

In regards tix4tonight - when we were there last year(damn sooo long ago) we were getting tix for david copperfield and found them cheaper than getting them from the mgm :eek: i tihnk it was something like $5-$10 difference though, still a saving though.

have fun when your trip comes around!!

vegasvisitor

Welcome to the forum!

Luxor - we have stayed there twice and chosen to stay in a pyramid room both times. It's a bit of a unique experience staying in the pyramid. They have been refurbishing thy pyramid rooms lately too, so they are actually the most recently refurbished (if they have done them all now?). As for the pool, it was open when we were there last November, as the weather was particularly good. I wasn't expecting it to be open though, we were expecting to have to use the Excalibur pool next door, which we were told would be open all year round and available to Luxor guests. Maybe Luxor pool is now open all year, but I don't think it was in the past.

Shows - look at prices online. Some of the online prices are actually really good. Find prices then search the internet to see if it's the best price or not. There are the ticket booths in Vegas, but it's hard to tell what they will have. If there's something you really want to see, might be best to book it from home.

Lyft - download it as close to your departure as possible, as you should be able to get a code for $5 off your first 10 rides, but it usually lasts a week or two. It's easy to use, although obviously you need wifi. Do you arrive at T3 in Vegas? If so, the Lyft pickup is in the 'valet' area of the car park. You have to walk along a bit, go up in a lift and cross a bridge to get there. There are two bridges, and the second one is closer. You only get wifi on the 'airport' side of the bridge, so you would need to do your booking on the app from there then cut across to get the pickup.

Mlife - to me the mlife card is only for myVegas as I don't gamble enough to get points or any offers. Total rewards do seem to offer me discounts for previous play (even my low play), so it might be worthwhile getting that card. Also look up for offers for new signups at other places. Some places do freeplay etc for newbies, although I think that has reduced a bit over the years.

Have you downloaded the Cityzen app? It gets you a free drink daily at 3 bars in Vegas, plus some 2/1 offers. Also have a look at happy hours and see which ones you like the look of for food and drinks. Some of them are really good value, and can be a substitute for going out for a meal if you're not that hungry.

photome

Jgantz wrote: »

Hi All,





Staying at the Luxor for 6 nights on 21st Oct. (booked a tower room on advice I read)

personally I would have gone for the pyramid as its the only time you will get to stay in a pyramid and ride an inclinator ,you can stay in a standard hotel room anywhere


Anyone know about the pool situation we were told the pool is open year round..

Not sure about Luxor pool being open all year round, most close around sep/oct as it starts getting too cold to use them

Flying Virgin out and Delta back. (Not really sure why that was 450 less hopefully a good choice)

its possibly cheaper as you may have chosen a non direct flight on the return AFAIK Delta dont fly direct to the UK from Vegas.






Can we use credit card most places like eating and bars, (prefer to get the best rate on no fee card)
Will just use cash for random bits, gambling and tips etc.

Have you got the best value cards Halifax clarity and Post office are 2 good ones along with prepayment cards such as Revolut altough I think Monzo is possibly better now, but yes you can use cards.






James

my answers in red

StuieUK34

Delta flight return is the Virgin plane... as Delta merged with Virgin back in 2014, which is how I flew direct in June 2014 for £598 with Virgin by buying the ticket through Delta!

StuieUK34

One of my bosses is out in Vegas same time as me in a few weeks, he asked for recommendations for a good steak....
We eat off strip, but as this guy/wife wont be driving, they need somewhere on strip so they can walk to it....

I heard good things about the steakhouse in Excalibur, any info would be cool! (on strip!)