Las Vegas guide and MSE thread 2017

photome

secretmachines wrote: »

Thinking of taking a trip to South Point while we're in town in April, it's always intrigued me and I've never visited. Any cool things to look out for there?

Steak and Shake

HeadAboveWater

newuser86 wrote: »

I always book through usrentacar as it gives free insurance, differing covers on the website. Last time i booked through dollar the guy at the counter made me take out all extras saying he wouldnt give me the car if i didnt take it. Luckily after a complaint to head office they gave me a refund. Since i either book through Hertz directly or Usrentacar. Prices for mustang are good and ive never had any issues with them (5 seperate booking, 3 of which were mustangs)

Great thank you. Just checked and all available cars are through Dollar. No mustangs for my dates though! Obviously it's Dollar that the insurance etc is with, so how do I find out if insurance is Inc in my current booking through Expedia? It was their own t&cs in the email rather than Dollar. I've tried to put in my reservation number and surname on the Dollar site but it won't bring up my booking....

StuieUK34

@HeadaboveWater

If you booked via expedia for car hire, insurance is the same as you get when booking through any UK broker (zero excess, includes the LDW/CDW & LIS, etc). That's the most important bit.
I've hired with Dollar/Alamo/Hertz over past 6 years, 19 cars total, and 1 included a smash (not my fault!).

If you booked car through expedia cos u booked a flight and got the discount, then great, if not, check your options.....
AlamoBrits = Expensive..
Usrentacar = not as good as they used to be on cost
Hertz.co.uk = always pricey, but Hertz have the good upgrade cars!

Best 2 brokers to use at the moment I would say is:
netflights.com (main rental firm listed is Alamo)
AutoEurope.co.uk (probably about £2 cheaper than netflights.com) , (cheaper listings usually with Dollar)
Both do Cashback via the TCB/Quidco, and AutoEurope does free cancellation too..

Both of the above, give the option to add fuel/extra drivers (but if 1 driver, stick with lowest price).

No matter which broker you use, if u end up using Alamo, as Photome said, you can use the "Skip the line" tool..
IE: You don't even need to signup to the free program called "Alamo Insider", you just goto "Alamo online check-in", add name and res number, follow the gumph online, job done....
or use kiosk at airport


As for Dollar, unless you have the DE account (Dollar Express) and ask Expedia to link your booking, you wont see your booking online...
your insurance is ok though, u will have CDW/LDW & LIS with zero excess
However, do a price check on the 2 sites I list, as u might save money...
for ref:
I've used Dollar since 2011, only ever seen Mustangs at LAS & MCO...
Same for Alamo.... plus, you pick your own car anyway....

iltisman

I have just used Avis and got a good price on a one way deal from San Diego to Vegas.
I gave up with Dollar after several ropey cars and their "Express" scheme never seemed to work for me.

queengoth

I've been looking at the helicopter trip down the strip does anyone have recommendations ? One comes up through trip advisor as £131.10 for 2. Does this seem like a good deal ?

Misty_Blue

queengoth wrote: »

I've been looking at the helicopter trip down the strip does anyone have recommendations ? One comes up through trip advisor as £131.10 for 2. Does this seem like a good deal ?

Maverick is excellent, and if you play MyVegas you can get BOGOF flights. I did that last trip.

nvh

Some good advice here, but just to add to this based on my extensive use of Hertz:

StuieUK34 wrote: »

Hertz.co.uk = always pricey, but Hertz have the good upgrade cars!

if u end up using Alamo, as Photome said, you can use the "Skip the line" tool..

Hertz is always worth a comparison, and it's worth playing with the various codes that are around. Ie. if you've had the Amex Platinum charge card, the CDP / Discount / Club Code you get pretty much trumps any of the other agencies (USRentACar, Carhire3000 etc) quite a lot number. I've used them quite a bit since finding this out.

Benefits of a hertz rental is that you also get the 'skip the line' function (similar to AlamoBrits one) for free if you sign up to their "Gold Plus Rewards" loyalty club for free:
https://www.hertz.co.uk/rentacar/emember/rewards-overview/loyalty-free-travel-program

You usually get emailed just prior to pick up with your Gold Express Pickup 'bay number', and you usually get sent a cheap upgrade offer too (I got a fantastic, "too good to ignore" deal on an Camaro SS Convertible once great fun). If you don't have email access whilst you're away, there's usually a notice board down by the rentals desk that tells you too.

I'm sure you could Google the Amex Platinum CDP (code) if you wanted, and there's also an Accor offer for an alternative that I've linked to below
https://www.hertz.com/rentacar/hertzlink/index.jsp?targetPage=leclubaccor_classic_gpr_page.xml

I got status matched to Presidents Circle with Hertz once - can't remember how but again Google and I'm sure you can find something.

Note - express collection (Gold Pickup) only works at big locations - ie. airports... it won't work at somewhere like Ballys

TLDR:
This link is all you should need (Google if it doesn't work, sure there are more!).

It is a free upgrade to Five Star status with Hertz, which gets you free additional driver, one class car upgrade (dependant on what you book), express pickup etc etc https://www.hertz.co.uk/rentacar/special-offers/Saga-Gold-Offer

Use in combination with a decent CDP (Google for Amex Platinum CDP code) and you have everything you need to get a competitive quote that can sometimes more than match the brokers.

Hertz direct have become my favourite / most used rental company but I still always compare the cost

bubble113

secretmachines wrote: »

Thinking of taking a trip to South Point while we're in town in April, it's always intrigued me and I've never visited. Any cool things to look out for there?

Me!:p I hang about in there alot!

bubble113

Agree with photome that steak n shake is good, reelly cheap and tasty. There are also $1 hotdogs (used to be 75c!) from the hotdog stand on casino floor.
It's not a fancy strip like hotel and can get quite smoky.
There is a huge arena with free horse type events. April 7th-9th 'Let it Ride' it is free to go in. You can go for a nosey and leave when you want. They do big exhibtions, RV's and winnebagos when we were last there. Huge fancy vehicles that cost alot more than my house!
Looks like there is a cheerleading comp Apr 8th!
There is a cinema and bowling arcade upstairs, also a big bingo hall if thats your thing.
Have you been to M Resort? That is a bit further up but very nice, more strip like and a good buffet.

Martmonk_2

queengoth wrote: »

I've been looking at the helicopter trip down the strip does anyone have recommendations ? One comes up through trip advisor as £131.10 for 2. Does this seem like a good deal ?

There are a few options on travelzoo at the minute