Las Vegas guide and MSE thread 2017

photome

StuieUK34 wrote: »

@HeadaboveWater


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!

....

that is a sweeping comment , AlamoBrits = expensive.

I always check all the brokers for costs before I book and the last 3 times I have been they have been the cheapest.

I had been constantly checking for months before i booked this time as they were all more than I was willing to pay and then one day the price had dropped by £100

IME

Alamobrits = cheapest but of course it pays to always shop around

photome

nvh wrote: »

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

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

Thanks

I just tried the saga link with the CDP code it came out £10 more than I got the hire from Alamobrits, so very close, might have a play with some other codes as the upgrade offers may make it worthwhile

nvh

photome wrote: »

Thanks

I just tried the saga link with the CDP code it came out £10 more than I got the hire from Alamobrits, so very close, might have a play with some other codes as the upgrade offers may make it worthwhile

No worries - depending on how often you hire cars, the extra cost may be offset by the points you earn that subsequently get you 'free' rentals :beer:

secretmachines

bubble113 wrote: »

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.

thanks bubble! sounds like it'll be worth a trip then

we always like taking in a movie (don't know why, but there's something about going to the cinema in the US we like!), so will try there and have a wander round

ferf1223

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 'n Shake!!

edited to add that I see I have been beaten on this suggestion.

Must remember that hubby is nearly out of their seasoned salt, so we must pick some up.

ferf1223

photome wrote: »

that is a sweeping comment , AlamoBrits = expensive.

I always check all the brokers for costs before I book and the last 3 times I have been they have been the cheapest.

I had been constantly checking for months before i booked this time as they were all more than I was willing to pay and then one day the price had dropped by £100

IME

Alamobrits = cheapest but of course it pays to always shop around

I just did a search for all the standard places for our March trip and agree, AlamoBrits was the cheapest...cheaper than Dollar picking up at TI (using either Netflights or rentalcars.com - can't remember) and the cars are much, much nicer from Alamo, in our experience.

I'm actually going to make a trip to the rental car facility the day after we arrive to pick up...partly because I can pick up at the crack of dawn and run to WalMart for provisions and be back in the room by 7:30 or so.

StuieUK34

i only do airport pickups when i do my quotes....
NVH:
I read an article the other day, guy rented a car with Hertz, used a CDP he googled, bashed the car, and was then asked to prove he worked for IBM (used an IBM CDP)...... CDW became invalid once it showed he used a CDP he wasnt entitled too !!!
Scary stuff, cos for all Camero's and Porsche we had with Hertz, i google to find the best CDP at the time!!! Crikey!!!!!
Although, my long standing "AA membership CDP" rate works good, about 50p cheaper than my VA cdp ! So might have to use those this year!

As everyone says, pays to shop around for cars (as said, i only ever do airport quotes, so prolly different pricing for non-airport pickups)

For the next 9 days, i have a real good discount booking with Expedia and using AVIS & Dollar...
Our Full size SUV (Tahoe) from LAX to LAS for 1 day = £50.85
and 1 week Standard size SUV with Dollar (via expedia) LAS to LAX = £131 ...
Worked out pretty good booking a flight with Expedia! Even booking hotel rooms in Vegas, the rates are pretty dam good, waaaaaaay better than any site i know of!
If i dont get my Mlife offers in the next 8 days, gonna have to bite the bullet and pay for a room (although expedia do free cancellation which is cool)..

I'll be doing the Hertz deal, which is booking direct for an Intermed, and then upgrade at the desk, fingers crossed on a super deal!

serenawell

Phew - re Mlife - I thought it was just me they hated

secretmachines

StuieUK34 wrote: »

i only do airport pickups when i do my quotes....
NVH:
I read an article the other day, guy rented a car with Hertz, used a CDP he googled, bashed the car, and was then asked to prove he worked for IBM (used an IBM CDP)...... CDW became invalid once it showed he used a CDP he wasnt entitled too !!!
Scary stuff, cos for all Camero's and Porsche we had with Hertz, i google to find the best CDP at the time!!! Crikey!!!!!
Although, my long standing "AA membership CDP" rate works good, about 50p cheaper than my VA cdp ! So might have to use those this year!

As everyone says, pays to shop around for cars (as said, i only ever do airport quotes, so prolly different pricing for non-airport pickups)

For the next 9 days, i have a real good discount booking with Expedia and using AVIS & Dollar...
Our Full size SUV (Tahoe) from LAX to LAS for 1 day = £50.85
and 1 week Standard size SUV with Dollar (via expedia) LAS to LAX = £131 ...
Worked out pretty good booking a flight with Expedia! Even booking hotel rooms in Vegas, the rates are pretty dam good, waaaaaaay better than any site i know of!
If i dont get my Mlife offers in the next 8 days, gonna have to bite the bullet and pay for a room (although expedia do free cancellation which is cool)..

I'll be doing the Hertz deal, which is booking direct for an Intermed, and then upgrade at the desk, fingers crossed on a super deal!

Just to say that with Expedia you have to pay the total bill upfront even with free cancellations. But they are quick with both refunds and paying price match guarantee differences

photome

secretmachines wrote: »

Just to say that with Expedia you have to pay the total bill upfront even with free cancellations. But they are quick with both refunds and paying price match guarantee differences

I have booked with various companies over the years and always paid upfront (thought that was the norm) with free cancellation.

I have only used a price match after booking once with rentalcars and they price matched without hassle