Las Vegas guide and MSE thread 2017

crow99

Been a while since I've done a solo trip, but having done them personally and business wise I'm happy to help.

I get free rooms so can't help on that front, but I loved doing what I want, when I want. On one of the trips I met a great group and we met at pools and bars for a few nights and the other was mainly alone where I deliberately did lots of 'non normal' stuff i.e. Off strip hotels like The Orleans, found the Stage Door etc... missed company but loved it! Have a thread somewhere on trip advisor on the same userid

Remember Vegas is a huge business destination so a lot of people will presume you are there for a convention or something... until you talk

With reference to Vegas trips, I think I'm on 13 since 2009, last year was as much fun as ever but I really noticed the costs. From my side I felt it in nice meals, shopping and my gambling budget! I think the other side is manageable although attractions / shows are now expensive. I long for the days of $2 to the £1 but recognise they are gone. I'm still going back, but this year it will only be once in Aug / Sept and won't be a two week US adventure, instead I'll be visiting Dubai, Bali, Belgium and France - whilst comparable hotels aren't cheap, flights / spending mean they will all give new experiences for less and make it worth while, it's not about the cost but historically Vegas was always my best value for money holiday, it's just not the case anymore but still a luxury I'll make time for. Last year it meant Thailand tours! So although the rates mean less Vegas, it's still fun!

secretmachines

Misty_Blue wrote: »

Hi all! Thanks to secretmachines for the shiny new thread.

We did 10 days at The Cosmo last August, for our second trip. Coming back I got my usual post-Vegas blues as we thought we'd skip 2017 and try somewhere else. However, I caved yesterday and booked flights for August, 6th-13th.

We fell out a bit with The Cosmo last trip. I'm not sure if it was the slight difference in the time of year we went (early August as opposed to later in the month), but the place was like a zoo. I know it has a younger vibe, but the first time we were there the people at least knew how to behave. This time, the behaviour from some of the guests was just vile, and it culminated in us having to call security to the people in the Wraparound next door. They threw over 40 people out of the suite!

Also, we requested the West Tower as I specifically asked for a quieter location, but the check-in clerk really pushed us to try the East Tower this time. I agreed, but requested to be far from the elevator. He put us in a suite which was exactly ten steps from the elevator (I counted!), and after two nights of hearing nothing but blaring music from the cantina across the strip, I requested a move to the West Tower. It was STILL noisy there, which it certainly wasn't the first time we stayed. Not sure what's going on there. We always choose a high floor to be further from the noise of the Strip.

So, this time I'm looking at Aria and Vdara. I've seen a good deal for a Vdara Panoramic Suite and might go for that. I'll have the added advantage of being able to choose from more MyVegas rewards, as you're very limited if staying non-MGM.

I think you may have convinced me to stick with Vdara! It's our favourite (the only place we've ever stayed!) but we would go for the Cosmo if there was a good deal on a fountain view one bedroom.

So I think we'll go with Vdara again... Where have you found a good deal? I've been keeping tabs on prices for months (for an April trip), but there have many really been any offers at all, just the standard 15% MLife discount on standard prices.

crow99

Love the cosmo but it does seem to have the party crowd, it's obviously worse Thurs to Sun and for stays of other nights I've never had a problem. Aria is a beautiful property though and if you've never stayed there well worth it - Mirage still feels like home for me but that's more linked to surrounding bars, restaurants etc...

bobbyhibs

hi
and thanks for the feedback crow and you have some intresting destenatitions in your list dubai espacally!!

thanks again!

crow99

Been to Dubai before, it's a interesting place although the beer is super expensive. This time it's a stop off en route to Bali for St Patrick's Day brunch at the Irish Village and Le Meriden!

Misty_Blue

secretmachines wrote: »

I think you may have convinced me to stick with Vdara! It's our favourite (the only place we've ever stayed!) but we would go for the Cosmo if there was a good deal on a fountain view one bedroom.

So I think we'll go with Vdara again... Where have you found a good deal? I've been keeping tabs on prices for months (for an April trip), but there have many really been any offers at all, just the standard 15% MLife discount on standard prices.

Maybe we were just unlucky this time, as last stay we didn't have a problem, but it's certainly soured things for us. We stayed in the Fountain View One Bedroom both trips and it is a very nice suite though, and I doubt the view can be beaten.

The good price for our dates for Vdara is on Low Cost USA. It came in well below the Mlife offers, etc.

crow99 wrote:

Love the cosmo but it does seem to have the party crowd, it's obviously worse Thurs to Sun and for stays of other nights I've never had a problem. Aria is a beautiful property though and if you've never stayed there well worth it

Before I stayed there the first time, I read some horror stories after I'd booked, and I got so worried I almost switched to The Wynn. I was glad I didn't in the end, as we had no trouble that trip, but this one was a different story. I'm mid 30s so we're not exactly ancient, and we don't mind people enjoying themselves, but the behaviour of some of the people this time was just disgusting, and what was worse, all of the hotel staff/security seemed to turn a blind eye, despite them being very apologetic and claiming they "don't encourage raucous behaviour," when I checked out and spoke to the guest services manager. I did get my resort fees and a load of room service waived.

I do like Aria a lot, and in fact we spent a lot of time there this trip. I was planning to stay in one of the Corner Suites, until I saw my prices for the Vdara. I've managed to snag a MyVegas reward for two nights at Aria though, so if I can get the first two nights of my stay I might use that and then switch to Vdara.

secretmachines

Misty_Blue wrote: »

Maybe we were just unlucky this time, as last stay we didn't have a problem, but it's certainly soured things for us. We stayed in the Fountain View One Bedroom both trips and it is a very nice suite though, and I doubt the view can be beaten.

The good price for our dates for Vdara is on Low Cost USA. It came in well below the Mlife offers, etc.

Before I stayed there the first time, I read some horror stories after I'd booked, and I got so worried I almost switched to The Wynn. I was glad I didn't in the end, as we had no trouble that trip, but this one was a different story. I'm mid 30s so we're not exactly ancient, and we don't mind people enjoying themselves, but the behaviour of some of the people this time was just disgusting, and what was worse, all of the hotel staff/security seemed to turn a blind eye, despite them being very apologetic and claiming they "don't encourage raucous behaviour," when I checked out and spoke to the guest services manager. I did get my resort fees and a load of room service waived.

I do like Aria a lot, and in fact we spent a lot of time there this trip. I was planning to stay in one of the Corner Suites, until I saw my prices for the Vdara. I've managed to snag a MyVegas reward for two nights at Aria though, so if I can get the first two nights of my stay I might use that and then switch to Vdara.

the last time we were in Vegas at Vdara, a friend happened to be staying at the Cosmo for work... he had (i think) a one bedroom fountain view which he invited us up to... the view was stunning.

we do like wandering over to the Aria from Vdara... I've always found the prices for Aria to quite a bit more though (though we do like a room with a separate living area, like a Corner Suite at Vdara). But I'll keep tabs on prices for Aria as we've not yet booked.

i'll check out lowcostusa...

flybynight

we are booked for may. cant wait (attempted to get there twice last year, but was In plaster :-( )
we are booked for harrahs, but we are doing vegas, then san fran, then salt lake then back to vegas. can anybody recommend anywhere we can maybe leave one of the cases so we don't need to traipse everything with us? is it likely to be something the hotel can help with?

Misty_Blue

Has anyone seen the photos on MyVegas Friends Rocks of the guy who got the 3 nights in the Luxor Super Suite comped through Mlife?

https://www.facebook.com/groups/myvegasfriendsrocks/permalink/1082084578581206/?match=bHV4b3I%3D

Complete with sauna, fitness equipment and tropical garden/pond!

I wonder how much you have to gamble to get a suite like that???

ferf1223

thanks secretmachines for all your hard work keeping this thread going!

we're going in March and then again (hopefully) in October. The second trip is TBC as we have a 2-week non-Vegas trip planned in July and holiday days might be tight for me as I'm in the process of looking for a new job...but fingers crossed.

As far as Cosmo goes, we've never had any issues there and love it. Though we are by no means their target market, we have always felt comfortable there. But I suppose we normally stay at the end of our trips so Mon-Thur. We actually depart on a Saturday next trip, so it will be interesting to see if the Friday crowd changes our opinion at all.

In general, we like the East tower - as it's smaller and slightly better access to parking and the Strip.