Las Vegas guide and MSE thread 2021

stoneman

bobbyhibs said:

   looking at being    a bit un money saving and  tempted to  try business class.I ve had a look at   both virgin and ba's flight  *sales*(doesn't seem to be the best). so any tips flight wise?
Im tempted to try  starting my journey in dublin,
I am m based in edinburgh so a night at a hotel airport could work, though it seems if i do something like  edi-dub..stay over dublin lhr,las...las -lgw...miss the flight to dublin get  an easyjet flight back to edin... pro-s-cons of this idea?

We always go via DUB to the US. We go from EMA to DUB night before, stay in one of the airport hotels, try and stay at the Maldron, its the only one that drops you off directly at the terminal, the rest take you to the bus drop off point which is a heck of a walk from T2. 
When going to Vegas try and get the ORD or DFW  flight, not the PHL,You will spend less time on the internal flight. If you go via LHR it would be almost as expensive as going direct, and we like AA's soft product better than VS or BA.
Use Google flights and have a play around, I've never paid more than £1,300, but been looking almost all next year and can't see anything under £1,500 
Don't worry about connections as long as you are ticketed with one airline they will put you on the next available flight if you get delayed. And of course you will get lounge access to help you while away the time

secretmachines

jimi_man said:

secretmachines said:

jimi_man said:

But if you want a really nice, good quality American breakfast then get an Uber to the nearest Black Bear diner. I think the nearest is just a little South of the Las Vegas sign on Las Vegas Blvd, though there is one West of you (vdara is next to the Aria I think?) on Tropicana. Well worth going to. I wouldn't bother with the buffet - they focus on quantity not quality and you won't go hungry at the BBD.

Sorry, but "quantity over quality" for buffets is absolute BS.

The quality, variety and value you will get at a good Vegas buffet, outstrips many a la carte restaurants.

You go to a buffet for the buffet experience, not because it's the best high end dining experience.

OP was asking about buffets.

Well that told me. Could you be a little more aggressive with your response please, I think I've got the message but just in case.......

Yes I know the OP was asking about buffets, however I was just giving an alternative. He or she is perfectly free to ignore my suggestion and I won't be upset. That's the nature of the internet - not everyone has the same viewpoint. 

Buffets are such an easy target, and often wrongly put down. Your comment was not opinion, but ill-informed and simply fake news. Having recently eaten at the Wynn buffet, I would recommend it to anyone and its quality is spectacular.

He or she, could also be they.

jimi_man

secretmachines said:

jimi_man said:

secretmachines said:

jimi_man said:

But if you want a really nice, good quality American breakfast then get an Uber to the nearest Black Bear diner. I think the nearest is just a little South of the Las Vegas sign on Las Vegas Blvd, though there is one West of you (vdara is next to the Aria I think?) on Tropicana. Well worth going to. I wouldn't bother with the buffet - they focus on quantity not quality and you won't go hungry at the BBD.

Sorry, but "quantity over quality" for buffets is absolute BS.

The quality, variety and value you will get at a good Vegas buffet, outstrips many a la carte restaurants.

You go to a buffet for the buffet experience, not because it's the best high end dining experience.

OP was asking about buffets.

Well that told me. Could you be a little more aggressive with your response please, I think I've got the message but just in case.......

Yes I know the OP was asking about buffets, however I was just giving an alternative. He or she is perfectly free to ignore my suggestion and I won't be upset. That's the nature of the internet - not everyone has the same viewpoint. 

Buffets are such an easy target, and often wrongly put down. Your comment was not opinion, but ill-informed and simply fake news. Having recently eaten at the Wynn buffet, I would recommend it to anyone and its quality is spectacular.

He or she, could also be they.

No, it was definitely opinion. I have done a couple of buffets in Vegas and I found them ok but I didn’t find them amazing. That’s my opinion.  How does that qualify as fake news. 

Yes they could also be they and in fact there are a whole host of other pronouns I could also have included but didn’t. 

I’m not quite sure why you’re being quite so confrontational - I was just giving my opinion as I said and the OP is free to do with it whatever. I’m happy to move on and not to detract from this (useful) thread. 

Enjoy your day. 

secretmachines

jimi_man said:

secretmachines said:

jimi_man said:

secretmachines said:

jimi_man said:

But if you want a really nice, good quality American breakfast then get an Uber to the nearest Black Bear diner. I think the nearest is just a little South of the Las Vegas sign on Las Vegas Blvd, though there is one West of you (vdara is next to the Aria I think?) on Tropicana. Well worth going to. I wouldn't bother with the buffet - they focus on quantity not quality and you won't go hungry at the BBD.

Sorry, but "quantity over quality" for buffets is absolute BS.

The quality, variety and value you will get at a good Vegas buffet, outstrips many a la carte restaurants.

You go to a buffet for the buffet experience, not because it's the best high end dining experience.

OP was asking about buffets.

Well that told me. Could you be a little more aggressive with your response please, I think I've got the message but just in case.......

Yes I know the OP was asking about buffets, however I was just giving an alternative. He or she is perfectly free to ignore my suggestion and I won't be upset. That's the nature of the internet - not everyone has the same viewpoint. 

Buffets are such an easy target, and often wrongly put down. Your comment was not opinion, but ill-informed and simply fake news. Having recently eaten at the Wynn buffet, I would recommend it to anyone and its quality is spectacular.

He or she, could also be they.

No, it was definitely opinion. I have done a couple of buffets in Vegas and I found them ok but I didn’t find them amazing. That’s my opinion.  How does that qualify as fake news. 

Yes they could also be they and in fact there are a whole host of other pronouns I could also have included but didn’t. 

I’m not quite sure why you’re being quite so confrontational - I was just giving my opinion as I said and the OP is free to do with it whatever. I’m happy to move on and not to detract from this (useful) thread. 

Enjoy your day. 

The OP asked about breakfast buffets, and your generalisation could easily put them off, and deny them an amazing dining experience.

I want them to enjoy Vegas the best that they can, and they are interested in a breakfast buffet, which can be a fantastic dining experience.

"I wouldn't bother with the buffet - they focus on quantity not quality" may be an opinion, but is a misguided, ill-informed opinion.

You cannot generalise that all buffets aren't amazing, if you have not experienced them all (you haven't even mentioned which you've been to, to help the OP make a decision). I have experienced at least three and would say they are all well worth it.

nvh

R_P_W said:

Excited!  Just booked my 18th trip to Vegas in January staying 6 nights at the VDARA.  When I went in April this year some of the buffets didn't seem to be open ( I know Aria's has been replaced with a find court).  Any recommendations for a decent breakfast buffet on the strip?

I've done a few buffets... its something you definitely need to choose wisely as some are really pants (looking at you MGM )

For me, I don't find them particularly 'MSE' but I'm not a big eater, and get more satisfaction from just paying similar / less money for what I would consider to be a nice meal focused on the one thing item I want the most. Everyone's different though

What I would say is that post-covid buffets, do not seem to be at the same standard as they were pre-covid. This may not be a statement that rules them all, but I'd only trust information from the last 6 months or so when you're looking at reviews etc 

pebblesmax

nvh said:

What I would say is that post-covid buffets, do not seem to be at the same standard as they were pre-covid. This may not be a statement that rules them all, but I'd only trust information from the last 6 months or so when you're looking at reviews etc 

I would agree with this last paragraph. We went in October for 16 nights and ate at several buffets we had previously been to. MSS, Luxor, Wynn and South Point. None of them met their Pre Covid standards. Wynn was closest but was also the most expensive. Considering that as we get older, we are eating less, they aren't great value for us anymore.

For clarity, we have eaten at most buffets in Las Vegas over the last 22 years.

Brats64

pebblesmax said:

nvh said:

What I would say is that post-covid buffets, do not seem to be at the same standard as they were pre-covid. This may not be a statement that rules them all, but I'd only trust information from the last 6 months or so when you're looking at reviews etc 

I would agree with this last paragraph. We went in October for 16 nights and ate at several buffets we had previously been to. MSS, Luxor, Wynn and South Point. None of them met their Pre Covid standards. Wynn was closest but was also the most expensive. Considering that as we get older, we are eating less, they aren't great value for us anymore.

For clarity, we have eaten at most buffets in Las Vegas over the last 22 years.

Hi pebblesmax,

I haven’t bothered looking at the vegas forum for a long time, as we felt we wouldn’t be able to go anytime soon due to my immune system being a bit rubbish…not really comfortable with taking the chance.😩
Anyway, I see you have visited again in October, do you mind me asking how you found it..was it just like a normal trip or did it feel different?
I wanted to wait until I felt everything would be ok again before visiting…missing it like crazy…but we have come to realise it’s probably not ever getting back to pre-covid times.So we are just wondering if we are going to have to just say “sod it” and things will be what they will be.
I’ve read all the comments where regular visitors to vegas seem to have had negative opinions on their latest trips…even saying they won’t be going back, but I’m desperate to go again..no trip since October 2019 is a loooong time ago.
No mention from anyone saying they caught covid during a visit, so that’s a plus..right ? 😆
I know to most on here the pandemic probably was over long time ago, and are quite rightly getting on with life, but older people or those with health conditions still need to be wary, and unfortunately I’m still having trouble “pulling the trigger” on a Vegas trip.
Any comments you have regarding your last visit to vegas would be helpful if you have a spare moment….anyone else who’s been in the last few months also, any info would be gratefully received.

lizzielie

Brats64 said:

pebblesmax said:

nvh said:

What I would say is that post-covid buffets, do not seem to be at the same standard as they were pre-covid. This may not be a statement that rules them all, but I'd only trust information from the last 6 months or so when you're looking at reviews etc 

I would agree with this last paragraph. We went in October for 16 nights and ate at several buffets we had previously been to. MSS, Luxor, Wynn and South Point. None of them met their Pre Covid standards. Wynn was closest but was also the most expensive. Considering that as we get older, we are eating less, they aren't great value for us anymore.

For clarity, we have eaten at most buffets in Las Vegas over the last 22 years.

Hi pebblesmax,

I haven’t bothered looking at the vegas forum for a long time, as we felt we wouldn’t be able to go anytime soon due to my immune system being a bit rubbish…not really comfortable with taking the chance.😩
Anyway, I see you have visited again in October, do you mind me asking how you found it..was it just like a normal trip or did it feel different?
I wanted to wait until I felt everything would be ok again before visiting…missing it like crazy…but we have come to realise it’s probably not ever getting back to pre-covid times.So we are just wondering if we are going to have to just say “sod it” and things will be what they will be.
I’ve read all the comments where regular visitors to vegas seem to have had negative opinions on their latest trips…even saying they won’t be going back, but I’m desperate to go again..no trip since October 2019 is a loooong time ago.
No mention from anyone saying they caught covid during a visit, so that’s a plus..right ? 😆
I know to most on here the pandemic probably was over long time ago, and are quite rightly getting on with life, but older people or those with health conditions still need to be wary, and unfortunately I’m still having trouble “pulling the trigger” on a Vegas trip.
Any comments you have regarding your last visit to vegas would be helpful if you have a spare moment….anyone else who’s been in the last few months also, any info would be gratefully received.

We've been three times since the border opened. Our last visit over NYE. Prior to that was in May. We found the buffets having improved quite a bit since the previous visit. As for your last question, it felt much more normal now, and as busy as ever. That said, no underlying health issues, we still tried to take precautions were possible (thank heavens for those little sanitizing wipes BA hands out). Keeping distance and using common sense should help. Ultimately, I am no Dr and you could be unlucky. One thing I noticed on our last visit compared to May, even though mask mandate is gone, there seemed to be more people using them again. But ofc, as winter comes towards to an end, that probably will change. 

pebblesmax

Hi Brats64, 

We enjoyed our trip. It was quite a bit different for us, since we didn’t rent a car due to the silly prices. We used public transport a bit and Uber or Lyft quite a lot. We used masks on public transport, but that’s due to our ages and immune system concerns. 

It was quite busy in the casinos at weekends, but not too bad. During the week was not bad at all. Plenty of clean slot machines to lose our money at. Nothing happened that made us concerned for our safety. We stayed at Four Queens, Rio, Gold Coast, Bellagio and Aria. All were just fine. 

We did a few buffets. South Point, MSS, Luxor, and Wynn. All except Luxor were good, but not as good as we remembered. Mainly due to less variety rather than bad food. Luxor was not great, but it was never a favourite anyway. We met friends there, and that was their choice. 

We are planning to go again, but haven’t decided when yet. We were thinking of April/May this year, but the extended family are planning a big get together around that time, so we might try early October again.  

We didn’t get Covid during or after our trip. We didn’t feel unsafe at all apart from a short time in Heathrow on the way there. I don’t ever want to fly from T5 again. It was a shambles. 

If you have any more specific questions, let me know by PM and I’ll try my best to answer them. 

nvh

https://loyaltylobby.com/2023/02/08/the-us-will-finally-ban-resort-destination-fees/?omhide=true

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