The Las Vegas Thread and MSE guide

STSAVER

stoneman wrote: »

Thanks for all the kind comments about the virus I picked up, think it was more stress related than anything else. OK, here is a run down. Northwest Airlines are a pretty good outfit. Went from Heathrow via Detriot, newish A330 with seatbact video, recline pretty damn good, seat comfort excellent, FA's are just like any other airline, don't seem to give a damn. I have complained about Virgins crew in the past, but the last 2 trips have been with U.S. carriers and they are even worse. Transit at Detroit, complete s**t hole, had argument with a jobs worth about taking my wife through the U.S. line, pulled us out and made us go to the back of the foreign queue, only to be told by the supervisor that we could go back, of course ended up at the back of the line for U.S. only to see 4 people in front all with the green cards, go figure.

Craps did well for me again with only 1 losing night in 7, made enough to pay for the hotel and all our spends, so the trip only cost us the airfare. Best night being the last where I made $500 from the first shooter, man was he hot, kept going for at least 45 minutes. as soon as he 7nd out, most players left, as well as me!! I like to play all the numbers across the top at £54 and $10 pass line with £30 odds behind, gives me a good return that way as long as someones doesn't crap out within the first 5 throws. Tracy played penny slots, and I think she found some chicken.

Good to hear that the flights with NWA are good and looks like you did the exact outward route that I'm doing in August.
Any bits of advice on seats to go for on the flights? I've already reserved some seats but could always change (might try to drop a few comments that we're on honeymoon and see if any upgrades available!!)

How long did you get for your connecting flight?

Think mine is 2 hours so just hoping thats enough time to get through immigration, collect bags and check them in again for the connection.

Really should start doing some research on the games to play in the Casino's as generally I just gamble on football and little else these days and not got much knowledge on the various casino games.

stoneman

May

STSAVER wrote: »

Good to hear that the flights with NWA are good and looks like you did the exact outward route that I'm doing in August.
Any bits of advice on seats to go for on the flights? I've already reserved some seats but could always change (might try to drop a few comments that we're on honeymoon and see if any upgrades available!!)

How long did you get for your connecting flight?

Think mine is 2 hours so just hoping that's enough time to get through immigration, collect bags and check them in again for the connection.

Really should start doing some research on the games to play in the Casino's as generally I just gamble on football and little else these days and not got much knowledge on the various casino games.

As far as seats to go for, if you look at the plan of the flight seating, you will usually find the front half empty as you have to pay for all the isle seats. When you check-in at LHR get one of the attendants to help you as they only have self check in. Ask him to put you one either side of a middle row in the front, by this stage he will know how many are on the flight and lets you have the isle seats for free. We ended up having 4 seats for the 2 of us, brilliant. On arrival at Detroit, you have about 3 hours, mind you will need 1 1/2 hours of that to negotiate the bl**dy incompetent immigration and customs. Once you get through there you are led straight to your connection drop off zone, and security so that bit is done in a couple of minutes. The gate you need is only a 5 minute walk from the customs hall.
As for games to play, I learnt B/J a long time ago and only played that. then I learnt craps at the Flamingo on there free lesson day, and after we were let loose on a friendly table with $1.00 bets. It is the easiest game to play, but seems daunting, I have never played black jack again, craps is far more exciting even though you can lose a lot of money quickly if you put a lot down. The rouble with B/J is if you play incorrectly some people will mutter under your breath at you, but with craps there is no wrong way to play.

pebblesmax

November/December

Steff wrote: »

Hi Pebbles, sorry to hear your other half was sick.
Can your husband pin point what set him off?
Selfishly - me and my other half fly next Sunday and would like to avoid getting ill if at all possible!

Are pizzas and mexicans off the menu then - ie tomato base etc..... I love my guacamole and salsa - the mexicans over there are one of the things I look forward to!!
Steff

He ate a salad, that is what started off the sickness.

There was a large batch of tomatoes from Mexico that had the salmonella virus. It was all over the USA I believe and someone actually died of it in Texas. Washing the tomatoes did no good, because they were supposed to have been contaminated from the water supply so the salmonella was inside. Chipotle had stopped serving their salsa, there were no tomatoes at Macdonald's or on any salad bars in the buffets. I expect it has been sorted out now though.

Steff

July

pebblesmax wrote: »

He ate a salad, that is what started off the sickness.

There was a large batch of tomatoes from Mexico that had the salmonella virus. It was all over the USA I believe and someone actually died of it in Texas. Washing the tomatoes did no good, because they were supposed to have been contaminated from the water supply so the salmonella was inside. Chipotle had stopped serving their salsa, there were no tomatoes at Macdonald's or on any salad bars in the buffets. I expect it has been sorted out now though.

How awful! You try and be healthy and eat a salad & get sick. Hope hes ok now.
I have just had a look at the link that nvh provided previously to the Food Standards Agency about it and its seems very serious. Its made me a bit apprehensive - as you say, some people are actually dying of it. I wonder what they are doing?

Ferf - you are out there at mo - are tomatoes still off the menu or are things back to normal now? It would be awful for there to be an huge outbreak over in Vegas! Also - are you having a lovely time - is Caesars as good as you expected - or are you gonna wait to tell us in your trip report when you are back?;)
Steff

sew109

November/December

ashy_mashy wrote: »

So is the longer you stay, the more likely the $20 trick will work?

No the longer you stay the more you shoudl tip I mean $20 is fine for a couple of nights but of you are staying saying 5 or 6 then you need to up it. As said its more likley to work for a few nights as its easier to accomodate you and midweek there is more availabilty and it works better than at a weekend.

sew109

November/December

Steff wrote: »

Thats my hard luck really - when I tried a $50 at the Rio for our last 14 night stay they couldnt accommodate at all and basically laughed at the length of our stay. This year we are 9 nights at Orleans and 5 at Wynn - will try at both - Im hoping for the Wynn upgrade to either Panoramic View OR Tower Suite, but we'll see! Fingers crossed.
Steff;)

The upgrade at Orleans will work or at least can but be careful as there have been reports of desk clerks taking the $20 telling you that they have given you and upgrade hoping that you dont know what the rooms are like.

I have never stayed at Orleans but Ihave been there is there ar particular reason that you have chosen to stay here rather than on the Strip ?

pebblesmax

November/December

I think that it's unlikely you will be able to get an upgrade at Orleans. They only have two types of room and very few of them are suites. I've heard they are reserved of high rollers and the like. The standard rooms are very nice there.

Can't comment on Wynn.

The best I managed with the $20 was an upgrade to a Resort room at Planet Hollywood. We had reserved the standard room, no view, for two weeks. The clerk said she would see what she could do, and came up with a fountain view resort room for the whole duration of our stay. RESULT.

$50 bills are supposed to be unlucky in Vegas. Don't know why, but they are very few and far between. If you're going to try for a larger amount, 2 or 3 $20s may be better received.

photome

Steff wrote: »

Hi Ashy,
Nope - its the other way round - the fewer nights you stay the more likely it is to work as the hotel wouldnt want to give away a suite for, say, 10 nights if someone else is willing to pay for it, whereas if you are staying one or two nights it makes sense for them to upgrade guests if the suite is due to be empty anyway.

Thats my hard luck really - when I tried a $50 at the Rio for our last 14 night stay they couldnt accommodate at all and basically laughed at the length of our stay. This year we are 9 nights at Orleans and 5 at Wynn - will try at both - Im hoping for the Wynn upgrade to either Panoramic View OR Tower Suite, but we'll see! Fingers crossed.
Steff;)

I wouldnt bother trying at the Orleans, I know you got the rooms cheap and they are perfectley adequate for cheap rooms, you even get a sofa. I tried once, didnt get an upgrade but the clerk kept my $20 so I didnt bother nxt time I went, I got a room on the 14th floor overlooking the strip which was fine.

photome

triggerrabbit wrote: »

When i was looking at flights for feb 09 as we're going to be travelling in feb 11, as a price guide, the business seats (are these first class equivalent on BMI?) we are wanting to get, were about £4500. Then when i looked on BMI a few days after finding this thread, the flights had gone up by nearly £20001 Is this due to loads of people booking, a limitied special offer or is £6500 the correct price. I'm putting money aside to pay and if £6500 is the standard price without special offers then i'm going to have change my saving plan.

Are you on the right site, this is MSE :rotfl: . I have never paid more than £350 for a flight, infact I have had 2 weeks in Vegas inc food and gambling for less than the cost of your intial quote.

You are only on the plane for 10 hours...altho that does seem like forever on some Virgin planes.:mad:

dan28

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