The Las Vegas Thread and MSE guide

JosephCoyle

Guys,

I'm heading to Vegas on 22nd Sept for 5 days - can you help me out with accomodation - I went on tripadvisor etc but the only hotels that get great reviews are the 5* hotels which we can't afford.

Ideally we (my wife and I) are after 3* / 4* on the strip with good clean rooms, good food and of course good gambling facilities where the drink is free if you play..
Any other websites to check (except fat wallet would be good). Maybe we should wait a couple of months before booking accom....

I have read the first couple of pages of this thread but want the latest views if possible - thanks in advance guys.:j

Sue_B_4

Apologies - can't find how to start a new thread (advice please), so posting this here:
My fiance and I want to get married in Vegas next March and intend to combine the wedding with our honeymoon.
Does anyone know of any hotels on the strip that have bedroom balconies overlooking the strip, as we would love to be able to sit on it and watch all the lights and action (when we're not honeymooning!).
Many thanks.

redrichie2001

January/February

The Signature at MGM Grand has balconies, but its slighty set off back from the strip. But are NOT guaranteed a strip view with balcony if you book through the hotel. You could gurantee one by booking through www.vrbo.com though.

http://www.signaturemgmgrand.com/

Rich

Sue_B_4

Thanks - have checked it out, but it's a bit pricey (I know it's going to cost more - but not THAT much!) - any other ideas?

duchy

redrichie2001 wrote: »

. Also has anybody got a good word to say about Virgin??

Kids like the kid packs-and the children's meals are pretty good and the inflight entertainment choices are more extensive than most..................if you ignore the seats, the inexperienced cabin crew (as a lot of the senior crew won't bid for LGW Vegas in economy the FAs are generally more junior than other routes) and the possibility of drunk stag groups it's OK. I'd add free booze is a plus......but they often run out.
Honestly the ONLY plus for me is that it's direct and you arrive lunchtime rather than late afternoon or early evening

Stew68

Joseph,

I stayed at the MGM Grand last month so can only comment on that one, its a big hotel but not too difficult to negotiate when you learn the layout. It has a large variety of dining options and drinks were quite often forthcoming from the waitresses. We got a good price on a Bungalow Suite (considering we were there on a bank holiday!!) and were very happy with it. Book a room now and keep checking their website (or Trets links on page 1) and if you find a better deal, cancel and rebook. I did this numerous times with no problem at all.

Stew

duchy

JosephCoyle wrote: »

Guys,

I'm heading to Vegas on 22nd Sept for 5 days - can you help me out with accomodation - I went on tripadvisor etc but the only hotels that get great reviews are the 5* hotels which we can't afford.


I have read the first couple of pages of this thread but want the latest views if possible - thanks in advance guys.:j

Only 123 pages to go then :rotfl::rotfl:
All the hotels with casinos have free drinks service when you are playing-even if it's the penny slots (well free apart from the $1 per drink tip-don't stiff the waitress-you'll wait a loooong time for her to come around again if you do !)
Avoid the Monte Carlo if you like the pool as the nearby building work affects the pool area noisewise.
Keep an eye on www.travelzoo.com (pick the US site when offered the choice not the UK one) for hotel deals.
Honestly reading the rest of the thread will help you loads as we all look for different things but hopefully once you've narrowed it down a bit we can all help more
Tripadvisor is REALLY subjective...especially for Vegas-if someone loses their shirt they'll find fault with everything. If a hotel has mainly good/bad reviews and just a few vastly at odds with the majority-I'm inclined to ignore those few.......and haven't had a bad experience choosing a hotel that way yet.

(btw just followed my own advice and checked out travelzoo and found my own hotel booking for next month has now reduced in price YAY)

ferf1223

March

JosephCoyle wrote: »

Guys,

I'm heading to Vegas on 22nd Sept for 5 days - can you help me out with accomodation - I went on tripadvisor etc but the only hotels that get great reviews are the 5* hotels which we can't afford.

Ideally we (my wife and I) are after 3* / 4* on the strip with good clean rooms, good food and of course good gambling facilities where the drink is free if you play..
Any other websites to check (except fat wallet would be good). Maybe we should wait a couple of months before booking accom....

I have read the first couple of pages of this thread but want the latest views if possible - thanks in advance guys.:j

There are a couple of medium-ish conventions in town that may impact rates for the first few days.

http://www.lasvegastourism.com/conventions_sept.htm

What sort of age group are you?

Personally, I always recommend Ballys as so far it's our favorite (excepting Wynn which we just cannot justify for more than an occasional one-night treat). The rooms are big, if you get a refurbished room in the North Tower they are really nice, not great views from most, but still.

Food wise we eat more at Paris, Bellagio and Planet Hollywood than at home base, but all pretty close by. Also Ellis Island is close by for BBQ or the steak special if that's your thing.

It is a more ho-hum casino than many...one of the reasons we like it, it feels more relaxed and less frantic to us - but Paris can be hopping as well as some of the others near there. Some might be put off by the fact that Ballys isn't the most happening casino, but it is great for us.

ferf1223

March

duchy wrote: »

Tripadvisor is REALLY subjective...especially for Vegas-if someone loses their shirt they'll find fault with everything. If a hotel has mainly good/bad reviews and just a few vastly at odds with the majority-I'm inclined to ignore those few.......and haven't had a bad experience choosing a hotel that way yet.

Totally agree - I use Tripadvisor a lot for cities that are new to us and for things like airport hotels, but I read lots and lots of the reviews and pretty much ignore the rankings...like you, I've never gone wrong with something I picked from Tripadvisor, but I think that for Vegas, especially, it's a bit hit and miss. You get people who are used to 5* accomodation book Imperial Palace and hate it (well, you would if it's not what you are used to, wouldn't you)?

duchy

ferf1223 wrote: »

Totally agree - I use Tripadvisor a lot for cities that are new to us and for things like airport hotels, but I read lots and lots of the reviews and pretty much ignore the rankings...like you, I've never gone wrong with something I picked from Tripadvisor, but I think that for Vegas, especially, it's a bit hit and miss. You get people who are used to 5* accomodation book Imperial Palace and hate it (well, you would if it's not what you are used to, wouldn't you)?

I think it's really hard for Vegas. We all like different things. I loathe the loooooong trek in some of the mega hotels on the Strip so we keep gravitating to the Orleans (which incidently is $35 Sun-Thurs and $80 Friday and Saturday until September now) as with a teenager in tow I can give him a bit more freedom than on the Strip itself and the cinema and bowling are nice under 21 activities. I'm planning a solo quick weekend in October to see a show at the Flamingo and for that I will stay on strip -so even as just one person I want different things from different trips. It must be mind boggling for first timers !