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The Las Vegas Thread and MSE guide
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Was away for 2 weeks between 25th june and 9th July, thought I'd share some thoughts / tips.
1. If staying at the MGM Grand there is a brilliant "Corner Shop" just across a 10 yard road if you go out a side door at the "West Wing" area, if you keep walking past Rainforest cafe you get there - 2 litre bottles of water at very low prices, all the different wines / beers / alcopops you could wish for. (It also saves you about 5 minutes if trying to walk up the strip)
2. If clubbing get yourself passes before you go, plan the nights you want to go to. We used a user on ebay called lasvegashookups - we only used 1 of his passes as it turned out, but it was a good feeling getting into Jet at Mirage on a Monday night for free (not a bad club either)
3. I'd agree with the other poster who said the Strat was now over-rated, we went back for an anniversary present, it's ok, the steak was nice, the wine was great - but for better views I'd suggest getting dressed up and heading for the Ghostbar at the Palms, opens at 8pm, $25 cover, but if you email in advance (think there's a form on n9negroup.com) you get put on the guestlist for both Ghostbar and Rain (nightclub), so we had an incredible night in the open air watching the sun go down, a few drinks, a bit of people spotting then onto Rain (where it was difficult to get in even being on the Guestlist, the line was chaos, approached "Darnell" and eventually got in 5 minutes after chatting to him, he picked us out the line).
4. Was very disappointed with Body English nightclub at Hardrock, sound system was very poor, or maybe they didn't realise that once of the World's best trance music acts didn't want a ridiculous Bass setting stopping you from hearing the melody.
5. Another "Rooftop" bar is Mix at theHotel, we just strolled in 1 Monday evening about 6pm, possibly a bit more "posh / fashionista" than Ghostbar but the Apple Martinis are fantastic.
6. Very impressed by the new Planet Hollywood layout, would consider it for a future trip to LV, very relaxed atmosphere.
7. Went to see "O" at Bellagio and paid for top dollar seats - IMO not a patch on Ka as a show. More of an exhibition that people who are into diving might enjoy - save your money, just go back to see Ka again instead of O for the first time...
Highlights of my trip.
Ghostbar @ Palms (superb)
The Palms experience in general as a non hotel guest, great atmosphere.
MGM Grand Pool between 7am and 11am - nice and early, get good seats for lazy river opening, quick cocktail and back inside before the atmosphere / sun gets too much. (The beautiful people at Wet Republic had me in stitches when they started playing Blue - Get Down on It(could hear it over the wall)
Tournament of Kings @ Excalibur (cheap tickets, never mind the food, the show is a great laugh and rarely do you get a chance to be so close to the "Action")
Krispy Kremes @ Excalibur - why oh why do the MGM not have a Doughnut shop in their foodcourtwas a lengthy walk to Excalibur after a heavy night out, when I got back to MGM the amount of people who asked where I got them was astonishing
Valley of Fire trip with Annie Bananie - Superb tour guide, went on a Monday, intimate trip on People Carrier, some awesome scenery and photo opportunities.
Lake Mead cruise with Annie Bananie - this was combined with Valley of Fire, after a few hours in the Desert it was great fun to hop on a paddle steamer get a few drinks (the Strawberry / Lemonade ice drink was amazing) and drift towards Hoover Dam, again great photo opportunities.
The people - the number of people who would stop to offer to take pictures of you as a couple was great, even in high-brow places like Mix @ theHotel.
The Reels O'Dublin 1 cent machine at MGM - many's an hour wasted on it, was $50 up at one pointm, ended $100 down, but free drink is always good
A bit of a ramble, will try and put it more succinctly in the next few days0 -
Hi all,
I've got a question for all you Vegas addicts that go over and over again. When did you know you caught the Vegas bug??
As you may remember I was over there in May for the first time for my 40th birthday, when I left I thought "that was fun, I really enjoyed myself but I don't need to go back for a few years when there's been a bit more change on the strip and new things to see" but now I find myself missing it......... The huge choice in food, the different atmospheres in the different hotels, the suspension of real life problems, the choice of just sitting at a slot machine waiting for that elusive bonus to hit,the huge choice of food (I like my food!!:rotfl: :rotfl: )etc.
I'm now thinking about a short trip back in early December, so am I now an addict?? Do I have to stand up and say "My name is Stew and i'm a Vegas addict"??
Maybe this could be the start of Vegas anonymous!!:beer:
Stew0 -
MarchThanks for the report, nelster - really enjoyed reading it and all the info.7. Went to see "O" at Bellagio and paid for top dollar seats - IMO not a patch on Ka as a show. More of an exhibition that people who are into diving might enjoy - save your money, just go back to see Ka again instead of O for the first time...
Just goes to show how relative these things are - O is my favorite of the Cirque shows we've seen (O, Love, Mystere, Ka and LeReve - which isn't Cirque as such, but may as well be). Ka was my least favorite, though the theatre and stage were stunning, the show itself was a letdown to me.Does remembering a time that a certain degree of personal responsibility was more or less standard means that I am officially old?0 -
MarchHi all,
I've got a question for all you Vegas addicts that go over and over again. When did you know you caught the Vegas bug??
I went in 1997 and had a great time with 3 friends but never considered going back...it just didn't occur to me. My gambling budget that trip was $50.
Then I met my husband and he introduced me to Aussie style video slots at a riverboat casino near Cincinnati where I was living at the time (2000). I caught the slots bug then, and when we came to make plans to have a reception in the US (as my family weren't able to make our wedding in the UK) the logical 'honeymoon' spot was Vegas so I could show my husband what it was about.
And that trip, probably because I had been drawn into the whole love of slots thing and because it was a place both my husband and I loved, was the end of it. Now it's our primary holiday destination.Does remembering a time that a certain degree of personal responsibility was more or less standard means that I am officially old?0 -
November/DecemberHi all,
I've got a question for all you Vegas addicts that go over and over again. When did you know you caught the Vegas bug??
I'm now thinking about a short trip back in early December, so am I now an addict?? Do I have to stand up and say "My name is Stew and I'm a Vegas addict"??
Maybe this could be the start of Vegas anonymous!!:beer:
Stew
We went in December 2000 for the first time. (Used to go to Tenerife every December before that) Thought it was great for the price we paid at the time. We even didn't mind the long flight too much. Didn't really occur to us that we'd be back.
Following winter, looking at holidays, got a good price again due to Sept 11. Cheaper than the Tenerife quote.
Won an online auction for a two week trip in May 2002. still didn't think we had a problem.. Haven't missed a year since.
Now we go twice a year for at least two weeks at a time. This year's trips are 20 days and 30 days. Do we have an addiction?Of course not! (Haven't been to Tenerife since though.
)
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Aprilpennylane99 wrote: »Just got back from another long weekend in Vegas
Lots of empty seats on the Virgin flights from/to Gatwick, I managed a whole middle row to myself both outward on Friday, and the return last night. They even had plenty of premium upgrades still available at the gate for £1990 -
hi all im not sure if this is the best place to ask this but i am going to las vegas in november and would be greatfull for the best way to take my money. I know nationwide do an account with free withdraws but i dont want to swap accounts. would it be best to just take cash, or travellers cheques or maybe the llyods travel card? an ideas would be very greatfull.0
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hi all im not sure if this is the best place to ask this but i am going to las vegas in november and would be greatfull for the best way to take my money. I know nationwide do an account with free withdraws but i dont want to swap accounts. would it be best to just take cash, or travellers cheques or maybe the llyods travel card? an ideas would be very greatfull.
Dont swap accounts BUT do open a nationwide flex account and put money in it before your hols, there is no better way and while you are at it get a PO credit card or an abbey zero card.0 -
Hi all,
I've got a question for all you Vegas addicts that go over and over again. When did you know you caught the Vegas bug??
As you may remember I was over there in May for the first time for my 40th birthday, when I left I thought "that was fun, I really enjoyed myself but I don't need to go back for a few years when there's been a bit more change on the strip and new things to see" but now I find myself missing it......... The huge choice in food, the different atmospheres in the different hotels, the suspension of real life problems, the choice of just sitting at a slot machine waiting for that elusive bonus to hit,the huge choice of food (I like my food!!:rotfl: :rotfl: )etc.
I'm now thinking about a short trip back in early December, so am I now an addict?? Do I have to stand up and say "My name is Stew and i'm a Vegas addict"??
Maybe this could be the start of Vegas anonymous!!:beer:
Stew
Hi Stew (the Vegas addict)
I am addicted...why?
No where else in the world can you stay in top hotels for so little money.
The food choice and price
Free drinks while "playing"
No where else in the world is like it.
As someone else said it can be cheaper then going to tenerife and a lot more fun.0 -
Aprilhi all im not sure if this is the best place to ask this but i am going to las vegas in november and would be greatfull for the best way to take my money. I know nationwide do an account with free withdraws but i dont want to swap accounts. would it be best to just take cash, or travellers cheques or maybe the llyods travel card? an ideas would be very greatfull.
why do you need to swap anything ???just open it , put your holiday cash in it , withdraw as needed , then simply leave it with a few pounds balance and wait for next holiday. we only use ours for holidays , we do all day to day banking with other banks.
Hi all,
I've got a question for all you Vegas addicts that go over and over again. When did you know you caught the Vegas bug??
As you may remember I was over there in May for the first time for my 40th birthday, when I left I thought "that was fun, I really enjoyed myself but I don't need to go back for a few years when there's been a bit more change on the strip and new things to see" but now I find myself missing it......... The huge choice in food, the different atmospheres in the different hotels, the suspension of real life problems, the choice of just sitting at a slot machine waiting for that elusive bonus to hit,the huge choice of food (I like my food!!:rotfl: :rotfl: )etc.
I'm now thinking about a short trip back in early December, so am I now an addict?? Do I have to stand up and say "My name is Stew and i'm a Vegas addict"??
Maybe this could be the start of Vegas anonymous!!:beer:
Stew
I was hooked the first time i walked on the strip , not long after getting off the plane. i had long dreamed of going , but with what we used take home, we could only ever go places like the Algarve, or some Spanish island , and never really enjoyed it.
with Vegas we found what were looking for, somewhere that does not cater to family's , while that sounds horrible , people without kids (yet) don't always want a family holiday. we are not people who sit around in the sun all day , so the huge amounts of things to do was brilliant. also you have no shortage of places / shows to go too at night.
also the feeling of escaping the masses of UK tourists. okay there are a lot of seats on the plane , but fellow brits are not on every corner in Vegas .
add to that being treated well by the people who work in Vegas , not brits on a extended holiday where they end up working bars ect or grumpy locals was a breath of fresh air. places in Vegas welcome you in , take care of you , and make you feel like your custom is valued . how many times can you say that in this country ????
oh and the endless choice of quality food certainly ticks a few boxes too
add to that , bargain shopping for things you actually want, comfortable beds ( i never miss my own bed in Vegas) , air con everything , the chance to play poker anytime day or night ,plus of course the sheer escapism , that and feeling like home is a long way awayBetter in my pocket than theirs :rotfl:0
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