The Las Vegas Thread and MSE guide

rpstdavids

January/February

pinkpinkfizz wrote: »

Hi,
Been planning a few more bits to our trip and my DH decided to let me know he wishes to view the Celtic V Barcelona game, whilst we are there, found it should be on in the Crown & Anchor.
This pub is off the strip on east tropicana ave, about 1.4 miles off the strip, Is it safe to go that far off strip (complete Vegas Newbies remember) and is it even worth going to?

On the safety side of it, heading down to Freemont St @ night, Is this ok so long as we take bus, stay on main st, etc, the basic stuff?? I am really nervous about being out & about at night somewhere I don't know! (even in the UK)

Any other safety/hints tips?
Thanks

Hi pinkpinkfizz,

I've watched a few games over the years at the Crown & Anchor, its an OK place and can get fairly busy. There is a cover charge for some games (about $10 if I remember correctly). I would recommend getting a taxi there from the MGM Grand as the walk is a bit far and the traffic can be hectic! They will also call one for you when you want to go.

As for Downtown, its perfectlly safe at night, just stick to the main areas. Get a taxi there, or take the 'Deuce' bus, it runs along the strip to downtown, and a 24hr pass costs $5.

Whatever you decide to do, have a great time, you'll love Vegas. I'm off on my 10th visit on the 21st of this month, and I can't wait.:j

Rich.

gt568

September

trets77 wrote: »

as for Breakfast at Dennys ... the phrase " why have cotton when you can have silk "springs to mind. Buffets are a good bet for Breakfast IMO. or you can try the Deli / diner type places like these which i enjoyed for Breakfast last trip[ out.

http://www.mirage.com/dining/casual_dining_carnegie.aspx

I loved carnegie's!! The woody allen sandwich was immense! Several pounds of pastrami, yuuummmmmm!

ferf1223

March

pinkpinkfizz wrote: »

Hi,
Been planning a few more bits to our trip and my DH decided to let me know he wishes to view the Celtic V Barcelona game, whilst we are there, found it should be on in the Crown & Anchor.
This pub is off the strip on east tropicana ave, about 1.4 miles off the strip, Is it safe to go that far off strip (complete Vegas Newbies remember) and is it even worth going to?

I know that I am not really looking forward to going and sitting watching the game in a smoke filled pub, when there are SO many other things we could be doing, but really just need to get an idea from a safety point of view.
Any other safety/hints tips?
Thanks

As for the C&A, I haven't been there and others can give better advice on the pub itself, BUT I think that it's on or near the corner of Tropicana and Maryland Parkway. There's a big shopping centre (Boulevard Mall) on Maryland Parkway though it's a fair way up that street. In any event, since you will be in the general area if you want to put in an argument for a post-match shopping trip it might be a good time to do it - if that sort of thing appeals to you, of course. I can't imagine that a taxi from C&A to Boulevard Mall would be more than $5 or so.

As for safety hints and tips - I generally feel safer in Vegas than almost any other city I've been to. Certainly inside the casinos with the all-seeing eye in the sky I feel 100% safe pretty much at all times. Outside just use common sense. For men they say that you should keep wallets in front pockets as it can be really crowded and so a pickpocket's dream. I always have an across-the-body or shoulder bag myself. I would never carry anything important in a back-pack style bag personally (though having my purse stolen out of one in London has me particularly paranoid). Don't hang your bag on the back of your chair at a restaurant or while gamblingm- again, a dream scenario for someone with bad intentions. If you're in any crowded environment - like the Bellagio fountains or the pirate show at TI, just keep track of where your bag/wallet is and be mindful that crowds are always a bit iffy.

And one of the most common tricks you hear of in Vegas is at the bottom of the big escalators which run up and down from the walkways over the strip - people with bad intentions purposely stop at the bottom, which leads to everyone bunching up as they all get to the bottom with nowhere to go...then in the chaos wallets are taken.

it goes without saying that if someone offers to sell you some casino chips at far less than face value it's a scam.

But really, I do think that you will be quite surprised how safe it is in general. I do not feel safe off the beaten path downtown after dark myself but agree that if you stay under the canopy it's absolutely fine.

fifth_ave

Hi all,

Just got back yesterday from a fantastic trip. First timer's in Viva Las Vegas. Stayed at Mandalay Bay for 3 nights & Bellagio for 4 nights.

Only posted once to ask about discount codes for the Grand Canyon trip. Thanks for the replies though esp Trets77. Watch this space as I have a code at home I will post later tonight for fellow MSE's.

We used the deuce bus to get to/from Freemont St. Like other MSE's have said, really good value for the 24hour pass. My only dislike was the waiting around at times, but I just had to grin & bear it. I just said to myself a taxi will cost me more, so I'm saving the dollars for shopping & slots. We waited 40mins for a bus to take us from Freemont back to the strip, this was at 8.13pm so quite early in the evening. 3 Buses turned up at 9pm & managed to get everyone on, queue had formed back pass Jillian's to the road near the Freemont Exp canopy.

Wow the Grand Canyon trip for us was excellent & worth every penny. We opted to book in advance rather than leaving it until we were in Vegas, booked 7 days before departure. However I could of kicked myself & hubby (u will see why hubby as well further on) whilst on the flight to L.V. I was reading through a magazine that we received about 90days before our trip & came across an advertising box offering 15% discount with the same company we had booked our trip with. I then proceeded to ask hubby why he hadn't pointed this out to me as he had read the magazine before I had booked the trip. DH said he didn't see that one, how annoying. If only I had the time to read it in advance of the holiday. Will advise code & source later tonight. Plan your tour early on in your trip if you can just incase it needs to be rescheduled. Our initial date was cancelled due to snow, plane couldn't land at South Rim airport. Rebooked straight away for next day, still with no guarantee if it would go ahead. Luckily for us it did go ahead for the following day and pictures are fantastic with the snowfall on parts of the Canyon & Bright Angel lodge.

gt568 - carnegie's was good. Can't believe the massive portions though. I went for a sandwich as a light snack, the Tuna Melt sandwich I have never seen anything like it. It was huge, I only hope their chef's didn't get insulted by the fact I only managed to eat less than half of it.

Yes redwhiteblue at Mandalay Bay was good as well.

Bally's Sterling Brunch on Sunday - expensive but good. Waiter came round & topped our glasses up with Champagne once we finished eating. I put my hand over my glass & said I couldn't finish another drop, as didn't fancy downing it in one. Waiter said don't worry you can take it with you, I thought he was joking, but no he wasn't, so had a top up. You can take your drinks onto the strip, into any hotel or casino. We didn't feel out of place walking with our glasses. At least it stops binge drinking, people were far more behaved under the influence of alcohol, didn't see any fights like you do over here in cities.

We booked Cirque du Soleil "O" in advance, first Cirque show for us & we loved it. Book before you leave for Vegas & the earlier the better. We booked 10 days after our dates came on sale & were only offered front row "wet seats" and no other seats in sections 102,103,104. During the phone call I mentioned that we were Bellagio guests & they had a seperate allocation kept aside so we manged to get seats in section 104.

Got discounted tixs for Phantom of the Opera (they were not half price, about 30% off) did want to get Mystere tixs but it was dark for our last 2 nights. The guy at the tixs booth did say that sometimes they do get discounted tixs for some Cirque shows Feb/March time of year and to visit them 3pm onwards for the chance of tickets for the following day or visit them first thing in the morning for a performance that evening. They never get discounted tickets for "O".

Wish I was still there. Time just flies by. Will just have to rebook so we can see the Canyon without the snow & maybe do a trip on the Colorado river.

Stew68

Fifth Ave,

Thanks for the report, some nice information in there, could I ask if the Grand Canyon trip was with Scenic Airlines?? I've already booked a trip with them in May (no chance of snow then!!) and it would be nice to know if these were the people that gave you such a good trip. I'll close my eyes when you post the code for 15% off though. (darn!!).

Stew

fifth_ave

Stew68 wrote: »

Fifth Ave,

Thanks for the report, some nice information in there, could I ask if the Grand Canyon trip was with Scenic Airlines?? I've already booked a trip with them in May (no chance of snow then!!) and it would be nice to know if these were the people that gave you such a good trip. I'll close my eyes when you post the code for 15% off though. (darn!!).

Stew

It was Papillon, but I believe Papillon & Scenic are part of the same company as they flew us on a Scenic Airlines Plane & Helicopter was operated by Papillon. I know how your feeling, you can imagine how i was feeling on the flight.

Froggitt

I also agree that Carnegies at The Mirage was awesome.......real USA portion sizes to be shared betwen two people. I think I had the salt beef (I think they called it corned beef but it wasnt the awful stuff you get here in tins)and roast beef sandwich, and the chicken soup.

Butterry

Don't think anyone has posted regarding the Virgin sales. They have just added Las Vegas to their Love is in the Air Valentines sales. Flying non-stop from Gatwick, they are the only non-stop airline to LV from London.

Las Vegas 355 pounds 6th Feb-20th March 2008
490 pounds 1st May-30th June 2008

Book by 10pm on the 20th February

Hope that helps someone!

pebblesmax

November/December

Be gentle with me. First post.:hello:

ferf1223 wrote: »

I can't imagine that a taxi from C&A to Boulevard Mall would be more than $5 or so.

Even cheaper; get the 109 north to Boulevard mall. $2.50 each for a 24 hour pass. From the strip you could take the 201 East to the Crown and Anchor. After the match take the 109 North to Boulevard Mall. To get back to the strip you have a few options depending on where you're staying. 203 West takes you to LVB and Spring Mountain, 202 West takes you to LVB and Flamingo, and finally 109 South to Tropicana then 201 West back to LVB and Tropicana.

http://www.rtcsouthernnevada.com/cat/routes/ More info here.

ferf1223 wrote: »

As for safety hints and tips - I generally feel safer in Vegas than almost any other city I've been to. Certainly inside the casinos with the all-seeing eye in the sky I feel 100% safe pretty much at all times. Outside just use common sense. I do think that you will be quite surprised how safe it is in general. I do not feel safe off the beaten path downtown after dark myself but agree that if you stay under the canopy it's absolutely fine.

I agree completely about the feeling of safety in Las Vegas. It is the safest city I've ever been to.

pinkpinkfizz

fifth_ave wrote: »

It was Papillon, but I believe Papillon & Scenic are part of the same company as they flew us on a Scenic Airlines Plane & Helicopter was operated by Papillon. I know how your feeling, you can imagine how i was feeling on the flight.

hi fifth ave,
Sounds like you had a great time, I can hardly contain myself with excitement, less than 3 weeks until we go :j :j :j

We have booked with Papillion, their grand celebration 1st class tour, and I had the voucher from the LAS VEGAS OFFICIAL TOURIST GUIDE, I did a live chat online with papillion to get info and check prices before booking and they said I couldn't use that code as it wasn't one of theirs? and that if I went through who ever sponsored the book, maybe the discount would work then?!
It was 15% off too. I just went ahead and booked without the discount. I'm sure it will be worth every penny

I don't think we are going to manage the trip to the crown & anchor for the footie, I was checking our intinery and thats the day we are off flying over the grand canyon, which even my footie daft hubby says is pretty much as good as it gets for making up for not getting to see the game. :T

I think I'll go dust off my suitcase and start packing... lol :dance: