The Las Vegas Thread and MSE guide

ferf1223

March

winner3131 wrote: »

Once someone can confirm my queries about booking through NWA's US site in dollars i think i'll be getting some tickets booked. Very excited. :j

I had a look - if you go through the US NWA site on the payment screen it says:

Billing Address On Your Account
(Account must be issued in the U.S. with a U.S. billing address)

Edited to add - it does not give the option to choose an address in the UK.

On it's worldwide sites link it takes you to KLM to book if you are in the UK.

http://www.klm.com/travel/gb_en/index_default.html

alibongo42

Just back from my first Vegas trip and know how people like to read trip reports. Here goes – I hope this is the kind of stuff that’s useful. I’ll split my posts to cover the travel, the hotel, Grand Canyon trip and the general “Vegas stuff” we did .

We planned this trip knowing that we were only going to do it once, and that come hell or high water we were going to fit it all into four nights. Being the sort of people who are quite happy to zoom around destinations mentally ticking off the attractions, without spending too long at any of them, this worked out just fine

We flew Air Canada from Heathrow (via Vancouver on the way out and Toronto on the way back) at a cost of £425 each. Excellent journey and only 15 hours in total on the way out, 14 on the way back. I thought this was great for indirect flights.

Connecting in Vancouver was unbelievably smooth. First we cleared US customs as transfer passengers in about ten minutes. Despite what the cabin crew may tell you, you need to complete both the green and the white landing cards. We then collected our luggage and placed it back on another belt to be put on the next plane. This means you can buy liquid duty free in London as you get the chance to put it in your case. Arrival in Vegas was as easy as stepping off the pane and picking up our luggage.

On the way home we didn’t see our luggage in Toronto, or get our hand luggage searched, so again we could have bought liquid duty free in McCarren.

One word of warning about flying out of McCarren Terminal 2 late at night. There is very little to do, and check in was very quick. Arrive as late as you can without taking risks about catching your flight.

I had no complaints about the planes at all. Plenty leg room at all times. Decent food, free drinks on the international legs, and free soft drinks on the Canada – US legs. The 333 (LHR – YVR) only had overhead screen and less than impressive movies, but I watched them anyway, and time passed quickly enough. The E90s and 763 had seatback screens and a reasonable choice of entertainment.

Despite many warnings on this site, we did manage to get taken the expensive way round by the taxi to our hotel (the Paris). However for the sake of £15 ($30) and a quick journey, I refused to spoil the start of my holiday by getting upset about it. We avoided this on the way home by booking a shuttle bus!

alibongo42

We got four nights at the Paris (including a Saturday) for $600. The price fell after I had booked but a quick call to the hotel got me onto the lower rate.

Check-in (at 5pm on a Saturday evening) took five minutes. We were asked if we wanted to upgrade, but declined. I believe the Paris only has regular rooms, regular rooms with a strip view, and a couple of types of suite. We had booked a regular room, as I didn’t intend to be in the room very much, let alone spending any time looking out of the window!

Was very pleased to get my requested non-smoking king room, and to find it had recently been refurbished, a big comfy bed, massive flat screen TV, sofa, table, minibar (not as expensive as I had imagined) and a lovely bathroom. We even had a coffee maker, which I understand from a previous post, is a rarity in Vegas. I don’t think you could have used the minibar as a fridge, but we weren’t in the room often enough to want to.

We only spent an hour at the pool, but it was certainly an experience to sunbathe underneath the EiffelTower!

24 hour coffee (with takeaway) available from a little cafe really close to the elevators.

We were due to checkout at 11am, but were able to get until 2pm free (just be asking on the day we were leaving), or 6pm for half the room rate ($45 - which was less than half the room rate - but I wasn't about to argue!)

alibongo42

I’ve seen numerous debates on here about the South rim versus the West rim and how one isn’t “real”. We basically wanted to see the impressive big hole in the ground, taking up as little time as possible, but without rushing it.

We went with Papillon (who seem to be the same company as Grand Canyon Helicopters) on their helicopter tour to the West rim. It was just under four hours hotel to hotel and cost $330 each with an additional $25 per person fuel surcharge payable on the day. This included limo transfers from the hotel, refreshments in the lounge at the airport, flight in the Eco star helicopter (which apparently has lower windows than some of the others?), and a half hour landing in the canyon with champagne lunch.

We flew over Hoover Dam, Lake Mead on the way out, and flew the length of the Strip on the way back.

The whole trip was fantastic. It felt very surreal, and I couldn’t quite believe I was in the Grand Canyon. I don’t care if the West rim isn’t the “proper” canyon. It’s a bigger hole in the ground than I’ve ever been in, and I in no way feel cheated!

alibongo42

I think we fitted quite a bit into four days. While we wandered around looking at things, we didn’t actually “do” any of the attractions (Eiffel Tower, gondola rides, Secret Garden, rollercoasters etc. etc.). This had always been the plan unless we came across something we desperately fancied – which we didn’t – (pair of miserable sods !)

Saturday night
Arrived at the hotel at 5pm. Broke ourselves in gently by exploring our own hotel (Paris) and Bellagio across the road. Wandered around Miracle Mile shops, stopping for cheeseburger and an alcoholic slushy (how I wish they were as easily available in the UK)

Sunday
Le Village champagne brunch buffet at the Paris. BIG queue, but so worth it!
Hotel sightseeing – headed South and explored on foot from Planet Hollywood to Mandalay Bay, and back again.
Caught the Deuce bus downtown - bought a 24hr ticket – and wandered around for a bit, taking in the Plaza, before getting the Deuce back.

Monday
Grand Canyon trip (see other post). Shopping outlet at South of strip (not bad, not amazing either), using same 24hr Deuce ticket. Hotel sightseeing north/mid strip – Wynn to the Venetian and then Ceasars. Cheesecake Factory in Forum Shops at Ceasars for dinner.

Tuesday
Breakfast at Carnegies Deli – MASSIVE sandwiches, best to share! Shopping at Fashion Show Mall, a few more hotels we hadn’t seen (Harrahs, Flamingo, Imperial Palace to watch the Dealertainers), 99 cent margaritas at Bills, Sunbathing at the pool, Rainforest Caf! for dinner (I know there’s one in London, but we were in a hurry and it was convenient!). Ka – Cirque du Soleil show. Excellent!!! If applicable to you, there is a 50% military discount on all Cirque shows, direct from the relevant box offices.

Wednesday
Room service breakfast, followed by yet more shopping at Forum shops. Dinner at Sidewalk caf! in Ballys, and off to the aiport. Whew!

I know there is loads more we could have done, but we were very happy with what we fitted in, and don’t feel we missed out on anything we wanted to do. I just want to reassure people who may get worried by others telling them that less than a week is too short, that it really depends what you’re hoping to do. It can be done!

duchy

Wow I'm impressed you fitted the Canyon in with such a quick trip.
Care to share your impressions? What was as you expected. what surprised you ? For me those are the best bits of a trip report

ferf1223

March

alibongo42 wrote: »

We even had a coffee maker, which I understand from a previous post, is a rarity in Vegas. I don’t think you could have used the minibar as a fridge, but we weren’t in the room often enough to want to.

It sounds to me like you got a 'diamond' room - as far as I know the standard rooms don't have coffee makers...though perhaps they're changing that as they refurbish their standard rooms.

Thanks for the report - it was really great to read and you guys did do quite a lot in 4 days.

I agree with you about departure from T2 - anytime of the day, there's not a lot to do and the duty free offerings are pretty pitiful. Still, at least there's one last chance to play a few slots.

alibongo42

duchy wrote: »

Wow I'm impressed you fitted the Canyon in with such a quick trip.
Care to share your impressions? What was as you expected. what surprised you ? For me those are the best bits of a trip report

The Grand Canyon felt incredibly surreal. It didn't sink in that I was actually there. I think it's difficult after the impressive "sets" of the strip to remember that the Grand Canyon is real, and not just another stunning Vegas mock-up.

My impressions of Vegas itself changed as we spent more time there. Initially I thought that I really didn't like it, and it was too tacky. Having been to places like Paris and New York, I kept wondering where the attraction was in visiting fake versions of them. Then on day two I accepted it for what it was, and loved visiting all the hotels and malls. The money and work that must go into all the sets and effects must be mega.

I was quite surprised by the very casual atmosphere in the casinos. I expected the tables to seem more formal. I was absolutely gutted to find they no longer have buckets of quarters for the slots!!! I can see why tickets must be much easier, but surely far less fun!

pebblesmax

November/December

I don't have anything to add, but I'm so glad this thread is back in action. I must be missing Vegas more than I like to let on. Only 65 days to go.

mookybargirl

September

Thanks for the trip report Allibongo.

I totally agree with the short trip being fine to get around most things, as our first trip to Vegas was for only 5 days. We got round all the hotels from Mandalay Bay up to Stratosphere, went downtown, Grand Canyon and did most of the major tourist attractions (Eiffel Tower, Madame Tussauds, Car Show, Shark Reef, Lions, White Tigers, Secret Garden & Dolphins, Bellagio Conservatory, etc etc) and even caught a show.

We also went by helicopter to the GC as time was precious. We took the early flight for around 6am pick up and from memory and we were back at the hotel by 10 or 11, so we still had the whole day. If you're not keen on the heat, the first morning flight is better as the canyon is considerably cooler the early in the day it is.

It can certainly be done. I'm still amazed at how much we actually squeezed in.