The Las Vegas Thread and MSE guide

ferf1223

March

Mardrew wrote: »

I have just got the Travelzoo weekly newsletter through and it is saying that Thomas Cook have got last minute flights to Las Vegas, travelling from Manchester on 5 March, for £219 return and on 12 March for £35 more. I have very quickly been through the link to the TC site and the flights are direct as well. (I hope I've got that right, but even if not, it seems an excellent bargain.

It does sound a good deal though I would watch the luggage allowance. I think they only allow 15kg per passenger without charging extra. I think you can buy some additional allowance up front, but have heard that they are absolutely atrocious with additional charges - have heard as much as £15 per kilo overweight (I know one guy who had a $700 excess baggage charge). If you travel light then it's no problem but Virgin for example allow 2 bags up to 23kg each per passenger...so the same baggage on TC would cost an extra £465 per passenger at £15 per kilo.

dreammachine

ferf1223 wrote: »

It does sound a good deal though I would watch the luggage allowance. I think they only allow 15kg per passenger without charging extra. I think you can buy some additional allowance up front, but have heard that they are absolutely atrocious with additional charges - have heard as much as £15 per kilo overweight (I know one guy who had a $700 excess baggage charge). If you travel light then it's no problem but Virgin for example allow 2 bags up to 23kg each per passenger...so the same baggage on TC would cost an extra £465 per passenger at £15 per kilo.

I'm flying with BMI from Manchester in couple of weeks, I've read on their site that their baggage allowance is 46kg over 2 bags (23kg each) per person. Have I read this wrong?

I'm also flying Belfast to Manchester with BMIBaby, need to check their baggage allowances... more so for return flight!! :eek:




:j :j :j

middy60

yer thats right but dont go over we did,we went mad bought loads of stuff(e.g diesel shoes $29), but we was over and got charged $50

ferf1223

March

dreammachine wrote: »

I'm flying with BMI from Manchester in couple of weeks, I've read on their site that their baggage allowance is 46kg over 2 bags (23kg each) per person. Have I read this wrong?

That's the same as Virgin so I would assume it's correct. It's normally the low cost airlines/charters that have the dodgy baggage policies. They normally do make it relatively clear before you book, but I know some people don't pay too close attention to the terms and conditions and what a surprise that would be! based on the weight of our bags and assuming £15 per kilo is what TC do charge, last trip my husband and I would have racked up over £900 in extra fees if we flew Thomas Cook on one of their cheap deals (I think someone has said before that you can get a larger allowance by buying a different class of fare, but they're more expensive to start with so the difference between TC fares and one of the major airlines gets smaller).

pebblesmax

November/December

We have used Thomas Cook airlines to Vegas on cheap deals before, but we always take care to keep our shopping to a minimum when we fly with them. We save our shopping sprees for the scheduled flights that have the better allowances.

BTW Bmibaby's baggage allowance is 20kg if you have paid for a hold bag, which I think costs £3.99 online and double at the airport. The hand luggage allowance is 10 kg and on Monday they were weighing the hand luggage as you checked in, so beware of that too.

pinkpinkfizz

Ok I'm in the final round of lists and checks, suitcase waiting patiently to be packed, I am SO excited....

We arrive around 1pm Vegas time (although by the time we get through customs etc I suspect it will be quite a bit later) and figured that perhaps one of the first things to do would be to go to the one of Premium outlet malls. We wondered which outlet centre to go to first or does it matter?

Also any tips to help with the enevitable jet lag that will, apparently, hit us about 3 days in?! (although right now I can't imagine I would want to go and have a snooze in VEGAS!!!) :T :j :T :j

Thanks in advance,

Froggitt

Once youre checked in, and had a snoop around your hotel, it'll be 5pm, but feeling like midnight. You wont want to do much apart from eat, play a few hands of blackjack, and go to bed about 9pm.

We did the outlet mall on the morning of departure as its not walkable like Fashion Mall, or the PH mile mall. It was the one past Mandalay Bay on the airport side of the strip.

Froggitt

nvh wrote: »

bah checked, this is 'from $199' right? or should i be looking at the priceline / hotwire route?

Yup - from $199 direct with hotel. Midweek only I suspect.

pebblesmax

November/December

I prefer the outlet mall near Downtown. It is mainly outdoors, but it shouldn't be too hot or cold at this time of year. Website here. http://www.premiumoutlets.com/outlets/outlet.asp?id=58

Froggit it right, it will feel like much later. If you manage to stay up for as long as possible it might not be too bad, but most likely you will wake up at the crack of dawn the next day. I'm quite envious of you. I wish I was going.

Have a wonderful time.

trets77

April

pinkpinkfizz wrote: »

Ok I'm in the final round of lists and checks, suitcase waiting patiently to be packed, I am SO excited....

We arrive around 1pm Vegas time (although by the time we get through customs etc I suspect it will be quite a bit later) and figured that perhaps one of the first things to do would be to go to the one of Premium outlet malls. We wondered which outlet centre to go to first or does it matter?

Also any tips to help with the enevitable jet lag that will, apparently, hit us about 3 days in?! (although right now I can't imagine I would want to go and have a snooze in VEGAS!!!) :T :j :T :j

Thanks in advance,

HAVE A GREAT TIME :beer: :beer: :beer:


if your hiring a car goto the outlet center a few miles south of Mandalay bay on the same side of LV boulevard as the airport ( you cannot miss it there are signs counting down to the turn you need to take if heading south) .


It is pretty big and you won't find many additional stores at the others. if no car get the bus from MGM grand to premium fashion outlet in Primm http://www.fashionoutletlasvegas.com/( you will see adverts for this service in all the free magazines) . ask around the MGM Grand check in area for where the bus can be caught

on your way back from outlet center you will go past the Las Vegas sign , which makes a great photo opportunity .there may be guy there with a mobile photo printing studio out of the back of his 4x4 , who will take a professional photo with a expensive SLR for $10. we thought , why do that when you can take your own (like this one :rolleyes: ..)



but it is hard to get it just right with all the sign in and a image of your self you can see ( that blurry figure is me folks by the way ) , and strangers doing the same never take a great photo if you ask the to snap both of you in the shot do they , so we payed him and got a fantastic shot which we have on our shelf.

jet lag only ever hits me on the first night . don't sneak a nap when you arrive and don't make big plans ( like seeing a show ) for night one . get a early dinner , and then just crash when you cannot stay awake anymore , i then find I'm bright as button next morning after a good 10 - 12 hours sleep ( with a nice big cocktail as a night cap )

I'm flying with BMI from Manchester in couple of weeks, I've read on their site that their baggage allowance is 46kg over 2 bags (23kg each) per person. Have I read this wrong?

nope you have it right. we checked in 4 huge suitcases with BMI . including this one which we just had to buy for $40 , to take our outlet booty home in.







you can get one at a few places , but got ours from Grand Canyon souvenir shop under the MGM Grand

I have just got the Travelzoo weekly newsletter through and it is saying that Thomas Cook have got last minute flights to Las Vegas, traveling from Manchester on 5 March, for £219 return and on 12 March for £35 more. I have very quickly been through the link to the TC site and the flights are direct as well. (I hope I've got that right, but even if not, it seems an excellent bargain.

:T :T wow they are selling them cheaper than Thomas cook themselves :beer: will be keeping and eye on them for here as well in future