The Las Vegas Thread and MSE guide

ferf1223

March

trets77 wrote: »

did you go through Quidco for the free £20 for Post Office CC ?? mine took 5 days so you might be pushing it .

I still don't get why the PO hates me...I applied online (through Quidco), then I got the application form in the post (filled out with the info I put in online) to sign and also the lists of the proof of ID and address they required under the money laundering regulations...had to take the IDs to a Post Office to have them certify copies, then sent those off...then probably 2 weeks later I got the card (initially with the last 2 letters of my surname missing which doesn't matter here with chip & PIN, but in the US, it might, so I had to ask for a replacement WITH my full name on it).

They must really like you!

Or maybe it's because I'm American and don't show up on the electoral roll or something so I have to go through additional steps?

ferf1223

March

Oh - and the discussion awhile back about Vegas guidebooks - I have to change my vote to The Unofficial Guide I think...have now read the new editions of that and The Brit's Guide and Unofficial has much more info.

But I'm really surprised at how much misinformation (or missing information) is in both. I want to write to both publishers and suggest that when they update for the next edition they come here and ask all of us if we want to proof read for them to catch any errors.

Things like:

Unofficial - they mention CAT bus fares, but not the $5 24-hour pass...I've never taken a bus in Vegas in my life and I know about that.

Unofficial - Mon Ami Gabi at Paris is their cafe/coffee shop and is open until 2 am...and it mentions patio seating - so they didn't just mix up the name with the cafe.

Brit's - Only play a slot machine where they payback percentage is posted - thing is, no slot machines in Vegas have payback posted other than those in the 98% payback areas and the like - which is a very limited sample, and that 98% is over time anyway - doesn't mean that much to the average player.

Both - There is a tram/monorail between Monte Carlo and Bellagio (OK, maybe it's still there but it's not been running for years).

Brit's - Never rent a car at the airport as you pay much more in taxes and fees (true, but the actual cost of the rental itself at the hotels is typically a lot higher and many times ends up more expensive in the end - it can go either way - plus you have to get to your hotel somehow so that cost needs to be considered as well).

Unofficial (I think) - Players clubs usually only track slot play, not table play but a few casinos also track table play.

Anyway, it was an interesting experience reading through both and I did get some good info, just kept finding bits that made me think 'that is SO not true! we could write a better guidebook than this!'

sharpcroft

As the title, whats the cheapest way of doing this in Vegas?
5 of us are going to Vegas for my 40th on the 16th March, we all have mobiles so will be wanting to call home every day to the UK (we are going without are partners :-) ). Is it best to get local PAYG sims or whatever the equivalant is in the states, we will prob be wanting to call and text each other whilst there also?

Many thanks and Vivaaaaaaaa Las Veeeeeeeeeeee
cant wait (Stopping at the IP by the way for cheapness and location, did Circus Circus last time but its too far up one end, got the whole deal, 5 nights in 3x deluxe rooms, direct flights with Virgin from Gatwick for a little over £600 each)

trets77

April

sharpcroft wrote: »

As the title, whats the cheapest way of doing this in Vegas?
5 of us are going to Vegas for my 40th on the 16th March, we all have mobiles so will be wanting to call home every day to the UK (we are going without are partners :-) ). Is it best to get local PAYG sims or whatever the equivalant is in the states, we will prob be wanting to call and text each other whilst there also?

Many thanks and Vivaaaaaaaa Las Veeeeeeeeeeee
cant wait (Stopping at the IP by the way for cheapness and location, did Circus Circus last time but its too far up one end, got the whole deal, 5 nights in 3x deluxe rooms, direct flights with Virgin from Gatwick for a little over £600 each)

i cannot recommend them yet as i have not yet used but i'm trying a sim from this lot ( or may get one off Ebay)
http://www.oneroam.co.uk/sim-cards.aspx?aid=18
you will have to have been planning on making £15+ of calls on your own network before it will save you though.

see the main MSE guide for futher help

http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/phones/cheap-roaming-calls

don't forget to do a countdown clock if your visiting the thread regular see post #4

dreammachine

Countdown Clock



3 more BIG sleeps!!! :j

pinkpinkfizz

Hey I'm back!!! :T

Well got home v late on saturday night actually, and have been very sick and unwell since then :sad: Feeling a good bit better today so started to upload my photos

Can I just say a HUGE HUGE thank you to everyone who posts on here, as I had taken loads of hints and tips and put them into a little note book, then when we arrived in a hotel/casino I just read up on it and we didn't miss very much at all, so thank you again to everyone.

I am going to get my trip report started and will post it on here when I get the chance. I'll also read up on how to post a photo or two. :beer:

Vegas is AMAZING and I can't wait to go back

pinkpinkfizz

Attempt1
Can you see pic 1, view from my beautiful Bellagio room, after I was succesful in the $20 desk tip

Woo HOOO it worked!

sharpcroft

trets77 wrote: »

i cannot recommend them yet as i have not yet used but i'm trying a sim from this lot ( or may get one off Ebay)
http://www.oneroam.co.uk/sim-cards.aspx?aid=18
you will have to have been planning on making £15+ of calls on your own network before it will save you though.

see the main MSE guide for futher help

http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/phones/cheap-roaming-calls

don't forget to do a countdown clock if your visiting the thread regular see post #4

Thanks for the quick reply trets, will add the countdown clock when i get home (posting from work)

1 more question, as 5 burly and thirsty English/Irish lads who may partake in the odd beer ;-) can you recommend places that do cheap drinks. The only one i can remember from last time on strip was Slots Of Fun with its $1 bottled beers and 75c frozen margarittas, i know drinks are free when gambling but we dont intend to do shed loads (we will all have a little flutter but as the others are Vegas virgins we will do more sight seeing).
Is Freemont worth a visit for a night out for 5 lads?

Thanks again for the help

Manual Count Down Clock: 2days, 23hours, 7 minutes :beer:
Real one :-)

Stew68

For those of you who are going to the Palazzo in the next few weeks, here's a link to a short trip report on Trip Advisor.

http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/ShowTopic-g45963-i10-k1811776-Local_TR_Palazzo-Las_Vegas_Nevada.html

Welcome back Pinkpinkfizz, can't wait to hear about your trip.

Stew

atro1

May

well done the Vegas part and it was great 20$ trick worked and ended up with a suite with a view of the 'Excaliber'.
Did Red Rock canyon and it was amazing. first night we sat supping daiquiris at 99c in Bills and i joined the players club so had a few bargains including the meal at Bills which all agreed was probably the best Beef we had ever tasted.
Did the 'Bellagio' buffet. Although the crab legs were massive they did not have the taste of the smaller fresh ones and the buffet to be honest was a bit disappointing.
But the whole experience was mindblowing.And after leaving a $5 tip for the maid we are still using the shampoo and such down here in Florida. And very nice stuff it is too!
Although it was last week the girls were in the Rio's sky carnival[courtesy of Bills Fun Book].
I was very disappointed with Virgin flight they run out of spirits about 3 hours out!!! Meals were OK tho!
Well we are down here for a month and then we are off for a short Carribean cruise and reting home April 10.
Thanks for all the tips used a lot of them. But my legs cannot do all the walking that i wanted them to do---and driving, after driving in Florida is very easy! So do recomend hiring a car. Taxi's end up being expensive.Its always an extra dollar or two as they drive around the hotel.