Las Vegas guide and MSE thread 2015

Seldom_Seen_Kid wrote: »

Very interested in your view of SF Yinster, especially timeframe and hotel.

bb2105 wrote: »

I'm doing the same trip soon.

What would you recommend as the best things to do in each city?

As a first timer to both city here is what we did though it all depends on your budget and what you like to do. Any questions do feel free to pm me as I like this thread to be kept to just Las Vegas.

Last year we decided to do Las Vegas for my birthday as we were going all the way there decided to do a second city. Always fancied San Francisco mainly due to being a huge 49er fan. Got an original quote from one agent but after putting several agents against each other managed to get four nights each plus transfers and flights for almost £1000 cheaper. Could do it D.I.Y but this gives wee stress free if we missed a connection which isn't our fault.

From April last year started playing MyVegas online on facebook to redeem rewards from loyalty points gained in game. Just bet amount of spins and let it run in the background whilst you do other things.

Fast forwards to holiday.

San Francisco
Stayed in Handlery Union Hotel which is a block away from Union Square. Ideal location and lovely hotel. Noticed that the general manager personally replies to every tripadvisor report so emailed him with my room request and also mention my birthday. He gave us a bottle of bubbly and snacks as well as upgrading our room to a suite. Managed also to get the breakfast offer so had breakfast at The Daily Grill.

By the time we got to the hotel and travelling all day we just had some snacks and went to bed.

Day 1.
Booked Alcatraz before we left Scotland. When we got there we saw a sign that the next available tour is in four day's time. So recommend booking. Walked to Pier 33. It's about 30 minutes walk if you walk like us. We chose one of the first boats out as then it isn't as crowded.

Went to Pier 39 after for lunch and to browse. It is very touristy but that is ok as we are tourists. Sealions are there as well as tourist shops. Then walked back via Chinatown before heading for dinner in Union Square.

Day 2
Booked a movie tour. I love films so this was excellent. Almost meant we got a tour of most of the city and even got under the Golden Gate Bridge. Lunch in Fisherman's Wharf and then we walked to the Presidio to visit the Walt Disney Museum via the Ghirardelli Square. That was more interested than I thought. More about the man than the films. Then we learnt of a free shuttle at the weekends which takes us back into town from there so we took it as we walked about 5 miles by then. Dinner near Westfield

Day 3.
Spent in Westfield shopping centre after a morning at the cinema. My partner likes to go shopping.

Day of departure
We walked to Lombard Street to take photos early around 09:00. Walked up Filbert Street which is one block before it from Union Square as it is not as steep. At that time of day it is pretty quiet so photos were very people free. Also able to stand in middle of road to take photos whilst the other watch for traffic.

San Francisco is walkable even the hills though it will be the heat that will slow you down. We were fortunately as it was only really early morning and early evening when it was colder. During the day it was about 20c. We prefer walking as much as we can on holiday as often you see more if you do than getting transported. Four nights and three full days was enough for us and we saw lots of San Francisco. We spent some time in our living room resting from the walking.

Las Vegas
Stayed in The Aria. Lovely hotel and not as smoky as other hotels. Also we chose this particular hotel due to the location. Check in, went to room, dumped our stuff and headed out to registered a MLife card to use the rewards I redeem. Decided to use the BOGOF Aria Buffet that night as we were getting up very early the next day.

Day 1.
Early morning helicopter ride to the Grand Canyon and landing in it. This was a compromise as I didn't want to sit on a bus for hours and my partner only agree if we landed in it. As we got a champagne breakfast didn't eat before but then we did leave really early. After this we grab a snack from Jean Philippe Patisserie in our hotel. Then got the bus to the North Premium Outlet. Partner got a few things from there. Got the bus back to the Stratosphere Tower so we could go to Lounge 107. One thing I learnt researching online is save your money as it cost $18 each to ride the elevator to the observation deck. Instead go during happy hour (16:00 - 19:00) to Lounge 107 which is only 2 levels down and ride the elevator for free. Everyone must be over 21 to do this. We used the money saved for two cocktails at $15 plus a coke and tip. Cost us $20. You can also go to the observation deck once in the lounge. You get the same views but without the cost. After we walked down the strip visiting Circus Circus, Riviera (which closes in May), Treasure Island and then Mirage where we got our BOGOF dinner buffet before heading heading back to hotel using the tram from Bellagio.

Day 2
Did a breakfast horse ride in Red Rock Canyon. It is amazing how close this is to the strip yet feels a million miles away from it. When we got back we headed to Fremont Street. Didn't like it at all due to it being really smoky and feels not as safe as the strip. Went to Casear Palace for dinner before going to the The Venetian to see Rock Of Ages.

Day 3
Walked to the "Welcome To Las Vegas Sign" early in the morning. Walked back to Mandalay Bay for a wee lookie before heading to the Luxor using the tram. Did the Titanic Experience. Had lunch at Excalibur. Then headed to MGM via New York New York for the CSI Experience. We also a free test screening of a tv show - The Odd Couple starring Matthew Perry there. Then we walked to Planet Hollywood, Paris, Cosmopolitan and Bellagio for our last BOGOF dinner buffet. We also been to citycenter and Monte Carlo but they are interlinked with the Aria.

Left early the next day. San Francisco is very chilled out and we didn't do as much as Las Vegas. Personally this was our ideal holiday. We did everything we wanted to do. Some hotels/casinos we spent more time than others. Plan a few things to do each day so you have time to do things that aren't planned. We always tried to do our planned things first thing in the morning so the rest of the day is unplanned a little plus the attractions then are not as busy. Big thing for Las Vegas is just absorbed the atmosphere and take time to do so or the casinos will just run into another. We took it in sections which help but also find out what each one has beforehand in case you want to actually do something in one.

I have a tripadvisor account so feel free to look at them and do pm if you like to ask anything. Hope this helps.

EDIT: Forgot to say we did do the cable cab in San Francisco after Lombard Street but only cos we might never do it again. It cost $6 each one way which is expensive.

Even better - if you had time - would be to drive from Las Vegas to San Francisco via US395 and Yosemite.
Photos:
http://goo.gl/eUU5Xd
http://goo.gl/DxAx7y

What a fantastic post. Well done MSE!

I'm off to Vegas with the lads for a week leaving 30th Sept and we're not sure how to book.

Basically we have a budget of £1200 for flights and hotel and that gets us in to most hotels but not the real flash ones such Bellagio, Wynn, Encore, Pollazo and Venetian to name a few.

Now when i check prices for say....next week the prices are around £400 or more cheaper than the dates that we want......to the point where we could actually stay anywhere on the strip due to the huge savings.

So for the Vegas experts out there, has anyone done a late deal to Vegas and have they saved bundles? Or is it purey because Vegas is fairly quiet in March compared to Sept/Oct time which is why there's a huge gulf in prices?

StuieUK34 wrote: »

Need some info on Lounge 107...
If we got there say 18:45, we can ride the express lift for free to get to the bar which is still in Happy Hour time......
But....... What if we arrived at 8pm ? No Happy Hour, but can u still ride the lift to Lounge 107 for free ?? (and are drinks stupid prices ?)
I've been in that lift back in 2011, but that was to jump off the Strat !
Do like the idea of having a drink while taking in the sights at night time....
Would be handy infact to goto that lounge midweek say around 10pm ish! Without paying!
No matter the time of day, cant convince the wife to buy a pass to go on the rides at the top of the Strat
If I can talk her into the bar, I can leave her there and go play myself on the rides!!

Stuie drinks were about $20 each but bogof during happy hour, plus there is appetisers too.
As far as I know there is no cover charge to get in?
In terms of going there and not actually drinking- yes you can! We found service to be slow, so actually had to wait 20mins or more for a drink.

The chocolate martini was delicious though!:beer:

nikmondo wrote: »

Basically we have a budget of £1200 for flights and hotel and that gets us in to most hotels but not the real flash ones such Bellagio, Wynn, Encore, Pollazo and Venetian to name a few.

Don't take the first quote. Contact other agents and ask them if they can better it. So getting them to work against each other. Also we did check the same details to see if we could D.I.Y ourselves but the agents were much cheaper. It is what we did and saved a lot. Also it will depend on whether there is a huge conference(s) or convention(s) in town that week. Looking online quickly there is a couple of big ones for the week you are wanted. I know one week in May there is a huge fight in Vegas which mean all rooms are more expensive than normal.