Las Vegas guide and MSE thread 2012

Just getting ready to go out tonite for NYE in Vegas. Weather has really played ball, nice sunny and quite warm today and set to be above average tonite. Staying at Carriage House so going to walk up, probably come back here and watch all the fireworks from the comfort of the car park.
Looking forward to going out for our run about 8am tomorrow and seeing if the streets are littered with drunks. Went to Belagio last night and not one CW in site, I mean not even at the tables. Disgusting.

Happy New Year to you all!

Thanks Photome for the 2012 thread.

Was hoping to visit in March and August this year but due to unforseen circumstances can only do August but still very happy to be able to go!

I like to go direct from Manchester so very limited to airline choice (TC nd VA), Virgin fly on days that suit me better so was going to wait for sale but ended up booking just before Xmas.

Flight was approx 900pp economy (sorry no pound sign) so tried miles+money and it brought it down to 493+2000 miles pp Total of 1900 +8000 miles for 3 adults+1child. Booked it, only 222 days to go!

hcb42 wrote: »

I can confirm 90210 also works.

the power of television.

Huh. I really had no idea...I guess because when I lived in the US I used my actual zip code...I just assumed that it had to match the billing details on the card...thinking back it seems like years and years ago I did try my old US zip code with my UK card and it didn't work so I thought that was that. Will definately give it a try again next time!

Just won £2000 on william hill online casino! what a start to the new year now do i book vegas or save for my wedding??

carlw wrote: »

Thanks, ive arranged car hire & a hotel for 1 night. Were staying at The Best Western Squire Inn, which got good reviews on Trip advisor. I beleive thats near the hotel you stayed in. I am planning on driving over Hoover Dam on the way there, and taking the slightly longer route down The Old Route 66. Ive read its nothing special, but still like the romance of driving Route 66. Ill take the quicker route back. What was the weather like, ive read snow is common Dec/Jan?

Carl

Sorry - bit of a disjointed post here, but I think I've covered all of your questions

Weather wise it's been really nice actually! I gather from the news etc that it's been unusually warm for this time of year though.

The GC had had snow, but there was nothing on the roads when we were there, with a minimal amount in the park itself. It felt cold but not bitterly cold - I was wearing my usual UK winter coat and OH was just wearing a hoodie - it was find when the sun was out but you could feel it was cold there after dark.

In vegas we've not needed coats! I've seen people walking around in shorts & tshirt or sun dresses. I saw a man sunbathing by the pool yesterday. I've been fine with a cardi on. Last night (NYE) we were out without coats on, it was chilly and I wished I'd had a hoodie or something, but it wasn't bad - in the crowd it was warm enough! It's been a nice change from UK winter weather to be honest

All of the hotels just outside the GC are all in the same sort of place, the only reason I opted for the Holiday Inn is they specified "free" wifi and breakfast as part of the room rate

We did as Ferf mentioned - hired with CH3000 and got the upgrade to the full tank of fuel included (and all of the insurances etc which you normally have to pay for ontop of the price). Paying with cash at the pump was a faff - but I would go in and pre-pay and OH filled up. I handed over a $50 I think and got the change back after he had filled as we weren't sure how much fuel would be needed. We've got this jeep thing and it just ate fuel tbh! I think we've spent $50-60 total on fuel - with around 1/4 to 1/3 fuel still in there for the local pootleing that we want to do over the next few days. We plan to hand it back as empty as poss I'm not sure about fuel prices tbh as I wasn't paying attention to that. The price $3.40 mentioned seems about right though. Not that it matters really but do remember that the quality of US petrol is pretty rubbish compared to what we have in the UK - OH used to work as a chemical engineer in a refinery and he was explaining the diferences.

We drove on route 66 (both ways I think), it was just the route the sat nav took us, I'll have a look on google maps to check later. We've been using our UK sat nav and added on the US maps - it's worked really well actually!

RE Hoover dam, they have built a new bridge (and also blocked any view you might've had with concrete blocks) and the highway now takes you over this - so you need to be on the ball to take the right turn off to the dam as it isn't obvious. We'd planned to try and drive back over it (we did the tour last year and saw the road being built actually) - it's definately worth a visit!