Las Vegas guide and MSE thread 2015

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  • secretmachines
    secretmachines Posts: 1,455 Forumite
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    edited 3 January 2015 at 7:47PM
    COUPONS & VOUCHERS

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    There is a lot of money to be saved by taking advantage of coupons. You will often find coupons in your check in welcome pack from your hotel. You can also get coupons for buffets and rides, by signing up for a Players Club Card in hotels/casinos (see above). Staff often hand out coupons around the casino areas.

    However beware not everyone handing out coupons (even inside the casinos) is trying to save you some money. Las Vegas has pushy timeshare people, if someone is offering free show tickets or trips to the Grand Canyon, be aware that they are probably trying to sell you something. The worst place for timeshare sales people is around the Excalibur and the entrance to the Miracle Mile shops at Planet Hollywood. Don't feel rude by ignoring their advances and walk straight past them with a "no thanks".

    It is also a good idea to pick up all free magazines you see. You can often find these in taxis, monorail stations, shopping malls and hotel lobbies. The show coupons in these magazines are usually beaten by going to the Tix4Tonight booths mentioned earlier though.

    If you are really serious about wanting to save some money, it's a good idea to invest in one of the following:

    The Las Vegas Advisor Member rewards booklet will pay for itself very quickly just by making use of one or two of best coupons. By joining LVA for a year's online membership of $37 you get one book of coupons. You can have the book delivered for a charge or pick it up free from the LVA offices in Las Vegas.

    The American Casino guide contains coupons for other cities as well as Las Vegas. There are a number of coupons the same as the LVA Book, so you should probably only need one or the other depending on what you want to save on. This guide costs $13.49.

    Also check out these free coupons, there are several that can be printed off and redeemed for coupon booklets at certain shopping malls.

    www.lasvegas-nv.com/las-vegas-coupons.htm
    www.destinationcoupons.com
    Register with Las Vegas Premium Outlet North & Las Vegas Premium Outlet South
  • secretmachines
    secretmachines Posts: 1,455 Forumite
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    edited 3 January 2015 at 7:55PM
    myVEGAS and Social Rewards

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    myVEGAS

    is an online game, in which you collect chips which you can redeem for real-life rewards, for example show tickets, meals or hotel rooms. The game is run by the MGM Group, so free rewards are only available for MGM Group Properties.

    To play, you will need a Facebook account, an Mlife account (both are free) and LOTS OF TIME!

    By collecting free red chips, you build up your credit for playing the slot machines. Play the slots and your level count goes up. You will also collect V's which help build your hotels on the Strip. Like any slot machine, you will win and lose, so this game is all about time...

    Have some red chips, spin the wheels, and you will build your strip and collect Loyalty Points (LPs / gold coins), and win/lose!

    The purpose of playing the game is to build LPs, which are what you need to turn your time into real life freebies.

    For every spin, a gold coin forms and then hits your pot, each time you level up, you receive LPs too.

    It will take some time to accumulate a lot of LPs, but worth it given it's free. You will be able to use 3 real-life rewards in any 30 day window. That means if you book a room or show in January 2014, to use on 1st May 2014, the 30 day window starts from 1st May 2014 (or which ever offer is redeemed first).

    You will have options to purchase red play coins if you wish. By purchasing play chips, you will increase your 'reward count' from 3 to 4 rewards in the 30 day window. But there is no fixed amount of what to buy... some people report that buying 3 transactions' worth of play chips over $60 has resulted in making 4 rewards available, but there is no rule to this, it's hit and miss!

    At the end of the day, it's free to play, the more you play, the more chance you have of winning/losing. Don't assume betting big will win big, learn as you go, and go get some goodies!

    The real-life rewards which are on offer, refresh everyday at 3pm (UK time), and are limited. The popular rewards will sell out very quickly, so being near a computer at 3pm can be vital!

    My advice for playing this game on the PC (ideal if you get your partner to do the same):

    1. Join a myVegas Facebook group (search for "myvegas gifts" on Facebook).

    2. Find the sub heading for 'Add Me or Add Friends', you will get a list of members asking to be added, or you add them. Having more friends will allow you to earn more.

    3. You ideally need a minimum of 50 'vegas friends', but go for 60 at least. Once you have added or accepted friends, you can click on that person, and in the button where it states 'Friends' with a Tick next to it, click on that, remove the tick for 'Show in News Feed', and then click on 'Add to another list', and then choose 'Restricted'.
    The purpose of this is so you don't see any posts from that 'friend' and they don't see any of your info.

    4. Now you have 60 friends, you need to invite them as 'neighbours', so once in the game, click on 'MORE' button near top left and then choose 'Invite Friends', then select 'myVegas Players'. Click the names in that list and then choose 'Send Invites'.

    5. You will start to see players walking up and down your strip, and those players are your 'vegas friends'... What's the purpose of this?

    6. You get a free daily spin, which occurs every 22 hours. You may land on 100+ red play chips, or even gold LPs, but by having at
    least 50 friends, you get a % bonus based on max. 50 friends. This helps a great deal with collecting red and gold coins.

    7. Also, with having friends, you can gift each other, by clicking on 'MORE', and then choose 'Send Gifts'. Do this every day, you get
    the same in return, this adds to another way of building your stash of red play chips.

    8. While under level 50, you ideally don't want to bet any more than 1000 red coins per spin, and while building hotels, bet low and
    use the auto spin. 3 good games are 'Excalibur', 'Wild Birds' & 'Bet the Farm'. All have a bit of user interaction. 'Studio City' is
    the only game to spin through right until the bonus round (where you do a few clicks).

    (Thanks to StuieUK34 for writing this info!)

    Social Rewards

    Social Rewards is a program that gives you perks and freebies for things you’re probably already doing, like following your favorite Las Vegas hotels on Twitter, or liking them on Facebook, or telling friends about various Las Vegas awesomeness.

    Depending upon what action you take in the social networking realm, you’ll earn a certain number of Social Rewards points. Those points can be redeemed for Reward Credits, those magical “points” you can use to get things like show tickets, free rooms, food and drink, as well as back rubs from certain Las Vegas blogs. (We made that last part up, but anything’s possible in Sin City.)

    Find out more here.
  • secretmachines
    secretmachines Posts: 1,455 Forumite
    Name Dropper First Anniversary First Post Photogenic
    edited 3 January 2015 at 7:59PM
    OTHER USEFUL BITS & BOBS

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    INSURANCE

    Tips on getting travel insurance can be found on Martin's Travel Insurance page.

    WHEN TO VISIT

    July and August are often disliked because of the intense heat.
    January and December are quiet months (hotel pools often close down October-March ). That said Las Vegas is a year-round destination. Many consider the best months to visit as April/May, September/October. Prices for UK flights in traditional UK holiday months of June to early September always seem much more expensive than April/May (excluding bank holidays and Easter of course), yet April/May are better times to visit. By avoiding the traditional UK holiday season, you could save a considerable amount of money on your flight, meaning more money to spend on your hotel.

    THINGS TO TAKE WITH YOU

    Aside from the usual holiday things make sure you take a comfortable pair of walking shoes: it can be 15 minute walk from your hotel room to The Strip. It's a fair bet that no matter what your mode of transport around The Strip, you will still be doing a fair amount of walking within the casinos.

    MONEY

    Using the MSE Travel Money website is a great start to learn about using cash abroad. To get more $ for your £, consider getting your cash well in advance of your trip. Also read up on different cards you can take to minimise costs and fees on transactions abroad. Be aware that taking cash out of ATMs can be expensive, with a fee for using the machine, as well as your card taking a percentage fee. Avoid using ATMs in many casinos, as these will carry the highest charges. By reducing the number of times you use ATMs, will reduce the charges, so for example think about withdrawing $200 in one go, rather 4x withdrawals of $50.

    TIPPING

    As with most places in the US, tipping is the etiquette when receiving any kind service (bell hops, cocktail waitresses, valet, concierge, taxis, meals, etc...). Vegas.com offers a comprehensive resource for all things tipping.

    CALLING HOME

    Please read this MSE guide. Phone cards are also a good option, but don't buy the cards found in the casino, places like CVS and Walgreens have better value cards. You can purchase a mobile phone from Walmart for around $30, including airtime. If you are a couple and need to split up, 2 of them could be useful.

    UK mobile network Three operate the "Feel At Home" service, which basically lets you use your UK tariff abroad (currently limited locations, but USA is included). If you are not a Three customer, you can simply get a free Three Pay As You Go sim, purchase an Add On package (for £10 or £15) and use minutes, texts and data in the USA at no extra cost. If you are a new Three customer, you will have needed your sim card for 30 days before you can use Feel At Home (so just remember to order it in plenty of time!) Full details can be found here.

    You can also use this pay-as-you-go sim card from T-Mobile (US network) is recommended. For a nominal charge for the SIM card (around $1, sometimes free), you can get unlimited talk, text (domestic) and web for $3/day. For $10/month you can get unlimited international talk/text. This SIM card is only available to purchase in America, so either purchase/activate one when you arrive, or if you have a friend in the US who can mail one to you, that will work.

    LAS VEGAS APPS

    See the first post in this thread for apps run by the casinos/hotels. Apps appear all the time, but some useful ones are from vegas.com, Fox5 Vegas, [url="http://www.vegasmate.com/]VegasMate[/url] and TripAdvisor.

    PREVIOUS MSE LAS VEGAS THREADS

    link to 2014 thread
    link to 2013 thread
    link to 2012 thread
    link to 2011 thread
    link to 2010 thread
    link to 2009 thread
    link to 2008 thread
    link to 2007 thread
  • secretmachines
    secretmachines Posts: 1,455 Forumite
    Name Dropper First Anniversary First Post Photogenic
    edited 26 August 2015 at 7:18PM
    MSE member Trip Reports

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    Usually when MSE members have come back from a Vegas trip, they're encouraged to write a trip report, detailing what they got up to (as little or as much!) - this helps imminent visitors with any current offers, shows, news, deals and interesting info, so they don't miss out!

    2015
    18 Aug - bubble113 page1 page2 (trip date 6-8 Aug)
    1 Aug - ajdj (trip date 16-30 Jul)
    4 Mar - Yinster (trip date late Feb)
    18 Jan - lizzielie (trip date Dec/Jan)
    17 Jan - Hovis91 (trip date Nov 2014)

    2014
    3 Dec - eva11 page1 page2 (trip date Nov)
    3 Dec - jadamcp (trip date 25 Nov-2 Dec)
    2 Nov - ferf1223 (trip date Oct)
    12 Oct - nvh (trip date Sept)
    24 Sept - nykied (trip date 12-18 Sept)
    21 Sept - wr1ght (trip date 2-12 Sept)
    13 Sept - bubble113 (trip date 16-28 Aug)
    6 Sept - becksta (trip date 27 Aug-5 Sept)
    26 Aug - totallybored (trip date 8-19 Aug)
    10 Aug - lizzielie (trip date 28 May-10 Jun)
    19 Jul - bobbyhibs (trip date 6-13 Jul)
    14 Jul - stoneman (trip date June)
    17 Jun - rorylando45 (trip date 17-24 Jun)
    6 Jun - StuieUK34 (trip date 19 May-2 Jun)
    27 Apr - secretmachines (trip date 17-25 Apr)
    5 Apr - pm04gn (trip date 28 Mar-2 Apr)
    29 Jan - alictait (trip date 23 Dec-8 Jan)

    2013
    25 Sept - nvh (trip date 2-12 Sept)
    7 July - roryorlando45 (trip date 21-29 June)
    6 July - Hovis91
    4 July - vanilla8 (trip date June)
    4 July - ratkarth page1, page2 (trip date 1-8 July)
    6 June - StuieUK34 (trip date May)
    28 May - stu1892 (trip date 15 May)
    12 May - Wendell Pierce (trip date Apr)
    12 May - ferf1223 (trip date Mar)
    11 May - lizzielie (trip date Apr?)
    11 May - photome (trip date Apr/May)
    17 Apr - martmonk (trip date 13 Mar)
    4 Apr - Vern58 (trip dates Mar)
    18 Feb - Spursman180 (trip dates early Feb)
    11 Feb - stevie11 (trip dates Jan/Feb)
    30 Jan - marsman802 (trip dates 21-27 Jan)

    2012 (date is when report was posted, not necessarily time of trip)
    5 Jan - Zaffi
    25 Feb - rpstdavids
    31 Mar - jadamcp page1, page2
    3 Apr - photome
    4 Apr - costingbunny
    11 Apr - vern58
    12 Apr - roryorlando
    13 Apr - bitgiggy
    27 Apr - gill247 page1, page2, page3
    17 May - buzz78
    22 May - foosterino
    14 Jun - parcival
    10 Sept - rahven
    10 Sept - alisonofagun
    16 Sept - secretmachines page1, page2, page3, page4, page5
    23 Sept - credit_crunch
    23 Sept - lesley74
    21 Sept - scottishnellie page1, page2, page3, page4, page5, page6, page7
    15 Oct - Glenbois
    30 Nov - Seldom Seen Kid page1, page2, page3, page4
  • jodles16
    jodles16 Posts: 1,477 Forumite
    Car Insurance Carver!
    Im tagging along ready as we are planning on going to Vegas next year and I am so excited!!

    Jodles :D
    MFW2020 #115 250/3000 J-250
    1% challenge- /1525
    Save 1k in 2020- /3000

    Joining in UberFrugalMonthChallenge set up by the Frugalwoods!
  • serenawell
    serenawell Posts: 212 Forumite
    First Anniversary Combo Breaker
    I'm going to Vegas in Feb 15. First trip there so will be here a lot :)
  • secretmachines
    secretmachines Posts: 1,455 Forumite
    Name Dropper First Anniversary First Post Photogenic
    jodles16 wrote: »
    Im tagging along ready as we are planning on going to Vegas next year and I am so excited!!

    Jodles :D
    serenawell wrote: »
    I'm going to Vegas in Feb 15. First trip there so will be here a lot :)

    fire away with any questions! I'll be updating the front page over the coming days :)
  • ali-t
    ali-t Posts: 3,815 Forumite
    Its on my to do list so checking in too
    If you always do what you have always done, you will always get what you always got!
  • Annybananny
    Annybananny Posts: 40 Forumite
    We've booked 10days with Virgin flying on 28th March for four of us, me, hubby, 18yo and 14yo.
    We've never been and want to get the most out of it so I have lot of questions.
    We want to go to the Grand Canyon but will probably be a coach trip. Also Death Valley, what's the best way to do that? Hubby also wants to do the Hoover Dam cruise, any tips?
    I also need to know the best way for us to take money. We don't have cc's any more. What's the best way to do that.
    Obviously the girls and I want to go shopping.....recommendations for that and a show maybe? Might be able to convince hubby into that one.
    Finally, anyone point me in the direction of moneysaving offers or links to offers. TIA

    Ann
  • photome
    photome Posts: 16,361 Forumite
    Name Dropper First Anniversary First Post Bake Off Boss!
    edited 3 January 2015 at 3:07PM
    Annybananny wrote: »
    We've booked 10days with Virgin flying on 28th March for four of us, me, hubby, 18yo and 14yo.
    We've never been and want to get the most out of it so I have lot of questions.
    We want to go to the Grand Canyon but will probably be a coach trip. Also Death Valley, what's the best way to do that? Hubby also wants to do the Hoover Dam cruise, any tips?
    I also need to know the best way for us to take money. We don't have cc's any more. What's the best way to do that.
    Obviously the girls and I want to go shopping.....recommendations for that and a show maybe? Might be able to convince hubby into that one.
    Finally, anyone point me in the direction of moneysaving offers or links to offers. TIA

    Ann

    have you looked at page 1 of the this thread, lots of tips on there.

    Best way to take money is on a CC
    Halifax Clarity for cash and PO for purchases is what I do.
    there is a also a good Debit card see
    Travelmoneymaximiser

    Death Valley can be done in a day by car but to get the best experience an overnight is best IMO, the same applies to the GC.

    Hoover Dam is only half hour away by car, not sure about a cruise, do you mean on the lake or the river side.
    We have hired a speed boat on the lake which was fun

    Shopping is I think covered on the first page but there are endless oppurtunities to shop.

    Pretty much the same thing with shows, there are so many, what do you like
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