Las Vegas guide and MSE thread 2012

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  • tarkytarks
    tarkytarks Posts: 289 Forumite
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    Hi we're in vegas at the mo so I thought I'd reply to the chap on the end of the 2011 thread asking about going to the GC as we went to the south rim on Thursday/Friday. It was a 5 hour drive but we stopped a couple of times - yes it's quite a boring drive but the satalite radio and lots of podcasts kept us entertained en route. We left vegas about 10am and got there by 4pm (this included an hour stopped for some lunch and a couple of other times). We stayed at the holiday inn express in the Grand Canyon Village south (Tuyason) which was about 10/15 min drive to the rim of the park. We went into the national park once we got there - about 30 mins before sunset so had time for daylight photos as well as ones of the sun setting. We ate at Sophies Mexican Kitchen in the village on the way back out to the hotel afterwards. I was still pretty tired from the flight on Wednesday so we passed out asleep by 9pm on Thursday! Then we were up and back in first thing the next morning for another drive around / explore before we headed back to Vegas. The drive going back felt much more boring than going there - at least it was all new scenery etc on the way :)

    It's worth doing in my opinion - unless you are regular holidayers in this part of the US then when else are you likely to get the opportunity to see the Grand Canyon? :)
  • carlw
    carlw Posts: 201 Forumite
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    tarkytarks wrote: »
    Hi we're in vegas at the mo so I thought I'd reply to the chap on the end of the 2011 thread asking about going to the GC as we went to the south rim on Thursday/Friday. It was a 5 hour drive but we stopped a couple of times - yes it's quite a boring drive but the satalite radio and lots of podcasts kept us entertained en route. We left vegas about 10am and got there by 4pm (this included an hour stopped for some lunch and a couple of other times). We stayed at the holiday inn express in the Grand Canyon Village south (Tuyason) which was about 10/15 min drive to the rim of the park. We went into the national park once we got there - about 30 mins before sunset so had time for daylight photos as well as ones of the sun setting. We ate at Sophies Mexican Kitchen in the village on the way back out to the hotel afterwards. I was still pretty tired from the flight on Wednesday so we passed out asleep by 9pm on Thursday! Then we were up and back in first thing the next morning for another drive around / explore before we headed back to Vegas. The drive going back felt much more boring than going there - at least it was all new scenery etc on the way :)

    It's worth doing in my opinion - unless you are regular holidayers in this part of the US then when else are you likely to get the opportunity to see the Grand Canyon? :)

    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
  • pattyb_2
    pattyb_2 Posts: 24 Forumite
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    photome thankyou for taking on the 2012 thread, i love hearing all the news and great information on this site, will be going back to vegas in 2 weeks and check in everyday for ideas and other peoples experiences. Have a great new year and thanks again
  • carlw
    carlw Posts: 201 Forumite
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    tarkytarks wrote: »
    Hi we're in vegas at the mo so I thought I'd reply to the chap on the end of the 2011 thread asking about going to the GC as we went to the south rim on Thursday/Friday. It was a 5 hour drive but we stopped a couple of times - yes it's quite a boring drive but the satalite radio and lots of podcasts kept us entertained en route. We left vegas about 10am and got there by 4pm (this included an hour stopped for some lunch and a couple of other times). We stayed at the holiday inn express in the Grand Canyon Village south (Tuyason) which was about 10/15 min drive to the rim of the park. We went into the national park once we got there - about 30 mins before sunset so had time for daylight photos as well as ones of the sun setting. We ate at Sophies Mexican Kitchen in the village on the way back out to the hotel afterwards. I was still pretty tired from the flight on Wednesday so we passed out asleep by 9pm on Thursday! Then we were up and back in first thing the next morning for another drive around / explore before we headed back to Vegas. The drive going back felt much more boring than going there - at least it was all new scenery etc on the way :)

    It's worth doing in my opinion - unless you are regular holidayers in this part of the US then when else are you likely to get the opportunity to see the Grand Canyon? :)

    Also what is the rough cost of fuel? Online it seems to suggest its charged per gallon (4.5 litres) about $3.40. Thats about £0.50 a litre isnt it? Can that be right?

    Thanks

    Carl
  • hcb42
    hcb42 Posts: 5,962 Forumite
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    $3.40 a gallon seems reasonable, just back in the last 24 hours, and visited the GC.

    We were filling the car up for well under $40...compared to £75 for our car in UK...
  • ferf1223
    ferf1223 Posts: 8,935 Forumite
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    http://www.vegasgasprices.com/

    If you really want to shop around. :)

    One thing to remember that always annoys me - you cannot pay at the pump with a UK credit card most places in Vegas as you have to enter the billing zip code at the pump for security purposes...so you have to pre-pay inside, so you have to guess how much you want...if you spend less than you paid you can go in and get the balance back, but it's a faff. I think I looked before an most of the intermediate cars we rent have about 17 - 18 gallon tanks.

    Also, when we have checked (most recently a few days ago) we found that renting with CH3000 and chosing the option that includes a tank of fuel (so you can return the car empty) and additional drivers seems to work out to be a good deal - additional cost on the rental was working out less than an 18-gallon tank of fuel once converted down.
    Does remembering a time that a certain degree of personal responsibility was more or less standard means that I am officially old?
  • Spursman180
    Spursman180 Posts: 433 Forumite
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    carlw wrote: »
    Also what is the rough cost of fuel? Online it seems to suggest its charged per gallon (4.5 litres) about $3.40. Thats about £0.50 a litre isnt it? Can that be right?

    Thanks

    Carl

    Don't forget a US gallon is only 80% of an imperial gallon.
  • Stageshoot
    Stageshoot Posts: 592 Forumite
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    ferf1223 wrote: »
    http://www.vegasgasprices.com/

    If you really want to shop around. :)

    One thing to remember that always annoys me - you cannot pay at the pump with a UK credit card most places in Vegas as you have to enter the billing zip code at the pump for security purposes.

    00000 as a ZIP Works fine at Pay At The Pump for UK Credit Cards in the US
    Over 100k miles of Electric Motoring and rising,
  • carlw
    carlw Posts: 201 Forumite
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    Spursman180 wrote: »
    Don't forget a US gallon is only 80% of an imperial gallon.

    thanks i didnt know that, so its about £0.58 thats still really cheap.

    Thanks

    Carl
  • ferf1223
    ferf1223 Posts: 8,935 Forumite
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    VickyHurn wrote: »
    00000 as a ZIP Works fine at Pay At The Pump for UK Credit Cards in the US

    really?! that's awesome - will try that next time.
    Does remembering a time that a certain degree of personal responsibility was more or less standard means that I am officially old?
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