Las Vegas thread and MSE guide 2009

dawnylou · 9 March 2009 at 8:25AM

The Bellagio Fountains

Has anyone booked a Grand Canyon tour through this guy?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=180330394718#description

Is it really a good deal?

jackieblack · 9 March 2009 at 9:18AM

The Bellagio Fountains

nvh wrote: »

:rotfl: nice one stoneman! fair enough

nuts - i'm not much help here... but i'm pretty certain it was approx. $15 OR $7 last time we went... ( 8 mths ago?)

bit of a difference i know, but reason i can't remember exactly is we had a BOGOF coupon given to us because we were staying @ NYNY

one thing i do remember is thinking it was rather expensive if we had to pay full price! it ain't the longest ride in the world!... --- so $15 each?

[edit]I was right with my first price (well closer anyways!!) - $14 according to this: http://offthestripdining.blogspot.com/2008/08/nyny-manhattan-express.html

[edit2] more here with people moaning about the cost! : http://las-vegas-hotels.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g45963-d107655-r23171854-Manhattan_Express-Las_Vegas_Nevada.html -- definitely get a coupon for it else you'll feel ripped off! (though its one of those things you feel you have to do!)

[edit3] this is coming from the same guy who seems insistant to visit 'the Minus 5 bar' at Mandalay Bay (and get fleeced for the privilege )
http://www.minus5experience.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=45&Itemid=42&location=lasvegas

(costs approx $30 EACH for half an hour (max) - but you do get warm clothes and a free drink!) pay them some more and they'll take a picture of you! (no cameras allowed!)

Thanks, I asked for my daughter really, she loves rollercoasters but our last couple of holidays have been to Orlando where she could ride the rollercoasters over and over without having to pay - she will want to ride any rollercoaster she can find and I'm wanting her to realise what they will cost.

ferf1223 · 9 March 2009 at 9:43AM

The Bellagio Fountains

dawnylou wrote: »

Has anyone booked a Grand Canyon tour through this guy?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=180330394718#description

Is it really a good deal?

I haven't, but what confuses me is it says the auction is for a 2-for-1 voucher...it goes on to say that the tour will cost $105 per person...you can get a similar bus tour to the West Rim for about $105 per person anyway...so is it $105 for 2 people (2-for-1) or is it actually $105 per person after the discount?

OK, wait - now I see that he's added at the bottom:

REGULAR PRICE FOR THIS TOUR IS $189.99 PLUS TAX, FEES AND FUEL SUR-CHARGES. MANY PEOPLE PAY THIS RATE AT THEIR HOTEL. THIS COUPON BRINGS THIS COST DOWN TO $105.00 PER PERSON.

I don't know - but I think $189.99 is quite a lot for a West Rim bus tour...maybe have a look around at options for booking direct - I've found a few that are $104/$105 themselves without any coupon.

I'm sure it will be mentioned that the West Rim isn't the Grand Canyon proper...for that you would need to go to the South Rim.

stoneman · 9 March 2009 at 10:31AM

The Bellagio Fountains

Cage wrote: »

If you lost $900 on 3 days gambling you'd stop, yet you pay thousands on materials for a high maintenance woman in your life ? Yeah, and I'm a wealthy billionaire, this is not advice the guy was looking for, your post was merely a bragging exercise.

I agree with you. As I wrote it and then posted I read it back to myself and thought the same thing. Apologies for going overboard and you are right to kick my butt for it.:o
Going back to the OP, tell us what you had in mind, as I said, Tracy spends loads on clothes but only spends $20 a night on penny video poker, gets free drinks for 2 hours, and comes out with the $20. If you are doing Vegas on a budget then it can easily be done cheap, we spend at most $50 a day without the gambling, but we don't do any shows and only one fancy meal a trip, the gambling money is our entertainment.
We really went for it one trip and used all the coupons we could and spent about $70 all week on food.

ferf1223 · 9 March 2009 at 11:01AM

The Bellagio Fountains

stoneman wrote: »

I agree with you. As I wrote it and then posted I read it back to myself and thought the same thing. Apologies for going overboard and you are right to kick my butt for it.:o
.

I don't know - I think it was actually an interesting counterpoint...to show that even if you're not on a fairly strict budget overall you're still able to spend a relatively minimal amount on meals you (presumably) enjoy...sometimes I think that the impression can be that relatively inexpensive food = not very good food but some people go for it anyway because it's all their budget allows...but most of us know that quite good meals can be had quite cheaply in Vegas because the casinos want to get you in the door (to eat) and (in theory) to stay and gamble.

ferf1223 · 9 March 2009 at 11:05AM

The Bellagio Fountains

all this food talk has reminded me - I think someone here regularly goes to Ellis Island for breakfast? We've only ever been for the bbq and the steak special but since we stay at Bally's might check it out for breakfast...if this menu is correct, it's crazy cheap!

http://www.ellisislandcasino.com/EIMENU1101.htm

MORPH3US · 9 March 2009 at 11:42AM

Thanks for all the responses guys...

Our trip plan is as follows:

We spend 4 nights in Vegas and then leave on the Friday morning to stay in Death Valley one night Amargosa (sp?) Opera House and then down to LA where we will stay 4 nights. Then back to Vegas for 5 nights....

We will do a day trip from Vegas to the GC and possibly to Zion too.

Some days in Vegas we will chill out round the pool (not bothered about cabannas if thats what they are called? just a sun bed will do) not really sure what else there is to do in Vegas during the day.....

At night we will wander around and take in a few freebies like Belaggio fountains and just enjoy the quirkiness and atmosphere of the casinos. Will spend a bit on roulette or blackjack and make the most of the free drinks to save cash - have learnt blackjack optimum strategy to minimise losses....

I mentioned to the GF about just having a big breakfast and dinner and no lunch and she doesn't seem to impressed... we'll see when we're out there though.

In LA we will just wander, chill on the beach, window shop, maybe a day at Universal if we can afford it.

ferf1223 · 9 March 2009 at 12:08PM

The Bellagio Fountains

MORPH3US wrote: »

Some days in Vegas we will chill out round the pool (not bothered about cabannas if thats what they are called? just a sun bed will do) not really sure what else there is to do in Vegas during the day......

:eek:

I know lots of people are quite happy to spend their days by the pool and really enjoy it...but there are tons and tons of things to do in Vegas during the day...maybe do some more research online...possibly even consider a guidebook like The Unofficial Guide to Las Vegas (you can usually get last year's edition cheap on ebay)...especially if you have a car - there are loads of things to see and do...just depends on what you enjoy.

As for gambling, remember that you may have trouble finding low-limit tables at most of the strip casinos and some of those you will find will pay 6/5 for blackjack - so be sure to choose carefully...as for roulette, most tables will require at least a $5 stake inside (on the numbers) or outside (on the number groups/rows/colour) per spin...some people on tight gambling budgets play the low-denomination slots at very low stake to take advantage of the free drinks...the waitresses don't seem to care so long as you tip $1 or so each time (more if you want them to come back often).

weiser · 9 March 2009 at 12:27PM

have always noticed good reports for the food at the ellis island casino is it walkable from the strip short cuts or maybe a cab any ideas thanks

ferf1223 · 9 March 2009 at 12:41PM

The Bellagio Fountains

weiser wrote: »

have always noticed good reports for the food at the ellis island casino is it walkable from the strip short cuts or maybe a cab any ideas thanks

It's right behind Bally's...you can either walk from the strip onto Flamingo to the stop light at the next corner (Koval) and you'll see EI across the street...or you can go into Bally's, down to the lower level and exit onto Flamingo near the sports book (better option if it's really hot we think). It looks a bit rundown along the walk but we've never had any problems. The BBQ is fantastic we have it ever trip now (2-for-1 voucher in the various coupon books and a players club card make it ridiculous value)...we thought the steak special was OK for $6.95 but wouldn't rush back for it...many think it's the best meal deal in Vegas.

Las Vegas thread and MSE guide 2009

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