Las Vegas guide and MSE thread 2013

HOTELS & WHERE TO STAY

"The Strip" is where most visitors tend to stay. The Strip is the name given to Las Vegas Boulevard, the road that runs through the centre of Las Vegas. A few hotel/casinos worth staying at are slightly off The Strip and usually have a free shuttle bus to-and-from The Strip. The other main area is called Downtown (at the North end of The Strip), where the standard of accommodation is lower (and cheaper).

Oyster.com is a great site for lots of hotel pics including room pics and reviews.

If you're a first time visitor you really should try to stay on The Strip if your budget allows - you can then check out the other areas and hotels, to see if you would consider them on a return visit (because you WILL want to return!).

Where is nice, but reasonably priced?

This is a commonly posted question on previous Las Vegas threads, it is a hard question to answer. None of the main trip hotels are likely to make it on to a "Hotels from Hell" show on ITV, but you do get what you pay for. A good starting place is vegas.com.

Anything with a 4-star rating is unlikely to displease the vast majority of people. But a fair few people will probably be happy with something in the 3-star bracket and consider the hotel to be nice.

But it's a very personal choice, some visitors will just need a place to crash between parties, some visitors will want a bit of luxury and pampering.

A word of warning about using Tripadvisor to pick your hotel. There are nearly 300 hotels reviewed on the site, meaning the truly good hotels can end up way down the list of "best hotels". The site also lists hotels that are in the Las Vegas area, but nowhere near The Strip. South Point for example is listed has been listed as the 8th best reviewed hotel, and is on Las Vegas Boulevard but it is about a 15min car ride to the heart of The Strip and is not walkable.

The hotels on The Strip to be most wary about are unsurprisingly the cheapest, for example: Circus Circus, The Stratosphere, The Rivera, Excalibur and Hooters. Post for some advice before on these hotels before booking.

There is no set price for the majority of hotel rooms - it's a myth that rooms are given away for next to nothing. Friday and Saturday night prices are always more expensive than weekday prices (upto 3 times as expensive is not unusual).

Other factors can have a big impact on the price you pay:

Sport:

• Super bowl weekend in January
• Rodeo finals at the start of December
• March Madness basketball
• Boxing (particularly MGM Grand, Mandalay Bay)
  Check the sporting calendar here

Large Conventions:
Events like The Consumer Electronics Show, can have 150,000 attending.
Check the conventions calendar here.

National and Public Holidays:
Las Vegas never closes down, but public holidays/celebrations can increase prices.
Check USA national holidays here.

Finding a good deal on a room usually only requires a small amount of searching. Booking directly through the hotels direct has big advantages:
- you are cutting out the middleman
- all of the hotels operate the same booking policy, that you only need to pay your first night's rate as a deposit, which is 100% refundable if you cancel upto 72 hours before you stay. This is generally the rule with all hotel offers but there are exceptions. Some offers have recently have been NO REFUND offers. Be sure to check all terms and conditions before you book. Offers can become available any time, but generally start appearing 12 weeks before your dates.

There are several websites that list offers and discounts for hotels. Remember these sites simply list the deals which hotels release, so there is no need for a flashy website. Unless stated, these offers usually take you to a direct booking with the hotel.

vegasmessageboard.com
vegastripping.com
vegas-promotions.com
vegashotelhunt.com
vegashotelspecial.com
totalrewards.com/hot-deals
vegas-hotels-online.com
smartervegas.com
earlyvegas.com

Most hotels have Facebook and Twitter profiles, which update regularly and promote flash sales, discount codes, offers, etc. It is also worth signing up to the hotels emailing lists, via their website, to receive offers.

Also try 3rd party sites for good prices:

atlaschoice.com
netflights.com
lowcostusa.co.uk
travelrepublic.co.uk
hotels.com
lastminute.com

Some deals say they require you to be a member of the hotel's "Players Club" to book. Usually if you can book it without a Players Club ID, then they won't generally ask for it at check in.

When you have found and booked a hotel, it's a good idea to keep checking the new offers as they come in on the various threads, as you might find a better deal for the your dates. If the better offer is for the same hotel, you can probably get the hotel to pricematch your existing booking by calling them up (don't forget to use the MSE International call checker). Really good offers may not hang around if there is a lot of interest, so get in early if you see a new one that's a great deal.

Moving hotels is also a good idea if you find great deals for different blocks of nights, and is not as much hassle as you might think. This is also a nice thing to do, to experience a couple of different hotels in one trip. A popular combination is to spend a few nights in one of the 'cheaper' hotels, then finish your stay with a couple of nights at a high-end hotel, or in a suite. This is also a nice way to experience both ends of The Strip.

Some people ask if it is better to find a hotel when you arrive, this is most definitely NOT a good idea. US Immigration requires you to have your 1st night's stay booked, to enter the USA under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP). Simply showing up at a casino without a booking will almost certainly mean you being charged "Rack Rate" for a room, which is pretty much the most you can end up paying.

RESORT FEES

Most hotels charge a 'resort fee' (upto $25+tax), a mandatory amount per room per night that covers the cost of things like Wi-fi or Gym access. A full list of resort fees can be found here. Here's an interesting write-up on resort fees from VegasChatter.com.

Caesars Entertainment properties used to have a "no resort fee" policy, but for reservations made from 1 March 2013 onwards, a resort fee will be charged (ranging from $10-25, depending on the hotel). This is now also true for South Point.

Hotels which do NOT currently charge a resort fee, are now mainly "off-Strip" properties: The California, El Cortez, Elara, Golden Gate, Golden Nugget, LVH, M Resort, Main Street Station, The D, The Platinum.

CHECK IN

You can check in to some hotels from McCarran airport. When you check in at the hotel, the clerk will will assign you a room. Some rooms of the same class are more desirable than others: Strip views are always more sought after, as are corner rooms or rooms overlooking a hotel attraction (e.g. the Bellagio fountains for example). Also try to get a room that is not situated directly next to an elevator. You should try to do as much research on the rooms within your hotel as possible to find out what to ask for. Some websites, such as TripAdvisor, have a "travellers' tips" section within the hotel review page ("See which rooms travellers prefer"), which can give some very good information. Of course, please do ask for advice on this forum.

$20 TRICK

Cash is King is Las Vegas. The following sites give advice on how to try and obtain a upgrade or a better positioned room by tipping the check-in clerk using The $20 Trick. This works more often than not, but you may find it harder to get a upgrade by doing this if you have a long stay, or if the hotel is fully booked. Also don't expect to get upgraded to a Penthouse suite from a standard room booking, you will probably only get one or two steps up the luxury ladder. For longer stays, or better upgrades, some people have reported that tipping $50 instead of $20, can work.

frontdesktip.com
thetwentydollartrick.com
fatwallet.com

Regardless if you tip of not, if you're not happy with the room (noisy, smoky, etc.), contact the front desk and get one you are happy with. Vegas is a holiday resort, and the customer service is usually exceptionally good. As with most "complaining", if you remain calm and polite, you should be treated equally respectfully.

FACILITIES

Las Vegas hotels usually have all you could ever need... apart from an in-room kettle, coffee and teabags! Although usually found in even basic UK hotel chains, they seem to be scarce in Vegas hotel rooms! So taking a travel kettle, or buying one when you're there is an option, along with taking a supply of your favourite teabags, etc.

HOTEL MAPS & FLOORPLANS

Here's a useful link to maps/floorplans of most hotels and casinos.

ATTRACTIONS

You will find something unique in most of The Strip hotels to try and lure you in, some are free. Keep your eye out for Groupon deals around the Las Vegas area.

TOP FREE ATTRACTIONS

The Bellagio Fountains are easily the best free attraction on The Strip, performing to a variety of music, it's a different show each time. It is still one of those shows that can make you stop and watch, even if you have seen them a lot of times. A good place to see them is from the top of Eiffel Tower - The Ride.

Monday - Friday:
3:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. show every 30 minutes
7:00 p.m. - 12:00 a.m. show every 15 minutes
Saturdays, Sundays* and Holidays
12:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. show every 30 minutes (from 11am Sundays)
7:00 p.m. - 12:00 a.m. show every 15 minutes

The Sirens of TI is a pretty cheesy attraction. It was updated when Treasure Island became the swisher (and a lot less family friendly) "TI". To get a good spot, get to the viewing area a good 30 mins (45 mins on busy weekends) before the show starts.
In Summer the show times are 7pm, 8:30pm, 10pm and 11:30pm. In Winter 5:30pm, 7pm, 8:30pm and 10pm

The Mirage Volcano begins at 5:00 p.m. and runs every hour on the hour until 11:00 p.m. (nightly)
It will be closed for preventative maintenance starting January 2, 2013 and reopening February 15, 2013.

The Show In The Sky at The Rio is performed hourly from 6 pm until 11pm every Thursday through Saturday. The Rio is a little ways off The Strip so has to offer something a bit special to lure visitors over. It's a unique high energy performance every time, with three different shows featuring stunning dancers in eye-popping costume fashions from the likes of DKNY and Victoria's Secret.
[closing 31 March 2013]

The Fremont Street Experience is Downtown's attempt to compete with The Strip. It is a huge roof canopy that covers all of Fremont Street and at night transforms into a spectacular light and sound show. It was a joint venture by all the casino's it covers and they all turn off their own lights when it is on. Light and sound shows begin every night at dusk, and continue at the top of every hour until midnight.

Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas sign... you really need a car to get there, or get a bus closer to the sign, or a taxi. Here's a live webcam of the Las Vegas sign!

Other free attractions, recommended by MSE regulars:

On Strip: Wildlife habitat at Flamingo • Bellagio: World's largest chocolate fountain • Bellagio lobby: Chihuly glass flower ceiling • Bellagio: Conservatory and Botanical Gardens • Circus Circus: Circus acts

Off Strip: Ethel M's Chocolate Factory & Cactus Garden • Silverton: Mermaid show & aquarium • Silverton: Bass Pro shop

TOP PAY ATTRACTIONS

Shark Reef @ Mandalay Bay is a huge aquarium filled with a large variety of sea life (and more than a few sharks). You get audio wands that will fill you in on each tank. It is priced at $18 adults / $12 children and is open 10am-8pm (10pm Fri/Sat)

The Stratosphere is a hotel/casino, but counts as an attraction in its own right (especially if you want a stunning high up view of Las Vegas and the surrounding area). It has four thrill rides on the top of it, stands at 1149 feet it is comfortably the tallest building in Nevada. The Observation deck costs $16 to enter, the rides $22 a piece (although there are a variety of good discounts for buying all at once).

Other rollercoasters on The Strip are The Roller Coaster @ New York New York and the Canyon Blaster @ Circus Circus. Circus Circus also has free circus performers inside the casino but they don't really warrant a specific visit, but are diverting enough if you happen to be around. You can often find upto half price discounts on the above coasters in the many of the free magazines.

Siegfried & Roy's Secret Garden & Dolphin Habitat @ The Mirage is a favourite attraction. Here you find the world's largest collection of white lions and tigers, as well as a dolphins. Seigfried & Roy were The Mirage's headliners until Roy was severely injured onstage by one of the white tigers. The big cats you can see here are theirs and are magnificent creatures to see up close. The dolphins perform tricks and interact with the keepers. You can also view the dolphins from underwater observation room. Open 10am - 5pm (11am opening on weekdays), $19.95 adults / $14.95 children, with experience packages also available.

The Eiffel Tower - The Ride provides great views of The Strip. The not-to-scale replica sits half-in-and-out of the Paris casino. It too has a restaurant inside it. Open daily, 9:30 a.m. - 12:30 a.m., weather permitting. $10.50 for adults, $7.50 for seniors and children. From 7:30 p.m. - close: Admission is $15.50 for adults, $10.50 for seniors and children.

Scoot City Red Rock guided tours are a favourite amongst MSE members. You get to ride 2-seater scooter cars through the suburbs of Las Vegas, out to Red Rock Canyon and around the park. Although quite expensive ($125 per person), Groupon often has 2-for-1 deals, which makes it great value. Tours last for a morning or afternoon. Scoot City has also recently started a Strip tour in the scooter cars.

This is obviously only a tiny selection of what is available in Las Vegas, just a few of the MSE favourites.

THE GRAND CANYON

Last but by no means least you can see one of the greatest sights on the planet while in Las Vegas. There are many different ways to get to the Grand Canyon, as well as being different parts of the Grand Canyon that can be visited. These include car (self-drive), bus trip, helicopter, plane.

The main locations of the Grand Canyon that are visited from Vegas are:

The West Rim (Link to Directions / Approx. Driving Time)
The South Rim (Link to Directions / Approx. Driving Time)

Although the West Rim is a much shorter distance, it is often cited as not being the 'real' Canyon due to it being nowhere near as 'impressive' as the South Rim… (although to some, “a hole in the ground” is “a hole in the ground”!)

WEST RIM:
The West Rim is 'private' and therefore it is very much like a 'theme park' with rules such as “you aren't allowed to bring your own food and drink”. This can bring the price of visiting the West Rim up a bit. They do have the SkyWalk however which recently opened and you have probably seen on the news. HOWEVER, it is reported you can not take shoes, bags or cameras onto the SkyWalk, and there is a further charge to actually go on it. Again, like a theme park, it seems you pay to get in, pay to eat and drink their foods and also pay to go on some of the good stuff! They will also take your photo on the Skywalk and let you buy it…

More information on the West Rim can be found here.

If you are short on time, the West Rim is the easier and quicker (although not necessarily cheaper) option.

One thing to note is that if you plan to drive to the West Rim, due to it being a private road for part of the journey (21 miles, 14 of which are unpaved), some car insurance policies for hire cars may not cover you for this part of the journey and in turn your insurance will be deemed void - so it is worth asking the question when booking/collecting your car.

SOUTH RIM:
Parts of the South Rim are up to 10miles wide and is on average 1mile deep. The journey from Vegas to the South Rim is a lot further than to the West Rim but if feels you are entering a different world. Over 6000 feet high, the weather is not like the same weather you will experience whilst you are in Las Vegas and from October to March, snow is not uncommon and at its worst can sometimes make access to the park very awkward / impossible, whilst in Summer, it can get hotter than Vegas. The Grand Canyon South Rim is a national state park, meaning it will cost you $25 to drive in.

More information on the South Rim can be found here.

Accommodation
Both rims have accommodation, for example Bright Angel Lodge at the South Rim. Note the website sometimes lists there is no availability if they are running low on rooms, so you must phone (except it doesn't tell you this so just ring and check your dates if that's easier). www.xanterra.com

Helicopter
By far the most popular method is a helicopter trip. There are several operators out of McCarran airport.

heliusa.com
papillon.com
maverickhelicopter.com

It is not a cheap trip by any means (budget on least £200 per person for a standard flight).

Helicopter flights that land in the Grand Canyon will only take you to the West Rim (because of the distance) – but this is not a bad thing as it is still an experience in itself (and unlike driving, there will be no extra charges). You can sometimes find discounts and coupons for the above operators in the free magazines you can pick up around The Strip. All of the above will pick you up from/return you to your hotel. You will also probably get to see the Hoover Dam if you choose a helicopter tour.

You may also find trips costing less by choosing to fly from airports closer to the Canyon. Some of the Vegas trips will actually depart from Boulder City (usually offering a free shuttle bus to get there first).

Driving
The links to 'more information' on each rim (above) detail instructions on 'how to get there'. If you are going to drive in America, then both the South or West rims are probably some of the simplest journeys you can make. Long straight roads, with not much traffic apart from driving through Vegas city itself.

GAMBLING & PLAYERS CLUBS

GAMBLING

Think of Vegas, and you think of the casinos - poker, blackjack, high rollers, slot machines. It really is like the scenes in Oceans' 11/12/13!

But you don't need to be rich & wealthy to have a good time and a gamble. Even if you're not a gambler in the UK, having a little flutter is all part of the fun and only needs to cost you cents at a time.

There are 2 main types of gambling:
- playing at tables (blackjack, pokers, roulette, etc.)
- playing machines

Tables will carry a minimum bet, this is usually $10, though you may find some tables with a $5 minimum. Don't worry if you're not sure what you're doing, the dealer and fellow players will usually be happy to help. Some casinos even offer free lessons, so check that out.

Machines (or slots) are just you and the machine. There are themed machines (Dark Knight, Ghostbusters, Sex In The City, etc.) which are good fun and have entertaining bonus features. Again, don't worry about not really understanding the machines, it's all pretty self-explanatory once you start playing. There are also the classic fruit machines/one armed bandits, but very few will accept coins these days, it's all bills or vouchers.

Having a spin on these machines can cost you as little as 1 cent, but obviously the more you bet, the more you will win! Usually $1/spin is a good amount to bet, but it's whatever you are comfortable with.

Slots will accept dollar bills or paper vouchers. You get paper vouchers when you 'cash out' or end your session on a machine. Let's say you put a $20 and play for 10 minutes, and your balance is now $23.42. You just hit the 'cash out' button and the machine prints a voucher for $23.42, which you can then insert into another machine, or exchange for real money! You can do this at 'bill-breaking' machines which are dotted about the casino floor. Beware though, you cannot take your voucher from one casino to another - unless they are part of the same chain (eg. Paris and Caesars)

PLAYERS CLUBS

Think of joining a players club like signing up for a Nectar card or loyalty card scheme. The more you play, the more you can 'earn'. You will be given a plastic card (like a credit card/driving licence) which you insert into the slot machine each time you play, or present to the dealer.

You can sign up for these clubs at the casino, you just need to have some photo ID - your passport is the best form of ID, there have been MSE member reports that some casinos will not accept a UK driving licence. Some also allow you to sign up online (in advance) but you don't always qualify for some of the 'freebies' on offer. Also, where there are multiple casinos in one club (e.g. Total Rewards), you can only sign up once so you should check which one offers the best deal for you.

People ask, is it worth signing up? Well, it's free for a start. It only takes about 2 mins and once you have joined you'll usually get some sort of freebie (free slot play, vouchers, etc.) - check the Advantage Player website for the latest sign-up bonuses. As long as you put your card in the slot machines as you play them/present you card to the dealer, you will start to build up points which may help you qualify for reduced rate or even 'comped' rooms in the future. It's impossible to say how much you would need to spend but some people on here have received 'comped' rooms for relatively small amounts of slot play.

There isn't one card for all casinos (as much as there isn't one loyalty card for all supermarkets), each card (listed below) is only valid its parent casinos. So you might end up signing up for a number of them, or decide to just go with one and gamble at particular casinos to maximise your 'earnings'.

List of main Players Clubs on or within walking distance to The Strip:

• Total Rewards - Bally's, Paris, Harrahs, Flamingo, Caesars Palace, Planet Hollywood, Rio All Suites and The Quad (formerly Imperial Palace)
• MLife Players Club - (MGM RESORTS) Aria, Bellagio, MGM Grand, Mandalay Bay, The Mirage, Luxor, Excalibur, New York New York, Monte Carlo
• Red Card - Wynn, Encore
• Club Grazie - Venetian, Palazzo
• Identity - Cosmopolitan (offering $100 free play* through 31 March 2013)

List of Players Clubs off-strip (vehicle required):

• Station Casinos Boarding Pass - Palace Station, Boulder Station, Texas Station, Sunset Station, Santa Fe Station, Green Valley Ranch, Red Rock Casino
• Wild Card - Barley’s, Gold Rush, Magic Star, The Greens, Wild Wild West and Wildfire
• B Connected - The Orleans, Gold Coast, Sun Coast or Sam's Town, Main Street Station, California Hotel, & Fremont

The Wizard of Vegas website offers a great overview of what is on offer at each casino, in terms of minimum stakes, games, sportsbooks, etc. a well as reviews.

American Casino Guide also updates regularly with sign-up offers to Players Clubs, but also details any current promotions and offers.

If you really can't wait and want to check out rules, tips and play a few practice hands before you go, The Wizard of Odds website is great for this!

SHOPPING

MALL SHOPPING

Like dining and gambling there is plenty of choice for retail therapy on every budget, from cheap and tacky snow globes at Bonanza (the world's biggest souvenir/gift store) to boutique shopping and Ferrari/Maserati dealership at the Wynn.

The Strip has several big shopping malls. The biggest are:
The Forum @ Caesars Palace
Miracle Mile @ Planet Hollywood
Grand Canal Shoppes @ Venetian
Fashion Show mall (opposite Wynn)
City Center (by Aria)

You will also find smaller shopping malls and shops in most of the hotels/casinos.

For bargain hunters and money savers there are several outlet malls close to The Strip, where you can find large discounts on high street names:

Las Vegas Premium Outlet North
Las Vegas Premium Outlet South
Fashion Outlets Las Vegas
(which despite its address is a good 30-40mins drive south of The Strip in Primm). But while you're there, you can ride one of the world's longest roller coasters.

For $15, you can catch a bus to the Fashion Outlets Las Vegas from five different Strip locations. For this price, you will also recevie a complimentary Green Savings Card with more than $800 in savings at participating stores, plus a voucher for a free coupon book for Miracle Mile Shops, and FashionShow.

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

FOOD/DRINK SHOPPING

If you have a fridge in your room, it can be worth stocking up on some drinks and snacks, which you can enjoy back at the hotel, or take out with you. There are a couple of Walgreens and CVS pharmacies dotted up and down The Strip. Whilst not the cheapest places to buy snacks, they're certainly cheaper than some of the 'convenience' stores in the hotels/casinos. If you have a car, then venturing a few minutes off-Strip, prices for drinks/snacks will come down even further.

GETTING MARRIED

Las Vegas is the wedding capital of the world, hosting over 120,000 weddings each year. You won't be surprised to learn that you can have your pick of type of wedding, big or small, cheap or lavish, formal or novelty the choice is yours. There ain't nothing to tying the knot in Vegas, all you need is a wedding certificate from Clark County wedding office and be eligible. You can than hop down to any local chapel and be married there and then. Of course you can find many companies in Vegas who help you organize everything, no matter what size wedding you want.

wizardofvegas.com is a good forum with lots of info about Hotels, shows, casinos, etc.