cab fare from nyny hotel to orleans, any clue on how much?
nyny to orleanswe are going to stay at nyny in july, i don%26#39;t know what the cab fare is but the 201 bus runs down tropicana ave from nyny to orleans
nyny to orleansWe took a cab to the Orleans about 1 year ago from the MGM (NY NY is a little closer) it cost $10 with tip.
If memory serves correct, around $10.
used the cab a few times last week from ny ny to orleans and is still $10 including tip
$10 is about it.
Stace
We are off to Vegas in NOvember for 16 days and wish to rent a car for one week. Is it cheaper to pre book in the UK beforehand, or wait until we arrive and rent one from the airport? Thanks! Ada Gosport Hampshire UK
Definitely prebook. Alot of discount offers require an advance reservation. Also, you can%26#39;t assume that you can walk up and still have a full selection to choose from. If the company has full size vehicles left, the person who prebooked a compact will get a free upgrade while you will be paying the full boat for the same car with no other options.
From previous posts on this forum most recommend advance reservations, especially for non US citizens.
Ada
you definately need to pre book a car when in the states. if you do not you will get hit for all sorts of insurances. when booking from here (uk) you can get an all in package. try dollar.co.uk.
I booked with dollar but through airlinenetwork.co.uk. better off with the platinum package only cost 拢6 extra but you get a free tank of fuel. ( bargain)
happy hunting and cruising
Paul
One should always pre-book a car if you want one in Vegas. You don%26#39;t want to have to pay the walk up rates for a car that you may not even like. The less expensive cars are usually not available with a reservation and I have had some luck with that since they will upgrade me a class or so. That won%26#39;t happen if you just go there without a reservation. For people who live in the US- you have to keep checking the rates even after you reserved a car- if the rates drop- you can get the cheaper rate. I have done that as many as three times with one reservation.
From everything I have read on this forum- you should reserve a car through a UK agency because of the insurance issue- among other things.
thanks everyone for the info on car hire, I will certainly pre book after your comments! Ada (UK)
Staying at PH 1st week of July. Any tips on getting around by cab,bus,ect? Whats the best things to do,places to eat?All tips would be greatly appreciated.
Here%26#39;s some websites to check out:
http://www.vegas.com/attractions/
vegas.com/attractions/freeattractions.html
http://www.vegas.com/shows/
Walking around and checking out the different casinos is fun and time consuming. If it%26#39;s too hot, as July can be, maybe take a cab.
Duece bus goes up and down the strip and is cheap. But it%26#39;s also usually very slow. Take it only if you have plenty of time to kill
Wear VERY comfortable shoes. Distances from one Mega casino to another is farther than it looks. Drink plenty of water while walking.
If you walk to Paris, there%26#39;s an inside hallway to Ballys. Stay cool.
Plenty of places to eat all over Vegas.
We are a traditional couple in the 50%26#39;s planning to visit Las Vegas in late August. Probably for 5-6 days. We don%26#39;t gamble much but like to shop, history, landscaping. Any recommendations? Any close attractions to visit? Shows?
Thanks
I would recommend that you just start reading all the posts on this forum and take notes on anything that sounds interesting to you. It is SUPER hot in August. I love the heat and that%26#39;s when we choose to go every year, but 115 degree can be overwhelming!
Don%26#39;t miss the fountains of Bellagio at night anf the conservatory there. It is gorgeous.
We are reading. Heat is a concern. Will check any good show. Hotels recommendations? Thanks
Stay at the Mirage if you like to be near the pool. I have stayed at this hotel over four times and I keep coming back because of the pool.
What%26#39;s your budget for a hotel? What sort of amenities do you like? Hotels are less expensive on Sun through Thurs nights. Friday-Sat rates can sometimes be 3-4 x more than the others, so keep that in mind.
Shows, Cirque de Soleil shows are the most popular in Vegas and also, depending on dates, Cher or Bette Midler might be playing at Caesar%26#39;s Palace. There%26#39;s Phantom of the Opera and also Mama Mia, plus shows like Jubilee (old time Las Vegas show girl type review).
Sight seeing off the strip you have Hoover Dam, Grand Canyon, Valley of Fire.
You might not like how crowded the Mirage pool is. Not knowing your budget, it%26#39;s hard to recommend a hotel.
However, alot of people like the Signature at MGM. You should read up on that hotel and see if it fits your needs.
Our favorite is Bellagio. It has everything we love - the pool, the most comfortable beds; larger than normal rooms; dining choices, shopping, casino, and within walking distance of almost everything. Plus, the customer service is excellent. Their housekeeping service runs hot and cold, but one phone call to their boss usually fixes that.
The Fashion Show Mall; the Forum Shops @ Caesars, and Miracle Mile Shops @ Planet Hollywood are 3 nice places to shop.
You have to pick a show that appeals to you. Our favorites are: LOVE, KA, Spamalot; Jersey Boys; Cher; and Mama Mia. Le Reve was good, too.
There are many ';free'; attractions on the strip. The best one is the fountain show at Bellagio - especially at night. Inside of the Bellagio there is the Chiluly glass ceiling in the lobby, and the conservatory and botanical gardens display off the lobby. Also there is a huge chocolate fountain in the Spa Tower.
The Tribute to Heroes memorial at New York is touching. The lion habitat at MGM is cute. Inside the Venetian has many things to see: gondoliers; living statues; street performers.
Favorite place to eat is Mon Ami Gabi @ Paris. 2nd favorite is Olives @ Bellagio.
So you have many many options to choose from. Check out: www.vegas4visitors.com/attractions/index.htm
and
www.goingtovegas.com
Thanks everyone. Great details.
I would recommend seeing a Cirque show. I have seen Ka, O, Love and Mystere(twice). Mystere remains my favorite because I think it has the most WOW moments. Love is fantastic- but it isn%26#39;t a typical Cirque show since the emphasis is on the music. O was fine but I didn%26#39;t think it was as good as Mystere. I didn%26#39;t like Ka at all. Jersey Boys and Mamma Mia are also entertaining.
Here is a list of the shopping malls:
lasvegasadvisor.com/…
Fashion Show Mall is right on the strip. Forum Shops -both a mall and an attraction. I think Las Vegas Premium Outlets is the best outlet mall.
If you have a car- I consider Valley of Fire a must see. The scenery is out of this world. It will be very hot in August but you can just drive from formation to formation. I have done some of the shorter hikes during the summer. It is doable as long as you bring plenty of water and wear closed shoes. You can combine it with Hoover Dam and Lake Mead.
http://parks.nv.gov/vf.htm
Here is a list of attraction- both on and off strip. Must see- the Bellagio fountains (at night) and conservatory; the ceiling and canals of the Venetian and the Eiffel tower (at night). Just popping in and out of the various casinos will take a good chunk of your time. Be sure to bring the most comfortable pair of shoes you own. You are going to do more walking than you can even imagine.
http://www.vegas.com/attractions/
It is going to be hot, hot, hot! Make sure you drink plenty of water- and then drink some more. It is easy to get dehydrated in Vegas- especially during the summer. Wear a hat, sunglasses and put on plenty of suntan lotion. Some people like to do most of the walking early morning or later in the evening. Many people think the casinos are very chilly because of the A/C(I am not one of them) so they bring along a light sweater to wear.
You any of you that have not tested using the webcam yet and want to be sure you can access the cam, this is for you.
I will be on line with the cam operating tomorrow at 1 pm EDT.
If you do not have the directions, or have not signed up yet pleae visit the Mega website at:
http://www.geocities.com/madokarn@verizon.net/webcam.html
DO NOT CLICK ON IT---CUT AND PASTE ONLY You will not get to the correct spot if you click and not paste.
If you have any problems, please pm me.
Thanks
Marge
I%26#39;m ready for it this time, Marge! Thanks!
I%26#39;ll be there! ;-)
Great we%26#39;ll all get to chat for a few minutes too. without the grandkids this time!
Marge I will try and connect up again too, enjoyed it last week, maybe that Ape will make another appearance lol.
Got my parents round at the time but we should have finished feeding them by then.
Hey Marge, you are going to leave your cam ';open'; on the 24th right? That way you won%26#39;t have to accept people to let them watch.
Doc, I%26#39;m pretty sure that I have. I don%26#39;t want to be tied to the lap top at the Mega. That%26#39;s why I want everyone to know what they are doing ahead of time so that I don%26#39;t have to trouble shoot on Mega day.
Marge
Marge, I keep trying to get this laptop of mine to allow me to sign in but it just refuses. I don%26#39;t know what the issue is and it most frustrating. If anyone know another way I can set up a chat room not using Yahoo I%26#39;m willing to try that. It would mean two differents sites for someone to try but Yahoo ain%26#39;t letting me connect to Marge at all.
Ideas? Thoughts?
2b have you tried completely removing yahoo messenger and then reinstalling it?
When you say it won%26#39;t let you sign-in, exactly what is it doing?
Sent you a PM Doc.
I will be viewing tomorrow.
Thanks Marge
My fiance and I are planning a wedding in Vegas in March and have already booked our chapel. We wanted to have our reception at Maggiano%26#39;s but they are already booked for our day. Does anyone know of anything comparable? We really want to have good food and dancing for around 45-50 people. Any Ideas?!?!!? Thanks!
Wedding Reception IdeasWhere are you getting married, and do you prefer Italian?
Wedding Reception Ideaswe went to a wedding reception at valentino in the venetian. the food was spectacular and the reception itself was handled very nicely. right until the bride go so drunk she had to ride in a wheelchair, but thats a story for another occasion. there was a little over 50 people at the reception.
or, if you want to do it on the cheap, we just came back from a reception at the Treasure Island buffet. now i didn%26#39;t actually attend the reception, but i heard it was nice. they roped off a small area and the food was good.
We actually managed to change our wedding date by one day so we could get Maggiano%26#39;s. But now our chapel is closed on that day... So now I am looking for a little chapel that won%26#39;t have too much Vegas cheese... :)
I%26#39;ve heard these mentioned a few times but I%26#39;m not totally sure what they are.
How and where do you get them?
And is it worth spending time getting them if your not planning on gambling a great deal?
The casino tracks your play, based on the level of play you are offered promotions and possibly ';comped'; meals or other benefits.
They%26#39;re worth getting regardless of your gambling level as you may be entitled to ';something'; and it doesn%26#39;t cost you anything.
When you get to a casino just ask where the ';slot club'; or ';players club'; is and they%26#39;ll set you up.
Lots more info here if you search for ';Comps'; or ';players card';
They look like a credit card and are used to track your play. Each Casino has a Players Club window where you can get on in a minute by giving them drivers license as ID. I would recommend you get one at all the places you visit - ask them if there are any free / special offers for new members because sometimes you will get free slot play or other benefits if you are a new member.
I would sign up for them if for nothing else for any offers and to get on their mailing lists for discounts.
Do some research into the casinos you%26#39;re planning on gambling at. The Players Club rewards are much different from casino to casino. Not surprisingly, the less popular casinos (or the ones off the strip) usually have the best clubs! I usually play at the Palms because it is nice and has a good rewards program. %26lt;img src=';hotelchatter.com/files/鈥alms_from_moon.jpg';%26gt;
http://lasvegas.wikia.com/wiki/Player%26#39;s_clubs
MGM/Mirage and Total rewards cover most of the casinos.
Bills gives you a coupon book. Venetian/Palazzo gives you $15 free play. Wynn gives you a little free play and an easy way to earn 2 free buffets.
Welcome to the forum Sandra.
It must be angry mommy day.
LOL. No, not angry at all. I just want real advice that is on point.
Ok guys, lets not say anything and see how long it takes for someone who has hired a sitter at a hotel in Vegas to chime in.
You might want to check with the concierge at your hotel. Sorry if that wasn%26#39;t on point.
I second the idea of asking the concierge. They may have a relationship with a particular agency that they know is reputable and good with children. It%26#39;s hard to leave your kids with just anyone, so at least if the concierge has a business relationship with the company you can have some sort of peace of mind.
Someone posted this some time back. Don%26#39;t know if the ';product ever made it big.
Folks, have I got a product for you!!!
I%26#39;m in the process of marketing it. It%26#39;s called the ';Child Tender';. It is constructed of space age materials that are stronger than a wino%26#39;s underwear. It consists of a super strong retractable wire, attached to a harness. The harness is child-proof (meaning the kid cannot get out of it). You can preset the distance of the wire so that if the kid wants to got potty, it will extend that far. It has a built in voltage regulator that delivers 500 volts of shock (not lethal) if the child makes noise (crys, yells, etc.) It comes in designer colors. If you order now, I%26#39;ll include the attachment which lets you adjust the harness to fit a full grown person (grandma, grandpa).
to pre-order, call 1-800-vegas IQ
(batteries not included)
That%26#39;s a mighty big chip on your shoulder.
Hitch - put me down for a dozen.
cpy, with twelve you get eggroll.
At that age, they would not enjoy anything about Vegas, you need to reconsider and return in a few years, Vegas will wait for you I%26#39;m sure.
I gooogled ';Las Vegas Baby Sitter Service'; and there are some results that even contain reviews.
Has anyone eaten there yet?
Any word on it? good, bad, indifferent?
Why? Does Vegas need another steak house.
I%26#39;m looking for word too. We have reservations in July before Lance Burton. Nobody has offered up anything yet though.
Did Vegas need another steakhouse? hmmm...no would be the correct answer. However, the friends we are meeting there always eat at a steak place one night and I thought it would be fun to try something new...if it was worth it.
Just looking for some input....as of now we have reservations at Prime and at Stripsteak (deciding between the two)
five days to go!
My DH and I will be returning to the MC Tues and are thinking about trying out Brand on Friday night (the first night we don%26#39;t have dinner plans)- All I know is that my host said it is very nice inside and he has heard good things about the food.
You will always read sarcastic replies here-I try to ignore them- like you, we like to try new places and most times we are not disappointed. One exception-and I%26#39;m probably in the minority on this- was Bobby Flay%26#39;s Mesa grill-we were a party of 5 -the service lacked, the restaurant was way too noisy, and the quality of the filet mignon was terrible-one of us got more fat than anything else and when it was brought to the attention of our waiter his response was ';That%26#39;s the cut of the meat';-Uh UH! Jan
Lovinvegas - thanks for your reply. I always feel torn - if I love a restaurant and have a good memory, I like to go back, but on the other hand, there are SO many new ones to try.
Re: Mesa Grill. When I lived in NY it was one of my ALLTIME favorite places to go - was looking forward to going in Vegas but after reading reviews on here, I have to say we are going to pass. And your input confirms that it is the right choice.
We are going out on Thursday of this week so will be there same time as you - still mulling over which restaurants to finalize.
Looking forward to hearing about Brand if you end up eating there. Where else have you decided to eat? Vegas is our one trip where we really try to eat at different types of restaurants each night and we also try to eat in different hotels so we can see the action at each one.....
We have dinner plans for Tues night at Delmonico with friends who are also in vegas for INFOCOMM (the reason for this trip)We have eaten there a few times and enjoy it very much.
We also are eating at Bootlegger Bistro Wed night-have never eaten there but our friends picked the place so we%26#39;re open to it.
Thurs night we have a private cocktail party at MGM followed by free tickets to KA- compliments of one of the businesses attending INFOCOMM- the CEO always does something terrific and buys out the theater
And thats%26#39; all the set plans we have- we are there until Sun but our friends leave Fri morning so we are on our own(haha -usually the way DH and I go) so we will pick where we want to eat- I do get comped at MC but probably not in Brand-we usually eat in a ';special high -end'; retaurant one night each trip and the others we go more casual-mostly in the MC as free is good-
Where are you staying?
We are staying at Bellagio - we have not been in three years (used to be an annual trip but as I like to say ';life got in the way';). We ended up getting an amazing offer as I was planning the trip as a surprise for my DH. Bellagio was having a summer promotion for past guests (I guess they assumed we were staying elsewhere the past few years) - three free nights, $150 food and bev credit and $200 free play. Plus, my host told me to charge everything to the room and based on past play I could possibly have more comped....woo hoo! The last time I was there in 2005 I was there twice within three weeks (DH work trip and then my step sis%26#39; bachelorette party). the slots were VERY good to me and I was on a serious roll....can only hope for the same this trip.
Funny story - the day I gave my husband his gift of this trip we were out and decided to try one of the new slot casinos that has opened in South Florida - we walk in and it was almost scary - not at all any type of good vibe. Anyway - Dh says we should just play a little(we weren%26#39;t planning on going so did not even have alot of cash on us). We put $20 in a $1 machine - hit nothing. Put another $20 in and nothing - so I am ready to leave. He convinces me to try the machine next to it - $20 in and we hit $2500. so, now we have gambling $ for our trip to Vegas. We left after that - was so proud of myself for knowing to walk away with the winnings.
Lets hope the luck follows us out to Vegas.
I know this was off topic...but wanted to share...
Nice win!! I have also gotten free stay offers from Bellagio even though I only drop a few dollars in the slots there, but we are happy enough at the MC and our host treats us great! With room and everything comed we are able to go at least twice a year- of course I%26#39;d love to go more often but I also use the ';life gets in the way'; term alot- happy with whatever trips we do get to do- I am already thinking about our nov trip. Jan
Have a wonderful time on your trip!
And I agree - if your host treats you well....you can%26#39;t beat that.
Btw, we used to stay at Monte Carlo and were always happy there.
my buddy works at the monte carlo and he says he is hearing nothing but good reports on brand.
in an 8 hr day of driving does any body know how long it would take to drive from mephis to vegas.
thanks
About 3 days. It%26#39;s roughly 1,600 miles from Memphis to Las Vegas.
Looking at my atlas it looks like it would be a fairly easy drive, no big cities to get thru.
Just remember to stay on the right side of the road.
thanks ,how long will it take
Try this
http://www.mapquest.com/directions
About 3 days.
I am not sure of the speed limits in that area, but I believe you can count on at least 65 miles per hour, perhaps 70 in some areas.
Travel time will, of course, depend on your speed and length of stops.
It looks like you need to average about 520 miles per day to make Vegas in 3 days. 8 hours per day might not do it unless you push your speed, but 9 or 10 hours probably would.
Let%26#39;s say your car averages 20 miles per gallon. You will need at least 80 gallons each way (provided you decide to come home). That will cost your a minumum of $640 for the trip in gas! I would check airfare too...
thanks everybody.very helpful
We have narrowed it down to see either of these 3 shows Ka, Le Reve or ICE when we come to Las Vegas but i need some opinions please from people who have seen these shows, I know at the the end of the day we will have to make the decision but some help would be nice. We are a family of 4 as well as grandparents ages range from 20yrs to 75yrs old.
Also the best web site to purchase tickets pls
Many Thanks
Lase Vegas Shows
have you ever seen the Cirque de Soleil shows before? They are very expensive. We went on the recommendation of many and spent hundreds of dollars on tix and HATED it. Do some research online or look on YouTube to see if it%26#39;s something you might like before you spend almost $1000 (which is what 6 tix will cost)...
I know I%26#39;m in the minority, but do some research first, that%26#39;s a lot of money...
Hi all, I%26#39;m finally getting around to writing a TR almost a week after getting home. This will be my first TR so bear with me. We had a great time and of course it was all over way to quickly. Will post as reply
Day 1-
Flight from Dallas on American was uneventful and ontime which was good. Got to the airport and took the train to baggage claim where we met our limo driver John from Presidential. I had not told DW that I had booked a limo as I wanted it to be a suprise. It was fun to see her reaction when I pointed out our driver holing a sign with our name on it. She didn%26#39;t believe me until I walked up to him and introduced myself. Baggage was actually pretty quick coming out compared to my first trip three years ago when I waited at least fifteen minutes it seemed. Anyways, we get the bags and off to the waiting limo with rose for DW and champagne. We ask John to stop at a liquor store on the way to the Signature and he takes us to a place right by the airport. Bottle of Stoli vodka and some olives and we are on our way. We get to the Signature and are able to check in eventhough it is only 12:30, get a room on the 24th floor with a balcony and a view of the pool. Nice room with a huge whirlpool tub and separate shower. Bags are sent up very quickly and we are off in search of lunch. We take the moving walkway to the MGM and decide on Witchcraft since it is the first thing we see and we are starving. From there we decide to take the monorail down to Harrah%26#39;s. We walk through Harrahs and play some WOF slots that I have heard so much about on here. I lost $10 and DW won $5 so not bad to start. We make our way down to the Venetian and check out the shops and the Palazzo which is nice but I thought looked just like the Venetian. For some reason I thought it would be a little different. We play some in the venetian with no major wins but no major losses either. We take the monorail back to MGM to get changed for dinner at Mon Ami Gabi. We wanted to sit on the patio but the wait was about an hour and did not feel like waiting so we ate inside. Food and service was good, I had the duck special and DW had scallops and we both had a few glasses of wine. Now I normally don%26#39;t drink much at home but on vacation especially somewhere like vegas anything is liable to happen. I only had two glasses of wine and finished about half of DW%26#39;s s but I left dinner with a nice buzz. Took the monorail back to MGM where we played some more and of course my drinking continued...remember I said I normally don%26#39;t drink much, not this time. DW is getting tired since we had been up since 5:30 and it was now around 12:00 so back to the room. We take advantage of our balcony and I make a few martinins to enjoy the view. By this time I am pretty toasted and driving DW crazy as I can get pretty talkative when properly lubricated. We finally give up about 1:00 and go to bed. Day 2 to follow....
Nice start to your TR !! Something about Vegas/gambling and cocktails which go together way too easily and have a way of continually reminding you even after you get home !!
Looking forward to the rest !
Nice start. Good job on surprising her with a limo!
Fast ride, fast luggage, fast checkin....sounds like a great start! Not perfect cuz you didn%26#39;t get outside at MAG...but close enough...besides, with the buzz who cares? LOL!
also...please break it down into paragraphs...easier to read. =)
Thanks and looking forward to more!
Good Report. Waiting for the next installment.
:-%26gt;
Day 2-
Wake up at 6:15 and can%26#39;t go back to sleep I%26#39;m just too excited. I get in the shower and get dressed trying not to wake up DW. She asks what the heck I%26#39;m doing up so early especially after tying one on last night. I say I don%26#39;t know but I can%26#39;t stay in the room any longer. I go down to the casino and stop at the starbucks to get a little liquid recovery and then hit the VP machines. I played for about an hour on $20 which I thought was pretty good. Call DW to see if she is awake, find out she has been up pretty much since the time I left. Oops, sorry about that. She comes down and we go have breakfast at the Studio Cafe. Eggs, sausage and hashbrowns were good but the pancakes were like rocks, I think they might still be in my stomach somewhere. We go get the rental car from the Dollar counter in the lobby and are on our way to the Hoover Dam. The Dam was neat but not something I would have to do on every trip to Vegas. I especially didn%26#39;t like being packed into the elevator like sardines. After the Dam we went back to the room to rest and relax for awhile before dinner. We had dinner at Emerils at MGM. Dinner was good, I had the double cut pork chop which was as big as a steak and very tender. DW had some sort of fish, I can%26#39;t remember the name but she liked it alot. Emerils was very good but a little more expensive than I was expecting. Dinner was $140 including a bottle of wine, dessert and tip. After dinner we were off to see KA which I had been looking forward to for a long time. Neither of us has ever seen a Cirque show before and we were both amazed by the theater, the stage, the performers and the entire show. This was definitely one of the highlights of the trip. After the show we played some slots and VP before heading back to the room about 12:30. Is it even possible to get to bed before midnight in this place? I don%26#39;t think so.
Day 3 coming soon---
Sorry about the paragraphs, I will work on that on my next installment
lol on little sleep...it%26#39;s Vegas!!! You can sleep at home!
I also love Emerils, but skip the wine and dessert and it becomes affordable! Glad you enjoyed Ka!
Nice job gambling wise.... not spending OR losing much.
Day 3 - MY B-DAY!!!
I can%26#39;t think of a better place to spend a birthday, in fact I may have to institute the annual vegas B-day trip... hey whatever excuse you can find right. Anyways, I%26#39;m out of bed by 7:30, I acutally slept in a little. I get ready and I%26#39;m off to return the rental car and pickup Carrot Top tickets for tonight. DW stays in the room and relaxes and orders room service which she said was good but took about 45 minutes to arrive. So, I return the car and then play some VP while waiting for the 1/2 price ticket place to open at 10:00. I make my way down there and find a pretty big line outside and start waiting. While I%26#39;m waiting I call DW and she is ready so she comes down and meets me in the line when I am almost to the front which was good timing.
We get the tickets and DW suggests we try to do some shopping for my B-day so we head to the miracle mile and wonder around for awhile but don%26#39;t see anything interesting and besides I am not much of a shopper. We have lunch at the ocean cafe right next to the thunderstorm, we were not impressed. I had a pepperoni and mushroom pizza which tasted like a frozen pizza, DW had a chicken sandwich which she liked. It was pretty cheap at least, total was about $20. We play some video roulette in PH and win a little bit between us, she lost about $10 and I won $15 after hitting black about six times in a row. DW wants to see the tigers and dolphins at the Mirage so we catch a cab and head to the Mirage.
Cab was $8.50 so I give the guy $10 and head into the mirage. This was our first time in the Mirage and we were impressed. It seems like a nice hotel and the pool area looked nice but you can tell it is an older hotel. We get to the dolphin habitat and pay our $15 each to get in. For some reason we thought it was going to be a dolphin show of some kind but you just walk around and look at the animals. We did happen to get there when they were having a training session so we got to see the dolphins do some tricks. We walk around and look at the tigers most of which were asleep. There was one that was awake and of course there was a bit of a crowd gathered which I guess bothered him/her because she started pacing back and forth in front of the enclosure. After a bit of pacing she stopped at one end turned around and sprayed a few people on the end! I guess she wanted to make sure we knew this was her territory. Luckly we were on the other end so we thought it was pretty funny. We did see a sign on our way out that warned people about this. So don%26#39;t get too close to the fence.
After catching a cab back to the Sig we decide it is time to check out the pool. We get to the pool and the towl attendant sets up our chairs for us complete with umbrella chair covers and pillows. The pools at the Sig are small but very nice and not crowded at all. Drink service was good and the food was also good. We hang out at the pool for a bit and then head back to the room to get ready for dinner at Red Square in MB.
We take a cab over to Luxor so we can pick up our Carrot Top tickets and then head for MB. Dinner was absolutly wonderful and this was by far our favorite of the whole trip. We both love a good martini and this is definitly the place for that. The food was excellent especially the portobello and crab appetizer that our server recommended. DW had the chicken Kiev which was good and I had the salmon which was also very good. Dinner came to about $190 including dessert and a few martinis between us a little pricey but hey its my birthday so happy birthday to me.
We were enjoying dinner so much we lost track of time and we now have to hurry to get to the show on time and I%26#39;m glad we did as the people that came in after the show started got made fun of pretty good by the opening act. The opening comedian was pretty funny, he was only on for about 10 minutes. Carrot Top was pretty funny, I remembered some of his material from when we saw him three years ago but there was alot of new stuff also. After the show we head back to Red Square for drinks...did I mention I liked this place. We find a spot at the bar and DW orders the same martini we had at dinner and I tried one of the vodka flights. They give you four different vodkas to try and you get 1 oz. of each. This was fun and I got to try vodkas I have never even heard of and probably can%26#39;t get back in Dallas.
After we waived goodbye to Red Square we head to the casino for some VP and then sit and listen to the band playing at the bar in the middle of the casino. I must say we really enjoyed MB, it seems to have alot going on everwhere you go. It is now getting late so we take a cab back to the Sig and DW is ready for bed but not me, I am still going strong and ready to hit the casino.
So, after sweettalking/bargining with DW I am off on my own. I play some VP and then work up the nerve to hit the tables. On our first trip I was always too intimidated to play at the tables and really couldn%26#39;t afford it then anyways. So I wanted to make sure I played at least one table game this time. I wonder around and finally find a $10 three card poker table that wasn%26#39;t very crowded. I had the dealer $100 and he give me my chips and were off, so far so good. My first hand is dealt to me and I proceed to drop a card on the floor which instantly stops play and I just know I am getting kicked out. The pit boss comes over and inspects the card and gives it back to me, no big deal. Ok, I am starting to relax now and I am actually winning some hands! A straight here, a flush there and the next thing I know I have a few $25 chips added to my growing stack of $5 chips. At one point I was probably up about $100 which would have been a great time to call it a night but did I? You probably know the answer to that! Of course not, I kept playing and managed to give back my hard earned gains but I did leave the table only $10 down and played for a pretty good while so I count that as a win. I look at my watch and it is 3:45, ok time to get back to the room.
-Day 4, final day to follow soon. Sorry this is so long I kind of got carried away.
sounds like you had a wonderful birthday - birthdays in Vegas are always the BEST.
Day 4 - Leaving already :(
We wake up around 9:00, wow I actually slept in this morning..oh, wait a minute I didn%26#39;t go to bed until 4:00. Anyway, we get up and I go downstairs to the Delights deli in tower 2 and get some much needed coffee and bagels to take back to the room. We have breakfast and shower and are out the door by 10:30. We decide to head over to NYNY since we had not made it there yet. We walk around a bit and DW wants to play some VP and I decide to try my luck at 3 card poker again since I had had some luck the previous night at MGM. Well, lets just say that NYNY was not very nice to me. I sit down, give the dealer $100 and start to play. Not very good hands but not bad, but everytime I had something worth playing (anything better than Q,6) the dealer either had a straight or flush. Four hands later and I%26#39;m done..ouch. I head back to where DW is playing and she is suprised to see me already. The conversation went something like this.
DW: Your back already?
Me: Yep
DW: Could you not find an open table?
Me: Nope, I found one
DW: What Happened?
Me: The nice little asian lady took all my money
It is now about lunch time so we head to ESPN zone for lunch since we probably won%26#39;t eat again until we get home later in the evening. The food was good but not great, just your typical bar type food. We head back across the street to the room to get packed and check out. I%26#39;m glad I had enough state of mind the night before to ask for a late checkout which worked out great, we were able to checkout at 1:00 and John the limo driver was picking us up at 1:30. So we checkout and check our bags with the bell desk and head to starbucks to kill some time. Head back to the tower 3 lobby and there is John with our limo and the reality of leaving is starting to set in and I am already getting the post vacation blues.
We get to the airport with plenty of time before our flight and play a little more VP while waiting for the plane which was of course running late. Flight home was pretty uneventful except for the very distinct smell of burning wires about 15 min into the flight. The captain turned off the air for awhile and turned off the movie which seemed to take care of it but there were a few tense moments when the flight attendants were running around putting things up in case we had to ditch in the grand canyon or something. With that little incident behind us the rest of the flight was pretty normal. We landed about 20 min late and of course taxied for what seemed like forever before we finally got to our gate. For anyone that has ever flown out of DFW probably knows you never land in the same terminal that you left from! We left on Tuesday out of Terminal C and landed Friday in terminal A. So we get the bags and hop on the terminal transfer bus that gives you a nice senic tour of the entire airport and dropped us off probably half a mile from where we parked. We finally find the car and are on our way home.
This was by far one of the best vacations we have had in awhile and we can%26#39;t wait to get back. In fact as soon as we got home we started looking for some cheap airfares for the fall.
And so two new Vegas addicts are born.
Thanks to everyone on here, the information we found on TA definitly made this a trip to remember.
Can anyone recommend a hotel to first timers
Going 23 to 30 December, don%26#39;t know whether to go 3 4 or 5 star. Which is the best location. Like clean, spacious and not pretentious.
4 Adults, 54, 52, 50 and 22.
What is like at Christmas,
vegas in the winter is great a must see is the belligo flower garden x-mas s the best time of year for it
Vegas at Christmas isn%26#39;t for you if you want a traditional Christmas. In fact some people describe it as the dream Christmas destination for people who don%26#39;t like Christmas! Just don%26#39;t expect festive vibes everywhere and you%26#39;ll be fine.
Totally impossible to recommend a hotel without any sort of clue as to what you%26#39;re looking at spending per night. Good news is that rates are very low during your stay and good deals are plentiful.
Well said blagger.
Have been there a couple of years around Christmas (recently).
Bellagio has some huge decorations. The most decorations and festivities were at the Fashion Show Mall. Santa and troups (showgirl, kickline group) came up through the floor at the mall. Huge decorations at the mall too.
Otherwise the week before Christmas was quite quiet.
Some of the shows may be dark.
Vegas doesn%26#39;t do Christmas in a big way. The Bellagio conservatory is always a must see and Ceasars Palace has a big tree in front. Downtown has its own Christmas tree lighting ceremony. You will see a few decorations and hear some Christmas music in the hotels.
To really get the Christmas-y feeling you have to go off strip. Two of my favorite places:
Sam%26#39;s Town always had nice decorations. They do have a shuttle.
Ethel M puts thousands and thousand of lights on its cacti and it really looks beautiful. They usually have Santa and Christmas carolers on the week-end. They do it every year.
living-las-vegas.com/2004/11/megawatt-cactus/
This will give you an idea of what was available last year. Check this site closer as Christmas approaches:
reviewjournal.com/entertainment/鈥?/a>
The best location is Planet Hollywood, very nice place.
Rooms are good-sized, Resort Room is esp. spacious. Shopping mall surrounds it.
MGM rooms are very roomy and comfortable, food court, monorail station, near a lot to see, many restaurants. MGM is a great place to be for a first timer or 10th timer.
Or, take your travel agent%26#39;s advice;
Circus Circus! Look at those low rates!
Ignore the previous poster dont take the travel agents choice and go to CC, it is not on the strip and does not get good reviews on here.
Christmas as the other posters have stated is not a big thing in Vegas. We went Christmas just gone and had a ball, the days were bright but the wind was cold so you will need to take a light coat with you.
If you are looking for a traditional Christmas, Vegas is not what you are looking for.
Hi
Circus Circus is crap BUT it IS on the strip.
Clive
I would look at the rooms at Mandalay Bay, they are 550 sq ft for a basic room, the bathrooms look nice, wes you are at one end of the strip but I like that end of the strip. I am 42 and I find center strip way crowded when walking or evening playing in the casinos.
I was at MB over our Memorial Day wknd- very busy weekend for LV and the casino in MB was very quite and had fantastic coktail service, I was turning drinks down due to reaching my drinking limit.
http://www.mandalaybay.com
click on the words Mandalay Bay, always book thru hotel directly, so if the rates go down you can cancel and rebook.
or try this site www.fatwallet.com/forums/travel-deals/704925
it will show you all the deals the hotels have to offer, you click on the offer and it connects you directly to that hotel, so even if you book you can rebook to get bettr price deal.
Can you get discount same day show tickets to shows like Stomp or David Copperfield at those discount show places on the strip?
I%26#39;m sure you can get Stomp, less sure about Copperfield but I think so. As long as it isn%26#39;t a top tier show like many of the Cirque shows or Bette or Cher, I%26#39;d try it.
A little background…DH and I have been to LV about ten times – sometimes alone, and some trips with friends. This trip was to celebrate our 30th Anniversary, so I tried to make it a little different by upgrading hotel rooms, and seeing five shows – including Big Elvis.
I am not as entertaining a writer as some of the posters here, so I will post by category, instead of by day. We didn’t rent a car, prefer not to have to worry about which hotel we left it at earlier in the day!
I think I remember seeing that a few of you guys going to the Mega have booked the Palazzoo…not to worry, you will love it…. Have a great time!
Warning..this is four pages in Word – will post as a reply….Yikes…..LOL
Airlines….Southwest roundtrip, nonstop. No problems at all. Both flights were on time, bags under 50 lbs each, both pieces of luggage arrived in LV, and then home again to Manchester NH…and all departures and arrivals were on-time….score!
Hotels….three nights at Ballys – two were compted. I had requested a king-bed, non-smoking, North Tower. Did not do the 20 dollar trick, but did ask about an upgrade and was offered a Celebrity Suite in the South Tower for $50.00 per night. The desk clerk could see me hesitate, and I mentioned that ‘friends of mine’ had told me that the North Tower was nicer. Judy told us that the Suites are really kept nice, no matter which tower. She gave me her phone extension and suggested we go look at the room, and if we didn’t like it for any reason, just call her and she would change the room over the phone. Sounded like a win / win situation to me, so we accepted the challenge…LOL
Well, we loved the room. It was huge and spotless. We had a partial view of the strip, and a spa-type bathroom with the two steps up into the area from the bedroom. The bathtub was sunken and jetted. The shower was huge and doubled as a steam room. The toilet was in a separate area, complete with its own door! There was an area for makeup, and two separate sink areas…..all full of mirrors! Actually, too many mirrors at three a.m after a full day of drinking and gambling…LOL…
The only problem was the last morning the power in the room went off. DH was downstairs getting coffee, and I was in the shower….hmmmm…..I called maintenance, and within ten minutes an engineer was on the floor. The power was fixed without him coming into our room. My hair was still wet – I think I got dressed before I was even dry!! But I was ready in case the engineer got to the room before DH got back.
Oh, and asked for late check out and it was no problem.
After Ballys, the next four nights were at the Palazzo – three of which were compted with the deal that several posters on here also got for no apparent reason other then I do have a Venetian players card – never spent much time or money there though, couldn’t stand the scent they pump in there.
Had originally booked at Harrahs for these four nights, with the intention of upgrading to a suite at check-in, but cancelled it for this offer. After some research here, the general opinion was that the same scent was not pumped into the Palazzo. This was too good of a deal to pass up. So the first three nights were free, and the last one was $199.00. Booked.
All I can say is that this room was worth waiting for. Back to the scent for a second. When we got out of the cab, I did smell a pleasing floral scent in the Palazzo lobby – definitely not the same or as strong as the Venetian.
Check-in was quick, as we were told to go to the invited guest check in desk – no line around 1:00 pm. Were given the room we requested – king, non-smoking, high floor, not near the construction. Were offered an upgrade to a larger suite for $100.00 extra per night, or the concierge floor for $150.00 more per night, but turned them down.
Plus, although the offer didn’t mention it, I was given $25.00 of Bonus play – check the display on the slot machines, if you booked this offer, I would think you would get it, too.
Avoided the problem with the luggage that others have written about – just took it with us since the room was ready. Wow…it looked just like the pictures, and was spotless.
Never saw housekeeping, but room was always made up by the time we returned latter in the day. We tended to be out of the room around noon. Each night, the music and lights were on when we got back, along with chocolates on the pillows. Loved it, loved it, loved it – hoping for more comps in the future.
Restaurants….we are not foodies…prefer simpler food – and have no problem using coupons - and usually eat on the run.
Used three from Restaurant.com……first trip to Oceans One at Miracle Mile – used it for dinner one night after spending several hours gambling at PH. I had fillet mignon, and DH had salmon…food was good, and would go back.
Also in the Miracle Mile, used a Restaurant.com cert for Tacones –first visit here, too…..awesome sandwiches and wraps – most around $8.99…..and don’t miss the sweet potato fries that are served with applesauce. I would highly recommend this place. We plan on revisiting next trip. Third cert was for Café BeBeRaba – did not make it to happy hour, but once again, loved this place and will go back next trip.
Earl of Sandwich in PH…..rivals Tacones for best sandwich….most sandwiches are 5.99 – we also got to watch the Celtics win game 2 while we ate…..double score – didn’t have a coupon, but the meal was compted from our play that day at PH – story in the casino section. Oh and they also have freshed baked cookies and brownies....yum.
Made our third trip to the Burger Brasserie in Paris, ate lunch at the Harrah’s and Flamingo buffets – all with coupons. Didn’t really have more than coffee and pastry in our room for breakfast – not big morning eaters – so no great breakfast recommendations. Tried McFadden’s at the Rio –with a coupon they gave us at Ballys when we checked in….still looks like the Tilted Kilt to me…menu is a little different, but typical bar fare.
And because we always seemed to be ‘on the way somewhere’ grabbed a couple of hotdogs at Nathans in the Venetian food court, and some Tacos in the Fashion Show Mall food court on the way to the ABC store for water - $1.19 for Aquafina, or Dasani as opposed to four dollars for the same size bottles in the casinos.
Shows….we are country music fans and were happy to score tickets to the Kenny Chesney / Leanne Rimes show at MGM the night we got there. We were a little tired by the end of the show, but the show itself was fabulous – and a great way to start our vacation.
Saw Blue Man Group – had great seats right behind the splash zone - booked directly through the Venetian. DH was not sure he wanted to see it, but he loved it. Best advice is go with an open mind, and be prepared to laugh.
Bought tickets through Goldstar.com for Toxic Audio, and Barbra and Frank – the concert that never was. Toxic Audio is at the V Theater in the Miracle mile. Five very talented people who use no instruments, but make all the music with their voices. Good choice – really enjoyed it, plus it is an early show @ 5:30 which still allows you the night for fun. Would have no problem seeing this show again.
Barbra and Frank are at the Riviera….show was OK, but wouldn’t see it again. Frank was OK, but disappointed with Barbra - and too much talking.
Big Elvis…always a great, fun show…this was our third time enjoying the music and crowds.
Gambling….we are mostly slot players – Platinum Harrah’s cards…but it seems that all of my favorite machines on their properties did not remember me…nor could I find a new friendly slot….tried Ballys, Paris, Rio, Harris, OSheas, and even IP – nothing was paying.
I have seen some posters think that Planet Hollywood has tight machines – not the ones I played. We ended up spending several hours there and had a ball. Most machines played very well –didn’t always walk away with a profit, but did have some fun for awhile. But, at the end of the day, did make some money here. We loved the vibe here. While they don’t have dueling pianos, they do have a guy that plays a fun piano at night. Enjoyed sitting at the slots and singing along. Great drink service, too.
When we were leaving PH, we went to the Players Club to collect our cash back – the amount you’ve earned shows on the machines…..this was our first visit here since it has been PH so I wasn’t sure how there point system worked. The rep at the players’ desk gave us our cash back – that was easy. I asked if the points we accrued could be used for food, and before I realized what he was doing, he was taking to a Casino Hospitality rep who compted us $40.00 for the Earl of Sandwich…yikes! Really just wanted to know how their system worked – wasn’t looking for comp. Accepted it, of course (haven’t had time since we are home to check their website – still don’t know how their system works) LOL.
Tried to find our favorite slots at NYNY, but because of the construction, everything has been moved around……did manage to find new friends called ‘Pair ‘em Up”…they are 5 cent machines and are along the wall next to where the Big Apple Bar used to be. Both DH and I won on these machines –I think there are 5 of them, and we hit on 4 of them….tried this machine at other casinos, and they weren’t paying like these were. Always nice to make new friends….!!
Stuck our noses in the Wynn….maybe they will need to fill up Encore the same way they are filling up the Palazzo – with comps…..did OK on their machines…as I always do there…
Now for the Palazzo. Our first afternoon, I found the machines to pay easily…...dollars, nickels, and pennies. That continued throughout our four day stay. I loved this place. Was able to make back most of our losses from the other Casinos, here. Great drink service, no smoke smell, aisles are wide – and I like that fact that it is not super crowded. Although, at night, the place was really busy. DH was able to easily find $10 tables for Let It Ride, even at night.
One more thing…the Palazzo and Venetian are connected on two floors….if you follow the signs, which are all over the place, going up the escalators from the casino floor will bring you to the end of the indoor canal rides…..but – I have not seen this mentioned here on Trip Advisor - if you do not go up the escalator – and go past it, just follow the corridor past the Venetian restaurants, you will come out at the Blue Man Group Box Office which is around the corner from the Venetian Grand Lux Café….very quick and easy…..and you are right on the casino floor. As you walk down this hallway, you can definitely ‘smell’ the Venetian.
Ok, two more things….if you need to print a boarding pass while at the Palazzo, you need to go to the business office which is around the corner from Blue Man Group – just follow the signs toward the Sands Convention Center…..they will give you an access code for free computer time, and the only charge is $1.00 per piece of paper that you print.
Also, if you check out over the television, they will fax you a receipt via the in-room fax machine...very cool.
Another thing…..there is a pedestrian crossway from the Palazzo to the Wynn, and another one from Wynn to Fashion Show Mall, and yet another one from the Mall to TI …making it very easy to get around there.
One more, in the 24/7 magazine that you usually find in the back of the taxis, there is a coupon to get a booklet full of coupons valid for the Venetian and Fashion Show Mall. There is also a coupon in the American Casino Guide for the same booklet – worth getting.
Yikes, one more thing…we had never been to the Riviera before ‘Barbra and Frank’ but there is an ABC store right in the Casino area. It is also very walk able from the Riviera to the Peppermill –which we did not get a chance to visit this trip…next time will also include Ellis Island, and the Golden Nugget…..never enough time to do it all……guess we will have to go back again…..
Happy to answer any questions, or explain anything that made sense to me, but not to you!!!! Please excuse any errors…Word corrects the spelling, but not my thoughts!!
Looking forward to it.
Love the trip report! We were there at the same time. Checked into Bally%26#39;s when you checked out...lol... I agree with you about PH and Earl of Sandwich.
Glad you had a great time. Enjoyed your report. Very enjoyable.
Mitzyd.....So cool, I was reading your trip report, as you were reading mine...I think yours is much more entertaining...loving it so far!!!!
Beantown Lady,
Sounds like a great trip. We really liked Toxic Audio too!
Great TR! :) I was there at the same time too! Great weather! :)
I saw that Earl of Sandwich place and didn%26#39;t stop...now I think I should have!
Glad to hear Tacones and Ocean 1 are good. We have restaurant.com certificates for both for next trip. DH does not seem to like to try new places but hopefully he will this time. Just told him the certificates are good for a year so we will have to go back to use them up, lol.
oh and one more thing...great trip report! thanks
Now thats what i call a very good and entertaining TR and i see you really enjoyed yourselves in Vegas,so you really enjoyed the Palazzo i am thinking of staying there on my next trip after september staying at MGM this trip,thanks for the info and congrads on your 30th.
Very well written trip report...enjoyed reading it.
We will be in Vegas for 5 days in July. Is it worth it to visit off strip casinos, such as Red Rock, southpoint, Sam%26#39;s Town, or Green Valley Ranch? They all look interesting, however, we won%26#39;t have a car.
I know there is a shuttle to Sam%26#39;s town from Harrahs. But is it worth the time to go check them out?
Any thoughts will be appreciated.
Thanks!
Is it worth it to visit off strip casinos?You know what after a while the Strip gets old. You might actually enjoy some time away. Catch the shuttle over to Sam%26#39;sTown they have good restaurants and good gambling without the pretentions of the strip. They also usually have lower minimums on table games. Have fun!!!
Is it worth it to visit off strip casinos?Typically, the off strip casinos have better pay outs. They cater to the locals and offer good eating, great rooms, better gaming. Green Valley Ranch is really nice, great little outdoor shop area.
As you won%26#39;t have a car I wouldn%26#39;t waste too much time doing this. Take a shuttle out to one of them by all means but having a car means you can check out two or three places in the space of an afternoon or evening.
Save your major off-Strip explorations for a future trip when you%26#39;ll have your own transport.
We did this last week but we had a car. Spme pf the [laces we went to included Sam%26#39;s Town, Boulder Station, Arizona Charlies, Ladt Luck and Mystic. We enjoyed them all and I got to play $3 Blackjack at Lady Luck...never thought I%26#39;d get to do that again. Also, the slots seemd looser..but if you can, explore.
If you are going to do it, get a car at least for a day.
No, it%26#39;s not worth the time to go to Sam%26#39;s Town. It%26#39;s nothing special. Red Rock is very nice but how are you going to get way out there?
Yes, off strip casinos are worth it- but not if you will be there for only 5 days and you won%26#39;t have a car.
If this is your first time in Vegas you will want to concentrate on the strip. 5 days is not a lot of time. You can visit downtown one night if you have the time- it is much different from the strip. But taking shuttles to off strip casinos- no, I wouldn%26#39;t do it.
I agree about renting a car for one day. You can see three or four casinos for the entire day, and maybe you might just like it (like me) that you may decide to stay off-strip in the future. The three nicest off-strip I suggest would be Red Rock, South Point and Green Valley Ranch! Very elegant hotels, lots of $5 BJ tables, great buffets, %26amp; a relaxing atmosphere!
Might I suggest going with the flow and leaving your options open.
I sometimes find I am overwhelmed with the Strip and just want to get away. If that is the case you can either rent a car like some have suggested, or simply take a shuttle to an off Strip casino.
I find despite the fact that I want to get away from the Strip, after a few hours away I keep wondering what I am missing and want to get back.
You might find you are so fascinated with wandering around the Strip casinos you don%26#39;t want to leave. If that%26#39;s the case don%26#39;t feel compelled to take a side trip.
Some are glitizier, some are shabbier, all have a gimmick, but the bottom line is they are all casinos with similar table games and slots. So, no you won%26#39;t really miss anything if you don%26#39;t get to an off strip casino.
I suggest you see how the time passes and have lots of options.
On one of your days take the shuttle to the RIO (from Harrahs) or the Gold Coast(from Bills),and while you are there take a look in the Palms across the road.you never know,you may like these places.Make the Gold Coast your last stop and get some cheap drinks from the Gift Shop to take back with you.Have a great trip!!.
Has anyone done this done this trip in the last few weeks?
How was booking in at all the airports?
What aircraft were you on?
What was the on-board service like man/phil-phili vegas anything we need to know about the return leg
And what was the switch at phili like both ways many thanks got it all to do in aug
up the blades
We did this route about 5 years ago and while the transatlantic part was fine the domestic flight was, well,you ever flown Easyjet? It was 5 hours of deep joy !
The transfer in Philidelpia was a bit hectic although this of course was only a couple of years after 9-11 and security was really tight. We ended up getting lost in a car park at the airport!!From boarding the plane to taking off took about 90 minutes of queuing on the runway.
All in all it was an interesting journey :o) and the reason we only ever fly direct to Vegas even if it costs a bit more.
RJ
Up the blades!!
The plane used from Manchester is an Airbus A330. Check out seatguru.com for a look at the seat up and entertainment, but I believe the in-flight entertainment is pretty good!
The inflight entertainment was as good as you would get anywhere,certainly better than the BMI flights we use now, and the food was fine.
Too bad your flight doesn%26#39;t come to Pittsburgh instead of Philly; we might%26#39;ve had a chance to meet you early!
One reason the other poster may have run into a problem with the transfer in Philly is because not all of the terminals are connected. Most times you have to take a bus from one to another. This will add a bit of time even on domestic flights. Just make sure you find out upon arrival which terminal you have to be in next (not sure how it works with Int%26#39;l flights) and waste no time getting to it.
hiya, done this twice, the fist time five yrs ago when we were sat on the tarmac at Manchester and all told to get off due to a technical fault - another passenger checked online and the flight said %26#39;cancelled%26#39; due to US Airways financial difficulties!!!! Night in a hotel in Manchester then finally got to Vegas the following day on Delta via Atlanta!(tho can%26#39;t complain cos we were put in first class - but lost a day of our holiday!)
On the way back from Philly we were bumped off our flight not once but TWICE (seciond bump was voluntary as we ended up staying in Philly for 3 days - which we reallu enjoyed despite everything) USAir gave us hotel for two nights, US$60 each a day and $800 per night for the inconvenience... cannot fault their customer service just didn%26#39;t like being lied to on the outbound flight!
Last year did the same again and after arriving in Philly at 1300 ready to fly to Vegas at 1600 the flight was delayed till 2000... and then upon finally getting on the flight we had to divert to Denver for some unknown reason!!! finally arrived in Vegas at 0200 local time.
Always look to see what BMI or MyTravel can do flights for I%26#39;d prefer to pay a bit more to fly direct. Although the standard of inflightservice is better on US Air I%26#39;d rather get there in one go!!!
Hi, we were thinking about flying US Airways but had quite a few negative reviews on TA. I looked up various review sites on the net, and found nothing to inspire confidence in US Airways. BMI prices are far too high in my opinion, I would rather take a bit longer to get there and have more money in my pocket when I get to Vegas. Virgin arn%26#39;t much better price wise and getting to Gatwick is a real pain if you live in the Midlands or further north.
We eventually booked our flights with KLM. It does entail flying to Amsterdam from Birmingham, then on to Vegas via Detroit, but for the price of £341 what is one more stop. Ideally we would love to fly direct, which we have done a couple of times with Virgin and BMI but price is the deciding factor for us. Only 12 weeks to go and cant wait.!!!!!
If I win BIG will extend my stay and fly back direct!!!
Hi
We will be in Vegas at the end of June and want to take a day trip to the Grand Canyon. We will have a rental car but want to travel by plane or helicopter to fit the trip into one day.
I fond all the info very confusing but research so far indicates avoiding the west rim, but should we visit north or south rim and which company offers the best trip and best price?
Many thanks
Sally
There%26#39;s much more to see and do at the south rim, and you can fly there by fixed wing aircraft. Helicopters that depart LV don%26#39;t go all the way to the GCNP.
Check this link
www.grandcanyontourcompany.com/airsouth.html
thanks Redrox. Looks great and a very good price too.
Can%26#39;t wait!
Sally, just be aware that plane and helicopter trips leave you with relatively little time at the Canyon, in some cases as little as a half hour. Ask specifically how much time you will have at the South Rim. Most people choose to do these one day trips. I find them expensive and leaving folks wanting more after getting little more than a glimpse.
Hi Sally,
Have a great trip---one of my favorite parts of the world!
Michael is right, your time may be limited at the GC but then you will simply have to come back one day and do a proper road trip there. And the north rim is quite different to the south, it merits its own visit, via a nice leisurely drive through the Virgin River Gorge and Zion National Park...food for thought for the next vacation, maybe?
Enjoy your day!
Agreeing with kittygal and expanding. The Grand Canyon is huge. It%26#39;s impossibel to see it all in a day tip. But if you only have a day, at least try to see some of the best it has to offer. That can be found inside the Grand Canyon National Park, and the park at the South Rim has more to see and do in a short time, than any other place.
The North Rim is indeed a different environment. It is more remote, and requires more time just to get oriented and to see anything at all. I would never recommend a day tip to the NR. It would be all travel and no canyon.
The trip linked to above allows a minimal amount of time at the south rim, but it at least gets you there to where you can take in the vast views from a few different places in a short time slot.
The beset way to visit the GCNP is to plan an overnight stay with the best part of two days to explore the park and the rim. Going deeper requires even more time. If you get hooked, you%26#39;ll undertsand.
These words remind me of th Grand Canyon, north rim:
When through the woods, and forest glades I wander,
And hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees.
When I look down, from lofty mountain grandeur
And see the brook, and feel the gentle breeze.
Yep...I am definitely hooked...
Enjoy!
Any opinions on the Earl of Sandwich at PH ?
We are taking kids to see Toxic Audio and looking for a quick bite before the show. Should we eat here or stick with Subway?
Is it a good value, or rip-off ?
No comparison to subway. Great sandwiches, i am sure you will like Earl. Try it, you can have subway at home, so why bother while in Vegas?
Thanks,
That is what I was wanting to here. My son was checking out PH and came up with this place.
I actually have never heard of it.....but will give it a try.
Very good sandwiches and affordable too. Haven been there twice and will go again when i visit Planet Hollywood.
I had the grill cheese sandwich with three different kinds of cheese, applewood smoked bacon and roma tomatoes. We are staying at Planet Hollywood in 44 more days and I can%26#39;t wait to have another one.
Sher
I just posted a trip report last night that talks about the Earl of Sandwich..great place...sandwiches are all around 5.99 and are excellent...plus they make their own cookies and brownies...great value here.
There is also a place in the mall called Tacones...another great sandwich shop...grilled sandwiches and wrap for around 8.99...you can usually get a coupon on Restaurant.com
And, you will love Toxic Audio....very entertaining show.
I just looked it up to make sure this is the same place as in Downtown Disney at WDW and it is....and I and my 2 sons give it glowing recommendations. We ate there several times, and never had a meal we didn%26#39;t enjoy. It is head and shoulders above subway. Great lemonade, too!!
I also mentioned it in my trip report. Best sandwiches I%26#39;ve ever had (besides mine of course...lol). Hubby and I bought two and had half each. The value is good too.
Puts Subway to shame.
OK, so I%26#39;m sitting at work, bored to tears, and realized that there are 2 types of days for me. Days when I%26#39;m in Vegas, and days when I%26#39;m planning my next trip. I figured we could have a pretty lively thread if we each post an idea for one thing a day to do when we aren%26#39;t in Vegas. So we need 365 ideas! LOL!
Here%26#39;s my first one....
Measure my carry-on and make sure it will fit in the overhead compartment.
If I were in the US instead of an ocean away, I think I%26#39;d take $5 each day and put it into a bank, then when it was time to go to Vegas, I%26#39;d have some play money! If I%26#39;d give up my Starbucks latte each day I%26#39;m in the US, that%26#39;d save some play money, too!
OK, so now you%26#39;ve made me want to be in Vegas and I just got back from there two weeks ago!
Go shopping for Vegas necessities....
Yesterday I bought 2 pair of shoes for Vegas, 2 bathing suits for Vegas, a new top for Vegas.
:)
Stay up to date on the forum and fat wallet deals :)
practice my bobdancer.com video poker software (thanks for the tip about bob dancer chitown gambler!)
Wow, Steph, that does pretty much sum up my days too! Typically Vegas gives me an excuse to buy outlandish things I typically wouldn%26#39;t wear in real life. There was a dress with sequins that was justified with ';it%26#39;s for Vegas';.
I got back on Friday and yesterday I was looking up dates for Bette to see if she was going to be playing in September (she%26#39;s not) when I go back with my mom. Also checking into Donny and Marie (for mom). Again, I%26#39;ve been back two days.
There really are only two kinds of days - days in Vegas and days spent planning for Vegas. Way to point that out Steph!
Well I get about 12 days in Vegas a year - 2 6 day/5 night trips) and that means 353 days spent planning each year -354 this year since it%26#39;s leap year ;( That is a lot of planning time!!!and not enough Vegas time.
Oh I forgot my idea- I just bought some 3 ounce bottles at Walmart to fill up with Vodka to put in my carryon :)
this site keeps the dream alive
We are kindred spirits. With 91 days to go before my trip, I am beyond bored with anything not related to Las Vegas.
Anyway, my idea: read this forum for the most helpful information. Since neither I nor my travel companion have been in Vegas for years, I am reading all the posts I can to try and figure out how much we can cram into our 5 days. I%26#39;ve even cut and pasted some of the best ideas into a document!
My Wife and i are booked there for Sept 5th to th 9th.
I rarely see and forums or trip reports that include PH. Has anybody stayed there recently? I have heard the ';time share'; people are a pain but other than that any major problems with PH? I know there are reviews on it but it never seems to be discussed in the forums
Planet HollywoodWe are booked there July 29-Aug 1. I would like to know also.
Sher
Planet HollywoodMy Fiance and i are staying there July 1-5. When we get back i will let you know how it was. It will be our first visit there.
The timeshare people are only a pain if you let them be. Just say no thanks and keep walking.
yeah i wasn%26#39;t too wired my self although that seems to be the biggest complaint
well deshong when you get back i would love to hear what you have to say. hopefully you get a renovated room!
this is a great place to stay. my wife and i have stayed there 4 times since they changed over to planet hollywood.
the rooms are just average compared to the fancier places on the strip but they%26#39;re still satisfactory.
the casino itself has a great vibe, very upbeat. it may be the great music that they blast throughout, so if listening to loud top 40 music while you%26#39;re gambling doesn%26#39;t appeal to you, then this probably isn%26#39;t your place. they also have friendly dealers and good cocktail waitresses. it does cater to a younger crowd though/
the also offer good comps, so make sure you sign up for a players card. we usually charge all food to the room and then go to the vip desk and they almost always comp it all.
the location is also good, adjacent to paris, across from bellagio, and a short walk to mgm. the miracle mile shops has solid restaurants, though nothing glamorous. the breakfast burrito at la salsa cantina can%26#39;t be beat especially after a hard night of drinking.
hope that helps.
great post thanks for the info!
does anyone know if all the rooms have been renovated yet??
My husband and I stayed there in late April. It was our first trip, we thought the rooms were awesome. They were clean and large, we had a view of the mountains. The time share people never bothered us. The casino was nice and the Spice Market Buffet was probably the best buffet we went to. Also try the Earl of Sandwich. There was an ABC store in the Miracle Mile shops, which was convenient for refreshements in our room. Overall, we really like it a lot.
vegas247 thanks for the info re: the burrito i will keep it in mind
I was staying at the Bellagio when they had the Planet Hollywood grand opening last year, so of course i went over to check it out. I was blown away by the casino/ It is basically a big nightclub with great music, go go girls at the bararea and your typical casino tables/slots
They did a great job, place looks fantastic. Have not seen the rooms yet but thinking on my next trip i will check it out
HI ALEX!
If you look at the PH website not all of the rooms are renovated the first style of room shown with the big tan colored armior is the old rooms. All of the other photos rooms with the yellow striped wallpaper,blue velvet seats,flat screen T.V.%26#39;s, black laquer furniture, and red lamps are the new rooms.
The old rooms did get new beds/bedding and movie photos on the walls though. The bathrooms in the old and new rooms are the same. They both are large with a nice tub and seperate glass enclosed shower.
PH is not going to remodel the older rooms for a couple of years. That%26#39;s why they are a bit less expensive.
do the bars let any under 21%26#39;s in without not drinking or not?
where do you recommend with children?
Children and anyone under the age of 21 can be in a bar in Las Vegas, it%26#39;s the law and stricly enforced.
What do you mean, what do we recommend when with children? Recommend for what? restaurants? things to do? If it%26#39;s things to see and do, at the top of this page is a sticky of family related activities in and around Las Vegas.
From the sound of the question, it%26#39;s ';What bars do you recommend with children?';
lol
Some bars that serve food will allow minors if they%26#39;re eating whilst accompanied by an adult. Otherwise strictly no.
This is discussed on here very very frequently. Use the forum search to read many old threads and check out the sticky at the top of page one of the forum for family friendly stuff.
The only way an under 21 can be in a bar is if they look over 21 and manage to not get carded.
Most restaurants, including buffets, offer a good selection of beer, wine and mixed drinks and many can accomodate serving families. Margaritaville and Kahunaville do serve families and have a bar-like atmosphere through the entire restarant if you want the best of both worlds.
thinking off getting married in vegas and the couple who will coming out with us have children. you can go to a restaurant and have a meal and take children?
i know that vegas isnt really for kids but if the children well ahve to family orienated stuff then.
might be an idea to do the strip stuff at night like pirate show and freemont st.
I asked this before on here, we are taking our 8 yr old daughter, apparently you can%26#39;t sit in a bar with kids, it has to be a bar that serves food, but one thing I picked up tonight on here was, you can buy a drink somewhere and can actually wonder up and down the strip drinking and even take the drink into another casino, seems strange but true.
It%26#39;s a strange law, but it%26#39;s the law!
What are you doing on here mate, your way out of your hood.
that might be an idea.
Tickets for Bette are on sale at TicketMaster. $40 off two catagories of seats from July 1-18.
Details are on travelzoo.com Las Vegas events.
Thank You for this post.
You should bump it a couple of times so people can see the sale.
:-%26gt;
bump
Shrinkgirl - thanks for the tip. I saw your post a few days ago and reserved a pair of tickets for Bette for July 2nd (1st mezzanine, Section 5 row C).
My BH and I are not big Bette fans, but we%26#39;ve never been to a show at the Colosseum and figured this would be a relatively inexpensive way to see if we like this venue and type of show. Maybe see Cher next year.
I should be used to it by now, but I never cease to be surprised by the final price of the tickets after all the fees, surcharges and taxes have been levied. It%26#39;s almost as bad as renting a car... LOL.
Thanks again,
Gene
Yeah, those fees will get you every time. At least Bette tickets are not including an ';airport'; tax.
:-%26gt;
Would love to see Bette but do not fancy going to a concert on my own,maybe when I come back in Oct.
Thanks for the tip. I was able to get tickets for 7/11 to surprise my friend who is a BIG Bette fan.
shrink
They%26#39;ll probably start charging ';fuel surcharges';. It seems everyone is on that bandwagon.
I wonder if this means sales are ';soft';? I dont remember this in 5 years of Celine.
I asssume the best way to get to the Sands Convention Center from downtown(Fitz Hotel). The lecture I%26#39;m going to starts at 7:00. It should be a full house and seats are not reserved. I%26#39;m thinking about leaving at 5:00, or should I leave earlier then that?How long does the cab ride take?
Downtown LV is about 8 miles from the Sands center.
With some morning traffic it should only take 25 minutes to get there.
http://www.rtcsouthernnevada.com/transit/route/116/116(6-1-08).pdf
Has anyone gone to see Roseanne at the Sahara? Are tickets avaliable from the half price ticket booths?
Is the show any good?
Hi JohnHDublin,
The Roseann reviews are mixed. I haven%26#39;t attended the show yet but people seem to love it or hate it. If you%26#39;re a Roseann fan it seems that you%26#39;re not disappointed. If you go expecting it to be new or different Roseann you seem to hate it. Those are the comment I%26#39;ve picked up anyway.
If you are a fan, and would like a discount without waiting in line, go to www.goldstar.com and sign-up indicating Las Vegas as one of your choices. They have a very deep discount on her tickets.
I saw it at NYNY when our company was doing business with her. Not a bad show, although I was somewhat young when her show was on and don%26#39;t think I%26#39;ve seen an episode. I tottled down to the Sahara for only the second time this past weekend and she seems to be a much bigger deal there than being one of many big shows at NYNY.
Hey everyone -
Since I didn%26#39;t do much gambling on my last trip to Vegas I didn%26#39;t bother to sign up for players cards at the casinos. I have read on these forums that a number of casinos have low point qualifications for the first round of comps when using the players cards(i.e food vouchers, coupons, etc), but does anyone happen to know off hand the establishments that offer these deals? I know about the Wynn; any others?
Players cardsI know Harrah%26#39;s gives you a funbook that has a discount coupon to the buffet. People often sign up for the players cards so that we can receive room offers which also might include free buffets. I think that most people end up becoming loyal to one property like MGM, Harrah%26#39;s, Station Casino and so on. They start establishing themselves there and the properties do things to keep them. As far as free buffets discount coupons, if you don%26#39;t play that much, you should consider getting th POV or the ACG.
Players cardsIf you%26#39;re looking for freebies, the Wynn isn%26#39;t the place for you unless you%26#39;re dropping big cash. I don%26#39;t even think they have a cash back option for slots - it%26#39;s all more play.
As others here have discussed, Harrah%26#39;s is better at sending out free (weekday) and calendar rate room offers after you%26#39;ve left. You have to play a lot, in my experience, to get even a $20 dinner. I rarely play slots and never have there, so I can only speak of table games, but you need $10 coin-in for 1 point and a lot of points to get anything.
Your best advice is to find one chain and stick with them. If you don%26#39;t play much, you%26#39;d be better off playing at a smaller chain with out of the way casinos, like the Sahara, the Riviera, Circus Circus, or even one of the off-strip ones like Hooters. Many of these places do deals when you first sign up that if you get $5 in comp dollars, you get free stuff like shirts, buffets, etc. Sahara has a $6.99 dinner buffet for club members even if you never use the card. I also saw Harrah%26#39;s promoting that they%26#39;ll cover $100 of your losses if you sign up for their card. Just know that if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. A friend of mine saw an ad for $100 in free slot play at Hooters and checked it out, to find out it%26#39;s the same waste of time offered at Casino Royale, where you play fake $1 slots and only get paid if you hit a jackpot. Wow.
Correction: 1 point per $5 coin-in on slots, $10 on VP at Harrah%26#39;s.
Also, yes, if you want the funbooks with 2-for-1 coupons, $10 off shows, etc., they have them at most of the lower casinos. Harrah%26#39;s, Bill%26#39;s, I think IP, etc. Don%26#39;t think MGM has one outside of CC... anyone know?
I am leaving for the airport now and just wanted to thank everyone for their advice and suggestions. I planned some great things through this forum. Viva Las Vegas :)
Please do a TR when you get home. :o)
Good luck and rememder, Sin Responsibly.
I rarely see much mention of NYNY on this forum. I have never stayed there, but like the casino decor.
Those who have stayed there, what about NYNY makes you pick it over others in the same price range?
What about the rooms, spacious, nice?
The rooms are nice but small and for a resort that is so much smaller than many others some of the walks to rooms from the lifts (elevators) eclipse even the MGM. The pool is crap just a hoel filled with water and rooms are generally more expensive than nicer rooms elswhere. I last stayed there in 2002 and I would only stay there again if it was cheapetr than MGM or Mirage
I`ll be staying there in August and to be honest didn`t pick it for room size etc I just chose it because it came up first on the list at the travel agents. Not bothered how big or small the rooms are because i only intend using them to get my head down for a couple or 3 hours a night, i`d camp in a tent providing it means I get to go to vegas :)
I decided to go with NYNY, because, we got an extremely good price, on their Penthouse Suite (the biggest room on the property), which they don%26#39;t even really rent out.
I love the casino, restaurants, bars, theme, etc. and rec%26#39;d a three night comp offer from them, but I%26#39;m staying in a MGM suite and then 4 nights at the Palazzo.......I need my space and didn%26#39;t want to chance getting a small room with a small bathroom - a girl needs room to get beautified..........LOL.
we thought the same thing about he hotel/casino and were VERY disappointed with hour stay there. Out of 9 stays in Vegas it is still the most disappointing....
Rooms were dark, not very inviting. They were large, but no extra furniture so just a big empty space. The roller coaster screaming keep you from sleeping in after being out late. There is no sun at the pool because of the coaster overhead. And the service was atrocious.
People from the Midwest(Ohio, Minnesota, Texas ect.) LOVE NYNY.
It has the bar( I forgot the name) where the girls dance on the bar, force shots down the guys mouths, and then slap them around and then everyone raises cane.
YEEEHAAA.
I know alot of these people becuase alot of my relatives are from these states and NYNY is one of their favorite hotels to stay at.
The Park Ave. rooms at NYNY were completely renovated in 2005 and are only $10 more per night than the lowest price room(skyline rooms).
*****Coyote Ugly YeeeeHaaaww :o)
Stayed for the 1st [and last] time over the Memorial Day weekend. Had a room in the Park Avenue tower and it was dark and not inviting.
Lots of construction going on there now and very noisy. I%26#39;m a downtown girl at heart!
