Las Vegas

thewander

Me and the wife were looking to get away over Christmas this year and were looking at a week in Vegas from 20th Dec to 27th Dec. I know it wont be too warm but will there still be a good buzz around on Christmas Day and will all the clubs etc still be open?

Choc Affair

smoke a cigar...

while playing the slots!!!:rolleyes:

dudara

thewander wrote: »

Me and the wife were looking to get away over Christmas this year and were looking at a week in Vegas from 20th Dec to 27th Dec. I know it wont be too warm but will there still be a good buzz around on Christmas Day and will all the clubs etc still be open?

We were in Vegas for 4 nights before Christmas last year. Flew home so that we arrived in Dublin airport on Christmas Eve morning.

We found that a lot of the shows and acts had closed for their Christmas holidays and would be reopening after Christmas Day.

TBH I was expecting a very Christmassy atmosphere - and it really wasn't there. The casinos and hotels are such insulated and self-contained environments that you wouldn't even notice that it was coming close to Christmas.

LightBulb87

Hi,

Going over to Las Vegas next month. Thinking about going to a show, perhaps the Lion King.
I read somewhere that you can queue up very early to get cheap tickets but just wondering is there any other way I can get cheapish tickets? Cheers.

Dodge

There's a place in the Fashow Show mall that sells cut price tickets to shows but its hit and miss as to whats available.

Whtaver you do, don't fall for the free tickets "all you have to do is listen to our offer" type deal. A friend of mine got free cirque to soleil tickets but lost 3 hours of his life

Acoshla

We got tickets for Cirque Du Soleil at tix4tonight on the strip, pretty reasonable for amazing seats.

LightBulb87

Thanks guys. Very helpful. Will try both of these suggestions.

Dodge

I’m back to Vegas in 8 weeks. Anybody have anything to add to the above postings?

I think I’ll be checking out the Fremont St zipline thing which looks good value at $20

Staying in PH this time and four heading so it’ll be a different type of holiday to the last time I was there

djkeogh

taking my 3rd trip to Vegas in September. Over there for 6 nights which will be my longest stay yet having been 5 nights the last two times. Already thinking we'll be pushed on time to get everything done but looking forward to it. Taking in a big fight and planning on a trip to the Valley of Fire for a day. Not sure whether to rent a car for the day to got to the Valley of Fire or to do some sort of dune buggy tour.

So much choice in this city. Easily my favourite destination. If only the pocket allowed me to get over more often.

unklerosco

I rented a car last time I was there and did the hoover dam n out to the valley of fire... It was class mainly cause this was the car I rented :-)



Was around $220 for two days, got it grom Hertz in the Flamingo.. Was pure luck that they had it, I just walked in and said I wanted a convertible and it was all they had left..

djkeogh

Yea I was thinking of renting a car from this place

http://www.dreamcarrentals.com/

as they have some wicked cars but the daily prices are way out there. That's a pretty sweet ride you had for those few days. Would be nice to luck out like that at a general rentals place. I'd be looking at a 5 seater though which more or less limits me to an SUV or a vintage Cadillac. I know which I'd be choosing

Caveman1

Hey guys a bit of advice needed, myself and the gf are lookin to go over to Vegas in March/April next year for 4/5 days, how much money would you recommend we bring bearing in mind that we wouldn't be goin crazy on gambling, also would it be cheaper to book it ourselves or just go through a travel agent? Thanks

Cosmo Kramer

Book it yourselves, use www.kayak.com for flights about two to three months before you go, go to the vegas forum page on www.moneysavingexpert.co.uk and use the links on page one of the thread to find a hotel deal around the same time. Book a fully refundable hotel deal so that you can switch if you see a better offer nearer the time.

Stay Sunday night through Thursday night and try to avoid holiday dates. Hotel prices rise massively on Friday and Saturday nights, three to four times the midweek price is common.

If it is your first time, stay on the strip. Avoid Imperial Palace though - no matter how good a deal is going, there is a lot of work going on there that is unlikely to be completed by the time you go. Its a hole anyway. Excalibur worth avoiding also.

Depending on your budget Venetian/Palazzo/Wynn should be available for around $129 plus taxes midweek. These are all amazing hotels. If that's too expensive try MGM or Monte Carlo as a budget option - prices around $60-$70 per night are realistic.

$100 per day is loads if you're not gambling. If you're a late riser try the buffet lunch at Bellagio for $20 - $25, 30 minute queue but the food is great and it will fill you for the day and you'll still have $150 to spend in your budget. Casino Royale do $1 margaritas. Its a hole but you can pick up cheap drink as you wander down the strip.

Caveman1

Cosmo Kramer wrote: »

Book it yourselves, use www.kayak.com for flights about two to three months before you go, go to the vegas forum page on www.moneysavingexpert.co.uk and use the links on page one of the thread to find a hotel deal around the same time. Book a fully refundable hotel deal so that you can switch if you see a better offer nearer the time.

Stay Sunday night through Thursday night and try to avoid holiday dates. Hotel prices rise massively on Friday and Saturday nights, three to four times the midweek price is common.

If it is your first time, stay on the strip. Avoid Imperial Palace though - no matter how good a deal is going, there is a lot of work going on there that is unlikely to be completed by the time you go. Its a hole anyway. Excalibur worth avoiding also.

Depending on your budget Venetian/Palazzo/Wynn should be available for around $129 plus taxes midweek. These are all amazing hotels. If that's too expensive try MGM or Monte Carlo as a budget option - prices around $60-$70 per night are realistic.

$100 per day is loads if you're not gambling. If you're a late riser try the buffet lunch at Bellagio for $20 - $25, 30 minute queue but the food is great and it will fill you for the day and you'll still have $150 to spend in your budget. Casino Royale do $1 margaritas. Its a hole but you can pick up cheap drink as you wander down the strip.

Thanks, some good info there.

I rang tour America and they quoted me €986pp for 5 days starting 30th May staying in the excalibur, I know you said avoid that hotel but what do you think of that price?

I heard stories that as long as your gambling, even small amounts you get free drink is that true?

Dodge

Caveman1 wrote: »

I heard stories that as long as your gambling, even small amounts you get free drink is that true?

Yep, but depending on where you go you mightn't see a waitress for a while. They'll be busy at the people betting bigger amounts.

TBH no one can tell you how much to bring as only you will know what type of holiday you want. You could have a subway for lunch for $5 or you could spent $200 in a fancy restaurent. Like wise drinks. You can buy bottles of bud light for practically nothing and walk the streets like everyone else, or get charged well over $10 for the same in a club.

We did a bit of both. Some days you'd have a sandwich for lunch. Other days you'd spend $20 on breakfast in Paris. If you're into seeing a show you'll have to pay full price if you want to guarentee seeing it on the night you want. or you could get discouonted tickets at the many booths on the strip the day before.

Shopping in Vegas is as good as anywhere in the world. So if thats a consideration budget accordingly (similarly you have the highest of high end shops, to go with outlet malls and discount stores).

Whatever way you decide to go, vegas has stuff in your price range. I'd advise against scrimping though. Bring more than you'll think you'll need and if you come home with it, all the better

Caveman1

Thanks for the advice Dodge,

I was thinking of going for the Paris hotel does anyone have advice on it?
I'm actually really looking forward to booking it so it'll be official. How much is the helicopter trip to the grand canyon? It's something I'm definitely interested in doing

Cosmo Kramer

Excalibur may be just about OK if you're going with kids or something. Personally I'd advise giving it a miss though. Paris would be a much better option. Better hotel and excellent location right opposite the Bellagio fountains.

The weekend you are looking at will be the Memorial Day weekend I think. Last big weekend in Vegas before the summer heat hits and the tourists go elsewhere. If you are flexible with your dates you will almost certainly get a better price on another set of dates. Rememeber Vegas is struggling and deals are there to be had. Watch the heat in late May/early June though I was there from 27/5 to 1/6 this year and it was regularly into the 40s (well over 100F).

Either way you will have a great trip though, Vegas is a fantastic place to visit.

Caveman1

Cosmo Kramer wrote: »

Excalibur may be just about OK if you're going with kids or something. Personally I'd advise giving it a miss though. Paris would be a much better option. Better hotel and excellent location right opposite the Bellagio fountains.

The weekend you are looking at will be the Memorial Day weekend I think. Last big weekend in Vegas before the summer heat hits and the tourists go elsewhere. If you are flexible with your dates you will almost certainly get a better price on another set of dates. Rememeber Vegas is struggling and deals are there to be had. Watch the heat in late May/early June though I was there from 27/5 to 1/6 this year and it was regularly into the 40s (well over 100F).

Either way you will have a great trip though, Vegas is a fantastic place to visit.

Cheers for the info,

What dates would you recommend going on? I'm pretty flexible with dates.

Acoshla

We were there on Memorial Day weekend, it was madness, absolutely mobbed, wouldn't recommend it! Luckily we were leaving on the Sunday after 10 days there so weren't too bothered but if it was the start of/main part of our holiday it would've been a bit much.

adox

Stayed in the Palazzo a couple of years ago and it was one of the nicest hotels I've ever stayed in. The rooms are all suites so are huge. Really of you can afford it I'd recommend it or something similar. Excalibur isn't that great. If you are travelling that distance you want a nice place to stay and the palazzo is spectacular.

Next door is the Wynn hotel which is another top notch hotel. They do a buffet dinner - flat fee and then eat as much as you want. We went there on more than one occasion. Think it was around $35 or $40 a head back then but the food and choice was spectacular. There were different sections for different parts of the world. Even the roast beef had three different joints displayed with a chef ready to carve, all cooked to different degrees, rare to well done.

If you are going to the Grand Canyon(and it is definitely worth a trip) I'd recommend vising the south rim rather than the more popular west rim. The west rim is nearer to Vegas and has the donut walk way on it. The south rim is further away but is deeper and wider than the west rim and is just immense, something I will never forget seeing.

We booked our trip in the Palazzo. It was pricey, I can't remember exactly how much, maybe $200 or $300 each but it was worth it for a once in a lifetime experience. We were collected by coach from the hotel and brought to an airstrip where we had roughly a 45 minute flight on a very small plane to th south rim. I'd say the plane held 15 people max. No closed cockpit, pilot and co pilot sitting straight in from of you. Once in the air they asked if anyone wanted to come forward and talk to them. No one moved so I went straight up beside them and spent most of the flight up there talking to them some spectacular views from the cockpit as we flew over the grand canyon.

Hen we landed we were collected by another coach and visited two different points of the south rim, being dropped off a t both for approx an hour and a half each. You could pay extra for a helicopter ride into th errand canyon if you wanted.

Visit as many hotels as you can on the strip. They are great fun and so different from each other but with one aim, to take your money from you.

Cosmo Kramer

I'd say anytime after the Easter holidays and before Memorial Day weekend would be a good bet. Weather should be warm but not uncomfortably hot.

Would agree with most of what the previous poster said. Stayed in the Venetian this time around, it was just incredible. The Venetian/Palazzo are more or less the same hotel (Palazzo is a more recent addition) so we used the Palazzo pool area as we preferred it. Better atmosphere in the public area of Venetian than Palazzo though. Even the most basic rooms in both hotels are incredible (eg 3 tvs per room) and midweek you're paying what you would pay for an 8x8 box in Manhattan.

Thought the Wynn buffet was great but tried the Bellagio one the following day and it was even better - which is saying something. Actually I'm getting hungry just thinking about it...

adox

Looks like Im going to Vegas in September for 4 nights. Will be flying in and out from NY so have been looking on Expedia for package deals.

Would love to stay in the Palazzo where we stayed the last time but its coming in too pricey for me.

Theres a couple of 5 star places in the relatively new citycentre complex that are bang on the money for what we want to spend - Aria and Vdara. Anyone stayed in either of these? Was certainly in the casino of Aria the last time we were there and liked the look of the hotel but obviously didnt see the rooms etc. Vdara we didnt visit so dont know what it is like at all.

4 nights and return flights from JFK coming in around 440 euro a head with one checked bag with a couple of airlines. Favouring Jetblue at the moment as the last time we flew with them they were great.

Any other accomadation suggestions greatly appreciated. Venetian, Palazzo, Belagio all coming in around 150 - 200 dollars more for the trip which I`d prefer not to spend. The two citycentre ones look a good alternative to having a bit of luxery and saving a few quid.

ellie2

register on venetian website for emails. ive been getting emails about carnivale deals and prices are good up until mid sepetmber. We're going early october and its a lot pricier. We got the VDARA on priceline for 3 nights hoping to book the wynn or ventian for 2 more nights but watching prices. I find trivago good for comparing prices of the specific hotels. The VDARA and ARIA come up regularly in the south 5star zone on hotwire as well if you havent heard of or wouldnt chance priceline.

adox

ellie2 wrote: »

register on venetian website for emails. ive been getting emails about carnivale deals and prices are good up until mid sepetmber. We're going early october and its a lot pricier. We got the VDARA on priceline for 3 nights hoping to book the wynn or ventian for 2 more nights but watching prices. I find trivago good for comparing prices of the specific hotels. The VDARA and ARIA come up regularly in the south 5star zone on hotwire as well if you havent heard of or wouldnt chance priceline.

Thanks for the reply. Ended up booking the Aria. Booked flight and hotel with JetBlue. $440 each. Got our flights with Delta to NY for €345 each so really happy with the prices.

SdoowSirhc

I was there a few years ago when I was about 8 or 9 :P Loved it but it was extremely hot. That was at the start of June so maybe earlier in the year would be better. It was amazing though, we stayed in the Luxor hotel. The Egyptian theme was really cool but any of the hotels along the Strip were great, especially Caesers Palace. We visited the MGM and they had baby lions that you could get your photo taken with and a Rainforest cafe like the one in Euro Disney My dad brought me to a ZZ Top concert and I met Billy Gibbons in the hotel bar before the gig. A trip to Vegas wouldn't be complete without a visit to Hoover Dam, it's beautifully contrasting in the dry desert.

youcancallmeal

Which sites do people use for checking hotel prices? Do you just go directly onto the hotel's website or use some sort of aggregator website?

Also anyone got any recommendations for a helicopter tour of the Grand Canyon?

adox

youcancallmeal wrote: »

Which sites do people use for checking hotel prices? Do you just go directly onto the hotel's website or use some sort of aggregator website?

Also anyone got any recommendations for a helicopter tour of the Grand Canyon?

smartervegas.com is a good place for hotel discounts.