Las Vegas

byrneg28

I'm suppossed to be travelling to Vegas with some friends in April. I'll be travelling on my own though.

I'm just wondering. I usually book everything myself and It's looking at around 780 euro for flights and staying in Excalibur.

I'm just wondering is this reasonable or am I way off the mark.

Any help would be great

billie1b

If you want to compare it to the price of mine, i'm travelling out at the start of March, I cant give you the breakdown of just the Vegas part but my price is €1135 for the full trip, all taxes included, the itinerary is as follows,

FLIGHTS
DUB - LHR with BA
LHR - LAS with BA
LAS - JFK with AA
JFK - LHR with BA
LHR - DUB with BA

HOTELS
MGM in Vegas for 4 nights
Best Western in NYC for 3 nights

The Backwards Man

What dates in April? How many nights? Flights would usually be around the 500 mark in April (apart from Easter) and the guts of €300 would be dear enough for Excalibur imo, unless you're staying a week or are already factoring in the resort fee.

ziedth

That sounds pricey for the Excalibur to be honest. Is it a weekend?

byrneg28

Yes the flight is 520. I could make it cheaper but the times are the best for me (regards to sleeping and jet-lag)

5 Nights in Excalibur April 22nd (Wed) - April 27 (Mon) - works out at about 50 euro a night.

ziedth

Ah it's 5 nights over a weekend? That IMO is about as good as you are gonna get. Personally I'd advise you try push the boat out and go centre strip like Planet Hollywood or around that. It's dearer but for clubbing etc it's allot handier

byrneg28

ziedth wrote: »

Ah it's 5 nights over a weekend? That IMO is about as good as you are gonna get. Personally I'd advise you try push the boat out and go centre strip like Planet Hollywood or around that. It's dearer but for clubbing etc it's allot handier

Cheers mate I appreciate the advice!

MadsL

Seriously consider trying to trade up from the Excaliber. Avoid dirt cheap hotels/casinos in Vegas, you can get some way better deals at quality casinos if you shop around.

billie1b

MadsL wrote: »

Seriously consider trying to trade up from the Excaliber. Avoid dirt cheap hotels/casinos in Vegas, you can get some way better deals at quality casinos if you shop around.

The Excalibur was the first hotel in my package, I changed it after family and friends telling me to go nowhere near it, is it that bad?

collie0708

Excalibur, circus circus and the stratosphere are often sold by Irish tour companies and I would avoid if possible. I can't see the point in going all the way in Vegas and staying in one of these when for €20 a night you can get somewhere far nicer and in a better location .

The Backwards Man

billie1b wrote: »

The Excalibur was the first hotel in my package, I changed it after family and friends telling me to go nowhere near it, is it that bad?

It's not that they are bad, anywhere else in the world they'd be the lap of luxury, it's just that there is so much better (in terms of comfort and location) for so little extra. It's like paying 100,000 for a Merc when you could pay 100,010 for a Rolls Royce

InTheTrees

collie0708 wrote: »

Excalibur, circus circus and the stratosphere are often sold by Irish tour companies and I would avoid if possible.

Excalibur isnt too bad. Its right next door to New York New York and across the street from MGM so its right in the thick of things, its just that its on the edge of things.

Its dated all right but that makes it a little cheaper.

We stayed at Bally's last year and it was great. Old and dated so it was cheap but right on the strip by Bellagio and Paris.

I agree about Circus circus and stratosphre though, there a good half mile walk from anything much.

fourinarow

I cannot post the link as I am a new user but the same trip with expedia is €696, and that includes flying with Virgin.

Dublinflyer

Subscribe to the Anthony Curtis Las Vegas Adviser mailing list. There are always great offers on that, especially if you don't mind paying upfront. I am heading there in a few weeks and using a discount code I got the MGM for €50 a night with a few vouchers for the buffets.

billie1b

Dublinflyer wrote: »

Subscribe to the Anthony Curtis Las Vegas Adviser mailing list. There are always great offers on that, especially if you don't mind paying upfront. I am heading there in a few weeks and using a discount code I got the MGM for €50 a night with a few vouchers for the buffets.

What month you heading? Im heading in March, staying in MGM also, will be my first time stateside

Dublinflyer

I will be there the first week of February for 4 days. It's part of a bigger trip. I have been to Vegas so many times but I will be with my sister this time so i have to behave myself ;-)

billie1b

Cool, enjoy, any tips or recommendations?

Dublinflyer

Depends on what you like to do. If you are into clubs a bur tour is great on the first or second night. You get to see a few clubs and there is lots of free drink. If clubs are not your thing there are plenty of bars in the hotels and out on the strip. You can have as much fun in them as the clubs and I think you have a better chance of "making friends" That's been my experience anyway. One thing I will say, drink is as expensive as it is here in Dublin, even dearer in the clubs. A bottle of beer will cost you the guts of $20 in some places. This may be a silly sounding thing to say but know your budget and stick to it. It's really easy to lose the run of yourself there and blow all your cash in the first few days. Especially if you gamble. You could find yourself having a very quiet last night there.

A helicopter flight at night is great as well, you can usually get one for about $80 all in. They pick you up at your hotel. Make sure to catch the pirate show in from of the TI hotel, they run it a few times a night and it's free. Get a cab up to the stratosphere and hit the viewing desk at night. If you are brave do the sky jump there, it's expensive at $100 a go but it's well worth it IMO. Just explore the hotels and everything they have to offer, you can spend a lot of money in Vegas but there is plenty to do for free or very cheap.

billie1b

Cool thanks, not a big clubber, more of a sit in the bar type, but I dont mind exploring, was planning on giving the Strat a go, defo will now one night.
Not sure about the heli tour, as much as I love aviation and planes, helicopters freak me out a bit, never know though, I might build up the courage.
Thanks again for the info

Dublinflyer

Not a big clubber myself but the party bus was great fun to be honest. They don't cost a fortune and you more than make up for it with the free drink on the bus and admission to the clubs. It's can be an inexpensive night.

lorenzo87

I stayed in the Excalibur. It's not nice, at all. MGM across the road a million times better, I stayed there too...

Dublinflyer

I have always felt that if you are on a budget any hotel on the strip will do, except Hooters! They are all mostly clean and lets face it how much time do you really spend in the hotel or room when you are there. I have stayed in Excalibur in the past when I did not have a lot of funds and you are right it's old and dated and not the most exciting place to stay, but the rooms can be cheap and it's right across the road from the MGM and NYNY. It's just a bit further to stumble back to if you are partying in the MGM. The Stratosphere can be another one to avoid as it is a good bit away from the strip, a taxi ride. So you may get a cheaper room there but you will spend it on taxi's when you are there. There is nothing wrong with the hotel , just its location.

I have however heard some real horror stories about hooters, sticky floors, Bed Bugs etc. All second hand as I have never stayed there.

lorenzo87

If you have stayed in Vegas before and are a medium to high roller, you will get free accomodation in the MGM... A friend of mine is a bit of a punter, and they put him into the suite in the MGM for free for the entire stay..

Dublinflyer

I have managed a few upgrades but am not a huge gambler so never managed to get comped. It would be nice thought, the suites there are something else!!

lorenzo87

The suites there are like penthouse apartments, top of the range.
When I go back, I will be booking the Bellagio, I think the place is magical. A little bit away from the strip though.

Dublinflyer

I have to admit there is something about the Bellagio alright. It really is the lap of luxury and there is always a great atmosphere and the few times I have stayed there it's always ran smoothly.

ceadaoin.

I stayed at the Bellagio last month. It's not away from the strip at all

Myself and my husband stayed in a suite which was amazing. My parents had a standard room and that was very nice too. We got a good deal on hotels.com which included $75 food and beverage credit for each room. They didn't apply the credit to my parents room originally and and added another $100 when we went to sort it out. Very good service.

We live in Vegas and will definitely be returning there for a night shortly.

InTheTrees

Yeahh Bellagio is right across from Paris. On the strip.

We stayed there a few years ago. We got a room at front looking on to the strip and the fountain show.

It was average for the extra $$ it cost. I hate the way you have to endlessly queue for things now in Vegas.

The Backwards Man

ceadaoin. wrote: »

I stayed at the Bellagio last month. It's not away from the strip at all

InTheTrees wrote: »

Yeahh Bellagio is right across from Paris. On the strip.

Wee bit back from the street though, think that is what they mean.:P Puts me off on my strip meanderings, same as with Caesar's and even the Mirage.

Dublinflyer

It can take a few minutes of walking to get from your room and out on the strip. Still, I would not be complaining! Once you get to the strip you are right in the middle of it where with the MGM you are at the end. One thing I like in the MGM is that it has a monorail station. That will get you to the other end of the strip in no time at all. Cheaper than a taxi as well.

MarkY91

We got 1 week end of June staying at flamingo for 900 each. July and August ad it would have been a few hundred extra.

Nice central location with s decent pool. Old hotel and not like cesars etc but will only be sleeping there