Luci, was hoping it might be an adventure by driving. We would hire a car in Vegas anyway, so no real harm in hiring it right the way through. Just not totally sure about the LA part. Would be nice to save £200 each on the flight. Can't be bothered booking other flights as there's a risk of missing fights with other airlines. I also don't want to do a 2 stop either.

I'm a bit curious about seeing the canyon from the ground too - I felt like seeing it from a plane didn't seem real. Not sure I'd be brave enough to go onto the skywalk thing though!!!

Lesley, a roundabout way of maybe getting cheaper flights is to start your journey to the US from outwith the UK. It should be cheaper going from the likes of Amsterdam with KLM or Frankfurt with Lufthansa. However another route to look for is from Dublin.

I read elsewhere that someone got a cheap flight to Dublin then flew DUB-LHR-LAS as it was £200 cheaper doing it that way. Have a look at Aer Lingus although I am maybe getting confused with them going elsewhere in the US.

luci

Thanks Luci

They only do Dublin to New York or Orlando. Put in prices from Glasgow to New York, (connect in Dublin with them), and it's just over £500 each. Not going to be worth the hassle when we can fly to LA for £560 or so with one stop. Don't fancy the drive from NY to Vegas

Still can't decide. I'm still looking at the LA option, with the choice of where to drive through and how long to stop still under consideration. Unless US Airways have a sale of course. Another factor is that I don't want to lose our miles with them (inactivity during 18 month period would make us lose them).

So glad I booked when we did before Christmas. Same deal, 6 nights PH & Virgin direct flights is now £120pp more today and was even £182pp more during the week and that is before cashback. Who said you should never book at weekends?

Based on what we paid I wouldn't even get 6 nights in the Riviera now with the flights.

Once my Wife is paid we are going to go for the LVA MRB membership, I think we will get the value back and then some quite easily. I did look again at Restaurant.com as $25 certs are now $2 but with three purchased already I don't want to make the cardinal sin of planning restaurants around coupons, although I suppose I am doing that with the LVA MRB coupons to a degree. There is someone on the LV forum on TA who heavily criticises both ACG and LVA saying ALL the coupons are available locally for nothing, my comment yesterday was where locally can you get a 2 for 1 Cravings Buffet coupon? You can't. They then patronised everybody who has bought or who is thinking of buying either coupon book by saying "I guess there is some benefit to having the coupons all in one place".

With the Gatwick Central Travelodge booked for the 23rd March I guess next step is to book the train tickets down there. Fortunately, National Express East Anglia have singles to London for £5pp at the moment and with a short tube hop from Liverpool Street to Farringdon then its a £9pp train direct to Gatwick. Great prices. Roll on.....

Lesley,
Are you not even the teeny weeny bit tempted just to book the LA flights and then a cheap Southwest straight to Vegas? There are so many during the day that I am sure you can be comfortable with connections etc. We did this in 2007 as Vegas direct was horrendous, ended up paying £379 for the LA flights from London (chance now would be a fine thing) and then $39 Southwest flights about 3 hours after we were due to get into LAX. In the end we could have made the one before but at least it gave us chance for a sit down and a drink and bite to eat. Arrived in Vegas feeling totally relaxed and ready to go just 50 minutes later.

American Casino back on 265 Travel and Living on Sky. Behind the scenes at Green Valley Ranch, well worth a watch. 5am in the morning every day for an hour....

Ju - I wonder though if you flew direct from London to LA? We've got to do a Glasgow to Heathrow connection as it is, and I'd be worried that we missed a connection in LA (that we would not be covered for if we did because of the separate booking). I think I'm tempted to try this as an adventure with the driving. I know you are probably thinking against partly because you've done LA (and don't want to revisit). I do also suspect that I may feel the same as I also didn't like Miami much! We're driving down to York for the weekend in a few weeks, I might see how I enjoy that drive and decide ha ha.

We got a great deal on a flight to India, we booked on Boxing night. We could have got direct flights cheaper a couple of time, but this was the best price I'd seen on the flight with stop at Dubai, so we just had to get it booked asap!!! That said, I like to have the Vegas flights booked around now!

I'm also going to look at the option of an open jaw ticket, so we only drive one way. That way we don't have the worry of the drive again if we don't like it. I'm not sure how we that will work though. Shame there's no other cities within a few hours of Vegas, so isolated.

Great that you are happy with your deal Ju - that's always a good feeling. No fun when the price drops after booking.

We're also looking at the LVA MRB membership, never done it before. Is it the $37 online version you do then I take it? I've not looked into it properly yet, but the buffet coupons will pay for it easily. Someone also said the Palms coupon is good.

Been ages since I have checked in on here..forgot all about. Been busy over on the MSE thread though,

Will have to check out that american casino show on living

Luci

I have had the LVA membership most years for $37 online, but I dont pay to get the reward book posted, I go to their offices and pick it up, its not far off the strip

I will be going for the online $37 membership but when I checked shipping rates for the coupon booklet I'm sure it came up with no charge for international shipping which I thought made a nice change, might just be me though....

Lesley, forgot about the Glasgow to London leg to be honest but I think Southwest would put you on the next flight to Vegas if you missed your planned flight. They did with us during our big trip a few years back, one of the best airline customer service I have ever seen. There are so many LAX to Vegas flights. When we did it in 2007 there must have been about 40 people on the 6pm(ish) flight we got and it took 50mins, no immigration and was able to check into the MGM at the airport whilst my Wife waited for the luggage.

Go with the driving though if you are convinced, I don't think you will regret a few days in LA and it will be another place ticked off the list. I wouldn't go back to LA itself but there is serious justification for spending more time in CA in the future.

Hi

Going to Vegas in July for the first time. Whats this LVA membership and what do you get for your money?

HERE is a list of the coupons from the MRB. You can follow links on the page to the membership options.

wookeyhole1 You have to take the 5 year old to the pet show in PH halfpriceshows.com/index.html Also if you need a break for a play or a meal they have kids clubs in Palms and Orleans if you fancy a pint on the strip the nine fine Irishmen on the outside table at NYNY you can only drink with children in certain bars normally ones that sell food the exception to this rule seems to be the outside bar at caesars palace and the bar in the show area between IP and Harrahs but sit away from the bar.

LVA MRB 2012 ordered today. Also train tickets Norwich to London and Farringdon to Gatwick booked yesterday, total cost £19.30 for two of us to get to Gatwick, thanks to special offer £5 singles Norwich to London on National Express East Anglia and £5 discount voucher each from Red Spotted Hanky for taking a picture of our Christmas presents in their special wrapping.

Just return journey to sort out, although trains from Gatwick are not going through Central London on 31st March so not quite sure how we will be getting home yet but I don't really want to think about that part at the moment anyway, for obvious reasons.

Roll on 23rd March!

Prices descending @luxorlv Canceled and re booked saved $200 That will cover the resort fees !!!!!!

Yes, Luxor now cheaper than Excalibur on our dates which is quite remarkable really. Our PH deal still beats both though and I fancy staying somewhere new.

Good savings Wazzer

It was a smarter Vegas deal

Also Ex and may others charge for kids as we travel with a 8 Y.O. its always Mandalay /MGM or Luxor.

It's gone a bit quiet on this thread, so thought I'd better let you all know that.....

Next month we will be in Vegas

Ok it's March 24th admittedly but it is next month.

Lesley, did you make a decision on LA?