This map might help you get your bearings.
http://www.lasvegasmaps.com/stripmap.html
One of the moderators of this board has just got back from Las Vegas, he'll have some info for you tomorrow I am sure re latest package deals.
I wouldn't book anything that didn't have ALL the fees taxes and etc on the final amount BEFORE you confirm.

The Stratosphere and MGM are virtually on the opposite ends of the strip.

The Stratosphere is classed as "budget" but we found it more than acceptable. So, if price is a consideration I would suggest joining some of your friends in the Stratosphere hotel.

When booking a hotel and flight together, it is usually deemed as a package and from experience the flight costs are not broken down in the same way when booking a flight by itself.

You could always do a "dummy" booking where you stop before submitting the holiday online (just enter false details including credit card details) as the total amount to be debited from a credit/debit card is always shown on the last page with the last step of booking online pressing the "confirm" button.

Mark

Here are some examples from Manchester, for 1 adult, flight with US Airways, on Expedia.co.uk

5-11 December.

Aladdin/Planet Hollywood £918
MGM £1084
Strat £671
Excalibur £785

Should give you an idea. Excalibur, MGM, Tropicana, Monte Carlo, NYNY, Bellagio are all within easy walking distance fo MGM. And they're a SAFE walk. Could suggest Sahara to be up near your friends at the Strat, but not safe to walk when dark up there.

Any questions, ask away!

erm.....can I say that the 'not safe' comment is probably a bit too much!? Yes it's the seedier area of Vegas but I wouldn't want us to make someone think you can't go out after sundown in Vegas!!
Frankly mate, I would look at staying on the strip as you're likely to spend a lot of time travelling up there if you stayed at the Strat anyway!

I stayed at the MGM Grand two weeks ago for £35 a night and in my eyes it was a complete bargain because I loved the MGM Grand, much much more than I thought I would. Check out the Fatwallet site http://www.fatwallet.com/forums/messageview.php?catid=63&threadid=704925&start=820, the good deals will start to come through.

TC

Well I hope the Air Canada offering is a bargain. Not sure why you would want to mess around with AC and a flight via Canada when you could fly direct from Manchester with bmi? Have you also thought about the MyTravel charter from MAN?

I checked the price of bmi flights for those dates and they were coming in at £2000!
luci

You're right...and I now know why. These dates coincide with the Ricky Hatton vs Floyd Mayweather Jr fight (8th December).

Hi Tee Cee

I probably should have clarified what I mean. I don't particularly like the strat area, and I tend not to walk there at night. However, the poster sounds like he's going on his own and has friends staying at the strat. I said this in reference to him being at the strat with his friends then saying goodbye quite late and walking to the Sahara on his own. I'm thinking that's not safe. however, mid strip that would not be a problem.

Ok, the area is not totally unsafe, but as it's quite 'gappy' up there with spaces between casinos I think it's not very well lit, and it can be quite a seedy area. It's not the best, that's all - and I'd be extra wary if walking alone.

I have stayed at the Flamingo Hotel which was lovely and would also recommend Bills Gambling Hall and Saloon. Both hotels are midstrip across the road from Caesars and Bellagio and mid way between Stratosphere and MGM.

Don't forget to check the hotel reviews HERE

Pippy

To start with, what is the price you are being quoted by Air Canada? That will make a difference to what people on here advise you to do.

I have just looked at a few of my favourite hotels and they are booked up for the day before the fight. Can I suggest Travelaxe to you. You can limit the search to strip hotels only if that is what you want.

Travelaxe

The Las Vegas maps link is good for giving you an idea of locations. I hope you get there and enjoy the atmosphere during the fight. There is also a location map on the Travelaxe website for you to check out distances. Best of luck.

Hi all

As the title says, I am looking for hints/tips for my trip to Vegas. I'm staying in Excalibur on Dec 5th - 10th.

Firstly, I take it the are TV's on the planes. Rather than pay an extortionate amount for a pair of headphones on the plane, is it possible to take my own? Or, more to the point, do I need them? Are they supplied on the plane? Are they even used?

Any other hints and tips at all will help.

Weather tips?
Clothing Tips?
Shopping tips?

Is it true that if you want FREE beer all night you just stand in the casino with a cup of coins pretending to play the machines, and the girls come around and give you free beer?

Is it true that ALL pools are outside the hotels, and they are closed in December?

Any tips on my hotel (Excalibur)

Any tips at all will help.

Merged with existing thread.

If you search the forum you'll find all the info you need

Reviews HERE.

Shopping tips HERE.

Flight info HERE, post in the appropriate thread.

Weather info HERE.

Pippy

Yes, I think all pools are outdoors, so not much chance of a swim I'm afraid. I wouldn't be surprised if some of them with heated pools and large jacuzzis kept them open though. However, I doubt non-guests can go in.

As for using a cup of coins to pretend to gamble, that may have worked 5 years ago, but most slot machines are TITO now (ticket in, ticket out). You can put notes in, but any winnings, cash out money will be in the form of a ticket that you can take to the cashier. There's a bit of a fake coin jingling noise when it comes out the machine, but rarely cups of coins these days!

Headphones - depends on the airline. However you can buy a jack that converts your own to 2 pins, and then use them.

Shopping - downtown outlets are good (short trip from downtown on a local bus, or you could get a taxi from Sahara at northnmost monorail stop for about $10). Fashion show mall on the strip is also good. There are many others, but your 5 days won't allow you to travel around them all!

If you like Michelob beer, Casino Royale sells this for $1 at the casino bar, along with frozen margarits (lime or strawberry). Bill's (formerly Barbary Coast) also sell margaritas for 99cents. If you're gambling in one of the 'nicer' casinos and you get offered a drink, it may be worth trying their cocktails, as they tend to be nicer in the nicer hotels. Also, remember to tip $1 a drink to get the waitress to come back to you!

Only tip on Excalibur is to try the $20 trick when you check in as they have renovated rooms (completed last year).

Are you related to any William Robb's from the west of Scotland? That was my grandpa's name!

Just back from Vegas this morning and there were several people swimming at 10am yesterday morning! There were record highs for the past 2 days at 84F (29C).

Earphones are provided free with bmi, but other airlines may charge. Who are you flying with?

You will only be able to use the Excalibur's pool area as most hotels check for room keys. In fact the Bellagio actually swipe your key to make sure it's current so you couldn't get in with an old key.

The LV Outlets are closer to the Excalibur than the Premium Outlets downtown. You can catch the Deuce (double decker bus) outside the hotel for $2 one way or $5 for a 24 hour pass. It now goes directly to the Outlets instead of going to the SSTT (South Strip Transfer Terminal) first, although you go to the SSTT on the way back. It took us 25 mins from centre strip so less from the Excalibur. However the Deuce is notoriously unreliable and we have twice waited 50 mins for one to arrive.

Levi jeans are $28 (£14), Calvin Klein's $50 (£25). Hubby got a jacket at Timberland which was reduced from $124 to $89 then had 50% off so it only cost £23 with tax. Print off THIS and take it to the Customer Services Desk and you will get a discount card for some of the shops. The Levi/Dockers shop was offering 10% of 3 items or more, Calvin Klein 20% off a single item so $50 jeans were only $40 (£20). Adidas Samba trainers $50.

There were some great deals at Macy's in the Fashion Show Mall. Take photo ID to the Gift Wrap/Customer Services and get an 11% discount card. Hubby got shirts which were reduced by 50%, then there was a ticket saying take another 25% off and we got the 11% off of that! It ended up being buy one get two free! He also got dress trousers cheap too. I got a beautiful textured metallic leather jacket reduced from $160 to $119 less 11% made it $106.

Happy shopping and remember to let us know what bargains you got!

luci