Ooo interesting will check out the excaliber deals, flights are around £350 from heathrow atm, just trying to work out the best dates avoiding the motor conventions early nov and thanksgiving later on.
Have same thoughts re late arrival but is really nice price.

Have been looking at IP deals, I've stayed at the Sahara before but none of the other cheaper places but want to keep the cost right down this time.

Hmmm, was interested by that Excalibur deal Luci but I still think I am better off with the original one. Many thanks for posting though, I missed that totally.

I would currently be paying $178 for 6 nights (tax and resort fee excluded) whereas the new one would be $251, so $73 difference and I would get two all day buffet passes. I suppose I could book two of the cheap nights (i.e. where I am paying $22 currently, and on this new deal it would be $31) so that mean $9 extra (plus tax and resort fee) for two buffet passes for two days, which is a good deal, however, slight flaw in the that plan is that the $22 Excalibur deal expired on the 5th August.

I'm also not sure I really want to eat at the Excalibur buffet that often.

Jaqs, what dates are you looking at then in November? I have my dates booked off at work, fly out 14th November and back 20th November, 6 nights. The last time I looked the cheapest flights were £375 via Charlotte with US, direct was £519 with BA and Virgin. I do really want to fly Continental but they were £440 indirect via Houston, for another £80pp I would rather fly direct with Virgin and get to Vegas nice and early in the mid afternoon.

On the subject of $ rates. I would gladly accept 1.70 and be very thankful. The lowest I have ever experienced was LA/Vegas in 2002 (after 9/11) and it was 1.38. That was bad.

TC, Sorry for the mistake about Dirk Arthur. I remember you saying one magic show was super cheesey so it must have been Lance Burton. I think for $13pp (or free if you can get it) Dirk is well worth 75mins of an afternoon.....

Actually, I think I might be reading that buffet deal incorrectly. Is it, after 8th September you get two all day buffet passes (I think this is right) or is it two x all day buffet passes for two people?

It doesn't make it such a good deal if only one of us is getting the all day pass.

Yesterday the heathrow flights were 350 going 26th of oct or 4th nov then realised that coincided with big conventions. So looking today going gatwick departing 11th nov returning 21st through netflights is 350.

Was also weighing up difference flying continental from bristol(where now live) but the extra dosent make it worth it when the train to gatwick is inexpensive.

I too was getting £351pp for my dates on Netflights, well it went up to £363pp after selecting for some reason flying US Airways via Charlotte. Worth noting that whilst prices of the same flights are similar on Expedia, when you select the flight a message informs you that these flights have now gone up to £471pp!!!!! So don't be surprised if that Netflights price has not been updated. Of course if you can book it at the original price I would say that is the best deal you are going to get to Vegas anywhere.

I'm not in a position to book flights at the moment and I understand with our flight departure coinciding with fight night I may eventually have to pay more than I want to. There is nothing I can do, but I know if I could book now I would be snapping up that US Airways deal at £350-£365ish per person. Flight leaves LHR at 11.35 which is perfect, arrives Vegas 19.54 which is a bit later than I wanted. Coming back 9.30 leave Vegas, get into LHR 7.10 the next day. Good flight times.
The other alternative still remains that Delta, Northwest combination via Detroit outbound and Minneapolis inbound. I particularly like that it gets into Vegas at 16.26 (I think), which is better. I still think we might stump with Virgin unless ridiculous though. Hopefully my Wife will hit bonus and I'm due a payout that month also.

Flew virgin last time and didnt like staying so long in such a cramped, full plane, plus doing immigration in vegas took forever. Tis less stressful though.

Noticed prices were dearer on Kayak and expedia, not by much on expedia though.

Edit: all done 356:24 incl a £7 cc fee, but am very pleased with price.

After pricing flight with NetFlights, Expedia, etc go to the cheapest airline's own website and check booking direct. It is sometime a few pounds cheaper, but for the last flights we booked United were £200pp dearer than NetFlights.

It is also better to book direct with the airline, especially if you are booking well in advance, as if there are any schedule changes the airlines are usually willing to change you to a flight of your choice whereas the likes of NF will put you on something that may not be suitable and are unwilling to change it even though the airline is prepared to.

luci

Excalibur from $22 till 30 June 2010. Book by 1 Sept

https://reservations.mgmmirage.com/bookingengine.aspx?pid=EXC&host=offer&code=XFLABR

Thanks Luci.

Not enough Vegas Talk going on for my liking just now. Did I mention it's just over 2 weeks till I go (2 weeks 3 days!). Can't wait.

Ok, here I'll tell you my plans so far.

6th arrive 630pm, taxi to Orleans. Quick change and over to the strip.
7th relax, pick up car in afternoon, Meadows Mall, Silverton Buffet, Outlets, maybe Town Square
8th maybe Hoover Dam, Valley of Fire. Tuesday quiz at McMullan's beside Orleans.
9th maybe Laughlin, other outlets, boulevard or Galleria Mall
10th more shopping/sightseeing
11th move to Platinum, return car
12th relax
13th move to MGM, relaxing and walking about etc till 17th...
17th home

So, thinking of going to Laughlin for the first time ever. Anyone been? We keep meaning to try it, so might do it this year if time allows. I hear there's outlets down there too.

We've got newbies with us (6 of us travelling in all), so we've got passes for Voodoo for 2 different nights to give us a choice. Also hope to do Fontana bar for the 1st time! When we went before it was being used for Poker. Also, hope to see Phantom (maybe just 2 of us), and a Cirque show - either Mystere or Ka. Still not sure - were going to book online but the deal disappeared! Also might to Mac King which I think will be good in the afternoon for the others, Comedy Stop at the Trop, and then maybe Legends too. SIL and MIL might go to Jersey Boys. I don't think we will bother with that - that might be Phantom night for hubby and I.

Any thoughts....or other things I must do. Also will do the obvious Bellagio Fountains, Volcano, Atlantis, Thunderstorm at Miracle Mile etc. Maybe Eiffel Tower, Strat tower.

We have just booked flights and accommodation for NEXT year. Excalibur (On Luci's offer) and flights with US Airways MAN - PHL - LAS. Staying from 4th May to 17th June 2010.

Still counting down to the next trip. We still have seven weeks to go before that.

Lesley

There are still offers for BOFO for $25 for Cirque shows

http://entertainment.travelzoo.com/las-vegas-entertainment/

Also, the Comedy Stop is no longer at the Trop, it finished there in March. It's now at the Sahara.

luci

Damn...Imagine them moving the Comedy Stop. It looks more expensive now too - I wonder if there's half price tickets now!?

The Ka offer $25 is not available on the date I want 15th. The other offer was £37...should have just booked it so I've learnt my lesson! Can get Mystere for $62 (£37)....not sure if we should just wait till we're there. Any ideas if we would likely get those at the ticket booths? Really thinking maybe I better pre-book? Shame, don't know what night we'll want to go. I don't want to over-plan when there's 6 of us to please!

Well on this date last year it was our penultimate night in Vegas with Mystere and Sheryl Crow still to look forward to over the next two nights. I am slightly gutted we are not out there now because the original plan (and it has changed so many times) was August again, but when my Wife had the option to change to September (and cheaper flights) we snapped that up and planned to go then. Obviously you will be aware of the difficulties we have had this year, but now things are clearer on the job and finance front, November is still very much on and we are both looking forward to it. Thankfully (and I really should be grateful for anything) we have a week in the Algarve coming up in two weeks (6th September is in Aylesbury!!, but 7th onwards is sun, sea and relax) and whilst that isn't Vegas, it is still something we are both very excited about.

When we get back from the Algave it will be save, save, save for November!!!

Lesley, your itinerary sounds great. I like the fact you are doing the "different" stuff early on and then the normal Vegas stuff from 13th onwards when you are at the MGM. It makes total sense to do that when you don't have the car.
I asked up on Laughlin last year on TA as I got an offer for free transportation and free lunch but the feeling was more negative as opposed to positive and we decided against it. I think the general consensus of opinion was why Laughlin when you have Vegas but of course it is always nice to visit new places and tick off the list. On a longer trip, I would consider it again, but for our 5 or 6 night jaunts I would probably just stick to Vegas and the immediate area.
$62pp for Mystere isn't bad. I think we paid just over $50pp last year for reasonable seats. I still think its my least favourite CDS show in Vegas but it might be a good introduction to CDS for your fellow travellers. CDS shows are always on Goldstar each week now (KA, Mystere, Zumanity, Love and Believe) but I haven't ever looked into prices to see how they compare to the other offers that are kicking around at the moment. It's going to be Love or Believe for us in November, so am going to be very interested in Teecee's thoughts on Believe.

Pebbles, another Vegas trip booked already????? Although I said it last year and we are booked again for Vegas, I really do think November might be our last Vegas visit for a few years. My Wife is desperate to do Washington State (blame Twilight) and Oregon next year and although I could always accommodate Vegas into that itinerary, I really do think we'll need the full 2 weeks to do both states justice (especially with Seattle taking up 4 or 5 days alone). Who knows though, 2nd USA trip in a year to Vegas 2010???? It could happen!!!

Slightly off topic but still on Vegas I've been reliving the Vegas Uncovered programme on Sky3 the past week or so (thanks Sky+). I think its circa 2001, and its great to see some of the old sights still in place like the Boardwalk and Stardust. It does make me feel rather old though, not from a date perspective but all that clubbing and bleepy music with Vegas hoping to be the next Ibiza just makes me mad. It also bugs me to see large stag groups heading out from the UK and doing karaoke and moaning about the lack of any kebab shops!!! I don't think the next Ibiza tag ever took off to be honest. Still, worth a watch. I'm hoping that a channel decides to repeat the Casino (Tim and Tom at the Nugget) which was excellent, and also the series that followed the happenings at Green Valley Ranch which was more staged, but still entertaining. I just need Vegas things!!!!

Anyway, roll on two weeks for the Algarve and 84 days till Vegas....

Speaking about Sky just reminded me, there is a programme on the Discovery Channel next Thursday, 27 August at 9pm about the City Center project.

luci

Ju

Which night is Vegas Uncovered on Sky3? OH's checked the schedule and can't see it listed. Has it finished?

luci

Ju

The Laughlin thing is just a 'tick off the list'. And sometimes the ticks on the list aren't really worthwhile. Last year we went to San Francisco and I was fairly unimpressed. Also, we did a holiday in Bulgaria - same. However it took us a while to finally go to Paris, and that was a definite positive, and a place I could return to many times!

Well, back to the Laughlin thing...I agree that the bus tour is a bit of a risk, since you end up down there and can't return till the bus returns! On the plus though it's cheap or free and often includes a buffet! I'm thinking we could maybe just do a half day down there, or maybe even afternoon into evening. We want to do some sunbathing too, so don't want to be out all day every day.

Pebbles...I thought you were going for 7 weeks - is that not ONLY about 6 1/2? I can't wait till I retire! You should keep an eye on the Harrah's website - log into total rewards and check hot deals...just in case some comps appear. Some appeared on mine for a short while, and I'd definitely have went for it if we'd been going alone, but we needed 3 rooms and couldn't get a good enough rate for the other rooms so not really fair on the others. Plus they're the ones that are trying to keep costs down.

It's seven weeks until we go to Vegas in October. I haven't really looked at ho many weeks the next one is, I just look for the cheapest flights with a decent length of time. Next year is turning out a bit more expensive for the flight, and so far I haven't got any good offers for 2010 on my TR account.

Vegas newsletters and offers here:

http://www.fabulousvegasvalues.com/newsletters.php

luci