Vegas - a little help needed

[JoeA]

Hey folks,

The hotel, flights and transfers are sorted for our trip of four late twenties singles in December.

Now is the fun part, to arrange some of the activities for a jam packed week of fun.

May you please help me with the following items:

1. I want to visit the Grand Canyon, the options seem to be a plane or helicopter to the west rim or the same to the south rim, can you please suggest your preferences and thoughts out of the four possible options please?

2. The shooting ranges seem to have quite expensive packages online, am I being unrealistic to get a decent session for under 100 dollars? What’s the most cost effective way of doing this please, any tips?

3. One of our group isn’t so keen on spending a lot of money on food, I can see their point, I need some help on cheap eats, I am talking 10 dollar meals, is this realistic?

4. Are there any indoor swimming pools we could go to as after some research it seems the outdoor pools are likely to be closed.

Thanks so much for your time.

Joe

[flo-tinka]

We drove to West rim GC last month via Hoover Dam. Easy couple of hours drive and we enjoyed the Indian run set up there including the walk on the glass bridge.
We have flown before too with a landing there and have also driven and stayed South Rim but too far for day trip from LV
Never done helicopter. Looked really expensive for family of 4 but if you are singles, worth a look at the many companies who do that.
Many will say South Rim is best but we loved the views at West Rim too

[meboo]

Especially with the exchange rate, we found food quite expensive - even fruit & snacks in CVS/Walgreens. So, we found a McDonalds breakfast helped the budget! There are also food courts with takeaway - Panda Express for Chinese is a favourite in our family

[Mrs Toolman]

Another vote for Panda Express. Their orange chicken is amazing! Also sign up to the restaurants about a fortnight before you go as you may get coupons. Earl of sandwich usually do discounts when you sign up.

[Hooray4Disney]

Food is rather pricey in Vegas. We had burgers one evening from McDonalds. Family of four - 3 adults and a teenager. Cost $43 ... pizzas at California Pizza - we didn’t see any change from a $100, once you add in a tip and we only had four pizzas and four soft drinks.

[Sew109]

Grand Canyon if you have not been before go south rim it’s a million times nicer than west rim.

All outdoor pools will shut end of October the only indoor pool I know of on the strip is Tropicana and you have to be a guest. Remeber it could be very cold particularly st night in December. I have been in December where it’s shirt and shorts and also when the airport has been closed because of snow it will get cold in the evenings and very quickly.

I have shot at the gun store and I think outside near the hoover dam at something called shooting safaris. It may be cheaper if you can get on a local range there is one I think on paradise but to be honest shooting is not cheap they will allow you (or at least used to ) share guns at the gun store we each chose a handgun and swapped, they won’t allow this on the machine guns.

I am sorry but eating for $10 is daft you will end up eating cheap crap that you can eat at home Mcdondlas, KFC, Subway, Burger King sure do it for a few meals but not every one you will just end up feeling ill. In the strip there is Denny’s and ihop marginally better.


Where are you staying ? We often do a breakfast buffet or similar snack at lunch and main meal in the evening, sometimes snack breakfast big lunch and light dinner. The peppermill offers great value Vegas kitchen and you can split mains but not at $10, Ellis island offers a steak special that you have to ask for.

[JoeA]

Originally Posted by flo-tinka

We drove to West rim GC last month via Hoover Dam. Easy couple of hours drive and we enjoyed the Indian run set up there including the walk on the glass bridge.
We have flown before too with a landing there and have also driven and stayed South Rim but too far for day trip from LV
Never done helicopter. Looked really expensive for family of 4 but if you are singles, worth a look at the many companies who do that.
Many will say South Rim is best but we loved the views at West Rim too

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Thanks for sharing, at the moment I am thinking the helicopter to the south rim, purely for the better views. I’ll have to check out the travelling time difference as you say.

[JoeA]

Originally Posted by meboo

Especially with the exchange rate, we found food quite expensive - even fruit & snacks in CVS/Walgreens. So, we found a McDonalds breakfast helped the budget! There are also food courts with takeaway - Panda Express for Chinese is a favourite in our family

See more...

I am actually not personally too fussed about being too thrifty, however my friend is not a big eater at all, and we always find it strange going to a place where dishes are moderate to high cost and they will only eat a few mouthfuls.

There are only so many times they can order of the kids menu or just side orders hahaha.

Cheaper eats are therefore more sensible for them.

[JoeA]

Originally Posted by Mrs Toolman

Another vote for Panda Express. Their orange chicken is amazing! Also sign up to the restaurants about a fortnight before you go as you may get coupons. Earl of sandwich usually do discounts when you sign up.

See more...

Oh my god yes, I love this place I went to the one at Universal Citywalk! It was heaven!

And Earl of Sandwich I tried at Disney springs, awesome suggestions, thanks!

[JoeA]

Originally Posted by Hooray4Disney

Food is rather pricey in Vegas. We had burgers one evening from McDonalds. Family of four - 3 adults and a teenager. Cost $43 ... pizzas at California Pizza - we didn’t see any change from a $100, once you add in a tip and we only had four pizzas and four soft drinks.

See more...

I think this is my expectation, I’m sure we will cope thanks for the heads up, nice to have some figures to compare with.