Las Vegas "All You Need To Know!"...

[Guest]

Originally Posted by WILDCAT

Great advice. Thanks.
Can I ask one question though. If I were to drive from Vegas to the Grand Canyon how long would it take ?

Thanks again.

See more...

I have driven there 4 times, the last a couple of days before my wedding its the best way to go but it is well worth staying overnight particually in the winter. Here is my day visit trip report

We had many friends out in Vegas for our wedding in September 2007 a few of us decided that we wanted to go to the Grand Canyon and as money was short the best way to do this was by car. I hired a 7 seater people carrier from Dollar which cost me £36 on a pre book including a tank of fuel a sat nav, all taxes and insurances for both myself and my Dad.

We picked the car up at 7.30am from MGM Grand and loaded everyone in it, myself, my bride to be, my brother in law, my mate and my elderly parents by time we got going it was about 0830. We headed out on the 95 and soon to the 93 we got to the Hoover Dam we stopped very briefly for photos and then headed on. We stopped for a healthy brunch of burger and chips somewhere on the Historic Route 66 in a sort of hardware come general store come cafe the food was good but the toilets were a little scary in a sort of deliverance way but not unclean, it may have been called the Roadkill Cafe. Slowly we boarded our trusty steed and carried on to the canyon.

We arrived at the gate and parted with our $25 that allowed unlimited entry for the next 7 days (useful NOT) and drove to Mather Point for our first view of the amazing natural wonder. We got back to the car as it started to rain and then the clouds opened we had thunder lighting and rain drops the size of golf balls we drove round to Yavapai Point I was the only one stupid enough to get out of the car I go drenched but managed to see the lightning coming down on the canyon this must for most people be a once in a life time experience. The rain stopped as abruptly as it started and the others came out to join me and had the joy to witness a most amazing rainbow stretched over the canyon. We got back to the car and drove to the Grand Canyon Village we parked up and sadly could not get a disabled parking space so had to park some way back but had another great view over the canyon, whilst we were viewing the canyon some kind souls in our group went into the bar at Bright Angel lodge and commandeered some tables. We had a few drinks and relaxed before heading back to Vegas.

We stopped to get some fuel and some candy bars and then headed back down the 93 night came upon us long before we were stopped at the Hoover Dam security and by this point the whole party was getting very hungry. We stopped at the Hacienda Casino just over the Dam on the Vegas side and saw the buffet was $7.49 when we went to pay it was half price $3.75 including soft drinks! What a bargain this was, there was a carvery section, pasta, Mexican, chicken, salads, and huge array of deserts, don’t get me wrong its not Bellagio but it was clean, fresh and tasty and I would most certainly head there again if in that part of the World. After eating we had a quick burn on the tables and slots and then headed back to Vegas we arrived back at about 11pm and after seeing my parents safely to their room us young uns hit the casinos.

It was a long day but a very good one on top of the car hire the divided costs for fuel and park entry were about $12 each the only thing I would say is that next time whatever car we took we would allow an extra space as it was a little cramped.

[Diamonddog2801]

Obvious question - how long did the drive actually take?

[Guest]

Originally Posted by Diamonddog2801

Obvious question - how long did the drive actually take?

See more...

Um we left about 4.5 - 5 hours each way actually driving

[lauramcfc]

What a great thread Diamonddog , we are going to vegas for 4 nights in April so will be taking notes on your advice Thanks again

[Diamonddog2801]

Originally Posted by lauramcfc

What a great thread Diamonddog , we are going to vegas for 4 nights in April so will be taking notes on your advice Thanks again

See more...

Thank you, hope it helps.

I just received a great room deal from the MGM Grand, that runs until April:

reservations.mgmmirage/b...01&code=INB245

Includes:

Holiday Spree!

* $20 per night upgrade to a Bungalow Suite
* $25 per night upgrade to a Celebrity Spa Suite
* 2 for 1 to MGM Grand Buffet
* $10 FREE PLAY

Promotion Runs
December 14, 2008 - April 30, 2009

Offer Expires
January 1, 2009

---------------

May be worth checking out?

ps - having just looked at it again, it's not that great...

[Diamonddog2801]

A piece on the sale of Treasure Island last week. It gives one the sense of deep trouble the major casino operators are in at the moment - and how it's not likely to improve any time soon. I think this year will be the cheapest year for room rates in Vegas since the early 90s.

-------------------


NEW YORK, Dec 15 (Reuters) - MGM Mirage said on Monday it agreed to sell the Treasure Island Hotel & Casino on the Las Vegas strip to real estate mogul Phil Ruffin for a total of $775 million to help boost its liquidity.

MGM, a major holding of billionaire Kirk Kerkorian's Tracinda Corp, in October reported a 67 percent drop in quarterly profit.

Casino companies have been hit hard over the past year by slower consumer spending and tight credit markets. MGM's stock, which has plummeted from $86.75 a year ago, rose about 12 percent to $11.98 in morning trading.

"This transaction creates value to our stakeholders through significantly increased liquidity and enhanced financial flexibility," James Murren, chairman and chief executive of MGM Mirage, said in a statement.

Murren recently took over the top job at MGM from former CEO and Chairman Terry Lanni, who retired as questions were raised about his claim that he earned a master's degree in business administration from the University of Southern California.

The purchase price for the Treasure Island Hotel & Casino will consist of $500 million in cash and $275 million in secured notes.

The deal is expected to close by the end of the second quarter of 2009 and MGM Mirage, the world's second-largest casino operator, anticipates reporting a substantial gain on the sale.

FIZZLED

Casino companies have suffered over the past year as the gambling boom in Las Vegas has fizzled, tight credit markets have jeopardized growth plans and the Chinese government has acted to slow down the Macau gambling market.

MGM, which also operates the Bellagio, Mandalay Bay and Circus Circus resorts in Las Vegas, recently postponed development work for its MGM Grand project in Atlantic City and a planned Las Vegas Strip joint venture with Kerzner International and Istithmar.

Las Vegas Strip casinos won $475 million from gamblers in October, 26 percent less than a year earlier.

Statewide, Nevada casinos' take from gamblers fell 22 percent to $905 million for October as the U.S. economic recession continued to cut into consumer spending.

Nevada has seen gambling revenue drop for 10 consecutive months.

The downturn has decimated the stock market value of gambling companies.

Shares of Las Vegas Sands Corp have declined from over $118 a year ago to under $7 on Monday, and the stock of Wynn Resorts Ltd has fallen from over $124 in February to under $42 on Monday.

(Reporting by Mark McSherry, Editing by Maureen Bavdek, editing by Dave Zimmerman)[/q]

[riverdancefan]

what an incredibly helpful and detailed thread - well done - and also to some other dibbers who added ! - what a knowledgable lot xxxxx mwhaa xxx

[Diamonddog2801]

Originally Posted by riverdancefan

what an incredibly helpful and detailed thread - well done - and also to some other dibbers who added ! - what a knowledgable lot xxxxx mwhaa xxx

See more...

Thanks - are you thinking of trying Las Vegas sometime?

[Diamonddog2801]

Just for info - people are picking up Wynn, Trump & The Venetian/The Palazzo (on Priceline & Hotwire) for under $100 per night, right up until May, at the moment. Not guaranteed, of course, but it's well worth looking. These are all 5* hotels at really amazing prices.

[papadoc]

Not sure if it's already been posted, but just in case:

Imperial Palace goes 'All Inclusive', ($95 for one, $135 for two)

imperialpalace/MakeRe...kageCode=IIAIS

Not the best hotel on the Strip, but it's in an ideal location and the offer may suit somebody.