[Gold-2K]

Of the new hotels, try Aria at City Centre. Really good hotel and while there is the obligatory casino, it’s relatively small so bearable. Rooms at Aria are good. Loads of technology. We had a suite on the 58th floor. Very good!

Alternatively Palazzo rather than Venetian is good, but get a high floor strip view.

I have also stayed at theHOTEL at Mandalay Bay. Stayed there a few times in last 3years. No casino blocking the route to Reception. All suites, but starting to look a bit tired.

[WoburnMan]

Papillion53 – your DH is definitely a lucky boy. Hope you both really enjoy your time there – I have never been but I am told its an adults playground. apparently there’s a trip up for grabs in June with my name on it so be really interested to hear how you got on. :o)

[VintageKrug]

Aria is good as an alternative to Bellagio in that neck of the woods, the rooms are very impressive and technologically advanced (for the US).

Strange set up of walking through the shower to get to the bath was odd, though.

Pool somewhat cheek by jowl and I was underwhelmed by their Spa. Get the feeling the money ran out when they were building that part of the hotel.

http://www.arialasvegas.com/

There’s 15% off BA redemption flights from Gatwick in all classes; that would mean just 85,000 Avios round trip in Club World per person, or in total if you have a 2for1 Amex voucher:

http://www.britishairways.com/travel/executive-club-offers/public/en_gb

Finally, a 72-hour special offer on Resort Rooms has just been released by Wynn:

http://pages.wynnlasvegas.com/72HourSpecial/

[MartynSinclair]

Las Vegas is one of the few desitnations I do not look forward going to visit. The hotels are tastless, the shows (apart from 2 or 3) a complete waste of money (if you go to see a music star, find out whether the performance is lip synching or live). The place is expensive, but if you like gambling, then Vegas is the place to be.

You will see more hands stuck in front of your face for “greasing” than ever before and unless you grease peoples hands, dont expect any kind of service.

Vegas is totally spoilt by the American visitors, loud, large and food storage / guzzling machines !!!

[Bath_VIP]

I fell in love with Las Vegas about 15 years ago. Before then I never expected to go there or to like it but as a place for sheer entertainment, it is hard to beat.

For me, the sheer variety of the hotel architecture is the city’s best point. Weird wonderful and way over the top. If you’ve never been to Vegas before and you are finding the prices of the 5 star places a bit steep, I would recommend the Luxor hotel. It’s architecture and layout is unique and it also offers very reasonable rates for its suites which are proper one bedroom flats. Food is average and somewhat overpriced there but Vegas is full of dining options so you don’t have to be stuck there.

Have also stayed at New York, New York and Ballys. Ballys was rubbish. NY/NY looks great on the outside but it is a very narrow tall building that feels squashed and claustrophobic.

[Bullfrog]

I’d say I am a schizophrenic when it comes to Vegas ..

on the one hand I’d return in a second .. I enjoyed the Mandarin Oriental, it was spring & not too hot, we had two enjoyable shows, I loved the fountains at Bellagio .. I am not a gambler, not even $ 10. Our hotel was our retreat & our delight.

On the other hand I hated it .. upon visiting other hotels, there were too many grob loud human beings & it is a tacky city.

[NameRemoved-18/12/14]

Good morning papillion

I think my brother went to the Grand Canyon while in Las Vegas. I will e-mail him later as it’s a bit early in NY. I have a funny feeling they rented a car. Will try to get more details later.

[LuganoPirate]

Just to confirm Alexpo’s use of Booking.com Papillion. I’ve never been o Vegas but I use Booking.com and find it the best of the lot. The iPad app is also great, cheapest room rates, no cc charges, often you do not even need a cc and free cancellation often available.

On the iPad it allows you to take a photo of the confirmation so you don’t need to hook up to wifi in the rare event you need to show it.

[Speedbird_ABZ]

I’m a booking.com fan and just to add that I had a wonderful response to a problem I had in Miami a few weeks ago. All fixed within a couple of hours – even though it was late evening in the US. That’s confirmed them as my preferred hotel booking site from now on. Enjoying this thread – Vegas is on my ‘to do’ list as much as I don’t think I’d like it that much.

[NameRemoved-18/12/14]

Dear Mr and Mrs papillion

‘We hired a car. Easy enough drive with sat nav. Hoover dam is on the way to the canyon and is only about 40 mins away from LV and well worth stopping by. The national park of Grand Canyon is about 4-5hours away but there is another part of the canyon including a clear glass walkway that is only about 3-4 hours away( we didn’t realise at the time).
We did Hoover one day and took our time and just went back to LV and then the next day went to Grand Canyon. Plenty of places to stay near the canyon and to do it justice would be better staying a night near it. Plenty of buses, trips etc but the car gives you much more freedom. Roads are not like home. We did the typical tourist thing and hired a mustang convertible. Really nice driving across Arizona- long straight roads. Some people also do the drive from LV down to LA and California (not sure how far) which if we went back we consider doing.’

Sounds wonderful according to my very big little bro. Smoking and drinking permitted in Las Vegas, my type of place! xx

[Speedbird_ABZ]

Same back at you papillion53 – you prompted me to join in!

[Papillion53]

Ah thanks Speedbird_ABZ – haven’t seen you around for a while, nice to hear from you! 🙂

[VintageKrug]

Personally, I would recommend a day trip by Helicopter to the Grand Canyon, as it’s quite a drive and hugely overpriced to stay there.

Hoover Dam is a nice day trip by car; leave about five hours for the tour and a walk around. There used to be a nice Ritz-Carlton at Lake Las Vegas, but I think it’s been rebranded.

[TimFitzgeraldTC]

Hi Papillion

If you ever head back to the MO at Vegas we do have allocation of rooms and negotiated rates (one of the few in the US we deal with directly) – another is the Wynn. If you are ever struggling just shout. Sounds like you shall be having a fab trip – you should enjoy it.

[Bullfrog]

@TimFitzgeraldTC

presumably the negotiated rates are pre paid, or are they fully refundable within a minimum time period ?

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