| This was our second trip to Las Vegas and it did | | | | afternoon on the Friday even though we had left |
| not disappoint. There were more hotels than last | | | | the UK at 11am and had a 10 hour flight. It's really |
| time and more being built. A visit to downtown is | | | | UK bedtime especially for people of my age. |
| a must to see the light show in the roof area. A | | | | Tip 2. If it's your first visit you are probably very |
| technological marvel. We heard it cost $400 million. | | | | excited and want to hit the town or hit the |
| To say we wandered around hotels every day | | | | gambling but what ever you do try not to go to |
| seems a strange thing to do but anyone who has | | | | bed until it's late evening. If you go to bed too |
| visited Las Vegas will understand how fascinating | | | | early your body clock will take longer to adjust to |
| that is. Even in February the sun shines and we | | | | the time difference. |
| were able to sunbath around one of the MGM | | | | Our first impressions when we 'hit the town' after |
| swimming pools. | | | | we had unpacked was that the place seemed |
| Five things you should do. Walk into and around | | | | busy as if the 'credit crunch' had not affected Las |
| every hotel. Take a roller coaster ride at New | | | | Vegas. The second thing we noticed was it was |
| York New York. Visit the lions and dolphins at the | | | | not cheap. Having had a number of 'all inclusive |
| Mirage hotel. Take a helicopter trip over the | | | | holidays' over the last few years we found having |
| Grand Canon. And finally take an elevator ride to | | | | to pay for everything quite difficult. For people |
| the top of the Stratosphere hotel to see the | | | | that are used to spending time in hotels the prices |
| fabulous night time view of the Las Vegas strip | | | | are probably quite normal but for us the prices |
| and surrounding city. | | | | such as a bottle of Budwisser at $6 seemed |
| I was not sure if anyone would read an article on | | | | expensive. |
| money saving tips when visiting Las Vegas. This is | | | | We visited the New York New York hotel the |
| the city for gamblers so who is looking to save | | | | first evening and the first round of drinks at a bar |
| money? But then I though that, I am not a | | | | in the hotel was $35 for 4 bottle beers, one coke |
| gambler and I have now visited Las Vegas twice. | | | | and one glass of wine. We decided to have a |
| Back in 2000 my daughter and I bought my wife | | | | meal in the same hotel and five had steaks and |
| a surprise 50th birthday present of a four day trip | | | | one had pizza. Very good food. The bill came to |
| to Las Vegas. The bonus being it was for four | | | | $153 + $27 (18% tip) + $11 (15% tax) = $191. |
| people, which included my wife, myself, my | | | | we understand from past visits to the US that it |
| daughter and her husband. | | | | is expected to tip 12-15%, which is normally a |
| You can fly direct to Las Vegas but this four day | | | | voluntary option. To find it on the bill at 18% is a |
| visit was an indirect flight stopping at Chicago for | | | | bit much, we believe. |
| four hours then flying on to Las Vegas after four | | | | Tip 3. We found that the 18% tip included on the |
| hours stop over. The return flight was the same. | | | | bill was normally for groups of 6 or more. |
| So our actual stay in Las Vegas was two full | | | | Therefore if you ask for your bill in groups of |
| days and three nights. It was a thoroughly | | | | two the 18% tip is omitted from the bill and left |
| enjoyable experience especially as I arrange a | | | | to your discretion. We found that 'Dennys' do not |
| room upgrade to a suite which looked out over | | | | add a tip to any bill no matter what size your |
| the 'Strip'. We did not gamble much as there was | | | | group is. |
| too much to see and do. | | | | The major disappointment we found on this |
| Our second visit to Las Vegas was a complete | | | | second visit to Las Vegas was that all the 'slot' |
| surprise. This Christmas we as a family decided to | | | | machines in all the Hotels do not dispense coins as |
| keep our present buying to a small token gift as | | | | winnings anymore. You feed in dollar bills and if |
| we had started two new businesses and money | | | | you are lucky to win you will get a slip of paper |
| was tight. | | | | dispensed as your winning. The tinkering of coins |
| Our son who had not come on our first visit to | | | | when you win was sadly missing. This slip of |
| Las Vegas has since had two holidays in Las | | | | paper can be fed into any other slot machine in |
| Vegas with his wife and in-laws. He told us a few | | | | the same hotel to continue gambling. |
| months before Christmas that he was taking | | | | Tip 4. If you want to hear the sound of coins |
| another holiday to Las Vegas in February with the | | | | dropping with your winning the only place that still |
| in-laws and did we want to go as well. | | | | uses coins is next to the hotel Circus Circus. |
| Unfortunately we had booked our summer holiday | | | | Not being much of a gambler I tended to watch |
| and another holiday before that was not in our | | | | the others but found I wanted a beer while I |
| budget. | | | | watched. My son had found on past visits that if |
| Anyway on Christmas day after all the small gifts | | | | you gambled, either on the slots or on the tables, |
| were opened our son and his wife gave us a final | | | | you will be offered complementary drinks from |
| gift. When my wife opened it we found a 'not | | | | waitresses or barmen at the bar. These drinks |
| new' roulette game, which we thought was a | | | | are free of charge other than a tip of a couple of |
| joke gift. He insisted we open the box and we | | | | dollars to the waitress or barman. The more you |
| found inside a picture of the MGM hotel in Las | | | | gamble the more drinks you are offered. |
| Vegas and a lovely short note inviting my wife | | | | Every chair in the gambling halls is in front of a |
| and I to join them on the visit to Las Vegas, at | | | | slot machine. Even at the bar each seat is in front |
| their expense. We only had to find our spending | | | | of a gambling machine embedded in the bar. |
| money. How could we refuse? We had always | | | | Tip 5. It was recommended to me at a number |
| wanted to go to Las Vegas with him and knew | | | | of bars by the barmen that so long as I feed the |
| that this year they wanted to start a family and | | | | slot machine with $20 he could feed me |
| if they did we probably would never get to go to | | | | complementary drinks. If you win you could be |
| Las Vega with him for many years to come, if | | | | drinking for free all night. |
| ever. | | | | On the first evening of our stay we were advised |
| This time we flew direct with Virgin. I must tell | | | | by my son to join the 'Players' club, which meant |
| you that I have flown with Virgin in the early | | | | queuing with passports to receive individual swipe |
| days and thought them one of the best. But over | | | | cards. These cards gave you points when you |
| the years I found the service from Virgin had | | | | inserted them in the slot machines before you |
| dropped. This time the service from Virgin was | | | | gambled. If you achieved 1500 points during your |
| top rate and I would recommend them to | | | | stay then you may receive complementary gifts |
| anyone. | | | | like free buffet meals etc. |
| On this visit to Las Vegas we were staying for a | | | | Just by signing up to get a 'Players' club card |
| whole week, flying out on an 11am flight from | | | | mean we were entitled to a two for one deal on |
| Gatwick on a Friday, which meant leaving home | | | | any of the MGM shows. This option only allowed |
| at 5.30am, and returning a week later on a 4pm | | | | you to buy the expensive seats at $160, not the |
| flight from Las Vegas, landing Saturday morning. | | | | cheaper seats at $80. We choose to go to see |
| Las Vegas airport is a five minute drive from the | | | | the Circus du Soliel which was great and cost |
| MGM Hotel. | | | | $160 for two of the bests seats. |
| When we arrived in Las Vegas it was decided to | | | | Tip 6. Join the 'Players' club at any hotel, as soon |
| catch a bus to the MGM hotel. They charge $7 | | | | as you arrive, to ensure you get any |
| per person one way. On our trip back to the | | | | complementary deals or freebies going. You can |
| Airport at the end of our holiday we caught a | | | | also use your 'Player' card in any other hotel in |
| taxi. Taxi's charge $9 per trip from the MGM | | | | the MGM group which are: |
| hotel. | | | | MGM Grand, Bellagio, City Center, Mandalay Bay, |
| Tip 1. If you are staying at the MGM, Luxor, | | | | Mirage, Luxor, Excalibur, New York New York, |
| Excalibur, Mandalay Bay, New York New York | | | | Monte Carlo, Treasure Island, Cirus Circus and |
| hotels, it is cheaper to use a taxi than the shuttle | | | | Railroad Pass. |
| bus if there is more than one of you. But if you | | | | There are plenty of places to eat within the |
| are staying further down the 'Strip' then the taxi | | | | hotels and along the 'strip'. A good steak will cost |
| fare goes up and the shuttle bus may be more | | | | you $17 upwards and a bottle of wine start |
| cost effective. | | | | around $28. There are always deals around and |
| On this one week trip my wife and I took to Las | | | | the MGM hotel was offering their buffet |
| Vegas 1000, which converted to $1360 at Feb 09 | | | | breakfast, lunch and dinner for $29 + tax, which |
| exchange rates. We converted a further 180 | | | | taken individually would cost $60. |
| towards the end of the week and paid to see a | | | | Tip 7. Before you go to Las Vegas search the |
| show on a credit card $160. We returned from | | | | books and guides that are in the shops and online |
| Las Vegas with $180. | | | | for any deals and discounts that are on offer. You |
| With an eight hour time difference it was mid | | | | could save enough for your gambling. |