The lure of the UC sale

Or should that be "Calling all Vegas experts"

The lure of the UC sale has again raised the prospect of a boys trip to the sights of Vegas.(never been before)

I have priced UC flights at the beginning of Jan along with connecting flights from LAX to LAS as well as the shuttles from EDI.

The next item would be a hotel but I have no clue where to start. I am looking at the Luxor (got to be 4 star min) which is coming in around £400 for 5/6 nights. This would bring the cost to around £2200ish per person which is pretty much at the limit.(using airmiles for the shuttles)

Has anyone stayed at the Luxor or has anyone any other suggestions.

Also looking for some tips for the connecting flights.

Thanks in advance

David

[preiffer]

I'd (personally) say the Luxor's decor is looking a little dated inside, and it's at the very bottom end of the strip. Not entirely "out of it", but you'll understand what I mean after walking to there or the Mandalay Bay sort of area in the freezing cold (yes, it gets cold/snowy in winter) for 5/6 nights in a row.

Maybe look at some of the more "central" strip hotels? £400 for 5 nights can buy a *reasonable* room in Vegas at some of the better hotels. Having said that, I've heard no BAD reports of the Luxor.



Internal flights - remember, America West (HP) are NO LONGER a partner in terms of earning miles/tier points, etc. with VS. Not sure about spending them...

Paul

thanks for the ultra quick reply.

Do you think 6 nights in the casinos is too long[:I] or is that a silly question [}:)]

Sorry - should have said airmiles for the ba shuttles between edi and lhr

[preiffer]

Hmm. Personally, I've found 3 nights can be VERY expensive in Vegas on more than one occasion. Having said that, I'm sure you have a lot more willpower than I do [:w]

All joking aside, however, I'd say 3/4 nights is about my max. Any more than that, and the constant droning of "diddlydiddlydingdingding" on the machines everywhere you go REALLY starts to get to you.

My suggestion would be to go via SFO rather than LAX, and spend 2/3 nights in San Francisco when you're done/exhausted/bankrupt with Vegas. Just remember not to gamble away your return flight...

Originally posted by preiffer
Hmm. Personally, I've found 3 nights can be VERY expensive in Vegas on more than one occasion.

mmm, thats why I was originally thinking of maxjet - fly out on the monday and back thursday night £599 .... just some of the reviews when things have went wrong aren't the best.

[RichardMannion]

I'd go for the 4 day maximum rule too. But then I don't gamble... but I do shop!

In regards to hotels, try going direct to the hotel sites to look for online offers, I find a lot of the best rates are direct now isntead of via an agent. Only exception would be if you have a Platinum or Centurion AmEx, the FHR rates are really good on some of the properties - there are good rates at the Bellagio, Venetian and Wynn. I've paid $151 inc tax for the Bellagio beofre, and that was over the SuperBowl weekend.

Other thing to do whilst looking at the direct sites is to sign-up for the newsletter, I get one each week with offers on accomodation.

Thanks,
Richard

Originally posted by RichardMannion
I'd go for the 4 day maximum rule too. But then I don't gamble... but I do shop!

Other thing to do whilst looking at the direct sites is to sign-up for the newsletter, I get one each week with offers on accomodation.

Thanks,
Richard

I've known them to offer flights / nights packages also, but ISTRC you had to be based in the US to take advantage of them.

If you do opt for the Luxor, try for a corner room in the Pyramid. You can sit in the jacuzzi and watch the world outside.

Paul

[Scrooge]

Originally posted by preiffer
Hmm. Personally, I've found 3 nights can be VERY expensive in Vegas on more than one occasion.

And thank you very much for the pay raise sir Just to echo what Paul is saying..the interior of the Luxor is kind of dated..the room's though are ok..for that price though you may find better.

Thanks for all the info guys.

Beginning to wonder if I should maybe check out an uc flight to MCO in January combined with a 3 or 4 day jump down to the Bahamas which I think is only a 45 min flight from MCO.

With the savings on the price of the flight, we could stay at Atlantis.

The bonus being that it could turn into an 8 or 9 day trip in total which would kind of justify the cost - and I know my way round WDW and MCO like the back of my hand, which is handy with a short trip,[?]

I knew this would get complicated. [:?]

thanks again

David

[HighFlyer]

Ive stayed at Atlantis if you want more info on the place, though i dont see how it will save you any money - its more expensive than Vegas there!

Thanks,
Sarah

Thanks Sarah, will give you a shout when the rest of them decide where they want to go. The savings would be on the flight - should be able to get an u/c to mco in january for around £1300/£1500 where as an u/c to Vegas is around £1600/£1800 ish.

Trying to get a quick trip to Orlando sorted before christmas is just confusing the issue.

David

4 days max in Vegas? Surely that depends on what you do? If you are just goign to drink and gamble then sure, that sounds fair enough but there is more to do than gamble in Vegas

Originally posted by daywalker
4 days max in Vegas? Surely that depends on what you do? If you are just goign to drink and gamble then sure, that sounds fair enough but there is more to do than gamble in Vegas

No, your right - drinking and gambling only [:p] ... with maybe a little retail thrown in if there is time [:w]

David [:0]

Originally posted by David

Originally posted by daywalker
4 days max in Vegas? Surely that depends on what you do? If you are just goign to drink and gamble then sure, that sounds fair enough but there is more to do than gamble in Vegas

No, your right - drinking and gambling only [:p] ... with maybe a little retail thrown in if there is time [:w]

David [:0]

Cool, I cannot get enough of the place though. I have done 3+7+11 nights with the missus and it was fine. I have also done 4 + 5 night solo trips and loved it and not wanted to leave. It is brilliant wandering about doing what you want when you want without worrying about what others want

Originally posted by HighFlyer
Ive stayed at Atlantis if you want more info on the place, though i dont see how it will save you any money - its more expensive than Vegas there!

Thanks,
Sarah

I would love some info on Atlantis if you would be so kind Sarah?
We are flying UC MAN-MCO next May but are a little tired of Orlando now so looking for something different for 7 nights with the last two nights in the Hard Rock at Universal (yeah I know that is Orlando )

[HighFlyer]

Originally posted by daywalker
I would love some info on Atlantis if you would be so kind Sarah?

Sure, what would you like to know?

It's a fab place, basically the constructors built a submerged hotel and flooded it with gallons of water to create the 'lost city' feel, and its quite unique. Its aa bit like Disney, mainly in that its like a huge, expensive playground and you start to see past the facade after a week there.

There are three towers to stay in (Coral, Beach and Royal IIRC) Royal is the best, though quite a bit more than Beach, and not really worth the extra IMHO. Only Beach tower and the suites in Royal tower have balconies on the rooms.

Everything is expensive at Atlantis, be warned! There are lots of restaurants though, plenty of choice. I had a lovely meal in the main restaurant (Great Hall of Waters i think) that has wall to wall aquarium (holding a beautiful Manta Ray) and i recall a nice Asian place too, but i have had far better for a better price. Don't do the dining plan, it will lock you in to the less premium restaurants at set times - with families.

There is lots to do - the Casino is lots of fun, i had craps lessons there (not that it helped much!) and i also went to the Comedy Club and the cinema (which was a pretty ropey screen). I had a massage at the spa which was very nice, but again, not cheap. Its nice to have an array of activities but it kind of reminded me of a cruise ship.

The beaches are idyllic - bar the hair braider's and aloe suncream sellers though, and there is a lot of coral and sea life to see if you snorkel, i found a group of Cuttlefish just off shore. Then there are the water slides, lots of fun, yes i did the Leap of Faith - and boy does it burn your butt! (Good fun though!)

There are excursions off Paradise Island, i went to Blue Lagoon Island, did a snorkel trip and a stingray park trip. For the latter i have some silly pictures of me picking up huge stingrays ... more silly after Steve Irwin [:(]

Overall, its a fab place, lots of fun and definitely different. Its not cheap, and as i say, like Disney you kind of feel that you are paying through the nose for something that doesnt always give you quality in return. The rooms are average, the food is average, the prices are not, but then again if you are staying in a submerged hotel resort then i guess its not average in itself! If you have kids or love aquatic life, you'll love it though and wont care so much about the cost.

I have quite a few pictures if you want to see any, and feel free to ask/PM if you have any questions.

Thanks,
Sarah

Originally posted by HighFlyer

Originally posted by daywalker
I would love some info on Atlantis if you would be so kind Sarah?

Sure, what would you like to know?

It's a fab place, basically the constructors built a submerged hotel and flooded it with gallons of water to create the 'lost city' feel, and its quite unique. Its aa bit like Disney, mainly in that its like a huge, expensive playground and you start to see past the facade after a week there.

There are three towers to stay in (Coral, Beach and Royal IIRC) Royal is the best, though quite a bit more than Beach, and not really worth the extra IMHO. Only Beach tower and the suites in Royal tower have balconies on the rooms.

Everything is expensive at Atlantis, be warned! There are lots of restaurants though, plenty of choice. I had a lovely meal in the main restaurant (Great Hall of Waters i think) that has wall to wall aquarium (holding a beautiful Manta Ray) and i recall a nice Asian place too, but i have had far better for a better price. Don't do the dining plan, it will lock you in to the less premium restaurants at set times - with families.

There is lots to do - the Casino is lots of fun, i had craps lessons there (not that it helped much!) and i also went to the Comedy Club and the cinema (which was a pretty ropey screen). I had a massage at the spa which was very nice, but again, not cheap. Its nice to have an array of activities but it kind of reminded me of a cruise ship.

The beaches are idyllic - bar the hair braider's and aloe suncream sellers though, and there is a lot of coral and sea life to see if you snorkel, i found a group of Cuttlefish just off shore. Then there are the water slides, lots of fun, yes i did the Leap of Faith - and boy does it burn your butt! (Good fun though!)

There are excursions off Paradise Island, i went to Blue Lagoon Island, did a snorkel trip and a stingray park trip. For the latter i have some silly pictures of me picking up huge stingrays ... more silly after Steve Irwin [:(]

Overall, its a fab place, lots of fun and definitely different. Its not cheap, and as i say, like Disney you kind of feel that you are paying through the nose for something that doesnt always give you quality in return. The rooms are average, the food is average, the prices are not, but then again if you are staying in a submerged hotel resort then i guess its not average in itself! If you have kids or love aquatic life, you'll love it though and wont care so much about the cost.

I have quite a few pictures if you want to see any, and feel free to ask/PM if you have any questions.

Thanks,
Sarah

Thanks so much for taking to time to give me the info, it sounds good for us. We want a break where the wife can lounge around in the sun all day and I can get active so it definitely appeals to us. We like a goog gym too! I wasn't sure if we should book the comfort suites on the basis it's just a room to sleep in as you get to use all facilities at Atlantis but I reckon we'll just book into Atlantis itself, having looked at the prices the Royal towers look a bit too pricey for our liking though.