UC LGW to LAS

Thanks again everyone i appreciate it! so what would be a good hotel to stay in? i want a nice one but nothing to rubbish! haha and ok so i will rule out a hire car! i don't mind walking either

Cheap - Luxor, Excalibur, Imperial Palace
Midprice - New York New York, MGM Grand, Monte Carlo, Flamingo, Mirage, TI, Planet Hollywood, Tropicana
Expensive - Mandalay Bay, Caesar's Palace, Venetian, Paris, Cosmopolitan, Aria
Money's no object - Wynn, Bellagio

All the above are on the strip and easy to get around either on foot or by bus or monorail.

You can't really go wrong with anything on the strip. Competition's so intense they're all constantly trying to better each other and you can get some great deals.

The moneysavingexpert.com forum has a great section on Vegas including links to hotel discount sites - cos in Vegas there's always a deal to be had.

If your planning on staying to the strip then there is no point at all hiring a car.

I was thinking at staying in circus circus? Looks fun, any recommendations??

And is it easier to get a taxi from the airport??

Also my girlfriend likes shopping(clothes, shoes.ect) is that on the strip to?

Being a bit of a Vegas junkie I perhaps can help a bit. I agree that circus, circus may be a bit out of the way.
I always try to stay from Excalibur to Mirage, on that side of the strip. (they say more sun, around the pools!!)
Shopping is a plenty from the Malls on the strip to the outlet malls on the north and south ends of the strip. Cabs can get you everywhere but if I'm honest you can rent a small car for $30 a day (you don't need all of the insurance they offer you) and car hire from the hotels are cheaper than the airport due to taxes unless you do a block booking (7 days or more) and use someone like carhire3000.
If you want to visit any of the iconic landmarks around Vegas (Hoover Dam, Grand Canyon etc) then you have the choice of coach / plane or you can drive. I always get a car, the cost is small and even a trip out for dinner in the evening almost covers the cost of a cab there and back, no brainier.

One thing I can tell you is you will love it and will want to go back, very quickly. Be lucky!!

If your planning on staying to the strip then there is no point at all hiring a car.

I was thinking at staying in circus circus? Looks fun, any recommendations??

And is it easier to get a taxi from the airport??

Also my girlfriend likes shopping(clothes, shoes.ect) is that on the strip to?

Being a bit of a Vegas junkie I perhaps can help a bit. I agree that circus, circus may be a bit out of the way.
I always try to stay from Excalibur to Mirage, on that side of the strip. (they say more sun, around the pools!!)
Shopping is a plenty from the Malls on the strip to the outlet malls on the north and south ends of the strip. Cabs can get you everywhere but if I'm honest you can rent a small car for $30 a day (you don't need all of the insurance they offer you) and car hire from the hotels are cheaper than the airport due to taxes unless you do a block booking (7 days or more) and use someone like carhire3000.
If you want to visit any of the iconic landmarks around Vegas (Hoover Dam, Grand Canyon etc) then you have the choice of coach / plane or you can drive. I always get a car, the cost is small and even a trip out for dinner in the evening almost covers the cost of a cab there and back, no brainier.

One thing I can tell you is you will love it and will want to go back, very quickly. Be lucky!!

It's always good to have Vegas experts who have done it a few times! Very helpful..

I think I'll resort to a taxi from the airport if it's not far!

I am going to do a fly drive and try and book a hotel cheaper such as trivago.com for somewhere like mirage or Venetian depending on the costs!

I think I will stick to the strip for casinos and the shops around like miracle mile. I will go for 8-9 nights so visiting the canyonay have to wait until my return in a few years maybe.. These holidays are not cheap!

I want to do Vegas and California and maybe LA as a multi centre but Im off to Orlando next year for the 3rd time so all I do is save for the time of my life

Well just to let you all know i booked my flights through virgin atlantic which was a total of £4116.60.

I've been looking at hotels on the strip and I've got a few prices from 2nd sept-11th sept, and I've found the mirage costing £689 via otel.com. Is this a good price for the mirage? and is it a nice hotel to stay?

And I want to surprise my gifriend with the trip on her birthday (we fly a week later). What would you do? Ideas please best birthday she will ever have

And I want to surprise my gifriend with the trip on her birthday (we fly a week later). What would you do? Ideas please best birthday she will ever have

By a guide book , wrap it up and give it to her over dinner at a nice restaurant. A bit later on give her an envelope with the e -tickets in and casually say " oh and I forgot to mention we're flying UC " .Sure fire winner ( as tried and tested by Mr DL ) .
Ok back to the Vegas questions.
I always have a car in Vegas (if flying in direct I'll collect it the next day). There's free valet parking pretty much everywhere (save for the tip) and the Deuce is horrid ( rammed full of people regardless of the time of day). The "Strip" is lonnnnnng -walking anywhere takes a good while and the heat can be oppressive ( nearly as oppressive as the flicky flicky men and women who are a complete pain these days... v( )
The Mirage is fine but you may want to think about somewhere like PH if you're after a younger feel, particularly around the pool (I've had 2 very good stays at PH and a couple of lousy ones at The Bellagio and Palazzo so high end doesn't always mean more enjoyable). You're also in the midst of the Miracle Mile shops and it's easy to get pretty much anywhere either on or off The Strip if you've got a car.
Be warned- Vegas is addictive. I thought I'd hate it- but have notched up 6 visits in the past few years
On a practical note make sure her passport is valid (do that now) and submit the Esta aplication if you don't have a valid one currently for you both.
Have a great time.
DL

Be prepared for the heat, could be @ 105-110F , a dry heat and the distance between hotels on the strip is very deceptive...have some comfortable shoes to walk in.

Have a look at this Vegas thread on MSE, lots of tips from regular Vegas travellers there.

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/sho ... ?t=3701431

And I want to surprise my gifriend with the trip on her birthday (we fly a week later). What would you do? Ideas please best birthday she will ever have

By a guide book , wrap it up and give it to her over dinner at a nice restaurant. A bit later on give her an envelope with the e -tickets in and casually say " oh and I forgot to mention we're flying UC " .Sure fire winner ( as tried and tested by Mr DL ) .
Ok back to the Vegas questions.
I always have a car in Vegas (if flying in direct I'll collect it the next day). There's free valet parking pretty much everywhere (save for the tip) and the Deuce is horrid ( rammed full of people regardless of the time of day). The "Strip" is lonnnnnng -walking anywhere takes a good while and the heat can be oppressive ( nearly as oppressive as the flicky flicky men and women who are a complete pain these days... v( )
The Mirage is fine but you may want to think about somewhere like PH if you're after a younger feel, particularly around the pool (I've had 2 very good stays at PH and a couple of lousy ones at The Bellagio and Palazzo so high end doesn't always mean more enjoyable). You're also in the midst of the Miracle Mile shops and it's easy to get pretty much anywhere either on or off The Strip if you've got a car.
Be warned- Vegas is addictive. I thought I'd hate it- but have notched up 6 visits in the past few years
On a practical note make sure her passport is valid (do that now) and submit the Esta aplication if you don't have a valid one currently for you both.
Have a great time.
DL

Thats not a bad idea, I'll add that surprise to the list hehe! Is it still a good deal to get a hire car when I'm there or pre book one now? But I don't I would mind walking, it adds to the whole experience.

I was looking for a nice hotel which is up there with high end ones but didn't want to go crazy and spend thousands, but saw a deal on the mirage?! And it seems close to a few things such as shopping.

Currently we're addicted to Orlando and going back for our third time next year, this will be over a 4 year period! So I'm sure we can add Vegas to the list

And yes her passports valid as we used it last year and sadly our estas ran out this year so will renew them!

Thanks again

[honey lamb]

I stayed in the Mirage a couple of years ago and found it just fine

Imperial Palace while a corking price (I saw it was 175 quid for a week when I last did a check, about 50 quid cheaper than one night in my San Francisco hotel I was booking). But they're doing construction work beside it at the moment, so even I wouldn't book it (and you never book the basic room, the slightly more expensive room is strip side, the basic is carpark side). Flamingo and Harrahs had a good price, but they might still be affected by the work.

Mirage is a good suggestion.

As for car hire/taxi from the airport, its about $15 for a taxi if you say 'don't tunnel', and about $25 if they take you long way around (I realise that I've been tunneled every time I've been there so far, once a driver took us direct). But hiring a car might be a good idea if you want to go to the Grand Canyon (recommend the south rim, but stay overnight, its too long to do in a day).

I think however, people are being kind about Circus Circus. It's often a classic mistake of brits to book vegas and not know that Circus Circus and Stratosphere are basically craphole hotels, and nowhere near the strip really (its technically on it, but I only ever see them sitting on the bus to Freemont street). Avoid them, you'll want to book really on the strip, and indeed, I'm not a fan of the MGM, New York New York, Excaliber, Luxor, Tropicana or Mandalay Bay, because they are basically south end of strip. Aim for mid strip, Mirage, Harrahs, Flamingos, Bills Gambling House (low end), Ballys, Paris, I believe theres a new Hilton open now, Bellagio, Caesars...

Just stayed at the Mirage (June) & it was a good stay - hotel had a good vibe and plenty of eating places to suit any pocket

Just stayed at the Mirage (June) & it was a good stay - hotel had a good vibe and plenty of eating places to suit any pocket

Thanks, I've booked it all now so were e staying at the mirage! Hoping it's a great atmosphere there! And how's the distances from The mirage to shopping malls and other casinos?
Is it a good location to most things

Mirage is a nice hotel and is very close to a few casinos on that part of the strip. I think it about 1/2 mile or so to the Fashion Mall.
Just had a thought, you could take the Monorail, it has a cost, not sure how much but I would think you have to ride it once. It can also whisk you to other casinos further down the strip.
For the outlet malls you will need a cab or hire a car.

[honey lamb]

Thanks, I've booked it all now so were e staying at the mirage! Hoping it's a great atmosphere there! And how's the distances from The mirage to shopping malls and other casinos?
Is it a good location to most things

You can take a monorail to Treasure Island next door and then cross over to the Fashion Show Mall. Across the road from the Fashion Show Mall is the Wynn and outside that you can catch the Golden Ace bus to the Outlet Mall at the north end of Las Vegas. A $3 ticket lasts 24 hours and can also take you to the Outlet Mall at the south end of the Strip which is smaller but had the advantage of being indoors and therefore air-conditioned.

I enjoyed my time at the Mirage and as someone said, has a good choice of restaurants plus there is a Denny's across the road from the Mirage which is great for cheap breakfasts

Mirage is a nice hotel and is very close to a few casinos on that part of the strip. I think it about 1/2 mile or so to the Fashion Mall.
Just had a thought, you could take the Monorail, it has a cost, not sure how much but I would think you have to ride it once. It can also whisk you to other casinos further down the strip.
For the outlet malls you will need a cab or hire a car.

The closest monorail station at Harrahs/Imperial Palace is across the road from Mirage, but by the time you have gotten over to Harrahs , then navigated all the way through the property to the very back (you have to do this for all of the monorail stops, they are designed to make you walk through the casinos and spend money) and onto the monorail station you could have walked to Fashion Show Mall.

Its $5 each for a single journey, $12 for a day pass

The closest monorail station at Harrahs/Imperial Palace is across the road from Mirage, but by the time you have gotten over to Harrahs , then navigated all the way through the property to the very back (you have to do this for all of the monorail stops, they are designed to make you walk through the casinos and spend money) and onto the monorail station you could have walked to Fashion Show Mall.

Its $5 each for a single journey, $12 for a day pass

Yes, the main monorail is indeed on the other side of the strip (and a long walk) from the Mirage.

However there is a separate little tram/monorail (free) that shuttles between the Mirage and Treasure Island, which is next door to the Fashion Show Mall. Not that many people seem to know about it so it's usually quite quiet. Useful, though.

Fordie - don't know what type of shops you and your girlfriend like but Fashion Show Mall is a large, mainstream mall - similar to the likes of Westfield or Lakeside or the Trafford Centre in the UK.

As others have said, there are two discount outlet malls at either end of town which are a bus ride or drive away. Or for the more high end fashion stores, try the Forum Shops at Caesar's Palace, Crystals in City Center or the shops at the Venetian. Shops are one thing Vegas isn't short of!

The closest monorail station at Harrahs/Imperial Palace is across the road from Mirage, but by the time you have gotten over to Harrahs , then navigated all the way through the property to the very back (you have to do this for all of the monorail stops, they are designed to make you walk through the casinos and spend money) and onto the monorail station you could have walked to Fashion Show Mall.

Its $5 each for a single journey, $12 for a day pass

Yes, the main monorail is indeed on the other side of the strip (and a long walk) from the Mirage.

However there is a separate little tram/monorail (free) that shuttles between the Mirage and Treasure Island, which is next door to the Fashion Show Mall. Not that many people seem to know about it so it's usually quite quiet. Useful, though.

Fordie - don't know what type of shops you and your girlfriend like but Fashion Show Mall is a large, mainstream mall - similar to the likes of Westfield or Lakeside or the Trafford Centre in the UK.

As others have said, there are two discount outlet malls at either end of town which are a bus ride or drive away. Or for the more high end fashion stores, try the Forum Shops at Caesar's Palace, Crystals in City Center or the shops at the Venetian. Shops are one thing Vegas isn't short of!

i am thinking of getting a hire car for the malls further away and also to take drive along the strip! and yes we like west fields and lakeside, we like hollister and well most other shops! we will fit as much in as possible i think! its all about trying things out while there. So i think its worth having a car for the malls rather then rely on a taxi/ bus.

Also for all experts of Vegas, what spending money would you all suggest? i was thinking $5000 for the 9 nights! its a tough one though

That should be more than enough unless you're a big time gambler or shop in Prada!

Vegas, more than anywhere else on earth, knows how to part you with your hard earned cash but it needn't break the bank if you're sensible.

Most of the casinos have buffets which are a lot cheaper than waiter service restaurants and the ones in the high end casinos like the Bellagio, the Wynn and the Cosmopolitan are very nice.

And think about seeing a show or two - there are about 8 different Cirque du Soleil shows if that floats your boat, and any number of concerts and magic shows.

Oh, and if you want to spoil the gf on her birthday, think about booking a nice restaurant now as they do get booked up. I would suggest either the one in the Eiffel Tower at Paris or one of the ones next to the lake at the Bellagio. Not cheap, but special.