Vegas in september?
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brockovrs

Original Poster:

341 posts

179 months

Tuesday 8th January 2013
quotequote all
I am looking at going to Las Vegas at the end of September & thought I would start looking at prices now (whilst BA/Virgin have their January sales)

From looking at some previous threads, I'd like to stay at Bally's, as it seems reasonably priced for being pretty much smack bang in the middle of the strip.

Now, I realise that getting to Vegas wont be cheap, but the lowest priced package I could see for the 23rd to the 28th of September was £846 per person (there would be 2 of us going).

When looking at booking hotel/flights seperately, I cannot seem to find flights for less than £750/£800 PP (apart from ones that have 2 or 3 connections, which I'd rather avoid if at all possible) - Does anyone have any hints as to where I could look to get a better deal? (flying from either Manchester or any of the London airports)

I realise that it must seem like I'm asking for the moon on a stick, but if anyone has any advice then the more money I save on getting there means the more I have to spend on beer, gambling, guns & hopefully the Richard Petty driving experience wink

Cheers!

Pothole

34,367 posts

313 months

Tuesday 8th January 2013
quotequote all
Skyscanner brings up US Airways flights from £626 with a stop in Charlotte (makes the flight 16 hours in total, though)

If you can get yourselves to Belfast cheaply you can get a United flight via Newark for less than £400 (14 hours total flight time) which seems like a bargain. (ouch, just noticed the return flight is 33 hours!!!)

Office_Monkey

1,969 posts

240 months

Tuesday 8th January 2013
quotequote all
Went in August, the stopover in Charlotte was ok, it's not a bad airport tbh. You won't find a cheap fare unless you have a stopover, will be worth it to spend the extra whilst in LV.

Jovial Joe

371 posts

216 months

Tuesday 8th January 2013
quotequote all
Disagree, fly direct. You'll only save yourself a couple of hundred quid max as opposed to flying with Virgin/BA and it's a lot less of a PITA.
Just over 10 hours flying time, rather than god only knows what. No worries about transfers, newer aircraft, better food (doesn't say much I know) cabin crew that may actually give a fk and you arrive far more relaxed.
Our last trip flew into Atlanta, which took a little over 9 hours, a 4 hour wait, then it took 4 hours to fly onwards to Vegas. The only upside was being able to bypass immigration at Vegas, which can be a massive ball ache.
Same thing in reverse coming back, until we had to turn around for an unspecified safety reason 2 hours into our Heathrow bound flight. By the time we had landed, I'd been sat in the same seat for 16 hours on top of the 8 hours travelling time before that.
Never again, difference for us at the time was £160. No way was it worth it.
Regards

brockovrs

Original Poster:

341 posts

179 months

Tuesday 8th January 2013
quotequote all
I was thinking along those lines too, and after spending most of the day on the ba/virgin websites I've found direct flights from gatwick for £595 per person (although it does mean I'll have to go in November)

Has anyone stayed in either ballys or the flamingo & if so, what were your opinions?


Pothole

34,367 posts

313 months

Tuesday 8th January 2013
quotequote all
A mate got married at the Flamingo. Said the hotel was fine. Not fabulous but fine.

15peter20

191 posts

190 months

Tuesday 8th January 2013
quotequote all
Flamingo is fine - good location but nothing special

Try hotels4u - found some good deals on it the year before last. I second the direct flight post above having tried most combos!

Truckosaurus

13,299 posts

315 months

Wednesday 9th January 2013
quotequote all
I stayed in Ballys back in October, mainly for the location as the OP suggested.

Ballys is right across the street (via a walk way) from the Bellagio and also joined to the Paris (they share a self-parking structure).

The rooms in the North Tower are better, although don't have a Strip View.

I think is the ideal Strip hotel for someone making a return visit to Vegas as it is good value but doesn't have the bragging rights or kerb appeal that staying in the Bellagio or Caesars or the Wynn etc. would.

There's not really any restaurants or bars worth getting excited about but it is only a couple of minutes down the corridor in Paris which has Gordon Ramsey's Steakhouse and some faux French places.

In short: Functional not fancy.

Turbodiesel1690

1,958 posts

201 months

Wednesday 9th January 2013
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The Bellagio isn't as expensive as you might think, don't book without checking

Kenty

5,287 posts

206 months

Wednesday 9th January 2013
quotequote all
Mandalay bay is good, at end of strip but fast transit takes you along the strip fairly cheaply and quickly. You can often get a better rate by calling or emailing reservations direct. I got loads off THEHotel by doing this for the several rooms we needed. It might be worth it.
Also try the Mario Andretti driving experience, some good competition going on there for custom. Depends if you want Nascar or Indy car - I had indy car and was pretty special day.

brockovrs

Original Poster:

341 posts

179 months

Wednesday 9th January 2013
quotequote all
Cheers for the hotels4u tip!

I didnt know there was an Indycar driving experience, however I think I'm better built for NASCAR wink

Anyone got any ideas for "must do" things whilst I'm there? - I went about 10 years ago for my dads wedding but I was too young to drink, or gamble. I went to freemont st & that was good, has it changed much?

Truckosaurus

13,299 posts

315 months

Wednesday 9th January 2013
quotequote all
brockovrs said:
I went about 10 years ago ... I went to freemont st & that was good, has it changed much?
Fremont Street and the Downtown area has in the last couple of years come on leaps and bounds, with the hotels being refurbished and trendy bars opening, along with places such as the Mob Museum, Neon Boneyard and the Smith Center arts complex adding to the places off-strip to visit.

The Downtown hotels are still tiny compared to The Strip with no real destination dining options (other than the MSS Brewpub perhaps) or 'attractions' other than gambling.

Stu R

21,695 posts

246 months

Wednesday 9th January 2013
quotequote all
Jovial Joe said:
Disagree, fly direct. You'll only save yourself a couple of hundred quid max as opposed to flying with Virgin/BA and it's a lot less of a PITA.
Just over 10 hours flying time, rather than god only knows what. No worries about transfers, newer aircraft, better food (doesn't say much I know) cabin crew that may actually give a fk and you arrive far more relaxed.
Couldn't agree more. Flying direct is the only way.

DangerMonkey

590 posts

247 months

Wednesday 9th January 2013
quotequote all
Stu R said:
Jovial Joe said:
Disagree, fly direct. You'll only save yourself a couple of hundred quid max as opposed to flying with Virgin/BA and it's a lot less of a PITA.
Just over 10 hours flying time, rather than god only knows what. No worries about transfers, newer aircraft, better food (doesn't say much I know) cabin crew that may actually give a fk and you arrive far more relaxed.
Couldn't agree more. Flying direct is the only way.
Also consider Thomas Cook - they fly direct from manchester, twice weekly for most of the summer season although you'll have to book the hotel as part of a package.

Stu R

21,695 posts

246 months

Wednesday 9th January 2013
quotequote all
DangerMonkey said:
Stu R said:
Jovial Joe said:
Disagree, fly direct. You'll only save yourself a couple of hundred quid max as opposed to flying with Virgin/BA and it's a lot less of a PITA.
Just over 10 hours flying time, rather than god only knows what. No worries about transfers, newer aircraft, better food (doesn't say much I know) cabin crew that may actually give a fk and you arrive far more relaxed.
Couldn't agree more. Flying direct is the only way.
Also consider Thomas Cook - they fly direct from manchester, twice weekly for most of the summer season although you'll have to book the hotel as part of a package.
They always used to say they flew direct, but stopped off in Glasgow when they felt like it to pick up more passengers. Not sure if they still do, mind.