Vegas - How long and where to stay?

[FastNLoud]

Did a pretty similar route in September.
Vegas (few days at cosmopolitan with balcony- worth every penny first time you watch the fountains at night) > drive through valley of fire to zion national park (under canvas) > horseshoe bend > monument valley (gouldings lodge) > grand canyon south rim (holiday inn Tusayan) > back to vegas via a bit of route 66 (few days in ceasers)

Go to zion national park, it is honestly incredible! Highlight of our trip. Would also recommend all the accommodation we used.
Also hire hertz adrenaline collection ford mustang if you don't need seats for 4 adults!

[omniflow]

Thanks for even more input. Following the advice given, I've added in an "Acclimatisation Day" - pick up the hire car in the AM, then just mooch about for the rest of the day. Then I discovered an all year round rafting tour operating from the Hoover Dam - runs on Thursdays and Sundays in Feb - so that pushes us back 2 days. The upshot of this is that we have 1 extra day to add to one of the stopovers - so it will either be 3 nights in Page, Moab or Bryce / Zion, and 2 nights in the other 2.

The intention always has been to book the proper V8 Mustang. I've joined the Hertz Gold Club (or whatever it's called), and also checked out the boot space in a local car dealers that had one for sale.

However, for now I have my start date fixed, I'm not adding any more days on. I just need to figure out the Airmiles booking process, and decide whether I need to stay up until Midnight to maximise my chances of getting the tickets. I will definitely do a dummy run. The remainder of the planning can wait a few months.

[chopper602]

We were there in September, still really hot, chaos with the F1 preparation. Stayed at NewYork New York, which TBH was great, especially since our personal travel agent had contacted the hotel to say my daughter was 21 the day before. We had two rooms and they upgraded both of them to suites which a snack basket and fruit, which was nice. View was to the back and the hills, via the roller coaster. Prepare yourself for the high prices. A beer on the strip $12-15 plus tip, off strip or at a bar with a happy hour half of that. Freemont street area much more reasonable - find the revolving bar and people watch !

[trando]

Been to Vegas many times. Highlight for me has always been the Shelby Heritage Centre. Do the guided tour for an hour and buy some merch in the shop. Must see for any PH-er!

[omniflow]

Updating this as it's time to start booking hotels (well a couple of the more popular ones anyway)

Flights are booked, so the start and end are fixed. Everything in the middle can still be changed.

Day 1 - collect hire car, mooch about, buy supplies, have a relaxing lunch somewhere with a nice view
Day 2 - Hoover Dam rafting tour - https://hooverdamraftingadventures.com/hoover-dam-... - then drive to South Rim. Currently thinking that the El Tovar is the best option 2 nights here
Day 4 - Head for Page for 2 nights. Nowhere really stands out, so thinking of staying at the "Best Western View of Lake Powell"
Day 6 - Monument Valley for 1 night - stay in a Valley View Cabin - https://monumentvalleyview.com/premium-cabins/
Day 7 - Moab for 2 nights - stay at the Gonzo Inn
Day 9 - Head for Bryce Canyon City via Highway 12 - stay in the Best Western for 1 night.
Day 10 - Head for Zion for 2 nights, stay in the National Park Lodge

Apart from the Gonzo Inn, which was recommended on here, all of the other hotels have been selected by looking at the websites. If anyone has any better suggestions for hotels in these places, please recommend them.

All of the actual Las Vegas stuff will be booked later as I don't think there's any benefit in early booking there.

[djc206]

I’ve stayed at the BW view of Lake Powell. Perfectly good hotel, breakfast is ste but that’s true of all BW’s. Ample parking, decent views, near the road up to horseshoe bend for sunset. I would avoid the upmarket restaurant next door, it’s overpriced and not up to much, not a bad place for a drink but not food. Big Johns BBQ was good when we went.

Edit to add: last time we went to Zion we stayed in the Best Western Plus Zion Canyon lodge. Much cheaper than staying in the park itself and close to the entrance. We last went in winter when it’s quiet enough for them to allow private vehicles free roam of the park vs the summer shuttle buses. There is a free bus that’s runs through Springdale regularly to take guests to the park entrance.

I really liked the food in Camp Outpost. The Zion Canyon Brew Pub does a half decent pint and typical American fayre well.

My favourite hikes in order:

Angels Landing (permit only)
The subway (permit only)
The narrows

Edited by djc206 on Saturday 20th April 13:48

[mikef]

I haven't stayed at El Tovar, but have stayed at other National Park hotels, and it's been a great experience. El Tovar is right by the steam railway depot at South Rim, which is great with kids. There are cheaper hotels at Tusayan outside the park entrance, but you'd be missing out on the history

[Forester1965]

Last time I went, I stayed at the Bellagio and hired a Z06 Corvette for the weekend. Took in the Hoover Dam and drove around Lake Mead/Valley of Fire for a blast and back down the interstate to Vegas.

[mattyn1]

Is there any love for the Luxor? We have that booked this summer for two nights… wondering if I need to change the plan!

[Truckosaurus]

mattyn1 said:

Is there any love for the Luxor? We have that booked this summer for two nights… wondering if I need to change the plan!

I like Luxor for what it is, a decent value resort. It still has its theming in places which is a bonus. When they last re-did the rooms they installed the old furniture removed at the Bellagio's last refurbishment, so it is good quality, if a little second hand....

You have easy access to Excalibur and Mandalay Bay, such that you can almost consider them a single property.

I quite like doing 'Strip Crawls' where you get the bus or Uber up to the north end resorts and walk back down to Luxor, so the location isn't a negative.

On my past couple of trips I've stayed at ParkMGM instead as I now get the same 4-free-nights offer for that property as I do for Luxor on the MGM Rewards programme.

[mattyn1]

Truckosaurus said:

I like Luxor for what is…

Thanks Trucko… that’s a relief! Not having been to Vegas before we chose that because it’s different and looks cool! Some reviews online were quite positive. Am not a rewards member anywhere so have to take what we book at face value.

Have booked two Pyramid Kings and have asked for them to be interconnecting. Fingers crossed!!

[Mortarboard]

Perfectly fine hotel/resort. All the "big name" hotels are.

If you've booked pyramid rooms, they may "upgrade" you to the tower, as technically it's nicer. But defeats the purpose if you wanted the experience of staying in a pyramid though

As truckosaurus said, we'll connected to both Excalibur and Mandalay bay. Pinball hall of fame across the street is goid if you like pinball. Actually, it's better than good!

$6 will get you an all day ticket for "the deuce" which is the bus route that runs on the strip, as truck said, go to one end, and visit all the spots on the way back

M.

[mikef]

In summer ithe pool area at Luxor can get very hot (true of most LV hotels, but they usually have shaded areas you can move to)

[Truckosaurus]

Indeed the Deuce bus can be annoying at times as it gets stuck in traffic and stops every 100yds, but if you get on at the Luxor end it'll be empty so you'll get a good seat upstairs and can do some sight seeing.

Or just Uber, probably won't cost much more than a couple of bus tickets if there is two of you and get you to the far end of the Strip in ten mins. (but will take the parallel back road so no sight seeing).

[theplayingmantis]

mattyn1 said:

Is there any love for the Luxor? We have that booked this summer for two nights… wondering if I need to change the plan!

against the grain (and i think i have different expectations than some others on this thread!) but its very tired from what i hear room wise, but probably fine. from walking through last month, the public areas look fine, the casino doesn't smell so bad like some of the others (compare with Excalibur next door if your brave enough), but its nothing special. Will be imploded evetually.

[theplayingmantis]

mattyn1 said:

Thanks Trucko… that’s a relief! Not having been to Vegas before we chose that because it’s different and looks cool! Some reviews online were quite positive. Am not a rewards member anywhere so have to take what we book at face value.

Have booked two Pyramid Kings and have asked for them to be interconnecting. Fingers crossed!!

you can sign up to be a reward member in 5 mins online for free. m life at least. silly not to given the room and other discounts.

[Mortarboard]

theplayingmantis said:

you can sign up to be a reward member in 5 mins online for free. m life at least. silly not to given the room and other discounts.

And if you're the type to get freebies from wasting time on game apps, "myvegas" is well worth it

M.

[Mortarboard]

theplayingmantis said:

against the grain (and i think i have different expectations than some others on this thread!) but its very tired from what i hear room wise

Currently the tower rooms are about on a par with a uk Travelodge quality-wise, and slightly bigger. In us terms, very similar to la quinta/comfort inn/Drury type places.

It's not the wynn/bellagio, but it's less than $100 a night including resort fee, typically.

M.