Vegas Trip Information for anyone looking to go this year.

[Simon Galloway]

  Surely that's for two or three people!

Surely you recognise your dad's forearm??

[Redsgirl]

  Surely that's for two or three people!

Surely you recognise your dad's forearm??

Haha! Is it really, or are you taking the mick?

[Redsgirl]

  Surely that's for two or three people!

Surely you recognise your dad's forearm??

Haha! Is it really, or are you taking the mick?

Hold on, my dad doesn't wear long sleeved shirts. 
There's also a lack of veins.
It's a wind up!

[Marky147]

Obv quoted wrong person....

Lol I thought so.
Staying at the Nugget on dads advice so we can wander about safely downtown.

Definitely going on a Canyon excursion, has anyone been on the coach ones? Didn't know about Lake mead as Marky suggested so that's one to look up.

Would definitely prefer to spend my cash doing/seeing stuff than wining and dining but that meat thing looks incredible!  Surely that's for two or three people!
Recommendations of good and preferably cheap places to eat would be appreciated.

Thanks for the phone advice too, that wasn't something that had occurred to me but I'll check ot out before we go.

I love it at the Nugget, and stay there for the whole 2/3 weeks every summer now.

The Italian place in the Nugget is reasonably cheap, and the food is good, likewise with the cafe.


Triple George Grill is a really good little restaurant, which does some great food, and you don't pay 'casino tax' on the meals.

http://triplegeorgegrill.com/

It's literally a couple minutes walk from the Nugget, and although off the main strip, you're still very safe.


http://lethaivegas.com/

A little thai place that is down near El Cortez on Fremont Street, and does some very good food at reasonable prices.



If you want some really good pancakes for breakfast, you have to try Dupars

http://www.du-pars.com/

Again, it's a couple minutes walk from the Nugget, at the Golden Gate.


I can't help with the Canyon, as I've never been myself, but plenty of Blondes will have, and likewise with Lake Mead.


I'll see if I can remember any other places I've eaten Downtown, but I'm guilty of eating in Vic & Anthony type places every other night

[redsimon]

When we did the GC thing we hired a car and drove thru Arizona, spent a night in a small town (where everything shut by 10pm!). I'm not sure if I'd do a coach trip but if you don't fancy the helicopter (I know I wouldn't get in one) then plenty of decent deals downtown.

Definitely agree with the food choices Marky has said and downtown has had a boom in last 2/3 years in decent and reasonably priced food places.

[Redsgirl]

Obv quoted wrong person....

Lol I thought so.
Staying at the Nugget on dads advice so we can wander about safely downtown.

Definitely going on a Canyon excursion, has anyone been on the coach ones? Didn't know about Lake mead as Marky suggested so that's one to look up.

Would definitely prefer to spend my cash doing/seeing stuff than wining and dining but that meat thing looks incredible!  Surely that's for two or three people!
Recommendations of good and preferably cheap places to eat would be appreciated.

Thanks for the phone advice too, that wasn't something that had occurred to me but I'll check ot out before we go.

I love it at the Nugget, and stay there for the whole 2/3 weeks every summer now.

The Italian place in the Nugget is reasonably cheap, and the food is good, likewise with the cafe.


Triple George Grill is a really good little restaurant, which does some great food, and you don't pay 'casino tax' on the meals.

http://triplegeorgegrill.com/

It's literally a couple minutes walk from the Nugget, and although off the main strip, you're still very safe.


http://lethaivegas.com/

A little thai place that is down near El Cortez on Fremont Street, and does some very good food at reasonable prices.



If you want some really good pancakes for breakfast, you have to try Dupars

http://www.du-pars.com/

Again, it's a couple minutes walk from the Nugget, at the Golden Gate.


I can't help with the Canyon, as I've never been myself, but plenty of Blondes will have, and likewise with Lake Mead.


I'll see if I can remember any other places I've eaten Downtown, but I'm guilty of eating in Vic & Anthony type places every other night

Thanks Marky, just had a browse of that Dubars menu, it looks divine   
This will be my first trip to America and the breakfasts are one of the things I'm definitely looking forward to!

[Redsgirl]

When we did the GC thing we hired a car and drove thru Arizona, spent a night in a small town (where everything shut by 10pm!). I'm not sure if I'd do a coach trip but if you don't fancy the helicopter (I know I wouldn't get in one) then plenty of decent deals downtown.

Definitely agree with the food choices Marky has said and downtown has had a boom in last 2/3 years in decent and reasonably priced food places.

What was the GC thing redsimon?

Don't really think we're sensible enough to be let loose on the highway on our own, and like you I really don't fancy the helicopter option,  so a coach trip looks likely.

There is a guy who takes smaller groups out in a mini van, kind of a more personalised experience, but that's twice the price of a going on the bus and I'm trying to work out of its worth the difference.

[redsimon]

When we did the GC thing we hired a car and drove thru Arizona, spent a night in a small town (where everything shut by 10pm!). I'm not sure if I'd do a coach trip but if you don't fancy the helicopter (I know I wouldn't get in one) then plenty of decent deals downtown.

Definitely agree with the food choices Marky has said and downtown has had a boom in last 2/3 years in decent and reasonably priced food places.

What was the GC thing redsimon?

Don't really think we're sensible enough to be let loose on the highway on our own, and like you I really don't fancy the helicopter option,  so a coach trip looks likely.

There is a guy who takes smaller groups out in a mini van, kind of a more personalised experience, but that's twice the price of a going on the bus and I'm trying to work out of its worth the difference.

GC, grand canyon

went thru the national park spent a winters day there

[AlcaPwn]

Thanks for the phone advice too, that wasn't something that had occurred to me but I'll check ot out before we go.

I've previously ordered USA Sim Cards to use while in Vegas so I can text mates, the GF etc while around the Strip/Downtown/hotel etc.  I have used Spot Mobile but I believe they ceased back in September.  If you search eBay you will find plenty of people selling US Sim cards and you can usually buy a unlimited package for two weeks or a month.  Just a little tip, the people who sell the Sims usually offer to top up the cards for you also but they charge quite a hefty mark up.  I have always gone directly to the mobile company's website the night before I fly to buy my package.  Most packages also have unlimited international texts as well so I keep my UK sim in a spare phone (remember to turn data roaming off) to receive UK texts and text back on the US number.  Never had my UK bill increase by 1p while away doing it this way (compared to the horror stories I've heard of £500+ bills). 

Also if you are on 3 Network I believe you can use your existing package in the States at no extra cost.

[Redsgirl]

When we did the GC thing we hired a car and drove thru Arizona, spent a night in a small town (where everything shut by 10pm!). I'm not sure if I'd do a coach trip but if you don't fancy the helicopter (I know I wouldn't get in one) then plenty of decent deals downtown.

Definitely agree with the food choices Marky has said and downtown has had a boom in last 2/3 years in decent and reasonably priced food places.

What was the GC thing redsimon?

Don't really think we're sensible enough to be let loose on the highway on our own, and like you I really don't fancy the helicopter option,  so a coach trip looks likely.

There is a guy who takes smaller groups out in a mini van, kind of a more personalised experience, but that's twice the price of a going on the bus and I'm trying to work out of its worth the difference.

GC, grand canyon

went thru the national park spent a winters day there

Of course,  I knew that, I was just making sure you were paying attention  

[Redsgirl]

Thanks for the phone advice too, that wasn't something that had occurred to me but I'll check ot out before we go.

I've previously ordered USA Sim Cards to use while in Vegas so I can text mates, the GF etc while around the Strip/Downtown/hotel etc.  I have used Spot Mobile but I believe they ceased back in September.  If you search eBay you will find plenty of people selling US Sim cards and you can usually buy a unlimited package for two weeks or a month.  Just a little tip, the people who sell the Sims usually offer to top up the cards for you also but they charge quite a hefty mark up.  I have always gone directly to the mobile company's website the night before I fly to buy my package.  Most packages also have unlimited international texts as well so I keep my UK sim in a spare phone (remember to turn data roaming off) to receive UK texts and text back on the US number.  Never had my UK bill increase by 1p while away doing it this way (compared to the horror stories I've heard of £500+ bills). 

Also if you are on 3 Network I believe you can use your existing package in the States at no extra cost.

Thanks Alcapwn, especially for using your first post on blonde to advise me 

So will my voda payg sim not work at all in the states?  I was assuming I'd be able to what's app or txt my friends who were there with me, it's a bit of a bummer that we can't.
Will have to get something sorted cos at least one of us will have to have a way of contacting home, if not each other.

[KarmaDope]

Thanks for the phone advice too, that wasn't something that had occurred to me but I'll check ot out before we go.

I've previously ordered USA Sim Cards to use while in Vegas so I can text mates, the GF etc while around the Strip/Downtown/hotel etc.  I have used Spot Mobile but I believe they ceased back in September.  If you search eBay you will find plenty of people selling US Sim cards and you can usually buy a unlimited package for two weeks or a month.  Just a little tip, the people who sell the Sims usually offer to top up the cards for you also but they charge quite a hefty mark up.  I have always gone directly to the mobile company's website the night before I fly to buy my package.  Most packages also have unlimited international texts as well so I keep my UK sim in a spare phone (remember to turn data roaming off) to receive UK texts and text back on the US number.  Never had my UK bill increase by 1p while away doing it this way (compared to the horror stories I've heard of £500+ bills). 

Also if you are on 3 Network I believe you can use your existing package in the States at no extra cost.

Can confirm the 3 Network thing is correct.

Previously used these guys (as did some friends) and all went well: http://www.mrsimcard.com/smart.html

[AlcaPwn]

Thanks Alcapwn, especially for using your first post on blonde to advise me 

So will my voda payg sim not work at all in the states?  I was assuming I'd be able to what's app or txt my friends who were there with me, it's a bit of a bummer that we can't.
Will have to get something sorted cos at least one of us will have to have a way of contacting home, if not each other.

No problem, been meaning to sign up for a while and this gave me an incentive.

You can use Voda with no problem but you need to be careful as whatsapp uses data and data is about £5 per mb or something ridiculous.  You will soon run up a bill costing more then your trip!

[scotty77]

You can get a 3 PAYG SIM before you go and get calls/data in the US.  Think it's £15-20 credit that you have to load.

[duncthehat]

See the cosmo is the first to hit a 30 buck a night resort fee!!

Also Golden Nugget have gone from a $5 freemont experience fee to a $22 resort fee