Vegas, must do's.

[rex008]

Thanks all. We are considering having a car instead, it just seems like a very long drive out to the Canyon. Google maps says 5 hours each way. Accurate?

Edit: Just had a search and realised the skywalk is closer to Vegas. 3h20m says Google, not so bad.

[Longy]

5 hours seems pretty accurate to grand canyon village, so assume the 3hr 20 is close as well.

[TheChipPrince]

Thanks all. We are considering having a car instead, it just seems like a very long drive out to the Canyon. Google maps says 5 hours each way. Accurate?

Edit: Just had a search and realised the skywalk is closer to Vegas. 3h20m says Google, not so bad.

From memory is was about an hour to the Hoover, then about 1h30 from there to Skywalk. 

Never more than 2h30m anyway, definately not.  If I had a gun to my head I would say 2h20m.

[rex008]

Just been reading more about the Skywalk. Looks pretty amazing, but you can't take your own camera on it "to protect the glass". Hah!! Then they let they're own photographers on who charge $30/photo! And the ticket price is $30 each (reasonable I guess) but then you ADD $43 for getting into the West Rim area!! Taking the piss a bit there aren't they? Makes hiring a car the cheapest part of the day.

[TheChipPrince]

Yeah its not cheap, forgot it was that much tbh. 

I think the helicopter ride is probably better option, I was just saying the car option is not as bad as you might think perhaps.

[Longy]

$25 per car for a week pass at the proper Grand canyon national park fwiw.

[Simon Galloway]

Other thing I'm looking for at the mo is a traditional US steak place. Don't want anything fancy at all, just giant steaks at reasonable prices. Guys I'm going with are definitely not blonde-balla. Any recommendations appreciated.

Would recommend either Hugos (which I wrote about earlier in this thread) or Circusx2 steakhouse Circusx2 or Riviera Riviera

Any cheaper than that, you are in shoe leather from a 24hour cafe territory - and that's just not cricket.

I haven't been to the Riviera one yet, but feedback from friends is that it is not top notch, but very good, and very very good for the money.

[rex008]

Other thing I'm looking for at the mo is a traditional US steak place. Don't want anything fancy at all, just giant steaks at reasonable prices. Guys I'm going with are definitely not blonde-balla. Any recommendations appreciated.

Would recommend either Hugos (which I wrote about earlier in this thread) or Circusx2 steakhouse Circusx2 or Riviera Riviera

Any cheaper than that, you are in shoe leather from a 24hour cafe territory - and that's just not cricket.

I haven't been to the Riviera one yet, but feedback from friends is that it is not top notch, but very good, and very very good for the money.

Thanks. Riviera 24oz Porterhouse for $30 is exactly what I was after, especially if it is reasonable quality. American excess ftw. Circusx2 looks pretty good as well. Will consult with the chaps.

[Graham C]

Just to add some weight to the 'driving there' argument.  We hired a 4x4 and drove over, left about 11ish, had an hour or so at the Hoover dam, then a couple of hours at the Grand Canyon Skywalk.  Cost like $60 each for 5 us for the 4x4 with fuel.  One guy loves driving a little to much tho, and was happy to do the lot, I was happy with my feet up in the back chilling.

I love driving over there too, there's so much to see driving about and I hate being a passenger.  Works well for the Mrs and me as she likes a snooze along the way.

[Simon Galloway]

Thanks. Riviera 24oz Porterhouse for $30 is exactly what I was after,

Let me know if it's any good pls?

[rex008]

Thanks. Riviera 24oz Porterhouse for $30 is exactly what I was after,

Let me know if it's any good pls?

Plans are fluid, but if it happens, I will report .

[smashedagain]

I went on the skywalk with my stepson in 2009. They made out it could take the weight of a jumbo jet ? But could not take on phones and cameras in case you dropped em and chipped the glass.

Would never drive/bus there again tho

[rex008]

Having returned yesterday, thought I'd report on suggestions here:
Skywalk was good. Knowing what to expect helped, $300 for 4 was pricey but not unexpected, so liveable with. Having done the South Rim before, the West was different, but still extremely impressive. The Skywalk itself was good - I have no problem with heights, but I think a couple of the guys I was with found it fairly exhilarating! Bought one group photo ($30), and will scan/share between the 4 of us. Was about 3 hours from Vegas, including about 9 miles of unavoidable dirt road, but no problem. Car got fairly dusty, glad we swerved the convertible in favour of yank-tank SUV in the end. Did the dam/bridge on the way back; day worked out really well.

Didn't do Riviera steakhouse, sorry Simon, but did do the Steakhouse at Circus Circus, which thoroughly deserves it's reputation. It was very very good indeed. Nice ambience, great service, superb food. Went down very well indeed. <$100 each although only had 1 bottle of wine

Other main meals:
Outback steakhouse - chain restaurant, but very very nice steaks
Hooters - chicken, shrimp and cheap beer. Yum yum
Buffet at Fremont Hotel (Downtown) - old school Vegas buffet, $15 prime rib dinner. Was on a recommended list, and for that price it was excellent. Good selection. I only had 4 main courses (prime rib, sushi, pizza, mexican), plus salad and dessert .
So a good mix.

One thing we learned is that if you're not gambling, the price of drinks can vary massively. From paying nearly $40 for a round of beers in the Venetian, we found we could get $1 bottles or frozen margaritas just down the road in Casino Royale (even not gambling)

[Biddy 62]

Nice one will look for them. We fly in morning. Report back in a week.

[tonytats]

Have a great time