Vegas next year

Hi (new member here). I'm called Dan irl

Background:
I'm Male, 28, live in suffolk with the other half. I've got a red VS FC membership as sadly work tend to fly me to Europe, and thus limited FC earning opportunities (fly RyanAir mostly grrr poor me), although stansted is nearer so ho-hum. I have 50k Virgin miles, and a amex PE upgrade voucher (had a V amex for yonks) Also a FVC member with V-hols due to frequent expensive personal hols with them (usually PE or U/C).

We're going to be flying to Vegas (economy sadly) on Nov 2nd or 3rd this year to attend a friends weddding on the 5th.. returning approx one week later. Would welcome fellow v-flyers experience on this route.... Looking to stay at MGM grand tower room - anyone stayed recently who has comments? If bad, can you suggest a nearby hotel thats decent (wedding party will be mostly MGM grand, some luxor (which I've heard real bad things about)).

Now onto questions / thoughts:
Would Booking via V-atlantic & hotel seperately be a good idea - at the moment I see it costing more than v-holidays - but will likely be able to get cheaper soon as MGM grand release more rooms online (at the moment its a flat $199 a night). I would also have to pay for airport parking if I do this - as FVC = free parking.

Doing this way I also potentially can use a reward flight + upgrade (there is availiability) to PE.

2/ What is V-flyers recent experience of the v-room - I searched, but er, didn't get anything recent.. ?

I'm in two minds you see - as whether to book seperately or with V-hols - as V-hols price is fixed, I get free parking, and access to v-room. Whereas booking flight I'll be stuck in Gatwick terminal with no lounge access (unless 2 U/C passengers wish to invite myself and the other half as guests)... And I can't stand gatwick. Heathrow, I know I'd pay for lounge access to clubhouse via V-hols

Oh and finally - do you think Virgin will follow up and move the Vegas flight to Heathrow as previously rumoured - or has this been canned with bad loadings recently?

Welcome, lots of questions, most of which I cannot answer apart from :

We stayed at the MGM in 2003, and had a Grand Tower room. It was good. Better than Circus Circus, but not as good as the Paris. I would stay there again, and if most of the wedding party are there then it sounds like a good choice.

I was in Vegas in November, and the economic downturn has started to bite, so for best deals, you will probably find those closer to the actual event. Typically 7 to 14 days out, if lots of rooms are empty, with a wedding, you'll probably not want to leave it that late.

Mark

If you are in the MGM - I would go for the MGM Signature, rather than a tower room...it's just that bit nicer and good to get away from the hustle and bustle if you need to.

I am due to go in Feb and currently about $130 a night for a junior suite.

ooh sthuk i might bump into you then!!
we're going to the Signature in Feb for 2 weeks, this is the only hotel in Vegas I have ever chosen to stay a second time at- been to Belagio, Flamingo and Sahara and seen all the others, would love to stay at the Palazio, venetian or Trump but until lottery win arrives no chance.
BTW we always book flights and stay seperatly, infact we find if we get a quote of the hotel directly then ask our TA to price match it, they usually can (eventually) and beat it by a few bucks.
Another thing to consider is if you pay for it upfront now in UK money ratehr than check in and pay the balance then you can possibly save a few quid as the exchange rate is not in our favour.

I echo the Signature suites at MGM, or if you really want to be in the MGM proper, go for a bungalow suite.

Offers this far out will be hard to come by, typically the good offers appear 6-8 weeks out. For peace of mind, you can reserve a room directly with the hotel now, and cancel then rebook at will as the offers flood in.

On the upgrade front, definately go for PE if you can. Your 50,000+voucher will get your other half into PE, then buy a PE flight for yourself, that way you earn miles as I assume your other half is not a collector ?

I am sure if you cost things out, goign independent will be cheaper. However if the saving is minimal, the ease of using vhols is perhaps alluring.

Why not cost it out yoruself (using $159/night as standard Signature rate) and then ask vhols to beat it, they can only say no

Another vote for the signature here, it's a no brainer to be honest. Book now but keep checking the website for specials as the rates often change the nearer your travel date. If you see a better rate, phone them up and change it

As for gambling on the exchange rate, that's up to you!

Flights I'll leave to the VS experts.

[buns]

Welcome Starquake

As far as the V-Room is concerned, I have had the pleasure of visiting there fairly recently and I can say that it provides a wonderful haven from the bustle of Gatwick's South Terminal.

Excellent views across the runway and the food and non alcoholic beverages on offer make it worth the entry fee IMHO [y]

One of the key issues that determines room rates in Vegas are the major conventions and this will often keep rates high if there is something big going on. As always 'you pay your money and you take your choice' and you always risk those seats going before you decide. So if FC can offer the reward flight /upgrade then go for it.

buns

How about two hotels? If you don't mind moving one day?

Welcome to the site starquake.
Personally, I'd do it all yourself. I too have FVC status and have found it becoming virtually redundant (and I'd kept my original 10% discount option).LGW-LAS can be difficult sometimes to find reward availability but as you've said you've found some,that's great (just remember there has to be availability in T and U to use the Amex upgrade voucher). Personally I prefer to fly in/out of LAX and SFO and fly/drive to Vegas (and there's greater award availability on these routes too).
If most of the wedding party are staying in the MGM I'suggest staying there too be it Signature or 'proper'.'Nearby' in Vegas isn't neccessarily /really nearby.Don't underestimate how long it can take to get about the place.
Have a great time regardless though.
DL

quote:Originally posted by buns
As far as the V-Room is concerned, I have had the pleasure of visiting there fairly recently and I can say that it provides a wonderful haven from the bustle of Gatwick's South Terminal.

Excellent views across the runway and the food and non alcoholic beverages on offer make it worth the entry fee IMHO [y]


We used it back in August and would echo Buns' opinion.

Things presumably have changed over the years, but I much preferred the Luxor to the rather soulless MGM back in 2001/2002.

Paul

Hi

We're in Vegas in Feb too. Have just cancelled the Signature 1 bed at $224 a night as managed to get a hollywood suite at the MGM for $95 a night instead. We've stayed in both and agree the Signature is much better quality but for the price difference we've got will use the hollywood suite this time. The fixtures are older but you still get the same amount of space.

With regard to the flights, we always book separately now and are trying the SFO route for a change instead of direct which we've always flown before.

If you go direct, try to book PE upstairs, it really makes a difference as the downstairs PE just isn't worth it.

If certainty of room booking is required, ensure you book a cancellable hotel reservation and watch out for deals on smartervegas from abouto 8 weeks before you're due to go and rebook the hotel then.

Hope this helps.

Struggling with availability via LGW? could try LHR and then a flight from LAX to LAS (we did in june 08 for £30 ea & 30 mins..)- You'll also get the 'As advertised PE experience' as opposed to the 1980's throwback version.
Also stayed at the MGM Grand Tower- as mentioned below, faily soulless. However how much time are you to be spending in your room? The MGM pool complex is fantastic. Location is good and decent shows in house/ good eatery choices

If you are looking for cheap hotels rates check this link out. As Vegas is being affected by the downturn expect more offers. Remember booking directly with the hotel will offer the flexibility to cancel where as booking with VHols you will not have that option.

http://www.fatwallet.com/forums/travel-deals/704925 ( got to page 99 ) the for the most up-to date deals. Deals get added daily.