Vegas & NY package...Recommend?

goz83

Planning a trip to Vegas & NY for Sep/Oct this year. May do September, as it looks to be cheaper and I want to extend the package by 1 day for each city (total 2 day extension). So we're looking at around €1400pps, flights and accom. The site i'm looking at is here http://www.americansky.ie/nevada-holidays/las-vegas/new-york-las-vegas-twin-centre-tour

Any advice on value, or anything else is much appreciated. I've never been there. My Dad has been and he may be coming along too with the brother-in-law in tow.

My plan is to stay an extra night in LV and make sure we get rooms overlooking the strip (for the movie experience ). I don't know if this will add much to cost. Would like to rent a mustang for a day, or two. Gambling budget will be low...maybe $100 per night.

Then back to NY and extend that by a night (maybe). Change the fitzpatrick grand central to the fitzpatrick on lexington, as it's closer to central park (is this a good idea?). Rent a car for a day to drive to philly, as my friend wants to see the rocky steps....but this may not be necessary if we're landing in philly and flying home via philly airport.

It's all in the air, like my post, so if anyone can offer advice, i would appreciate it. Plan to book at end of Feb and I'm thinking a travel agent is best in this case, even though I usually book online myself.

goz83

Anybody?

Am I in the wrong category?

InTheTrees

Looks pretty good.

"Value" is so hard to comment on thoug, given its over six months away but it looks okay.

Locations of both NY hotels is fine. And I dont know anything about the Excalliber but its on the strip so you're good I;d say.

Zascar

I think that seems like good value. When in Vegas make sure to do the helicopter tour of the Grand Canyon, I did the one where you land in it and have lunch. Amazing trip, worth every penny.

FouxDaFaFa

I stayed in the Excalibur when in Vegas. It's in a decent location on the strip. It looks a little odd from the outside (all the turrets and such) but our room was very comfortable, free internet connection, they have a pretty decent casino and the other amenities (shops and restaurants) were good too. It's also a pickup point for Grand Canyon tours so it was very convenient.

goz83

I'm waiting for the guy from the agency to get back to me with two final quotes. Looking at 5 nights in vegas and 3 in NY. Will either be staying in a standard room at the excalibur, or a deluxe strip view room at Treasure Island (which is more expensive of course). I think the helicopter trip sounds like a must do with the lunch in the canyon. When in NY, we're expecting to stay in Fitzpatricks on Grand Central. It's heavily booked, so we've pushed our dates to beginning of October to accommodate us.

If anyone has advice on what to do/see in vegas, or indeed NY (cutting out the boring stuff), let me know. The heli trip is now on my list. Doom buggies in the desert is another plan and the cirque de whatever its called show. My friend would love to see Garth Brooks, but I don't think he is playing Vegas in 2013.

In NYC...i'm thinking a Broadway show....but can't really think of anything else I want to do there, other than shop. We are flying to Newark airport, so we have to plan a trip to Phili to visit the Rocky Steps. Where is the best place to shop in NYC if i'm bringing home new clothes (diesel, tommy hilfiger kinda stuff). Do i just remove tags when coming home to avoid a tax bill? Do i claim tax back before leaving NY? I've heard stories, but not sure what to believe.

Oh and i'm hoping to book in the next 2 days

InTheTrees

goz83 wrote: »

Doom buggies in the desert is another plan

Well lets hope not. Stick to the Dune buggies...

:eek:

InTheTrees

goz83 wrote: »

In NYC...i'm thinking a Broadway show....but can't really think of anything else I want to do there, other than shop. We are flying to Newark airport, so we have to plan a trip to Phili to visit the Rocky Steps. Where is the best place to shop in NYC if i'm bringing home new clothes (diesel, tommy hilfiger kinda stuff). Do i just remove tags when coming home to avoid a tax bill? Do i claim tax back before leaving NY? I've heard stories, but not sure what to believe.

Oh and i'm hoping to book in the next 2 days

3 nights in NY? So (only) two full days? You're not going to have much trouble filling it up.

Honestly I'd go for 4 in Vegas and 4 in NY. Especially since you're not gambling much.

World trade centre, statue of liberty, Top of the rock, empire state, central park. and little shopping and you're done.

There's a last minute discount ticket booth in Times square for Theatre tics.

debabyjesus

I did 3 nights in NY and 4 in Vegas with American sky. stayed in bellagio in Vegas. you slip 50 bucks or so with your passport when checking in and they upgrade you to a view of the fountains. brother did it. i didn't care really. our trip including flights and accommodation was only 799 each last April. flew dub jfk, jfk Vegas, Vegas Atlanta, Atlanta dub.

Like the poster says above, do the heli tour of canyon. we did it with papillion. forget the mustang there is nothing around Vegas only desert really. you'll see the canyon and Colorado river on the heli tour.

Vegas is one of the few places Im mad to go back to. New York i could live without.

Any other Q's just ask cos it looks like your planning exactly the trip i did.

InTheTrees

goz83 wrote: »

If anyone has advice on what to do/see in vegas, or indeed NY (cutting out the boring stuff), let me know.

This place is a blast (literally). Very friendly and helpful too, a lot of people come by to try it and they make it very easy to burn through a lot of cash very quickly. But its fun as hell.

http://thegunstorelasvegas.com/

debabyjesus

InTheTrees wrote: »

3 nights in NY? So (only) two full days? You're not going to have much trouble filling it up.

Honestly I'd go for 4 in Vegas and 4 in NY. Especially since you're not gambling much.

World trade centre, statue of liberty, Top of the rock, empire state, central park. and little shopping and you're done.

There's a last minute discount ticket booth in Times square for Theatre tics.

Ground zero worth a look. really spooky. Statue if liberty meh. just a photo op really. 60 bucks to go to the top of the empire state! New York was good for the women shopping. i wasn't overly impressed with anything. There's a cool memorial to the potato famine in Manhattan... that was more impressive than statue of liberty i thought

Duvetdays

Can't really comment on Vegas but 3nights 2full days in ny is not a lot I'd look at extending it by a couple of nights.

Ellis island is definitely worth a visit, need to get there early though and personally wouldn't bother getting off at the Statue of Liberty. Also the bus tour at night is great some really good views of the skyline lit up at night.

Toy r us times sq is a must for any big kid I thought it was much better then fair Schwartz.

For shopping either woodberry common or jersey gardens. Woodberry is further away and more expensive to get to and is a full day event. Jersey gardens is a shorter bus journey and cheaper bus fare both go from port authority on 8th.

As for bringing clothes home I just take the tags off. I also don't usually bring loads with me as I want to save my luggage weight for coming home so most of the stuff I buy does be wore by the time I get home.

goz83

InTheTrees wrote: »

3 nights in NY? So (only) two full days? You're not going to have much trouble filling it up.

Honestly I'd go for 4 in Vegas and 4 in NY. Especially since you're not gambling much.

World trade centre, statue of liberty, Top of the rock, empire state, central park. and little shopping and you're done.

There's a last minute discount ticket booth in Times square for Theatre tics.

NY is really just the side show of the trip. It's also much more expensive per night, so 3 nights is more than enough. I would stay longer, but I have to think of the budgets of other people too. I'm sure most of what you've listed could be done in a day properly organised. I don't know what Top of the Rock is and I might give a pass on Statue of Liberty.

My wife will want to visit NY some time too, so that'll be less boring if I only have to do it once. The shopping will be done on day 2. I'm looking for advice on where I should go. I believe outside the city is best?

debabyjesus wrote: »

I did 3 nights in NY and 4 in Vegas with American sky. stayed in bellagio in Vegas. you slip 50 bucks or so with your passport when checking in and they upgrade you to a view of the fountains. brother did it. i didn't care really. our trip including flights and accommodation was only 799 each last April. flew dub jfk, jfk Vegas, Vegas Atlanta, Atlanta dub.

Like the poster says above, do the heli tour of canyon. we did it with papillion. forget the mustang there is nothing around Vegas only desert really. you'll see the canyon and Colorado river on the heli tour.

Vegas is one of the few places Im mad to go back to. New York i could live without.

Any other Q's just ask cos it looks like your planning exactly the trip i did.

I'm actually dealing with American Sky but it looks like we land in Newark and then onto Vegas. Vegas will be the first few days, as I plan to get the bulk of the shopping in NY and want to avoid hauling lots of luggage around. The Belagio I thought would be quite expensive?

The mustang is the experience on its own. Love the car, but might wait to get to NY and drive out of the city to go shopping. Still not sure though.

InTheTrees wrote: »

This place is a blast (literally). Very friendly and helpful too, a lot of people come by to try it and they make it very easy to burn through a lot of cash very quickly. But its fun as hell.

http://thegunstorelasvegas.com/

Will give it a look I think. Thanks.

debabyjesus wrote: »

Ground zero worth a look. really spooky. Statue if liberty meh. just a photo op really. 60 bucks to go to the top of the empire state! New York was good for the women shopping. i wasn't overly impressed with anything. There's a cool memorial to the potato famine in Manhattan... that was more impressive than statue of liberty i thought

I don't think I would spend $60 for a cold view of the city. I'll buy the post card when I pass by. Thanks for the heads up.

madalig12

The circ de soliel show ka in the mgm is worth a look see. there are ticket booths along the strip. they are red an yellow coloured. u get cheaper tickets there but be there when they open for the best ones.
The bellagio fountains are best seen from the paris hotel restaurant.
Shops...the expensive ones...caesars palace shopping arcade...cheap..get a taxi to the north shopping arcade i think its called its like junction one in antrim.
go to old vegas at night and see the street with the overhead lightshow. its cheaper to gamble up there too and they will help you with learning games if you dont know how to play..more patient there than in the big casinos.

InTheTrees

goz83 wrote: »

The mustang is the experience on its own. Love the car, but might wait to get to NY and drive out of the city to go shopping.

Get the Mustang in Vegas and not New York.

NY is the size (and climate) of London. "Outside the city" is just bland grey urban sprawl with the addition of confusing freeways and a lot of neighbourhoods that are seriously Dangerous. You'll also have to pay for parking at the hotel.

But Vegas is built especially for cruising up and down the strip in a convertible. Thats kind of what its for.

And you can get out of the city (its only about the size of Limerick) really quickly and get into some spectacular countryside. (yeah its dessert but how often have you driven in the dessert?).

So... do not drive in NYC.

goz83

I'm going to consider an extra night in NYC...if only just to recover after Vegas. Like I said, it's just a side trip, but a place i've always wanted to visit. If the price is right, i'll do it.

joeguevara

If your looking for a broadway show in NY 'Once' is great. You can get discount tickets in Times Square at the ticket booth. Much cheaper than going to the theatre direct.

Also a trip to Ellis island. I was there and its very moving.

Comedy club at nigh. Can get tickets in times square off the guys in the street. DO a bit of rsearcha bout what the best club is.

Macy's if you like shopping or Woodbury common if you would like to go to outlets.

goz83

I've decided to go with the extra night in NY. So it'll be 5 in Vegas and 4 in NY. Will be flying Dublin to London and then to Vegas. Vegas to NY and then from NY to London to Dublin. I'm not that keen about the home journey, but i'm quite happy flying London to Vegas direct. I've still to get the confirmed price and dates, but it's around €1500pps. I will of course see if I can do better once I get the final price and dates.

Re Ellis Island......i'm not sure I will bother.

Pythia

debabyjesus wrote: »

Ground zero worth a look. really spooky. Statue if liberty meh. just a photo op really. 60 bucks to go to the top of the empire state! New York was good for the women shopping. i wasn't overly impressed with anything. There's a cool memorial to the potato famine in Manhattan... that was more impressive than statue of liberty i thought

It costs 25 not 60. 60 is for the line skip too.

goz83

I would consider $25 to go to the top of the ESB, but no more than that. Thanks for that.

goz83

So, just checking my email there...I have my quote. Price for 2 people if staying at the excalibur, standard room is €3,100. If staying at Treasure Island with the Deluxe Strip View it's €3,530. The hotel in NewYork is the Manhattan (lexington) Fitzpatricks and is a suite but it's room only basis, which isn't really a big deal. Would be nice to have breakfast included, but sure, we can eat out. That's arriving in Vegas at 1:30pm October 7th and Leaving NewYork at 8:30pm October 16th. Sound reasonable? Will be going for the deluxe room in TI Vegas, so the higher price.

poundhound

I wouldn't spend extra money on "Delux" rooms. When you are in NY and Vegas the last thing you'll do is spend time in your hotel. You'll literally sleep there nothing else.

As someone else said, when checking in you can always ask to be upgraded and slip the receptionist $20 to show your appreciation. Although I definitley wouldn't offer $50 as previously suggested.

The one advantage Treasure Island has over the Excalibur is its in the centre of the strip. The Excalibur is at the southern end.

Theres also a shopping outlet mall beside the TI hotel called the Fashion show mall.

If your taking in a Cirque De Soleil show, go to LOVE in the Mirage. Its incredible.

When taking your helicopter trip to the Grand Canyon, go early in the morning. It can get very warm in the afternoon.

Your gonna have a blast!

Sadderday

tip:in vegas most casinos up the ante for gambling on the weekends.
a $5 game could be $10 on a weekend night plus the games do get more expensive as the night goes on

InTheTrees

goz83 wrote: »

I would consider $25 to go to the top of the ESB, but no more than that. Thanks for that.

The "top of the rock" is the top of the rockerfeller centre. There's an amazing view from there. Its up by central park (really close to your hotel) not like the empire state which is further downtown and has a less interesting view. (although you could do both).

Your hotel is going to have leaflets and brochures for stuff to do.

https://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&ll=40.759025,-73.978357&spn=0.001394,0.002862&t=h&z=19&layer=c&cbll=40.759025,-73.978357&panoid=4gDLrTZZuU9IHMXnydgKHw&cbp=12,240.39,,0,-12.65

joeguevara

Carmines Italian restaurant in mid-town is a really great place to eat. Its a real family style italian restaurant. Portions are huge. Very popular though and a reservation is needed.

goz83

Thanks everyone so far. I'm getting excited now. I decided on the upgraded rooms because I want the full movie experience and am willing to pay a couple hundred more for great rooms. We won't be in Vegas the weekend, we will be in NY for that. It's now booked. I managed to get a deal with Falcon and we now fly dublin to Chicago to Vegas and then to NY and direct home to Dublin. The London landing before getting home was a bit of a put off. The price is 1800 per person. Could have shaved 100 off that if we took an 8am flight to NY but decided a later one was better. Vegas....here I come. I will try that Italian ac by the way. Cheers

goz83

Update:

Not long to go now. Due to my travel buddy losing his job a few months ago, I had to shave 2 nights off NYC, but recently added one night back, because 2 nights in NYC just wasn't good enough for the money being spent. Thankfully I made the change, because it turned out that WorldWide had somehow managed to mess up on the NYC accommodation and downgraded us from a suite to a room with one double bed :eek:

I got the extra night added and the room situation sorted for an extra €300, saving €500 off all the original costs. Total costs working out at €3100 for 2 people.

The heli trip to the canyon is on the cards as planned, but the gun shop and dune buggies are looking like a miss to keep the cost manageable for my friend. Don't want to be putting pressure on him and he is a proud SOB, so it's a battle to allow me to pay. I still want to rent a mustang and I am researching on where to drive. Had I known previously about Yosemite national park, I might have stayed there for a night. Seems like too far to drive and then simply drive back the same day.

We will get a taxi from JFK and just see how it goes. Would like to do some shopping at jersey gardens maybe.....depending on how we're fixed when we are there.

So its Oct 7th 10am Dublin to Chicago, land at 1210 and depart 1500, landing at 1655.

Vegas 5 nights. Fly vegas to jfk at 1425 on the 12th, landing at 2229.

Flight home to Dub leaves jfk at 1925 on the 15th.

I will have at least 2k euro for spending money. I reckon I should be comfortable on that....but will have another 1k as back up. Roll on Oct 7th

InTheTrees

We just spent three days in vegas visiting my GF's relations. We stayed in the Luxor, which is right next door (connected) to the excalabur. Both hotels are owned by the same company and are practically identical (except for the themes). Certainly cheaper than other hotels on the strip because their lifespan is at the upper end but still no complaints at all. Honestly you can barely tell those places apart once you're inside. All the hotels are connected by walkways so its really easy to get around the strip. Walking from Luxor to bellagio takes about twenty mins. Easy. Also... The grand canyon may be too far to drive but if you want a day drive from vegas you could go to the hoover dam. Very impressive tourist attraction, easy to get to. And I think (i've never done it) but there's a loop so you dont have to backtrack to get back to the LV. Just a though. Your hotel concierge may have better ideas.

InTheTrees

I'm guessing...but I suspect all the strip hotels charge for parking wich is something to consider when renting a car. Also I'm not certain on how things work in Nevada but generally its cheaper to rent from an "off airport" location. Its possible they may even bring the car to your hotel for you. Ask at your hotel.

Other driving ideas; I've heard good things about the town of Loughlin. Its a tiny town with casinos at the southern tip of Nevada were Arizona, California and Nevada meet. Its on the colorado river, by the Navajo indian reservation. Could be interesting, you can say you visited three different states.

You could scratch one night in Vegas, drive down there and spend a night and drive back the next day and resume. Just a thought.

https://maps.google.com/maps?q=laughlin,+nv&hl=en&ll=35.167888,-114.572554&spn=0.00414,0.008744&sll=35.151354,-114.579849&sspn=0.262747,0.559616&hnear=Laughlin,+Clark,+Nevada&t=m&z=17&layer=c&cbll=35.167929,-114.572542&panoid=43bnThRZ1_CcNQKOvSl3RA&cbp=12,61.48,,0,6.07

goz83

InTheTrees wrote: »

I'm guessing...but I suspect all the strip hotels charge for parking wich is something to consider when renting a car.

You could scratch one night in Vegas, drive down there and spend a night and drive back the next day and resume. Just a thought.

https://maps.google.com/maps?q=laughlin,+nv&hl=en&ll=35.167888,-114.572554&spn=0.00414,0.008744&sll=35.151354,-114.579849&sspn=0.262747,0.559616&hnear=Laughlin,+Clark,+Nevada&t=m&z=17&layer=c&cbll=35.167929,-114.572542&panoid=43bnThRZ1_CcNQKOvSl3RA&cbp=12,61.48,,0,6.07

Actually it seems that most hotels on the strip offer free parking, including free valet parking (with a tip of $2+ expected for valet).

Now that everything is booked and paid for, I don't want to mess around with dates again.

Ted_YNWA

debabyjesus wrote: »

I did 3 nights in NY and 4 in Vegas with American sky. stayed in bellagio in Vegas. you slip 50 bucks or so with your passport when checking in and they upgrade you to a view of the fountains. brother did it. i didn't care really. our trip including flights and accommodation was only 799 each last April. flew dub jfk, jfk Vegas, Vegas Atlanta, Atlanta dub.

poundhound wrote: »

I wouldn't spend extra money on "Delux" rooms. When you are in NY and Vegas the last thing you'll do is spend time in your hotel. You'll literally sleep there nothing else.

As above, just book a standard room in LV. Went there last November.

Slip them $50 when your checking in & ask if they have complimentary room upgrades.

Got a room in bellagio overlooking Strip & fountains. Original room was towards the back of hotel iirc.

InTheTrees

One thing that shocked me when we were there a month ago (luxor) was the massive lines to check in.
It was like being at the airport. And took about 20 minutes before we got to the front of the queue.

I also noticed, Its probably a cost cutting thing; but there were a lot of queue's for stuff. And that was in all the casinos. For instance; You think its going to be easier to get coffee at starbucks early early in the morning but it turns out they only have one person working then so the lines are just as long. We tried to get breakfast really early to avoid the queue at the breakfast restaurant but they'd closed off half of it and had less waiters so there was still a line even at 7am.

See what you think.

Stereomaniac

I am sure you will have a good time. Friends of mine went on this trip and took in Houston before.

debabyjesus

goz83 wrote: »

shopping at jersey gardens

I wouldn't bother, its a fair trek from NY on a bus and is just a big kildare village with worse stock and less value. It even looks identical to kildare village! I bought some oakley sunglasses which turned out 10% cheaper here and some north face stuff with yank zips on the wrong side.

Bring back some decks of cards from vegas as presents, really cheap and are sealed closed with a sticker saying 'this deck of cards was used in actual play at this fabulous casino'. The hotels sell them and you can get them in the tack shops on the strip... Great cheap presents for gamblers and card players!

InTheTrees

and some north face stuff with yank zips on the wrong side.

Women's clothes fasten one way and men's the other. And its the same all over the world. Isnt it? I've lived in the US for 20 years and never heard of any difference before.

debabyjesus

Its definately a mens jacket anyway... I was under the impression american jackets zip on the wrong side, maybe it was a defect and thats why it ended up in jersey gardens. Just checked the missus's jackets, all zips are normal.

anne burnell

excalibur hotel is fine in vegas, stayed in it 2 years, rooms fairly large, and right on the strip.... go to the venitian hotel , as the name suggests the theme is Venice, and boy is it like being there, even have trips on the inside little river on the gonalas, and the bar is really like st Marks square.... Vegas is a super place.... we stayed for 7 nites and did the usual, grand canoyn, went too look at all the hotels... which are all fab and all theme based... you will have a blast...

FISMA

Goz,

Some of the websites used for travel in the States are

http://www.expedia.com/
http://www.orbitz.com/
http://www.travelocity.com/
http://www.kayak.com/

It is always cheaper to fly to Vegas during off times. People want to be in on Th or Fr and out on Sun. Try flying in on Sun or Mon and out on Wednesday and I bet you'll get a good deal on the flight and the room.

If you are in the NYC area, check out EWR and JFK for flying out of.

goz83

FISMA wrote: »

Goz,

Some of the websites used for travel in the States are

http://www.expedia.com/
http://www.orbitz.com/
http://www.travelocity.com/
http://www.kayak.com/

It is always cheaper to fly to Vegas during off times. People want to be in on Th or Fr and out on Sun. Try flying in on Sun or Mon and out on Wednesday and I bet you'll get a good deal on the flight and the room.

If you are in the NYC area, check out EWR and JFK for flying out of.

We arrive in Vegas on a Monday and Leave on a Saturday. Then it's NYC for 3 nights. JFK both times in nyc.

Stojkovic

anne burnell wrote: »

excalibur hotel is fine in vegas, stayed in it 2 years,

Stayed in it last week, its a ****hole.
Full of homies and white trash.