A few more trip Q's

[ExcitedSam]

I need some help deciding from some of you seasoned travellers. I think I have Disney sorted. Bt can't decide on a few other things. Keep in mind we have two DD's 4 & 9 going with us.

1. I'm having trouble deciding on a hotel in Las Vegas, can anyone give me some recommendations. Also I'm not sure if we should do a hotel on this trip or a suite just off the strip with a kitchen?.... The hotels don't seem to even have a fridge you can use.

2. Grand Canyon, day trip to the west rim or two day trip to the south rim? anyone been who can give me some advice?

That's all for now TIA

Sam.

 

[Ms. Shuttergirl]

We stayed at the Venetian when we went to Vegas because we got a great deal for 3 nights. In my opinion, if you are in Vegas, you stay on the strip. The big hotels are always running specials, you'd be surprised how cheaply you could snag something. What do you need the fridge for? and a kitchen? Are you planning on cooking meals? I guess if you don't mind being in the middle of the action and you really want a kitchen go for it, otherwise I'd totally be sticking with the Strip.

We just did a day trip to the Canyon. It was a long day but well worth it. I will say though once we had looked at the canyon for 20 minutes or so, we were all like "okay, seen it now" and ready to turn around and come home . If I had've had more time and a braver family perhaps a helicopter ride through the canyon would have been better, a much more awesome experience. I would've thought 2 days was too much but it depends what your family enjoys.

 

[PrincessInOz]

I've been to the South and North Rim. Haven't made it to the West rim yet. It really depends on what you want to see and do.

This website might help...

http://www.grandcanyon.net/west-rim-vs-south-rim




With the hotels on the strip, it comes down to how much you're prepared to pay and what deals are on offer.

I've stayed at Circus Circus, Excalibur and Treasure Island in Vegas. I've paid as little as $29 and as *high* as $59 per night for accommodation in these hotels by keeping an eye out of mid-week deals. If you go at the weekend, it'll be more expensive.

 

[ExcitedSam]

We don't "need" a kitchen as such, won't be cooking full meals, but with kids its just handy to have a fridge for milk or drinks to have on hand or a cuppa in the room without having to pay a fortune for the convenience.

We also wouldn't spend two days at the south rim, but it's a five hour drive to get there so it would take two days with the drive there and back and sight seeing in between.

 

[Sugarglider]

1. I disliked Vegas. but I liked my hotel room at the MGM Signature Suites - this is at the back of the MGM - so 1 block back from the strip. The room was HUGE and it had a kitchenette - microwave, bar fridge, sink area, crockery, cutlery, glasses etc It was very modern and plush. I got a special from them and paid $120/night.http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Re...-Signature_at_MGM_Grand-Las_Vegas_Nevada.html

I hired a car and had 5 nights and did a big circle LV - grand canyon - Sedona - LV.

And was glad I did. I was just so unimpressed with LV and really enjoyed GC and Sedona was a blast.

I really like that website PIO suggested. I would add that there is a $30 fee to do the Skywalk at West rim which is not mentioned on the site. Also - and this is mentioned - it is a dirt road out to West Rim so hire cars are frequently barred from taking the road.

I am a proud South Rim girl! Stayed at the rim at the National Park Lodge and did lots of short walks, the parks "natural history/geology" type museumy thing, and a ranger presentation and was so happy to go this way. There are no planes or helicopters buzzing the view here.

I was really glad to go Sedona I did guided tours up into the "rocks" and learnt a lot about the geology and history of the place, it is a bit posh so it has great shopping, great restaurants and I really enjoyed just driving around the residential areas looking at the adobe style housing and gardens. I'd go here over Vegas anyday.

By driving I also went over the Hoover Dam and I liked their museum too.

 

[ExcitedSam]

Thanks Sugarglider.

I am leaning more towards the South rim, but just thought I'd get opinions since I've never been there.

 

[Melbourne5]

Hi excited Sam

In 2010 we stayed at the NEW YORK NEw YORK hotel/ casino ( 3 kids/ 2 adults).

+'s
Big rooms ( no kitchen though)
On strip ( airport end so a bit quieter)
Reasonable food / shop choices in the replica Greenwich village food court
The roller coaster ( house guest get 50% off)
A big kids arcade and amusement area
A big pool area
Connected by footbridge to MGM and Excalibur ( another good one for kids) and monorail to madalay bay

-'s
It's , like most casinos, smoking is permitted
We were there during college break so a lot of drunk people in the pools
Checkin area right in the casino floor area ( and yes kids can roam the casino just don't touch)
Bellhops double hit you ( once to get bag out of car and again to deliver to room and vv)

As for the grand canyon it really depends on time and willingness. I wouldn't begrudge anyone doing a full day or two day run...that wouldn't work for my crew. We really splurged on this and went by helicopter. Pick up from hotel, helicopter to canyon and land down in the basin next to Colorado river. Picnic lunch , 30 m on ground to take some pics, then back via Hoover dam and the strip just on dusk to see the lights. My kids think it's one of the best things we ever did. It doesn't come cheap though so I respect it might not be for everyone's budget. Door to door was around 4 hrs and we were eating burgers at the Mirage for dinner watching the volcano erupt....

 

[PrincessInOz]

I'll also put a vote in for Sedona. I LOVE Sedona. But then I'm more of an outdoor, bush walking kind of person.

I've stayed at Bright Angel Lodge at the South Rim. It is rustic, but it does the job.

 

[GrazingGoat1966]

I also put in a vote for staying on the strip in Vegas. All the big hotels have ice machines near the elevators on each floor so you can easily keep drinks nice and cool in the sink, or just use a heap of ice in a cup (which are all provided of course). I've stayed at Luxor, Excalibur, Hooters, MGM Grand, Flamingo and The Venetian (amongst others) over the course of our visits. Thet are all more than acceptable and all have their unique plusses and minusses. The only hotels that I would personally stay away from are those at the North end of the Strip (Sahara, Stratosphere etc) and down the Fremont Street end, purely from a location point of view...that is being a long way from the majority of the action.

As far as the Canyon goes, forget the West rim unless you absolutely HAVE to do the Skywalk. It is an over-rated, out of the way, overpriced conjob IMO. Not sure if it's changed, but when I went you had to park your car miles away (after a dirt road adventure) and then catch the Indian run bus to the Skywalk and visitors centre.

Again IMO, nothing compares to the South Rim. It's the most popular place to view the GC from, for a reason. And from the different carparks along the edge, you can get vastly different vistas, especially if you are seeing it at different times of the day i.e. a morning sunrise will show up completely different colours to the evening sunset of exactly the same view. As far as accomodations go, I've stayed at the Grand Canyon Lodges, Maswik Lodge and also the Mather Campgrounds. The 2 lodges will more than comfortably accomodate a family of 4. But beware. The Maswik lodge only has fans in the room NOT airconditioning. So depending upon what time of year you go, that may affect your choice.

Sam, I would absolutely urge you to do the 2 day South rim experience ....you wont regret it!

 

[ExcitedSam]

Thanks guys some great advice, I was leaning towards the south rim and now you've convinced me! I was a bit turned off the West rim by the $$ to get in, then extra for skywalks, then extra if you want a pic as you can't take your own camera on it, but I thought maybe as it is that much closer if the views were as good it might be worth it, but I guess not so South Rim it is!

There are just too many choices in LV! I wanted to stay on the strip and get the las Vegas experience, but just wasn't sure. Thanks for the recommendations and the places to stay away from. I was looking at either flamingo, NY NY or tropicana. Venetian if budget permitted but I don't think so

 

[becpee]

Have you looked on Hotwire for hotels in Vegas?
They are mystery bookings, but you can research the hotels on the betterbidding website so you have a bit of an idea of where the booking might be.

 

[alicia1506]

i was at tropicana in nov 2011 and it was great.... walking distance to a lot of the strip 'must do' sights and such, and fabulous with the new renovations. if you're looking for a deal, contact nicole marshall, their guest services manager who can usually provide you with some cheaper than advertised most nearly elsewhere rates...

we found that the rates she was able to quote us beat out even hotwire and priceline & she was invaluable at answering our questions...

just a tip... myself and a few other disers have been caught out by preauthorisations in vegas... they like to take $300 or $500 as a preauthorisation for incidentals, then charge your room to your card, plus any incidentals, then refund the preauthorisation up to 2-4 weeks later. most casinos won't advertise this, or state they don't have a policy for it, but still do charge the preauth... so just beware of that is my tip for ensuring you don't have a nasty experience

 

[mattincanberra]

Hey Sam - Another Canberran!

I would look at Vdara at City Centre, or the MGM Signature - they are both suite/apartment/condo style hotels - neither of them exit into a Casino, I think the pools are better at MGM than Aria.

My only other Vegas tip is if you intend to put any money into the casino (particularly playing the slots), join the players club - each casino chain has one (MGM's is called mlife and works at all of their properties on the strip MGM, NYNY, Aria etc etc). It is worth asking if your play gets you anything before you check out, sometimes it is a credit on dinner, sometimes it is nothing, but there is no harm in asking, this does require that you put food and or beverage costs on your hotel room (which mitigates the Credit Card pre-authorisation whack a bit).

Hav fun in Vegas

Matt

 

[maryr1oz]

Hi!

We have stayed at the Flamingo many times, always in a 'Go' room, and they do have small fridges. The Flamingo is a great location on the strip, you're always close by to have a break if need be. There is a monorail stop out back, and a bus stop right out front. The small animal garden is cute for kids, and the pool area is fantastic. I would always recommend the Flamingo as long as you get a Go Room, on a non smoking floor.

South Rim Grand Canyon is fantastic, although a VERY long day trip from LV. If you can overnight, i would recommend it. We did an afternoon flight over the Canyon from LV once and while it was absolutely spectacular, it was also pretty amazing to have actually stood on the Rim. If you're self driving, the Hoover Dam is worth a stop for a leg stretch and some great photos. If you have time, the tour that takes you into the dam wall is pretty interesting.

Hope you have a great trip!!

 

[ExcitedSam]

We'll definitely be overnighting at the Grand Canyon south rim. We're now heading down to Glendale afterwards as DH wants to go to Cabelas there. Then I'm deciding if we should head back to San Diego from there or Anaheim?? Originally we were going back to Anaheim and during that time there do a day trip to San Diego Sea World, but maybe we should just head to San Diego and then back to Anaheim? Since we now have 3 extra days to fill with the flights I just booked.

What's the trip like to Anaheim as opposed to San Diego? Where could we stop half way.....too many decisions.

 

[PrincessInOz]

Hey Sam...I'm assuming you're talking about Glendale Los Angeles?

If you're driving from the Grand Canyon back to Glendale, you're taking the I-15, which is the most direct route.
Glendale is north of Anaheim; so if you're going to be going to San Diego from Glendale, you'd be driving past Anaheim to get to San Diego anyway (particularly if you're driving down the 5 to get from Glendale to San Diego).

Have you considered a round trip?

Grand Canyon down the 17 towards the Phoenix (nearly past Sedona ) to the 8. And then along the 8 to San Diego? And then from SD to Glendale?

The alternative is to head towards Phoenix and drive along the 10 to get back to Glendale. You'd see Joshua Tree NP and Palm Springs on this route.

 

[ExcitedSam]

No, I'm talking about Glendale near(in?) Phoenix. If that makes more sense! So we would be doing a round trip just which way is the question!!?

 

[PrincessInOz]

That's hard. You have the choice of the 8 or the 10.

Take a look at Sedona and see if it appeals to you. If it does, it is worth spending some time there. Montezuma's Castle might also be worth a stop for pictures.

Most people like stopping at Joshua Tree and Palm Springs.

I'm not sure how the scenery is between Anza Borrego and Phoenix; but I quite like the drive on the 78 between SD and Anza Borrego. Its a detour off the 8 or the 10 to the 78.

If you do decide on the 78, there's a cute town/village called Julian towards the SD side. Good apple pie there.

 

[ExcitedSam]

I think we will take the 10 and go via Joshua tree and palm springs to Anaheim. where is a good place to stay about half way between Phoenix and Anaheim?

I think we will also go from GC to phoenix with a stop over in Sedona! So we will have an afternoon and a morning there, what do we NEED to see and do?

 

[PrincessInOz]

Sedona? There are just so many different things to experience that it really depends on what you want to do.

I love walking and we were also chasing the vortexes. So we did the walk along the creek to one of the vortex spots and we also walked to Cathedral Rock. We stayed near Bell Rock; which is also a vortex site.

Then there is the Broken Arrow experience - jeep ride through the countryside where the movie was shot. We didn't do this in either of the trips we were there.

There is a scenic railway ride that takes you out of Sedona and into the nearby mountains. It doesn't run in winter, so we missed out. And I found out about it too late for the summer/autumn trip we did and it was booked out.

If you're into Native American indian arts and craft, there are quite a few art galleries and shops that sell items. The silver is lovely. I also remember that there was a particularly good gallery complex just a little way down the Y-junction. There is quite a collection of art shops in this complex.

There is also the native american indian experience and you can do a variety of tours there or even go visit the Sinagua ruins/carvings.

If you were after the chillax, then there are a number of spas and massage clinics around; as well as the spiritual healing centres and shops. I also liked the Chapel of the Holy Cross...its really kitschy and a bit like "what the?"...but it was nice going to see the chapel up in the hill.

If you were going for a drive, then I'd recommend heading in the direction of Jerome. It's a very quaint little town.

The other thing ... check out the McDonald's in Sedona. It does NOT have Golden Arches....they are turquoise.

And there is slide rock park, which has a creek running through it....it is a natural slide and water hole. If you're there on a hot day, worth checking out.

I know there is horse riding through the Sedona valley as well...but we didn't do this.