first timers

hi

myself and my husband( just married) are travelling to vegas from Manchester, England on the 13 Dec for 5 nights staying at TI, we just need a few pointers really to get us started, for example, are taxis readily available from the airport to the strip, how long does it take to get through imigration, were can we buy cheep show tickets, wheres best to shop for xmas presents so on and so on......

its not a place i have ever wanted to go but for many years my otherhalfs been mythering meto go, ive finally given in, i just need pushing in the right direction, so any hints or tips or survival guides would be great! ha ha.

thanks in advance

Emma %26amp; Mark. Lancs, England

first timers

There are lots of taxis/shuttles readily available at the airport. Keep your eye open for ';GROUND TRANSPORTATION'; signs near the baggage claim and follow through the doors.

TI is right across the street from the Mall. Less than a 10 min walk from your hotel room, through the casino, and across the street. Great mall for Christmas shopping and you won%26#39;t have to deal w/ parking since you%26#39;ll be staying so close by!

This was all I could contribute to!

Good luck and have fun.

first timers

hi emma, you will find loads of info on here. there is a search bar at the top and lots of info the tabs at the top. but be warned this forum is addictive!

to be honest you wont find any amlls in vegas better than the trafford centre and you will have to lug all the stuff back with you. however you could pick up a few things you cant back in manchester i suppose.

as for shows i would reccomend O as the best show to see and would say dont touch blue man group (love it or hate it, its not worth the gamble).

taxis are all over the place.

immigration totally depends on what time you arrive and how fast you can sprint off the plane to immigaration!!!

have a great time.

Just keep reading this forum and you will pick up info just as Kevin said.

Love the word Mythering. Wonder how many Americans would know that word!!

Have fun

Are you flying direct, or via a hub, if its chicago get off the plane as quick as you can and get to immigration pronto. Theey are so slow %26amp; methodical, its a pain, we have been stuck in the queue ther for upto two hours and that was in may this year before the recent security checks.

PS its still worth all the aggro though, have a great time.

Actually the Fashion show Mall is a bridge or elevated walkway from the TI. they have a web site just google Fashion Show Mall to see the shops etc.

Remember you have to get what you buy home again..

- you will have no problem getting a taxi, bout $10 outside the the airport.

- Imigration time can be a bit of a lottery depending on how many flights come in at the same time, Chicago is slow (40 mins last time) as its more of a first landing place from trans atlantic visitors. Las Vegas when I was there last was a 10 minute wait only.

- You can get cheap tickets from various shows at discount stores (not the bigs stars like Celine thou etc). I got mine from a place where there was a massive coke cola bottle (next to mgm) and got half priced tickets to carrot top who was very good.

- Learn to get the free drinks in the casinos, good manners and tip the waitresses well and they dont forget you all night! beats paying 拢6 for a drink in some places.

- you will get a magazine when you check in to your hotel with loads of coupons for 2 for 1 deals and they can help save a few quid.

- dso the helicopter grand canyon trip, well worth it.

- and finally only gamble as much as you can afford to lose!

Have a crackin time!

Wear comfortable shoes!

Taxis are readily available at the airport and at the hotels. You will not be able to get really cheap tickets for the A list shows (although Mystere and Love have lower priced tickets available for seat that are higher up- but they are fine). For Celine, most of the other Cirque shows, etc. you will have to go to the hotel web site. If you want to see some of the other shows there are 1/2 price kiosks that sell tickets for the same day performance:

Tickets2nite

At the coke bottle next to MGM

Tix4tonight-4 locations:

Hawaiian Marketplace at Polo Towers

Fashion show mall-near Neiman Marcus

Across from the Stardust

4 Queens downtown

The Fashion Show Mall is just a regular mall. It is big and they should be having some pre-Christmas sales. There are also some outlet malls:

Las Vegas Premium Outlets 875 S. Grand Central Pkwy, I-15 exit 41B, Charleston Blvd.

www.premiumoutlets.com/outlets/outlet.asp鈥?/a>

Las Vegas Outlet Center 7400 Las Vegas Blvd.

www.premiumoutlets.com/outlets/outlet.asp鈥?/a>

Fashion Outlets of Las Vegas- Primm-this one is rather far away.

www.fashionoutletlasvegas.com/index.htm

Make sure you check in magazines like What%26#39;s On-they are in your room and all over town. They do have some coupons in them.

Someone already gave you the best advice- bring the most comfortable pair of shoes you own. You are going to do more walking than you can ever imagine. The hotels look close but they are usually quite far apart. Just going into each hotel and looking at the lobby, attractions, etc. is going to take a long time.

The first time I went to Vegas I didn%26#39;t think I was going to like it at all. I have gone back about 60 times since then!

THANKS FOR ALL THAT INFORMATION

Unfortunately we fly down from manchester to gatwick then fly direct with Virgin, ( hate going to london as i only live 20 mins away from manchester airport ) but flights were v.v cheep 拢300 each! bargain!!

I only hope imigration takes less time than Atlanta, otherwise i may as well start queing now!.

I%26#39;ll have a look at the O for ticket prices it does look good ( im trying to fill up my evenings with shows as to stop my hubby to be from gambling )

Also has anyone done the neon lights on a helecopter over the strip at night, if so was it any good, if not what else would u suggest?

Oh an one last thing i promise, Is the final of %26#39;The contender%26#39; going to be at ceasers again this year?

thanks once again

e%26amp;m - lancashire. england

Hi Emma,

I lived in Notthingham for awhile and then in Bradford. I think you are going to love Vegas...I have only been twice before and am going again in Sept. I%26#39;m not much of a gambler, but if you have never been, it feels as though you will not have experienced anything like it before.

I didn%26#39;t think I was going to like it the first time I went. I thought I would hate it. I wasn%26#39;t a gambler, wasn%26#39;t into %26#39;all that%26#39;.

Well, I fell in love with it!

I went with my sister, she drove...unfortunately, I don%26#39;t. If you guys do, rent a car for sure and get out to red rock canyon....it is wonderful. I plan on doing a tour of the Valley of Fire. We also did stuff that was way off the beaten path and I%26#39;m not sure they even offer any longer...we toured the Ocean Spray Cranberry Company, which was fun and fasciating...it%26#39;s not in the guidebooks any longer, so not sure it%26#39;s offered. Also went to the marshmallow factory which was a blast and then to Ethel M%26#39;s chocoate factory and cactus garden out back. That is just about one of the most fun things we did....and if you%26#39;re from England you might quite enjoy that!

The poster who bought up the hotels themselves are tourist attractions is so right! Do go to Rio to see the Masquarade in the Sky, and go up to the VooDoo lounge!

I%26#39;m going to see %26#39;Phantom%26#39; when I%26#39;m there and also planning on hitting the half priced booth for tickets to other shows...I think I want to go see the Neil Diamond tribute show.

I think you are going to really have fun, and enjoy yourself. All the best and if you%26#39;re there during the time I am....9/9-9/14 maybe we will meet up!

take care!

Fyre