Go Back  FlyerTalk Forums > Destinations > America - USA > Las Vegas
Reload this Page >

Putting together a 4-5 night group trip to Vegas from Scotland.

Community
Wiki Posts
Search

Putting together a 4-5 night group trip to Vegas from Scotland.

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Oct 28, 2010, 2:02 pm
  #1  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 333
Putting together a 4-5 night group trip to Vegas from Scotland.

Hi,not sure if thsi is the correct forum to post this in but I'm looking for some help! I've been tasked with arranging a boys trip to Vegas, flying from Glasgow for 4 or 5 nights anytime in February. I'm thinking staying somewhere like Bills Gambling Hall. I'd like a decent flight with free drinks over the Atlantic in economy, with decent in flight entertainment. A couple of changes isnt really an issue,but I dont want a 24 hour journey aswell! I've looked at the BA and Virgin flights from LHR and they look great. Also had a look at American Airlines,but not too sure what they are like?

Can the experts on here help me out and help me get the best value trip possible?

Cheers!
martin_d is offline  
Old Oct 28, 2010, 4:28 pm
  #2  
Senior Moderator
 
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: San Francisco, CA
Programs: UA Plat/2MM [23-yr. 1K, now emeritus] clawing way back to WN-A List; MR LT Titanium; HY Whateverist.
Posts: 12,396
With a clarification of the thread title, I'll move this to our dedicated Travel forum on Las Vegas for discussion and assistance. Ocn Vw 1K, Moderator, TravelBuzz.
Ocn Vw 1K is offline  
Old Oct 28, 2010, 6:57 pm
  #3  
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Ireland
Programs: BA Gold, A3 Gold, BD..oh, wait..
Posts: 4,045
Well if you want free drinks, don't fly any of the US airlines. I'm pretty sure they all charge for alcohol in economy.

If you can forgo free drink, you could choose Continental from both Edinburgh and Glasgow, with a change in Newark. Seatback TV's with on demand movies, TV etc.

An easier option is probably BA via Heathrow. Direct (from Heathrow at least), seat-back TV (may or may not be on-demand), decent-ish food, free drinks.

Virgin fly to LAS from Gatwick, not LHR so that might not work out as well. VS Gatwick based 747's also have the worst IFE in the Virgin fleet.
colmc is offline  
Old Oct 28, 2010, 7:08 pm
  #4  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Greener Pastures
Posts: 10,515
I think Thomas Cook has direct charters from the UK - and also, there's another charter service called XL that operates out of France that may be an option worth looking into. Same with Condor out of Germany. Not sure the prices, but they are direct charter services, usually cheaper than mainline if you're not worried about the points.
bhatnasx is offline  
Old Oct 29, 2010, 1:30 am
  #5  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 333
Interesting what you say about Virgin, I was edging towards them,but if its a straight choice between Virgin and BA, then I think I'll go with BA now. I'll check out TC and the other airlines mentioned. Any tip as to the best time to book or dates to travel? I'm fully flexible between 8th Feb and 20th Feb. Is it cheaper to fly weekend or mid week for example?

Cheers again!
martin_d is offline  
Old Oct 29, 2010, 9:54 am
  #6  
 
Join Date: Oct 2010
Posts: 3
Originally Posted by martin_d
Interesting what you say about Virgin, I was edging towards them,but if its a straight choice between Virgin and BA, then I think I'll go with BA now. I'll check out TC and the other airlines mentioned. Any tip as to the best time to book or dates to travel? I'm fully flexible between 8th Feb and 20th Feb. Is it cheaper to fly weekend or mid week for example?

Cheers again!
Generally the most expensive day to fly out of Vegas would be Sunday. Flying into Vegas has been all over the place for me. Generally Friday is a little more, but at times I can get cheaper flights then too. I would avoid flying back on Sunday though if you can. Even leaving on Monday should make flight costs lower.


You didn't ask about hotels, but Fri/Sat nights are the 2 expensive nights. Unless there is something special going on, Sunday through Thurs nights should all be very close to the same and cheaper than the Fri/Sat nights.


I would suggest that your stay does include a weekend though. While it isn't close to what it used to be, weekends are still more busy than weekdays.
soulhunt79 is offline  
Old Oct 29, 2010, 10:10 am
  #7  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 333
Originally Posted by soulhunt79
Generally the most expensive day to fly out of Vegas would be Sunday. Flying into Vegas has been all over the place for me. Generally Friday is a little more, but at times I can get cheaper flights then too. I would avoid flying back on Sunday though if you can. Even leaving on Monday should make flight costs lower.


You didn't ask about hotels, but Fri/Sat nights are the 2 expensive nights. Unless there is something special going on, Sunday through Thurs nights should all be very close to the same and cheaper than the Fri/Sat nights.


I would suggest that your stay does include a weekend though. While it isn't close to what it used to be, weekends are still more busy than weekdays.
Thanks, thinking of 10th Feb for 5 nights now, so taking in a weekend and flying there and back during the week.
martin_d is offline  
Old Oct 29, 2010, 1:22 pm
  #8  
Original Member
 
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Kirkland, WA
Posts: 6,932
Originally Posted by martin_d
Thanks, thinking of 10th Feb for 5 nights now, so taking in a weekend and flying there and back during the week.
That seems like good timing, as you will miss the Super Bowl, Chinese New Year, and Presidents Day.

QL
QuietLion is offline  
Old Oct 29, 2010, 5:25 pm
  #9  
 
Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 183
I'll give a few thoughts as I go to Vegas often, and you can ask other questions if you have them.

Originally Posted by martin_d
I'm thinking staying somewhere like Bills Gambling Hall.
Cheers!
1. Don't stay at Bill's. There are far too many better cheap options. Bill's is a place you walk to and visit if you need some lower stakes gambling. If you give some idea of budget I could make other suggestions.
lands is offline  
Old Oct 30, 2010, 2:29 am
  #10  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 333
Originally Posted by lands
I'll give a few thoughts as I go to Vegas often, and you can ask other questions if you have them.



1. Don't stay at Bill's. There are far too many better cheap options. Bill's is a place you walk to and visit if you need some lower stakes gambling. If you give some idea of budget I could make other suggestions.
Hi Lands, I'm booking it from the UK, so I'm looking at a package that includes flights for about 6-700 UK pounds. Can get Imperial Palace at £650 and Planet Hollywood for £730, which are both good locations, but Ive stayed at IP before and Its a bit dated! Anything towards the lower end of my budget would be great!
martin_d is offline  
Old Oct 30, 2010, 10:54 am
  #11  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Grazie Gold Lounge
Programs: UA-2MM; GalacticXpress-Irridium
Posts: 10,332
Originally Posted by martin_d;
Hi Lands, I'm booking it from the UK, so I'm looking at a package that includes flights for about 6-700 UK pounds. Can get Imperial Palace at £650 and Planet Hollywood for £730, which are both good locations, but Ive stayed at IP before and Its a bit dated! Anything towards the lower end of my budget would be great!
Pay the little extra for planet Hollywood. It will be well worth it compared to the other properties you have listed. Enjoy your stay.
kingalien is offline  
Old Oct 30, 2010, 1:22 pm
  #12  
 
Join Date: Oct 2010
Posts: 3
Originally Posted by martin_d
Hi Lands, I'm booking it from the UK, so I'm looking at a package that includes flights for about 6-700 UK pounds. Can get Imperial Palace at £650 and Planet Hollywood for £730, which are both good locations, but Ive stayed at IP before and Its a bit dated! Anything towards the lower end of my budget would be great!
If you thought IP was dated, Bills will be the same but a smaller casino.

I would spend the extra and go to Planet Hollywood.
soulhunt79 is offline  
Old Oct 30, 2010, 4:31 pm
  #13  
 
Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 183
Originally Posted by martin_d
Hi Lands, I'm booking it from the UK, so I'm looking at a package that includes flights for about 6-700 UK pounds. Can get Imperial Palace at £650 and Planet Hollywood for £730, which are both good locations, but Ive stayed at IP before and Its a bit dated! Anything towards the lower end of my budget would be great!
As others have said, definitely take the Planet Hollywood option of the 3. A world of difference in the rooms and experience. And when you average the extra cost over 4 or 5 nights, it's not that much more.

Here's a sample shot of a room at Bill's:





I love the old Vegas of this one (but from afar). The penthouse:




A few from Planet Hollywood:







Planet H has a great location (as does Bill's). Across from Bellagio and City Center, next to Paris and Ballys. Close to Caesars...

FYI: If you do planet hollywood, schmooze/tip them for a view of the Bellagio fountains. I know it's a "guys trip", but a strip view is still very cool.

Hope it helps. Good luck.

Last edited by lands; Oct 30, 2010 at 4:33 pm Reason: added stuff
lands is offline  
Old Oct 31, 2010, 5:20 am
  #14  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 333
Thanks for all the advice so far! Can anyone advise what the best site is to book hotels through fort Vegas? I've found an AA flight for £508, so might be better value booking flights and hotels separate. Cheers
martin_d is offline  
Old Oct 31, 2010, 3:16 pm
  #15  
 
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: UK
Programs: Co Gold
Posts: 210
Originally Posted by martin_d
Thanks for all the advice so far! Can anyone advise what the best site is to book hotels through fort Vegas? I've found an AA flight for £508, so might be better value booking flights and hotels separate. Cheers
Travelzoo, Las Vegas Advisor or direct with the hotel
rhino_uk is offline  


Contact Us - Manage Preferences - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

This site is owned, operated, and maintained by MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Designated trademarks are the property of their respective owners.