A Thread for Travel: Trips/Advice/Ideas

[bigblue_dl]

Re: A Thread for Travel: Trips/Advice/Ideas

I posted this elsewhere also, but it really does belong in this thread. I'm trying to plan a trip to Vegas with some buddies over new years. We've never been there before, so we're wondering which hotels are recommended from anyone with prior experiences.

I've been looking at hotels and online reviews for a while now. But I know people around here have been to Vegas before, so I want to get some opinions. I'm leaning towards getting a room at the MGM Grand, overall it looks like it gets great reviews and it is right in the middle of the strip. But I also found rooms for cheaper at The Signature @ MGM Grand, which appears to be off Las Vegas BLVD a couple blocks. The rooms look nicer at The Signature. Would it be best to stay at a hotel right on the strip or would it be ok to stay at one a block or 2 away. If it is part of the MGM, is that entire complex connected so we would just walk through the MGM complex to get the couple blocks it would take to get to Las Vegas BLVD? Thanks the for help everyone.

 

[huskyfan]

Re: A Thread for Travel: Trips/Advice/Ideas

I posted this elsewhere also, but it really does belong in this thread. I'm trying to plan a trip to Vegas with some buddies over new years. We've never been there before, so we're wondering which hotels are recommended from anyone with prior experiences.

haven't stayed at the MGM myself, but know lots of people who have and all have liked it. on New Years Eve I would definitely stay on the Strip.

 

[thebrain]

Re: A Thread for Travel: Trips/Advice/Ideas

I posted this elsewhere also, but it really does belong in this thread. I'm trying to plan a trip to Vegas with some buddies over new years. We've never been there before, so we're wondering which hotels are recommended from anyone with prior experiences.

I stayed at the Flamingo...The room was nothing special, but I was rarely in it.

 

[bigblue_dl]

Re: A Thread for Travel: Trips/Advice/Ideas

I stayed at the Flamingo...The room was nothing special, but I was rarely in it.

That is why I'm not interested in spending a bunch on a nice room. If I'm in Vegas, I don't want to sit in the hotel room, with the exception of certain recreational activities. I'm thinking I should go with the cheapest room I can find that is in the middle of the strip, which won't be anywhere close to cheap, but still, I'm not going to spring for the Bellagio.

 

[pardonme]

Re: A Thread for Travel: Trips/Advice/Ideas

Planning out a London-Paris-Zurich trip for late February. Curious if people who have been to Zurich have recommendations for things to do. We may go over the the Bodensee (Lake Constance) while we are in Switzerland so ideas for there would be nice too.

 

[Puck Swami]

Re: A Thread for Travel: Trips/Advice/Ideas

Planning out a London-Paris-Zurich trip for late February. Curious if people who have been to Zurich have recommendations for things to do. We may go over the the Bodensee (Lake Constance) while we are in Switzerland so ideas for there would be nice too.

Go see the Zurich Lions play hockey at the Hallenstadion. The rink holds about 10,000 and the fans there are pretty into it.

http://www.zsclions.ch/

 

[thebrain]

Re: A Thread for Travel: Trips/Advice/Ideas

That is why I'm not interested in spending a bunch on a nice room. If I'm in Vegas, I don't want to sit in the hotel room, with the exception of certain recreational activities. I'm thinking I should go with the cheapest room I can find that is in the middle of the strip, which won't be anywhere close to cheap, but still, I'm not going to spring for the Bellagio.

The Flamingo would probably work out well for you. It's right in the middle, the room was fine, but nothing special. You can get it pretty cheap when you purchase in a package.

 

[bigblue_dl]

Re: A Thread for Travel: Trips/Advice/Ideas

The Flamingo would probably work out well for you. It's right in the middle, the room was fine, but nothing special. You can get it pretty cheap when you purchase in a package.

I was looking at that one too. I ended up finding a package that was $650/person for 4 days, 3 nights, airfare and hotel over New Years. We'll be staying at Excalibur...not my top choice for hotel, but really, we won't be spending much time there so no biggie. And it is pretty much across the street from the MGM, so location isn't much different than I was originally looking at. Now we just need to figure out what to do for nightlife kind of stuff. Everywhere has New Years Eve parties it looks like, and we may have to buy tickets and other BS, so I'm going to have to figure that out over the next couple weeks.

 

[Zudnic]

Re: A Thread for Travel: Trips/Advice/Ideas

The Flamingo would probably work out well for you. It's right in the middle, the room was fine, but nothing special. You can get it pretty cheap when you purchase in a package.

Excalibur is also a good value if you want no frills. Just don't tell the girls you meet at the club that you're staying there.

 

[bigblue_dl]

Re: A Thread for Travel: Trips/Advice/Ideas

Excalibur is also a good value if you want no frills. Just don't tell the girls you meet at the club that you're staying there.

Will do.
That makes it tougher when they want to go back to the room, though...

 

[unofan]

Re: A Thread for Travel: Trips/Advice/Ideas

So...anyone been subjected to the new enhanced pat-down by the TSA yet? Is it as bad as everyone says?

My wife and I are going on our honeymoon to Jamaica in late February. Can't really say I'm looking forward to having to choose between getting a dose of unnecessary radiation or being sexually assaulted (or both, if the scanner picks up lint in my pocket) just for having the audacity to fly. I'm guessing having a brand new passport will make me extra suspicious, too.

Still don't understand the logic allowing a TSA official to be more invasive than a normal cop or even a prison guard.

Edit: NY Times has picked up the story today. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/19/business/19security.html?pagewanted=all

 

[bigblue_dl]

Re: A Thread for Travel: Trips/Advice/Ideas

So...anyone been subjected to the new enhanced pat-down by the TSA yet? Is it as bad as everyone says?

My wife and I are going on our honeymoon to Jamaica in late February. Can't really say I'm looking forward to having to choose between getting a dose of unnecessary radiation or being sexually assaulted (or both, if the scanner picks up lint in my pocket) just for having the audacity to fly. I'm guessing having a brand new passport will make me extra suspicious, too.

Still don't understand the logic allowing a TSA official to be more invasive than a normal cop or even a prison guard.

Edit: NY Times has picked up the story today. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/19/business/19security.html?pagewanted=all

I've done the new scanners, they don't bother me. But I'll be ****ed if I get patted down after going through the scanner.

 

[pirate]

Re: A Thread for Travel: Trips/Advice/Ideas

anybody have suggestions for things to do in Portland, Oregon? Besides avoiding talking to FBI agents? Going to be there Thur-Sun with family, looking for a few nearby things as we'll only have a few blocks of time. Thanks for any ideas or advice!!

 

[JuveGG24]

Re: A Thread for Travel: Trips/Advice/Ideas

anybody have suggestions for things to do in Portland, Oregon? Besides avoiding talking to FBI agents? Going to be there Thur-Sun with family, looking for a few nearby things as we'll only have a few blocks of time. Thanks for any ideas or advice!!

Powell's Books

I lost three hours in there when I went through Portland. Probably could have spent all day in there.

 

[huskyfan]

Re: A Thread for Travel: Trips/Advice/Ideas

So...anyone been subjected to the new enhanced pat-down by the TSA yet? Is it as bad as everyone says?

My wife and I are going on our honeymoon to Jamaica in late February. Can't really say I'm looking forward to having to choose between getting a dose of unnecessary radiation or being sexually assaulted (or both, if the scanner picks up lint in my pocket) just for having the audacity to fly. I'm guessing having a brand new passport will make me extra suspicious, too.

Still don't understand the logic allowing a TSA official to be more invasive than a normal cop or even a prison guard.

Edit: NY Times has picked up the story today. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/19/business/19security.html?pagewanted=all

four of us flew Saturday. three of us went right through, no problem, the fourth, who has an artificial knee, got the pat down. said it wasn't much, no problem with it at all.

 

[goldy_331]

Re: A Thread for Travel: Trips/Advice/Ideas

So...anyone been subjected to the new enhanced pat-down by the TSA yet? Is it as bad as everyone says?

My wife and I are going on our honeymoon to Jamaica in late February. Can't really say I'm looking forward to having to choose between getting a dose of unnecessary radiation or being sexually assaulted (or both, if the scanner picks up lint in my pocket) just for having the audacity to fly. I'm guessing having a brand new passport will make me extra suspicious, too.

Still don't understand the logic allowing a TSA official to be more invasive than a normal cop or even a prison guard.

Edit: NY Times has picked up the story today. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/19/business/19security.html?pagewanted=all

The rad dose from the new scanners is significantly less than the extra dose you'll get during your flight.

 

[alfablue]

Re: A Thread for Travel: Trips/Advice/Ideas

So...anyone been subjected to the new enhanced pat-down by the TSA yet? Is it as bad as everyone says?

My wife and I are going on our honeymoon to Jamaica in late February. Can't really say I'm looking forward to having to choose between getting a dose of unnecessary radiation or being sexually assaulted (or both, if the scanner picks up lint in my pocket) just for having the audacity to fly. I'm guessing having a brand new passport will make me extra suspicious, too.

Still don't understand the logic allowing a TSA official to be more invasive than a normal cop or even a prison guard.

Edit: NY Times has picked up the story today. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/19/business/19security.html?pagewanted=all

Round trip from DTW to FLL, no scanners seen. And didnt' see anyone get patted down.

YMMV.

 

[thebrain]

Re: A Thread for Travel: Trips/Advice/Ideas

Next time I fly, I'm avoiding the radiation from the scanners. I've already had a few CT scans and don't need any more building up as it never goes away.

 

[Rimbaud]

Re: A Thread for Travel: Trips/Advice/Ideas

Next time I fly, I'm avoiding the radiation from the scanners. I've already had a few CT scans and don't need any more building up as it never goes away.

You are exposed to more radiation by flying for a handful of minutes at cruising altitude than what you get when you go through one of the scanners.

 

[unofan]

Re: A Thread for Travel: Trips/Advice/Ideas

The rad dose from the new scanners is significantly less than the extra dose you'll get during your flight.

You are exposed to more radiation by flying for a handful of minutes at cruising altitude than what you get when you go through one of the scanners.

Which still doesn't make it ok (breathe in this second hand smoke, since you'll inhale more carcinigens in the course of an hour on the streets of Manhattan than this will give you), but I'm not going to debate that here since it's been parsed to bits in the other thread (which started after my first post here).