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Lots of opinions needed, I'm happy to say!

Discussion in 'Misc. Vegas Chat' started by Vegas Insight, Mar 3, 2013.

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  1. Vegas Insight

    Vegas Insight MIA

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    A week ago at this time I was driving home from a road trip to the Gulf Coast. Thanks to some good news, I can now afford to take some vacation time the week of March 31. After weighing options, my girlfriend and I decided that we will leave on Saturday, March 30 and return on Wednesday, April 3.

    We have booked two nights downtown at the D: Saturday and Sunday night, thanks to a free night offer. We have booked two nights at Orleans for Monday and Tuesday night. Albeit a hassle to switch, there are benefits. Originally we thought we'd stay four nights at Orleans, but it is showing no vacancy on Saturday night, so I looked at the D. It offered a room, at a lower rate than Orleans would have ever offered, and the free night on Sunday. We wanted to spend some time downtown, so this works great.

    I think I have questions in addition to seeking opinions.... thanks to all who have 2 cents to contribute.

    One of the things my girlfriend wants is pool access during this trip. The D obviously doesn't offer much in the way of a pool experience.

    We'll be there around April 1, when the average high is 74F. Knowing there is a pool season in Vegas, is pool access available around March 31 typically at the Nugget or Plaza? The appeal of the pool is soaking up warm sun after a Minnesota winter. Are these good pools for actually catching rays? I have never seen the pools at either place, despite having been downtown many times.

    Pools downtown are limited. Does anyone else have a rooftop pool? I know the Spike has a small pool that is heated, but it didn't strike me as a place I want to stay for the pool access.

    Any chance of accessing downtown pools if I'm not a guest of the hotel?

    Typically I rent a car. We're going to forgo that for this trip. Not much of an issue since this trip won't include a day trip into the desert and the Orleans offers options to get to and from places I want to get to on the strip. Orleans hasn't been sending me the sweet two free nights that I use to get, and although I had a limited offer from them for some free weeknights through February, I'm not getting anything other than their reasonable player's card rate for our two nights there. (I'm not a High Roller, but despite playing a bunch there and the California during my last trip, the room offers just aren't as dynamic as they have been.)

    It would cost a bit more per night for the Excalibur when adding taxes and resort fees into both properties. How's the pool at the Ex? I like the casino, and we have better strip access there, which ain't a big deal, honestly. I fear the Ex pool would be too much like a municipal day care. Am I right?

    How much for a taxi from the airport to the D? And from the D to the Orleans? (I know I have read this stuff before, but usually I ignore it.)

    Two airport shuttles to the D would be cheaper than a cab. How much for the limo to the D? I might splurge to treat my girlfriend since we'll be arriving on the eve of her birthday.

    Thanks all.... check my fresh, new and exciting coupon trade thread. It's not so fresh, but I have plenty to offer. https://www.vegasmessageboard.com/forums/showthread.php?t=87528
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Mar 3, 2013
  2. Flopitbaby

    Flopitbaby Low-Roller

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    I can only reply that the Nugget pool is open during the period you are going.
     
  3. Epeebes

    Epeebes Tourist

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    There is an adult only pool at Excalibur. I'll be there the same dates as you, the pools weren't crazy when I went last year around the same time.
     
  4. dfalk

    dfalk VIP Whale

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    That is one long ass trip!
     
  5. Buddha

    Buddha VIP Whale

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    I have never trusted those airport shuttles, especially if you are going to try using TWO of them to get downtown ... ??? A cab would be MUCH quicker, but obviously more $$ than the shuttles. The cheapest way is the city bus from the airport, but it takes about 45 minutes to DT.

    By the way, I think you meant to put "APRIL" 3rd for your departure date.
     
  6. Iu25

    Iu25 High-Roller

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    Pools downtown are Plaza on roof, Binions on roof, GN has two. I doubt any but GN will be what you are looking for. Who knows if any but GN will even be open.

    Cab to The D should be around 20$-25$ at most, on higher end if tunneled. I always tell them to take paradise to north strip then on to DT.

    I think you can grab a limo at airport for 50ish plus tip. Stay away from shuttles, they are cheap but half the time never arrive on time to pick u up!
     
  7. gerry53

    gerry53 VIP Whale

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    plaza pool door has a card lock so you need a room key to get in unless someone is going in or out and lets you in but that`s a hassle.

    we went to the desk at the spike last summer and asked very politely if we could enjoy their pool for a couple of hours and the great clerk coded us a pool gate key good for the day! that was really nice.
     
  8. Vegas Insight

    Vegas Insight MIA

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    always a chucklehead in the crowd. and yeah, i'd love to be on vacation that long.
     
  9. Vegas Insight

    Vegas Insight MIA

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    learned years ago, even if i'm willing to pay with my time to shuttle to the hotel, never trust a shuttle for the return trip to the airport unless you want to leave for the airport 4 hours before departure. cab to the airport is mandatory.
     
  10. chef

    chef Resident Buffetologist

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    Another option is to head a few blocks to Transportation Center and pay $2 for either the #108 or #109 southbound bus to airport.
     
  11. gpenguins67

    gpenguins67 High-Roller

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    I think you got most of your questions answered.
    Cab to the D is gonna be around $25 (personally i'd pay the extra 10 bucks or so over the 2 shuttle tickets)
    Limo or sedan will be around $50 for the hour (not bad if you want to make a stop to a liquor store or somewhere on the ride)


    Excalibur pools were redone about 5 or 6 years ago I beleive. They have 3 seperate pool areas and a good amount of seating. Its really not that bad for a lower tier property.
    I know excalibur is gonna be more expensive than downtown but you will be saving a good amount of money on cabs. Airport to Excalibur should be around $12-15 and excalibur to orleans should be about the same or less. Airport to D is gonna be $25ish and D to orleans is gonna be close to the same. So you're saving $20-30 in cab fares by staying at excal.
     
  12. Vegas Insight

    Vegas Insight MIA

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    good point.... unfortunately we're heading from to the airport from the orleans.

    the bus is obviously an option to get from the airport to downtown, but i'm going to be eager to get checked in so i can go have a cheap prime rib dinner. never knew there was an off-the-menu prime rib at the ElCo until recently, so i might have to give that a try and bypass the california this time around.
     
  13. Vegas Insight

    Vegas Insight MIA

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    if cheap enough, i may still opt for a rental car. there's are multiple reasons to stay at the D on saturday and sunday night. B1G1 offer makes two nights at the D a total of $53 for a king room. i am sure i can get a room at Excalibur for saturday night, and I'll bet it's more than $53. and i'll bet sunday night is at least $53, too.

    your point about the fact it will cost approx. $50 for two cab rides, plus another $15 or more for a trip to the airport, starts to make a rental car look like a good idea. i'll end up paying more, but there's value in having flexibility to get around, especially on monday and tuesday.
     
  14. M&M Man

    M&M Man Tourist

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    Take the WAX bus from the airport. It only has like about 4 stops and one of them is at 4th & Carson right across the street from the D
     
  15. Vegas Insight

    Vegas Insight MIA

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    yeah, the bus is cheap, no doubt, and if i'm traveling solo on a tight budget, i'm all for it.

    once again a rental car in vegas is proving to be a no-brainer for me. full size car is $87 for the four days with my costco membership. yes, i can get to and from cheaper than that for four days, but not by a lot, and the flexibility of a car in getting to places i want to go is a huge value that justifies the added costs.

    no car: i don't think twice about playing kiss mini-golf. (2 for 1 via ACG, and i'm a big mini-golf fan, so i have to see this place for myself.)
     
  16. atom

    atom High-Roller

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    Orleans is booked up on Saturday due to the Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly Convention. They have a pretty nice pool there, so you can get in your pool time Mon/Tue. The Golden Nugget is the best pool downtown and non-guests can get in by paying a fee, I believe. The pool is heated, open year round, and has an adults only section.
     
  17. gpenguins67

    gpenguins67 High-Roller

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    decisions... decisions. I don't know Clown, looking at all the options it looks like price is gonna be pretty close whichever decision you make. I guess the next question you need to ask is whats more important to you the pool for those first 2 nights or downtown atmosphere(and cheaper everything else).

    Do you care to be on the strip or is there any reason for you to be staying on the strip that you can't satisfy with just driving in for the day(since it sounds like you are swaying to renting a car)?

    I have another suggestion too if you want to be on or near the strip.... have you considered hooters casino? The rooms aren't the greatest but its usually cheap(er).... around $50 a night on kayak. the pool is small but it always looks fun. Cheap booze and tables and its walking distance to the strip. They also have Trop for $66 a night but they have a $20 resort fee.

    IMO for the price with the BOGO offer I personally would take The D and say screw the pool for the first 2 nights and just enjoy downtown
     
  18. Vegas Insight

    Vegas Insight MIA

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    i know of the rockabilly convention, and that it is at orleans.... no idea it is that weekend. now i understand why i couldn't get in there on saturday. having been there before, i know the pool area is adequate for our needs, but i am willing to consider other options. i'm leaning toward staying at orleans on monday and tuesday rather than on the strip... like everything, pros and cons. with a rental car coming into play, the orleans is going to be hard to beat at this point.

    i have no problem with paying a fee. i wasn't looking to sneak in. i was willing to consider switching from the D to another downtown property if i thought the pool access was worth it, but realistically no pool is going to be worth switching my saturday to monday accommodations for downtown. i will definitely look into the possibility of accessing the GN pool on easter. everybody raves about it.
     
  19. IWannaBeInVegas

    IWannaBeInVegas VIP Whale

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    Not sure the nugget has a pay per use on their pool, but I know when I was there last depending on the guard one could just walk on to the pool deck. One of the guards never asked if I was a guest, right after check out I walked over to play poolside black jack and was asked for a key (which I still had)
     
  20. Vegas Insight

    Vegas Insight MIA

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    considering we will get in on saturday night and have to change hotels late monday morning, we only get easter sunday to access a downtown pool. we want to spend time downtown and two days at the orleans pool is good enough, so i think i'll forgo the pool downtown altogether. while there are nicer pools/decks to be had on the strip, the budget is not unlimited and orleans is a nice property, with or without a rental car.
     
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