USA: Vacation

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Baiting Guru Joined: 19 Apr 2007 Posts: 3123

I know this isn't TripAdvisor, but there are a lot of Yanks about on these fora, so here goes:

Next year, we're doing Las Vegas, Miami, then a cruise Western Caribbean from Miami.

Bellagio in Vegas. Epic in Miami. Norwegian Epic FROM Miami.

Air France to Las Vegas, VIA CDG. AA from KLAS to KMIA, First class (just for the hell of it!).

So, does anyone have any advice about the above hotels/cities? I hear you DON'T want a car for Vegas, but need one to get around Miami?

I think a car would be good for Miami as we plan to visit the Keys too.

5 nights Vegas, 5 Miami. 7 Cruise. Going July/August 2010. Hurricane season, I know.

Crime: What's it like? Can I walk around Miami with my camcorder on the belt, and wallet in the front pocket? We've only been for a pre-cruise stay before.

Any help greatly appreciated. Very Happy

Elite Baiter Joined: 16 Jul 2008 Posts: 1407

Craig007 wrote:

Crime: What's it like?

Generally speaking, it's rather unpleasant. I'd try to avoid it if possible. Shocked

If you stay in the touristy areas you should be fine. Not sure about the camcorder on your belt, like in a case?

When in Miami, go on a organized bus tour, they hit the hotspots, fancy homes, and other cool things. Write down what you like, then go back and visit them when you have a car.

Just like anything try not to be flashy and keep your wits about you. Don't travel off the beaten path, particularly when driving (if you rent).

The Keys are very nice, been there once on a cruise.

Posted: Mon Sep 14, 2009 8:36 pm

Vegas is fun, seeing all the lights and casino sidewalk shows (a couple good ones; pirate ship and water fountains at bellagio). My favorite spot in vegas is freemont street. It is the old part of town and hosts the canapoy light show at dusk.

you can walk the streets with a beer/drink and even drink them on public tranportation (drinking in public and intoxicated are two different things).

Out of towners/tourists should be cautious about taking a taxi anywhere in vegas, the drivers like to take the 'scenic' route and will charge you accordingly. no worries about getting around, buses are available every few minutes.

wear comfortable shoes, the vegas strip is long!

free drinks at any casino as long as they think you're gambling. Wink

'off strip' casinos have better payouts on their slots and cheaper deals on their buffets.

Not all tickets to vegas shows cost money. non-premium Vegas show tickets can be had for FREE! and even with the free tickets, there is good entertainment.

FWIW, when the door man asks for your tickets, lean close and whisper, "do you have anything near the stage", slip him a 10'r and you'll be rubbing elbows with the rich. I did it during our last trip, we sat front row and shared a table with 3 couples that had on enough diamonds and gold to probably pay off my house mortgage.

prostitution is ILLEGAL in las vegas and stay ON the strip or freemont street after dark! 2 blocks away holds some pretty unsavory characters!

grab the FREE coupon books, the coupons can save you hundreds of dollars and often times have free stuff in them.

watch out for higglers, they will try to sell you stuff that can be had for free elsewhere, or they charge you a higher $$.

have fun, a little research goes a very long way when visiting Vegas.

Not quite a Newb Joined: 09 Sep 2009 Posts: 44

Went there a while ago and the food was cheep and very good, large portions of course. The drink however, well.... lets just say my partner in crime cost me $100 on two cocktails. Also fear not of the sun, you can walk down the whole strip pretty much inside. So you should not be turned red too fast.

Posted: Mon Sep 14, 2009 10:06 pm

The penultimate Shuttle launch is scheduled for July 29 2010 although there is no guarantee of the date of course. Details of how to see a launch at www.nasa.gov/centers/kennedy/about/view/index.html

Baiting Guru Joined: 31 Jan 2007 Posts: 12237

The Keys are a long drive from Miami, and the costs are inflated. Head West to Captiva and Sanibel Islands just outside of Ft Myers. Same experience, with a reduced cost.

Posted: Mon Sep 14, 2009 11:22 pm

Five nights in Lost Wages is a freaking long time. I could not tell you how many times I have driven up or down I-15 and not stopped. I no longer try to go 600 miles on a tank of gas so I have been staying there but never for more than two nights and only because of some tournament that someone was in. The Fremont Experience is good at night and no longer looks run down. Don't bother with the art museum at the Bellagio unless they comp you some tickets. You might consider renting a car for a day and blasting out to the Grand Canyon. Sunsets are nice there, but you run the risk of running into deer and elk on the drive back. Once you are on the interstate, its no problem. The south rim is up at altitude so its not too hot. You might even consider doing the "Grand Circle Road Trip". The rental company will lose money on you. The Strip has things to see as you walk along but the issue is the heat. You don't want to walk outside during the day and its hot even at night. It is a dry heat, unlike Miami. If you want to shoot that Walther PPK, you will be offered a chance by people on the Strip but do it in Miami. Its much cheaper there. If all you want to do is a 50 out of the PPK you might just want to do it in Vegas. The issue is if you want to try different calibers, you will easily drop hundreds shooting in Vegas. If the Shuttle launch is at night, do nothing else but go there. Get your causeway tickets as soon as you can. Its amazing to see it launch, feel it, watch the fish jump out of the water and experience the reaction of the others on the bleachers. Now that is Epic.

Posted: Tue Sep 15, 2009 2:22 am

Miami is a pretty dangerous town unless you stay in the nicer neighborhoods (ie Coral Gables) or on the strip in South Beach. The Keys are really nice, Key West is a bit hyped, but Key Largo is cool. Sanibel, Captiva (on the West Coast) is extremely nice, and you have to drive through the Everglades to get to the West Coast. Very cool. Florida is a cool place, I live there Wink

Master of Master Baiters Joined: 05 Mar 2009 Posts: 582

Rent an automatic vehicle and drive on the right when in Miami
Tip the waitress or she won't bring you free drinks when in Vegas.
Avoid the on-board shops when on the cruise ship.
Buy one of those GPS units like Garmin or Tom-Tom.

Not quite a Newb Joined: 09 Sep 2009 Posts: 44

Speaking of dangers of Miami I think this is like New York. When I went there all the reviews were rather negative as far as crime goes anyway. It was all stay out of the Bronx and dark places are night. As far as this went it was all false. The streets were very safe as long as some common sense was applied. However, the one piecee of information that I did find very helpful was don't look like a tourist. Easy enough in New York where everyone wear jeans and sneakers. However Miami.... Anyhow, I am sure safety will be no issue as long as common sense is applied - I also always find American COPS very helpful guys. Have had nice chats with quite a few.

Posted: Wed Sep 16, 2009 12:13 am

It sounds like a great trip. If you gamble, be sure you know how much you want to lose each day... (They don't light up the strip for free). There is a shady area across the tracks... It is very well blocked off and you have to purposely climb fences to go into it.... Like anything else, apply common sense and the only one you will be robbed by are the casinos!

The Bellagio is beautiful ...I hope you enjoy it.

As far as Miami, the same rules apply. A beautiful place, just don't go where you wouldn't go in the UK.

I visited London, I found everyone very polite and friendly. They warned me about areas, just like back home.... Apply the rules and when you feel your "spidey-sense" go off, then you should probably leave the area.

My Humble opinion.

I Hope you enjoy the USA...

Frankie

Posted: Wed Sep 16, 2009 4:24 pm

I’m a big fan of the U.S. National Park Service.
Announced tours, hikes, and evening programs are led by uniformed Ranger/Naturalists.
There are also opportunities to go off on your own using NPS literature for self-guided exploring.

I agree with ConnieLG: if you are in Las Vegas and do not mind a few hours’ drive, visiting the south rim of the Grand Canyon is an extraordinary experience (although it is usually very crowded with OTHER visitors during the summer, in addition to the evening animals browsing or leaping along the road); and it will bring you past Hoover Dam, an engineering marvel. If you don't want to do the driving, Las Vegas hotels can connect you to plane tours or bus tours to the canyon -- either as one-day-trips or overnights.

A much shorter drive west from Miami will bring you to the Everglades, a remarkable ecosystem
(unfortunately, crowded with MOSQUITOES at the time you will be visiting – bring the bug spray!).

If you enjoy natural area activities such as hiking (Grand Canyon) and boating (Everglades), each venue might be worth a significant or modest side-trip from your main cities.

Here's the National Park Service link: http://www.nps.gov/index.htm

Enjoy, enjoy!

Posted: Thu Sep 17, 2009 12:34 am

Las Vegas? Miami? THE KEYS?? How about some Northern U.S. Cities? Minneapolis (crappy football teams recycling old quarterbacks), Denver (nothing beats the continental divide), Maine is beautiful and less crimey. I know, I won't say anything about being a sheep... Laughing

Posted: Thu Sep 17, 2009 1:19 am

A Las Vegas show idea: I'm not sure whether he'll still be at The Mirage next year, but just in case . . . Terry Fator is a talented "ventriloquist," and yet much more . . .

My son and his wife booked a romantic weekend this past February for Valentine's Day.
Their main tickets were for an Elton John concert; and since they had another evening, they chose Terry Fator, the winner of last year's USA TV show, "America's Got Talent."

They said that Elton John's concert was, not-surprisingly, excellent and well-produced.
But my son and his wife came home raving about how witty and clever and talented they found Terry Fator to be. So if you have choices, I'd suggest keeping him in mind.

Posted: Thu Sep 17, 2009 3:59 am

Here's the perfect Craig vacation activity which is so typically Florida: Airboating. It's a combo of flying/boating/excessive speed, and all done in alligator-infested waters. What's not to love about that? Even your boy on Top Gear endorsed it:

http://www.topgear.com/uk/jeremy-clarkson/clarkson-airboats-02-1997

Posted: Thu Sep 17, 2009 10:24 am

For Miami I second earlier advice to head over to the west coast. Drive to Naples using either the big highway for speed or the more scenic route (don´t remember the number) that goes slightly south of the bigger road. From Naples there are plenty of nice places just a few miles north, Sanibel/Captiva are really nice!

I woul also recommend a vist to everglades. Very cool! In Miami you definitively need a car to get around. You should stay on Miami Beach. Nice places to visit in Miami are Key Biscayne, Coral Gables, Coconut Groove and of course Miami Beach. The beaches are however better over at Key Biscayne in my opinion.. but far better still on the west coast of Floride (i.e north of Naples) You can pretty much forget walking around downtown as there is nothing to see or do there.. anything north of downtown is no-go areas.. stay south of ne 10th st.

Baiting Guru Joined: 19 Apr 2007 Posts: 3123

Quote:

Just like anything try not to be flashy and keep your wits about you. Don't travel off the beaten path, particularly when driving (if you rent).

I would imagine I would be safe in a vehicle regardless, but evidently not! Shocked

Quote:

WIW, when the door man asks for your tickets, lean close and whisper, "do you have anything near the stage", slip him a 10'r and you'll be rubbing elbows with the rich. I did it during our last trip, we sat front row and shared a table with 3 couples that had on enough diamonds and gold to probably pay off my house mortgage.

prostitution is ILLEGAL in las vegas and stay ON the strip or freemont street after dark! 2 blocks away holds some pretty unsavory characters!

I'll bear that in mind if we pick out some shows. Very Happy

Quote:

The penultimate Shuttle launch is scheduled for July 29 2010 although there is no guarantee of the date of course. Details of how to see a launch at www.nasa.gov/centers/kennedy/about/view/index.html

Unfortunately, we intend to be in Miami from 09/02, for 5 days pre-cruise. Hopefully the launch will be delayed and we can motor up.

Quote:

The Keys are a long drive from Miami, and the costs are inflated. Head West to Captiva and Sanibel Islands just outside of Ft Myers. Same experience, with a reduced cost.

Combining this with the information about Naples, if we were going to be there for longer, I would certainly look at a villa, and in particular, we had pencilled in Naples. It was an idea from the start to get a look-in there, so combining that with the islands may be the best way to go.

Quote:

You might consider renting a car for a day and blasting out to the Grand Canyon. Sunsets are nice there, but you run the risk of running into deer and elk on the drive back.

I actually planned to hire a plane from North Las Vegas airport, and fly out. Rates are so much cheaper there than in the UK, and we'll get some lovely aerial views.

Quote:

If you want to shoot that Walther PPK, you will be offered a chance by people on the Strip but do it in Miami.

Always been an ambition of mine, sadly. Laughing

I will look at some ranges in the area.

Quote:

Miami is a pretty dangerous town unless you stay in the nicer neighborhoods (ie Coral Gables) or on the strip in South Beach.

I believe the Epic is located south Downtown, which ties in with all the nicer areas.

Quote:

Avoid the on-board shops when on the cruise ship.

Already learned from many an experience - daylight robbery. Shocked

Quote:

There is a shady area across the tracks... It is very well blocked off and you have to purposely climb fences to go into it....

Not being funny, but I think I may have saw that in CSI...

Quote:

The Bellagio is beautiful ...I hope you enjoy it.

I hope so too - the "Bellagio Suite" looks to be the one we shall opt for. It was between the Bellagio, Venetian and Palazzo, but the Bellagio offers more floorspace for a similar price bracket.

Quote:

A much shorter drive west from Miami will bring you to the Everglades, a remarkable ecosystem
(unfortunately, crowded with MOSQUITOES at the time you will be visiting – bring the bug spray!).

If you enjoy natural area activities such as hiking (Grand Canyon) and boating (Everglades), each venue might be worth a significant or modest side-trip from your main cities.

Forgot to mention in the first post that we would certainly make a day out of the Everglades. Thanks for the link. Smile

Quote:

How about some Northern U.S. Cities?

Too cold and miserable. I want to ESCAPE Scotland, not have it reproduced after an 8 hour flight.

Quote:

Here's the perfect Craig vacation activity...

You know me too well. Very Happy

LADBUSTER:

It was either the Epic, or the Mandarin Oriental on Brickell Island - we still haven't booked yet, so which is best geographically?

Thanks everyone for your help. Smile

Posted: Thu Sep 17, 2009 6:01 pm

Don't call them Yanks, they have no idea what you're talking about. Or fatties.

You can probably go most anywhere if you don't dress as a tourist, wear shades to avoid eye contact and keep your mouth firmly shut. I crossed LA by bus and metro (despite being told i would die if I did), said nothing to noone and remained more or less invisible.

Posted: Thu Sep 17, 2009 6:05 pm

There's so many better places to go in Florida than Miami. Trust me, I live in Florida. I second the vote for Sanibel and Captiva.

Posted: Fri Sep 18, 2009 1:54 am

Bellagio is a good choice. It's right in the heart of the strip and almost all of the large hotel/casinos are within a 15 minute walk. Renting a car is not a bad idea but be advised that traffic on Las Vegas Blvd (the Strip) moves very slowly at night. Almost everywhere has free parking or will validate your parking ticket so you won't have to pay a parking fee.

Check with your hotel concierge about a helicopter tour of the Grand Canyon. It's an experience you will never forget.

Gambling is the one vice I've never had, so Vegas is a very cost effective vacation for me with its cheap meals and hotel rates. The biggest annoyance I found on the Strip is these guys handing out flyers for escort services. They can get assertive. They tried to push some on me while my wife was standing right next to me!

Master of Master Baiters Joined: 25 Sep 2008 Posts: 785

If you make the drive to the other coast. Stay at least one night in Miami, get up and watch the sunrise over the Atlantic and the sunset over the Gulf of Mexico at the end of the day.