US help.

[pinkhippo]

East Coast USA

thank u! will check out now!

Hi Starstruck 123

We r also 4 girls going to East Coast in the first part of July. Care to share your itinerary. Also looking at how to go from NY to Philly to DC. Even want to go to Niagara Falls too.
Any recommendation for hotel that's downtown and yet affordable? Hoping to get a quad room.
Thanks in advance.

 

[devilish_me]

Hi Starstruck 123

We r also 4 girls going to East Coast in the first part of July. Care to share your itinerary. Also looking at how to go from NY to Philly to DC. Even want to go to Niagara Falls too.
Any recommendation for hotel that's downtown and yet affordable? Hoping to get a quad room.
Thanks in advance.

i was just in philly and DC recently. i stayed at holiday inn express (walnut st) in philly. very good location, central, i paid around USD114ish/night. parking is USD20/night though.

in DC, i stayed in the arlington area - hilton garden inn (N. Courthouse Rd) for around USD120ish/night and best western rosslyn iwo jima for around USD88.19ish/night. both are short walking distance to the subway to go downtown and both are with free parking.

 

[Erwinlow]

I have no idea about the hotels you mentioned. You could look up trip advisor for pretty good reviews.

I did not go to factory outlets as I been to one in Las vegas before I went to San Fran and also I have one just an hour drive away (I live in Texas now). I could spend up to half the day or even more at the outlets just browsing through the stuff.

Alright thanks!

I will be going to Vegas after SF, then finally LA.

Any recommendations on what are the must visit or what places are recommended to go in SF?

Thanks mate!

 

[Erwinlow]

............

Thanks klanse!

Do you think it would be feasible to stay a day at the hotels/motels/inns around gilroy? And since we'll reach great mall before the gilroy premium outlets, would it be a wise decision? Like I could visit the great mall, then continue driving to gilroy and spent the night there.


I would most likely be staying @ the King George Hotel. Pretty decent price for its location I guess?

http://www.greystonehotels.com/kinggeorge/specials.php?id=79

 

[Erwinlow]

Google US plug. They will take either 2 or 3 pin type, though if your plug is 3 pin type (ie ground pin is used and not just a plastic one), then safer to get 3 pin converter. I used to keep getting small electrical shock from my laptop casing because I used a 2 pin converter for my 3 pin charger.

Editted: Either you can use a travel plug, or just go sim lim tower get one of those AC cable with US plug at the end.

alright thanks man!

 

[pinkhippo]

i was just in philly and DC recently. i stayed at holiday inn express (walnut st) in philly. very good location, central, i paid around USD114ish/night. parking is USD20/night though.

in DC, i stayed in the arlington area - hilton garden inn (N. Courthouse Rd) for around USD120ish/night and best western rosslyn iwo jima for around USD88.19ish/night. both are short walking distance to the subway to go downtown and both are with free parking.

Thanks for the recommendation. Will go check these places out.

 

[klanse]

Thanks klanse!

Do you think it would be feasible to stay a day at the hotels/motels/inns around gilroy? And since we'll reach great mall before the gilroy premium outlets, would it be a wise decision? Like I could visit the great mall, then continue driving to gilroy and spent the night there.
If you are goin to gilroy don't go to gt mall cos gt mall has a bit greater selection. I was mentioning about great mall cos it is closer from SF. If you want, you can just drop by cos it is just close by the highway.
How many days are u staying in SF? How r u goin to gilroy from airport or SF. BTW you have to take caltrain and then take bus again when u reach gilroy. There is no problem to stay in Gilroy if you are renting a car but you have to rent it for at least 2 days. Airport is just 20-30 mins from ur hotel. I really have no idea never do that kind of thing b4
I would most likely be staying @ the King George Hotel. Pretty decent price for its location I guess?
No comment on the hotel. But location wise, it is pretty decent. Stratford hotel also not bad for a budget hotel.
http://www.greystonehotels.com/kinggeorge/specials.php?id=79

..........

 

[Erwinlow]

..........

4 nights in SF. I'll most likely be renting a car for that day just to get to Gilroy/Great Mall.

Is it very inconvenient to go from Airport - Great Mall - Gilroy?


Moving on to Vegas, again as for hotels, anyone have any recommendations? A friend recommend Caesar's Palace and Monte Carlo. Another recommended MGM.

 

[fone]

Moving on to Vegas, again as for hotels, anyone have any recommendations? A friend recommend Caesar's Palace and Monte Carlo. Another recommended MGM.

Lol, what's your budget and do you have a car in Vegas?
Actually, there are some deals for Vegas, friend got cheap room at Luxor with massage tub. I also got a deal for a room at MGM grand with massage tub ($100+). I've also stayed at Excalibur before ($50 per night) and at Encore ($100+).

Would recommend in this order (for those that I've stayed): Encore, MGM, Excalibur.
Though staying in middle of strip should be better if you are not going to have a car.
Excalibur is very old, with small rooms. MGM is not that new, but with aging facilities (shower had no very hot water for "peak" bathing period). Encore is very modern and customer friendly, we loved the valet service best, can call for car to be ready before going down, instead of wasting time waiting for the valet to bring the car up.

 

[klanse]

4 nights in SF. I'll most likely be renting a car for that day just to get to Gilroy/Great Mall.

Is it very inconvenient to go from Airport - Great Mall - Gilroy?
Very easy. Both airport and Gilroy premium are behind the 101 highway so just drive down south. for great mall it is behind the 237 highway you need to change from 101 S to 237 E.

Moving on to Vegas, again as for hotels, anyone have any recommendations? A friend recommend Caesar's Palace and Monte Carlo. Another recommended MGM.

There are a lot of great hotels in LV. and Encore is best of the best If i am not wrong it is a bit off the strip. I didn't have a chance to stay at there. I stayed at the new Aria hotel which I really disappointed.
Other choices are venetian place, bellagio(famous for fountain water show), Mandalay bay, Caesars Palace....etc. The forum shops@Caesars Palace is a must visit if you like shopping

 

[Erwinlow]

Lol, what's your budget and do you have a car in Vegas?
Actually, there are some deals for Vegas, friend got cheap room at Luxor with massage tub. I also got a deal for a room at MGM grand with massage tub ($100+). I've also stayed at Excalibur before ($50 per night) and at Encore ($100+).

Would recommend in this order (for those that I've stayed): Encore, MGM, Excalibur.
Though staying in middle of strip should be better if you are not going to have a car.
Excalibur is very old, with small rooms. MGM is not that new, but with aging facilities (shower had no very hot water for "peak" bathing period). Encore is very modern and customer friendly, we loved the valet service best, can call for car to be ready before going down, instead of wasting time waiting for the valet to bring the car up.

Not sure if I'll be renting a car in Vegas as its pretty easy to get around along the strip. yay/nay?

Preferably not more than 200/night. Quite keen on MGM at about 100/night.

Location wise, is MGM in like...the centre of the strip? Or like maybe right at the end?

Checked on Encore...kinda pricey at 250 or so per night leh.

Not everyone is above 18 in the party that I'll be traveling with. What else could we do in Vegas besides gambling? Any interesting things to see/do...or perhaps those factory outlets?

Thinking of joining a day tour to the Grand Canyon too. Will take up 1 whole day though. Will be staying 3 nights in Vegas.

 

[genie47]

Not sure if I'll be renting a car in Vegas as its pretty easy to get around along the strip. yay/nay?

Preferably not more than 200/night. Quite keen on MGM at about 100/night.

Location wise, is MGM in like...the centre of the strip? Or like maybe right at the end?

Checked on Encore...kinda pricey at 250 or so per night leh.

Not everyone is above 18 in the party that I'll be traveling with. What else could we do in Vegas besides gambling? Any interesting things to see/do...or perhaps those factory outlets?

Thinking of joining a day tour to the Grand Canyon too. Will take up 1 whole day though. Will be staying 3 nights in Vegas.

Check out the Museum of Atomic Testing in Vegas. Will give you the real deal of all those A-bomb experiments in Nevada.

http://www.atomictestingmuseum.org/index.asp

If you can, go to the Flamingo and find Bugsy Siegel's memorial in the gardens. Go take picture of yourself together with it.

 

[Erwinlow]

There are a lot of great hotels in LV. and Encore is best of the best If i am not wrong it is a bit off the strip. I didn't have a chance to stay at there. I stayed at the new Aria hotel which I really disappointed.
Other choices are venetian place, bellagio(famous for fountain water show), Mandalay bay, Caesars Palace....etc. The forum shops@Caesars Palace is a must visit if you like shopping

Yeah we like shopping!

1 of my friend recommended Monte Carlo. 60/usd night.

Bellagio kinda out of budget.. Almost 200usd/night heh.

MGM and Monte Carlo still the 2 hotels that I'm looking at.

klanse, have any recommendations on what to do/see in vegas? shopping etc. As we do not gamble that much, just a little

 

[klanse]

what to do? Go to shows and eat. That's the only thing i could do when i want to vegas. For god's sake please don't go to the shark reef aquarium. It is smaller than the one in Santosa.

Shopping? The forum shops, grand canel @ venetian and fashion show.

 

[klanse]

Not everyone is above 18 in the party that I'll be traveling with.

Gambling and drinking age here is 21. Ya i know it sucks.

 

[fone]

MGM and Monte Carlo both abit old. Vegas can watch shows, like Phantom, David Copperfield , plenty of cirque du soleil etc. I drove to Vegas, so staying Encore (abit off strip) is not an issue, just valet park everywhere. MGM is at one end of the strip. Check out google maps, Encore is at one end, MGM at the other end.

Can go see how a casino is like also, even if underage. Can try gamble and hope don't get caught also. Vegas casino got no checks at entrance one, and minors can enter as long as accompanied by adult (need to cut thru casino to get to hotel lifts). And it is harder for ang mohs to tell asian age by just looking. Drinking in restaurants, usually they check individual ID.

 

[Erwinlow]

MGM and Monte Carlo both abit old. Vegas can watch shows, like Phantom, David Copperfield , plenty of cirque du soleil etc. I drove to Vegas, so staying Encore (abit off strip) is not an issue, just valet park everywhere. MGM is at one end of the strip. Check out google maps, Encore is at one end, MGM at the other end.

Can go see how a casino is like also, even if underage. Can try gamble and hope don't get caught also. Vegas casino got no checks at entrance one, and minors can enter as long as accompanied by adult (need to cut thru casino to get to hotel lifts). And it is harder for ang mohs to tell asian age by just looking. Drinking in restaurants, usually they check individual ID.

So buying tickets for the shows, is it better to buy it online? or reach there then buy?

Encore out of my budget...200usd+/night as compared to 100usd or so for mgm.

Ahh thanks fone. Heard afew friends telling me you can just walk in the casinos like Macau. interesting.

thanks!



Right now, my plan is so stay 1-2 night at Golden Nugget Hotel, downtown area/frement street. and another 1-2 nights at the strip.

and there seems to be so much good food in vegas!!

 

[Erwinlow]

what to do? Go to shows and eat. That's the only thing i could do when i want to vegas. For god's sake please don't go to the shark reef aquarium. It is smaller than the one in Santosa.

Shopping? The forum shops, grand canel @ venetian and fashion show.

thanks klanse! do vegas have those sorts of premium/factory outlets? like those similar to gilroy's.

haha shark reef aquarium. ok thanks will take note!

 

[Erwinlow]

Narrowed down my search for hotels on the strip to MGM(100usd), Monte Carlo(60usd), Luxor(50usd) and Mandalay Bay(120-130). How does Luxor compare to Monte Carlo and MGM?

Will stay at the strip for 2 nights, then in downtown/fremont street, at golden nuggets hotel for another 2 nights.

 

[fone]

So buying tickets for the shows, is it better to buy it online? or reach there then buy?

Ahh thanks fone. Heard afew friends telling me you can just walk in the casinos like Macau. interesting.

Actually, if you go during non-peak period, there are road side stores that sell discount tickets for show, though you get to seat assignment later and you queue more, but they are legit.

Macau casino didn't allow us to walk thru with under-age personnel, directed us to walk big round to hotel lift.