To rent or not to rent? That is the question

The subject of rental cars can spark a nice debate among people who go to Vegas regularly. Almost as a debate about hotels. I probably should and will devote a few blog entries on getting around in Las Vegas because there are a lot of options. But for now, let's talk about some advantages to renting or not renting.

Why rent?

• Super easy: There are car rentals at McCarran International Airport when you land. A number of hotels have rental locations in hotels.

• Cheap: Some of the lowest rates in the country. Probably because they do so much volume.

• Can move from hotel to hotel, Vegas strip or off-strip. Can go see attractions outside of Las Vegas (I.e. Red Rock Canyon and Hoover Dam).

Why not rent?

• Traffic: Especially on the strip in the late afternoon or evening and on weekends. You are thinking, “I have to drive in traffic every day, why do I have to do it on my vacation.”

• Alcohol: People gamble, casinos give free alcohol while you gamble, you do the math. Also, if you are going to do drink and drive, the penalties for getting caught are steep and not worth it.

• Alternative transportation is easy: Cabs are plentiful and you can find them everywhere. The monorail can take you up and down the trip. There is a bus that runs 24 hours a day up and down the strip. Additionally, walking is free.

What I think: Everyone has an opinion about works best for them and their circumstances. Going in a five-person group might require you to rent a car. Going alone or with two people might cause you not to rent. I think you should try one trip renting and one trip renting maybe one or two days. Find out what works best for you.

Of course, Orbitz is a great place to get a good price on a car rental or find out what rental agencies are housed inside what hotels.

Memorial Day pool time

(note: This was written for Orbitz Travel Blog and may be posted there in the near future in some form. I look forward to writing more for them.)

Memorial Day is considered the first day of summer and that is very true when it comes to the Las Vegas pool scene. Beginning on Memorial Day, hotel pools in Vegas become the place to go during the day. Whether your body is toned or not, everyone goes and loves the pool to beat the Vegas heat.

One general tip: If you have a group and you want to sit together, hit the pool early if you want to get a lounge chair. This applies even more if you are in town on the weekend or a holiday. If you go late, you will be lucky to get one. Either go as a group or assign one or two people to go early and reserve chairs.

Best all-around: MGM Grand Pool Complex. At six acres, it has four pools, three whirlpools, waterfalls, lazy river, bar, . According to their website, at least three will be open every day at 8 a.m. during the summer and the “Backlot River”, opens at 9 a.m. Negatives: Crowds. The MGM is the biggest hotel in Vegas and a LOT of people will venture to the pool area.

Best family pool: Flamingo. Truthfully, I love this pool. It has four pools, two jacuzzis, and water slides with a kiddy pool over 15 acres. It's designed to be a tropical paradise. Very picturesque. This is the pool where you will find me the most. You might also spot a wedding or two at the pool if you go early in the morning or at sunset. Negatives: According to the Flamingo website, a hotel room key is required for entry before 1 p.m. So it could become crowded with locals and people staying elsewhere in Vegas.

Best pool party: Hard Rock Hotel, Rehab Sundays. This is where the beautiful people hang out all day Sunday. The party takes over the pool at the off-strip Hard Rock. The line to get in Rehab can be long, but it is the best party in Vegas on Sundays. There are other hotels who are adopting the “pool as a nightclub” strategy: Tao Beach at Venetian, Ditch Fridays at Palms, Bare at Mirage are examples. Tip: Check to see what is happening at the pool in your hotel. Including cost and times. For example, Rehab is free for individuals staying at the Hard Rock.

My suggestions are just that. There are a lot of good pool options all over Vegas. If the hotel pool is important to you, check it out online before booking your stay.

One final tip: Hotel pools are not public pools. If you are not staying in that hotel, you might have to pay an admission fee to get in. So if there is a pool you want to go to, call the hotel and ask for the pool and check on the admission fee.

Memorial Day special

I might take advantage of this myself:

Memorial Day Weekend Sale! Get a FREE Night this Memorial Day Weekend when you travel between 5/22 and 5/27!

Also

Summer Sale! Save up to 30% off Las Vegas

Best Burgers in Vegas

Before I became a vegetarian, I loved a good burger. Burger Bar in Mandalay Bay have the best. The Kobe burger would tempt me back to the "Dark Side". When I go to Vegas, I usually make this place my first stop before I checked into my hotel.

It is usually busy, but the slowest time (and the best time) to go is right when it opens mid-morning. It's empty, so you get great service and you eat pretty quick. Around 11:30, the lunch rush begins. I am usually paying my check and gone by then.

It's in Mandalay Place and can be difficult to find. So make sure you look for it or you could be looking for a while.

In other burger news (courtesy of the Red Rock Casino):

LBS, a classic American burger joint, will open at Red Rock Casino Resort & Spa this fall. Created and owned by Las Vegas restaurateur Billy Richardson, the focus of LBS is to deliver the best hamburgers anywhere in Las Vegas using only fresh ingredients and all-natural, hormone-free Hereford beef and turkey. The 101-seat restaurant and bar will be located adjacent to the casino floor in the space previously occupied by Tides, which closed on April 27. In keeping with the classic American theme, the LBS bar will offer more than 40 different microbrew blends of beer and a classic cocktail list.

Hopefully someone can tell me about good places where I can get a veggie burger (one that is good).

Help your boss plan a Las Vegas work trip

From the LA Times Blog. Some great tips, too much to list here because fair use. But there are three or four I want to mention.

Hotel:
The article mentions some of the priciest on the strip:

The Palazzo, Wynn Las Vegas, Augustus Towers rooms at Caesars Palace, and THEHotel

All very, very nice. Can't go wrong with any of them. But some places cringe at the thought of expensing a stay in a casino. (I work for a company that would never expense a stay in a casino.) So here is a tip: Stay at the Four Seasons. It's on the top five floors of Mandalay Bay. It might be a bit more pricey, but can be easier to get through the office manager.

Dining:
Breakfast: Can' t go wrong with the buffet at Paris. But if you are staying in the above hotels, anyplace there is good.

Dinner (from the blog):

Steakhouses are an old standby: try Charlie Palmer’s at Four Seasons, the Palm at Caesars Forum Shops, SW at Wynn, N9NE Steakhouse at Palms or Delmonico at the Venetian. With so many new restaurants and celebrity chefs making the headlines, where to go depends on the age and hipness of the people you are wining and dining.

Golf (also from the blog):

Shadow Creek: A highly respected golf course built by Tom Fazio and exclusive to guests of MGM Mirage properties, including Bellagio, MGM Grand, Mandalay Bay, the Mirage, Luxor, Excalibur, New York New York, Monte Carlo, Circus Circus and Railroad Pass.

Reflection Bay: Out in Henderson at Lake Las Vegas, this was the first public resort golf course in Nevada designed by Jack Nicklaus.

Cascata: Designed by Rees Jones, Sports Illustrated called this luxurious resort in Boulder City “golf’s hidden treasure.” Read these articles for more information, “Las Vegas: Golf for high rollers” and “Las Vegas: Great golf at several price levels.”

Make sure you ask the concierge about tee times and courses that the hotel have some pull and can squeeze you in on short notice.

More Airline Trouble

Need help knowing if your American flight has been canceled. You can set it up to send a SMS through this page on AA.com

A quick search of the blogs tell me that people are not having mixed responses when calling the rebooking toll-free number (I would post it here, but if you are stuck in an airport, I have read they have them posted all over American's terminals). Midday: You might get disconnected. At night: better chance of getting a booking.

But there are worse places to be stranded than in Vegas. Out of the "goodness of our hearts", I won't rip American Airlines. :)

Here is the latest story from ABC News:

Thousands of passengers were stranded again today after American Airlines canceled nearly half of its domestic flights.

American canceled more than 1,000 of its 2,300 daily flights today to re-inspect wiring, just as it did two weeks ago. The carrier canceled 460 flights Tuesday.

Passengers at Dallas-Fort Worth and Chicago's O'Hare airports were hardest hit today by the reinspections. Travelers in St. Louis, Austin and at New York's LaGuardia airport were also affected.

American officials said the situation remains fluid and they cannot yet rule out more cancellations today and Thursday.

"American will do whatever it takes to assist those affected by these flight changes and our employees are working hard to ensure that we remain their choice for air travel," said Gerard Arpey, chairman and CEO of American Airlines. "This includes compensating those inconvenienced customers who stayed overnight in a location away from their final destination."

The airline is again reinspecting wire bundles on its MD-80 aircraft, which caused the carrier trouble in late March. At that time, the airline explained that it is required to secure wiring at every inch, and the aircraft were reinspected because they may have had the bundles secured every 1¼ or 1½ inches.

The inspections are not a safety issue but rather a matter of precise technical compliance, according to the airline.

American Airlines operates 300 MD-80 airplanes, all of which were grounded Tuesday evening. About 30 of those planes were back in service as of 7 a.m. today. More are expected to be returned to service throughout the day.

Today's news comes as lawmakers on Capitol Hill prepare to hear horror stories this afternoon about passengers stuck for hours in airports and on the tarmac. A House panel will examine aviation delays and consumer complaints during its fourth hearing in a series focused on airline consumer protection.

Toni Braxton hospital scare

Sad news about one of my favorite artists. I don't go to shows in Vegas. Along with Prince, Toni's would be a show I would go and see. But it looks like she is going to make it. From Huliq:

A spokesperson for singer Toni Braxton announced she has been hospitalized in Las Vegas. TMZ.com reports that Toni is suffering from pericarditis - an inflammation of the sac surrounding the heart. According to TMZ, Braxton may have contracted the illness when she gave birth to her second son.

AOL's Music News reports that "Toni Braxton canceled her Las Vegas show after being hospitalized overnight with chest pains, hotel officials said. The 40-year-old Grammy winner spent Monday night at a Las Vegas hospital and was expected to be released after precautionary tests, Flamingo Las Vegas hotel-casino and Harrah's Entertainment Inc. spokeswoman Deanna Pettit said."

The cause of Toni Braxton's chest pain is not known.

Despite some reports Braxton was not taken to hospital after performance, since there was not revealed schedule for Monday.

According To E! Online "While there hasn't been any further details released on her present ailment, Braxton has previously admitted suffering from a condition called pericarditis, an inflammation of the lining of the heart, which she was diagnosed with four years ago."