San Fran and Vegas

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Goat Boy
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San Fran and Vegas

Postby Goat Boy » 25 May 2015, 13:19

Unless I have some serious cash windfall shortly the big holiday to America this year will be postponed until next spring (at the earliest) but I’m still doing research now to try and pull together an estimated budget so if you have any advice on places to stay, things to do, restaurants etc in San Francisco and Vegas then please feel free to share.

Thanks!
Griff wrote:The notion that Jeremy Corbyn, a lifelong vocal proponent of antisemitism, would stand in front of an antisemitic mural and commend it is utterly preposterous.


Copehead wrote:a right wing cretin like Berger....bleating about racism

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Re: San Fran and Vegas

Postby Diamond Dog » 25 May 2015, 13:51

Been to Las Vegas 14 times - I can give you a few tips!

Pm will be sent.
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Re: San Fran and Vegas

Postby Tomahawk Kid » 25 May 2015, 21:47

The wife and I went from San Francisco to Las Vegas a couple of years ago via Carmel, LA, Santa Barbara, San Diego to name a few. Fantastic trip.

Rasputins Records in SF was good, and I spent far too much money in there. There's also a rather good record store at the top end of the strip in Vegas near the Stratosphere Hotel but the name escapes me. My wife however would probably recommend The Cheesecake Factory in SF!

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Re: San Fran and Vegas

Postby Quaco » 26 May 2015, 13:58

What is the appeal of Las Vegas? I sincerely want to understand what experience you want to have there.
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Goat Boy
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Re: San Fran and Vegas

Postby Goat Boy » 26 May 2015, 14:25

Well I’ve been once before – briefly and on my own – but the girlfriend hasn’t been so it’s more her who wants to visit as I could probably live without it to be honest but I also think it would be fun to revisit with her, for shits and giggles really. I would just like to go for a couple of days, get wasted, eat lobster, gamble a little, stare at the freakshow and then leave. It just strikes me as a great place to go all hedonistic for a few days plus it’s kitsch and alien. It’s got novelty value.
Griff wrote:The notion that Jeremy Corbyn, a lifelong vocal proponent of antisemitism, would stand in front of an antisemitic mural and commend it is utterly preposterous.


Copehead wrote:a right wing cretin like Berger....bleating about racism

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Re: San Fran and Vegas

Postby Quaco » 26 May 2015, 14:59

I can understand that. It might be like me wanting to do Oktoberfest. When I told some German friends that, they were mortified, it being just the most base of their culture, whereas to me I could get into that. (We didn't go after all anyway.) As an American, especially a cheap one, I find Vegas mostly painful. I would never spend enough to make it fun, so it just seems dirty, capitalistic and gross. And I'm not a fan of tourists' knees and toes!

By the way, if you're into it, there is the Pinball Museum there (off the strip a couple miles, in affordable real estate territory) which is basically a huge room with 100 working pinball machines in it. They cover all eras, and include some of historical interest, as well as the usual big ones you might expect. You play them just like you used to: 25 cents each unless it's one of the newer ones that costs 50 or 75. It's made Vegas livable for me the couple times I've had an opportunity to go.
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Re: San Fran and Vegas

Postby jude » 26 May 2015, 19:55

See if i can get around the spam filter this time...

We had a Vegas thread on here a few years ago, not long before i was out there. I found it very helpful, as were the links Pete provided to another forum.

viewtopic.php?f=50&t=112898

Where to stay? I'd probably go back to Caesar's, or somewhere close by. Certainly that area of the strip.

As for where to go, i've got fond memories of pretty much everywhere we went. Standouts would be... 'The Pub' in the Monte Carlo, which has a simply phenomenal range of beers. We enjoyed a good few hours in Ellis Island Casino, which is off the strip and less glitzy than most, but has very good and affordable food and drink. Make sure you check out Fremont Street and the older casinos in the downtown area - a favourite of ours was Las Vegas Club.

My two visits to San Francisco were either too long ago (i think i was ~16) first time, or too brief (there for less than a day) more recently for me to give any real insight. Certainly spend time around Fisherman's Wharf, and i very much enjoyed the visit to Alcatraz. I wouldn't recommend our hotel, but the location was good (a couple of blocks from Union Square). The previous time we stayed very near the TransAm Pyramid, on the edge of Chinatown, which was also a pretty good venue.

Will come back with more if inspiration strikes. And if i don't get kicked out by the spam filter again.
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Re: San Fran and Vegas

Postby Diamond Dog » 28 May 2015, 13:08

Without blowing my own trumpet, this really is an exceptional post..... there really isn't much else you need to know or that that wouldn't trigger you to ask....

http://www.thedibb.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=249670

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Re: San Fran and Vegas

Postby Limpin' Jez McKenzie » 28 May 2015, 19:22

Quacoan wrote:I can understand that. It might be like me wanting to do Oktoberfest. When I told some German friends that, they were mortified, it being just the most base of their culture, whereas to me I could get into that. (We didn't go after all anyway.) As an American, especially a cheap one, I find Vegas mostly painful. I would never spend enough to make it fun, so it just seems dirty, capitalistic and gross. And I'm not a fan of tourists' knees and toes!
.


Take a trip to Pigeon Forge.
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Re: San Fran and Vegas

Postby dgs » 26 Jul 2015, 00:05

- double post
Last edited by dgs on 26 Jul 2015, 00:07, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: San Fran and Vegas

Postby dgs » 26 Jul 2015, 00:06

Goat Boy wrote:Unless I have some serious cash windfall shortly the big holiday to America this year will be postponed until next spring (at the earliest) but I’m still doing research now to try and pull together an estimated budget so if you have any advice on places to stay, things to do, restaurants etc in San Francisco and Vegas then please feel free to share.

Thanks!


Assuming you are going to drive dougie,

Starting in SF, drive to Vegas via, Yosemite, onto Death Valley and finish in Vegas.

I did a road trip with amy son and my dad along this route in 7 days. Best trip ever, mustang, remember sun screen though, we burn massively without a roof.

SF - stay in or around union square, From here ride the trolleys, get down to the ferry terminal and pier 39. Eat steaks at johns grill, drink copious amounts of craft beers at golden gate tap room whilst playing shuffle board and at jacks down at Fishermans wharf. See the painted ladies, visit the record shop in haight, drive down lombard, ride bikes across the golden gate bridge to Marin county (sausolito) and get the ferry back. Alcatraz is a must do but book ahead. SF is a great town, so much to do and see inc, MOMA.

Yosemite - Book well in advance and stay in the ahwahnee hotel eating in the dining room. The setting of the hotel is sublime and you can access all parts of the park from here. It is an awesome spectacle, we rode bikes in the am and rafted in the pm. the half dome, el cap and the rest are beyond comprehension. Spend a full day here to drink it all in.

Take the high road from the park across the Sierra to mono lake. If you have time stop in mono lake and the journey a wee bit north to bodie is well worth it before heading south to death valley. This is a long day if you do it in a oner and if you could split it, I'd recommend stopping over at Mammoth.

Death Valley - best place I have ever been. Can be ultra hot but its a dry heat. In my opinion, stay at Stovepipe wells not, Furnace creek. pool is open til midnight, the dunes are on your doorstep and its a great place to explore from, so much to see and take in. Stay two nights to see it all. Then onto ..

Vegas - you have been, it's alright best bit is the shows, otherwise I'd head east and do the hoover dam, and a day on the lake hiring a boat. If you can get further east, take in the grand canyon, lake powell (a boat trip to the rainbow arch is an absolute must) and monument valley flying out of phoenix afterwards.

In vegas I'd recommend the venetian or the wynn, top of the strip but also far enough out of the carnage.

Shows in vegas - love and the blue man group. Also the redneck bar at treasure island is something to behold!

Some of the hotels are higher end bit for location and amenities they are well worth it.
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Re: San Fran and Vegas

Postby Goat Boy » 28 Oct 2015, 21:54

I'm looking for accommodation for May next year and I'm quite startled by the prices. It's more expensive than New York - what the hell is goin on?

Does anybody have any recommendations for hotels/ hostels? We would be looking at around 40 - 50 per night max per person, less if possible.

Cheers
Griff wrote:The notion that Jeremy Corbyn, a lifelong vocal proponent of antisemitism, would stand in front of an antisemitic mural and commend it is utterly preposterous.


Copehead wrote:a right wing cretin like Berger....bleating about racism

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Re: San Fran and Vegas

Postby Diamond Dog » 29 Oct 2015, 11:37

What dates are you looking at precisely? There's Cinqu De Mayo on the 5th which is huge and then Memorial weekend at the end of the month too. May is generaly recognised as the 'best' month weather wise - along with september- so prices can be high anyway....
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Re: San Fran and Vegas

Postby Goat Boy » 29 Oct 2015, 11:53

It's the week beginning the 16th May for 4 days.

Maybe the weather just explains it then. I just assumed it would be a bit cheaper, that's all.
Griff wrote:The notion that Jeremy Corbyn, a lifelong vocal proponent of antisemitism, would stand in front of an antisemitic mural and commend it is utterly preposterous.


Copehead wrote:a right wing cretin like Berger....bleating about racism

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Re: San Fran and Vegas

Postby Diamond Dog » 30 Oct 2015, 12:27

It is quite an expensive time to visit (it's one of only three months i've not been there, probably for that reason).

Have you thought about opaque sites like Hotwire & Priceline? You can sometimes get some great deals at expensive times.
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Re: San Fran and Vegas

Postby sloopjohnc » 05 Nov 2015, 17:15

Diamond Dog wrote:It is quite an expensive time to visit (it's one of only three months i've not been there, probably for that reason).

Have you thought about opaque sites like Hotwire & Priceline? You can sometimes get some great deals at expensive times.


I'd do AirBNB for San Francisco. Everything dgs wrote is pretty right on. You have to reserve for Yosemite many nights in advance.

You don't necessarily have to stay in Union Square as a tourist. San Francisco has a great bus and street car system where you can get almost anywhere from anywhere. And there are a ton of Uber and Lyft drivers besides taxis. Staying in Union Square is like Times Square or any of the large squares in London, like Oxford Square.

Here's a good hood guide for SF: http://www.thebolditalic.com/map/?selectedHood=onlyInSf

SF is a really concentrated city for an American city - stay in a funky neighborhood you like and you can get anywhere. For a tourist, I'd recommend the Marina district near Union St. Minnie usually stays right on Lombard, a couple blocks away and there are lots of tourist hotels there. Too noisy for me. I'd move in a couple blocks. As a native San Franciscan, I'd recommend a few essential tourist things. Walk across the Golden Gate, go to Alcatraz, go to Ocean Beach and see the Pacific. Anything else is personal - I'd try and catch a baseball game at AT&T just to see what it's like, but that's me. We can take a road trip anywhere if you'd like - a day in Napa or Sonoma. Just let me know.

And I'd recommend going to Berkeley for a day and hang on Telegraph Ave. Great record stores, pubs, food and shopping.
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Re: San Fran and Vegas

Postby sloopjohnc » 05 Nov 2015, 23:54

dgs wrote:In vegas I'd recommend the venetian or the wynn.


At the other end is Mandalay Bay and New York, New York which are nice too.

I love the Venetian. I've only been through the Wynn, but it's super nice. I went to the bathroom there and the urinals were so shiny I was kinda scared to use them.
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Re: San Fran and Vegas

Postby naughty boy » 06 Nov 2015, 16:57

sloopjohnc wrote:Staying in Union Square is like Times Square or any of the large squares in London, like Oxford Square.


Is that where they boil all those vegetables? ;)
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Re: San Fran and Vegas

Postby sloopjohnc » 06 Nov 2015, 22:35

the real bee wrote:
sloopjohnc wrote:Staying in Union Square is like Times Square or any of the large squares in London, like Oxford Square.


Is that where they boil all those vegetables? ;)


I think you're thinking of Cleveland or Cincinnati.
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Re: San Fran and Vegas

Postby naughty boy » 06 Nov 2015, 22:36

:)
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