pre-Love Restaurant for group

We have decided that we will see Love as part of my parents 50th anniversary celebration. We were going to eat at Rosemary%26#39;s the same night, but since we need to hit the early show, we%26#39;ll save Rosemary%26#39;s for another night when we don%26#39;t have to rush.

Now we need a restaurant in, or close to, the Mirage that could accomodate our large group of up to 15 people. We are looking for something mid-range in price, appropriate for an early dinner, and walking distance from the Love venue.

pre-Love Restaurant for group

Why don%26#39;t you have a late lunch or a snack and eat after the show? There are a number of places next door at Caesar%26#39;s and you could have a leisurely meal. If you are going to the 7:30 show of LOVE, you will really need to eat by 5:00 or 5:30 with that many people.

Another idea and I don%26#39;t know how large the limo is but you could go to Casa DiAmore and have their limo pick you up.

pre-Love Restaurant for group

Does anyone know what time we would get out of Love? I thought of dinner after the show, but we have seniors in our group who are used to earlier bed times (even in Vegas!).

I usually do not have a special dinner before shows - rather we eat quick and casual and save special restaurants for other nights. with the time zone changes for us we don%26#39;t want eat big meals after shows. so cheap, like grand lux at The V suits us fine.

I would suggest dining at either your property OR at The Mirage - no wasted time going to yet another location. So pick the property that has the best casual dining you like. CPK can be quick - it is so ordinary, as I%26#39;m guessing you know if from CA.

Why not ask your seniors (TY!) what they prefer - show them the choices on the websites if they aren%26#39;t familiar with them - surely they%26#39;ll tell you what they like

I think your right....no nice dinner on show night. We%26#39;ll pick something casual near the Mirage. CPK would be okay, but we have one down the street.

I am trying to plan all of this as a surprise for my parents, so I won%26#39;t ask their opinion...but I do know what they like!

I meant ';you%26#39;re'; right .....sorry.

Caribe Cafe in the Mirage is open 24 hrs. and is a good place to grab a bite pre or post show. We are the types who like to get a late bite. Caribe has a good variety and is a comfortable setting. Love is a very exciting and up-beat show, so you might be reved up for a little snack.

aliso.....you asked what time you%26#39;d get out of Love. The show is about 90 minutes in length....but I have to warn you that it can take a good 10 minutes or more to exit the theater following the show!!! For whatever reason, this is the one theater in Vegas where everyone seem to get crammed and stuck while exiting!!! If anyone in your group is claustrophobic or doesn%26#39;t like being in a crowd, I%26#39;d suggest hanging back a few minutes before you exit the theater!

It is an amazing, brilliant show....I';ve seen it twice now and absolutely loved it!! A great idea to help your parents celebrate their special day! =)

Harrah%26#39;s has the Range Steakhouse with a view of the strip. The steaks are very good as well as their seafood. They some other items also available their and it is across the street from the Mirage. You can check out their menu on the website of Harrahs which is www.harrahs.com

Horse & Rider Magazine

Does anyone know where I can buy Horse %26amp; Rider Magazine, either Downtown or on the Strip?

I want to buy the November issue.

I will be in Las Vegas next week and would rather buy it there than here in Vancouver because I don%26#39;t feel like paying the extra $2 we are charged here in Canada.

Thanks!

Horse %26amp; Rider Magazine

Contact these tack stores (several in LV) and see if they have it.

www.tackshops.us/nevada.htm

Horse %26amp; Rider Magazine

you gotta laugh

Look at the airport on your way home. The newsstand near the Terminal D gates has an extensive selection of magazines. I know they carry Western Horseman - not sure about Horse and Rider, though.

Probably the bookstore Fashion Show mall will have one, too. Barnes and Noble carries that title, along with about 10 other equestrian themed titles, but I don%26#39;t think there is one within an easy distance of the strip or downtown.

Thanks for the responses. Doesn%26#39;t look like a sure thing although the Tack Directory is pretty cool!

remedy blackheads

Prescription medicine carry-ons

I have my usual vitamins and a couple of prescriptions that I plan to take with me on my trip. One of them is a pain medicine and I no longer have coverage by the doctor who prescribed them. Do I need to get the original prescription, or will they be fine as long as I keep them in the original container? My pharmacist also allowed me to have the non-generic brand as they were out of generics. Do I need to bring any sort of note on my trip?

Prescription medicine carry-ons

www.tsa.gov

Prescription medicine carry-ons

Thank you. :)

Besides the offical website posted by previous poster, here%26#39;s the practical tips.

Keep your prescription medicine in original container with the pharmacy label on it, you will be fine. TSA people will not care or bother to check with your doctor whether you still have coverage with him. Same with Brand or generic, they are not pharmacists, probably wont be knowledgeable enough to discern the difference, so a note is not necessary. The pharmacy label on your bottle is sufficient.

OTC (over the counter) medications such as vitamins and such, again if in original containers will lessen the chance of TSA people wondering what they are (if taken out of container %26amp; put in one of those weekly pill boxes) since then the pills may not be easily identifiable. They may question you especially if a large amount is carried (both non-Rx and prescription). That falls under transportation of perhaps illegal drugs rather than security issue.

Injectables (insulin, hormones etc) which involved needles if you dont have prescription labels ask the pharmacist to give you a copy of the original prescriptions to carry with you.

Overall, I think TSA have done these screenings for a few years now and they understand many travelers do carry medicine with them on board (rather than checking them in); they are pretty fair about it unless something is totally out of the ordinary.

i just took a whole bag of pills ..vitamins , meds etc in origanal container no prob..carried it right on do not take the chance of losing your meds,that could ruin your trip.....

yes, the TSA website says it all.

There is NO need to be concerned with TSA and meds if they are in pill form. TSA is concerned with the ';liquids, aerosols, gels, etc'; products. no pharmacists, no notes, just carry-on what you need. If you do have a medicine in one of the monitored forms just be sure to mention it to the TSA staff when you get to the scanner area - they do NOT counbt towrds your 3-1-1 limits.

Agree with others...also Hefty brand makes quart-size, zip lock bags to use for carry-on items. I am sure there are other companies who also sell them, but it caught my eye since they were in the section of our store where we can purchase items in small ounce quantities as required by TSA. I think they came in a pink box and had a picture of an airplane on the box.

just put ;em in your pocket or in your carryon. They don%26#39;t bother to check. pills

BTW the suggestion earlier is applicable not only in U.S. but most other countries as well. Remember TSA is not the world standard, other countries may well have a slightly different rules on how they viewed medicines. Having the prescriptions labels on minimized unnecessary questions.

And this is info gleaned from dealing with many travelers who had travelled many different countries.

renting vespas-las vegas

has anyone done this? there was a brief mention in our local paper and it sounded fun

renting vespas-las vegas

Las Vegas Blvd is the last place I%26#39;d want to be riding a moped.

renting vespas-las vegas

We did it! I had a ball. We went as far as the Red Rock Canyon sign. Then we went all throughout the neighborhoods, the houses are so different from where we come from. Then we went (I think ) it was Industrial Road over towards the Silverton, and it was a hot windy day and we got outta there quick because when you would pass a big semi or work truck, it would kick up rocks etc. from the desert floor. I loved zipping all over the place, we went in and out of so many casino%26#39;s that day. It IS expensive though, I know the one time we took them for 24 hours, so from 12 noon till noon the next day, and I think we paid over 300.00 after insurance etc. We comforted ourselves, and convinced ourselves that it was probably cheaper getting out of the casino%26#39;s and driving those things around. Anyway it is a nice memory for me, they took our picture and the background is just beautiful. I would love to do it again, just not in July, sitting on a bike on paved road and pulling up next to a bus with all the exhaust etc. it was the July that it was already about 110 degrees. If you have extra money,, I say do it!! Course you are writing from beautiful CA and already get to enjoy beautiful scenery daily!!

Do you have to use a quilt in the cot bed

Strip Helicopter ride

We want to dfo the strip helicopter ride at XMas we dont want to be oicked up we want to drive to the airport and want to fly from the Heliport at McCarran not at Boulder. Does anyone have the name of the compnay that operates out of there ?

Cheers

Strip Helicopter ride

Heli USA.

I think there%26#39;s one other as well but I don%26#39;t know their name.

Strip Helicopter ride

We used Heli USA when we did on 8/11/07. It was over very quickly but was a good view of the strip.

THanks very much

Batali's Restaurants at the Venetian.

Hi, I was wondering if any of you have eaten at either of Mario Batali%26#39;s restaurants. If so, any thoughts (good or bad)? Thanks!

Batali's Restaurants at the Venetian.

I at at the Enoteca and it was terrific.

Batali's Restaurants at the Venetian.

Obviously, I meant ate.

I also ate at Enoteca and found it to be one of the best meals we had while in Vegas - I would highly recommend this spot! For some reason it has gotten slammed in the reviews, however, I question how honest many of them are.

If you like Italian Italian food (as opposed to American Italian) - this is an excellent choice. Great menu of house cured meats, cheeses, veggies/olives, as well as fantastic pizza (the clam pizza has clams in the shell on it!), and we loved the pasta we got.

Enoteca was really good- a little noisy due to it%26#39;s location but I was expecting that. The cheese is wonderfu; and they have a nice wine list. The prices are far better than one would expect for a strip restaurant.

Another thumbs up for Enoteca. I was very pleased with the quality of the food and service there. As ChiTownTourist said, this is real Italian fare, not the drenched-in-marinara Italian-American food most Americans are used to. Very rich and flavorful.

I also agree it can be loud depending on what is going on in St. Mark%26#39;s Square.

That%26#39;s good news. I am actually Italian-American and I loved all of the food I ate in Italy (I have a soft spot for the Italian-American stuff, too!). I can%26#39;t wait to go back to Vegas to try out Batali%26#39;s restaurants. Thanks for the opinions!

Echo, thanks for posting this question. I am go glad Mario has restaurants in Vegas. At least he doesn%26#39;t have a pompos personality like another one that will remain un-named.

Anyway, I appreciate the comments from you other posters too...

Stratton, JackandSally, Chitown and Damama...thanks guys!

Day trips away from vegas

Hey, I am going to be in Vegas for a few days in December and I am thinking about renting a car for a day and doing a sightseeing daytrip somewhere outside the city.

Any ideas or advice?

Thanks.

Day trips away from vegas

Let%26#39;s see here;

Laughlin

Lake Havasu

Hoover Dam

Mesquite

Mt. Charleston

Red Rock

Valley of Fire

Those ideas will get you started.

Day trips away from vegas

Going to the Valley of Fire in a rented convertible would be fun.

Definitely go to Hoover Dam/Lake Mead/Valley of Fire. VOF has sandstone formations that are simply stunning. They will take your breath away. You can just drive from formation to formation but to really apprecaite its beauty you should hike on some of the trails- some of them are short. Just bring plenty of water and wear closed shoes. You can bring food and eat in its picnic area. To me this is a ';must see'; day trip out of Vegas.

http://parks.nv.gov/vf.htm

Red Rock Canyon is another nice place but not nearly as great as VOF. It has a 13 mile loop you can drive on with pull off points so you can get out of the car. It also has hiking trails. It is a favorite with rock climbers. But after VOF- RRC will be a disappointment. I would defnitely suggest VOF first.

Mt. Charleston is nice but it is usually about 20/30 degrees colder than Vegas. It is great in the summer but you taking a risk of running into a snowstorm in the winter. You might even need chains of 4 wheel drive to get all the to the top.In fact-there is a skiing and snowboarding resort up there in the winter. I don%26#39;t know about you but I don%26#39;t go to Vegas to see snow- more like to get away from snow- especially after yesterday%26#39;s snow in Jersey!

';Let%26#39;s see here;

Laughlin - Nothing but casinos and a small outlet mall, save your time, do that isn Vegas.

Lake Havasu - Only worth seeing during Spring Break

Hoover Dam - Well worth the time, best seen at night. Drive on into AZ about 20 miles and then down the dirt road to Willow Beach and you can dip your toes into the Colorado River.

Mesquite - Same as Laughlin without the outlet mall. Heaven if you%26#39;re a golfer.

Mt. Charleston - Very nice after a snowfall.

Red Rock - Lots of red rock formations, on a good day you%26#39;ll see wild horses.

Valley of Fire - Better than Red Rock.

Those ideas will get you started.';

Zion Nat%26#39;l Park in Southern Utah. Well worth the 3 hour drive from Las Vegas. Park in Sprindale and take the tram into the park.

Take a drive around Lake Mead%26#39;s shore, try to figure out what creatures are being kept off the road by the 1 foot tall fence that borders the road.

You can also do Death Valley if you want to do a full day.

I agree with VOF we went there last month and the formations are spectacular.

We stopped off for a picnic in one for the areas and was soon greeted by lots of friends. See the picture below

…photobucket.com/albums/…LasVegas2007139.jpg

I have done all of those trips. My first choice would be Valley of Fire and Hoover Dam. They can be done on the same trip. Second choice would be Death Valley. Don%26#39;t try to do the Grand Canyon in one day, particularly in December when the hours of sunlight are the shortest.

Las Vegas December 08 with two girls 9 and 11

I%26#39;m in Perth Western Australia and travelling to the US the end of next year and will be in Vegas with the kids in early December 2008.

Where would people recommend to stay that would be fun for the klids (I%26#39;m not that interested in gambling but would like to stay on the strip if possible).

Thanks in advance.

Las Vegas December 08 with two girls 9 and 11

Hi Nickoff - many people on this forum will possibly give you a hard time about taking kids to Vegas - even though you mention you%26#39;re not interested in gambling. I suggest doing a search for kids in this forum. Many of the results will suggest Circus Circus, however it is not rated very highly in the reviews or in the opinion of many that may reply. It does have quite a large amusement park built in.

Another option, so I%26#39;ve read, is to stay slightly off stip, in more of a unit type accom which would have not casinos for the kids to be exposed to - unlike the casinos in Australia, in most hotels in LV you need to walk through a smoky casino floor to get to the rooms.

Las Vegas December 08 with two girls 9 and 11

Just to clarify, the reason why everyone jumps on people who take kids to Vegas is not the fact that the parents are gambling.

While that adds to the issue, the real issue is exposing children to the entire Las Vegas environment, e.g. other people who are gambling, smoking, sexing it up, and drinking.

I take my kids to Vegas every year and they love it (6 %26amp; 9).

Dec is cold so with pool not important my kids love Excalibur for its games( like sideshow alley at the Perth Royal Show) downstairs and Circus Circus for its games and adventure dome.

Excalibur a better location as its closer to a number of other hotels with things to see with the kids.

Ledj

QUESTION%26gt;%26gt;%26gt;%26gt;%26gt; Why are you comming to Vwgas with 2 kids, if, you are not a gambler?????

Time better spent at Disney world, San Diego zoo,

I am among those who feel that Vegas is a less than ideal destination for children and I would encourage you to reconsider your itinerary in that regard. If you decide to keep Vegas, I would recommend an off-strip hotel such as Orleans which is a little more oriented towards families.

Forget the naysayers, my bet is the Excalibur-Tower II-think this is the one with the pool entrance, you go down the elevator to bottom and you are at the pool. It is heated in the winter so its a free attraction. Also there is Mt. Charleston-need a cr--its 25 miles or so oout north-it has pines, free sledding-take some card board or a saucer/trash can lid maybe. At any rate its a lot of free fun-we always meet alot of locals and tourist families-makes a great 1/2 day away from the strip. Hit a magic show-Lance Burton or MacKing-both are family friendly.Recomend a rent car becasue you can skip alot of the local ';color';like tha panhandlers/porn guys etc. You just valet everywhere and tip them $1-$2 when you pick up the car. There is the Adventuredome at Circus Circus it has rides in a climate controlled area, there are many more things to do porbably more than you%26#39;ll have the time and energy to do, have fun..

There are far better places in the USA fo do whatever you plan to do with your kids in Vegas - shop, rides, animal attractions, parks.

Lmao Patron.

Thanks for all the advise.

Going to Vegas is only part of a longer US visit starting in Hawaii, LA (Disney, Universal etc) through Vegas (Grand Canyon possibly) on our way to spending a white Xmas 2009 with friends in Wisconsin (we don%26#39;t get snow in Western Australia). We also hope to get to New York in the new year and return to Oz via San Fransico.

It was over 15 years ago the last time I was in Vegas and I just thought that it would be great experience to show the bright lights to the kids. As some have pointed, I guess we will be playing dodge with some of the seedier aspects of Sin City but at the same time there must be some fantastic things to see and do for kids.

I%26#39;ll check out Excalliber and Circus Circus and, as suggested, some off strip accomodation. Once again, thanks for all the advice.

Excalibur, Luxor, NYNY or MGM would all be good choices if you are bringing children. I took my kids (ages 8, 11 %26amp; 16) to Las Vegas last Spring and they had a terrific time. See the Forum Shoppes at Caesars, the Stratosphere tower, Manhattan Express Roller Coaster, MGM Lion Habitat, Secret Garden of Seigfried and Roy, the Venetian, Red Rock Canyon, etc.

Fun places to eat with kids include Rainforest Cafe in MGM, Margaritaville at the Flamingo, Cheesecake Factory in the Forum Shoppes, the Brew Pub at Monte Carlo, and Fatburger or In%26amp;Out, to name a few.

Kids can appreciate places that don%26#39;t include a clown, video games or a ball pit. Just make sure you keep it focused on the kids. People who try to have an ';adult'; vacation with the kids in tow wind up making themselves and their kids miserable.

remedy blackheads

';O'; questions

Has anyone recently done the ';O'; Show and Pre-Theatre Dinner Package? If so, you thoughts please. My friend and I are considering the dinner package with Fix. Also, does anyone know how far out they sell tickets - is it always 3 months, or will they be releasing a block of dates soon?

';O'; questions

15m......I just saw O this past May....great show! I didn%26#39;t do the dinner package thing, but Fix seems to get good reveiws on here.

Tickets are usually 3 months out....for O I%26#39;d say to sit either in the Loggia (great seats and it%26#39;s like your own little row...this is where we sat)...or anywhere in the 200 section would be good.

Even if you decide to skip the dinner part, the show itself is fantastic!!

';O'; questions

15m

Planning your next trip? I am hoping to see Elton John when we go out in March. Just waiting for a drop in air fare. Have a Happy Thanksgiving!

Deb

15m just my opinion but I saw O a few years ago and hated it. The music drove me crazy. I couldn%26#39;t wait to get out of there. Most people love it.

Saw O in Oct and I who bitched for 3 months about the price we paid ($330) for 2 people now understand how they charge that much per person. Fabulous. Wow. Don%26#39;t know how to express this.

Sher

Thanks everyone. I%26#39;ve never been to a Cirque show, husband won%26#39;t go, so my friend and I are planning ahead. She%26#39;s been to Mystere. I%26#39;ll keep watching for tickets but I guess I%26#39;ll have to wait at least a month.

';O'; is wonderful IMHO. We have seen it twice. Once from the ';wet seats'; and once from mid-theater. I loved both views but they were very different. Mid-theater gave you a more complete view of all the action.

Dining at Fix and ';O'; sounds like a winner to me!

xp

international driving license? how to?

how can I drive in USA if i only own a driving license from my own country? Do i have to convert to International license?

international driving license? how to?

Hi

For people visiting from the UK all we need is our driving licence, not an international. I think your licence must be written in english.

Clive

international driving license? how to?

In UK the AA now recommend taking an International Drivers Permit.

This is not a replacement but a one year add on from selected main post offices or AA.

Big PITA

Got one last year but never asked for it

How good or Bad is Circus Circus TWR Room?

I found a good package to Vegas staying on the strip at Circus Circus.

My main concerns are cleanliness and ease of transportation.

How good is Circus Circus for a tower room?

How good or Bad is Circus Circus TWR Room?

I have never stayed at circus circus but did go there i saw alot of kids in the casino area and the casino had a very stale smell and the casino is not on the main strip

How good or Bad is Circus Circus TWR Room?

My suggestion is that if all you can afford is Circus Circus, wait until you can afford better. The carfare to the strip will eat up any savings.

%26lt;shut up...Spike%26gt;

I cant comment on the room, but when I was there in Sept, i found the Casino and Adventuredome to be pretty depressing. The place just isnt kept terribly well, the people dont seem to thrilled to be working there, and the adventure dome was really shoddy (that goes for the whole place, really). It just isnt ';nice.';

But, if all you plan on doing there is sleeping, then i doubt youll have many complaints. Just keep in mind it really isnt close to anything and itll take time and money to get to the best of the strip.

I%26#39;m confused I guess- how is the Circus Circus Casino not on the Strip- or am I misreading what was said? maybe too much wine with lunch today- a celebratory lunch I might add- just found out we are cruising the Greek Isles in May!!

At any rate, I%26#39;ve never stayed in Circus Circus, but when I did go in the casino once or twice ( before deciding not to anymore) I think I entered from Las Vegas Blvd.. didn%26#39;t I ?

I can think of lots of reasons not to stay there- but the location is not all that bad IMHO- really not so far from the much touted Wynn ( geographically speaking - not in any other way of course...)

What would you choose then....

The Sahara or the Riviera instead?

Neither of those .

Try Bally%26#39;s , Bills ,Luxor ~ all have better locale and safer.

You can stay better places for less (or around the same) dollars than CC. Luxor, Bill%26#39;s, Bally%26#39;s, Flamingo all come to mind.

Try to book elsewhere if possible.

This doesn%26#39;t mean you won%26#39;t have a great trip if you stay at CC. I just think you don%26#39;t get very much for your money there.

I am on a tight bugdet and trying to do the entire trip (airfare and hotel) for under $300 bucks from SFO or OAK if possible.

stayed at cc. i had no complaints about the rooms.in-room safes,nice size bathroom. price was nice. but there are a lot of kids,kids,kids,and parents that are not controlling their kids. it is on the strip. have fun--you won%26#39;t be in the room very much,anyways.

Advice on how to reclaim taxes paid

We were in a casino in New Mexico last week and I hit a little jackpot for $1,485. They took over $500 taxes from me right there at the casino and gave me a receipt for the payment. How do Canadians reclaim the tax that is paid in the US? I have heard of a couple of ways, but am looking for the simplest and easiest method. I found a form on the IRS website for an ITIN which I am applying for. I suppose this question has been asked in the past but as you can see, I am a new poster.

Any help would be appreciated.

Advice on how to reclaim taxes paid

www.irs.gov

as you have already found the website - call or e-mail the IRS if you need more help. it is not necessary to pay a third party a % to do thgis for you - many companies offer this service - it is easy and you save the fee these companies charge

if there is a US Embassy near you they could also offer help - although a phone will get you clear and concise instructions.

Advice on how to reclaim taxes paid

Found this info. Form is on www.irs.gov site.

Canadian Tax Treaty

Gambling winnings of Canadian residents are subject to NRA withholding at 30% on the gross proceeds from gambling won in the United States. However, Article XXII of the Canada - U.S. Income tax treaty entitles residents of Canada who are taxable by the United States on gains from wagering transactions to deduct U.S. source losses from U.S. source wagering transactions. Canadian residents should file Form 1040NR to obtain a refund of U.S. taxes withheld from the gambling winnings, if applicable.

I am from Toronto. When I won my ';Jackpot'; in Vegas they deducted the $ and gave me the W5 (?) slip for tax purposes. I used the firm ';Refund management';

www.refundmanagement.com

1 888 272 5559

I too felt threatened by all the IRS forms. I did pay a small fee (can%26#39;t remember how much) But, if they wouldn%26#39;t have helped me I would not have even attempted it on my own. Somethings better than nothing.

I would be careful dealing with companies that promise to get your withholdings back. I have seen a couple of them and both just fabricated your losses in order to get the winnings back. In once case they didn%26#39;t even bother to ask if money was lost that would offset the win.

I can%26#39;t say anything about this specific company but I would just be sure to not allow anything to be filed on my behalf that I knew wasn%26#39;t correct.

The best thing you can do, especially as a slot player, is get the casino to give you a win/loss report which is almost always possible if you were playing on a player%26#39;s card. Provided you actually did lose more money than you won in the year you%26#39;ll get the refund no problem.

I always keep a log of my gambling when in Vegas, I%26#39;ve never won anything that would have been subject to withholdings so I%26#39;ve never had to find out if that would satisfy the IRS. Basically if they ask for something to substantiate your losses and you can%26#39;t come up with something you won%26#39;t get the money.

What%26#39;s your risk of having them ask for proof? Probably not very likely as I doubt the IRS is going to scrutinize $500 but there is always the possibility that they will and you will be SOL. I would certainly not want to have a tax return with fabricated losses filed in my name in that case.

Semanj,

Sorry, I don%26#39;t understand, how did they fabricate the losses if you have to submit the (I think it W5?-T5? form) from the casino to actually put in the claim? I don%26#39;t think grannytosix is speaking of her wins/losses but the actually money that was deducted from her win, at that time.

The only way to get money deducted from your win back is to show that over the course of the year you actually lost more money gambling in the US than you won. So granny won $1,485 on that jackpot. The US still has the right to tax that income and will keep the $500 unless she can prove that she lost at least $1,485 somewhere else. That way her gambling income would be $0 or less and the US would have no income to tax. If they have no income to tax, they%26#39;ll refund the $500.

I%26#39;ve seen a couple of these gambling refund companies simply slap some made up number for your gambling losses on a tax refund and then request the refund. You need bona fide losses in order to legitimately claim the refund, however. For example, if the $1,485 win was the only time granny gambled in the US, she isn%26#39;t likely to see a penny of that $500 withheld.

Semanj550

Sorry, must have been a long day for me but, when you win over $1200 on a single jackpot the US government automatically deductes 30 % from you winnings (on the spot). This amount is fully refundable to us as Canadians (but, if we can%26#39;t fill out the forms you pay someone to do it ). we can get reimbursed.

Nope, not automatically fully refundable. See the following:

irs.gov/businesses/鈥?0.html

Namely the following:

';Gambling winnings of Canadian residents are subject to NRA withholding at 30% on the gross proceeds from gambling won in the United States. However, Article XXII of the Canada - U.S. Income tax treaty entitles residents of Canada who are taxable by the United States on gains from wagering transactions to deduct U.S. source losses from U.S. source wagering transactions. Canadian residents should file Form 1040NR to obtain a refund of U.S. taxes withheld from the gambling winnings, if applicable.';

granny - hopefully the above posts will convince you to CONTACT THE IRS as they are THE experts on all things to do with US taxes.

Do NOT listen to anyone but the IRS.

for clarification - you did not ';pay taxes'; you had money witheld - a huge difference. The IRS will help you.

lol...I just realized that that exact paragraph I quoted was already quoted previously in this thread.

GO Luxury or GO deluxe?

I am booking our comped rooms at Flamingo but reading about both rooms they sound the same....which is better? Thanks

GO Luxury or GO deluxe?

The one word that is in the description of Luxury as opposed to the Deluxe is the word: VIEW.....the GO LUXURY has a view.....highly worth it! I%26#39;m GO Luxury December 6 and 7th! CAN%26#39;T WAIT!

GO Luxury or GO deluxe?

Texas Teejay is totally correct.

Luxury is a strip view. That the kind of room I%26#39;ll have in Jan. 4-8.

Very nice room, very very comfy beds.

Oh ok I missed that somehow......thankyou very much! February come quick! :-)

WOW, luxury.

look out and see Caesars across the street.

Can You see clearly down the strip to MGM?

Can you see clearly up the strip to the Palazzo?

Are you in Vegas to see the buildings out a window or have a good time.

Ask for high floor room, FACING the East for the SUNRISE with a cup of fresh coffee.

Thats LUXURY.

I will be staying in Go Luxury in December. I stayed in a regular GO room last December and it was swanky. I DO like a good view, so looking forward to this next trip even more. Hope my 9pm arrival doesn%26#39;t create a problem.

Luxury it will be thanks everyone!

Teejay - will be anxiously awaiting your TR from Flamingo. We%26#39;ll be headed there Jan. 2-5. We have a comp deal through Total Rewards, getting the week-day nights free, then we%26#39;re paying for the Friday night. We%26#39;ll do that uncomfortable dance of seeing what, if any, voluntary upgrade we get ... and if we don%26#39;t get anything we%26#39;ll be prepared to pay some extra for an upgrade. Since we%26#39;re not Vegas virgins, I don%26#39;t know if the view means a whole lot to us - but then again, if it%26#39;s right on top and facing the Bellagio fountains and Caesars, that%26#39;s hard to beat. I guess it%26#39;s all in the eye of the beholder (or the eye of the beer-holder, depending on the time of day). Reviews are so mixed here about the standard Deluxe rooms and how filthy and out-dated they are, or how adequate and comfortable they are. I guess it depends on how high- or low-maintenance the guest is.

Always good to hear feedback of any kind.

Hey, Fletch! I%26#39;m wishing I were in Vegas RIGHT NOW! I%26#39;m getting so excited and 15 more sleeps just can%26#39;t come soon enough!! I%26#39;ll write a TR, of course!

I%26#39;ve never had a bad or dirty room at the Flamingo and have stayed in both Deluxe or GO rooms. If you find you room not to your liking for whatever reason you might want to ask the front desk for something different. They want their guest to have an enjoyable stay and develop ';casino loyalty'; . I hope you have the time of your life !!!!

How often do most people go to Vegas??

We like to go every five or six months..usually wait for comped rooms and just pay for air...

How often do most people go to Vegas??

meant to say..how often do you go to Vegas...just curious

How often do most people go to Vegas??

I go about the same as you - every 5-6 months. Lately once a year with friend(s) an the other with my husband. Don%26#39;t ';wait'; for comped room offers at Harrahs properties though. I look up some dates and they seem to come up ';comp'; without a specific offer.

We%26#39;ve been going once a year. We can%26#39;t take the time off work to go as often as every 5-6 months. Count yourselve lucky! As for comps....We don%26#39;t gamble enough, so we pay every time.

We go about once a year. I can%26#39;t wait till the day we can take off and just go.

After spending about 3 months in Vegas per year for 7 years-I no longer feel the need to go very often. After those 7 years I went 2 to 4 times a year for as long as 13 days per trip. Now I just go for 5/7 days once or twice a year and that is enough.

We started out at once a year and have been up to 2X for the last three yrs.

Usually twice a year but last year we went 3 and this year we are going for the first time in Dec. Too many Mexico trips!

Just by accident, it has been every 10 months for the last 4 trips. We are hoping to go back in Sept, which coincidently, will be in 10 months since we leave this Sunday!

Well, it started out to be twice a year, then 3 times, but next week%26#39;s trip will make the 4th in a year. Good thing I get 5 weeks vacation per year.

It used to be once a year when the kids were smaller. Now dh and I go three times..and I go with friends at least three times..cha cha cha

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Coupons and American Casino Guide

I just got the 2008 guide. I am not pleased that the coupons are not perforated from each other and from the book. What a pain!! I guess I am getting out the scissors before my trip to LV.

Coupons and American Casino Guide

Just don%26#39;t pack them in your carry on bag. That%26#39;s the scissors, not your coupons.

Coupons and American Casino Guide

If they are the small scissors and not pointed you can carry them on. I did last time and no problem with it, my husband was shocked, he kept telling me that they wouldn%26#39;t let me go through with them. He was wrong.

very good idea! i might just precut them tonight before I leave.

ACG%26#39;s coupons have never been preforated in my experience. Very silly thing to get annoyed over.

Ok be like me and get coupon OCD and cut them out, then group them in different envelopes for the days you plan on using them. Seriously my sister and I went out to lunch a few weeks before going last time and did this. We had 2 books and had swapped multi coupons with other people and organized them all neatly.

I love coupons!!!!! My guide is on its way they shipped it out yesterday I cannot wait to get my hands on it!!!!

THE ACG cuopons do not need to be in the book when you bring them to Vegas. The POV coupons are the ones that cannot be detatched from the book when using them.

You can cut out the ACG coupons and leave the rest of the heavy book at home. Be sure to cut out and bring the ACG ';membership'; card thing too. I%26#39;ve never been asked for it, but you%26#39;re supposed to have it with you when you use the coupons.

Today's the Day!!

Greetings!

My long-awaited trip to Vegas is here! We head out from Ft. Lauderdale tonight and arrive in Vegas just before 11 PM. Hopefully we%26#39;ll get some sleep on the plane, because I know we%26#39;ll want to play when we get there. I%26#39;ve been practicing up on my blackjack for weeks, and pretty much know the charts by heart. Whether Lady Luck smiles on me remains to be seen.

Thank you for all your informative, humorous posts these past several weeks. I%26#39;ve learned so much from you guys.

Take care and Happy Thanksgiving!

Today's the Day!!

I%26#39;ll be there today also, we get in around 8:30 Vegas time. I plan on a couple of drinks on the plane to help with the sleep!!! I want to hit the tables running as soon as we get to the hotel.

Today's the Day!!

Hope you both have a great time and good luck, dont forget your TRs when you get back.

Good luck folks. Have a great trip!!!

Will watch to see how you made out.

LP

Have a happy turkey day and a lucky trip.

GOOD LUCK!!! And please have patience with the poor airline and TSA people at the airport.

Have a GREAT time. We leave next Wednesday. Hope to read a trip report before then !!!

1 week stay: 1 or 3 Hotels??

We%26#39;ll be in Vegas around X-mas (our 2nd time) and i%26#39;m wondering if we should stay at 1 hotel or move around a bit.

We won%26#39;t be renting a car and we%26#39;ll be taking a cab or walking everywhere. We%26#39;re in our mid-thirties and I think that 1 week in the same place is too long. But my husband doesn%26#39;t want to move around too much.

I was thinking of TI for 2 nights, then Bally%26#39;s for 3 and maybe MGM for the last 2 nights.

Is that too much? what do the experts recommend?

1 week stay: 1 or 3 Hotels??

We%26#39;ve done 3 rooms in a week, but personally I would say 2 would be the ideal amount so you%26#39;re not spending a lot of time moving around.

1 week stay: 1 or 3 Hotels??

Why waste time moving from hotel to hotel if you%26#39;re just there for a week?

I don%26#39;t get it!

Its good to split yuor time you dont waste time travelling from say Luxor to TI, but one at either end of the strip is enough I owuld not do 3

I think you should pick one place you want to stay at the most

instead of moving around. We stayed at Treasure Island and

location was great. We stayed in a suite and it was luxurious.

I%26#39;m obviously not the norm on this subject but I will be in Vegas next week and staying 5 days and I%26#39;m staying in 3 hotels. I never stay more than 2 nights in one place. I love trying out new ones and try to make a new one on every trip. If your husband doesn%26#39;t like moving around than at least stay in 2 different hotels. I always rent a car so it%26#39;s easy for me to move around.

Reagrdless of whether you have a car or not, when you add up the amount of time you will spend checking in (especially if there is a line) and checking out, packing and unpacking, that is precious Vegas time that could better be spent doing something fun. I%26#39;d limit yourself to two hotels max, but for myself, I would rather pick one place and just stay there, if it meets my expectations.

HI all, I like the two hotel answers. The strip is sooo long that if you stay in one place you don%26#39;t really get to experience the whole strip. Just too long to walk down. I would stay at something like NYNY or MGM, then maybe move north to the TI or Harrahs or Wynn. DT might even be a fun place to stay if you have not stayed there befroe. One hotel for a week is just too limiting if you want to see Vegas. For just gambling and nothing else. Stay where you gamble.

Cheers,

CS

Seems like alot of people like moving around to different hotels on a stay. I%26#39;m selfish I guess, my Vegas time is too valuable to be spending time packing and unpacking,checking in and out and moving my luggage around the strip. I like finding a hotel, setting up camp and staying in it the whole trip.

If you don%26#39;t mind moving around and enjoy trying out all different hotels on a stay then you should. It%26#39;s your vacation, do what makes you happy.

Have Fun!

I wonder if this is a gender thing. I hate to change hotels.

I don%26#39;t like having to pack, check the room for overlooked items, wait for the bellman, check out, travel to the next hotel, wait in line to check-in, hang around waiting for the bags to be delivered to the new room, make sure the new room is acceptable (views of parking structures, massive A/C units near my windows, ...), unpack, call housekeeping for whatever we need, report to housekeeping or maintenance any defects I%26#39;ve discovered in the new room, etc.

I am supposed to go through all of this trouble [plus a minor expense -- figure $10 minimum for the bellmen at the two hotels, plus $5 for housekeeping for the extra towels and the extra pillows and the ...] for exactly what???

If I am getting a 4 day comp at one hotel and then a 3 day comp at another, OK, I can understand changing hotels. But there has to be a pretty good reason to switch!!

There%26#39;s nothing to pack if you don%26#39;t unpack. That%26#39;s the big waste of time. I%26#39;m not moving into the darn hotel.

Paris or Mirage?

Is there much of a difference between the Paris and the Mirage hotel? Is the fountain view at the Paris better than the strip view at the Mirage? I would appreciate anyone%26#39;s comments on the differences between the two.

Paris or Mirage?

I was underwhelmed by the strip view at Mirage and I would think a fountain view at Paris would be much nicer. Standard rooms at the two hotels are about the same size, but I am under the impression that the furnishings at paris are a bit nicer than the somewhat worn decor at Mirage. The bathrooms at Paris also have been praised a lot.

If you are coming during the warm weather months, Mirage has a beautiful pool area that hopelessly outclasses Paris. I would rate the two properties about the same in terms of location.

If a nice view and an attractively furnished room are your priorities, I would choose Paris. If you plan to spend any time at the pool, I would choose Mirage.

Paris or Mirage?

I totally agree with the view at Mirage we had a Volcano view and it was not all that I wish we hd taken the pool view.

I would highly recommend Paris the hotel is very upscale and

if you can stay there for about the same price as Mirage would

be a great deal. The rooms at Paris are nicer.

Both hotels are very nice IMHO. You can%26#39;t go wrong with either. Do you play the tables? If you do I%26#39;d pick Mirage over Paris. If you%26#39;re just a casual slot player or not really into gambling I%26#39;d take the fountain view at Paris. I like the restaurants at both places.

I%26#39;ve never stayed at the Mirage but we stay at Paris every year.

Very nice rooms and a big beautiful bathroom with stand alone shower.

Thanks to everyone for your responses - they were very helpful

I go with Paris.

We just got back from a 4 night stay at Paris. I really enjoyed the hotel and the location. We had a view of the strip and the Bellagio fountains. In addition you could see the marquee at the Panet Hollywood Hotel. If you%26#39;re a shopper it%26#39;s right next door to the Miracle Mile shops.

The food was pretty good. We opted to eat there several nights, for the convenience. The buffet I found very nice for breakfast and dinner. It%26#39;s a bit pricy, but what isn%26#39;t there.

I thought the location was great. The hotel was beautiful and the staff were very accomodating. You can catch the monorail just outside Bally%26#39;s which is adjoined to Paris.

The only experience I had with the Mirage was seeing the LOVE show there.

I would say if the prices were comparable I would choose Paris.

I%26#39;d go with Paris for location and class...

We had no strip view at the Mirage...we didn%26#39;t request it. I hear that Paris is much better for fountain views a great bathrooms...get the connection...lmao

Inexpensive accommodations in Las vegas

We are 2 women who will be required to stay overnight in Las Vegas, on route to Buffalo,. As we only have about 14 hours in Vegas, we will need an inexpensive hotel/motel room, possibly under $60.00 and with a shuttle to and from the airport. Would anyine reccommend a place to stay, that is clean!!! %26amp; close tot he strip.

Thank you

Inexpensive accommodations in Las vegas

We are 2 women who will be required to stay overnight in Las Vegas, on route to Buffalo...

You mean Buffalo, NY???? You are flying west to Vegas from Toronto then back east to Buffalo???? What airline has a connection like that?

Ok if so, you can always check the rates at Terribles...not sure if there is an airport shuttle though. No matter where you stay even if there isn%26#39;t a shuttle, you can use a taxi cab or limo for transportation although not for free.

Inexpensive accommodations in Las vegas

Would that be a shuttle off to buffalo?

for 14 hours I would not even get a room I woudl get a taxi to a strip resort get the bell boy to take the luggage and keep the slip do all the vegas things and then go back and collect my luggage.

When are you going ? Month and day of the week you may get a deal at Hooters or Tropicana dont think that they have a shuttle but you can getthe bus there though in reality a taxi wil only be about $12

I agree with Sew, I would check my luggage at a hotel and then make the most of my time in Vegas, go back and get my luggage and go to the airport. You will be surprised how quickly time passes in Vegas and how little sleep you can by with there. You can catch up on your sleep later!!

Have a fun and safe trip!

A lot of places won%26#39;t allow a friday or Saturday check in requiring you to stay both days or not at all

Hooters if a week night

Low rates, close to airport, clean rooms, in-room coffee, near a lot to see

Doubletree S of airport if weekend

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LV Marathon

We will be in LV 11/30-12/2. The LV Marathon is 12/2. Do you think this will adversely affect our trip. Should we reschedule?

LV Marathon

The marathon has a website you should be able to find if you google it. It looked like it started pretty early and would cause road closers but not all day long. You should check out the site.

LV Marathon

Thanks. I did check out the website but was curious to hear from others who might have experienced Vegas during a Marathon in the past.

I was there last year during the marathon and stayed downtown. I went down to the Strip around noon the day of and saw no evidence of the marathon at all.

That%26#39;s good to hear. Thanks for all of your help today!

I actually traveled to Vegas specifically for the Marathon in 2005. My husband was supposed to run, but due to injury he couldn%26#39;t. We were not affected by the Marathon at all, in fact the only way you would know it is going on is if you are and early riser or late crasher, in other words, if you stayed up all night. I have traveled to Vegas on other weekends and compared to those, the Marathon is nothing.

Since your last day co-incided with 12/2 marathon run, check your departure time.

South Strip will be closed between 5:30am and 7:30am. The entire route will be finished before noon. Assuming your activities most likely are hotels/casinos areas on the Strip and perhaps DT, probably you will not be affected unless you have an early plane to catch.

I will be in this marathon, but it will be too late to be of use to you then.

Again, many thanks for the responses. This is the first time I have ever joined a forum and I must say it is extremely helpful. Happy Holidays to all and good luck in the Marathon!

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