Debating about canceling euro trip in May

[QuarterMillionMan]

I planned on driving from Los Angeles to Las Vegas in mid June but gas will be $100 each way. Just checked Southwest $44 each way. It’s a no brained Southwest it is. Haven’t flown since COVID but looks like it’s a go.

Adding; 3 comp’d nights at Orleans w/ $20 dining credit.

[QuarterMillionMan]

I guess I'll be using Uber or Lyft or taxi in Las Vegas. Just checked the rental car rates and an economy 3 day total is almost $300. Good grief no thanks to that, lol. Pre-COVID it was common to find $15 a day rental cars but I guess those days are long gone.

[disneysteve]

I guess I'll be using Uber or Lyft or taxi in Las Vegas. Just checked the rental car rates and an economy 3 day total is almost $300. Good grief no thanks to that, lol. Pre-COVID it was common to find $15 a day rental cars but I guess those days are long gone.

I’d keep looking. Last fall I kept hearing how awful rates were in Orlando but I found a perfectly reasonable rental when we went in October. Check kayak. Check Priceline. Search around.

[kork13]

I guess I'll be using Uber or Lyft or taxi in Las Vegas. Just checked the rental car rates and an economy 3 day total is almost $300. Good grief no thanks to that, lol. Pre-COVID it was common to find $15 a day rental cars but I guess those days are long gone.

If you're staying in the Orleans, you can probably do most of what you want to do either there on-site, or with a short walk/Uber/taxi ride to the strip. Besides, who really wants to drive in Vegas traffic?? not this guy.

[QuarterMillionMan]

I have a coupon book from the Las Vegas advisor which has $10 - $25 matchplay coupons at various casinos and 50% off dining at various restaurants, etc. But yes kork Orleans has just about everything needed without needing a car. I'll save my coupons for a future trip when I have a car. I'll keep checking rentals as disneysteve recommended using various websites and hopefully I'll be able to find a better deal.

[QuarterMillionMan]

This is the list of coupons which is numerous, $37 a year gets 12 monthly newsletters which in itself the information alone is worth it IMHO. The coupons are just icing on the cake.

Member Rewards List | Las Vegas Advisor

[QuarterMillionMan]

Information they uncover which are the most valuable to me are promotions where the casinos offer rebates for new slot member sign ups. M Resort once had a "play $1000 on us." They rebate $1000 upon losing $1000. It's like a free $1000 roll. Siena in Reno had a "play $500 on us." Other smaller ones were $100 at Terribles, Westin Casuarina, Harrah's, Sahara, etc. Those promotions are power houses of a deal and I drop everything and go at a moment's notice the same weekend but not so much the $100 but yes $500 or $1000.

Typo mistake Siena in Reno had a "play $500 on us." Siena no longer is in existence and was bought out by another hotel.

[disneysteve]

Information they uncover which are the most valuable to me are promotions where the casinos offer rebates for new slot member sign ups. M Resort once had a "play $1000 on us." They rebate $1000 upon losing $1000. It's like a free $1000 roll. Siena in Reno had a "play $500 on us." Other smaller ones were $100 at Terribles, Westin Casuarina, Harrah's, Sahara, etc. Those promotions are power houses of a deal and I drop everything and go at a moment's notice the same weekend but not so much the $100 but yes $500 or $1000.

Not Vegas but my favorite casino rewards story: A number of years ago when we were frequent casino goers, somebody in the Trip Advisor Atlantic City forum asked a question about Harrah's Chester (outside of Philly). We went there regularly so I was able to answer his question. To thank me for the info, he offered to get me a companion card on his Caesar's Seven Stars account (top tier of their rewards club). Seven Stars members get all sorts of perks, dedicated check in at the hotels, free drinks and food at the Seven Stars club, etc. But I then took that Seven Stars card to every casino in AC and a couple in PA because they all have a deal to match your status from another casino. For 2 years, I had the top tier cards from every casino within 100 miles and it hadn't cost me a penny. It was great. I was sad when they all expired.

[QuarterMillionMan]

Those are some awesome perks disneysteve. I don't have status at CET but I read about those perks for their Diamond & Seven Stars members. I heard AC has better Laurel lounges (formerly Diamond lounges) than Las Vegas which discontinued all lounges I believe in Las Vegas. It would be my dream to get a companion Seven Stars card which grants VIP front of the line access for hotel check ins, restaurant lines, valet lines, etc. Free rooms with no resort fees, annual celebration dinners of $100 - $500, etc. Diamonds & Seven Stars gets the Royal treatment and live like kings & queens (lol). Must have been a tremendous experience to experience all those lovely perks.

[QuarterMillionMan]

Caesars Rewards Laurel Lounge - Caesars Atlantic City Player's Lounge

Free buffet and alcoholic drinks for those who qualify. I've never been in a one but would like to try one someday.

[Drake3287]

Not Vegas related but getting back to international travel, I just got back from Switzerland after a 2 week trip. Flight over from SFO was completely full and I'd guess 95% of the passengers had on masks. Once in Switzerland it was like going back to 2019. Zero covid restrictions or covid talk anywhere. Completely normal.

As expected, I trended the final covid test in order to fly home. Most stressful 20 minutes I've had in a long time. Luckily we both tested negative. Although we loved our trip, the thought of having to be stuck in a foreign country for an additional week or two wasn't going to be either fun or inexpensive. Good luck to anyone else rolling the dice in international travel right now.

As for the 12 hour flight back, the mask wearing with passengers dropped to maybe 50%. I also didn't wear one. Figured with everyone just having tested negative that the odds were in my favor! It's just too bad that most every first world country has dropped covid testing but us. Certainly don't expect to be dropped anytime soon either.

[disneysteve]

It's just too bad that most every first world country has dropped covid testing but us. Certainly don't expect to be dropped anytime soon either.

Nor should it considering how widespread COVID is right now. Definitely a reason I'm hesitant to travel. It wasn't quite as bad when masks were required but now that they aren't, no thanks.

[LivingAlmostLarge]

Not Vegas related but getting back to international travel, I just got back from Switzerland after a 2 week trip. Flight over from SFO was completely full and I'd guess 95% of the passengers had on masks. Once in Switzerland it was like going back to 2019. Zero covid restrictions or covid talk anywhere. Completely normal.

As expected, I trended the final covid test in order to fly home. Most stressful 20 minutes I've had in a long time. Luckily we both tested negative. Although we loved our trip, the thought of having to be stuck in a foreign country for an additional week or two wasn't going to be either fun or inexpensive. Good luck to anyone else rolling the dice in international travel right now.

As for the 12 hour flight back, the mask wearing with passengers dropped to maybe 50%. I also didn't wear one. Figured with everyone just having tested negative that the odds were in my favor! It's just too bad that most every first world country has dropped covid testing but us. Certainly don't expect to be dropped anytime soon either.

It's probably a reason so many people i know are hesitating with international travel.

[disneysteve]

It's probably a reason so many people i know are hesitating with international travel.

Sure. Who wants to get all the way to another country and end up having to quarantine, or get stuck there for an extra week or two because you catch COVID while you're there. Same goes for cruises. The last place I want to be if we get COVID is confined to our cabin on a cruise ship.

[Drake3287]

But the question has to be asked, if covid is never going away like many say, at what point do you start living a normal life again? Never? Why did I get vaccinated four times? Many of these first world countries are simply treating covid in this way now and the results haven't caused any major surge issues. Most healthy, vaccinated adults have little to worry about. The same worry can also be said about my drive to the airport.

Like I've said may times on these forums, why is it okay for unmasked, unvaccinated and covid positive people to fly domestically everyday without any restrictions? I, as a fully vaccinated person goes to a modern country with covid under control and all of a sudden I have to test in order to come home. I could comment about the 20,000 mostly unmasked fans at the Warriors/Celtics game last night but I guess you get my point.