LA to Vegas and Back New years Eve 2008
Feb 22nd, 2008, 02:57 AM
#1
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LA to Vegas and Back New years Eve 2008
Hi.
I have seen this post
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...1&tid=35076076
and have a similar question, though obviously different dates.
We (Four of us) arrive LAX 12\20\08 18:00 and leave LAX 01\01\09 at 18:00.
(I'll post an itinerary in another thread for comment).
For New Years Eve I have a 'plan' as follows:
12\31 early AM:- Drive from San Diego to Las Vegas.
I have a cancellable booked room for one night at the Westin Cauarina.
(Room for 4-$170 all in).
I'm hoping that by leaving early (after the 'rush hour') that the journey time will not be too much over the 4 hour time. Even if it is we are only going to Vegas to enjoy the latter part of the evening.
We have been three times before to Vegas.
01\01 EARLY AM (07:00?)
Drive from the Westin to LAX
Need to drop the car and check in at around 15:00.
I've seen the caveats on the other thread that the drive from Vegas 'could' be heavy as lots of people will be doing it. Hence my early departure.
Questions:
What time do they close the strip to traffic and would this affect my arrival at the Westin.
Similarly :-At what time would I be in a good position to miss the return traffic?
Are there any bottlenecks on the return trip that I should aim to pass before trafic gets heavy
I know I could fly there\back via Southwest. Each single trip would set me back about $250, so at present that seems a lot (?)
I have seen this post
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...1&tid=35076076
and have a similar question, though obviously different dates.
We (Four of us) arrive LAX 12\20\08 18:00 and leave LAX 01\01\09 at 18:00.
(I'll post an itinerary in another thread for comment).
For New Years Eve I have a 'plan' as follows:
12\31 early AM:- Drive from San Diego to Las Vegas.
I have a cancellable booked room for one night at the Westin Cauarina.
(Room for 4-$170 all in).
I'm hoping that by leaving early (after the 'rush hour') that the journey time will not be too much over the 4 hour time. Even if it is we are only going to Vegas to enjoy the latter part of the evening.
We have been three times before to Vegas.
01\01 EARLY AM (07:00?)
Drive from the Westin to LAX
Need to drop the car and check in at around 15:00.
I've seen the caveats on the other thread that the drive from Vegas 'could' be heavy as lots of people will be doing it. Hence my early departure.
Questions:
What time do they close the strip to traffic and would this affect my arrival at the Westin.
Similarly :-At what time would I be in a good position to miss the return traffic?
Are there any bottlenecks on the return trip that I should aim to pass before trafic gets heavy
I know I could fly there\back via Southwest. Each single trip would set me back about $250, so at present that seems a lot (?)
Mar 3rd, 2008, 01:47 AM
#5
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Thanks for the reply Gail.
I'll be in bed by latest 01:00 (sober!) as I've done my "partying all night" many years before!
We may even get a cat nap that evening as we've been to Vegas a few times.
Any comments on the traffic for the return journey?
Thanks.
I'll be in bed by latest 01:00 (sober!) as I've done my "partying all night" many years before!
We may even get a cat nap that evening as we've been to Vegas a few times.
Any comments on the traffic for the return journey?
Thanks.
Mar 4th, 2008, 01:02 AM
#7
What time were you planning on leaving San Diego on the 31st? Leave early, after the rush hour? That is contradictory, isn't it. If it is after rush hour then it is late. I think they start closing the strip around 6PM on the 31st.
The closure won't stop you from getting to the Westin. Might be some traffic. You'll be coming up I-15. I'd plan on exiting onto I-215 East, towards the airport, and then take Paradise Road to Flamingo Road. You'll see the Westin on the right, across Koval Ln.
Nice rooms at the Westin (on the SPG floor anyway). A modest casino. Starbucks. Avoid their restaurant. It is a good location, since you are only two blocks or so from center strip. You might take a look at the "Hilton Grand Vacations Club at the Flamingo - Las Vegas". The Westin is a good choice.
Parking could be an issue. Might want to use the valet.
There is no way to avoid any bottlenecks. The traffic you will see will be pretty much all coming from L.V. until you come down into the L.A. basin. There is no getting around it. I'd probably get off the I-15 onto I-10 then I-605 to I-105 to the airport. That would be pretty safely away from Pasadena (Rose Bowl) which is the one thing happening that day that I can think of and is not really near your route.
I don't know what LAX is like on 1/1 but checkin at 3PM for a 6PM flight is very generous. You could drop the other 3 at the terminal and have them get in the checkin line. Then drop the car and shuttle back. Or all shuttle together.
If you left LV at 7AM then you'd have a full 8 hours to get to LAX by 3PM and still have an extra hour. I drove back on Sunday after Thanksgiving once - I think that was 9 hours and I left in the afternoon. Your time should be better than that (much better is my guess because 7AM is not a popular time for people to be up n at em in L.V. esp. on 1/1 I would think).
Which brings me to flying. There are a couple of 6AM and 7AM flights in L.V. that are usually a good price. I'd keep an eye out for better airfares. $250 is a bit high, but it is too soon to buy. It is about the maximum you would want to pay. You should be able to get tix for $170. Or $60-$90 one of the way.
Your plan for driving is workable (depending on when you leave S.D., so you can keep your options open. I'd check on one-way fares in either direction and on the cost of a one-way rental. Drive to LAX, fly to LAS, drive back, for example. I once avoided a one-way LAX-LAS dropoff fee by booking via Costco.
The closure won't stop you from getting to the Westin. Might be some traffic. You'll be coming up I-15. I'd plan on exiting onto I-215 East, towards the airport, and then take Paradise Road to Flamingo Road. You'll see the Westin on the right, across Koval Ln.
Nice rooms at the Westin (on the SPG floor anyway). A modest casino. Starbucks. Avoid their restaurant. It is a good location, since you are only two blocks or so from center strip. You might take a look at the "Hilton Grand Vacations Club at the Flamingo - Las Vegas". The Westin is a good choice.
Parking could be an issue. Might want to use the valet.
There is no way to avoid any bottlenecks. The traffic you will see will be pretty much all coming from L.V. until you come down into the L.A. basin. There is no getting around it. I'd probably get off the I-15 onto I-10 then I-605 to I-105 to the airport. That would be pretty safely away from Pasadena (Rose Bowl) which is the one thing happening that day that I can think of and is not really near your route.
I don't know what LAX is like on 1/1 but checkin at 3PM for a 6PM flight is very generous. You could drop the other 3 at the terminal and have them get in the checkin line. Then drop the car and shuttle back. Or all shuttle together.
If you left LV at 7AM then you'd have a full 8 hours to get to LAX by 3PM and still have an extra hour. I drove back on Sunday after Thanksgiving once - I think that was 9 hours and I left in the afternoon. Your time should be better than that (much better is my guess because 7AM is not a popular time for people to be up n at em in L.V. esp. on 1/1 I would think).
Which brings me to flying. There are a couple of 6AM and 7AM flights in L.V. that are usually a good price. I'd keep an eye out for better airfares. $250 is a bit high, but it is too soon to buy. It is about the maximum you would want to pay. You should be able to get tix for $170. Or $60-$90 one of the way.
Your plan for driving is workable (depending on when you leave S.D., so you can keep your options open. I'd check on one-way fares in either direction and on the cost of a one-way rental. Drive to LAX, fly to LAS, drive back, for example. I once avoided a one-way LAX-LAS dropoff fee by booking via Costco.
Mar 4th, 2008, 01:16 AM
#8
a left from Paradise Road onto Flamingo Road.
I would hope to get a roundtrip LAX-LAS-LAX ticket for $140. That is my WAG for 6AM flights in each direction. Don't just look at Southwest.
The L.V. Convention and Visitors Bureau (or some such agency) would probably have the strip closing time for you. Or maybe the concierge at the Westin.
I would hope to get a roundtrip LAX-LAS-LAX ticket for $140. That is my WAG for 6AM flights in each direction. Don't just look at Southwest.
The L.V. Convention and Visitors Bureau (or some such agency) would probably have the strip closing time for you. Or maybe the concierge at the Westin.
Mar 4th, 2008, 01:31 AM
#9
That is interesting on the goldy1 thread that the first person that replied actually did something like the trip you have planned. Driving up on the 31st and back on the 1st. Four hours up, return departure at 6AM for a 2PM flight. THEN the other posters said that it would take 8 hours each way, people who probably haven't done the drive on those days. But Don was right about an accident on I-15 could make for a bad day even if you aren't in it.
Mar 4th, 2008, 08:49 PM
#10
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Thank you for the reply.
I was leaving SD after the morning rush hour so about 10:AM.
I may now add another night and drive up on the 30th.
Coming back is my main concern.
My flight is International so I assume a 3HR check in.
I also asssume that trafiic 'may' be lighter around LA that afternoon (noon until 3PM?)
The $240 airfare os the lowest TOTAL for all of us. Are you saying this can be even lower?
I can always arrange to drop the car off in LAS without any penalty.
Cheers
I was leaving SD after the morning rush hour so about 10:AM.
I may now add another night and drive up on the 30th.
Coming back is my main concern.
My flight is International so I assume a 3HR check in.
I also asssume that trafiic 'may' be lighter around LA that afternoon (noon until 3PM?)
The $240 airfare os the lowest TOTAL for all of us. Are you saying this can be even lower?
I can always arrange to drop the car off in LAS without any penalty.
Cheers
Mar 5th, 2008, 10:53 AM
#11
$250 is a high price for an advance purchase ticket for LAX-LAS-LAX for one person. I'd expect that to be about the same for SAN-LAS-SAN or SAN-LAS-LAX.
If you can fly 4 people SAN-LAS-LAX or LAX-LAS-LAX for $250 (total for 4) then that would be a huge bargain.
If you can fly four people SAN-LAS or or LAX-LAS (and/or return) for $250 that would be a very good deal.
If you can get return tickets for 4 people for $500 that would be a very good deal. That's $125 per person. Still, that is a chunk of change when you multiply it by 4.
In July when the temps are 110F, you might get an all-in return fare LAX-LAS-LAX for $80 to $100, so $125 is pd good.
If you can fly 4 people SAN-LAS-LAX or LAX-LAS-LAX for $250 (total for 4) then that would be a huge bargain.
If you can fly four people SAN-LAS or or LAX-LAS (and/or return) for $250 that would be a very good deal.
If you can get return tickets for 4 people for $500 that would be a very good deal. That's $125 per person. Still, that is a chunk of change when you multiply it by 4.
In July when the temps are 110F, you might get an all-in return fare LAX-LAS-LAX for $80 to $100, so $125 is pd good.
Mar 5th, 2008, 11:08 AM
#12
Going up on the 30th is a very good idea. I would make a second reservation at the Westin for the 30th so that I could cancel it while keeping the 31st.
An option would be to stop in Barstow for the night on the 30th. Or maybe Nipton: http://www.nipton.com/ It is a bit different from where you are from, I believe.
Which airline out of LAX for your international flight (would you have to use the T-BIT)?
An option would be to stop in Barstow for the night on the 30th. Or maybe Nipton: http://www.nipton.com/ It is a bit different from where you are from, I believe.
Which airline out of LAX for your international flight (would you have to use the T-BIT)?
