Any tips for Las Vegas/Yosimite Park/ Death Valley please?

[Appalonia]

Hi all, I'm going to these places end of September. Would love some tips from anyone who has been. I'm a bit freaked out at how expensive Vegas is, so any budgeting tips would be great. Also any shows that you thought were worth seeing? I'm not really a hiker so any tips about Yosimite Park or Death Valley gratefully received! ( and also what to wear ) Thanks in advance!

Agree with the sphere- Postcards from Earth is fantastic. There are cheaper places for breakfast if you want them - we like the bagel place in NYNY, in and out burger is reasonably priced too, as are some other locations on Link Promenade (where in and out is).

Beer Park is a brilliant rooftop bar in Paris hotel and is opposite the Bellagio fountains. Well worth a mimosa up there in my opinion.

For some reason it keeps popping up on my instagram feed, but if I were going to Vegas I’d go and see the 4D with actors Wizard of Oz in the sphere. It looks amazing.

We went last month and did a 3 week road trip from vegas to LA. Vegas wasn’t that expensive really - did a lot of walking - 14 miles plus each day. Very hot, but very different heat to here. We did the big bus trio, which was good. We also did the night trip. We didn’t do a show as we live close to London and so shows often.

We went to the Target as we left Vegas and bought food and cutlery. We then went to Red Rock canyon on the way to Death Valley.. It was an easy, long but amazing drive. We stayed at the Ranch. Definitely no hiking! Was over 50 degrees and was like stepping into a fan oven.

We went to Mammoth Lakes and then to Yosemite. The first day in Yosemite we went through the Tioga Pass and stopped a few times for walks. The second day we went ti the valley. Was quite difficult to park, but we did find somewhere. We went swimming by El Capitan and walked to a couple of waterfalls. We saw a bear also. Yosemite was amazing.

We then continued for another couple of weeks but doesn’t sounds like you’re doing the same trip for the rest.

Oh wow thanks for all the great tips! I'm actually piggybacking on my friends trip. He plays poker so booked himself a holiday, then invited me along, so all the hotels/ trips are non negotiable. So good to hear what a great time pp had there.

I'm not much of a hiker, what clothes, shoes should I take for Yosimite Park and Death Valley? I don't have shorts. Would jeans be ok, or will it be too hot? Did you wear a hat to keep the sun off, was thinking about taking an umbrella as I'm very fair skinned and can't cope with being out in the burning sun for hours...

Top tip about cutlery! Am going to take a travel kettle. Can you take a sharp knife on the plane?

14 miles a day?!!!!!

You'll certainly be too hot in jeans in Death Valley and probably a little hot in Yosemite though weather variable at that time of year. But I'd suggest not shorts either as you want to protect your legs from the sun, so some form of thinner trousers better if possible. Having said that, I suspect that in Death Valley you will spend much of your time in a car (hopefully air-conditioned) or air-conditioned accommodation - we certainly found we didn't want to stay out in the heat for very long at all! A wide-brimmed hat certainly advisable and high-factor sunscreen of course.

Remember you'll need a transformer for the kettle as the voltage is different.

Oh bugger! Can't I just use my travel adapter plug?

I couldn’t use my hairdryer with an adapter plug.

Thanks. If I can't wear shorts or jeans, what kind of trousers do you recommend please?

We went to the ghost town of Bodie::

en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bodie,_California

The teenage DCs loved the ghost town above all else.

No, because the voltage is different. It's OK with some things like computer adaptors because the plug has its own adaptor.

You probably can. My travel kettle is 240v and takes about 3 weeks to boil in the USA, but it does boil eventually.

Lightweight walking trousers from outdoor shops work well, or any lightweight trousers really. I do wear shorts though - and plenty of sunscreen.

I also have a reflective parasol that packs down like a normal tiny umbrella. It’s a must in the desert.

Where are you staying in DV and Yosemite? If you aren’t staying actually in the park you may need to book in advance to visit. It can be really busy.

No, you can’t take a sharp bladed knife in cabin luggage. You can re-purpose the plastic or wooden knives you get with your airline meal though!

I’d never been to a show before, but went for the first time in Vegas, Cirque du Soleil blew me away, was amazing. Worth visiting downtown Vegas, we went to the Pawn Shop which is on tv which I really enjoyed and walked round looking at the chapels etc.

Kayaking on the Colorado was also one of my favourite bits.

We stayed in the Belagio and it was like living in a movie, unreal. The gardens there are a must to walk around.

Echo this
Also it's worth noting that it is allowed to share the card with another family.
My husband signed ours as the first signature we then passed onto friends who were travelling later in the year.
It's totally legal and at one point thier website suggested sharing with a neighbour. You can only bring one car in at a time so have to visit at different times

I don’t think you can have two signatures any more, unfortunately.

Definitely worth it though. It’s also good for national monuments and National Forest parking.

Just wear shorts for Death Valley, and slather yourself with sunscreen. Loose trews would be fine for Yellowstone/ Yosemite (and any other mountainous terrain) as there are biting nsects and ticks. If you do any hiking, tuck your trews into your socks.

Buy an electric kettle in any Walmart or Target for under $20 and you'll be sorted. I use one that cost $14.99 about ten years ago and it works perfectly.

Buy some basic cutlery there too. You can buy individual pieces in Walmart. Or just buy a box of plastic knives, forks, and spoons.

There's a target and a Walgreens on the strip, you might get a travel kettle there but maybe not, as Americans dont really do kettles at all, besides the ones you put on the gas stove. Defintely go there for waters and snacks for the room though as the hotel prices are extortionate.

A lot of places are realizing that the prices are putting people off so are starting to reduce them now and do special offers for shows and dining etc. If your friend is playing high stakes poker you might get some freebies if he has a host. Don't forget to tip pretty much everyone

If you're planning to hike 14 miles a day in Death Valley, as an inexperienced hiker, there's a high chance you'll find out how it got it's name.

I've hiked a lot in Andalucia, but in nowhere near the hottest times of year and it is hot, yet I'd imagine it's not a patch on Death Valley. I'd plan nothing more than a few miles of low level walks each day, so you can see the scenery, but not put your life at risk.

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