So who has been to a vegas fight...I need some answers

No probs.. when you're spending quite a bit of money on a holiday, I even think paying a bit more to get the protection is a good idea these days. Knowing what I know now after working in the industry for a while and seeing many people left stranded and hit hard in the pocket, I would never book a holiday with hotels any other way unless it was a little jaunt to Europe.

 

I think he said that he wouldn't fly non-direct.

Most of the time, direct flights are not too much more than the indirect ones. Just remember that if you fly into another US hub to change planes like New York or Chicago etc, you'll have to pass customs & immigration there and not at Vegas. So if the direct flights are much more expensive and you have to fly indirect, make sure you have enough time to transit and probably change terminals. I'd recommend 2 hours or more just in case. US passport control can be *******s.

Also, for your information, they brought in a new Visa system on the 12th January called the ESTA. It's free of charge if you apply directly on the Department of Homeland Security website at the moment, lasts for 2 years. If you pop it into Google, you'll probably come across some Visa agents trying to charge for it:

https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov

 

Thanks for the information. I plan on going sometime next year hopefully.

 

I work for them because they are one of the good guys. They're still privately owned and the guy who owns us has stuck to his guns... ie, no internet bookings (complex trips need to be booked face to face), no premium rate phone numbers (all local numbers), no credit card surcharges etc etc... there are probably other similar agents around but I don't know them too well.

The visa part will have to be done by yourself. Some agents just want to make a quick sale, there are minimum connection times to adhere to but they are very short (unrealistic) in the States. For instance, I could legally sell you a ticket to Vegas allowing you 50 minutes to connect in Chicago but there's no way in hell you'll make that connection normally. Usually, they'll put you on the next available flight but just take the risk out of the equation.

 

If you are starting from Dublin its also worth looking at deals that start in Amsterdam. Also if you can get the extra time off work stay until the Monday, Vegas airport is a ****ing zoo on Sundays...

 

I might look into prices for Cotto vs Pacquiao - good shout.

Have tickets for Froch vs Dirrell gone on sale yet..... Nottingham I presume would be the venue, only an hour and a bit away.

 

you might save £100 each way going non direct. but trust me when you sitting in pittsburg airport for 3 hours you would happily lay down £50 to be on your way to heathrow.

the girls in Vegas are crazy, just talk a bit louder than usual and they will come up to you and say "oh my god are you english". then just act really inocent and proper, say stuff like "oh we have that new tv show the A team coming out next week" and you will get knickers in a twist.

PM me and I will send you the details of a guy that will sort you out with all the clubs.

 

i am going Froch vs Dirrel Beetson.

 

Book it all on your credit card and you get equivalent protection under statute. If your main concern is the 'insurance' offered by travel agents then just book it on your credit card and your card provider will foot the bill if anything goes wrong.

I booked flights and hotels independantly. As mentioned, accomodation is easy to sort out. I can recommend the MGM Grande. Great value, pretty much next to Hooters although a bit of trek from the Old Vegas part.

Flights are a pain though. Done it twice, once from Manc-Chicago-Vegas the other from Manc-Munich-Denver-Vegas. If you can get as few changes as possible, particularly for your return journey. You'll be high on adrenilin on the way there so you probably wont mind all the stops that much

 

I book the flghts/ hotel etc separately on a credit card, it can make a decent amount of difference cash-wise.

 

Sure, but how long will it take you to get that money back on your credit card and go through the whole booking process again? Through an agent, they'll sort the alternative flights/hotels/rebook flights if there are any time changes etc etc... I'm not just trying to argue against you... As I said, knowing about how these things work, I wouldn't do it any other way.

 

Like I said above somewhere... everyone usually gets roughly around the same price. I severely doubt you'll save enough to warrant doing it this way.

 

TBH I didn't try a lot of "normal" travel agents, buts the sports events people were charging a fortune for Hatton-Mayweather even without a fight ticket. I did save a fair bit of cash giving those guys the swerve.


I also got a lot better deal on the MGM because I took a chance and booked it before the fight was officlally confirmed.

 

Looks like I will have to get a credit card...... nearly 24 and the thought has never even crossed my mind before!