My Trip to PhotoshopWorld - Part 2: Travel Plans

Last year when I went to Vegas I booked through Expedia and it was really easy to keep track of everything: Flight, Car and Hotel. But this year I wanted to book through Expedia, but as I was booking the trip the hotel sold out. so I had to book it separately. Here are my tips on how to book your trip and what to take with you.

The Flight

I love Delta but they are not always cheap so I went to Expedia to see prices on the flight so I could compare them. Expedia wanted $155 round-trip Delta flight from SLC to LAS.

Comparison:

• Southwest: $216 one way WOW! - Expedia - N/A
• American: $200 round trip - Expedia - $189
• Delta: $118 round-trip - Expedia - $155
• JetBlue: $135 round-trip - Expedia - $187

I had always wanted to fly JetBlue, but I am on a budget so I went with Delta.

If you are think of going to PSW book your flights as soon as possible.

Hotel

Ok, I know that you might think that the cost of this hotel is not worth it because it is kinda expensive, but stay at the Mandalay Bay Hotel and Casino. Why?

Well because you are in the same hotel that all the instructors and staff stay at. You could see Scott Kelby walking down the hall. AND you have a short walk to the conference: down the elevators, to the Left

The Mandalay Bay is a tropical like hotel with a 11 acre beach/pool area and has a large selection of expensive restaurants and a small selection of relatively less expensive restaurants as well.

Here are some of the less expensive places to eat

The Bayside Buffet

Breakfast - $17, Lunch $21, Dinner $29, Eat all Day $35 (M-Sa), $40(Sun)

The Bayside buffet has a large selection of food and desserts, but it is pricey. It has a great location to the conference. If you want to eat here all day get the All-Day Pass for $35 (M-Sa), $40(Sun).

Raffles Cafe
About $10-$20 per person

Raffles Café offers a 24 hour casual dining with a wide variety of menu choices, including prime cut steaks, seafood and more. It has a good view of the beach area. It located down from the Bayside Buffet.

Burgers and Dogs

About $10 per person

Here you can get - what else - Burgers and Dogs. this place is located in the Food Court in the convention center - 100 feet from the doors to the Tech Expo!

The Luxor Food Court

The Luxor food court is located next door to the Mandalay Bay connected through the Mandalay Place shopping center. It has much more variety that the Mandalay has. The Luxor has a McDonalds, Quiznos and More.

Looking for something a little less expensive? Good! cause that's what I did!

On Tropicana Ave. is an Albertsons and a WalMart. go to either one and buy food for breakfast and lunch. There is no refrigerator and no microwave in the hotel room so also buy 2-3 styrofoam coolers, $2-$3 each. Set all the food in the bottom of the coolers and cover in ice from the hotel ice machines. Then set the coolers in the bathtub, just in case they leaks.

Transportation? - Car or Taxi

Well it just depends on what other things you want to do.

Taxi

Taxi's are convenient but can be expensive. it cost about $20 to get from the airport to a Strip Hotel like the Mandalay or the Luxor. Off Strip hotel? taxi is about $25-$30.

Rent a Car

One of the great services from McCarran airport is an off property Rent Car Center. When you leave the terminal to get a car you board a shuttle bus to the center where all the Rental car place are housed in one spot. You pick up and return you car here.

To rent a car is about $40-$50 per day from Budget. I think it is wort the cost because you can go wherever and whenever you want.

What to Take

Of course you take personal items and clothes but what specific things should you take to PSW?

Well that depends on what classes you want to take.

For PreCons I would take your camera and laptop

Here is what I take:

• 17" Macbook Pro
• Laptop Bag
• Mighty Mouse
• Nikon D80 an kit
• iPod touch - Hotel has available Wi-Fi for a fee, unless you book throught the PSW website then Wi-Fi is Free!
• NAPP attache bag - available with a Pro Pass upgrade
• Water Bottle
• Business Cards

Costs to go to PSW
PSW Alumni Admission + $449

Regular Early Bird admission: $499

After Early Bird Promo Ends: $599 • Ends Aug 28
PreCon - shoot, design, print + $199
5 night Hotel + $134 per night + $750 booked from PSW Website, tax included
Budget Rent a Car + $260
Delta Flights - $260 - 2 people
Total: about $1,924 plus food