How much of this is spent flying in the helicopter vs. driving to the heliport? Round trip time, I assume?
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The one I’m most interested in is 45 min flying each way to the west GC and 45 min stop where they serve champagne on a bluff. They pick up and drop off at hotels (with a van I assume) so that would fill out the rest of the 4 hrs. It’s by Maverick.
I’m leaning towards going because DS14 just expressed disbelief that I could do a heli tour and I totally want to prove him wrong. 
But, I am still figuring out my priorities for the trip. Also, I am booked on a heli tour to a glacier for my Alaska cruise, although I’m uncertain I will go on that cruise.
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Ok that sounds reasonable. I was imagining 4 hours on a helicopter which would be torture for me cause I’m kinda terrified tbh.
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You will definitely smell a lot more weed than cigarette smoke, and it’s pretty much the smell of outdoors…or sewer smell. I prefer the weed.
Indoors I barely ever noticed smoke unless someone was smoking right next to me in the casino. They really are filtered well, and each one has its own smell they pump in too.
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Is it just the ear pain thing, or are there other aspects that concern you?
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Nothing really specific. I did some reading today about it and thought it all sounded ok. I was surprised that sometimes there aren’t windows and I’d need to have my hair tied back. Overall I’m not the biggest fan of flying b/c of the ear pain thing but I always appreciate a good view.
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My ride was fully enclosed!
I was just wondering if you had an ordinary fear of flying. Because then I wouldn’t recommend the helicopter, because it’s scarier than flying in a jet (or more thrilling, depending on your P.O.V.).
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No fear of flying with me, but I am somewhat uncertain how I’ll handle the flight (and my flights to get out to Nevada on United too) because I have a nerve pain issue I didn’t have the other times I flew. But, it’s a mild case and has been under control for awhile. Dr okayed flying. I’m thinking to book a heli tour and cancel if I feel bad after I get to Vegas. I can plan the flight with enough time to be within the cancel window. I watched a POV type video of the tour I have in mind and it’s definitely not anything I’ve ever seen before. I can appreciate that the GC south rim is better but I wouldn’t be disappointed by seeing the west. I’m going to research some more different companies and options. Some of these options cost more than my hotel for 5 days! I won’t be doing those.
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This is exactly how I remember this working for us.
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I did a very similar tour with Papillon and really enjoyed it. We got picked up in a limo, which was unexpected, but a fun surprise at 6 AM. The helicopter ride was a great way to see the Grand Canyon from multiple vantage points, and definitely worth it to not sit on a bus all day. I also really enjoyed seeing the strip from above. I recommend an early morning tour - it’s a smoother ride due to cooler temperatures. And you’ll be back on the strip early enough to enjoy the whole rest of the day!
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I might write a trip report, but basically the trip was wonderful. I did end up springing for the helicopter flight to the Grand Canyon and it was fantastic. It was canceled my first day due to snow and the next day I went and got to see snow on the GC! Went to Katy Perry for the show, got to swim in the pools just once due to weather (very cold and windy during my trip), tried a buffet, enjoyed really good sushi, and just generally saw a lot of great hotel lobbies etc. My one takeaway of a negative is that I really couldn’t stand the smoke in the casinos and of course you have to go through those all the time to get to other stuff in the hotels. I loved the Venetian but would give serious thought to staying at one of the completely nonsmoking hotels next time (I think one of the MGM ones has gone 100% smoke free). Although my hotel room at Venetian is probably the best hotel room I’ve ever had…
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