We would like to take one of the night flight tours of the strip. Does anyone have a favorite company for this? I have heard that one company has a glass bottom helicopter. Does anyone know which company this would be?

[This message has been edited by doug (edited August 27, 1999).]

Doug,
Have never taken a night flight tour of the strip so I could not recommend a particular company. However, you might try a few of the following tel. numbers and ask what's available:
Heli USA - 702-736-8787
Sundance Helicopters - 1-800-653-1881
Scenic Airlines, Inc. - 702-638-3300

You could also find information concerning helicopter tours at the Las Vegas Tourist Authority website. If you'd like that address, please email Fred or me.

Beth

Doug,

Can't give you a personal recommendation, but here's one that may be what you are looking for:

Papillion Helicopters: 1 888 635 7272 / 1 702 736-7243
Largest viewing windows/exclusive floor window for night strip tours

Mark

Doug,
We are looking into that too. If you're going withing next few weeks, please report on it.

We are going next week. I will be sure to let you know. I have found one other company that has glass bottom helicopters, Wild West. I will be giving them and Papallion a call soon to check prices.

[This message has been edited by doug (edited August 27, 1999).]

We have decided to fly with Papillon. I had only seen one other post elsewhere about Wild West so we never gave them a call.
Prices for Papillon are $68 pp with a flight time of 15-20 min. They can pick you up but, as we will have a rental car, we will drive ourselves. I didn't want to waste valuable time in a shuttle. Flights start at 8:30 and we have to be there between 8:00 and 8:10. Total time to allow is 1'15". If I understand correctly they sell tickets for flights, you then show up, and wait your turn with other people who have purchased tickets.

I have found other rides for less (as low as $49 pp) but Shelley wants to ride in the helicopter with the window in the floor.

[This message has been edited by doug (edited August 27, 1999).]

Doug,

Have a great time ! Be sure to let us know what you thought of the helicopter tour. I haven't heard a report from anyone who has done it, but it sounds like fun.

Mark

Just a follow up note.
We took the night flight of the strip with Papillon Helicopter Tours. This was a GREAT flight which provided a unique view of the strip. The helicopter was huge with ceiling to floor windows. No two seats touched each other. The window in the floor was a bust since it only provides a view of the resort parking lots. The flight was narrated by The King himself with cammio appr. by Dean Martin and Sammy Davis Jr. They also provide free shuttle service and champagne before the flight. Papillon charges $68 per person and the flight lasts approx. 20 min. Bring your camera, pictures are encouraged. [img]http://www.talkvegas.com/ubb/smile.gif[/img]

Doug, thanks for report. We've been talking about this for last 3 trips and haven't done it yet. Sounds like fun. Think we're going to try this trip!

54Carol,
We made our reservations before we left for Vegas. We got to ride with the first group while the next group waited for us to return. They assign seats by weight so as to distribute the load more evenly. I don't know if it was our early reservations or the load factor that got us up in the air first but I like to think it was the early reservations.
It was a great flight and one of those everyone-should-see-it-once type of things. [img]http://www.talkvegas.com/ubb/smile.gif[/img]

Doug thanks. Will book this weekend.

What times do they start reservations? Do they start these at dusk or after dark? What time was it getting dark out there now?
Do you remember?

I made our reservations about a week before the sched. flight. It was starting to get dark around 8:00 I think. They started flying at 8:30 and ask us to be there no later than 8:10. Papillon fly's out of the executive airport terminal at Paridise rd. & Tropicanna. They have a shuttle service but this can add over 1 hr to the time it takes so we drove our rental car. It saved a lot of time. They serve champagne while you are waiting for your flight.

[This message has been edited by doug (edited September 09, 1999).]