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| Trip Page |
| Day ONE:
I arrived in Vegas at 2:55 their time and got the shuttle from the airport to the hotel (I don't know if I said before but I stayed at the Stratospehere...link time: http://www.stratospherehotel.com/) and checked in with very little waiting involved. I asked to see if there were any free room upgrades (a tip I got from someone before going) and was told that there weren't any...but....instead of being booked in the Regency Tower (the smallest and cheapest section) they booked me in the World Tower and I wasn't charged anything extra (savings of about $30)! The rooms there are a little newer and a little bigger (not the best section...but better than what I booked). Unfortunately I was only on the 4th floor...so no view...but also less time spent in the elevator...which (as you will read) I ended up needing. So I get all my stuff into the room and start doing stuff! I change my clothes (I was still in my Sunday morning dockers) and the shoestring on one of my tennis shoes breaks! No biggie...I decided I could wear my other shoes for this half a day excursion...they are fairly comfy even though they are nicer looking. Besides all the first things I planned on doing were all on the North end of the strip...so I decided I could walk all of that day. I went to several places signed up for slot clubs at a few of the hotels to get the coupon books and whatever specials went with the cards. I went to the Stardust (http://www.stardustlv.com/) and got the Orange Glazed Chicken Dinner (I had a coupon for three dollars off!). Here's what you get for $6.95....start off with a salad of mixed greens then the plate of food comes with green beans with roasted almonds, a baked potato, and the chicken is a combination of the leg and thigh (not separated..but that whole section!) so you get white and dark meat. You also get a dinner roll with butter and jelly with that. I have to tell you that was a good meal! Then I went down the strip a ways to try to see the Sirens of TI and the Volcano at the Mirage. Unfortunately the wind was to severe for the Sirens to do their show (windy most of the trip) so I did not get to see that this time (NEXT trip!). I did sign up for a credit card and received a FREE Las Vegas T-shirt at Treasure Island. I did get to see the Volcano and took some pics of it. At some point on the way back up to go to The Beach (night club I planned on going to) I did something to my right knee. So I decided to forgo that part of the trip (again NEXT trip!). I limped back up the strip and got back to the Strat and sat down to play some slots and video poker for a couple of hours till I went to bed at about 1 AM. Won some...lost some...not bad playing on only $5-7 Check back again later this week as I recount Day TWO, Day THREE, and Overall Trip Recap! I'm gonna go crash for an hour or two...whew! |
| Now for Day TWO of the Vegas trip!
I woke up about 6 AM. Headed over to the breakfast buffet at the Sahara (I had a $1 off coupon). Had scrambled eggs, sausage, hashbrowns, toast, french toast, and hot tea. Not a bad deal for $6.99...although it was a little dark in the room...but I don't really care about the ambiance of a place at 6:45 in the morning...just feed me pretty good food and I'm happy. (Link time: http://www.saharavegas.com/) Then I took the monorail (paid $9 for a two trip ticket) down to Harrah's (saved walking about a mile or so). I went to the Casino Royale signed up for their slot club and played the free $50 in slots...didn't win anything though. Went to the Flamingo and signed up for the slot club...they were out of the advertised free pens and were no longer doing the "Treasure Hunt" promotion...oh well it was worth a shot! By 9:30 I was at the Imperial Palace to go see the Auto Collection (for FREE!). Saw lots of cool cars. They ranged in value from $19,500 to $3,000,000! I don't think I'll buy any of them! I caught the shuttle at the Barbary Coast to go to the Orleans for Lunch. The Lunch buffet at the Orleans is only $7.45. My first plate consisted of a smoked sausage, saeurkraut, a bbq brisket sandwich, and some green beans (had a Pepsi to drink). My second plate had some taquitos, salsa, and spanish rice. I finished off the meal with what looked like a slice of oreo pie and a cup of hot tea. Pretty good meal for a decent price! Caught the shuttle back to the strip about 1:15. Took the monorail back up to the Sahara so I could go back to the Stratosphere. Changed into my swimsuit and hit the hot tub next to the pool on the 8th floor about 1:30. Went back to the room and showered. Went and got my complimentary ticket to the Viva Las Vegas show there at the Strat (just for staying there!). The show started at 4 and lasted till about 5:30. It had a little magic, some singing, some dancers, some comedy....a little of everything. Not a bad show I would say...especially for free! Took the monorail back down to Bally's. Headed over to Ellis Island Casino (slightly off the strip) for Dinner. (Time for another link: http://www.ellisislandcasino.com/) Got my number (35 if you need to know...it was a busy place!), joined their slot club, and played some slots till my number was called (got a complimentary drink while playing too). Had their Steak Dinner for $4.95. It consisted of the aforementioned steak (not too bad a size...maybe 8 ounces), green beans, french fries (if you wanted they also had baked potato too), and a dinner salad. It was a really good meal for that price...I would've paid at least 3 or 4 dollars more for that. Headed back to the strip and caught a portion of the Dueling Pianos show at the Piano Bar and a band playing some 80's rock outside. Went to the Venetian and walked around for awhile. Took a little break in the food court and decided to sample some garlic parmesean breadsticks with marinara sauce from one of the vendors. Pretty good...just wasn't very hungry at that point. Took the monorail back up the strip and got back to the Strat around 11:30. Played slots for awhile then went to bed about 1 AM. |
| Vegas Trip Day THREE
I wake up around 6 or 6:30. I call the shuttle company that I paid for a round trip and order the return trip for tomorrow at 6:50 AM. They tell me to be at the West Entrance. I go across the street and have breakfast at the Aztec Casino Inn. $4.99 for two eggs, two sausages, hashbrowns, and two pieces of toast...pretty good. I decided to take the bus today. I pay $5 for a 24 hour bus pass. I take the bus down to the Riviera and pull the free slot and get a deck of cards. I get back on the bus and go to Caeser's Palace...I'm too early...the stores don't open till 10! However I wander around and take pictures of stuff. I catch the bus again and go down to New York New York. I use my coupon and get a free ride in the Nascar VR thing. I check out several spots inside NYNY including the Coyote Ugly. I head over to Excalibur and catch the monorail (this one is free) to Mandalay Bay and get some good shots of the Luxor. I go to MGM Grand and check out the lion habitat. I hop back on the bus and go back to Slots A Fun for lunch. I have a 1/2 pound 12 inch long hot dog for $.99! I go back to the Stratosphere to change into what I'm gonna wear for Dinner and the Howie Mandel comedy show. I go back to NYNY and wander for awhile till about 4:30. I go to Il Fornaio, which is where I had made a reservation, to eat Dinner. The hostess acted like she was surprised I was ready early. I get seated and wait for my waitress to arrive. About five minutes later she finally comes (it's really slow in here I don't know why it took her that long to come over) bringing bread and olive oil and gets my order. I get my pasta and ask the guy who brings it if I can get the water that I ordered. The waitress brings it and I ask her about my meal...there are supposed to be mushrooms and italian sausage in it. She states that the mushrooms and sausage are in the sauce and may not be very plenitful. For $13.95 I expected a better pasta dish. The taste was sadly lacking and the mushrooms and sausages were almost nonextistent. She comes back and asks if I want to see a dessert menu. I say no thank you. The waitress NEVER asks how my meal is or if everything is alright. I would suggest that Il Fornaio is NOT worth the price. I leave the restaurant and head out into the "food court" of NYNY which has been made to look like side street cafes in the city. I have a New York Cheesecake with strawberry topping. It's pretty good...I decide that if I ever eat at this hotel again...it's the food court for me! I head over to the MGM Grand and pick up my ticket for tonight's show. I chill and play slots for awhile. I start out with $8 and end up at $25. First time that I've ended a slot session ahead on this trip. I also get a comp drink while I'm playing. I walk around and watch some of the table games till the time I can be seated at the Hollywood Theater. I buy one of their big specialty drinks and a snack mix and sit back to wait the next 30 minutes or so for the show to start. There is an opening comic (Can't remember his name...but I'm sure I've seen him on Comedy Central) that is pretty good. Then it's time for the main man...HOWIE MANDEL!!! He's really funny. The audience kind of turns the show into an interactive one...either that or Howie's really good at making it seem like that's the way it went. Still a good time was had by all. The show lasts until about 10:45. I catch the bartenders at the Centrifuge Bar in MGM do a dance on the bar..pretty cool. I decide to take the bus all the way back up to the Strat. I decide to play slots with the extra $7 on me. I end up with $25 after that slot session (and another comp drink). I head up to bed about 1 AM. I order a wake up call from the front desk and hit the sack. |
| Vegas Recap
Hey all, Here's the final chapter of my Vegas Trip. Remember how I had called and set the pick up time for my shuttle? Well....I even called the morning of the pick up and reverified (is that a word?) the location the shuttle would go to. I waited until it was 7 minutes late and called them. They told me the number of the shuttle and said it was on it's way. 7:20 I'm calling them AGAIN because the shuttle still is not there. This time I get a different person. She tells me that the shuttle driver listed me as a "no show" and the next shuttle is the 7:50 one. This is a problem since my plane leaves at 8:55 and I was supposed to be at the airport 2 hours ahead of that which means I was already late. I ended up having to take a taxi (which cost $12.95) so that I could get to the airport...luckily the security wasn't too bad that morning so I had time to spare. I will never use Las Vegas Limousine service again. I will also never pay for a round trip service again...I think it's just too tempting for them to leave a customer stranded when they already have their money. So in conclusion...I had a number of good meals and only one bad one. I came home with 14 decks of cards from different locations. I joined 12 different slot clubs (hoping that will mean some good offers later on down the line for a return trip). I came home with a free t-shirt, coffee cup, 3 strings of beads, and other misc. items. I also decided that buying the $5 all day bus pass was the best way to get around on the strip. Saw two pretty good shows and a number of interesting attractions. Took over a hundred pictures on my digital camera. All in all a good vacation! |