Friday, March 30, 2012

Bob Stupak's Vegas World

I was going through some old files and found my confirmation papers for my first ever Vegas trip.... to Bob Stupak%26#39;s Vegas World. Anyone else remember Bob?



You paid $398 up front for the package. Upon check-in they refunded $200 in cash (expecting you%26#39;d spend it in the casino, I%26#39;m sure), plus gave all sorts of extras.... $200 in table promo. chips that had to be played not cashed, $400 in slot machine free play (though it was special tokens then, not a card), 4 show tickets, free keno plays, and unlimited drinks (whether or not you were gambling).



Those were the days. What a frightening place, but it did get me to Vegas... though these days I prefer the Wynn or maybe the Flamingo!



Bob Stupak's Vegas World


Strange space age-gothic vibe in that place but the banners everywhere that said ';He%26#39;s Polish'; were just too much. Kind of weird, kind of cool.





I never stayed there but I bought a couple of packages for the free stuff and checked in. The area behind the place was pretty shady even back then.



:-%26gt;





Poor Bob was in a major motorcycle accident that really tore his face and body up. He rebounded and still retained his ';colorful'; personality.



Bob Stupak's Vegas World


I do remember Vegas World but don%26#39;t remember exactly where it was located...I want to think it was somewhere by stratosphere (or was that it?)




Sure do remember Bob! I never stayed there but I did go to VW. That had to be the creepiest casino ever! It was so dark and it had all those twinkling light, astronauts hanging from the ceiling and those mirrors! I couldn%26#39;t find my way out of the casino. Honest- it was so disorienting being in there I couldn%26#39;t find the door. I thought I would have to live the rest of my life in there- what a horrible thought!



For those not familiar with this creepy place-



http://www.lvstriphistory.com/ie/world70.htm





I remember when he had his motorcycle accident and they had to put his face back together again like a jigsaw puzzle- piece by piece.





I understand he is still around playing poker.




On the spot where the Strat now stands.




I remember Vegas World too. That place was so weird.




So I was right!!Wow, so many places have come and gone that it%26#39;s hard to remember where everything was.




i read about this place a while ago ....i think stupak sold to the ppl who were builidng stratosphere.



sounded like an interesting (possibly wierd)place!




sounded like an interesting (possibly wierd)place!





Interesting? That is a nice way of putting it. More like- bizarre!




vp03,





What about the millions of lights over the Galaxy Bar and that giant wheel of fortune? OMG.





I had always heard the rooms were awful. I purchased the package (x2) for the drinks, gambling money, show tickets, and so on, we never even looked at the room. I should have done that once and learned my lesson. The only good that came from it was a couple of pretty good shows and I was able to learn to play a few casino games with the ';bankroll'; that came with the package.





The place hurt my head after a couple of hours.




From the %26#39;cheapovegas guys%26#39;:





http://www.bigempire.com/vegas/bobstupak.html





Funny as hell, IMHO. They REALLY figured out how to %26#39;work%26#39; those package deals and make money every single trip.

Mon Ami Gabi

I was wondering what the dress code is for this restaurant and what sort of price range it is in

Mon Ami Gabi

Dress codes are only in place at the very top end restaurants in Vegas and then they%26#39;re rarely enforced to any degree. So long as you%26#39;re not heading there straight from the pool you%26#39;ll be fine wearing most things at MAG.. :-)

Link to menus and prices:

http://www.usmenuguide.com/monamigabi.html

Mon Ami Gabi

I would say moderately priced. Business Casual clothing. An excellent restaurant.


Vegas is a rather casual town. Even the top restaurants that say they have a dress code don%26#39;t really enforce it. You will see everything from shorts to jeans to business casual to formalwear so you can basically wear whatever you feel comfortable wearing.


Ate there last Sunday evening. I had the filet with frites for $30.00. Salads and desserts ran about $8-10. We sat inside as it was too cold. In the past, we have always sat on the terrace overlooking the Bellagio fountains. Much prefer sitting outdoors. Dress is business casual, but this Vegas, and anything goes. Enjoy!

  • grown dutch rabbit
  • Breakfast & Coffee

    We are staying at the Monte Carlo but will be visiting the other casinos each day.





    Does anyone have any recommendations for places to have breakfasts and coffee (cappuccino and macchiato). We would like to try a different place each day.





    We do not want buffets or fast food/starbucks, just good healthy food and real coffee.



    Breakfast %26amp; Coffee


    room service



    Bouchon at The Venetian



    Breakfast %26amp; Coffee


    I forgot to say that we don%26#39;t want to get room service either, we want to experience the cafes that vegas has to offer!




    For coffee and people watching try Sugar and Ice at the Wynn. For breakfast try Country Club Grill also at the Wynn. Sit outside on the golf course. Veranda at Four Seasons has a nice breakfast, sit outside by the pool.




    The best good healthy food is Mandalay Bay buffet.





    More juices, fresh fruits, and appetizing variety of regular and low fat items than any order you place in any cafe%26#39;





    If you insist on a regular breakfast order, low in taste, vitamins, and variety, and high in fat, any good hotel has a 24 hr cafe that has well prepared food.




    Thanks for the advice. What about really good places for coffee?




    For coffee, go to Palio in the Bellagio. Ask for the refillable cup. It will cost you $6.49, and you can refill it at several places at Bellagio during your stay. You can refill it with coffee or any soft drinks as often as you like.




    Not sure if this fits the bill, but there is a Denny%26#39;s somewhere near Casino Royale.




    Great coffee at Espressamente Illy at Palazzo. I haven%26#39;t actually been there but their other locations are wonderful.




    The cafe at the Paris.




    We are staying at the MC for the second time in August and for breakfast you could try the Cafe which is open 24 hours. The buffet at Monte is not one of the better ones, but the cafe is pretty good they have a good menu. We ate there a number of times for lunch or late night and it was good at all times.

    GO Rooms at Flamingo

    Has anyone stayed in one recently? We%26#39;re booked for Nov and were able to get a really good deal. Thanks!





    GO Rooms at Flamingo


    We stayed in GO rooms in December and this past February. They are great rooms....enjoy! Remember to take CD%26#39;s with you or your i-Pod if you want to use the sound system that is in the room. =)



    GO Rooms at Flamingo


    We just stayed in one two weeks ago....Our was comped so I will say that it was a good d eal :)




    They are great rooms in a not so great hotel. The Flamingo is old and the pool isn%26#39;t that good. Rooms are great and if you get a good deal than its worth it!

    Lake Mead Rec Area to VoF State Park

    After some consideration of a tour, I think instead we will rent a car for a day to check out these parks so we can be on our own timetable. I%26#39;m interested in getting some great pics, maybe some walking too since the weather should be pleasant in late April, and just enjoying the scenery. We have been to Hoover Dam a few times, along with the adjacent Lake Mead area at that end. I know this rec area is large and apparently has an entrance to VoF on another side--true? I%26#39;ve heard it%26#39;s spectacular to drive thru on the way to VoF. We%26#39;d like to see both and the day we plan for this would be our last day in Vegas. We can leave the hotel around 8 am.





    My questions are: how much time should we realistically allow to do a (mainly) driving tour of these, with stops at visitor%26#39;s centers and parking areas? What%26#39;s not to be missed here? Any museums? Recommendations appreciated, thanks!



    Lake Mead Rec Area to VoF State Park


    We just did that drive last month, and it was a beautiful drive through the desert. There is a $5.00 fee to enter the Federal Park, and there is a $6.00 fee to enter the Valley of Fire (it is a Nevada State Park hence the additional fee)





    It is a 2 lane road, and there were several stopping places along the way. We were gone for 9 1/2 hours, but we went to Mesquite after we left Valley of Fire so estimate it would have been around 7 hours if we would have taken the interstate back to Vegas after we left VOF Park.





    I think we will go back another time, because we were there during the day and several here on the forum have told me the colors are really beautiful early or later in the day. There is a Visitor Center, and that is also the only place we noticed restrooms except at the VOF entrance so don%26#39;t drink too much before you make the drive! LOL



    Lake Mead Rec Area to VoF State Park


    It is a really beautiful drive thru Lake Mead rec area to Valley of Fire. The drive took a little longer than we expected it to, but we really enjoyed it. Of course, we did get out and use the restroom at a couple of picnic areas and walk around and stretch our legs a bit. Try to make it to Valley of Fire by noon or so, so you have plenty of time to drive around and see the sights. There are some really nice hiking trails that can be done with great features such as petroglyphs and red rock. There are actually quite a few restrooms in the park. I know that I visited the ones at Atlatl rock, elephant rock, the visitors center, and the cabins. Stay for sunset, as it is incredible!! We were wowed by the colors and still have some of those photos hanging on our walls. AMAZING!! You will really enjoy it. Then, it is about an hour and 15 minutes back to the strip.




    I found a map online and it looks like we would come in on route 147 (Lake Mead Blvd) where there is one entrance station to LMRA then follow Northshore Rd up to the VoF entrance--proceed thru there and exit the park on route 169 to take 15 back into Vegas. Or is there a better route?





    We were thinking ideally this would take about half the day and maybe we%26#39;d get a late lunch on the way back. (Suggestions welcome for that) We have plans that evening so don%26#39;t want to be gone the whole day, a little downtime at the hotel would be nice.




    Yes that is the route we took. When you exit VOF, just go straight north to I-15 then you can head east to Mesquite (there are several casinos there, so you can eat supper there) or west back to Vegas.





    It is well worth your time, and it will offer some beautiful views! IMHO

    Trip Report 3/12-3/16

    Just got back from LV from a convention and since I always glean great information from this site I thought I would try to give a little back.





    Since it was a convention we were busy most of the time and rented a car so we did not have to eat on strip which is more costly. Our accommodations were at Bellagio Hotel.





    Went to Rosemary%26#39;s for lunch one day for the prix fixe and it was wonderful. I had the BBQ shrimp and blue cheese coleslaw and DH had the potato/onion soup, both of which were wonderful. I had the filet kabobs and DH had the salmon which were both very good. Dessert was coconut bread pudding and the special dessert of the day which was coconut cream pie with mango sauce and all I can say is yummo!





    We used to live in CA so a trip to In N Out Burger was in order and the day we went there was a line out the door - good, as usual.





    Our hosted dinner was at Olives in the Bellagio and the food was very, very good. I had the Mahi Mahi fish special of the evening and DH had the steak and both were excellent. Had tuna tartar appetizer and salad for starters, both good and assortment of flatbreads which were the best I have ever had, they disappeared off the table by the group in a big hurry. It was a birthday for one of our employees so a cake was ordered, white with raspeberry sauce and it was beautiful to look at and very good as well. Since this restaurant overlooks the fountains it was really lovely. Went to Fontana Bar after dinner for drinks and dancing to Dianne Diaz, had a nice time.





    Other meals were a quick bite at Bellagio Cafe, typical coffee shop meal with inflated prices.





    My favorite place in the Bellagio is the Cafe Gelato which, I have to admit, I went to three different evenings for my fix. It is really, really good but pricey.





    I was disappointed that the Desert Passage Shops are now Miracle Mile at PH and now it has no charm IMHO.





    Visited most of the newer places, Wynn, Palazzo, etc., nice hotel but all we did was wander in and out.





    I do not gamble much so no report on that end.





    Hope this report is helpful to some of you. This is my first trip report post.



    Trip Report 3/12-3/16


    ipasta- what a great trip report. Wow, nice hosted meal at Olives. Sounds like a good time.





    Glad you went to Rosemary%26#39;s. Love that place, best deal in town. Can%26#39;t wait to try in - n - Out. Never have done that yet.







    You didn%26#39;t say much about your room at the Bellagio. Did you like it?





    Glad you had a good trip, even if it was mostly business. Thanks for sharing.



    Trip Report 3/12-3/16


    I%26#39;m jealous that your convention was at Bellagio! Ours is at Flamingo in November, where it always is, and won%26#39;t be nearly as fun as yours! Nice report, thank you!




    jpasta - Only one quibble - I don%26#39;t know too many ';coffee shops'; that serve a perfectly prepared Chilean sea bass. Sometimes it%26#39;s all about what you order. Also, the chef at Cafe Bellagio is an ex-con so don%26#39;t let him hear you or he%26#39;ll kick your butt :)





    Thanks for the TR.




    Great trip report! Sounds like you got good food and a lot of sight seeing out of your convention.




    Thanks for sharing your TR. I have been to Vegas many times and have never been to Rosemary%26#39;s. I%26#39;ve never heard a bad thing about it. Someday I%26#39;ll make it there.




    Good TR glad you had fun.


  • oily skin
  • ALLEGIANT Air Airport Arrival

    OK, We are flying out on Allegiant Air and we leave to come home at 6:45 am in Vegas. I%26#39;ve heard to be at the airport 2 hours early and then I hear be there at least 3 hours early......

    Being so early in the morning, I don%26#39;t want to get up any earlier than I have to. And yes, I%26#39;ve thought about not going to sleep at all :)

    Thanks.

    ALLEGIANT Air Airport Arrival

    It will still be fairly crowded at that time of the morning, but 2 hours should be fine. We%26#39;ve flown Allegiant our last couple times out there.

    ALLEGIANT Air Airport Arrival

    I would call Allegiant before you leave for the airport...the last few times I have flown them to LV our flight has been delayed at least two hours and we ended up hanging around the airport when we would have rather been back in the casino!


    When Allegiant flights are delayed, they are often delayed for hours!

    But early morning Allegiant departures from LV are typically on time.


    May I ask where in Michigan you flying to get to LV? We have flown from Lansing before and were told those flights were cancelled. There were flights from Ft. Wayne, IN and now hav been told by Allegiant that those flights are now cancelled. Is there somewhere else in MI where Allgeiant flies to LV?


    I%26#39;ve also flown Allegiant with an early return flight - I think around 6:30 am. Two hours early is plenty of time. Another thing to keep in mind is that the ticket counter for Allegiant doesn%26#39;t open until 4:00 am.


    I agree with viking Midwest. My flights always leave for Rockford, IL at 6 a.m. My friend thinks we have to be there 2 1/2 hours or more before the flight. At 3:30 a.m. there%26#39;s a usually about 15 to 20 people just getting in line. With the ticket counter not opening until 4 a.m. I don%26#39;t mind getting there around 4, but getting there at 3:30 makes me crazy. Burger King is usually the only place open to even get anything to eat by our gate and they don%26#39;t (or didn%26#39;t) open up until 5 a.m. It%26#39;s not busy at all at security either. Just to let you know I haven%26#39;t traveled on a week-end so that could be a factor in arrival time at the airport, too.

  • unsplit a computer peak
  • Vegas 03/23-28 what to pack

    I have been watching the weather network and it looks nice and warm in Vegas now. When I look at the live webcams, there seem to be alot of people in long pants and t-shirts, light jackets. Am I going to freeze if I pack shorts and skirts? We have always gone to Vegas in Oct/Nov. Help please



    Vegas 03/23-28 what to pack


    Ha, you wont freeze!! Just make sure you bring jeans and sweaters for the night time, it is the desert and it can get chilli at night.





    Dont forget your bikini too, 75 deg, is great weather to hang by the pool expecially since you%26#39;re coming from the cold.





    Always be prepared in vegas.



    Vegas 03/23-28 what to pack


    I will be in LV 03/23 at MGM



    Sunday



    Sunny



    Hi 68°F Sunday



    Night



    Mostly



    Clear



    Lo 52°F



    Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 68.



    Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 52.





    Monday: Sunny, with a high near 74.



    Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 55.





    Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 71.



    Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 57.





    Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 68.





    Most online weather sites lets you plug in LV, I am waiting for 03/22 to pack since the weather report keeps changing.



    Have fun.
















    It%26#39;s supposed to be in the mid 70%26#39;s even to 80 at the time you will be there so shorts should be fine for day but it will get chilly if not cold at night. I was in Vegas almost 2 weeks ago and it does get cold at night.




    Thank you for your replies. I will pack a bit of everything. I can%26#39;t wait, I suppose if I am cold I can just drink more ;-)




    I always bring a sweater and a jacket when I go to Vegas at any time of the year except summer. It is always best to bring some things that can be layered so you will be prepared for any kind of weather. Some people find the casinos too cold- even in the summer. I never felt that way but people have suggested bring a sweater when it is over 100- just for the casinos or shows.




    i was in vegas 3/11 to 3/15. it was sunny, with one day in the 80%26#39;s. it was breezy day times and very windy one night. i carried a sweater and wore it in all the casinos, the a/c seemed a little cool to me. i wore polos, 3/4 length sleeve t shirts and carried a medium weight jacket, and was glad of it on the windy night. i wore jeans and tennis and closed toe shoes. i did see people at the belliago pool on the sunniest and warmest day. check weather.com 48 hrs before your trip so you can know best what to pack. hope this helps




    OK I live here and I can tell you it is not pool weather. A week or 2 back we had a spell of weird warm weather but that is not the norm. 2 or 3 days ago it was 50 for the high.

    looking for nice hotel

    Hello!





    THis is our first trip to Vegas. Can you give me som suggestions on a hotel. I am looking for a hotel that is on the strip, close to it all, at a resonable price? I had chosen Excalibur, but not sure if that is wise or not? I want to be able to walk most every where. Please help me. We are going May 26.



    Thanks!!!



    looking for nice hotel


    What price range are you looking into and maybe give you age.





    Some hotels are gears towards older and young crowds. Just got back yesterday we were there 5 days for nights it was so crowded but come to find out it was Spring Break, lots of young adults.



    looking for nice hotel


    Excalibur is pretty south strip. I would choose something more central like the Flamingo, Bill%26#39;s, Harrah%26#39;s, Bally%26#39;s or Treasure Island. Rates are fairly low that week.




    I really dont want to spend more then 150 a night. I also have thought about the Flamingo, is that a hotel that I would be able to do alot of walking from?




    You should find good rates for your dates. Flamingo is in an excellent location and shouldn%26#39;t be too expensive.




    Bills or Flamingo.Love Bills!!!




    How is sams town. I know the sams town in tunica is ok, but how is it in Las Vegas?




    Fir the middle of the Strip, you should think of TI, Flamingo, or Harrah%26#39;s. All seem like a lot of fun, at a reasonable price, and are fairly nice.




    Sams is totally isolated from the strip or anything to see at all.





    Check pricing at Flamingo, MonteCarlo, Harrahs, Luxor





    Go to smartervegas.com





    Click on the link to Luxor deal



    ';ULTIMATE LUXURY'; $68 per night +tax, and some food credit too





    Monte Carlo %26#39;TZSTAR'; link will give you avg rate of $77 +tax for Monte Carlo




    But the best deals are on harrahs.com ;





    Ballys, Rio, Flamingo each for about $69 ner night





    Ballys is most central, spacious rooms, pool is ';old-school';



    Flamingo central with great pool and gardens, std size rooms



    Rio half mile off midstrip with shuttles, great big nice rooms and great big pool area




    WOW!! thanks so much for all the information, and thanks for the websites, I found some awesome rates. Thanks again!

    Come on, SW! Getting antsy...

    It seems like Southwest%26#39;s sale for flights through June 25 has been going on for months (maybe it%26#39;s just me, but I know it%26#39;s been several weeks). For those of you familiar with that airline, any thoughts on when they might have a sale on flights after that?



    Come on, SW! Getting antsy...


    Sister ';C';...not until they fix all the cracks! =)



    %26lt;feel free to smack me%26gt;



    Come on, SW! Getting antsy...


    No, I won%26#39;t smack you. But I DID roll my eyes....





    :-)




    Cracks were found on only 4 planes out of the 46 they grounded, and those 46 were out of over 500 they operate. Necessary repairs were completed by last weekend. I would imagine that the vast, vast majority of the flying public will have totally forgotten this (if they ever even heard about it) in a month or so. I told people to buy their stock last week as I am confident they will rebound. Maybe they didn%26#39;t put anything else on sale until they figured out how much of a problem they really had. Turns out it was minor, and now they can get on with things. They may also be waiting to see what the majors are going to do this summer. I predict a really bad summer for finding low airfares due to the soaring fuel prices.



    Sorry if I%26#39;m a bit OT for Vegas.




    Watching the news last night, I believe they mentioned Continental (may have been NWA) was joining UA and USAir with a $50 r/t fuel surcharge from IND. I see the other airlines doing the same with crude oil prices hitting all time highs.




    I have been looking for deals at SW too. I purchased my ticket, but was hoping for a ding so I can trade for a cheaper flight.





    The price has double from last year.





    I don%26#39;t think, at least from my location that the prices are going to drop. Fuel has gone up so high.




    The current sale will end (I believe) on March 20, so probably soon after that. I%26#39;m waiting for July!




    Thanks for pointing that out, juwel. I%26#39;m waiting on July, too. Well actually, June 29 and the first week of July. I was so irritated when it cut off at the 25th.




    So $849 for two RT is as low as you think it will get?




    People MAY forget the scam they pulled on the American public by paying off officals and putting the public at risk, but true flyers never deal with this company based on their scam practices of buping people who buy the cheaper tickets.





    Can you say oversold???





    OK, buy the highest priced ticket and you get a CHANCE at a seat. Buy a cheaper ticket and you MAY get on a flight.





    Somewhere Herb is sitting counting his money with the Countrywide CEO.

    Trip report March 8-15

    Recently returned from Vegas This was our first trip and we had a fantastic time. We were 6 family members, ages 13, 17, 17, 45, 46 and 69. My mother-in-law and husband went to see Jay Leno and really enjoyed it. My husband and 13 year old daughter went to see Wayne Brady and thought it was great. The two 17 year old boys went to Blue Man Group and were ready to go back again as they enjoyed it so much. My mother-in-law and I went to Bette Midler and Barry Manilow and loved both shows. She is a Fanilow and absolutely loved the Barry concert. We all enjoyed Mystere and look forward to seeing more Cirque shows. We also saw Lance Burton and really enjoyed it although the kids described it as ';Cheesy';, although the boys did like his assistants! Me and my mother-in-law took in the Mac King show and absolutely loved it for the 25.00 price. SHe said she laughed harder with Mac than she did with Jay Leno and there was a subtstantial difference in ticket prices. We also saw the car show at the Imperial Palace which my husband really enjoyed - (thanks for the advice to get the free coupons from the internet). My husband did the NASCAR experience and of course loved every minute of his 8 laps around the track - well organized and for him, and true passion and money well spent. Went to the Hoover Dam and was astounded by the engineering and overall size of the dam- very informative and again well organized. The only disappointment was the sand dune buggy ride. As my husband and nephew are plus size men, even though the company said they their size was not a problem, it was with regards to comfort and speed. The buggy didn%26#39;t have the power needed to get through the dunes with their weight, and they were very uncomfortable for the 90 minute ride. If average size, probably a great experience. We rented a van through Thrifty%26#39;s and used valet parking throughout our week and would highly recommend this to everyone. We found Vegas quite easy to navigate. We visited most of the hotels on the strip and we were all overwhelmed with everything we saw. Loved the Venetian and Caesar%26#39;s Palace the most and the fountains at the Bellagio. We also visited Freemont Street at night and really enjoyed that experience. We stayed in two units at the Signature (rented through VRBO)and the service we received was exceptional. Would definitely stay there again. As I have read in other trip reports, the beds were extremely comfortable and even the sofa beds were comfortable. The bathtub was devine! We ate at Ellis Island, Maggianno%26#39;s, Casa Di AMore and the Harley Davidson Cafe and had the buffet at the Rio- absolutely amazing! As this was our first trip to Vegas, we had never seen such a buffet before - moderately priced and had something for everyone - even my son who is a very selective eater. Tried the In and Out burgers - good - very fresh tasting - but didn%26#39;t get the hype. Had no idea the meat patties were so thin so my teenage son was starving



    shortly after. Got to lounge by the pool for two afternoons - what a treat being from northern ontario canada (I have returned home to lots of snow). Even tried the slots, and although none of us were lucky, we had a great time. I selected our itinerary based on information gathered from the forum - thanks to all for helping me plan such an excellent trip - now I understand why people are so anxious to return - we have already decided that a return visit to vegas is a must.





    Trip report March 8-15


    wow im not a math major but that seems to be about 1200 dollars in shows --- did u get any deals other then the one you mentioned -- great tr nonetheless



    Trip report March 8-15


    Thanks for writing the report - glad you had a good time.




    Sounds like you and your family had a great time! How unique you all were able to split up see shows that you each wanted to see...great idea! So what tour did you go on at the Dam...was it the $25 one or ?




    Thanks for sharing your TR. You certainly took in a lot of shows and I%26#39;m glad there was something for the whole family to enjoy. Now you see why so many people on this forum are addicted!




    Good TR you had a crowd with you glad you had fun.




    It was the eleven dollar power plant tour. It was a busier morning than what they expected so we had about a 15 minute wait for the tour, which was totally acceptable to us - we were thinking we would have a longer wait. The guides were informative and the tour certainly helped you to understand the enormity of the project. From start to finish, it took about an hour - this includes a short 10 minute film and walking to short distances to two different destinations within the power plant.





    Regarding the previous question about the shows, my husband and I have come to the agreement that when we travel ( which hasn%26#39;t been often) we are going to see everything we want as long as we can afford it. Where else could we go to see such as varying selection of entertainment options offered at the same time and the same place? The way I looked at it, we paid as much for the entertainment in Vegas as we would have for our hopper passes in Florida - been there and done that!




    Kimmer-



    Loved your TR- Looks like you did a little of everything and had a great time doing it!! Thanks for taking the time to write!!



    S=-)




    Glad you and your family had such a great trip Kimmer. Man, it went fast, even for me! Seems like you just left.





    You sure did it up right! You%26#39;re all hooked now!





    Thanks for the great TR.




    What a wide variety of activities and obviously well-planned trip!





    Now start planning the next one :)

    Video Poker Question

    Okay, on the risk of sounding like a total newbie....I have gone onto freeslots and used the trainer to learn the ins and outs of VP, wanted to test my knowledge at Soaring Eagle in Michigan and found the VP machines. Hmmm, confused, how do you tell if they are 9/6 machines?

    Video Poker Question

    All the machines will have payout tables somewhere on them. Just look for those that pay out 9 coins(for each coin you put in) for a full house, 6 coins for a flush and 2 coins for two of a kind(JOB machines). This is the advantage of vp as opposed to slots- you know the payout in advance.

    Video Poker Question

    ';This is the advantage of vp as opposed to slots- you know the payout in advance. ';

    Slot machines also have the pay tables displayed on the machine...


    “';This is the advantage of vp as opposed to slots- you know the payout in advance. ';

    Slot machines also have the pay tables displayed on the machine...”

    Big difference between pay tables and payout.

    Payout is 99.5% with 9/6 JOB

    Payout for slots is who knows??? Certainly won’t be 99.5% though.


    Keep in mind that not all casinos offer any full-pay machines. The good news is that VPFREE lists Soaring Eagle as having 9/6 JOB at the $1 level on their bartops.


    Good point Zeke. Judge, also keep in mind that the machine pay tables will vary from machine to machine within the casino. You have to hunt down the best machines in each casino. When comparing machines, look at the paytables for 1 coin in.

    In case you didn%26#39;t notice, at Freeslots there is a button (';more games';) next to the trainer mode button where you can change the VP game.


    It is not always easy to find 9/6 JOB machines on the strip. You will be better off looking for them downtown or at some of the off strip casinos(Gold Coast has many of them and they do have a free shuttle). Be sure to check-some of the strip casinos have 7/5 JOB machines- even at $1 or $5 JOB machines! I can%26#39;t believe people are actually playing on them!


    Thanks all, I knew it would make me feel stupid, but I had to ask! I saw the payouts, but didn%26#39;t know what 9/6 meant! I knew to look for those machines that did pay 2 for 1 for two pair as opposed to one I started to play that was even money.

    Thanks for all of your help.


    I%26#39;m with VP. Finding the good paying vp machines is getting harder and harder. I couldn%26#39;t believe the number of people playing the 7/5 machines.


    If a casino doesn%26#39;t have any 9/6 JOB Video Poker, isn%26#39;t playing 8/5 better than any alternative games, like Slots? And just how much difference is there between 9/6, 8/5 and 7/5?


    exactly what VP game are you playing? 9/6 is what you want for JOB - for other games 9/6 may not be the best.

    Don%26#39;t think all VP games are alike - they are not.

    You know the proper machines since you can see the actual payout on the screen - and with 9/6 be sure to play where the payout is exactly as shown on www.bobdancer.com some are 9/6 and not the proper payout for 2 pair.

    You MUST know the proper paytables - which is easy, so look at the machines.

    also the VPfree website at yahooo will help you know where in each casino the machines are located, especially for casinos with a monitor. be sure to read the blog to see daily notes by players. machines move constantly.

  • oily skin
  • gray hair
  • Bellagio for $179 per night or Venetian for $160?

    I had a reservation with Bellagio for $179 per night for 11 nights in June for 2 rooms. This was booked via Whatahotel which included perks such as an upgrade to a Pool View Room on 12th floor or higher, subject to availability Daily continental breakfast for up to two in-room guests (Cafe Bellagio, Palio, Gelato or Pool Cafe) Two fitness facility passes. This booking was refundable if I cancel before June. However I felt the rooms did not look as nice and was smaller than Venetian or Palazzo. I also feel the restaurants in Bellagio are a bit pricey whereas Venetian had a more variety of choices.





    I heard that Priceline only offer Venetian or Palazzo as 5* hotels so I thought I give it a go. I made a bid via Priceline and managed to get 2 rooms at Venetian for $160 per night for 11 nights in June! This is not refundable which means I will now cancel my Bellagio rooms.





    Initially I was very happy with my bid with Priceline but now having doubts. Although I have been Vegas twice I have never stayed in either hotels so was hoping if anyone can give me their thoughts about my decision.





    I hope I made the right choice :)



    Thanks.



    Bellagio for $179 per night or Venetian for $160?


    Hi





    I think either deal would have been OK, but would you have made the most of the extras? If you don%26#39;t eat breakfast every day, we don%26#39;t, then that%26#39;s no loss and as for the gym,lol!!!!







    Clive



    Bellagio for $179 per night or Venetian for $160?


    A pool room view at Bellagio doesn%26#39;t constitute an upgrade. Rooms with views of the pool are standard deluxe rooms.





    Likewise a room on a higher floor also doesn%26#39;t constute any sort of upgrade. Don%26#39;t let this Whatahotel outfit think they%26#39;re giving you something for nothing when they%26#39;re not.




    Either would be a good place to stay but I think you%26#39;ll be fine at the Venetian.



    The Venetian always interested me and last year I finally stayed there with a cousin and we absolutely loved the place.



    All the staff were friendly and helpful.



    Lots of good shows to pick from.



    Loads of restaurants and at all sorts of price ranges.



    The room itself was gorgeous and had just been redone that year.





    I haven%26#39;t stayed at the Bellagio but I%26#39;ve visited it many times. Loved the fountains and observatory and some of the restaurants but prefer the Venetian so I think you made a good choice.




    Venetian for $160 is an EXCELLENT deal. The rooms are all suites (large bed area with sunken living room) and are very spacious. Standard Bellagio rooms are small by comparison. The extra amenities for Bellagio don%26#39;t seem worth it...the only viable extra there is a continental breakfast, but with the $20/nt that you%26#39;ll save you can buy a coffee and croissant and have a little pocket change leftover.




    That%26#39;s a good deal for the Venetian. I think you%26#39;ll be happier with a room at The Venetian




    Pool view on a higher floor? What did PT Barnum say?????????




    But if location matters, Bellagio is center strip.




    Venetian is a lot better than Bellagio. Bellagio is standard compare to Venetian. Bellagio rooms are smaller, more worn, staff not friendly.



    Venetian has larger room %26amp; bathroom %26amp; lot better amenities in the room %26amp; the staff is so friendly %26amp; helpful. The hotel has a better pool %26amp; fantastic places to eat. You definitely got a better deal at Venetian, Bellagio is not worth it.




    V for sure - the room is much better, you are right - better cheap eats.



    The ppol view at B ';if available'; is not a great room compared to V.



    Also B has too many tourists looking around that actually affect a guests stay - whereas the tourists at V are generally not near where guests are - unless you%26#39;re at the mall, etc. So at V you can go from room to spa, casino, shows without passing through throngs of people.



    At The v the food court off the casino floor - just across from grand Lux is a little gem - a few selections with good, quick food




    You made the right choice to bid at Priceline for $160! That is a very good deal! I just bid there two weeks ago, for Memorial day weekend (Saturday) and got Palazzo for $188. Venetian, I feel, is half-star ahead of Bellagio in terms of rooms and overall niceness of the property. I just love that area. It%26#39;s more upscale than B%26#39;s area. Nearby hotels (Palazzo, Wynn, Mirage, TI) are within 5-10 walk. Overall, its just a classier hotel!





    Have a nice and safe trip!

    Venetian, Palazzo, or MGM Grand.

    All thing being equal, if you could get a room at any of them for the same price, which would you pick and why?



    Venetian, Palazzo, or MGM Grand.


    Is this a trick question?





    Why wouldn%26#39;t you take a 720 sf brand (Palazzo) new semi-suite for the same price as a regular room?





    If they are all the same price MGM is seriously overpriced for your dates.



    Venetian, Palazzo, or MGM Grand.


    No trick...I don%26#39;t know what all the different hotels have to offer room wise. I just know somebody wrote that they were getting a room at the venetian for less that what I was paying at the MGM. I realize that price is subjective to dates, but wanted to see which hotel I should go for if I can get similar rates. This will be my first trip to Vegas, so I am still learning. Thanks for any help you can offer.




    I guess it depends on what room at MGM - we had a room in the Grand Tower, which was very nice, but I didn%26#39;t pay that much for it ($69). MGM has some very nice suites, so I%26#39;m not sure what you were booking.





    We%26#39;re going in a couple of weeks and got the Palazzo rate of $179. Much more than I paid at MGM but it%26#39;s a newer, larger room.





    So you really have to watch the apples to apples thing.




    I think the MGM Signature is equal, but maybe not the rooms at the regular MGM Grand, unless you upgrade to a nice suite.




    MGM is a big step down to Venetian %26amp; Palazzo.



    Venetian %26amp; Palazzo are suites type rooms %26amp; bigger room %26amp; bathroom with lot better amenities.



    You are comparing a Hyatt to a Motel 8, there is no comparison MGM versus the other 2. If you are paying that much for an MGM room you got taken. If you can cancel you should %26amp; go with one of the others.




    If your talking about a regular room at MGM, then cross that one out. Palazzo standard rooms are clearly the newest, most luxurious rooms in Vegas right now. I%26#39;m going there for my second stay in May! Can%26#39;t wait!

    Flamingo or Harrah's

    Hi, going to Vegas April 7, and I promised my husband I%26#39;d make our reservations tonight. I just can%26#39;t decide on what hotel to stay at, Flamingo or Harrah%26#39;s. This will be our 3rd year in a row going, first stayed at Sahara%26#39;s (ewww, had no choice, went with friends), last year was at Excalibur, and while that was very nice, I felt I was too far down the strip, I want something more in the center. I read the reviews on Flamingo, and I was put off by them, unless the GO rooms, and even some of them were a little run down? I%26#39;m looking mainly for clean comfortable rooms. Thanks in advance!



    Flamingo or Harrah's


    We always stay at the Flamingo and love it. Never stayed at Harrahs. There is also Bills next to Flamingo that many people seem to really like. They are all good, center locations.



    Flamingo or Harrah's


    There are nicer hotels other than Flamingo or Harrahs, but if the choice was only between the two, it would be Flamingo by far. Harrahs is a dump.....and Bills is worse. Flamingo has been recently renovated and I would definitely stay in the GO rooms, its worth the extra upgrade fee.




    Hi My husband and I are going in April 8-11 and we are staying at Harrah%26#39;s. We made sure we reserved the renovated rooms. I have heard both properties are good as far as location and clean. Maybe we will run into you LOL




    Ok first I have to say that Harrah%26#39;s is not a dump. I have stayed there for over 25 years and it is very clean and comfortable and the staff is the best.



    Harrah%26#39;s is you basic room. Nothing fancy shmancy about it. I think you might be looking for a little bit more.




    Another Harrahs / Flamingo debate. They are both dated, they both have dump rooms, they both have updated nice rooms and they are both nice in there own way. If you like pools, go to Flamingo, If you like everything else, go to Harrahs. Split your trip and make your own decision. They are almost right next door so it shouldn%26#39;t be to inconvenient. I%26#39;ve stayed at both places more than once.I have never had a bad time at either one. Only minor problems. As I said, Pools Flamingo. Everything, Harrahs. They also use the same Total Rewards for comps. My daughters boyfriend works in the casino industry and stayed at Flamingo a few weeks ago and said it IS really old and dated. Next time Harrahs, forget the Flamingo. Regardless where you stay, You will have a good trip. Casinos are like BEERS and pizza, everyones got a different favorite. Tough choice????




    I have stayed at Flamingo many times %26amp; never had a bad room. The Go rooms are not run down. Flamingo %26amp; Harrah%26#39;s is a step up from Excalibur IMO. Flamingo rooms are very clean, great amenities, friendly staff, great location %26amp; fantastic pool. Harrah%26#39;s is nice %26amp; very clean rooms, nothing fancy but very nice %26amp; great staff. The casino has a great vibe %26amp; good place to eat %26amp; party.



    They both have clean %26amp; comfortable rooms.




    Last April my husband and I stayed at the Flamingo. We found the room to be run down...and the hotel much dirtier and smokier than others we visited. In October I went with a gf and stayed at Harrah%26#39;s. The room was much newer and nicer and the whole hotel had a better feel to it.




    We have stayed at Harrahs several times. It is not fancy but no where near a ';dump.'; The rooms are clean, the beds are comfortable, the casino is fun. We asked for extra blankets, pillows and a coffeemaker and got all with no problem. I would not hesitate to stay at Harrahs.





    Our trip in April will be at Flamingo. Then I can compare the two. Of note, we have stayed at Caesars several times also. I still do not find fault with Harrahs after staying in the Augustus tower and would stay there again.




    I love staying at Harrahs and it is by no means a dump...the rooms are simple with comfy beds and immaculately clean. The bathrooms are a bit small, but functional. Room service is fast, reasonably priced and as fresh as any room service can be. The staff at Harrahs are friendly, and drink service is excellent. They have a small poker room that is comfortable for beginners and a most brilliant assortment of penny slots.





    The Flamingo might have the better pool...but the place has a terrible odour to it, it never appears very clean to me. Folks seem to like the GO rooms...but if you are comparing a standard room at Flamingo to the standard room at Harrahs...I would personally go with Harrahs.





    If you were happy with Excalibur...Harrahs will make you happy also...I thought Excalibur was hell when we stayed there...but I loved staying at Harrahs.





    As a solo female traveller Harrahs worked for me, I felt I was in a friendly, clean and safe hotel.





    Have a great trip.





    Shirl%26#39; T -11 sleeps and getting restless now :-)




    Prader, You got some really good opinions here. Still undecided? Flip your coin. Hope your happy either way. Flip your 2-headed Harrahs coin. lol You can%26#39;t lose.

    Hotel Help

    Planning a trip in April for 3 nights and can%26#39;t decide which hotel...any recommendations would be helpful. Here are my options (flight included in price from Boston)





    Luxor - $550



    Mandalay Bay - $710



    Treasure Island - $718



    THEhotel - $805





    I%26#39;m thinking either Mandalay or TI. Which has a better casino, restaurants, pool scene, etc?





    Also, what happened to the ';candid user photo%26#39;s'; on TA? Anyone have good pictures on any of these places?





    thanks



    Hotel Help


    MB has the better pools (by a mile) and restaurants. They are both MGM properties so the casinos will be about the same except TI is smaller. If you are into the pool scene then MB is what you want.





    MB would be considered the better property of the two.





    The location of the two is about even. It depends if you like the South end (MB) or the North end (TI). To be honest I have always considered The Strip to be from MB to Wynn.



    Hotel Help


    Late April...Mandalay, for the pool.



    Early April, pool weather less likely, save the cash with Luxor




    One more thing.





    For $30 a night I would strongly consider TheHotel if the price quoted is for their two room (bedroom %26amp; livingroom) suite! It is well worth the $30 a night and you have access to all MB pools.




    Early April = low 80%26#39;s



    Late April = mid 80%26#39;s




    Mandalay Bay does have the better pools , BUT



    in April they will still all be closed except for the smaller main pool.



    April is not really pool scene time yet.



    The Hotel and MB are basically the same when it comes to casinos and places to eat.



    Luxor, no, getting pretty tired.



    Not a very ';happening'; spot.



    TI is trying to re-make it self and has some nice dining and fun casino.



    Also TI is much closer to so many other great places, Wynn, Paris etc...




    If this is your first trip for location alone I would pick Treasure Island.








    Actually



    Early April = low 70%26#39;s



    Late April= low 80%26#39;s




    TI is not worth more than Mandalay Bay, It is more in the category of Luxor. The rooms are very worn, dingy, %26amp; definitely not worth $718.00.



    Mandalay Bay %26amp; THeHotel are more of a luxuries place %26amp; a lot better amenities %26amp; better rooms. THe pool is great TI is no comparison.



    Luxor is a great deal if you want to save some money but if you can swing it I would go with either THeHotel or Mandalay Bay for an excellent stay.




    Thanks for all the advice. I would be going in early April. The pool area won%26#39;t be open at MB in early April??




    At least some of the areas will be open, not sure if all pools will be until the ';summer'; session.





    But what people are trying to tell you is, how cold will it be on your body after you exit the pool. Depending on weather. It%26#39;s a long walk back to the room if your body is shivering. Only you can know what temps work for you. =)





    vegas.com/resorts/pools/mandalaybaypool.html





    Call MB to see exactly what, if not all, pools will be open.

    Delta cuts some Vegas routes, adds 2nd bag charge

    I was surfing over on an airline forum and apparently there are some changes coming over at Delta Air Lines. On June 1, they are discontinuing all service between Ft Lauderdale (FLL) and Las Vegas. Four days later on the 5th, Boston and Orlando will lose their non-stops to Vegas as well. If there are some TA members out there with confirmed reservations beyond those dates, I recommend you contact them ASAP to see how they plan on re-routing you. I%26#39;m pretty sure you can ask for a full refund if it is unacceptable to you.

    Also, effective May 1st, they will join United and US Airways in charging their non-premium travelers $25 for checking a second bag on domestic flights.

    Allegiant, AirTran and US Airways all have previously announced cutbacks at Vegas this year, which will undoubtedly put upward pressure on air fares. The reason given is that it is a primarily leisure market with relatively few business travelers who usually pay a premium for last-minute travel. As I mentioned in Sister Dino%26#39;s thread, it looks to be a bad summer to find decent air fares.

    Start looking NOW!

    Delta cuts some Vegas routes, adds 2nd bag charge

    Good helpful info Strip. Miss you and your knowledge on the forum. I saw on the news Delta was laying off too. 300 I think, but memory escapes me.

    We need Nuclear planes....

    Delta cuts some Vegas routes, adds 2nd bag charge

    Airfare to Vegas is getting bad and with all these cuts I see it getting worse. I actually paid $300pp out of Detroit for a nonstop on USAir for April that we paid $200pp for our Feb trip, same flight.

    If it was not for comped or cheap rooms I would have to cut back on my trips.


    We%26#39;re being routed through Atlanta on our FLL- LAS Delta flight ( an airport I find very tough to enjoy), but it sure was nice whenever we could get a direct flight! Constantly getting harder to find decent fares from this market- it%26#39;s almost as cheap to go Lauderdale- London on the new Zoom airline service ( $500 rt) that is atarting in May. We%26#39;re paying $329 fro thsi flight we booked ages ago- lately everyone has been charging at least $400 and SWA wants over $600- well except maybe Spirit , but I am just not willing to give them my business.


    I%26#39;m already seeing the price difference from yesterday to today. Hopefully, they will be forced to lower the prices if the seats are unsold.


    I have seen a drastic increase from yesterday also. I am going to Vegas in June and I can now kick myself for not buying a couple of days ago. My thought was they can%26#39;t fly empty planes so the price will have to come down around April. But alas the flight I was looking at was a Delta flight. And now with the additional cost of a second bag, I guess my second bag will be a carry-on. I am sure everyone else will be doing the same thing. I can see the cabin of the plane now!

    I have to go to Vegas in June so I guess I will be playing the gamble game and checking flight costs daily.

    Thanks for letting us know about Delta. I only heard they were laying off, did not have a clue they were stopping certain flights.


    Strip Cruiser, thank you!

    All of my flights are cancelled. I am currently rescheduling.


    I have a question. What will happen to tourism in Las Vegas if the airlines cut flights there or even worse, charge an arm and a leg for the flights?

    Vegas could lose alot of money...

    Any thoughts?


    I booked 2 - round trip tickets from Columbus to Las Vegas non-stop flights both ways through Southwest Airlines directly through the web site. I booked them about 3 weeks ago and the total was $477 including tax

    Now i check and the same 2 tickets are priced at $649 ... wow i%26#39;m glad i booked ahead of time


    Yup, it seems that oil has finally reached the point where it%26#39;s really having an affect on the bottom line of the airlines. Many are cutting less-profitable routes, retiring older planes and laying people off or offering early retirement. Add to that the growing trend of charging for things that used to be ';included,'; like checked luggage and snacks/beverages and you can tell the airlines are hurting, big time. Vegas flights are just not as profitable as flights to major business centers so they%26#39;re easier targets for cuts. Southwest is slowly winning the battle at McCarran as they%26#39;ve already forced US Airways out of the Salt Lake %26amp; Denver markets with more probably to come.


    '; mmlacy '; i%26#39;m sure the tourist places are already seeing a decline in some business. What all this inflation does is stop the lower and middle incomed families from being able to take trips like these. If the prices keep rising you%26#39;ll soon just see wealthy people taking trips and no-one else will be able to afford to.

    Also you%26#39;ll probably see places like Vegas doing what they have to to get people to come such as lowering hotel prices and offering more specials to encourage business.

    I know if it wasn%26#39;t for a nice tax refund this year i wouldn%26#39;t be taking a trip in June .. i%26#39;m actually worried what%26#39;s going to happen between now and then with the gas prices rising and the economy in such bad shape.

    I hope Southwest continues flying out of Columbus since i already have my tickets bought.

    I know why they are starting to charge for extra bags checked-in, it%26#39;s there way to make up for rising fuel costs. I watched on CNN and they was talking about it, some airlines are charging $50 for a second bag. They also said alot of airlines are starting to no longer offer any free snacks during the flight but instead offer them at a price and the flight attendants are encouraged to sell expensive drinks.

  • Name for a new kitten
  • Harrah's Total Rewards booking questions

    I need to go to Vegas for a tradeshow in June. I originally called and using my card was given a rate of $55 / night for the Flamingo. I did not book the room as I was still not sure where I was going to stay. I mentioned to a friend of mine (Platinum Total Rewards member) that I was going on business for 3 days. He said that he would like to join me. He gave me his total rewards number and told me to give it to them when I booked the room. I booked our room at the Flamingo online and using both of our card numbers was given a comped room for the three nights. My friend has now changed his mind and is not able to come. Am I still able to use this reservation? The room is in my name but also has his number listed as a companion....will they check to see if he is with me? If I am able to get the room will it adversly affect his rating if he has no play that weekend? My friend doesn%26#39;t really care....he told me just keep the reservation and try to check in. Does any one have any guesses?



    Harrah's Total Rewards booking questions


    I would say that it wouldn%26#39;t matter because the room is in your name. When you check in they don%26#39;t ask for your players card. When they ask who else is in the room just give them your friends name. They don%26#39;t have to be there to check in with you. As far as his rating goes it won%26#39;t affect him but take his card with you and stick it in a machine and play $20 just to keep it up to date.



    Harrah's Total Rewards booking questions


    I disagree with the last response - they are going to want to see at least his card. By booking with his card you are saying he is there, and yes even if you got away with him not there, his rating could be affected for little play during a comped 3 night stay. You need to call and rebook without his #. Otherwise you will be in for a surpirse when you get there and they either want to see him or the card.




    That is an interesting question. Since his name and TR Number is on the reservation, they may ask for IDs for both names. I don%26#39;t know this to be a fact, but I would feel uneasy checking in. You will probably be okay, but I believe I would not chance it myself.



    Suppose, for example, I were a gold card member and I booked a reservation in my name and used a platinum card member%26#39;s number as my companion and got a really good rate as you did, and showed up without them with me. It would be the same scenario. So, I%26#39;m not sure what to say about this.



    Good question.




    It is find to do that. My dad use mine as a companion # %26amp; I didn%26#39;t go %26amp; nothing happen. The reservation was in his name %26amp; they just wanted his ID %26amp; nothing to do with me. He did take my card %26amp; played some on it like $50.00 that%26#39;s all %26amp; not once was he asked about me.




    In all of the years I have been going to Harrah%26#39;s they have never asked to see the other people I am checking in, just names.




    I have also never been asked if the other person was actually there. I would however take his card and play something on it.




    I would not risk it. The fine print says that they will ask for both IDs.





    I went with a friend last year who was getting there before me (I was getting in at like 11pm). They let her check in (room was in her name) but said that they would charge her the current rate of the room if I didn%26#39;t come and show my TR card by midnight.




    If the higher tier player is the one getting the comps they need to be there to check in. I have checked in with a buddy listed and they asked where he was but said it was okay because I was diamond and they really did not need his number. Everyone would do this if it was possible and just use some else鈥檚 number as their companion. Good luck




    When I was looking for a room I found this site which may be the one you booked online, not sure, but I had a TR card from here in Indiana so typed in my info and got all my night comp%26#39;d but 1, staying6 nights...and my account said 0 rewards, so still not sure why I got them comp%26#39;d but worked,lol...





    Here is the site , hope it works for ya:





    https:/鈥vailabilityCalendar.do




    My husband is a Diamond member, and when we check in, they do ask to see his card and ID, I believe, too. They check it each time you go into the Diamond Lounge, too. One time I tried to check out, and they said I couldn%26#39;t because the card is in his name. Just FYI. Hope this info helps.


  • oily skin
  • Parking at Chicago O'Hare any Suggestions?

    The DH and I are flying out of Chicago O%26#39;Hare on April 6 to Vegas....any suggestions as to where we should park for the week??





    I was looking on their website but parking at the airport is EXPENSIVE...just wondering if there are any good park %26amp; fly near by that you can suggest.



    Parking at Chicago O'Hare any Suggestions?


    I have done some of the offsite places that you can find when you google O%26#39;Hare parking. I don%26#39;t know that any are that significant in savings over the F lot at O%26#39;Hare when you factor in taxes and fees, though.



    Parking at Chicago O'Hare any Suggestions?


    Is $ 8.85 per day cheap to you? If so:





    parkrideflyusa.com/ord-ohare-airport-parking鈥?/a>




    Thanks...I was just looking at the airport parking reservations.com website and found some pretty good places, and you can reserve your spot ahead of time! Has anyone ever used this website before and done this?




    No, I%26#39;ve used the parkflyride one. There is another that comes up one a google search that gets you to a service that uses the Avis rental car lot in whatever suburb that is just south of the airport.

    TAXI Fare Cheaper No Tunnel

    I read that if you wanna save a few dollars, tell your cab driver to NOT take the tunnel to your hotel.



    I%26#39;m staying at Harrahs - will this save me some moolah??



    TAXI Fare Cheaper No Tunnel


    yes



    TAXI Fare Cheaper No Tunnel


    Of course one beer at the bar will eat up that savings in a hurry.




    Yes!!! Here is the site for the taxi authority and a list of fares and fees:



    http://taxi.state.nv.us/FaresFees.htm




    DrVegas why must you always give such long answers!!!!



    At least they are correct though.




    lol vd




    Thanks for the link - I haven%26#39;t seen this before.



    So I should definitely tell the cab driver to not take the tunnel.



    On the fare sheet, what is this fare wait time in the last column?



    Will my fare be approx 416.16 or $18.02. Sorry, haven%26#39;t taken many cabs???



    I love this forum - thanks everyone!




    $416??? sorry couldn%26#39;t resist - wait time refers to time the cab is stopped in traffic. So if the traffic is backed up- longer wait time.




    Yes... to Harrah%26#39;s it%26#39;ll be about 18 bucks plus tip of course.



    Wait time is when you have the driver wait while you go in a store or stop to pee or whatever.




    I agree with Doc 100% on this one...




    No Traveller that%26#39;s not what it means. The wait time per hour rate is more than the reg tick time on the meter.

    Leaving tomorrow for Vegas and the Venetian...input please!

    Hey guys! It%26#39;s finally here! Time for us to go.



    I booked through PL and got the Venetian. I was trying for Palazzo but no dice. I called them and they said that were in a 2 Queens in the Venezia tower. Is that an upgrade? From my research it seems like people were desperately trying to get the 2 queens deal. We just want one bed; but we would like a remodeled room. We plan on implementing the ';trick'; but don%26#39;t want to get anything worse than what we started out as. What is a reasonable upgrade with ONE bed? I would think that people other than couples would want the two beds... I checked out the rooms on you tube and wanted to ask if this is a standard king? It looks way newer than the other ones..with the LCD and the like...





    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IfiUO4Nv6MY



    Leaving tomorrow for Vegas and the Venetian...input please!


    I also like this one... doesn%26#39;t seem renovated but it is spacious...





    anyone know what this one is called?





    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PopRryIhszo



    Leaving tomorrow for Vegas and the Venetian...input please!


    The first one is renovated, the second is not. To the best of my knowledge the all the Venetian rooms have been renovated - they are just starting to renovate the Venezia. The Venezia has a separate check-in, is closer to valet and taxi stand, and has a separate pool. I%26#39;m sure you%26#39;ll have a good time no matter what room you get.




    Venezia is a better area/tower of the Venetian. Everyone wants 1 bed and hotels only have so many so if it is between staying at Venezia or going to regular rooms, stay with the 2 beds.



    And whats the ';trick';?

    wedding chapels

    Hello! I am getting married in Las Vegas next week and was wondering--

    Should we make reservations?....or can we wait until we get there and look around and reserve 2-3 days in advance?

    Also any advise on the wedding chapels?

    Thanks

    wedding chapels

    I had a wondful wedding at the little church of the west. www.littlechurchlv.com

    They have some very reasonably priced wedding packages and the chapel itself is historic. Many famous people have been married there. Check them out.

    Be sure to apply for your marriage license when you get to LV. If bride or groom has been married before, you will need to bring with you your divorce decree. Also your photo id and form of payment for license.

    You can google clark county marriage license and get the web site for the court house and it will have all the info you need.

    Congratulations and best of luck.

    wedding chapels

    co.clark.nv.us/clerk/marriage_information.htm

    Those are the instructions for getting your marriage license.

    If you want a fancy wedding in one of the casino chapels, definitely reserve. If you plan to go to one of the small cheesy chapels, it%26#39;s recommended to reserve if you know when you want to do it, but you probably won%26#39;t have a problem just showing up although there may be a wait if it%26#39;s a busy time.

    I%26#39;ve heard nothing but raves about the Viva Las Vegas chapel. I was married at Little White Chapel on Saturday which was exactly the cheesy wedding we wanted. Originally planned to do the drive-thru but changed our minds as family started inviting themselves and used the L%26#39;Amour chapel (part of Little White Chapel). The limo driver was late, but other than that there were no problems and everything went as planned. It was silly, and we had a big Hawaiian minister that our families didn%26#39;t appreciate when they saw him but loved him by the end.


    We got married 2 yrs ago at the Chapel of the Flowers and it was absolutely perfect. We called before our trip and made a reservation and they picked us up in the limo, took us to get our license, and then we had our choice of different chapels there to get married in, the photos were wonderful too and reasonably priced.

  • database
  • arriving easter sunday worried about snow and icy roads

    hi my excitement is turning to worries. We are driving from Bakersfield Ca and I am worried about bad road conditions. I have looked at the extended weather conditions but I am only finding temps. Hoping to hear from a local if possible. Will we be safe driving? Thanks in advance.



    arriving easter sunday worried about snow and icy roads


    I like to use the NWS forcast. At this point they are predicting party cloudy for Sunday.





    www.wrh.noaa.gov/forecast/MapClick.php…



    arriving easter sunday worried about snow and icy roads


    CaSwede, thanks for the help I will check it out.




    It%26#39;s not looking like it will be cold enough this weekend for snow so there would likely be no ice either. If the roads are wet due to melting snow I would avoid driving later at night when the temp will drop below freezing and the water might freeze to ice. The roads will be clear of snow. It%26#39;s not expected to snow again for at least another week. Have a great visit.

    bills question: need tp get something clear

    Hi all.



    So rumors are now going around on TA that the guests at Bill%26#39;s can no longer use the pool at Flamingo.



    Can anyone confirm this , as when i called bills a couple weeks ago, i was told i could use flamingo pool



    thanks!



    bills question: need tp get something clear


    you should call again. I heard the same thing (that they are not allowing it now) last week from someone at Rio.



    bills question: need tp get something clear


    I would say if you called and they said you can use it then you are good.




    I called for you and they said that you will be able to use the Flamingo pool-just show a room key.




    vp03



    you called?? really





    thanks so much!! Its very appreciated!




    You%26#39;re welcome! Why have you call from Toronto when I can call from Jersey? - it is after 9 so no minutes used! lol




    vp03- VF! I also called there last week because there were 2 different stories as to whether or not you could now use your TR players card at Bills. (The answer was no in case anyone cares)





    That was nice of you to call for shimsgrl.


  • oily skin
  • car rentals at the airport?

    Hi everyone. I know there are plenty of `experienced` Vegas travellers here so I am sure there will be answers in no time!





    Simple question really...are there any car rentals in the airport or do you have to take a shuttle to them all? If so is the shuttle a few minutes or more like 15?



    car rentals at the airport?


    There are no rental companies actually at the airport. They%26#39;re all at the rental center. The shuttles are every few minutes and it takes 5-10 minutes once you%26#39;re on board.





    http://www.mccarran.com/03_carrentals.asp



    car rentals at the airport?


    Getting to and from the rental center is a real mess during busy times. We had a bad experience where the system was overwhelmed with too many people and not enough buses.





    There is nothing like a slap in the face flying 5 1/2 hours on then standing in line for 15 minutes to catch the bus to the rental center!!





    Next time, I catch a cab to the hotel and pick up my rental car at the hotel the next morning. Many hotels have rental companies on premises.




    Another question about the shuttle service to the car rentals: Would it be possible for just 2 people from my group to take the shuttle, pick up the van, then go back %26amp; pick up the others?? The only reason I%26#39;m asking is because my mom is in a wheelchair %26amp; if we could avoid the need to get her on %26amp; off the shuttle, it would be a big help!




    No problem sending one guy out to get the rental, who then drives back and picks folks up.




    Thanks Zeke. I wasn%26#39;t sure how the airport was situated %26amp; if that was a feasible idea, but it sounds like it can be done.




    aloha4now...I%26#39;ve used the shuttle a few times in the past few months. I%26#39;ve arrived on Saturday mornings, Friday night, and during the week. I think they got most of the kinks worked out now...they had 2-3 busses waiting each time I was there, and we were loaded and to the rental center within about 10 minutes.





    To catch the busses...when you are at the baggage claim follow the signs outside to the ';Shuttle'; area and you will cross over 1-2 islands. You%26#39;ll see big busses with ';Rental Car Center'; on them. You can%26#39;t miss it!




    dopey1200 - make sure you know where the person driving the rental car will pick you - it can get confusing. Passenger Pick-up is on level 1 of the parking garage.




    Thanks Traveler, I%26#39;m sure we%26#39;ll get lost in the airport many times. It wouldn%26#39;t be a family vacation without getting lost!! I can picture it now, I%26#39;ll be driving past the rest of my family numerous times without seeing them while they%26#39;re standing at the curb waving their arms at me!




    The rental car shuttles are, of course, handicapped accessible.





    If there%26#39;s any sort of a line waiting for the shuttles, you%26#39;d actually save time by allowing your mom to ride the shuttle, as there%26#39;s a separate wheelchair stop for the shuttles, which would allow you to bypass waiting in any line.





    So then you%26#39;d avoid any confusion on the part of the driver returning to the McCarran passenger pick-up.





    Just a suggestion.




    You guys are awesome! The tips just keep getting better %26amp; better!! Thanks Nevada

    clamato juice

    Being from canada going to vegas do the hotels serve ceasars there i don%26#39;t like bloody marys don%26#39;t like the tomato juice do they have clamato juice



    clamato juice


    Never ordered it. But I%26#39;m sure most of the bars have Clamato juice. Just make sure you are VERY specific when ordering. Have fun and tip your dealers and cocktail waitresses for better service.



    clamato juice


    Yes they do make Caesars w/ Clamato juice-I love those as well, got turned on to them in Mexico actually! I never order bloody mary%26#39;s anymore-too thick. You shouldnt have a problem ordering one anywhere in Vegas.




    Actually, i have had problem getting this drink in many plaves in vegas. however, you can find clamatio juice in stores, so bring some along.





    dont get me wrong, some bars have it, but some dont as well




    Hey newbies when are you going....I am on my way Thursday, I also hope to find Caesars there!!!




    A lot of the casinos serve caesars. I just got back from the Bellagio and order a ton of spicy caesars while at the tables and the sportsbook.




    We are going in june let me know if they have some there have fun




    Bud now offers a Clamato beer.




    what the hell is a Clamato...and how do you juice it?





    shirl%26#39;




    http://www.mottsclamato.com/




    eeuwww yuk! am I right in thinking this juice is made from tomatoes and clams???





    I%26#39;m struggling with this one ~ that just doesn%26#39;t sound right

    Suggestions for Less Expensive Hotels? Downtown? Off Strip?

    Hi everyone,

    Before you ask, I%26#39;ve been reading hotel reviews until I can%26#39;t see anymore, and I%26#39;ve checked all the hotel promos on this site, so I%26#39;ve done the research. I%26#39;m just as confused as ever. My husband and I are going to Vegas April 25-28 (Fri-Mon). We really don%26#39;t want to spend the hundreds that it appears we%26#39;d have to for the nicer Strip hotels. I may try Priceline as it gets closer, but for now I%26#39;m looking into less expensive places. I%26#39;d love to pay less than $100 per night, and $50-$80 would be even better. The reviews for the El Cortez actually seem pretty good, and it%26#39;s inexpensive. Other than that, I%26#39;m wondering about staying downtown, or somewhere off the Strip. Car rental rates are very reasonable from what I%26#39;ve seen for that weekend, and we don%26#39;t mind walking, so staying a ways away is feasible. On the other hand, I don%26#39;t really want to have to drive back to the hotel late at night if I may have had a few drinks! So, I guess my question is, is there any place worth staying that doesn%26#39;t cost hundreds of dollars? What%26#39;s the nicest inexpensive hotel? Are there some that may have free shuttles to the Strip? Any ideas and advice would be appreciated! Thanks in advance!

    Heather

    Suggestions for Less Expensive Hotels? Downtown? Off Strip?

    As your stay is a weekend, most of the Strip hotels are out of your price range. The cheapest is Sahara at $96, 96, 48. For off-strip, Orleans is a bit more at $120, 120, 60. Sounds like El Cortez is your best bet at $87, 87, 44 (Tower Rooms, renovated). These rates are at i4vegas.com

  • good property for sale
  • Prime or Picasso?

    opinions please? narrowed our wedding meal down to these two.



    Prime or Picasso?


    You%26#39;re not going to be disappointed with either as they%26#39;re both great restaurants with beautiful romantic ambiance. You actually go down the same escalator to access both places. I%26#39;d choose Prime but the only criteria I%26#39;m basing this on is that I would personally enjoy the food there more.





    It%26#39;s a nice problem to have. Whichever you decide is going to provide a memorable part of your wedding day... :-)

    KA discount

    Just FYI - TravelZoo has posted a promotion going for KA tickets right now.





    $82 for Category 1 and 2 seats on





    Wednesdays at 7PM and 9:30PM



    Thursdays at 7 PM and 9:30PM



    Fridays at 9:30PM



    from March 26 - May 9:





    Sounds like a bargain price!



    KA discount


    Sounds good. Too bad I bought tickets already for Tuesday, April 1 at full price in the expensive section. Oh well.



    KA discount


    Thanks so much for the info.I%26#39;m leaving for europe tommorrow for a month .So,just in time to make my booking for Ka for the 1st week of may.




    Thank you so much for this message. I have just booked my tickets for 2nd April. The seats aren%26#39;t the dream ones I was planning on but buying 2 for the price of 1 premium you can%26#39;t really go wrong!

    diamond checkin

    can anyone tell me where the diamond checkin is in the flamingo, where is it in relation to the gold checkin desk.



    thanks in advance



    will be there 8th april until 13th



    diamond checkin


    If you are looking at the lines for regular check in there are doors at your left that say Diamond Check in. Hard to miss.



    diamond checkin


    Guess you decided to stay with Harrahs for now.





    Have a great trip Deb!




    sage



    a few weeks ago i sent an email to harahs saying how dissapointed i was at how people from overseas were treated (no mailings or offers etc,)



    i received an email with a hosts details i am now booked 5 nights RFB 8th to 13th in the flamingo, he even booked my trip in june for my aniversary staying at caesars 7 nights RFB with free show tickets WOW ill never say another bad word about them .



    best wishes



    debbie




    Just go right past the regular check in about 20 steps %26amp; you will see the Flamingo Diamond check in.




    Glad it all worked out for you Deb. The Flamingo has always treated us real well. I will be there at the same time as you with a large group. My son is getting married at the Flamingo in the Gazebo.





    Have a great trip, I%26#39;m sure you will!




    sage0401



    many congratulations hope everything goes well with the wedding have a brill time.



    debbie


  • oily skin
  • How early to get to airport?

    We fly out of Vegas at 6:20am on a Thursday to LAX.





    How early should we leave to get to the airport. Also, what time does United check-in open?



    How early to get to airport?


    I%26#39;m sure UA is 24/7 at some level.



    2 hours is fine.



    How early to get to airport?


    At least 2 hours, no less than 1 1/2 hours at airport to be on the same side.




    2 hours before the flight leaves. You can never tell if McCarran is going to be busy at that hour.




    From United%26#39;s website:





    Las Vegas, Nevada, McCarran International Airport (LAS)





    Hours and baggage information





    Ticket counter hours of operation:



    4:00am-11:30pm





    Customers with checked baggage should arrive 120 minutes before domestic or international flights.





    For customers with domestic e-tickets, boarding passes are available at curbside.



    Security line information





    Peak times:



    6:00am-3:00pm





    Peak days:



    Sunday, Monday





    Peak line waits:



    More than 60 minutes





    Off-peak line waits:



    15 minutes





    Priority Security Lane



    Available for Global Services and 1K



    Weather is looking good

    Just checked on BBC weather its looking very nice and warm at the minute cant wait hope it stays like that till May lol.

    Weather is looking good

    No need to worry about May. Hot weather guaranteed then.

    Weather is looking good

    Fantastic cant wait :)


    May is a great month to be in Vegas. It is usually in the 80s or 90s- nice sunny pool weather!


    I was hoping the weather would be good, cant wait sat here in work in the UK and its chucking it down freezing and blowing a Gale roll on May!!

  • reptiles
  • Voodoo Cafe at Rio.

    Can anyone recommend this?



    Is it expensive?



    Voodoo Cafe at Rio.


    It doesn%26#39;t actually exist under that name anymore. It%26#39;s been rebranded as VooDoo Steak. Pretty good steakhouse a step below the very best in town. Awesome views if you have a window table looking towards the Strip. Diners can walk upstairs to VooDoo Lounge without paying the cover charge.





    harrahs.com/casinos/…voodoo-steak-detail.html





    Click on the menu link to see menu and prices.



    Voodoo Cafe at Rio.


    Sorry that link didn%26#39;t copy correctly.





    harrahs.com/casinos/…voodoo-steak-detail.html




    My husband and I ate there last November. We were seated by the window, with a nice view of the city lights. The service was good, and the food was excellent. We started with a sampler appetizer that included frog legs, crab cake, shrimp, and beignets. He had filet mignon and I had Chilean sea bass. Both were perfectly prepared. We finished off with a bottle of our favorite dessert wine. After dinner we walked outside to take in the view.





    I can%26#39;t remember how many drinks we had (maybe 2 each?), but the bill came to $170.





    It was a very nice evening. I definitely recommend this restaurant.




    molibdimum...I ate there over a year ago and the food was good. No window seats were available looking toward the strip...but was still interesting. The food was good and I can%26#39;t remember what I had. Walking up to the lounge deck from the restaurant was nice. I think my dinner with drinks came to around $80.




    We%26#39;ve eaten there and really enjoyed it. The view is just lovely. The food and service were good, too. I don%26#39;t think it was any more expensive than other steakhouses in Las Vegas--like the Range or the one at Flamingo. I really liked it.




    The food at VooDoo Steaks %26amp; Lounge has great food %26amp; service. We really like it there %26amp; it is so reasonable for the food that you get.








    A group of Ten of us ate their last Saturday, the food was fantastic and service very good, the view is supberb.





    We all had 2 course%26#39;s a starter and main and a few dinks each and a few bottles of wine total bill was about $1450 good value for money, it was very busy too




    Thanks all.

    Buying Nintendo DS Lites

    Hi



    My children have been saving up their pocket money since Christmas and have changed their pounds into $$, they are desperate to buy a nintendo DS lite each.



    We will arrive in Vegas on Tuesday afternoon and will stay for 4 nights at The Excalibur. Does anyone out there know what stores we should go to so they can get their DS Lites - do they have bundles where you get games as well as the consule for a certain price? In the UK they advertise such offers - do they do the same in the US? What sort of price will they be?



    I know this isn%26#39;t strictly a Vegas question but real people give good answers!



    Thank you so much if you can help



    Buying Nintendo DS Lites


    This isn%26#39;t something I know a huge amount about but Frys is usually a good bet for this sort of thing. Buying online these go for $130. I%26#39;ve no idea how that stacks up to UK prices.





    shop1.outpost.com/search鈥?/a>





    They have a store at the junction of Las Vegas Blvd and I-215 just south of the airport.



    Buying Nintendo DS Lites


    When my DH has been, he has normally purchased different goods from Fry%26#39;s also. He way happy with the service, etc.




    Just be sure to buy all your games in the US too! I was stupid enough to buy my nephew one and UK version games don%26#39;t work on it so he has to buy his games over the Internet.




    We bought the kids DS Lites last year at Game Stop at The fashion Show Mall on upper floor (the mall is next to Treasure Island). The price was 129.99 and the price has seemed to stay consistant all year. We did not see any bundles with the DS last year, but they did have games available but some of the popular ones were picked over.

    WOOT WOOT! Just booked for July!!

    Yay everyone just finalized the booking. Flying on Allegiant out of Bellingham July 18th and spending 2 nights at Mirage( had to book 2 nights to get the free air) and then off to Bally`s for the 5 comped night`s.





    Let the countdown begin.



    WOOT WOOT! Just booked for July!!


    Congrats .. i can feel your excitement. It%26#39;s all i can think about and i don%26#39;t go until June. This will be my first trip to Vegas so i%26#39;m even that much more excited





    Staying at the Signature at MGM, already have tickets to Blue Man Group, Cirque Du Soleil ';O'; and a grand canyon tour planned.





    The neat thing is ... i have done all this behind my wife%26#39;s back as she has no idea of her 10-year anniversary surprise, i don%26#39;t plan on letting her in on the secret until we arrive at the airport



    WOOT WOOT! Just booked for July!!


    TD40, a word of advice from a woman....You might want to let her know that you%26#39;re going somewhere warm so that she can prepare accordingly. We women have a lot of primping we need to do before we head out to the pool! She%26#39;ll probably want a mani/pedi at the very least!




    YES she already knows we are going on vacation that week, i had to tell her that so she could schedule days off work. I did tell her '; it%26#39;s somewhere hot and south of Ohio '; LOL i had to say that so she%26#39;s thinking Florida ... ohh she%26#39;s gonna be so surprised !!!

    Breakfast on way out of Vegas, south, towards Palm Springs?

    Just wondering if Hash hash a go go or Ellis island were in this direction? if not any other suggestions for a place to stop for breakfast? Thanks



    Breakfast on way out of Vegas, south, towards Palm Springs?


    Hi





    If you are going down the freeway you will pass the South Point,you could stop there. Further down the road there is the Gold Strike, we had breakfast in their cafe and liked it. The next place you will come to is Primm, the food there is not the best, I would not suggest stopping there but if you do the cafe at Whiskey Petes was OK.







    Clive



    Breakfast on way out of Vegas, south, towards Palm Springs?


    Nice job Clive! That was going to be my suggestion too. Very good breakfast at a very inexpensive price!



    (Less than $7 if I remember right)




    Der...South Point....




    Hi





    Yes, we had a good breakfast at SP, don%26#39;t even think it came to $7 each, but memory is fading, quite a few months ago now.







    Clive


  • oily skin
  • Brunch (Wynn) on weekdays?

    I just looked at http://www.usmenuguide.com/lvbuffets.html and there is a section for ';breakfast'; and then ';brunch';. Do they have brunch buffet during the week or is it just order off the menu brunch?

    Brunch (Wynn) on weekdays?

    Brunch is served on weekends and holidays only. There is no menu for the buffet.

    Brunch (Wynn) on weekdays?

    Sorry, I phrased my original post incorrectly.....do they have a brunch buffet during the week or it is just a regular order off the menu breakfast?

    Thanks


    I%26#39;m a little confused - they have a breakfast buffet that has a variety of breakfast items you can select (it%26#39;s like an all-you-can-eat). They also have a 24 hour cafe that you can order breakfast off a menu, the cafe is seperate from the buffet.


    Sorry to confuse you!! That%26#39;s the answer I was looking for....all you can eat.

    Thanks

  • how to quilt
  • TR March 12-16 for ConExpo visit

    I will post my trip report as replies so I can do it as I have time.





    Hubby and I were in Vegas with 26 of our friends and family. Our last trip to Vegas was for ConExpo (construction equipment extravaganza) in 1987. This really felt like my first trip to Vegas because it had been so long, and the last trip we took our 5 month old daughter.





    Flew from Flint, non-stop. Stayed at Treasure Island 4 nights.



    TR March 12-16 for ConExpo visit


    How do you pronounce the name of your town?



    TR March 12-16 for ConExpo visit


    SEEB WING.... It%26#39;s an Indian word meaning ';crooked river.'; LOL





    So, the trip...Day 1 (We are 46/45, married 26 years, one of us likes beer.)





    There are 22 in our group on the afternoon non-stop flight from Flint. We end up knowing about 20 other people on our flight, so the beer is flowing big-time in the terminal and on the plane. Flight is good until the last 45 minutes where we have some bumps. Cloud cover is spotty over the Grand Canyon and Hoover Dam areas, but we get some good pictures anyway. Luggage is available right away, one guy in our group has a missing bag but he had packed in two bags so he%26#39;s all set (bag came the next morning to our hotel). I had checked on trans to the hotel, but we decided to take a chance on the shuttle. The %26#39;bus guy%26#39; gets us 2 shuttles which takes our entire group directly to Treasure Island. We arrive and wait maybe 5 minutes to check-in. Our request for a king non-smoking isn%26#39;t available, but next to me I hear the man is getting one, so I say we%26#39;ll wait. TI is completely booked, they will not have a king non-smoking available, we%26#39;ll have to take 2 queens. I%26#39;m already disappointed because we have a king bed at home, and I didn%26#39;t expect to spend $940 for 4 nights in a bed smaller than I am used to. But our room is also not ready, they are cleaning it at that moment. Ok, but then she says it%26#39;s also a 2 queen smoking room. Now I%26#39;m more than disappointed and also sleep deprived from only getting about 3 hours sleep the night before. My husband and 6 others from our group head to the bar where the beer and cleavage is plentiful. At $51 a round, they spend over $300, and we decide that it would have been cheaper to get a limo and 2 30-packs of beer. Note to self, get the card from a limo driver. I don%26#39;t drink, so I walk around the casino and keep checking with the desk to see if our room is ready. At nearly 5 I am standing next to another guy who is getting a king non-smoking, I think the smoke is starting to roll from my head, and the girl at the counter goes to talk to some important looking man who types away at the keyboard and **VIOLA** she comes back with the good news that they have a king NS available. Note: I think they were holding NS rooms for people who were given smoking rooms the day before, and they had until 5 to switch rooms. Whatever, I was a happy camper, and another couple in our group was thrilled because she has severe asthma and could NOT tolerate a smoking room. Our room is the old-style decor with gold print carpet. The bed is wonderful (as I%26#39;ve heard) and the bathroom is very large with a deep bath and this awesome magnifying lighted mirror. We all decide we need these at home! I saw a smoking room which was decorated in black and beige, more modern with a built in the wall flat screen TV. It was very nice except their view was a roof where the Sirens fireworks were shot from. The first night my FIL thought the hotel was on fire. LOL To explain how TI is laid out, I counted 18 or so floors, in 3 different %26#39;arms.%26#39; There are different elevators for the different %26#39;arms.%26#39; Our room was 20070 which seemed quite high up, overlooking the strip. 9029 overlooked the roof, I don%26#39;t recommend that area. 330-something had a mountain view, and that room was oversized. You can%26#39;t even select a floor for that area, you have to put your key in the elevator and it takes you directly to your floor.





    After we get in our room we leave with our ';$51 per round'; group and head to the Mirage for their buffet at Cravings. OUTSTANDING!!! We took the hotel bus to the Mirage, which was hilarious since it was across the side street. We tipped the driver $1 each, so he made out pretty good for the 48 second trip. The Mirage has a huge aquarium behind the check-in area. That was cool. We made a joke about hoping our ice-fishing friends didn%26#39;t hear about the fish tank. Cravings....like a gymnasium sized restaurant with every type of food imaginable, all around the outer edge. From sushi to Thanksgiving dinner, and desserts to die for!! $24 per person for this which our good buddy picked up the tab of $240 including tip. We decide to walk back to TI and catch the Sirens show. I%26#39;m sorry, but it was only OK. The dancers were very good, but the show was a little cheesy for my taste. Back to our room and we%26#39;re sleeping in 2.2 seconds (9 pm/midnight eastern). Later I am awakened by the fireworks from another show, this is something I need to get used to. If you are going to bed early, I suggest you don%26#39;t stay at TI.





    Day 2 to come soon.




    Great report so far! I would also like to hear your thoughts on the CONEXPO. We have thought about attending this show as well. Thanks again ;)




    Good trip report so far!





    We did the same thing about 6 or 7 years ago when we took our first trip to Vegas since 1984.. what a difference 20 or so years make...lol





    Looking forward to the rest.




    Notes I missed from Day 1





    DH (Doo-dah) decides that he isn%26#39;t going to gamble so he gives our youngest son (13) $20 to buy raffle tickets at a convention Young Doo is attending with our good friends.





    Day 2 - I%26#39;m awake at 1:30 am, being that I%26#39;m 3 hours behind and have been waking at about 3:30 Eastern Time prior to the trip. Laying in bed, calculating how much longer until I can call home, I doze until 2:30 when I know our oldest DD (21) will be getting ready for work. 3:45 comes and I call our other 3 kids who are staying home. They think we are crazy for being awake so early. Doo is awake too but we refuse to get up yet, so we doze until 5 and then get up and shower, head to the Coffee Shop where we meet his parents for breakfast. Doo orders the Italian sunrise bowl (or something like that), recommended by his friend, and it%26#39;s delicious. I get a muffin which is HUGE. I eat half and put the other half in a sandwich bag I have in my purse. The prices are quite high, but you get very large portions. I see Doo checking his watch, he is extremely excited to get to the Expo. Out to the curb and we are whisked away by the Expo shuttles. It%26#39;s a 10 min. ride to the Las Vegas Convention Center. We head to the construction equipment with our group but end up splitting into smaller groups of 4-8. With cell phones, it%26#39;s easy to meet up with people. We LOVED LOVED LOVED ConExpo!!! I work in construction too, so I was more impressed than some of the other women. Doo tries some of the simulated exhibits, attempts to scoop basketballs up with an excavator, gathers free hats, pens, literature, etc. from the vendors. Scattered carts selling beer is a bonus in the heat (80). The guys are like little kids, ';did you see the magnet attachment for the crusher?!!!'; It%26#39;s great seeing Doo having such a good time. Again, cleavage is plentiful, and Doo gets his picture taken with hot babes about the age of our daughters....lol. We meet up with friends under some shade trees and enjoy a Nathans hot dog and a few beers. Ten minutes into the Expo we agree that we%26#39;re coming back in 3 years (next show) with our kids. ';We should%26#39;ve brought the boys'; is Doo%26#39;s mantra for the entire trip. By 4:30 we agree we had better head to the hotel to freshen up. We grab a bus and I find a lovely cut-crystal egg in my seat. Someone must have lost their purchase from a bag. I give it to the bus driver and say a prayer that the rightful owner is able to reclaim it. Back to the hotel we change and catch the last bus back to the Expo for a hospitality party given by JCB Equipment. We are the only 2 people on the bus, and the driver gives us a wealth of information and a card for a limo company. The party is great, free drinks and appetizers, a country band is playing, and they close with backhoe ballerinas (this is so cool!!). The backhoes drive around in a choreographed %26#39;dance%26#39; routine. We end up with friends on a bus and go to Paris where 2 are staying. The Paris hotel is breathtaking, but their elevator about makes me sick. (I%26#39;m stone sober but the elevator is jerky.) Their room is similar to ours but the bathroom is larger with a tub and separate shower. I buy a $3 orange juice so I can take some Ibuprofen. We walk towards TI and hope to catch some dinner (it%26#39;s about 9). We walk into Harrahs Piano Bar but security is getting ready to close the doors so we leave. I%26#39;m not all that impressed with what I hear. We missed the dueling pianos at TI, they only play Mon-Wed. Our friends had gone and said it was a hoot. Outside Harrahs the two other wives get on a green-wall motorcycle where we watch a %26#39;movie%26#39; featuring the girls on bikes. It%26#39;s hilarious but $55 to buy the video. They aren%26#39;t THAT drunk. We end up at Outback and play slots while we wait for a table. One guy wins $120 instantly, and he slips $20 into my machine where I instantly win $34, that%26#39;s enough for me. Outback is really good and reasonable. They all order a bacon cheeseburger for about $9 and I just order cheesecake (eating half and taking the rest for my snack the next day). There is talk of going to Kahunaville in TI but it%26#39;s packed and we%26#39;re zonked. It%26#39;s midnight but feels like 3am so we grab an elevator and head to our room. Laying in bed, we agree that we are definately going back to the Expo the next day.





    Day 3 coming soon. More Expo, Fashion Show Mall, Fremont Street, Defending the Caveman show, The Deuce, and Golden Gate%26#39;s Bay City Diner.




    Good report! I%26#39;ll keep looking for more!




    ditto-




    Day 3 - Awake at 3 again, even though it%26#39;s only been 3 hours since I went to bed. Doo and I get up and take showers, then lay back down and try to get more sleep. Friends call at 7 and we decide to try the TI Buffet for breakfast. It%26#39;s very good, although we don%26#39;t realize that the 2 sides are different, so we only go to one side. After we%26#39;re full, Doo discovers the made-to-order omlettes. $28.02 for 2 meals which is all you want to eat and drink. We also left a tip since the servers bring you drinks and keep coming back to check if you need a refill. Back on the bus to ConExpo and we%26#39;re off for the day. It%26#39;s huge, and we keep finding exhibits and areas that we didn%26#39;t know existed. Mid-afternoon I meet up with my MIL and we decide to head back to the hotel. The other ladies have had enough of the Expo after 1 day (or less). Back at the hotel, we find a couple friends by the pool. It was very hot by the pool, but it felt WAHNDERFULL! MIL and I order the recommended Painkiller (orange/pinapple and rum). It%26#39;s not a frozen drink like I asked for, it was on the rocks and not anything special. I am the world%26#39;s cheapest drunk, and it didn%26#39;t even give me a little buzz. Drinks gone and the mall calling to me, we headed to Nieman Marcus first. I found a bra I had seen online (LeMystere, Dream Tisha, amazing lift and support!!! $70). After that we went to Nordstroms where I tried to buy my favorite perfume, Clean by D%26#39;Lish but they were out. I tried on a few formal dresses (I get to play %26#39;mother of the bride%26#39; in July). SIL called to say they had purchased tickets for Defending the Caveman for $30/pp and we were meeting at 5:30 to head to Fremont Street. Back to the hotel to freshen up for the show. We head to the Deuce pickup. The bus is full by the time 16 of us load up. Doo and I are by the door and have to move everytime the bus stops (I think it%26#39;s every 100 feet or so). There is a guy sleeping/passed out near us and the seats are empty around him, which I quickly learn that the stench is beyond ';breathing through your nose.'; I give Doo a look and he assures me that we will take a cab back to the hotel after the show. 40 minutes and 15 stops or so later, we finally arrive at Fremont Street. Most of our group goes right to Golden Nugget (where the 8 pm show will be) for the buffet. I%26#39;m not hungry enough for a buffet so we follow a smaller group of 5 down to Golden Gate and are quickly seated in the Bay City Diner for a very reasonably priced meal. Doo had the cod meal which he says was average and fine, I order the chicken teriyaki bowl which is perfect, just like Applebees. Doo picks up the tab which is less than $100 for 7 of us. It makes us feel a little cheap...lol. Down to Golden Nugget for the show. It%26#39;s hilarious, worth every penny of the $30 tickets (1/2 off at the little booth I think). Doo is beyond exhausted so we jump in a cab with a real comedian and in 10 min. were back at TI. Our cabby told us some very funny jokes, fare was $17 but it felt more like being entertained.





    I also didn%26#39;t squeeze this in, but before we went to the Mall, I stopped and played a few slots while waiting for MIL to come down from her room. It was Blazin%26#39; 7s and the girl next to me was helping me understand it. I can be thick-headed when it comes to all the lines and betting. I only went down $5 so it felt more like a %26#39;lesson%26#39; than gambling. Very fun. I wish I would have had more time for slots. I did all this research on where to play, but I was too busy with everything else.





    Coming soon - Day 4. More ConExpo, More shopping, Eiffel Tower, winding down to go home.




    Day 4 - awake at 3:30 again, but not feeling tired, so we get up and shower. Not wanting to bother anyone else, we head back to the Buffet for breakfast. I get out $28.02 and find out, ';it%26#39;s Saturday, and called brunch, now comes to $36. for 2.'; Ok, whatever, we are leaving the next day and aren%26#39;t broke yet. Nobody else is up yet so I join Doo for another day at ConExpo. There are almost no other attendees there, so the exhibit people are more than happy to give away their stuff (so they don%26#39;t have to pack it up). In an hour I have a bag full of hats, pens, can koozies, etc. Brother Ed shows up so I catch a bus back to the hotel for some non-Expo fun. End up back at the Mall, get a $20 chair massage (needed about 5 of those). Hit Dillards and found a great dress, but I%26#39;ll order it online and have it shipped if I decide it%26#39;s ';the one.'; Walked into Saks (have never been there before), and I quickly realize that I can%26#39;t even afford a pair of their underwear. People are very nice, and I see there is a bikini fashion show going on, wish Doo was here for this. Back to the hotel to sit by the pool, but it%26#39;s so windy that I only stay about 10 minutes. There are really a lot more people at the pool %26#39;scene%26#39; today, eve though it%26#39;s chilly. Doo comes back and we try to take a nap, but no luck there. End up at our friends%26#39; room. They had been to the Hoover Dam (with a rental car) the day before and stopped and bought 3-30 packs of beer for less than our %26#39;round%26#39; the first day. I want to go check out some other hotels, and I would feel perfectly safe going alone, but Doo thinks he will join me. We walk to the Venetian, take some photos of the lobby. It%26#39;s amazing! Then over to Caesars, stroll through the Forum Shops, WOW! It%26#39;s so cool, you feel like you are outside (same with Paris). Getting out of Caesars was stressful, we couldn%26#39;t go out the way we came in. I should have said %26#39;enough%26#39; at that point, cuz Doo was getting impatient and not enjoying the sights. We crossed back over the strip and started walking, and walking. Doo got a mischevious look on his face and said ';you want to see (stuff), you%26#39;re going to see (stuff). We%26#39;re going to the top of the Eiffel.'; I am SOOOOO afraid of heights, but I went and it was GREAT!! Even with the wind, it wasn%26#39;t bad. The view was just breathtaking! We saw the Bellagio Fountains from up there, checked out the layout of the city. From the Eiffel we continued South. I had hoped to go to NYNY and MGM, but Doo had seen Hooters from the Eiffel, and of course, it didn%26#39;t look far. By the time we hit the Tropicana, he said ';uncle,'; and we caught a cab back to TI. Cabby was a total mime, not chatty at all. We prefer the talkative drivers to lighten things. Back to our room, and we caught the 3 overtimes of the Boise-New Mexico BB game then joined our friends for a late night dinner at the Coffee House. I was literally falling asleep while eating. Doo had a burger and fries (huge), and I had the seafood gumbo (really good).





    Day 5 - up at 4 am and off to the airport at 6 for a 9:30 flight. It was perfect timing, I would never allow a minute less than 3 hours at the airport. The shuttle was great, with our large group we were the only ones on the bus so we didn%26#39;t have any other stops. Nobody at check in, 20 minutes for security check, and we ate breakfast at the terminal, Gate D. They said Thurs. and Sun. are the worst days at the airport (departing). The Spirit and Southwest check in was backed up like crazy, so I would allow even more for those airlines.





    Summary - loved TI although I don%26#39;t know if I%26#39;d stay on the strip again. We pretty much ate at our hotel since we didn%26#39;t want to venture out.





    I would spend more time gambling if I went again. 4 nights was plenty, I was very ready to go home, but we%26#39;ll be back to Vegas. I will also rent a car and drive to Grand Canyon next time. I will also check out some more hotels, but I%26#39;ll make sure I go with someone who also wants to sightsee. Doo was a good sport, but that%26#39;s not his thing. Fremont Street was OK for eating, but I didn%26#39;t care for the nightlife.





    The Deuce was a bad experience, but I will probably give it another try, maybe during the day. Cabs are still the best way to get somewhere when you%26#39;re %26#39;done%26#39; as we were. The airport shuttle was great for us. We met so many great people, many were locals. The best part was the weather!!




    I forgot to add the best part. Earlier I said Doo gave our youngest son $20 for raffle tickets (rather than gambling in Vegas). Young Doo ended up winning a $950 rifle for his Dad!





    And finally, I think next trip we would consider Harrahs. The location is better for %26#39;getting out.%26#39; That side of the street seemed to have more going on, and getting across the strip from TI was time consuming.