PoohRN1962
10-03-2005, 05:38 AM
We flew America West out of Hartford on Sunday, 9/11 at 7 AM. We had only a short time between connecting flights in Phoenix, so when our flight was delayed, I freaked out. Nevertheless, we landed on time, caught the connecting flight, and were safely in Las Vegas before noon!
Renting the car at Thrifty was a breeze. DH was thrilled with the Chrysler 300. I think we were at the Luxor by 1 PM, checked in and in our room. At check in, they asked if we wanted to upgrade to a spa suite for $50 more a night. Frugal me said no, DH pointed out we were only spending $69 a night with our "deal," so why not? Room was nice, no Strip view, but pool, Mandalay Bay, and mountains...not bad. And, you'd better believe, I took my fifty dollar bath every single day!
Had the free buffet for lunch (part of the package), took a rest, and headed out. Keep in mind, we had been up at 3 am, Connecticut time, so I was already beat! We walked over to Tropicana, where I started gambling. It was my first trip since I taught myself Video Poker at home, so VP it was! Deuces wild was my game of choice. Had a wild royal, first of many, but no "real" royals all week, sigh. DH broke even on craps, I earned a "free" sweatshirt at the slot club, and we headed back to Luxor. I fell in love with that "Star Wars" penny slot machine. Played it all week in between VP. The graphics cracked me up, but I never won anything significant on it.
Dinner at La Salsa, and off to bed.
Monday morning, and off to Hoover Dam. Breakfast at Luxor buffet, which we just love. It was our first trip to the dam, and I was just fascinated. Took the tour, looked at all the exhibits (and I mean ALL...I am a geek, what can I say?) Weather was gorgeous...mid 70's to low 90's all week. Headed to some "off strip" casinos. First to Sam's Town. DH was a winner at craps, and I had the first of several "4 deuces." Not a royal, but fun anyway! Off to Green Valley Ranch...hubby is an "American Casino" fan, so of course we had to go. (This renting a car and getting off the strip is great fun...we will ALWAYS rent a car when we go, from here on in.) Didn't spend too much time at GVR, it was just fun to see it after watching the show.
Back to Luxor for rest and a 50 dollar bath, and over to MGM. My niece is a student at UNLV, and my nephew was passing through, so we took them out to dinner. We ate at Wolfgang Puck's Bar and Grille. Good food, WAY overpriced, and the waiter (a friend of my niece's) was the most pretentious little piece of s*** I have ever encountered! Laughing at him was worth the cost of the meal...I mean, really, how does one GET so pompous at age 23????? Anyway, we had a nice visit, an end to a lovely day.
Tuesday, and off to the Paris buffet for crepes for breakfast. Then over to Aladdin, where I had a BLAST. Used my coupons, joined the slot club, got free play, ended up with 3 coffee mugs and a T shirt...and since Aladdin is soon to be Planet Hollywood, I figure they are collector's items, LOL. By the time we are ready to leave, it is almost noon, so we collect our free margaritas, and head out to the strip. Ended up at Imperial Palace, and decided to see the car museum, since I read that IP might be the next place to close. Cars and men...what can I say? DH loved it. Off to In and Out Burger for lunch. A coworker told me I HAD to try it, but give me a Big D at Duchess any day!
Back to the room for a 50 dollar bath, and off to the Stratosphere for dinner. I had read mixed reviews...food is mediocre, views are spectacular...but I have to say, we really enjoyed it. Had the chateaubriand dinner for two, and it was excellent. Waiter was wonderful, food was great, and the view was truly awesome. We watched the sun set over the mountains, watched all the lights come up, took our time eating (no rushing us out at all,) and I would absolutely recommend this restaurant. Expensive, but not horribly so, and a much better experience than Wolfgang Puck's.
Off to the Sahara, it is time for my "Amazing Jonathon" encounter. Played some VP first, 4 deuces again! Jonathon...what can I say? I giggled a couple of times, but I didn't think he was terribly amusing. I think he is most suited to adolescent boys, but everyone else in the audience thought he was hysterical. Maybe I just don't have a sense of humor! Bought a t-shirt for DD, and had Jonathon autograph it, which was a big hit back at home. Sigh.
Slept in a little on Wednesday, and headed off strip, again. Went to the Hard Rock, and were amazed at how small the casino is! Friend at home collects Hard Rock pins, so after making that purchase, headed out to Terrible's Casino. And terrible it was! Smoky, not the cleanest, and DH and I were both losers! But, hey! We now have Terrible's t-shirts, so it wasn't a total loss. : )
Over to Industrial Road, to Ed Roman's Guitars. DS is a musician, and has an Ed Roman custom Warlock, so this trip was for him. What an incredible store! Ed was there, chatted with us, and we picked up a few gifts for DS.
Headed to the Rio, didn't gamble. I wanted to see the show (whatever it's called) above the casino floor, but our timing was off. Nice place though...seems fun. I'd like to go back sometime.
Over to the Palms, which is DH's new favorite place. He cleaned up at craps, and I got 4 deuces twice. Drink service was the best of any casino we have been to, and the drinks were actually decent sized. I was afraid I would feel out of place, since I had heard the Palms was a "beautiful people" type of place, but the casino was full of chubby middle-agers, so I felt right at home!
Over to Ellis Island for a very late lunch. Had to get the 4.99 sirloin dinner I had read so much about, and it was actually good! I mean, it didn't compare to the chateaubriand from the night before, but it was a better lunch than In and Out burger. It is kind of seedy though...dark and smoky, and DH said a man in the bathroom was washing his dentures in the sink. Craps was one of those mini-tables, so I played a little VP, and we headed out.
Played some VP at Luxor, and I had 4 to the royal twice. 4 deuces, again, so I am a happy gambler. Headed down the strip, sat at the Spanish Steps in front of Caesar's, had a drink and did some people watching. Headed inside, and fulfilled a fantasy of DH's by going to the Pussycat Dolls lounge. I was surprised that there was no cover charge, but I suppose the cost of the drinks makes up for it.
Thursday, our last day. After breakfast, we headed to the Orleans. No action at the craps tables, so DH didn't want to stay. VP for me, 4 deuces, AGAIN! Back to the Palms, where DH had a plan I didn't know about. After winning at the craps table, he headed to Huntington and Hart (I think that's the name of it...) for a new tattoo. Irritated the hell out of me, but what the hey? They have full pay deuces wild, so I managed to amuse myself.
After resting and showering, we headed to MGM to Emeril's Fish House for dinner. Food and service were excellent. After dinner, headed to see Ka, the "new" Cirque du Soleil show. I've read mixed reviews, but we loved it. I've never seen a Cirque show I didn't like, and this was no exception. It was a really nice end to a great trip.
Friday morning spent packing, checking out. Headed to the One Club for our "double cash back." Since I didn't gamble much at Luxor, I think it amounted to about $40...better than nothing! They took off a couple of meals we had charged to our room, and that was that. Check out, return the car, and headed to the airport for the trip back home.
We had a great trip, and can't wait to go back. DS will turn 21 in February, and we would love to take him for his birthday. We'll see...
I had great fun, this trip, using all my coupons. I came home with shirts from the Tropicana, Palms, Aladdin, and Terribles. Several decks of cards, that will sit forever unused. A cutting board, of all things!, at Sam's Town. Three coffee mugs at Aladdin. Loads of free drinks. A baseball cap from the Palms. I got free slot play at GVR, Aladdin, Sahara, and the Palms. I found full pay Deuces Wild at Sam's Town, The Orleans, and the Palms, and although I didn't keep track, I think I probably broke even in the long run. I don't know that I'll ever do the coupon thing again, but it WAS fun, even if it drove DH crazy. Well, it gave me something to do, other than drink at the VP machines, while DH was at the craps table. He ended up a little ahead at the end of the trip, gambling-wise. And he will forever have that damn tattoo as a souvenir of this trip!
Renting the car at Thrifty was a breeze. DH was thrilled with the Chrysler 300. I think we were at the Luxor by 1 PM, checked in and in our room. At check in, they asked if we wanted to upgrade to a spa suite for $50 more a night. Frugal me said no, DH pointed out we were only spending $69 a night with our "deal," so why not? Room was nice, no Strip view, but pool, Mandalay Bay, and mountains...not bad. And, you'd better believe, I took my fifty dollar bath every single day!
Had the free buffet for lunch (part of the package), took a rest, and headed out. Keep in mind, we had been up at 3 am, Connecticut time, so I was already beat! We walked over to Tropicana, where I started gambling. It was my first trip since I taught myself Video Poker at home, so VP it was! Deuces wild was my game of choice. Had a wild royal, first of many, but no "real" royals all week, sigh. DH broke even on craps, I earned a "free" sweatshirt at the slot club, and we headed back to Luxor. I fell in love with that "Star Wars" penny slot machine. Played it all week in between VP. The graphics cracked me up, but I never won anything significant on it.
Dinner at La Salsa, and off to bed.
Monday morning, and off to Hoover Dam. Breakfast at Luxor buffet, which we just love. It was our first trip to the dam, and I was just fascinated. Took the tour, looked at all the exhibits (and I mean ALL...I am a geek, what can I say?) Weather was gorgeous...mid 70's to low 90's all week. Headed to some "off strip" casinos. First to Sam's Town. DH was a winner at craps, and I had the first of several "4 deuces." Not a royal, but fun anyway! Off to Green Valley Ranch...hubby is an "American Casino" fan, so of course we had to go. (This renting a car and getting off the strip is great fun...we will ALWAYS rent a car when we go, from here on in.) Didn't spend too much time at GVR, it was just fun to see it after watching the show.
Back to Luxor for rest and a 50 dollar bath, and over to MGM. My niece is a student at UNLV, and my nephew was passing through, so we took them out to dinner. We ate at Wolfgang Puck's Bar and Grille. Good food, WAY overpriced, and the waiter (a friend of my niece's) was the most pretentious little piece of s*** I have ever encountered! Laughing at him was worth the cost of the meal...I mean, really, how does one GET so pompous at age 23????? Anyway, we had a nice visit, an end to a lovely day.
Tuesday, and off to the Paris buffet for crepes for breakfast. Then over to Aladdin, where I had a BLAST. Used my coupons, joined the slot club, got free play, ended up with 3 coffee mugs and a T shirt...and since Aladdin is soon to be Planet Hollywood, I figure they are collector's items, LOL. By the time we are ready to leave, it is almost noon, so we collect our free margaritas, and head out to the strip. Ended up at Imperial Palace, and decided to see the car museum, since I read that IP might be the next place to close. Cars and men...what can I say? DH loved it. Off to In and Out Burger for lunch. A coworker told me I HAD to try it, but give me a Big D at Duchess any day!
Back to the room for a 50 dollar bath, and off to the Stratosphere for dinner. I had read mixed reviews...food is mediocre, views are spectacular...but I have to say, we really enjoyed it. Had the chateaubriand dinner for two, and it was excellent. Waiter was wonderful, food was great, and the view was truly awesome. We watched the sun set over the mountains, watched all the lights come up, took our time eating (no rushing us out at all,) and I would absolutely recommend this restaurant. Expensive, but not horribly so, and a much better experience than Wolfgang Puck's.
Off to the Sahara, it is time for my "Amazing Jonathon" encounter. Played some VP first, 4 deuces again! Jonathon...what can I say? I giggled a couple of times, but I didn't think he was terribly amusing. I think he is most suited to adolescent boys, but everyone else in the audience thought he was hysterical. Maybe I just don't have a sense of humor! Bought a t-shirt for DD, and had Jonathon autograph it, which was a big hit back at home. Sigh.
Slept in a little on Wednesday, and headed off strip, again. Went to the Hard Rock, and were amazed at how small the casino is! Friend at home collects Hard Rock pins, so after making that purchase, headed out to Terrible's Casino. And terrible it was! Smoky, not the cleanest, and DH and I were both losers! But, hey! We now have Terrible's t-shirts, so it wasn't a total loss. : )
Over to Industrial Road, to Ed Roman's Guitars. DS is a musician, and has an Ed Roman custom Warlock, so this trip was for him. What an incredible store! Ed was there, chatted with us, and we picked up a few gifts for DS.
Headed to the Rio, didn't gamble. I wanted to see the show (whatever it's called) above the casino floor, but our timing was off. Nice place though...seems fun. I'd like to go back sometime.
Over to the Palms, which is DH's new favorite place. He cleaned up at craps, and I got 4 deuces twice. Drink service was the best of any casino we have been to, and the drinks were actually decent sized. I was afraid I would feel out of place, since I had heard the Palms was a "beautiful people" type of place, but the casino was full of chubby middle-agers, so I felt right at home!
Over to Ellis Island for a very late lunch. Had to get the 4.99 sirloin dinner I had read so much about, and it was actually good! I mean, it didn't compare to the chateaubriand from the night before, but it was a better lunch than In and Out burger. It is kind of seedy though...dark and smoky, and DH said a man in the bathroom was washing his dentures in the sink. Craps was one of those mini-tables, so I played a little VP, and we headed out.
Played some VP at Luxor, and I had 4 to the royal twice. 4 deuces, again, so I am a happy gambler. Headed down the strip, sat at the Spanish Steps in front of Caesar's, had a drink and did some people watching. Headed inside, and fulfilled a fantasy of DH's by going to the Pussycat Dolls lounge. I was surprised that there was no cover charge, but I suppose the cost of the drinks makes up for it.
Thursday, our last day. After breakfast, we headed to the Orleans. No action at the craps tables, so DH didn't want to stay. VP for me, 4 deuces, AGAIN! Back to the Palms, where DH had a plan I didn't know about. After winning at the craps table, he headed to Huntington and Hart (I think that's the name of it...) for a new tattoo. Irritated the hell out of me, but what the hey? They have full pay deuces wild, so I managed to amuse myself.
After resting and showering, we headed to MGM to Emeril's Fish House for dinner. Food and service were excellent. After dinner, headed to see Ka, the "new" Cirque du Soleil show. I've read mixed reviews, but we loved it. I've never seen a Cirque show I didn't like, and this was no exception. It was a really nice end to a great trip.
Friday morning spent packing, checking out. Headed to the One Club for our "double cash back." Since I didn't gamble much at Luxor, I think it amounted to about $40...better than nothing! They took off a couple of meals we had charged to our room, and that was that. Check out, return the car, and headed to the airport for the trip back home.
We had a great trip, and can't wait to go back. DS will turn 21 in February, and we would love to take him for his birthday. We'll see...
I had great fun, this trip, using all my coupons. I came home with shirts from the Tropicana, Palms, Aladdin, and Terribles. Several decks of cards, that will sit forever unused. A cutting board, of all things!, at Sam's Town. Three coffee mugs at Aladdin. Loads of free drinks. A baseball cap from the Palms. I got free slot play at GVR, Aladdin, Sahara, and the Palms. I found full pay Deuces Wild at Sam's Town, The Orleans, and the Palms, and although I didn't keep track, I think I probably broke even in the long run. I don't know that I'll ever do the coupon thing again, but it WAS fun, even if it drove DH crazy. Well, it gave me something to do, other than drink at the VP machines, while DH was at the craps table. He ended up a little ahead at the end of the trip, gambling-wise. And he will forever have that damn tattoo as a souvenir of this trip!