billybhoy
06-12-2009, 06:59 AM
Or so we hope...
We'll be in Vegas this year from July 5th to July 29th - we did intend having our usual break within a break for 10 days down to Brazil and Argentina but a combination of the disastrous travelling of last year, the guaranteed weather for the most part and the offers just now on the strip made us reconsider that for another time so we'll spend the best part of a month in what we consider to be the best place in the world.
Thankfully, and quite a distance from our first trip as new graduate 21 year olds in 2003, we've got a bit more cash to play with this time so the $20 a day gambling budget between us both and the days of eating at McDonalds and relying on free shows are a bit behind us (not that we're averse to any of those things now!), we've booked a few shows. Having seen Penn & Teller, Mystere, We Will Rock You and Purple Reign at the sadly missed Boardwalk, we've got a few to add to the list this year, namely:
Steve's Slot Tournament - We've decided to get a bit more grown up and start playing some table games - just not this time round. Our new thing this year will be a slot tournament or two and we're looking forward to Steve's tournament on the 7th immensely.
Terry Fator - seen this guy right at the tail end of America's got Talent and was delighted when he got a new deal to stay in Vegas
Love - I've enjoyed the touring cirque shows and loved Mystere so we'll have a crack at this one this time. Moyra has decreed a maximum of one cirque show per visit as she's not a fan!
Phantom - one of those that, for some reason, we've always missed when it's been touring or when we've been in New York or London. Got our tickets and we're good to go this time.
Jersey Boys - Despite never having been a huge fan of the music, the hype alone dictates that we have to give Jersey Boys a go. Looking forward to this one.
Lion King - Having seen brief snippets, it looks very weird in a "Cats" kind of way (hated cats!!) but we've never heard a bad word said against it so we'll find out for ourselves what it's like
Aerosmith / ZZ Top - Delighted when we got the news through that these bands were touring whilst we are in Vegas. Between Big Ones and O Yeah on the Aerosmith side and a constand loop in my head of Viva Las Vegas (heretically, better than the Elvis version to my mind) from ZZ Top, this will be a highlight as we very rarely get headliners in the midst of a Vegas Summer.
Big Elvis - We always make a point of popping in to see Pete. He's a constant star at Barbary Coast (it always will be to us) and we hope he keeps on crooning for many years to come.
We've got enough time to add a couple more but we'll see what grabs our fancy whilst we're over. We've done all the resident pieces like Titanic (boring), Bodies (just a bit less boring), the Shark Reef (dreadful), the Secret Garden (just a bit less dreadful - maybe it's just us!!) and, having seen these, have decided to steer clear of things like the waxorks and art galleries. We might try and get out to the Neon graveyard. That looks pretty good.
We've set aside a decent budget for the shopping this year as we've both lost a lot of weight between the start of the year and now (a resolution that stuck for once) thanks to the Wii Fit, Fitness Coach and now EA Active. As none of our clothes fit anymore, it's a perfect excuse to go crazy at the Outlets! We always hit the Premium Outles and South Outlets (always Belz to us) as well as every shop on the strip and with the dollar weakening again, it could be a merrier shopping jaunt than is currently planned.
As far as accommodation goes, we're spending the first night in the Luxor to tick it off the list of places we want to stay (needless to say, it has become a requirement to stay in all of the Strip Hotels before we're done (ending at the Bellagio - still Moyra's favourite)). The MGM Grand offer of as much free stuff as you can get plus the upgrade to the Celebrity Spa Suite captured us for the remainder of our stay. I absolutely cannot wait to get into the room and then get quickly out of the room and down to the Casino. Starnge for a couple of people who only ever gamble as far as a weekly punt on the lottery when we're at home.
So, if you see a stupidly grinning Scottish couple heading from baggage claim in a rush to get to the Stone Cold Creamery at Excalibur and the penny slots, please say hello...and then, for your own safety, get out of the way quickly as Vegas 2009 awaits!!!
We'll be in Vegas this year from July 5th to July 29th - we did intend having our usual break within a break for 10 days down to Brazil and Argentina but a combination of the disastrous travelling of last year, the guaranteed weather for the most part and the offers just now on the strip made us reconsider that for another time so we'll spend the best part of a month in what we consider to be the best place in the world.
Thankfully, and quite a distance from our first trip as new graduate 21 year olds in 2003, we've got a bit more cash to play with this time so the $20 a day gambling budget between us both and the days of eating at McDonalds and relying on free shows are a bit behind us (not that we're averse to any of those things now!), we've booked a few shows. Having seen Penn & Teller, Mystere, We Will Rock You and Purple Reign at the sadly missed Boardwalk, we've got a few to add to the list this year, namely:
Steve's Slot Tournament - We've decided to get a bit more grown up and start playing some table games - just not this time round. Our new thing this year will be a slot tournament or two and we're looking forward to Steve's tournament on the 7th immensely.
Terry Fator - seen this guy right at the tail end of America's got Talent and was delighted when he got a new deal to stay in Vegas
Love - I've enjoyed the touring cirque shows and loved Mystere so we'll have a crack at this one this time. Moyra has decreed a maximum of one cirque show per visit as she's not a fan!
Phantom - one of those that, for some reason, we've always missed when it's been touring or when we've been in New York or London. Got our tickets and we're good to go this time.
Jersey Boys - Despite never having been a huge fan of the music, the hype alone dictates that we have to give Jersey Boys a go. Looking forward to this one.
Lion King - Having seen brief snippets, it looks very weird in a "Cats" kind of way (hated cats!!) but we've never heard a bad word said against it so we'll find out for ourselves what it's like
Aerosmith / ZZ Top - Delighted when we got the news through that these bands were touring whilst we are in Vegas. Between Big Ones and O Yeah on the Aerosmith side and a constand loop in my head of Viva Las Vegas (heretically, better than the Elvis version to my mind) from ZZ Top, this will be a highlight as we very rarely get headliners in the midst of a Vegas Summer.
Big Elvis - We always make a point of popping in to see Pete. He's a constant star at Barbary Coast (it always will be to us) and we hope he keeps on crooning for many years to come.
We've got enough time to add a couple more but we'll see what grabs our fancy whilst we're over. We've done all the resident pieces like Titanic (boring), Bodies (just a bit less boring), the Shark Reef (dreadful), the Secret Garden (just a bit less dreadful - maybe it's just us!!) and, having seen these, have decided to steer clear of things like the waxorks and art galleries. We might try and get out to the Neon graveyard. That looks pretty good.
We've set aside a decent budget for the shopping this year as we've both lost a lot of weight between the start of the year and now (a resolution that stuck for once) thanks to the Wii Fit, Fitness Coach and now EA Active. As none of our clothes fit anymore, it's a perfect excuse to go crazy at the Outlets! We always hit the Premium Outles and South Outlets (always Belz to us) as well as every shop on the strip and with the dollar weakening again, it could be a merrier shopping jaunt than is currently planned.
As far as accommodation goes, we're spending the first night in the Luxor to tick it off the list of places we want to stay (needless to say, it has become a requirement to stay in all of the Strip Hotels before we're done (ending at the Bellagio - still Moyra's favourite)). The MGM Grand offer of as much free stuff as you can get plus the upgrade to the Celebrity Spa Suite captured us for the remainder of our stay. I absolutely cannot wait to get into the room and then get quickly out of the room and down to the Casino. Starnge for a couple of people who only ever gamble as far as a weekly punt on the lottery when we're at home.
So, if you see a stupidly grinning Scottish couple heading from baggage claim in a rush to get to the Stone Cold Creamery at Excalibur and the penny slots, please say hello...and then, for your own safety, get out of the way quickly as Vegas 2009 awaits!!!