Planning my trips (long)

Below is an example of how I plan my trips. This was my itinerary for Spring Break 2012 and as you can see I also titled it "The Win" before I actually took the trip (did not win much lol).

It's highly detailed, and it is created after I make a list of all the things I want to accomplish in a particular trip.

I am still in "tourist" mode rather than "comfort zone" mode so it figures that it's all over the place.

I just never want to forget to do something. I also like to decide beforehand whether I am going to do something on this trip or save it for the future.

I do not end up doing everything nor do I closely follow the plan so it's not a blueprint as much as it is a sketch that I fill in as I go (though it looks more like a blueprint).

SPRING BREAK--THE WIN

Thurs Mar 8

10:00p-11:30p COSMOPOLITAN Gmg ($12 taxi-no longhaul, $5 WOF 100, vst Identity dsk aftr ply, cosmo promo $100 loss eligible, open 8a-12a, can play even aftr midnt til promo activated, $100 freeplay gd for 1 yr--micro roll, if win ply mx crdt at 1c-2c nxt dy, if win cn cntnue to ply pst 12a)

11:30p-12:00a HOOTERS Check-in (winter offer-$10 free play, $10 match play, 2 steak dinners; Tollhouse 12a close, $9.95 resort fee + $25/nt dpst, chk pool, 8a-12a Owl Reward desk, 24 hr gmg day from card entry)

12:00a-4:30a Caesars Gmg (micro-roll 40, 1c 5c 25c, base crdt, ends 4:59a, Cleopatra's Barge, Carnaval Court til 5a, am strip walk-creative videos, pics)

Fri Mar 9

6:00a-7:00a HOOTERS Gmg (micro-roll 20, $10 freeplay, $10 matchplay, $300 ACG + $300 promo play, 25c gmkng BJ $1, 1c 5c 25c, base crdt, buy $5 deuce tkt)

7:00a-10:00a HOOTERS Pool & Spa

10:00a-11:00a HOOTERS Complimentary steak dinner

11:00a-11:30a
HOOTERS Check-out

11:30a-12:00p Excalibur Check-in ($20/nt dpst, bklet, $10.66 exprs comps for rsrt fee, $15 resort fee, $25 freeplay, $5 pointplay, $5 WIN cards, ply drng day only)

12:00p-1:00p EXCALIBUR Gmg (micro-roll 30, 25c gmkng BJ $1, 1c 5c 25c, base crdt,15 for 10 WIN cards, $30 for 20 Luxor, promo $25 freeplay, $5 point play)

1:00p-7:00p WYNN Gmg (micro-roll 50, 25c gmkng BJ $1, 1c 5c 25c, base crdt)

7:00p-7:30p WYNN Las Vegas Little Theatre--Play Dates ($10 taxi, sdx + 203 @ spring mtn rd, up to wynn rd-4010 schiff drive)

7:30p-9:30p WYNN Las Vegas Little Theatre--Play Dates (starts 8p)

9:30p-4:30a CAESARS Gmg (micro-roll 50, 1c 5c 25c, base crdt, ends 4:59a, Cleopatra's Barge, Carnaval Court til 5:00a)

Sat Mar 10

7:00-9:30a HOOTERS Complimentary steak dinner

9:30a-10:00a EXCALIBUR Luxury $10 (coupon, also at Luxor)

10:00a-10:30a MANDALAY Check in (dpst 100)

10:30a-11:00a MANDALAY Shark Reef (pick up 3 for 54 tkts)

11:00a-2:00p MANDALAY Pool

2:00p-11:00p MANDALAY Gmg (micro-roll 50, base crdt, $30 for 20 WIN cards)

11:00p-11:30a EXCALIBUR Food Court

11:30a-5:00a MANDALAY Eyecandy/MIX (free b4 midnt, open 10a-5a fri-sat)

Sun Mar 11

6:00a-7:00a MANDALAY Check out (explore spa, THEhotel)

7:00a-8:00a ORLEANS Check-in ($100/stay dpst, bklet, $15 free play, $15 dining credit, pre-paid, explore, see pool, eat, 10 free mins in business ctr)

8:00a-9:00a ORLEANS Buffet ($15 dining crdt)

9:00a-2:00p ORLEANS Gmg (micro-roll 50, incl $15 free play, $10 matchplay, shuttle to GC)

2:00p-4:00p PALMS Cosmic Corner (pre-paid, vouchr, mon-wed-thrs-fri-sun
2p-6p Rowena, shuttle to Bills)

4:00p-6:30p CLARION In the Spirit-Gospel Experience (pre-paid, explore, starts 5p)

6:30p-8:00p RIVIERA Ross (Dennys hersheys pie, apple pie, $4 all-you-can-eat pancakes, 7-eleven beef patty/snacks, slots of fun nathans, msg chairs, Peppermill open 24 hrs)

8:00p-10:00p RIVIERA The Comedy Club (pre-paid, starts 8:30p, $10 matchplay, Bills shuttle)

10:00p-12:00a PALMS Brenden Theatres (food court, or Orleans)
1.Journey 2 IMAX
2. The Woman in Black
3.Gone
4. The Vow
5. Silent House

Mon Mar 12

10:00a-11:00a ORLEANS Pool (10a-6p)

11:00a-12:00p ORLEANS Check out

12:00p-1:00p FREMONT Check in ($50/stay dpst, explore pool, buffet)

1:00p-2:00p
MERMAIDS Gmg/snacks (micro-roll 5)

2:00p-6:00p
LVC Gmg (micro-roll 30, $5 matchplay, $5 free play, 2 for 1 drink)

6:00p-10:00p GOLDEN GATE Gmg (micro-roll 50, $25 matchplay first, $25 free play for 200 pts)

10:00p-12:00p FREMONT Fremont Street Experience (souvenoir shops, pizza shops, explore GN-2 for 1 drink-Gold Diggers, La Bayou, binions, Four Queens-2 for 1 entree Magnolias, Mermaids, Plaza, Fitzgeralds-Vue Bar)

12:00p-5:00a FREMONT Gmg (micro-roll 50)


Tues Mar 13

12:00p-7:00p SAM'S TOWN Gmg + Buffet (micro-roll 50, Fremont shuttle 10:45a + 12noon, arrive st 12:40p, FREE buffet for 200 points, light show, leave 5:45p-7:00p-8:15p, boulder, arizona, joker's wild, longhorn $10 matchplay)

7:00p-12:00a FOUR QUEENS Gmg (2X points-up to 500, micro-roll 50, or Fitz, mermaids)

Wed Mar 14

5:00a-12:00p Stratosphere Gmg (micro-roll 50)

12:00p-3:30p CIRCUS CIRCUS Adventuredome (10a-6p, pre-paid, Midway, circus acts, Chuck Jones, slots of fun massage chairs, mini-boutiques)

3:30p-5:30p LVH Nunsense (pre-paid, starts 4p)

5:30p-6:30p FLAMINGO
Johnny Rockets (free milkshake w/ burger)

6:30p-9:00p Harrahs Legends in Concert (pre-paid, starts 7p)

9:00p-11:30p IMPERIAL PALACE Divas (pre-paid, 10p, dealertainers)

Thurs Mar 15

10:00a-11:00a FREMONT Check out

11:00a-12:00p FREMONT Buffet

12:00p-1:00p MAIN STREET Buffet

1:00p-1:30p EL CORTEZ Gmg ($10 free slot play)

1:30-3:30p CAESARS Pool (8a-8p)

3:30p-4:00p FLAMINGO Pool (8a-6p)

4:00p-5:00p IMPERIAL PALACE Luxury $10

5:00p-6:30p Planet Hollywood Spice Market Buffet (25% off)

6:30p-7:30p COSMOPOLITAN Chandelier Bar (explore pool, marquee, food options, hide-outs, points)

7:30-9:00p MGM Ross

9:00-10:00p MGM Airport Departure WAX (11:59a-7:43a JFK)



Trip Value

Accommodations

HOOTERS 1 nt -$5 = $35 (rm + txs/fees) - $20 (2 cmp stk dnr) - $10 mtchply -$10 frply

EXCALIBUR 1 nt -$2.50 = $42.50 (rtf) - $25 frply -$5 pntply -$10 exprs cmp -$5 Wincrds

MANDALAY 1 nt $0 (comp)

ORLEANS 1 nt $0 = $30 - $15 frply - $15 dng crdt

FREMONT 3 nts $0 (comp)

Total Cost 7 nts -$7.50


Flight

CONTINENTAL $2.50 (comp)

JET BLUE $160.00

Total Cost $162.50

Total Trip Cost $155



Incidental Charges

HOOTERS $25/nt

EXCALIBUR $20/nt

MANDALAY $100/nt

ORLEANS $100/stay

FREMONT $50/stay

Total Hold $295


Entertainment

FRANK MARINO DIVAS $30

LEGENDS IN CONCERT $30

NUNSENSE $24

IN THE SPIRIT $15

RIVIERA COMEDY CLUB $18

PLAY DATES $15

HOOVER DAM TOUR $30

Total $162

 

Don't know how you plan out trips like this, usually I just have a couple shows to rotate everything around. Seems like it would be somewhat of a pain, but if it works for you!

 

We do some planning when we go to Vegas but we make a list of things we want to do then we adjust as we go along. We don't put down specific days or times. We usually end up doing about 60% of the things we put down on paper the rest we save for next trip.

 

I break down my trip by days also, I really need to because I am much older
and it usually takes me a few days to aclimate to the time change etc. So
I need to keep organized for the frequent moves. I don't use cabs, grew up in nyc using public transportation. I think it is a great idea to organize like this so you can be more efficient with touring and comping. Great Job!

 

Thats a cool plan, lots of detail, its interesting to see how someone else plans a trip.

My device of choice is my iPhone. I use the calendar to put reservations, tickets, conformation numbers, etc

Then I have a list in notepad on the iPhone of things I would like todo, with hours, address and websites. I like to roam around with no plans and just review list to see what I would like todo next.

I also use allot of yelp, when I am thinking of what todo next I will just open up yelp and search for stuff nearby.

 

I use Tripit for tracking anything with reservations or tickets including flights, shows and hotel.

 

Wow! That just reminds me of being back at work.

 

Impressive Planning

I've gotta admit I'm feeling less anal about my NYE trip planning after reading that. People make fun of my vacation spreadsheets, but sooner or later always end up looking at me with "what are we doing now?"

You seem to have similar interests with my upcoming group. And, you've been helpful with some responses to previous posts. I'm thinking of encouraging our group to check out $50 free play at D Hotel when we get there in December, then go lowlimit gambling, zip lining and bar hopping Fremont East. Would you know if that would be more fun than going to Purple Reign at Hooters? The plan was so much better when he was still playing at the D.

 

That looks like a prison sentence, well maybe a little better since you are in Vegas. I never plan more than 2 things to do in a day. Winging it in Vegas is the only way to do it.

 

Or the Normandy Invasion.

Hey, we all gotta roll how we like to roll. Life would be very bland otherwise.

I've made a few trips to Vegas. At one time we were dead-on obsessed with all things Vegas and the impending trip. We learned early on to plan little. While I still research things to death, we just don't plan things to the nth degree; hell, we've visited other countries having nothing planned except a flight in and a flight out. Sure a must-see show or a tee time in high season demands pre-planning. Other than that ...

I think we partially got away from Vegas because even with our laissez faire approach, something about it still felt regimented. Perhaps that's the repetition that comes of many Vegas experiences. That sense feels to have lifted, however, and as it turns out we have a trip planned there next month!

Then again, we did book our house on the water in Kukuiula, Kauai, for next September.

See, I can be anal!!! lol

 

I planned my last trip like this.

Other trips I've planned less. I was happy with both.

When you find you have a specific list of things you want to see/do while in town, I think planning it all out helps you make sure you get to it all. Its way too easy in that town to get caught up in one thing and burn a whole night.

So when I knew I wanted to see Santana / Absinthe / Grand Canyon, eat at Carnevino and Ellis Island, spend a day downtown and see the Mob Museum, it was helpful to spreadsheet it all out and think of how I would spend each day.

When I'm going for a couple days with friends, or have a smaller to-do list, I'll go more by the seat of my pants.

But planning is also kind of a vicarious doing, so when the countdown timer is running really slow, it can help get you over the hump.

 

Wow!

I only go to gamble ALL day and rarely leave the casino except to eat/sleep.

Now Disneyworld - I have each day planned but it's necessary these days

 

I develop a pretty detailed plan as well. Although I have to admit, it is a good bit less detailed than the OP. And like you said, I may or may not stick to it.

My reasoning for doing it is threefold:

1) If there is something I want to do, I would hate to get to Vegas and find out I can't get a reservation (for dinner or a show) or can't work it in to what I am doing. (e.g. If you want to see the Freemont Street Experinece, and you are staying on the strip, you better plan an evening downtown)

2) If I am with a number of people, one of the things I hate is to waste time sitting around the hotel room saying "Gee, I don't know, what do YOU want to do today?" Get together ahead of time and have those discussions in your living room at home or via emails. Don't waste precious Vegas time.

3) I like to enjoy a trip three times: Once while I am planning it, once while I am living it and once when I am re-living it (online trip reports and sharing my experiences as advice to others.