Bally's 7/17/2016 - 7/21

Just got back from one of the less memorable Vegas trips we've had. The problem wasn't gambling losses, we actually broke even more or less. The problems came from external causes. Here's a list of the bad:

1. Flight to Vegas on Allegiant. It would have been a good flight but we were seated behind two couples that never, I repeat, never shut up during the entire flight. And they had the type of voices that carry. I can see now how fights can break out on planes. Thank goodness for Bose and noise cancellation headphones. It didn't cut them out completely but made it tolerable.

2. Possible food poisoning. On each trip we have one big, expensive meal. This time it was BLT steak at Bally's. I used the travelzoo voucher for up to $219 of food and drink. We each had steak and shared sides of asparagus and mashed potatoes and shared a ceasar salad. It was delicious so I'm not really sure if this was the cause. Symptoms kicked in around 6 hours after the meal. Not a fun night.

3. Lost my iphone. We had met up with some family at Cosmo and while there I decided to play a couple of slots. I left the machine and realized about 10 minutes later it was missing. I rushed back to the slot and it was gone. I notified security and filled out a report but the jerk who found it never turned it in. It's locked with a PIN and fingerprint ID so it's pretty much useless to them.

4. The Beatles Love at Mirage. I'd call this one more of a dissapointment rather than bad. I've been wanting to see it for some time and figured I'd better go before it shuts down. Psychedelic is the first word that comes to mind. The acts were good but seemed disjointed with no theme that I could see. Cirque even inserts some social justice commentary into the act during the playing of "Blackbird" with pictures of the KKK and such on the projection screens. That seemed out of place. The sound was very good.

And now the good:

1. Lyft is great. This was our first experience using a ride sharing service. We normally would take a cab from the Airport to the hotel. Last year the fare was around $18. This time it cost almost $30! This is to the same hotel. I downloaded the Uber app to my phone but didn't find it intuitive and user friendly to use. I then tried Lyft and found it a great app. It's easy to set your current position and destination. At large locations such as Fashion Show mall you have multiple options for your pick up, Saks, Neiman, Macy's , etc. The apps shows you a map with the Lyft cars around you and the ETA for your ride. Typical Lyft fare was around $9.

2. Tournament of Kings. Some family had a couple of kids with them so they booked the show at Excalibur and invited us. At first we were like ehh, but decided to join them. I actually enjoyed it. They get the audience involved, there are knights, dragons, damsels, action. I can see why it's popular with the kids.

3. Batistas. We met up for dinner here Monday evening. We've seen and heard about the place for year but wanted to finally give it a try. I enjoyed it. It's a very old school American-Italian dining experience. You get wine and latte with your dinner as well. If you're a food and wine snob you probably shouldn't go.

4. Flight home. Again on Allegiant but we were able to move up to an exit row which has much more leg room. Flight was nice and quiet.

5. Made it back safe. Things could always be worse. Be thankful for what didn't go wrong, rather than what did.

DT

 

First - love your avatar - old Robert U. fan myself - when I was a young girl - had
a bit of a crush on him LOL.

Thanks for the report. Sorry about the flight - that is very annoying and frustrating
that people lose all sense of decorum on planes it seems. Probably they are jerks in
the other aspects of their life too - but at least there - you can just walk away from them - on a
plane - you are a prisoner!!

Hate to hear that about BLT - nothing worse than getting to Vegas finally and being ill UGH.

Sorry about your phone too. Wish someone had turned it in.

I too enjoyed the Tournament of Kings - although I haven't been in years and years - it
was fun when a group of us went at the time. Glad you enjoyed it. Batistas is interesting isn't it.
Glad you enjoyed it too.

Sounds like a good trip in spite of the beginning pitfalls. Thanks for posting.

 

You were at Bally's the same time we were, and you were also on Allegiant, although I suspect from different airports. Sorry to hear about your negative experiences. We used Uber and found it very beneficial, although I understand not everyone likes it. Glad your trip was good overall!

 

I had the same thing happen with my iPhone at MGM. I realized within 5 minutes I left my phone at a VP machine. I moved just on the other side of the machine. I jumped up and it was already gone. Went to security. Tried calling it. It never was retuned. It is also finger print and pin locked.

It was in an otterbox.

 

Thank you for your trip report. Regarding the images you saw during Blackbird. We saw Paul McCartney at Fenway Park last week. Before Blackbird he explained that he wrote the song in support of the civil rights movement. So that may be why those images were shown during the song.

 

1. Nothing worse then a constant talker on a flight. I can never sleep on a flight as I am too "on edge" but thats my problem. Its a free country (I hate when people say that) but you should have some regard for your neighbors not wanting to hear excessive cackling for hours and hours.
2. At least you got sick on a meal that was good ( if it was the actual meal) instead of something like Vegas Strip Del Taco (fire poops).
3. Nothing worse then this. Im sure its happens to many people and those people are probably out a $300 (and in many cases $600+) phone.

Hoping your future trips are less gruesome.

 

Thanks for the report. Hate those blabbering folks on the plane. Especially on my flights to Vegas, which take 6 hours from NYC. That's why I always bring my big headphones. The phone situation sucks. Why can't some people be nice, and return stuff that they find, knowing that some person is upset about this, and is probably running all over the place on vacation and searching for their belongings. And glad to hear about the Tournament of Kings show. I am taking my 9 year old step son to Vegas next week for his first time, and planning to go see this kid friendly show.

 

I am sorry you had so much bad along with the good! I appreciate your final thoughts; indeed, coming home safe and sound is always the bottom line!

 

Ughhhhhh, really sucks to lose your phone! Sorry to hear about your food poisoning too; that is never good!!! Hope it didn't take you out of commission for an extended period.

 

Last January within 2 hours of checking in at Bally's I ended up missing my iPhone. Same thing happened while playing at a slot. I was waiting for a text message and had the black iPhone on top of the slot machine that was also black. I had enough of that machine so I grabbed my Corona and slot ticket and walked off. I got no further than 50 feet (less than a minute) when I went to grab my phone and "SURPRISE no phone". Returned to the machine I was on and no phone there either! Apparently I must have looked like a "deer in headlights" because within seconds a CW asked me if there was something the matter. I told her what I did and she kindly told me "you can't do that around here because people go around looking for phones left behind." She went to get Security so I can file a report. After about 5 agonizing minutes here comes Security with a clip board in his right hand. And wait, "is that something in his left hand?" It is... and it's a phone. The only question now "is it my phone?" It was and at the time I felt that I had just hit a JACKPOT which in my mind I did. Fast Forward about six hours and I see a casino worker tidying-up around a slot machine and she finds a cell phone left behind on a machine. She took the phone, stopped what she was doing and immediately left the area (presumably to report to Security). My thought is casino workers are instructed to immediately return any found personal property to Security. Thank you Bally's.

 

Oh yuck to the flight. Hate those flights where folks have no spatial awareness whatsoever. Or don't care. Oh no to the food poisoning. Not cool especially not on vacation! And sucks someone would take your phone. Your description of LOVE actually makes me want to see it lol. I find it interesting they didn't ignore the meaning of the song. Glad you did have some good times, but here's hoping your next trip makes up for the bad of this one.