This my first ever post on this board since I found it last year before my first trip to Vegas. So since I’ve been enjoying all the great TR’s and benefited from all the great info I’ve read on here, I wouldn’t feel right if I didn’t post my experience. A little background info, This was my second trip to Vegas, first one was back in September last year in which I was invited by my buddy to go with him since he was going for a convention and his work was paying for the hotel. He used his frequent flyer miles and bought me a plane ticket, so it didn’t cost me anything for the flight or hotel, how could I say no? Those were the best four days ever! I freaking love this place! I couldn’t wait to go back. Since I’m all about the drinking and gambling. This will be my Wife’s first and the first time on a plane. Although the trip was her idea, I really didn’t think she would like it very much since she isn’t into defiling herself like me. Booked through vegas.com for 5 nights at TI and flight from Atlanta on US airways. Flight was uneventful, although the movie sucked. When we get to the baggage claim, find our bags and head for the cabs, this dude comes up to me and said “I have a cab for you no waitingâ€, so I’m thinking sweet, let’s go. So he starts pulling my suitcase, and I said how much to TI. And he replies $50, at that point I said give me my damn bag, he then said $40…â€no thanks†as we are walking away. “a cab will cost $35 to get to the stripâ€, at that I said I’ll take my chances. On to the cab line, in which it took a total of 3 minutes to get a cab. On the way to the hotel we go through this tunnel, and I’m thinking is the long way that I read about? I wasn’t sure, until we get on the freeway. At that point I start explaining to my wife about the long hauling thing I read about and how the driver is supposed to ask us which way we wanted to go. So for the rest of the trip to the hotel I’m indirectly letting him know how it would affect his tip, he never said a word. Get the hotel and the bill was $23, I gave him $25 and was on my way. Now it’s about 11:45p.m. (2:45a.m. on the east coast) and we go to check-in, so while we are waiting I tell my wife about the $20 trick and I think I will try it. We booked a deluxe room with a strip view, but I wanted to make sure it was a south view, and maybe get one with the panoramic view. So I folded a $20 bill between my CC and DL so they could see it. When it was my turn, I walked up the desk and handed it to a young lady in her early twenties and said “have any upgrades?†she took it and set it on her keyboard and started typing. In a few seconds said they have a panoramic view of the south strip but it wouldn’t be ready until tomorrow and to come back between 1 and 5 the following day. Wow, that really works. So we get our room on the 27th floor, which is close to the elevators and has a great view of the south strip, also the snack machines are right across the hall. The snack machine thing was great for me since in the mornings all I need is candy bar and a coke and I’m ready to roll. Skipping on to the next day, I go to the front desk about 3p.m. and ask about the room, they gave me a room on the 28th floor at the end of the hotel. I’m thinking this should be awesome if it’s better than my original room. Me and the wife lug all our stuff up to the next floor, make a hike from the elevators to the room, just to be disappointed. The panoramic view was just another window on the other wall and was so dirty you could hardly see the great view of the construction at the Venetian. Also the other view wasn’t as good as the other room, also the TV didn’t work and was in an awful position from the bed. Also the lights in the bathroom didn’t work. Needless to say I went back and got our original room back. During the week we went to two shows and a tour to the Grand Canyon. Roseanne Barr- wasn’t as good as I expected, but was still funny. Price is right- Pretty cool since my wife and I both grew up watching it. I was hoping my wife would have got to play, but didn’t happen. I was glad I didn’t. I did win 1000 points on my total rewards card. It was fun and they did give a lot of stuff away. Grand Canyon tour- Total trip time was 14 hours, most of which was on the bus. Lunch was at a railroad station in Az. I can’t remember the name, but we didn’t like it very much to say the least. I wasn’t very interested in seeing the GC since it was cutting into my Vegas time, but my wife wanted to. Things I liked about the trip was, I didn’t have to drive since I only slept 2 hours the night before and the price, $180 for both of us. Actually I did enjoy seeing the GC, awesome sight. We ate breakfast at the Coffee Shop at TI every morning. The food was very good, also they give you enough food that we could share a plate. We did plan on two “special†dinners planned, one at the Eiffel Tower and the other at the top of the world at The STRAT . But we were having to much fun with our other activities that those plans got cancelled. We did most of our gambling at TI. My wife likes the slots, and I like playing poker. The only problem with me is I suck at live cash games, so walking around the casino I found a table game called Ultimate Texas holdem. I played the hold’em bonus the last time I was in Vegas, but I really like this version better. Kind of like three card poker except its hold’em. They made that game for me. I feel we did pretty well for a couple of low rollers. My wife won about $1000 on the same penny machine for the week and I won about $1000 at my new game that I only saw at TI, as I could find it at other casinos. Also my wife won about $500 on the hold’em game. To sum up our week, I think we walked about 4000 miles, went in almost every gift shop in Clark county and went into almost all of the casino on the strip and downtown. I believe I drank enough bud lights / crown and sprites to fill a kiddy pool. Also loved TI, so all in all we had a blast, and now my wife loves Vegas as much as I do. So since we have a 20th wedding anniversary coming up, I’m sure I know where we’ll be going for that.
Thanks for the TR. Sounds like you had a great time. I really don't know how you can miss having a ball in Mecca. Each year it just gets better & better. We arrive on the 16th & will have to watch for the cab thing you experienced. Ones like them need to be reported. Hope your anniversary trip works out for you.