MY trip report

Well I know you all don't knkow me very well but I hope to keep hanging out here... let's get this report rolling now .... You know this is an anniversary trip and we were really looking forward to it.
Started off the weekend with a nice early flight to Las Vegas getting there about 9 AM Saturday morning, took a quick shuttle to Aladdin and there was no line in the lobby. Nice start. But we'll digress. We were told our room would probably be ready about noon and that was fine, they even called up and put a rush on it. We went to the casino and won some bucks at a MONOPOLY bank of machines (my favorite!) and had a quick bite and some caffeine at the Starbucks. Back to the front desk. No the room is not ready yet.... check back in an hour. Upstairs to look around the shops in the Desert Passage. We had a great time there, nice shops, lots of maps so you don't get too lost. I think the stores are nicer than the Forum Shops too. Bought some Christmas gifts (Chiasso is perfect for that!) and some goodies for us! Found the casino again (boy did the Aladdin designers make a big booboo not putting the Casino on Las Vegas Blvd instead of the shopping....although it's hand if youare staying there) and went back to get the room. Uh huh. Still no room. Did they do this to get us shopping and gambling? Because it is working like a charm! Back to the casino and some slots. Win some more (so far so good!)... back to the lobby and it is now about 3:30. Room is ready and it is FABULOUS! We have a Strip Suite that overlooks the Bellagio Fountains and the Eiffel Tower next door. Really a spectacular view. By now it is about time to get dinner and go to the McCartney concert. We decide to just stay at Aladdin and find a restaurant there and decide on PF Chang's. GREAT food, great service... the lettuce wraps are the best. On to the MGM... we are a bit early so we play some slots there (can you say 'tight tight tight'?) and the concert is fa-boooooo! He plays for three and a half hours. Tells great stories, his band is the best, and Ozzy Osbourne is about 20 feet away from us in the VIP section. He was also fun to watch! I think perhaps he has a substance abuse problem (gee... ya think?). So all in all a great experience. We toddle next door to the Trop and hit some tables there, but no big luck for us! So we catch a cab back to Aladdin and do some more gambling there and we are lucky there again! I am liking this Aladdin casino! A few more hours there and we call it a day!
'Sunday comes a creepin' like a nun'.... ouch. I guess we did drink a little. But the GIANT GIANT soaking tub in the suite and the mighty convenient Starbucks just off the elevator help soften the blow! Then it's off to the strip. We just start walking north and hit Paris ( I still think this is one dark boring casino), then one of my faves Barbary Coast. I think this place is just swell. I LOVE The Roulette tables there too. Drinks are frequent and not watered, and the dealers and pit bosses are really friendly. I always make a stop there! ONce again my luck is holding out at the Roulette tables. Good Mojo I guess and great numbers! Too bad it is Sunday and Big Elvis is off. He must be singing the noon mass. Oh well. ONWARD! We make a few stops but we do hit the Guggenheim exhibits at Venetian and they are fab. My husband really really loved the Art of the Motorcycle exhibit although I preferred the history of painting and opted instead for slots over motorcycles! We make our wy down to the Fashion Show Mall for some more shopping and they are in a state of flux as the new part is aobut to open and everyone is set to move. But we damage our credit cards there anyway! Cab back to Aladdin. We decide to hit the Coyote Cafe in MGM for dinner as we simply CRAVE the seared AHI there. IT is really good. OUt of the MGM pretty quickly and back to ALADDIN and you know what..... we didn't even make it downtown! We stayed there. THe tables were fun, the dealers were great and I was having the best luck ever at the Roulette tables! My husband went to bed and I stayed and hurt a couple more slots. About 3 am.... well 2 because of the time change.... more good luck an extra hour in Las Vegas!
Monday... over to the FORUM shops and yes... you guessed it. EVEN more credit card damage. Oh well. But our luck is not so good there with the tables and even worse on the slots.... and we have to be at the airport at 5. So we pay for an extra late (6PM) checkout.... pack and try and gain some more luck at the Aladdin slots. Just as we are about to leave my husband wins a small progressive jackpot. Bailed us out a bit on the shopping! I think our luck was pretty terrific overall this time. And I must say Aladdin has some nice things to offer. Great restaurants, loose slots, friendly tables. The suite was really spectacular too. Our flight home was uneventful, although we walked into a snowstorm. Yuck. Reality sets in. But our trip was fun and I think I got the place out of my system for ... oh... maybe a week or two! I would recommend the Aladdin though, and would probably stay there again. I think my favorite still is the Flamingo. Just so danged convenient.

 

Wonderful account - how was the weather? I envy you getting to the McCartney concert. My LV trip coming up the week of Thanksgiving. We always stay at the Luxor.

 

I liked your trip report. Next time I visit Sin City I want to stay at the Flamingo or Aladdins. I've heard great reviews about both.
Glad you had a great time.

 

a snowstorm.

A SnowStorm??! What the?! It's only October!



I can tell from your report you have the perfect temperament for Vegas...if you are having fun where you are, there is no need to go somewhere else...good for you! Downtown will still be there next time.

The last time I stayed at The Alladin, it was the Old School Alladin! I'd like to stay there now that it's been rebuilt. I keep hearing praise for the big soaking tub....gotta check that out.

One other thing....am I the only one that wonders why Ceasar's does not upgrade their casino to be as nice as the shopping area? That place would be Great if they did that!

Thanks for writing up your trip!

T.

 

Great trip report! Thinking on staying at Aladdin on my next trip. Or maybe MB again. Or TI. I have such a hard time I usually switch midway!

 

Great Trip report. I've stayed at the Aladdin too and really liked it. It's a pretty convenient location and a nice property - really like the high ceilings that help diffuse the cigarette smoke. Did you have a chance to see the indoor rainshower in the DP shopping area?

When a friend and I were in Vegas earlier this year we went and saw both Guggenhiem exhibits (discount buying tickets to both) and liked them both. I'm not a huge motorcycle fan, but the exhibit was very cool.

I have to say that I'm not a big fan of downtown (which will probably raise some eyebrows on this board) so in my opinion you really didn't miss much. Besides, as stated in an earlier posting - you can visit it the next time you're there.

 

Going downtown is sort of like 'trip to Mecca'... I hate to miss it but I also hate to spend half my hard earned 'gambling time' in taxi cabs! I gotta say.. the desert passage was nice but I didn't get to see the rainstorm.... but hey there was one outside on Sunday morning! I think I like the Flamingo location better and it's smaller so once again you don't waste half the day getting to 'somewhere'.... the rooms at Aladdin were sweet though and yeah the casino is now on my top 5 list! The Casino at CAESARS is at the bottom... why the heck DON'T they update? Well... headed for a deep dark winter ... it's colder than heck here (try 20 F) and I am depressed about winter. I think I am getting old and need to spend winter in the sunbelt! Someday!!!