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My weekend in Las Vegas

Discussion in 'Vegas Trip Reports' started by Kathy98, Aug 9, 2010.

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  1. Kathy98

    Kathy98 Tourist

    Joined:
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    My Trip Report

    This is my little trip report about my past weekend in Las Vegas.

    I flew out of JFK Friday evening. It seemed everyone on board was bringing huge carry on luggage. I was sitting in first class and was barely able to store my own knapsack. I watched in amazement as people boarded with what seemed to be full size suitcases. I knew that they were going to run out of overhead storage and sure enough they did.

    People were trying to store their luggage even after the flight attendants told them there was no room and to bring their luggage forward to be put in the hole (whatever that is). I heard one flight attendant say to another flight attendant that they were go to miss their spot in line if they did not get the luggage stored very soon. And, that is exactly what happened. People refused to believe they could not find space somewhere on the plane and went from bin to bin looking for space and the people still boarding the plane refused to part with their luggage.

    And, so, we missed our spot in line and we had to wait at the gate for an hour and a half. I was annoyed. The situation was made worse, the flight attendant told me, ‘cause JFK was doing runway work and they only had one runway open.

    I almost always check my luggage but I brought so little clothes they easily fit into my little knapsack. It is just rude to bring those huge suitcases on board.

    We eventually took off. I heard the guy next to me muffle a curse, at one point, and looked over and saw that the person in front of him had titled their chair all the way back. This really cut into his space even in first class. He then did something I never saw before. He grabbed the back of the chair and pushed it forward. He then told the woman sitting in it that it just cut too much into his space and he couldn’t comfortably have his tray out. And, he was right. I sort of admired the way he handled it. I mean, he was rude too, but it got the job done.

    We (me and the other passengers) got to Las Vegas around 10 pm and the taxi lines were enormous but it moved very fast. I told the driver Encore and we were on our way. He took the tunnel and I asked him why where we taking the tunnel. He gave me some sorry story about roadwork being done, etc.

    I only asked him to hear what kind of excuse he would come up with. I personally think the tunnel is a better way to go when staying at the Wynn or downtown on a Friday or Saturday night.

    We got to Encore pretty fast. I have stayed at the Wynn twice but have never even been in the Encore. I liked it a lot and my room was really nice. It had a great view of the Strip.

    I wanted to stay at the Encore because that is where I was going to see Garth Brooks on Sunday. I think I purchased my ticket for Garth in February or March. I bough the ticket the second the tickets became available on line. I only got one ticket since my husband is not a Country music fan and he would not want to be in Las Vegas in August because of the heat.

    You have to give the names of everyone going to the concert when you purchase tickets for Garth and each person’s name is printed on the ticket and each person has to have identification. All this, of course, is to prevent scalping. The only reason I came to Las Vegas was to see Garth Brooks.

    Shortly after I bought the ticket, Encore sent me an email offering me a special Garth Brooks room rate. I booked it. I think it was about $300 a night. I checked the room rates just before I left and Saturday alone was over $700 for my type of room and so I was very pleased that I booked my room months in advance.

    I had eaten on the plane and was not hungry and so I just explored the hotel a little and then went to bed.

    I ordered room service for breakfast the following day. It was presented very nicely but it was expensive. I got a kick out of how much it was. Oh well.

    I was out at the pool for a while but it really started getting really hot and there was not much shade and so I got dressed and headed over the to the Bellagio. I have always loved the Bellagio and go there every visit to see the Conservatory and fountains.

    I took the tram over to City Center from the Bellagio and walked around then took the tram to the Monte Carlo. I asked a clerk for a copy of “Where†magazine and asked about the show that evening. She said this comedian was very funny. I never heard of him (Frank Caliendo) but they were promoting him in various signs I saw around the hotel and so I bought a ticket for that evening’s performance. I did not have any plans and so I thought, “Why not?â€

    I hardly ever gamble but decided to play some slots. I love the slots. I put $60 into a $5 slot machine and I hit it big-time. I got two double symbols and a seven. I won 80 credits, which translates to $400. Yahoo!!! I immediate stopped playing and did not play another slot machine while I was in Las Vegas. That is an enormous amount for me to win. I know it doesn’t seem like a lot but it is to me and I hate to lose and so I did not play any more stots.

    I did play some blackjack. I am sitting there with my cowboy hat and boots looking pretty cool (at least I thought I was looking pretty cool). The cocktail waitress asked me what I wanted and I could not help but ask for whiskey. It just seemed so appropriate.

    It was fun playing and these guys thought they were helping me play. They sort of knew what they were doing a little bit but were clueless when it came to a difficult hand, say, like me having two 3s against the dealer’s 4. But, it was fun. I actually said, ‘whiskey for my men and beer for my horses’ on my second round. The cocktail waitress must have been a Toby Keith fan ‘cause she knew the words to the song.

    I went back to my hotel and hung around the casino and then changed and went back to the Monte Carlo for the show. I believe the ticket was $90 and I sort of expected a good show. There was an opening act and he was very funny. And, then Frank came out. He was funny for about ten minutes and then started taking about Charles Barkley and John Madden.

    I have no idea who these people are except they are or were sports figures. He went about how Charles Barkley does not use vowels when he talks. I suppose he might have been doing an impression of him but I did not know. He just went on and on about these two people. It was boring beyond tears to me. But, in all fairness, a lot of people were really laughing hard. I finally just got up and left. His entire show did not make any sense to me.

    It reminded me of the time I was in Berlin and saw the ad for a cabaret. We bought tickets thinking it was a variety act. It turned out that it was some sort of comedy club and the performers only spoke German. I also walked out of that show.

    I went over to Aria and walked around there. I then took a taxi back to my hotel.

    On Sunday, I went to Bally’s Sterling Buffet. I made reservations previously and they take your credit card number to guarantee it. I asked the woman how much it costs and she said she thinks it is $85 but was not sure. I thought that was weird.

    I taxi over to Bally's and immediately go for the lobster tail. They had unlimited champagne. The entire thing looked really nice. This is where it gets freaky. I get the lobster and it begins to freak me out for some reason. Its very appearance just looked freaky. It was perfectly normal but just looked strange. I took a bite and nearly gagged on it. I could not even look at it. I tried to eat some of the other stuff at the buffet but I kept on thinking about the lobster tail and ended up just eating some rolls.

    I did have quite a bit of champagne though so it was not a total loss. They did not bring me a check and I just left. I figured they would just charge my credit card I used to guarantee my reservation. That seems a bit strange to me now and I wonder if I walked out without paying? That seems more logical to me now. And, as I said, I had quite a bit of champagne and perhaps was not thinking clearly.

    I went back to my hotel and hung around the Wynn and Encore. I picked up my tickets for Garth and went back to my room for a nap. I got up just in time for the concert.

    OMG

    Garth Brooks is a living legend. His show was great. Everyone loved it. At one point his wife, Trisha Yearwood, comes on stage and sings my favourite song in the entire world, “Walkaway Joe.†This song is actually sung as a duet although you only hear her singing. And, they sang it as a duet. It was magical. He ended the show with “The Dance.†I love that song.

    Garth Brooks stopped singing years ago to raise his kids. He could sell out a stadium in minutes. It was magically for me to see him. I so loved the concert.

    I ordered room service after the concert and then headed for bed. Flew back home today on a morning flight.

    Yeppers
     
  2. jpw711

    jpw711 Is that your cat?

    Joined:
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    Thanks for the report, I'm surprised the plane didn't divert after the reclining chair fiasco! Sounds like a great idea though.
     
    No reason to go home yet.
  3. VegasDiva

    VegasDiva VIP Whale

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    Great TR
    Congrats on the slot win!! Sounds like you had a nice relaxing time :)
     
  4. tcocona

    tcocona Low-Roller

    Joined:
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    Weekend in Las Vegas

    Loved the lines concerning "whiskey".Maybe it's me ,but parts of this trip report were indeed different!!!!!
     
  5. bighead1970

    bighead1970 High-Roller

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    If someone did that to my chair I would of turned around and slugged the guy. I can't believe people behave that poorly in first class.
     
  6. jaxjoe

    jaxjoe Guest

    Thanks for sharing...I also like Garth, and I hope to see him next time I'm in Vegas:beer:
     
  7. BackInVegas

    BackInVegas VIP Whale

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    Thanks for the report

    Caliendo is an impersonator. I know I would not see his show either. Garth Brooks, everyone has spoken very highly of his show, and I love his music. I will only go to that with my female friend. That means, if I am solo, I won't be going.

    Always nice to quit when you are ahead. That is the secret to gambling. Go to what you are willing to lose and quit. Don't chase it. Quit when you are ahead.

    Sounds like you had an enjoyable trip. Except for the lobster.
     
  8. budroux2w

    budroux2w Low-Roller

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    Sounds like a great trip!
     
  9. Dean Martin

    Dean Martin VIP Whale

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    Sounds like a great trip:beer:

    Can't say I agree w/ the jerk that shoved the chair back forward....I can gaurantee, it wouldn't have ended there if it happened to me. Plane seats are designed to lean back... if someone doesn't like that, they should keep their ass off of airplanes. At the very least, he should have asked..not just pushed. Rude people really bug the shit out of me. I still like Sonya's tazer idea...:evillaugh
     
  10. Joe

    Joe VIP Whale

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    I have to agree with you. I'm a big person and when the person in front does a full tilt back, it gets tight for me, but hey, that's how they are designed.
     
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