Old farts in vegas ...harrahs, south point...sky jump

Harrahs South Point April 29-May 5...11th trip with some firsts, 11th trip to Vegas.

M & T in our 50s along with I & D (MIL in her 80s with friend in her 70s)
Flight out of MHT ( Manchester NH) Sunday at 1:30pm nonstop SW. $50 total cost for M & T due to getting the credit card...had to pay early bird 2 ways x2 plus 911 fee. I & D paid $399 each for RT flight plus EB. Boarding passes A21-24. We would have left 30 minutes early if some idiot didn't have some sort of credit card problem on the plane. Full flight as always...arrived 15 minutes early...4:15 pm Vegas time. (Only time that really matters right?) 5 hours and 45 minutes instead of the scheduled 6 hours (God we hate the long flight).

First time renting a one way limo through Presidential. Was a little surprised at how far the walk was to the car. Thought it would save the old ladies from walking so far...not really. Guy was nice, ride was good and they charged me $55 plus tip for a one way (reserved ahead of time). M did the OJ Simpson run to the rental car center...we thought this would be faster than dragging the seniors on the shuttle. Every trip we rent through Alamo and the hubby complains....NOT this time (another first!) full-size Impala $142 including all taxes and fees for a week. He actually told me he was PLEASED!

Arrived at Harrahs to find a long line...moved quicker than I expected. We reserved a Classic Executive Suite had to complain a bit since they only had non smoking available. We were paying for it, not a comp so I felt the need to get what I wanted. Finally she said ask housekeeping for an ashtray and smoke in it anyway. FYI the suites everywhere I have found have been like that. NON smokers beware. Suite 3516 top floor looking east towards the mountains, my favorite view from Harrahs. They gave us a letter about the implosion at O'Sheas and made us read it before leaving the counter. Certain hours certain doors closed....air cond and water in some areas may be affected...etc. I&D had a comped classic Carnival tower 2922 same view as us. Darn nice for a supposed bottom end room. For the second year in a row internet and safe didn't work in our suite...hubby got on the phone and eventually it all got worked out. The net issue stems from the fact that they have NO instructions in the room for it. Last year they had to reboot something in our room. Safe guy came twice before figuring out the safe needed new batteries. I & D were content with their room, they are not picky and it was free! No noise for either of our rooms.

Link below to pictures from the trip...many suite photos...because I like to have pics of my room.

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.421613724529468.100471.100000425316731&type=3

Gambled- Harrahs (tight as a drum! Just like last year), O'Sheas, Cannery, Rio, Bills, TI (so noisy we couldn't stand it, glad we checked it out because we were thinking of staying there next year...no way now), Flamingo, IP, MGM, Monte Carlo, South Point. All slots with a little video poker thrown in. Did the lose $100 at Cosmo. First time we went in there and will NEVER go back. Lost the first $100 with a whole $4 in winnings, pushed through the $100 in freeplay with a total of $21 in winnings. All new slots and we like old reels, tighter than Harrahs if that is at all possible. First time for Cannery.
Money lasted the longest at Monte Carlo, MGM, IP, Rio and South Point.

Eats- We don't dine we eat. Mirage dinner buffet with LVA 2/1 coupon. Very Good
Harrahs Buffet for lunch 2/1 LVA coupon.
Nathans at MGM food court, Victorian Room at Bills, Cafe at Cannery (first time here).
Peppermill first time finally for breakfast and LOVED it, we will be back!
South Point - Steak n Shake, Primarily Prime Rib (first time for this place) prices, room , food great. Wait staff too fru fru for us. Del Mar Deli and Coronado Cafe. Cafe prices good, food just okay, first time at their cafe.

No shows this trip....well, kind of. The 55 year old midlife crisis hubby did they Sky Jump from The STRAT . He LOVED it and wants to do it again. Another first!

http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=421606931196814

http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=421563594534481


2 Videos , one home video from the ground perspective and the DVD wrist cam that he paid for with his package.
Finally made it out to Valley of Fire....nice ride and stopped at The Cannery on the way back. First time!


South Point checked in Thursday. I had a comped city view room with $40 resort credit and $40 free play . I&D had a mid view regular room. Theirs was ready when we checked in at noon, we upgraded for the second year in a row to a 1 bedroom suite and had to wait until 1:30 to get our keys. Loved our suite as always and the seniors loved their regular room. We had a view of the pool/highway/mtns. In the 3 days at SP we played through less than $3000 of our own money which turned out to running through $20,000. Their slots are SO MUCH better than anything on the strip. We will be back again next year, love that place! Spent time at the South Outlet mall again this year.

Observations
Getting around the Harrahs area was NO problem at all. Sidewalk had staging around the IP and a little busy getting in/out of the parking garage. NO major hassles at all.
IP entrance closed while we were there and to enter/exit the casino you had to go through Harrahs, not sure how long that will last but could be a pain for those staying at the IP.
Drink Service- We are NOT big drinkers. I may have 1 drink all week long...tues night I had a Kahlua and Cream at Rio, went to IP and had 2 more...so 3 drinks for me and not even a buzz. South Point I ordered 1 Kahlua and Cream and on another day 1 Mimosa and both of them knocked me on my ass....so the nonwatered down drinks award goes to SP.
Rio has people standing around with Ipads taking your order and they deliver your drink in 5 minutes or less. Really GREAT system. Wish everyone was set up this way!
Played at O'Sheas the morning it closed. Was woken from a dead sleep at 2:30 when they imploded the parking garage. Awoke to what I can only describe as a freight train coming through my room. The hubby woke up 3 minutes before the implosion and just made it to the elevator window on the 35th floor of Harrahs in his bare feet to see it. IP blocked most of it but saw the mushroom cloud cross the strip and head towards the Mirage.
Bought the required Margaretaville shirts to bring home to the family, M&M ones for the grands.
A few years back we got sick of Flamingo but with their food court and Margaretaville casino we would stay there again. (Have stayed there twice in the past)

Trip home - every year crappy EB boarding numbers! Can't figure out their system. 4:30 pm Sat May 5th flight. A59, B1-3. This is with getting tickets and EB 5 months ahead of time. Full flight again. Left on time and thanks to a tail wind only 4 and a half hours to make it home. (The return flight is always so much shorter).
I am sure I forgot some things....Congrats! if you read this far without falling asleep!
Next years trip we have decided on Monte Carlo and South Point. We only get to go once a year so already planning for next spring!

 

Not letting me put the youtube link....the facebook link audio/video is not in psynch. Will try to figure it out.

 

[YOUTUBE]1rtA6TvHtyk[/YOUTUBE]

 

Wow, thanks for the report AND the video.

I will never do that jump.

 

nice report. love the jump.
how much did the jump cost and how much extra was it for the video?
I'm going in a month and would possibly do this with my wife.

 

He even looked sober doing the jump

Call me chicken. I won't be doing the jump either.

 

They have a few different packages...jump alone I think is $109....We did the $140 package, jump, wrist cam with DVD, button, 2 pictures in cardboard frame with certificate that you jumped. They have another package for $140 without the picture but with a tshirt....girl told the hubby not to get that one because the picture is better than the shirt. He would have never done it before either...since his 55th birthday he has been full of surprises...mid life thing He has NEVER done anything like this before!

 

Thanks for the report including your jump.

 

Great report Tammy! Sounds like you guys had lots of fun. I especially liked your line "We don't dine we eat." I like your style!

I don't know how Mike survived that jump. I was holding my breath just watching the video!!

 

Awesome report!...We are taking those same flights in two weeks.

 

Loved the report and video
The jump seems so quick , not enough time to freak out lol
I've done the roller coaster on NY NY and the skywalk at West Rim of the Grand Canyon but I dunno about that lol Guess I have two years to debate it over til I'm 55:evillaugh

 

Thank you for posting the video

As someone who has jumped out of a plane 6 times, that's pretty neat. I know they regulate your speed on the way down, but I'd still be nervous about their braking system. That must've been some midlife crisis

 

Wait till He's 65

God only knows what he might do,LOL

 

Wrote the report so fast I totally forgot! I & D went on the van tour of the Grand Canyon with Grand Adventures. They were totally happy with the company even though it was a long day for them.

 

Holy cr@p, my heart's racing watching that jump! Thanks for posting. Looks like you got a nice couple of suites.

 

My husband takes my 3 teens up on the Strat every year, they all love it. I am no thrill junkie and terrified of heights, so mom gambles. They go first thing in the morning until they get hot then return after dark at night. Glad your husband enjoyed!

When you have EB months ahead of time and still get B boarding passes, I think it's because they flight you're on originated in another city first. The original flight passengers would have boarding passes issued earlier. I've found first flight of the morning, my boarding passes are best. The later it gets (and therefore a greater chance of the flight "originating" in another city and your city is a "stopover") the worse my boarding passes are.

Nonetheless, I love EB and rejoice each time I DO NOT have to log on 24 hours prior to fight for a decent boarding pass!
diane