Jades hunt for spooky,Oct 20th-24th, Long

I wanted to do a live TR but ran into spotty free net, Yes i am cheap and was not going to pay for it. I did almost get an El Co cabana suite just for the free net. We flew out of Fargo from Hector international airport. Check in was easy and although they had said a chance of snow it did not not happen. Yay!

Sun-Oct 20th
Plane ride was boring and uneventful, although the trek from the A gate is a lot longer than the D gate. Missed the shuttle by seconds because we crossed the street, but the wait for the second one was not long. It was eighty one and sunny and i was just happy to be out of Fargo at last.
Stayed at EL CO for the first two days. got the room next door to the one we stayed at last time, like this room better. It seemed bigger and had a tub. I was on the hunt to find Halloween in Vegas and so far we saw a deflated pumpkin in someones yard. The Fremont east district had some pumpkins in the drink windows. Of course, as you head north all you see is the giant Slotzilla thing. Walking was tight on one side but pretty open on the other side. As for being bothered it was..well, not a bother to us anyway. Just keep walking and don't look around. They must have been cracking down on street people when we where there since we say maybe ten or so. Not sure if it being sun and mon had anything to do with that.
Downtown seems to have gotten just as expensive as the strip. Our first quick meal at MC D's was over twenty bucks, of course we were hungry and each got large meals, Hey i am on Vacation so the diet went out the window, and after eating i knew why i normally don't eat fast food and am pretty sure i am good until next year.
We walked up and down Fremont taking pics and going in and out of the casinos. The D was a bit loud but i won some money on slots and then put it all back. Loved the Binion's Halloween decorations, and the hearse in front of the center stage. Under the canopy to me is starting to feel like one big outdoor casino and i am waiting for them to put in tables and slots. Gaming was tight and since i was on a sixty dollars a day budget it was gone in no time at all.
Stopped to watch Frank and the Stines and ended up filming the drunk chicks dancing in front of the stage. They reminded me of Jersey shore girls and i thought it would be fun to share with you, if i ever get the video up. We ended the night by getting a couple of forty's and subway from EL CO, and The Big Bang Theory. The room was great, clean and quiet. Of course being on central time i was awake at five AM.





















Mon-Oct 21st.

Note to self, drink more water. Had a good night's sleep but i dislike the hard pillows. Coffee maker in the room...Yay. Did i mention how much prices have risen downtown? We went for breakfast at Dunkin Doughnuts and paid almost seventeen bucks for coffee and two breakfast sands. We should have went over to MSS and had the buffet. I had ten bucks from the previous nights gambling budget and was going to wait for later but had to use the D's bathroom. When i got out hubby was playing VP and poof, there was a drink girl...Cocktails? At nine AM? Hell yes..LOL I had a few bucks so to pass time while we waited for drinks i put in a dollar, and turned it into 15. Cashed out, got my drink and headed back to the room. I had my best gambling luck at the GN, nothing big but enough to have fun. I love the goldfish and wheel of fortune machines.
Lunch was at Le Thai, next door to The Commonwealth. You can't beat Eight dollar lunch specials and the food was amazing. Hung out in the room for a bit, bought a bottle of E&J the night before. I wanted a Jack O Lantern liquor bottle but they started at sixty and i am not sure i could drink that much before leaving. Bought myself a black bat bead necklace and some stuff for mom in law and my niece. Wandered back up to Fremont and into Mermaids. Got carded! I find it funny when i get carded so it was all good. drank down the swill they give you and had a foot long hot dog and greasy fries. I am now good on hotdogs for the next year as well..LOL Went down to the Cal and over to Mss, love both those places and wish we had stayed at MSS. Being a non smoker you can really pick up the smoke smell at the EL CO.
Headed back down Fremont i spotted this giant of a man, wearing overalls and wrist chains? Yup, it was a Michael Clark Duncan impersonator. i had been good about avoiding taking pics with the costumed people but this guy i had to stand next to. I think i came up to his bicep, he was the nicest guy and the only one i took a pic with. Blew through the rest of my budget before heading back up to the room.









Tues-Oct 22nd
Moving day. Had breakfast at Club Cortez. The food is cheap, service is always good and i like their coffee. Had given up trying to find free wifi by now and just took a lot of pics. Hubby is up thirty dollars and i am bating 0. Tried VP, and lots of different slots with no luck, but we still had two days to go.
Now this is funny and maybe a bit weird, due to prolonged exposure to this board i have become increasingly aware of other peoples conversations around me and in my head i am correcting them if they are wrong about this or that. Like where an attraction is at or what show is at what casino. If i know the answer i want to tap the person on the shoulder and tell them..LOL Or i find myself constantly looking around to see if someone might be a board member or not. Thought i saw one of you on the bus from Downtown to the Strip. Missed out stop and had to lug our stuff over the walkway between the trashy castle and NYNY, walking all the way to Monte Carlo. I had several comps from MyVegas, our rooms at MC, a Shark Reef, and three Buffets. I had not stayed here before and was a bit overwhelmed by the place...Hey i just stayed downtown at the EL CO..LOL I now know that there is a world of difference from the south strip mega resorts and Downtown.
The line was short and we got checked in two hours early, not being picky and making sure to mention i was a board member we got our resort fees waived and a south facing room on the 13th floor. Gina was the nicest lady and mentioned some of the haunted attractions that were going on. So we head up to the room...walking, walking, walking...all the way to the end. Nice, big, clean, kurig machine and then hubby opens the curtains...I can see MGM! Hard Rock cafe! part of NYNY and the roller coaster, and then i looked down...parking ramp to the left and roof to the right, oh and straight down is the street and recycling area...clink clink clink...oh yes..and the sounds of construction...but hey!! Free room, and noise does not bother me, and the bed...so comfy. Suddenly i am thinking that i might like to stay on the strip the next trip.
We get fixed up, have a few drinks in the room and head down to the casino. I have a buffet comp i want to use. Finding the M-life desk was easy and we ran into no glitches. Only problem was the buffet was not open until four, even though the comp says three. Time to gamble and get drinks. I sit down at this happy Panda machine because my niece's nickname is Panda. Bonus right off the bat. Good but not great, put in another twenty and bang! another bonus. I am up over a hundred and my drink is gone, and i am starving so i cash out, give hubby some money and put the hundy in my wallet. I still have sixty bucks for the next day to play with.
Not sure how people feel about the MC buffet, but i loved everything i had. It was comped so i guess i would be happy no matter what buffet i was at. Full and happy we take the Duce up the strip to Circus Circus. I wanted to go to the 13th floor haunt. Walk around until we find an information lady who tells us that not only is there no 13th floor haunt, but that the Fright Dome is closed on Tues. No haunts for you! We ended up getting some souvenirs, contemplated gambling in Slots O Fun, and ended up back on the Duce.
Got off and walked over to M&M world, lots of time share/show ticket/porn slappers out,way more than downtown. Watched hubby gamble a bit at MGM and then headed back to MC. I had a huge blister by this time and was really feeling all the walking we had been doing. Walked to the CVC for some wine and snacks to take the room. Note to self...buy ALL your stuff downtown. Blew through the next days sixty, but did not break down and gamble with the hundy. In fact i hung on to it, and went home with money in my pocket.

















Wens-Oct 23rd.

Actually slept in this time. Had to go down and check hubby in and then off to the Bellagio buffet. walked over to the tram and passed a great Halloween display outside The Pub at MC. Love the tram and got some cool pics from the platform. Found the M-life desk and no problems there either. No wait and great service again. Ok, I get it! i see why people like to spend a little bit more for better food and service. Another excellent meal and comped. Thank you MyVegas!
Stuffed again, we walk to the Flamingo habitat to watch the feeding of the birds. Meandered down to Bally's and was going to play a wheel of fortune, not looking as i sat down on something white, cold and gross. That was the most uncomfortable walk to find a bathroom ever! Continued on into Paris, out to the street. Saw two sexy cop chicks and made hubby pose with them, but before we could there was a drunk old man harassing them. Calling them sluts and other names. I should have filmed it...the girls would hit him with their sticks and he would swing his mug at them. It was funny and sad at the same time. At last one of the girls grabs him and shoves him towards the stairs, luckily he grabbed the rail and did not go rolling down, cursing all the way.
Pics taken we walk past PH and go into the Walgreen's for water. Deciding to have a beer we head into Twin Peaks. sit at the bar and order 10oz mugs. I have not found a pumpkin beer yet, lots of Oktoberfest, but no pumpkins. I should have known better than to go into this place. 2 beers cost us eighteen bucks with tip. STUPID! and i didn't even take pics of this place. Our beers gone we eventually made our way to the excal tram and over to M-bay. Used our Shark Reef comp and was told i had yet another buffet we could still use...more food? no thanks. They kindly put the LP points back onto the game for me. Shark Reef was fun, i always enjoy it when we go. Thought about buying a shark mask and being a corporate shark for Halloween..ha ha.
We head back to Excal and have the five dollar beer and a dog special at the Sherwood bar. Starting to think it's time for a nap or the pool, and by the time we get back up to our room i want to just sit in the chair and have a glass of wine, or two. We have a whole night ahead of us yet and I am ready to pass out. Forcing myself to get up we head back down to the tram, head over to the Bellagio to get pics of the Conservatory, before walking across to Paris and going to the top of the tower. watched the fountain show, Amazing from the top of the tower. Took a ton of photos, went back down and made our way back to MC. The Pub had a twenty min wait to get in, but i was thirsty and hungry, so we dropped our candy from Lick off at the room and came back down. The place was packed, no dueling pianos tonight. I had mac n cheese and hubby had a burger. I asked for a pumpkin beer and was told that yes they have one. He lied..it was an Oktoberfest. Too tired to riot or take any more pictures i drank my beer, ate my mac. both were tasty. Our flight was at eight the next day and to catch the bell trans we had to be up at four thirty.



















Thur-Oct 24th
Time to go home. Up early we had a few cups of coffee, did the express checkout. Wished i had brought my sweater as it was chilly. Had a great ride to the airport, our driver was funny and full of facts. The other couples on the bus were chatty and we ended up talking to another couple from Fargo, even sitting behind them on the plane. Going home was hard. this had been a wonderful trip. Getting through security was easy and we were at the gate hours before takeoff. At last i had a connection..LOL Ah well, i know for next time not to try a live TR. Happy to be home and missing Vegas at the same time. Already wanting to plan another trip for June, and definitely going to be there for Halloween next year.

I warned you it was long...Hope you enjoyed it. You can find all my pics below. The first set is past trips and the new ones are in the sub album under 2013.

http://s224.photobucket.com/user/Jaded88_photos/library/?view=recent&page=1

 

Great TR. I loved the small details you included. Sounds like you guys had a great time

 

Nice report!

 

Is this the new $20 trick? Mention you are a board member and they upgrade you and wave the resort fees.

Nicely played!!

 

Thanks for posting. We fly out of FAR for our LV trips as well and use Allegiant as it is the only non-stop and cheapest option.
34 days and counting down and for the first time ever, we are spending our 1st two nights downtown before moving to the strip for the next 5 nights. A WHOLE week. (usual is 4-6 nights). Looking forward to lots of this:

 

I enjoyed your trip report very much. Lots of details. The information for other board members is great. I was also curious about the resort fee being waived. Glad you enjoyed your trip and had some new experiences.

 

Good report, although that 40 oz and Subway sounds like a lethal combo. Those fast food prices in downtown are crazy.

 

Thanks for the great comments! I am pretty sure the girl waived the fees because of where they placed us..LOL Most people would have been put off by the noise of the bottles and construction. Who knows, maybe someone else should mention that they are board members.

 

Nice TR. I can see why you would think $20 is expensive at mcd's We routinely pay that here in Canada and paid more than that at DTD in Orlando but when we stopped in GF on our recent trip to MN it was something like $14 for 2 meals and a 20 piece nugget so i imagine is the same in Fargo. I couldn't believe how cheap it was.

 

I guess i am spoiled by the cheaper prices here in the midwest. Then again i can be quite the cheapo when it comes to certain stuff. What can i say, i love a good deal.

 

Enjoyed the report and pics! MyVegas came through nicely for you.

Thanks for taking the time to write!

 

It payed off very well. For those that think it's a waste, don't. I was able to see and do things that normally we would not have done. Found a new hotel to love and ate like a queen..LOL