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My first Trip Report April 11-15...good, long read!

Discussion in 'Vegas Trip Reports' started by nursepower, Apr 15, 2011.

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  1. nursepower

    nursepower Low-Roller

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    My Trip Report

    The day started like any other....off to college classes and then left early, parked at the metro, grabbed the bags and headed to hubby's work. I waited for him inside the Metro and off we went to National Airport.

    I was scared out of my mind I'd forget my Driver's license but thank god I did not....but wait! I didn't check the expiration date. TSA was quick to call me out on it....I was utterly baffled...I had no clue it was expired or I would have renewed it already. They let me through after showing my student ID and my Visa with photo on it but Whew...that added years to me.

    We got on our plane at 5:53..right on time. I even managed to ask the ticket agent at the gate for seats towards the front. I hate my view being blocked by the wing. No problem...we got switched for both flights (we had a layover) to aisle 10 and 12 respectively.

    Got to Milwaukee without problem and went in search of dinner since we had 2 hours between flights. I passed a gift shop and stopped to take a photo of a shirt that said "Nothing tips like a cow"

    View attachment 2794

    ...hahahaha...I wanted one but hubby thought it was lame so alas I did not get a t-shirt. We ate at Chili's for dinner..had bacon cheeseburger sliders and had to pay for chips and salsa--not complimentary at the airport apparently. Dinner was great and we were in and out! They were very proficient in getting people through the door. While waiting for our next flight I saw a guy that looked exactly like Simon Cowell and wanted to take a pic but hubby thought it would be rude so I didn't.

    The flight out of Milwaukee left right on time and we had no issues at all. The plane was actually pretty empty and most everyone got their own row. We arrived into Vegas at 11:02 pm their time and went to baggage claim. We waited for a friend there and shared a cab to the hotels. The cab driver was a NUT! It was F-this and F-that...something I should have expected but was totally unprepared for...but still it was funny so no complaints.

    Got to Luxor after paying half the cab fare and were quick to arrive at the check-in desk. The guy that served us was a middle age white male that with no disrespect appeared "gay" to me...not sure if he was or not but that's the vibe I got. I laid my $20 under my ID and said "Do you happen to have any complimentary upgrades available?" He swiped my stuff up so fast it was like a magician with a card trick..lol...I still don't know where he put the $20 as I didn't see it leave the counter. :ssst:

    He said "Let's see what we can do for you", then asked if I had anything specific in mind and I did. I said, "I've heard your pyramid spa rooms are absolutely beautiful"...click click click of the keyboard and a whisper to another guy (manager maybe?). He said "King or 2 queens?" I still wasn't sure if it worked but answered King. He gave us the hotel key card and my license back and said "Enjoy the room Mrs. Curtis. I'm sure you'll be very happy". And boy were we!!

    Even though the room was on the opposite end from the inclinator's it was BEAUTIFUL!! We walked in to a tall king sized bed and spa behind that next to the windows. There was a sitting room off to the right side with the best view of the strip...we could see a lot of the hotels and tons of lights. Being old biddies and it being past 3 a.m. our time we went pretty much straight to bed (wink wink). I got up to close the curtains because all the neon lights were coming in and mistook the tile floor for an extra step and managed to fall off the spa ledge...got a few bruises from that. Hubby just sighed as I'm notoriously clumsy (I get it from mom..she once knocked herself out trying to get into a van) In the morning my eyes were involuntarily opened by 8a.m. which I guess is okay since it was 11 am our time. We got up, showered (wink wink) and got dressed. Took a walk over to Excalibur and found a Krispy Kreme and it became our favorite breakfast place...the cinnamon bun donuts were to die for..with a milk....YUMMMM!

    After breakfast I walked with hubby to Mandalay so we could find where his conference was being held. Holy Moley that place is HUGE!

    Hubby got registered and then we split ways...kiss kiss and off to the casino I went. Signed up for mLife at Luxor and hit my first machine. I'm mainly slots but I think my play strategy was wrong. I put in $5 a time playing the minimum amount. I think I would have done better if I'd tossed a $100 in a machine and bet the max, but the $5 kept me pretty entertained for about an hour. Moved around to a few different machines before finding a video poker machine and sitting down. I played there for awhile hitting two sets of four of a kind...and then put it all back into the machine...but hey it was fun and kept me occupied for hours and the Diet Cokes kept on coming.

    I had bought a ticket for the Hop on-Hop off bus. It's a red open top sightseeing bus so I decided to try to find it and see the town. WELL...Luxor knew nothing about the ghost bus..never heard of it. So I decide to take a stroll. I walked to Excalibur and again they didn't know what bus I was talking about. Walked across the bridges over to MGM...I planned to go to Hooter's to redeem my $200 free play coupon but the walkway there was under construction and I was not walking back the other way...too far. So I continued my stroll to M&M World. What an experience! Everything you ever wanted that was related to M and M's they had. On the third floor I had personalized ones made for each of my kids in their favorite colors.

    Finishing there I make my way back towards MGM and see a sightseeing store so I ask about the mystery bus and they show me where a stop is....YES>>> the bus does exist...So I wait....and I wait.....and I wait some more but no bus!

    I see about three of them drive past me but none stop....after an hour (and a run in with a pirate)


    View attachment 2795

    I give up and head back towards my hotel. I spend an hour in NYNY playing their slots before meeting hubby at 7 to go see Lion King. Our seats were perfect! and Lion King I recommend to everyone! It was awesome! I only wished pics were allowed! I'd definitely see it again...the music..costumes...the freakin' bird was hilarious and timon and pumba were great! My only complaint- a bottle of water cost me 5 bucks!

    After Lion King we decided to go to Ellis Island for the famous cheap steak and potato meal I'd heard all about...let me tell you...I was not prepared for the walk! TOOOO far! and was a big disappointment. We got in and it was small and gross looking. The tables in the "restaurant" were picnic like and were sticky. It was too smoky and the karaoke was nothing to write American Idol about. So we did a u-turn and got the heck out of dodge. By now my feet are screaming at me...forgot the good sneaks...so we grab the first cab we see and he swings us back to Luxor. Walking to the elevator my feet were blistered so I took off my shoes since we were now inside. Stepped in something wet and down I went. I thought a blister had popped but apparently there was a broken beer bottled with a beer catastrophe on the floor that I managed to overlook and then step in. (See told you I was clumsy) We were grumpy and tired by now so got to the room and just went straight to bed.

    Next morning Wednesday we hit the KK again....once more..yummy! and then we split ways. Hubby went to conference and I went to try my luck at the Excalibur slots. Didn't hit much there and walked out with my tail between my legs... lol... This time I was determined to get on the freaking red bus and didn't give up until someone told me where a stop was. Apparently they stop in the tour bus lobby...go figure. I waited for the bus and finally it arrived. I got on and told the guy I tried to wait for him yesterday and he tells me "Oh yeah, we don't stop there anymore"....well maybe someone should take the sign down?? Just a thought!

    So down the strip I went and up the strip I went. I wanted to scope out each stop so I wouldn't be surprised next time I want to find it. I ended up getting off at Mandalay Bay two hours later and grabbed a Starbucks for the hubster and went to say Hello...but got foiled again by the men in black at the top of the escalator. I had to call hubby to come meet me. Apparently Microsoft was giving out free Xbox Kinects and so security was super tight. Hubby got one which the kids love!

    I wasted another hour in the casino at Mandalay Bay and then it was time to catch a cab to the Blue Man Group at the Venetian...we brought our own drinks this time. The guys were funny even though they didn't say a word and they toilet papered the audience...I don't think Hubby or I laughed so hard in our lives as the TP flowed past.

    After the show we went up to Johnny Rockets for a free shake with purchase of burger and fries...their burgers were fantastic! and the chocolate shake was yummm.

    After dinner I tried to sign up for the grazie club to redeem another coupon I had for free play but they wouldn't take the infamous expired license. So my Husband obligingly signed up so I could play. Went through the $25 free play rather quick playing Price is Right Plinko version slot and that was pretty cool. After the money was out we caught a cab back to the Luxor and this driver was a sham. He took us the long way. We left Venetian and our hotel was to the left and he turned right, went down two blocks, turned right again, another two blocks and then right again and we were finally going the correct direction. Let's just say he didn't get much of a tip.

    Hubby and I "used" (wink wink) the hot tub on our last night so it didn't go to waste and it was great...just what my sore body needed. Went to bed after that and he had to leave early in the a.m. so I slept in a bit. Gave the maid a bit of a scare as she walked in to me in my birthday suit...hey I can't help it if I sleep so deep I didn't hear the Knock before she came in.

    Got up, showered, packed and checked out. Walked to KK for the last time...ugh..donuts....just awesome. After that I got suckered in by one of those side shop people and bought a face cream for $29 bucks...let's hope it works.

    My feet are utterly screaming by now so I go to Mandalay and sit at a slot machine for hours with $10...not too bad. I'm finally out of money and hubby is done with the conference and we were so tired of walking we decided to go the airport and wait out the 8 hours until our flight at 11:59 pm.

    The flight to Milwaukee was full of turbulence...the guy in front of me is talking about how this is better than a roller coaster. Hubster slept through the whole ride and we arrive into the layover at 5 am their time. I barely slept, but hubby was pretty well rested. Grabbed breakfast at chilis again and sat down to wait three hours. Then the check-in person asked for volunteers to take a later flight because ours was overbooked. Oh what the hell...let's have the full experience. I went up and volunteered myself and my beloved and we were comped with two free round trip tix to anywhere Air Tran flies and were upgraded for free to Business class on the next flight which was only another two hour delay. Got on the new flight and off we were!

    View attachment 2796

    Over all a great trip and totally worth the little bit of money I lost gambling!! Would definitely do it again! Just as soon as the blisters heal!
     
  2. DBear

    DBear VIP Bear

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    Nice TR! You won a room upgrade!
     
  3. sfplayer

    sfplayer Tourist

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    Hope you guys had a good time. Does sound like you really got a great room upgrade so nice score, also just seemed you didn't get much north of NYNY or MGM. My favorite part was the excitement you can tell in your writing, thanks for posting.:beer:
     
  4. sabrina

    sabrina Low roller

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    thanks for posting! love tr's
     
    Seinfield
  5. squidward

    squidward Probationary Member

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    You two sure did allot of "winking"!

    So where exactly is the tour bus lobby?

    Great report!
     
  6. Joe

    Joe VIP Whale

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    Nice report, I enjoyed it.
    During those long winters back here, some of the kids do get bored, liquored up and try and tip cows over. Usually takes two to push over a cow, but it happens.
     
  7. Kdog59

    Kdog59 Tourist

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    Nice report, I enjoyed it. Thanks for sharing.
     
  8. VegasDiva

    VegasDiva VIP Whale

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    Great report

    Glad you had a fun time even if your feet didn't think so lol
     
  9. breanna61

    breanna61 Super Moderator

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    Sounds like you had a lot of fun. Does anyone ever leave Vegas without their feet b!tching....I think not. I don't think I've ever come home without blisters.:eek:
     
  10. Courtney

    Courtney Resident polygamist

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    We are total opposites here, I could be on death's door, and I wouldn't go to the airport until the last minute! In fact, I can't think of one trip where I WASN'T running through the terminal to get on board before the doors closed.
    (Actually, I have MISSED two flights!) Freudian, much?

    Thanks for the fun read, made my trip 20 minutes closer!
     
  11. btodd

    btodd High-Roller

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    Great report, as always my feet are a huge issue too! Just for clarification, I don't think you made it all the way into the lovely Ellis Island, you were on the patio where the ribs and chicken are served. There is a very high end........lol, actual dining room inside. OK, it is far from high end, but at least the table and chairs are wiped down. This is where the infamous Steak special is served.
     
  12. atcmurph

    atcmurph Watcher Of The Skies

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    Nice report! I had to laugh at the t-shirt, as a guy I work with owns one :thumbsup:
     
  13. KnowItAll

    KnowItAll VIP Whale

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    Thanks for posting. Sounds like you may be hooked for a return visit. EI is definitely an acquired taste and not for everyone but thats part of what makes Vegas great, always something else to try next time
     
  14. LaRae

    LaRae Low-Roller

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    Thanks for posting. Nice to score free airfare!
     
  15. Terry Benedict

    Terry Benedict VIP Whale

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    I was also disappointed with Ellis Island. I went alone. I got on the waiting list and waited for about fifteen minutes until I got impatient. About five minutes after I signed on, a table for two opened up and was wiped down and reset. Since there were only about four groups of four in front of me, after about ten minutes of waiting I asked the host/manager if I could have that table. He didn't make eye contact as he told me it was a very busy morning and I would have to wait my turn. After fifteen minutes I pointed out to him there were only groups of four on the list in front of me and the table had been clean for ten minutes. Again he told me he was very busy and disappeared to the back. Thirty seconds later he came out and called my name to seat me. The steak and eggs was not up to expectations. I heard so many good reports about the restaurant I was hoping for something special. What I got was on par with the Victorian Room steak at 2am. I know that if I had no expectations I might have enjoyed the meal, but nothing would have helped me feel better after being made to wait while I'm so, so hungry.
     
  16. supermonkey

    supermonkey Tourist

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    Sounds like ur cab driver took koval. I would have driven that way too if I was leaving venetian to avoid the strip traffic.
     
  17. Jinx

    Jinx VIP Whale

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    Nice report, congrats on the airfare win.
     
  18. gotavegasjones

    gotavegasjones VIP Whale

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    Thanks for the really great winking trip report. Hope the blisters are better and the feet are on the mend. Years ago we saw the Blue Man Group at the Luxor! We're gonna see The Lion King in June. Glad to hear you thought it was great. Again, thanks for the report.
     
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