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My attempt at (Live) TR - 3/23-3/25

Discussion in 'Vegas Trip Reports' started by BostonJP, Mar 21, 2017.

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  1. BostonJP

    BostonJP Low-Roller

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    FRIDAY NIGHT
    The Friday night plans were simple enough: Leave the Hard Rock at 6:00 for dinner reservations at StripSteak (Mandalay Bay) at 6:45. Mrs. JP asked if we really needed 45 minutes to go a few blocks.

    "Probably not," I replied. "The traffic on the way here from PH was bad though, so I just want to give myself extra time. But yeah, 45 minutes is overkill."

    I am a man. As a red meat eating, heterosexual man, it pains me to say this: Boy, was I fucking wrong.

    I made a rookie mistake: I booked dinner reservations without checking to see what else was going on at that hotel, and then drove there. Panic at the Disco, one of the biggest music acts today, was playing a show that evening as well at the convention center just down the hall from StripSteak. Traffic was a mess. The one block between MB and Luxor took me almost an hour. It would have taken even longer but I got in the right lane, drove up past the garage entrance and another block west, and cut an illegal U-turn to get back in the line of traffic coming from the opposite direction. This proved to be a good move though, as I was finally able to get into the garage and to the restaurant about 30 minutes past my reservation time!

    The restaurant was good too. Not the best steakhouse I've been in (that honor goes to Delmonico in the Venetian) but the service and atmosphere were excellent. I also have to say that the side of Brussels sprouts were probably the best Brussels sprouts I've ever eaten.

    IMG_2175.JPG

    Don't be fooled by the massive plate. This was not a tiny cut of meat. I actually couldn't even finish it.

    After dinner we just did typical Vegas stuff. We played a few slots in Mandalay Bay, walked through Luxor to Excalibur and did some shopping for the kids, and took the monorail back to MB. On the walk we saw the singer Simone with one of her friends and she looked like she was a few cocktails in, having a great time.

    As tired and jet lagged as we still were, we decided to give it one more push. Got in the Camaro and cruised north on the strip to downtown. Sorry for the repeated mentions of the car, but just this one short drive was one of the highlights of the trip: Cruising the Las Vegas strip at night in a drop top, amidst the neon lights, the other convertibles and Italian sports cars. People-watching, and people watching us. For ten minutes we were every cool couple who cruised the Las Vegas strip in the movies.

    We parked at the Four Queens and walked down to the Golden Gate and back, people-watching and playing games along the way. I have heard great things about the tables at Golden Gate so we made sure to go in. My wife lost $20 in the slots very quickly and I couldn't even get near the tables due to the massive Friday Night crowds. Perhaps next time I'll spend some more time there; tonight, however, we decided to pack it in and head back to the Hard Rock.
     
    Last edited: Mar 27, 2017
  2. BostonJP

    BostonJP Low-Roller

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    ACT 3: SATURDAY
    Good morning, Las Vegas!

    IMG_0434.JPG

    Saturday was an extremely eventful day. Not for me, necessarily, but for Las Vegas. In the early morning hours, masked men with sledgehammers performed a smash-and-grab at a jewelry store at the Bellagio. My wife and I had considered getting breakfast at the Bellagio but never made it.

    No, I woke up feeling like death. I am not much of a drinker; the late night walking around Fremont Street and drinking at every casino hit me. Hard.

    Though dragging ass, I didn't want to waste our last few hours in town (our flight was scheduled to leave at 1:30). We spent a little while downstairs in the Hard Rock casino, checked out, and drove back to the Strip and parked at the Flamingo again. We explored the block a bit before playing a few last minute games at around 10 AM.

    I'm not much of a risk taker, hence the lack of gambling on this trip. But with only an hour left to go I decided to play something. I sat at a roulette table and handed Ines a $100 bill. I scattered around $20 on the inside (mostly $2 on each number) and my two chip on 19 hit. $70 back to me and I'm up $50! Deciding not to waste any time I get ballsy in my next few bets; within ten minutes I'm up over $200 with a sizable stack of red chips in front of me. Though my luck didn't last, I did eventually end up $75 ahead when I cashed out.

    We left the parking garage at about 11:00. As we turned onto Flamingo facing Las Vegas Boulevard, an ambulance came screaming up behind us, swerved to the left, drove against oncoming traffic and turned left onto the strip toward Bellagio. Two police cars then came screaming through from two directions; one followed the ambulance and the other parked sideways, blocking all traffic on the Strip driving south from Caesar's Palace.

    It was very clear that 1. There was no way I was making that left turn, and 2. Whatever was happening was bigger than a car accident. As we eventually got through the intersection I looked and could see police cars and a bus, but nothing particularly noteworthy.

    Knowing that the SS was going to be returned within a few minutes I took a photo of myself and Mrs. JP while sitting in the traffic jam created by the police activity.

    IMG_0418.JPG

    We returned the car and waited for the shuttle back to the airport. I opened Facebook to add this photo as my new profile picture. As I did, I noticed a CNN story pop up in my news feed: "Gunman shoots two on Las Vegas strip, barricaded on bus; one dead, one wounded." And just a few hundred feet away, I am taking a selfie and smiling cluelessly.

    The rest of the day was completely uneventful. As the plane took off I made sure to get a window seat so I could get the obligatory Las Vegas from the sky photo:

    IMG_0427.JPG

    Adios, Las Vegas. Until next time.
     
  3. BostonJP

    BostonJP Low-Roller

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    EPILOGUE
    As I mentioned earlier this was only my third trip to Las Vegas. Even though I'm not a heavy gambler or partier, I'm enjoying the city more and more. At one point my wife and I even decided that this would be an annual tradition. All things considered, it's not so expensive that we can't indulge once a year.

    A few observations though, as I'm sure they will influence future trips:

    Trip Length: Last year I spent three days in Las Vegas and this year was only 2 days, and it was perfect. Nobody wants their vacation to end. But if this is something I'm going to do every year 2 days is an ideal trip length. It's enough to do and see plenty while still leaving several ideas for next time.

    Staying off-strip: I read many of the trip reports and I know many of you love staying at the off-strip gems. Hard Rock is a unique property: it feels more like the strip than the other off-strip properties (based on what I've read) but it's very much separated from the strip and everything else.
    Transportation is a must, and even with a rental car I still felt somewhat restricted. Either I wanted to be at the Hard Rock, or I wanted to have the freedom of the strip, but I couldn't have both.

    This wasn't a deal breaker however. I would stay there again.

    Bucket List: Notwithstanding my earlier thoughts on the ideal trip length, there were a few things I wanted to do and see that I didn't get around to. For example, I had originally wanted to stay at the Cosmopolitan, and yet I've still never even been inside. Next trip, even if I'm not staying there, I'd still like to pay a visit.

    Other bucket list items that I didn't get around to:
    Getting up to the Stratosphere
    Mob Museum
    Exploring MGM Grand
    Visiting Paris
    High Roller open bar
    A nightclub with a celebrity DJ (being from the east coast, these late night options are so difficult!)
    Seeing some of the other off-strip/non FSE properties, such as Downtown Grand

    Overall, however, I have no regrets. This trip was excellent. Despite some frustration with traffic I honestly had no complaints. I am looking forward to doing it all again next year (and keeping my eyes open for other opportunities or conferences that I can attend in the meantime!)
     
  4. IWannaBeInVegas

    IWannaBeInVegas VIP Whale

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    Nice report and epilogue. You may want to try one extra day, believe it or not, that day makes a whole difference, especially when you have a long travel day. Coming from the east, I could not do a 2 day trip again, been there done that.
     
  5. Dr Nostron

    Dr Nostron VIP Whale

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    I agree - for an east coast trip need three nights - two just seems too rushed

    Enjoyed your TR!!!
     
    • Agree Agree x 1
  6. lucky13

    lucky13 Low-Roller

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    great report
     
  7. Big dan

    Big dan High-Roller

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    Loved reading your trip report. You made me put the zip line and a camero on my list for the future trips. Only problem is everyone I travel with would never ride it. I agree you need to do at least an extra day on your trips but only you can decide if it's worth staying that long.
     
  8. BostonJP

    BostonJP Low-Roller

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    If you do, I would recommend going through Hertz. I've dealt with less-than-reputable rental agencies in the past but Hertz was very easy to work with. If your party doesn't want the SS convertible you can also opt for a Mercedes Benz, Tesla, or other upscale model.
     
  9. Kevke

    Kevke Vegas Addict

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    Looks like you guys are having a great time !! :)
     
  10. Kobra2848

    Kobra2848 VIP Whale

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    Great report and it sure was a rough day for Vegas on Saturday. Most of our trips are 5 nights but we are going to try a quick 3 night trip in May or June. I will definitely making a visit to the Hard Rock to check it out.

    Mark
     
  11. BostonJP

    BostonJP Low-Roller

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    Thanks Mark! If you do, try to make it on a Friday or Saturday night. Since it doesn't get the same level of pass-through gamblers like the strip, you will find a much more vibrant environment when the crowds do show up.
     
    Last edited: Mar 28, 2017
  12. Chuck2009x

    Chuck2009x VIP Whale

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    Two days? Jesus Christ, ya can't even get to Logan in two days!
     
  13. BostonJP

    BostonJP Low-Roller

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    Ya gotta drive like the massholes, kid. That and make sure you're inside 128 no later than 5 AM!
     
  14. tringlomane

    tringlomane STP Addicted Beer Snob

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    I'm surprised I haven't seen this yet. LV Blvd is chaotic and msny pedestrians are drunk and/or not paying attention and/or jaywalk. When one drives on the strip Koval and Frank Sinatra should be two of your best friends.

    Unfortunately in this case, sounds like the driver was the that didn't notice. :(

    Nice report! But all that travel for 2 days? You got a lot of stuff in, but relax and stay awhile next time! I'm looking forward to my 6 night stay next month! And I still may think that's not enough time. [emoji5]

    And glad hertz was better for you than us. The gf got pressured into a major upgrade over video phone (that was weird enough) and when she wasn't interested in tripling our rental cost (a priceline name your own price) the lady stuck us with a Chevy Spark which we have learned is the worst vehicle on Earth. Lol
     
  15. breanna61

    breanna61 Super Moderator

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    Wow, that was a whirlwind trip. I couldn't go for that short period. I once went for 3 nights and felt like I had just arrived when it was time to go home. There sure was a lot of excitement in Vegas last weekend with the Bellagio incident and the shooting. We left Cosmo just in time on Friday. Hope you get the chance to stay at Cosmo next trip; you may want an extra night so you can enjoy some time on the terrace taking in the sights.

    I enjoyed your report and photos; thanks for sharing yoir adventures with us.
     
  16. Kobra2848

    Kobra2848 VIP Whale

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    Thanks for the heads up. I'll keep this in mind when planning to visit.

    Mark
     
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