Oct 23-26 - BEST TRIP I'VE EVER HAD!

So, I visited Vegas on Oct 23-26th. This trip I decided to go by myself/solo. I went with my ex-brother in law the first time back in 2016 and although fun, I didn't want to hear "I don't have enough money" or "I don't want to do this or that or eat hear or there". Solo trip was the best decision I made with this trip.

First night I arrived fairly late @ 10:30PM vegas time. Didn't get checked in and everything until about midnight. Walked around my hotel (Excalibur) and was pretty drunk from the flight there. Also, during the flight met a pretty cool person, couldn't remember his name but he stayed at the same hotel.

Met another VMB member on here (name: Patman). I watched him play Craps (I've never played so he was explaining a bit of it to me) for about 15-20 minutes while he was waiting for his friend.

We ended up going for pizza at a restaurant that I really wish I remembered the name of. It was amazing (although took 45+ minutes to get).

We then went on our own way, I walked (seriously...) all the way to Fremont street from there. I couldn't feel my feet or legs by the end of it, went into the closest casino I found to sit down at a slot and rest my feet. Picked a megabucks machine and put in $50, Got a small jackpot of $500.

By that time it was about 8PM so I took a bus back to my hotel while a crazy (I assume homeless) woman was preaching to everyone how casinos are evil and all of that stuff.

Next day I woke up, Walked to Earl of Sandwhich as a friend back home told me I have to try it. Glad i did. Walked around a bit, had a few beers while talking to people from all over the world. Everyone was so friendly.

So after all that, I went to the halo bar in Planet Hollywood while watching the line for Britney Spears start to grow longer and longer (I had a section 101 row 2 seat at this show). I thought it was a VIP line since I was quite early. Had probably 5 Coors Lights then asked the Will Call guy if this was a VIP/early entry line he said no, it's just the die hard fans lining up. Good to know so I lined up.

Everyone will have their own opinion of her and her show but I went in not sure what to expect to be honest. I am a fan, but have heard many negative things such as non stop lip syncing etc. Got in, bought a shotglass, sat down (finally) and talked to anyone and everyone around me. Show started and god damn, I must say if anyone is on the fence about seeing that show, you will NOT be sitting there bored. The laser show they had in the middle was awesome. I would say 75% of it is her actual vocals and 25% was mixed on/off. But with someone dancing like that for pretty much 2 hours non stop, it's almost a given that some will be. Seat was awesome for the price, maybe a bit too far off to the right for my liking but whatever, it was pretty close.

After the show, a few of the people I was sitting with decided to go and get shots, we walked the strip (not too far) and ended up getting some food. I then watched the Bellagio fountains right across the street from PH and made my way back to my hotel, got a burger, a shower, then walked around the hotel for a bit.

Next day, I walked to the Earl of Sandwhich, got the italian sandwhich, walked back to my hotel and on my way back I saw the same guy with a service dog for the 5th time. Sign said he had a stroke and plays the guitar to make money now so I sat down beside him, offered him a smoke, we both had one and talked for about an hour. He said thanks for taking the time for talking to him. I said no problem and gave him a $20 bill. He was extremely grateful and never once asked for money, I'm very hesitant about giving money to any of these guys but I don't think this guy was lieing. That and I have a friend who's father has had 2 strokes.


I then wen't back to my hotel, put my luggage in their storage room and had quite a bit of time to kill before catching my flight. Went to the casino bar and talked to a few people from Chicago. A much older woman sat beside me and ordered wine, said Hello, I'm Dave, said where I'm from and she looked shocked that I was talking to her, we talked for about an hour and before she left she shook my hand and said "Thanks for taking the time to talk to me, people your age don't ever talk to people my age (She was 77 and I'm 31). We did a cheers of our drinks, finished them off then went our separate ways. Made me feel good to make someone elses day better.

Flew home and am now back to work.

Will DEFINITELY visit vegas again, probably in mid 2019 as I plan to go to Mexico, Cuba or Jamaica next year.

**Attached a picture of that amazing pizza, just because.

 

You seem like a down to earth, cool, friendly guy. Glad you enjoyed your solo trip!

Thanks for posting.

 

Thanks. I used to be a very very shy person who would avoid conversation with people I didn't know and I used to be afraid of approaching people. I eventually said screw it and went against that fear. Now, for the most part, all that is needed now is eye contact and I'll talk to anyone. Even waiting in that line for that concert I was talking to the people in front of me and behind me. I met some really nice and friendly people.

Also, when I was walking to Fremont St, that was the one time I felt a little unsafe but just kept walking. 2 homeless people (locals) saw me and asked where I was from, said Canada and they looked at me and said "We love when Canadians comes to visit, you guys are always so friendly". Talked for a few minutes, asked if I had any change to spare, I said no (I had about $400 on me and just kept my hand in my pocket on my wallet and phone the whole time). But then he asked for a sip of my beer, by that time it was warm so I said "Here, you can have it" and I kept walking until I hit another store and grabbed another can.

 

Fun report to read, @XtremeD.
Thanks for sharing with us.
Glad you met some nice people and it seems like you happen
to be one yourself.
May your next trip be just as fun.

 

So glad you had a great trip, and also brought some joy to others while you were there. Thank you for a great write up!

 

I think that's what made the trip so much better. That elderly woman was so happy I took the time to talk to her. 65% of me going to vegas was for that concert as the first time I went it wasn't on (idiot me didn't think it would be on a break before I booked it) and I know it's over and finished come Dec 31st. Seeing as how I've been working extremely hard with 12 hour shifts and 6 day weeks non stop for the past 3 months, I said screw it, I need a vacation, made sure the concert lined up with the week I had off and it did so yea... kind of decided to just go on my own and didn't want anyone with me.

So now, I've stayed at both the Flamingo and the Excalibur.

The only thing I didn't really like about the Excalibur was I could hear a family with their out of control kids running up and down the halls screaming and yelling at around 3AM vegas time when I was trying to go to sleep. I'm not some grumpy old man (I'm 31) so didn't bother calling the front desk to complain or anything... but seriously, 3AM!. In the Flamingo I never heard anything from the hallways.

Any suggestions for a hotel stay next time? Probably closer to everything else like how the flamingo and planet hollywood are I'm thinking. I've been told to stay on Fremont St. My girlfriend saw all my pictures and videos and now regrets not coming anymore, she said she will next time and her brother definitely wants to come now. Not sure if we will bring her daughter or not, by that time she'll be 13 so I doubt all the crazy people you see on Fremont would be too much for someone that age.

 

Nice trip report Dave...Thanks. I'm a lot like that, I'll start a conversation with anybody, much to my wife's chagrin..lol.

Is that pineapple on the pizza?

 

At first I could not believe shortly after the flight, jet lagged and drunk, you walked all the way from Excalibur to Fremont, that is quite a walk, you deserved the $500 jackpot you got at the end. Then I read you were 31, that explains it . I hope the rest of the gambling was as lucky. When in Vegas traveling with other people, I find it nice to have company to comment on things, but I also find it better to travel there solo, there are less constraints. Many people in Vegas are willing to engage in conversation, the problem is that there are some that best be avoided , you know, angels and demons. Thanks for the read and good luck on your next trip.

 

I'm trying to break out of that myself. I can usually come up with an opener, but am terrified that somehow I'll have nothing to say at some point and there'll be awkward silence. That's what kills me...the awkward silence.

 

Impressive! A walk from Excalibur to Fremont.

 

Thanks for sharing your report, it sounds like it was a wonderful trip!

 

Looks like Giordano’s. Chicago deep dish. And yeah, they take about 45 minutes to make, but are fantastic (although have to agree with Gino about the pineapple).

Sounds like a great trip!

 

Yea that's the place! Will definitely go back next time to that place.

 

Wow....that was quite a walk. Sounds like the solo trip worked really well for you.

 

It did! Everything about the trip was good. In the end Vegas got all my money back but I wasn't planning on coming back with any money to begin with haha.

 

Really enjoyed your trip report. I try to make all of my trips solo. It's what I want out of life...what I want to do, when I want to do it.
I never had the balls to walk from Excalibur to Fremont. That's some trek! Congrats at having that accomplishment under your belt.
I don't talk to people when in Vegas. There are just so many bad/desperate characters trying to separate you from your money, I just feel it's safer to stay aloof.
As for finding a room near the Bellagio fountains:
I think your best bet is if you got a total rewards card. Go to totalrewards.com and sign in. Click on reservations. Click on Las Vegas/all hotels. Click on flexible dates. Click on the month you would like to go. The rates will pop up for all Caesar Corp hotels for that month. I would recommend Flamingo/Bally's/Paris/PH/Linq/Harrah's/Caesars for a room in the area you want to be in. They own a lot of hotels right there and they give out low rates for total rewards members.

 

Nice trip report - sounds like you did the right thing doing a solo trip... and since you talked to so many people you met at various places, you were never really alone

 

Sounds like you had a really good time!!! Congratulations!!

 

Awesome report, thank you for sharing. Taking my first solo trip next week so glad to hear you enjoyed yours. For next time, I recommend one of the Harrah's / Linq / Flamingo trio. Centrally located, always full of action, great for gambling and best value on the Strip.

 

Glad you had a great time!