Vegas kicked our ass!!

We are frequent LV travelers. We have stayed @ most of the hotels in LV at least once, some several times. We try to save money by staying @ our comped places via Harrahs when possible. We went from April 3-7. We left on Southwest from Midway, 7:30 pm flight, and our flight ended up being late by 1/2 hour. We had to wait on the tarmac because someone else was at our gate in LV. We rented a Trailblazer from Enterprise; we knew it would be a busy weekend in LV. Not only the week before Easter, a Friday night, but also Country Music Awards @ MGM on Sunday night. Almost every car was rented by the time we arrived. We drive to the Flamingo for our 4 nite stay. There was a line of about 60 people in front of me. We are traveling with 5 people. They begin gambling, stay with the luggage and buy some Bud in aluminum bottles, our fav, while I wait in line. It took about an hour with 3 employees working @ check in. I asked what upgrades were available~ NADA. We had to take a smoking room (we're nonsmokers) on the 25th floor. We do have rooms close to each other (3 comped rooms for our stay). We had a view of the strip, and the IP pool and hot tub. The room was OK~ I've actually seen worse @ the Flamingo. This is not my favorite place to stay by a longshot; but we have my niece and nephew with us, first timers, and I thought they'd enjoy the pool. Turns out they never went down once!!
We get below average drink service @ the Flamingo and pretty much a recurring theme throughout the strip.
We visit Sams town (every visit), downtown, and Venetian,Bellagio,Mirage, CP,Harrahs,Rio,Palms,and more I can't remember. We usually don't hit this many casinos, but again, we were showing the newbies around. The ONLY places we did any good gambling were RIO and Samstown, and the Las Vegas Club downtown. We all lost big time. Usually at least one of us does good, or at least breaks even, but it wasn't even close. My brother hit a $500 slot machine @ Sams, but he had $250 in it, @ 45 credits a spin with quarters. That's right; over $10/spin. He didn't realize this until I had him show me the machine he hit on. My hubby got 4 deuces in deuces wild poker and won $250. My biggest win was $200 on blazing 7's. My hubby also won the "jackpot" on a blazing 7 penny machine @ Terrible's. $200.
We still had a great time, but all agreed the prices haven't gone down for food and rooms, and the quality has plummeted. We are paying way to much for subpar food. Watch your dining choices carefully.
We ate @ Paris cafe a few months ago, and it was good. This time, it was barely fair and VERY expensive. I had my coupons for RIO buffet, and all of us ate for $9.00. That's total for 5 people. I have to say, it wasn't worth much more than that. The food was not what it used to be, selection and quality. Very disappointing. We did eat breakfast at Flamingo, we don't care for their food, even in good times. I thought the breakfast at the diner was ok, but my husband didn't. For 2 breakfasts of eggs, toast and coffee, $37, tip included. I didn't realize it was that expensive, as he paid the bill.
The kids went to Palms clubbing, had a ball, stayed out all night. They are planning on coming in July with us and repeating.
We golfed 3 days, Mesquite, Primm and LV,and this was the best part of the trip.
The weather was cold when we arrived, but warmed to the 70's the rest of our stay.
FINAL THOUGHTS:
~The crowds were HUGE until Tues. That was the day we left, and it seems to be a very light traveling day. I want to come in on Tues. next trip.
~I didn't like flying out @ 7:30. I much prefer leaving around 7 am, and having the whole day.
~I won't stay on a smoking floor again. I woke up every night thinking someone was standing next to my bed smoking; it penetrates through everything.
~The checkin @ Flamingo is outrageous. I cannot believe they can get 60+ people deep after midnite. Hire help please.(we were lucky~ they were backed up down the shopping mall later in our stay!)
~I could not believe all the little kids everywhere. I just don't get it. Why would you bring your little ones at this time of year?? The pools are too cold to swim, and the kids couldn't care less about LV architecture. They aren't allowed inside casinos. Save your money and leave them home. There are so many better family vacations available.
~If you go downtown, make sure you are with someone, or in a group that stays together. There's ALOT of riffraff there, especially after midnight, when everyone starts clearing out. Times are tough.
~Although the economy is horrible right now, LV is alive and well. Every trip we've been on lately has been nothing short of packed. Flights are overbooked, the airport is packed, and hotels and the strip are packed. We did notice most people play penny slots, but remember, if you put in all your credits for top payout, you are paying dollar prices. Drink prices are outrageous. Take advantage of "free drinks" for gamblers, but don't forget to tip your waitress well, or she won't be back.

 

Wow. Sorry that you had such a crummy trip. Plane late to the gate. Horrible check-in. Room that reeked of smoke. Expensive, bad food. Little luck gambling. Lots of kids everywhere. Scary ********* downtown. Hope the golfing was good? Thanks for the TR.

later, GVJ

 

Other than that, Mrs. Lincoln, how did you enjoy the play?

 

Thanks for your report.

 

I enjoyed your report and couldn't agree more about leaving the little kids at home. Many parents feel "guilty" about leaving their kids home on these Vegas trips so they justify it by bringing them along on their next trip to LV.
Kids are restricted from so many places and wont like 90% of the shows so I just dont get it either.
Its crowded enough in LV without the strollers and hordes of kids.

 

Man, you really had a bad trip. You would think that when it got that crowded that they would put more people on the desks checking people in and out.

 

Sorry you had a disappointing trip! You'd really think that with the economy being what it is, the Casinos in Vegas would try HARDER to offer top-notch service for those people who still have the $'s to throw around, but it sure doesn't sound like that is happening!!