PH

Okay having been almost a month since I was in Las Vegas this gave me time to think about my trip report.
The background
My grandfather last summer had an unexpected open heart triple bypass surgery. When he was waiting to go into surgery I told him, “When you get better the guys are taking you to Vegasâ€. This was last summer and we did not end up going to Vegas until July 26-30th of 2009.
The Flight
We took southwest out of Providence, RI non-stop to Las Vegas and the same going back. Southwest is not bad but, I prefer to fly on jet blue with the nice TV and will not travel unless I get a really good deal compared to jet blue that does not have a TV or bed.
The hotel
We stayed at Harrahs this was my first time staying there. To be honest it was my first time going in the place. I was very pessimistic about staying there I always thought that it is a dump and never bother going in, but another family member who went with us booked the trip and for $350 for 4 nights and air fare it is hard to beat. When walking in it just seemed like a regular casino nothing to fancy but not a dump at all. When first entering the room it had two queen sized beds that had really nice linens on them, a regular TV not flat screen and a tub and shower combo, it is like a really nice best western.
With four of us going on the trip it was two and two in each room. My room had me and my grandfather in it. The most negative part of the trip was staying in the same room as someone else. Between snoring and waking up early and sitting in the room reading the news paper and watching TV. Let’s just say that next time I go I am having my own room unless it’s with my Girl Friend.
Over all for location on the hotel and price I give it an A.
The events
Every night I went to bed at 4 am and woke up at 7 am (not by choice)
Day 1
The first day we kind of just got use to where we were and what is around us. We went over to flamingo and played some video poker and black jack and just walked around.
Day 2
The second day my grandfather kind of complained about just gambling and drinking. One of the guys who went really likes to drink. So we started off early and headed to Grad Lux café and had the breakfast buffet for 15 dollars. This is something that I had all last vacation a lot and highly recommend it. Then we headed north to the Wynn and Encore. Let me just say that if you are looking for the best most exigent hotel on the strip…..this is the place. We walked around and just admired what this wonderful hotel has. The waterfall that you can see from inside Wynn, amazing.
Later that day me and my grandfather went and planed a trip to the Grand Canyon. So, my grandfather went to bed early to get up so we can drive all the way the Grand Canyon. The Grand Canyon is a LONG DAY if you take a bus. With that being said it was worth every penny, I am not one for nature but this is something that must been seen to explain. If you have the time and money, this is a good trip to get away from the tables for a little bit I strongly recommend seeing this you won’t regret it. On the way back the tour driver showed us where tupac was shot on flamingo and koval. This was something that I told people back home after some more drinking and gambling my grandfather went to bed. This is when I and another one of the guys who loves to drink went out and had a blast we started at osheas played some video poker drank a lot of beer. After a little while I told the other guy let’s go and see what we can find. So, we took a beer each and went to explore Las Vegas. Off we went passing bills flamingo and Paris and everything in between ending up at Planet Hollywood. IN SHORT I LOVE PLAENT HOLLYWOOD. I have a thing about trying out new casinos and getting a one dollar poker chip for an empty fish bowl that I have at home. After walking into the casino I instantly feel in love with the cool vibe and modern décor. Walking in from the street there is a bar that has a guy playing a piano. We ended up visiting this bar 2 more times before the trip was done. We sat down and played video black jack and started with 18$ and pulled over $100 not only did I make money but the bar tender was great every time I looked down I had another beer in front of me. With that being said someone just came up to the bar and goes two beers and two shorts and it was like fifty dollars. I must have had 20 beers all the while we where requesting classics that the piano man was playing with the crowd really into it. After stumbling back and getting little sleep because of snoring and my grandfather waking up early.
For the rest of the trip we just played video black jack and went to planet Hollywood every nice and drank till we could not drink no more.

 

Great Trip Report glad you got some quality time with your grandfather , and yeah the Grand Canyon is amazing

 

Very nice gesture to take your snoring Grandpa to Vegas.

I have no kids but maybe someday I'll have a grandchild who will treat me so well.

Next time bring the foam ear plugs and you won't hear anything.

 

Grand Canyon is spectacular

Nice report, glad your grandfather is doing wonderful.

If you can, you should make this an enitre four day trip by itself.

On the south rim there is so much to see. Instead of going to the Tourist area on the south rim, by El Tovar, go the other direction, which is east. There are some old ANASTAZI ruins to learn about.

There are some other lookout points that no one is ever at, that are just as breathtaking as over in the tourist area. I want to say Yavapai but my memory is fuzzy.

I love El Tovar, I just do not like the HUGE crowds that can be there.

Also, the canyon rims are up HIGH. If you go in the winter time, expect snow and cold.

 

Aww...I'm a sucker for family stories So nice you kept the promise to your grandfather. Bet you have some lasting memories of that trip

You should have taken grandpa for some "extra curricular activities" **cough cough Spearmint Rhino.

 

Awesome that you took your Grandpa to Las Vegas........you can't put a price on memories like that!

 

Great report....and I totally agree about wanting your own room. My buddy and I shared a room for our first 5 or 6 trips to LV but as we got older we each booked our own room...much better!

 

Glad to hear you enjoyed PH so much. That's our usual home base in Vegas. We love it there too. So nice you took your gramps and will always have the memories. Thanks for posting.

 

Enjoyed your TR. We usualy stay at Paris and gamblle a lot next door at Ph. Good call on going out to the Grand Canyon. We've been there twice. Amazing each time.

later, GVJ

 

Great report, thanks for posting!