1. Welcome to VegasMessageBoard
    It appears you are visiting our community as a guest.
    In order to view full-size images, participate in discussions, vote in polls, etc, you will need to Log in or Register.

Wonderful time Oct 1-5 Paris and PH

Discussion in 'Vegas Trip Reports' started by kimrye, Oct 16, 2009.

Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.
  1. kimrye

    kimrye Tourist

    Joined:
    Mar 23, 2008
    Messages:
    34
    Location:
    northern OH
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    10

    My Trip Report

    I took the 9am flight from CLE to LAS on Thursday. Pretty full, 42 row 737 with 6 per row. Luckily, I sat at the window of row 31, with the aisle guy who never said a word to me. He looked a little older (means 61+) and very proper and paid attention to his phone most of the time. The seat between us was vacant, Yes! I have some arthritis and restless leg that can really be uncomfortable on a plane ride. So it is good to be able to put up the arm rest and spread out. They served breakfast – cereal and milk, banana, cinnamon muffin (that was pretty good). And something I haven’t seen in years (since flights to Vegas were all about gambling and smoking and drinking and there were games with dollar bills etc. - the flight attendants served drinks the whole time to LAS. There were a couple groups of young men ordering doubles of alcoholic drinks, but they never became rowdy or anything. Usually, the flight attendants on Continental sit for the last 2 hours of the flight. One thing I would like to comment on – sitting at the window I had a beautiful view of the Hoover Dam and the new bridge that is being built. Really gorgeous, but the pilot never mentioned it. I have taken this flight at least 7 times and have never seen this view or the new bridge.

    {This is my 8 or 9th trip to Vegas. My husband doesn’t like to gamble and he is retired so he stays home with the dog. I usually go with my sister, JoDee, or my friend, Karen. But this time I am alone in the room but my son and his wife and their friends are arriving Friday so it is the best of both worlds. My own room and that privacy, but 4 great people to hang with. I had planned to see Jersey Boys or Human Nature but as you will hear, I fell asleep.)

    I always take the shuttle to the hotel and a taxi back to the airport. I think it is fun to take the shuttle and see the other people who are visiting. And the drivers go the back way thru allys etc. And I pick up a tourists book in the shuttle. But I was the second dropped off this time so it didn’t take long. There was a young family on the shuttle bus. Mom, Dad, son and daughter. I don’t know why people bring kids to Vegas, but I overheard them talking about Gramma picking them up tomorrow, so it was a normal trip that just happened to be to Vegas. However, Dad was much more interested in his phone than his son in the next seat.

    So I check in to Paris – it’s about 1pm. The front desk lady tells me there are no longer coffeemakers on the 6th floor. Only Executive rooms and suites have those now. I had one in March!?!? Oh well. I get a room on 24. Paris has special elevators. They are express till they get to within so many of your floor. I think my elevator was express till 19 then it continued to 24. Standard room I have had for years. Well, except for the room last July. My friend Karen and I did the $20 trick and we got a high suite with 2 queens, a separate sitting area, a micro, fridge, fax, coffeemaker and bar sink. Best of all - two bathrooms! Nothing better for two ladies.

    So I do a little gambling at Paris. I like that place a lot. Just big enough. Several restaurants and bars and shops, but small enough not to get lost and I feel safe! Very important. The restrooms on the casino floor are big, private, clean and decorated like Paris. And I heard some funny lines over the speaker in the bathroom – they were translating between English and French and it was, “If I told you I liked your body would you hold it against me?†so corny and kinda unexpected in Vegas lol!?!? My favorite is Gustav’s bar at the SW leg of the Eiffel Tower! Yeah right, like you can find it by those directions. Just look for the sign. (And I noticed this year lots of new fluorescent lights in the shape of cancan girls etc, very cute with lots of fleurs) Anyhow I have been playing video poker and getting free drinks there for years. This year was not so friendly. Still got the free drinks but no tickets to walk away with. So I take a walk and end up at Margaritaville for a late lunch (the volcano nachos which are huge and tasty) and a great margarita. Back to Paris and I end up in the room (6:30) and a nap. The time change, and I suppose my age, do something to me and I sleep till midnight. I wake up and am ready to go! So I get breakfast, cause what time is it? Is it time for breakfast? I had a late lunch, but on whose time? I have eggs and pancakes at the Café in the Park at Paris. Then I trek to Caesar’s and don’t do well. All the extra shops are closed off, PURE is going strong and very loud from the casino and from outside- it looks like the walls are white sheets. There is more security than I have ever seen. For a superstar? I try slots and VP thru all the nooks and crannies. I usually do well there. Not tonight.

    Back to the room for a little while and then, Is it Time For Breakfast? So I go to LaNotre (the pastry shop at Paris) that opens by 7pm. I haven’t eaten since 1 am. They have great mini quiche and many pastries and coffee. I get a pastry for BREAKFAST? I keep thinking soon I will be on real time?? Really?? At 11am I go to the pool. Have to get a chair and take it to the space that is in the sun. Have a very expensive drink in a plastic glass, finally get into the COLD water and then the sun goes behind my tree. OK, I forgot sunscreen, I have some burn. Back to the room and get showered for the arrival of my son and his wife, S & L, and their friends, L & J. I go to Planet Hollywood and play video poker at the Heart Bar till they arrive. My son and L are hungry so we eat at Hawaiian Tropic Zone just inside the Miracle Mile shops. S & L love the calamari – it is in a tempura batter but still, to me, the texture is elastic. I had the fish and chips. OK, not great. Very expensive for the 3 of us, even with the coupons they hand out in front of the place.

    Then we start our trek – our plan is to go Downtown. L wants to go and I haven’t been in at least 12 years. I convince them to go by bus. We take the Deuce and sit on top. We go all the way to the back. In front of us, are two little kids. I peak around to say hi and OMG - dried chicken pox scabs!!! And the other child has a wadded paper towel to her nose. (I think it is a girl. Looked like a boy but dressed as a girl.) So we start with the public transportation and swine flu jokes and haul out the hand sanitizer.

    It takes awhile to get downtown by bus with all the stops, but people watching can be a hoot! So much has changed downtown. The casinos used to be so dark and dirty and tacky (the machines were sticky). Even Binions is bright and we walk all around to see where the high limit poker is played and the many backroom tables, the hall of fame, the $1 million, and then to the Golden Nugget and we see THE golden nugget.

    I have heard a lot about Main Street Station on this board. It is a little out of the way from mid Fremont Street. But very worth it. Nicely decorated. Tables and slots and the brewery. Forgot to check out the piece of Berlin Wall in the men’s restroom. I tried a red ale – ok, but am not really into micro brews, I drank half. The buffet had a line. I hear it is good and cheap. From 6:30 till 7:30 while we were there there was a line. Don’t know how long it took. Nice feel about the place. Will return. Took the over-the-road walkway into the California. Not much to say, walked right thru it. Walked to Mermaids. Probably my least favorite. At the door there are these two tall ladies dressed as something? Maybe mermaids? They were handing out beads. As we wait for all of us to get beads, this woman in a nylon parka stoops down behind the podium and lifts a large plastic bag of the beads! And takes off. We just stand and stare!
    We enter this casino, and a waitress approaches and asks what we want to drink and says she will find us. We look around. Not impressed. Machines very close together. The drinks do arrive… way too weak. We walk on.

    The show in the sky is not too impressive. Maybe we didn’t stay for the main one. Have walked a lot, so we get a taxi. Which of course is still public transportation, but without the immediate sharing. Back to PH. Hungry, so we stop at Planet Dailies, the 24 hr cafe. I get a pasta with sausage that is good, L’s pasta and blackened chicken is better. No bread, garlic toast; no breadstix, no salad. Just a bowl of pasta. Thank you ma’me.
    The young folk continue to play some 21 and I hit the sack.
    Sat
    They don’t sleep in. Can’t shake the routine of little children. I get a text at 730am to join them for breakfast at 8. I decline and get a mini quiche and coffee at LaNotre . Finally get over to PH and they have not eaten so after a few hours of playing they decide they need food and go to PF Chang’s and sit on the patio. It is very windy in Vegas this week, but this patio is surrounded by a glass wall (maybe because of the construction of City Center) which helps keep out the dust.

    College Football……We play some cards and slots and then all of us at the Heart Bar playing 21 or video poker and then we try to find a place to watch the – wait for it- OSU game. We are from OH – there is no other. Sports book at PH is packed. We spent time there two years ago and before that (a couple times) at Blondie’s in the Miracle Mile which I don’t like- so we keep walking and the Burger restaurant (good burgers) between Paris and Bally’s can’t tell us if they will be showing the OSU game that starts in 20 min? So we keep walking and find the Tequila Bar at Bally’s. Small, kinda out- in-the open place, but the ladies are very accommodating and no one else really seems to care what is on the tv’s. So we snack and have several margarita’s and watch the important part of the game … I guess. At about 6 we all head for naps. Meet up again for our reservation at Mon Ami Gabi in Paris. It has a patio but we are inside. Very elegant looking place. Very high ceilings and windows. But kinda loud. We start with oysters on the half shell. Oh, and pork potstickers…so good. Several of us have steaks. My bone-in rib eye is thin and over cooked. But very tasty and tender enough. The filet and strip steak look better. They come with scalloped potatoes which two of us say taste like fish?!?!? Too full for desert, I never do have crème brulee’ this trip. We play 21. Always a lot of fun to play with people you know. I hold my own but then make a short visit to Gustav’s bar and some video poker. Not as friendly this trip as it was in March and July.

    Sunday
    Again I pass on breakfast and do the pastry shop. And, ok, Bloody Marys at Gustav’s. The kids come to Paris and tell me how windy it is. But we decide to walk down the strip as far as we can. Thru Bally’s and up the moving walkway to the bridge to crossover to Bill’s. L and L have a good time at craps. So the rest of us play video whatever at the bar. I asked if I could have a stronger vodka and cranberry and the bartender says, no, they are measured. Oh ..well..

    So we walk thru Flamingo’s and do the pass-thru bar at Margaritaville and purchase a perfect Margarita for each of us. The bar tender thinks we are in over our heads?!?!?! Continue on to O’Shea’s and they play craps, roulette and 21 and have a good time. I cheer them on. Back to PH for some really fun 21. All of us sit down together. Have a couple very funny dealers. I remember Manny. From Paraguay?!?! Nice guy. The dealers can make all the difference in those kinds of games. This was my lucky day. Walked with over $200.00. At a $15.00 table.

    Since I wasn’t winning at video poker I had played a lot less. Probably won’t get any room offers at this rate. The kids decide they want to come back in Sept next year not Oct. And my friend Karen probably can’t come till summer because of her job. We may have to make do with Windsor. I get Harrahs offers to fly to Tunica occasionally. Was there once, briefly, would like to return if the right offer, at the right time.

    Dinner at Tao at Venetian. We have to wait till all 5 are there before we are seated so we go to the bar where there is room at 8 pm. I order their Tao-tini – Mandarin and raspberry flavored vodkas and some other stuff. Not sweet like I expected. They have several of the potstickers, satay chicken, sushi etc and I have the Chilean Sea Bass that is melt in your mouth. Great service, but kinda dark and very loud. Love the giant size Buddha. We visit the children’s shops right inside the canal shops mall and then we taxi back to Paris.

    Back to the room. Don’t sleep too well. I always seem to have one eye on the clock when I have to fly the next day. Taxi to the airport. The other cabs we took this trip were trying to kill us, I swear. This guy was so slow. It cost almost $14.00. Nice, friendly, but come on! Plane takes off 20-30 minutes late. But makes it up. In the air 3 hours and 10 minutes. WOW. Am seated right across from the middle (row 33) restrooms. Really not bad. No sounds except people entering and existing – and no smells! And since I have the aisle seat I have a little area right behind me where I can stand and lean on the seatback and even read my book. So my legs feel fine when I do sit down. The snack is the turkey bbq sandwich and a plain salad with ranch and m&m’s. I did have a small pizza once on board Continental that was good.

    That’s it. Wonderful time with great people.
     
  2. btodd

    btodd High-Roller

    Joined:
    Nov 11, 2003
    Messages:
    875
    Location:
    Winnipeg, Canada
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    49
    Great report. Ahh, to have the freedom of some "alone" time and the fun of some company.......that would be a perfect Vegas vacation!
     
  3. kimrye

    kimrye Tourist

    Joined:
    Mar 23, 2008
    Messages:
    34
    Location:
    northern OH
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    10
    faster reader

    yes, i am growing bolder. There is so much I want to do. May do them solo!
     
  4. VegasDiva

    VegasDiva VIP Whale

    Joined:
    Apr 23, 2009
    Messages:
    3,104
    Location:
    Calgary , Alberta , Canada
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    16
    sounds like a grand trip ........ I am staying at the Paris next month with my hubby , who has never been to Vegas .... looking forward to it, I've been to Vegas before but never stayed at Paris .... I , too enjoy the hotel and the restaurants and casino
     
  5. Blonde_4_ever

    Blonde_4_ever LasVegas4ever.com

    Joined:
    Jun 12, 2006
    Messages:
    2,442
    Location:
    Southern Ontario
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    50
    And I heard some funny lines over the speaker in the bathroom – they were translating between English and French and it was, “If I told you I liked your body would you hold it against me?†so corny and kinda unexpected in Vegas lol!?!?

    I have spent a lot of time Paris and I always enjoyed this too! I hope they never change it! LOL

    Loved the report!
     
  6. Blondie76

    Blondie76 Low-Roller

    Joined:
    Sep 19, 2008
    Messages:
    409
    Location:
    Midwest
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    10
    Great trip report. Maybe the gambling will be kinder to you on your next trip. :) Thanks for posting. :)
     
  7. recyclelady

    recyclelady Tourist

    Joined:
    Jul 31, 2009
    Messages:
    24
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    3
    I too enjoy the French-English lessons in the Paris bathrooms!

    I noticed them a few weeks ago and probably spent longer than I should have listening to them over the loudspeaker!
     
  8. Rick1323

    Rick1323 Low-Roller

    Joined:
    Sep 16, 2009
    Messages:
    307
    Location:
    Upstate NY
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    200
    Great report, thanks for taking the time!
     
  9. gotavegasjones

    gotavegasjones VIP Whale

    Joined:
    Jan 16, 2004
    Messages:
    3,104
    Location:
    South Texas
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    31
    Thanks for posting your TR. Seems as thnough you had a good one.

    later, GVJ
     
  10. blackjacknut

    blackjacknut VIP Whale

    Joined:
    Nov 26, 2008
    Messages:
    3,410
    Location:
    Northeast Ohio
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    56
    Nice TR...and hello from a fellow Northern Ohioan. I to take Continental to Vegas love that flight...non-stop.
     
  11. kimrye

    kimrye Tourist

    Joined:
    Mar 23, 2008
    Messages:
    34
    Location:
    northern OH
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    10
    CLE to LAS

    Yes, I like to get going early in the morning and hopefully avoid any traffic problems around the airport. And Southwest only has one non stop a day and not always so cheap!
     
  12. pywakit

    pywakit Low-Roller

    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2007
    Messages:
    211
    Location:
    Dallas
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    6
    List me as another who enjoys the "bathroom experience" at the Paris.
    And I was also very impressed with the antiques at MSS.

    Sounds like you had a great trip and thanks for the tr!
     
Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.