My trip feb.9-16

I'm not really into trip reports and this will be my longest if I don't give up. I run a couple of business alone and usually work every day in some fashion so I need a place to go away from all temptation. What better place than Las Vegas with all its own temptations. My wife refuses to fly so I go solo. My 1997 trip was to a trade show....a one shot deal to see where the equipment was going in technology, and to see "Sin City" for the first time. My show was 3 and a half days and I go for a week, returning on the 8th day so i have some time to just veg out. Well, I learned so much that I have returned each year since. I now book just about everything online and my week of fun is extended to some degree into the other 51 weeks.
This is my first flight following the terrorist attacks so I was unsure of what to expect timewise. As in previous years, every customer that I ever had called me the day before the flight with an emergency. I went home happy to get in 2 hours of sleep in order to be at the airport 2 hours before the flight. It was busier than I had seen in previous years but the lines at Southwest were not bad and moved rapidly. i checked in my suitcase without any problems and went to get a bite to eat with my wife as has become the custom. The line was unreal and I was afraid of spending too long there so we parted and I went through security. I noticed that they requested that people put their cell phones and wallets in their carryon luggage to be xrayed. I put mine in a basket with my wallet, keys,and other junk I normally carry. I was surprised that I didn't set off any bells since I usually do. Later after I got on the plane I noticed that I forgot to take off my watch and had 3 huse keys in my change pocket. I wonder if the machine was turned on???
I was starving and saw another MacDonalds counter on the other side of security and it had 3 people standing there. I slipped into the bathroom first and when I came out there were about 15 people there and so I took my place waiting for about 15 minutes. With 3 people in front of me the girl yelled out that they didn[t have any egg products. I left and found a fruit coctail and a small OJ on a cart and bought it for just under $8.00......my day did not start on a good frugal note!
Southwest airlines was kind of an accident last year and my airline of choice this year. Plane is usually about half full leaving Manchester Airport but full going to Lv from any hub. I easily got an aisle seat. This years crews were dull by comparison to last year but they were pleasant. The planes were all immaculate,the service was good, we departed on time, arrived early and baggage came right up. I like 737's too. Too bad they don't have assigned seats....they would be the perfect airline!after standing in line to get a low number on the boarding pass, you stand in line to be first in line, and then you see them!!!!!! The at random searching crew, ominous at best with their metal detecting wand and their rubber gloves. Do you avoid eye contact and hope not to be chosen? or do you gamble and look eye to eye in a daring moment? I managed not to get chosen this time. At southwest airlines that would mean a horrible seat in the middle! Cruel and unusual punishment to be sure.
This year I flew to Nashville for my transfer to LV. My dream came true after all these years, the plane was overbooked and they offered the face value of your ticket plus $200 for waiting 4 or 5 hours. Normally I would have loved to do that.I would have got $301 in credit for a flight that only cost me 202 rount trip for waiting 5 hour........but I was so tired I could hardly stay awake and my legs were killing me so I passed. My show started early the next morning and I wanted to get settled in and get a good nights sleep. The flight was good.
All set to climb on LVL stretch limo for my ride I found that they now operate Airline Limosine Corp or something like that. I was disappointed but they were gas operated so not stinky and noisy and were new and immaculate. the driver was very pleasant and we stopped only twice before bringing me to the Somerset House on Convention Center Drive. If you want to be close to the convention center and close to the strip, basic motel accomodations,this is the place. They offer a weekly rate and are just the friendliest people around. The bed is comfortable and this year I had a kitchen unit. I do like a fridge which all rooms have but the kitchen units have a table and 2 chairs and an extra window. I enjoyed it very much. I got settled in and used my CAT Pass to bus right downtown for dinner at my favorite joint....Bay City Diner at the Golden Gate. porterhouse steak and salad, baked potatoe, bread and I'm ready for a walk to el Cortez and try my luck. I was not even being teased at the slots and finally left for lack of air (I'm not a smoker). I walked around the corner to check out the Ogden House. It was well lighted with a rather plain entrance. I was going to go in and see what the lobby was like but the door wouldn't open so I figured they locked it at night. The next day when I returned I learned to pull it open not push it!!! Duh!!
My show was very good. It was at the Convention Center and so I ate at the Hilton Buffet at noon.The lady at the desk recommended the restaurant across the street,at Greek Isles,it was the Debbie Reynold Hotel/Casino. They advertise the breakfast special for 4.95. Somehow it ended up 7.50. I guess the coffee isn't included and they charge by the cup, I guess. It was good though. I also tried the Peppermille finally after all these years. It was very good but I thought overpriced. I am not a big breakfast person though and would have preferred a breakfast buffet. I was dying to use my CAT Pass but I met friends from previous shows and they all had cars....wouldn't you know it! One asked me to join them at a place they found the night before for dinner. It was Blueberry"s. I think it might be a chain out west. It was bright and pleasant and I had my first........senior citizen dinner! Honest to god, there was a sign on the table listing 5 or 6 entrees and it said, "Senior Specials" and underneath, "55 and older". I just turned 55! It was good and we had fun. My show ended on Wednesday and I goofed off the rest of the day. Tried to get an idea of what I wanted to show my daughter when I return with her in April. I bused up and down the strip proud of my CAT pass.I went to see the lions at MGM. They looked pathetic with little room and nothing but concrete to lie on. I'm not a big animal nut but thought this was sad.I walked over to the MGM and bought tickets for EFX. My daughter will be estatic we will be 5th row or so stage center.
I walked over to the Tropicana and tried the free spin a couple of times (they do it on top of the overpass too)No luck, just a long line to get a deck of cards. I walked to San Remo and joined the slot club, I thought I might stay here in April. I had never been to Mandalay Bay so I bused down and entered and walked forever looking for the Sharks Reef. I found it but didn't want to spend 15.95 to see fishies so I left.
Thursday I decided to bus and sightsee some more. I went to the Flamingo. I had never been there before and went to see the bird sanctuary. It was neat. The pool was really nice and there were kids swimming. It was upper 60's so I figured that the pool was heated or these kids were from NH too! I walked over to the ticket booth and was chatting with the gal that works there. I inquired about the temps in april. I asked if there were tickets available to see Gladys Knight. She had just opened on tuesday and was sold out all week. She said yes and how many. I said 1 and she responded that she had some oddball single seats and I would get a good one. I did. 5 chairs from the stage. She was awesome.
I hadn't been to the IP auto museum in a couple of years so I want there and must have spent a good 2.5 hours again. they are amazing. This is a free thing, they hand out tickets allday infront of the IP and in all the free magazines. I racked up about $33.75 in fares on my pass so it was frugal at $30 especially after I sold it for half price.I will always be equipped with a 30 Day CAT Pass in LV for the shear convenience of having it.
While in the neighborhood I stopped in the food court at O'Sheas. I tried my luck at their slots waiting for Gladys but the gods were not good to me. I saw more homeless and drunks than I have ever seen on previous trips and they were all on the strip, mostly at the bus stops.More people than ever handing out porno. How's my spanish" No gracias, yo tengo una mujer! I ran out of time before things to do. I liked the casino at Fitzgeralds, but didn't play much and didn't get to try their buffet. I did go back to check out the OGDEN HOUSE. It looked respectable, safe and pretty basic. block wall corridors, electrionic locks. I saw a pic of the rooms recently redone but they wouldn't show me an actual room. the folks coming out looked ok. There was someone in the room going the next week and was going to post but he never did and never answered my email.You still catch the 301 and 302 south at the parking garage where you always did but northbound buses turn left just before there and then right and leave you across the street from the side entrance to Fitzgeralds. I went to see the golden nuggett at the GN. It is a really classy place.
I made a couple of stops at Slots A Lot where I at least had some quality time with the machines before they took my cash.
Saturday I called for shuttle pickup at 7:20. The driver was 20 seconds late and apologisec. I forgave him. I got out at the airport in 10 minutes, checked my bags in inside, went through security and had my boarding pass in 30 minutes.
I wasn't as lucky going through security this time, belt buckles and rivets in pants I guess.
I flew uneventful to Baltimore. that always seems like the least amount of in air time. 4.5 to Baltimore I think and then 45 minutes to Manchester. It was good to be home but fun to start planning for my trip with my oldest child (15) in April. well, I kind of rambled on here,hope I didn't bore you to death........I managed to unwind and rest, and that is what vacations are all about.

Jim

 

Way to go Jim! Sounds like you had exactly the kind of trip you had been looking forward to! I know you'll have a blast with your daughter next month.

Be sure to let her know that in addition to the big shopping areas at Ceasar's, Aladdin, and Venetian, there is also a big mall next to Treasure Island, and another one on Maryland Parkway, which runs parallel to the Strip!!

hahahahaha!!

 

Let her know WHAT??????

Jim