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Solo Trip. December 20-24, 2013

Discussion in 'Vegas Trip Reports' started by xman30, Jan 23, 2014.

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  1. xman30

    xman30 High-Roller

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    My Trip Report

    This is my third trip report. I'll do with this report as I've done with my previous reports, one post = one day. This report is for my eighth trip to Las Vegas.

    Day 1, Friday, December 20, 2013:

    My plane took off from Hobby airport in Houston at 6:23am. An almost full plane. The plane landed in Vegas at 7:23am. I got to the MGM Grand at 8:10am. This was my fifth time staying at the MGM Grand, 1st since September 2011. After checking in I was able to go right to my room (8:20am). This was the first time I was able to do that at the MGM Grand. I had a Strip view room. The room was on the 22nd floor.

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    After dropping off my bags I went to the Bacchanal Buffet at Caesars for breakfast. (9:35am) My second time eating there. Expensive, but very very good. Right now it's my favorite buffet.

    I then went to the Secret Garden & Dolphin Habitat at the Mirage. (11:12am). This was my first time at the habitat & I wish I hadn't waited so long to go. I loved it!!! It was great watching the dolphins being trained!!! :thumbsup:

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    Picture I took at the Palazzo

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    I then made my way to the habitat at the Flamingo. (1:35pm)

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    I made it back to my room to rest for a bit. (2:10pm)

    For dinner I went to the Hooters Casino. (5:55pm) I ate a Texas Melt Burger & curly fries. It was ok. My favorite Hooters Girl wasn't there, but two nice ladies were:

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    After dinner I went to the Fremont Street Experience. (8:40pm) Fremont wasn't as exciting for me this time around. There were fewer dancers at the outdoor bars. Probably because of the cold.

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    I was able to take in a Light Show.

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    I was able to sneak a pic of lovely young lady while I was at Fremont. ;-)

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    I left at 9:40pm & got back to my room at 10:40pm. I was feeling under the weather. A cold had taken hold of me. The first time being sick in Vegas.

    Next up, Day 2, December 21.

    xman30
     
  2. LV_Bound

    LV_Bound VIP Whale

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    Enjoyed the pictures and video.
    The ducks seem to be walking on water...its a miracle.
    Only watch portions of the dancing barmaid at Freemont because the girl looked so bored.
    Watch the dolphin video and they seem to be doing more feeding than training. :peace:

    Looking forward to possible video and pictures from your gambling ventures. :beer:
     
  3. sabrina

    sabrina Low roller

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    Looking forward to more! love that you put times on your report.:beer:
     
    Seinfield
  4. wishman35

    wishman35 VIP Whale

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    Awesome quality pictures! Love it
     
  5. cetar

    cetar Tourist

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    Great pics

    Enjoying your great pics and your report! You have a wonderful view from your room!! I have just been trying to imagine what it looked like at night. Looking forward to the rest of your report!
     
  6. IWannaBeInVegas

    IWannaBeInVegas VIP Whale

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    Thank you for posting pics. Like the start minus getting sick
     
  7. UKian

    UKian Tourist

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    Brilliant pics of the dolphins. How was the room at the MGM?
     
  8. Mayoman

    Mayoman High-Roller

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    Nice pics, thanks for posting.
     
  9. Smo

    Smo Mr. Las Vegas

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    Looks like one of the dolphins was laughing at you. Love that pic!

    Do you gamble at all? :wink2:
     
  10. xman30

    xman30 High-Roller

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    Very little. I gamble on average a few dollars a trip. I'm mainly there to sightsee, take pictures, go to attraction, shows, eat, etc.

    xman30
     
  11. xman30

    xman30 High-Roller

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    Day 2: Saturday, December 21, 2013

    I woke up at 6:15am. I ate at Aria's Buffet for breakfast. (8:16am) The price was around $35 for their "Holiday Brunch". The food was good, but it didn't have as wide a selection as some other buffets. After breakfast I took the tram that runs from Aria/City Center to the Bellagio. This was the first time I've ever used the tram. It presented me with a nice photo opportunity.

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    I made my way to Bally's for the Jubilee backstage tour. It was cancelled my previous two trips because not enough people bought tickets. This time there were enough people. The tour started at 11am. Even though I had taken the tour before, I still learned new things about the show.

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    After the tour, I made my way to the Tristar store in the Miracle Mile. Hulk Hogan was doing an autograph signing. I couldn't get close to him at all. I was able to see him through one of the store's windows. Sorry, no pictures.

    The busy Vegas Strip in front of Planet Hollywood:

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    I headed to City Center. (1:45pm) I looked at a Richard MacDonald art exhibit & a Rodney Lough Jr. photograph exhibit. I walked around taking pictures & videos.

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    It was after the second video that I saw Mike Tyson. I heard someone behind me say "I love my girlfriend" in a voice that I recognized. I followed the guy & thought to myself that he seemed familiar. As I was getting closer I thought he looked like Tyson. Then I saw the tattoo on his face & knew it was Mike. He was there with a friend. They had been doing some shopping. I got fairly close to him, but never got the chance to say anything to him because other people were talking to him as he waited for his vehicle to be brought to him by valet.

    I then headed back to my room to rest for a while. My cold was in full force & taking its toll on me.

    For dinner I went to Gonzalez Y Gonzalez inside New York New York. Good food. Sat at a table in the "outside" portion of the restaurant. The only draw back to that was some guy tried to get some money from me. He told me he had just got out of prison & needed help getting on his feet. I was going to give him a couple dollars so he would leave me alone, but when I turned back around, he was gone. Someone must have ran him off.

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    After dinner, I walked around the Strip. I watched some people skating on an ice rink outside Caesars Palace.

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    I took in a water fountain show at the Bellagio.

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    I made it back to my room at 10pm & went to bed.

    Next up: Day 3, December 22.

    xman30
     
  12. thecarve

    thecarve Misanthrope

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    Great stuff, xman30. Pics are stunning! Sorry about the cold, though...always a pain in the azz in Vegas.
     
  13. tringlomane

    tringlomane STP Addicted Beer Snob

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    Great stuff!
     
  14. vegasqc

    vegasqc VIP Whale

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    Great pics

    Thanks for reminding me about the jubilee tour im looking for some cheap daytime activities that i have never done before and i had completely forgotten about that one
     
  15. xman30

    xman30 High-Roller

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    You do learn a lot. You're led by a showgirl around the back area & shown quite a lot of different things. Sets, costumes, dressing rooms, etc. It takes about an hour & if I remember correctly, costs $15. Well worth the price.

    xman30
     
  16. xman30

    xman30 High-Roller

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    Day 3: Sunday, December 22, 2013

    I woke up at 6:15am. Went to church, 8am mass.

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    I then made my way to Lagasse's Stadium for lunch/football. I was able to watch my Texans play the Broncos on the TV at my table. It was fun the first half, but then Payton Manning opened a can of 'whoop ass' in the second half & trounced my team. I had chicken nachos, root beer, & a strawberry ice cream shake with cookies. Overall it was nice being there with all those games on TV & with all the other people watching the games.

    After football I went to Madame Tussauds. (1:36pm)

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    There were some new statues:

    Arnold as the Terminator

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    Various Marvel movie characters

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    A new feature was the Avengers 4D movie. It runs around 10 minutes or so. It's very entertaining. Great crowd reaction.

    I went to my room to rest for a while.

    For dinner I went to Margaritaville at the Flamingo. (7pm) Good food & atmosphere. I got to see a lovely young lady perform.

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    My evening's entertainment was the show Fantasy at the Luxor. There were some new dancers, numbers, & singer/host. Very fun. After the show I bought a 2014 calendar & took some pictures of the ladies.

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    I made it back to my room & went to bed at 1:00am.

    Next up: Day 4, December 23, 2013 & going home day.

    xman30
     
  17. PTC Larry

    PTC Larry Off We Go

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    xman30 Thanks for the great pics and videos. Makes me want to go back tomorrow. You showed so much that I have not seen before, thanks again.
     
  18. xman30

    xman30 High-Roller

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    Day 4: Monday, December 23, 2013

    I got up at 8:35am. Went to the MGM Grand buffet for breakfast. (9:37am) I thought it was better than the last time I ate there (Dec. '09). I went to the Auto Collection at the Quad. (12:33pm) There were some new vehicles.

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    I then made my way to the conservatory at the Bellagio. (2:30pm)

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    I putzed around the Strip a bit & took some pictures.

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    These two are from earlier in the trip, but I figured I'd throw them in now for some extra eye candy. ;-)

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    For dinner I went to Serendipity 3, which is near Caesars Palace. (7:00pm) I ate a BBQ pizza. It was very good. I've eaten at Serendipity 3 before. (April 2012) I think it has lost some of its charm. It has expanded the inside, which has taken away some of the... patio (I guess that's what it could be called). It was also fairly dark. Maybe I'm being overly picky. After dinner I went inside Caesars Palace. I finally saw how crazy the line can be to get into the Bacchanal Buffet!!! The line was huge!!! :eek: It looked like it would take at least an hour to get in. The two times I've been there for breakfast I never had to wait in line. I putzed around the Strip again. Took in another fountain show at the Bellagio.

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    I made it back to my room a little after 10pm & went to bed. Made it home the next day safe. I'm thinking about going back to Vegas the first week of June. Probably will stay at either Flamingo or Harrah's. Nothing is set in stone yet.

    xman30
     
  19. xman30

    xman30 High-Roller

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