December visit to remember

[gardncm]

My wife and I just returned from LV. Our trip was Dec 7-10 (Sun-Wed). I had spent several months compairing rates, looking at sites and planning our trip (as we only go once a year), so thanks to everyone from this site for all your imput. It was helpful.

Day 1 Sunday - Arrive at 12:30 pm in LV. Not a full flight, nor a lotincoming people to the airport. However there were hords of people leaving that Sunday afternoon. Lots of folks in for the rodeo apparently. Luggage was already on the carrosel when we got there and cab took about a 5 minute wait. Our room was booked at the Aladdin. I had reserved the Resort Vista room, however the $20 trick got me the 1,100 square foot Panoramic Suite on the 21st floor. (my wife was so impressed). One of the nicest hotel rooms I have ever stayed in and what a view. Our room faced north up the strip and we could see up and down the strip and over to the Hardrock as well. 55" TV in living room, 1 1/2 baths, king bed, etc. The staff at the hotel was great, very friendly and nice. We played in the casino until about 4:00 pm and then walked down to the MGM Grand. We looked around and played cards for awhile and saw Carrot Top Sunday night. He was great, you should not miss if you are looking for a comedian to see.

Got back to the Aladdin about 1:30 am and went to bed.

Day 2 Monday - Got up and had the breakfast buffet at the Aladdin. It was great, a lot to choose from and everything was very good. After breakfast, we walked to the Bellagio. We enjoy there hotel and casino the best, as that is where we normally stay. Stayed and gambled there for a good while, then headed over to Paris for awhile. Bellagio was not crowded, nor was the Paris. Forget about getting a drink as we never saw any cocktail servers in either casino. After dinner, we took a cab to Mandalay Bay. Bad idea. They had only 4 BJ tables and all were $10 minimum and no one playing. They would not drop the limit, so we left 30 minutes after arriving.

Day 3 Tuesday - Had a morning coffee at the Starbucks and headed to the spa (Elemis) at the Aladdin. Very nice! We both had massages and used the facility until about noon. Highly recommend. We then took a cab to Venetian and had lunch at Wolfgang Pucks restaurant. Best bread I have ever had! Everything we had for lunch was great and only $35 total. From there we went to Treasure Island, Mirage, Ceasars Palace, Bally's and Paris. We didn't care for TI casino, Mirage was too crowded, Ceasers Palace was too slow and no tables open and we found some lower limit tables at Bally's that we played for several hours. Paris was busy, but no low limit tables. We headed back to MGM Grand and found 3 card poker $5 and played for about 6 hours then headed back to our room.

Day 4 Wednesday - Nothing to exciting, checked out and headed to the airport. Check in took 15 minutes and security was about 30 minutes, but that is about as slow as it gets at the LV airport.

IN GENERAL - Had a great visit. We really liked the switch over from coins to paper tickets from the slot machines. The crowd was an older crowd (50-70) and we enjoyed not having the casino full of people. The drawback was that so many table games were closed and only $10 minimums were open, so we spent more time on the slots than we typically like to. Aladdin did not seem to be in a transition yet to Planet Hollywood. I hope they make some changes to the layout of the hotel as we did not care for the whole concept. Things were hard to find and get to. No signs to help and no staff to ask questions to. Weather was cool and breezy but sun was always out. Please let me know if you have any questions and I will be happy to answer what I can.

We look forward to our vacation next year and seeing what has changed!

Thanks.

 

[Billy from TX.]

Sounds like a full trip.
I wanted to go to the Luxor Spa last year for me and my wife but didn't find the time or just take it.

I don't really care for the paper pay slots. I don't know what it is. I guess I just like hearing the coins drop in. Plus I like stealing the coin cups. They make good flower pots for the patio.

 

[NEON]

Thats interesting that the table limits did not really drop even being a slow time? We will be there T-7 and hoped being a slow time we would find lower limits?
Great job on the $20 trick

I might try the $20 trick too being a slower time of year, but our rooms are comped anyway, so I don't know if it will work as well as if we were a "paying" customer. (Not like we didn't pay one way or another, via the comp points built up or anything)!!!

 

[Vegas V]

When you did the $20.00 trick, did they charge you extra for the room too? I would like to try this sometime, however, I'd wonder if they would charge me for the room upgrade on my bill at the end of the trip.

 

[Heathcat]

Thanks for the trip report- we really count on 'em to get us through until we're at T-1! Glad you liked the Aladdin. I've reserved a Resort room for two nights in January, and will be attempting the $20 trick to try for a Resort Vista.

Neon- I have read a number of reports where they will upgrade your comped room, and others won't. Doesn't hurt to try!

Vegas V- the nature of the $20 trick is that the desk clerk knows it is a gratuity in the way you ask if there are available upgrades and flash the folded $20 while asking. They will let you know up front if you will be paying for the upgrade. At most properties they have the discretion to upgrade your room for free when possible, so if you get it and they don't tell you "We have the upgraded room available, but costs an extra $20 (or however much) per night", then you can safely assume it's a "free" upgrade and slide over the twenty bucks for their help.

T-27
T-83

[ December 12, 2003, 09:10 AM: Message edited by: Heathcat ]

 

[gardncm]

There was no cost to the upgraded room. The $20 was simply placed folded on the counter next to my ID and confirmation info as we went through the motions of checking in. She seemed to know the routine and when I asked for a view of the Bellagio fountains Hildi said she could beat that! and she did with the nicest suite they had.

Only at the Grand did they drop the table limit when we asked (if no current players were there). The other casino's kept the tables high even when we sat there at the empty table. Go figure?

 

[doctor_al]

That was a heck of an upgrade, gardncm. Maybe drop by the Barbary Coast next time you can't find the right table limits. Its a beautiful casino, IMO, with my kind of table limits, but can never find an open table there...

 

[vegastrip2003]

it's presently 3 hours to go, just heading out to the airport for our first trip getting the shakes i'm so excited. will give report when we get back. where going to la for side trip too maybe get on the price is right? talk in a week bye.