My March Madness (slightly delayed) trip report......
After staying up LATE Tues night to try to get a 'fly now' on an earlier NWA flight (without success), I decided to just give up and head to Eau Claire earlier in the day. I thought I was doing great when the guy at the counter got me on the earlier small flight to the Twin Cities. But, despite what NWA had told me at 1 in the morning, he could only guarantee the first leg. So when I got to Mpls, I RAN (no time for lunch I guess!) to my gate and waited on stand-by. Luckily NWA followed normal cruddy service and other people did NOT get in on time, so they had 3 seats open up and I was able to get to Vegas early.
Arrived at around 4:30 Vegas time rather than 11 pm. Picked up my car at Emerald Aisle and zipped to Bill's. Checked in and had my $100 food comps from promo loaded on my card. Supper was at the Victorian Room and Hue was my server. By far the best food service of the trip - he was outstanding. I had a great steak also. Spent way too much time & money in Bill's that night but at least the first night the $ did last quite awhile. My promo to get the food comps was for 2 free nights. I had Paris booked for the next night so I would have to cruise back to Bill's to check out - not a problem. I had a ton of food comps left too. All in all my aunt & I would end up eating at VRoom 2 more times together and two more times alone for me and I would still have comps left because of the gambling I did there also. Room at Bill's was fine and I would have no problem staying there again.
Headed over with my bags to Paris in the morning & left the car with Valet. Was able to check into my room around 10 in the morning. 21st Floor if I remember correctly - and I normally freak out if I am above floor 8. I drug my bags up myself as I had forgot singles and had no 'tip' cash, LOL. Gambled some at Paris, walked back to Bills for lunch. Didn't do much of anything exciting that day. Headed to pick up my aunt at the airport later that evening.
The days pretty much blur together, however, we had some wonderful highlights on the trip.
* Penn & Teller - Absolutely AWESOME show. Being from the midwest we laughed hysterically at the cow-tipping references, while I am sure about 70% of the audience was trying to figure out WHAT in the blazes they were talking about. I would go to see that show again in a heartbeat.
* RUB BBQ - We didn't give ourselves quite enough time so we needed to eat quickly before the P/T show. We asked if we would be able to get in and out in an hour and they said no problem. We had our food within minutes. Server said it was normally very fast as all of the meats are prepared - unless you order a deep-fried appetizer, etc. - something that might need prep work. Despite reading only very poor reviews we absolutely loved the food - it was fantastic. We were totally stuffed and nearly had to waddle to P & T!!
* Neon Boneyard - Fantastic experience and I am so glad we did it. They did indicate when they get all their funding and have the new center opened (in the former LaConcha motel lobby shell) it will be cleaned up in the yard(s) and more 'family friendly' which means you may not be able to get as close to some of the signs etc as you can now - they figure more children will tour also and of course injury risk, etc. So they said it is a good time to tour it now. HOT and windy and dusty that day. I got a bit pink.
* Bellagio Conservatory / Chocolate Fountain - almost forgot AGAIN to go back in the corner and see the Chocolate Fountain. However, my aunts son (although I always call him my nephew as my aunt & I grew up together like sisters) had the camera battery die - we headed back to the gift shop and there it was!! Someone was watching over me so I didn't miss it again!
* Outlet Mall - Well, we managed to miss this getting off the interstate - ended up 4 miles east on Charleston. I don't consider it that easy to spot coming in from the South - probably easier from the north end. Now at least I know how to get there. The newest wing was not open yet (no Dooney & Bourke - DARN!!). However, I made up for it at Coach - yikes! We went back a second day and did some intense shopping to find my aunt an outfit to wear to the First Ladies Luncheon that she was attending with a Congressman's wife from our home state of Wisconsin.
* Margueritaville - WOW food - we also experienced the Volcano Nachos and after several years of waiting, I finally had some Coconut shrimp - outstanding and definitely remaining on the 'to - do' list for next trip.
* Fremont Experience - Took nephew & friend to see this as they had not had the opportunity to before. They drove in to stay with his mom & I on Saturday only. They are both living in L.A. so it was not too bad of a drive for them (worse on trip back - TRAFFIC JAM) and he got to spend the day with family. Hard for the two of them being in LA after growing up in close-knit families. And it was such a joy for us to get to spend the time with the two of them too.
* Rio Seafood Buffet - My aunt & I loved it. My girlfriend & her husband who have experienced it about 20 more times than I said they just weren't as happy with it this time. It was fine but not quite as good as what it was previously. But everyone agreed the new atmosphere was very nice and Katy & I did love the food!
* Mon Ami Gabi - Absolutely an A+++++ Steak!! I didn't like the truffle sauce though & Katy didn't like the Blue Cheese sauce so we scraped and swapped, LOL. Both loved our new sauces. Went early at Senior Citizens early bird time and were able to easily secure a patio table. They were doing a lot of filming of the fountains at Bellagio so they were playing more frequently (for the Miss USA Pageant that was coming in a couple of weeks at Planet Ho). Seemed as if a few songs were repeating but I imagine that was to make sure they had a complete sequence for their filming.
* Sitting with a Television Star !! - Yes - it is my nephew but I might as well brag him up while I have the chance. He is a P.A. on Attack of the Show on the G4 network so if you have watched a cute guy being blasted with slabs of beef, having to taste-test herbs that make everything taste sweet, etc. THAT'S HIM!!! We teased him unmercifully that when he is the recognizable face from AOTS instead of Olivia Munn, he will have to give up the $3 Texas Hold 'Em table and break out the big money. And telling him we expected him to get us to the front of the line in the restaurants instead of me having to keep digging out that Platinum Card!!!
(You will note a lot of our highlights revolved around food!!!!)
We were unable to hit the Eiffel Tower at night because of winds on the nights we tried it - however D & J (kids) did get up there around midnight on Sat night. They called us to come down but we were exhausted and had already collapsed.
At no point did I ever 'win big'. At some points I would at least keep the money revolving so it wasn't too bad. I was so hoping for a lucky enough hit that I would be able to pay for the next trip - but no such luck. And I used up my FF miles, so OH NO - I will have to PAY for the next flight. AGH!!! I really had no guys try to pick me up, LOL - what a disappointment. I did have 3 gentlement decide to strike up nice long conversations with me in the ticket line for P & T, at the soda machine at the outlet mall and another place that I can't remember! Maybe I should have winked a few times, LOL. So I may have just missed my big opportunities there!
I will bore you with photos in the add'l postings below..............
After staying up LATE Tues night to try to get a 'fly now' on an earlier NWA flight (without success), I decided to just give up and head to Eau Claire earlier in the day. I thought I was doing great when the guy at the counter got me on the earlier small flight to the Twin Cities. But, despite what NWA had told me at 1 in the morning, he could only guarantee the first leg. So when I got to Mpls, I RAN (no time for lunch I guess!) to my gate and waited on stand-by. Luckily NWA followed normal cruddy service and other people did NOT get in on time, so they had 3 seats open up and I was able to get to Vegas early.
Arrived at around 4:30 Vegas time rather than 11 pm. Picked up my car at Emerald Aisle and zipped to Bill's. Checked in and had my $100 food comps from promo loaded on my card. Supper was at the Victorian Room and Hue was my server. By far the best food service of the trip - he was outstanding. I had a great steak also. Spent way too much time & money in Bill's that night but at least the first night the $ did last quite awhile. My promo to get the food comps was for 2 free nights. I had Paris booked for the next night so I would have to cruise back to Bill's to check out - not a problem. I had a ton of food comps left too. All in all my aunt & I would end up eating at VRoom 2 more times together and two more times alone for me and I would still have comps left because of the gambling I did there also. Room at Bill's was fine and I would have no problem staying there again.
Headed over with my bags to Paris in the morning & left the car with Valet. Was able to check into my room around 10 in the morning. 21st Floor if I remember correctly - and I normally freak out if I am above floor 8. I drug my bags up myself as I had forgot singles and had no 'tip' cash, LOL. Gambled some at Paris, walked back to Bills for lunch. Didn't do much of anything exciting that day. Headed to pick up my aunt at the airport later that evening.
The days pretty much blur together, however, we had some wonderful highlights on the trip.
* Penn & Teller - Absolutely AWESOME show. Being from the midwest we laughed hysterically at the cow-tipping references, while I am sure about 70% of the audience was trying to figure out WHAT in the blazes they were talking about. I would go to see that show again in a heartbeat.
* RUB BBQ - We didn't give ourselves quite enough time so we needed to eat quickly before the P/T show. We asked if we would be able to get in and out in an hour and they said no problem. We had our food within minutes. Server said it was normally very fast as all of the meats are prepared - unless you order a deep-fried appetizer, etc. - something that might need prep work. Despite reading only very poor reviews we absolutely loved the food - it was fantastic. We were totally stuffed and nearly had to waddle to P & T!!
* Neon Boneyard - Fantastic experience and I am so glad we did it. They did indicate when they get all their funding and have the new center opened (in the former LaConcha motel lobby shell) it will be cleaned up in the yard(s) and more 'family friendly' which means you may not be able to get as close to some of the signs etc as you can now - they figure more children will tour also and of course injury risk, etc. So they said it is a good time to tour it now. HOT and windy and dusty that day. I got a bit pink.
* Bellagio Conservatory / Chocolate Fountain - almost forgot AGAIN to go back in the corner and see the Chocolate Fountain. However, my aunts son (although I always call him my nephew as my aunt & I grew up together like sisters) had the camera battery die - we headed back to the gift shop and there it was!! Someone was watching over me so I didn't miss it again!
* Outlet Mall - Well, we managed to miss this getting off the interstate - ended up 4 miles east on Charleston. I don't consider it that easy to spot coming in from the South - probably easier from the north end. Now at least I know how to get there. The newest wing was not open yet (no Dooney & Bourke - DARN!!). However, I made up for it at Coach - yikes! We went back a second day and did some intense shopping to find my aunt an outfit to wear to the First Ladies Luncheon that she was attending with a Congressman's wife from our home state of Wisconsin.
* Margueritaville - WOW food - we also experienced the Volcano Nachos and after several years of waiting, I finally had some Coconut shrimp - outstanding and definitely remaining on the 'to - do' list for next trip.
* Fremont Experience - Took nephew & friend to see this as they had not had the opportunity to before. They drove in to stay with his mom & I on Saturday only. They are both living in L.A. so it was not too bad of a drive for them (worse on trip back - TRAFFIC JAM) and he got to spend the day with family. Hard for the two of them being in LA after growing up in close-knit families. And it was such a joy for us to get to spend the time with the two of them too.
* Rio Seafood Buffet - My aunt & I loved it. My girlfriend & her husband who have experienced it about 20 more times than I said they just weren't as happy with it this time. It was fine but not quite as good as what it was previously. But everyone agreed the new atmosphere was very nice and Katy & I did love the food!
* Mon Ami Gabi - Absolutely an A+++++ Steak!! I didn't like the truffle sauce though & Katy didn't like the Blue Cheese sauce so we scraped and swapped, LOL. Both loved our new sauces. Went early at Senior Citizens early bird time and were able to easily secure a patio table. They were doing a lot of filming of the fountains at Bellagio so they were playing more frequently (for the Miss USA Pageant that was coming in a couple of weeks at Planet Ho). Seemed as if a few songs were repeating but I imagine that was to make sure they had a complete sequence for their filming.
* Sitting with a Television Star !! - Yes - it is my nephew but I might as well brag him up while I have the chance. He is a P.A. on Attack of the Show on the G4 network so if you have watched a cute guy being blasted with slabs of beef, having to taste-test herbs that make everything taste sweet, etc. THAT'S HIM!!! We teased him unmercifully that when he is the recognizable face from AOTS instead of Olivia Munn, he will have to give up the $3 Texas Hold 'Em table and break out the big money. And telling him we expected him to get us to the front of the line in the restaurants instead of me having to keep digging out that Platinum Card!!!
(You will note a lot of our highlights revolved around food!!!!)
We were unable to hit the Eiffel Tower at night because of winds on the nights we tried it - however D & J (kids) did get up there around midnight on Sat night. They called us to come down but we were exhausted and had already collapsed.
At no point did I ever 'win big'. At some points I would at least keep the money revolving so it wasn't too bad. I was so hoping for a lucky enough hit that I would be able to pay for the next trip - but no such luck. And I used up my FF miles, so OH NO - I will have to PAY for the next flight. AGH!!! I really had no guys try to pick me up, LOL - what a disappointment. I did have 3 gentlement decide to strike up nice long conversations with me in the ticket line for P & T, at the soda machine at the outlet mall and another place that I can't remember! Maybe I should have winked a few times, LOL. So I may have just missed my big opportunities there!
I will bore you with photos in the add'l postings below..............
