How I can't write short and concise TRs... (18/11-24/11)

Saturday.

Due to taxis, trains and planes my travel time was something like 18 hours, 10.5 of which was on a little tin tube with wings. The plane ride was really uncomfortable and I really wish I could have slept but I think the excitement was actually keeping me awake to watch the series of mediocre films (can’t believe I bothered to watch ‘the break up’ all the way through).

Immigration was long due to volume of people but the time spent queuing meant my checked luggage beat me to reclaim which was good.

Mr Ittels was waiting for me with a truck the size of our flat (small flat but large truck) and we headed over to the Embassy suites to dump my things and shower the aeroplane stink off me. The suite (which his company had paid for) was nice and big with 2 tvs and a kitchenette thing with a coffee maker etc. The hotel lobby was quite cute with it’s mini bellagio-styley fountains so was overall impressed!

We dragged ourselves over to the marriage bureau to get our marriage licence and were disgusted, but not surprised having read some info about the place, at being harassed by people working for chapels trying to get us to go with them. Made the whole thing feel rather seedy but cheered up by having a good laugh at the people at the bureau who were having to phone their parents to get info (mother’s maiden name etc) in order to fill out the licence form. God love em.

Can’t remember an awful lot else about Saturday. We drove down the strip a couple of times so I could get a look at how amazing it was, ate a couple of slices of pizza at caesar’s palace and then drove out to the district in Henderson to try to get a better impression of the area.

I was dead to the world by 11pm and unfortunately this seemed to set a pattern for the rest of the week!

Sunday

Had a nice brekky (mmmm…omlettes) at embassy suites, checked out and went to a housewarming party that Mr Ittel’s boss was throwing out in Summerlin. Summerlin seems pretty. Had a good time and made Vegas seem like a real place rather than the madness that is the strip.

Went and checked in at the Luxor at 5.30pm. Tried the $20 ‘trick’ but the mardy cow that served us at check in made no effort to find us anything good let alone the spa suite we had our fingers crossed for. I put the 20 back in my pocket which she clocked but didn’t seem bothered about and then gave us a standard room on the 2nd floor. Yeesh. Couldn’t even manage a high room. The best thing I can say about the room was that it was fine and was at least close to the self park garage so we didn’t need to use the bell service or use elevators anywhere.

We had made reservations for dinner at the Top of the World restaurant, so we got trussed up and drove over there. Was impressed by the view and disappointed by the meal. No vegetarian option even on the menu but was offered a plate of vegetables which seem to have been grilled in some seasoning. They were ok but absolutely not worth the $32 or so that they cost! Mr Ittels was also not impressed with his more meaty meal. We attempted a chocolate Stratosphere dessert which was cool but too rich for us (even sharing it). We hung out on the observation deck for a while laughing our heads off at the people on the rides (I’m into adrenalin rides but The STRAT ones really didn’t appeal – I blame the meal for that though!). I fell asleep in the car on the way back to the luxor.

Monday

Was up at 6 so decided to go over to the Paris buffet for 7. Place was empty when we got there and was totally impressed with the buffet quality, style and selection. Ate far too much.

Went back to the strat to take them up on the free gaming lessons. Enjoyed learning about craps but were miffed that they decided not to do the roulette lessons. We vaguely know how to play roulette but are clueless on the less common aspects. Had a go at craps and came out even. Ran some errands during the day and went round a few malls.

Went to Valley of Fire where Mr Ittels proposed by the arch rock in order to give me a good proposal story (we didn’t really have a proper proposal or fancy engagement!). Was in love with the place but was so tired that we decided to go back to the hotel.

Think we went to the cheesecake factory at Caesar’s to eat. Had a good selection (even for us non-meat eaters) and was loving the large portions. We shared some cookie dough and choc chip cheesecake but realised that I’d eaten far too much again and felt nauseas on the way home. Fell asleep as soon as we got back to hotel.

Tusday

Had brekky at the pyramid café. We ordered eggs Benedict, a short stack and the cranberry and pecan French toast. All were delicious but couldn’t finish all of it (having learnt finally about portion sizes!!) between us.

Went back to room. Watched some tv (learnt about Vegas using the convention channel!) and got into our wedding gear. Bloody luxor room only had the one mirror which was annoying. Headed over to the Tropicana and did the deed. Staff there were dead nice and the minister made the ceremony very sweet. Photographer was lovely and backdrop in the trop grounds was cool. Had a few drinks with friends after the ceremony before going back to the room, getting changed and heading out onto the strip.

Dragged the newly appointed Mr Ittels onto the manhatten express (he’s not a coaster fan) at NYNY which was fun and had a pretzel. Then went over to MGM to check out the lion enclosure. Had a couple of sleeping cubs leaning on their trainer in there which was very cute. Wondered around MGM for a while before checking out the M&M store. I couldn’t figure out for the first couple of days why nearly everyone I saw on the strip during the day were carrying m&m bags but having gone in the store I can see why. Almost spent money on some bits of crockery for gifts but decided it was too risky carrying back over the Atlantic. Watched the m&m movie (hee hee) and meandered around the strip for a couple more hours.

Headed back to the hotel, got frocked up and went to Drais in time for our reservation. Was totally impressed with Drais. Good veggie selection, awesome ambiance, nice staff and the meals themselves were divine. I had a pastry thing and Mr Ittels had a steak and both of us commented on the melt-in-the-mouth-ness of our individual meals. MrIttels said the gents there had piles of ice in the urinals. What's that about?

Went and played some craps and Mr Ittels walked away with a $140 win after being a hot shooter for a good amount of time. Had tried to walk away earlier but was called back to the table by the other shooters telling him off about bad shooting etiquette (he left before throwing a 7 so I see their point)! Was good fun and had some nice people at the table.

Went back to the hotel and managed a glass or two of champagne before the snoring started!

Weds

Had breakfast at the pharoh buffet figuring it would cost less to do that than order a selection of dishes at the pyrmid café again. Good selection of food there but quality was definitely down on the paris buffet and the pyramid café food (now see why you pay more for that!).

Checked out of luxor and as we were doing so biggest suitcase we had broke so spent the morning trying to get a new one which was cheap enough for our pockets. Went and checked in at Caesar’s (palace deluxe room deal). Totally impressed with our room. Felt big and airy and clean and modern. Bathroom was lovely with the his and her sinks, Jacuzzi tub and other bits and pieces. Also noted how many mirrors the room had (around 7 I think)! Enjoyed the tub and think we ate at the cheesecake factory again (skipping dessert!)

Also, Mr Ittels had won free blue man tickets on an internal flight he had been on with work. Went to the 7.30 show and loved it. Laughed our heads off and can see why people pay the $100 or so for the tickets. Better than any corny musical I’d ever seen.

Thursday

Drove out to the hoover dam but couldn’t go into the visitor’s centre due to thanksgiving (which we had sort of forgotten about!). Still, a very nice dam. Was totally intrigued by the bypass road that is being built there. That’s going to be quite a road.

Went out to Henderson to have dinner at La Collina. Lovely view from the patio table there and awesome food.

Friday
Bad start to the day after checking out, Mr Ittels realised that he couldn’t find the company cell phone. Ran around looking for it at Caesar’s, dollar rental car etc but to no avail. After exploring all the avenues and realising it was too late to ring the UK and get it blocked we meandered about the bellagio. We checked out the conservatory (very nice) and a wedding that was taking place on the terrace by the fountains (gorgeous venue but was out of our price range). After that we went and collected our luggage from caesars and went to the airport. McCarren is no place to have to hang out for 3 hours. Trip back was easier with some company.


Some final notes

We checked out the pirate show, the volcano and the bellagio fountains. Bellagio fountains were breath taking and I could watch them over and over. Pirate show was huge disappointment. The ship sinking and pyro effects were great but the sirens carp was rubbish. Volcano fire was cool but not great.

Mmmmm...frozen margaritas. You just dont' get enough margaitas in the uk.

Thank god for this forum and the info on the idiot timeshare sellers. They make it hard for you to ignore them and don't necessarily sound as if they're trying to sell you stuff at first - if I hadn't known better I reckon we would have been sucked in.

We like craps a lot. Much more fun for us than roulette and VP. Want to learn pai gow when we go back as, from what I’ve read around here, seems like a long cheap game which is what I want – just a bit of fun with low risk!

Jaysus, vegas drivers are bad. Running red lights, pulling into gaps that don't exist, lorries doing mad and unessecssary overtakes...scary stuff.

Wish I managed to stay up and get up later as felt like that would have fit in better with vegas but that’s life! Still had a lot of fun just as we did it.

Can’t wait to move. Even having seen some of the more down and out parts of Vegas I’m still enthralled by it.

We ate well whilst out there, mostly due to reading restaurant reviews on these boards, so thanks so much for all the info - was totally helpful and right on the money!

 

Hey JenIttels, congratulations on the marriage!

I'm glad you enjoyed Drai's. My Mrs is vegetarian and we had out wedding meal meal there, food and ambiance is great

 

Congrats on the Marriage!! Sounds like you had a good trip!!! Thank you for the report!

 

I'll add my congratulations also. Or do you say best wishes to the bride? Either way, good job. And good trip report; very informative and very British. Sounds like you had fun.

 

Congratulations on your wedding! Great TR! Thanks for sharing, If you're ever around Vegas again and want to learn Pai gow, Let me know! I'd be more than happy to fly down and help ya out lol

Sticky

 

Been there, done that.

Thanks for the great trip report.

 

JenIttels -- congratulations to both of you. Great trip report. Did I understand you correctly -- you are moving to Las Vegas in a few months?

 

Thanks all! Most stress-free wedding ever (hurrah for vegas!)

nbg, it may well have been your recommendations on drai that persuaded me to check it out so thank you!

Sticky, be careful what you promise - I may take you up on that!

Timmysmom, Yeah we're moving to Vegas in January with Mr Ittel's work. We'll be on a 2 year contract out there so this trip was meant to be a chance to get to know the area better as well as the marriage thing.

Have to tell you - it's so nice being on a holiday abroad knowing that you're coming back for a longer time (and on somebody else's money!!)

 

Jen awesome report! I'm glad you can't do short and concise...makes for a happier me when they're long a detailed.

Congrats on the marriage, here's hoping its long and joyful!

 

Love the language... Love the trip report!!!!!