Flew from Peoria on Allegiant (Buy 1, Fly 1 Free) package for $220, all fees included, a person. However, only opted for two nites lodging on package. Very satisfied with pricing and free parking at airport.
Stayed at the Strat on Wed-Fri and the Imperial Palace ($32) Sun-Wed. In between, we camped at 10,000 feet up in the mountains near Mt. Charleston.
If you add the room cost at the IP, a rental car for the weekend, 2-1 buffet meals, a few Cliff bars and CAT fare, the total weekly expense was about $350 apiece.
This was definitely a frugal trip, but a very satisfying one, as well.
Highlights included:
1. Hiking the 22-mile Bonanza trail and sleeping under the stars while on the Spring Mountain range. We virtually had the place to ourselves. Hardly anyone hikes this trail, as it has some brutal switchbacks and numerous elevation changes. The farthest most people go is the Bristlecone Trial (a 5-mile loop preceding it). The weather couldn't have been better. It was about 50 degrees for sleeping at nite and not much higher than 80 degrees or so during the day. No thunderstorms or that dreaded lightning either.
2. Playing blackjack at the Wynn outdoor table games. My favorite place to gamble in all of Vegas. Great atmosphere, friendly dealers/pit bosses, favorable Strip BJ rules and good scenery. It also didn't hurt that I left with a comped buffet and a positive bankroll.
3. Making a nice buffet run.
Sure the Wynn was tops, but Rio and Red Rock also came through.
Note on the Rio buffet - they discontinued accepting the free 10 oz. Black Angus steak coupon. That was a good piece of meat, but the prime rib took care of my hankering for rare beef.
Red Rock also had a standout prime. I can eat that stuff every day. A suggestion about the Red Rock - show up about 3:30 and pay lunch prices ($10.99). At 4:00, they bring out the dinner items.
The buffet that surprised me was Palace Station. They have refurbished this room, added a few new twists and ended up with a real value play for $6.99 dinner. At the pasta station, have Mario whip you up some noodles with capers, artichokes, garlic, tomatoes, olives, broccoli and clams.
After getting off the trail Sunday, Texas Station's brunch fit the bill. They have the best Mexican and chili section of any buffet in town. That's all we needed.
Leaving for the mountains on Friday, we did the buffet lunch at Rampart and were pleased. Loads of crab legs in the cioppino.
The only relative disappointment was Silverton for dinner on Sunday nite.
We did not eat the Imperial Palace buffet, but out of curiosity, gave it a look-see. Now, I can see why this place gets ripped so much. It's a hard-to-find locale, the room sucks and the food is uninspired. It has to be one of the most depressing buffets I've visited.
Lowlights:
1. Attempting to traverse the Strip sidewalks at nite. Supposedly, this was a slow week in Vegas, but one couldn't tell by how crowded sidewalks were.
2. Attempting to traverse the labyrinth know as the Imperial Palace. If you've stayed there, you know what I mean. This is not a fabrication - it was much easier to find our way around the trails on the Spring Mountains than it was find our way around the IP.
Stayed at the Strat on Wed-Fri and the Imperial Palace ($32) Sun-Wed. In between, we camped at 10,000 feet up in the mountains near Mt. Charleston.
If you add the room cost at the IP, a rental car for the weekend, 2-1 buffet meals, a few Cliff bars and CAT fare, the total weekly expense was about $350 apiece.
This was definitely a frugal trip, but a very satisfying one, as well.
Highlights included:
1. Hiking the 22-mile Bonanza trail and sleeping under the stars while on the Spring Mountain range. We virtually had the place to ourselves. Hardly anyone hikes this trail, as it has some brutal switchbacks and numerous elevation changes. The farthest most people go is the Bristlecone Trial (a 5-mile loop preceding it). The weather couldn't have been better. It was about 50 degrees for sleeping at nite and not much higher than 80 degrees or so during the day. No thunderstorms or that dreaded lightning either.
2. Playing blackjack at the Wynn outdoor table games. My favorite place to gamble in all of Vegas. Great atmosphere, friendly dealers/pit bosses, favorable Strip BJ rules and good scenery. It also didn't hurt that I left with a comped buffet and a positive bankroll.
3. Making a nice buffet run.
Sure the Wynn was tops, but Rio and Red Rock also came through.
Note on the Rio buffet - they discontinued accepting the free 10 oz. Black Angus steak coupon. That was a good piece of meat, but the prime rib took care of my hankering for rare beef.
Red Rock also had a standout prime. I can eat that stuff every day. A suggestion about the Red Rock - show up about 3:30 and pay lunch prices ($10.99). At 4:00, they bring out the dinner items.
The buffet that surprised me was Palace Station. They have refurbished this room, added a few new twists and ended up with a real value play for $6.99 dinner. At the pasta station, have Mario whip you up some noodles with capers, artichokes, garlic, tomatoes, olives, broccoli and clams.
After getting off the trail Sunday, Texas Station's brunch fit the bill. They have the best Mexican and chili section of any buffet in town. That's all we needed.
Leaving for the mountains on Friday, we did the buffet lunch at Rampart and were pleased. Loads of crab legs in the cioppino.
The only relative disappointment was Silverton for dinner on Sunday nite.
We did not eat the Imperial Palace buffet, but out of curiosity, gave it a look-see. Now, I can see why this place gets ripped so much. It's a hard-to-find locale, the room sucks and the food is uninspired. It has to be one of the most depressing buffets I've visited.
Lowlights:
1. Attempting to traverse the Strip sidewalks at nite. Supposedly, this was a slow week in Vegas, but one couldn't tell by how crowded sidewalks were.
2. Attempting to traverse the labyrinth know as the Imperial Palace. If you've stayed there, you know what I mean. This is not a fabrication - it was much easier to find our way around the trails on the Spring Mountains than it was find our way around the IP.
Oh, now I see why it's your favorite place to gamble. 
