Trip Report July 7th - 12th

Just got back from 5 great days in Vegas to celebrate by birthday. It was a great time....

FLIGHTS:
Flew American out of Chicago-O'hare. Tickets were $178 each round trip. Uneventful flights both ways with on-time landings. Both flights were on MD-80's, smaller planes with the 3x2 seating configurations. Neither flight offerred a movie, which was kind of a drag for a 3 1/2 hour flight.

Upon arrival in Vegas on Thursday, we were greeted by our Presidential Limo driver who took us to Treasure Island, with a brief pit stop at CVS to pick up a few things for the room (cranberry juice, water, pop etc...)

HOTEL:
Treasure Island. I booked the Celebration package online. The total, all in, for 5 nights came out to $615. We had a tower deluxe room on the 28th floor overlooking the strip. Our view was awesome, from the Mirage all the way down to Mandalay Bay. This was my 3rd time staying at Treasure Island. It did not dissappoint. The rooms are nicely appointed, nice sized bathrooms, and good service.


DINING:
Circus Circus Steakhouse: This has become somewhat of Vegas tradition since the first time I went a few years ago. It is certainly a diamond in the rough within Circus Circus. Great food, great service and reasonable prices. For 3 of us, each having 2 drinks and dessert, the bill was about $200, with tip.

Delmonico: This was my birthday dinner. This was my first time back since my first trip to Vegas about 4 years ago. The food was excellent. The steaks were fork tender, and the service was great. They also make a mean martini. At this place, you don't have one waiter/waitress, you have 3. The attention to detail is amazing. When our meal was served, our 3 servers served our plates simultaniously....the same was done for the larger tables as well.

Al Dente (Bally's): This is another one of my favorites. For Italian, the prices are a bit steep, but food and service are excellent, and I enjoy the "casually elegant" atmosphere.

Wynn Buffet: We went here for lunch at friday, around 11:00 am. This turned out to ne good timing because as wer were leaving, the line was much longer. I think this is the best buffet in Vegas, trumping my long time favorite, Bellagio. Beautiful decor, and excellent food. My only complaint will have to be the sub-par service we recieved. The selection was excellent. Some of what I sampled: Grilled flank steak, tanduri chicken, tai chicken, shrimp cocktail, fried chicken, mashed potatoes, and for dessert, some sort of chocolate fudge tart, tirimisu, giant cookies, and candied apples. Plus, they had a mini ice cream parlor with an assortment of flavors and sundae toppings. You could also get custom smoothies made. This is highly recommended.

Dishes Buffet (Treasure Island): While not as good as Wynn, I was very please. Great selection of food, very high quality, and very good service. One thing I thought was cool was the fresh cotton candy at the dessert bar.

Margaritaville (Flamingo): Of course we had Cheeseburgers in Paradise, and Margarita's. Food was OK, and a bit pricey for what you got, but the drinks were excellent.


SHOWS:
Splash (Riveria): We both these tickets friday morning from the Tickets for Tonight booth at the Fashion Show Mall. All in they came to about $35 each. For that price, this is not a bad show, although if I would have paid full price I would have felt ripped off. Overall, it is your "typical" Las Vegas variety show, with showgirls, dancers, a juggling act, a comedian, and musical numbers. All in all it is very entertaining, allbeit cheesy (in a good way)

Jubilee (Bally's): I bought these tickets a few weeks in advance, and we got pretty good seats (third row center). This is an excellent show. Great dancers, great costumes, great sets, very well produced.


GAMBLING:
I hit one jackpot for about $650 playing a Monopoly machine at the Riviera. Afther that, nothing. Machines were cold, tables were cold. But at the end of the day I took Vegas for about $300 or so. It is always good to come home with more money than you left with, plus I nver had to hit the ATM.

Now I am looking forward to catching up on some sleep, and planning my next trip for March, April or May of 2006 (if not sooner!)

If anything else comes to mind, I'll add it too my post. Your questions and comments are welcomed.

 

Nice report. I may have to brave the big top for the Steakhouse sometime...

 

Thanks for the trip report we are staying at TI for one night in September, couldn't pass up the good rate on a sunday of labor day weekend. We haven't stayed there since all the changes and I was a little nervous. Glad to here you think everything was great!

 

Nice report RJE. We stayed at Treasure Island too over July 4th. We loved it. Nice rooms & great casino. Total ageement about Margaritaville--great drinks. If you like your margaritas strong--this is the place to go. Plan on going back over Xmas.

 

margaritaville

Big Buffett fan hence the pick. So eating at Margaritaville is near the tops of my list. Always eat at the one in New Orleans when I'm there and didnt have a prob with the price there. Its usually expensive, but one meal will come with enough to feed two. Maybe bubba's a little stingier in Vegas.

 

bnl,

I have been to Margaritaville in LV along with the one in Orlando. I found the menu and portions to be pretty much the same. I do think the food is good and not unreasonably expensive. However, I don't think many go for the food. You go for the awesome margaritas and the fun atmosphere. We are going again in September when we are in town. Gotta get my Buffett fix somehow since we got shut out for tickets this year at Wrigley.

Bob