UK comes to Vegas

We started our journey from Manchester airport on 6th September there was myself Louisa and my friend Alexis we are both 23 and my parents. After 22 hours we arrived at the Sahara and went striaght to bed as we were exhausted!!!

Thursday 7th Sept

Woke up to glorious sunshine and headed to the coffee shop at the sahara which was cheap and cheerful. Then striaght out by the pool for a couple of hours to top up that all important tan. Then we went to the Bellagio for the Lunch time Buffet, the food was fantastic it was $20. There was a huge choice of seafood, meats, salads etc... and the deserts were excellent so we felt VERY full afterwards. We then started to explore the hotels went to Monte Carlo briefly and then had a flutter on the slots at NY NY. The dueling piano's were on in the Irish bar so we went in for a drink, those guys are really talented and funny. Next to the excalibur for more slots and free cocktails, pretty much just walked through the Luxor on the way to Mandaly Bay. Had a look round Mandaly and then went to the MGM to look at the lions who were asleep when we got there. Taking a leaf out of their book we decided to go bcak to the hotel for a nap at around 7pm. Around 10pm we all headed to the Rio, leaving my parents gambling my friend and I went to the Vodoo Lounge and then onto Club Rio which were both fantastic i highly recommend them.

We had these passes that you can get online or at the airport called Vegas Passports available at www.vegaspassport.com
We got the Batchelorette package even though we weren't on a hen night as it was $85 for passes to over 16 clubs the ones mentioned in this trip report and quite a few others. they do a Batchelor on etoo and the one with over 22 passes for $120. You also get a CD and lots of extra coupons.

The best thing about these passes as well as paying no cover charge you get to skip the queue and go into the VIP line so the most we queued was 5 minutes most of the time we walked straight in. Around 4am we got back to the Sahara.

Friday 8th September

We went to an american dinner opposite the Stardust can't remember what its called and all had a huge breakfast ( the portions are so big compared to england) Then headed back to the pool for more important sunbathing. We deceided to chill out as we had such a hectic day the day before and were still abit tired from the trip over. At 5pm headed to Ceaser's for a meal at Planet Hollywood, my mum and I had got a dinner and show package for Celine Dion for there and the others came to. We all had salad to try and give our stomachs a break from all this food, i hardly touched my i think my stomach was on strike. Then we headed to the theatre while my dad gambled and my friend shopped. Celine was fantastic, our seats were in the rear orchestra right in the centre we had a great view (payed $90 on vegas.com for the package). I could not belive her voice as i am not a big fan but she did not sing one bum note the whole way through and the show was really enjoyable.
Then me and my friend went to Mandaly Bay to go to House of Blues, it wasn't very good at all. Lots of strange people in there and no atmosphere so we headed to Jet at the Mirage. It reminded me of a club in England but it wasn't that enjoyable as it was absolutely rammed and there was literally no where to stand let alone dance. One thing that strikes me about the clubs in Vegas is that you pay alot to get in but there are NO seats at all. you have to pay extra for them, there are so many roped off areas its stupid. That wouldn't go down well in england!!! We stayed there for a couple of hours then headed to bed. Again so glad we got those club passports as we saved so much money and time skipping queues and if you don't like somehwere you just go elsewhere.

Saturday 9th September

We got the coach from Ceasers to Primm Valley to the outlet mall and spent the day there shopping. An ok outlet and we all bought a few things but not as good as i'd hoped. That night we went to treasure island and grabbed a quick bite at canters deli. We all had chicken fingers and fries $7.99 good job we decided to share as one plate was enough for a fanily of four. Where i come from chicken fingers are the size of your fingers, not the size of your arm (america is great). Then we went to see Mystere while my dad gambled (can you see a pattern emerging) Mystere was fantastic we sat in the $60 seats and had a great view row AA 3-5. There were very few things we couldn't see and there is so much going on in there its impossible to see everything anyway. The only downside is that the air con was on so strong we were absolutely freezing. Then us youngsters went to Studio 54 at the MGM which was great, real feelgood club and space to move and more importantly dance. Ladies the male dancers in there are HOT! Partied the night away.

Sunday 10th Sept

Went to the Gospel Brunch at the House of Blues $40 for all you can eat and a gospel choir. We were all abit disapointed with this as there was no choir just the host and a female singer with a couple of backing singers. the food was lukewarm and not very nice either and the seating was very cramped. Not worth the money at all and not up to the standard of everything else we had done and seen. After that we headed to Paris for a browse, and made our way to the venetian for a gondola ride which was lovely. After wandering around soaking up the atmosphere we went back to the sahara and stayed there that night. Played on the slots etc....

Monday 11th September

My firend went on a helicopter tour of the canyon ( I have been once before) so we stayed by the pool, then headed off to the Vegas Premium outlets just to get my dad some levis'.... four hours later....
The outlet was brilliant alot better than primm and only five minutes in a taxi i definately recommend this place.
My parents headed back to the hotel and my friend and i went to the fashion show mall ( yes i like to shop) then to the secret garden at the Mirage. The garden was great the dolphin habitat was lovely and it was good to get up close to the animals like the white tigers. It was really relaxing, then we headed back to the hotel to get ready.
We hired a Hummer through the hotel which took us up and down the strip for an hour and dropped us at Tony Roma's. The trip was great and our driver Bob was fab, we stopped at the vegas sign and had our pics taken and saw the strip in style. Tony's was ok food but not as good food or service as the one we went to in florida, it was really dry.
Then my we went to Coyote Ugly which was tragic but really funny, lots of old women dancing on the bar. We couldn't take much more of that so we grabbed a yard of frozen cocktail and left!

Tuesday 12th Septmber

Last sunbathing day so we got a few hours in! Its cold in england so you have to make the most of these things, lol. We went to the Stratesphere and i went on all three rides which were great and the others wimped out and stayed in the observatory.
Then we went to teh forum shops to pick up a last few items and from there headed to the Mirage for the Buffet. Fantastic food, loved the circular lay out and everything was piping hot and delicious, they even had real italian icecream. Felt very fat after that buffet....
We went to Legends at the Imperial, really good show but they only have 6 acts and you don't know who they are because they advertise alot of people.
Then we saw the fountains at the bellagio, which are breathtaking and went back to the karaoke bar at the imperial. After we had a sing song we headed back to the hotel and packed!

Wednesday 13th Septmeber

Left Vegas at 9 am and after an exhausting 22 hours got home!
We all had a fantastic trip and fit alot in, we had so much fun but there's only so much fun we can take!!! So until next time...

Thank you to everyone who gave me so hints before i went the site has been really helpful and i will recommend it.

 

It's always interesting to read a TR from the perspective of someone from another country. I appreciate your candidness in your likes and dislikes along the way.
Just curious, how did you decide to use the Sahara as your home base for the trip, as opposed to other hotels on the Strip?

 

Quote and then went to the MGM to look at the lions who were asleep Quote


I think there is a prize somewhere for anyone who has seen them awake - we've seen them most of our ten trips and I'm hard pushed to remember many signs of life!

Glad you enjoyed the Secret Garden and the Dolphins; we went again earlier this month - there used to be an elephant, who sadly died last August, and there was also a sound tour which was spoken by S and R and which gave a lot of interesting background info to the animals. A long-serving security guard we spoke to was not sure why it was discontinued, they really should reinstate it - it gave an added dimension to the facility.

Great trip report - aren't those 22 hour trips hell! (but worth it one way).

 

Great trip report. I really like the quick impressions on each club you visited, that is valuable info.

 

Great trip report. Wow 22 hours in a plane to get to our favorite place...

Sounds like you had fun though. It was nice read.

 

Great report. Thanks.

 

Thanks guys glad you liked it, had to try and type it quick while the boss was out of the office!!
Those Lions are never awake! that doesn't surprise me lol. Yes it is a shame about the tour at the secret garden that would have been really nice as there wasn't that much information.
In response to your question Chef we choose the sahara simply for cost reasons. Because of the distance we have to travel its hard to get a flight under £300 so around $525 at the cheapest, so we had to stay at a cheaper hotel so we had more to spend. We did get offered the Imperial for around $110 more which is in a much better location but the money was already alot for my friend so we picked sahara so we would have more spends. I am glad as i prefer the sahara as a hotel to the imperial.
If anyone wants more info i am happy to answer any questions although i am not an expert!

 

Great report. Thanks for posting. I think the diner you couldn't remember the name of that is across the street from Stardust is the Peppermill. I love that place. Huge portions, over the top neon, just great.

 

Absolutely agree with Sailor -- it's the Peppermill. If you have breakfast there, you'll only need a snack for the remainder of the day. Love reading your report. Nice that you love Vegas so much that you are willing to spend 22 hours flying to get there and another 22 hours to go home. We Floridians think 8 hours (with a connecting flight) is a big pain in the you know what to get to Vegas.

 

Yes thats it the peppermill, i love that place.
Vegas is well worth the trip.