Vegas Virgin IP 1/11-1/15

I really appreciated the infor. I got from everyones TR's, so guess I will report what I experienced, saw, and felt on my first vegas trip.

I will attempt to divide this into sections for easy skimming, because I am sure I will probably ramble.

TRIP: Booked a round trip airfare from Rochester MN, four nites at IP on Dec. 11. $171 each for the wife and I. Left Roch. at about noon on 1/11. 4 degrees F. Drove an hour and a half on snow covered roads to get there. No problems though. First problem of the trip, my wifes drivers lic. had expired 6 months ago, found this our trying to get our boarding pass. She got patted down, but that was not a problem. The attendant said we would run into more problems with an expired ID as the trip went along. She was questioned at most of the card signups, but not denied. One did tell her not to win a million dollars because they prob. wouldn't pay her.


Flight was non eventful, enjoyed a couple glasses of wine at $5 each.

Arrived in sunny LV about 1:45 local time. 65 degrees. already liking this place. After following the crowd and riding the shuttle to our luggage we found the showtime airport sh. took us right to the door of the IP, nice gentleman driving. Pre bought the airport sh. tickets from Allegiant air for $14.50 round trip each. Could have gotten them for $12 at the airport.


Left Vegas at 6:45 am on 1/15, 45 degrees, arrive in Roch. at about noon local time -18 degrees. Luckily the car did start, I jumped a couple others that wouldn't.

ROOM: Tried the $20 trick at check in as I figured with the package deal we would have one of the capri rooms. Anyway, the nice lady picked up the $20 and said "is this for me?" I said if you can upgrade our room. She asked what I wanted, and I said maybe a strip view, in my mind anything to get out of the capri room. She said it is pretty noisy, and she could give us a nicer room without a view, I said you bet. We got a Luv Tub room on the third floor, a couple rooms from the elevator.

We felt the room was very nice. The tub was appreciated. No problems with the slow elevator that I had been reading about. Drains were slow, but didn't cause a problem until the stool overflowed. A little water on the floor, no big deal. All in All, I would not hesitate to stay at the IP again.

FOOD: First nite we went to Ellis Island for dinner, had the barbeque, it was great. Had a half price coupon from ACG. Total price for both of us, $9.96. Took the ribs back to the room for a snack later. First morning, we had ribs in the room for breakfast. Next nite for dinner we road the schuttle to the Orleans for the buffer, also 241 from the ACG. It was OK, better than what we get back home. Total cost for both of us was about $15. Next morning we had a coupon for 241 at the IP buffet. We had the brunch, and it wasn't bad. I would eat brunch there again. That evening we had the buff. at MSS, also a 241 this time from the FSE coupon sheet. This buffet was the best we had on this trip. It was excellent. Good selection and flavor. Also about $15 for the 2 of us. Next morning we had the buff. at Ceasars, we got a $20 food credit for me getting my total rewards card there. It was good, but nothing special. Not a lot better than the IP. Cost about $15 again. For dinner that nite we went to the buff. at Gold Coast. This was prob. the worst we had on the trip. Might just have been the fact that we were getting burnt out on buffetts. Again about $15 after 241 from ACG.

GAMBLING: We didn't gamble as much as we had planned, spent a lot of time walking around and visiting all the center casinos, with Tue spent downtown. Applied for cards at most places. Some gave a little free play, some not. PH was the best deal, with $5 slot play right away, and after $40 more play you got another $15. Also a $25 match play. We did parlay all that into an $80 profit. We played mostly VP. I did throw away a few $20 in the slots, and made one trip to the craps table lost $100 there. Prob. ended up down a couple hundred for the trip, will prob. gamble more next time.

ENTERTAINMENT: Saw all the free casino shows, valcano, sirens of TI, bellagio fountains, FSE. We enjoyed them all. Best free show was Big Elvis at Bills, this guy is good, we really enjoyed him. The only show we paid to attend was Jubilee. 241 ticket. We really enjoyed it. My wife says they sing, but I didn't notice! We did enjoy looking at the different casinos. Amazing buildings.

SOCIAL COMMENTARY: This is where some of you may want to stop reading. A couple things. I respect the porn slappers more that the time share people. At least the slappers leave you alone when you say no. Some of the time share people were quite rude, especially the lady downtown. It was like we were stupid for not taking their free $100.

Speaking of porn slappers, I am curious as to how they get paid. It seems they are all handing out the same stuff, and there are 10 or 12 of them in a row. I just wonder how that works.

On a personal note, it is very disturbing to me, and makes me troubled as to our society.The obviously mentally ill homeless guys on the streets right outside the shops that sell totally extravegant material goods. Give me a break, who really needs an $86,000 watch? Do the people that shop there feel anything for those that can't even get health care? Maybe we were a little more sensitive to this, as we don't see it in small town midwest.Just wondering.

All in all it was a fun trip and we hope to make it an annual getaway in the middle of the winter.

 

Sounds like a great trip! Glad you had a good time. Going to all the free shows & exhibits really stretches out the funds & we always do those too. You didn't mention the B conservatory.....hope you made it there. We go next month & are really looking forward to see it in winter. Our trips are always in summer or fall so not much diversity from the previous yrs. Are you already planning your next trip? We seem to start planning not long after getting home. Thanks for the TR!!

 

Thanks for your concise TR. Enjoyed reading it. I, too, tolerate the porn slappers much beter than the time share freaks.The issue about poor/diabled folks who can be seen at some locations around Vegas is a complex one. Certainly it is not just a Vegas problem. I'm not sure I understand your connection to the expensive shops, the people who shop there and the folks who may be outside panhandling. We do not usually purchase stuff from the high end shops in Vegas. On occassion we do give a few bucks to folks who are out on the street. But, that is a personal choice. I would not expect others to do as I do, or think as I think. Glad you had a good first trip to Vegas.

later, GVJ

 

Nice TR...glad you had a good 1st experience.

 

Thanks! Nice and concise!

 

A genuine everyman's TR. Good job.

 

...good TR...there's nothing like that very first trip to Vegas,eh?