Weekend in Vegas

Since I've learned (and laughed) a lot from the posts here over the last few months, I thought I'd share about the trip my wife and I just had....and give indirect credit (but no money) to the group for some of our winnings!

First off, I woke up during the night before the trip and couldn't get back to sleep much since the brain locked in on Vegas anticipation! How many people does that happen to?

The trip started rough last Thursday morning as United said we were too late for our 11:30am flight. The check-in line was huge and everyone was pressed for time so they would not give us our boarding passes although we could have made it. We did get on the next flight, but that one was delayed twice due to no pilots. Long story short was we didn't leave until 3:30, four hours later that originally planned. I wasn't in a great mood with little sleep and "Vegas hours" being wasted. I did complain enough that they gave me $50 in vouchers for future travel. One side note/omen...we got the extra security treatment at the metal detectors and the person who checked us was a former employee at the Company I worked at. Just one of those weird things.

So now we're there at McCarran about 5:30 and catch a cab for the Rio. I ask the driver to do the Swenson to Flamingo route, no tunnel. This turns out to be a mistake as it's rush hour and the stretch from Swenson to the Strip takes forever. To pass the time, I ask the driver for the funniest cab story he knows. He tells me once another driver who did not understand or speak good English had taken a hooker from the strip to her home as a cab customer. She didn't have money so offered to pay another way (smile). He didn't understand what she meant so over the radio asked if the Company accepted "BJ's" as a form of payment! We're not talking Blackjacks here. All the other drivers urged him on as the dispatcher tried to explain what it was. Wonder what happened?

Got a decent room in the Masquarade Tower on the 23rd floor just for asking...our rooms were comped anyway. Desk clerk was very helpful and gave us a choice of locations. Did not need the $20 trick, but gave him a tip. Finally we're here! Spent the early evening playing VP and drinking. Had a late dinner at the VooDoo which was expensive but good. Went outside at the lounge. Great nighttime views of the strip and got some good pictures. More drinking and VP. Second omen of the night. I tell my wife I have a feeling we will see someone we know in Vegas. We never have in 4 or 5 trips in the last few years. Sure enough, about an hour later, I run into someone at the same VP bar we are at who works with me! I'm not usually superstititious, but now I'm starting to think we're on to something here. The alcohol is helping convince me. Any omen or superstitition stories from others?

Friday is sleep late, eat and go to the pool until about 2. Pool is crowded, but fun. We are 40 somethings and there's a wide mix of people there. Time to clean up and go the strip for awhile. My wife knows I've been visiting this board a lot and that I have a "plan" about what to do and where to gamble...she want's to be more spontaneous, but begrudgingly agrees to go with me to see Big Elvis who I learned about on this board. Plus I tell her I think one of us is going to hit a jackpot above $200 today and she is starting to listen to my premonitions!

We catch the shuttle to Harrahs which works fine. We walk the strip to Barbary Coast which is very hot at this time of year but not unbearable for short distances. At BC, I see the stage and a sign for Big Elvis. I'm psyched! But no BE, so I got closer to read the sign. It says he is ill and won't be there today. He must be sick a lot because the sign was professionally made! The other bummer is he doesn't play again until after we leave. Oh well.

I want to eat at Margaritaville so back toward The Flamingo we go. We decide to stop in to play a few minutes at Bugsy's bar at the Flamingo and have a drink. We ordered drinks and began to play a quarter machine together. Before the drinks get back, my wife gets the 10,Q,K,A of diamonds dealt to her. I tell her not to yell if she gets the Jack. Holy crap, she gets it! She's quiet, I hoot out a "Woo" and we're $1000 richer! No one else is really around so not much chance to gloat. The bartender does take a picture for us as we smash our faces close to the screen. I tell her my omen comes true and that we never would have stopped here if we had not gone to see Big Elvis. And I wouldn't have gone to see BE if I had not read it on this board, so thanks to all of you and your vouchers are in the mail!

That was fun and off to dinner we go.

Margaritaville is ok. The deck up top has a good view and the food is alright. I like the music and we savor the fact we are up some money and can afford to blow some of it. After dinner, it's pictures in front of the Eiffel Tower, pictures of the fountain and the shuttle from BC to the GC. Met a guy who went to the same college as me back in the South (another omen?). Went to the Palms. A bit too young and crowded for us, but a nice place. More drinking and we cab it back in the wee hours to the Rio...did not want to get a WUI. Even tho it's just across the street, it seems like way too far of a walk! More gamblin and drinkin and some of the Royal Flush starts disappearing...


Sat is a very late sleep. I check my pockets and wonder "where's my chips"...hence my nickname. Not a bad loss at the last few hours of the prior night, just didn't realize it was that much. I'm sure that never happens to anyone else. More time at the pool. Thank God for sunglasses both for helping my eyes not hurt and checking out the scenery which is pretty good as the women try to outdo themselves.

Don't make it to FSE that night as planned as I'm wearing down, but do go the Strip again for awhile. Saw a good "Booty shaking contest" at the Carnival Court stage which is won by a heavy set Grandmother. Only in Vegas. Good party scene.

Saw the other "usual" stuff on the strip. The annoying pamphlet providers. Saw one women so drunk whose halter kept falling off and she didn't know it...or did she? Fumbling for my camera but it's too late she's gone!

Anyway, that's about it. Nothing too dramatic that night and flight back on Sunday was uneventful. Some really hungover people on the plane! Glad I did that two nights ago.

Thanks for all the tips I picked up here. It helped make the trip even more fun. Hope you enjoyed the post.

 

Great post!

I really think there's a chip fairy who comes and steals the chips in the middle of the night (or more like mid-morning).

...But only those nights I've had a little too much to drink!

How do they know so well?

In other words... I can relate!!!

 

Enjoyed your report. I cannot wait to go. I am leaving in about 3 weeks. What was the average temperature? My husband and I will be celebrating our 22nd aniversary and I know we will have a wonderful time. We went in March of this year and I was looking for a different place to celebrate but he wanted to come back to Vegas. I said yes in 2 seconds.

Glad you had a great trip. Maybe I will write a report when I get back. Although I am not that great of a writer.

 

Last year, July 11 was Las Vegas' hottest day for 2003. The high was 115°. The average high ranges from 103° to 105° the entire month.

The hottest average period during the year is July 17-24, with a high of 105°, and a low of 79°.

 

Great report! I do know about those disappearing chips. I was in Vegas over the 4th of July last year. It was 112 degrees on the strip. I am going in September and hope it is a little cooler than that then.

 

Temperatures were about 100-102 mid day to late afternoon, but of course a dry heat. Not bad really by the pool and you could jump in to cool off.

Walked the strip after about 3:00 for a few blocks and it wasn't too bad. Plus on the Harrahs side of the strip at least you could pop in and out of casinos easily to cool off and keep walking thru the casino. In fact, it was less crowded thru there than the sidewalks which tended to be cattle drives.

Hope you have a great trip.

 

Thank you. I guess I should get prepared for the heat. You guys are wonderful with reponding and giving information.