This trip was a gathering of family around the country getting together in one of our favorite cities. This time there were 16 of us….6 of whom celebrate a birthday within two weeks of our travel date…another reason to celebrate. Pull up a chair…this is quite long.
Sunday, July 10th Day 1
Up at 3am to head from Orlando to LV at 6am. Show up at the gate only to find out that the plane was delayed due to “mechanical issues”. After several announcements about an unknown time of departure, we get word that we will attempt to leave around 8am. Finally lift off at 8:20am to our stop in Denver where we had already missed the first connecting flight. We got wait listed on the next available flight and thankfully made it on that plane. The only downside was missing Sunday Brunch with the family, but hey, we got there. Just a little over two hours later than originally anticipated.
Off to pick up the rental car at Dollar. I’ve been an express member for years and the process was painless. The person at the express booth pointed me to my assigned car stall, and my wife and I were off. First stop, Food 4 Less to pick up a cooler, soda and other items for the room. Next stop…South Point. Since we had been up so early and not eaten yet, we were starving, and having missed the family brunch we did the next best thing….75 cent hot dogs at the Vienna Beef cart at South Point. Filled the spot. Next up was to pick up free swag at the M Resort with coupons they had sent us. Deadline to pick up some nice caps was today, hence the quick stop. Final stop before downtown was at the Gold Coast where I had two fifteen dollar blackjack match play coupons. Bought in for $100…won both match play’s and stayed for one whole shoe. Walked out up $450. Nice win.
Finally we made our way down to the Golden Nugget where the majority of the group would be staying until Friday. I had found a Facebook friends discount for the Gold Club rooms for $92 a night. Six couples booked those rooms at that rate. It includes VIP check-in, VIP line passes for the buffet and Carson Street Café, free entry into the spa/fitness facility, and two large bottle of Fiji water in the room each day. Since my wife and I try to work out each day and the normal one day admission to the fitness center would have been $20 per person each day, this proved to be an excellent value. Everyone loved their rooms which were on the 16th or 17th floor. Every morning near the elevators there were more smaller bottles of water, a large coffee pot with fresh brewed coffee, copies of the USA Today and Las Vegas Review Journal and fresh fruit usually apples. In the evening, there was more bottled water and snack bowls filled with mixed nuts, peanut m & m’s, and jelly beans. You had to insert your card key to get floor access.
After getting unpacked, freshening up and visiting in the lobby with other family members, we were off to dinner.
Since most of the family grew up in Chicago, we decided to go for some Chicago Pizza. I had seen a good write up of Amore’s Pizza and Pasta on Durango and I handed out directions for everyone to meet there.
The food was outstanding. We had both thin crust and deep dish and they were both excellent. My wife also got an extra delight out of the fact that they served bottles of Green River soda….a staple item from her youth. All was right with the world as everyone parted back at the hotel until we would meet up for breakfast on Monday.
Up next….Day 2…Omelet House, Red Rock Canyon, and Love at the Mirage.
Sunday, July 10th Day 1
Up at 3am to head from Orlando to LV at 6am. Show up at the gate only to find out that the plane was delayed due to “mechanical issues”. After several announcements about an unknown time of departure, we get word that we will attempt to leave around 8am. Finally lift off at 8:20am to our stop in Denver where we had already missed the first connecting flight. We got wait listed on the next available flight and thankfully made it on that plane. The only downside was missing Sunday Brunch with the family, but hey, we got there. Just a little over two hours later than originally anticipated.
Off to pick up the rental car at Dollar. I’ve been an express member for years and the process was painless. The person at the express booth pointed me to my assigned car stall, and my wife and I were off. First stop, Food 4 Less to pick up a cooler, soda and other items for the room. Next stop…South Point. Since we had been up so early and not eaten yet, we were starving, and having missed the family brunch we did the next best thing….75 cent hot dogs at the Vienna Beef cart at South Point. Filled the spot. Next up was to pick up free swag at the M Resort with coupons they had sent us. Deadline to pick up some nice caps was today, hence the quick stop. Final stop before downtown was at the Gold Coast where I had two fifteen dollar blackjack match play coupons. Bought in for $100…won both match play’s and stayed for one whole shoe. Walked out up $450. Nice win.
Finally we made our way down to the Golden Nugget where the majority of the group would be staying until Friday. I had found a Facebook friends discount for the Gold Club rooms for $92 a night. Six couples booked those rooms at that rate. It includes VIP check-in, VIP line passes for the buffet and Carson Street Café, free entry into the spa/fitness facility, and two large bottle of Fiji water in the room each day. Since my wife and I try to work out each day and the normal one day admission to the fitness center would have been $20 per person each day, this proved to be an excellent value. Everyone loved their rooms which were on the 16th or 17th floor. Every morning near the elevators there were more smaller bottles of water, a large coffee pot with fresh brewed coffee, copies of the USA Today and Las Vegas Review Journal and fresh fruit usually apples. In the evening, there was more bottled water and snack bowls filled with mixed nuts, peanut m & m’s, and jelly beans. You had to insert your card key to get floor access.
After getting unpacked, freshening up and visiting in the lobby with other family members, we were off to dinner.
Since most of the family grew up in Chicago, we decided to go for some Chicago Pizza. I had seen a good write up of Amore’s Pizza and Pasta on Durango and I handed out directions for everyone to meet there.
The food was outstanding. We had both thin crust and deep dish and they were both excellent. My wife also got an extra delight out of the fact that they served bottles of Green River soda….a staple item from her youth. All was right with the world as everyone parted back at the hotel until we would meet up for breakfast on Monday.
Up next….Day 2…Omelet House, Red Rock Canyon, and Love at the Mirage.
