June 4th - June 10th
Well, Sis (aka City Girl) and I are onboard US Air from Boston Saturday night for our annual Sister bonding Vegas venture. The plane was half empty, and there was plenty of room to spread out - That's a good omen of things to come. We cab it to Golden Nugget and arrive around 10:00 pm to learn that they are overbooked and the best we can hope for are smoking rooms in Carson Tower with promised upgrades tomorrow. Yes, yes "Room requests are not guaranteed" for late arriving East Coast low-roller gals. No problem, we get it. We drop the bags off in our temporary quarters, and the vacation magic begins.
Fremont Street Saturday night is seriously demented. Three live bands are playing under the canopy, zip-liners are zipping overhead and swarms of washed and unwashed humanity weave and wiggle everywhere. There are the usual over-served along with "characters" trading tips for pics. Yes! We're really in Vegas!! It's off to Binion's for a late-night Burger (2fer MRB) and then back to GN's Claude's bar for several refreshing beverages and a totally unrewarding go at bar-top JoB. City Girl convinces me, quite easily, that it's too early to call it a day, so off to Golden Gate for BJ and a $40 win on Monopoly. And, good Lord those girls in the BJ pits can really shake what their mamma gave them. It's 2 am and nothing is slowing down but me.
SUNDAY - After our earlier-than-usual "Only In Vegas" ritual of wake-up mimosas and Baileys coffee at Claude's Bar, we stop off at the Vegas Club to use match plays and slot coups. The place is much more active than last time we visited, the servers seemed happy, and there are a few new slots and $5 BJ tables. I'm a happy girl - up $30 on their money. City Girl is hungry and not yet into her BJ mojo, so we head off to Main Street for their Sunday Champagne Brunch (used 2fers from FSE coup sheet). Our champagne server was wonderfully attentive, amply rewarded; and as I recall the quality of the food was good, too. We both like salads and enjoy foraging for little tidbits and tastes here and there so buffets fit that bill. The olives and celery in Bloody Mary's count as a favored food group of mine while in LV - so foodies should not look to me for any gourmet advise. Main Street really is a beautiful, historic building. One of these days I want to sneak into the Main Street's men's room to see the piece of the Berlin Wall that is reportedly in there....
It's back up to GN to schlep our bags into upgraded digs, unpack, beautify, and meet up in time to catch the Fits of Laughter show (2fer ACG) at Fitzgeralds. Kevin Burke is a hoot who changes things up each time we've seen his show, and it has never disappointed. I played a nickel Hex Machine for awile at Fitz --I just love the sound of those breaking glass mirrors and Hoodoo the Cat Howls -- while City Girl racked up Fitz comp points on Pharoah's Fortune. We caught one of the light shows fron the outside Vue Bar Balcony. and then wandered through the crowds back to the Golden Gate for their shrimp cocktail (ACG 2fer coup) and another go at the bikini BJ pit. The place is wall-to-wall crazy, and it's time to call it a night.
MONDAY - Another "Ritual" at Claudes - This one cost $20 thanks to a crappy JoB run - then lunch at the GN Buffet (2fer GN Golden Values coup) at a table overlooking a very busy pool on a perfect pool-weather day. there are lots of kids of all ages sliding down the shark-tank tube. It's tempting to join in -- but no -- the Slot Goddess beckons. On our way to El Cortez, we stop off at the Oxygen Bar on Fremont for the $15 revival treatment. The aroma-therapy Oxygen buzz was great, but the neck, back and shoulder massage is pure bliss. The screaming zip-liners zipping overhead were a bit off-putting. Fortunately, my fears of being smacked with a wayward flip flop, handbag, or worse, from above were unfounded. We'll give that a pass for the time being.
Yes, the Slot Goddess was shining on me and my penny Indiana Jones Game. I played with him for over an hour and the bonuses kept coming. It was no doubt annoying as hell for patrons at the nearby bar who had to listen to the constant and exceptionally loud bonus action happening beside them. I'm up $54 big ones and City Girl's got her mojo going on the BJ tables. While enjoying a happy-hour chocolate martini at the piano bar next to the Flame Resturant we were told that the bar is being revamped, moved and upgraded. Does this mean Bottle Service is in ElCo's future? After an edible but far from exceptional buffet at Fremont (2fer FSE coup), we're back at Golden Gate hoping for a good run. Nope, nada, nothing. And a good night to you, too!
TUESDAY - An exciting splurge is on today's agenda. We're off to the Grand Canyon with Papillon Helicopters. Once at the airstrip we were given a safety briefing and taken to the airfield where the six of us donned safety equipment and headsets, and began the incredible 45-minute flight over the Mohave Desert, Lake Mead, Hoover Dam and right over the Grand Canyon. We did a 5000 foot descent into the Canyon, landed on the bottom beside the Colorado River, and enjoyed a champagne picnic lunch and 20 minutes more to experience the majestic scenery and take some pictures. Then, we began the ascent up and through the Canyon and a 30 minute flight back to the airstrip. It was all amazing and breathtaking. After flying over miles of scrub brush, sand and barren moonscapes, the fact that Las Vegas sits in the middle of that vast wasteland is mind boggling. Sadly, our sweet van driver got stopped and ticketed by one of LV's finest for running a Stop Sign in his haste to get us back to our hotel in time to see a show. Thank you, Sammy.
WEDNESDAY - It's moving day. Up early, grabbed a Dunkin' Donuts iced coffee at Fremont and dropped $20 or so trying for the Fish Bonus at Fremont. Did "Ritual" at Claude's (2 free drinks from GN Fun book), then GN buffet breakfast (2fer GN Fun Book), took a quick last run to ElCo to kiss Indiana good-by, grabbed the bags, checked out, and cabbed to Bally's for a very smooth check-in to North Tower, partial Strip-view rooms for the next two nights. Then, off to MGM for the Lion Habitat and on to Ellis Island to use the free slot play. First timers to Ellis, we learned that we had to earn points one day and come back the next day to get the actual free play, so we played awhile and then headed to Harrah's for the Buffet and Legends in Concert show. (City Girl scored half-price show tickets and two free buffets from Travelzoo). We had read mixed reviews on Flavors, but we found a variety of tasty offerings and the price was right! Legends was a blast. The tribute singers were really spot on, and Michael Jackson, Steve Tyler and Elvis were mobbed at the after-show's meet and greet. "Britney Spears" stood alone off to one side not feeling much love from this 40 and up crowd. I said hi and took her picture....
Back at Paris we played Fish, Pharoah's and Triple Diamond without much success and stopped for a nightcap at Sullys in Bally's where 60 or so contestants from a tat and piercing conference were showing off an amazing variety of adorned body parts. Gotta say the guy with the evil-looking red and black Tiger tat covering his entire face and neck sorta creeped me out.
THURSDAY - Met up at Sully's in Ballys for a noon "Ritual" and headed out to Paris for an excellent lunch of Southwest Chicken and Salmon sandwiches at LeBurger Brassier (2fer MRB), then off to Harrah's for Mac King's afternoon show (free with one drink purchase $13.00 ish). He is a funny guy and his show was a nice break from the busy Strip and lure of the Slot Devil. Overall, win-wise for this trip, I am definitely in the loser mode. City Girl holds that she's "about even."
We land back at Ellis Island (reminds us of being back Downtown, in a good way) to use the free slot play and try the Steak Special. Now we know why it's in the Top LVA Ten. Happy service, great steak prepared exactly as ordered, crisp salad, huge baked potato and tasty green beans. I brought a couple of glasses of wine from the bar (MRB Coup) into the dining room. After dinner, we watched the final period of the Bruins hockey playoff game at the bar, and the bartender remembered me from my earlier wine
run and asked if we wanted to use the remaining drinks on my coup. Hell, Yes! Go Bruins.....
Switching gears, later we head "uptown" to Bellagio to see the captivating floral Americana display in the Observatory and wandered about checking out the sights. We ended up at the Fontana Bar at an outside table with a perfect view of the evening Fountain shows, and enjoyed some excellent live music in between the Fountain shows. It was a peaceful and relaxing couple of hours - and a pretty big splurge - but so worth it!
Next up, it's over to Paris to take in the Eiffel Tower ride. (2fer coup from somewhere - I'm loosing track). It's a fantastic 360 view of the entire Strip and beyond -- but be warned, it's crazy crowded up there and the cage-like bars that are used, I guess, to keep people safe also make photos that appear to have been taken from inside a jail.
It's really late by now, we've been non-stop for the entire trip, and it's time to limp on back to Bally's for a long time-out in dream land.
FRIDAY - It's our last day and since we have a late night flight home we kept one room for Friday night (and it cost a fortune....). City Girl checks out and dumps her stuff off in my room before we head to Sully's for our final Only-In-Vegas "Ritual" and plot the day's activities. We check out Bally's pool, do a little window shopping, and grab a snack at Nathan's (2fer from MRB) before making a series of stops at Bill's Flamingo, Caesars and ending at the Mirage to see the tiger exhibits at Seigfried and Roy's Secret Garden. Drat - we missed the last entrance to the Garden - who'd think anything closed at 4:30 p.m. in Vegas? So, it's back to Caesar's to try to win a little something and earn enough TR points to keep a few offers coming my way. I'm up to 120 base points (whatever that means) and who really cares anyway because they'll expire in December long before we're back.
This has been one of our best LV trips - a good combination of Downtown gambling, Strip splurges, Grand adventures, down-time with great weather, and lots of free stuff thrown in. We are leaving with less than we arrived with - but it was really worth it.
Now it's off to the airport and back to reality. The flight out was overbooked and we were offered a nice opportunity to take a bump in return for a future free trip. Since I had to get back to work, and there was no guarantee that an alternate flight would be available to meet that deadline, we had to take a pass and joined a very full flight to snore and soar our way back home.
Thanks for taking the time to read this.
Well, Sis (aka City Girl) and I are onboard US Air from Boston Saturday night for our annual Sister bonding Vegas venture. The plane was half empty, and there was plenty of room to spread out - That's a good omen of things to come. We cab it to Golden Nugget and arrive around 10:00 pm to learn that they are overbooked and the best we can hope for are smoking rooms in Carson Tower with promised upgrades tomorrow. Yes, yes "Room requests are not guaranteed" for late arriving East Coast low-roller gals. No problem, we get it. We drop the bags off in our temporary quarters, and the vacation magic begins.
Fremont Street Saturday night is seriously demented. Three live bands are playing under the canopy, zip-liners are zipping overhead and swarms of washed and unwashed humanity weave and wiggle everywhere. There are the usual over-served along with "characters" trading tips for pics. Yes! We're really in Vegas!! It's off to Binion's for a late-night Burger (2fer MRB) and then back to GN's Claude's bar for several refreshing beverages and a totally unrewarding go at bar-top JoB. City Girl convinces me, quite easily, that it's too early to call it a day, so off to Golden Gate for BJ and a $40 win on Monopoly. And, good Lord those girls in the BJ pits can really shake what their mamma gave them. It's 2 am and nothing is slowing down but me.
SUNDAY - After our earlier-than-usual "Only In Vegas" ritual of wake-up mimosas and Baileys coffee at Claude's Bar, we stop off at the Vegas Club to use match plays and slot coups. The place is much more active than last time we visited, the servers seemed happy, and there are a few new slots and $5 BJ tables. I'm a happy girl - up $30 on their money. City Girl is hungry and not yet into her BJ mojo, so we head off to Main Street for their Sunday Champagne Brunch (used 2fers from FSE coup sheet). Our champagne server was wonderfully attentive, amply rewarded; and as I recall the quality of the food was good, too. We both like salads and enjoy foraging for little tidbits and tastes here and there so buffets fit that bill. The olives and celery in Bloody Mary's count as a favored food group of mine while in LV - so foodies should not look to me for any gourmet advise. Main Street really is a beautiful, historic building. One of these days I want to sneak into the Main Street's men's room to see the piece of the Berlin Wall that is reportedly in there....
It's back up to GN to schlep our bags into upgraded digs, unpack, beautify, and meet up in time to catch the Fits of Laughter show (2fer ACG) at Fitzgeralds. Kevin Burke is a hoot who changes things up each time we've seen his show, and it has never disappointed. I played a nickel Hex Machine for awile at Fitz --I just love the sound of those breaking glass mirrors and Hoodoo the Cat Howls -- while City Girl racked up Fitz comp points on Pharoah's Fortune. We caught one of the light shows fron the outside Vue Bar Balcony. and then wandered through the crowds back to the Golden Gate for their shrimp cocktail (ACG 2fer coup) and another go at the bikini BJ pit. The place is wall-to-wall crazy, and it's time to call it a night.
MONDAY - Another "Ritual" at Claudes - This one cost $20 thanks to a crappy JoB run - then lunch at the GN Buffet (2fer GN Golden Values coup) at a table overlooking a very busy pool on a perfect pool-weather day. there are lots of kids of all ages sliding down the shark-tank tube. It's tempting to join in -- but no -- the Slot Goddess beckons. On our way to El Cortez, we stop off at the Oxygen Bar on Fremont for the $15 revival treatment. The aroma-therapy Oxygen buzz was great, but the neck, back and shoulder massage is pure bliss. The screaming zip-liners zipping overhead were a bit off-putting. Fortunately, my fears of being smacked with a wayward flip flop, handbag, or worse, from above were unfounded. We'll give that a pass for the time being.
Yes, the Slot Goddess was shining on me and my penny Indiana Jones Game. I played with him for over an hour and the bonuses kept coming. It was no doubt annoying as hell for patrons at the nearby bar who had to listen to the constant and exceptionally loud bonus action happening beside them. I'm up $54 big ones and City Girl's got her mojo going on the BJ tables. While enjoying a happy-hour chocolate martini at the piano bar next to the Flame Resturant we were told that the bar is being revamped, moved and upgraded. Does this mean Bottle Service is in ElCo's future? After an edible but far from exceptional buffet at Fremont (2fer FSE coup), we're back at Golden Gate hoping for a good run. Nope, nada, nothing. And a good night to you, too!
TUESDAY - An exciting splurge is on today's agenda. We're off to the Grand Canyon with Papillon Helicopters. Once at the airstrip we were given a safety briefing and taken to the airfield where the six of us donned safety equipment and headsets, and began the incredible 45-minute flight over the Mohave Desert, Lake Mead, Hoover Dam and right over the Grand Canyon. We did a 5000 foot descent into the Canyon, landed on the bottom beside the Colorado River, and enjoyed a champagne picnic lunch and 20 minutes more to experience the majestic scenery and take some pictures. Then, we began the ascent up and through the Canyon and a 30 minute flight back to the airstrip. It was all amazing and breathtaking. After flying over miles of scrub brush, sand and barren moonscapes, the fact that Las Vegas sits in the middle of that vast wasteland is mind boggling. Sadly, our sweet van driver got stopped and ticketed by one of LV's finest for running a Stop Sign in his haste to get us back to our hotel in time to see a show. Thank you, Sammy.
WEDNESDAY - It's moving day. Up early, grabbed a Dunkin' Donuts iced coffee at Fremont and dropped $20 or so trying for the Fish Bonus at Fremont. Did "Ritual" at Claude's (2 free drinks from GN Fun book), then GN buffet breakfast (2fer GN Fun Book), took a quick last run to ElCo to kiss Indiana good-by, grabbed the bags, checked out, and cabbed to Bally's for a very smooth check-in to North Tower, partial Strip-view rooms for the next two nights. Then, off to MGM for the Lion Habitat and on to Ellis Island to use the free slot play. First timers to Ellis, we learned that we had to earn points one day and come back the next day to get the actual free play, so we played awhile and then headed to Harrah's for the Buffet and Legends in Concert show. (City Girl scored half-price show tickets and two free buffets from Travelzoo). We had read mixed reviews on Flavors, but we found a variety of tasty offerings and the price was right! Legends was a blast. The tribute singers were really spot on, and Michael Jackson, Steve Tyler and Elvis were mobbed at the after-show's meet and greet. "Britney Spears" stood alone off to one side not feeling much love from this 40 and up crowd. I said hi and took her picture....
Back at Paris we played Fish, Pharoah's and Triple Diamond without much success and stopped for a nightcap at Sullys in Bally's where 60 or so contestants from a tat and piercing conference were showing off an amazing variety of adorned body parts. Gotta say the guy with the evil-looking red and black Tiger tat covering his entire face and neck sorta creeped me out.
THURSDAY - Met up at Sully's in Ballys for a noon "Ritual" and headed out to Paris for an excellent lunch of Southwest Chicken and Salmon sandwiches at LeBurger Brassier (2fer MRB), then off to Harrah's for Mac King's afternoon show (free with one drink purchase $13.00 ish). He is a funny guy and his show was a nice break from the busy Strip and lure of the Slot Devil. Overall, win-wise for this trip, I am definitely in the loser mode. City Girl holds that she's "about even."
We land back at Ellis Island (reminds us of being back Downtown, in a good way) to use the free slot play and try the Steak Special. Now we know why it's in the Top LVA Ten. Happy service, great steak prepared exactly as ordered, crisp salad, huge baked potato and tasty green beans. I brought a couple of glasses of wine from the bar (MRB Coup) into the dining room. After dinner, we watched the final period of the Bruins hockey playoff game at the bar, and the bartender remembered me from my earlier wine
run and asked if we wanted to use the remaining drinks on my coup. Hell, Yes! Go Bruins.....
Switching gears, later we head "uptown" to Bellagio to see the captivating floral Americana display in the Observatory and wandered about checking out the sights. We ended up at the Fontana Bar at an outside table with a perfect view of the evening Fountain shows, and enjoyed some excellent live music in between the Fountain shows. It was a peaceful and relaxing couple of hours - and a pretty big splurge - but so worth it!
Next up, it's over to Paris to take in the Eiffel Tower ride. (2fer coup from somewhere - I'm loosing track). It's a fantastic 360 view of the entire Strip and beyond -- but be warned, it's crazy crowded up there and the cage-like bars that are used, I guess, to keep people safe also make photos that appear to have been taken from inside a jail.
It's really late by now, we've been non-stop for the entire trip, and it's time to limp on back to Bally's for a long time-out in dream land.
FRIDAY - It's our last day and since we have a late night flight home we kept one room for Friday night (and it cost a fortune....). City Girl checks out and dumps her stuff off in my room before we head to Sully's for our final Only-In-Vegas "Ritual" and plot the day's activities. We check out Bally's pool, do a little window shopping, and grab a snack at Nathan's (2fer from MRB) before making a series of stops at Bill's Flamingo, Caesars and ending at the Mirage to see the tiger exhibits at Seigfried and Roy's Secret Garden. Drat - we missed the last entrance to the Garden - who'd think anything closed at 4:30 p.m. in Vegas? So, it's back to Caesar's to try to win a little something and earn enough TR points to keep a few offers coming my way. I'm up to 120 base points (whatever that means) and who really cares anyway because they'll expire in December long before we're back.
This has been one of our best LV trips - a good combination of Downtown gambling, Strip splurges, Grand adventures, down-time with great weather, and lots of free stuff thrown in. We are leaving with less than we arrived with - but it was really worth it.
Now it's off to the airport and back to reality. The flight out was overbooked and we were offered a nice opportunity to take a bump in return for a future free trip. Since I had to get back to work, and there was no guarantee that an alternate flight would be available to meet that deadline, we had to take a pass and joined a very full flight to snore and soar our way back home.
Thanks for taking the time to read this.
