Why would you want to spend Thanksgiving with your poltically angry uncle and socially disfunctional cousin
when you could spend it with hookers and cosplay bums? I chose that latter and went to Las Vegas.
Part 1: The Stays
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Worldmark Tropicana
link to their website
I think this used to be just a standard apartment complex that was bought by Wyndham and turned into timeshare rentals.
Located on Tropicana Blvd about 1/2 mile past the Orleans...which means thats the only casino you can realisticly walk too. They have a shuttle that takes you to the strip but I would highly recommend you have your own vehicle if you stay here. The rooms are great ! Lots of space to spread out with a full kitchen, living room, balcony, and washer/dryer in unit. They also have a heated pool and hottub which they keep open year round.
the coveted washer/dryer in unit
Tuscany
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One of the truly underrated places in Vegas in my opinion. Rooms with standard price and resort fee almost always go for under $100 on weekdays. And their rooms are huge! Beautifully landscaped gardens surround a lagoon style pool that offers up the luxury you get on the strip minus the huge fees and crowds. Three awesome restaurants on site including one of the better Italian restaurants in the city IMO. And the lounge has a great happy hour with live music. The best video poker they have is 7/5 Bonus poker with progressive....but if you play on Mondays you get 10X points which
makes that a full pay game. And like I said - they have great place to spend your comps.
the gigunda sized room at Tuscany
Part 2) Exploring new territory
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Resorts World
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I'll be honest - I was pretty sure I was going to hate this place. I remember when the Wynn first opened and how pretentious it was. It was like they didnt want you in there unless your last name was Kardashion or you had a net worth over $10 million. I thought Resorts World was going to be like that too. But to my delight they werent. Make no mistake - this is a place that knows how to cater to the elites. But they were welcoming to everyone, even me walking around in my jeans and Def Leppard t-shirt. There was even a passed-out drunk old man sitting at a slot machine the security guards were politely trying to wake up and move =)
I only played enough in the casino to get my name on their radar for default mailings. Casino seemed tight but no more so than anywhere else on the strip. Craps table during the day had $15 minimums which is the same as most downtown casinos.
I tried three different eateries: the pizza by the slice place, breakfast sandwich place, and boozey ice cream place. That last one was the most notable. Somehow they figured out how to mix alcohol into ice cream and maintain the solid state. Its served in little cylinders and comes in about 30 flavors. I got a Kentucky Creme Brulee which had Makers Mark bourbon in it....and you could absolutely taste it. $9. Not cheap but not crazy for a little something different.
boozey ice cream
Suns Out Buns Out - breakfast sandwiches
sculpture thingy in the main atrium
The Ghost Bar at Palms.
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I honestly never went to the Gost Bar before and thought I might never get a chance once the Palms shut down during COVID. When I heard it was being reopened I made a point of adding it to my agenda. I actually went Thanksgiving evening right after dinner. The view is every bit as good as I heard and the bar staff knows how to mix a good Old Fashioned. I was taken aback by how small it is. The "inside" part is just a 30 foot square with only enough (reserved) seating for 8 parties. Everyone else is standing room only. No seats at the bar. The "outside" is just a verranda that goes around the inside.
Again - only a couple of benches to sit on. I only stayed long enough to finish my drink and snap a few photos. Cool place. Glad I went. Probably wont go again.
going up !
the surprisingly small room that comprises the Ghost Bar
nice view though - Happy Thanksgiving
Area 15
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I've been to Meow Wolf in Santa Fe so I kinda new what I was getting into with the one in Las Vegas.
And it was pretty cool. You tour around a Super Market that has been transformed into a twisted, satirical version of itself with a mystical otherworld waiting on the other side of the Milk aisle.
Got brains?
Part 3) Dining
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Oodles of Noodles !
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I keep seeing all these tv shows where Asian restautants make these yummy looking dishes with hand pulled noodles. They feature a guy working the dough, stretching it out in some flair-filled show in front of the customers and ultimately throwing it into a pot of water. They dont have place that do this in Indianapolis....but they have several in Vegas
I tried three.....
Shang Artisan Noodle - Local joint on Flamingo 1 mile past the Palms
CHi Asian Kitchen - Stratosphere
The Noodle Den - Sahara
Battle of the Tiki Bars
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Frankies and the Golden Tiki are the two most talked about Tiki Bars in Vegas. I'm a big fan of both. $14 is the new standard price for one of their heavenly concoctions....and you might say thats crazy exepensive until I tell youwhat the casino bars are charging for properly mixed cocktails ($19 was the norm there - yowza !).
Frankies is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year and is celebrating with some new cocktails and some new custom designed mugs. Those mugs make great additions to your barware at home. They have an online store too where you can buy them.
So which place is better? Frankies makes better drinks in my opinion....but Golden Tiki has more room, more stuff to look at, drinks they light on fire, and a food menu of snacks. SO you can judge for yourseld which of those variables weighs more...or you can just visit both places like I do. After 8 years of visiting both places I've stolen enough swizzle sticks to host my own tiki party.
The Kahiki Kai at Frankies.
I make the same drink at home - I have their recipe book =)
The Black Betti at Golden Tiki
Misc eats and treats
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Thanksgiving buffets were a madhouse but just about anywhere else was easy to walk in. I ended up going to the main diner at The Palms called Serrano Vista Cafe. They put together a nice three course meal for $30
Thanksgiving Turkey dinner at Serrano Vista (The Palms)
I made it over to Dirt Dog on Fremont St. Big on the WOW factor. Otherwise, meh.
Part 4) Gambling
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I always like to share photos of my big hits in these trip reports. Notice the
lack of any photos below. Yeah - it was like that.
Between increased minimums, general tightening of everything, and abysmal luck I managed
to put together my worst gambling trip ever. I was in town for 10 days and gave myself
an alotment for each day. I quit on day 6. It was the only thing that saved me.
Usually on a bad trip I'll still manage to come home with about 80% of what I went out with.
I was on pace for less than half. That was enough to pull the plug.
DOwntown and local casinos were as bad as the strip with the exception of better VP schedules.
Table minimums at El Cortez were the same as Resorts World. WTF? I tried to focus on sport book
bets....and I was 2 for 12.
I feel like if I go next year its going to be strictly shows and fancy restaurants....
If I want to gamble I might schedule a trip to Reno and see if its better there.
