Scored a $49 fare each way on Southwest, from Sea-Tac airport. No charge for 2 checked bags. Airport hotel shuttles not running at this time, but cabs do a flat rate between hotel and airport. Was $23 plus tip to get to Planet Hollywood. My room rate was $20, but a $42 stinking, lousy resort fee. But bottom line, was a fair rate for mid strip. The room was starting to show wear but was comfortable. Room had a mini-fridge, which is a big help to us diabetics. Temp was borderline in fridge, but I used it mainly for bottles of water.
The Miraacle Mile mall attached to Planet Hollywood was very handy. The ABC stores had larger bottles of water for $1 and several inexpensive places for breakfast. Ocean One had several breakfast and lunch options between $5 an $10. It was an ok place for a quick meal. Blondies Bar and Grill does a $3.99 eggs, breakfast meat and potatoes that was pretty good. Service was friendly and quick. was offered coffee refills several times (always check the price of your beverage. $3.50 for coffee is typical.) Potatoes had chunks of green peppers, which I don't like. but they were big enough pieces to push to the side and ignore. La Salsa Cantina (right across the aisle from Blondies) has a $4.79 breakfast of eggs, breakfast meat, southwest style potatoes, and flour or corn tortillas (they also have a toast option). Mine was quite good, as was Blondies. Friendly, quick, attentive servers. Big difference between the two? La Salsa potatos has a little diced onion mixed in, no peppers (don't know why they called them southwestern. But they were tasty) The small difference in price between the two, I attributed to La Salsa having the tortilla/ toast included. Both gave a solid meal to start the day. I have wanted to try Pampas Churrascaria Brazilian Grill my last few trips. This time I made it a priority. OMG!!!!! One of the best meals I can recall eating! Lunch was $25 (dinner is $55) which includes a salad, appetizer plate with a nice variety of cheese, meats, cheese rolls, apricots, and other delicacies. Then comes a service of sides (rice, beans, a sort of cheese augratin, and cooked plantains). Servers walk around carrying huge skewers of rodizio style grilled meat to offer diners, sliced off at your table for you. The meat is all you can eat, and I was offered (and accepted) a couple types of beef, pork loin, ham, sausage, and chicken wrapped in bacon. WOW!!!! And the lunch pricing is an exceptionally good deal. It really was one of the best meals in my life.
I am scared to drive in Vegas. Not to mention outragous car rental prices and parking fees. I got a 72 hour (3 day) bus pass for $20. Covers the Strip and downtown (and elsewhere). I used it 14 times during that 3 days. I think it was money well spent. Downtown was somewhat subdued. But it was weekday, right before a holiday weekend. Went to the Mob Muesum. Enjoyed the exhibits, lots of history there. Was not pleased with the speakeasy bar in the basement, though. Lots of employees, but most seemed a little... not up to speed. Very long wait to get a menu and then my order taken and servers didn't seem to be knowledgeable about the drinks. Then another long wait to get a check and when it came, price I was charged for food items was different from menu listed price. Another long wait for a corrected check, with no explaination of why price was different and only the briefest "sorry bout that".
Other bad food experiences were at Denny's next to Casino Royal. Food was given with no silverware or napkin and had to go ask at the register for items because waitress never came back and the place was not busy at that time. The place was not very clean and that included the plate and waterglass. Nathan's Hotdogs in Casino Royale wasn't much better. They list a footlong hotdog. What I was given was 9 inches long, and was upon inspection, a regular 6 inch hotdog and a half of another hotdog together in a long bun. Also, it was 99 degrees out. When I asked about a cup of water (fully expecting to pay 25 cents for the cup) I was told they "don't do that". I ended up buying a beverage elsewhere to stave off dehydration that was getting to a serious point.
Now, the money part. I was down about $100 of my bankroll for gambeling for trip, when I hit a $750 payout on a Wheel of Fortune machine at Casino Royale. I cashed out and went back to my hotel to put the money in my room safe to make sure it went home with me (it did).
Some things are still closed, trams between hotel (just starting to run on weekends), some shows and stores not open. But about 85% was up and running. I was very pleased to see the Big Elvis afternoon show at Harrah's in the Piano bar. He puts on a very enjoyable show. He has had to make a few covid modifications but the audience had a great time and it is a must see on any Vegas trip. I am already thinking about my next trip, October/ November 2021. Viva Las Vegas!!!!!
