Vegas, Christmas, Friends, and Family
Who could as for anything more.
We left central Arkansas and sunny 70 degree weather to arrive in Vegas to windy, cold, rainy weather.
What is going on here. Vegas is supposed to be a sunny destination.
We took the only non-stop due to mom being with us and needing wheelchair assistance. Unfortunately this put us arriving at 7pm rather than 11am when we like to get there.
Went to National to pick up the car. I am executive selection which I understood meant that I could pick any car on the lot for my mid-size car reservation.
There were going to be 6 of us this trip so I picked out a nice minivan.
Unfortunately the National Car representative did not think that was ok and we had an extended discussion.
Eventually they agreed to let me take the minivan.
Thank goodness. I don't know where I would have stuffed all those folks otherwise.
Checked into Harrah's and they had "upgraded" my Augustus Tower room to a Palace tower suite.
Palace tower suite= large room with double bath a mile and a half from everywhere. Since this was where mom was spending the night it was not a good choice of location.
We stopped on the way to the room at Payards and had a light dinner and then settled mom for the night.
Went next door and check Paul and I into the Bellagio.
By the time we were in the room and had our bags it was already 10pm but I NEEDED to put some time in on the slots.
I wandered around trying many different machines.
Had some success on the new All that Glitters but not much else. Went to bed at 11 down $200.
Wide awake at 5:00 I dress and go back down for another round with the slots. I need to put time in on the machines to cover the nice room comps but will be very limited due to non-gambling family arriving shortly. Managed to drop another $200 by 7:30. So far not a good start.
Back up to the room and shower, dress for the day, get Paul and head over to Caesar's to get mom and have breakfast. We went back to Payards and loved it. Fresh fruit cups and almond croisants YUM.
Today Paul checks into Caesar's and he snags a great 44th floor room in the Augustus Tower overlooking the Bellagio Fountains. A much better room choice for mom so we reloacte her.
This allows us to pick her up and deliver her through the side door near the Diamond Lounge.
She also loves for us to take her to the Diamond lounge for her glass.glasses of wine.
Today I start on adding points to Paul's Harrah's card. He is about 1200 points short of making diamond for next year so we will be concentrating on making that happen.
(Turns into an expensive proposition as nothing is paying off)
Have a meeting set up with MissL777 in the Diamond Lounge at 4 and as predicted she is there enjoying a Cosmo. I join her in this fine activity. We were supossed to meet last year at Mother's day but my mom fell that morning and ended up needing stitches by her eye so we spent the last afternoon in Vegas at the hospital emergency room. NOT RECOMMENDED for your tourist activity chart.
Lisa recommended the Cosmopolitan so I added it to the list of things to do.
Today our first group of family members joins us.
Daughter Holly and boyfriend Chris are supposed to arrive from Seattle at 8:50. Get call that the flight is running late so decided to put in a few minutes at the blackjack tables in Bellagio. Can you say mistake.
That 30 minute delay cost me $400.00.
I thought blackjack was a give and take but the dealer saw it as a take and take. Not just me the whole table. It was a bloody mess.
Pick up Holly and Chris and settle them int he Palace Tower suite. They are very happy with the room and go out to see Vegas.
We head to bed as it was such a short night.
Next morning we are up at 7:00. Whoo Hoo slept in.
Over to pick up mom for breakfast. We decide on a light breakfast with lunch at Payards. Excellent decision. Take a diet coke to daughter and they consider getting up. Make plans to get together later in the day.
Take mom back to her room and take a walk to see the Cosmo.
I really like this place. Every machine I tried paid.
We took a tour of their buffet and it looked very good.
Made plans to try it the next day for brunch.
Paul goes back to room and I give the tables a try.
Three card poker fared no better than blackjack.
$300 in $0 out.
Pick up the kids and mom for dinner at Shibuya.
Great meal and company. $450 for the 5 of us.
Paul and Holly had the fall tasting menu,
Chris had a selection of sushi and mom and I had the mixed Tempura and a cucumber salad.
Everyone had a good drink to accompany the meal.
Take mom and the kids back to Caesar's and Paul and i back to Bellagio.
To the room and crash.
Today is Friday and moving day for mom, Paul, and I.
We check out of Bellagio and into the Palazzo.
Pick up mom and have Brunch at Payards. Mom wants to take Payards back to Arkansas with us.
Take the kids on a tour of the shops at Palazzo and Venetian. Get call that Paul Jr. has arrived at airport 30 min early so go directly to Caesar's to check him into the room mom had been in.
Now there are 6 of us.
Head to the Rio for Christmas Eve dinner in the buffet. Line is attrocious. Must have been a minimum of a 2 hour wait but thanks to the diamond cards we are right in.
We had a coupon for 2 free from Harrah's on Paul's card, buy 1 get 1 on my card and the buy 1 get 1 on the MRB. So for 6 people on Christmas Eve we bypassed the line and paid for 2. Best deal of the year thanks to Harrah's Diamond card and the MRB.
Christmas Day we hit the buffet at Cosmopolitan. Great food and not much of a wait due to mom's walker.
This buffet is really nice. Individually served dishes, much variety, and everyone voted it best buffet they had in Vegas.
Most of the day was spent just socializing with family. We opened a few gifts and silly Christmas stockings I had made. It was lots of fun. Holly and Paul Jr. had not seen each other since 2004.
For Christmas Dinner we had reservations at Okada. Another great meal with mixed sushi and robatayaki platters. $650 for the 6 of us including sake and drinks.
Back to the Cosmopolitan for another buffet breakfast and then off to the airport for Holly and Chris and then a few minutes later pick up Michelle, a friend of Paul Jrs.
Out to the M to check in for 2 nights.
Nice room, great view, and I win $800 on a slot machine I have never seen before. It wasn't even a bonus round. I just hit the best thing at max coin in. $3.00. I cannot remember the name but it started with an S. Something like Suksai.
Paul Jr. and I go back to Caesar's and finish the quest to earn Diamond for another year.
Back at the M we tried to do the buffet////waited about 15 min. in the VIP line and moved 2 feet. Not going to happen.
Tried Marinellis. 2 Hour wait
Up to the top Volace. They got us right in but ended up waiting an hour for the food so missed DIVAS.
Not good.
The food was good but the service no so much.
Out to RedRock Canyon, a few hours at the tables, same results.
Pineapple Express is on the way....We are out of here.
Back to Arkansas and back to work.
Ate great====gained 3 lbs. Back to normal diet and exercise.
Next trip maybe in March.
Who could as for anything more.
We left central Arkansas and sunny 70 degree weather to arrive in Vegas to windy, cold, rainy weather.
What is going on here. Vegas is supposed to be a sunny destination.
We took the only non-stop due to mom being with us and needing wheelchair assistance. Unfortunately this put us arriving at 7pm rather than 11am when we like to get there.
Went to National to pick up the car. I am executive selection which I understood meant that I could pick any car on the lot for my mid-size car reservation.
There were going to be 6 of us this trip so I picked out a nice minivan.
Unfortunately the National Car representative did not think that was ok and we had an extended discussion.
Eventually they agreed to let me take the minivan.
Thank goodness. I don't know where I would have stuffed all those folks otherwise.
Checked into Harrah's and they had "upgraded" my Augustus Tower room to a Palace tower suite.
Palace tower suite= large room with double bath a mile and a half from everywhere. Since this was where mom was spending the night it was not a good choice of location.
We stopped on the way to the room at Payards and had a light dinner and then settled mom for the night.
Went next door and check Paul and I into the Bellagio.
By the time we were in the room and had our bags it was already 10pm but I NEEDED to put some time in on the slots.
I wandered around trying many different machines.
Had some success on the new All that Glitters but not much else. Went to bed at 11 down $200.
Wide awake at 5:00 I dress and go back down for another round with the slots. I need to put time in on the machines to cover the nice room comps but will be very limited due to non-gambling family arriving shortly. Managed to drop another $200 by 7:30. So far not a good start.
Back up to the room and shower, dress for the day, get Paul and head over to Caesar's to get mom and have breakfast. We went back to Payards and loved it. Fresh fruit cups and almond croisants YUM.
Today Paul checks into Caesar's and he snags a great 44th floor room in the Augustus Tower overlooking the Bellagio Fountains. A much better room choice for mom so we reloacte her.
This allows us to pick her up and deliver her through the side door near the Diamond Lounge.
She also loves for us to take her to the Diamond lounge for her glass.glasses of wine.
Today I start on adding points to Paul's Harrah's card. He is about 1200 points short of making diamond for next year so we will be concentrating on making that happen.
(Turns into an expensive proposition as nothing is paying off)
Have a meeting set up with MissL777 in the Diamond Lounge at 4 and as predicted she is there enjoying a Cosmo. I join her in this fine activity. We were supossed to meet last year at Mother's day but my mom fell that morning and ended up needing stitches by her eye so we spent the last afternoon in Vegas at the hospital emergency room. NOT RECOMMENDED for your tourist activity chart.
Lisa recommended the Cosmopolitan so I added it to the list of things to do.
Today our first group of family members joins us.
Daughter Holly and boyfriend Chris are supposed to arrive from Seattle at 8:50. Get call that the flight is running late so decided to put in a few minutes at the blackjack tables in Bellagio. Can you say mistake.
That 30 minute delay cost me $400.00.
I thought blackjack was a give and take but the dealer saw it as a take and take. Not just me the whole table. It was a bloody mess.
Pick up Holly and Chris and settle them int he Palace Tower suite. They are very happy with the room and go out to see Vegas.
We head to bed as it was such a short night.
Next morning we are up at 7:00. Whoo Hoo slept in.
Over to pick up mom for breakfast. We decide on a light breakfast with lunch at Payards. Excellent decision. Take a diet coke to daughter and they consider getting up. Make plans to get together later in the day.
Take mom back to her room and take a walk to see the Cosmo.
I really like this place. Every machine I tried paid.
We took a tour of their buffet and it looked very good.
Made plans to try it the next day for brunch.
Paul goes back to room and I give the tables a try.
Three card poker fared no better than blackjack.
$300 in $0 out.
Pick up the kids and mom for dinner at Shibuya.
Great meal and company. $450 for the 5 of us.
Paul and Holly had the fall tasting menu,
Chris had a selection of sushi and mom and I had the mixed Tempura and a cucumber salad.
Everyone had a good drink to accompany the meal.
Take mom and the kids back to Caesar's and Paul and i back to Bellagio.
To the room and crash.
Today is Friday and moving day for mom, Paul, and I.
We check out of Bellagio and into the Palazzo.
Pick up mom and have Brunch at Payards. Mom wants to take Payards back to Arkansas with us.
Take the kids on a tour of the shops at Palazzo and Venetian. Get call that Paul Jr. has arrived at airport 30 min early so go directly to Caesar's to check him into the room mom had been in.
Now there are 6 of us.
Head to the Rio for Christmas Eve dinner in the buffet. Line is attrocious. Must have been a minimum of a 2 hour wait but thanks to the diamond cards we are right in.
We had a coupon for 2 free from Harrah's on Paul's card, buy 1 get 1 on my card and the buy 1 get 1 on the MRB. So for 6 people on Christmas Eve we bypassed the line and paid for 2. Best deal of the year thanks to Harrah's Diamond card and the MRB.
Christmas Day we hit the buffet at Cosmopolitan. Great food and not much of a wait due to mom's walker.
This buffet is really nice. Individually served dishes, much variety, and everyone voted it best buffet they had in Vegas.
Most of the day was spent just socializing with family. We opened a few gifts and silly Christmas stockings I had made. It was lots of fun. Holly and Paul Jr. had not seen each other since 2004.
For Christmas Dinner we had reservations at Okada. Another great meal with mixed sushi and robatayaki platters. $650 for the 6 of us including sake and drinks.
Back to the Cosmopolitan for another buffet breakfast and then off to the airport for Holly and Chris and then a few minutes later pick up Michelle, a friend of Paul Jrs.
Out to the M to check in for 2 nights.
Nice room, great view, and I win $800 on a slot machine I have never seen before. It wasn't even a bonus round. I just hit the best thing at max coin in. $3.00. I cannot remember the name but it started with an S. Something like Suksai.
Paul Jr. and I go back to Caesar's and finish the quest to earn Diamond for another year.
Back at the M we tried to do the buffet////waited about 15 min. in the VIP line and moved 2 feet. Not going to happen.
Tried Marinellis. 2 Hour wait
Up to the top Volace. They got us right in but ended up waiting an hour for the food so missed DIVAS.
Not good.
The food was good but the service no so much.
Out to RedRock Canyon, a few hours at the tables, same results.
Pineapple Express is on the way....We are out of here.
Back to Arkansas and back to work.
Ate great====gained 3 lbs. Back to normal diet and exercise.
Next trip maybe in March.
