Trip Report 28 March - 1 April 2013 - Part 1
Up at 3:30 a.m. & drive to Kelowna airport for 6:00 a.m. flight to Seattle. Check-in, security, coffee and board.
Arrive Seattle 7:00 a.m. Seatac doesn't have a very high opinion of Canadian Security so we go through again - I forget to take my laptop out of its case so get delayed while it is reexamined - but as always, passport control and security are really good with us - very professional and always treat us with respect.
Vegas flight is 8:30 - we are at the gate ready to board when amber lights start flashing and all the doors to to the aprons are locked. We are informed that there has been a security breach, and nobody can go airside - even aircraft landing must sit out on the apron - departing aircraft cannot depart - until the lights stop flashing. Took 40 minutes - never did find out what happened. We finally board and dept for Vegas - arrive 30 minutes late at 11:30 a.m. Dollar Express were the usual stars - car was sitting in bay 5 with keys in the ignition - that is my kinda car rental - at $106.00 all in for 4 days. Drove out and stopped to show ID at the exit - met a lady with an attitude. I have read here that there is one woman at Dollar with a major attitude - but I never met her unti now. I showed her my ID and wished her a nice day and a much better one for tomorrow and was on my way - I don't think she caught onto my attempt at subtle hints
Short trip to the liquor store - stocked up ob Scotch, Vodka and nuts - and drive to LVH and check in.
We were big fans of the Hilton but haven't been here since the change to LVH. Three free nights plus 4th night for $30.00, plus food and drink and freeplay comps changed that and here we are again - I just love this place - it has not changed from when it was the LVH and the cocktail waitress even welcomed us back - the staff here really care about the guests. We checked in at noon and no BS about early check-in fees - just a great welcome back - they made us feel very welcome.
We did take a short timeout to go and meet some friends who live in Vegas - had a great visit. We were planning to meet some people from LVA but they didn't get back to us until the day before we left. We don't do "on hold" Our time there is too valuable so we reluctantly had to pass.
So - what do we like about the LVH? Parking is right outside the door, it is a 1 minute walk to the monorail (I don't drink and drive - so I do use the monorail as well as car rental) Full pay video poker in the Sportsbook - which happens to be my favourite Sortsbook - and it's the largest in the world. And the drinks come as fast as you want them - 24/7. I cannot beat putting $5.00 on a horse, then watching the race while I play VP and get free drinks. That is my idea of gambling in Vegas.
We didn't do a show on arrival day - Watching the Key Largo fire from the top of the LVH was enough show for me. Ate at the buffet - which is fairly good - and it includes beer and wine, and had early night after our early morning. Played all day - finished $25.00 up - that worked for me.
Friday.
Another cool thing about the LVH is, in addition to comping the rooms, they give you $10.00 slot play of $8.00 food credit for each day that you don't use housekeeping. On a 4 day stay I am happy to take $40.00 freeplay in lieu of housekeeping. We went to the Springs Preserve in the morning - I had heard good things about it - but I really couldn't find anything to love. I can understand the appeal to people who take young kids - put they present it as a garden, but it is all concrete - not exactly my idea of a lush oasis. I did get some cool photos though. Back to LVH for a steak and eggs brunch. Played VP in the afternoon = down $40.00 so switched machines and immediately hit a clubs royal - only holdind 10 and Ace. but only had a couple of free drinks as I was driving to Hardrock that evening for the Def Leppard concert. Had dinner at the new LVH Burger Bistro - really good food - then left for Def Leppard.
Up at 3:30 a.m. & drive to Kelowna airport for 6:00 a.m. flight to Seattle. Check-in, security, coffee and board.
Arrive Seattle 7:00 a.m. Seatac doesn't have a very high opinion of Canadian Security so we go through again - I forget to take my laptop out of its case so get delayed while it is reexamined - but as always, passport control and security are really good with us - very professional and always treat us with respect.
Vegas flight is 8:30 - we are at the gate ready to board when amber lights start flashing and all the doors to to the aprons are locked. We are informed that there has been a security breach, and nobody can go airside - even aircraft landing must sit out on the apron - departing aircraft cannot depart - until the lights stop flashing. Took 40 minutes - never did find out what happened. We finally board and dept for Vegas - arrive 30 minutes late at 11:30 a.m. Dollar Express were the usual stars - car was sitting in bay 5 with keys in the ignition - that is my kinda car rental - at $106.00 all in for 4 days. Drove out and stopped to show ID at the exit - met a lady with an attitude. I have read here that there is one woman at Dollar with a major attitude - but I never met her unti now. I showed her my ID and wished her a nice day and a much better one for tomorrow and was on my way - I don't think she caught onto my attempt at subtle hints
Short trip to the liquor store - stocked up ob Scotch, Vodka and nuts - and drive to LVH and check in.
We were big fans of the Hilton but haven't been here since the change to LVH. Three free nights plus 4th night for $30.00, plus food and drink and freeplay comps changed that and here we are again - I just love this place - it has not changed from when it was the LVH and the cocktail waitress even welcomed us back - the staff here really care about the guests. We checked in at noon and no BS about early check-in fees - just a great welcome back - they made us feel very welcome.
We did take a short timeout to go and meet some friends who live in Vegas - had a great visit. We were planning to meet some people from LVA but they didn't get back to us until the day before we left. We don't do "on hold" Our time there is too valuable so we reluctantly had to pass.
So - what do we like about the LVH? Parking is right outside the door, it is a 1 minute walk to the monorail (I don't drink and drive - so I do use the monorail as well as car rental) Full pay video poker in the Sportsbook - which happens to be my favourite Sortsbook - and it's the largest in the world. And the drinks come as fast as you want them - 24/7. I cannot beat putting $5.00 on a horse, then watching the race while I play VP and get free drinks. That is my idea of gambling in Vegas.
We didn't do a show on arrival day - Watching the Key Largo fire from the top of the LVH was enough show for me. Ate at the buffet - which is fairly good - and it includes beer and wine, and had early night after our early morning. Played all day - finished $25.00 up - that worked for me.
Friday.
Another cool thing about the LVH is, in addition to comping the rooms, they give you $10.00 slot play of $8.00 food credit for each day that you don't use housekeeping. On a 4 day stay I am happy to take $40.00 freeplay in lieu of housekeeping. We went to the Springs Preserve in the morning - I had heard good things about it - but I really couldn't find anything to love. I can understand the appeal to people who take young kids - put they present it as a garden, but it is all concrete - not exactly my idea of a lush oasis. I did get some cool photos though. Back to LVH for a steak and eggs brunch. Played VP in the afternoon = down $40.00 so switched machines and immediately hit a clubs royal - only holdind 10 and Ace. but only had a couple of free drinks as I was driving to Hardrock that evening for the Def Leppard concert. Had dinner at the new LVH Burger Bistro - really good food - then left for Def Leppard.
