As I sit here planning the Great Vegas Escape 2012, I’ve realized I never posted my last Vegas TR, so this will be a mash-up between recent vegas memories, photos, and experiences as well as things we plan to see and do next month.
Although Vegas has pretty much been an annual event for us over the past decade as a couple, this was our first trip bringing the kids along. The reasons for this were threefold: First, free room comps. Second, we were moving onto San Diego and Annaheim with the brood after the stop over in Vegas and it would have been silly to haul all the way back to Wisconsin to retrieve the DC’s (dear children) before heading to California. Finally, and most importantly, my sister and her husband (from Colorado) agreed to drive into town for a few days so we’d have reliable childcare when we had the itch for ‘adult only’ time.
Day 1
We flew into Vegas early afternoon on a pretty uneventful flight from Milwaukee. Typically, when it’s just the two of us, we hop on the shuttle to our strip hotel. This time around, however, I wanted to do something special. You see, my husband’s favorite all time movie after National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation is NL’s Vegas Vacation. We watch it faithfully before each Vegas trip…and it never gets old. My husband relates strongly to the lovable idiot, Clark Griswold, and we're always quoting and making references to this silly film. And you'll soon read in just a few minutes, how I took our love for Chevy Chase and his work to a whole new level.
A few days before we left, on a whim, I called and secretly booked a limo. I provided the reservation girl with explicit instructions on the name I wanted printed on the driver’s sign.
So here we’ve just landed in Vegas and have disembarked the plane with three kids, their carry-ons, and luggage we just picked up from baggage claim. Always with youngsters (three under age 10) airports can be extra stressful keeping track of everyone and everything. Of course, it was HOT- and Tony was a bit agitated and started asking me what I wanted to do for transportation to the hotel. I didn't answer, instead my head moved left and right as I scanned the crowd for my driver. Tony grabbed the kids, our bags and said he was going to grab us a cab as I was otherwise distracted. That’s when I saw him, our driver, Ramone, sign in hand printed exactly as ordered.
We've arrived! Ramon has ice cold bud-lights waiting for us in back, and the kids love their first ever limo ride. Unfortunately, the ride to Flamingo felt about 5 mins long (this is the rare exception when you WANT to be long-hauled). We are greeted quickly by staff, hand Ramon a big tip, and off we go to check in.
Check in (as usual) at Flamingo was long. My sister and her husband we’re already there when we arrived so they entertained the kids in the lobby while we waited. We were assigned their lowest end room on the 7th floor. Flamingo is dated and a bit dingy; but it always suffices for us, especially when it’s a comp. First stop: the pool. Loud music. Crowded. Hard to find a chair/shade; but the kids loved the slides and waterfalls and swimming, so we rolled with it.
We ordered a few beers and my sister purchased one of those $20 jumbo Margarita from the pool bar. Chillaxed on some chairs and even found shade for about an hour and tried to agree on dinner plans. One thing I often forget about my sister until we get to Vegas is how high-maintenance she is when it comes to dining. Hubby and I love the out of the way local joints, but she likes to be smack dab in the middle of all the typical tourist trap places…so Jimmy Buffet’s Margaritaville was selected. They are kid friendly, conveniently located, appropriately themed, and not overly expensive for a strip locale. We ordered a pitcher of his famous margaritas here with dinner and both my sister and I agreed Buffet’s ‘ritas were far superior to the syrupy-sweet overpriced concoction she got at the Flamingo pool. Kids loved the real-life mermaid splashing and sliding around, and we all enjoyed the volcano nachos.
This pretty much summed up Day 1 w/the family. No gambling yet, but we knew we had four full days ahead of us, and we’d get our licks in eventually.
Flamingo Pool w/my Sister
If you must bring your kids to Vegas, this is the place to be!
Our dingy and dated (but free) Flamingo room. The characters at Margaritaville made them these balloon creations...
Although Vegas has pretty much been an annual event for us over the past decade as a couple, this was our first trip bringing the kids along. The reasons for this were threefold: First, free room comps. Second, we were moving onto San Diego and Annaheim with the brood after the stop over in Vegas and it would have been silly to haul all the way back to Wisconsin to retrieve the DC’s (dear children) before heading to California. Finally, and most importantly, my sister and her husband (from Colorado) agreed to drive into town for a few days so we’d have reliable childcare when we had the itch for ‘adult only’ time.
Day 1
We flew into Vegas early afternoon on a pretty uneventful flight from Milwaukee. Typically, when it’s just the two of us, we hop on the shuttle to our strip hotel. This time around, however, I wanted to do something special. You see, my husband’s favorite all time movie after National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation is NL’s Vegas Vacation. We watch it faithfully before each Vegas trip…and it never gets old. My husband relates strongly to the lovable idiot, Clark Griswold, and we're always quoting and making references to this silly film. And you'll soon read in just a few minutes, how I took our love for Chevy Chase and his work to a whole new level.
A few days before we left, on a whim, I called and secretly booked a limo. I provided the reservation girl with explicit instructions on the name I wanted printed on the driver’s sign.
So here we’ve just landed in Vegas and have disembarked the plane with three kids, their carry-ons, and luggage we just picked up from baggage claim. Always with youngsters (three under age 10) airports can be extra stressful keeping track of everyone and everything. Of course, it was HOT- and Tony was a bit agitated and started asking me what I wanted to do for transportation to the hotel. I didn't answer, instead my head moved left and right as I scanned the crowd for my driver. Tony grabbed the kids, our bags and said he was going to grab us a cab as I was otherwise distracted. That’s when I saw him, our driver, Ramone, sign in hand printed exactly as ordered.
We've arrived! Ramon has ice cold bud-lights waiting for us in back, and the kids love their first ever limo ride. Unfortunately, the ride to Flamingo felt about 5 mins long (this is the rare exception when you WANT to be long-hauled). We are greeted quickly by staff, hand Ramon a big tip, and off we go to check in.
Check in (as usual) at Flamingo was long. My sister and her husband we’re already there when we arrived so they entertained the kids in the lobby while we waited. We were assigned their lowest end room on the 7th floor. Flamingo is dated and a bit dingy; but it always suffices for us, especially when it’s a comp. First stop: the pool. Loud music. Crowded. Hard to find a chair/shade; but the kids loved the slides and waterfalls and swimming, so we rolled with it.
We ordered a few beers and my sister purchased one of those $20 jumbo Margarita from the pool bar. Chillaxed on some chairs and even found shade for about an hour and tried to agree on dinner plans. One thing I often forget about my sister until we get to Vegas is how high-maintenance she is when it comes to dining. Hubby and I love the out of the way local joints, but she likes to be smack dab in the middle of all the typical tourist trap places…so Jimmy Buffet’s Margaritaville was selected. They are kid friendly, conveniently located, appropriately themed, and not overly expensive for a strip locale. We ordered a pitcher of his famous margaritas here with dinner and both my sister and I agreed Buffet’s ‘ritas were far superior to the syrupy-sweet overpriced concoction she got at the Flamingo pool. Kids loved the real-life mermaid splashing and sliding around, and we all enjoyed the volcano nachos.
This pretty much summed up Day 1 w/the family. No gambling yet, but we knew we had four full days ahead of us, and we’d get our licks in eventually.
Flamingo Pool w/my Sister
If you must bring your kids to Vegas, this is the place to be!
Our dingy and dated (but free) Flamingo room. The characters at Margaritaville made them these balloon creations...
