Well not an actual virgin but this was my girlfriends first trip to Sin CIty so she is (was) a Vegas Virgin. I looked forward to this trip, I've been to Vegas many times over many years and I thought it would be fun to experience it with someone who has never been there. We were there 5 nights, went to 6 shows in 4 nights and had a very good time.
Tuesday - Flew Southwest non stop, about a 4 hour flight, arrived in LAS at about 5:00 p.m. I usually like to get there in the morning but this was the only time we could make it that day. Non eventful flight, not quite full so our middle seat was empty. No taxi line, we arrived at Luxor quickly. I've always considered Luxor very middle of the road and that's exactly what it was this time. I had stayed there once before, shortly after it opened, in the pyramid (there was obviously no towers then). We opted to stay there because we got a very good deal on a Tower Premiere Suite. I knew it would be overkill as I don't spend much time in the room but I figured it would be nice, Luxor is next to Manadalay Bay (my favorite casino) and a suite would offer some privacy and quiet. At 1,050 square feet it was definitely roomy. First room was a living room, big plasma, couch, some chairs, very nice. Didn't spend any time in there other than passing through lol. Next was a dining room of sorts. Dining room table, chairs, a nice long bar. Only one bar stool though. Had we actually wanted to sit at the bar I guess I would have called for another stool. Fridge behind the bar was adequate. Bedroom was nice, king size bed, another flat screen TV. Bathroom had a whirlpool but it wasn't all that big. Overall considering this was suppose to be their top of the line suite it was somewhat disappointing, but given what we paid I'd consider it "ok".
Decided to go downtown as she wanted to see the light show and we had shows planned the other four nights. Took a cab, quick ride, not much traffic on a Tuesday night. I posted in the Downtown forum that I'm not too thrilled with downtown anymore. I go there every trip and have stayed down there many times. But the light show is stale, Binions is a shell of it's former self, the Plaza has been remodeled but is still nothing special. I was disappointed with the D, I had read some good reviews but again, nothing special. I played a little craps, we had a couple of drinks and back to the Luxor, it had been a long day.
Wednesday. This was a day we were going to walk up and down the strip. Take our time, show her some of the (what I think are) cool places. No time to go in every casino of course. Ate the Luxor breakfast buffet for convenience. It was ok. Walked down to Bellagio, she loved it and I still enjoy going in the place. Over the Caesars, had a couple of drinks and through the Forum shops. Then back through Caesars looking for an earring she dropped. No success. Crossed over and went in Encore and Wynn. She really loved Wynn and so do I. I've not stayed there yet but the place is fantastic. Then to Venetian and down the rest of the strip. Wanted to play some $3 craps at Casino Royale but the table was packed. I don't remember where we ate dinner that night but took the shuttle over to the Rio for Penn & Teller. They always put on a good show, it was fun. Did some gambling at Rio before and after the show. I don't play slots, I find them way too boring but we put a few bucks in some of them just for kicks. I do play VP but didn't at the Rio. I'm mostly a craps and blackjack player but didn't want to play much and have her watch. She enjoyed craps but I couldn't get her to play. She promised she would next time in October, we'll see
Thursday - Hoover Dam tour in the morning. I hadn't been there in years, we had a Groupon for 50% off SweetTours. Only about 10 people on the bus. Picked us up at Luxor on time, out to Hoover Dam for a couple of hours, did the tour, back on the bus and back to Luxor. I liked that there were no extra stops like some of the tours. We had two back to back shows so we took a little breather, got something to eat at T&T at Luxor then on to Menopause the Musical. We aren't of "that age" but my gf at heard it was a good musical and I must say it was very well done and very funny. We were in the front row. We had about an hour in between and then back to the same theater (and also again in the front row) for Carrot Top. I know he's an aquired taste but I like him and have seen him before. He didn't disappoint, great show.
Friday - Slept in, decided to have lunch at Caesars, the Bacchanal Buffet. Got there about 11:30 or so, no line whatsoever. It was $35 with a players card. Laughed when I saw on the back of the receipt to try to limit your dining experience to 2 hours. And then we spent almost that long there It was fantastic. No crab legs as I had hoped (those are served at dinner) but everything else was top notch and delicious. I would definitely recommend it. Went back and hung out at the pool for awhile. The pool are at Luxor is ok, nothing special (like everything else about the place). Had 2 more shows to go to Friday night. Both at the Flamingo. First up was Donny & Marie. I'll admit I wasn't really looking forward to this, they were a bit before my time and not my type of music but 90 minutes later I was very impressed. Fantastic entertaining show. They sang together and separately, shows pics and clips of their youth, an all around great show. Highly recommended. Then after a little break it was time for X Burlesque. A tiny theater. The show was full and it was average. Some of the women were pretty hot but overall the show was not memorable at all. Did some gambling at Flamingo before and after the shows. Stopped for the Bellagio fountain show on the way back, she hadn't seen it at night, very impressive as always.
Saturday - Decided to go back downtown. I know, I know, I've panned downtown in this review and in other threads. She wanted to do the zip line so off we went. Took the Deuce downtown, ate breakfast (bad service at the 4 Queens), then off to the zip line. It was pretty fun and a good value I would say. Waited probably an hour so we only did it once. Looking forward to the bigger one and also to the Rio zip line that's coming soon. Gambled downtown, had some drinks, then bus back to the strip. Sat by the pool again for awhile, then to Bally's for Jubilee. She wanted to see an old time Vegas production show and this was it. Went to the late show (early show is covered). Lots of empty seats on a Saturday night. The costumes are well done, some decent singing and dancing but it feels sooooooo dated. I know, it's kind of suppose to be dated, a "classic" show but I was bored to death through out most of it.
Sunday _ early morning flight back.
I really enjoyed going with someone who had never been there before, even if she doesn't really gamble. And now that she's expereinced Vegas, we're going back in October (I love football weekends in Vegas). The weather is great in the fall. This time we'll do a budget room, not sure where yet. Thanks for reading.
Tuesday - Flew Southwest non stop, about a 4 hour flight, arrived in LAS at about 5:00 p.m. I usually like to get there in the morning but this was the only time we could make it that day. Non eventful flight, not quite full so our middle seat was empty. No taxi line, we arrived at Luxor quickly. I've always considered Luxor very middle of the road and that's exactly what it was this time. I had stayed there once before, shortly after it opened, in the pyramid (there was obviously no towers then). We opted to stay there because we got a very good deal on a Tower Premiere Suite. I knew it would be overkill as I don't spend much time in the room but I figured it would be nice, Luxor is next to Manadalay Bay (my favorite casino) and a suite would offer some privacy and quiet. At 1,050 square feet it was definitely roomy. First room was a living room, big plasma, couch, some chairs, very nice. Didn't spend any time in there other than passing through lol. Next was a dining room of sorts. Dining room table, chairs, a nice long bar. Only one bar stool though. Had we actually wanted to sit at the bar I guess I would have called for another stool. Fridge behind the bar was adequate. Bedroom was nice, king size bed, another flat screen TV. Bathroom had a whirlpool but it wasn't all that big. Overall considering this was suppose to be their top of the line suite it was somewhat disappointing, but given what we paid I'd consider it "ok".
Decided to go downtown as she wanted to see the light show and we had shows planned the other four nights. Took a cab, quick ride, not much traffic on a Tuesday night. I posted in the Downtown forum that I'm not too thrilled with downtown anymore. I go there every trip and have stayed down there many times. But the light show is stale, Binions is a shell of it's former self, the Plaza has been remodeled but is still nothing special. I was disappointed with the D, I had read some good reviews but again, nothing special. I played a little craps, we had a couple of drinks and back to the Luxor, it had been a long day.
Wednesday. This was a day we were going to walk up and down the strip. Take our time, show her some of the (what I think are) cool places. No time to go in every casino of course. Ate the Luxor breakfast buffet for convenience. It was ok. Walked down to Bellagio, she loved it and I still enjoy going in the place. Over the Caesars, had a couple of drinks and through the Forum shops. Then back through Caesars looking for an earring she dropped. No success. Crossed over and went in Encore and Wynn. She really loved Wynn and so do I. I've not stayed there yet but the place is fantastic. Then to Venetian and down the rest of the strip. Wanted to play some $3 craps at Casino Royale but the table was packed. I don't remember where we ate dinner that night but took the shuttle over to the Rio for Penn & Teller. They always put on a good show, it was fun. Did some gambling at Rio before and after the show. I don't play slots, I find them way too boring but we put a few bucks in some of them just for kicks. I do play VP but didn't at the Rio. I'm mostly a craps and blackjack player but didn't want to play much and have her watch. She enjoyed craps but I couldn't get her to play. She promised she would next time in October, we'll see
Thursday - Hoover Dam tour in the morning. I hadn't been there in years, we had a Groupon for 50% off SweetTours. Only about 10 people on the bus. Picked us up at Luxor on time, out to Hoover Dam for a couple of hours, did the tour, back on the bus and back to Luxor. I liked that there were no extra stops like some of the tours. We had two back to back shows so we took a little breather, got something to eat at T&T at Luxor then on to Menopause the Musical. We aren't of "that age" but my gf at heard it was a good musical and I must say it was very well done and very funny. We were in the front row. We had about an hour in between and then back to the same theater (and also again in the front row) for Carrot Top. I know he's an aquired taste but I like him and have seen him before. He didn't disappoint, great show.
Friday - Slept in, decided to have lunch at Caesars, the Bacchanal Buffet. Got there about 11:30 or so, no line whatsoever. It was $35 with a players card. Laughed when I saw on the back of the receipt to try to limit your dining experience to 2 hours. And then we spent almost that long there It was fantastic. No crab legs as I had hoped (those are served at dinner) but everything else was top notch and delicious. I would definitely recommend it. Went back and hung out at the pool for awhile. The pool are at Luxor is ok, nothing special (like everything else about the place). Had 2 more shows to go to Friday night. Both at the Flamingo. First up was Donny & Marie. I'll admit I wasn't really looking forward to this, they were a bit before my time and not my type of music but 90 minutes later I was very impressed. Fantastic entertaining show. They sang together and separately, shows pics and clips of their youth, an all around great show. Highly recommended. Then after a little break it was time for X Burlesque. A tiny theater. The show was full and it was average. Some of the women were pretty hot but overall the show was not memorable at all. Did some gambling at Flamingo before and after the shows. Stopped for the Bellagio fountain show on the way back, she hadn't seen it at night, very impressive as always.
Saturday - Decided to go back downtown. I know, I know, I've panned downtown in this review and in other threads. She wanted to do the zip line so off we went. Took the Deuce downtown, ate breakfast (bad service at the 4 Queens), then off to the zip line. It was pretty fun and a good value I would say. Waited probably an hour so we only did it once. Looking forward to the bigger one and also to the Rio zip line that's coming soon. Gambled downtown, had some drinks, then bus back to the strip. Sat by the pool again for awhile, then to Bally's for Jubilee. She wanted to see an old time Vegas production show and this was it. Went to the late show (early show is covered). Lots of empty seats on a Saturday night. The costumes are well done, some decent singing and dancing but it feels sooooooo dated. I know, it's kind of suppose to be dated, a "classic" show but I was bored to death through out most of it.
Sunday _ early morning flight back.
I really enjoyed going with someone who had never been there before, even if she doesn't really gamble. And now that she's expereinced Vegas, we're going back in October (I love football weekends in Vegas). The weather is great in the fall. This time we'll do a budget room, not sure where yet. Thanks for reading.
