DonDiego & I flew 'out west' for a family member's wedding in Laughlin. Of course we flew into Las Vegas for that!
Picked up a car and drove to "M" Casino to try their buffet for lunch. We had never been to M before, so that was cool. The buffet was good but not great...although the beef stroganoff and the dessert area were fantastic.
DonDiego enjoys his (just?) desserts:
I was also interested in looking at all the (sometimes defunct) condos along the strip.
After a quick visit to the Las Vegas Hilton to visit the Sportsbook there, we drove towards the AZ/NV dam. We had never seen the new dam bridge (Tillman Bridge (actually the name also has someone from Nevada in it but I can't remember it)) completed and after having watched it being built since 2002, we wanted to.
We found that driving into AZ on the bridge, you can't see anything and there are no exits until you are a few miles into Arizona. However, driving back into Nevada, we saw people walking along the bridge, so obviously there was access somewhere! From Nevada, you have to get off the main road and take the "Hoover Dam" exit a few miles before getting onto the bridge. Right after being passed through the Nevada security stop, there is a parking lot on the right which lets people walk up the hillside to walk along the new bridge. This also give you an EXCELLENT view of the Dam! If anyone goes to Las Vegas, you should drive the 15 miles or so to see, imo.
The Tillman Bridge & the Hoover Dam taken while on the bridge
...
Obviously, a visit anywhere has to have DonDiego goofing around...
DonDiego at the dam bus
We stayed the night at the Hacienda...a small casino a few miles from the dam. Although it is an older casino, the blackjack tables have great rules (split like crazy, double after splitting, etc) for $2. I really enjoyed playing BJ there.
The next 4 days were spent in Laughlin with my family members before and after a wedding there. We stayed in the Adults Only tower of the Aquarius, which was very nice with a river view. Our daughter flew in from New York and we enjoyed seeing each other again and eating at Panda Express (a fave of hers she can't find in NYC) at the Aquarius Casino (where the wedding was).
teechur and her daughter
photo taken by DonDiego...he made me add that
While in Laughlin, we visited many of the casino sportsbooks and had a nice meal at the Aquarius buffet (where they give you 25% off the price with a member card....no matter how many (or few) points you have on the card!) We spent Sunday morning/afternoon at the Golden Nugget (in Laughlin) watching the football games. DonDiego placed many bets for Week 4 & Week 5 during the trip, but that is his tale to tell. I just want to say that the Arizona Cardinals are a HUGE disappointment to me this year.
We drove back to Las Vegas for a 3-night stay at the newly renovated Plaza downtown. It didn't bode well when there were 6 people in line to check-in and only ONE person at the desk the entire time. The room furnishings looked very nice....art deco furnishings the Plaza bought CHEAP from the defunct Fontainebleau Hotel & Casino. It was very nice....but......it was like putting a new party dress on an old, out-of-shape granny (of which I am one!).
Because the building is old, it didn't have enough convenient plug-ins, the tub/toilet room is VERY small, parking garage & parking elevator are still filthy, no frig, no hair blower, etc. One of the bed lamps (beautiful, artsy-fartsy) didn't work because it has NO on/off switch and was only plugged into a regular outlet behind the bed...in order to turn it on, we had to manually turn the light-bulb in/out of the socket. The beds were brand new, but VERY firm and the 3 little pillows on the king bed were very hard/puffy so both of our necks were achy in the morning. There was a nice-sized HD flat TV and a cool bathroom sink.
DonDiego on hands-and-knees backing out after plugging in the laptop to the only outlet on that wall (to the left of desk) which could only be reached in this method
candid photo by teechur...sorry DonDiego!
The next day, I needed Mexican food (the one thing I REALLY miss living East here in Appalachia) but the first place DonDiego found online was out-of-business when we got there, so we ended up at the Palace Station eating at the Cabo Mexican restaurant. It was DELICIOUS!
During our stay, I had a good time playing blackjack at the El Cortez while DonDiego played slots. We also visited the MGM casino to see the Lion Habitat (one last time since I think they are closing it down soon) and play the old MGM Lion Habitat slot machine (we didn't win the $2 million jackpot, but did make $30). We also crossed the walkway with a great view of NYNY and went into the Tropicana which has also been renovated. The sports book area was nice and the casino itself looked nice--with beige chairs, nice colors, etc.
MGM Lion Habitat & 2 trainers. View of NYNY & MGM Lion
...
Afterwards, we went to Planet Hollywood (which is HUGE) Casino and met up with jatki99 and his lovely, charming wife for a drink and chit-chat. They were staying at PH, so after a couple of hours, we left them at the video poker machines and went back to the Plaza with a stop at the Fremont Street for some daiquiris. (yum).
I also listened to the band 'Vampire Rising' on Fremont for a while (Everything is Halloween-themed in October). Fremont street is crazy-busy...with tourists and also with people trying to make a buck. People in weird costumes getting $ from people who wanted their pictures with them, to vendors selling stuff. LOTS more happening there than the last time we visited, imo.
One of the most popular games at Plaza (which has lousy BJ btw) seemed to be a bank of fishing slot machines which were hooked together for bonus competitions between all machines in the bank. It was fun watching groups of friends/family get all excited playing against each other. We then had great sandwiches (DonDiego was craving an Italian sub) at Capriotti's on Sahara Ava. I had the Bobbie (turkey, dressing, cranberry) sandwich which was very tasty.
Connected fishing game at the Plaza
Our flight out was a red-eye, so we used up time going to several Sportsbooks again and then went to Boulder Station for dinner and watched "Apollo 18" at the theater there. For the trip back, DonDiego carried our laptop and his gambling paperwork in his brand-new 'money' backpack....just wish it was filled up with the real stuff!
DonDiego with money backback at airport in Atlanta
And so....another trip to Las Vegas is successfully concluded. Back to the routine of Retirement!
Picked up a car and drove to "M" Casino to try their buffet for lunch. We had never been to M before, so that was cool. The buffet was good but not great...although the beef stroganoff and the dessert area were fantastic.
DonDiego enjoys his (just?) desserts:
I was also interested in looking at all the (sometimes defunct) condos along the strip.
After a quick visit to the Las Vegas Hilton to visit the Sportsbook there, we drove towards the AZ/NV dam. We had never seen the new dam bridge (Tillman Bridge (actually the name also has someone from Nevada in it but I can't remember it)) completed and after having watched it being built since 2002, we wanted to.
We found that driving into AZ on the bridge, you can't see anything and there are no exits until you are a few miles into Arizona. However, driving back into Nevada, we saw people walking along the bridge, so obviously there was access somewhere! From Nevada, you have to get off the main road and take the "Hoover Dam" exit a few miles before getting onto the bridge. Right after being passed through the Nevada security stop, there is a parking lot on the right which lets people walk up the hillside to walk along the new bridge. This also give you an EXCELLENT view of the Dam! If anyone goes to Las Vegas, you should drive the 15 miles or so to see, imo.
The Tillman Bridge & the Hoover Dam taken while on the bridge
...Obviously, a visit anywhere has to have DonDiego goofing around...
DonDiego at the dam bus
We stayed the night at the Hacienda...a small casino a few miles from the dam. Although it is an older casino, the blackjack tables have great rules (split like crazy, double after splitting, etc) for $2. I really enjoyed playing BJ there.
The next 4 days were spent in Laughlin with my family members before and after a wedding there. We stayed in the Adults Only tower of the Aquarius, which was very nice with a river view. Our daughter flew in from New York and we enjoyed seeing each other again and eating at Panda Express (a fave of hers she can't find in NYC) at the Aquarius Casino (where the wedding was).
teechur and her daughter
photo taken by DonDiego...he made me add that
While in Laughlin, we visited many of the casino sportsbooks and had a nice meal at the Aquarius buffet (where they give you 25% off the price with a member card....no matter how many (or few) points you have on the card!) We spent Sunday morning/afternoon at the Golden Nugget (in Laughlin) watching the football games. DonDiego placed many bets for Week 4 & Week 5 during the trip, but that is his tale to tell. I just want to say that the Arizona Cardinals are a HUGE disappointment to me this year.
We drove back to Las Vegas for a 3-night stay at the newly renovated Plaza downtown. It didn't bode well when there were 6 people in line to check-in and only ONE person at the desk the entire time. The room furnishings looked very nice....art deco furnishings the Plaza bought CHEAP from the defunct Fontainebleau Hotel & Casino. It was very nice....but......it was like putting a new party dress on an old, out-of-shape granny (of which I am one!).
Because the building is old, it didn't have enough convenient plug-ins, the tub/toilet room is VERY small, parking garage & parking elevator are still filthy, no frig, no hair blower, etc. One of the bed lamps (beautiful, artsy-fartsy) didn't work because it has NO on/off switch and was only plugged into a regular outlet behind the bed...in order to turn it on, we had to manually turn the light-bulb in/out of the socket. The beds were brand new, but VERY firm and the 3 little pillows on the king bed were very hard/puffy so both of our necks were achy in the morning. There was a nice-sized HD flat TV and a cool bathroom sink.
DonDiego on hands-and-knees backing out after plugging in the laptop to the only outlet on that wall (to the left of desk) which could only be reached in this method
candid photo by teechur...sorry DonDiego!
The next day, I needed Mexican food (the one thing I REALLY miss living East here in Appalachia) but the first place DonDiego found online was out-of-business when we got there, so we ended up at the Palace Station eating at the Cabo Mexican restaurant. It was DELICIOUS!
During our stay, I had a good time playing blackjack at the El Cortez while DonDiego played slots. We also visited the MGM casino to see the Lion Habitat (one last time since I think they are closing it down soon) and play the old MGM Lion Habitat slot machine (we didn't win the $2 million jackpot, but did make $30). We also crossed the walkway with a great view of NYNY and went into the Tropicana which has also been renovated. The sports book area was nice and the casino itself looked nice--with beige chairs, nice colors, etc.
MGM Lion Habitat & 2 trainers. View of NYNY & MGM Lion
...Afterwards, we went to Planet Hollywood (which is HUGE) Casino and met up with jatki99 and his lovely, charming wife for a drink and chit-chat. They were staying at PH, so after a couple of hours, we left them at the video poker machines and went back to the Plaza with a stop at the Fremont Street for some daiquiris. (yum).
I also listened to the band 'Vampire Rising' on Fremont for a while (Everything is Halloween-themed in October). Fremont street is crazy-busy...with tourists and also with people trying to make a buck. People in weird costumes getting $ from people who wanted their pictures with them, to vendors selling stuff. LOTS more happening there than the last time we visited, imo.
One of the most popular games at Plaza (which has lousy BJ btw) seemed to be a bank of fishing slot machines which were hooked together for bonus competitions between all machines in the bank. It was fun watching groups of friends/family get all excited playing against each other. We then had great sandwiches (DonDiego was craving an Italian sub) at Capriotti's on Sahara Ava. I had the Bobbie (turkey, dressing, cranberry) sandwich which was very tasty.
Connected fishing game at the Plaza
Our flight out was a red-eye, so we used up time going to several Sportsbooks again and then went to Boulder Station for dinner and watched "Apollo 18" at the theater there. For the trip back, DonDiego carried our laptop and his gambling paperwork in his brand-new 'money' backpack....just wish it was filled up with the real stuff!
DonDiego with money backback at airport in Atlanta
And so....another trip to Las Vegas is successfully concluded. Back to the routine of Retirement!
