Trip Report 7/14-7/21 - The Consolidated Version

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Trip Report 7/14-7/21 - The Consolidated Version

I was very happy to make my fifth trip to Vegas – the fourth in the past three years – and while at least half the time was spent with the annual social convention I’ve attended since 2006, I made the most of the “free time” that I had. But first, a little background on the characters in this play:

Me: An elder statesman of Generation X, I enjoy seeing both the natural and manufactured sights that the Las Vegas Valley has to offer. I enjoy indulging in cheesy entertainment and semi-trendy establishments that require little wait time and I have an appreciation for the old-school history. Shockingly, I don’t come to Vegas expecting to do much gambling but I actually have more interesting gaming stories to tell this year… including real live blackjack!

My significant other – let’s call her “Kat” –is a bit further along in the Baby Boomer years. I was happy to bring her back to Vegas after she missed last year due to a serious illness. A Vegas veteran pre-Steve Wynn, she was more than content to stay at our convention venue most of the time to bond with her gal pals. Nonetheless, I was able to convince her to accompany me for a night out on the Strip. Together, we consider ourselves to be a forty-something couple with thirty-something tastes.

My old buddy “Ben” is somewhere between us in age. While I consider myself to be frugal, he makes me look like MC Hammer in the 90’s. Give him a low-limit blackjack table and a late night dinner special and he’s a happy man. He was more than willing to be my road buddy on offsite excursions, so much so that occasionally I had to remind him that we had a convention to attend… and a lady that I had to go home with.

Since a chronological retelling of events would even bore me to tears, I will instead group things together by subject. Sometimes the groupings may not make sense at first but you’ll probably understand the logic/humor of it as things go on.

Trip Report 7/14-7/21 - The Consolidated Version

PART ONE – THE HOTEL

Our convention was held at the Tuscany on East Flamingo Road between the Platinum condos and Terrible’s Casino. I’ll save the details for the full hotel review. For now, I’ll say that if you can appreciate the value of a spacious studio suite less than a mile from the Strip, a laid-back vibe in the casino, and an apartment complex layout that may benefit families as well as others concerned about constant casino smoke, then the Tuscany may be for you. It pretty much worked for us.

Having used E Flamingo multiple times for my stay at the namesake hotel and Bill’s Gamblin’ Hall next door, my first impression was that while walking as far as Terrible’s was reasonable on a mild day, traversing it at night may not necessarily be the same case. Well, while I still wouldn’t recommend a lady who has had a few drinks to stumble along that stretch of road alone, a group of more or less alert people walking with a purpose would do just fine. In fact, the most intimidating thing to me would be the big electric plants that are on the north side of the street. I could just see someone having had a few too many crashing through the gate and subsequently become the latest neon addition to the area. Fortunately I was driving so I did not have to deal with that possibility. By the way, there are never any cabs waiting around at the Tuscany like they would be on the Strip or maybe even Rio and the Palms, so you’ll have to have the bell desk call ahead. Or you can catch a Deuce bus that runs across Flamingo Road past the Strip.

PART TWO – NATURAL BEAUTY(?)

Having experienced Red Rock Canyon with Kat back in 2006, I had thought we might see the Valley of Fire this time. But realizing that between the three of us that there wasn’t the time/desire for the three-hour round trip out to VOF, Ben and I settled on taking the 40-minute trip out to Red Rock since he had not seen it before. It was just as beautiful as the first time for me. Ben was in so much awe that not only did he want to go through again to take pictures of a section he liked a lot – thereby sacrificing a blackjack tournament at the Rampart Casino/JW Marriott that he wanted to participate in – but he went back a *third* time later in the week with a couple lady friends.

Earlier in the week, Ben and I experienced a different kind of beauty. We decided to patronize the Olympic Gardens (after an aborted visit to Talk of the Town) to experience some, um, classic Vegas entertainment. We initially balked at having to pay the $30 cover charge on an early Tuesday morning. But the security/management outside stopped us and said that we could enter for free after all and apparently communicated such through their earpiece to the cashier.

Since this is a family forum, I can’t really get into the events that happened inside. Suffice it to say, that for 1:00am on a Tuesday, the options were appealing if a little aggressive. Paying $7.50 for a ginger ale was no fun but I realized it was the cost of doing business; Ben was less amused. When an entertainer requested $20 for a dance, Ben told me later that in Cocoa Beach, Florida they were offered for only $5. My response to him was, “Welcome to Las Vegas”. Nonetheless, we both left later with smiles on our faces thinking about the naughty albeit legal fun. I consider myself lucky that my lady was secure enough to allow me to experience such a performance. It did help start our day off better the next morning.

PART THREE – HIGH ROLLIN’!

For all you gambling connoisseurs out there, I thought I write about my experience fairly early. I’m really not much of a gambler at all. As far as comps go, I’d be happy to be offered a “casino rate” at my favorite hotel… but I don’t even come close to investing what I’d need to acheive even that status. I did manage to acquire players cards last year from Harrah’s Total Rewards, stepsister Bill’s and Club Coast (via the Orleans) since I liked hanging out at their various properties. The latter two have sent me e-mail specials that I would take advantage of if I lived in the same time zone.

Ben and I spent one early evening on Fremont Street, mostly for him to see the canopy show as well as get a bit more favorable gaming action. While he was signing up for his Binion’s card, I sat down at a quarter slot machine called Top Dollar and invested my top dollar into it. The first few quarters went down with no results. But the last quarter came through for me, resulting in a gigantic win of $8.75! Not wanting to press my good fortune, I decided to cash out.

I would later use my mountain of cash to invest another dollar each in penny slots at Mermaids and La Bayou. I did not do well at either establishment. Ben made a few bucks at the former only to promptly give it back to the latter, keeping it all in the family. He seemed to have a particular affinity for the Monopoly games on this trip. Too bad he never made it out of “Baltic Avenue” status on this go-round. At least he thought the light show was cool. It was the same gambling theme featuring “hot mom” Jenny McCarthy that I saw last year. The BMX show in the cage looked like fun but unfortunately we were pressed for time to get back to a convention function.

Later, Ben and I would find a more nostalgic way to throw away our money. We made the pilgrimage to the Pinball Hall of Fame on E Tropicana Avenue off Pecos. You’ll need to get directions as it’s tucked in a strip mall set back from the road. You won’t find plaques and stories singing the virtues of the games. Instead you will see the actual machines themselves, refurbished and ready to play. Lots of good stuff from the 50’s through the 80’s, including a few favorites of mine as well as a few missteps. (You’ll get dizzy just reading the directions of “Dr. Dude”.) They also had a number of classic video games as well as an air hockey board. We could have easily spent a few hours in there but as we had to get ready for dinner later, an hour was enough to relive our youth for now.

PART FOUR – FINE DINING

We ate the majority of our meals at the Tuscany, particularly in Marilyn’s Café. While the service was generally slow – perhaps they were understaffed/overwhelmed by our convention – it was always friendly. The food was good with reasonable prices and portions. I believe that Ben had the $3.99 Steak %26amp; Eggs special one late night with other friends. He remarked to me later about his surprise at the small size of the steak. I wasn’t sure if he was serious or joking.

Our Big Meal Out turned out to be the Big Meal In. The logistics for eating in Margaritaville @ Flamingo before going to our show @ Venetian turned out to be too complicated so we chose instead to make a reservation for Tuscany Gardens at our home base. Ben and four other friends chose to join us at the Italian restaurant. It was a bit of an oasis from the noisy lobby and you could still view the pool area if you wanted to. Like the other restaurants here, the selections were reasonable and appetizing, at least for my bland and unsophisticated palate. As a bonus, we were able to use an entree discount coupon that we received with our check-in materials, making the meal practically a steal. While some of my fellow diners had a more healthy appetite than others, the overall bill for the seven of us came out to around $200, including a required 19% group gratuity. Without the discount, I imagine the total would have been around $275.

I did enjoy Margaritaville on my previous trips in 2006 and hope to make it back there someday in order to re-introduce onetime South Florida transplant Kat to the joys of their Cuban sandwich. Then again, I noticed a sign for a place called the Florida Café on the north Strip that might be worth sacrificing the ambiance of Jimmy Buffet tunes and young ladies sliding into faux volcanoes.

On the other end of the dining spectrum, Kat, Ben and I went to discover the joys of In-And-Out Burger one afternoon, choosing the location on Maryland Parkway just off UNLV. Taking a rare chance with my finicky taste buds, I decided to order my burger “animal style” without knowing exactly what was going to be on it, besides onions. Overall, the three of us thought the food was okay but didn’t quite match the hype. The staff certainly reflected the friendly (and better compensated) reputation that I had heard about. I appreciated that the fries tasted fresh and non-greasy. But the burger itself was disappointing. In the future, I’d probably stop in if I were traveling off-Strip and looking for something different than the typical fast-food operations I could find back East. But there are surely bigger gambles to make in Vegas; your mileage may certainly vary.

PART FIVE – DIGGING FOR BONES… AND A “DRIVE-BY” ON EAST FREMONT!

Ben and I made reservations for a Thursday morning tour of the Neon Boneyard. I got a little confused on the directions, thinking that it was 8XX Las Vegas Boulevard South instead of 8XX Las Vegas Boulevard *North*. We learned this lesson the hard way, fumbling our way around the “neon motel” area above the Stratosphere before realizing that we actually needed to be north of Fremont Street in the actual city limits of Vegas. We also learned there was no big blazing sign that said where the accompanying Neon Museum office was; a gas station attendant would later remind me that it was actually located in the Reed Whipple Center. We finally arrived at the center fifteen minutes late but an administrator was kind enough to admit and walk us across the street.

We joined a group of about a dozen tourists being led by a spry senior Las Vegas resident. She gave us a lot of background on the various famous and obscure signs. Old signs from Binion’s, the Golden Nugget and the recently departed Stardust were well-represented. It was darn hot outside even at 10:00am and the complimentary bottled water we were given was much appreciated. There is absolutely no reason to hang out in the area immediately to the right of the Boneyard as it appears to be one of the more challenged areas of Las Vegas. After about an hour and a half of education in the sweltering sun, Ben and I sat in the car and reveled in the A/C before heading down to the “other side” of Fremont.

We had originally planned to spend some quality time in such establishments as the El Cortez, Atomic Liquors and the Western. However, we were pressed for time. And I was also feeling like a “mark” with my typical tourist flower shirt on and a digital camera I had used to take pictures at the Boneyard. Also Ben had woken up just in time to make the trip and was starting to get hungry. So instead Ben let me off at the corner of E Fremont across from the El Cortez hotel and I started walking with a purpose, snapping pictures of the unlit neon signs along the road as well as the Griffin/Beauty Bar, El Cortez and the (in)famous Western. I did not see Atomic Liquors by the time I got to the other bookend street sign. In retrospect, it would appear to have been even further east.

I still aspire to visit the El Cortez and even the Western someday. I’m sure that mixing in with the hipster locals at the Griffin and Beauty Bar would be interesting as well.

PART SIX – IT’S SHOWTIME… BUT WHO TURNED OUT THE LIGHTS?

The second half of our Big Night Out following dinner at the Tuscany Gardens was to see Wayne Brady at the Venetian. Many of you may know his reputation as a multi-talented comedian, singer and dancer. Although I didn’t watch “Whose Line Is It Anyway”, the improv comedy TV show where Wayne got his big break, I enjoyed his daytime show on occasion as well as his guest star appearances on other programs. While we were being seated for the show, some of the music being played appeared to belong to him. When I realized this, I was excited because I thought we might get to hear him perform them live and perhaps even have the opportunity to purchase a CD after the show.

As it turns out, the show was 100% comedy improvisation, with a co-comedian, singers and backup band to support him. The show was definitely put together well and Wayne even made the best of an awkward situation when a volunteer (whom Wayne picked out directly in front of us) suddenly turned reluctant. But then, something started to hit me. I don’t know if it was the fulfilling meal that I had just eaten, the fact that I don’t always do well with watching evening shows or my disappointment that Wayne didn’t “play it straight” sometimes and sing some of his own songs. But about a half hour into the show, I found myself getting sleepy and never quite recovered. Kat was nervous that the spotlight would be put on me and Wayne would get some mileage out of it. I would have actually welcomed that as it would have kept me engaged, if only out of embarrassment. In the end, I got about $35 or $40 worth of the $105 second-tier ticket that I purchased… but I don’t blame Wayne for it as he did work hard during the show. Or at least that’s what Kat said.

When I exited the theater, I was surprised to find out that there were no CDs being sold but plenty of shirts. I passed on that and we made our way through the casino. We stopped briefly at La Scena Lounge to look at a rock cover band. I almost wish I had come here instead as the familiar tunes got my toes tapping quickly. But I wasn’t quite in the mood for rock and Kat wasn’t feeling so good. So we went back to the Tuscany and called it a night.

PART SEVEN – AROUND THE STRIP IN 180 MINUTES (OR SO)

I decided on our last Monday that I wanted to tour some Strip sights at my own brisk pace. There were some properties that I had either not seen for a long time or had relied on reviews on Trip Advisor to form my third-hand opinions which I then continued to circulate around the forum. I was determined to seek my own truth about these places.

I started out at the MGM Grand where I stayed for my first trip in 1996 and saw the construction of the Bellagio. I felt “cool” at the time that I was staying at what was then the largest hotel in the world. Obviously a lot had changed in those twelve years. For one, the big dollar slot machine was gone from the lobby. The atmosphere was also a lot more upscale yet not so inaccessible. I could see myself enjoying the restaurants here as well as the arcade section downstairs. The Centrifuge Bar looked to be a good place to hang out and people-watch if it were open. Overall, this would be a place I’d like to go for a nice evening out. However, I already know from previous experience that it would now be too huge for me to stay there.

Next stop was Planet Hollywood. The last time I visited here, going through the entrance next to Trader Vic’s, I was verbally “assaulted” by timeshare salespeople hawking PH’s imminent condo dwellings. So I entered from the Miracle Mile Stores side and nary a salesperson was to be found. I stopped off at the ABC store and was pleasantly surprised to find a set of Sin City Sucker lollipops that a local had told Kat had been phased out of the market. I also picked up a “Hello Kitty” Vegas charm for a friend who likes that stuff. Eventually I made my way to the casino which had a very modern theme that I enjoyed. I wouldn’t mind going to the Yolos Mexican restaurant, Earl of Sandwich or chilling in the Extra Lounge. I’m still not sure if I’d stay here until I knew that the old Aladdin rooms were fully renovated.

Paris was next. I liked the feel of this place from my visit last September. If I hadn’t already eaten, I would have sprung for another meal at Le Village Buffet. I was mostly curious about the Boulevard Shops between Paris and Bally’s. As it turns out, they were nothing special for me but it did give me the chance to invest a few bucks in the big dollar slot machine on the Bally’s side of the Boulevard. I appreciated the workout that I got from pulling the huge one-arm bandit down. Otherwise, it wasn’t a very rewarding experience. I didn’t have a particular attraction to Bally’s except that it would make for a more affordable option from which I could take advantage the amenities next door at Paris.

I rolled into Bill’s for a minute. I was still amazed that from the Flamingo Road entrance, I could get to the elevators, front desk and coffee shop in less than a minute. Having stayed here in September, I was more than happy with my room (see my review) and would have no hesitation to stay here again. I even believe that Kat, for whom convenience is key, would be happier here than many of the other properties set up for romance or opulence.

My next destination after the “Flamingo South Tower” was indeed the Flamingo itself. I had heard they had renovated many of the rooms since I had been here last August (see my review) but I saw that they had done a lot to the casino as well. At the risk of sounding like the lady on the “cheapo” site, I noticed that the pink theme had returned in a less garish way while the floor was an understated brown with a beige flowery flourish. I stopped at the Big Six roulette wheel at the edge of the casino near the pool entrance and placed a $20 bet on the $20 bill. Kat and I had planned to take a road trip to visit family later in the summer that she figured would cost $400 for gas. So I had hoped that Lady Luck would smile upon me to finance that part of the trip. Unfortunately, it seems that Lady Luck was admiring someone else as my number did not come up. Oh well, no harm no foul. I took a walk out to the wildlife habitat leading to the pool and admired the flamingoes and koi fish once again before moving on. I have to say that I feel more comfortable in this place than any other casino. The only thing it may be missing is a “hot” lounge or club. But does every casino need a “hot” place?

I decided to take a chance and visit Imperial Palace. I read a lot of bad press here on the forum and decided to see what all the negative hype was about. Well, it didn’t help that the entrance to IP was practically hidden. But once I finally made my way in, I was pleasantly surprised. It’s definitely dark in there and I could see how someone could become a bit claustrophobic. I was glad to see the Dealertainers – it looked like Little Richard, Little Orphan Annie and Tina Turner were gracing us with their presence - although I didn’t stick around enough to see an actual performance. I went upstairs to see the food choices. I decided that I wasn’t quite hungry enough to get something at the Burger Palace. The other restaurant choices looked like they would be good places to impress someone on a budget, especially Embers Steakhouse. Except for the chance to experience the cheesy Luv Tub rooms, I don’t think I would stay here.

At this point my feet were starting to get tired and I was losing time in my self-imposed three-hour limit. So I ran to catch up with a Deuce bus to take it up to my next stop. I probably could have walked faster than the bus took to get to my destination but at least I got to relax in some much needed air conditioning for my 25-minute ride between the Venetian and the Sahara.

The Sahara had a really interesting old-school vibe. It reminded me of a cross between the cavernous Imperial Palace and the neon Peppermill Lounge… in other words, the Stardust (RIP). I had heard the Casbar Lounge was pretty good. Unfortunately it was too early in the day for any entertainment but it looked like the type of place I would enjoy before or after a dinner at the House of Lords Steakhouse. I didn’t quite have the stamina to try to reach the Stratosphere so I made my final stop at Circus Circus.

As many of you know well, CC is (in)famous for its popularity with families. Indeed, I saw more kids within two minutes of walking in the entrance than I had seen during an entire week in Vegas. But I managed not to mow or be mowed down by them until I reached the logical destination of the Adventuredome. If I had kids in tow that were under 13, this would be the place I would keep them occupied as it was obviously made for them. I was even tempted to hop in for a go-kart ride myself. I walked the circumference of the Adventuredome before deciding to indulge in a cab ride back to the Tuscany. Having kids surround me to begin and end my day in Vegas would drive me nuttier than a clown. But I would definitely do the famous steakhouse. After telling the driver in a friendly way that it was not only my last day but I had also been out here last year, I then asked him to tell me some funny cab ride stories and he happily obliged. I rounded the $12something fare to $15 and went back to my room to help Kat with packing our stuff.

If you’re keeping score, that’s nine casinos visited in about three and a half hours. And yes, my dogs were barking (i.e. my feet were tired, for our European friends).

REFLECTIONS AND OBSERVATIONS

Given the relatively limited time I had away from the Tuscany, I feel like I accomplished a lot of what I set out to see. Of course, it’s almost impossible to see “everything” in one Vegas trip, even for our British and Irish friends who stay here for two weeks at a time. I guess that’s one of the things that make people want to come back to Vegas. Of course, there’s nothing wrong with checking out old favorites and I managed to do a little of that as well.

I think the main thing I learned is that I need to plan a trip separate from the convention that I could enjoy with Kat, my male buddies, myself or some combination thereof. While I still won’t see “everything”, it would be nice to have less people and obligations to answer to. Of course, current events could make coming back to Vegas from the East Coast more of a challenge in the foreseeable future. Until then, I’ll continue to live vicariously through the trip reports of others… and provide a little more informed point of view of my own.

WOW, what a great TR, enjoyed reading very much. Glad you got to see many casinos first hand. thanks for sharing