Las Vegas thread and MSE guide 2009 part 2

dorsetjohn_3

Shame you never watched a top show like a CIRQUE (love) or ate at a high end restaurant , the mix is lovely

lindsey_toffee_girl wrote: »

thank you, yes I have a trip report it is a bit long so apologies if you get board and for some spelling and typos!
Wednesday 5th August
We left for Manchester airport nice and early 4.15am in a hummer, we were the last ones to be picked up so everyone was on the champagne by the time we got in, a nice start I thought!
Once on the plane, the flight was one of the worst flights I have ever been on in my life, the sound on the main film was not working, great 10 hours with no sound on the main film channel. The lady who was sat next to me was nice though before we had even taken off she ate three packets of crisps, on take off she ate 2 more an egg sandwich 2 cheery bakewells two big packets of maltessers, a packet of small Pringles. 2 smirnoff ice, 2 maggners and all the regular plane food! I should point out that when we left it was 10am.
The seats on the plane were sooo uncomfortable, so 10 hours with nothing to do I was to lazy to even read my book!
Then the captain says cabin crew seats for landing, well I nearly wet myself after the long long wait I have had I could not wait. Then something unexpected happened. The plane seemed to plummet thousands of feet quiet quickly, people started to scream. The captain had already said this would happen as he always has to make a fast landing as the runway is small and the heat affects the landing making it bumpy.
So anyway, yes you guessed it I threw up everywhere, the nice lady next to me moved my bag so I wasn’t sick on it and gave me a plastic bag to vomit in. Oh this is not the best of it I had just had tomato pasta!
So on landing everyone was clapping, while I was in tears and mortified that I had threw up very loudly in front of everyone. What a lovely start to my Vegas dream!

Out of the airport and in to a taxi, the heat was not like anything I had ever experienced before, I was sooo excited to be here, though still a little upset from my ordeal.
We took a taxi to the Bellagio, how big is this place it seems sooo huge, yet from the airport it looks so close. We waited in line to check in and had already decided not to do the $20 thing, though my partner did ask if we could have a complimentary upgrade, she was stern and said no, never mind I really don’t care I’m in Vegas baby!
So after looking at the view of the pool from our room we headed out onto the strip, again I can’t emphasise how bad the heat felt on me, it was like I was in an oven.
Straight over the road we went to the miracle mile, shopping yeahh, and what do I spot but Sepphorra’s I was in my element, my poor partner tried to move me on as fast as he could!
It was time for food, so we headed to Las Vegas Cheeseburger, the food was really nice and huge, I had forgotten how huge the portions are in America. We rang my brother and his friend and they met us for food. We had a burger each with onion rings and chips, far too much even to share, this was such a good start to my long awaited holiday. By this time it was 4pm we were so tired. I tried my best to heed all your advice and stay up as long as I could. We managed to stay out another hour, checking out the Ebay machine in the Bellagio, I had no idea how to play this but insisted on putting $10 in without even checking what to do!. I got so excited by the man playing next to me on the big screen, I really don’t know why! After this excitement it was time for bed. I managed to stay up until 7pm, slightly disappointed in my own will power though bring on day two.





Whoops, I missed out playing at the casino at Planet Hollywood on the way back to the Bellagio on the previous night. My brother put $1 in the machine and won $40 straight away, being British and not much of a gambler I tried to convince him to pay it out, which to my shock he did, I know I am a kill joy!

Thursday 6th August

Though I went to sleep nice and early I have to say I kept waking up throughout the night. By 6am I insisted that we got up and found breakfast. Hmm this was a problem, everywhere was shut, the casino was empty, so I ended up in the miracle mile in some coffee shop with a juice and a yogurt. We Milled around for a bit then decided to head down to the Excalibur to see my parents. Once we got to the Excal I was seduced by the machines again!
So we rang my parents to get them down and played cards on the $1 machines. Well the next thing I know is my partner hits a royal flush, he made my take a picture!
As it was only a one dollar we on $80. I wish he would have put more in! We high fived and screamed like idiot, it was just a good job the casino was quiet empty! My parents met us and we took a nice stroll down the strip and at ate more breakfast at Mcdonalds, classy as we are!
We then had to head back to the Bellagio as we were getting picked up by the little chapel of flowers to get our marriage licence. Off we went, there was virtually no que when we got there though it quickly built behind us. The licence has gone up from $55 to $60. It was so simple to get the licence, After this I had arranged that we should all meet at Ellis island, of course no one had a clue were this was, I told them all it was just behind Ballys, as if I have been lol!
Once in Ellis island again I hit the machines, don’t be fooled by me I was only ever playing $1 machines, to scared to play anymore as I really didn’t understand! Well I still won $30, so some more high fiving, like a saddo, I dread to think what I would be like if I would have won anymore!
Ellis island was smaller than I had imagined, we headed over to eat food everyone ordered and I ordered the steak special, feeling very smug with myself!
The food was nice the portions were huge and the boys all made the most of the $2 beer. Though the ordered the light version and moaned it tasted like Fosters, though don’t let this bother you as they continued to order it, I think they just liked to moan.
We decided to all stay out together and walk the strip, so our next destination was Bills Gambling hall, this was because it was the first place we came to on our travels.
I had decided to give up the gambling for a little bit and make the most of the 99cent margaritas; ok there small but they do the trick. The boys took full advantage of the 2 buckets of bud for $10. In fact I would say they were getting silly!
We sat at some tables and watched fat Elvis, now my Dad at this point was itching to go back to the hotel as he was getting to hot and agitated, after having a go at him and making him drink he loosened up a bit, thank god! What happened next no one could have guessed!
We all hate Elvis (sorry) so we were all half laughing that we were actually sitting watching this. My brother was the worst, he loves rap music and nothing else, he was slightly upset that we were watching Elvis and refused to look.
Well 10 minutes later Fat Elvis needs some volunteers to play on plastic guitars, oh no you guessed up gets my Dad, my Dad!
My Dad who was stressing out about the heat, though after some of the buckets of Bud decided he could play Vegas, how embarrassing!
Oh no this is not the best of it, then joined by my brother, oh well we could not keep a straight face we were all falling about laughing with tears down our faces, while they pretended to play air guitar to Viva Las Vegas with two other strangers. We tried to take some pics though in all honesty it was so funny they were jumping off the stage and on their knees, this was not the brother I knew, or my Dad who was too hot not long ago!
Anyway they didn’t win, one of the other guitar players won obviously more skilled. Then some Americans came over to my Dad upset that he hadn’t won stating that the competition was rigged, well my Dad loved this didn’t he. They both got I played Vegas with Elvis certificates to take home but no Elvis CD, I am not to sure that they were upset by this. Now I though this was too much fun, so time to break it up and take a walk down to the Venetian. Once in the Venetian my feet were burring, though the shops were calling. Amazing shops I looked in Jimmy Choo, Chloe, the bags were dearer which upset me, never mind I though I will find an alternative bag a girl never gives up!
Once round the shops in the Venetian we decided to head back home, it was about 8pm and my feet were sore. So back down the strip we went collecting a cocktail on the way, no time for food though my partner did collect a sandwich from somewhere near Casino Royale, he insisted it was the best sandwich ever, I really didn’t care by this point I needed my bed. So back to the Bellagio with a bottle of Coke and ready to watch Law and Order. My Vegas time was going far to fast, so I decided tomorrow was going to be a productive day after all there is too much to do!

Friday 7th August

Well today I was on a mission, I wanted to see as much as I could.
So we headed down the strip to Wendy’s for some breakfast, didn’t really enjoy it, never mind.
After Wendy’s we had a look around MGM grand, this place is huge, I think I would like to stay here. As we were looking at the rainforest caf! someone ran and jumped on me, not to worry it was my brother, who thought this was very funny!
So we went over to Mandalay Bay to check out the hotel, we walked around it and through the casino, I really liked this hotel, we seen the beach from a distance. It must of only been about 9am and it was full. Seen the Ice bar though it wasn’t open to my disappointment.
Next stop the Luxor, this looked so big from the airport, though once we were there it seems pretty small. I didn’t really like this one it seemed a bit dirty though I loved the roof and the way it is the same inside and the way the rooms come down the side of the pyramid. Next stop the Excalibur, on the way we bumped into my brother, who insisted on carrying his Everton banner everywhere in case he had a photo opportunity!
So we went on our way had a look around the Excalibur not much there, though this had become our favourite place as we won the $80!
Into New York New York, which my brother insisted was tacky, not that he has been there, we liked this one it seemed very lively and there seemed to be lots to do.
Into the Monte Carlo this had a strange smell, not much going on though it seemed nice and it had some nice shop which we looked around.
Back to Wendys for a burger, my brother and his friend joined us though they had a subway. My brother insisted it was the best sub ever, I don’t know how it could be it was only tuna with red onion, well at least he was happy.
Into the Coke factory were we tasted Coke from around the world, seriously who makes this up, they were all horrible, with the exception of one or two!
Next stop M and M world, I was good had a look around and resisted buying things, I always end up buying things I don’t need and that are no good!
So we left my brother and his friend who decided the pool party at the MGM was were they would spend the next couple of hours. We got off the monorail at the Hilton and decided to work our way up the strip. Like I said I was on a mission and wanted to see everything.
Well once in the Hilton we seen some sights, a nice old man sat at a slot machine then he turned around and was dressed a captain kirk! We had too hurry on out of here, we seen Klingon and everything on the way to the lobby!
We then walked up to Circus Circus, not really sure where it was, we found it in the end, I needed the toilet so decided to go there before we looked around at the attractions, I wanted to see all the rides. Well in the toilets was a needle box that was it I wad out of there no rides no looking around, lets go!
Into slots of fun, I expected this to be much bigger than it was, we stayed a little bit and had a 99cent margarita. We headed on up the strip to the next hotel, the Wynn was the next hotel though it was on the opposite side of the road and by now the fashion show mall was calling me, so we abandoned the Wynn and headed for the shops. Wow this place was sooooo big. Again on my mission I know Nordstrom was here so I was busy following all the signs to get to it, I didn’t communicate this well to my Husband who kept messing the plan up and stopping at shops on the way.
Finally arrived there and located the Uggs, mission almost complete. I tried the new style Uggs on, only to my disgust my feet would not fit in, they were like balloons, not good. The poor lady was trying to get me to try a variety of them on, this was not possible. We only had enough money on us for one pair, but I needed two!
Oh well that would mean we had to come back for the other pair. We headed into Macys, guess who we bumped into, my brother and his friend, I think they were stalking us! My Husband bought a nice Addidas hoody, which my brother copied. We were all out of money, not good. So it was back to the hotel for us!
On the way back we all stopped off at the Mirage, this looked like a nice hotel. Then we spotted the secret garden, we wandered down and found out it was $15 each. This made my husband a bit angry as we had no money left to go in and he wanted to see the white tigers, oh well suppose we were coming back here too!
Back to the Bellagio for a little rest and some cash!
We decided that we would eat a sandwich in some deli in New York New York, it was huge. I had a chicken one and my husband had turkey. They were lovely. We decided to meet my brother and his friend for drinks. Drinks we had, we walled over to the cocktail place next to M and M store it’s called La something no idea what. So we were all tired and we sat outside on the wall with our big cocktails looking a bit silly! We came outside as they had live music on and the boys were moaning about the noise, seriously what is the need.
After my big cocktail it was so time for bed we had a big day ahead of us.
So a bottle of water and it was time for Law and Order again!

Cand

September

Brill trip report Lindsey Toffee Girl sounds like you like shopping as much as me, I cant wait to hit them shops next month I've already got a very long shopping list put together! Congrats on your wedding!

roots_controller

Night before Toffee Girl's wedding

So a bottle of water and it was time for Law and Order again!

On the wedding night !

A short time later, yet again I was ready for bed, so again a bottle of water a taxi ride later and it was time for Criminal intent!

lindsey_toffee_girl

August

roots_controller wrote: »

Night before Toffee Girl's wedding


On the wedding night !

Ha ha its true though my feet were sooo sore from all the walking. I never noticed how it read though! x

c_l_a_i_r_e

July

dorsetjohn wrote: »

Shame you never watched a top show like a CIRQUE (love) or ate at a high end restaurant , the mix is lovely

Maybe she didn't want to

Great TR Lindsey, it seems you like to shop as much as i do:D Congratulations on the wedding as well:beer:

nichart20

I was wondering if anyone had booked any airport tranfers and where is best to book I have emailed for a few quotes but had no replys and I fly sunday(another thing I should have done earlier)

also has anyone booked shows through lasvegasshows.com and is $364.45 ok for 2 category 1 tickets for KA

Ibizavic

September

Trust wrote: »

For everyone in Vegas from 4th to 7th, Labor day weekend (B-Hol States) usually have some good offers in the outlets


www.premiumoutlets.com

Apologies if this has already been posted

Thanks for this. I fly out next Tuesday and have been planning to hit the shops!

pennylane99

December ( including Xmas and New Year )

nichart20 wrote: »

also has anyone booked shows through lasvegasshows.com and is $364.45 ok for 2 category 1 tickets for KA

you can buy one ticket and get second one for $25 from this link below

http://mgm-cds.admission.com/adm/KA_25SP.htm

c_l_a_i_r_e

July

nichart20 wrote: »

I was wondering if anyone had booked any airport tranfers and where is best to book I have emailed for a few quotes but had no replys and I fly sunday(another thing I should have done earlier)

also has anyone booked shows through lasvegasshows.com and is $364.45 ok for 2 category 1 tickets for KA

Ka tickets are cheaper here using the buy one ticket get one for $25 promo:
http://www.smartervegas.com/shows/ka_-_cirque_du_soleil/ticketsdiscounts.aspx

Re transfers you can just get a taxi from the airport. You can also just grab a shuttle from there on the day if you want, no need to book on advance. If there's more than one of you though a taxi will be at least the same price if not less and will be a lot quicker.

nichart20

pennylane99 wrote: »

you can buy one ticket and get second one for $25 from this link below

http://mgm-cds.admission.com/adm/KA_25SP.htm

I have tried for all the days we are there but I just get this message
http://mgm-cds.admission.com/html/error.htmI?CNTX=72504&l=EN&C=US

would le Reve be just as good does anyone know?