Las Vegas guide and MSE thread 2013

littlemissbossy

Day 5 Monday 9th Sept
We decided to eat breakfast at Cafe Bellagio, headed over via the conservatory and shock horror all the displays had been taken out for “seasonal changes” we were so disappointed. But as we checked it out in more detail there were pictures up of what they were putting in for autumn and it was actually fascinating watching all the groundwork that goes into the display and probably spent more time in that area than we normally would have.

After breakfast we headed to Wynn/Encore, Fashionshow Mall area, did some window shopping then headed back to our hotel to get changed for that nights show, Human Nature at The Venetian.

We set off about 5pm via the conservatory, we are about to cross the road outside Bellagio/Ceasars Palace and realized it had gone very dark, looked up and was just about to say oh lets be quick its gonna pour down, when it did! The heavens opened, we couldn’t cross the road so we turned and legged it to the nearest door which was in Ceasars. By now its 5.30pm, show at 7pm, plenty of time for it to stop. We waited till about 6.10pm, no sign of it stopping so we decided to move as far through Ceasars as we could go and pray it had stopped, it would have been funny if we weren’t stuck on the wrong side of the strip with a show to get to. It did ease off and we scurried along with me squelching in my sandals to the over the road walkway, all the escalators were out of action so we were up and down the steps. The strip was under about 2-3 inches of water, never seen that in Vegas!

We made it, collected our tickets from the box office with about 15 mins to spare. Human Nature were fab (we had seen them twice before), we got our tickets from Goldstar sec 7 row FF, we paid $111.00/£72.17 for two tickets.

After the show we headed back to our hotel, John decided he wanted a drink so I suggested we have a go on the slot machines. Now if I tell you neither of us have “gambled” since we were kids on the 2p waterfall machines, you know the ones where you need to knock the coins from one level to the next and then they fall out, we are novices!! We go on the 25c machines John puts about $3 in and we get a free drink but we don’t win anything. So we start to leave when I decide I want a go but I want to play on the $1 slots. I put $5 in press spin and and the machine start jingling and playing a tune. Well we nearly have melt down, we’ve won, we’ve won, erm what’ve we won, what do we do now? Oh theres a cash out button……. We’ve won $20 plus our original $4, please don’t laugh THIS WAS MEGA!!! We skipped off to the cashier and pocketed and $20 prize.

Day 6 Tuesday 10th Sept
Just have a brew this morning and head off for Miracle Mile Shops/Paris. In Paris we decide we NEED to gamble again, John plays first, 25c machine, no win but get a free drink, then Its my turn, put my dollar in and off goes the machine again, I’ve won again and guess what $50! It’s a quick cash out and a skip to the cashier to collect our winnings.

We ate at Mon Ami Gabi at about 2.30pm they asked if we wanted to eat inside or outside, we knew the sun was shining fully on the patio and I’m very fair skinned so we said inside. We were actually seated in the conservatory area which was perfect. We had a lovely meal and shared a dessert, we were having another cracking day!

Back to our room to get changed its KA tonight, we walk over to the MGM, no weather events tonight thank goodness. Our seats were sec 202 row KK and we paid $142.90/£91.57 for 2 tickets. In my opinion its better to sit further back as you get a much better view and save a few quid! Show was excellent, amazing, wonderful, today just keeps getting better!

We head back to our hotel and feel the need to gamble AGAIN. John says I have to play ‘cause I’m in the zone. We’ve spent about $5, had a free drink and the machine starts ringing and playing a tune and the credit counter thingy is going up and up……………….. we’d won $100 well we nearly went up in a puff of smoke, we cash out and literally run over to the cashier, we’d beamed so much today our faces were aching, what a fab day!

martmonk

photome wrote: »

Why didn't you just answer 5. He didn't ask when are you leaving Vegas or the USA, not sure why you thought he should do the maths.

I have never had any of the questions mentioned on here and always found them to be pleasant, but if I am asked a question I don't mess them about.

How many nights are you in the US is asking when I'm leaving.

I'm tired after a long flight and the answer I gave was a direct one, its not like he was filling out a form, just asking a few cursory questions. 5 nights or until Saturday makes no difference to him, he was being awkward, I was, I thought, answering the question. I certainly wasn't messing anybody about.

I posted as I thought it mildly amusing, obviously I was mistaken.

vegasvisitor

ferf1223 wrote: »

glad the weather is sorting itself out but sorry about the terrible night gambling, stoneman...may the gambling gods be with you.

lesley - thanks for the running trip report - really enjoyed reading it...it also seems to me like it went by very fast but I know how sometimes during the trip it does seem like quite a long time when you think back to early days - especially mid-trip when you think 'we still have XX days left!' then suddenly, it's home time and it feels a bit like where did it go?

Exactly right about the bit at the end coming too quick as well. I think maybe if the weather had been better I wouldn't have been just so sad to leave.

vegasvisitor

Froggitt wrote: »

That reminds me.......new question we had this summer "Do you have any family in the US"......presumably saying yes increases the risk of overstay, and therefore a more intensive questioning.

We got the same....the money question, do we have credit cards, and relatives. Never got asked about medication though.

ferf1223

I'm guessing that they ask the question that way for a reason - guessing that it's an easy thing that people up to no good trip up on...maybe...regardless I also find it's best to just answer directly and completely (we answer the how many nights question with '8, we leave on Friday')...and I'm very yes sir, no ma'am with them.

I'm American but I go through with my English hubby and they even quiz me a bit occasionally...when I said we were visiting family in XX city once I was asked if I ever spent much time at a place that, as I grew up not far away, I knew was an Air Force base...so I answered honestly 'just a little bit'...and when he just stared at me I realised that that was the sort of answer that someone who has no idea what that place is could say...so elaborated that my father had worked there so I had occasion to visit him when he was still working...and before the base was closed some years before. The immigration guy wished us a safe journey and off we went.

ferf1223

littlemissbossy wrote: »

We head back to our hotel and feel the need to gamble AGAIN. John says I have to play ‘cause I’m in the zone. We’ve spent about $5, had a free drink and the machine starts ringing and playing a tune and the credit counter thingy is going up and up……………….. we’d won $100 well we nearly went up in a puff of smoke, we cash out and literally run over to the cashier, we’d beamed so much today our faces were aching, what a fab day!

I'm really enjoying your trip report, especially the escalating wins.
By the time it's over I'm expecting you guys will be millionaires you know.

littlemissbossy

ferf1223 wrote: »

I'm really enjoying your trip report, especially the escalating wins.
By the time it's over I'm expecting you guys will be millionaires you know.

The quick answer to this is, we've peaked!

littlemissbossy

After watching a few of the "Border Control" type programmes on TV I think they kept asking me exactly the same question at Manchester about what was in my bag 'cause if I was lying I'd probably trip myself up eventually.

ferf1223

littlemissbossy wrote: »

The quick answer to this is, we've peaked!

ha - still - it's been great so far.

Also hubby reminded me of his best immigration story - before we were married, we both flew separately to attend a friend's wedding in Dallas and met up at the hotel.

Immigration officer: what is the purpose of your visit?

Then fiancee: I'm here for a wedding.

Immigration officer: ...yours?

Then fiancee: significant amount of sputtering to get 'no!'

duchy

I once got bored with saying "I'm on vacation" so I said "I'm here to see Donny Osmond's show" It works like a charm -they always start rattling on about Donny and Marie and just stop asking questions. Presumably terrorists wouldn't know who Donny and Marie are I suppose .......