Las Vegas thread and MSE guide 2009 part 2

trets77 wrote: »

my answers are in RED :beer:

Copycat!!! I had to do that because it wouldn't let me post without something being outside the quotes:D
BTW trets, when are you going back to Vegas, it seems as though its been a very long time for you

Does anyone know of 0044.co.uk I am looking into perhaps buying a usa sim card and theirs seem to be quite interesting but I can't find any info on them other than their own site

I'm off to the airport. Vegas here I come

Trip Report Vegas

Sunday

Bit of background, I'd become quite seriously ill after we'd booked our trip, I have been treated for Lymes disease and had found it difficult to walk for any amount of time, I also need a walking stick.
Thankfully through the treatment of a fantastic doctor and some additional supplements I had steady improvement in my health. So we decided to go for it.

This was our third trip to Vegas, due to my illness we didn't plan anything, we just decided to take it a day at a time.

Set off for Hilton Gatwick, Journey tedious due to numerous road works, no one working and 50 mph zones, M25 does our head in, awful road. Anyway arrived, for £179 it was a night at the Hilton, rubbish room, definitely in the 'yet to be' done up bit, loads of works going on in reception but no worries. Also included 15 days parking and evening meal at the buffet. Got this deal from Holidayextras.

Checked bags in and strolled back to room, definitely the way to do it, no stress, no rushing about. Had buffet tea, delicious. I had salad starter with seafood and parma ham, OH had salad and meat and bread. Then we had roast ham, lovely, them eton mess for me and OH had 2 strawberry cheesecakes, there was also cheese and biscuits but we didn't bother.

Watched a bit of telly then slept, awoke at 6am by hubby as he was all excited about the journey. Had coffee and then disaster.

I have a really phobia of flying, I've been 'reprogramming' my mind ala Paul McKenna and today was the day to see if it had worked. My mind....well I don't know where that was but my body went into overdrive, lets just say I had my own colonic irrigation going on. Hubby nicknamed me Lazarus as I literally had to run with my walking stick to the loo's a number of times.

Anyway went to the V Room and had breakfast there, I had fruit and yogurt, hubby had bacon and mushroom sandwich. Really liked the V room, nice to relax before the flight.

Boarded ok, but squashed like sardines, in fact sardines have it better as they have oil to ease movement. I managed to acquire carpet like burns on my elbows having to manoeuvre my way from my chair to the loo on numerous occasions. If I'd have got any nearer to the other passengers in my immediate surroundings I think I'd have to ask them for their first names as we were so intimately close!!
Ok so getting to the flying phobia, Paul McKenna and reprogramming my mind.

Honestly the sense of dread was still there, hence the numerous trips to the loo before the flight, however I wasn't in blind panic as I have been previously. I had religiously listened to the recording every night for 2 weeks.

Whilst on the plane I practised the tapping when we hit some turbulance, that helped a lot, in fact my hubby was quite impressed with my self control. I then got the migraine in the stomach feeling, that did last for a few hours so I practices deep breathing and listened again to Paul McKenna and the recording on the VFM channel, I WAS in my garden of flowers, I concentrated on all of these and started to relax. I also watched the flying without fear programme on VTV which actually helped more than I thought it would, its a pilot talking you through the various noises and stuff on planes.

Suffice to say I did the flight, the headachey bellyache went eventaully and the landing although bumpy was fine. I again concentrated on deep breathing and concentrating on looking forward as I don't like looking out of the windows when landing.

So, I have to say Paul Mckenna's recording did help as did the relaxation techniques on the Virgin radio and the programme.

Don't get me wrong, I was not a little nervous, I was petrified previously and the thought of flying had usually dominated my thoughts weeks before the actual flight. I cannot describe the feeling I had, only those who know what it feels like understand.

So I'm grateful for the change as it means I won't feel scared in the future.


So landed, got off and then waited in a very hot room for immigration, this was tedious. Got through after waiting over 45 mins and then bags then taxi to MGM.

Lovely taxi driver, $12. fare, gave hime $20 because he didn't take the tunnel.

Checked in, I didn't try the $20 trick, just didn't bother really, asked and got a fridge (for free) for medication, a legitimate request in my case as I have medication that needs keeping cool. Cases delivered to room and we unpacked.

Room on 16th floor with a view of Excalibur, Tropicana and the airport with some mountains in the distance.

Then had a walk about, casino not too busy. We then decided to walk a little way down the strip, had a shufty at the new city within a city, amazing. Very wow factor.

Decided to go high end (haha) for our tea and went to Fat burger, I couldn't eat all the burger and we left most of the fries and onion rings, too full.

Walked back and I decided to play a few slots, boring, lost $40 quickly and then went to bed. Hubby stayed downstairs and went looking for a $5 blackjack table but coudn't find any. Then he came to bed.

Tuesday

Awake at 3.30 am USA time.

Hubby went downstairs and got us coffee from starbucks. I connected online and sent my eldest daughter a message to let her know we're here and contactable.

Today - need to collect car, maybe get coffee pot and mobile phones, so maybe a trip to Walmart needed.
Also need some breakfast.
Went to Hooters for Breakfast, $9.99 for bacon, scrambled eggs, fruit, melon, cereal, egg benedict, french toast waffles, coffee etc. It looked ok ish but I have to be honest the bacon was the best thing about it, everything was lukewarm which freaked me out a bit re the eggs benedict which also were'nt cooked properly. Anyway we ate and left aand hubby went for a lie down and I mooched over to the Tropicana for a looksy.

Spot the difference.

So yesterday we got our MGM players cards and were given just that a players card, oh and the plastic key ring thing to hang it off. Tropicana, went to sign for their players card and got a pack of cards, a $10 free play on any machine and instructions on when my players card says $5 then I can claim another prize, love it.

Played on a black and white 7s game, sat there on my lonesome just pingling along, CW came along and I got an OJ which was lovely, tipped $2, cos I believe in tipping. Anyway a little time later BING BONG or rather BING BING BING I only blunking won 5 7's, I sat for ages whilst the machine binged to within an inch of its life and I decided to cash out, my jackpot $100 YEAH BABY.

Now that might seem like small fry to many but it was great for me. I also managed to win 2 lots of $30 plus dollars from an intial spend of about $25 so I was up.

Went back to the room and informed hubby that he was looking at Lady Luck. Which I have to say didn't last!!

Put our precious loot in the safe as I decided to keep my winnings seperate. A great and sensible idea that lasted until the evening, haha.

So we then decided to collect our car, jetlag wise we were starting to feel it, we'd awoken at 3.30am US time and now it was 10.30 am US.

We got the car from Debra at the Dollar desk int the check in area. We got an Optima, white 4 door. Then took a trip to one of my favourite places in the US....thats right..... Walmart.
Now you can laugh but I love mooching around Walmart, especially the food aisles. Unfortunately this trip I was under strict instructions from hubby that we were there to pick up essentials and there would be time for a longer mooch at a later date.

Anyways we got some pumpkin coffee, YUUUMMM, a coffee machine, filters and Folgers, hubby got a case of beer and we both got one of their humongous sandwiches each. Mine was normal ish size, hubbys was gigantic. Some crisps, doughnuts and then to the mobile phone aisle.
We had a looksy and there was an assistant nearby . Now let me tell you, I know when we are in a person's terrority. To the lay person, this guy was a Walmart shop assistant but I KNEW that this area, electricals, was his kingdom, he had an aura, a look about him that excuded power.

We waited whilst he dealt with another couple of people and then he started to head in our direction, I had already given him the secret message, the eye contact and the hapless smile, that we needed his help. He strolled over but disaster, another customer cut in front of us and asked him a question. Without batting an eyelid or even looking at them he said' they're next, then you' and proceeded to get nearer to us.

We asked THE WISE ONE re the best mobile phones for our needs, he pointed some out and said' THESE are the ones I recommend for MY tourists and senior citizens', I smiled, 'we'll come under the catergory tourists...right?' My hapless attempt at humour fell flat, this guy had heard every line going, without acknowledging my pathetic attempt at a joke he unlocked the phone packages and handed them to us....our time with him was over, he wandered off being chased by another customer and we went on our way too.

So $150 ish (phones, coffee pot, filters, coffee and other stuff) later we headed back to MGM. Stopped on the way at EL Taco where I had a chicken burrito, chips and lemonade, hubby had a burger.

We got back and unloaded our booty and then decided to have a little nap as we were both shattered. It was around 3pm US time.

5 Hours later we woke up, oopsy. Anyway went down to MGM had a mooch then went over to Tropicana where hubby got the players card and won $30 dollars and we then went over to Excalibur. I tried the Wizard of Oz game and wasted $80 on it. I always max the bet as I know this is how you win the big money but even on the 1cent machine each bet comes in at $3.20 so it isn't such a good deal. I also now know (as does my bank balance) that this is a stupid strategy and amended my bets thereafter.

Hubby went on a $5 blackjack table and won $100. Then we went to Excalibur and promply lost all our winnings, ahh well.

I had a bit of luck on a 25cents machine where I won $80 and I found my most favourite machine Cops and Donuts. However when I went to see hubby and get some more money as I had ran out disaster, another person was sat at my machine and didn't move. I circled a few times like a lion or ...a vulture lol but nope she didn't GET THE HINT or her head didn't burn with my laser vision pointed staring, she stayed so I had to find another game to play. Gah.

It was now 2am US so we decided to head back to the hotel. Hubby took some melatonin and slept through. He's really feeling the jetlag this time which is surprising as its usually me that suffers the most. However since I got ill have been very much in tune with my bodies needs and have rested a lot. I have no problem with 'giving in' to the tiredness so lie down when I need to. Plus I think the no drinking alcohol is really helping. Do I miss it, nope surprisingly, really not bothered though its early days in the holiday so we'll see.