Las Vegas Trip Report 24.04.08 - 06.05.08

I have been typing up my blog on the laptop. If Day 1 is anything to go by, it will be of epic proportions with us being away for 12 nights so I have decided to post it here every couple of days

I have tried to include prices and info that may be useful for first time visitors as it is easy to forget that not everyone is a Vegas Veteran. Hope it's not too boring, but this is as much for my benefit as I will be able to look back and reminisce seeing as this is our only trip to Vegas this year.

For the 3 days before leaving I was up from 5.15am Monday, 4.00am Tuesday and 5.40am Wednesday. I'm always like this a couple of days before going to Vegas and must be more excited than I realise.

Thurs, 24.04.08: Up at 3am after going to bed at 1am. I've only had 17 hours sleep over the last 4 nights so hopefully I'll sleep for most of the 10.5 hour flight.

Left home at 4.00am for the 45 mins drive to Aberdeen Airpark where the car was booked in at £4.00/day. More expensive that most other airports where there is more competition, but a lot cheaper than parking at the airport. I had booked online with FHR via Quidco and the Airpark didn't have a record of the booking, but it wasn't a problem when they saw the printed confirmation. 5 mins later we were on the shuttle bus for the 5 mins journey to Dyce Airport.

We were flying to Manchester with bmi and there was a girl directing us to the Self-Service Kiosk. She scanned our passports and pressed all the buttons so it wasn't really self-service. Seat numbers popped up on screen for MAN-LAS and she commented that we must have pre-booked them, which we had, and carried on pressing buttons. I noticed that the seat numbers were 31F&G (2 in the middle) when I had booked 27H&K (2 at the side). Too late, she tried to go back, but was a few screens further on and the boarding cards had printed. Had to go to the Check In desk to drop our bags and managed to get the seats changed there to 25A&C.

I stayed land side so I could have a cig and hubby went through security. We are both Silver Diamond Club members which gives us free access to the Servisair Lounge at Aberdeen and Diamond Club lounge at Manchester. Through security in 5 mins and the departure lounge was quite busy. Met hubby in the lounge and had orange juice, coffee and pretzels. There were also beer, wine and spirits, but only pre-packed cake and biscuits to eat. Our flight was called and off we went. Left on time at 6.55am, arrived early at T3, but we had to wait for a parking slot.

Found the Diamond Club Lounge and the girl there entered our passport and boarding card details in the computer to save us having to do it at the Gate with us transferring. She also entered our API (Advance Passenger Information) even though I'd done it online when I booked the flights back in November. The lounge was quite busy and there were cornflakes and croissants available, otherwise the choice was the same as Aberdeen. I was looking forward to going online with the free wifi. However there were 2 connections available and I couldn't connect with either of them. No-one else was using their laptop and that was probably why. Very disappointed, but I started my blog instead.

Our flight was called about 9.10am and we were escorted to Gate 44. Had to answer extra security questions as we had transferred then we boarded in good time for the 9.50am departure. Then the captain announced that, due to Air Traffic Control, we wouldn't be leaving till 10.30am. Found that hubby's seat was broken. It kept reclining and wouldn't stay upright. We really didn't want to move as we would have been much further back, probably in the middle and at the back of the immigration queue. The FA said we would have to move as it was a safety issue. However less than 5 mins later 2 engineers boarded the plane and fixed it. Phew!

It had been my intention to stay awake till after the meal was served and then hopefully sleep most of the way to Vegas. However I was so tired I slept as soon as the safety briefing was over. The meal was served about 2 hours into the flight - salad, choice of sausage and mash, chicken curry and rice or butternut squash risotto. The sausage and mash were finished by the time they came to us even though we were only 6 rows from the front of the economy cabin. There was a very nice chocolate dessert, a chunky Kit Kat, water, cheese and biscuits. There was a proper glass for the wine rather than a plastic one, but everything else was plastic. Slept again for a couple of hours and didn't bother with the IFE which was via seatback TV's. There seemed to be a good choice of films, but they weren't on demand.

Flight landed at 12.45pm, deplaned and walked to Immigration. We had cleared Immigration and Customs and had our luggage by 1.15pm. No queue for the taxi and we were on our way to the Imperial Palace for 3 nights. Politely asked the driver not to take the tunnel and he said, "Which tunnel? Doh. However to make up for not taking the tunnel, he took us the long way. We ended up at the back of the Venetian and instead of taking us in the back way to the IP, he went onto Flamingo again and came in the front. Hubby was getting annoyed, but I wasn't bothered. I knew the fare should be $15-16 and I was going to give him $20 inc tip regardless so the longer he took, the less his tip was going to be.

There was quite a queue at check in, but it moved quickly. We had requested a deluxe king smoking with a pool view, but it was down as a request for a pool side room so we were allocated room 215 on the 2nd floor with access to the pool from the patio doors. However the room wasn't ready and we were told that check in was between 4 & 6. As it was now 2.15 we envisaged a long wait. They did say to check back in an hour. Played the slots for ½ an hour, checked and the room was ready. That was a bonus after the long journey.

We didn't need to use the elevators to get to the room and it was one floor up a flight of stairs from the casino. Got to the room and the keys didn't work. Fortunately a bellman was going by so we asked him for assistance. He struggled to open the door with his master key and said it was probably that the battery in the lock was low. Called the front desk and they said they'd send maintenance who came within about 10 mins. The lock was fixed quickly.

The room was a bit smaller than previous rooms and the bathroom was very small, but it was clean and it would do us as we aren't picky. A king bed, 2 bedside tables, 3 drawers with TV above, small table and 2 chairs. In the bathroom there were Gilchrist & Soames soap, shower gel and shampoo. There is wifi available at $9.99 for 24 hours.

Quickly unpacked, got changed, made a cup of tea and then hit the Strip. Went up to Harrah's to see if they were handing out coupons for Harrah's buffet, but the coupons were for the Flamingo buffet which we're not that keen on. Walked down to Planet Hollywood and had a hot sandwich and tea from Earl of Sandwich. One sandwich and 2 teas - $10.40 inc tax. Played the slots for a while then walked down to Tix4Tonight to see what they had on. We had planned to see Carrot Top on Sunday, but found out he is on vacation. You can book same day tickets for shows, but the tickets for dinners and buffets are good for 7 days. Walked back to Bill's and watched Big Elvis. Only heard one song as the guy who was introducing him yapped for ages. Big Elvis (Pete Vallee) has lost 500lbs in weight and is intending losing another 150lbs. He's still big, but used to be massive. Went to Flamingo and gambled there. When I say we gambled, it means we played the slots. There was someone handing out coupons for Harrah's buffet outside Flamingo so we got a couple. Felt exhausted, but wanted to keep going till a decent time to get over the jetlag.

Didn't feel at all excited to be back in Vegas and actually didn't feel 100%. I think it was just lack of sleep, jetlag and dehydration as I drank very little on the plane.

Gambled at the IP then went to the Teahouse. Hubby has the Steer and Beer offer which was an 8oz prime rib and beer for $15.95. It came with soup or salad and was really good. I just had coffee and a bit of his prime rib as I wasn't really hungry. Finally gave in and went to the room at 8.30pm. Updated my blog and went to bed at 9.30pm (5.30am UK time) after being up 26.5 hours. Woke at 1.30, tried to sleep again, but only managed till 2.15 when I got up and went on the internet for 3 hours. Back to bed and slept till 7.