I finally typed it up and pasted it - it hasn't come out too well, but hope it's readable!!!
Any questions, ask away!!!
Monday 6 Sept
Arrived at Aladdin 930pm, did $20 trick and got upgraded to a resort room - 1676 on the 16th floor. 2 double
beds, huge bathroom with 2 sinks, 2 strip facing windows, view of eiffel tower, Bellagio fountains etc. Very
nice. Went out at 10pm and went up to Casino Royale. Played 50c roulette with $1 coins, put in $16 and walked
away with $23 - after hitting on 00 with $1 on 0/00 we left. Got back around midnight but couldn't sleep very
well. I kept getting up and looking out the window. I guess I couldn't believe I was finally there!
Tuesday 7 Sept
Got up at 8am and when ready got bus up to Sands avenue and over to Boulevard Mall. Lot of work going on up
there at Sands Avenue and the strip where they're building the Wynn Resort, which is fairly coming along.
Went into Macy's and got the 11% international savings card - anyone from outside the US can sign up for free
which is really good. After the mall we went into Vons to get some drinks for the room. Got on a wrong bus
back which cut across the back of the strip. We should have stayed on until we got to Luxor but we got off at
Ellis Island and had a long walk back. It must have been in the high 90s. Finally got to the side door of
desert passage, exhausted. Went to the pool for about an hour or so. Came back up and had a sleep, overslept
until about 9pm and we went to the Pizza Palace in Imperial Palace since we noticed it was open until 12 - it
was passable but not great. Pretty cheap though. Went back to Casino Royale and lost $10 on roulette. Played
another $5 and lost it at Aladdin on the way back. Got to bet around 1am and again had a bad sleep.
Wednesday 8 Sept
Got bus over to Wal Mart. Got some towels, socks, tea towels and haloween pencils and bags. Went up to
Caesars to get some security tags removed from jeans we both bought at Express in Boulevard Mall. Stopped off
at Spanish Steps (new bar) on way back had a frozen cocktail ($7.50), 2 pizzas (@$3.95) and basil fries
(1.95), and a sprite. Total just under $20, pizza and fried and cocktail good! Went to the pool for a short
while. Too hot. Got ready and went to a Las Vegas Talk Forum meet at the Orleans. Nice to meet some of the
people you've been doing vegas talk with for months online! Had the Orleans buffet with 2 others from the
meet. Good. Used 2 for 1 coupon from ACG. Went over to Comedy Stop at the Tropicana and watched the 1030
show - the smoking show, but not all smokers, so fine. Got bus back to Aladdin. Didn't gamble at all today!
Thursday 9 Sept - my big 30!
Went to the premium outlets downtown. Started to rain heavily when we were almost ready to leave. Went to
desert passage when we got back because weather still not good. Decided to do slot tournament. Never won
anything. The tournament is very poor now - I didn't like the prizes - and they've halved the dining voucher
to $10. They did offer us an extra large or extra small t-shirt - useless! Once we got changed we had the
buffet for dinner. Not as good as last year, but still ok. Played some slots in Aladdin and had 2 drinks,
then an early night. We're still tired at this point!
Friday 10 Sept
Went to Fashion Show mall after going to Mirage Breakfast buffet which was about $15 each including tax.
Quite good, but I panicked at first - being a vegetarian, the girl pointed me in the wrong direction, and I
came back with a plate with bread, tomato, a pickle. Then I realised there was another bit with pancakes,
potatoes etc, thank goodness!! I was so mad at paying $15 for a cheese salad sandwich without even any
cheese!!! Never had any lunch today, after big buffet. Went to pool for an hour or so, and got the bus up to
Romano's Macaroni Grill, opposite Palace Station. Had Bruschetta (to share), 2xPastas, beer, 2 wines, sprite.
$40 which was good considering how full we were after it! Good food there! Went across to Laugh Trax at the
Palace Station. The girl gave us free tickets (it was locals night), for the late show. Didn't even use our
coupon. Was about $3.50 a drink. Got tasi to Mirage, $10 incl tip. Played roulette, bought in $20 and came
away with $51. Had some drinks - bad service (weekend!). Got back to hotel after 2am.
Saturday 11 Sept
Got up around 930am, and went down to Belz. Arrived 1110am. Came back and sat at pool for an hour or so,
then went to The Cheesecake Factory for dinner. Had 2 soft drinks, bruschetta, 2 tomato pastas (to plain).
Bruschetta and pasta overloaded with chopped fresh tomatoes, so I was overloaded with them and ended up
feeling a bit sick. Walked back vias Spanish Steps - I had a cocktail and Kevin had 2 beers (@$5 each). Wet
back to hotel. Had a look in Curve Living Room, as we'd gotten line passes for Curve Ultralounge, but we
didn't end up going in as I was too stuffed/tired.
Sunday 12 Sept
Went to Boulevard Mall again. Had lunch at Sbarro - used our coupon and got 2 pizza slices, 2 drinks,
spaghetti for $10. Good. Walked back to Flamingo Road and got bus back and sat at pool. Went to Gold Coast
Buffet, got taxi from Paris which was $6.20 plus tip. Buffet $12 with coupon. Very good. Went over to the
Palms and got in the long line for the Maroon 5 concert. 2 drinks at casino bar was $10 which I felt was
steep for a casino bar. Not as bad as 2 drinks in Rain though at $15. Very good concert though. Got CAT bus
along flamingo because it was right there when we came out. Back to Casino royale but only played slots (lost
$7), but had 3 or 4 or 5 drinks....:0) Walked back to Aladdin and had very sore feet (wearing heels).
Monday 13 Sept
Got up and de-tagged all our shopping and tidied up room a bit. Went over to Sbarro in Ballys. Had 2 drinks,
ziti, 2 pizzas (coupon), salad. $17 - more expensive than other Sbarro's but good! Walked back through
Paris. Had beer and frozen cocktail at pool - $10.50. Got a bit burnt, so start to a tan. Walked through
Desert Passage, and went ot Walgreens and CVS and got souvenirs and some drinks for room. Got bus to Paradise
Road to go to the Hilton Buffet (coupon), but couldn't get a bus up Paradise Road - no bus stops!! So we
ended up walking all the way. Buffet $14.99 + tax 2 for 1 coupon. Good pasta - you choose pasta, and sauce
and they heat it together. Wine and beer on tap included too. When we were walking to Hilton we saw a sign
at the back of the Riviera, which said Rich Hall was on. We thought it might be an old sign or something, but
we went over and just caught the second show, and yes he was on! Very good show. $30 for 2 with a 2 for one
though, so must be one of the more expensive comedy shows. Walked down from Riviera to Casino Royale and
finally played craps for the first time. Kevin played roulette. Came back to hotel at 2am.
Tuesday 14th Sept
Went to Fashion Show Mall myself, Kevin went over the the Crown and Anchor to watch the Celtic/Barcelona game.
Wet to Bally's buffet at night, which was really quite good. With to Margaritaville and had beer and
Smirnoff ice at $10.50. Walked through Venetian (I love it) and went on to Casino Royale and played craps
again. Started with $35 and left with $55. Also won $10 on a ghostly slot machine, along with another. Came
back to Aladdin and won about $5 on a slot machine with coin out - not seen that for ages.....so ended up with
a cup of coins!
Wednesday 15th Sept
Got up early to go to Primm, but no room on bus so had to go at 1pm, so went back up to pool first. Got back
around 6pm. Got ready and walked up to Barbary Coast to get shuttle to return to Gold Coast Buffet. $24 ish
inluding tax, we didn't have another coupon. Quite good, but not as good as the previous visit. Different
pasta which wasn't so good - pasta is my main thing! Played some lots, used ACG drink coupon, and got shuttle
back. Went back to Casino Royale and lost about $40 at craps. Played $10 ticket from previous night in 25c
slot - and only won about 15 credits, which I played out. Walked back to hotel 1230pm
Thursday 16th Sept
Went to Fashion Show Mall. Had lunch at Sbarro's there. Got bus back and went into desert passage for drinks
and a couple more souvenirs. Went to pool. Got ready to go out and went to get bus up to Sahara, and when
one finally came it was full, so we walked to front of Paris and got a taxi to Romano's Macaroni Grill which
was $10. Had bruschetta, 2 beers, 2 wines, 2 pastas, $43. Very good again. Why can't they have this place
at home! Got taxi back to Mirage $8 and went to Casino Royale and played the $25 in chips we had from another
night. Played 25c roulette until about 1230 when we had to leave - flying home in morning! Spoke to an Irish
couple we had met at the same table last year. I saw the girl and was sort of looking, and thinking it
couldn't be her, and then we thought she had an american accent......but no, it was her! Quite funny.
Friday 17th Sept
Went to airport about 9am for flight home. All went smoothly, but really didn't want to leave!!
Excellent report Lesley, please dont forget to add your hotel comments on the Aladdin and the resort etc.
I have tried to do that, and Aladdin wasn't there, so I requested for it to be added.............so I will post on it shortly. It's my second visit to Aladdin, so I rate it very highly! Only thing is, it has been bought by Planet Hollywood so who knows what it's future is!
Thanks lesley, it was one hotel we looked at when going over, there is such a choice, but if you have been twice then it speaks for itself.
Nice report
How funny was that, meeting the same couple at the same table from last year?!
Glad you had a great time. We would have loved some rain when we were there! Las Vegas was having a heat wave (8th - 13 August 04) as temps reached 113 for 3 consequetive days! We ended up spending a fortune in taxis as it was too hot to walk anywhere! If I ever went at that time of year again, I think I'd hire a car for my whole stay, and not just for the day we drove to the Grand Canyon!
Just a few questions for you.
Which WalMart do you go to? We have been to the one on Tropicana and the one on Spring Mountain at Rainbow. The spring mountain one was cheaper for the stuff I bought, and I wondered if you had found the same.
Where do you get all your coupons from? And what is an ACG coupon?
I know you can get some coupons from the magazines in the casinos, but you mentioned some that I had never seen or heard of before. Any pointers on the 2 for 1 coupons would be greatly appreciated. We fly out of Manchester six weeks today.
Glad you enjoyed your holiday.
Pebbles
Look up American Casino Guide on a search on the web and you'll see. I ordered it from Amazon before my trip, about £10. It has lots of good coupons. It also has some useful gaming advice.
I brought home some coupons, I'll have a search shortly.......are you going before end of October, or into November. If you want I can check what's valid for then and send any you like. I'd have to wait till later in week though......I'm on nightshift and got offered overtime wednesday night, and thought I better take it after spending so much in Vegas!!!
Thanks for the offer of you unused coupons, i'm sure we will be able to make use of them.
I had a look at the american casino guide site and have signed up for their email newsletter. I saw on there that you have to only remove the coupons when you are going to redeem them. Did you have any problems with that?
I hope you catch up on your sleep soon. Have you tried melatonin? It's supposed to be good for getting over jet lag. Trouble is I don't think you can buy it here. We got some a couple of years ago and it seemed to be OK, but because we are both retired we don't have to rush to get back into this time zone. Might be useful for your next trip though.
I've only got another 58 days to go and I am getting increasingly excitable!!!!
I'm off to find the American Casino Guide now, holidays and saving are the best
Have just ordered an ACG from Amazon. It was £7.49. It's cheaper because the new one comes out 1st November, same day as we fly out.
I saw that and wasn't sure whether to risk ordering the 2004 one, I'm going on the 17th of November. How long after a book is published do they send them out
Can't you find out the dispatch date on the amazon website? I didn't bother to look because it would be after I set off.
The coupons in the 2004 book are valid until dec 04. If you can get a 2005 book, the coupons will be valid until 2005 dec, and also you shouldn't have to carry the whole book like you do now - apparently they're changing the way they do it.
Later in the week, I will post a list of coupons I have, and if anyone wants particular ones they can reply and I can post them to whoever wants each coupon.......how's that???
That will be fine, Lesley. Hope you get some sleep before then.
I'm :swear. 2 more nights to go. I'm a glutton for punishment though, as I decided to do a night's overtime (to make up for some of my shopping!!).
Will be thur/fri before I can post a list of coupons!
edit - to add bleep*
I don't know where the Meadows mall is. the walmart we go to is west of the strip, in line with TI and fashion show mall.
Would you recommend Meadows mall for shopping?
I usually go to Boulevard Mall and the outlets for my shopping.
T-35 and counting
Pebbles
Pebbles, Meadows mall isn't particularly great. Bit like Boulevard, but smaller. Would recommend Boulevard though.
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