Las Vegas Diary – August/September 2008
Wednesday 27 August
Our plane for Newark took off a few minutes early at
12.25pm. We were served a soft drink and peanuts first then a meal of either
chicken and rice or beef lasagne. Both films that were being shown on the
flight weren’t worth watching so Ross and I played Scrabble and did crosswords
and sudoku and then we all played cards. An hour before landing we were served
a hot cheese and chicken roll, a packet of crisps, a chocolate and a soft
drink. Then it was time to land at Newark – about half an hour early. We cleared
immigration and customs and made our way to our next flight. It was late coming
in so we were delayed quite a bit. We were due to take off at 5.20pm local time
but didn’t get to board until 5.40pm. The doors were closed by 6pm but we were
in a long, long line of planes waiting to take off. We were finally airborne at
7.40pm. We were served a meal of pizza and salad with a Kit Kat and a soft
drink. We had quite a bit of turbulence on this flight too before landing at
9.20pm in Las Vegas. We made our way to baggage claim and our cases came
through very quickly. We then took the escalator down to zero level and were
just in time to catch the 109 North bus at 9.47pm. We got off at the DTC and
walked to the Plaza Hotel and checked in. Our room is 1648 – non-smoking –
over-looking the Strip. It’s not the Ritz but the beds are clean and
comfortable. I unpacked whilst Jim and Ross went for water at Walgreens. We
then went down to McDonald’s for a midnight snack before retiring for the night
at 1.15am (9.15am UK time) so we’ve been on the go for over 25 hours.
Thursday 28 August
Woke up early (6am) so Jim and I had showers and eventually
Ross woke up. We had breakfast in McDonald’s then just missed a 105 bus so we
jumped on the 109 instead. Got off and caught the 202 to the Strip to meet up
with John and Jackie (friends from Ireland who were visiting Las Vegas for the first time) at the Imperial Palace at 11am. We had a good old blether
over coffee and doughnuts and didn’t realise how long we’d spoken for until we
looked at our watches. It was 1.30pm. We said our goodbyes and wished them a
safe journey home for tomorrow. We then took Ross on a stroll down the Strip
through O’Sheas, Flamingo (where we visited the Wildlife Habitat), Bill’s,
Bally’s, Paris and Planet Hollywood. Then we had a Panda Express Chinese meal
in a food court next to the MGM. We then visited MGM, New York New York,
Mandalay Bay, Luxor, Excalibur, Tropicana and Hooters before catching a 201
then a 109 back to the DTC. Jim filmed a light show before we all collapsed
into bed totally exhausted.
Friday 29 August
Went down for a McDonald’s breakfast at 9am and then spent
an hour by the pool. We all went in for a dip in the pool and then went back up
to our room for showers. We then took the shuttle bus to Sam’s Town to see the
Mystic Falls waterfall show. Then we nipped over the road to Walmart to buy a
few things. We then went back to Sam’s Town and watched some 10 pin bowling
and showed Ross the rest of the hotel.
We caught the shuttle bus back to Fremont Street at 4.30pm and went for the $7.77 buffet in the Plaza. We then watched a light show or two before going back up to the room. Ross opened all his birthday cards and we had a drink and played cards until midnight. We then hit the casino and played slots till 4am.
and showed Ross the rest of the hotel.
We caught the shuttle bus back to Fremont Street at 4.30pm and went for the $7.77 buffet in the Plaza. We then watched a light show or two before going back up to the room. Ross opened all his birthday cards and we had a drink and played cards until midnight. We then hit the casino and played slots till 4am.
Saturday 30 August
Had a long lie until 11am and then went to Subway for
brunch. Ross joined the Golden Nugget slot club and received $10 free
play. He played on an eBay community slot with it and managed to cash out $100 after
hitting a great bonus. He then had a go on the giant slot machine in the Golden
Nugget but didn’t win.
We then went to El Cortez and I joined up for $10 free play and won $21. We then took the 108 bus to the internet café and spent an hour there before crossing over to the Sahara. We then took the 108 bus to Terrible’s where Ross joined up to their slot club and received $5 free play and a t-shirt. He won $2 off his free play. We then caught the 202 to the Gold Coast where we enjoyed their buffet. Then it was over to the Palms for Ross to sign up and get his $10 free play, which he turned into $10 cash on a Top Gun slot machine. We then caught the 202 and then the 109 back to Downtown, had a quick drink in our room before playing slots again.
We then went to El Cortez and I joined up for $10 free play and won $21. We then took the 108 bus to the internet café and spent an hour there before crossing over to the Sahara. We then took the 108 bus to Terrible’s where Ross joined up to their slot club and received $5 free play and a t-shirt. He won $2 off his free play. We then caught the 202 to the Gold Coast where we enjoyed their buffet. Then it was over to the Palms for Ross to sign up and get his $10 free play, which he turned into $10 cash on a Top Gun slot machine. We then caught the 202 and then the 109 back to Downtown, had a quick drink in our room before playing slots again.
Sunday 31 August
Slept late so Jim nipped down to McDonald’s and brought us
breakfast in our room. We then went down to the pool for an hour, before
catching the 116 bus to the Strip. We visited the Wynn first where Ross signed
up for his $10 of free play which earned him $5 cash. We then visited the
Ferrari store before moving on to the Palazzo where we watched a small show
called the Living Garden which comprised 3 female living statues with water
sprouting from their fingertips and head – all done to music. Then a couple of
girls on stilts dressed as trees came along. It was all very bazaar.
We walked through to the Venetian and watched some jugglers in St. Mark’s Square and some gondoliers singing to their passengers.
We then walked over to Treasure Island, had a look round it and caught the 116 bus back to Downtown. After a quick change we walked to Main Street Station where I joined their player’s club to use a 2 for 1 coupon for their buffet – very nice.
We then played slots in the Plaza and Binion’s.
We walked through to the Venetian and watched some jugglers in St. Mark’s Square and some gondoliers singing to their passengers.
We then walked over to Treasure Island, had a look round it and caught the 116 bus back to Downtown. After a quick change we walked to Main Street Station where I joined their player’s club to use a 2 for 1 coupon for their buffet – very nice.
We then played slots in the Plaza and Binion’s.
Monday 1 September
Had breakfast in Fitzgerald’s and then sat by the pool for
an hour. We then took the Max bus and went North to another Walmart. Spent some
time there before catching the Max bus back to Jerry Nugget’s casino for a look
round. We then came back to our hotel and had a game of bingo. What a stressful
three quarters of an hour that was! We had 12 cards for each game and could
hardly keep up with the caller. Plus the air conditioning was freezing.
Unfortunately, we didn’t win. We then went for the $7.77 buffet in the Plaza
before our night out. We started off in the Golden Gate where we won $50 on one
spin on a Da Vinci Diamonds slot machine. We then watched a light show before
going to the Golden Nugget, then another light show and then the 4 Queens, then
another light show. We finished off in the Plaza ending the night $5 up each.
Tuesday 2 September
Had breakfast in our room before going down to the pool for
an hour or so. Ross and I had a dip in the pool. Don’t know how they advertise
it as heated as it is freezing. We all had showers then took the 116 bus to the
Strip. We had a walk round The Mirage then the Forum Shops where we saw the
animatronic display of fire versus water. We then walked through Caesar’s
Palace and caught the 202 to the Gold Coast. We just missed the 104 so decided
to walk to the Orleans instead. Once there we ate in their buffet with an ACG 2
for 1 voucher. We then caught the 201 back to the Strip and walked up to Planet
Hollywood. We all entered a free slot tournament but didn’t win anything. We
then crossed over to the Bellagio and watched a couple of fountain shows. We
then caught the 202 down to Koval but had just missed the 116, which only runs
once an hour at night, so we nipped into Ellis Island for a quick shot on their
slots and a free drink for all of us. We came out about $6 up and caught the
116 back to Downtown. We started off in Fitzgerald’s and then watched a light
show before heading up to the Plaza to use our 6 free drink vouchers that the
lady at the bingo had given us. We played slots to 1.45am and were only
slightly down.
Wednesday 3 September
Had breakfast in our room before walking along to the
Gambler’s General Store to look for an ACG. They were sold out unfortunately.
We then walked to the 108 bus stop and caught the bus to the internet café.
Spent an hour in there before walking along to the Hilton. Amazingly we met
Martha from the Louis Theroux documentary and spoke to her about the show. She
stopped gambling 4 months ago as she said that the Hilton had stopped giving
her comps so she wasn’t going to give them any more of her money. We then booked
Barry Manilow tickets for George and Doreen (our friends from back home) before walking back to the Sahara,
where we all swiped our cards – no wins again. Then we walked up to the
Stratosphere for a look round. After that it was a visit to the biggest gift
shop in the world. Then it was time for the Sahara buffet ($6.99 with your club
card). We then caught the 108 bus back to the Plaza. After a short rest we went
down to the Las Vegas Club to play slots and watch the light shows. There were
good ones on at 9pm and 10pm – American Pie and Queen.
Later on we came back to the Plaza and discovered that a commercial for Ford cars was being filmed outside so Jim and Ross watched it. We had another late night.
Later on we came back to the Plaza and discovered that a commercial for Ford cars was being filmed outside so Jim and Ross watched it. We had another late night.
Thursday 4 September
Had breakfast in our room and then caught the 107 down Boulder
Highway to Longhorn Casino. Had a quick look round and then went over the road
to the newly opened Eastside Cannery. Had a look round there and then walked up
to Gamestop and Walmart to look for DS Lite games for Scott, our other son. We then took the
202 to the Strip where we visited the Bellagio Conservatory and Chocolate shop
and watched a couple of fountain shows. We then walked all the way up to the
Fashion Show Mall to pick up another game for Scott in the Gamestop there.
Caught the 116 bus back to Fremont Street and used a 2 for 1 coupon for a
buffet dinner in the Fremont Hotel. Then it was just time for showers before
Ross and I went to another session of bingo – no luck again. We watched the
10pm light show which was Queen again – brilliant. We then visited the
California and Main Street Station for a go on their slots. Our money lasted us
all night for a change.
Friday 5 September
Had breakfast in our room again before spending an hour by
the pool. We then caught the 116 bus to the Strip and walked to the Carnival
Courtyard to get tickets for Mac King. Unfortunately, he wasn’t on but another
chap called Jeff Hobson was on in place of him. He also does comedy magic. Jim
and Ross went to see him and they said he was really funny. We then walked down
to Planet Hollywood for our free slot tournament. Jim and I failed to get 5000
points but Ross managed it and received a free flashlight. We then walked back
to Flamingo Drive to catch the 202 to Terrible’s for our 2 for 1 buffet. We
then caught the 202 across to the Rio to see the Masquerade in the Sky.
Unfortunately, it wasn’t on so we came out and caught the 202 back to the Strip
and spent the evening in the Imperial Palace. We then walked up to the Palazzo
and caught the 116 back to the Plaza. Played slots for the rest of the night
and had another late night.
Saturday 6 September
Had breakfast in our room and then caught the 108 from the
DTC to the internet café. Spent an hour there before going over to the Sahara
to swipe our club cards – no win again. Then we walked to Circus Circus and
caught the end of a circus act. We then crossed over to the Riviera to see what
had changed there. They’ve built a new sports book and changed some of the
casino round. We then walked back to the Sahara and went to their buffet again.
We then caught the 108 bus back to the Plaza where Jim and Ross entered a free
draw with the points from their players cards. Unfortunately, we didn’t win.
We had a rest and showers before heading out for the night to the Fremont
Hotel. We watched 4 light shows before coming back to the Plaza. Another late
night!
Sunday 7 September
Had breakfast in our room again then sat at the pool for an
hour. Had a rest in our room and watched Andy Murray win his semi-final of the
US Open against Nadal. We then went to the Premier Outlets and Jim and Ross
bought new trainers. We came back and tried to use the 2 for 1 coupon for
Fitzgerald’s but it was closed. Instead, Ross joined the Main Street Station
players club and we used a 2 for 1 coupon there instead. Then it was slot time
and light show time. We started off in the 4 Queens where we found a Dirty
Harry slot very similar to Top Gun and Wizard of Oz. We played for quite a
while in there and were in profit for a change. We had a short spell in the
Golden Nugget and the Golden Gate before returning to the Plaza where we played
the Wizard of Oz. Glinda the Good Fairy very kindly gave us wilds on reels 1 3
and 5 to win over $81 on one spin! We ended the night in profit by $40 each,
which was a very welcome change.
Monday 8 September
Had breakfast in our room before sitting by the pool for an
hour. We then had showers and were just about to go out when it came on thunder
and lightning and torrential rain. We watched it from our bedroom window and we
were just about to go out again when the rain came on again so we decided just
to eat in the buffet in our hotel. We then did a bit of shopping in the gift
shops on Fremont Street and played slots and watched the light shows.
Tuesday 9 September
Had breakfast in our room then caught the 108 bus to use the
internet for an hour. Then we took the 204 along to the Palace Station to see
if it had changed any from when we stayed there in 1997. After a brief look
round we managed to find the 119 bus stop and went to the Fashion Show Mall to
get another DS game for Scott. Then it was back to our hotel to pack the cases.
We then caught the 108 back to the Sahara for our last buffet. We then caught
the 108 down to Flamingo road and transferred to the 202. We got off at
Caesar’s Palace and walked down to Planet Hollywood for a last shot at their
free slot tournament. Then we watched a couple of fountain shows before
catching the 202 over to the Rio to see the Masquerade in the Sky.
Unfortunately, it is only on Thurs, Fri, Sat and Sun and we didn’t know that so
no show for us this time. We then took the 202 down to Koval and transferred to
the 116 which took us back to Fremont Street. We had one last go on the slots
before bedtime.
Wednesday 10 September
Up early and had breakfast in our room as usual. We then
wheeled our cases round to the DTC and caught the 109 bus to the airport and
checked in for our flight. It was on time. We arrived safely in Newark and
after a change of gate number boarded our next flight to Edinburgh. It was the
best flight of the holiday as it had seat back entertainment of On Demand
movies, music videos and games. Ross and I played battleships, connect 4 and
poker against each other. Landed on time in Edinburgh to sunny skies – wonderful.
Some of our slot wins:-
Some of our slot wins:-
