Flew from Edinburgh down to Heathrow then on to Las Vegas. Both good flights. Watched 3 films - Bohemian Rhapsody, A Star is Born and Mary Poppins Returns. Landed 20 minutes early then caught the WAX bus and the Deuce to the Stratosphere. Checked in and we were pleased with our Elite room on the 24th floor. Unpacked and spent an hour in the casino.
Monday 29 April
We both woke up at 4.30am but eventually managed to get back to sleep until 8am. Had breakfast in the McDonalds at Sahara (2 burritos for Jim and fruit and maple oatmeal for me plus 2 senior hot teas $6.03 total) then caught the SX (Sahara Express) and the 104 bus to pick up our LVA Members Reward Books from their offices (free with playing Comp City slots). Caught the 104 then the 206 up to Decatur where we bought Sketchers trainers for me in the Big 5 store, then picked up a few things in the 99c store before buying trainers in Wal-Mart for Jim. The rain started to come down heavily so we ran to the bus stop and caught the bus back to our hotel. Waited for the thunder and lightning to go off then left to meet up with our friends from Wales at the Downtown Grand. Chatted for over an hour then went to Binions to use a $50 reward in their Cafe from playing Binions slots app. Jim had the rib eye steak and I had the pot roast. Caught the SDX back to our hotel then had a much needed sleep. Gambled in the casino at night.
Tuesday 30 April
Had breakfast in the McDs at Sahara again then visited the SLS for a birthday promotion - I won 250 points. Played slots and gained 50 points which entitled me to enter a slot tournament. Didn't score very highly so didn't win anything. Bought our 15 day reduced fare bus ticket in the Circle K garage near to our hotel. Caught the SDX to Fremont Street and redeemed a $25 reward from playing Binions app and had soup and half a sandwich plus ice-cream in the Deli. We both redeemed free play in Binions - $36.24 profit and the Four Queens - $20.57 profit from the LVA Members Reward Books before catching the SDX to the Luxor where I received a spin on the wheel for free play at the players club as it was my birthday month. The girl spun the wheel and it landed on $50 - wow! So off we went spending the free play and ended up winning $41.52. We then walked up to Park MGM where we both received $25 free play for our birthday months (she gave Jim his early as it's not his birthday month till tomorrow). We enjoyed playing through all the free play and won $32.90 between us. Caught the SDX back to our hotel and finished off the night playing slots there.
Wednesday 1 May
Had breakfast in the McDs at Sahara then caught the SX to Palace Station to take part in the My Generation over 50s slot tournament. Didn't score very highly so didn't win anything on that. Played a few slots to enable Jim to play the tournament again but no luck. Caught the bus back to our hotel then the bus to Fremont Street to meet our friends and help them with their luggage to the airport. Once we said goodbye to them we caught the WAX bus to the MGM Grand where we redeemed a free dinner buffet each courtesy of playing the myvegas game. We were very disappointed with the choices of all the courses and compared to other buffets there was a very limited choice. There was however free beer and wine.
We then walked to the Luxor where Jim had a spin of the wheel for his birthday month. He received $10 free play which we turned into $8.87. Caught the SDX back to our hotel and gambled in the casino at night. We were slowly losing as usual but then got a good bonus on Stinkin' Rich which pulled us back a bit.
Thursday 2 May
Had breakfast in the McDs at Sahara then Jim got a birthday month spin in the SLS and won 250 points. We played slots and gained 50 points so that Jim could play the slot tournament but he didn't score highly, however we were $2.50 up so we couldn't complain. Returned our hotel and what's app'd our son back home. Relaxed then caught the Deuce to Fremont Street where we both redeemed $10 free play (LVA Members Reward Book) in the Plaza - $16.16 profit. We then ate in the Main Street Station buffet with a 2 for 1 voucher (LVA Members Reward Book) and redeemed the remaining points on my card ($11.67 total paid). Walked down to El Cortez and I received $20 free play and Jim got $10 from the coupons in the LVA Members Reward Books - $18.27 profit. Caught the Deuce back to our hotel. Gambled in our casino at night.
Friday 3 May
Had breakfast at the McDs at Sahara then caught the SDX to Hooters where we played $10 and received $10 in free play each from coupons in the LVA book - $17.39 profit and caught the 201 bus to the Wal-Mart at McLeod. Had a look round there and at the nearby Dollar Store before catching the bus back to the Strip where we caught the SDX to Fremont Street. Tried to redeem a reward in Binions for the Deli but their computer system was down so we used a McDonald's voucher which our friends from Wales had given us before they went home. Gambled for a while in Binions then returned to our hotel.
Saturday 4 May
Had breakfast at the McDs at Sahara then walked along to the Westgate where we booked tickets for the Jen Kramer magic show at 5pm. We had spoken to a couple when we went to see Barry Manilow last year and they recommended her show so decided to go. It was $63 for the 2 of us. We then caught the SDX to the Bellagio conservatory and took photos.
We popped into the Cosmopolitan and Jim placed a bet on the Kentucky Derby before catching the Deuce back to our hotel. We carried out a meal from McDs to our room and made use of the coffee machine. Caught the 108 bus to the Westgate to see our show. We enjoyed the magician and thought her show was innovative as we hadn't seen any of her tricks before. Walked back to our hotel and relaxed before playing slots in the casino.
Sunday 5 May
Had breakfast in the McDs at Sahara then caught the SDX to Fremont Street where we caught the HDX to Sunset Station. Visited the nearby Wal-Mart and 99c store before playing a few slots in Sunset Station. Caught the HDX back to Fremont Street and ate in Binions cafe with a $50 reward from playing the Binions app. We both had the rib eye steak.
Caught the SDX back to our hotel and booked tickets to a new show called Celestia for next Sunday - total $67.58. Caught the SDX to Fremont Street where we spent the night in Binions and the slots were kinder to us.
Monday 6 May
Had breakfast at the McDs at Sahara then caught the SDX to the Bellagio to film the conservatory. Walked through the casino and on through Caesars Palace and the Forum Shops. Crossed over and filmed the Venetian and the Palazzo and then the Wynn.
There was a film crew in the Wynn making a promotional video of a chef and a waiter delivering food from a pretend lift in the middle of the conservatory. If you look through the tree branches you can just make out the chef and waiter in the first photo plus the crew and you can just make out the pretend lift on the left in the second photo. Returned to our hotel to drop off the camcorder then caught the SDX and the DVX to the Cannery Hotel and casino for a 2 for 1 buffet (LVA Members Reward Book $12.98 total). Very nice buffet with some delicious desserts.
Played a few slots then caught the DVX and the Deuce back to our hotel. Gambled in our own hotel at night and had a good win on Twice Your Monkey so we were in profit for a change.
Tuesday 7 May
Had breakfast at the McDs at Sahara then caught the SX and the 104 bus to the Orleans to play $10 get $10 each from the LVA Members Reward Book - profit of $19.18. Watched the end of the Liverpool v Barcelona Champions League match which saw Liverpool through to the final then caught the 201 bus back to the Strip. Had a quick look round the Ross shop and Marshalls before catching the SDX to Binions and eating at the Deli with a $25 reward from playing the Binions app. Caught the SDX back to our hotel and just made it back as the rain was coming on. It's been quite cool today and the forecast for the next few days is not looking good.
Wednesday 8 May
Had breakfast at the McDs at Sahara then caught the SX to Palace Station and took part in the My Generation slot tournament - no luck again. Played some slots so that Jim could have another try but still no luck. Returned to our hotel and relaxed before catching the Deuce to the Mirage for a free buffet dinner courtesy of playing myvegas. We then watched the Beatles Love Cirque Du Soleil show which was free courtesy of playing myvegas. Caught the Deuce back to our hotel and played slots there.
Thursday 9 May
Had breakfast at the McDs at Sahara then walked down the Strip visiting various gift shops and stores. Sat in the Race and Sports Book in Encore before looking round the new designer shops in the Wynn.
Watched the end of a Europa league football match in the Wynn and then caught the Deuce to Fremont Street and ate in the Binions cafe with a $50 reward from playing the Binions app. Gambled in our own casino at night with no luck at all.
Friday 10 May
Had breakfast at the McDs at Sahara then walked to the Westgate where we booked tickets to see the Femmes of Rock for tomorrow night total paid $103. Walked up Elvis Presley Boulevard and caught the Deuce to the Fashion Show Mall and checked out the food court in preparation for when we stay at the Wynn in August. Also had a look at the slots in Treasure Island as there weren't many we could play in Wynn when we looked yesterday. Caught the SDX back to our hotel where once again our room hadn't been serviced (that's 3 days altogether now). Another complaint to the housekeeping manager followed and we were assured it would be done after we had got changed and gone for our dinner. Caught the SDX to Excalibur for our free dinner buffet courtesy of playing myvegas. We enjoyed our meal which included free wine and beer.
Returned a few hours later and our room had been done. Rested and then caught the SDX to Binions to play slots. Ended the night $11 up and caught the Deuce back to our hotel.
Saturday 11 May
Had breakfast at the McDs at Sahara then spent time at the pool as the weather has improved.
Caught the SDX then the DVX to the Cannery casino again for another 2 for 1 buffet. Caught the DVX back to Bonneville then the SDX to Westgate where we enjoyed the Femmes of Rock show. All 4 girls are classically trained violinists and live locally. They put on a great show but we would have enjoyed it more if they had played more songs that we knew however their rendition of Bohemian Rhapsody was fantastic.
Caught the 108 bus back to our hotel and played slots there - no luck at all.
Sunday 12 May
Had breakfast at the McDs at Sahara then spent time at the pool. Relaxed then caught the Deuce to Fremont Street and had dinner in Binions cafe using a $25 reward from playing the Binions app. We both had soup then the famous Binions burger.
Returned to our hotel then went to the show in the tent next to our hotel called Celestia. We enjoyed the show as the acrobats were all very talented.
Played slots in our hotel at night and broke even for a change.
Monday 13 May
Had breakfast at the McDs at Sahara then spent time at the pool. Caught the BHX to Sam's Town where we met up with our friends for coffee and a chat. Before we knew it two and a half hours had gone by! We caught the BHX back to Fremont Street and had our last free meal in Binions cafe with a $25 reward from playing the Binions app. Played slots in our own casino at night - no luck.
Tuesday 14 May
Had breakfast in the McDs at Sahara then caught the Deuce to the Linq promenade to film the new zip line and the Wildlife Habitat at the Flamingo Hotel.
Played slots in Binions at night but unfortunately we weren't in profit this time.
Wednesday 15 May
Had breakfast in the McDs at Sahara then bought a few souvenirs in the Biggest Gift Shop in the World. Returned to our hotel and played the free play on our players card and turned $9 free play into $7.56. Packed and showered then checked out at 3pm. Caught the 108 bus then the WAX to the airport and checked in for our flight home. We had pre-booked the 2 seats together at the back of the plane as we had sat there before and been comfortable. Well - it must have been the bumpiest flight we have ever been on. The turbulence was horrendous and every time I tried to go to sleep in a calm period we would hit more turbulence. I gave up eventually and watched a film (Green Book) to take my mind off it. Transferred onto the flight to Edinburgh and slept most of the flight. After we landed we waited for 15 - 20 minutes for the doors of the plane to open and disembark.
More photos:-
Final thoughts:-
We were extremely lucky with all the free play that we received for our birthday months ($83.29) plus the free play from the LVA Members Reward Book ($127.81).
The weather was the worst we have ever experienced in Las Vegas in Apr/May. We had rain, thunder and lightning and it was very cold at times. There were days of lovely sunshine though so that made up for it.
Because of the trouble we had with our room not being serviced for 3 days out of our stay they deducted 3 days resort fee from our bill ($112.20) so that compensated for it.
The Binions app is definitely worth playing - we redeemed $125 worth of food each which covered 7 meals.