Las Vegas - Vegas 08/15 - 08/17 ... the good, the bad and the ugly!

Well, just arrived back after a weekend in Vegas with the wife and kids (6+11 years) and here are a few observations -

The good -

1. The Rio hotel - Arrived at the Rio to check in for our comped Premium Suite at around 10pm Saturday night. Handed over the DL/CC and $20 and made our way swiftly to our Masquerade Suite! ^^^ The kids thought I was a high-roller :). The staff are extremely friendly and this hotel has never let us down with great service. The Casino was very busy at this time as I would have expected. Arrived at the craps table just at the right time and ended up a little over $1K better off after 25 mins ^^^ I love the atmosphere at the Rio tables, great fun and very friendly dealers.

2. Vegas was much busier than I had seen for some time. Tables were full of eager tourists and serious gamblers alike.

3. The Volcano at the Mirage ... the kids LOVED it.

The Bad -

1. Rented a car from Avis for the first time in years and waited in line for over an hour at the desk because their computer system was down! My wife was questioning my wisdom of saving $30 by not using National and going straight to the Emerald Aisle to choose our car!

2. Adventure Dome at Circus Circus was a "must do" according to the kids. I haven't been to CC for many years and now I know why. Full of unruly kids let off their leash by unruly parents. Still, my 2 had a blast there but I did tell them we're never going back. I ventured into the Casino for a quick visit to the craps table. The table was shabby and the dealers not much better. I find the atmosphere in CC to be quite seedy ... maybe I'm just a snob.
Lost $350 on the fisrt roll of the dice and decided to walk away :(

The Ugly -

1. Went out Sunday evening and had a nice evening doing various free shows etc for the kids, but roadworks started on Flamingo and the Strip at 9pm and it took us 1hour 20mins to drive back from TI to the Rio at 11pm Sunday night. It was traffic carnage! :td::td:. Still, one upside was that we were stuck in traffic next to the Volcano at Mirage and the kids got to see it erupt again but with air conditioning this time!

Don't know how long the roadworks will be going on but it really is very ugly heading south from Wynn/Ti etc until past Flamingo. Anyone going soon should consider this and maybe look into how long this is going on. Unfortunately we didn't consider an alternate route back and got stuck!

It was great to see Vegas full of life again, even if we did get frustrated sometimes with crowds/lines etc. But hey, you go to Vegas in August and you should expect that.

Good you had a nice time.

One should never drive the strip. Walking is faster :).

Since when is Avis cheaper than anybody????????????????

Since when is Avis cheaper than anybody????????????????

$64 for 2 days including all taxes/fees for a full-size ... cheaper than most for last weekend. Plus bonus AA miles booking on AA.com.

We have learned to avoid driving the Strip and instead use Koval or Industrial to get where we need to go....... after it taking over an hour to get from Tropicana to Harmon!!

Thanks to the OP for sharing his report -- I will be going in September over the Mayweather/Marquez fight weekend and beyond so will report back upon my return.

If I was on that itinerary I could add:

The Bad -

3. Desert heat. I know it's dry but still can't stand it.

If I was on that itinerary I could add:

The Bad -

3. Desert heat. I know it's dry but still can't stand it.That's your bad. There are months besides August when you could go to Vegas, you know. :D :D :D

Since when is Avis cheaper than anybody????????????????

They are....with the right code ;).

If I was on that itinerary I could add:

The Bad -

3. Desert heat. I know it's dry but still can't stand it.

I'll take 105F in Vegas over 100F in DFW anytime!!

That's your bad. There are months besides August when you could go to Vegas, you know. :D :D :D
I know. :) What I meant was if I were to exactly follow the OP's itinerary including the dates he chose.

... My wife was questioning my wisdom of saving $30 by not using National and going straight to the Emerald Aisle to choose our car!

...

National is not all that fast in LAS, either. Even with the EA.

I'll take 105F in Vegas over 100F in DFW anytime!!

Me too!

Even 110-115F in PHX/TUS in the summer felt no worse than 100F in DFW.

The Ugly -

1. Went out Sunday evening and had a nice evening doing various free shows etc for the kids, but roadworks started on Flamingo and the Strip at 9pm and it took us 1hour 20mins to drive back from TI to the Rio at 11pm Sunday night. It was traffic carnage! :td::td:. Still, one upside was that we were stuck in traffic next to the Volcano at Mirage and the kids got to see it erupt again but with air conditioning this time!

It's probably a good idea to avoid Flamingo during the construction times. I got stuck going eastbound towards the Strip when I was there last week, although my delay wasn't as bad as the OP's.



National is not all that fast in LAS, either. Even with the EA.

With EA, National is as fast as you want to make it. I've criticized the selection at National in Vegas before, but it's not like there are no cars. Only if you want a specific car can EA pose delays.

They are....with the right code ;).

...and the right Avis status ;) OTOH, I did just grab a brand new Impala off the National lot this week. I have never had a car with less than 10 miles at Avis - I might have to ask for one on my next rental.

BTW, Flamingo is presently a mess east/west bound from Swenson to I-15 at night. Avoid it all costs just like Tropicana a few months ago. Unfortunately, I have made the same mistake as OP several times this summer.

With EA, National is as fast as you want to make it. I've criticized the selection at National in Vegas before, but it's not like there are no cars. Only if you want a specific car can EA pose delays.

Last time I rented there, you needed to check in with the booth in the garage before going to EA/ES... and there was a line. That is different from just about everywhere else with an EA.

Last time I rented there, you needed to check in with the booth in the garage before going to EA/ES... and there was a line. That is different from just about everywhere else with an EA.

I've never had to check in with the booth. I last rented in June so if it's a new thing it's happened since then. The only time I've gone to the booth is when I want a specific car and it's not out.

I've never had to check in with the booth. I last rented in June so if it's a new thing it's happened since then. The only time I've gone to the booth is when I want a specific car and it's not out.

Could be... when I was there, access was roped off, you had to funnel through the booth.... that could have changed (it was April 2008). The "old" location was very fast.

Could be... when I was there, access was roped off, you had to funnel through the booth.... that could have changed (it was April 2008). The "old" location was very fast.

Never seen this scenario in plenty of Alamo & National rentals @ LAS. It took me 2 minutes to grab my car from QuickSilver tonight. QS = Emerald Reserve for Alamo - just go to your assigned category and grab a car. See the National forum for a discussion of http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/national/818662-cars-las.html.

Never seen this scenario in plenty of Alamo & National rentals @ LAS. It took me 2 minutes to grab my car from QuickSilver tonight. QS = Emerald Reserve for Alamo - just go to your assigned category and grab a car. See the National forum for a discussion of http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/national/818662-cars-las.html.

My experience with National is limited in LAS (2 rentals in the last 3 years) -- even though I use National EVERYWHERE else, I normally rent with Dollar in Las Vegas.

I think my experience was just about the time the garage first opened. I guess it changed. It was certainly unusual at an EA location, in my experience (I've had to use the booth at other EA sites, but only in after-hours situations).