Las Vegas - Vegas Report

Howdy, all!

Here is an abbreviated Vegas trip report for you all with my impressions. If you have any questions, please ask.

Day 1 - Saturday: Arrived mid-afternoon and didn't realize how far the new car rental hub was. Headed to the Signature at MGM Grand and was placed in a 1-bedroom suite on the 31st floor of Tower 2 with a view of the airport and mountains. Loved the room and the service at the hotel. Lunch at the Bellagio buffet ($25 per person) which was very good. Lots of interesting choices and very attentive service.

Spent the day relaxing and then headed to Lotus of Siam for a Thai dinner. Stellar. Great food, although the strip mall is horribly run down. Then headed to The Beatles Love (Cirque production). What a treat. Lots of fun and everyone in the audience singing along.

Day 2 - Sunday: Casinos were dead. Really dead. Had the Mandalay Bay casino nearly to ourselves. Had brunch at Bouchon which was quite good. Spent the afternoon at the pool at the hotel and enjoying Orange Basil Mojitos. Those were incredible. Sunday night was dinner at Rosemary's in northwest Vegas. What a treat. American bistro with lots of flairs and some of the best restaurant service I have had in some time.

Spent the evening attached to the Village People Party slot machine, which was a hoot (although I categorically deny I ever had a lime green leisure suit, white shoes and belt, and an afro... and I burned the negatives, too.). Lots of fun.

Day 3 - Monday: Casinos a bit busier because of convention business. Tried to walk the Strip and grew tired quickly of the missing sidewalks and card flappers. Retreated to the car and drove everywhere. Lunch was at Burger Bar at Mandalay Bay. Very good burger and killer onion rings. A fun place. Spent the afternoon again pool side with more mojitos. Dinner was at Todd's Unique in Henderson. Excellent food, unpretentious atmosphere, good service and very creative food. Spent the evening in MGM Grand casino which was okay.

Day 4 - Today: Got up and out of the room. Service was impeccable all the way through our stay. Had lunch at Lindo Michoacan for Mexican food. Pork braised in Coca-Cola and Chicken in Jalapeno Cream sauce were delicious. Headed to the car rental return and was back at the airport and waiting for my flight. Unfortunately, the AC at the airport was abysmal and it was a sauna.

A few observations:

1. Vegas looks like a half-dressed prom date right now. So much under construction with some of it at a stand still.

2. Renting a car was a very wise decision. Navigating the torn up sidewalks and uneven surfaces with all the construction was wearing us out. We could also take back surface streets to everywhere. Best decision we made.

3. Service was very good no matter where we went.

A wonderful trip and had a blast. Now for the wrap up:

Hotel cost for 1 bedroom at Signature: $159.00/night. Also included a $100 drink credit.

Rental Car: 3 days and five hours for $125.12 from Hertz. (Also got 1.5 RR credits from Southwest.)

Most expensive restaurant we dined at: Rosemary's (and well worth it). $180.34 which included tip.

Most disappointing element of the trip: New York New York. Just boring through and through.

Thanks for your trip report. You hit most of the vegas culinary champions.

Sidewalks have gotten bad? I was there in May and didn't notice anything too extreme. However, my walking area was from Bellagio to Wynn.. so not sure if there is anything going on outside of that area.

The card flappers are getting old, though.

Renting a car was a very wise decision.



I'd only RAC if I were staying in Summerlin or LakeLV.

Sidewalks have gotten bad? I was there in May and didn't notice anything too extreme. However, my walking area was from Bellagio to Wynn.. so not sure if there is anything going on outside of that area.

The card flappers are getting old, though.

The sidewalks are fine in most areas along the strip. The main exception is near the City Center construction, where they've got a lot of sidewalk diversions to accommodate construction of the new pedestrian bridge between Planet Ho and City Center--right where the OP was trying to walk.

Renting a car was a very wise decision.

^ Wise indeed. I always rent a car. After years of trips to Vegas, I've learned it's the easiest, quickest, and cheapest way to get around - assuming you know your way around, of course. :cool:

BTW, great report, PhoenixRev! ^^^

The sidewalks are fine in most areas along the strip. The main exception is near the City Center construction, where they've got a lot of sidewalk diversions to accommodate construction of the new pedestrian bridge between Planet Ho and City Center--right where the OP was trying to walk.And that area is a total mess right now. This weekend the card flappers were stationed all the way through the gauntlet of temporary plastic faux-concrete barriers snaking into the streets and back to the sidewalk. You'd think the city could bar the flappers from such temporary sidewalks due to safety concerns, no?

Sidenote: City Center now creates an artificial shade zone all along the Planet Ho frontage from about 5 PM onwards; and I noticed something of a canyon wind effect in this area when walking. Interesting changes in the microclimate.