Just got back from Vegas

[Gordio]

I got back from Vegas yesterday morning. Couple things. I have not been there in six years. I used to go there with my friends for the Super Bowl every year. When I used to go there I would fly in Friday night & catch the first plane out of there Monday morning. I know someone said this but forgot who but 2 - 3 days in Vegas is plenty. This time I went with my wife & we stayed 6 days. Good time but man I was glad to get on that plane Tuesday with my wallet still basically intact. Betting at least a grand a day at the sports book, drinking nonstop & staying up to all hours of the night with very little sleep I feel like I have been hit with a sledgehammer & is a bit much for this 44 year old.

 

Okay so the good, the weather was beautiful. We were supposed to stay at Mandalay Bay but we changed to Excalibur. They gave us a real good deal, just charging us for the weekday rate even for the weekend so it was really cheap. With that being said, Excalibur is what it is. The pool area & the gym is very nice. Restaurant options are minimal there. The hotel is outdated. The sports book was fine. They were a bit stingy with the drink tickets but I bet so much that it wasn't a problem & I didn't pay for a drink all week but it wasn't like when I stayed at Harrah's in the past where I had 10-15 drink tickets left over every night. The betting was good, I got hit pretty god Saturday in college football, mainly out of my own stupidity. I accidently put Utah State bet in at +6 $100 4 times during the course of the day when I only meant to put it in once(I must of forgot to put it in each time; yes I was highly intoxicated). & of course it doesn't come in. It meant me losing about $380 to breaking out even for the day. The rest of the days were good. Sunday won $80 in the NFL & the baseball playoffs were very good(went 10-2). Also did well betting overs in the NHL. So over the course of 5 days at the sports book I probably won about a grand overall which I was happy with.

 

We went over to Mandalay to watch the Bills game & man am I bummed we cancelled our reservation there. First time I was ever there & it is a beautiful casino/hotel. There was no one there either. I didn't see no signs of the "scene" there either except for the 2 broken windows up top. My wife who was more hesitant than me said we should of stayed there also. We walked the strip down to Harrah's on Friday night & I got to say that middle part(which used to be my favorite part has changed & not for the better. It is very seedy there now. Seems a lot younger, the smell of pot was every where. People getting right in your face trying to peddle anything & everything got annoying. I don't know, maybe I am just getting older but it got annoying.

 

I can not believe how expensive the food is there now. Paying $18 dollars for a burger, $4 for a coke. Buffets(we only at one) are 40-50. Times have changed, you don't see many of the 60 & older crowd on the strip anymore & I think it has a lot to do with the days of $9.99 buffets & Vegas giving away free stuff is long gone. Much younger crowd imo which I thought was interesting. I also thought that it was a totally different scene on the other side of the street(Mirage/Ceasars side). Much less seedy & normal imo.

 

Against my better judgement we went downtown to the old Vegas Saturday night. Freak show city & I couldn't wait to get out of there. my wife went zip lining while I watched the Dodgers/Arizona game. She enjoyed it.

 

The mood at the strip was festive even under the circumstances. The Uber driver that took us from the airport to the hotel told us she heard that there were 1 or 2 more shooters involved but they didn't want the press to release that information right now. Not sure how she knew that or if it is even tru but thought it was interesting. I didn't sense anymore security than normal & a couple times I got an uneasy feeling walking the strip. I did not feel completely safe. I thought a couple times walking the strip this place is a sitting target for anybody that wanted to make a statements. It is just so crowded 24/7 365 days a year & there is nowhere to hide/run to if trouble erupted. That is just my opinion.

 

We went to visit my friend that lives there on Thursday night. He has nice house, makes a very nice wage there. As we were driving there the mountains are nice scenery, but there is no greenery, it is not a real pretty place. He had a inground pool which was half the size of my inground pool. I thought to myself with the weather being what it was that was kind of weird.

 

I rarely play slots & my wife doesn't really like to gamble but they were a lot tighter than what I remember. I honestly didn't see anybody win on the slots. I thought that was interesting & my theory is my parents generation would go to Vegas, eat for free, & spend every waking minute at the slot machines. My generation & the younger generations don't do that. They are more into going to the clubs/bars, hanging out at the pool & I tink the Casinos have taken a hit over this.

 

In closing all in all it was a good time. I missed the kids(first time we took a vacation without them). Although it was fun, it wasn't as enjoyable as I remember it. If we do ever go back my wife & I said we will stay at Mandalay Bay & just stick pretty much to that hotel. I don't need to see the rest of the attractions on the strip as I have been here so many times & have seen everything. I thought a couple times about the people that live there & how would I like livi ng there. I think the heat would get to me. It was still close to 90 everyday & is the middle o October. Living in a glorified desert would get to me also. This may sound funny to say but driving back from the airport on my way home Buffalo/WNY is a lot pretty than a place like Vegas. It may not have the neon lights & such but there are trees everywhere, leaves are changing the housing seems nicer. I don't know, Buffalo gets a bad rap but the atmosphere, scenery here is beautiful imo. Good trip but glad to be home.

[Chef Jim]

I work with three guys that were at the concert. Two of them gave me detailed stories of the scene. I wont go into their details but I will say they were beyond chilling.

[Gordio]

I work with three guys that were at the concert. Two of them gave me detailed stories of the scene. I wont go into their details but I will say they were beyond chilling.

 

 

I believe it. The scary thing for me is that the couple we went with our both school teachers so they wanted to go Columbus day weekend. We were originally going to go the week before. My wife is a big country music fan. I am not saying we would of been at that concert but we would of definitely brought out a few drinks found a place to sit & listened to the music on the outskirts that night. Very scary stuff.

[plenzmd1]

I was a big Vegas guy, at least once a year starting in 85. Wife and I met friends there about 18 months ago, it will absolutely be our last trip there outside of work, for all the reasons you mentioned.

 

Prices are insane everywhere, its all about the clubs now( which is fine except when you mid 50's and with your wife ) , and I can gamble pretty much anywhere I go and I bet sports online. Yep, there is a concentration of great restaurants in Vegas, but all at least 40% overpriced.

 

As they say, it's a young mans game now!

[Johnny Hammersticks]

I would never go back unless it was free. Ridiculously expensive, crowded, unbearably hot, and scummy. The only things I enjoyed about Vegas were the Cirque Beatles show and the marijuana dispensary. The rest is vastly overrated, IMHO.

[Gordio]

I was a big Vegas guy, at least once a year starting in 85. Wife and I met friends there about 18 months ago, it will absolutely be our last trip there outside of work, for all the reasons you mentioned.

 

Prices are insane everywhere, its all about the clubs now( which is fine except when you mid 50's and with your wife ) , and I can gamble pretty much anywhere I go and I bet sports online. Yep, there is a concentration of great restaurants in Vegas, but all at least 40% overpriced.

 

As they say, it's a young mans game now!

 

 

Yep that is my take on it also. One other funny story first thing when we get to the Excalibur, a person sends us over to the side desk to hve someone tell us about all the shows & such. I wasn't really paying attention & the girl says to me "where are ou from honey?" & I said Buffalo & she says "omg I am from Rochester, give me a hug & she runs around the desk & gives me a big hug & I look up at her & it is a transvestite. Either that or it was the ugliest broad I have ever seen. I was mortified, my wife & the couple we were with could not stop laughing. Good way to start off the trip. lol

Edited October 11, 2017 by Gordio

[Johnny Hammersticks]

Yep that is my take on it also. One other funny story first thing when we get to the Excalibur, a person sends us over to the side desk to hve someone tell us about all the shows & such. I wasn't really paying attention & the girl says to me "where are ou from honey?" & I said Buffalo & she says "omg I am from Rochester, give me a hug & she runs around the desk & gives me a big hug & I look up at her & it is a transvestite. Either that or it was the ugliest broad I have ever seen. I was mortified, my wife & the couple we were with could not stop laughing. Good way to start off the trip. lol

Hahahaha...actually a good old fashioned tranny hug is one of the most fitting ways to kick off your Vegas trip. While you were there did you happen to run into all those disgusting homeless people handing out "Orgasm Clinic" cards? I nearly vomited on this one woman she smelled so bad. Such filth.

[Chef Jim]

It doesnt do much for me either. Ive only gone twice and both were paid for by the company. I dont gamble so not much of a draw. Sure some of the best chefs in the world have restaurants there but they are rarely there themselves so Im not interested. Best meal I had there was some hole in the wall Thai place way off the strip

[sullim4]

I suppose we are part of that "younger" crowd - my wife is 30 and I'm 33. When we go to Vegas, it's all about the high end dining and entertainment. I might gamble a few bucks in the slots or bet on the Bills but that's it. I'd rather spend money on fancy dinners or a show. We also have been staying at Vdara, a non-casino hotel right between Aria and Cosmo.

 

During the day, we will explore other parts of the area - Red Rock, shopping malls, etc. The strip gets tiring after about a day to a day and a half. I actually enjoy Fremont St during the day... haven't been there at night. I could certainly believe it's a freak show at that time of day.

 

We will be back in a month so my wife can run the Rock 'n Roll half marathon. I agree, a few days there is more than enough.

[shrader]

It doesnt do much for me either. Ive only gone twice and both were paid for by the company. I dont gamble so not much of a draw. Sure some of the best chefs in the world have restaurants there but they are rarely there themselves so Im not interested. Best meal I had there was some hole in the wall Thai place way off the strip

 

I bet that's the case most of the time. When you find the right one, those hole in the wall restaurants almost always seem to wind up as the best bets. I had that same experience in New Orleans a few years back. Most of the food was really damn good, but the one I remember best was a place that was basically just a local diner. Now if only there was an easier way of finding these places. They're hidden gems for a reason.

 

As for Vegas, I went there last year in February for the first time. It was a 3-4 day trip and that was just about perfect. I'd like to go back at some point. Like you, I'm not much of a gambler, but I do think I'd be able to find plenty of things to do with all of the shows in the area. My wife actually got pulled on stage with Penn and Teller and we have a cell phone video to go with it. I'd also like to explore the area around there a bit more than we did. We only managed one trip to the Hoover dam.

[4merper4mer]

Did any of you guys get a bet down on Trinidad and Toboggan?

[Gordio]

Hahahaha...actually a good old fashioned tranny hug is one of the most fitting ways to kick off your Vegas trip. While you were there did you happen to run into all those disgusting homeless people handing out "Orgasm Clinic" cards? I nearly vomited on this one woman she smelled so bad. Such filth.

 

 

Oh yeah, made me sick also. The strip was clean/not bad on the Ceasars/Venetian side, some trees, water falls & such. I thought it was very filthy on the Harrah's side. It actually makes me sick thinking about it.

 

I do agree with Chef also, a lot of famous restaurants but they are just a runoff & using the names of the famous chef's. We went to the Madalay Steak House Sunday night. It was okay, I am not going to say it was bad. But it was very pricey. I got the ribeye, my wife got filet. It was decent. I would rather go to Kennedy's Cove on Main Street in Clarence. Better food & about half the price.

[plenzmd1]

So many great restaurant cities now, no need to go to Vegas for great food. LA, San Francisco, Searlle and Portland, on the West Coast, Portland, Richmond, Charleston on the East Coast, and all have great theatre and shows for much less. Granted,I have seen my fair share of Cirque shows and they hold no interest for me anymore, but i enjoy the chit out of local theatre, Saeson ticket holder in both Richmond and DC.

Edited October 11, 2017 by plenzmd1

[Seasons1992]

 

As they say, it's a young mans game now!

 

Well, you certainly have plenty of young men in your family that can show you the ropes on how to "come back to the hotel" at 9am...........

I'll bring the breakfast.

 

I only spend my money on booze and food in Vegas anymore......really great dinners every night. Bouchon is amazing.

[Gugny]

I would never go back unless it was free. Ridiculously expensive, crowded, unbearably hot, and scummy. The only things I enjoyed about Vegas were the Cirque Beatles show and the marijuana dispensary. The rest is vastly overrated, IMHO.

 

I've only been to Vegas once. The only thing I wanted to do was go to the Cirque Beatles show, and I was unable to attend. Other than that, I was bored out of my mind for 3 nights/4 days. Luckily, I was attending CES for work, so it was on their dime. I would never pay to go there.

[Seasons1992]

Best meal I had there was some hole in the wall Thai place way off the strip

 

I bet it was Lotus of Siam. Very famously hole-in-the-wall known.

[plenzmd1]

 

Well, you certainly have plenty of young men in your family that can show you the ropes on how to "come back to the hotel" at 9am...........

I'll bring the breakfast.

 

I only spend my money on booze and food in Vegas anymore......really great dinners every night. Bouchon is amazing.

Youngins!

[Gordio]

One other good thing that happened. We were walking thru Mandalay Bay by the shop area Sunday & Pete Rose was at an autograph signing. The employee at the door was practically begging people to come in. Noone was in the place. So I told my wife I am going to go in. Shook his hand. Seemed like an okay guy. He wanted $75 to take a picture with him & $200 for a signed baseball. Also $100 for anything autographed. When the guy asked me if I am going to buy anything or wanted anything autographed I just told him "yeah I am Mets fan, if you had Ray Knight here I would buy something ." & I walked out.

Edited October 11, 2017 by Gordio

[Kelly the Dog]

One other good thing that happened. We were walking thru Mandalay Bay by the shop area Sunday & Pete Rose was at an autograph signing. The employee at the door was practically begging people to come in. Noone was in the place. So I told my wife I am going to go in. Shook his hand. Seemed like an okay guy. He wanted $75 to take a picture with him & $200 for a signed baseball. Also $100 for anything autographed. When the guy asked me if I am going to buy anything or wanted anything autographed I just told him "yeah I am Mets fan, if you had Ray Knight here I would buy something ." & I walked out.

6 Days in Vegas is way too much. 3 becomes a lot and I go there all the time.

 

Pete Rose was on Home Shopping Network when he was still in a lot of trouble and someone called up and asked if he still had the jersey he got his 4000th hit with. And Rose said, Sure! What size you need?

[Johnny Hammersticks]

I've only been to Vegas once. The only thing I wanted to do was go to the Cirque Beatles show, and I was unable to attend. Other than that, I was bored out of my mind for 3 nights/4 days. Luckily, I was attending CES for work, so it was on their dime. I would never pay to go there.

Dude, that show was absolutely unreal. My wife was going back and forth about which show to see, and I told her "honey, let's go see whichever one you want. I really don't care. Not my thing." Man, I was literally shaking by the end. It was amazing. So powerful.