Las Vegas Nov 2022 Low Roller

This is the long-awaited Vegas with Teens trip! Flew into Vegas at 7:30 a.m. — two hours ago! Amazingly was able to check in at Bellagio and be in our room by 8:30.

Got a Spa Tower room on the 7th floor, but any room would have been accepted! We were trying to determine whether the room was recently renovated, and it seems like it was, but signs that it wasn't are the old, 30-pin iPod dock on the iHome clock and no USB ports next to the bed, and it has a bathtub (which the Mrs. likes).

I was thirsty and there isn't a vending machine with the ice machine so I went to the newsstand right next to the first floor elevators (my son asked "does anyone go there for news?"). I asked if they have "surge pricing" and she said yes. Drinks were $5.89 for a 24-ounce Dr. Pepper and Coke Zero, and $6.39 for a 1-liter Dasani water. First $18.17 dropped in Vegas!

Welcome to Vegas strip pricing. Better hit any supermarket stocking up goodies.

After a nap, the Mrs, daughter, and I walked around the Bellagio conservatory and took pics of their Christmas-themed displays. Nice display, but not as amazing, I felt, as their other seasonal themes. We were in the Cartier store when the daughter suddenly pleaded for water. With no shops nearby, I went over to the Baccarat Bar, but no freebie waters there. A small Fiji water bottle cost $8.67 + $1 tip. $16 on Las Vegas water so far!

Bellagio Patisserie to-go order of a ham & gruyere sandwich ($17) for the kid, and a seared ahi tuna salad ($18) and Americano ($6) for the Mrs and I.

Ate at the pool area (current hours: 9am-4pm). Only two pools open — small adult pool with not too many people, and bigger pool with some kids but overall quiet and relaxing with good views of Cosmopolitan hotel in the 70-degree afternoon sun.

Dropped off the kid and the Mrs. and I walked around the casino. $25 min craps was all I really saw. Two closed pai gow tiles tables. We walked over to The Cromwell. $15 min craps, $10 three card poker. We found some seats at the bar. Meiomi pinot noir for her, Guinness on tap for me. She played 1x$1 6-5 JoB (yikes) and I played $1 video blackjack (no split, no doubling, blackjack pays even money). Absolute worst odds possible, but she had a good run of full houses, finishing up $28 and I played 29 hands at $1 and managed to come back and finish even. After two rounds of drinks, we felt like winners!

Dinner reservations for 5pm at Mon Ami Gabi at Paris Casino so the kids could enjoy patio dining in front of the Bellagio dancing waters. Patio seats are based on availability, but plenty available at 5pm. We always have a good experience there, especially great service. Hot bread and butter ($3) and french fries ($7) to start. For starters, I ordered chicken liver pate ($17) and the boy had onion soup ($15). I ordered a side of root vegetables ($9); split a peppery Steak Poivre ($36) with the Mrs.; the son had the buttery classic steak ($36); and the daughter had hanger steak ($35). With tax and tip, the dinner was $199.

Each steak dish comes with french fries on the side, which was a lot — too much. I was given the option to replace the fries with the root vegetables, and should have taken it. My Thanksgiving plan was a reservation at The Steakhouse at Circus Circus, but with everyone ordering steak tonight, that plan is blown up!

We went to the top of the Eiffel Tower ($27 adults, $22 kids) and did the usual touristy things up there. Good weather, fortunately!

We walked to CVS for snacks and drinks, then walked to the Miracle Mile Shops at Planet Hollywood. The ABC Store is cheaper for everything ($3.50 Fiji water vs. $4+ at CVS), including 2 for $5 refrigerated Spam musubi and a pretty good $3 Vegas fabric bag to carry everything. If you're in the Bellagio-Paris-Planet Hollywood area, I recommend the ABC store to stock up.

Have your kids been out to Red Rock Canyon ? Very, very scenic. But you would need to get a rental car. I usually get an Enterprise from the Westin or the place on West Flamingo. And don't forget the Pinball Hall of Fame.

And just in case you are looking for other Dinner ideas:

The Brazilian PAMPAS LAS VEGAS place in the Miracle Mile Shops is pretty good, especially if you can get 2 for 1 vouchers at Tix for Tonight. If I recall correctly, we got tix for lunch a couple years ago but made the reservation for very late in the afternoon as an early-ish dinner.

Another reasonable place to eat is OCEAN ONE, also in the Miracle Mile shops. I would skip the burger, unless you like them well done. But I thought the Caribbean Mahi Mahi sandwich on the lunch menu was very good.

I'd hand each kid $100 and explain that is their water ration for the week. If they choose to spend $8 on a bottle of water, it's on them.

It kills me to spend $1 on water. Before I’d spend $8 I’d find a straw and a drainage ditch…..

I will tip $1 for water in a casino, but that’s different…

When with wifey all the rules are thrown out the window…. I think in Paris I spent over $20 a day on Diet Pepsi….

When I stay at Bellagio I walk over to the ABC Store in the Miracle Mile shops across the street and stock up on sodas and waters.

Yep, ABC and CVS for H2O.

Yep, I have never spent so much on bottled water during a hotel stay. I recall one Vegas trip where I refrained from buying a $4 water because I knew I'd have the Ellis Island $9 steak dinner that night!

Quote: smoothgrh

A small Fiji water bottle cost $8.67 + $1 tip.

Item # 13 on what is wrong with Las Vegas these days, and the list goes on and on and on.

Monday morning the daughter and I walked over to the Flamingo for their 8:30am flamingo habitat trainer talk. But no wildlife exhibition now because of avian influenza concerns! I also looked for the parrots along the shops like in 1996, but no parrots to be seen. Times must have changed.

We got a slice of $8.95 cake from the cake vending machine at the Flamingo check-in area, but those machines are all over: the airport, the Cromwell, Miracle Mile Shops.

Walked over to Caesars Palace and got some breakfast at Bobby Flay's at the food court. No wonder there was a long line at Starbucks but no wait at Flay's: I ordered a bacon, egg, and cheese breakfast sandwich ($15), orange juice and coffee and the total announced was $31! I was like what?! OJ and coffee each $7! I told the cashier "Welcome to Vegas."

Or possibly.....

Thanks for the suggestions. We'll probably Uber somewhere at some point. I noticed that I have been grousing a lot about costs for this trip. Usually the Mrs. and I look for deals and try to be economical to "beat" Vegas, but on this trip with the kids, I seem to be sparing no expense.

Notes from yesterday's Miracle Mile Shops: the rice on the Spam musubi from the ABC store was dry. Was hoping that wouldn't be the case, but store-bought rice always has the possibility. There's a carnival game-like shop where you pay $30 and try to collect replica bills in those wind booths over 45 seconds. If you can collect at least $5000 in fake cash, you get a prize. "Better" prizes if you can collect $10,000, $25,000 etc but they're all knockoffs of things like the mini-NES video game or Beats headphones. Definitely negative expectation game! we didn't partake, but watched one woman stuff a pretty good amount of bills in the box. We didn't stick around to see how much she "won." Real-life participants don't look as exciting as TV shows where they flail their arms around, and it helps to trap the bills if your body is a bit *ahem* bigger.

Quote: smoothgrh

Usually the Mrs. and I look for deals and try to be economical to "beat" Vegas, but on this trip with the kids, I seem to be sparing no expense.

Well, always an interesting balancing act, isn't it ? Been there myself on multiple trips to Vegas with the kids at various ages.

Depending on their ages, and especially IF the parents keep their interests in mind, I think Vegas can be a good vacation for a family.

Sometimes we went up to Circus Circus to play the midway games. Launching chickens into the rotating pots was always my favorite one to play. And some of the Circus acts up there were actually pretty decent ( some, not all ).

CC Midway Tip:

If you can find their poorly marked office door and have them give change for a 100 dollar bill, they give out a bunch of 2-for-1 game coupons. At least they used to. It's been a few years since we did that.

Quote: smoothgrh

OJ and coffee each $7! I told the cashier "Welcome to Vegas."

I recently ordered a large OJ at a local breakfast place and it was $8. This was not a tourist joint, apparently the small OJ is $5 and the large is $8. I just shook my head.

Smoothgrh:

Nice reporting ! Looking forward to your next one, as time permits.

Quote: DRich

Quote: smoothgrh

OJ and coffee each $7! I told the cashier "Welcome to Vegas."

I recently ordered a large OJ at a local breakfast place and it was $8. This was not a tourist joint, apparently the small OJ is $5 and the large is $8. I just shook my head.
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This is why poor people drink soda instead of juice.

After relaxing poolside for most of the morning, the Mrs.'s quick thinking not only got us lunch in a hurry, she also got a good value by Vegas standards. She ordered a family meal and a couple other dishes from Golden China restaurant through Uber Eats. With tax and tip, the meal for 4 was $70, with plenty of leftovers!

New pro tip for visiting Vegas with kids: bring paper plates for your hotel room food delivery!

Quote: DRich

Quote: smoothgrh

OJ and coffee each $7! I told the cashier "Welcome to Vegas."

I recently ordered a large OJ at a local breakfast place and it was $8. This was not a tourist joint, apparently the small OJ is $5 and the large is $8. I just shook my head.
link to original post

from what I have read,even the casino's in Florida have fairly elevated minimums. Everything has gone up since the pandemic.

With tickets to the 6 p.m. Tournament of Kings show and dinner ($320 for 4 Austria section seats at the left corner facing the "stage") at the Excalibur Casino, we left our Bellagio hotel room at 5:10ish – good timing, as it took a 45-minute slow walk to get to the theater.

The Tournament of Kings show has been around since the opening of the Excalibur, but I never had much desire to see it until now, thinking that it’s a good first Vegas show for the kids. There’s the usual medieval characters: a jester, Merlin, King Arthur, knights, fair lasses, and a bad guy with a maniacal laugh. The kids had a good time, and even the Mrs. said she enjoyed the show (I had worried that she’d be bored). If you really want to get the full effect of the show, expect to cheer, boo, and raise your tankard often. The dinner portion is part of the entertainment, as you’re supposed to eat an entire cornish hen, roasted potatoes, corn on cob, and a huge roll without utensils. Dessert is an apple pastry. The food was pretty good, though at first I wondered whether the hen was dry or juicy – ultimately I decided it was more juicy than dry. Get there early if you want tableside alcohol service — I had thought about getting a beer, but the cocktail wench never stopped by. The show started promptly at 6.

The show is on the lower level, within the arcade. We gave the kids $45 each in game cards and turned them loose. (I just looked at an Inflation Calculator – the Mrs. and I got $20 from our respective parents in 1982 at Reno Circus Circus, which supposedly is now equivalent to $62. Tough luck, kids!)

We walked around the casino but didn’t play anything until I noticed a Cashman Bingo slot machine with three in a row (including the wheel) on one board. I had looked at the WoV’s thread about this slot, but it’s a good thing I didn’t read it carefully, because I decided this machine was worthy of playing. I put in $100 and played the 2x level ($1.50/spin). I was down $29.30 when I hit a bingo for $42.30, finishing ahead $13.

Almost immediately, the Mrs. saw a Cashman Bingo slot with four to a bingo on the Wheel line with a Minor prize square ($26). She put in $100 and also played 2x ($1.50/spin), getting lots of coins added to the board. She eventually had all but six squares on the board covered, and any of them would give her a bingo. She kept getting coins added to the board, and only a few small wins here and there kept her hopes alive as the credit meter decreased. I was thinking I might have to put my voucher in soon, but fortunately when only $7 remained, she got a coin in the bottom right corner – the one we were hoping for! It was a $30 x 2 square that won a double-bingo including the mini ($17), minor ($27), and wheel ($24) prizes for a total of $158.98 – and she finished ahead $66! Thanks, Wizard, for writing about this game!

Quote: avianrandy

Quote: DRich

Quote: smoothgrh

OJ and coffee each $7! I told the cashier "Welcome to Vegas."

I recently ordered a large OJ at a local breakfast place and it was $8. This was not a tourist joint, apparently the small OJ is $5 and the large is $8. I just shook my head.
link to original post

from what I have read,even the casino's in Florida have fairly elevated minimums. Everything has gone up since the pandemic.
link to original post

That could be but I wouldn't know. Today is my one year anniversary of moving to Florida and I haven't been to a casino here yet.

Happy Anniversary ( ? ).

Quote: DRich

Quote: avianrandy

Quote: DRich

Quote: smoothgrh

OJ and coffee each $7! I told the cashier "Welcome to Vegas."

I recently ordered a large OJ at a local breakfast place and it was $8. This was not a tourist joint, apparently the small OJ is $5 and the large is $8. I just shook my head.
link to original post

from what I have read,even the casino's in Florida have fairly elevated minimums. Everything has gone up since the pandemic.
link to original post

That could be but I wouldn't know. Today is my one year anniversary of moving to Florida and I haven't been to a casino here yet.
link to original post

Just take it one day at a time.
Have you been attending meetings? Did you get a one-year chip?

Quote: billryan

Quote: DRich

Quote: avianrandy

Quote: DRich

Quote: smoothgrh

OJ and coffee each $7! I told the cashier "Welcome to Vegas."

I recently ordered a large OJ at a local breakfast place and it was $8. This was not a tourist joint, apparently the small OJ is $5 and the large is $8. I just shook my head.
link to original post

from what I have read,even the casino's in Florida have fairly elevated minimums. Everything has gone up since the pandemic.
link to original post

That could be but I wouldn't know. Today is my one year anniversary of moving to Florida and I haven't been to a casino here yet.
link to original post

Just take it one day at a time.
Have you been attending meetings? Did you get a one-year chip?
link to original post

They rescinded my chip when I bet them I could go another year.

Nice report, SmoothGR!

Quote: smoothgrh

The show is on the lower level, within the arcade. We gave the kids $45 each in game cards and turned them loose. (I just looked at an Inflation Calculator – the Mrs. and I got $20 from our respective parents in 1982 at Reno Circus Circus, which supposedly is now equivalent to $62. Tough luck, kids!)

Ha! This reminded me of my first trip out west, although I think it was 1983. And my $20 was used in the arcade at Harrah's Tahoe in the basement near the tunnel to Harvey's. We did a day trip through Reno, but I didn't get to spend too much time in the Circus Circus midway.

Many firsts for me on that trip -- first time flying, first time west of the Mississippi River, first time in a casino. And even my first AP move... we were at some tiny hotel/casino in Carson City, I think considering having a meal there. My Mom, my sister and I were waiting in the lobby, but within view of the machines nearby. My sister and I noticed a VP machine that had been abandoned mid-hand. When my Dad returned, we told him to draw out the hand, and he hit two pair! My sister and I netted 10c apiece!

I wonder whether I should be more proud or more concerned that I had such knowledge of video poker at the age of 10!

Quote: DRich

Today is my one year anniversary of moving to Florida and I haven't been to a casino here yet.
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Congrats on the anniversary! Hope it has been generally pleasant.

Quote: Joeman

Nice report, SmoothGR!
... This reminded me of my first trip out west, although I think it was 1983. And my $20 was used in the arcade at Harrah's Tahoe in the basement near the tunnel to Harvey's. We did a day trip through Reno, but I didn't get to spend too much time in the Circus Circus midway.

Many firsts for me on that trip -- first time flying, first time west of the Mississippi River, first time in a casino. And even my first AP move... we were at some tiny hotel/casino in Carson City, I think considering having a meal there. My Mom, my sister and I were waiting in the lobby, but within view of the machines nearby. My sister and I noticed a VP machine that had been abandoned mid-hand. When my Dad returned, we told him to draw out the hand, and he hit two pair! My sister and I netted 10c apiece!

I wonder whether I should be more proud or more concerned that I had such knowledge of video poker at the age of 10!
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Ha! I had no clue about video poker back then — though 5-card draw was the only poker game I knew.

1982-83 was a great time for casino arcades because they always had the newest or most unusual games. Reno was the only place I could play a game like Crazy Climber, Time Pilot, or Super Punch-Out!!

Quote: smoothgrh

Quote: DRich

Today is my one year anniversary of moving to Florida and I haven't been to a casino here yet.
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Congrats on the anniversary! Hope it has been generally pleasant.
link to original post

Thank you. Other than the 10 days with no electricity after hurricane Ian it has been fine.

Tuesday morning, the Mrs. and I got up early and found ourselves at the Bellagio sportsbook at the start of the Mexico-Poland World Cup match. She had a coffee and I ordered an Irish coffee. I walked over to the players club desk, which wasn’t open at 7:57, but there were only three people waiting in front of me. Ten minutes later, the first two people in line required the host to be on the phone for some reason, so I got out of there!

Back at the sportsbook, I played Buffalo slots at 40 cents/spin. On the 54th spin, I got the free spins bonus, and after 18 free spins, I won $12.98 to finish up $9.23! Unfortunately, the Mrs. lost $50 playing 5x$0x25 video poker. Mexico and Poland entered the half scoreless. We got two comped Fiji water bottles before leaving, which makes me feel much better about buying a bottle two days ago!

We went to the MIracle Mile shops to get souvenirs at the ABC store and to look for breakfast. Nothing good around, so we went to the Cosmopolitan for Eggslut, which the boy had expressed interest in. Bad move! The Mrs. reported 80 people in line, so we made the brilliant move of going back to Chick-Fil-A at the Miracle Mile shops right before it opened. I was first in line 10 minutes before their 10 a.m. opening. Being the first order of food for the day also felt like a win!

Every time I have been in a chick FIL a the employees are always courteous and friendly. Sounds like a double win. So many fast food restaurants the employees are either on their phone or don't care

After more pool time on Tuesday, I discovered that the tram that connects the Bellagio Spa Tower to Vdara also goes all the way to Park MGM. Having stayed 26 years ago at its predecessor, Monte Carlo, I can say that the updated theme brings a fresh, modern style to the Vegas strip. With its park motifs and non-smoking policy, the resort feels like it’s kid-friendly in a world mindset rather than the childish, circus/fantasy tropes.

We walked from Park MGM to Luxor, where the kids had an hour at the HyperX Arena to play computer games. It’s $15/hour with high-end gaming computers, keyboards, monitors, headphones, and chairs. I told them to bring their Minecraft and Roblox passwords, but they said afterward that they mostly played games they don’t normally play. When I came to pick them up, I saw them playing Among Us. They said they didn’t play against anyone else at the venue, that logging in to some games was difficult, and that they didn’t need the headphones because they were only talking to each other. I had read some great reviews about this place, and expected that they would have a better experience, but it sounds like they had just as good a time for $30 here as they did with $90 at the Excalibur arcade the day before.

While the kids played, the Mrs. and I went to the sportsbook bar, which was nearly empty because no sports were going on. I found it to be delightfully relaxing and a casino throwback because you could tell the video poker machines don't use the “red light/green light” drink system. I ordered a whiskey sour and the Mrs. had a piña colada while playing more crappy video poker (6-5 Bonus poker), but at a relaxing pace. About a half-hour later, I was down only $1.25. The bartender asked if I’d like another, and I asked for a tiki-style drink. He said he’s got just the thing and whipped up something without a name, but it had Bacardi, amaretto, banana liqueur, and grapefruit and orange juice. Delightfully refreshing! I cycled through the video poker games and noticed that there were multipliers remaining on Triple Play Ultimate X! I played 30x$0.25 and won, but was still down. So I played again and was back at an even $100. I played one more time and realized I had been screwed up: I should have played only once at five credits per hand. So I played one more time with only 15 credits, and got dealt two 10s, and a suited JQ. I knew I should keep the 10s, but I wanted to take the JQ in hopes of getting jacks or better on the multipliers. No win, and I finished where this mini-odyssey started: down $1.25. I guess the lesson is: don’t gamble when you’re drinking?

We saw the 5 p.m. Blue Man Group show ($310 for 4 tickets). I had known nothing about this show aside from “weird guys drumming,” and the Mrs. had expressed interest in seeing it, so I thought this would also be a good show for the kids. We all liked it. I felt like it’s European performance art. One segment is clearly updated for the times. At one point, someone is brought in from the audience, and the Mrs. thought she was a good sport, but I’m pretty sure it was a “plant,” because she seemed too perfect for the role.

Dinner at Eataly at Park MGM (La Pizza e La Pasta). We asked at 3 p.m. if we could have an 8 p.m. reservation and was accommodated, but we got there at 7 p.m. and was still able to get a table within minutes. So it seems like despite a pretty crowded tourist time, that restaurant has availability. Lots of great dishes: beet/ricotta/hazelnut appetizer, fried calamari, two pizzas, and two pasta dishes ($185 with tax and tip) – enough for a couple small boxes of leftovers!

Quote: avianrandy

Every time I have been in a chick FIL a the employees are always courteous and friendly. Sounds like a double win. So many fast food restaurants the employees are either on their phone or don't care
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The guy who took my order was quite patient and friendly. I have eater there only once in like 12 years, so it was a nice customer experience.

Quote: smoothgrh

we went to the Cosmopolitan for Eggslut, which the boy had expressed interest in. Bad move! The Mrs. reported 80 people in line
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On weekend mornings especially, EggSlut typically has a ridiculously long line. I've been meaning to ask whether an Identity platinum level card gets one to the front of the line, but it doesn't look like it as there is no human directing traffic - just one very long line. At the Henry at the Cosmo, a platinum card will get you seated first available.

At Caesars, some of the fast food places allow Seven Stars to the front, with a full line bypass (such as DiFara Pizza), and others, like the Bouchon Bakery or Pronto by Giada, do not.

Also at Wynn, the buffet line and the line for the Terrace Pointe Cafe might be ridiculous at times too, but a black or Chairman's gold Wynn rewards card, or a tower suites star (RFB) room key card will get you to a special line that is generally very short if not completely empty.


There is actually a decent place for inexpensive breakfast across the street from the Cosmo in the Miracle Mile Mall, La Salsa Cantina. You'll see the "breakfast special" signs near the restaurant around the mall. Unless the price has changed, for $4.79, you get two eggs any style; choice of ham, bacon, or sausage; choice of corn or flour tortillas; and Southwest potatoes.



Steak (carne asada) and Eggs $15.95

Quote: MDawg

Quote: smoothgrh

we went to the Cosmopolitan for Eggslut, which the boy had expressed interest in. Bad move! The Mrs. reported 80 people in line
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There is actually a decent place for inexpensive breakfast across the street from the Cosmo in the Miracle Mile Mall, La Salsa Cantina...
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Also across the street from Cosmo, if all else fails, is the original poor man's Eggslut...McDonalds!

I started using the McDonald's app and also the apps for a variety of other fast food places,


and for most of them you'll get something free every time you order such that there is no reason not to order via the app. Also, they will bring the food right out to you in the parked car if you are doing take out, versus driving through that sometimes long drive through line.

Don't hit fast food that often, but for those times that we do....


Across the street from Cosmo, besides McDonald's there is a Subway, also a 24 hour Taco Bell.

Quote: SOOPOO

It kills me to spend $1 on water. Before I’d spend $8 I’d find a straw and a drainage ditch…..

I will tip $1 for water in a casino, but that’s different…

When with wifey all the rules are thrown out the window…. I think in Paris I spent over $20 a day on Diet Pepsi….
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I was staying at Aria Sky Suites and grabbed one of the large Fiji water bottles sitting on the counter, assuming it was complimentary. Turns out it was linked to a sensor, just like everything in the fridge. Was $20 as I recall

What’s ironic is there’s a separate checkin area for sky suites (essentially it’s a separate hotel) where there’s a lobby with free unlimited waters, sodas, Perrier, snacks etc

Quote: smoothgrh

After more pool time on Tuesday, I discovered that the tram that connects the Bellagio Spa Tower to Vdara also goes all the way to Park MGM.
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Ahem: Easy Vegas' map of the strip