Trip Report - Part 2

TRIP REPORT - PART 2 - VEGAS

The airfares to Vegas were MUCH MUCH cheaper flying from Tampa instead of Orlando, so after the cruise we took the "GOPORT" bus from the terminal to the Orlando airport.

I had a rental car reserved, but at the last minute I looked up the cost of an UBER and it was less than the Rental Car cost, which was a good corporate rate but did have the one-way drop off charge. And I figured the UBER would be much less hassle overall. So I canceled the rental and we took an UBER all the way to our hotel in Tampa. I gave the driver a hefty tip since he might or might not have been to cobble rides together back to the Orlando area.

Our flight was pretty early the next morning and a non-stop, so we got in early. Fortunately PARIS had a room available so we were checked-in by 10:30 am or so.

It was frustrating to me to see people in the baggage claim area not wearing masks, including passengers and limo drivers. To me, rules are rules and it is no big deal to wear a mask, so "just do it". At Paris, I would say about 95 % of people are wearing masks, and maybe that is the highest level of compliance to the indoor mask mandate that we can expect given the *polarization in our country around Covid.

GAMING:

CAESAR's had a 5x Tier Credit promo, so I played mostly on a ( relatively ) good ( for the Strip ) 9/5 JoB VP game. But I didn't hit the quads needed to stay even, so I am not quite going to make it to the Diamond Plus status. Oh well.

We also played a little bit at ELLIS ISLAND. The paytables have been cut back there since our last visit in July of this year.

After our hike at RED ROCK, I played some Deuces Wild while Mrs Q and my daughter went to see West Side Story at the movie theater there.

NEW THINGS:

My goal is to do a least one new thing each trip.

1) At RED ROCK CANYON, we were talking about doing the Ice Box Canyon trail again, but decided to start with the CALICO TANKS trail. I stopped about 3/4's of the way to the end. There is some rock scrambling to do, and sometimes going up feels easier than going back down, so better "safe than sorry". I'll come back and try that again if I can lose 20 lbs or so before then. My adult daughter made it all the way.

That trail was moderately difficult in my opinion, so we called it a day and did not stop at the other trailhead.








2) PAMPAS BRAZILIAN RESTAURANT - I got a discounted price at TIX4VEGAS outside of BALLY's so we'll give that a try.


STRIP VIEW:






Part 1 is Here:

https://wizardofvegas.com/forum/off-topic/other-casinos/36785-trip-report-rcl-cruise-on-mariner-of-the-seas/#post835461

Pampas South American Rodizio Restaurant in Miracle Mile Shops ( Planet Hollywood )
https://www.pampasusa.com/

As I mentioned, I happened to see this at TIX4VEGAS while I was looking at show options.

So I purchased the lunch option ( $ 2 per person for Tix4Vegas, and $ 15 pp paid at the Restaurant ) yesterday for today. We made an early reservation but moved it to 3:00 to accommodate my daughter's visit to Area 15.

The food was pretty good and I think the price after discount is pretty good for the Strip.

HOWEVER, the service is inconsistent. Despite the reservation, we weren't seated for 25 minutes. And the young women at the Hostess desk were curt and dismissive and misleading ("your table will be ready in several minutes"). That was annoying.

Once inside, things picked up. The salad and charcuterie board were good. And the meat carvers came by frequently. You don't get the same selection at lunch as you do for dinner, but a good selection nonetheless. The sirloin was pretty good.

Bottom-line:

I'd say worth trying if you are staying mid-strip and can get the Tix4Vegas discount, but the customer service at the hostess station and the check/cashier process (very slow) both needs improvement.

Quote: JohnnyQ

Pampas South American Rodizio Restaurant in Miracle Mile Shops ( Planet Hollywood )
https://www.pampasusa.com/

How many of the other Churrascarias in Vegas have you been to (Galpao Gaucho, Fogo de Chao, Via Brasil, Texas de Brazil - and, while it was open, Samba at the Mirage)?

Zip in Vegas. I have been to ones in Pensacola and Charleston. How are the other ones you mentioned ?

Checking air rates from FL pays off, good job! I also check SRQ, and RSW.

AND THE AWARD GOES TO:

Best Cuisine

- Batista's Hole in the Wall


Best VALUE Meal

- Lunch Menu at OceanOne in Miracle Mile Shops

- - - $ 5 Excellent Mahi Mahi Sandwich with Honey Dijon Sauce and Avocado served with Fries
- - - $ 3 Sierra Nevada Beer
- - - $ 3 Frozen Margarita
- - - Lunch Pricing until 5:00 or 5:30

First Runner-up:
- - - $ 3.99 Blondies - Eggs/Meat/Potatoes Breakfast ( Miracle Mile Shops )
- - - Plus a 5 % surcharge for whatever reason. Because they can ? A resort fee for restaurants ?

Second Runner-up:
- - - $ 17 Lunch at Pampas Brazilian Restaurant in Miracle Mile Shops
- - - note: After Tix4Vegas Discount Voucher

I forgot this one for my NEW THINGS list:

3) Go to a Marijuana Dispensary

- - - Not for me, my adult daughter wanted to try an edible. The staff inside were friendly and helpful and offered advice.

Quote: JohnnyQ

AND THE AWARD GOES TO:

Best Cuisine

- Batista's Hole in the Wall

Having lived in Las Vegas for 30 years you are the first person that I have ever heard favorably discuss Batista's.

Glad you had a nice meal.

Quote: DRich

Having lived in Las Vegas for 30 years you are the first person that I have ever heard favorably discuss Batista's.

Wow, a little surprised to hear that.

I like the food and I like the atmosphere and it is right across the street from Bally's, so super easy to walk to. It is nice sometimes to get away from the crowds on the Strip.

It isn't cheap but it is very reasonable for what you get, imho. Is it possible that the Vegas residents just don't like going CLOSE to the Strip ?

ANYONE ELSE have an opinion on Batista's Hole in the Wall ?

Here's a few:

We took a taxi with our daughter to the McCarran (now technically REID I guess), she was in Terminal 1 and we were in Terminal 3. The taxi driver said he wasn't allowed to take us to Terminal 3 (ANYONE KNOW IF THAT IS TRUE ?) so we took the small (and full) bus from T1 to T3.

Our redeye flight home was delayed a little bit on Thursday morning, but we made it home in record time. A flight that usually is 4 hours took just 3 hours, I guess due to the jetstream.

Fortunately, we were several days ahead of the massive flight cancellations this weekend:

https://www.marketwatch.com/story/more-than-2-300-u-s-flights-canceled-sunday-due-to-storms-covid-01641159605?siteid=yhoof2

Anyhows, back to work on Monday.

I got nice and prompt responses from the TAXI AUTHORITY about my McCarran/Reid drop-off question:

1) The Flat rate is to one location/ Drop off. If you are sharing the ride then the meter would get shut off at the first drop off and restarted to go to the next terminal. You would only pay the distance from Terminal to Terminal not 2 Flat Rate trips if that makes sense.

- Yep that makes sense to me !

2) If you have the cab number or company I can notify and advise the Driver or company Driver Supervisors regarding this misinformation. If you don’t know worries I can also send a mass email requesting information on this to be given out again as a reminder.

- Sometimes I make a mental note of the Taxi Driver's Name but I didn't this time. No big deal. I was just more curious than anything.

Quote: JohnnyQ

I got nice and prompt responses from the TAXI AUTHORITY about my McCarran/Reid drop-off question:

1) The Flat rate is to one location/ Drop off. If you are sharing the ride then the meter would get shut off at the first drop off and restarted to go to the next terminal. You would only pay the distance from Terminal to Terminal not 2 Flat Rate trips if that makes sense.

- Yep that makes sense to me !

2) If you have the cab number or company I can notify and advise the Driver or company Driver Supervisors regarding this misinformation. If you don’t know worries I can also send a mass email requesting information on this to be given out again as a reminder.

- Sometimes I make a mental note of the Taxi Driver's Name but I didn't this time. No big deal. I was just more curious than anything.
link to original post

Thank you for following up with the TA. Most people wouldn't even though they should.

I didn't ask the Driver about resetting the meter and taking us to Terminal 3 ( I guess because we weren't in a big hurry - our daughter's flight was a little earlier than ours - and I was aware that there was a bus between terminals ), and he didn't offer.

But the small-ish BUS from T1 to T3 ended up being completely full and it would have been frustrating IF we had to take the next one. There isn't a very good way to maintain "first here / first on" at that location imho. They could make a line like at the taxi-stands but they don't have one.

Quote: JohnnyQ

I didn't ask the Driver about resetting the meter and taking us to Terminal 3 ( I guess because we weren't in a big hurry - our daughter's flight was a little earlier than ours - and I was aware that there was a bus between terminals ), and he didn't offer.

But the small-ish BUS from T1 to T3 ended up being completely full and it would have been frustrating IF we had to take the next one. There isn't a very good way to maintain "first here / first on" at that location imho. They could make a line like at the taxi-stands but they don't have one.
link to original post

FYI, for the future it is not a bad walk inside with use of the tram to the D gates and then a short walk to Terminal 3.

Quote: DRich

FYI, for the future it is not a bad walk inside with use of the tram to the D gates and then a short walk to Terminal 3.

Good to know, thanks for sharing that ! ! ! We didn't see an information desk when we were in the Ticketing area of Terminal 1.

Do you walk from D to Term 3 or take another Tram ? Seems like taking TRAMS all the way would be a lot easier overall.