Short Vegas visit this weekend

Hi all,

Because of a great Expedia deal I'm able to afford a quick trip to Vegas this weekend. Besides the low price the impetus for the trip is taking my sister, who recently turned 21, has never been to a casino, and is a big rodeo fan. The timing worked because the NFR rodeo is in town this weekend. We're arriving tomorrow (Friday) night and leaving Sunday night, since I didn't want to miss any work.

Considering the short trip duration and the fact that I've got a true first timer with me, how does this itinerary sound:

Friday 11:00pm - Arrive into LAS. Pick up rent-a-car. Leave airport via tunnel/I-15, and drive down the length of the strip.
(Decided to do a rent-a-car because I don't plan to really drink any this trip, sister wants to drive out to Hoover Dam, and because with only two of us and a pair of long airport trip taking cabs doesn't save any money. My only dislike of a rent-a-car is the distances that I've heard are typical between parking garages and the hotel/casino areas)

Saturday ~12:00am - Drive to Fitzgerald's and check in. Put luggage away. Walk around Freemont Street area.
(The Expedia deal required us bundling hotel and airfare. While I feel bad about introducing sister to Vegas via some crappy lodging I didn't want to drop cash on a nice place when money is tight and I have this option paid for...I've never been downtown, so I'm looking forward to it in a semi-morbid way. Are the Fremond lights still on after midnight? I assume the area won't be totally dead on a Friday night, right? Will visiting the Golden Nugget and other casinos under the Fremont canopy be safe?)

Saturday morning/noontime - Drive to M Resort. Eat lunch at their buffet.
(I picked the M because I've done the Bellagio and the M seems very nice for a little less cost. Also, does the advertised 2-for-1 coupon in the Las Vegas Advisor work? Is it worth buying the book just to get and use that coupon?)

Saturday afternoon - Drive to the Sahara and check in. Walk or drive to some area of the strip and visit several casinos
(Is it safe and practical to walk to the Wynn/Venetian area from the Sahara? Considering sister has never been inside a casino I think the north strip properties will be a nicer experience to visit, but at the same time I'm a low roller and I'd like her to at least be able to shoot some craps and play a few hands of blackjack. I'm a lot more confident in finding $10 tables on a Saturday on the south strip.)

Saturday 5:45pm - Drive to UNLV campus and attent NFR rodeo session thing.
(Is it crazy to drive to this? The sat picture shows some pretty large parking areas)

Saturday 10:00pm - See the O show at the Bellagio.
(I'm not set on this, but she wants to see a show and O has a nice late start time that works well with the rodeo...Also, dinner recommendation that's either fast enough to do while on the way from the rodeo to the Bellagio or will be available at 11:30pm when the show ends?)

Sunday morning - Drive to Hoover Dam
(I've visited the Dam, but only pre-bypass bridge. Is the deal you still drive over the Dam if you're visiting it? Should I then walk up to the bypass bridge for the view?)

Sunday afternoon - ?
(We'll probably just visit another segment of casinos...lunch recommendation?)

Sunday 8:00pm - Depart LAS

Thanks for any help and advice!

Hey, cool, I got the Expedia deal for my 12/21-25 trip. But I will be using my comps at Gold Coast and Tuscany rather than the hotel they offered.

Speaking of which, anybody want/need a free hotel room at the Orleans for those dates? All you have to pay is the $5/night resort fee.

Also, FYI, South Point is giving a free night for 12/13-24 when you send them your e-mail. A couple can get two free nights.

You can order the Las Vegas Advisor book for $12 now -- year end special. I've heard the M buffet is great, so it is probably worth $12 to you.

For your first trip, don't plan too much. Just do.

Quote: teddys

For your first trip, don't plan too much. Just do.

Thanks for the comments!

Please note though it's MY fourth trip. It will be the first trip for my sister to Vegas or a casino though, and part of the difficulty for me is balancing what I remember Vegas like for a noobie with stuff I'm interested in.

I would absolutely go down to the M. It's a very nice place, and I would think it would be a good first (or second, counting Friday night) gambling experience for your sister. It's just as nice as a south strip property (side note: I think your cardinal directions are backwards in your post...Sahara is north, Mandalay Bay is south), but quieter and with better odds.

In the event that actually getting over to rodeo is too much hassle...

I was in Vegas at rodeo time a few years ago. The Pub at Monte Carlo seemed to be a semi-official offsite rodeo party spot. All the TV's were tuned to the rodeo. They had a mechanical bull, and had raffles and contests going on. The place was full of dudes in cowboy hats. I imagine your sister would appreciate it.

The two things I always do when taking a noob to Vegas:

1. Bellagio fountains.
2. Have a drink at Voodoo on top of the Rio. Spectacular view! Go there around sunset, and before the cover charge kicks in. The drinks aren't cheap, but the view is worth it. If you've got the time and money, have dinner there (make reservations, and ask for a strip view window table when making the reservation).

For the Dam, you now head off from the main road down the old road. At one point there is a pull in and interpretative walk for the Tillman/Callaghan bridge, which is a short walk and climb to get to. Then you can drive the rest of the way down to the dam itself and park up. The view from the dam to the bridge and vice versa is worth it.

Quote: rdw4potus

(side note: I think your cardinal directions are backwards in your post...Sahara is north, Mandalay Bay is south)

Thanks for the comments!

Sorry, my directions are right but my explanation was sorely lacking due to an already long post.

My personal strip definition doesn't include the Stratosphere or Circus Circus, and barely includes the Sahara (despite the fact that we're staying there). So when I think "north strip" I'm thinking the cluster of swanky places: Wynn, Venetian+Pallazo, Mirage, and TI. "South strip" to me is the MGM-owned cluster from Mandalay to City Center.

Anyways, my bad terminology notwithstanding, what I was getting at there is I think the Wynn and the Venetian are more impressive to visit than the Excalibur and NYNY, but in the interest of finding $10 games the latter may make more sense.

Quote: PapaChubby

2. Have a drink at Voodoo on top of the Rio. Spectacular view! Go there around sunset, and before the cover charge kicks in. The drinks aren't cheap, but the view is worth it. If you've got the time and money, have dinner there (make reservations, and ask for a strip view window table when making the reservation).

As an alternative, same thing but at the bar at the top of Stratosphere. I do that EVERY trip at least once. Strat is not as nice as Rio but the strip lines up nicely from that vantage point.

Quote: sunrise089

Thanks for the comments!

Sorry, my directions are right but my explanation was sorely lacking due to an already long post.

My personal strip definition doesn't include the Stratosphere or Circus Circus, and barely includes the Sahara (despite the fact that we're staying there). So when I think "north strip" I'm thinking the cluster of swanky places: Wynn, Venetian+Pallazo, Mirage, and TI. "South strip" to me is the MGM-owned cluster from Mandalay to City Center.

Anyways, my bad terminology notwithstanding, what I was getting at there is I think the Wynn and the Venetian are more impressive to visit than the Excalibur and NYNY, but in the interest of finding $10 games the latter may make more sense.

You could visit the Venetian and Wynn, but play at O'Shea's or Casino Royale. They're only about 2 Vegas blocks apart, and you'll find lower limits there.

Make sure Fitzgeralds knows you're doing a late check in. I doubt they're full and would give your room away, but give them a call anyway.

Unless I'm mistaken, the Freemont Street Experience ends at 1:00am on Friday and Saturday.

On a map, it's only an inch or two from Sahara to the next casino. Maps are deceiving - particularly in Vegas. Drive it. Trust me. Once you're in the center strip area, walking from casino to casino is a snap because they're practically connected. Then you won't have to walk all the way back to get the car to go to UNLV.

Better yet, don't bother checking in to Sahara until after midnight. Again, call for the late check in.

Dinner at midnight is not a problem. While some of the restaurants will have closed, most (every?) casinos has at least ONE 24 hour restaurant. Worst case scenario, 24 hour McD in several locations including in back of Sahara.


For what it's worth, I think you might be packing too much stuff into this trip. Then again, maybe not. It depends on how much time you're gonna spend gambling.

Quote: ItsCalledSoccer

As an alternative, same thing but at the bar at the top of Stratosphere. I do that EVERY trip at least once. Strat is not as nice as Rio but the strip lines up nicely from that vantage point.

Sometimes you can bluff your way into the Top Of The World restaurant by saying you're meeting people or are just going to the bar. Once you're up there, it's a two flight staircase walk to the observation deck where the rides are.

Quote: DJTeddyBear

For what it's worth, I think you might be packing too much stuff into this trip. Then again, maybe not. It depends on how much time you're gonna spend gambling.

Thanks for the comments!

I definitely might. For what it's worth the only important things are the Rodeo and the Dam.

As for how much gambling - not much at all. I can afford the trip with the discounted tickets, but my gambling loss limit will be pretty aggressive. Unless I have an amazing run when I first sit down gambling will be more about showing the sister how the games are played and letting her take in the atmosphere a bit than anything else.

Here is a link to the dam webpage note that they are on a winter schedule now.

The Fremont canopy show goes past midnight. Visiting the GN, Four Queens, Fremont, or any of the casinos in the center of the canopy is not a problem. Be sure to watch your wallets and purses during the light show. Everyone looking up makes it a pickpocket paradise. When you go to the Golden Nugget, be sure to check out the swimming pool. There is a tank full of sharks in the middle of it.

I don't know about the walk from Sahara to points south. Things are not actually as close as they appear since the buildings are so huge. I would recommend driving to Bellagio, then taking the people mover to Aria/City Center then walking back on the other side of the street.

You'll have low roller options at Monte Carlo and Sahara, so don't worry about spending, "gaming" time at Bellagio, Venetian, and the Wynn. For a first timer, Caesars is always a neat draw, just because the name is well known. The Palms and Hard Rock are interesting to most young uns, so if you have time, I would make the drive south after seeing the major north strip properties.

There is a 24 hr. "coffee shop" in Bellagio, that has a fairly reasonable prices (for Bellagio), and food is pretty good too.

Have a great time! Buy a huge belt buckle. You are an awesome big brother!

I don't know your family situation or personalities, but it looks like you're missing the crazy night out. You know, going to an overpriced club to buy overpriced drinks to hit on girls (or get hit on in your sister's case) that want free overpriced drinks. Personally, I hate it (if you couldn't tell), but I know a lot of people really love it and that might be your sister. It also might be one of the things she's expecting but she doesn't want to tell you directly.

Quote: ahiromu

I don't know your family situation or personalities, but it looks like you're missing the crazy night out. You know, going to an overpriced club to buy overpriced drinks to hit on girls (or get hit on in your sister's case) that want free overpriced drinks. Personally, I hate it (if you couldn't tell), but I know a lot of people really love it and that might be your sister. It also might be one of the things she's expecting but she doesn't want to tell you directly.

Heh, all fair enough. She's in a sorority so she may be expecting it, but there is no way in hell her brother is taking her to a Vegas nightclub ;)

My own situation puts me rather far from that scene - I'm not going to spend much on gambling because my wife and I had a kid this past year. So that more or less knocks out the "hitting on girls" part.

Fortunately the last time I was in Vegas was for a friend's bachelor party, and I tipped a club hostess at the Palms to cut us to the front of the line and skip the cover to Moon. As for the sister, she attend the University of Florida, so if she REALLY wants to go out she has lots of local options.

Quote: PapaChubby

2. Have a drink at Voodoo on top of the Rio. Spectacular view! Go there around sunset, and before the cover charge kicks in. The drinks aren't cheap, but the view is worth it. If you've got the time and money, have dinner there (make reservations, and ask for a strip view window table when making the reservation).

Sorry, but have to object. I've had two meals at the Voodoo and both were nearly illness-inducing. (Don't ask me why I went back - it was a lapse in judgment). My traveling companion tried to have a steak there about 5 months ago but it was primarily connective tissue and totally inedible. The fact that they even let that out the door is a big red flag on their kitchen. I will not be back even if comped (which we were).

Never self park, its a waste of time. Always use the valet service, its worth the buck or two tip, plus it will impress your sister. If they say the valet is full (doubtful in Dec) tell them you're staying there. If they ask to see your room key, give the guy a 5 spot, it always always works.

Quote: Ayecarumba

... When you go to the Golden Nugget, be sure to check out the swimming pool. There is a tank full of sharks in the middle of it. ...

If you're going to be in the Golden Nugget anyway, then you definitely should take the time for a peek at the actual golden nuggets they have on display. Supposedly, they are the two largest natural nuggets in the world. They have them in a glass case that seems a bit hidden out of the way, but it's just a few steps from the main casino. You'd have to be lucky to find it on your own, so ask someone for directions. It's worth a five-minute stop. Here's a low-res, cell-phone photo.

Quote: MathExtremist

Sorry, but have to object. I've had two meals at the Voodoo and both were nearly illness-inducing. (Don't ask me why I went back - it was a lapse in judgment). My traveling companion tried to have a steak there about 5 months ago but it was primarily connective tissue and totally inedible. The fact that they even let that out the door is a big red flag on their kitchen. I will not be back even if comped (which we were).

Yeah, I probably should have stopped before suggesting dinner. I've had a good lobster there, and all those that I have hosted or directed there have reported positive experiences. But I had a pretty average steak on my last visit, and don't go out of my way to dine there anymore. Still, drinks at dusk on the observation deck is always on the agenda.

Quote: Doc

If you're going to be in the Golden Nugget anyway, then you definitely should take the time for a peek at the actual golden nuggets

I wonder what they paid for that big nugget and what its worth today.

Stay away form the craps tables in Fitzgerald's and Four Queens, as they both have stuff under the felt!

You should have no problem on Fremond street, just like any other place in this country don't go taken off on some back road side trip!

The M you need the car for, as it way to the south of everything! This casino is a good 8 to 10 miles from down town!

Depending on the weather you could walk, but if I was you I would drive to other casinos!

If you are going to do the Rodeo, you might want to check out the Cowboy Christmas Gift Show .
Here is the link:

http://www.nfrexperience.com/home/cowboy_christmas

See the O show at the Bellagio. Do not get front row seats unless you want a stiff neck, Vegas is a 24 hour town you can get dinner at any time!

Sunday morning - Drive to Hoover Dam

Do not drive over the bridge, take the new by-pass to see the dam, then you can decide if you want to walk up to the bridge for the view. You can not see anything when you drive across the new bridge, you don't even know you are on a bridge!

You can stop at the Hacienda Hotel & Casino on your way back, they have a $1 craps table and get lunch there, as it is right there where you turn off to go to the dam.

Have fun at what ever you do!

Quote: superrick

Stay away form the craps tables in Fitzgerald's and Four Queens, as they both have stuff under the felt!

superrick, please start a new thread on this interesting topic. I assume you are talking about more than the typical springy foam padding. What is the source of your information?

Quote: superrick

Sunday morning - Drive to Hoover Dam

If it was me, I wouldn't go at all. Its time consuming and kinda disappointing, I mean its just a big wall of concrete. I'd spend the time at Wynn or brunch or shopping. Save the damn dam for when you have absolutely nothing else to do.

Quote: Ayecarumba

superrick, please start a new thread on this interesting topic. I assume you are talking about more than the typical springy foam padding. What is the source of your information?

Second.

I was in town for a two day trip (my sixth visit), returning home last night. Point by point:

1) Arriving into LAS at 11 p.m., hopping the shuttle to the rental center, getting the car, and driving the entire length of the strip to downtown on a Friday night is likely to take longer than 60 minutes. Do it anyway. My first time in Vegas, I drove the strip at night, and didn't care one whit about the slowness of the traffic -- it was all about the sensory overload.

2) Under the Fremont canopy is plenty safe at all hours; there's lots of security around, and lots of people on Friday nights. It's the slow time of year, but I still don't think it'll be dead. I know what you mean about looking forward to staying at the Fitz "in a morbid way." I just stayed at the Imperial Palace (in a $15 room), knowing full well that I could end up in a real dive, and it turned out to be no worse than some shabby Holiday Inns.

3) The M is on my list of places to visit next time I'm in town with a car.

4) It's a long, sparse, wasteland between the Sahara and the Wynn. You've got a car; use it. There's nothing particularly worth seeing at the Riviera, Circus Circus, or Slots-O-Fun. I'll second EvenBob's suggestion of valet parking: for a $2 tip, you're saving yourself a bunch of time. Maybe valet park at Venetian, which will give you good foot access to TI, Mirage, WynnCore, and the Harrah's Caesars cluster of casinos.

5) I drove past the UNLV parking lot on the way to the airport last night. They've already got signs up directing traffic. It looks like as big a lot as I'd usually expect at a major sporting venue, but if they're charging for parking, maybe taking a cab would be a good idea, just so you can maximize your time.

6) For a fun inexpensive dinner, try Hofbrauhaus at the corner of Paradise and Harmon (diagonally across from the Hard Rock Hotel/Casino). For slightly more upscale, but less than I expected it to be, try Olives at Bellagio. You didn't mention showing her the fountain, and this is a great spot to see it from. They close at 10:30, though, so it may not fit with your schedule.

7/8) I haven't been to the dam since the bridge went in, so I'm no help here. For lunch, if you didn't make it to Olives on Saturday night, get there for lunch at 2:30, and ask for a table on the terrace (are they open in the winter? better check). The fountains start at 3:00. Otherwise, Mon Ami Gabi at Paris is also a good, relatively inexpensive choice.

Judging by the billboards (e.g., "Chippendales salutes the women of NFR"), the country music everywhere, and the number of cowboy hats I saw being worn on Wednesday and Thursday, the rodeo is really taking over the town this weekend. MGM seems to be the central focus of the party this year; they've already got mechanical bulls, mechanical calf-roping horses, saddles, and other such paraphernalia set up and running. The poker dealer there said that there's a big country music awards show happening at MGM on Monday, which seems to fit the theme well.

Have fun!

Quote: travisl

I was in town for a two day trip (my sixth visit), returning home last night. Point by point:

1) Arriving into LAS at 11 p.m., hopping the shuttle to the rental center, getting the car, and driving the entire length of the strip to downtown on a Friday night is likely to take longer than 60 minutes. Do it anyway. My first time in Vegas, I drove the strip at night, and didn't care one whit about the slowness of the traffic -- it was all about the sensory overload.

I forgot about this. Its something that usually blows the sox off of first time visitors. Its so big, so bright, so overwhelming, I've had friends that were rendered speechless. And others that couldn't shut up about it. Either way, its a good intro to Vegas.

Ok, here's the rundown:

Quote: sunrise089

Friday 11:00pm - Arrive into LAS. Pick up rent-a-car. Leave airport via tunnel/I-15, and drive down the length of the strip.

This went smooth. The "Executive Selection" of the National area was pretty poor, but I settled on a 4x4 Explorer correctly guessing that a high ride height would be nice for my passenger to see out of. Driving down the strip was really easy, except the Las Vegas Blvd/Trop intersection was blocked, so we had to detour behind Mandalay Bay and then back onto Trop (you could make a left onto LVB). One thing that bugged me all weekend and is a big cultural difference between my generation and my not-much-younger sister's generation (and is probably a bit of a gender difference too) was the insistence of texting and facebooking everything that was occuring, to the exclusion of actually enjoying the moment. "At the Bellagio!" is fun to text I guess, but not when you're texting DURING the fountain show.

Quote: sunrise089

Saturday ~12:00am - Drive to Fitzgerald's and check in. Put luggage away. Walk around Freemont Street area.

Checkin+valet went smooth, Fitz isn't that bad (no worse than a clean but budget hotel room), and the lights above Fremont Street were still turned on (75% of them that is, one of the middle sections was apparently broken). We visited the Golden Nugget and saw the eponymous rock. I played craps for an hour at Fitz and had one of my lower variance experiences - bought in for $100, cashed out for...$101 ;)

Quote: sunrise089

Saturday morning/noontime - Drive to M Resort. Eat lunch at their buffet.

Sister wasn't hungry in the morning, so we drove to the Luxor and ate in the cheap food court. As expected, walking into the Luxor made a nice impression.

Quote: sunrise089

Saturday afternoon - Drive to the Sahara and check in. Walk or drive to some area of the strip and visit several casinos

Again checkin+valet went smooth. The Sahara is better than I expected - I think Fitz and the Sahara are both better than the Trop. Maybe not NICER in terms of decor or materials, but better maintained with less obviously in disrepair.

Quote: sunrise089

Saturday 5:45pm - Drive to UNLV campus and attent NFR rodeo session thing.

A little adventure with this. I had two face value tickets bought via Craigslist. Even had a trustworthy out of state shipper who said she'd mail to my hotel overnight and I could just send her a moneyorder later. However she flaked out on the timing - her "give me your address email was apparently less than an hour before her mail pickup, and my response came too late. I knew the local scalper prices off Craigslist were all $70-80 for upper level seats, and the seat exchange thing at the convention center didn't have anything same-day. Walking around the giant gift show thing there a random scalper asked if we needed tickets. Since my sister did (I didn't want to drop over face value for the rodeo since it doens't mean much to me) I asked what he had, and we settled on $75 for a pretty decent ticket (equivalent of 40 yard line and only midway up the upper tier). Sister didn't like the whole deal because the guy was kind of sketchy, but the ticket was legit and the price was fair. OF COURSE as we're walking back to the strip we saw two scalpers. Sister asked the older of the two how much one ticket would be. He said $75 (horray!). She said thanks, and then as we walked away he said if she only wanted a ticket for herself he'd sell it at face value (oh hell). So now sister was bummed out about burning an extra $30 on the ticket.

We walked through the Wynn, I saw Encore for the first time ($10 games!), and then went into the Venetian. Sister then discovered the Big Six Wheel (oh boy). I had a good time talking with Joe the dealer, who said dealing the wheel once every six months was more than enough. Sister lost $70 on the wheel hoping to win back her $30 ticket difference, and since it took her an hour to do so we were now behind getting her to the rodeo. She decided to take a taxi rather than walking back to the hotel, and for whatever reason (rodeo I guess) the Venetian, Pallazzo, and Wynn taxi lines were massive at 5:00pm. Finally got her in one and she just made the start of the rodeo, but her driver was a bit shady - sister is young and had never taken a taxi herself before. She gives the driver a $20 for a $14 fare. He doesn't offer any change, and just says "thank you." Sister sits in place for a few seconds and he says "ok, thank you" more firmly and she exits. Now she SHOULD have known she could ask for change, but that's also a pretty slimy way to hustle a big tip.

Meanwhile I play Blackjack for a few hours at the Sahara for $5/hand. I had pretty lousy luck, with very few blackjacks or double opportunities. On my first blackjack I received $6. I did a double take since I knew the $1 tables had strange rules. I then wondered if there were payout differences for $1 blackjacks, $5 blackjacks, and $10 blackjacks. I kept my mouth shut until a table mate received $30 from his $25 bet on a blackjack. At that point I left the table and caught the eye of a floor person. I asked if all of their tables were 6:5 now (I later saw the Blackjack says 6:5 notice was the lowest line on the table limit card, and not printed on the felt). Floorperson was nice and said "almost all of them are, but our $25 table isn't nor is 'table 1,' the first $5 table on the left hand side from the door. I immediately moved down there.

Reverse shout out to my terrible dealer at the 6:5 table too - he tried to be friendly and did enjoy my Big Six wheel story from the Venetian, but he also called the Sahara a "shithole" and complained about being stuck there due to the recession making $28k while Bellagio dealers made $100k. Since he also claimed to be a dealer for 20 years I've got to ask why he was at the Sahara in 2007 in the first place. He also asked the moderately cute female player who set down if she worked at Rhino stripclub, and when I mentioned that I thought it was silly my sister wanted to make even money bets on the Big Six wheel rather than at craps or even roulette he told me I was "full of shit" since the way to make money at Big Six was to walk up and make one big bet on the $1 as the big winners did.

Anyways, 3:2 "table 1" was also an interesting experience. I wanted to sit at first base since the low-end crowd at the Sahara meant third base was the subject of abuse. The seat was open but a middle aged woman was sitting in the second seat but playing the first spot. She told me I may not take that chair, so I choose a seat in the middle. The other two members of the table were typical - a woman moved from 1 spot to 2 and varied her bet based on "hunches and being willing to go big when you have a feeling" (she most certainly was NOT a counter) and an Asian gentlemen at third base who almost seemed to be deliberately channeling "wacky asian sidekick" stereotypes. Think Speed Racer dialogue "HA HA I took the dealer bust card HA HA [insane cackle laughter]" "HA you busted!," dealer replies that she has in fact 21, "HA I made a joke HA HA" "The important thing in whatever you do is consistency [one hand later] I'll stand on 15 this time HA HA."

"Bet the hunches" woman then "went to the bathroom" and asked the dealer to watch her chips. 30 minutes later the dealer, a floorperson, and some sort of pitboss or shift manager are about to take the chips to the cage when the woman reappears. When told she can't leave chips for that long her excuse is "it's ok, I didn't PLAN on being gone that long."

Eventually a fifth person tried to join the table and sit at first base. The mean lady again tried to block him, and this time the dealer told her he was allowed to sit there. Mean lady stormed off in a huff, and the table cheered. The stated reasons for the cheering - for me because she refused me the same seat, for hunch lady because "she kept changing her bets when I was doing well ruining things for me, you should only change bets when everyone is doing poorly to change the table luck," and for crazy guy "it's ok to change bets when you're doing bad and someone else is doing well, but only when you change and do well. She changed and then did no better, so she shouldn't have changed."

In the end I lost $150 over about 3.5 hours at an average bet of $7. That was as much as I wanted to loose, so I was gone gambling. After that I picked up sister at the rodeo, and traffic was surprisingly lite. In fact, traffic was super lite all week - Vegas has SUCH little traffic compared to DC that it was a joy to drive in. I will definitely rent a car each trip now.

Quote: sunrise089

Saturday 10:00pm - See the O show at the Bellagio.

Post-rodeo sister was still bummed out over "loosing" $30 to the scalper and actually loosing $70 at the Wheel, so we ate at NASCAR cafe (5/10) and called it a night.

Quote: sunrise089

Sunday morning - Drive to Hoover Dam

Hoover Dam was actually a big hit. I almost had a heart attack when sister climbed up on the concrete railing to "get a better picture" of Lake Mead, but I was glad she liked the attraction and drive out there.

Quote: sunrise089

Sunday afternoon - ?

After Hoover Dam sister had settled a bit about money so we drove to the M and ate lunch at the buffet. I thought it was really good. Atmosphere and service were a bit lacking, but food selection and quality were good even for the price. I'd definitely take my wife - some of her favorite food items are hot craB, tri-trip steak, fish, and wine, and all of those bases are hit at the M buffet.

I watched the last quarter of the Colts-Cowboys game (yuck!) while my sister lost $30 on the field bet in craps, then we drove back to the strip. We had just enough time to park at The Mirage, walk through the Forum Shops on our way to the Bellagio, watch the fountains, walk through the inside of the Bellagio, make it back to the Mirage, watch the volcano, see the fish tank inside, and then drive back to the airport to drop off the car.

Quote: sunrise089

Sunday 8:00pm - Depart LAS

All in all good trip, I wish I had a bit better luck, but sister said afterward that she had a blast. Thanks for all of the advice all!

Quote: sunrise089

I'd definitely take my wife - some of her favorite food items are hot crap

Does that mean anything as long as its hot, spicy food, or something else?

sorry for the bad joke.

Ill get my coat.

Quote: sunrise089
I'd definitely take my wife - some of her favorite food items are hot crap>>>

Beats cold crap. I guess......

Quote: sunrise089

I played craps for an hour at Fitz and had one of my lower variance experiences - bought in for $100, cashed out for...$101 ;)

In my world, we call that a WIN! hehe. Thanks for the report. I'm happy to hear that the board was able to help.

Please ask your sister to post her recommendations / "wish I would have done different" regrets. It would be interesting and valuable.