swalter518

First of all, thanks to all for your tips. Our trip was so much fun I need a day off to recuperate, but alas, no such luck. So here's part I while I'm on lunch.

Flew SWA from Midway to Las Vegas. Did the online checkin before we left to get our "A" boarding pass and the flight was actually 20 minutes early getting in so no complaints! We tried to us the Ambassador Club check in number for Paris to check in over the phone but we arrived too early (8:30) and they weren't open yet. We did check in at the airport counter and received our room assignment. Took a cab to the hotel and left our luggage since our room wasn't ready yet. We were starving since we were up since 4:00 Chicago time so we hit the Paris breadfast buffet which was outstanding. Made to order crepes with fresh berries, cheese, Mmm mmm good! By the time we finished and hit the sportsbook (where I thankfully saved my $$ that I intended to bet on my beloved Illini b/c I screwed up the game time with the time change) our room was ready. We walked up and picked up our keys and avoided a VERY LONG check in line of those that did not check in over the phone or at the airport. I had requested a room upgrade and we got a corner room which is bigger than a standard room for no cost. It had 2 walls of windows with 2 seating areas, a separate "room" with the desk and closet and then a separate tub and shower. I don't know what the bathrooms of the regular rooms were like but the living area was much bigger in this room.

Back to work--later KA...

FainaAgain

Are you saing they don't have electronic kiosks to check in at the hotel? I'm surprised the check-in line was long. Even Sahara, the cheapest, has those things where you swipe your credit card, and get the room keys.

travelsuper

swalter,
thanks for posting. I don't think this is showing up in the Nevada forum--I didn't see it there a minute ago. Sounds like you got a great room at Paris. When you asked to upgrade -- what exactly did you ask? Did you ask specifically for a corner room, knowing it was bigger? What was the view? What floor?

Please post more about your trip...

TS

swalter518

Faina, Nope, no kiosks. Just the 800 number and the airport checkin. Travelsuper, the room number was 1649p, it faced the strip toward Aladdin and the edge of the Bellagio fountains from one window and the parking garage from the other. I told the desk agent we were there for my husband's birthday (we were) and asked if there were any better rooms available. She said that she would have to charge us $49 for a fountain view room but could put us in a corner for no charge.

Another note, get the player's card, even if you don't intend on gambling. It entitled you to 10% off at most of the restaurants at Ballys, Paris, and Ceasars and off of most merchandise in the stores as well.

jlm_mi

swalter518 - Thanks for the beginning of your report. Can't wait to hear more! We didn't sign up for any players' club cards because we did so little gambling, but that offer is good to know about for next time. Did the 10% off at restaurants apply to the buffets?

swalter518

JLM, it didn't apply at the buffet that I noticed. We didn't sign up until the 2nd day and after we had eaten there so I don't know for sure. It did apply at the Cafe.

On to the rest of our first day. Given the beautiful weather, I hit the pool while my hubby hit the tables. Later that night we went to Napeolean's bar in Paris where there was a great piano player and free turkey and roast beef sandwiches from 4-7. Ate dinner at the Paris buffet which was outstanding I must say. The chocolate mousse dessert was to die for.

Went to KA at MGM that night. We saw O last year and loved it. We really liked KA but liked O better. The stage is a giant hydraulic lift that rotates and turns perpendicular. The special effects and pyrotechnics were phenomenal. It also had a story line you could follow. My only complaint (and it's not a complaint) is that we weren't as impressed with the acrobatics and performers as we were with O where they were plunging into and out of the water. Perhaps if we hadn't seen O we wouldn't have even noticed but it seemed the performances were more martial arts based and less acrobatic. But, the show is phenomenal overall and well worth seeing. Also, we were in the cheap seats and were still able to see everything without a problem.

Maggi

I'm so glad you posted a review on KA, thanks. (I've got tickets next month.) We also saw and loved O. I'm looking forward to hearing more.
Maggi

swalter518

Day 2. Our last trip we never made it past NY NY so we headed out to check out Luxor and Manadaly Bay. The Shark Reef at MB was pretty cool and had 2 field trips going through. Only in Vegas would kids take a field trip to a casino! We initially planned on dinner at AquaNox at the Venetian but changed our minds when we got there and ate at Pinot Brasserie also in the Venetian. The food was outstanding. I had halibut with blue cheese mashed potatos and my husband liked his steak there better than the steak the next night at Prime. After dinner we went to Fontanas at Bellagio and watched a great band do hits of the 70s and 80s. Very fun. Also the Conservatory at Bellagio had just finished putting up its Spring flower display which was stunning. You could smell the hyacinth in the casino. I'll try to post some pictures later.

More later...

travelsuper

swalter,
Thanks for the tips. We look forward to our stay at Paris next month...I will definitely ask for the corner upgrade..we get in about 9pm in the evening so checking in should not be a problem. Bummer about the ambassador # but it worked out well with the airport check-in...We have tickets to O on this trip and will probably see one other (less expensive!) show while there..I know O is well worth the cash!
TS

swalter518

Our last full day we hit the Forum Shops-it amazes me how these casino malls have so many of the same shops yet still survive. Checked out the Wynn-from the outside it doesn't appear anywhere near being ready to open in April. The Bellagio type facade of store fronts around what looks to be a lake are still under major construction. The hotel itself is done, however, at least from the outside. Had drinks and appetizers at Fix in Bellagio-outstanding calamari and a great spot for people watching. Dinner at Prime was great-what beautiful decor. I had sea bass that melted in your mouth while my husband had a steak that he liked but was in his opinion not as good as the one at Pinot Brasserie. The ambienence alone was worth the trip however.

All in all it was a great trip. Thanks again for all the tips! Wish I was still there on this snowy morning...

swalter518

Oh, I can't believe I forgot one of my favorite parts of the trip! We went up the Eiffel Tower at dusk-what a sight! The Bellagio Fountain show was amazing from above that the Strip looked magical-I highly recommend it.
Here's a link to our photos of Bellagio's Conservatory and from the Eiffel Tower-I'm no pro photographer but you can get the idea!
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/swalte...r518/my_photos

jlm_mi

Thanks for the great photos! We skipped the Eiffel Tower observation deck thinking it might be kind of boring, but your photos of the Bellagio fountains say otherwise!

Did you have to wait long to get up at dusk?

The consevatory looks great. We were there just a few weeks before you and it was done up for the Chinese New Year, complete with a huge animatronic rooster.

swalter518

JLM, we had no wait and kind of stumbled up at that time not knowing how beautiful it would be. We weren't going to go initially but we got free passes from someone playing poker with my hubby and we were glad we did! Plus the music from the fountains is very clear from the tower.

The Conservatory is definately one of my favorite LV things as you can tell from the voluminous pictures!

travelsuper

swalter,
Great pics, thanks for the info on the conservatory. Definitely want to go up the Eifel Tower. Also want to do the Gondola ride at Venetian....
TS