WHAT’S GOING ON IN VEGAS, STAYS ON FODOR’S: FAINA’S REPORT.
 

FRONTIER AIRLINES. We flew to Vegas on Sunday before the Memorial Day. The tickets SFO-LAS were cheaper then flying Southwest out of OAK. This time we’d almost figured out the maze of tunnels at SFO. And to go to/from a terminal on the AirTran the red line is needed, not the blue one!

The drinks were as usual: free soda and juice, $5 alcohol, but they don’t accept cash. Credit or debit cards only. Bring your own headphones, each seat has a TV like international flights. Flying to Vegas, we were offered to buy TV for $5, it was disconnected later, only one channel with the map was left, first release movies $8. On the way back, all channels worked for free. The plane seemed old, somewhat worn out. Screeching sounds on take-off and landing.

It’s a bit unnerving to get down for landing, then up and circle, down for another landing. Who knows why! As we were approaching SFO, probably not enough runways, we figured. No explanation from the crew.

TROPICANA. Our room was very good but strange. A deep bathtub in a budget room? Big counter for all cosmetics and such. We always got one shampoo and 2 lotions. Mirrors everywhere, even the ceiling! Did they want me to watch Mr Again’s bare bottom instead of a movie? The room looked remodeled, and rather nice for a budget place. My only wish was for a softer bed. It was in the Island tower, it’s a loooong walk to casino and through the casino to the Strip. But the pool was right there off the elevator. The pool area is great, waterfalls, swim-up bar, ice-cream vending machine, we used the loungers on the grass, such a great feeling of cool grass in the 99 degrees weather! Too bad they don’t have any more free acrobats nor bird shows. These were good.

I have one unfinished business. Made reservations through Expedia as it was cheaper, but at the check-in got slapped with a $5 fee resort. OY! Nothing about it on Expedia’s website, I still need to check Tropicana’s site to see if this was the difference, why I wasn’t told in advance? $5 is not a biggie, but I want to know what happened, why nobody told me.

FOOD. We like to go to buffets, but this one is simply awful. The salad bar looked like it was sitting there from yesterday, the desserts like somebody tried a bite of each, while standing in line (yes, there are always lines of people!! we passed this buffet each time going to casino) we saw the carving station - beef roast let some blood out after each slice, this was disgusting. All other times we ate whatever whenever. The 24-hr Garden cafe at the Trop is good, really! MGM Rainforest Cafe (don’t ask :) - good food, but they cut on the entertainment - those animals hardly moving in the storm. Nathan’s at Luxor has good hot dogs with home-made type fries. Shockingly, no salads. Excalibur, on the right there is a small place with pizza and ice-cream, good food, low price.

GET-TOGETHER. We met with Bashful at Margaritaville in Flamingo. Exchanging cell phone numbers and calling with the clothes description worked. We had great time talking and eating, yeah, managed to combine chewing and saying :) Bashful is a pleasant beautiful young lady, I hope my pictures will come out right for all to see! We asked the waiter to take one, then I thought it’s not enough, so asked a guy at the next table to take another one. He did, but then extended his arm and took a shot of himself for us to remember him. I said, I’ll post it on the Internet telling he’s the wedding dress guy. Ha! he even know who’s the wedding dress guy is! By the way, Margaritaville is an attraction in itself, must see, interesting decor, stage for a band, bar and good food. We met at noon, but it seems this place will get loud later with a band playing, so don’t plan GTGs in the evenings.

TRANSPORTATION. We took taxi from/to the airport, $9 one way before tips. Took the Deuce when I went to meet Bashful, it took exactly one hour from Tropicana to Flamingo - saw an empty bus, I think it was taken off, that’s why the wait was 1/2 hour. It was on Monday the Memorial Day. And of course it was packed. The stops take forever for people to get off and on, worse then tour buses! Other times, it was easy, almost no wait. Once 2 buses came at once. So I guess it’s depends on time/day. $2 each way, or $5 round-trip.

ATTRACTIONS. We didn’t do much, it was too hot for us, from 96 to 99, mostly hung by the pool. Unbelievable, how much shade one skinny palm tree gives! Went to Luxor to see a 3-D movie, this time “Secrets of the Nile” without special glasses. And I want to say: GO AND SEE THIS MOVIE. The secrets are still secrets for us, but the views are unbelievably gorgeous! It was a filmed expedition from the start to finish of the river, the first one ever to make it without losses and injuries. Sure, some special effects to make it a 3-D.

MGM still has the same lions with same huge crowds. Bellagio flower conservatory had route 66 theme in the making, part of it was roped off, but what we saw was nice enough. What about that 1962 Cadillac, 45 years old, ha! even though I am older, they don’t put me on display. Saw only 1 set of the turning statues at Caesar’s, inside the forum shops, there is another set somewhere dip in the casino. That one was good! Shops are too expensive for our taste. Got a banana-strawberry smoothie at the stand, really good.

Hawaiian marketplace - didn’t see any entertainment, only recorded music. The whole place is another tourist trap under a large canvass roof. All you see are the small vendors under straw roofs. But the time was not completely wasted. There is a small tour kiosk, and who was selling tours to the Grand Canyon? The Kind himself! And they tried to tell us, Elvis is dead! Long live The King :)

Most of the souvenirs I bought in the Tropicana walkway from the casino to the Island tower while Mr Again was distracted by the slut machines. There is a jewelry shop, and a clock stand “just a minute” with clocks in the form of everything! Magnet shop - not only magnets. Elvis, Betty Boop, Lucy memorabilia. This is the place for tchotchkes shopping. And the best of all - nothing says “vegas” on it!!

Faina~ I tipped my maid the first day I was there and had double everything. Of course, my hair requires the color protecting qualities, but MGM had bumpy little soap massage bars and some nice bath gel.. SCORE:)

Feet -wise.. how did you do? I wish someone would invent a jelly shoe that one could freeze at night and pop on during the day.. my r&d team is still asleep, but I'm prodding them..

did you try the Blazing 7's using only 100 bills,lol?.. my older seasoned seatmate swore by it, and he learned it from someone who "could barely speak English", so there's all the credibility for you!!
To think, I could have had a Splenda Daddy.. Ipod from now on..

Did you make it to The Wynn and have a drink? It is a beautiful hotel.

Now that my feet are back to normal, I'd almost be tempted to go in July if I could find someone to go with this time.. very good deals going on once you get on the hotel website list.

My return flight delay on Ak. Air netted a 5000 mileage "we are sorry", so we'll see. Then again, I miss dolphins, so maybe So. Cal instead.
Glad you enjoyed yourself.. J.

I thought you'd run away with "Elvis" while Mr. Again was playing with the sluts and they were looking at his behind in the mirrors!!!!! LOL

Gee, I need a trip to Vegas soon..it's been about eight years since I was there last. I'm due I guess.

Thanks for the TR, glad you had a good trip. When you got off the plane at LAS if you saw a tall guy, brown hair, shorts, with a backpack, with no "Faina" sign, that was me. Left a blackjack table in Paris at 4:05 and was at the gate at 4:35.

Jetset, we didn't walk much, not in this heat, thank you very much. And jelly shoes are invented already, called jelly insoles if you can fit them in a shoe :))

And the Blasting 7 for $100? Let them have it! We play for the fun of it, not for winning, penny slots make us happy.

As for shampoo - I always bring my own, use the provided for a quick laundry if needed.

Crefloors, I tried. Elvis said, he's waiting for you. How did he know your name?

Mr Wunrful! Sure I saw tall guys in shorts without a limo sign, maybe 2 dozen of them? Mr Again followed me with a camera ready ;)

Faina~ what about the strippers and the topless pool at the Mirage? Okay, never mind that..no film at 11.

Would you stay at The Flamingo again? J.

Yes, I would stay at Flamingo - stayed there maybe 2 years ago. It's a budget hotel, but the location is great. I remember nice pool... and that's it :) It didn't have the monorail yet, and it was before Margaritaville.

I would stay at Tropicana again, the hotel itself is fine, only far from many interesting hotels, need to take a bus or a taxi.

We were talking with Mr Again, and agreed, Sahara is the best - cheap, safe, clean, on monorail and bus stops.

I think, the first time, it's important to stay in the center, after that, doesn't really matter.

Next time we'll go there when the monorail goes to the airport ;) Or maybe earlier.

Oh dear, I hope Mr. Again didn't hit the jackpot at the slut machines!!!

Faina~ I loved the monorail.. quick and convenient plus air conditioned.. quicker than The Deuce and cheaper than cabs. For $9, you can go all day on it..
I went once a day, so the three day pass would be best in that case. J.

LOL. For a good time call...LOL The way Mr. Again hangs around those sluts, it's a shame I say. Glad you had a good trip. I can't go near there is the summer.

nice report faina! glad you had a good time, but the number of pennies you put into a slut to make it pay, you might as well play the quarter sluts.

Wow, Faina, you picked up 2 guys with Mr Again right next to you? Guess you didn't make enough $$$ this time to not go back to the office. Oh well, next time!

<you might as well play the quarter sluts>

Wow! Sounds to me that they've really come down in price.

Hi Faina! Good report - glad you had a good time in our fair city. It was so much fun to meet you. Lunch at Margaritaville was good and I was even able to stay on track "being good" getting ready for my trip to Hawaii the end of the month. I ended up spending time (and money!) in their giftshop after we parted ways - that is one of my favorite giftshops - but now I have a gift to take to my BF in Hawaii so it's all good.

Be sure to let me know next time you come to Sin City so we can do it again!

I think I'm next Faina and Jetset! I will be staying downtown 2 nights, and 1 night at the Orleans. So expect an interesting trip report post in 2 weeks. ;-)

and don't forget to use your playah's club card in the sluts..

they offer romps, two fers at In 'N Out, massage treatments not always advertised..highly skilled oompa loompas with the chocolate body painting..

including foot therapies I was forced to film for Youtub.. yes, yo tub..;)

Faina....thanks for the best typo of the day, LOL! Where do you put the money in a slut machine? Oh boy....here we go...

Llinda, this is well thought over "typo" :))

And I can't say where to shove a quarter or this thread will be deleted ;)

Thanks for the heads-up (or bottoms up) alert to your TR.
LOL re the slut machines. I figured, knowing you, that was no typo! Mr A's behind in the mirror, the title of your TR, the still -secret secrets of the Nile and other Fainaisms...always, after reading your reports, I giggle like a laughing hyena. Is it merely a coincidence that Faina rhymes with hyena?

Jed, what did the price used to be? Just curious.