Sunday, November 23, 2014

TR SNIPPET - MOVING FROM PLACE TO PLACE

Generally, I use the city bus and the free shuttles and trams.  Of course, I miss the fun of interpreting and pricing what a cab might cost.  The bus is $32 once for the entire trip.




From the airport to the Orleans:

Simply used the WAX and then the 201. I caught it this time at Koval, but I did not like the resident pan handlers at that stop, so next time I'll go back to the NYNY stop which has more riders and a regular security check just for the comfort of it.

From the Orleans to the Monte Carlo:

This was easy enough on the 201 bus, but it was a bit crowded. I was lucky to position my bag at the exit door for easy exit once we hit the stop at Tropicana Casino. Once off I took the elevator to the bridge by MGM, but their elevator is still out of order, so I used the escalator down and then up on the way to NYNY. I took the elevator at NYNY down and rolled my bag to Monte Carlo. There is still construction at NYNY, but it was not congested as I remembered it had been last year, and Monte Carlo seems to have finished renovating the front of their casino, adding an outside tavern. There is still construction in the rear of Monte Carlo.



It was a long roll once inside the casino. I had to go all the way to the back to find the lobby and that was not easy.



I did tire out with the travel, but I did not find it difficult or exhausting. I had wondered since planning if I was being a total idiot doing these one night stands. It turned out it was fine. But remember I am in Vegas for 24 nights and have plenty of time to just go along from one adventure to another. These frugal deals, like MyVegas, make a long trip affordable. Also, planning activities at each spot makes it easy. At Monte Carlo I'll eat at Aria and play poker. I'll swim. That will be about it. I won't be walking out on the strip unless I find a good show at a good price reasonably close. I was happy to do the all nighters early in my trip before I was exhausted.



From Monte Carlo to Mandalay Bay and back



This was easier than I anticipated. The tram from Excalibur to Mandalay Bay is very comfortable with luggage and unlike the tram between Monte Carlo and Bellagio, it is not hidden in the recesses of the casino, but right there as you cross the intersections by bridge.

Coming back it drops short of the intersetion but I still found that tram and a luggage roll a fairly easy move from casino to casino on these MyVegas one night stands.



The Deuce with Luggage



This needs to be avoided when possible, but the SDX is no better. The Deuce is very crowded, but if I can position myself and my luggage in the seats facing the exit door, most of the time it is a fairly easy exit. Just next to those seats is a fine spot where even my large suitcase slips out of the way. The trouble is when some stubborn guy insists on standing in the doorway and I have to push around him.

Folks are not supposed to stand in the doorway area, but they do.

The problem with the SDX with large luggage is that while we are exiting, frantic folks are coming in the very same door.

I had two rides on the Deuce, one from Planet Hollywood to downtown and another from downtown to Caesar's too get the 202 to the Gold Coast.

Boarding at Paris I had some issues with space going downtown and it was really packed by the time we got there, but everyone had to get out, so there is no real rush.

Coming uptown I found the boarding very easy at Neonopolis where the bus has not yet filled up. I positioned myself in those seats facing the exit and was fine.

The luggage roll from Caesar's Deuce stop to the 202 is a long roll. It was a crowded street and it was difficult to negotiate.

Some guys in transformer costumes did not like my aggressive rolling.

You are going to kill someone with that suitcase” they said.

I can only try,” I answered back flippantly.

I wish I had said, “Just think of me as a different shaped transformer in costume. Want to tip me to have your photo take along with me?”



More locals who think they own Vegas, I suppose.



Panhandlers in costume should think twice before being too critical about others causing difficulties for walkers.

I wondered why they thought I should have to watch the people behind me. I do fine with those in front of me, but I don't have a rear vision mirror. Certainly anyone can see that my large suitcase if they are behind me.

It made me mad as you can tell.



I want to use the WAX to access the strip as often as possible, especially with luggage, but I also like taking a few days at the Gold Coast and then the Orleans back to back.



BOYD SHUTTLE



Going from the Gold Coast to the Orleans was a snap.

The driver asked me if I wanted to put my large suitcase in the back of the bus and I agreed.

What a treat that was.

The fellow was old and I tried to do the lifting myself, but he was very stubborn. He said is was 75 and a good bit stronger than I was. My friends think he did it to ensure a tip, but I think he just was proud of the good shape he was in. At any rate, his friendly way sure made me feel easy about moving from one casino to the other. I'll book that way again.



Orleans to the Airport on the last day was easier than I expected. I did not have a WAX schedule and could not access the internet on my stupid old computer, so I left with too much time and arrived at the gate a full two hours before the flight. Then I fell asleep and almost missed the boarding.



By next trip I expect to have a Smart Phone and move up into the 21st century. Then I can get an app that tells me exactly when the bus is coming.

Normally, I print out schedules before I leave, but all the times changed after I got there.

Well, I was ready anyway. Tired and limping I was happy to get rid of my heavy suitcases.



The nonstop home was about 40 minutes early. What a treat that is!




2 comments:

Unknown said...

Hi Dewey, Pebbles here.
Did you know about the text service for the bus times? You just need the bus stop #. you text ridertc # to 41411 and it texts back with the next three or four bus times.
We used thia a lot diring our trip and we found it very helpful.

Dewey said...

Yes. Perhaps next year I'll have a Smart Phone. That is the plan anyway. Twice other riders had that information at stops where I waited.