This
trip , looking for some alternative to casinos for a break on my long
trips, I tried an Air B and B room. I had a mixed experience.
It
think it is safe to say most of the people would not be
satisfied with this alternative.
Many
already knew that.
Certainly
if you gamble enough to get comped or semi-comped rooms, then those
stays were far and above this one.
But
for those who are frugal or want to stay in Vegas for a couple nights
and perhaps for those who are young, it might be great.
In
the end, I could have booked a great room on a two for one at
Eastside Cannery and then, using their terrible Webpass program, I
think I could have upgraded to one of my favorite rooms in Vegas, a
corner room high up with wall to ceiling glass and a luxurious tub.
But
casinos just don't send their mailings out in time. By the time I
got that offer, I had booked the B and B and canceling would have
cost me my first night, $50. Besides, I really wanted to try it.
However,
that is the first disadvantage. Cancelling is not free. I generally don't book where I can't cancel or modify even a few days before I arrive, and I won't probably break that pattern again.
The
room itself was perfectly clean and large.
I
had large room with my own bathroom. I needed that. It was very
clean and very nice bathroom.
Then
sharing the other rooms was an extra treat, especially the kitchen
where I would end up having a really amazing experience.
It
is very odd that my wife and I have just spent half a year buying a
new bed and mattress, both upscale. This bed was a cheap one with a
very basic mattress, very thin compared to the usual in casino
hotels. It was nothing like the mattresses I love in Vegas.
Ironically,
I slept perfectly well on this cheap mattress with no issues.
The
rooms were very underfurnished. There was plenty of space to add
useful pieces. One blank wall just cried out for a small desk and
chair for the computer. I did my computing on the kitchen table, a
comfortable and easy place, and a grand reason to be out there to
meet other guests.
There
was no art. The bedroom walls were barren. In the living
room was one large painting that was very nice. That was it.
What
is clear is that the landlady, a very pretty young blond Hungarian,
was trying to make part of her living renting 14 properties and
giving a fine product with no real style.
One
wall of the room was a long, mirrored closet. I can't imagine anyone
traveling with enough to fill a quarter of that closet.
There
were plenty of kitchen supplies, even some spices, and a nice
refrigerator.
Included
was a Puri water machine that gave nice cold, and I think filtered
water.
The
television was upscale I think. I only used it twice and both times
I hit the wrong button and kicked out the settings.
Electronically,
I'm an idiot.
It
took the landlady two minutes to get it back. I still have no idea
how. The first time I hit a small remote to change the channel when
only the large remote was correct to use for that. I was very conservative about
buttons after that, but I did something the second time as well. A
millenial would not have this problem and probably love the
advantages of this television over the Vegas casino hotel televisions
which offer the worst choices.
However,
there was no Turner Classic Movies station.
No
one wants that station except me and it is the only station I want.
I used to stay at the Plaza just because they had that station, back
in the day when they also had a laundry room
Doing
a nice big laundry midtrip was one of my goals, and it was met beyond
expectation. It was four quarters for a fine long wash, and four more
for a fine long dry.
I could leave those machines running, walk out
the door, and swim all the while, alone in the pool and enjoying it.
So,
for the second half of my journey I had clothes that were well washed
and soft. Handwashing is what I usually do in hotel rooms. I
especially hate the way socks have a crunchy look and feel after
drying on a clothes hanger. But I also hate Laundromats where it is
humid and uncomfortable and there is nothing to do except wait and
wait.
However,
I should mention things that fall in the category of “locals
know this, dummy.”
First
there was no change machine. Second there was no soap dispenser.
There were just machines.
I
solved the first problem by getting a roll of quarters at Von's
grocery (described later). I could have solved the second problem,
but Von's did not really have single serving sized laundry soap
except for one upscale mix of some soap ingredients that sold for $7.
I looked through the information to see if this would give me clean
dry clothes and would also enable me to levitate or send out phenomes
to young, hot women. I might then have paid $7.
In
years back I would have just added a few of the free shampoos and
body washes. They do an okay job.
However,
these days I never leave home without a half bar of Fels Naptha. For
hand washing it can't be beat. It lasts forever. Walmarts sells
them for about a dollar.
Here
I just took my room key, the old fashioned kind, and flaked soap into
the machine. I flaked about a tenth of a bar. It flaked easily, and
it worked very well.
Unfortunately,
I first flaked into a machine that was broken and would not accept
quarters. A young man told me it was the only broken one. I thought, “Locals
would know that, dummy!”
Of
course, there was no sign indicating the machine was broken. The signage in this complex was terrible.
Finding
the apartment was very difficult because all the buildings looked
alike. They were lettered, but not on all sides. So I'd have to
walk around the building to find out the Letter of the building.
There
was no sign on the Men's room by the pool. I would not have known it
was there had I not arrived to the complex early and talked my way
into the locked pool to use the bathroom before I had the code to get
in my room. I thought, “Locals would know that, dummy!”
I
also thought I could print out some vouchers for Eastside Cannery,
but EC have made it so hard to redeem anything, that I did not bother
to ask. I did not see a computer or printer, but then I did not ask
either.
The
internet worked great. This was a time too for me to check into my
emails, clean things up, take a look at Facebook, and do things that
I can't really do on my phone yet for the same reason I can't work
remotes. Usually, I don't use wifi in Vegas.
Last
trip I picked up a persistent virus at Monte Carlo's internet. I
have an older computer which I really just bring to write up the day
or my experiences to edit and post later in the blog.
A
friend cleaned up the computer for me, so I did get to actually write
an email.
Truthfully,
when I am in Vegas I want to be there. If I want quiet moments in
the room, I write. I don't want to visit a Vegas board. Visiting a
Vegas board while in Vegas seems like bringing a blow up doll on a
date with Marilyn Monroe.
I
don't want to have to write emails. I'm just too busy. If I have any
extra time, I sleep.
My
new Galaxy 5 does most of what I need whenever I can figure out how
to use it. It was good. But I was often confused. Texting worked
the best.
And
I went to the Onyx theater for one of the funniest and sexually
raunchy shows I have seen. It is a spoof on a famously panned movie
in 1995 called “Showgirls, The Musical” and while I missed the
meanings of much of the spoofing because I have not seen that movie
yet, I had a great time.
And
it was sexy. Local theater generally could not draw actors who would
look good enough to be topless, but the lead in this show was
absolutely gorgeous and looked grand. The show drew actual Vegas
showgirls.
The
theater was small and old, and it was a bit hard to get a seat where
I could see everything, but I was first in and moved around twice to
position myself with a good view from almost the last row.
In
this small venue that meant really close seats. I could see every
character.
I
had an empty seat on both sides of me and the seats were wide and
comfortable. They reclined. A pretty blond sat to my right. That
was nice as well.
This
small audience filled the place with nonstop laughter.
And
no one had to say, “Put your hands together.” They just put on a
grand performance and the audience knew how to respond without being
prodded.
I
had just seen Luxor's Fantasy on a My Vegas ticket and enjoyed that
show, but I liked this show better. I liked the projected
personalities of the characters.
Once
in a while the actors did not project their voice enough, but
otherwise there was not that sense of uncomfortable cringe I
sometimes get in less than professional performances.
It
is a very small theater. It seats about 60 which they can expand to
90 if they need to. It was well attended, but I was able by coming
early to be the first in and to actually change my seat three times
to get a spot where I would have the best view. Heads get in the way
of this old style theater. The seats actually can recline a bit.
There
is also a small venue with couches and comfortable chairs for small
performances. That was quite an unusual room.
Prices
were $25 for the dozen first row (sold out). Gold star had them for $10 and I suppose a service
charge. I decided last minute. They sold cheap popcorn, dollar
drinks and coffee and other snacks at a movie like counter.
Folks
were friendly and many were part of the larger acting community. One
high school boy was dressed as a pirate because if you showed up at a
doughnut place that day dressed like a pirate, you got a free dozen
doughnuts. He and his techy girlfriend were going after the show.
I
found the theater easily, taking the Maryland 109 bus to Sahara and then
walking a few blocks to the theater. However, the theater, while
sort of on Sahara, opens only the back entrance where there is a fine
parking lot.
The
problem is that it is a long walk around the building from the front,
and things look a bit deserted. I did not want to walk back that
way at the end of the performance in the dark.
There
are plans to build an entrance on the Sahara
side, but now there is just an Emergency exit. However, the girl who
sold me my ticket offered to let me out that emergency exit after the
show.
She
was very helpful.
So,
I met my goal of getting to this theater without a car and because I was staying at the B and B, without a
long bus ride.
The
landlady of the B and B wrote that guests needed to have a car or use
a cab. Of course, I could tell that the bus would work fine and it
did, with just a bit of roll down Katie from Maryland, not much more
really than the roll to get from the Sahara bus stop back into the
Palace Station. Certainly nothing like the walks from those strip
parking lots to any destination.
The
neighborhood seemed safe, and I was comfortable walking alone, even at
night.
However,
once in the apartment complex, navigation was hard if I did not take
a good look at where I was located on my way out. Room numbers were
easy to see, but every letter apartment had room 22. I needed O22.
Even
once I got settled in, I could easily get confused because I am
geographically challenged. I had to really look for differences and
small landmarks to get back what was just a really short walk from
the pool to my room.
One
other goal was to break up the chain of buffets with some simple and
inexpensive food and to stock up my suitcase for three days at Palace
Station. That worked because the local grocery Von's, right up on
Maryland, had plenty of choices.
I
love to cook at home, but I did not want to cook much and do dishes
at the B and B. The refrigerator kept my nice salad fixings and
oranges fresh and cooled my seltzers. The microwave warmed up
chicken wings cooked at Von's.
I
had three meals on the salad and cheese.
I
was sitting down to a nice salad of mixed greens, pepperoni, assorted
cheese, peanuts with a touch of salad dressing I took from my host
and some haberno hot sauce. I had a half dozen wings, all
drumsticks. I had a nice bottle of cucumber watermelon Seltzer and a
glass of the last of the E and J brandy my wife left.
As
I ate, in came the one other guest in the place. Actually, Jollie, was
a relative, perhaps an Uncle of the landlady and had been in the
States just 5 nights. He was a very pleasant and personable fellow
who showed me the kitchen when I first arrived and showed me how to
use the Puri machine for cold water. Oh, that was very nice.
He
spoke no English. The closest he got was a few words and the
expression “No problema.”
He
had put on a pot of whole garlic, white onion, large chicken legs,
parsley and it had been simmering with just salt and pepper all
morning.
I
finished up my meal and then I watched him cook. He mimed everything
or showed me the spices from the cupboard. It was a live cooking
show by a person who had just come from Hungary. I was very pleased.
The
food was removed from the broth, it was stained, and then very tiny
noodles were added to make a soup. The chicken legs were stripped of
skin, rolled in flour, dipped in egg, and rolled in plain bread
crumbs. Then they were fried slightly in oil with some lard added
until they were brown.
Of
course, I had to try some even though I mimed that I was too full. I
also had to try to cooked garlic. Everything was very plain and
simple and delicious.
So,
now I figured I could lose more gambling because I had experienced a
mini trip to Hungary without the uncomfortable plane ride. It is
true that I missed the Hungarian architecture, but I'd spent some
very upclose time with one of its people and sampled authentic
cuisine.
One
other downside was that checkout was ten AM. But I am always up
early and wanted to roll luggage in the cooler morning.
From there I went to Palace Station, taking the 109 on Maryland and the Sahara Express to get there.
Palace
Station put me in a fine tower room at eleven thirty. That was good
because Jollie had awakened me at 1:30 AM when he had the long phone
call in Hungarian, and I had for the most part stayed awake. That
taught me that I am too old for these B and B
places because I am too noise sensitive and don't fall back to sleep.
Sad
really.
In
college I got four hours of sleep a night until Sunday, slept most of
the day in front of the television and then began a hectic week
again.
To
add to my need for rest, I had spent the night before I went to the B
and B playing cards at Excalibur from midnight when Fantasy let out
until four thirty in the morning.
So
I was ready for some good sleep to catch up.
Just
a couple more observations.
Because
of the way she runs this B and B, she is not at the site. Most
visitors report never seeing her. The code is released by Air B and B
in email. I made the mistake of calling her, and she did not know
who I was and at first told me she was driving and could not access
the code, but with a little thought, and some prodding from me, she remembered the number.
So
we did not get off on the right foot. She was very pleasant and took
care of me, but it was clear that I could not be too confused without
annoying her.
I
am always too confused.
That
alone would stop me from booking solo again. What if my phone did
not work, or I lost it? This was a very quiet complex, and so there
might be no one to help. Of course, Jollie would have helped. But he is not everywhere.
There
is no early check in here. I arrived at one thirty for a two o'clock
check in and had no chance of getting in early.
That
was clearly stated in the paperwork, but it is enforced because Air B
and B does not release the code for the keys until check in time. I
arrived having to use a bathroom and did not want to roll my luggage
down to Von's, but there were few people around, and it took me a
while to solve that issue.
Easy
bathroom access is another good thing about being in Vegas or going
on a road trip in my van. In Vegas casino hotels
there are bathrooms always available. On a road trip, if there is
not a Mcdonald's then there is some isolated tree hidden off the
road.
When
I was in college, I did landscaping for a fellow who ran his business
in upscale suburban houses. We could not ask to use the bathroom.
Then I was able to manage myself until lunchtime or every longer if I
was not picked up for lunch. I could go until quitting time. (I had
no car)
I
would like to be young again.
But
at least I had this good B and B adventure, and it may well be my
last.
Ten
years ago the Costa Rican Tico buses made very few bathroom stops. It
was uncomfortable at times. Now, I just don't know if I could ride
them.
The
hardest bathrooms were always those in NYC. They don't let you use
them unless you are a customer and sometimes have guards. I remember
one time going in a crowded bar and taking out a twenty dollar bill
as I walked past the guard as if I was going to jockey myself into the
crowd at the bar to order a drink.
Then
when he looked back out for more rule breakers, I slipped to the
bathroom and afterwards just walked out. That was twenty years ago.
On
the other hand, technology might solve that issue for me as well on
my new phone.
Fifty
years ago I remember the old men in Madrid peeing openly in the
small, barren parks and I remember once in the Rastro one boy of
about six peeing a stream from the middle of a crowded alley and all
the shoppers divided by the running water.
Well,
I can't say I regret the experience of the B and B, but I doubt I'll
do it again, and I can't really recommend it over a casino hotel.
