last birthday bash newsletter

Okay, Birthday Bash buddies. This is the stretch. I head out on December 4th and I'm afraid my trip planning time is even more shortened because I take my computer out of service on Thursday. I'll have access to Elizabeth's computer, but not all my lists of Vegas favorites for information. However, my Blog is a pretty good resouce and I can access that.

So, if ya got questions, ask 'em.


If you have not seen the Blog recently, the next two posts give some last minute advice. September is a good month to skim for ideas.

I planned a couple itineraries for 2 Bash visitors. I can do that for you too. I am pretty flexible on my time. So far I have scheduled these days:

Xmas Day breakfast at Arizona Charlie's on the way to Red Rock to scramble on the rocks.

Xmas Day dinner at the McMullan's Irish Pub right behind the Orleans. Just a short walk there and back.

Saturday, Dec 23rd - Mirage for Cravings and LOVE.

Saturday, Dec 16th - Birthday Dinner at Marakeesh Morrocan belly dancing restaurant.

Dec 12th or 13th - Birthday Breakfast Party at Paris Buffet.

The rest of my time is unplanned but flexible around your plans. I won't be with you all the time, or do all things with you, but I'll be around.

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I worked up a detailed itinerary for the Birthday Bash guests with just 48 hours in Vegas. It may not fit your interests, but you can get an idea of what can be planned if you give me some sense of preference. Some of you want to just hang loose, and that is cool too.
My advice is for nongamblers is to plan around show locations and then around food locations and times.
Gamblers should coordinate those two interests with good pay tables/good poker games.
Even if you just divide your time up between sections of the strip, and let me know what those are, I can suggest some cool destinations.

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48 hour itinerary:

Dear ___________,

I am very happy that you have tickets to Ka on a Monday. Of all the Bash guests you have had the most difficulty getting what you wanted and I know you wanted shows. How did you get complimentary tickets?

I don't have an agenda except to hang with people, but I'll skip some of the site seeing. I don't need to go to Red Rock Canyon, for example, as I'll go later in the monty, or up in the Stratosphere tower. 15 times is enough. It took me that long to get kissed there. Elizabeth was my 15th tower guest. One week I did Margot's brother one night and Elizabeth's brother the next. It is a wonderful view, but not an everynight experience across two marriages.

I also can't be a very good tour guide from Vegas. From here I can because I have access to my own Blog as a resource. What I can't remember, I can look up.


Here is my suggested itinerary. It is a tight schedule so you won't probably be able to do all of it. :
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TRANSPORTATION:
One bus option is to buy a $5 good for the Deuce - 24 hour pass stamped when you buy it and good on the clock for 24 hours on any bus in Vegas. It depends on how often you will use it. Over two rides in 24 hours and you save money. Another pass is cheaper. You don't want that one. It is for local buses only. You buy directly from the driver
.
Before Monday print out your boarding pass on your computer within 24 hours of the flight. The sooner the better. This gives you A B or C boarding and you can pick a prime seat.
MONDAY
Have a good breakfast at home, but don't eat on the plane unless you eat right away. There is a McDonald's just after security too.
And don't talk on the plane either. Sleep on the plane, or just meditate yourself into a relaxed state. Be patient. Your body will not want to rest. Trick it. Pray quietly to yourself. Mentally go on old trips. Pretend you are on a calm lake or that you have just finished making love, and it is now time to rest. Drink liquids, but save the peanuts for your room. Almost 5 hours. Get some rest; you have along day ahead of you and you don't want to fall asleep in the show.
Settle in quickly in the hotel on Monday and get out of there. I never unpack the first night. Shower and dress for the show.
Pick a place to eat and eat a nice hearty meal soon after you arrive. At each meal drink extra water. Take it like medicine.
I suggest either the Orleans buffet(lunch is under $10) or the Ellis Island cheapest steak in Vegas($5)? Lots of other choices, but no good ones near your show.

Now you can do one of three things. Take the shuttle to Barbary Coast and make you way to the MGM, or take a bus to the MGM or take a $7 cab to the MGM. That is the corner of casinos to see today. I'd eat at the Orleans, then do the cab to the Luxor, tour King Tut's museum, and then walk up for the show.
OR
a cheaper alternative:
Take the shuttle back to Barbary Coast. If it is 3 PM check and see if Big Elvis is in the lounge and listen for a while. Incredible show. (Get a free drink coupon from your Orleans funbook for the Barbary Coast.)

Then take the free shuttle inside the Bellagio to the Monte Carlo which is close to MGM. Just go inside Bellagio and keep asking where the shuttle to Monte Carlo You probably don't have time to tour Bellagio today. Save that for Wednesday.

Or you can walk.

If you don't go in casinos you can walk from Barbary Coast at a near running pace and make MGM in 20 minutes or walk normally in 40 minutes.

The Deuce bus is also an option, but if you buy that later, the 24 hour pass will get you through most of tomorrow.

See the show. Before or after the show, depending on time, see that NYNY corner of casinos. Skip Tropicana unless you win free tickets at the free pull on the way in. Skip the free deck of cards.
Before or after the show, walk down to Excalibur and wander in a bit. Go in the Luxor. If you have time before the show, see the museum there of King Tut lookalikes. Stand on the bridges over the roads and look around at the lights. Good photos here. Wander around NYNY if you want. It is not my favorite.

There is a half priced ticket place located across from Monte Carlo. You might want to check and see what is playing.

At the NYNY hotel arrival circle on Flamingo catch your bus(runs about every 20 minutes) or $7 cab (my pick) facing toward the Orleans and go back to the Orleans. After midnight there is no free shuttle back to the Orleans, Walk a few steps down Tropicana to the circle where people drive in to NYNY to register for the hotel, and either wait for a Tropicana bus back to the Orleans or grab a cab in that circle for about $7.

Or if you don't want ever to sleep that first night:

After the show take the Deuce bus to the Stratosphere and go see Huck Daniels review in the lounge( 10 PM until 2 AM). Most everything else is dark on Monday, but he usually plays only that night. This is a Black experience. If you can last, by midnight performers from all over Vegas come up on stage for a song or two. There will most likely not be music at the Orleans that night. It will be pretty dead there.

Take the Deuce back to NYNY/MGM corner for the bus or cab described earlier.

Back at the Orleans (lounge music is dark-check out Brendan's Irish Pub) you are now ready for a little exercise. How about some bowling? Usually after midnight games are one dollar each. Or how about a "graveyard special"(midnight til 6) at the Cafe. Breakfast type meals for about $2 or steak and eggs for $4. What the hell! It is breakfast after all. It may be 2AM but on Albany time it is 5PM. Or what about a little gambling? If you catch up with me, I'll have video poker strategy sheets and know the good machines. And if you play with my player's card I'll get free rooms again.

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TUESDAY
Take the Orleans shuttle to the Barbary Coast Casino.
We may have a good joint breakfast this morning at the Paris. I won't know for sure until my college friend's set their schedule. I'd aim for 9-10 AM.

If we don't, eat a light or hearty breakfast buffet at the Orleans buffet or cafe. Food is better and much cheaper there.
Shuttle to Barbary Coast.

Standing at the front of the casino, walk right going North. Today you are going to cover the North strip. Skip the closest casinos. Those are for Wednesday.

Stop and see the car museum (I have coupons) at Imperial Palace. Check to see if they take your picture for free at the outside. Then go in with your coupon, sign up for a player's card, get your picture, and see the cars. It is incredible!

Then see some of the attractions at the Mirage.
http://www.mirage.com/attractions/
Go at least as far as the Venetian and walk in there and look around at the canals, the art, the shops. See Treasure Island.
If you like a good long hike, then keep walking. If not, Grab a Deuce bus going North and ask him for a $5- 24 hour bus pass. It is $2 a trip or $5 unlimited ride for a clocked 24 hours. Get off at Circus Circus and go in and walk around and wait for one of the short Circus acts. Go next door at Slots of Fun and play cheap craps just to say you have done that or cheap blackjack. If you are hungry get a foot long hot dog.

Continue North. Walk the short few blocks or back on the bus.

Get off when he announces the Sahara. Quickly walk into the Nascar cafe and check out things to do there. I don't really know what they have, but there is something. I'm not really impressed by this spot, but I know you like Nascar and there is a shop and some decorations and some kind of driving game. If you are really hungry, the worst buffet in Vegas is at the Sahara. It is cheap with coupons. Or the diner has an excellent prime rib special and pretty good food. Stratosphere 50's diner is also good and coming up.

Walk across the street to the largest souvenir shop in all the world and buy some tacky junk for all the people back home. If you don't mind carrying, get all your shopping done. Little things: real decks of cards with any casino name, thousands of forms of dice, thousands of tacky things here with Vegas on them. Really a museum of tacky and a mustsee. (Actually, however, the very best cards and dice are right in the Orleans gift shop. Cards are just 50 cents a pack and dice are 25 cents a piece. Real stuff used in the casino. Some of the other decks of cards have marks on them. Orleans just snips the corners.)

ALTERNATIVE: Skip everything and go directly to the Stratosphere to arrive at 2 or 4 for the Viva las Vegas Show. This is one of the best deals in Vegas. The tickets 9with my coupon) are free but you buy a drink for about $9 each. The show is a review: dancing girls, singers, a comic, a dog act. It is the best value show for a first time Vegas goer and in the afternoon so you won't fall asleep.

Try to hit the Stratospehre tower just at sunset. See Vegas in the daytime and be patient and watch it change into darkness. This is one of my favorite experiences.
Are you interested in roller coasters or rides that hang you over the tower above all of Vegas?

Get back on the bus and continue away from the casinos you have visited and go downtown (as long as it is after dark. Downtown is boring in the daytime, like an abandoned amusement park, no people, no lights.) It must be dark by now. Walk the Freemont experience and see at least one light show and hear any music in the streets. Shop a little there. Just savor the ambiance. Nothing much inside any casinos unless you want to gamble or watch gambling or look for lounge music (Golden Nugget) or a cheap show at the Fitzgerald (see if I have a coupon). Do go in the Four Queens and Golden Gate. Do the free pull in the doorway of the 4 Queens and go in and get a key chain. Also if you have a lot of time to kill, go to the promotions booth at the Plaza and get a free picture on a key chain for signing up for their card.
Down the street from the Plaza toward the Main Street Station are some cool old railroad cars that Teddy Roosevelt and Buffalo Bill once rode. Main Street Station is worth seeing for wood, antiques, stained glass. Their buffet is one of the best in Vegas. Go in the men's bathroom closest to the buffet and pee against an actual section of the Berlin Wall. Wait for a break in traffic and sneak Mary inside.

Don't wander too much from that downtown canopy area except toward Main Street Station. Other directions are not safe. Stay with the tourists. You can head up to the El Cortez if you want to see a downscale, some would say seedy, smoky Vegas casino. Comparing this to walking the Bellagio gives you the entire gamut of gambling folk.

There is a small collection of old neon signs at Neonopolis that I like. Walk in for a moment.

There is a nice 24 hour drugstore on the corner there too for those things you forgot. Sometimes they have reasonable souvenirs too.

There is a great Indian jewelry store on this canopy Freemont experience with good prices and wonderful Western stuff. We shop there every time. Our friend does too. She collects Indian jewelry and respects what they sell. Not so tacky.

You can eat again downtown. Lots of great cheap places. Main Street Station buffet and Golden Nugget Buffet might be open if you are early enough. Golden Gate has a diner on the far right as you face casino. I like to sit on the stools. In the diner in the back they have a piano player and 99 cent shrimp cocktail and some antique slot machines. This is old Vegas; the place has been there forever.

California has a great cheap prime rib.
The prime rib special is in the Market Street Cafe 5 Pm until 11PM. Salad bar is included as is a cherry desert. Sometimes there is a line but you can go ahead of everyone if you will sit on the stools.

Also lots of Hawaiin food and a Hawaiian food shop in the California. Lots of Hawaiian people too. Main Street Station buffet also has a Hawaiian section. Great pulled pork.

Get back on the bus heading home. You don't catch it where you got off, but around the corner of Neonopolis. Ask someone if you feel lost.

Are you tired yet?
With your 24 hour pass you can ride free as far as Bellagio and see the fountains at night and wander that area. Caesars Galleria Bar may have Ghalib Ghalab playing in lounge into the early morning ours. Expensive drinks, great jazz. If you don't sit down you can listen for free. Remember the Galleria name, however, that place is huge and no one knows what is up there.
http://www.lasvegastribune.com/20041112/entertainment2.html
If you are tired and ready to head back to the Orleans, which is what I think is reality, there will be music there in the lounge or in the Irish Pub. Then get off the bus at NYNY corner and take another or $7 cab home.
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WEDNESDAY
Get up early. You can sleep later on the plane. In Vegas you rent a hotel room so you can make love and nap. No real sleeping.
Dress and check out. No lines.
Eat a light breakfast at the Orleans cafe if you must.
Put your bags in storage with the bellman.

Take the shuttle to Barbary Coast and wander around that corner: Bellagio conservatory is a must see, blown glass in the hotel lobby, chocolate fountain inside, Paris - do the tower (but I was not impressed,) I like the bathrooms. Then Alladin shops, Caesars shops.

Eat late breakfast or early lunch at Paris or Bellagio buffet. Maybe this will be the day we do a joint breakfast at Paris.

Take the shuttle back to the Orleans and grab a cab to the airport.

Sleep on the plane.
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Alternative plans might be made around another show for Tuesday night. There is comedy. I have a coupon for Vinnie Favorito. There is also the Jubilee Show. There are some cheap shows usually at the Fitzgerald's downtown. The problem with shows on a tight time budget is they eat up all the time by determining the geography. If you are hungry for performance I would just settle for wandering in and out of a free lounge act, where you can come and go for the price of a drink.

How important is seeing guitars at the Hard Rock? It is not close to anything. A long walk. Still fun to see only it cuts out something else.

I'll hang with you for some of this as long as you want company and as long as I can stay awake. My problem is I am awake almost every morning with the sun. If the others go to Red Rock on one of the days you are there (highly likely), I'll hang with you for most of that time. I can find you anywhere with a cell phone.

I hope that helps. Check the maps in the permanent Blog links. There is a good interactive with some ways too of seeing attractions.

Questions??? Five days left.

See some of you all in Vegas. Drink water!
See the rest of you in Vegas some other year.

Happy Holidays
Dewey

Helpful last minute hints

Any questons? Ask now. I leave on Dec. 4th, 9 days.
Once I'm gone you have to save your questions until you arrive and I have to answer based on my 60 year old memory. Good luck with that!!

tips:
* Put my cell phone number 518-858-2770 in your phone AND on a slip of paper in your wallet with other important phone numbers. Phones break. People forget chargers. Chargers break. If you have the numbers written down, you can borrow another cell phone.
*Bring room and car chargers. You may not be renting a car, but someone else might.
* e-mail me your cell phone number before Dec 4 or call me with it after Dec 4. Leaving hotel messages is very inefficient. I am never in the hotel room. I am also not too adept at using a cell phone, so be patient with me. Leave messages.
* If you want to insure that your credit card won't be cancelled in the middle of a $5 buffet charge, call the credit card company and tell them the dates you are going to Vegas. Unusual activity in Vegas sometimes puts a hold on your card that is time consuming to get right.
* Confirm all reservations, check that date, time, rate is right. Check you preference for smoking or non, for double or king bed. Check they know you are coming.
* Pack suitcases for Southwest that weigh under 50 pounds each. If you take heavy stuff, take two cases.
* I find slip on shoes and a plastic bag for all my pocket junk helpful when going through security.
* Bring cash for the shuttle or cab.
* Bring large bankrolls partly in Traveler's Checks. They are simple to cash at any casino.
* Leave large accumulated quantities of quarters/nickles home. Most machines now use only folding money. No coins can be inserted.
* Pack extra plastic bags, rubber bands, a little duct tape, some dollar store clamps. A few hangers. All helpful for insuring a good night's sleep, washing out a shirt, fixing a suitcase, lining shoes, etc.
* Pack a few post card stamps and addresses.
* The desert is dry and sunny even in cool weather. Chapstick is nice. Drink water when you arrive. Dehydration is nasty! Hats and sunglasses. Sunblock.

Other packing suggestions

see you!

Airport to Orleans

Shuttle or cab??

For a single traveler the shuttles makes the best sense. The cost to the Orleans is $6 or $6.50 per person. The disadvantage is that sometimes you have to wait until they fill and then wait again as they drop off other people, so it can take time away from your trip. You can usually get a better deal and a faster ride from Las Vegas Limo but you have to skip the first few aggressive ticket sellers (grayline, etc) and wheel you bags down a little bit to the right and just around the corner of the building to the Las Vegas Limo.

http://www.destinationcoupons.com/Nevada/Las_Vegas/car_lv_limo/shuttle.asp

The disadvantage in arranging for the shuttle to take you BACK to the airport is that you have to leave earlier and sometimes they are not reliable in arriving on time. Once again they do not take a direct route, but go from casino to casino. Taking a cab back to the airport makes sense even if you are single.

If you are a couple taking a cab makes sense both ways. The cab fare will be more than $13 and less than $21 depending on traffic, but it will go directly to your hotel and save you perhaps as much as an hour.

If you want the inexpensive ride, you must tell the cabby more than your destination. You must ask him, "Please don't take the tunnel, go directly down Tropicana." Otherwise, he will give you a more round about route on expressways which look faster but usually are not, and it will cost a few bucks more. Some of the cabbies are mad that you know this. The easiest thing is to tell them you want to see Tropicana on your way because you might be meeting friends somewhere on that road and need to check it out. Here is a thread with more details on how to take the cheapest cab and a discussion of the "tunnel" issue

http://www.lasvegastalk.com/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=34251

However, I have read trip reports where people stood in 40 minute lines to get a cab. On these occasions walk down to las Vegas Limo.
Or rent a car?

If you want to rent a car, it is cheaper and safer to arrange the rental before you go. Stick with the well known rental companies. I use the cheapest one, Dollar. Decide before you go if you want their supplemental insurance. MY insurance agent assures me I am well covered and I also rent with a charge card that insures me so I never get it. Decide also if you want to return the car full or empty. I always choose to return it full. Although the gas is cheaper when you buy from the rental company, you have to donate back all that you have not used. It is easy on the way to the airport to stop at a gas station on Tropican and Paradise (Where you turn for the airport) get filled up and get a receipt in case there are any questions as to where and when you filled up. Finally, I have found it a great time saver to join the VIP club at the car rental place. It is free. It just means they take all you information on line and actually you can rent the car by just getting the paperwork from the car lot. I always have to change something or add a driver, but even then, because I am an Express member at Dollar I stand in the VIP line where usually there are no people while the folks who waited for the last minute stand in the regular line and wait about 10 minutes per person for the paperwork to be created. The last time we esimated the regular line was about 40 minutes long. I was first in my line and taken first also, before anyone in the regular line.

But if you join the VIP club (like Dollar Express) , they do have your credit card when you make a reservation using your club number. I lock in the price with just my name and a few days before I go, I call and put that reservation on my Express number as if I just forgot to do it the first time. I also give them my Rapid Rewards Southwest number so that I earn credits toward a free SW flight. Then if I screw up on a reservation, they don't have my information.

Carry the printout of the rental reservation with you. That saved me $10 once because their computer did not have my printed rate.

There are options and rentals once you get you your hotel. You can arrange them too ahead of time. Call me or email me if you will be doing that and I'll explain how.

Maps

I don't think that walking newcomers to Vegas need much in the way of maps beyond the one in the permanent links section,

http://www.visitlasvegas.com/vegas/stay/planning-information/interactive-maps.jsp?page=downtown

but here are some others:

http://www.lasvegastalk.com/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=33458

(CLICK TO ENLARGE)

WHO IS COMING AND WHEN?

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CALENDAR OF FLOATING PARTY GUESTS
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NOTE: As of November 8th Dewey's average hotel room cost for the entire stay is $13 a night. Not bad, eh?

To see what conventions are happening while you are in Vegas, go to
http://www.lvcva.com/meetings/convention-calendar.jsp
and fill in your dates.

November 30 - December 9
*Hundreds of cowboys and cowgirls (National Rodeo Finals.) Bargain casinos like Gold Coast/Orleans get filled and expensive. I'll stay downtown. A strip option is the Stratosphere/Sahara area. Terrible's may also be an option. Let me know if you are having trouble finding rooms for this period.

December 4-10
*Slink and DEWEY will share one or two El Cortez rooms downtown. ( Dewey is alone on the 4th, sharing on 5-6, sharing at Fiesta Rancho on 7. Each is in a separate free room 8-9 and Slink stays thru the 10th)

December 10-28
Dewey will be at the Orleans.

December 10-14
*Jan and Mom

December 11-13
*Chuck and Mary
*Dave "Morpheus"

December 13-15
Catherine

December 14-17
*Nephew Chris
*Greg and Anne

December 15-19
*Elizabeth arrives on the 15th
*Mary and Neil?

December 17-19
*Brother Jim

Late December -
*Harvey?? (but not Alice, Alex, or Jonathan)

December 23- 27 - If you want to see the entire Hill/Reid crew, come for Xmas.
*Cory - dates uncertain
*Dana ( maybe Amanda??)23-27
*Frank( maybe Julie??) 23-27
*Keith and Bernie 22-26- First three at MGM, then over to Orleans.
*Peter and Jen and Jess ( 25 and 26)

December 28 -
Everybody who is still hanging around goes home.

LOVE

LOVE review

http://www.lasvegasadvisor.com/qofday.cfm

Since many in the family have decided to go to see LOVE, I thought I would give it its own post.

We are going on Saturday, December 23rd. 7:30 show.

Frank's ticket is purchased. Dana is getting a ticket for Cory and for himself. Peter and Jen are not coming until Xmas day, so they are not in the LOVE plans.

WHY BOOK NOW: ( click on this link to see) http://www.lasvegastalk.com/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=33277

Since we have to go early to pick up the tickets, we have decided to hit the fancy Mirage Buffet called Cravings (4th best value in Vegas at $22.50 for supper) together before the show.
Check here for details:
for information on Cravings click below:
http://vegasbirthdaybash.blogspot.com/2006/10/cravings-buffet.html#links

Also, we might like seeing this new lounge if it opens on time:
http://www.modernagent.com/x/modernagent/visitor/resources/editorial.cds?n=18503

Here are some quotes from recent reports on Cravings posted on boards:

Ate their last week. Agree on the seafood comments, disagree on the dessert quality. Any place that doesn't have sugar-packed key lime pie and cheesecake can't claim to have a great dessert case. I actually enjoyed having the buffet personnel doling out the salad, contrary to complaints of others previously. I liked their setup of 13 stations, including Latin, and the card they hand you at entry which describes where stations are and what precisely is served at them. Not as good in my opinion as Paris/Wynn/Bellagio, but a worthy challenger.


We ate there at lunch in September and enjoyed it. They had a good variety of food but we really liked the salads they mix for you and the paninni and gyro station.

Compared to Rio buffet-

I've done both and prefer Cravings. However, I'd be quite content with either.
I think the biggest difference is that Cravings is less a buffet than is Rio, if that makes any sense. What I mean is that dining at Cravings is more like eating at a restaurant and the Rio is more akin to a buffet.

I had both buffets two months ago (see my tr for full details). Rio's buffet was good. Cravings was OUTSTANDING. Go with Cravings - especially the prime rib. (I do give a slight not do rio on the dessert - cravings was just average in that regard, but everything else was top notch.)

We have done Cravings a few times and the quality has remained very high. We had not done the Rio buffet for awhile and tried it last trip on the POV coupon. Honestly it has gone down a bit but was still a great value with the coupon.

I prefer Cravings for their shrimp and king crab legs, which are already split. They also have a great prime rib.

Rio has you peel'em shrimp (small) and unsplit snow crab. A major disappointment for me. However, my husband enjoyed an enormous selection of foods he loves to eat and rated it his second favorite. Considering the price is comparable to Cravings, Paris, etc., I think the shellfish could be improved.

Both have awesome desserts.
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For the rest of this post on Love, click here LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE

SHOW INFORMATION

NAVIGATIONAL NOTE: A LONG DISCUSSION OF ALL VEGAS SHOWS IS AT THE LINK BELOW. IT WAS NOT WRITTEN IN FEBRUARY BUT HAS BEEN UPDATED OFTEN AND WILL BE AGAIN; I KEEP IT CURRENT. I MOVED THE POST TO FEBRUARY SO IT WOULD NOT CONTINUE TO DOMINATE FIRST PAGES OF THE BLOG.

SHOWS AND MORE SHOWS
http://vegasbirthdaybash.blogspot.com/2006/02/shows-and-more-shows.html#links

December weather

a good weather link:
http://www.lasvegasadvisor.com/vacationplanner-weather.cfm

Some one posted this question on a board recently and it seemed to get the best answers with even suggestions of ways to dress.


QUESTION: 28 days until our next visit. The first time in December. We have been to vegas in Jan, Feb, March, April, July, Aug, and Nov. What can we expect for the second weekend in Dec (8-12)?

ANSWERS:

First it depends on where you are coming in from. We are from Ohio, so when we go to 50 degrees in the days it is very pleasant, but if you are coming from a sunny warm Florida it will feel chilly. I love the weather in Vegas in Dec. The days are a little cool, but sunny. You do need a light jacket for the evenings as they are a bit cool and windy and the long walk from casino to casino can feel brisk. The wind coming across the water in front of some of the casinos is really chilly. Vegas is like any other part of the country and can experience a high or low for the area at any time. Last Dec. we hit a really cold spell there, but it was a lot warmer than at home. We heard that the next week it was unually hot.

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we are from Ohio also, so I'm sure we have a good chance of having better weather in vegas. We have been very lucky and have always had great weather on all our other trips (this makes #22). Even in November it has always been in the 80's. I'll keep my fingers crossed that we will have some unseasonably warm days for Dec.

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Contrary to popular conception, Vegas DOES have winter. It will be quite cold, very windy, and will rain and might snow during this time. The saving grace is that it's only about a month long.

However, it usually starts in mid-December!!! So your weather could be anything from excellent to lousy-miserable. Another reason why visitation is at its lowest that time of year.

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Last year it was 60F daytime, around 40F nightime. One night it got down to 32F. No rain, light winds. I was very comfortable in a long sleeve shirt during the day but did need a jacket at night. From an east coast perspective it was a nice improvement in the weather we left behind. The pool at TI was open and a few people were in it.

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From the Las Vegas Advisor weather link:

quote -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

December Temperature:
Mean 46°
Avg. Max. 58°
Avg. Min. 33°

Evening temperatures dip into the 30s and even into the 20s. The sun makes an occasional showing.

Pools are closed.

Desert or not, it's wintertime and it's cold. Dress warmly.

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Dec weather in LV is very changeable. Dec. can be one of the wettest months of the year. 2 years ago there were record rainfalls in Dec thru New Years. Early morning temps can dip below freezing. Couldy overcast days will not get above 50s. Sunny days can get to almost 70. As stated above, it's winter in the high desert. Elev are in the mid 2K ft in the valley to over 10k ft in the Spring Mts just to the west. Snow above 5K ft is commonplace and is reliable enough to support a snowboard ski area on Mt Charleston. Snow in the valley is rare, and usu. it is only an inch or so and doesn't last more than a few hrs.
Slacks and a long sleeve shirt will suffice during the day and a jacket is a welcomed addition at night.

2nd week is Rodeo week. Cowboys and Cowgirls galore who seem to use more 'anti-freeze' than clothing to protect against the cooler temps. YeeHa!

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You'll have a great time laughing at what the people wear at night because of the "cold". I'm from SD and when I go in December I'll bring a light jacket. You'll see people bundled in hats, scarfs, gloves, etc. like its -30. Obviously NOT from the midwest!

I bring a sweatshirt for the day. It's usually in the 50s but a couple times it's been really windy and it cuts through you.

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Although it has been about at least 7 or 8 years since I have been in LV in December, I experienced one year when it was around 70 Degrees for the High (I don't remember when that was but I do remember staying at the Landmark) and another year when the highs were in the 30's and the lows were in the 20s and the wind was blowing.

For me (since I live in Southern California), these were basically new low temperatures for me and I was quite cold. I actually remember one of those days I was driving to Stratosphere to meet a friend and I heard on the radio (this was about 7:30 AM or so) that the temperature (with the Wind Chill) made it feel like it was 13 Degrees! I was just frozen. I remember wearing at least four things including Thermal Underwear and Mittens and I was just completely freezing!

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It really is funny how where you originate from makes it feel warm or cold. I'm another one of those native people from Ohio and Vegas is just darn nice in December. When I have visited it is in the 60's and 70's during the day, 30's and 40's at night. Absolutely beautiful days with lots of sun. If that weather were to hit here I would be out on my motorcycles crusing around. Shorts and a nice polartech are all I need.

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Vegas in December?

A constant 68-70 degrees
Winds at 0 MPH
Relative humidity is a constant 50%
No sunset or sunrise
Air quality: fair to poor

Funny thing is that it's like that in June, too.

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You got it Joyce. Everything is relative. Coming from the Chicago area I know it will be warmer. Although it is chilly. But if you are coming in from a warmer area you may want pack a parka. I do remember one December morning I saw ice on a puddle.

Terry

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Coupon Time

HAPPY THANKSGIVING !!!!!!!!!!!
2 days before I eat a big bird
14 questioning days left before I board another.

So,

today is the day to send for this free coupon offer:

Vegas Values- A nice little coupon book with $5 and $10 off many shows and attractions and $2 off the half priced places, a little Vegas map. I got mine in the mail today. Along with it came a copy of 24/7 a little poketbook showing the places and times of shows and some more coupons. A single copy of that is supposed to cost $4.50 but they threw it in when I requested the Vegas Values book. No postage required, just an e-mail to

christinabroude@clearchannel.com

with your snail mail address.

Tell them it is your first trip to Vegas. When they wrote to me, they threw in the 24/7 book too. Perhaps it was because I told them that I was planning for 20 people. So tell them you are planning for a group.

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Restaurant.com sells coupons for restaurants all over the country. They have quite a few for Vegas including my favorite Irish Pub McMullan's, located a block behind the Orleans. You pay about $5 for a $25 coupon.

http://restaurant.com/

Sometimes the regular prices are reduced for a limited time. If you join, they will send you notices of sales. Or this site will also keep track of the dates when you can get 20% to 50% off the price. That really makes a nice coupon. But you ahve to be conservative and make certain you are going to to to the restaurant you have chosen. You lose if you don't use.

http://www.whatbrianthinksaboutlasvegas.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1999

Of course, you have to know you definitely want to go there.

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Half Priced Tickets

You have to sign up by e-mail for for this money saving group, but they have lots of last minute show tickets half price including the Scintas almost every week. You must check just before you go and book the tickets through them.

http://www.goldstarevents.com

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HAPPY THANKSGIVING !!!!!!!!!!!

Like to shoot a machine gun??

There are places you can go in Vegas to pay to shoot a gun, including a machine gun. It is not cheap as this thread will explain:

http://www.lasvegastalk.com/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=34088

Shopping anyone??

A number of the large strip casinos have entire shopping malls inside of them. Much of the merchandise is very pricey, but sometimes you can find good bargains. I don't shop much, so I am not an expert, but the walk through Alladin or Caesars Palace areas also offer some small bits of entertainment. At Caesars some of the statues talk to you and move parts of their bodies. At Alladin you might encounter one of more of these:

Join Joe Krathwohl, the Birdman of Las Vegas, Lilia, the 17-year old contortionist, and many more as they accompany you on your shopping escapade and dazzle you with their unique talents. These and other variety acts such as Duality, the sensual body-balancing acrobatic act, and the magical artistry and comedy of Jason Bird occur on the main stage near the “V” Theater Friday – Monday from 1:15 p.m. until 7:15 p.m. each hour for your visual astonishment.

For a free map and a directory of stores along with a book of coupons mailed to you from the Alladin go to www.desertpassage.com
or conact the Alladin:

General Inquiries:
	Phone: (888) 800-8284 E-mail: info@desertpassage.com

Ask for the Passport to Savings Coupon book and a store directory.

Or print this coupon and use it to get such shopping coupon books:

http://www.destinationcoupons.com/Nevada/Las_Vegas/shop_lasvegas/coupon.asp

I have one book for the first one who asks and a few directories with a map of Alladin. I don't really know anyone who has shopping at the top of their list of activities, but let me know if you can't get what you would like or have any questions.

For a coupon for a free coupon book at Caesars, go to this link and print the entire page:

http://www.lasvegas-nv.com/forum-shops-caesars-coupon.htm

BIRTHDAY BASH NEWSLETTERS

THE CURRENT NEWSLETTER IS REPOSTED BELOW. I AM COLLECTING OLDER BIRTHDAY BASH E-MAIL NEWSLETTERS IN ONE OLD FOLDER. CLICK HERE IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO ACCESS THEM.

http://vegasbirthdaybash.blogspot.com/2004_02_01_vegasbirthdaybash_archive.html

NEWSLETTER 6 Stratosphere

If you are new to Vegas, you should take an afternoon and see this attraction. The Stratosphere (click on link) is the tall tower casino you see in all those Vegas pictures and the view is worth a trip. In the 360 degree circle there are also maps to show you the areas you are seeing.The best time to view it is to time it just at sunset so you see Vegas in the daytime and then watch the lights come on until all the unlit areas are dark. You have to time your trip a bit, and you have to be a little patient, but when it is uncrowded there are benches.

I am not hearing anyone ask about thrill rides, but if the wind is right, you can experience a good fright because the rides take advantage of the fact that we are so far up. It is thrill enough for me to just watch a couple.

By also timing your visit, you can see the Viva Las Vegas afternoon show for $10 with a drink. I have some coupons, but to print your own go to http://www.stratospherehotel.com/coupon_viva.html
Technically, $10 is what you pay for the drink, but who pays for drinks in Vegas? Well, except you nongamblers.
This is a nice little Vegas review with comic, dancers, singers, a dog act. Think vaudeville and there you have it. I'd go with you, but I've seen it 8 times now and I have all the jokes memorized.

There is also in that area of Vegas a roller coaster in the Stratosphere and some "car" themed adventures at the NASCAR cafe. I have not experienced the car themed stuff, but some have done the new Drive and enjoyed it.

Details are in the Car post on my Blog: http://vegasbirthdaybash.blogspot.com/2006/09/like-cars.html#links

Finally, in that same neighborhood is the largest and tackiest Souvenir shop in Vegas which is worth seeing even if you buy nothing and just pretend it is a pop culture museum. Here you can buy anything you can imagine with pictures of Vegas, dice, cards stuck on somewhere as well as original dice or $1.50 decks of used casino cards marked with their logo. And there are a host of Spencer gifts type items as well as enough knick knacks to keep enabling China to make enough profit to buy out yet another trillion dollars of your debt.

While this small section of the strip is sort of an island between the Circus Circus section and the two or three miles of pawns-erotic dancers- wedding chapels that finally breaks into Downtown, it is easily accessible on the Deuce buses that run every 20 minutes. $2 a trip or $5 for 24 hours of unlimited bus rides.

FOOD: This is not the prime area to eat a meal so if you can, plan to get somewhere else before supper time, that is probably the best plan; however. I always get stuck long enough to be a little hungry. The Sahara buffet can be pretty cheap with easily available coupons, but it is also considered one of the worst in Vegas. That being said, I eat there on occasion with the right coupons often filling up on fruit. Some of the cheaper diners don't seem to offer much fruit. The Sahara diner there, however, is nice and at certain times in the evening offers a wonderful prime rib special. The Stratosphere buffet is passable. I like the Statosphere's 50's themed diners and in one sometimes the waiters sing. If you really want to splurge, you can eat on top of the tower. The food is reviewed as fine, but pricey. For additional information here are the dining links:

http://www.stratospherehotel.com/las_vegas_dining.html

Walking up to the Riviera/Circus Circus/ Slots of fun section of the strip for food is not a good idea unless you have a coupon for a free foot long hot dog at Slots of Fun and even then you are dragging the bottom of the Vegas food barrel. Circus Circus is a joke in most reviews with its buffet coming in as dirty and tasteless at best and at the worst, diarrhetically dangerous. When the Stardust was there, you could eat a decent small meal,but the old Stardust is all dust now. (You will however, soon be able to see the classic old Stardust neon sign at Neonopolis in Downtown Vegas.)

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MUDGRIFF LOUISIANA DAN DISAGREES WITH THE CIRCUS CIRCUS NOTE:

I do not agree with you about the Circus Circus buffet. I ate there 2 times during their last June-July for the comvention trip to LV. While not, I agree, top notch, like Rio or Belliago(I've eaten at Belliago 6 or 7 times, Rio 2 or 3 times) , I found it to be a decent buffet to eat at. I thought the Gold Coast buffet was far worse then the Circus Circus buffet. But, I guess thats my opinion. In any case I did not get sick after eating at any of them.
In case you do not know -- The roller coaster on top of the Stratosphere has been closed and dismantled to be replaced by a night club and a smaller type of ride. The Sahara still has their roller coaster type of ride though. I guess the car ride you are talking about is the ride behind the Sahara and the Las Vegas monorail station in what used to be a parking lot. Your travelers probably would like this ride. The attraction is set up like a proving ground/obstacle course. For a fee($10 or $20 I think, you might check this) a person drives a real, out of the factory (not hopped up) car, through the course, with an experienced trained factory course driver. It will test a person's driving skill and abilities. There is something for anyone to learn here and I really think it would be fun.

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Lucky Pete wrote me with information on a sale at NYNY. If anyone is interested, let me know.

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Travelworm is still at $19 during the week for the Gold Coast. They have other specials as well. Check them out if you are still looking for rooms.

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In general, I am unaware of anyone who has booked air and not decided on hotels. If you want help finding a deal, let me know once you have your air dates and I'll check around for deals on those dates. And in general, I am pretty much "question driven" at this time. I won't know what to tell you about, if you don't ask. Then, as always, I will tell you too much.

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NEED A MAP TO PLAN?

Don't miss the links to the right of the Blog that are permanent. In particular, as you play look for the link called Vegas Maps as it has a really cool map of the strip and downtown with the shapes of the casinos drawn in accurately and with options to check on major shows and other things along the route. It is one of the coolest maps I have seen on Vegas.

Atomic Museum

Now if you get bored losing yourself in decadent amusement and want to visit a museum, here is one I have never visited but might be interesting.
http://www.ntshf.org/
Nevada testing was a long way off in the 50's, but according to one poster, it affected our area:

Was recently in town and had a chance to pop over to see the Atomic Testing Museum on a lunch hour. Very well done and laid-out. Sorry I didn't have more time, but I will be back - for sure!

As a side note, I'm a health physicist, and grew up outside Troy, NY. As you may know, the Troy - Albany area had (I believe) the highest documented fallout / wash-out event of the fission products from a shot in late April 1953 at NTS. The event was well documented by one Dr. Clark, a radiochemist at RPI, who noted the increase in background in his lab. I was fascinated to see one of Dr. Clark's hand-held ionization chambers on display.

This is an important aspect of American history, I'm very glad to see it so well documented and displayed.

ADMISSION PRICES:
• $10.00 Adults
• $7.00 Seniors(65+), Military(with ID), and Youth(7-17)
(must present ID at time of purchase)
• FREE - children 6 and Under
• FREE - NTSHF Members (must present membership card)
• Group Rates Available - Call 794-5123

THE MUSEUM IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC:
Monday-Saturday from 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
and on Sundays from 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
The museum will be closed to the public on
Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day and New Years Day.

Cravings Buffet

One place to try this December is this one. It also fits in well with tickets to LOVE.

From what I can tell, the buffet has these strengths:

Action stations where the food is prepared for you. Keeps hot food hot.
Interesting seafood and great shrimp and crab legs.
Exotic dishes.
Nice for coordination with LOVE
considered a value upscale buffet by Las Vegas Advisor

Weaknesses:
One post on each of two separate boards reported illness afterwards.
The desserts are really lacking.
The buffet gets an average rating. No raving reviews.
Standard food (prime rib, etc) not as good as other places.

http://www.lasvegastalk.com/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=33086

http://www.vegasmessageboard.com/forums/showthread.php?p=180302#post180302

How safe is stuff in the room?

While over the years I have heard of people losing some things due to theft, I think it is very rare. Generally, you belongings are safer in the room than they are in your pocket. If you do have a huge win, you can lock the money up downstairs at the Orleans. Here is a thread discussion:

http://www.lasvegastalk.com/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=32973

Very informative trip report with photos

Every once in a while a really outstanding trip report is posted. This one has great food reviews, some show notes as well as a couple fine pictures of Red Rock, a report on the new car driving experience, and information on where to see Roller skate competition or shoot a machine gun.

http://www.vegasmessageboard.com/forums/showthread.php?t=23944

Two new Shows at the Golden Nugget

http://www.lasvegassun.com/sunbin/stories/do/2006/sep/27/566632932.html



http://www.goldennugget.com/home/press_room/press_releases/index.cfm?task=detail&id=PR_061011_16455371_QAK41

http://www.goldennugget.com/home/press_room/press_releases/index.cfm?task=detail&id=PR_061011_16455371_QAK41


http://www.goldennugget.com/home/press_room/press_releases/index.cfm?task=detail&id=PR_061011_16440550_K1HDU

Pizza

I have not been eating pizza lately and never in Vegas. However, one place was mentioned as one of the top ten pizza places in the country. but you really need a car to get to this one.

http://www.usatoday.com/travel/destinations/10great/2006-10-12-pizza-places_x.htm

THE METRO PIZZA STORY

In 1905 Gennaro Lombardi established the first Pizzeria in America. It was located on Spring Street in the heart of New York's Little Italy. By good fortune, when our grandparents came to America they settled just 50 yards away. Ever since those early days, pizza has been at the center of our family life. Our parents got their first jobs feeding coal into the big bakery ovens where Sicilian pizzas were baked and carried out into the neighborhood to feed the immigrant families hungry for a taste of home. Over the years the time-honored skills of the Pizzaiolo, the pizza chef, have been handed down from our fathers, uncles, aunts, brothers and cousins - from one generation to the next.

As Italian immigrants settled across the country, they carried their love for combining food, family and friends with them to every corner of America. At Santarpio's in East Boston, the Home Run Inn on Chicago's South Side and at Tommaso's in San Francisco's North Beach, this tradition has continued and evolved. Every neighborhood has placed it's own personal stamp on it's local pizza. The debate over which city makes the best pizza will never be settled, because each of us has such warm memories of that first date or family gathering at our own neighborhood Pizzeria.

At Metro Pizza, we honor the great traditions of America's landmark Pizzerias. Our dough is made fresh each day from the finest wheat, hand-stretched and cooked on the stone of our hearth ovens. Our sauces are made from only the finest vine-ripened tomatoes and topped with select cheeses, choice meats and the freshest vegetables, herbs and spices available. Each of our pizzas is a hand-crafted labor of love, backed by three generations of experience.

We believe that a true Pizzeria should be a gathering place for family and friends to relax, share great food and enjoy each other's company. We have visited hundreds of Pizzerias across the country, learning and gathering recipes to bring our guests a taste of home, wherever home might be.

Which city has the best pizza? At Metro Pizza we celebrate all of the great traditions of the pizza experience and we Thank You for choosing us as your neighborhood Pizzeria.

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Zagat Winner 2 years running, We believe that a true Pizzeria should be a gathering place for family and friends to relax, share great food and enjoy each other's company. We have visited hundreds of Pizzerias across the country, learning and gathering recipes to bring our guests a taste of home, wherever home might be.

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Skywalk project

If this is completed by the time we arrive in Vegas, it will be a way to get a taste of the Grand Canyon only 2 hours from the Hoover Dam, so about 4 hours from Vegas.

http://www.destinationgrandcanyon.com/skywalk.html

slot machine hint

The easiest way to locate nickel machines on the casino floor is to look at the lights on top of slot machines. Called candles, the bottom of the light is colored and that color can tell you the denomination of the machine. Typically the nickel machine candles are red, quarter machine candles are yellow, and dollar machine candles are blue.

Hotel update as of 10-13-2006

Since I sent out the Barbary Coast advertisement, I thought I would just do a little overview and update on good deals and clarify how good that offer is.

That Barbary Coast winter special does beat the i4Vegas discount price on the $40 days, but if you are thinking of booking on the $60 days, i4Vegas is cheaper and $100 weekend rate can be beat at the discounter too. The Barbary will match the discounter's prices if you ask.

The Barbary Coast is an excellent choice, by the way. It is centrally located on the corner of Las Vegas Blvd. and Flamingo and gives you the advantage of coming out in the center of the strip any time of the day or night without a shuttle ride. Currently it is still owned by the same folks who own the Orleans so they will price match. Slink stayed there his last trip and he brought me up and showed me his room. it was very nice, comfortable, with rich wood all around. The casino has been sold and its days are numbered, so it is also a last chance to stay there.

The Orleans still beats that price, however, and can still be had anytime, including weekends from Dec 10-21 for $25 just by saying you found the price at i4Vegas. I find it hard to bellieve that the Orleans comes out ahead of the Gold Coast, but it does so I would not even consider that option. I can speculate that the recent shakeup in personnel with many of the employees of the Orleans going to the South Coast (now Point) and hosts taking their clients with them has freed up rooms and depressed the price. Some of the video poker has been downgraded too.

So it is a very good year for me to have my Birthday homebase there. Everybody is a winner without even gambling.

But remember too that even if you booked at the Orleans, you can always rebook at the Barbary Coast and cancel the Orleans with no penalty for changing your mind.

Remember that flexibility too as you plan your trip. If your airfare lets you add a day or two on either end, you will see more of Vegas for very little addiional money. The rooms are still flexible and the deals are still holding.

All the Coast casino Blog posts can be found here:

http://vegasbirthdaybash.blogspot.com/2006_01_01_vegasbirthdaybash_archive.html
or by clicking on January in the Archive section.

Of course, you can beat Coast prices if you want to stay at El Cortez, two blocks outside of the Freemont Experience downtown. Slink and I will stay there during cowboy week (4-9) to beat the very high prices that week, but if you wanted to stay the 10th thru the 21st you could stay for $18 night in their vintage queen and even have one of those nights free. I have never stayed in these rooms, but the adventure might appeal to some. What I understand is that it is like camping above the casino. One queen bed and the dull ringing of slot machine bells to lull you to sleep. Again i4Vegas has that price, but Cortez will not match it, so once you booked you would be stuck with a cancelation fee if you changed your mind. It is a long way from where I'll be 10-21. Slink and I will have better rooms. The biggest advantage in the El Cortez is that they have the best blackjack games offered in Vegas. Blackjack is basically drying up as a decent game, but the El Cortez so far has kept traditional payouts and rules. That is one of the attractions for Slink. Their standard rooms are $22. Their tower rooms, which are almost exactly like those in the Orleans, are $27 and again each carries the free night offer for the 12th.

I know some of you folks are still considering whether to come to Vegas or not, but I really don't know of anyone looking to book at this time, so I have not been aggressively following hotel prices and sales. If you start seriously looking for hotel deals, let me know. Also the link in the permanent links to the right of this Blog called "Hotel Search Engine" will get you to Trip Advisor and you can search yourself for the discounter deals.

POKER RADIO

Poker Radio - The Las Vegas Hilton launches "Poker-Straight From The Hilton" featuring host Rodd William Stowell and appearances by poker experts and Hilton Poker Room Manager Marc Nelson. The show airs every Monday, 3 p.m.-4 p.m. Pacific Time on KLAV, the talk of Las Vegas, 1230 on the AM dial. Streaming worldwide is available at klav1230.com. Stowell brings a wealth of poker knowledge and broadcast experience to the new show, which will feature news about the world of poker.

In addition there is a lot of Vegas talk. I'm not sure it is my kind of station, but it is kind of cool to listen to a local Vegas station while doing the Blog. So far the music has been eclectic. "Blue Moon of Kentucy" some blues. Most of the time is talk, however. Right now I am listening to Glocal warming's (greenhouse gases) effect on building design. Reminds me of a young Costa Rican student I met on the bus to Jaco who was carried a book called Green Architecture and talked about his dreams for future building in Costa Rica.

Be on The Price is Right

NOTE: Admission to the show is $44, but there’s an unadvertised 25% discount when you present a Total Rewards players card. Factor in $10 in equity and it’s a slim $23 outlay for an entertaining afternoon.

Bally's: “The Price is Right ­– Live” Stage Show in the Jubilee Theater at Bally's Las Vegas. This marked the beginning of a scheduled two-year run on the Vegas Strip. The show, from FremantleMedia, the producers of “American Idol” and “The Price Is Right” TV shows, will run simultaneously in Las Vegas and Atlantic City throughout 2006. The live shows, offering chances to win the same valuable prizes as the TV version, will be presented Tuesday through Thursday and Saturday at 2:30 p.m. and on Fridays at 8 p.m. Tickets are $39.95 (plus tax and service charge) and are available at the Bally’s and Paris box offices, or by calling 702-967-4567 or toll free at 1-877-374-7469. Tickets can also be purchased via www.ballyslasvegas.com. There is no age requirement for ticket holders. Contestants must be 21 years of age or older. #41706

Gamble your first $100 no risk

Sorry, that great promotion has ended. No trip to Arizona Charlie's this Xmas for me anyway.

Drinks to Consider

When you can get drinks for free, you might want to experiment a little rather than just have another boring lite beer.

Some places will not bring you all the possible drinks, but it never hurts to ask for something new. Last trip I started trying the Rusty Nail and it was fun.


Here are some suggestions:

http://lasvegastalk.com/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&p=331504#331504

http://www.cupcino.de/html/at/cocktail/

here are more lists of drinks:

http://vegasbirthdaybash.blogspot.com/2005_10_01_vegasbirthdaybash_archive.html

http://www.lasvegastalk.com/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&p=334642#334642


SCOTCH and the CIGARS that go with it: http://www.lasvegastalk.com/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=32948

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HEALTH CONSCIOUS DRINKS

Best, worst:

When it comes to the best and worst drinks, eDiets.com has compiled a list of drinks to avoid and drinks that are better for you because of less calorie content and sugar.

The best five:

Spiked lemonade. Lemonade gets a mature makeover with a splash of vodka. Begin with fresh lemon juice, add vodka and low-calorie sweetener. Serve over ice and garnish with fresh mint.

Fresh fruit calpirinha. This Brazilian drink is made with sugar-cane alcohol and includes lots of fresh fruit. It's not popular around here, but it is on the list.

Bloody Mary. Spiked tomato juice with seasonings is an excellent low-calorie bar option. Garnish with a lime wedge and a celery stick.

... and soda. The "clearer" the drink, the better for your waistline. Clear spirits mixed with club soda are your best bets. Serve with a wedge of lime.

Light beer. There's no doubt that nothing beats an icy beer. Light beer contains almost half the calories of other beer.

The worst five:

Pina colada. Almost 400 calories in this drink.

Frozen margarita. Loaded with sweeteners and artificial flavorings.

Planter's Punch. Lots of sugar and artificial juices.

Screwdriver. Vodka and orange juice sound harmless but OJ at 80 calories plus 200 for vodka and you're getting up there.

Vodka tonic. Although colorless, the tonic has about 150 calories per 8 ounces. Try the diet version. Jo Ellen O'Hara's column appears each Wednesday in The Birmingham News. She can be reached by e-mail at johara@bhamnews.com.

Note on Caipirinha

What is this? Caipirina is Brazil?s national cocktail.

Pronunciation is kai-pee-reen-yah
Ingredients are lime, sugar and cachaca (ka-sha-sa), a popular alcoholic beverage in Brazil that is distilled from fermented sugarcane juice and has an alcohol content of 38 to 51 per cent. (sounds pretty high..)
Available at least at Bellagio or at Mirage Samba.
Price is around 10 to 19 for a glass. (10 flavours to choose from)

Since cachaca is not readily available,
Some substituted rum for cachaca and that become caipirissima.
Some substituted vodka for for cachaca and that become caipirosca.

Caipirinha
The original cocktail is sour and tastes like lime juice with alcohol.

Jager Caipirinha
Jager (a spirit made from a blend of herbs, fruits and spices ? instead of cachaca, which explains the pungent smell and herbal taste)

Apple Caipirinha
Made with Souz Apple, tastes like Zappel minus the fizz. Sour yet plesant.

Peach Caipirinha
Peach juice with alcohol. It is sweet, with a strong peachy taste and has bits of chewy aloe vera jelly.

Chocolate Caipirinha
Sweet, sour and chocolatey all at the same time.

Caipiroska
Cachaca is substituted with vodka and the result tastes like vodka lime.

Vanilla Caipirinha
White, milky and sweet, it has a slightly sour taste and is not too heady.

Lychee Caipirinha
Riding on the popularity of lychee martini, it tastes very similar to the martini version, except that is slightly sour.

Strawberry Caipirinha
Strong strawberry smell and flavour, and tastes slightly sweet with a twist of sourness.

Cointreau Caipirinha
The strongest of the lot, this drink is hard-hitting with a tinge of sweetness

What is Vegas like in December?

Last year I washed my car in my yard the day before I left for Vegas. The temperature was in the 50's and Vegas was about 5 degrees warmer. I have never really needed much in the way of warm clothing, but by December our Northeastern bodies have adapted to the cold. One year I had just a sport coat and I bought a nice fleece scarf at the Drugstore because my neck was cold. This year I have a new light jacket I am bringing. Often I don't want to carry that with me to the casino.

Here are some comments on what it is like around Christmas:

http://forums.lasvegasadvisor.com/messageview.cfm?catid=4&threadid=209083

Three sources for finding free wifi

http://www.lasvegasadvisor.com/internetaccess.cfm?s=F&w=Internet%20Access&men=2⊂=0&id=6


http://www.vegasmessageboard.com/forums/showthread.php?p=184154#post184154


http://lvfreewifi.net/

Look to left hand menu and click on "The List"

Wow! Some trip report

If you want to see all the possibilities in a trip in and around Vegas check out this fellow's trip report complete with some of the finest photos I have ever seen. It is absolutely the best I have ever seen.
http://1as-vegas.com/TR/TRJULY2006pt1.html

Actually, the full site is quite a work. It includes videos too of spots in Vegas.

http://1as-vegas.com/

Restaurant coupons

Restaurant.com sells coupons for restaurants all over the country. They have quite a few for Vegas including my favorite Irish Pub McMullan's. You pay say $5 for a $25 coupon.

http://restaurant.com/

Sometimes the regular prices are reduced for a limited time. If you join, they will send you notices of sales. Or this site will also keep track of the dates when you can get 20% to 50% off the price. That really makes a nice coupon. But you ahve to be conservative and make certain you are going to to to the restaurant you have chosen. You lose if you don't use.

http://www.whatbrianthinksaboutlasvegas.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1999

Want to read a good gambling writer?

I've been reading Mark Pilarski's internationally syndicated gambling column and using his BJ cardsfor years. He is smart and has a lot to teach the new gambler. Here is his website if anyone is interested:

http://www.markpilarski.com/

A subscription to his column by e-mail is free. It is question and answer format.

Is Downtown Vegas worth a Visit?

Here is an entire thread answering that question and I've included my remarks there also. If you are in Vegas for just a few days, you have to decide whether to journey to the downtown area which is older, with smaller casinos, but has a great canopy that connects them and a light show considered a tourist attraction. It is, however, a ride, sort of like going from Schenectady to Albany on a bus along Central Avenue. In between are seedy areas, wedding chapels, pawn shops. Well, check out this thread for details and opinions as you plan:

http://www.lasvegastalk.com/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=31565

and if you crave more opinions, don't miss the link in one post that takes you to another entire thread with the same question debated over six full pages. It is like reading a book on Downtown.

Here is another long list of possibilities:

http://www.lasvegastalk.com/modules.php?name=Forums&file=posting

And if nothing downtown seems worth the trip, maybe the thought of a deep fried twinkie or oreo would motivate you:

http://www.whatbrianthinksaboutlasvegas.com/eat/twinkies.html

Suggestions on things to see and do

Here are some compiled suggestions of things to see and do on the strip. Make a note of what catches your fancy and you won't forget to look for it:

http://www.vegasmessageboard.com/forums/showthread.php?t=7645

Want your picture taken with a lion?

I have never really liked the lion exhibit at MGM except when I went with Jill at feeding time and had those huge male lions with their mouths open just inches from my face (separated by glass of course, I'm not kid Cory afterall). But Having a picture taken with a live lion might be an option in December if the cubs are the right age. You can monitor cub progress here:

http://www.lionpics.us/

Like cars?

Here are two car experiences.

1.
NOTICE: The Drive which was listed here closed on Nov 19th.


2. At the Imperial Palace is a wonderful car museum which is free if you grab some coupons. I'll have some, so ask me. There are all sorts of cars and this would be perhaps the last time to see them. All the cars are on sale and as they sell, the casino puts in another car from their massive stored collection. A former owner used to collect these beauties and used the casino as a way to show them. He died. See the video here:

http://www.imperialpalace.com/autos.php

NO POOLS

Some of you were interested in pools. Here is a site that explores the issue but there really are no good choices for sitting by the pool let alone swimming.

The Orleans has indoor jacuzzis, but they separate the boys from the girls. To get a free trip use the coupon from the funbook. See me if you need more than one coupon.

There may be an outdoor jacuzzi still heated in the winter. I'll be checking. Keep an eye on this post.

http://www.vegasmessageboard.com/forums/showthread.php?p=174879#post174879

Shuttle from airport

You can cab to the Orleans, but I take one of the shuttles from the airport. If you plan to also take a shuttle back to the airport, it is cheaper to get a round trip ticket. Coming back is the time to pay for a cab if you get nervous about time because the shuttle can take a little longer if they have other hotels to stop at.

Here are a few opinions:

http://www.lasvegastalk.com/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=31523

I 've queried this site for other estimates and the guess is from $15 to $20 including tip:

http://www.vegasmessageboard.com/forums/showthread.php?p=174860#post174860

There are a number of lines and they wait for you right outside the baggage claim area, but if you walk a little way past the first ones and turn the corner, you can get my favorite. They are cheaper and usually faster. Their name is Las Vegas Limo but the shuttle is a bus. You can print a coupon that will give you the price of $4.50 to the Orleans, but actually that is their regular price at least today even with no coupon.

http://www.lvairportshuttle.com/main.html

and as long as we are talking about transportation, here is a site with every means of transportation in and around Vegas.

http://www.vegasmessageboard.com/forums/showthread.php?t=16017

Tipping Suggestions

Vegas workers depend on tips. Tipping is more a part of the Vegas culture than it is at home. Here is a site that sets some good guiderules.
http://www.accessvegas.com/faqs/tipping-guide.htm

Personally, I tip only a dollar per drink order. I never feel forgotten. I get alcohol and a bottle of water. Generally, the waitress is back long before I want a second.

I leave $2 a day for the maid. I think that they have the hardest job and are the hardest working. I also like a good relationship with someone so close to my stuff.

In a restaurant I tip as we do at home but add in the cost of the meal the value of the coupon. In a buffet I tip one dollar per person.
There are lots of discussions and debates on the boards. Some overtip. Some tip not at all.

One good piece of advise is to have a few one dollar bills always at hand. At table games, even live poker, you are allowed to tip with chips.

Birthday Offer

Anyone have an actual birthday during the month of December?

The Orleans will give you a pile of points, worth $6.50 which is almost a free buffet just for telling them it is your birthday and playing until you earn 1 point on your player's card. The Gold Coast will do the same even if you have already done this at the Orleans. Same with the Barbary Coast. Doing all of them when they also have a 50% point sale on food would yield quite a bonus

Other birthday offers on this thread:

http://www.lasvegastalk.com/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=31772

George Wallace reviews

George Wallace is a favorite comic having his own show for quite a while at the Flamingo in Vegas. Many have seen him in late night television.
He is often featured in the 2 for 1 deals at the 2 for one ticket places, so he is a good last minute choice for a night when you want a show.

Debbie is going to go at some point. So I thought I would post some discussion and reviews.

Here are ratings from the current time and going back a few years. They are mixed. Actually, I was surprised to see so much negativity recently. I hope he is not tiring and losing his edge or getting too complacent with his success.


http://www.ratelasvegas.com/entertainment/ratings/e184.html


http://www.lasvegastalk.com/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=30406

http://www.vegasmessageboard.com/forums/showthread.php?t=18026&highlight=george+wallace

http://www.vegasmessageboard.com/forums/showthread.php?t=7588&highlight=george+wallace

Carrying Money

Carry with you the money that you want to gamble. Using an ATM card will cost you more than you want to pay for the transaction.

From a recent post:

"Never use an ATM machine in a casino, unless you are prepared to pay the price" warns a consumer advocacy group.

Las Vegas Casinos and several major airports ranked the highest in service fees to use an ATM machine. A recent survey of the strip found the majority of the machines charge anywhere between $4 and $6 for each withdrawl- and this does not include the fees you may incur from your bank.

The casinos are buying into the philosophy that people withdrawl more when the service fee is high. Whether or not this is true remains to be seen, but what is known is that the ATM will be the only machine most tourists will use that will actually pay off.


Personal checks are useless; no one will take them. Traveler's checks are the best bet deal and can be cashed easily in any casino. I carry all my gambling money in traveler's checks. I like it best when I never have to cash any of them. Those of you in the Teacher's Credit Union can get Traveler's Checks for free. Don't hesitate to get $1oo denominations.


Even if you carry your bankroll in safe Traveler's Checks, you may end up with a huge amount of cash if you hit a jackpot. You can get money locked up at the casino if you hit it big. Remember, when you win and do all that shouting, there are people around you listening. If you are carrying large sums of winnings ask to be escorted to your car. Avoid the bus and take a cab.

For all purchases your credit card will work easily. Bring at least two. Calling the credit card company and letting them know you are going to Vegas will preclude them deciding to stop your card until you assure them that this new activity in a risky location does not mean the card has been stolen. Proving you are who you say you are is not always an easy task on the phone. I once had to beg to get a little gas on my card coming home from Atlantic City. Now I call before I go.

I also carry my wallet in my front pocket and walk with my hand on it.

Zerox your driver's license or passport before you leave. Write down the phone numbers of the credit cards companies you use. Store the Traverler's check numbers and this information somewhere besides your wallet.

Generally, hotel rooms are safer than streets. I have never had anything stolen, but last trip I played poker with a young fellow who had $800 taken by a pick pocket. Leave expensive jewelry home, or if you need it for a fancy night out, lock it in a safe box at the hotel for the rest of the week. Always better safe than sorry.

CLOTHING and Packing suggestions

Anything goes in Vegas from the most casual shorts or ripped jeans to the most outrageous glittery creations or just plain classy dress up clothes.

Well, almost anything anyway:

http://www.lasvegastalk.com/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=32507&highlight=pajamas+pyjamas


Winter evenings will be cool enough for a light jacket. I like to have a scarf. I suppose for a woman (or a couple) a purse covers this, but I often travel alone and often on the bus from place to place for many hours. In Shakespeare's time men carried "purses," but if you have seen the Seinfeld episode, it is hard even in this increasingly androgynous society, for men to carry anything like that. Pockets in clothing are very useful, but I now take a comfortable bag to carry things I buy, free gifts, coupons, coupon magazines, strategy sheets, medicine, tums for after a rich buffet, camera, phone, journal. I don't like even small backpacks. I have a long strapped bag with a zipper so it ifts under my poker chair when I gamble without things falling out.

Pack a small roll of duct tape. It is great to repair things and can be used as emergency shoe liner if the blisters occur. I always laugh at myself when I pack one and then feel so Boy Scout prepared when I need it. I also pack a couple small dollar store clips so I can clip the curtains completely shut if I want to nap in daylight hours.

From the Vegas trivia calendar:

"Be sure to include body lotion, moisturizer, lip balm, eyedrops, and a good hair conditioner. The desert winds dry out your skin, eyes, and hair in a hurry, even in winter."

My advice is to bring an underpacked suitcase so you have room to take the things you buy home with you. I actually pack a large suitcase inside of a very large suitcase so I have just one to check on the way there but can use two on the way home. You have to be careful not to exceed the weight limits, usually 50 pounds per piece of luggage.

Planning for feet is essential. Vegas means walking, and walking in dry air. I bring a tube of creamy vaseline and grease my feet each morning after my shower.

Bring comfortable walking shoes or sneakers and as many extra socks as will fit in the corners of the suitcases. If you buy new walking shoes or sneakers for the trip, break them in before you go.

Bring those little round blister protectors and some tape. They work wonders to keep you going when the blisters come.

Pack a small roll of duct tape. It is great to repair all sorts of things and can be used as emergency shoe liner if the blisters occur. Needle and thread and a few buttons and pins.

Here are the things I have found useful in the past:

printed strategy for video poker
Black jack strategy cards
small journal to keep notes for trip reports
fun books and coupons from the last trip
cell phone and charger
phone numbers printed separate from the cell phone
post card addresses
coupons and offer letters for the hotel deals
printed confirmation of flight and hotel and show and car bookings
( I saved 10$ last trip by having my printout for Dollar)

small binoculars for seeing close up at the shows
a few loose dollars for tips before you get to the casino

Traveler's check numbers packed separately in suitcases and one list left at home on the dresser or with your emergency friend. Also bring and pack separately the phone numbers for the credit cards that go on the trip.

(By the way, a call to your credit card company telling them the dates you will be charging in Vegas might preclude them canceling your card due to "unusual activity" I had one canceled after I tried to use it in a buffet in Atlantic City. I call them the same day I make that final hotel room confirmation by phone to be sure hotels have my hotel room at the right price. Twice I found they had booked me at a higher price. Once they did not have me at all))

A backup for identification: passport or driver's license xeroxed and stored in a separate location, or an old driver's license, or a duplicate.

Tiny bottle bottle of Frank's hot sauce. A few bags of good tea.

Cell Phones

I hate all phones, but in Vegas a cell phone is almost a necessity. Casinos are impossible places to find anyone. You can be just a few feet away and not see the person you want to find because all the bells and whistles and lights are a distraction. The casino areas are huge and they are constructed to be totally distracting.

Also calling home on any Vegas payphone will cost you a bundle. I left my charger home one trip and called Elizabeth once. The cost of the call was $75.

Bring a cell phone. Send me the number now and I'll put you in mine and send you my number too. Do that in a separate e-mail not here in comments.

Also remember that there are no clocks in Vegas so having the correct time on your watch or the cell phone is very useful.

Gambling 101

Most first time gamblers risk their gambling on slots. While they are the easiest to figure out, they are not the best bets. You have to watch to see that you do not have to play maximum coins in order to get the full pay. For small gamblers look for slots that do not have huge jackpot payouts. You have more chances then for smaller wins.

All gambling books recommend deciding ahead of time how much money you are willing to put at risk and setting stop limits. Divide the money up by the days you are there and then quit if you lose that portion. If you win, don't keep gambling until you lose all that budgeted money. If you hit big, cash out and quit. In the long run you cannot win money on slots. But in the short run, a jackpot can make you a big winner if you quit while you still have some of it left. It is not the casino's money. Once you have won it, it is your money.

Not all slots are the same but it is impossible to tell which pay better or worse. Slots downtown or off the strip are generally better payers.

Table games have better odds than slots. Unlike slots most table games require some study of strategy and practice before you go to Vegas. However, Craps and Roulette are two that require no learned strategy. Craps provides the best mathematical bet in the casino; roulette offers the worst odds of any table games.

CRAPS

While a craps table and the speed of the game is intimidating to new gamblers, it need not be. The easiest bet is actually the best bet to make. The complicated bets have higher house advantages. A pass line bet will give the casino $1.41 to $0.18 (per hundred dollars wagered) depending on how much money you use for free odds. Compare that to slots that take more like $8.00 per hundred dollars wagered. Or compare to the State lottery that takes $50 on every hundred wagered.

http://wizardofodds.com/craps

ROULETTE

Roulette takes $5.26 on every hundred dollars wagered. It was very popular in Europe, and the game was played with different rules. Our own Saratoga Canfield added another number in favor of the house; he added the double zero and called it the American wheel. He called it the police number because that rake was used to bribe Saratoga policemen. There is one $5 roulette single zero wheel at the Stratosphere. Playing without the double zero makes the casino rake $2.70 per hundred dollars wagered.
http://wizardofodds.com/roulette

The worst casino bet is Keno. There the casino advantage is $25 per hundred dollars wagered or less. If you must play this game, the Orleans has the better odds, but the game is a complete rip off even if it is 100% better than a state lottery and equal to horse rate betting.

http://wizardofodds.com/keno

Video poker can be a good bet but you have to learn a strategy and each game is different. you also have to learn to read the pay tables so you can recognize a full pay machine from a short pay machine. At the Orleans the Double Bonus 10/7 machines (They pay 10 for full house and 7 for flush) are some of the best in Vegas. With perfect strategy they actually give the player a small advantage. But that strategy is counter intuitive and requires hours of practice.

SMARTEST BETS

The smartest Vegas tourists watch other people gamble and see the free attractions.

But there are a few ways to get a huge edge on the casino if you are a first time visitor. These are lost leader attractions. Some casinos offer $10 of free play. Others honor matchplay coupons. With a matchplay coupon you make a $5 bet and the coupon is worth another $5 if you win. You have a huge advantage for that one bet only. Finally, there are coupons sometimes for free money for first time gamblers. My friend Jill took one $10 free money deal and gambled on penny slots all afternoon. When she quit she could cash out for $6. That was her profit. That was all she gambled all week so she left a $6 winner.

TAXES

All gambling winnings are supposed to be reported as income. No person giving you tax advice would tell you otherwise. That would be illegal. There two ways the government collects these taxes. On small winnings they depend on your honesty. Larger winnings, over $1200 require the casino to give you a form that you fill out and that informs the IRS that you have won that money. If you are playing table games, he government paperwork is generated whenever you cash in more that $9000 in chips at one time. If you hate paperwork, don't cash in more that that at any one time.


For a detailed discussion see:
http://rose.casinocitytimes.com/articles/977.html



The best gambling advice on games as well as some free games to play and see how things work is at this site:

http://wizardofodds.com/


All that being said, there is always the economic principle of "utility" that suggests things are worth what pleasure they give us. When you go to a restaurant and pay $18 for what you could fix at home for $6, you enjoy the experience. It is the same with gambling.

A friend of mine recently went on a 9 day trip to Maine paying $120 a night for a bed and breakfast. At that rate, I figured my actual expenses for room and breakfast in December and calculated that while I am in Vegas, that would give me $3750 to lose gambling and our vacations would cost the same.

If you want a totally risk free experience, come fish bluegills with me. There when you lose it costs nothing, and when you win you take home supper.

Important Health Concerns

DEHYDRATION

Vegas is a very, very dry place.
You will dehydrate.
You probably will not notice it.
It can be dangerous.

It is extremely important that you drink water regularly. Plain water. Water with alcohol or caffeine or diet soda additives will add to the process of dehydration. Water will reduce dehydration.

At the same time, ironically, there are practically no drinking fountains in Vegas. You should carry a little bottle of water with you. If you are gambling, water is free for the tip to the waitress. One good habit: every time you order a free alcoholic drink, order a bottle of water with it. That makes the water free, and you can take it with you when you quit gambling. The bars will give you water if you ask. Vegas water is not the tastiest, so bottled water or fruit juice in the room is very helpful when you wake up thirsty in the middle of the night or to start your process of hydration in the morning.


FOOT CARE

Vegas is all walking and standing. Even if you took a cab from casino to casino, you would have to walk long distances inside. A single casino can be as big as a shopping mall. Blisters come easily. Have good walking shoes or sneakers and plenty of changes of socks. I grease up my feet in the morning with vaseline and that precludes blisters. I also pack some of those little blister pads and tape so if I am careless, and blisters appear, I can keep walking anyway with the blister protected.


MEDICATIONS

I hear so much hype about restrictions on medicine on airplanes. On the plane you cannot take liquids unless you have prescription in your name. But pills are no problem. Anything can go in your carry on. It is so much easier to bring what you need than try to find a drugstore in Vegas. You will not be around very many drugstores. Aligator Mudgriff Dan reports that there are some on the strip:

"There Is a Walgreens drug store across the street from the Stardust Casino. Also there's is another drug store(Walgreens I think) farther north on the strip, still on Las Vegas Blvd.. I think on the corner Charleston and Las Vegas Blvd. There is also 1 that is susposed to be built next door to the Venetian Casino. However, I do not know if it has been built yet. There was a sign there saying a Walgreems was going to be built there. The last time I was in Las Vegas."

Still, they are at best few and far between.


Some people also swear by a vitamin mixture invented by an elementary school teacher called Airborne. It is supposed to reduce colds and other difficulties when flying. Rite Aide has a duplicate for $3 less. I'll include a site that argues it is all a scam, but I figure if it works as placebo and I don't get sick, what the hey.

http://whohastimeforthis.blogspot.com/2006/04/created-by-school-teacher.html

Add tums and a traveler's diarrhea med to your list of essentials. Some pain reliever is good too. I use aspirin for nights when I drank too many free ones. Aspirin and guzzling a large bottle or two of water precludes hang over. Most of the uncomfortable feeling of hang over is due to dehydration.

And so we are back to the beginning of this post.



And in addition this note on dryness:

From the Vegas trivia calendar:

"Be sure to include body lotion, moisturizer, lip balm, eyedrops, and a good hari conditioner. The desert winds dry out your skin, eyes, and hair in a hurry, even in winter."