Monday, February 23, 2009

Las Vegas January 09

How can you go to Vegas on a budget!

We went on a getaway for 4 days to Vegas the last week of January - it is a lot bigger then they show on TV.

We flew out of Newark at 8am - connected thru Charlotte and arrived in Vegas at around 1:30 in the afternoon - time zones confuse me, lol..

It was bright and sunny, surprisingly warm about 60 during the day. The first thing we did was eat cause after that long flight we were starving!

We found a restaurant on the strip called Maggianos - they dont have those in NY - but we thought it would be similar to Olive Garden or something. We happened to have a Gift Certificate so we sought this restaurant out.

When traveling try something new! I got this four cheese ravioli - which I thought was 'safe' - when it came out, the sauce was GREEN and I didnt know what to expect! Man it was SO GOOD... my husband was picking off my plate! Check it out!

Anywho - we drove around a bit and checked out the all the hotels on the strip - its not that long of a road and I cant believe those hotels costs something in the billions to build! It was crazy. We stayed at the Riviera - across from Circus Circus - these hotels are a little older but while anywhere why pay so much for a room if your just sleeping in it!

The first night we traveled to FREEMONT STREET - which is supposed to be the 'bad' area. It was getting dark and the 'show' was supposed to start soon. We parked in the garage and walked. Some of it looked famliar from watching CSI. lol. We walked up and back down the street. There were some guys dressed as Chippendale dances and man they were hot, they got the ladies to take pictures with them and charged them an arm and leg. Some were there making these amazing paintings with spray paint. In a matter of about 10 minutes! Then it was time for the show. All the lights were shut down...and the 'sky' lit up. Not really the 'sky' but above you they projected an image with music, it was pretty cool but kinda hurt your neck looking up that whole time.

Day two - we took a trip to the Hoover Dam - I love looking at anything historic - its just facinating. We arrived early in the AM, the drive seemed to take forever but it really wasnt that long. While driving you see Lake Mead in plain sight, it is amazing. We walked into the visitors center and paid for a basic tour. They showed us a movie about the building of the dam - then took us down below - we were standing on one of the tubes that took water in - all we felt was vibrations the whole time. They explained to us that the water from Lake Mead was going thru the tubes. We then went to another room, were we saw thesee massive machines that pushed the water thru creating power. It was the most "GREEN" thing I could have seen. Once we were done with the tour we got to see actual items from the 'site' and we got to see off the observation deck. We then decided to walk across the dam.

On one side we were in Nevada it was 11:15 it took us a few minutes to walk to the other side - turned out we were in Arizona and it was 12:20! On the way back to Nevada we found the sign that showed the 'line' between the states! We then went back to Las Vegas.

We decided we wanted to see a show. A cirque du soleil - didnt really matter which one but found that Zumanity was the one we really wanted to see. I were able to purchase tickets for a discount at Tix 4 tonight! Originally it would have cost us about $160 for two tickets on the balcony seats. We purchased those same tickets thru Tix 4 tonight for $140 - ok it does not sound like much of a discount but when we got there - they 'upgraded' us. Guess they didnt sell that many seats and we were placed in the Orchestra seats - 4 rows from the stage! Those seats would have cost us $216! The show was amazing but not for those that are prudish, lol... I got to see my first topless show. We also had dinenr at the Rio Hotel - this buffet was so large it took 5 minutes to go from one side to the other! But it cost us $24 per person!

Day three - we did a timeshare tour in the AM - we didnt buy! Then got FREE tickets to see a Magic Show and Dinner at the Monte Carlo. We walked around the strip while we were passing the time. Treasure Island showed the Song of the Sirens, which after 15 minutes had technical difficulties. Oh well. The most interesting thing walking up and down the strip was the escalators outside! Like how crazy is that! The buffet at the Monte Carlo was OK.. and the show was OK - they put us up in the balcony and you really couldnt see anything.

We flew home on day 4.

Tips for Vegas - its not really for kids. Its great for those that like to party, drink and dance.

Be prepared to walk a lot!

Pick a cheap hotel - you dont need to spend $200-$300 per night to stay in a hotel you will just sleep in.

Besides the Zumanity show we spent under $200 to go to Vegas - we got a FREE hotel stay by agreeing to do a timeshare tour - lose about 4 hours of your time. We also got the free Magic show, buffet and comic show! Our plane tickets were only $160 for both of us, we got FREE flight vouchers thru our cell phone company, we had to pay for the 'tax' of the flight and a booking fee. Book your tour and trip before you go! There are plenty of people on the strip that will offer you free shows or discount shows to do a timeshare tour. Find it first and they will put you up in a hotel!

We were recommended to eat breakfast at Ellis Island restaurant/casino - ( its on the back side of the Paris hotel on Koval Streel) breakfast for 2 cost us about $15 with tax and tip! Palace Station has a lunch/dinner buffet if you sign up for one of their casino cards - cost $7 per person! Most buffets average $18 per person, a diner we ate at costs us over $25 for one big breakfast, 2 English muffins and hashbrowns! The restaurants at the hotel was worse - ONE EGG costs $6! lol

There are a ton of FREE things to see in Vegas.

Have Fun.