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Travel Blog: My trip to VegasPublished on 05:14am 11/20/2007 by kristin5683 |
This was my first trip to Vegas. I went for a friend's wedding (that's not completely random - she actually lives in Vegas). It was a wonderful trip! Vegas is such an odd place, made up of parts of cities from around the world, and everyone there seems to be out to have a crazy good time.
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1. Chapter: First Night in Vegas - Tournament of Kings at Excalibur |
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The Excalibur hotel hosts the Tournament of Kings. We saw an ad for it in a Welcome to Vegas magazine and decided to give it a try since it was both dinner and a show for cheaper than the $100 cirque de soleil shows that we would have loved to see but couldn’t afford. Our tickets cost around $60. They were listed for $55 but with taxes and booking fees (that are applied no matter how you book – online, over the phone or in person) the total came to about $60 per person. The doors open about 20 to 30 minutes before dinner is served. We ordered our tickets over the phone and picked them up at the “Will Call” section of the ticket booth. The arena was downstairs and we got a bit lost (I’m not sure how!) on the way there, but found it eventually after consulting a map. The line was a bit long to get in, but once the doors were open it didn’t take long to get everyone in. The room was large with rows of tables and seats around a dirt arena. You can buy a drink in a commemorative Excalibur mug, but it seems a bit tacky and expensive so we opted against it. Dinner was steamed broccoli, a roll, potatoes and a small game hen. The hilarious part was that no utensils are provided – you have to eat with your hands. I guess it’s more “authentic”? Whatever reason, it was hilarious! The show started with Merlin and a jester getting the crowd warmed up. To be honest, we thought it might be a bit cheesy and silly (which it was) but we really got into it! Everyone is seated in a section by country. We were Spain and cheered on our knight. There were 6 sections and 6 knights on horseback. They jousted, did tricks, and dueled. There was singing, dancing and acrobatics. Special effects, lights and music made the whole experience incredible. It does seem a bit silly coming into it, but it’s definitely a good time and if you get into it, you’ll get more out of it. For dinner and a show for $60 in Vegas, it was awesome! I would recommend it for anyone looking to do something a bit random and a bit different. Tags for this Travel Blog Chapter: dinner show jousing nighlife fun vegas excalibur |
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2. Chapter: The Las Vegas Strip |
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The Las Vegas Strip looks deceptively short on maps. Walking all the way down takes a great deal of time and energy. If you are in the area for long you could consider renting a car so you can get to many of the other attractions around Las Vegas, but if you are there for a long weekend, take the tram. It costs about $4 per ride and can take you from one end of the strip to another. You can buy tickets for 2 uses, a single ride, 24 hours, 3 days, etc. It’s really convenient and fantastic if you are tired of walking. There are 6 stops or so from one end of the strip to the other. We walked from MGM Grand at one end of the strip about 2/3 down to Treasure Island. Go out at night because with the lights it looks so impressive and it’s the Vegas you know from films and TV shows. There is so much to see, it’s really a lot of fun. We stopped at every attraction that was free on the way. A big one for me, as a fan of the film Ocean’s Eleven, was to see the fountains at the Bellagio. There is a water show about every 15 minutes. The water is choreographed with lights and music and is really spectacular. It’s an absolute must-see for any visitor to Vegas. We also stopped by and saw the volcano at the Mirage and the show outside Treasure Island. The volcano “erupts” round the clock and the show at Treasure Island is at least twice a night. Crowds gather quickly, so check times and go ahead and get there early to get the best view. Those things are just a few of the attractions along the Strip; it’s such a fantastically constructed place with skylines from cities around the world. A walk down the Las Vegas Strip will definitely be memorable. There was a lot of construction, at least 1 to 2 long blocks, so it got a bit tiring walking. Because all the hotels are so big, things seem closer then they really are. So take the tram on the way back to your hotel to save your feet! |
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3. Chapter: Our hotel in Vegas, The MGM Grand Hotel and Casino |
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It wasn't until our second day in Vegas that we got a chance to really explore the hotel that we were staying in - the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino. It’s a four-star hotel and the room was really nice. There were two queen beds, each featuring 4 bed pillows and 1 large body pillow. The comforter and sheets were white, which I like because you know for 100% sure that they are clean. The TV had basic cable and a channel with information on the shows that were playing at the MGM Grand, which at the time was the Cirque de Soleil show Ka. It looked really good, but we couldn’t afford the $100 ticket prices. The feature of the MGM Grand Hotel is its lions. There are two “on display” in the lobby at all times in a large glass enclosure. Apparently the lions are rotated periodically between the display area and their “real” home, so it’s not as though they’re being overly exploited. We never had the chance to see them being fed, but we did spend about 20 minutes just staring at them. They were both sleeping at the time, but you can get quite close to them and I’ve always liked big cats. The lobby is large and impressive with a big gold statue of a lion. The front desk seemed to be busy at all hours of the day, but there are a number of workers so the lines don’t take that long checking in or checking out. We lounged by the pool and got drinks. Drinks were $7 by the pool which is not cheap by any means, but it is particularly convenient and decadent – only on vacation and only in Vegas in October can you sit poolside and sip a mimosa. In October, all but one of the four pools was closed, but the one that was open was fairly large and there were several sundecks open full of deckchairs. The other pools and the “lazy river” are open during the late spring, summer and early fall months. For 2 people staying 3 nights, it was about $340 per person total. That’s not too bad considering the quality of the hotel. That being said, I know we could have stayed somewhere cheaper. But the location and the atmosphere was really fantastic and since it was my first (and possibly last) visit to Vegas, I figured it was worth it. Tags for this Travel Blog Chapter: mgm-grand hotel casino pool 4-star |
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4. Chapter: Gambling at the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino |
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The casino in the MGM Grand is really big and it is easy to get lost. The signs overhead will keep you heading the right direction for the most part. There is also a map of the hotel in your packet you get when you check in, so that’s good. You may be tempted to take a picture of the casino floor, but they really don’t want you to and it could cause problems. I would never imagine that I could beat the house in Vegas, but it turns out that I did! Gambling is, obviously, a major attraction in Vegas. Each hotel on the strip has a casino floor complete with slot machines where you can bet anywhere from a penny to five or ten dollars a go and gaming tables. I started my gambling by losing $2 at penny slots. It was a bit depressing and lackluster. After 2 minutes you realize Oh! I just lost $2. But I think as long as you look at it as money that you won’t ever get back, not thinking that you’re going to win, you’re better off then getting angry or disappointed over losing. After my try at the slots, I moved up to the gaming tables. I played roulette and craps. I started with $20 at roulette at a table with a $5 minimum bet. Tables have a number of different minimum bets. There are “high roller” tables where bets start upwards of $50, $100 or $500. I was quite pleased to find a table with a $5 minimum – that is the cheapest one in the MGM Grand. The dealers are quite helpful in telling me what I needed to do to bet. The dealer at the craps table was also quite helpful. If you are going to play craps, make sure you start the game so you are the next roller. That way you aren’t out of money without having the fun of rolling the dice. Roulette is one of the worst games to play as far as likelihood of winning. Craps has some of the best odds. A great thing about the casino floor, especially at table games, is that drinks are free. Servers will come by and ask you what you’re drinking and when you get your drink, an acceptable tip is $1 or $2 which is much cheaper then drinks anywhere else in the hotel. If you are standing near a crowded craps table, the server doesn’t necessarily know that you aren’t playing and you can get a free drink without gambling at all! Tags for this Travel Blog Chapter: gambling casino mgm-grand entertainment |
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5. Chapter: The Artisan Hotel - the wedding! |
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The Artisan Hotel is a boutique hotel in Las Vegas. I went to a friend’s wedding at the Artisan Hotel and it was absolutely incredible! When you walk in the door, you instantly feel different. The lights are lowered, even during the day. At the door you are greeted by a copy of the Mona Lisa. And that theme of art is carried throughout the building. There is artwork literally everywhere. Sculptures and fountains, paintings on the walls and on the ceilings. Everywhere you look, there is something beautiful to look at. There are reproductions of art by Van Gogh, Monet, Manet, Klimt, Michelangelo and more! In the lobby there’s a large fountain, a chess set, and several large and ornate chairs. In the bar to the left of the main entrance, the art theme continues. There are empty frames that seemed to create the feeling that the people in the bar and in the room were art in themselves. It was such a cool atmosphere. I was there for a wedding and we ate in the dining room. There were mini-chandeliers along the walls, the carpet was leopard print, the walls were dark red and brocade. It was so atmospheric and lovely. the staff were friendly and helpful. The drinks at the bar were not cheap (I haven’t found a place in Vegas where they are other than on the casino floor) but the service was good. The Artisan Hotel is off the strip by a few blocks and it’s a non-casino hotel. The parking is valet only. You are expected to tip the guy (or girl) who parks your car. I’m not sure what the guest rooms are like, but if they are anything like the lobby and dining room, they will be lovely. The bathrooms are on the first floor and there are sinks in the individual stalls (at least in the ladies room) and individual handtowels rolled and waiting for guests. Tags for this Travel Blog Chapter: bar hotel art |
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6. Chapter: Shopping in Las Vegas |
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After the wedding, we headed to the stores. Shopping in Las Vegas is legendary. Along the strip, there is almost every store that you have heard of. There are not a lot of bargain places or thrift stores along the main strip, though I’m sure in the “normal,” non-touristy parts of town there would be more shops like that. Each hotel has a casino and it seems like most of the hotels, or at least the larger ones, have shopping. We didn’t come close to seeing all the shops in all the hotels, but we did hit a couple of places. In Caesar’s Palace, there are the Forum Shops. They are open from 10:00am to 11:00pm every day but Friday and Saturday when they’re open until midnight. The Forum Shops have shops like Diesel and Banana Republic along with Versace and Gucci and some great specialty shops. It’s super pricey but super classy. The Miracle Mile Mall in Planet Hollywood is open the same hours as the Forum Shops. The shops here are a bit less expensive with stores like H&M and Urban Outfitters. There are also a number of cheap places to grab food. It’s fast food and typical mall food like pizza and sandwiches, but it’s cheap and quick and easy. Le Boulevard at Paris isn’t open as late on Friday and Saturday as the others but most stores stay open until at least 10:00pm each night if not 11:00pm. The floor through Le Boulevard is patterned like cobblestones, the ceiling is painted like a sky and the stores are designed to look French. It’s really a cool atmosphere. There are a lot of little specialty shops as well as some good cafes. Try crepes at La Creperie – they’re cheap but really filling and “authentic”! |
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7. Chapter: Circus Circus |
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Free stuff in Vegas is a bonus since there’s so many ways that money seems to disappear. Once you add up your hotel bill, money you may lose gambling, food, entertainment, you aren’t left with much, so anything free is fantastic. One of the coolest free attractions we saw was the trapeze performance at Circus Circus. Getting there from the MGM Grand wasn’t fantastically easy. Getting to the monorail was easy since there’s a monorail stop in the MGM Grand, but the stop for Circus Circuse wasn’t that close. Obviously it was closer than walking the whole way down the strip, but it took us about 10-15 minutes to get from the monorail station (which was at the Las Vegas Convention Center) to Circus Circus. We had to check the map a couple of times since it’s not readily obvious exactly which way to go. There was a lot of construction going on and there wasn’t really anyone around between the monorail station and the strip. But once you hit the strip, there are always tourists around. Once we were there, you could tell that Circus Circus wasn’t the same star rating as the MGM Grand or the Bellagio or the Venetian. It was still nice thought. It looked like it would be perfect for families with kids. There’s lots of arcade games as well as the games on the casino floor. The free show at Circus Circus is every half hour and varies throughout the day. We saw 4 trapeze artists. It was a pretty impressive show. It was right in the middle of the arcade area and there is a small seating area that won’t fit more then around 50. It’s not amazingly elaborate, but it’s pretty cool. The last act was a blindfolded double somersault. Circus Circus has lower minimum bets at a lot of their tables than the bigger, fancier casinos which can make it a great place to gamble for those on a budget. Tags for this Travel Blog Chapter: circus trapeze entertainment free |
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