It's been about 2.5 yrs, since my last trip to Vegas which was way back in Oct/Nov 2019. Needless to say, the Covid pandemic, the resulting shutdown, and travel restrictions have ruined at least 2.5 yrs of my retirement travel plans. Now, it's finally time to try to get back to some form of normalcy, since the mask mandates have been lifted for the most part and I'm fully vaccinated/double boosted. I feel somewhat more at ease traveling by air and venturing into more crowded tourist areas now.
Airline Reservations
Back in mid-March, I decided to book a flight to Vegas on Southwest Airlines and was looking for something between mid-April to early-mid May since I also wanted to celebrate my birthday in Vegas. I typically book my reservations a few months in advance, but I waited longer to book this flight, since the airlines have had a bad track record of canceling/rescheduling flight that are booked months in advance. Prices can be higher when booking closer to your planned travel dates, but I was willing to pay a little more to try to avoid changes in my flight schedule, especially since I only fly non-stop. I hate flights with 1 or more stops or those where you have to change planes, since it eats into my precious Vegas time and increases the probability of the airlines losing your luggage.
This is the first time that I went with Business Select which is SWA's version of first class, but it really isn't the same kind of first class that you get with other airlines. It's usually $90 or more per flight compared to their Wanna Get Away rates, but they occasionally have lower rates for some flights. It was just a little more than if I were to add their Earlybird Checkin fee to their lower fare for both flights, so I decided to give it a try. The extra perks of Business Select is that you're guaranteed A1-A15 grouping and automatic checkin, receive double Rapid Rewards Points, access to Fly-By Priority lanes which give you priority at the ticket counter and through TSA checkpoints at some airports, free drink ticket, and refundable airfare.
Lodging
Now that my flight was booked, I sifted through all of my casino offers. I had some pretty good offer from MGM, Wynn/Encore, and Caesars, but I would have to pay resort fees with MGM or Caesars. I would have liked to have used my Wynn/Encore offer which included $225 in freeplay and 3 comp nights, but they didn't have 3 consecutive nights available. My casino rates for the in-between nights were sky-high. If I were to book the entire week (3 comp night and 4 paid), it would have cost close to $5000. I think the rates were sky-high, since my trip overlapped with the final day of the NFL draft which was being held in Vegas this year.
Anyways when I logged into my Boyd account online, I had no comp room offers showing up, even though I'm Sapphire, but when I started plugging dates into the Orleans reservation calendar, I was surprised to see 4 comp night appearing including weekends for a Deluxe King or Queen room. The additional 3 nights were only $18 + tax + resort fee ($39.54 includes tax) per night. Boyd also doesn't charge resort fees on comped nights which is good. Overall, the Orleans has been one of my favorite mid-level, off-strip hotels for years so I decided to book my entire stay at the Orleans.
Rental Car
I reserved a small SUV with Hertz, since I also get a discount from one of my club memberships. Even though that I kept checking other rental companies, Costco, etc., Hertz was still the lowest priced in the end, even though it was higher than I would have paid pre-pandemic.
Entertainment, Dining, Side-Trips, Etc...
I had a list of things that I wanted to do during my trip, but some of my original plans got tossed out the window, since this trip turned out to be more tiring for me than my past trips. I blame the pandemic, since it turned me into somewhat of a couch potato, not to mention that I'm getting old. LOL
I also remember a time when I could walk the entire length of the Vegas strip, but those days are history. I tend to drive to various properties to conserve energy so I don't have to walk as much, but there's still a lot of walking considering that it's Vegas!
Surprisingly, I didn't do any shows or concerts. I ended up being more of a degenerate gambler and spent more time than I had planned playing VP/Slots. Although, I did spend a good amount of time checking out some new properties (Circa, Virgin, Resorts World, Palms) and some that have been on my "to do" list for way too long (Ellis Island). I finally made it over to Ethyl M's Chocolate Factory and Cactus Garden, as well at taking a leisurely drive out to Lake Las Vegas.
As for dining, I didn't get to try out as many new restaurants as I had planned, but I did go to 8 East at Circa, Village Pub and Cafe at Ellis Island, and a few of my past favorites like Ondori Asian Kitchen, Copper Whisk Cafe, Lobster Me, and Du-Pars. I normally just have 2 meals a day. I have a good breakfast, skip lunch, and then have dinner. If I get hungry in-between, I just have a light snack. Sometimes I also lose track of time when I'm on a roll playing VP/Slots so many of the restaurant I was planning to visit are often packed or ready to close and I end up eating at a food court or a coffee shop/cafe.
Saturday April 30, Day 1:
I made a reservation with Echo Limousines to get to MDW which I've used for a number of my past trips. They are very reliable and only cost a little more than taking a taxi. I've had problems trying to get a taxi and/or Uber/Lyft on some occasions when going to the airports, so I'd rather pay a little more for the convenience. MDW is about a one hour drive (assuming light traffic) from my condo, but with never ending road construction and reduced speed limits in those areas, it's closer to 90 mins. Returning home, it doesn't matter as much so I use Uber/Lyft unless the pickup area is too packed or if surge pricing is in effect, then I just take a taxi.
As usual, I always get to the airport way to early and have a long wait. Although, it does give me time to have breakfast at the airport. I had a breakfast sandwich and a bottle of Diet Pepsi at La Appetita, since several of the the other options were closed.
At first, my flight was on time with no delays up until boarding time. We were waiting in line all ready to board when they made a last minute gate change along with a new plane. When we all arrived at the new gate, they were short on crew members so they had to find another flight attendant and copilot. When we did board the plane, we had to wait for them to get their paperwork in order for the alternate crew members, then the pilot announced that the baggage crew loaded half our luggage onto the other plane and had to move them over to the one we were on. It was at least a 90 min delay all together. The flight was uneventful from then on which was good. LOL
I was also surprised that our luggage arrived at the baggage claim area pretty quickly and there was only a short wait for the shuttle bus to the car rental center. Hertz had my car preassigned with my name and location of the car (2021 Nissan Rogue) on their display board in the garage so I just had to hop in and go. They do the checkout and give you a copy of the rental agreement as you leave the garage.
The Orleans
It was close to 3:30pm when I Ieft the car rental center, so I headed to the Albertson's over on Maryland Pkwy near Flamingo Rd to pick up some supplies (bottled water, Diet Pepsi, etc.) before heading to the Orleans to check-in. The line wasn't too long, so it only took a few minutes to check-in. I was given a Deluxe King room on the second floor with a view of the pool. This was the lowest floor that I've ever stayed on at the Orleans, but the higher floor rooms were all at the far end of the hallway which is a long walk to the elevators. I was offered an upgrade to a suite, but it would have cost an extra $60/night so I declined. I didn't plan on spending a lot of time in my room, so I really didn't need a suite.
For those who have read some of my past trip reports where I've also stayed at the Orleans, this King room was pretty much the same. The room was clean, but it's been several years since they remodeled their guest rooms and they are showing their age. Boyd needs to start renovating their rooms at the Orleans, as well as install some brighter lighting. I also had issues with the safe, since it was DOA. I called the front desk to report the problem and they sent someone up to check it out about a half hour later. It turned out to be a dead battery.
It sucks getting old, since I was running out of steam by the time I checked into the Orleans so I dined and played VP/Slots at the Orleans that first night. Also, this was the final day of the NFL Drafts so the LV strip was a madhouse. The LV strip near the Bellagio was also shutdown to traffic as well as several roads around that area so I didn't want to go near the strip.
Ondori Asian Kitchen at the Orleans
For dinner, I dined at Ondori Asian Kitchen which is one of my favorite restaurants at the Orleans. They serve both Japanese and Chinese cuisine. I ordered the Miso Soup and some Sushi including an Eel Roll and California Roll, as well as a Diet Coke. I paid with Boyd points so this was a freebie. In fact, all of the dining that I did at the various Boyd properties this trip were all paid with Boyd points. I often forget to take a pic BEFORE I start eating, so some of the sushi is missing. LOL
Unfortunately, not all of the restaurants are currently open at the Orleans. The Prime Rib Loft was closed, as is the buffet. It was sad to see the buffet area dark and empty. Alder & Birch was only open for VIP services, but they had a small "cash only" buffet setup in front of the restaurant each morning serving some breakfast items like Bagels, coffee, etc. Some of the items were covered in those heated servers so I couldn't see all of what they had.
Other restaurants that are open with varying hours are Big Al's Oyster Bar, Bailiwick, Copper Whisk Cafe, TGI Friiday, and the Food Court which has a Fuddruckers, Sbarro, Subways, and Baskin-Robbins. Java Coffee is also open, but they tend to close by early evening which is inconvenient for those who need a caffeine fix at night. By the way, Java Coffee serve Starbucks coffee for those interested.
Gambling wise, Deuces Wild is my go to VP game, but I found some 9/6 JOB and 9/6 DDB machines that I also played for a few hours. I was playing at the quarter and $1 levels. I didn't take any pics, since I didn't hit anything worth photographing, but at least the machines were giving back enough so I didn't have to keep feeding them Benjamins all night. In the end, I lost about $100 which wasn't too bad.
Sunday May 1, Day 2:
My body was still on Chicago time, so my eyes opened at 5am and I couldn't fall back asleep. It often takes 2-3 days before my internal clock syncs with Vegas time. LOL Anyways, it was about 8am when I went down to the Copper Whisk Cafe and found the place to be busy with a fairly long line of folks waiting to be seated. So, I decided to have the breakfast sandwich combo which included a ham, egg, and cheese sandwich with a side order of tater tots and a Diet Pepsi at Fuddruckers in the Food Court. I've eaten there a few times on past trips and their breakfast sandwiches are pretty good.
I originally had other plans for Sunday, but decided to throw those out the window and headed downtown. I wanted to spend the day at Area 15, but I had problems trying to order tickets via their website, since it kept logging me out whether I used my iPad or iPhone. I even tried switching browsers to Chrome with no luck so Area 15 will have to wait for a future trip.
I parked at the Main Street Station garage, since they still have free parking for Sapphire level players, unlike the California where you now have to be Emerald to get free parking. Why the Cal made that change is beyond me, but I received a survey from the Cal the day after my visit and I blasted them for making that change. I also received a reply back that they will pass my concern on to the management at the Cal. Anyways, MSS wasn't too busy when I stopped by before walking over to the Cal, then onto Fremont St.
Circa
This was my first visit to Circa, since the grand opening was after my last trip to Vegas back in 2019. I like the "Vibe" of the property and all of the workers that I encountered were very friendly. I was there fairly early, so the casino wasn't too busy yet.
It's also refreshing to have a casino property that is for adults only which is why security checks and scan everyones ID as you enter the property. I wouldn’t mind staying there on a future trip, if I start getting comp room offers.
I spent some time playing slots, then had a late lunch at 8 EAST. The only negative I have about their casino is that they need to turn down the volume of the music a notch or two, since you can barely hear yourself think, let alone being able to have a conversation with someone without having to shout at the top of your lungs. It's the same at the D, so I guess Derek Stevens who owns both properties must like LOUD music. LOL
Gambling wise, a Lightning Strike slot and a Quick Hits machine was being nice to me, but no big wins so I didn't take any photos. I came out ahead by $102 and racked up quite a few tier points so maybe I'll start seeing some future comp offers.
8 East
Since it was late afternoon, 8 East wasn't crowded. I guess I arrived at a good time. LOL 8 East is also run by the same owner as Le Thai which is another popular restaurant downtown. I wanted to try their famous Brisket Fried Rice that everyone has raved about. I also remember hearing that the portion size is enough for a full meal, so that's all that I ordered, along with my usual Diet Coke ($24.93 + tip). I have to say that it lived up to the hype! It was very good and I would order it again. There are a number of things on their menu that I would like to try on a future visit.
Later, I stopped by the Cal and played Buffalo Revolution for awhile. I was up by over $400 at one point, but ended up cashing out when I was about $100 ahead. Again, I didn't have any big hits so no photos.
The Cal was pretty busy with mostly Hawaiians from what I could tell. Being of the Asian persuasion myself, I'm always being mistaken for a Hawaiian whenever I visit the Cal. This time, a lady at the next machine asked what Island I was from and I said Chicago and we both had a big laugh. LOL I'm also disappointed that the California Noodle House is still closed.
Back at the Orleans, I spent some time just relaxing in my room before heading down to the casino. That Brisket Fried Rice was filling so I opted for a slice of pizza at Sbarros for dinner. Also, housekeeping didn't service my room today, so I don’t know if they’re skipping days due to fewer workers. Although, I called housekeeping the next morning and the lady said that they are servicing rooms daily and apologized for missing my room. Security is also checking rooms that have their "do no disturb" sign on for 2 consecutive days. I heard a lady in the hallway, complaining to a security guy about that when I returned.
So far, I haven't hit anything big at the Orleans, either playing VP or slots and it was the same today. They also have so many variation of Buffalos that it's getting to be mind boggling. I played a couple of different versions that I've never seen before, but they weren't being nice to me. Buffalo Stampede use to be one of my favorites, but they're nowhere to be found now. Overall, I was down by $200 before I turned in for the night.
Monday May 2, Day 3:
I planned to drive to Mesquite, NV to visit a friend so I just had a quick breakfast at Fuddruckers in the Food Court and I was on my way. Mesquite is just under 90 miles from the Vegas strip so it's about a 2 hr drive depending on traffic. So as not to "out" my friend on the internet, I won't post any details, but we met for lunch at the CasaBlanca Resort and Casino before he showed me the gated community where he owns a townhome. The area caters to a lot of retired folks as well as those who like to golf. I'm not a golfer, but they're suppose to have some nice courses in the area. There are also a few local casinos which are popular like the CasaBlanca.
It was evening when I arrived back to Vegas and I made a stop at In N' Out Burgers for my traditional Double Double Combo before returning to the Orleans. It's been close to 2.5 yrs, since I had my last In N' Out burger! Needless to say, it was good!
Back at the Orleans, I spent a few hours playing Deuces Wild and had some good hits, but still no Royals unless a Royal w/Deuces count. I hit 3 of those. LOL I cashed out with just under $500 so I’m still ahead by a little. It turned out that this was the best winning run I had at the Orleans this trip.
Tuesday May 3, Day 4:
For breakfast, I had pancakes with a side of bacon at the Copper Whisk Cafe. I must have still been half asleep, since I completely forgot to take pics. LOL Their pancakes are pretty good and I also ordered them on some previous trips, but Du-Pars is better. When you order coffee, they also leave you a small carafe' of coffee so you don't have to keep asking for refills which is nice.
Palms
Later that morning, I drove over to the Palms to check things out, since they recently reopened a few days ago with new owners (San Manuel Gaming) who also own the Yaamava' Resort and Casino in Southern California.
Parking is free at the Palms and I parked on the upper level so I was able to get a few photos of the surrounding area too.
Their players program is called Club Serrano and I signed up for their players card. I also got a water bottle as a sign up gift. Considering this was their grand opening week, the line to get a players card was long and they only had 4 people handling the booth. Two of the lines were for the higher tier level players, but they were taking care of anyone. There was also a glitch for those who signed up online, since none of us showed up in their system so they had to enter all of our info which took a bit longer. It'll be interesting to see if I start getting offers, since I gave them a few hours of play.
Their casino is nice inside, although I didn't take any photos. You can find some videos of the grand opening taken by some vloggers on YouTube which will give you a better overview of the new Palms. Here's a good one by Travel Ruby...
One thing nice about the Palms is that they have some good dining options including a few restaurants, a buffet, food court, and a 24 hr Cafe which are becoming harder to find these days. After wandering around the Palms for awhile, I decided to play some VP and played some $1 DDB. The Palms was being good to me! I netted $1100 playing that machine. I didn't hit a Royal, but the cumulative smaller wins added up. This was one of the best hits I had...
Later that afternoon, I was getting hungry so I was trying to decide where to eat. Their buffet, appropriately named A.Y.C.E. (all you can eat) was open, but the line was long and I didn't want to wait in line. From what I could tell, the buffet looked good from a distance. You can find details and pricing on the Palms website.
Serrano Vista Cafe at the Palms
Back at the Orleans, the machines weren't being nice to me again. I switched over to slots when VP wasn't hitting and played some Lightning Strike, Buffalo Gold, and a new version of Buffalo which I think was called Buffalo Rush or Link or something like that. LOL I got a few decent hits and bonus rounds, but overall, I lost another $300. So, my total net win was now down to $800.
Wednesday May 4, Day 5:
I had breakfast at the Copper Whisk Cafe again, but this time I remembered to take a pic! LOL I ordered the classic breakfast including Eggs, Hash Brown Potatoes, Bacon, Toast, and coffee. They always add-on a piece of melon as a garnish. Breakfast was $14.61 + tip which isn't too bad for Vegas. I've been paying with Boyd points so this is also a freebie, except for the tip.
Since the NFL Draft is now history, as well as the road closures, I decided to spend a good part of the day on the LV strip. I parked at Paris, since I get free parking being Platinum, but they changed their enter/exit gate machines. Before, you could just use your players card to enter and exit by just shoving your card into the reader which was easy.
At the exit, I inserted my players card and nothing happened so I had to use the call button at the exit gate to get help. That's when I was told that you need the ticket. I had to give them my players card number and they opened the gate remotely. I wonder how many calls they get each day for this issue, since I'm sure that I'm not the only one who ran into this problem.
At Planet Ho, the enter/exit machines are totally different too and I ran into other issues trying to get out. They have the card reader located so low that you can't easily reach it from your window if you have short arms, you most likely will have to get out of your car to use it. The card reader also couldn't read my players card so I had to use the call button again to get out. I never have these problems at MGM properties, since your players card alone gets you in/out quick and easy. I may avoid parking at Caesars properties in the future unless I have no other options and stick with parking at MGM properties where I also receive free parking.
Anyways, I wandered around Paris for awhile checking out some of the changes they made, especially to their restaurants. Bobby's Burger is a lot smaller than I envisioned and they only had a small area with a few tables and chairs. Nobu's looked nice, but they are also expensive. Martha Stewart's new restaurant wasn't open yet and that area is still blocked off. I thought about returning later for dinner at Gordon Ramsey's Steak, since I have a surplus of CR points available, but I ended up dining elsewhere.
Bellagio Conservatory - Spring 2022 Display
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The Spring display at Bellagio was spectacular, but their slots weren't very nice to me! My pocket was about $200 lighter by the time I left.
Resorts World
After leaving the Bellagio, I went back to Paris then drove over to Resorts World to check things out. This is another new property that I haven't been too, since they opened. The property is quite impressive and big. LOL I wasn't sure which parking lot to use, since the the hotels have a separate entrance and parking, but there is also a self-parking garage which is where I parked. It's location can be a little confusing at first, since if you are driving north on LV Blvd, there is no sign directing you to self-parking, but if you're traveling south, there is a sign where you turn onto Gentling Blvd (I think that's the name). The self-parking garage is detached from the main building, so you have to walk outside to get to the casino entrance.
Lobster Me at Planet Hollywood
For dinner, I was debating whether to return to Paris and have dinner at Gordon Ramsey's Steak or head to Planet Hollywood and get a Lobster Roll at Lobster Me. Well, Lobster Me won. I had the Connecticut style lobster roll which is warm with melted butter. It also includes one side, cole slaw, and a drink. I opted for the cajun waffle fries. Those lobster rolls are really good, but rather expensive. Total price was $32.51. It would have been nice, if they accepted Caesar Rewards points, but they aren't listed as one Caesars dining affiliates.
Back at the Orleans, I spent some time playing more VP. Unfortunately, still no Royal and I was down another $300 before I turned in for the night. Soooooo, I ended up giving back a good chunk of my Palms winning from a few days ago. Although, I was still ahead overall, but not by much.
Thursday May 5, Day 6:
Du-Pars at the Suncoast
I decided to drive over to the Suncoast and have breakfast at DuPars, since I like their pancakes. Tivoli Village is also right across the road from the Suncoast, but I didn’t stop by to check it out this trip, perhaps next time. Tivoli Village is fashioned like a European village with shops, restaurants, etc. which sounds pretty cool.
When I got to Du-Pars, there was a couple waiting to be seated, but it turned out that only about 1/4 the of their seating area was being use. They were short on staff and only had 2 servers working. So, we had to wait until some tables cleared to be seated which took around 15 mins or so. I also recognized one of the servers who took care of me on a few past visits. If they didn’t have limit the seating, the poor servers would probably go crazy, since Du-Pars is a pretty big cafe. I ordered a short stack of pancakes, sausage, and coffee which was very good. Suncoast is also a Boyd property so I paid with Boyd points.
Ethyl M's Chocolate Factory & Cactus Garden
Ethyl M’s Chocolate Factory & Cactus Garden has been on my “to do” list for awhile now so I didn't want to put off seeing it any longer. Their cactus garden is also really cool and I took lots of pics. If it wasn't so hot out, I would have bought a box of chocolates to take back to my hotel room, but they would have all melted in my car. LOL I'm a chocoholic so I just had to buy at least a few pieces to try. They were also giving out samples of their dark chocolates. I have to say that they make some very good chocolates.
Virgin Hotel & Casino
After leaving Ethyl M's, I decided to check out the new Virgin Hotel & Casino which is located east of the LV strip on Paradise Rd. It use to be the former Hard Rock Hotel & Casino before being taken over by Virgin. Their casino is being run by the Mohegan Sun. If that name sounds familiar, they have a huge hotel/casino located in Connecticut called the Mohegan Sun which I've also visited on a few occasions when I use to travel to Connecticut on business.
To be honest, after walking through their property, I just didn't feel a “vibe” in their casino like I did when I visited Circa or Resorts World earlier this week which are also new properties. They do have some good restaurants onsite like Nobu's and I heard that their steakhouse is also very good, but it's really not enough to make me want to book a room and stay there. Perhaps I was there at bad time, so I'll give them the benefit of the doubt for the time being.
Also, their players club is separate from the Mohegan Sun in Connecticut. I was hoping that their players club would be the same at both properties which would have been a nice perk. Although, they do tier match your Mohegan Sun-Connecticut status, if you're at one of their higher tier level.
Ellis Island
I finally visited Ellis Island! It’s also been on my “to do” list for far too long. I signed up for their players card and they still have those promo coupons for their $9.99 sirloin steak dinner and the BBQ special, after playing $5 on a slot or VP. I spent some time playing VP, but still no Royal. That has been the story of my life this trip. Unfortunately, I didn't come out a winner and ended up down by about $100.
I was tempted to try their BBQ rib dinner, but the place was packed so I dined at the Village Pub & Cafe. I had their famous Fish & Chips with a root beer ($22.33 + tip). Their Fish & Chips is the second best that I've had in Vegas, so far. Gordon Ramsey's Fish & Chips is still No. 1. Their Root Beer is also very good and they make it in-house.
The portion sizes are also very generous. Four big beer batter filets and a ton of steak fries. The filets are so big that they are covering all of the fries. LOL I was barely about to finish the fish, let alone all the fries.
Friday May 6, Day 7:
This would be my last full day in Vegas. My flight home is at around 2pm tomorrow, assuming no delays.
Lake Las Vegas
I didn’t feel like heading to a restaurant for breakfast this morning, so I stopped at McDonalds for an Egg McMuffin, since I was going to get away from the casinos for awhile and decided to take a leisurely drive out to Lake Las Vegas. I haven’t been out that way for quite awhile so a lot has changed. I didn’t stop to take photos while I was out there, but that area has really grown and there is still more development being done. If you didn't know the history of Lake Las Vegas and all of the ups and downs of that development, you would think this would be a great place to buy a home and retire, but I would do your reseach, if you have any interest in moving to that area.
A lot of the area is private, except for the resort hotels, shops, restaurant, and some of the recreational facilities by the lake. The Hilton and Westin are the two big resorts out there. I also forgot that there use to be a casino next to the Hilton which closed, reopened, then closed again. As far as I know, it's still closed, since I haven't heard anything about it reopening again. I also remember that years ago, their use to be a Hyatt where my former girl friend and I had dinner at a nice Japanese restaurant overlooking the "Lake".
Another Trip Downtown: The Plaza
I also lost track of time and it was getting late so I ended up eating at PopUp Pizza at the Plaza. Their pizza is pretty good. I also forgot to take some pics.
When I returned to the Orleans, a huge group of young people (kids, pre-teens, and older) had arrived with their parents for a dance/cheerleading competition that was schedule for that weekend at the Orleans Arena so the hotel was being over run by them. Luckily, I was checking out in the morning! LOL
Saturday May 7, Day 8:
Unfortunately, it's time to pack for the return trip home. I went down to Fuddruckers and got a breakfast sandwich combo to go, since I was going to be busy packing my bags for a 2pm flight. It's a Saturday, so I figured the airport would be busy and I wanted to leave a bit earlier than I normally would, since I had to return my rental car and take the shuttle bus back to the airport.
I also talked to a host at the Orleans before I checked out to review my play, since I spent a lot of hours playing VP/Slots this trip, way more than I normally do. I was pleasantly surprised when the host comped my 3 paid nights, so my entire 7 night stay was comped.
I still had time before heading to the airport, so after checking out and packing up the car, I took a final farewell drive down the Vegas strip before hitting a gas station to fill up the tank and driving to the car rental center.
It turned out the airport wasn't as busy as I expected. No wait for the shuttle bus or long line at the TSA check point, and my flight home was on time for a change. LOL The only delay was at MDW, since the gate was occupied when we landed so they had to find us an open gate and gate crew. That took about 20 mins. It also took forever for out luggage to arrive at baggage claim. I was going to take an Uber or Lyft home, but as usual the pick-up area was packed so I went to the taxi area where there was no line.
Some Final Thoughts...
*It was great getting back to Vegas after 2.5 yrs! Although, I must be getting old, since I kept running out of steam well before each day ended. LOL
*I wish I had more time so I could have met up with some board members from LasVegas4Ever and VegasMessageBoard this trip, but my plate was pretty full. Hopefully, next time.
*The service industry still isn't back to normal, so reduced staffing, shorter restaurant hours/and fewer operating days (and some restaurants are still closed) was a bit frustrating at times.
*Of the 4 new casino properties that I visited, I really like Circa and the vibe that I felt during my visit (but they need to tone down the loud music a bit). The Palms came in second, since their property has a lot to offer and I wouldn't mind staying there on a future trip. Resorts World came in third and I would like to stop by again on a future trip. Virgin came in fourth and was somewhat of a disappointment.
*Unfortunately, this wasn't a winning trip gambling wise, since I came home with less than I left home with. Although, the loss wasn't too bad. I am only down by about $500.
*Overall, this was a fun trip and I hope I can plan another one over Halloween.
