October 2014 Las Vegas Trip Report
Our most recent trip to Las Vegas was like none other that we have taken in the last 15 years. This was trip number 21 for us as a couple. This trip we made a commitment to stay at different places and try different things, both which we accomplished. Additionally, this was the first trip we've ever taken to Las Vegas in the month of October.
There were several things about traveling at this time of year we wanted to share with you. One thing we did notice as we were planning this trip is that the room rates were modestly lower for a trip in the Fall. A room that was normally $100 per night were being priced at closer to $75 per night. There was about a 25% decrease in cost than the Spring/Summer times regarding room rates. So, if you have some flexibility of when you're visiting and the time of year doesn't really matter, then the Fall may be a good option for you. Another advantage of traveling in the Fall is the weather is generally cooler. Each day, the highs were in the mid-80's and the lows at night in the 60's. We do enjoy the pools when visiting Las Vegas, and even though it was October, we could have braved the pools, but decided not to. Most of the pools were still open since they are heated.
This trip was also different for us because we decided to stay in a different hotel each night. The main reason we decided to do this is for you, the reader and our Facebook fans. Our goal was to cover as much of Las Vegas to share with you, and a new hotel each day was a great way to accomplish this. So booking this trip was as unique as the trip itself. Here are the following websites we used in booking this trip, all which were very helpful.
We recommend any of the above sites in your trip planning for your next trip.
Since we wanted to cover as much of Vegas in 4 days/3 nights, we booked our flights well in advance and selected early arrival into Las Vegas on day one and a late flight out on day four. This surprisingly let us feel like we picked up one more day of our vacation. We highly recommend this strategy for you.
Day One - Everything Las Vegas
Today was travel day and, as a couple, we have different philosophies in preparing for a trip. Matt loves to plan every detail of the trip, packs early and get as much organized in advanced as possible. Brandy tends to have much more to plan for (outside of the actual trip) in preparation for our time away from home, so hers takes a little longer and is a lot more involved. Nonetheless, like every other trip, Matt has the trip itinerary printed and ready and Brandy has all the other details handled, both equally as important to a successful vacation.
Our flight left Monday morning at 7:20am, so we had to head out the door at 5:30am to allow enough time to get checked in. We had no problems at the airport and plenty of time to get through security, which we need. The TSA security line on a Mondaymorning is extremely long. Our security process took about 25 minutes, so it was a blessing that we arrived early so we did not have to stress about the long lines.
Our flight was a direct flight into Las Vegas. We were certain to carry sanitary wipes and wipe down as much of the things we had to touch on the plane (seat belt, tray table, etc.). Our flight was on time and we arrived into Las Vegas about 9:30am local time. McCarran Airport was not very busy for a Monday morning, so we moved quickly through baggage claim and before we knew it, we were in the cab heading to our first of three hotels, The Palms.
We did not know what to expect on visiting and staying at the Palms, since it was our first visit to the property. We'd read reviews and done our online research about the property and we were very pleased in what we found upon arrival. The young lady who checked us in made us aware that our room was not yet available, which we understood because it was 10:00am. She also explained that she wanted our room to have a great view so she made arrangements for us to have a corner room. We'd reserved a standard king room inside the Ivory Tower. We chose this tower (they have 3) because the rooms just went through recent renovations. So we decided to explore around the property as we waited for our room.
One of the first things we did was sign up for their rewards card. They had several promotions going on for new members, which we qualified for. The thresholds to qualify for either a free shot glass, polo shirt or $25 free play was relatively low so we were excited to participate (we both claimed our $25 later in the evening). After about an hour or so, we were notified that our room was ready for us to check in. So we retrieved our bags from the bell check and headed to our room.
The room was more than we expected. It was modern and we really enjoyed the fact that it was a corner room that faced the Las Vegas Strip. We knew this would warrant some great views at night and also in the morning for the sunrise, since our room faced the east. The bed was very comfortable and the pillows were very nice! All the electronics worked and we had no problems at all. The bathroom had a stand up shower, no tub. Which was fine since neither of us are fans of using other people's tubs. It was easy to tell that the room had recently gone through a renovation. It had a very modern designed with a huge pair of eyes that overlooked the bed, plus there was a mirror over the bed.
We unpacked very little since we were checking out the following morning and headed back downstairs to the casino area. Matt had several things to do for work, which could all be done on his phone, so Brandy decided to give her luck a shot at the penny slot machines. Keep in mind, that even though it says penny slots, the per-pull bet on these machines ranges from $.40 - $3.00. Brandy did manage to hit a bonus feature on one of the machines which paid out over $75. After several hours of touring the property and playing some slot machines, it was time to get dressed for dinner.
For dinner this evening we decided upon a place called Simon, inside the Palms Place tower. It was a fairly long walk to get there from the Ivory Tower, but they do offer moving sidewalks to move you along a little faster. We were a little early for our reservations, but they had no problem seating us immediately. The mood and atmosphere were very impressive. It felt like a restaurant where you'd expect to spend $100 per person, but the menu items were very reasonable. We sat in a booth with a full window behind us that opened to a small pool area. This was the pool for the Palms Place tower. We ordered several sushi rolls and a few cocktails. Our waiter was very quick and the whole staff seemed to be very professional. If you enjoy a very cool dining atmosphere, with a large selection of dishes, then Simon needs to be added to your list.
After dinner was completed, we headed back to the Palms casino. We were able to redeem our $25 free play in the new member program they offered, so we got to both enjoy playing several different slot machines before it was time for bed. The casino was not very busy on a Monday night but it was not boring either. There was a good variety of table games, video poker, slots and a decent size sports book. We imagine that the place gets very busy on the weekends, so if you don't like crowds, then the weekdays are perfect for you.
Our room was very quiet on the 25th floor and we were both up early the following morning because of the time change. It was very interesting to see the sunrise coming over the hotels on the Strip. Matt went down to the food court about 6:00am and only found the McDonalds to be open, so it was coffee and McMuffins for breakfast. Check out was very quick and efficient, so we called a cab and headed on to our next destination. Overall, we were both very impressed with the Palms. For the low rate we paid, we didn't feel like the property was cheap or inexpensive. They offer great customer service, a friendly staff and a very modern vibe. We'd definitely stay there again and highly recommend the Palms as a place you should consider for your next trip to Las Vegas.
Day Two - Everything Las Vegas
Today was our busiest day, on purpose. After checking out of the Palms, we took a cab over to Paris Las Vegas. We arrived about 9:00am, so our room was not ready for us yet. We had the bellman hold our bags and off we went. Since it was a very cool day, we decided to start walking north along the Strip towards the Venetian. We had booked reservations for Madame Tussauds wax museum, an attraction located beside the Venetian, which we had seen on many other Las Vegas trips, but had never visited.
The Venetian is one of our favorite properties. The architecture is amazing and the resort has everything you could need for a long term stay. We wondered through the casino, trying our hand at several of the slot machines. We also registered for their player's card and, like at the Palms, we earned first time member bonuses while we played the slots. It turned out that Matt earned enough points in just a few hours to claim a free entry into their daily slot tournament, which is held at the neighboring Pallazo (they are both owned by Sands Corp). Matt entered the slot tournament and ended up placing 25th, which was last place of the prize money. He was able to claim his $25 in free play though, so it was actually worth it.
We headed over to Madame Tussauds and ended up having a ball inside this museum. The wax figures are all of famous people and the perfect place to take some fun pictures. They offer different props that you can use with the wax statues and it is amazing how life-like each of them are. It is a self guided tour and you can take as long as you like once inside. It took us about 30 minutes, but we could easily see how some people could spend up to an hour or so inside.
Once the tour was over, we took a short cab ride over to Aria, which is part of the City Center and also part of the MGM Resorts. In the weeks leading up to our trip, Matt had earned enough credits playing MyVegas app on his iPhone that he redeemed enough points to enter into the daily slot tournament they offer at the Aria. The slot tournament was at 3:00pm and we arrived a touch early so we grabbed a quick lunch at Jean Philippe Patisserie Restaurant which is located right off the casino floor. It is known for it's desserts, but the ham and swiss sandwich we split was very gourmet! Once it was time for the slot tournament, we headed over to the promotional slot area. We were told that sometimes only a handful of people enter the tournament. Top place is $500 in free play on your Mlife player's card. Unfortunately, there were 24 people that entered on that day and Matt finished in the bottom third of the group.
From Aria, we jumped into a cab and headed back to Paris Las Vegas to check in to our room. During check in, we were offered an upgraded room for a small fee, which we declined. Instead, Matt asked the desk manager for the room she would put her mom and dad in if they were checking in today. We ended up getting a nice corner room at the end of the hallway on the 21st floor. While we did not have a Strip view, we did receive a nice, oversized room that was plenty big. We changed clothes and headed down for a quick bite to eat at Yong Kang Street inside of Paris. They offer a unique asian infused assortment of noodles and dumplings. We tried the pan fried dumplings and the vegetable stir fried rice. Both were excellent and came out ready to eat in just a few minutes.
After dinner, we jumped into a cab and headed over to the High Roller. This is Las Vegas' new ferris wheel attraction. We had booked tickets in advance for the 1/2 hour, happy hour cabin. This added $5 to the ticket cost, but well worth it if you enjoy all you can drink cocktails. Our reservations were for 5:40pm, which we had purposely booked so we would be riding the High Roller during sunset. We had the best time! There was only one other couple in the cabin with us and, of course, our bartender. He gave us a lot of great information about the city as we rode to the top and some of the best mixed drinks as well. Please note that neither of us are fond of heights, but the size of the cabin and the smooth ride makes this a very friendly and safe feeling ride. The views were amazing and a very unique way to see the city of Las Vegas. It is a must try for anyone! The ride only took about 30 minutes, so we had plenty of time to make our way back over to the Venetian for the show we were seeing tonight, Rock of Ages.
Rock of Ages inside the Venetian is a pretty large venue. The stage was sizable and a very intimate environment. If you grew up listening to 80's rock music, then this is for you! Few words of warning. First, the theme of the show is very adult oriented and suggestive. There is no nudity, but nothing left to the imagination either. Secondly, wear a sweater or a jacket! We sat in the middle of the center section and the air conditioning was blowing at full force. We had to huddle together to keep warm! The show did have a love story and we knew all the songs. The cast did an amazing job in their performances and at times it felt like a rock concert. We'd recommend it for people who are in the mid 30's and higher because the references to the1980's are classic.
After the show was over, we headed back to Paris Las Vegas. We were a little shocked on how busy Paris was for a Tuesday night in the Fall. There were hardly two seats together on the slot machines and all the tables were full. Each of the bar areas where hoppin' and the place was very crowded. After an hour or so of playing some slot machines, we started to get hungry. Most all the main restaurants were closed, but we did find a small pizza place called JJ's Boulangerie towards the hallway leading towards Bally's. We ordered a few pizzas-by-the-slice and then headed to bed.
Everything Las Vegas - Day 3
We awoke Wednesday morning ready for day 3 in Las Vegas. We checked out of Paris Las Vegas and jumped into a cab in route to the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino. We had visited the Hard Rock Hotel back in 1999 during one of our first visits as a couple to Las Vegas. We arrived at the check-in desk around 10:00am and were told that they would call us when our room was ready. What we were most pleased about is that they had upgraded our reservation (without our request) to a King Suite inside the newly renovated HRH Tower. We headed to the small cafe and had a quick bite to eat and some coffee. Before we were done eating, we received a call that our room was ready.
The room at the HRH Tower was one of the nicest rooms we had ever stayed in over our last 21 previous visits. It offered a huge king sized bed, a separate living area, a spacious bathroom and it overlooked the pool area with the Las Vegas strip in the distance. We don't know what type of bed that they used, but it was the most comfortable bed we'd ever slept in. All in all, the king suite at the HRH Tower is a must if you ever stay there!
We only had some hotel sightseeing to do on this day, so we were not in a rush. While checking the pockets in his jacket, Matt found a $20 slot machine ticket from the Palms during their stay on Monday. So we jumped into a cab and headed that way. We were glad we did. Brandy was able to turn that $20 into over $100 in just about an hour! From the Palms, we headed over to the Cosmopolitan Hotel on the Las Vegas Strip. Neither one of us had been there before.
The first thing you notice about the Cosmopolitan is that it seems expensive. When we were pricing different hotel room options in the weeks leading up to our trip, the Cosmopolitan was one of the most expensive. And now we can see why. Everything is very fancy and they even have a chandelier that is three stories high, with a bar located inside. It was not overly crowded but people were busy heading in a lot of different directions. It definitely won the 'cool factor' award of all the new casino/hotels we've seen. We were both dressed up and glad that we were. This is not the place for flip-flops and tank-tops for sure. We're glad we visited and hope to have the chance to stay there one night on a future trip.
From the Cosmopolitan, we took a short cab ride over to Caesars Palace. This place was very busy. We've never stayed in the rooms at Caesars Palace, but had added it to our list. We wandered through the Forum Shops which go on and on and on. They've even expanded it since our last trip, so if you love to shop, this is a must visit. Brandy had a little luck on the 3-card poker table while Matt was touring the property. After a few hours there, we headed back over to the Venetian for dinner at Grand Lux Cafe. This restaurant has the largest menu you've ever seen. It takes as long to decide as it does to eat your meal. If you like a restaurant with a lot of options, then we'd highly recommend Grand Lux Cafe inside of the Venetian.
Once we returned back to the Hard Rock Hotel, the lure of the room and the tired bodies we had took us straight to bed on our third night. We both slept great in the comfortable bed and awoke on day four rested and ready to head home.
Everything Las Vegas - Day 4
We were granted a late check out of our room, which we took advantage of on our last day. Our flight home was not until later in the afternoon, so we took our time getting up and ready. The Hard Rock Hotel was kind enough to give us a behind the scenes tour of the Joint music venue before we left for the airport, which was very cool. If you really enjoy the rock-n-roll vibe and love concerts, we'd highly suggest checking out the upcoming concerts at the Joint. It is a very intimate setting and tons of music history inside. The upstairs is the VIP area, so if you ever get offered those seats or have the means to use that area, please take advantage!
We spent the last hours of our stay at the Hard Rock playing a few more slot machines and hands of 3 card poker, but when the time to leave for the airport arose, we reluctantly headed in that direction. Flying out late on a Thursday afternoon did not present any problems. The lines at the airport were short and we moved through fairly quickly. We greatly enjoyed our trip this time to Las Vegas and are already planning our next vacation out there.
Here are a few takeaways from this trip:
Pay cash for cab rides, don't use your credit card. They charge extra processing fees for credit card transactions.
If you arrive early at your hotel before check in time, make sure they don't charge you extra for early check in.
$20-$25 resort fees are now very common at all the hotels. Take advantage of what they provide (i.e. WIFI, coupons, etc).
If you fly to Vegas, arrive as early as possible and fly out as late as you can. You'll feel like you got an extra day.
Ask for a corner room when you check in, these are usually the largest of their standard rooms.
Pay attention to the casino's player's club offers. When you arrive, go to the promotion desk and see what they are offering.
Use the Open Table app when making dinner reservations. It's so easy to manage your reservations.
Check hotel rooms prices often and from a variety of website. Prices do change, sometimes daily!
Check your flight schedule the day of your travel to make sure there are no flight time changes.
Stay hydrated! Drink water, Gatorade or Vitamin Water as often as you can.
Don't touch anything on or inside the minibar. Only touch it you if you intend on buying it.
Wear comfortable shoes if you plan on walking a lot.
Take a sweater or a jacket to any show you plan on watching. It's usually cold inside the theater.
We hope you enjoyed our trip report! If you have any questions or need any information, please email us and let us know!
Happy Travels!