Our Big Fat Trip Out West/Vegas-Day #1

[keishashadow]

Wasn't quite sure where to plop down my report of our 1st trip out West, 9 glorious nights, think this will do nicely:

6/23 - Vegas-Planet Hollywood
6/24 - Hoover Dam & Grand Canyon-onsite, Thunderbird Lodge
6/25 & 6/26 - Vegas - Luxor, strip view Spa Suite
6/27 - 7/3 Disneyland & Universal (which i'll lay down in the appropriate site, linking here:)

Day #1

Self, DH & DS left PIT late direct flight on SW (i luv SW)
http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m164/keishashadow/vegas%20GC%20DL/dltrip003.jpg
uneventful flight, arriving @ LAS around 8:30 pm. Great airport, our luggage nearly beat us to the carousel.

Almost fainted when we went out into the night air...i've never felt such heat. That whole dry heat thing is a myth ;) anything over 105 degrees is HOT!!!

Quick shuttle service to rental car site, got nice buick enclave on Emerald Executive aisle. Cannot remember how many times we made wrong turns trying to find the entrance to Planet Hollywood, lots of construction & we just missed the sign. Bonus: got to see coyotes & odd looking rabbits scurying about on the deserted roads w/o street lights just a block from the strip or so.

Finally, arrived @ PH around 10 am, no line @ checkin. Had reserved pkg thru starwood hotels w/their rewards program & got nice upgrade to upper floor, south strip view. PS i didn't do the $20 trick, nor ask; they stated the complimentary upgrade because i linked my Starwood account!
http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m164/keishashadow/vegas%20GC%20DL/dltrip188.jpg


got the charlie sheen suite:laughing: his shirt on wall

http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m164/keishashadow/vegas%20GC%20DL/dltrip009.jpg

he kept a watchful eye in the bathroom too, :eek: huge, deep tub
http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m164/keishashadow/vegas%20GC%20DL/dltrip010.jpg
had separate shower, gotta luv those huge bathrooms!

view of PH from strip

http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m164/keishashadow/vegas%20GC%20DL/dltrip016-1.jpg

Great mid-strip location, despite construction across the street. Theview up strip, Paris was next door to hotel/miracle mile shoppingmall attached to hotel

Bellagio across the street
http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m164/keishashadow/vegas%20GC%20DL/dltrip017.jpg

beautiful show, would've stayed longer but bottomless pit of teen was starving...nothing open in hotel:confused3 ; walked down to Harley Davidson joint

as expected, food nothing special; if u like bikes though the memorabilia on the walls & bikes that run on track thru the restaurant will add to the mileage;) . Must say the pulled pork sandwich wasn't really edible/fatty & just gross tasting. Son had fried chicken w/bit of a kick & DH had the burger, both said their food was fine.
http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m164/keishashadow/vegas%20GC%20DL/dltrip021.jpg

[keishashadow]

DS feel asleep @ the table @ HD Cafe eating (3 hour time difference starting to creep in, took him back up to suite to crash-he's 15;) ) and headed out to explore the hotel a bit

the casino was a maze of sorts, def going for a young, hip vibe. At this point 3 am (or 6 am EST:eek: , getting tired myself). Had an open Karoke bar, painful to the ears yet the customers were having a great time:laughing: by the looks of it as we passed through. Tables were still crowded, only the $25 blackjacks were open...didn't feel that flush. Nor did i want to sit under the go-go girls on raised platforms. Played the slots, lost our limit, called it a night back in room within an hour.

more bellagio pics, pre dinner, show was every 15 min or so as i recall:confused: . Nice viewing area from the raised area outside the PH/Miracle Mile...sure beats standing 20 people deep across the street!
http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m164/keishashadow/vegas%20GC%20DL/dltrip192.jpg

http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m164/keishashadow/vegas%20GC%20DL/dltrip196.jpg

http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m164/keishashadow/vegas%20GC%20DL/dltrip197.jpg

caesars palace off to the right
http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m164/keishashadow/vegas%20GC%20DL/dltrip200.jpg

link to day #2/Vegas & Hoover Dam
http://disboards.com/showthread.php?p=26682053#post26682053

[RAPstar]

Hey, Janet!! Great start! I missed the Bellagio show when I was there last year, and still regret it a bit. Can't wait for more!!

[keishashadow]

thanks andy, vegas was great (cannot believe we've never visited...my kind of town;) )

ive seen videos of bellagio fountains, thought they looked sorta lame & wondered why peeps would bother putting it on their 'to do list'...one of those things that video just doesn't do justice to, uve got to see it live:)

[loribell]

Great start Janet!

[reyasmommy]

Can't wait to hear more. popcorn:: You're getting me excited for my trip next month! :woohoo:

[bubba's mom]

don't fear....brab is here :teeth:

checkin' in....


Finally, arrived @ PH around 10 am, no line @ checkin. Had reserved pkg thru starwood hotels w/their rewards program & got nice upgrade to upper floor, south strip view. PS i didn't do the $20 trick, nor ask; they stated the complimentary upgrade because i linked my Starwood account!
http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m164/keishashadow/vegas%20GC%20DL/dltrip188.jpg


:banana: What a view!!! Lucky duckie :goodvibes




Nice viewing area from the raised area outside the PH/Miracle Mile...sure beats standing 20 people deep across the street!
http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m164/keishashadow/vegas%20GC%20DL/dltrip192.jpg




Did you 'happen' upon this most excellent viewing spot....or were you tipped off? I agree....beats standing on that sidewalk :thumbsup2

[keishashadow]

hey all:)

must admit, we literally stumbled upon it once we made out way thru the casino to the strip:laughing:

PH had an odd set up, yet nice if u had young kiddos...

lobby was on the lower level that you reached off side street from the strip (thinking harmon don't have my notes) & where valet was...parking garage attached yet looked too long of a hike to drag luggage.

once we checked in, we were directed to elevators (after ducking the TS guys @ desk along the way) and found the elevators up to our room, dropped out luggage & back out the door to see the next fountain show.

didn't realize that the casino is a 2 level affair (one floor above the lobby). Upper floor had convention area & section for high rollers (left us out lol), gave an air of spaciousness...didn't feel as though you were in a cave when gambling.

http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m164/keishashadow/vegas%20GC%20DL/dltrip011.jpg

another view of where we stood to see bellagio fountains...was trying to to artsy w/the exposure;)
http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m164/keishashadow/vegas%20GC%20DL/dltrip189.jpg

[macraven]

j

[macraven]

Wasn't quite sure where to plop down my report of our 1st trip out West, 9 glorious nights, think this will do nicely:

6/23 - Vegas-Planet Hollywood
6/24 - Hoover Dam & Grand Canyon-onsite, Thunderbird Lodge
6/25 & 6/26 - Vegas - Luxor, strip view Spa Suite
6/27 - 7/3 Disneyland & Universal (which i'll lay down in the appropriate site, linking here:)

Day #1

Self, DH & DS left PIT late direct flight on SW (i luv SW)
http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m164/keishashadow/vegas%20GC%20DL/dltrip003.jpg
uneventful flight, arriving @ LAS around 8:30 pm. Great airport, our luggage nearly beat us to the carousel.

Almost fainted when we went out into the night air...i've never felt such heat. That whole dry heat thing is a myth ;) anything over 105 degrees is HOT!!!

Quick shuttle service to rental car site, got nice buick enclave on Emerald Executive aisle. Cannot remember how many times we made wrong turns trying to find the entrance to Planet Hollywood, lots of construction & we just missed the sign. Bonus: got to see coyotes & odd looking rabbits scurying about on the deserted roads w/o street lights just a block from the strip or so.

Finally, arrived @ PH around 10 am, no line @ checkin. Had reserved pkg thru starwood hotels w/their rewards program & got nice upgrade to upper floor, south strip view. PS i didn't do the $20 trick, nor ask; they stated the complimentary upgrade because i linked my Starwood account!
http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m164/keishashadow/vegas%20GC%20DL/dltrip188.jpg





why are the golden arches the focus point of my eyes..............

you can't go anywhere without seeing mickey D....


keisha, you look beautiful in all the pictures.

great, fantastic pics.

you make them all look professionally done!

[tlinus]

wonderful start :goodvibes Vegas was pretty cool! Wish we were there for pleasure versus business - but hey, it was still awesome:thumbsup2


.....off to read part 2

[bubba's mom]

didn't realize that the casino is a 2 level affair (one floor above the lobby). Upper floor had convention area & section for high rollers (left us out lol), gave an air of spaciousness...didn't feel as though you were in a cave when gambling.

WOW! 2 level casino....yep...we'd been left out of the upper floor too :sad2:

http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m164/keishashadow/vegas%20GC%20DL/dltrip011.jpg



Don'tcha love this pic? It's like Dave had a last second thot, "HEY! This is my vacation too...I'd like to be IN some of the pix Janet!" :rotfl:

[keishashadow]

thanks!

honestly, McD's everywhere aren't they?

DH hates to have his pic taken, hard to get him to sit still.

the pics go downhill from hill, this time hubby (he who only packs 1 bag, the chargers/electronics) managed to not pack the charger for my camera:headache:

least it beat the cell phone charger last time:laughing:

i had a hard time using the other cameras...screen much smaller:rolleyes:

[RVGal]

Great start! Beautiful pics! It makes me want to go back to Vegas. Sigh. Someday...

[t-and-a]

thanks!

the pics go downhill from hill, this time hubby (he who only packs 1 bag, the chargers/electronics) managed to not pack the charger for my camera:headache:

least it beat the cell phone charger last time:laughing:

i had a hard time using the other cameras...screen much smaller:rolleyes:

Well crud, Janet! I betcha Dave doesn't forget that camera charger on your next trip....

I love the pictures you have posted! It looks like an awesome trip!

[bubba's mom]

me thinks YOU need to be in charge of cell phone and camera chargers from now on... :thumbsup2