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[Lumpy1106]

We got you beat here. It can be over 11% depending on the area. Actually there's a city in my state that is 11.5% due to special tax assessments. But I totally understand what you're meaning vacationing elsewhere must be a dream for you too!

So my direct area is 9.475% say at Walmart, cross the street to go to Price Chopper grocery store and because that is in a special tax district it's 10.475%.

State-wide we just got a phased reduction on sales tax on groceries (will eventually be 0% but only for state so you still have to pay the other parts of the tax) but there's a lot of exclusions like a frozen dinner doesn't count because it's pre-made, rotisserie chicken under warmers doesn't count because it's warm food.

When I was in college I worked at the University's bookstore but mostly at the hotel branch a 5 min walk from the Union. That hotel was 1% higher sales tax (special district) anyways we actually used to get people from LA shocked like none other about the sales tax. They never thought some midwestern area would be at or higher sales tax than them. And this was back in 2009-2010.

I'm sure it will pass but on the ballot for renewal for my city's portion is a 0.375% and 0.125% sales tax that if passed would continue for 10 years where it will be up for another renewal. It's been used to pay for road projects and because we value good roads here I'm sure it will continue.

Condolences - that is rough! At least you have good roads. There was actually a failed initiative to have part of the 10.25% sunset, but the mayor sold the voters on "the whole state will be over 10% any day and we won't get our fair share if we don't max out our sales tax right now" - and that worked! Crazy what some people will believe. Whelp, off to Orange County I go...

 

[nw6675]

I won't stay anywhere other than the Cosmopolitan .... so yup ...
*pulls on his suspenders and lets them snap*

You just think you're extra....

 

[MsChristy12]

At the same time, I will hunt for BOGOs at Publix like there’s no tomorrow. Strange how the human mind works. It’s all about how you value your hard earned $$

Right? I would spend several hundred on Disney merch in a single transaction and won't flinch a bit. But just the other night, I needed to get a bottle of honey, the cheapest one at the store was nearly $7!!! I flipped out and said to DH "***?!!? Since when a honey bear is $7?!!?" Then for our recent Disney trip, we rented points and stayed at one of the DVC 1-bedroom villas, it was $4K for 6 nights and when the confirmation came through, I said to myself "worth it!!" Our minds are VERY STRANGE for sure!

 

[Lumpy1106]

OMG seriously I about spilled water all over the place..don't read this and try to take a drink of water sheesh.

Our cruise isn't near that cost but it's a pretty penny to us. But holy moly are you spot on how I would feel. My husband rolls his eyes and is like "just get the ranch I don't care"..it took me years to get to that point though and I don't typically ask anymore. But no really I would have probably been like "geez for this price we should have just packed some" but I won't have to worry about that on this cruise, kinda a weird but welcomed feeling though

I'm a practical kind of gal. I've told this story several times but for my birthday in 2020 (spring so the pandemic was still new) my husband got me a micro-cut shredder and I was the happiest of happiest people.

Where are you paying extra for Ranch Dressing??? I've never heard of such a thing.

You have to love the alternate universe...

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I won't stay anywhere other than the Cosmopolitan .... so yup ...
*pulls on his suspenders and lets them snap*

So far we've stayed at Hilton Grand Vacations on Paradise (street just behind the strip), Excalibur, Bellagio, Wynn and Encore. We've found our home seems to be Encore and we really like the Wynn/Encore property. Venetian and Palazzo are on par enough with Wynn or Encore so we may try those some day.

Back when I was 21 my mom took me to Vegas and we stayed at Mandalay Bay, my husband separately had gone with his family and they stayed at the Strat. Also a time or two my husband stayed at the Flamingo when he was there for work.

Hmmm haven't checked out the rooms of Cosmo in a while...might go see what they are like.

 

[john7994]

You just think you're extra....

Haha - we're all special or so I was told as a child ...
I just like the balconies, its my favorite part and their 1 bedrooms are super roomy - cuz you know - people spend so much time in their rooms when in Vegas.
We had a corporate event there back in 2021, and I was the planner for it, so I had to scout things out on 3 separate trips and I just grew accustomed to it lol ...

 

[HopperFan]

Glad to see you people are back on topic, discussing your vacations!


I've never been to Las Vegas. DH has and does not enjoy it. I don't do stuff like Grand Canyon so I don't see that as a destination. When living in NJ we did play some in Atlantic City.

 

[john7994]

So far we've stayed at Hilton Grand Vacations on Paradise (street just behind the strip), Excalibur, Bellagio, Wynn and Encore. We've found our home seems to be Encore and we really like the Wynn/Encore property. Venetian and Palazzo are on par enough with Wynn or Encore so we may try those some day.

Back when I was 21 my mom took me to Vegas and we stayed at Mandalay Bay, my husband separately had gone with his family and they stayed at the Strat. Also a time or two my husband stayed at the Flamingo when he was there for work.

Hmmm haven't checked out the rooms of Cosmo in a while...might go see what they are like.

I like the Wynn Encore Property as well, but I don't like its location so much on the strip. Bellagio is still a favorite

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Where are you paying extra for Ranch Dressing??? I've never heard of such a thing.

You have to love the alternate universe...

I wish it were not a thing, trust me!

For the longest time it was not really done here but then I started seeing it. Some even charged more than $1. That said you can still find plenty of places that don't charge, it's just when a place does.

 

[Disney_David]

That doesn't sound appealing to me. Of course, I'm not a bidet fan, either. I encountered them in Europe. The only time I used one was in Assissi...as a vomitorium. It did not improve my opinion of them.

Is it weird I like the scented toilet paper!!! Before anyone comments, I don’t need it, I produce the smells of buttercups and roses, but still I liked it!!

We used to have a bidet in our old condo, but I got rid of it when we remodeled. Much to DW’s annoyance. Last year I was in India for business and there was a wand in every bathroom. LOVED IT!!!

Now if they had a wand AND scented toilet paper…boy, I’d have known I’d made it

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Condolences - that is rough! At least you have good roads. There was actually a failed initiative to have part of the 10.25% sunset, but the mayor sold the voters on "the whole state will be over 10% any day and we won't get our fair share if we don't max out our sales tax right now" - and that worked! Crazy what some people will believe. Whelp, off to Orange County I go...

oh yeah some stuff get sold to us that don't come to fruition either

 

[MsChristy12]

Speaking of Coffee… My younger coworker informed me what good coffee is and why it is 5-6 and more -regular coffee and is worth it. What’s wrong with Folgers I don’t know it tastes like coffee same as Starbucks, Mcds, Burger King, Dunkin….. He generously bought me a cup of good coffee the licorice aftertaste was nice after the first sip but after was gone. The Coffee didn’t taste like coffee but more of an earthy taste sort of like the dirt it came from…. While I enjoyed my cup of coffee somewhat… a buck and the Mcds app woukd have awarded me a large cup of coffee that tastes like…. well coffee and do what it is intended to do…. Keep me awake.… and more important spending 5-6 bucks for a much smaller “better quality coffee“

Where we live, we have a lot of amazing coffee. I can tell you, we don't call it Starbucks around here, it's Charbucks because their beans are burnt!! (Sorry if you're a Starbucks lover!!) If you don't drink drip coffee black, you really can't tell the different notes between them. I drink my drip black only, so I can taste everything. I'm such a spoiled coffee snob that I can't drink cheap flavorless coffee (gas station, diner, fast food). It's bad....so bad that when we travel if I know local coffee isn't a thing at the destination, I will bring my own because I refuse to pay $4 for a crappy cuppa joe!
A great quality cup of coffee to start my day, is the only way I will start my day

 

[Lumpy1106]

I wish it were not a thing, trust me!

For the longest time it was not really done here but then I started seeing it. Some even charged more than $1. That said you can still find plenty of places that don't charge, it's just when a place does.

I'm that way with the grocery store bags. It's a dime (I call them dime bags btw) I throw those on my nightstand without a second thought and never spend them. BUT...it's a dime that they told us was going to help the environment and it's a lie - the grocery store keeps it. I'll keep my dime, thanks.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I like the Wynn Encore Property as well, but I don't like its location so much on the strip. Bellagio is still a favorite

So Bellagio wins hands down for location but we didn't love our room as much as I think we hoped to. Oh the gelato is great (and we often would use a My Vegas reward for it) too, the room nice but the property is quite choatic however very easy to watch the fountains as it's just a quick enough walk outside. Just if we had to pick it'd still be Wynn/Encore but that place does suffer from location. It's just not close to other stuff, wish it was on the monorail route at least. However, it still has free parking so depending on where we're going find another place that has free parking and drive over there or paid parking somewhere (usually Bellagio actually).

 

[john7994]

I'm that way with the grocery store bags. It's a dime (I call them dime bags btw) I throw those on my nightstand without a second thought and never spend them. BUT...it's a dime that they told us was going to help the environment and it's a lie - the grocery store keeps it. I'll keep my dime, thanks.

Not in Georgia, or at least widespread yet, if it is here...
I remember running into it in NJ for the first time and I was like ...What now? I have to pay for a bag?

 

[MsChristy12]

brews like coffee, tastes like chocolate​

IT'S NOT COFFEE | IT'S CACAO: Roasted, ground, and brewed like coffee, Crio Bru Brewed Cacao has flavor and aroma of unsweetened pure dark chocolate. Instead of coffee bean grounds, it's 100% pure ground cacao.​

Ah okay so it's really just brewed Chocolate....okay no thank you!

So you know what I'm doing ............... GOOGLING.

Are we talking about "CHOFFY?"

OH NO NO NO WHY DID I KEEP SCROLLING???

Sippin' On Shroomboom! MUSHROOM COFFEE ??

Isn't enough chocolate to fix that.

For Disclaimer Purposes to STAY ON TOPIC ~ This will not help you save money for vacations. This is intended for a Calgon take me away staycation.

What in the furk?!? Shroomboom....you gotta give them creativity points though!!

 

[tetera]

.

 

[john7994]

Where we live, we have a lot of amazing coffee. I can tell you, we don't call it Starbucks around here, it's Charbucks because their beans are burnt!! (Sorry if you're a Starbucks lover!!) If you don't drink drip coffee black, you really can't tell the different notes between them. I drink my drip black only, so I can taste everything. I'm such a spoiled coffee snob that I can't drink cheap flavorless coffee (gas station, diner, fast food). It's bad....so bad that when we travel if I know local coffee isn't a thing at the destination, I will bring my own because I refuse to pay $4 for a crappy cuppa joe!
A great quality cup of coffee to start my day, is the only way I will start my day

Our Travel friends to Disney won't drink Joffrey's ever, never, ever ... so get where people can draw the line
When we stay there, we bring our own for the mornings

 

[MsChristy12]

Where's the river cruise going?

Bordeaux, France! I love and this has been a dream for a long time! Also very excited for the food onboard as well, heard amazing things about them. I mean...wine & dine...what's not to love??! Totally our jam!

 

[john7994]

So Bellagio wins hands down for location but we didn't love our room as much as I think we hoped to. Oh the gelato is great (and we often would use a My Vegas reward for it) too, the room nice but the property is quite choatic however very easy to watch the fountains as it's just a quick enough walk outside. Just if we had to pick it'd still be Wynn/Encore but that place does suffer from location. It's just not close to other stuff, wish it was on the monorail route at least. However, it still has free parking so depending on where we're going find another place that has free parking and drive over there or paid parking somewhere (usually Bellagio actually).

Bellagio is a good location and near the Cosmo which is the part of the strip that I like.
I was actually pleasantly surprised with the new Hilton Hotel at Resorts World - rooms were good - and I liked their gambling floor layout and restaurant mall area.