I have to share with you all some new developments for my 40th birthday coming up in November. I've booked my airfare, which was at a great rate, thanks to some help from a friend! Where am I going?
Viva Las Vegas!
Thanks also to Catherine, who put the seed of the idea into my head that I needed to go to Las Vegas for my 40th birthday. She had reservations at Bally's for 5 nights, but she brought up that we could spend the last night at Caesar's Palace and get tickets to the Bette Midler show for an obscenely low rate.
So before she went to modify her original reservation, I had the brilliant idea of telling her that it might be a good idea to sign in as a Total Rewards member
before checking room rates. The idea was so good, that it saved us a boatload of money!
More money for shows and food!
The hard part is deciding where to eat, provided I get foie gras during my trip, preferrably on my birthday. I have absolutely no plans for my actual day (which is Friday the 13th this year!), so I'm open for ideas for how to spend my 40th birthday!
Oh, we're going November 11-16.
Sounds like a great trip!! We go to Vegas frequently, due to DH's job. Here's a few suggestions:
Wherever you decide to dine, be sure to book a reservation.
Keep an eye out for prix fixes, they often are great values and delicious!
(Offers sometimes change over the months), but the current list from the Wynn and Encore is here:
http://newsletter.visitwynn.com/taste-of-wynn/
I highly recommend Daniel Boulud. A great place to stop for a glass of wine before dinner is Parasol Up in the Wynn. Very pretty. Downstairs, just outside of Daniel Boulud's is Parasol Down. It's nice, too, but much smaller.
At the Palazzo, Jersey Boys is a great night out. They will be selling tickets for your time frame pretty soon. I need tickets in Dec, so I've been checking regularly. Right now I believe they are selling into early Oct.
Other great things to do at the Palazzo:
We've eaten at Emeril's Table 10 restaurant. Great food!
On Friday evenings, Double Helix does a wine tasting from 5-7. If we're in town on a Friday, we try to go. Very fun!
http://www.doublehelixwine.com/
The MGM Grand has been offering prix fixes, they change seasonally. Here are the current offers.
http://www.mgmgrand.com/restaurants/summer-tasting-menus.aspx
As we get further into fall, there's a good change they'll continue I think. Vegas bookings overall are way down.
A place that's not too widely know is Onda's Lounge. (In the Mirage hotel).
http://mirage.travel/restaurants/onda-lounge.aspx
They have lots of nice wines by the glass.
We like to stop there, and then walk back to Caesars and go to Rao's for dinner. Rao's takes reservations 3 months out now (unless it's changed) and it's a great place to go if you like Italian. We celebrated my husband's birthday there last year. I mentioned his birthday when booking, and they gave us a lovely tiramisu to share.
Portions are generous there. We usually ask for a couple of extra little plates so we can share back and forth.
And Payard's Chocolates is right across from Rao's. That place has treats that are amazing!!!!!
There are a bazillion restaurants in Vegas, I've only just mentioned a few.
Other options:
The Rio has a fantastic seafood buffet. It's a Harrah's property, (like Caesars) there are shuttles over there from various places on the strip. Caesars would have the latest on shuttles/times.
Paris also has a delicious buffet. Another buffet I really like is the one at the Bellagio.
November is a nice time of year to visit Vegas. The weather has cooled, and walking is much more pleasant. Happy planning!!!
! Yes, she is a better kitty - walking with a small limp and upset her cat tower is MIA for a bit but she is on the mend!
So we have been in kitty quieting, med giving, party throwing, in-law staying, sink break HELL! Needless to say we only have a couple pictures from the 4th and no one took pics of the FOOD! 
I am sooo ready for vacation! I tried pre-packing my carryon and everything fits--it seems really big, but meets the measurement requirements. Oh, well, I hope everybody doesn't bring something to put in the overhead bin on the plane. I've already told dh we have to line up early each time to get to our seats early and snag the bin!
sounds funny but that's a really good idea 
). Am SO going to have to try that mimosa! 
We're used to taking two huge duffels (one with wheels), a wheeled medium bag, and another duffel full of wine/cheese. Besides the fees now, I won't have to worry about our luggage being lost/damaged between Delta and US Air. We have to change planes twice and the last leg is US Air, with whom I haven't flown in 20 years, so I have no idea how their luggage treatment is. At least I know Delta rips up our luggage and fixes it with duct tape! 
This is in Miami, I think. $500 per person, very nice menu, it looked like. Would that be a Dis-meet or what?? 
