Date : April 20th to 28th. 1998
Place: The Tropicana.
Well here we are again another trip over and another super time had.
The flight from the UK was great, we even landed 30 minutes early in Chicago. Then the flight onto Las Vegas was also early, things are starting out brilliant again.
After a 6pm check-in at the Tropicana, which took about 5 minutes, we went to the room.
Casino Tower 16th floor overlooking the MGM, up the strip and Harvs fishing hole :-)
What an absolutely GORGEOUS (deluxe) room we had.
Twin king size beds, draw space galore, desk and chairs, fridge and so on.
After a quick bite to eat I just collapsed into bed around 10:30 (6am body time)
Up around 4am and raring to go. After breakfast at the buffet I went to hire a car.
Now this is the crunch. I had a car from Savmor located in the lobby of the Tropicana, and they DO CHARGE 23% AIRPORT TAX, even though the cars are parked outside the hotel. I went into the Dollar rental booth in the MGM and asked them. Yep 23% airport tax for renting outside the airport.
Where are these $20 a day places? Rent a Wreck?
The Savmor was $45 a day and Budget was $40 except Budget don't rip you off with airport tax just the others.
Total cost for 1 day including top-up insurance, (No PAI) just under $100.. There will be a VERY VERY nasty letter on its way to them when I get home.
Day 3.
Up early and out to the airport for 9am to meet Brenda (The Awesome One)
What a really sweet lady, when we actually met it was like we knew each other for years. We had one hell of a hoot all week (more about that later)
Had breakfast at the Monte Carlo, nice, then returned to the Tropicana. She couldn't get over how beautiful our room was, and the great view.
Hit the slots throughout the afternoon and lost a little. Wandered to the Mirage for dinner.
I thought the buffet was just OK, nothing special just OK.
Eventually wandered back to the Tropicana, very tired, around 10pm. Slept like a baby again.
Day4.
Took the shuttle to the LV Hilton to see the Star Trek Show. Boy this place sucks big time. It was just like any other casino except you had the stupid Light Beam thing on the slots.
They were playing Pop Videos up in the ceiling.
Where was the Trek theme?? Even the employees were dressed in normal cloths, no Klingons or Ferrengie anywhere.
Very poor indeed. What made it worse was the slots were really tight :-(
Walked over to the new Sahara to check it out.
What a transformation, really nice.
Rode the 3D Indy Car ride. This was really cool, and only $3 per person for a 6 minute ride. You MUST do this at least once.
Wandered over to the Stratosphere, played slots (a little loss) and went up the tower, great view.
Join the slot club and have a free pull BEFORE you go up the tower as there is a VERY good chance you will win a 2 for 1 lift coupon and a 2 for 1 for the slingshot.
Ate at Suzys next to the Buffet. Its a Western themed restaurant, and the food was excellent. 10 out of 10. I'll be eating here again.
We decided to walk it back to the Tropicana, just missing the shooting at the rear/side of the Stratosphere by 30 mins or so.
Upon passing, went into the Frontier, I was slightly impressed with the place. The carpets were clean and the smell had gone,,, at least its a start :-)
Stopped at the Mirage to lose more money :-)
Then making it back to the Tropicana late evening, dropping a little more money into the slots.
Day5.
Stayed around the Tropicana til late due to the rain, eventually got to play craps. First time ever and not losing much money, loved it.
Played blackjack for a while just about breaking even. (Highlight) I played $5 BJ with Rick Moranis. (Honey I shrunk the kids)
Sorry, I played $5 and he played $100. What a nice man.
Ate dinner at the Mowtown Cafe. This place is wonderful.
The food is a little expensive, but you get very big portions. The entertainment is great and the waiters are all fun, jolly type of people. Laughing and joking all the time yet still being very helpful.
This is another highly recommended place to eat, even if it is only once.
I'm going back again.
Day6.
Hung around the Trop again because of the wind, played a little slots but again lost. These Tropicana slots were tighter than a fishes ass, And thats watertight! Went to play $5 BJ. Played for over 4 hours ending $42.50 UP! Woo Hoo.
While playing my mother came over, shaking a little, saying she had just won a $150 jackpot.
Took the monorail to Ballys then over to Caesars for the birthday party.
Ate with Pattie (what a sweet lady) and Mike from the Las Vegas Leisure Guide.
Took the bus back down to the Tropicana for more none profitable slots.
Day7.
Stayed in the Tropicana til lunch time, again none profitable :-(
Everywhere was absolutely packed out solid, the Aladdin party started early?
Went down to the IP to run a few dollars on the slot card to keep it active, actually coming out on top. Well, $10 in and $14 out.
This place was so full it was unbelievable. More like a football stadium than a casino.
Eventually returned back for the 4pm Rick Thomas magic show at the Trop. The show was quite good, well worth the free tickets we had.
Decided to eat at the Rain Forest, this place is too expensive. $9 for a burger and $1.50 extra for fries. $2 for coffee. No thank you.
We then walked round for ages following the signs to the OZ Buffet, after 20 minutes we asked some one where it actually was, she said,
"Oh its closed down due to renovation, didn't you know?"
Yea, like I'm telepathic.
Returned to eat at the Trop buffet. So glad that we did. This evening buffet was delicious.
10 out of 10.
I must say that the Tropicana is THE MOST best kept secret in Las Vegas, and children are NOT allowed in the renovated Casino Tower.
All in all I rate this place very highly indeed, and I will definatly be staying here again.
Evening time I took a cab over to the Orleans for the news group get together, which was brought forward a day due to the Aladdin party. [Great rates for Tuesday through Sunday this week :-)) ]
Met up with Ted, Bill, Sylvia and a hole bunch of others. It was really so unfortunate that I could only stay for 15 minutes or so as I had to get back for the farewells with Brenda.
Next visit folks.. Keep the beer cold Ted :-)
I rushed out and waited 15 minutes for a cab, and I was first in the queue.
I only made it back by 2 minutes.
We said our good byes and had loads of hugs and stuff. I was a little sad when Brenda left as she is a wonderful bubbly person and was great company for the week. We had such a great time, party none stop all the week.
I packed the case for an early night, but still had to have "Just one more go."
Run $20 through a quarter machine, had 2 beers and came out with $30 so I quit a winner.
Leaving day.
Up very early for our 10am flight to Chicago then onto the UK. Arriving at the airport we were given seats on the transatlantic flight at the rear left of the plane, even though we had confirmed seat numbers in the center row, middle. "Seats for this flight will be given to you at the gate" we were told. (LV -> Chicago)
Yea like hell they were. Overbooked by 10 seats and we didn't have one. The plane boarded and we still sat there and waited and waited and waited.
By this time I was starting to panic a little about our connecting flight in Chicago.
Eventually they called my name and I had the last 2 seats on the plane (apart from the cockpit)
Seats 3E and 3F..... FIRST CLASS
Boy how the other half live.
VERY nice, but I would never pay the price myself.
So, here I sit writing this on my Psion S3c really living it up, getting pampered beyond belief.
So thats another trip over, and I've started planning the next one all ready.
There were loads of other things that happened like the Miss Hawaiian Tropic Bikini pagent (Didn't enjoy this much, all those absolutly beautiful girls walking round in swim suits made from 3 pieces of string!! Hubba Hubba Drool) Seeing Penn & Teller, Pamela Anderson and so on.
This was the BEST trip yet I actually went home with money.
I just can't wait until the next time.
Bob.
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Updated 1/June 00 (1)