Killer Kitten
08-25-2005, 08:41 AM
Just back from a week in Vegas.
Lemme see... Vegas observations:
The Wynn is absolutely incredible. Just walking through the place I found myself having to hold my lower jaw closed because I wanted to gape/gawk at everything. Favorite thing had to be the huge water feature that featured a wall of water running into a pool with nude figures standing staring at it. I could have stared at it all day, very sci-fi-ish.
First time at Ceasar's since they expanded. Big wow factor there, too. Tons of great new shops and their casino got a much needed (and very well done) face lift.
The tattoo parlor next to the Stratosphere got renovated, but the work they do there is still the same top quality and the guys are terrific. Great place to go for new ink. I got a pretty big tattoo this trip, and it's almost healed already.
What the Hell happened to the Rio? It's been our longtime favorite place to stay, but it seems to have gone downhill since my last visit. The rooms were borderline dirty, definitely on the shabby side, and the service was just plain awful. They've jacked the prices in their restaurants while cutting on quality. And what's up with turning all their waitresses into strippers? I shit you not, these poor girls had to take turns getting up onto a platform while doing their waitress thing and dancing to a boom box. None of them could actually dance, you could tell they absolutely hated every minute of it, and most of the gamblers (men included) seemed to find it downright irritating. Pity, too, we used to really love the Rio.
Valley of Fire State Park outside of town is a total must-see. Some of the most spectacular scenery in an area of the country known for spectacular scenery.
Best kept secret: All the out-of-town resort casino hotels. The gambling is much more low-key and the places tend to be friendlier and cleaner. Also, they feel more the way the old Las Vegas used to feel, with inexpensive food, shows and other things. The way the non-gambling prices have skyrocketed on the strip, it's starting to feel more like Atlantic City. Kind of a bummer.
Lemme see... Vegas observations:
The Wynn is absolutely incredible. Just walking through the place I found myself having to hold my lower jaw closed because I wanted to gape/gawk at everything. Favorite thing had to be the huge water feature that featured a wall of water running into a pool with nude figures standing staring at it. I could have stared at it all day, very sci-fi-ish.
First time at Ceasar's since they expanded. Big wow factor there, too. Tons of great new shops and their casino got a much needed (and very well done) face lift.
The tattoo parlor next to the Stratosphere got renovated, but the work they do there is still the same top quality and the guys are terrific. Great place to go for new ink. I got a pretty big tattoo this trip, and it's almost healed already.
What the Hell happened to the Rio? It's been our longtime favorite place to stay, but it seems to have gone downhill since my last visit. The rooms were borderline dirty, definitely on the shabby side, and the service was just plain awful. They've jacked the prices in their restaurants while cutting on quality. And what's up with turning all their waitresses into strippers? I shit you not, these poor girls had to take turns getting up onto a platform while doing their waitress thing and dancing to a boom box. None of them could actually dance, you could tell they absolutely hated every minute of it, and most of the gamblers (men included) seemed to find it downright irritating. Pity, too, we used to really love the Rio.
Valley of Fire State Park outside of town is a total must-see. Some of the most spectacular scenery in an area of the country known for spectacular scenery.
Best kept secret: All the out-of-town resort casino hotels. The gambling is much more low-key and the places tend to be friendlier and cleaner. Also, they feel more the way the old Las Vegas used to feel, with inexpensive food, shows and other things. The way the non-gambling prices have skyrocketed on the strip, it's starting to feel more like Atlantic City. Kind of a bummer.