Las Vegas Journals

Vegas Baby! (Again)

A September 2003 trip to Las Vegas by Carmen

The Paris Hotel Photo - Paris Las Vegas, Las Vegas, Nevada

Quote: I had been to Las Vegas once before, and wasn't sure I wanted to go back. I'm so glad I did! This time, I was less of a tourist who wanted to see everything and more of a visitor who took the city in at a leisurely pace.

16 Photos

Vegas Baby! (Again)

Overview

Quote:

The highlights of this particular trip were: 1. Dancing at the House of Blues: Friday nights are '80s nights at the HOB, and it doesn't disappoint. Michael Jackson, Depeche Mode, Madonna (old school), etc. 2. Freemont Street: I like the odds so much better on Freemont Street. I played blackjack at Fitzgerald's for two hours at the -a-hand table (the only place in Vegas I've found any tables under a hand is on Freemont) and some penny slots in another small hole in the wall. Plus a great light show! What more could you want? 3. The Bellagio and its fountains: I love this hotel! I wish I could afford the a night to stay there. It is so gran...Read More

The highlights of this particular trip were:

1. Dancing at the House of Blues: Friday nights are '80s nights at the HOB, and it doesn't disappoint. Michael Jackson, Depeche Mode, Madonna (old school), etc.

2. Freemont Street: I like the odds so much better on Freemont Street. I played blackjack at Fitzgerald's for two hours at the -a-hand table (the only place in Vegas I've found any tables under a hand is on Freemont) and some penny slots in another small hole in the wall. Plus a great light show! What more could you want?

3. The Bellagio and its fountains: I love this hotel! I wish I could afford the a night to stay there. It is so grand, so beautiful inside and out, and I love the dancing fountains.

4. The penny slots: I don't remember penny slots from the first visit. But this time my friend and I were the "whales" (big players) of the penny slots. Obviously, you can play longer on a 1-cent-per-line cost. And for some reason, we kept winning. They're just like the other slots--you get to spin, play bonus games, etc. They were just lots of fun! We particularly liked "Coinopolos" and "Money Storm."

The Paris Hotel: I really enjoyed my stay at the Paris hotel. The deal we booked through the Website was amazing and came with a great discount to the Les Artistes steakhouse in the hotel. The service was great, the room was nice and our view was out onto the pool at the base of the replica Eiffel Tower. Plus, it's position on the strip was advantageous for what we wanted to do. (more in the center)

Quick Tips:

1. Bring lots of cash--in small bills. The majority of my expenses both times that I've been in Vegas have been in the form of tips. Tip the taxi driver, tip the waitresses for the drinks in the casinos, etc. Plus, if you have bills and bills, you might not be as tempted to put that in the slots.

2. If you're shopping around for hotel discounts, check the specific hotel's Web site first. I checked on Expedia and Hotels.com, and the best rate came from the Paris Hotel's web site. (http://www.parkplace.com/paris/lasvegas/)

Best Way To Get Around:

1. Don't be scared to take a cab. Things in Vegas look closer than they are. The cab ride will usually be under on the strip.

2. If you've got the constitution for it, walking around is one of the best ways to take in the Strip. Just be warned, it's a long way from one end to the other. Wear good walking shoes. And if you're going to a club in high heels, see number 1 above. Read Less

Cheer!
Flag

Paris Las Vegas

Hotel | "Paris Las Vegas Hotel and Casino"

Quote:

First, let me give you this suggestion. If Paris is the place you want to stay, check their website for the best deals. I looked on all the major discount hotel sites, and got the best deal this way. We got the "Passport to Paris" package, which included a $20 coupon for the Les Artistes steakhouse, $50 in match play, $5 off at the cafe, 2-for-1 entrance into the Eiffel Tower Experience, and our rooms ended up being $129 for Friday and Saturday nights, and $99 for Sunday.

That said, I really enjoyed my stay at the Paris Hotel. The theme was implemented very well. The cobblestone "streets" are lined with shops, patisseries (try the pain au chocolat [chocolate croissants]--not as good as the actual Paris ones, but pretty tasty), and it looks very French provincial. The casino was in the center, with a "foot" of the Eiffel Tower replica coming down through the roof--and the hotel did a pretty good job of filtering the air so it wasn't too smoky. The ceiling was painted with "sky," and the wrought iron reminded me of the metro signs in Paris. It was a little on the cheesy side with the putting of the "le" in front of everything (Le Reception, Le Ticket Counter, etc.), but you can overlook that to get into the spirit of things.

The room was very nice. We asked for a view, and we looked out on the pool and the Eiffel Tower. We got a room with two queen beds and had plenty of space for all of our stuff. The bathroom had a separate tub and shower, with plenty of light. The curtains did a good job of keeping out the sunshine while we slept off our nights of dancing into the wee hours. :)

We also managed to spend a few hours soaking up sun at the Paris pool. The pool isn't very deep, about 3 feet everywhere, and it's in a round shape with a nice view of the Eiffel Tower. Finding a lounge chair was a challenge, since it was such a nice day, but if you can find a pool boy, he'll find some and carry them for you wherever you want to put them. The poolside service was a little on the slow side, but it was better than walking all the way around to the bar. May I suggest the lemonade slushy? Very refreshing. Drinks were a bit pricy, but when you're hot and thirsty, you seem to care less.

The service in the hotel was as you would expect in Vegas--everyone excited to assist you in order to get a tip. I'd rank the Paris hotel as an 8 out of 10. Of course, if I go back, I'd probably not stay there in order to try something new. But I'd recommend it for someone else. Read Less

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on September 9, 2003

Paris Las Vegas
3655 Las Vegas Blvd South
Las Vegas, Nevada 89109
(702) 946-7000

Cheer!
Flag

House of Blues

Attraction

Quote:

The House of Blues was so good the first time that it earned a repeat visit from us. The reason? '80s night. Every Friday night the HOB hosts an '80s night, pumping tunes from Depeche Mode, old-school Madonna, Michael Jackson, etc. The dance floor is pretty big, but since everyone loves the music so much, it's usually pretty full. There's plenty of room around the dance floor to watch the action when your feet feel like they're going to fall off. However, there aren't many places to actually sit down. The cover charge was $15 for the night, and the action starts at 11pm. The line was pretty long to get in, but it moved fairly fast. As for drinks, they're pretty pricey, as t...Read More

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on September 10, 2003

House of Blues
3950 Las Vegas Blvd South
Las Vegas, Nevada 89109
+1 702 632 7000

Cheer!
Flag

Fremont Street Experience

Attraction | "Freemont Street"

Quote:

I always wait until I get to Freemont Street to place my bets, because the odds are better and I can play longer with less money--mostly because Freemont tries to lure the tourists off the Strip. Starting just after dark, and running every hour on the hour, is the Freemont Street Experience. There's a canopy of lights above the mostly pedestrian street that puts on a show to the beat of some snappy music. It's amazing! People just crowd the street and look up. Many dance and sing to the music. And there's lots of "ooh's" and "aaahh's" to be heard. Best of all, it costs ya nothin'. On my last visit, I played at the Four Queens. This time, I went in and could only find a ...Read More

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on September 10, 2003

Fremont Street Experience
425 Fremont St
Las Vegas, Nevada 89101
(702) 678 5777

Cheer!
Flag

Mystere

Attraction

Quote:

There were so many great shows, it was hard to decide which one to see. We finally decided that a Cirque du Soleil show was the way to go. We looked on Vegas.com for ticket prices to "O" at the Bellagio. The lowest price was $121 -- for an obstructed-view seat. Um, I don't think so. So we read about Mystere, and decided that the $89 was more reasonable. We weren't disappointed. The show is just a barrage on the senses. Color everywhere, incredibly talented performers, and a very funny clown. I wasn't expecting to laugh, but the acrobatic performances are peppered with funny skits and, well, the clown. (Who is not dressed in makeup and a red nose -- he looks m...Read More

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on September 10, 2003

Mystere
3300 Las Vegas Blvd South Treasure Island Hotel
Las Vegas, Nevada 89109
(702) 796-9999

Cheer!
Flag

Bellagio Fountains

Attraction

Quote:

The Bellagio Hotel is by far my favorite in Vegas, even though I've never stayed there. (Perhaps one day. . .) Why? The casino is quieter and lighter, with a good ventilation system. The atmosphere is upscale, as is the decor. There are gardens inside with a theme that changes -- weekly, I'm told. But the biggest attraction for most people at the Bellagio is the dancing fountains outside. During the day, the free show is on the hour; in the evening, it's every half hour. The fountains "dance" to the music -- different each time. We saw them dance to Elton John, Faith Hill, and Celene Dion. The fountains are choreographed with the music, and shoot hundreds of feet into the air. They're ...Read More

Member Rating 5 out of 5 on September 10, 2003

Bellagio Fountains
3600 Las Vegas Blvd South
Las Vegas, Nevada
(702) 693-7111

Cheer!
Flag

Luxor Pool and Spa

Story/Tip

Quote:

One of the great things about Las Vegas is the number of spa choices available to you in that one stretch of the Strip. Part of our hotel deal at the Paris was a 15% discount on spa services. It was a great deal, but we found that the prices were high and the choices restrictive. For example, you could only get services in hour increments, and with the 15% discount, the price equaled that of other places, so we did some comparison shopping. The Luxor spa was very reasonably priced, and offered services in smaller time increments, so you could try different things. I got your standard Swedish massage for 25 minutes, and a 25-minute body buff. Both were just enough time to enjoy ea...Read More