Here%26#39;s the last installment. I have made hotel reviews for Caesars and Wynn with photos and I%26#39;ve uploaded several other photos from the trip (not sure if it%26#39;s all up yet though.)
Superlong Trip Report III- Gambling confession inside
Ok if you have read parts one and two then you have probably figured out that I’m not much of a gambler but I have to admit that the slot machines were enticing me this trip. My husband and I have different reasons for not gambling- me, I was a math major in college and have taken many advanced courses in probability and statistics but my husband, well he’s a professional pessimist. He’s not just a glass half empty person, he’s a “the liquid in the half empty glass is probably poisoned” person. If the chances were 99.99% that he would win a jackpot he still wouldn’t play because he’d be convinced that he would be in the .01% of losers. Well all those slot machines with their pretty lights and seductive sounds were calling out to me. Apparently glitz trumps education. My husband kept pulling me away because nothing trumps pessimism. Now he will let me play video poker because we immediately get free drinks and I have shown him that VP has good odds. But he kept leading me away from the slots. There were a couple of times when he went to the bathroom, however, when the darndest thing happened. I would sit down in front of a slot machine, because I was, you know, tired and needed to rest. And while I was sitting I went ahead and checked my wallet to make sure I hadn’t lost my credit cards or money and somehow the slot machine sucked a couple of dollars out of my hand so I had to put in my players card so I would at least get credit for the theft. And then I started pressing buttons----weeeeee---and then my husband would come out and glare at me. The damage this trip was nothing- I lost a whole $7 on slots overall.
Anways, we got up Day 4 and the view of the Wynn Golf Course was amazing. We could see the implosion dust in the distance heading to the mountains but the Wynn appeared to be clean. We hiked down to our favorite buffet, Le Village Buffet at Paris. It was $17.95 per person for lunch. We are never disappointed at Paris. The food is always hot and the desserts are great. We then went to Le Bar du Sport for a little video poker and our free drinks. Bloody Mary’s are great early day drinks, I almost feel healthy drinking them. We went and checked out the Paris Chapels for our friends who are getting married there in July, took several photos.
We decided to finally check out the Hilton, we always say we are going to go and never do. We got a ten ride pass to share for the monorail ($35) and headed over. The main reason we wanted to go was to see Quarks Bar. We both at one time were big Next Generation fans so we were curious to see the Star Trek stuff. We ordered a Warp Core Breach ($25) and had to share it- there is 10 ounces of rum in it. It comes in a really cool fishbowl shaped glass that sits on a black metal base that looks like it came straight out of a Klingon ship. They put some sort of dry ice in it so a fog will come out it. There were several other interesting drinks (the martinis were only $8) but 10 ounces of rum was enough for us. A Klingon walked by and told my husband he was a coward for needing to share the drink with me. A Ferengi mocked my husband’s weight (he’s almost 6 feet tall and only 135 pounds.) We were still full from lunch so we didn’t get any food but we did watch a very large man devour 2 dishes at lightning speed and for the few brief moments that the food was intact it looked interesting, nothing gourmet and it looked like TGIfridays food, but there’s a coupon on restaurant.com available so I think we will check it out in the future. While we were laboring to finish the drink an attractive blond in a low-cut shirt sat down. A few seats away was a drunk 20-something idiot who immediately started hitting on her. He could barely sit straight and was less interesting than a napkin. My husband watched the show while I went to the bathroom. When I got back he told me how the guy was slurring his speech asking her what she was doing and instead of rejecting him, she actually encouraged him. She told him she was in town for a wedding and that her friends had left her because they wanted to go out and she wanted to lie at the pool. My husband was beside himself in disbelief when the guy asked if they could hook up later in the evening and she said yes and took his number. I could not believe my husband, a 12 year police veteran couldn’t figure out what was going on. I explained to him what I felt she did for a living and then it all made sense to him. We made sure to get a picture of her.
Overall I was impressed with the Hilton, the Tempo bar looked cool, and I like the casino layout. We will return.
We took the monorail back to the strip and went over to Kahunaville to use a 2 for 1 coupon. The bar was a little dirty and they don’t comp drinks when you play VP but we like the drinks and the coupon made it worth our while- $9.75 for two Martinis.
We got back to Wynn and got dressed up to go to Daniel Boulud. We were seated on the terrace with an almost perfect view of the Lake of Dreams. We decided not to drink any more because we were going to see Phantom after dinner. My husband got the Steak Frites and I got the Crispy Salmon. He was very impressed with the Steak, he said it was a very lean piece of meat (he hates having any fat on his meat) and he loved the flavor. I’m not a fan of lemon with meat so it wasn’t really my thing but my husband loved the lemon butter that came on it. I did try one of the fries and they were awesome. The crispy Salmon was good, I liked the texture and it was very light. Our two entrees and 2 coffees cost $85 before tip.
We headed over to the Grand Canal Shoppes to kill some time. We checked out the model for Palazzo and it looked very interesting. I’m wondering how they plan on getting it all done by October.
I can be an airhead sometimes and I got the show time wrong and we found ourselves practically running to Phantom (I thought it was at 10:30 but it was 10.) We had purchased seats in the Parterre but since the show didn’t even come close to being sold out we got upgraded to the Orchestra Row P seats 35 and 36. They were great seats, right underneath the Chandelier. My only complaint, and this isn’t the shows fault, was that I was seated next to a very large woman (well over 300 pounds) so I had to lean to one side as part of her body was in my space. She was wheezing throughout the show but that was only distracting during the first scene which is pretty quiet, the rest of the show was pretty loud so I didn’t hear her. I saw Phantom back in 1998 when it came to Fort Worth and loved it and I loved the Vegas version just as much. The set was amazing. I had tried to explain it to my husband but I just couldn’t. He was very impressed.
After Phantom we changed into less dressy clothing and went out in search of some drinks. We ended up at the Tequila Bar at Bally’s and had a really great shot of Patron that was infused with several different fruits, it was smooth ($7 a shot, about 1 ½ or maybe 2 ounces.) It was last call so we had to move. We decided to go to Caramel at Bellagio. We could hear some hip-hop music and based on all the younguns we had seen out and about in their clubbing clothes we expected a pretty hip crowd. Boy we were wrong. What a freak show. It was a bunch of middle-aged people with no rhythm at all embarrassing themselves with dance moves that should never be seen anywhere by anyone. We even saw a woman who appeared to be about 5 months pregnant taking shots. We decided to get out of there before I gave her a piece of my mind. The drinks are pretty good but they cost $15 each for a Martini.
We went over to the Seahorse Bar at Caesars- $18.50 total for a Bloody Mary and a Gin and tonic. It’s a great place for people watching.
Day 5- we got up and had Breakfast at the Wynn Buffet ($17.95 a person.) Good selection, good food. I really like their coffee too.
I then dragged my husband to see all the older casinos on the North strip: Riviera, Circus Circus, and Slots-O-Fun. He was pretty horrified but I thought Slots-O-Fun looked, well fun. We decided to go to MGM and thought we’d see if we could find the Wynn Shuttle. We found a sign for it near the Tower Suites entrance and waited about 15 minutes but it didn’t show so we walked to Harrah’s and got on the monorail from there. Once we got to MGM we found ourselves in a sea of Conventioneers who all had matching tags around their necks- there were so many of them but I guess they weren’t drinking because the bars were very quiet. We stopped at Zuri first and I had a Bloody Caesar, my husband had a Tom Collins ($12 each) and they were fantastic. Then we went to Centrifuge, which is probably my favorite place to have drinks. I had a Cran lemonade (which is really really good) which has vanilla vodka, raspberry liquor, raspberry puree, and cranberry juice. My husband had a hypo martini. I then had a good Bloody Mary and my husband had a “Tic-Tac” which is red bull and an orange vodka I think. He said it tastes like an orange tic-tac, thus the name. The drinks were all $12 each. Our bartender, Sherell, had waited on us on past trips and is great. She’s pregnant but she still got up on the bar and did the routines (similar to Coyote Ugly without the cover charge), and she’s still better than all the others, pregnant belly and all.
We then went over to Luxor and got drinks at La Salsa- $17.25 for an Italian Margarita and a Hurricane. I have decided that I definitely prefer drinking during the day in Vegas, the bars are less crowed and we can actually have a conversation. We got stupid and took a few videos of ourselves being drunken morons on the streets of Las Vegas.
We headed back to the hotel and got ready to go to Alex. I had been waiting for this meal for months. We were immediately led in by 2 people and from there the staff were all tripping over themselves to help us. They brought us appetizers while we looked over the menu. We decided on going with the 7 course tasting menu ($195 per person) but didn’t get the wine pairings (the tasting menu with pairings is $325 per person!) The wine sommelier helped us choose an Austrian Riesling that would satisfy both of our tastes- I like white wine, my husband likes Red but the Riesling he recommended was light and sweet enough for me and dry enough for him. It was a perfect compromise. The meal was amazing. They offered us several different breads and the bread guy came back multiple times offering more, I had a Rosemary Bread and it was really good. One of the first courses was caviar and my husband, who is not a fish lover (I don’t know how he calls himself a foodie) liked it. I got to try Fois Gras for the first time and I was impressed. I normally do not like liver but the Blood Orange sauce complimented the Fois Gras perfectly. The fifth course was the best- Wagyu Beef with Potato Gnocchi and Porcini mushrooms (I hope I didn’t butcher the spelling of any of the foods.) The sauce was to die for. I went to the bathroom and it was gorgeous. No paper towels in there, you use your own hand towel to dry your hands then discard it in a hamper. There were 2 dessert courses and the Passion Fruit cheesecake was so good. The final course had chocolate and ice-cream with pralines. They put “Happy Anniversary” on a piece of chocolate. They then brought several little sweets, we couldn’t eat them all. Just when we thought they were done bringing us stuff they brought out some Madeleine’s that were divine, they had a light lemony taste. I wish I could have eaten more of them. We each had an espresso with our desserts and in the end it cost us $490 before tip. It was worth it though. They helped us take photos (I have made a review of Alex and included photos, I’m not sure if it’s up yet but my review of Wynn is and I put a couple of photos of the food in there.) As we left out the door they gave us a package of Macaroons which we didn’t try until a couple of days later, they are excellent of course. Overall I’d say Alex is the perfect restaurant, a foodie’s dream come true. It will be a long time until we return (if ever), we just can’t spend that kind of money on a regular basis but we had to try it at least once. I have never in my life experienced that kind of service. Man I wish I was rich!
We went back to the room so I could get comfortable shoes and my husband made the mistake of lying down. I could not get him up to save my life so I watched an episode of South Park (yes Alex and South Park in the same night, I bet you don’t hear that everyday.) Then I was the one asleep and he was the one awake. My husband did everything he could to get me up. He turned on the lights right over the bed, so I just pulled the covers over me. Finally I rolled out of the bed (those Wynn beds are super comfortable by the way and the pillows beg you to sleep.) We went over to the Mirage but I was too full to drink. We went back to the room and I took yet another bath in the jetted tub…heavenly…
On our last day we had breakfast at Tableau. The view of the pools was great and the service was perfect (it’s not Alex but nothing is.) We both had omelets which came with toast and potatoes. We both had coffee and they even filled us up to-go cups. Breakfast was $46 before tip.
We went and bought a few last minute souvenirs at Fashion show Mall (there is an ABC store inside, good for alcohol, souvenirs, and small items you might have forgotten, the prices are reasonable and the selection is pretty good.) We then went back and had our last 2 drinks of the trip at Parasol down. My husband got the Savory Martini (Vodka, rosemary, and Blue cheese Olives) and I got an “O Mio” which is a chocolaty coffee flavored girly drink. We then went to the Tower Suites entrance where they gave us water while we waited for our limo. Brian, the limo driver, was great but I hate leaving…sigh.
Overall it was the best trip we’ve had (also the most expensive, go figure.) We learned how much better Wynn is than even Bellagio or THEhotel (both of which we loved.) I’m pretty sure that the resort side would have been more like the other properties but the Tower Suites side is just amazing. I’m not sure I will want to stay anywhere else.
We will be returning in July for the wedding and I’m already formulating a game plan (it keeps me going- I have a demanding job and 4 kids so I need something to keep me going..haha.)
Superlong Trip Report III- Gambling confession inside
EXCELLENT trip report! I have really enjoyed reading through your details. You had me laughing! With 4 kids, yes you deserve a break - hope you have as good a time in July.
Those slots are powerful little devils aren%26#39; t they?
Thanks so much for writing!
really enjoyed all of your TRs. long but lots of great detail!
it%26#39;s always interesting to hear what ppl do with themselves in vegas if they%26#39;re not really into gambling! ;)
sounds like you experienced some wonderful meals. I will definately look up your travel reviews of the hotels %26amp; restraurants.
You guys know how to do it up right, sounds like a GREAT trip!
We want to go to Wynn for a dinner, and I%26#39;m afraid Alex is a little too high priced (even though it looks gorgeous)...we just had $400 plus meals in New York and Florida recently and I%26#39;m not sure my husband is ready for another. I%26#39;m trying to decide between Daniel Bouloud and Tableau for dinner - the reviews I%26#39;ve read about Tableau for dinner is that everything was great but no one was there - it doesn%26#39;t seem to be that full ever (maybe because it doesn%26#39;t have a celeb chef?)...anyway, can you tell me what Tableau LOOKED like? How was the atmosphere compared to DB? We prefer quieter, prettier...
How do I find your pictures?
hey sally...your tr was very detailed and informative. thanks for posting pics and such.....will you be posting any video of you guys being drunk morons?? that would be fun to watch...lol
Brilliant report, really appreciate your drink descriptions, location and prices.
Thank you so much for such an entertaining and detailed report.
Warmwinds. Tableau is very pretty, elegant decor, but I prefer it during the day with all the natural light and the view of the pools. The service is really great there though. Bartolotta is gorgeous and quiet, we took several photos of it, I%26#39;ll try to upload those later. Daniel Boulud wasn%26#39;t exactly quiet but we still liked it. Corsa Cocina and Red 8 are just off the Casino so they are pretty loud. Wing Lei and Okada looked gorgeous as well but I don%26#39;t find Asian food romantic for some reason, I don%26#39;t know why.
great trip report glad you had a good time where did you post your pics would love to see them my husband and i leave in 12 days can%26#39;t wait this will be our 2nd trip
great report, just read your review and wanted to say that i have stayed in the resort side of the hotel and the service is still great, we got our slippers placed by the bed and also got our ice bucket filled!!
i think the the wynn really deserves all the praise it gets
Glad to hear that about the resort side, my husband likes the resort rates much better than the tower rates. I have been trying to figure out where all the bad reviews have been coming from and I just figured that maybe the service was lacking in the other section of the hotel, it blows my mind that anyone could say they didn%26#39;t get good service there, the employees were tripping over themselves to help us. I guess there are just people out there who can find fault with anything.
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