Royally Flushed

Wynn Las Vegas offers a winter getaway for you and your friends.

P.B. and I have always been big fans of heading to Las Vegas before the Christmas holidays.  We get a little shopping done, take in the holiday decorations — especially the winter display at The Bellagio’s Conservatory and Botanical Gardens — and just kick back and enjoy some down-time during what can be a pretty hectic time of year.  We’ve never found December to be particularly busy in Las Vegas and with the economy in such a downturn we look for it to be even quieter this year so here’s your chance to enjoy the city at a much more relaxed pace and at some great prices. (more…)

The top spot on our Las Vegas list goes to Mon Ami Gabi at Paris Las Vegas. Grab a table here for primo people-watching plus a great view of the fountain show at The Bellagio.

Without further ado, here are my top five best spots for championship people-watching in Las Vegas.  Rather than counting backwards like we did with yesterday’s five great spots, today we start with number one – my absolute favorite spot for checking out the Las Vegas crowds.

1.  Mon Ami Gabi restaurant at Paris Las Vegas.  Not only does this center-Strip café and its year-round patio offer terrific food – it’s voted #4 out of 1600+ restaurants on Trip Advisor’s Las Vegas forum – it also provides diners with a birds-eye roost for viewing both Strip traffic and The Bellagio’s famous fountain show.   An excellent list of wines-by-the-glass, a sublime chicken liver mousse pate and loaves of warm, crusty French bread complete the experience. 

2.  Trader Vic’s at Planet Hollywood.  Another great Strip-side patio perch – this one offers live music at night as well as a prime spot for watching the steady stream of shoppers entering the Miracle Mile Shops as well as those hoofing it down Las Vegas Boulevard.    A seriously strong Mai-Tai – a Vic’s specialty – makes the night fly by (almost before you know it.)

3.  Parasol Up/Parasol Down at Wynn Las Vegas.  They’re two, two…two bars in one!  Well, not really since one really is up (stairs) and the other is down (the escalator) but both offer prime people-watching complemented by absolutely stunning décor.  ”Down” offers a great view of Wynn’s Lake of Dreams — don’t miss the singing frog — and lots of May/December couples sipping expensive wines.  (more…)

Workers recently installed this sign at the new Gila River Casino, Lone Butte.

The new Gila River casino, Lone Butte, at Loop 202 and Kyrene Road in Chandler, Arizona is coming together nicely for the scheduled November 20 opening date.  I am really looking forward to playing in this new Phoenix-area casino which is slated to have 850 slot machines, a 750-seat bingo hall, new high-limit player areas and exciting table games including Fortune Pai Gow Poker Progressive, Let It Ride Three-Card Bonus and Three-Card Poker.  And, for a non-smoker like me, the thought of a state-of-the-art smoke removal system built right into the facility makes me swoon.

In grand opening promotions, casino customers can play their favorite games for cash and prizes including a new Pontiac Soltice which will be given away on December 4th.  Prior to the main event car giveaway, the “Luck Has a New Home” promo will award cash prizes to players from 6 – 10 p.m., November 5, 12 — at the current Lone Butte location —  and on the 26th at the new casino. (more…)

Donny & Marie fans should purchase tickets before leaving for Las Vegas.

Yeah, I admit it – I sometimes eavesdrop on other people’s conversations. Especially when they are sitting three feet away and TALKING REALLY LOUDLY. On our last trip to Las Vegas, P.B. and I were enjoying lunch at one of our fav restaurants – Mon Ami Gabi at Paris Las Vegas - when I overheard the couple next to us discussing what they wanted to do during their stay. Well, that’s not exactly correct – let’s say they were discussing how they had NO CLUE what to do while in Las Vegas. Here they are in one of the most exciting cities in the world and they can’t decide if they want to see a show…what show to see…where to eat dinner…you name it. Later that day- call it kismet – I was reading an article that said 80% of people visiting Las Vegas don’t know what they want to do once they get there. What a waste of time, energy and vacation dollars!

I visit a lot of Las Vegas forums on the ‘net and this seems to be a popular topic:  “To Plan or Not to Plan” – that is the question.  For me, the answer is definitely PLAN!  Okay, I’m not saying plan every minute or even every day but it just makes sense to me to do some research before going so you’re not wasting precious time standing in line at restaurants or theater box offices.  If there is one thing that is lacking on the ‘net (and I’m not sure there is) it is NOT info on Las Vegas. Buy show tickets – like those to see Donny & Marie at The Flamingo.  Make dinner reservations. Book your spa day. Look up what games are available at each casino so you can maximize your playing time.  Whatever it is you definitely want to do while in Las Vegas – or at any vacation destination, for that matter – make your plans and any necessary reservations before you get to where you’re going!

As many times as we have been to Las Vegas, P.B. and I always go armed with a list of hot new Las Vegas restaurants we want to try (usually complete with reservations) as well as anything else we don’t want to miss like shows, slot tournaments and other events. Check out other areas on our site plus VisitLasVegas.com  for things you might want to incorporate into your trip.

Arizona offers lots of great travel options for players so when you can combine a casino trip with a train ride, spectacular scenery, a wealth of good food and a visit to a national monument, what’s not to like? Backstory – Last March, P.B. and I attended the Phoenix Suns’ “Suns and Stars Charity Event” at the Arizona Biltmore and bid on and won a travel package featuring two nights at the Best Western – Cottonwood and tickets for four people on the Verde Canyon Railroad. Using those two items, we put together a really fun trip with lots of indoor and outdoor activities – a trip that we highly recommend you consider for a quick getaway. (more…)

Keeping up their summer promotions program, Casino Arizona has sent out an October flyer to Cashback Players Club members with coupons for cash ($5 & $10*), a free meal, free travel blanket and extra entries into the casino’s new ”Win A Year on Easy Street” prize drawings.  (Just another example of how the downturn in the economy is pushing casinos to offer more incentives in an effort to get players in the doors.) 

P.B. and I took advantage of last month’s offer and had lunch on the casino at their Willows Restaurant at the McKellips & 101 location.  Choosing from a special coupon menu, I had the fried shrimp platter while P.B. had the Caesar steak wrap with sweet potato fries.  (The menu also featured a breakfast platter.)  Both entrees were actually quite good and the service was friendly if a bit slow.  The platter of fried shrimp was especially generous considering the price!  The fresh-cut fries and homemade coleslaw were good accompaniments to the shrimp and P.B.’s sweet potato fries were perfectly cooked.   We plan on using this month’s “free dinner” coupons at the Blue Coyote Restaurant at the Indian Bend location and we’ll be sure to report on that later. 

And for slots players, be sure to check out this month’s flyer for days and times when you can earn double or even triple points for play.  If the times work with your schedule, you might as well rack up twice or three times as many “Cashback” points for playing your favorite games.

*  Check coupons for special times and requirements.