Hi Vegas fans,
As the summer winds down, Las Vegas visitors are trying to get in as much pool time as possible. There have been a few problems at pools lately. Recently, the MGM Grand pool closed because of a faulty injection pump, there was a fatality earlier this month when a man died at the Hard Rock of a head injury at a pool party, and a kid almost died at the Rio's pool a few weeks ago. Please be safe and aware of your surroundings if you're partying at pools.
I'm all for having a few drinks by the pool or in the cabana, but there's a difference between partying in a nice, dry, air-conditioned club and a wet, hot, slippery poolside. Just be aware of your surroundings, and remember that there may be kids around, too.
I remember a few years ago when I visited MGM Grand's pool complex. It's really something to behold, and if you've never been there, I highly recommend it when it reopens. The lazy river is a lot of fun, whether you're 7 or 75. And there are so many pools that even during crowded times, you can find a place to swim, or at least stick your toesies in the water.
I've never been to Mandalay Bay's beach, but from what I've heard and seen, I don't think there's a better pool in Vegas. Waves, sand, and lotsa water. Talk about fun! One of these days I'm gonna splurge and stay there just for the pool experience.
Some of these pools were built when Vegas was trending more towards a family friendly era. That passed quickly when execs realized that kids can't gamble. But, many of the cool pools remained in tact.
And I'm glad. It's just another fun reason to explore the wonder that is Las Vegas. So, for the rest of the summer, be cool and have a good time by the pool!
Viva,
Mike
Monday, August 30, 2010
Thursday, August 26, 2010
There's still time...
...to win a free Las Vegas Luggage tag. In one week, I'll pick a winner. All you have to do is play trivia for fun. And of course for free. Good luck!
Viva,
Mike
Sunday, August 22, 2010
Digital Flipbooks & Vegas: A Great Match
Hi Vegas gurus,
The Las Vegas Convention and Visitor's Authority, which brings us the best interactive Las Vegas maps, has a really cool digital flipbook on their site. Their online information includes some pretty nifty features, including search capabilities, easy zooming, and links both to other places within the book and to external sites.
Of course, the LVCVA is not the only game in town. There are plenty of properties that are offering more information in flipbook fashion, like Caesars' Empire and The Hard Rock's HRH magazines.
These digital publications are often funded by the ads within them and usually include links directly to the advertisers' sites. These are really cool, slick publications that showcase the colorful layouts of large magazines without the actual paper. Environmentally friendly, easy to access, simple to use. Great idea.
So great, in fact, I'm looking into turning SLV for 2011 into a digital flipbook. Look for it this fall in addition to my Kindle version. The flipbook will be a great way to read my travel guide -- either on your computer, your iPad, or if you prefer, as an easy-to-print from PDF version. And don't worry, because it's digital, you won't have to wait for it on back order.
Viva,
Mike
The Las Vegas Convention and Visitor's Authority, which brings us the best interactive Las Vegas maps, has a really cool digital flipbook on their site. Their online information includes some pretty nifty features, including search capabilities, easy zooming, and links both to other places within the book and to external sites.
Of course, the LVCVA is not the only game in town. There are plenty of properties that are offering more information in flipbook fashion, like Caesars' Empire and The Hard Rock's HRH magazines.
These digital publications are often funded by the ads within them and usually include links directly to the advertisers' sites. These are really cool, slick publications that showcase the colorful layouts of large magazines without the actual paper. Environmentally friendly, easy to access, simple to use. Great idea.
So great, in fact, I'm looking into turning SLV for 2011 into a digital flipbook. Look for it this fall in addition to my Kindle version. The flipbook will be a great way to read my travel guide -- either on your computer, your iPad, or if you prefer, as an easy-to-print from PDF version. And don't worry, because it's digital, you won't have to wait for it on back order.
Viva,
Mike
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Countdown!
36 days. Seems like an eternity till my next Vegas vacation. I'm ready now! Pretty much all I have to do is pack. And that takes about 5 minutes. Maybe 7 if I remember socks.
That's the thing about my trips to Vegas. I just leave my life behind and escape. Don't get me wrong, I've got a pretty good life. But I have the need to get away every so often. Some people like the mountains for a vacation. Some like the beach. I like a city where I can play blackjack at 2 am and eat flapjacks at 10 pm. I like a place where I can forget what time it is for 3 or 4 days. Sleep? Occasionally. Eat, drink, and be... fat and drunk. Good times.
The way I see it, I can relax any ol' weekend. I can sleep in on a Saturday morning. I can go to bed early on a Saturday night. I can read on the back porch when I come home from work. When can I over-tip cocktail waitresses for my free drinks? When can I throw dice with a table full of screaming gamblers, all rooting for me to roll anything but a 7? Where else can I see someone walking the wrong way down Bally's escalator at 3 am? Vegas, baby.
Sometimes, ya just gotta shake the dust off and let yer hair down.
Viva,
Mike
Sunday, August 15, 2010
Ho Hum Harrah's
Hi all,
Well, they've done it again. Harrah's took a perfectly good website, Planet Hollywood, and made it boring. Planet Hollywood's site used to be quite dynamic, colorful, energetic, and fun. Now, it looks a lot like Harrah's other sites. Here's the formula:
By contrast, take MGM's websites. Each one is marketed to a specific audience. Mandalay Bay is a little upscale, MGM Grand is young and hip, Excalibur is fun and inexpensive. Harrah's could learn a lot by taking a page out of MGM's website book.
I love driving around in Las Vegas and seeing various themes, playing in different casinos and enjoying a unique atmosphere. Their websites should be this way, too.
Viva,
Mike
Well, they've done it again. Harrah's took a perfectly good website, Planet Hollywood, and made it boring. Planet Hollywood's site used to be quite dynamic, colorful, energetic, and fun. Now, it looks a lot like Harrah's other sites. Here's the formula:
- Links to other Harrah's properties at the top
- Navigation to the left
- Some (mostly static) content in the middle
- Links to other Harrah's properties at the bottom
By contrast, take MGM's websites. Each one is marketed to a specific audience. Mandalay Bay is a little upscale, MGM Grand is young and hip, Excalibur is fun and inexpensive. Harrah's could learn a lot by taking a page out of MGM's website book.
I love driving around in Las Vegas and seeing various themes, playing in different casinos and enjoying a unique atmosphere. Their websites should be this way, too.
Viva,
Mike
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Comopolitan Marquee - Getting Lit Up
Hi Vegas fans,
The Cosmo unveiled its giant marquee today. Check out pictures of the new sign on Cosmo's Flickr page.
The property is set to open December 15th of this year, and it resides next to Bellagio and practically on top of Jockey Club. This joint looks to be pretty exclusive, with gaming cabanas, three pools, a spa, and of course a club.
I'm looking forward to visiting this casino. I love when a new Vegas venue opens, even if it is out of my price range. It's fun to walk through and check out the digs. Sometimes I'll even sit down and play some blackjack, as long as it isn't too expensive.
I remember when the Wynn first opened, I sat down and played $10 blackjack in cut off jean shorts and a t-shirt. Yeah, I was a little younger then. I wondered if the pit boss or floor manager would say something to me, but my money is just as green as everyone else's, so they didn't say a thing. Of course, it helped that I was losing.
There are plenty of good places to play blackjack, so I don't find it necessary anymore to try out new places if the minimums are above what I want. Still, I'm sure I'll visit Cosmo, check it out, take some pictures, and maybe even get lit up at one of their bars. After all, that is quite an enticing sign!
Viva,
Mike
The Cosmo unveiled its giant marquee today. Check out pictures of the new sign on Cosmo's Flickr page.
The property is set to open December 15th of this year, and it resides next to Bellagio and practically on top of Jockey Club. This joint looks to be pretty exclusive, with gaming cabanas, three pools, a spa, and of course a club.
I'm looking forward to visiting this casino. I love when a new Vegas venue opens, even if it is out of my price range. It's fun to walk through and check out the digs. Sometimes I'll even sit down and play some blackjack, as long as it isn't too expensive.
I remember when the Wynn first opened, I sat down and played $10 blackjack in cut off jean shorts and a t-shirt. Yeah, I was a little younger then. I wondered if the pit boss or floor manager would say something to me, but my money is just as green as everyone else's, so they didn't say a thing. Of course, it helped that I was losing.
There are plenty of good places to play blackjack, so I don't find it necessary anymore to try out new places if the minimums are above what I want. Still, I'm sure I'll visit Cosmo, check it out, take some pictures, and maybe even get lit up at one of their bars. After all, that is quite an enticing sign!
Viva,
Mike
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Q & A with John Wilson
Hi Vegas fans,
My friend and fellow blogger John Wilson just returned from Las Vegas with his wife and five month old baby. John’s been to Vegas before, and like me he’s quite the Vegas nut, but this was a little different because it was his first trip with his baby. I sat down with him and asked him about his vacation.
SLV: So, John, you just returned from Vegas with your family. Your posts on whereisjohnwilson.comabout traveling to Vegas are really fun and informative. What was the biggest difference for you with a five month old versus traveling without a baby?
JW: About $1,000 not put into a slot machine. In all seriousness, going to Las Vegas with my wife and our new baby was a great deal of fun. It’s a completely different experience, however, than many of your readers may be used to. I spent almost zero time gaming and tons more time resting, sightseeing and taking pictures.
Some highlights of our trip include going to Hoover Dam, Red Rock Canyon and some sights from TV shows such as The Ultimate Fighter, the World Series of Poker and Pawn Stars.
I think it’s a great place to vacation if you go in knowing it will be different.
SLV: It must have been time-consuming getting from point A to point B. I know you rented a car. What do you think about renting a car in Vegas vs. public transportation?
JW: Renting a car is a great idea unless you’re only staying for a weekend of debauchery. Any more than casino hopping on the South end of the strip would best be served with an automobile. If you add up all the inconvenience of the monorail and the high costs of cabs and include the missed opportunities to visit the locations above, it’s well worth the time and money to get a car.
I have some tips over at the site for getting the best use of your car and some hints for getting around.
SLV: I know you usually stay close to the Strip. But for this trip, you stretched your Vegas legs and went further out than usual. What was that like, and what was your favorite non-Strip excursion?
JW: We stayed at the Hilton Grand Vacations just behind the Sahara. It was a great alternative with the baby. The hotel had its own swimming pool, outdoor bar, grocery store with cold sandwiches and it was only 30 yards from the Hilton Las Vegas. Though we had a car, the monorail station at the Hilton would have been incredibly handy.
The problem with the North end of the strip, as commented in your most recent post, is its relative “deadness” compared to its brethren to the South. My take on the issue with this end of the Strip is the distance between hotels. It’s a long walk with not much to look at between. Even though it takes forever to walk from the Bellagio, past Caesars to the Mirage, there are ton of people, things and shenanigans to keep you interested. North of Encore, it’s pretty sleepy til you get to the Sahara.
I think you nailed it about the Sahara’s secret to longevity. I consider myself a pretty decent poker player. I get pot and implied odds, I play tight aggressive, etc – and I always play at the Sahara. There are some very nice poker rooms all over the Strip – but the 2/4 Limit HE at Sahara is always full of very nice tourists acting as calling-station ATMs. The strong drinks, $1 blackjack and $3 roulette keep the place full.
SLV: It was pretty danged hot when you were in Vegas. What were some of the ways you beat the heat?
JW: Because of our son, we took LOTS of naps. One piece of advice for folks taking their family traveling from the East Coast is to never bother getting off of Eastern Standard Time. We did more before 9am (and before it was 300 degrees) than most people do all day. All of the casinos are open, no one is getting in your way (or grabbing your baby’s cheeks) and there are virtually no lines.
The weather while we were there stayed around 104 most of the time, with 0% humidity. Living in South Carolina, I thought 104 with no humidity was a cool day. We walked around for hours and never worked up a sweat. We always had tons of extra water to keep us all cool throughout the day.
Thanks John... I'm sure you're already looking forward to your next trip to Vegas.
Viva,
Mike
My friend and fellow blogger John Wilson just returned from Las Vegas with his wife and five month old baby. John’s been to Vegas before, and like me he’s quite the Vegas nut, but this was a little different because it was his first trip with his baby. I sat down with him and asked him about his vacation.
SLV: So, John, you just returned from Vegas with your family. Your posts on whereisjohnwilson.com
JW: About $1,000 not put into a slot machine. In all seriousness, going to Las Vegas with my wife and our new baby was a great deal of fun. It’s a completely different experience, however, than many of your readers may be used to. I spent almost zero time gaming and tons more time resting, sightseeing and taking pictures.
Some highlights of our trip include going to Hoover Dam, Red Rock Canyon and some sights from TV shows such as The Ultimate Fighter, the World Series of Poker and Pawn Stars.
I think it’s a great place to vacation if you go in knowing it will be different.
SLV: It must have been time-consuming getting from point A to point B. I know you rented a car. What do you think about renting a car in Vegas vs. public transportation?
JW: Renting a car is a great idea unless you’re only staying for a weekend of debauchery. Any more than casino hopping on the South end of the strip would best be served with an automobile. If you add up all the inconvenience of the monorail and the high costs of cabs and include the missed opportunities to visit the locations above, it’s well worth the time and money to get a car.
I have some tips over at the site for getting the best use of your car and some hints for getting around.
SLV: I know you usually stay close to the Strip. But for this trip, you stretched your Vegas legs and went further out than usual. What was that like, and what was your favorite non-Strip excursion?
JW: We stayed at the Hilton Grand Vacations just behind the Sahara. It was a great alternative with the baby. The hotel had its own swimming pool, outdoor bar, grocery store with cold sandwiches and it was only 30 yards from the Hilton Las Vegas. Though we had a car, the monorail station at the Hilton would have been incredibly handy.
The problem with the North end of the strip, as commented in your most recent post, is its relative “deadness” compared to its brethren to the South. My take on the issue with this end of the Strip is the distance between hotels. It’s a long walk with not much to look at between. Even though it takes forever to walk from the Bellagio, past Caesars to the Mirage, there are ton of people, things and shenanigans to keep you interested. North of Encore, it’s pretty sleepy til you get to the Sahara.
I think you nailed it about the Sahara’s secret to longevity. I consider myself a pretty decent poker player. I get pot and implied odds, I play tight aggressive, etc – and I always play at the Sahara. There are some very nice poker rooms all over the Strip – but the 2/4 Limit HE at Sahara is always full of very nice tourists acting as calling-station ATMs. The strong drinks, $1 blackjack and $3 roulette keep the place full.
SLV: It was pretty danged hot when you were in Vegas. What were some of the ways you beat the heat?
JW: Because of our son, we took LOTS of naps. One piece of advice for folks taking their family traveling from the East Coast is to never bother getting off of Eastern Standard Time. We did more before 9am (and before it was 300 degrees) than most people do all day. All of the casinos are open, no one is getting in your way (or grabbing your baby’s cheeks) and there are virtually no lines.
The weather while we were there stayed around 104 most of the time, with 0% humidity. Living in South Carolina, I thought 104 with no humidity was a cool day. We walked around for hours and never worked up a sweat. We always had tons of extra water to keep us all cool throughout the day.
Thanks John... I'm sure you're already looking forward to your next trip to Vegas.
Viva,
Mike
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