Please ADD your own Las Vegas Trip Report. Date of Trip: February 06, 2008 to February 11, 2008 Hotel Stayed At: Bellagio (Relocated due to Monte Carlo Fire) Report by: K E <> From: Madison, WI

Closure of Monte Carlo and Bad Midwest Weather didn't stop this trip!!

Day Before:
We monitored a bad approaching storm and noted our flight from O'Hare was canceled already for the next day. We called the Airline (AA) and got an evening flight to Dallas the night before (instead of our scheduled non-stop the next day) driving crazy through all precip types until 30 min out of O'Hare. The ticket counter lady was very nice in even talking about which evening flight out would have the least odds of getting canceled. She wouldn't suggest which one to choose, however. We felt like we were gambling already. The flight was delayed until after 11 p.m. and we saw all the cots being placed out on the concourses in anticpation for all the people who were going to be trapped at O'Hare. We went to 3 different bars as the closing times are staggard. Got out and arrived in Dallas after 2 a.m. It did not make sense to get a hotel as we were scheduled on the first flight out at 7 a.m. Went outside to smoke knowing we couldn't get back through security until 4:30 a.m. Found only hard plastic chairs and tile floor pre-security.

Day 1 and Beyond:
Arrived only a few minutes late just after 8 a.m. We were scheduled to stay at Monte Carlo in a Monocao Suite with 3 nights comped on the front end. The Casino Host relocated us to Bellagio due to Monte Carlo still being closed. Not sure if our gambling activity has really lowered or if comps are getting tighter. We are finding it harder to get 5 nights comped in a Monaco Suite. Our host says its due to the upgrade of the Monaco Suites. Anyway, the usual limo was going to be $80 for an airport pickup. I had called Presidential Limo and booked their Internet special over $110 including complimentary champagne and roses. The driver was extremely wonderful (even nicer than the casino contracted drivers) and our bags also were the first off the carousel--things were starting to look better!! After staying up all night, we were still offered the champagne. We drank it...why not. We were glad to be here and even way earlier than our scheduled morning arrival. We later found out there were 2000 people stranded on the same Interstate we drove on down to O'Hare on our scheduled travel day.

Day 1:
There was a special line at the Bellagio front desk for Monte Carlo Invited Guest. They offered us a room right away at 8:30 a.m.!! Only some slowness due to calling back and forth to verify rooms (we're not "married" and there were two separate reservations for us--we had our casino host link our cards when we were there on this trip...something we should have done along time ago...save time on figuring out comps at the end of the trip and when making reservations). They offered us a room that I would describe as something between a standard room and a suite. It was a room on the end of the hallway with views out 2 different directions and a separate whirlpool tub in the bathroom. We ended up walking back down after almost making it to the first room. It was at the far end of the Spa Tower--way too far a walk to the casino. They immediately gave us the same type of room in the original tower. Much more convenient.

While slightly smaller than a Monaco Suite at Monte Carlo, it was certainly very satisfactory. We had a fountain view from the front window and with the slant of the building, we could see the fountain while sitting in the Whirlpool Tub in the bathroom (and listening to the music at the same time...imagine the romantic potential of this setup!!)

We gambled for a couple hours and then a couple hours. Then we were back into a normal Vegas schedule.

While normally we spend the majority of time only venturing out moderately from the Monte Carlo, we went all over this trip. While nice, the Bellagio didn't feel like home.

Highlights Here and There:

Planet Hollywood--Definitely a better atmosphere now that all traces of the Aladin are gone. Interesting blackjack pit (Passion Pit?)--women take turns standing on tables wearing provacative clothing and dancing to loud music. This is a place if we ever really got frustrated with Monte Carlo/MGM that we might switch our loyalty too.

Bellagio Spa--Very nice. Much bigger spa and workout facilities than Bellagio.

Bellagio Cafe--OK breakfast. Prefer more "basic" selections and reasonably priced. Nice setting looking out over the gardens--complete with birds walking around us (and doing their business on the floor).

Fashion Show Mall--The "2nd" Macy's had a great store closing sale...made out like a bandit. (We rented a car from Dollar at MGM for a day).

Laughed so hard watching the show on the runway!! You have to see this sometime.

Outlet Mall--Good shopping there.

Caesar's Forum Shops--Bought new polo shirt at Brook's Brothers...had probably too much to drink before and during lunch at Cheesecake Factory and spilled on myself!!

Mirage--Spent hours playing slots..and then more hours watching college basketball.

Price is Right at Bally's--Trash and fun as expected. We always ordered double shots, bartender warned me my round would be like $40. Went for the single during the show.

Finally ended up with Harrah's players cards as one of us won points as an audience prize. We spend sometime at Paris/Bally's/Harrah's--not a lot though.


Hooters--Best value for a meal. Casino wasn't anything too special.

Luxor/Mandalay Bay--Lots of slot play.

Trip back was wonderful....we requested same limo driver. She gave us each a nice hug at the airport.

This was a really strange trip. Not one session of blackjack!!! Casino Host noted how many different places we ended up gambling. We are back at Monte Carlo in June--interesting 5 nights comped in a Monaco Suite.

We received an apology letter from Monte Carlo for the inconvenience and 2 complimentary nights and $500 in free play. I forgot to mention this when booking. We'll see how I do in talking them into the free play on top of all 5 nights in the suite. We are curios to experience Diablos as we missed the opening by only a week on our previous trips and obviously couldn't go there on this trip. We are also waiting our front row Lance Burton tickets on our next trip--something else we missed.
K E <> - Madison, WI    4191

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