Dreaming of a USA road trip post COVID

[HardSell]

We always stay at Flamingos in a Go room with a view, just a short walk around the corner to Ellis Island casino, best cheapest food in Vegas but then again I am cheap

I'm cheap too. Fancy and frills at big prices I find 95% of the time are lipstick on a pig, then I kick myself for being fooled. Regardless, discovering those 5%ers with value provide life time memories. Prior to the Trump stay on the same trip, we spent a couple nights at the Silverton Casino for the same inclusive price. At the time, Silverton's resort fees nearly doubled the $40/night rate and the pool was ice cold (February). While our room was just above the pool, we still had to walk 400 feet of hallway and elevator to access it. By contrast, the Trump 58th floor elevator dropped us right at the pool in the hotel provided robe and slippers covering our bathing wear. No casino tour, no long hallway, no trip around the resort, just direct from our room to the immense outdoor 85 degree pool, spa and gym. Then after a couple of pool hours, a pleasant five minute lift returning to our room. Silverton's not bad, nor is it a bargain. We could see our car from our room, but guests were routed requiring a 1/3 mile hike around the resort, through the Casino, lugging bags and valuables up to the floor then another 400 feet of hall to our second floor room on the end of the wing overlooking the pool and our car parked 1/3 mile below. Prices at the excellent, not cheap, Twin Peaks Steak House (2018) had doubled since our 2011 visit. We found alternatives. The Flamingo where you stayed is a great place. Timing can get you a great rate there. Avoid down town unless panhandlers and parking meters are your idea of entertainment. Have visited Vegas 21 times since 1960 when its population was just under 100,000. They paid slots in silver dollars then. Believe me, there's no sound like 20 or 30 Morgans clanking in those trays while Keely Smith is singing 50 feet away. I just think in the past ten years Vegas for us po' folks has lost its charm...going the same way the country's going.

 

[pagrey]

I don't know if any of you guys are aware but @HardSell is writing a tourist guide for the southwest. The first two chapters are here on this thread, let him know if you like it. It's a whole new angle on tourism highlighting how much stuff sucks now.

 

[bucky]

I used to love down town Vegas but last time I was there it was the new hot spot and the crowds were terrible. I like to sit at the Bar in Binions drink some good bourbon, smoke a good cigar, play video poker and watch the idiots go by. I used to play a lot of blackjack back in the day but the pace of the game has picked up due to the shuffle machines many places use now. They have to pay for all those big casino overheads and make their money faster. You used to be able to find 1-3 deck blackjack now it’s 5 decks and they shuffle with the machine every hand and it’s hard to find even a $5 minimum table at night. The plus side is Vegas has some great world class restaurants now. I find I spend most of my money in these.

 

[Fishtaco]

I'm cheap too. Fancy and frills at big prices I find 95% of the time are lipstick on a pig, then I kick myself for being fooled. Regardless, discovering those 5%ers with value provide life time memories. Prior to the Trump stay on the same trip, we spent a couple nights at the Silverton Casino for the same inclusive price. At the time, Silverton's resort fees nearly doubled the $40/night rate and the pool was ice cold (February). While our room was just above the pool, we still had to walk 400 feet of hallway and elevator to access it. By contrast, the Trump 58th floor elevator dropped us right at the pool in the hotel provided robe and slippers covering our bathing wear. No casino tour, no long hallway, no trip around the resort, just direct from our room to the immense outdoor 85 degree pool, spa and gym. Then after a couple of pool hours, a pleasant five minute lift returning to our room. Silverton's not bad, nor is it a bargain. We could see our car from our room, but guests were routed requiring a 1/3 mile hike around the resort, through the Casino, lugging bags and valuables up to the floor then another 400 feet of hall to our second floor room on the end of the wing overlooking the pool and our car parked 1/3 mile below. Prices at the excellent, not cheap, Twin Peaks Steak House (2018) had doubled since our 2011 visit. We found alternatives. The Flamingo where you stayed is a great place. Timing can get you a great rate there. Avoid down town unless panhandlers and parking meters are your idea of entertainment. Have visited Vegas 21 times since 1960 when its population was just under 100,000. They paid slots in silver dollars then. Believe me, there's no sound like 20 or 30 Morgans clanking in those trays while Keely Smith is singing 50 feet away. I just think in the past ten years Vegas for us po' folks has lost its charm...going the same way the country's going.

First time we went was in 1989 where we spent our time touring the casinos and getting free t-shirts caps playing cards and scrimp cocktails they dont seem to do that anymore but the 3 visits since we still got drinks for a tip while sitting at the machines although others we know who visited from australia said they never once got complimentary drinks? ( probably didn't tip?)
Have not been for 6 years but last visit was also the first time we had to pay resort fees
Next time you go you should visit Ellis Island for chicken and Ribs, you need to get a players card first but the food is fantastic for the price, not exactly the safest looking place to walk to off the strip but well worth it, its where a lot of locals go.

 

[damselNOTindistress]

LA -Vegas-Flagstaff-Albuquerque- las Cruses-Tombstone- Phoenix -Palm Springs -LA and anything in between

Flagstaff is relatively high elevation (7,000') so I'd guess you'd want to consider October. The desert-y places will have cooled off, you'll likely miss snow in Flag, and coastal LA should just be nice.

Depending on what you want to do on your trip, COVID might be a non-factor or it might be a big deal. I've been relatively COVID cautious during this whole deal (local official + teacher trying to help keep our school open) and I've been able to road trip plenty in the last year and a half. That being said, I'm more of a camp out, hike, explore, maybe swing into town and have dinner every few days sort of person.

 

[Sancho]

Dont miss out on the sierra nevadas.

Heck... you can see the world's densest, oldest, and thickest trees a few hours from LA. (Sequoias and bristlecones.)

 

[HardSell]

Next time you go you should visit Ellis Island for chicken and Ribs, you need to get a players card first but the food is fantastic for the price, not exactly the safest looking place to walk to off the strip but well worth it, its where a lot of locals go.

Seems like a good tip, will save your info. I love the rides on top of the Stratosphere. The jump is fun too. The jump staff is very serious and professional. It's about a 40 foot free fall until the cable catches you. The X Scream is a blast; ride in the front seat. When we were there in '18 the whole area between Trump International and the Stratosphere was under construction. Back in '11 the City Center was just beginning. Went broke in '12, then the Chinese bailed it out and finished it. Hence, the Aria. Then T-Mobile comes along and begins the $20 west side parking disease. Wynn has the East side of the strip and parking was still free in '18. I remember when the Dunes, the Sahara, the Sands, the Riviera and Stardust were the tallest buildings on the strip, maybe 10-12 floors. Back then it was about gambling, pools, bar shows and drinks.... all more intimate than today's cacophony.

One of the most fun attractions was the Star Trek Experience at the old Hilton Vegas. circa 2004. It was an all afternoon into early evening affair. The Warp Core Breach was a drink offered in Quark's Bar. A twenty dollar bargain. It was a fish bowl size drink kinda like a strong Long Island Iced Tea. You drank that being served by a Farangi bar tender when Klingons and the Borg show up for a shoot out. The costumes and entire set were the real deal. The longer you stayed, the more you drank the more action occurred. There was no time limit. My wife is not a Treky. When we left, she said it was the best thing she experienced in Vegas. Totally interactive. You were not looking at a stage. You were on the stage.

'89-91, 2002-04, and 2009-12 were down years. If we go again it will need to be in a down cycle which is over due. You get 5 times the value. When the town is hungry, it's friendly and affordable. Strangely, Covid has done little to cool prices.