SEMI LIVE REVIEW- Millenium 21st Feb

[anniedave]

We were in the 8.30 group and it all went smoothly - we were ashore and through passport control with our cases within about 30 minutes. We ordered an Uber and headed to our hotel
Best Western Plus Miami Airport North Hotel & Suites .
I had already emailed prior to the trip to  check they had somewhere secure we could leave our cases whilst we explored South beach . We dropped off our cases, checked in, ordered another uber and headed to South Beach to Ocean Drive to enjoy looking at and taking pics of the art deco buildings & Versace Mansion

[anniedave]

[anniedave]

[anniedave]

[Kristal Blade]

Love the gorgeous blue sky with the Art Deco buildings. A great set of photos.

Looking forward to the rest of your trip!

[anniedave]

No bar for us last night.. we had the takeout leftovers from lunch , some chips and Coke we had with us and watched TV and had an early night.
This morning I was up at 5.30- I enjoyed my first soak  in a bath for 2 weeks ( love Aqua but miss a bath). Then reorganised the cases/ hand luggage and headed to the airport for our 10am flight. The original plan was to leave 1 case in the  luggage storage at Miami airport but it was in a different terminal to our flight and there was conflicting info as to whether it opened at 5am or 8am. Eventually got confirmation  it opened at 5 but by that time we decided to take both cases. It did however mean that we had only checked in 1 case during online check in so we tried to check in the other case. We then discovered that despite our travel scales showing they were okay both cases were over . For those of you who have been following along and have a good memory - you may have remembered on the way from the UK we took an extra case full of goodies for my cousin plus my toiletries. Anyway long story short rather than spending ages  trying to redistribute into already full carry ons we decided to use my empty beach bag as my Carry on and use my Carry on bag as hold luggage and fill with the heavy stuff!!
So eventually $100 later ( $30 dollars first bag each , $40 for my second one) and after juggling items  we were checked in. Just security now. 

Daves hand luggage bag got searched because of his electric cigarette lighter . It was the last present he got from his sadly departed best friend and it went through hand luggage fine UK to US. Had no idea it was different to a zippy &  couldn't  travel in the hand luggage.  We asked if it could be held until we returned but got told all we could do would be for him to go back out - ask if it could go into his hold luggage - may be too late anyway - then have to come back through security again . He decided against it and the lighter is now lost ...although his best mate had a great sense of humour and we said he would be laughing about Dave getting stopped because of the lighter. 

By this time it was 8am, I had been up since   5.30 and hasn't even had a coffee!! We sat in and had breakfast- can't remember the name of the chain & breakfast wasn't great ( think we have too used to celebrity) !! Then headed to the gate.  There was an announcement that the plane was 100% full, they wanted people to agree to their handluggage going in the hold ( Dave volunteered) and to grab some takeout as it was a 5 & half hour flight with no food available . We got some sandwiches & drinks ( didn't realise there would be free soft drinks on the flight)  used the restroom & it was time to board. Dave paid $9 for onboard WiFi for the duration if the flight but it didn't work great- he said it wasn't worth the fuss! 

So to summarise- had to reorganise the bags at the airport, pay extra baggage, lost Daves lighter , breakfast wasn't great , it was a crowded & uncomfortable flight and the WiFi didn't work...  things could only get better for the last part of our holiday !! 🤣🤣.
 

Edited March 5, 2022 by anniedave

[anniedave]

Flight arrived on time and after baggage ( never done sn internal flight before ...found it strange not to go through security)  we avoided temptation of all the slots inside the airport &  headed outside to get a cab. A really easy process & we were soon at the Venetian ready to check in .....the problem was it was a Friday ... so there were also lots of others waiting !!!. We weren't due to check in for an hour but thought we would try . 

You can check in online & use your phone as your room key ...the problem is it will only give a key pass for the person who has a booking in their name & we knew at some point I'm going to want to go to bed and Dave will want to go play the tables! He was also quite keen to get a smoking room ... I smoke occasionally  ...we don't smoke indoors at home but we are on holiday so  I don't mind. 
Anyway the upshot was we were offered an upgrade $150 a night for a room with an outdoor patio smoking area or  upgrade $50 a night for a smoking room - it had a view ( I knew the room we had booked didn't) and was ready straight away . So we went for that one and checked in. 

After of course getting lost we eventually found our room & it is amazing.  A large room with great views of the strip . It has 3 
TVs and Dave declared he was quite happy to stay in the room for our 6 days 🤣🤣.
 

[anniedave]

We relaxed and unpacked and decided that we would just stay in the hotel for the evening . Go for a wander & get something to eat. I had done my research and looked for restaurants that didn't do too much fish .... there was a family style Itslian  pizza restaurant - Grimaldis that looked fun and had good reviews so we went to find that. 

Had a lovely wander round the hotel- as I said 15 years since we last visited and the hotel was even better than I remembered it . It had definately expanded since we last came. We found Grimaldis - did hurt a bit to pay $13 for the while Sangria - the drink I had been drinking on the ship - and not be able to use the magic Sea pass 🤣. We split a pizza & salad - both were really good & we had the rest of pizza as takeout . I loved the  wine bottle lights! We wandered for a bit then realised as we had gained 3 hrs - although it was only 9pm ...our body clocks were telling us it was 12am and we had been up for 19 hours... we got lost looking for our room & headed to bed . 

As I said I am okay with the smoking room as both of us smoke tobacco. However the problem is its on the smoking floor - all the rooms are smoking ...and weed is legal in Vegas so there is a strong smell of it as you walk out of the room and  it feels like you are getting high just walking down the corridor  to the lift !!!I 🤣 

[anniedave]

Woke up early this morning and decided we needed to get some drinks & snacks for the room ....$13 for a bottle of water from the mini bar ! $24   for some chocolate! We  had another look round the hotel & grabbed a coffee, went outside into the daylight!!  and found a local wallmart to buy Coke,water & snacks then came back to the room and had a Coke & the cold pizza from the previous evening 🙂. 

 

Then as my sore foot had been  really hurting since we arrived and I wanted to be able to get round okay we decided to get a cab to the local mall outlet to find some trainers                ( sneakers )...we got a cab outside the hotel  and spent an hour or so shopping and then ordered an uber back to the hotel. 

[anniedave]

[anniedave]

Loved this shop that is made to look like a cake shop but everything is for the bath etc ...😁

Weather was quite dull & windy today but it didn't matter because apart from the evening we were inside ! 

[anniedave]

On the recommendation of a friend we have a guided tour of the neon museum this evening and then plan on heading to Freemont street .

So after a nap we got a taxi to the Neon museum it was a fun & informative hour learning not only about all the old signs but also some if the history of the hotels . The old sign for the Sahara hotel that we stayed in 15 yesrs ago that has now been demolished ( but then rebuild) was at the museum- which we found interesting . Def recommend it if you want something different to do in Vegas. 

[anniedave]

We then got an Uber to Freemont Street - we hadn't realised part if it was closed for a festival - but still enjoyed the light show and a frozen Margarita from one of the street bars is a must !! People were  zip lining over our heads which was interesting . We tried to find somewhere to eat and ended up in the golden nugget booking a table at the steak house - 90 min wait so we headed off to play some slots and Dave found an old racing game he liked.
We had dinner and I ordered the Country style steak which I had never had before ....it was interesting!   After dinner we decided the time difference had caught up on us ...it was 11.00pm - so got an Uber back to the hotel. 
 

[anniedave]

Yesterday we decided to explore &  visit a couple of places we hasn't been to before as well as one of my favourite things. 
One of the things on my to do list was to visit a place in the venetian that did cake shakes . I had seen a picture and they looked delicious ... especially with my sweet tooth. The plan was to get there for when it opened at 11.30 have a cake shake , then get lunch later elsewhere on the strip. However....as usual we got lost and by the time we had found Black Tap ...and got on the wait list for a table and got in , it was nearly 1pm. So we decided we might as well have lunch... Great burgers , giant onion rings and an enormous cake shake meant I had the cake as takeout. 

 

 

After that we headed to the Flamingo to see ....you guessed it.... the koi carp...and the ducks and the turtles and pelican ...oh yes and the flamingos 😀. It was quite a menagerie....we also did some peesent shopping for the kids and grandkids ...usual tacky holiday gifts ...keyrings...magnets...t shirts etc...they expect nothing less!! . Then we headed to the Bellagio - 2 reasons...they had a new botanical gardens I wanted to see...plus I love watching the fountains. Unfortunately the botanical gardens were closed...they appeared to be dismantling the Chinese New year display & putting up a new one. I had also forgotten how much I love the glass ceiling flowers in reception at Bellagio. Then we stayed and watched the fountains... twice. 

We then decided it was time to head back to the hotel to get ready to go out. On our way back we stopped to watch 2 amazing young men who are street entertainers ( see video) 

After getting ready we got a taxi to the Luxor to see the Blue Man Group. You aren't allowed to film or photograph  the show but if you get chance you should go. It was an hour and a half of wacky comedy  and entertainment with lots of audience participation - we both really enjoyed it...even Dave who doesn't usually like shows. After the show we went back to the Venetian and spent an hour or so giving the Casino some of our money via the slots!! Then headed to bed.
 

[anniedave]

I definately think my favourite thing in Vegas is the Bellagio fountains 

[anniedave]

Today has been  really lazy day . Dave being a British football fan ( Tottenham Hotspur) was excited to find a channel on the TV with the Premier league games. So today at 12pm.( 8pm UK time) Spurs were on the TV and he could watch . So we got up and picked up some takeaway breakfast from one of the food courts at the hotel ( not impressed ) and then spent the day having some much needed rest ! Watching TV, reading , sleeping . Later on we headed out to the Venetians ice bar. Minus5°. We got 1 basic package which was entry , gloves , coat and one enhanced package which included 2 drinks - then had 1 drink each. There is a VIP package which includes a fur coat, hat to take home as a souvenir & photo. It was great fun with great photo opportunities but it does get cold very quickly! After our ice cocktails in ice glasses we needed a coffee to warm up!

Later we headed to the Grand Bistro for dinner & shared some smaller plates - veg spring rolls & chicken Samosas and a salad and I had another cocktail. Then after dinner we gave another donation to the casino.
Whilst we are loving the Venetian in general
the tables are all quite high stakes for people who just like a little bet and don't want to lose a fortune! so we are sticking to the slots . Off to bed with only 2 more days to go before we head back to Miami - sad to think this time next week I will be back at work !

[FlorenceItaly]

Love Vegas, loving your review.  Thank you!

[anniedave]

Woke up yesterday  morning and decided to start the day with watching parade of gondoliers....however when we arrived at 9.50 it wasn't happening. Maybe someone decided a parade of singing gondoliers wasn't covid safe ? Anyway we grabbed a coffee & muffin and decided that we would get the monorail & visit some of the hotels on the strip.  

We bought 24 hr passes $13 . One of the things we found today was that the monorail stations are really badly sign posted - after eventually finding the one in Hurrahs we went to check out the new Sahara ...built to replace the old Sahara we had stayed at on our first visit to Vegas - very disappointed the new hotel looked like an old tower block. 

After having a quick look round we got back other tube and headed up to the other end of the strip . Got off at the MGM and as we walked though we remembered when the lions used to be there. We walked past new York New York and headed into the Excalibur - shaped like a castle  one of the old themed hotels we hadn't been to last time around. At least this looked like a proper Vegas Hotel! We had a fab drink at Dicks last resort bar in the hotel where they act out rude grumpy staff- quite funny ! . We then headed back to the Venetian for our evening ahead. 
We had a nap ...had done a lot of walking and got ready to go across to the Mirage . First item on the agenda was to watch the volcano show - def worth viewing . Then we watched the Cirque 
Last night I dragged Dave to Mirage to the Cirque du Soleil show ..'Love' based on the songs of the Beatles. It was a big weird  but I enjoyed it ..I had to wake Dave up twice 🤣🤣.... he said he liked the acrobatics and aerial acts but the dancing was boring !!  If you are a Beatles fan def worth a watch ..sorry not allowed to take pics or videos during the show .
After that and a walk round the Mirage we headed back to the Venetian for some late night slots and a Subway sandwich - we both wanted to ear something plain & simple- chicken salad & beef & onion ! Then headed to bed about 1.30am 

[anniedave]

Vegas Post Covid 

So we are nearly at the end of our time in Vegas and whilst we have had a great time & glad we came, I wanted to share our observations as we know others are  thinking about coming back to LasVegas

This is just our views - 
Alot of the fun themed hotels are disappearing & being replaced by bland towerblocks with no  character. 
Alot of the free stuff to do & see in the hotels seems to have disappeared and been replaced with upcharges ie $20 to see the sharks in the aquarium - something that previously would be free to entice people in.  All the stuff that used to have small charges have massively risen $120 for 2 people -  10 minutes on a gondola. 

Post covid most of the cheap all you can eat buffets are closed and have been replaced with individual food & drink prices -  from the high end strip hotels down to the lower. end Freemont street prices are high ! 
$10 - $16 dollars for a glass of wine
$7-$10 for a bottle of beer  
$10 - $15 for 2 coffee's. 
Steak dinner $70+ 
$16  for a frozen Margarita ( & that was freemont street!!) 
Plus 8.25 % tax added to all food & drink bills
Plus most places adding 15-20% service charge to bills 

The low end tables ...table games that used to be $1 minimum bet are now $15 - $25 minimum depending on time of day. And alot of the table games have been replaced by machines so less fun to play.  

Tourist fee is added to nighly room rate- between $10 -$45 a night depending on the hotel
And then on top of that 12.5 % tax. You can still have fun, there are still free things to do...but Vegas is definitely not the place it was !!! 

 

[anniedave]

Today we have...done absolutely nothing !!! Read  slept  watched TV - Dave went out to buy some headphones for the flight tomorrow and get us dome lunch.   We have done most of the packing ( just tomorrow night in Miami before we go home) and checked in for our flight tomorrow. 

For our last night in Vegas we have a special unexpected treat . A rockabilly band called Delta Bombers who are based in Las Vegas who  we like - announced a couple of days ago that they are doing a last minute gig- a fund raiser for Ukraine in a pizza bar in Vegas tonight. We are used to seeing them in the UK at large festival venues with a couple of thousand people so tonight in a small venue will be very different. It won't finish until about 1am and we need to be heading to the airport before 10am.Hence the lazy day and organised packing. Off to get ready now !! 🙂

[sciencegrrl]

Thank you for adding this on to your cruise report!

 

We are heading there next month and am wondering if it may be the last time in a while.  Background: he grew up in Vegas, his family owned a club from the 30s to the 80s (we both worked there underaged in the early 80s).  Vegas is changing mightily, both for the good and bad.

 

[Kristal Blade]

Thanks for this terrific review. We are going to be in Vegas in May, our last visit was about 20 years ago. Good to be pre warned about the prices, we will definitely take more cash now and brace for the credit card bill when we are home.

Are you having to do a pre flight Covid test? Has that been easy to arrange?

Safe travels,
Libby

[anniedave]

On 3/10/2022 at 4:15 AM, sciencegrrl said:

Thank you for adding this on to your cruise report!

 

We are heading there next month and am wondering if it may be the last time in a while.  Background: he grew up in Vegas, his family owned a club from the 30s to the 80s (we both worked there underaged in the early 80s).  Vegas is changing mightily, both for the good and bad.

 

Yes - all the locals we spoke to said how much Vegas had changed in recent years - how much prices had increased - so it sounds like it's not just tourists affected! 

[anniedave]

On 3/10/2022 at 4:35 PM, Kristal Blade said:

Thanks for this terrific review. We are going to be in Vegas in May, our last visit was about 20 years ago. Good to be pre warned about the prices, we will definitely take more cash now and brace for the credit card bill when we are home.

Are you having to do a pre flight Covid test? Has that been easy to arrange?

Safe travels,
Libby

Hi, as we flew from Miami to Vegas you don't have to covid test between US states so no testing was required. At the moment you still have to wear masks on public transport cabs, ubers, monorail etc in Vegas - but you don't have to wear in the casinos / shops.  

[anniedave]

Sorry for delay in finishing up trip report . I am sooooo tired.
After spending the afternoon dozing & packing we had a brilliant night at Evel Pie on Freemont street  watching one of our favourite bands . It was quite amusing as we were the only ones there ( other than a couple of their friends) who had heard of the band and the locals thought it was amusing we wanted to get our picture taken with them. We even  donated some money so that the band did a personal video message to our daughter & her boyfriend who are big fans and were jealous we were seeing them!
If anyone is in Freemont street & wants somewhere casual for a beer & slice of pizza I'd def recommend it . At the end of the night we got an uber back to the Venetian and were planning on spending some time on the slots....but I was so tired we just went straight to bed!.