A recent visit to Las Vegas was a pleasurable tour of some dynamic hotels, delectable treats, profitable gaming experiences, and rewarding comps that saved on hard-earned cash. Instead of detailing a “trip report”, I’ll cut to the chase about four super resorts.
Our trip started at the Imperial Palace where after only four hours of play in the 75,000 square foot casino, we’d earned enough points to get a twenty dollar voucher for dinner at the Impy’s 24-hour Teahouse Coffee Shop. Like any Vegas all-night eatery, the best deals are between 11pm and 5am and I found that the $2.99 Prime Rib Sandwich with fries was as tender as any I’d paid $12.99 for during dinner hour back home. The Impy’s Pizza Palace had tasty, generous portions of pasta at reasonable prices and the Emperor’s Buffet is still one of the best on the strip at a lower price than you’ll find at the volcanic enterprise across the street. For entertainment, the “Legends In Concert” show is a must-see. It features different impersonators every night from the hilarious Blues Brothers to an unparalleled Garth Brooks and topped off in true Las Vegas style with, who else, Elvis Presley. Discount tickets to the show are available in the Impy’s own free book of coupons as well as tickets to the world famous auto collection, another Las Vegas must-see. Imperial’s dealers are friendly, the tables are plentiful, the cocktail waitresses are gorgeous and the casino hosts go out of their way to be generous with comps should you take the initiative to ask for them.
Next door, Harrahs is one of the most electrifying casinos to play in, or for that matter, to walk through. The minute I walked in from the recently redecorated exterior and heard the brassy, pounding rhythm of a high energy band that did Michael Jackson one minute and a Bourbon Street beat the next, I knew this was the place for thrilling casino action. The sound of the band carries into the casino, charging gamblers with excitement and blending with the clanging slots and screaming patrons. Blackjack tables are plentiful, though most are at the ten dollar level, craps tables are crowded but exciting, and the dealers are a fun-loving bunch of good sports. If it’s slot machines you desire, Harrah’s 80,000 square foot casino has as many as you’d care to play, and from what we witnessed you don’t need a jackhammer to get a payout. Harrah’s Gold Card is the only player’s card accruing points through a nationwide computer system which makes the comps a very attractive deal for regular gamers. An evening at the IMPROV at Harrah’s is the perfect antidote after a long day of walking and gambling, but get your $20 tickets early as they frequently sell-out. If variety is your cup of tea, then Harrah’s Market Square Buffet is just the ticket with variety from around the world and the price makes it an unbelievable value.
At 8:00 pm sharp we stood across the street outside the Mirage to witness once again the fabulous volcanic eruption, but after five minutes of spewing fire and some unspectacular explosions, the eruption petered-out, the waterfall gushed forth and the menacing snakelike fingers of hot lava that normally extend beneath the water to wide-eyed visitors never materialized. Was this a mini-version of Steve Wynn’s South Pacific terror or did he forget to pay the gas bill? Either way, the thrill of seeing even this mini version was eclipsed by the fervor of being in exciting Las Vegas on a warm January evening. The sister property next door, Treasure Island, has a warm, friendly atmosphere that makes you want to kick your shoes off, order a drink, and sit down with the friendly blackjack dealers for several hours. The $32 million pirate battle that ensues every ninety minutes outside of this island treasure isn’t the only draw for tourists. As you cross the drawbridge and enter Treasure Island’s lively casino, a fragrant, coconut aroma punctuates the air. Surrounded by a rich island motif, the 52,000 square foot casino entices gamblers with its pleasurable surroundings. The Treasure Island gaming area is spread out but not in a confusing way like some of the other strip hotels, with plenty of tables and slots to choose from. There is a feeling of opulence here, but not overstated, which gives it the same comfortable spirit as another elegant hotel up the street, the Monte Carlo.
It’s a taxi ride a little off the beaten path, but STAR TREK, THE EXPERIENCE, at the Las Vegas Hilton is well worth the $14.95 ticket price. There is a very interesting “time line” which follows the course of space history from early days of the Wright Brother’s flight to the Saturn rockets to the Apollo program and then we warp speed into our future with the Enterprise and on into the 24th century. As we get caught up in the history lesson on this walking tour and examine the many uniforms and ray guns on display, we forget where reality leaves off and science fiction takes over. Then we are whisked into an elevator where something goes terribly wrong. After a frightening blackout we learn that we are in some kind of time-space continuum, have been hijacked by the Klingons who are searching for the Star Fleet commander (they are sure one of us is a relative) and then beamed aboard the U.S.S. Enterprise where StarFleet “officers” try to shuttle us back to Las Vegas in a bumpy, exciting, and exhilarating journey aboard a shuttlecraft. With great acting by the crew and some pretty eerie special effects, our experience was well worth the price. At the end of the journey we visited Quark’s Bar where everything is anything but earthly, including a bubbly drink called Warp Core Breach ($19) which is advertised for two, but five of us couldn’t finish it....and still walk out on our own two feet! All the slot machines in the nearby gaming area are colorful and futuristic. You won’t find one arm bandits here--a simple wave of the hand is all that is needed to generate the spinning wheels (after the transfusion of your money, of course). If it’s earthly pleasures you desire, the Las Vegas Hilton has a 100,000 square foot gaming area in addition to this Star Trek themed corner.
Whatever your gaming and hospitality needs, LAS VEGAS has it all, from the older establishments to the newest, glitziest resorts. All of the hotels have player’s cards that can be utilized to save you money if you religiously use them, many have so-called “fun books” with coupons to get you started with an even break, and all have a wide range of restaurants to please any palate and pocketbook. Make the most of your Las Vegas vacation by reading, studying, observing, and utilizing the many discounts available. You’ve already made a smart decision in the right direction by surfing through Woody’s Vegas Page where our desire is to educate you so you’ll become a frequent ... Vegas Visitor
