My son and I (he’s a little over 21) went to Vegas Fri. 1/13 to Mon. 1/16. We live in different cities but flew in on Southwest around the same time and met in the terminal around 10:45am. Neither of us had checked bags so went right to the Hertz bus. Got a convertible Toyota Solera but never put the top down. It’s was pretty cool weather wise.

First stop was In and Out Burger. It was crowded but we got a table where you could hear them call your number. From there we drove up the strip to the Mirage to see if we could check in and sure enough no problem – was still before 1pm. Got a pool view room, 19th floor, and you could also see down the strip. The elevator bank had 6 elevators for 7 floors. Never had to wait long at all. I had booked the room through an e-mail promo and it was somewhere around $95, $199, and $125 (about $145 a night) which didn’t seem too bad for a weekend. The room was in excellent shape.

Got Players Club cards and played slots for a while. The Mirage has been remodeling the casino. New carpet, nice, and it looks like they’re taking the tiki roofs down. Looks like it will still be my favorite place. Excellent drink service, but still in those little glasses. Walked over to Wynn via TI and the bridges. Wynn is very nice and has a great vibe. I didn’t feel like I’m not rich enough to be in there like I do in the Bellagio. Excellent drink service in real drink glasses. Foot rests under the slots, nice touch. Only weird thing was that bright red carpet in the gold and white colored shopping area.

Saw Blue Man in the Venetian. Got balcony seating to save a few bucks. At least we had the first row. None of the seats are bad. Had seen the show at the Luxor a bunch. Overall, I’d say it’s the same quality. Miss the old opening and the drum wall. Still love it though. Ate at Café Luxe afterward. Waited less than 10 minutes. I had chicken picatta and my son had a buffalo chicken sandwich. Very good service and food quality. Went back and played at the Mirage for awhile and then crashed. Oh ya, I put 40 bucks on New England in the sports book. Bye NE and bye $40.

Saturday 1/14

Had breakfast in the Caribe Café. Very good but expensive – was like $38 with tip for two of us. Drove down the strip and parked at NYNY. Went over to Excalibur so my son could play some low limit poker. I heard or read the Excal was supposed to be good for first time casino players. My son played 2/4 Holdem and noticed most of the people around the table were locals that new each other. I bet they make some good money off those tourists like us. Nice way to make some spare change – or a living.

After my son gave the locals a few bucks, really didn’t lose much at all, we went over to the MGM to see the lions. All I saw was a paw. I think the lions were deliberately trying to stay out of view of the tourists… We then drove over to Green Valley Ranch. Had to go there after watching the American Casino show. It looks nicer on TV. All I kept thinking while I was losing money on video poker was “Am I supposed to feel like I’m in a vineyard?”.
Went back to the Mirage. I think they have the nicest parking garage in all of Vegas, seems cleaner and even has music. Ate early dinner at Cravings buffet. No wait. Nice and modern and the food is very good. Only lame thing were the deserts. I can get a cookie anywhere. Mostly ate cold king crab that was good but not as good I can steam it, and prime rib that was perfect. I forget how much dinner was, something like $23 a head.

Went up to the room and watched the rest of the football game. After NE lost and I was done crying like a little baby, we went over to Wynn to play slots and get free booze. I really was about even this time so yes the booze (rum and diet) was free. Then we went to the 10:30 Le Reve show stopping by the bar and picking up a couple of $5 beers on the way in. Cheaper than the beer at Blue Man which was $7. I got us “splash zone” seats online before we went. Had section F row A seats 3 & 4, front rowwww. I swear they were the best seats in the house. But there wasn’t enough blankets… We were just sitting there waiting the show to start watching the Le Reve version of clowns messing with the audience when this human as an aquatic creature pops up out of the water right in front of us. I think we both got airborne, and of course my son was holding his beer at the time. So we both got some on us. Not to worry though, cause we got plenty wet later. It was well worth it. I still laugh just thinking about it.

The show was excellent. People who overly criticize it are full of crap, really. All of the shows in Vegas are overpriced. They all should be a third less expensive to see. All of the 10:30 seats for Le Reve are $90. There was always a lot going on in the show. I almost got dizzy from trying to watch lesbian scenes in the water and three chicks in skin tight costumes doing acrobatics on a hanging chrome monkey bar globe at the same time. And I’m not kidding, we seemed to have all kinds of characters splashing around right in front of us. Sure got wet. I’ll make sure I get my hands on a blanket next time. Overall the costuming and acrobatics were more low key than the Cirque shows, but this one is more sensual and worth the Vegas rates.

Sunday 1/14

After the Le Reve show, it was now Sunday. Went back to the Mirage, played and drank for a at least couple of hours then made it back to the room and crashed. Got up feeling good considering all the drinking the day before. Ummm, not bad. Ready to go again. Went to Bellagio thinking the buffet wouldn’t be too crowded. Wrong. Went though some cool Chinese exhibit in the atrium, or whatever you call them plant places, and then walked through the new spa tower area to get to the tram to Monte Carlo. Thought we’d check out the brew bub. Wrong again as I was thinking “It’s football playoffs you idiot.” Wound up at the MC buffet, no wait, relatively cheap, especially since we spent the next two hours drinking the champagne that cam with it. We ate some pretty good food too. Had breakfast and then some king crab, they brought out after they had some other lame looking crab, and prime rib again. At one point the server got tired of bringing us rounds, so she brought out the bottle and refills these emptys we had lined up.

Played some slots at the MC then cashed out the One Club card for 9 bucks. Then we crossed the strip and walked back to the Mirage going through: Aladdin part of casino walled off for conversion, Paris still has a nice vibe, Ballys has video roulette just when you come out of the walkway from Paris - weird game with two attendants that kept ringing these little bells, Barbary Coast and Flamingo same as last time, O’Sheas smelled nasty, IP I had seen a casino map online where they have a lounge called Mai Tai so I just had to go and get one. I should have known my expectations might be a little too high knowing where I was. Got two Mai Tais in plastic cups for 7 bucks – 2 for 1 happy hour. And now I know if I ever happen to taste rocket fuel some time, I’m going to be thinking “Man! That tastes just like a Mai Tai from the IP.” Watched the time share con artists at the booth by the bar try to scam various people, but wasn’t bothered by any of those goons the whole trip.

Went through Carnival Court - was pretty empty because it was really windy, went through Harrah’s watching the end of one of the football games, then played a little in Casino Royale before going back to the Mirage. Decided to go check out the Palms. The fire alarm went off. It was false but they couldn’t turn the thing off for at least half an hour. The casinos seem like it’s getting wore out. At least I got 30 bucks out of their VP. Went up Ghostbar, 20 of that 30 bucks now gone. It’s still a great place and well taken care of, not to mention the totally awesome view. The dude working the bathroom is really annoying. I stiffed him the first time, but did leave him a buck the second time. He had now handed me paper towels twice. A buck for about 10 seconds of work – not bad. Went back down the elevator, back to the Mirage and ate at California Pizza Kitchen – just like the rest of them.

Monday 1/16

Got the SW boarding passes printed by Guest Services, played, cashed out the Players Club card, $17 cash, $50 to hotel. Checked out of hotel, then went to eat at the buffet. Caught the end of breakfast and start of lunch. Ate like a hog this trip. Stopped by the Hard Rock on the way to the airport. Small casino put kind of like being in a rock and roll museum.

Overall great trip, I’ve always liked the Mirage and it’s still fine with the updates, Wynn is a great place, Blue Man and Le Reve are really good shows, gambling - lost a couple hundred but got most back with the cash, hotel, and booze (especially the booze) comps, and time in Vegas with son - priceless.