Introduction
I have been to Las Vegas many times since about 1989, mostly with my wife, but several times solo. We decided just before Thanksgiving to spend Christmas in Las Vegas for several reasons, mainly because it was the only time we both had off from work, and there was a great deal available from Allegiant Air for the dates we had could go. So we made plans to see and celebrate with family before and after the trip, and off we went, Thursday, Dec. 22, to Monday, Dec. 26.

Flight
Allegiant Air had a package deal on this fall, and we reserved airfare and four nights at the Four Queens for $205 each before fees and taxes. Airfare alone was $198 for the same dates, so the cost of the hotel in effect was $14 for four nights. We paid $10 each to preselect seats, and with the fees and taxes added in, airfare and hotel for two people for four nights was $490 total. We flew out of Cedar Rapids, IA, nonstop of course. We left CR on time, and arrived just after 9 PM local time, slightly early. The flight back on Monday, Dec. 26. was delayed about 45 minutes due to high wind that day, and we arrived back in CR at 7:30 PM, about a half hour late. Otherwise, the flights were fine. No frills, but adequate legroom, and nice leather seats.

Rental Car
Rented a mid size using Blue Chip at Thrifty. About $122 for the four days. I’ve seen it cheaper, but the holiday may have affected the price. In the mid size row were PT Cruisers, Jeeps, and several models of four door sedans. We took a Chrysler Sebring, nearly new with only 900 miles on it, and thought it was a nicer ride than the Dodge Stratus they usually give us. Our paperwork was ready, and we were out of the lot in 5 minutes. Returning the car was just as quick and easy, with the correct charge applied.

Hotel
We have been staying at Fitzgeralds for the last 10 or 12 trips with no complaints, but Allegiant doesn’t offer Fitzgeralds as an option on their package deals. We had stayed at the Four Queens once before, so we knew it would be okay. I tried the $20 trick at check in (it had worked on our previous stay last year, getting us a petite suite for no charge), but the gentleman checking us in said he couldn’t upgrade us no charge because the hotel was nowhere near full. He offered us a remodeled petite suite on the 17th floor facing the strip for $35 a night, and I took it since we were essentially staying at the hotel for free. The room was very nice, with a refrigerator, safe, large sitting area, dining table, and a larger bathroom with two sinks. I went back and tipped the check in clerk $10 since we were very happy with the room. The room was very quiet, and the AC/heater was efficient and could hardly be heard. Great view of the strip to the south, but with all the condo’s going up, it will soon be limited. Valet parking at the hotel was always fast, and service in general was very good.

Dining
Nothing very fancy this trip. We did use POV coupons at several places.
- Main Street Buffet for breakfast, used 2-4-1. Good service, thought the food was so-so. Long line for made to order items, so stuck to the regular buffet items.
- Fremont Buffet for dinner, again used 2-4-1, with good service. The roast beef was very fatty and inedible. Chicken and other dishes okay.
- Terribles Buffet for lunch, 2-4-1 again. Service matched the name “terrible”. But the food was surprisingly good. Great roast beef carved to order. They were also carving turkey, which the wife said was very good. Nice selection of fresh fruit and vegetables. Dessert was also good. Waitress took our drink order, then kept walking by our table telling us she hadn’t forgotten us and would be right back with our drinks. Didn’t get them until we were almost done eating. They were very busy, and didn’t appear to have enough help. Too bad, as the food was very good.
- Fitzgeralds Buffet for breakfast. Very good food, so-so service (you get your own drinks). Made to order eggs, omelets, and pancakes. I think this buffet is unfairly criticized, and sometimes wonder if some of the people giving it bad reviews actually ate here, or are just repeating folklore. It is an inexpensive buffet, but usually has good food, but a limited selection when compared with the buffet at Aladdin, for example.
- Golden Gate Diner, breakfast. Usually our first meal after an evening arrival is at the Vegas Club, the late night special steak and eggs. The night we went there, the cafe was closed, with a sign on the door saying they were “deep cleaning” (??!!). So we went across the street to the Golden Gate, and were very disappointed. The eggs, potatoes, and steak were so greasy they were hardly edible.
- California, $6.99 prime rib dinner in the cafe. Still a good value. Salad bar, potato, string beans, prime rib, and cherries jubilee for dessert. All good.
- Binions Coffee Shop, breakfast. Wife was not hungry, and I had a coupon for a free breakfast, so I went solo. Large ham steak, eggs, potatoes, and toast all good.
- Four Queens, Chicago Brewing Company, pizza. Picked up an all meat pizza to take up to the room one night. Burned and mostly inedible. Won’t go back.
- Ellis Island, steak special using POV 2-4-1. Best deal in Las Vegas. Great steak, good soup (salad available), potatoes, and string beans. With two ice teas, using our coupon the bill was $6.49!! Incredible!
The rest of the time we ate fast food, nothing special.

Gaming
Didn’t get rich, but we both had streaks where we won some money, my wife more than me. We play a lot of penny slots. I play some video poker and black jack. One winning session of BJ, one losing session. We played Pai Gow Poker for the first time, and had fun. Started with a $5 table to ourselves at Fitzgeralds, but the table filled up after a while, and the game was just too slow, so we moved on. On Christmas morning, my wife won $280 on a penny slot at Main Street Station, then $150 on another machine at Binions. She also had several smaller wins that day. I had some wins here and there, nothing big, but brought home some money, so I consider the trip a gaming success. I put $20 on the Chicago Bears Sunday, they won but didn’t cover the spread, so I pushed. Kind of fun sitting in the sports book at the Freemont watching the game though.

Christmas in Vegas
It’s kind of strange sitting at a slot machine, listening to Christmas carols in the background. Didn’t see much in the way of decorations, with the exception of the big tree on Fremont Street, an occasional wreath, and of course the conservatory at Bellagio. Not much in the way of crowds until Sunday night, Christmas Day. I worked shifts for many years, and worked a lot of Christmas Day’s, so I felt sorry for all the people who had to work in the hotels, restaurants, and casino’s so we could have a vacation. I tipped generously that day to ease my conscience.

All in all, a good trip, and everything being equal, we would consider returning next Christmas!

Posted by p_jay2001 on LVTALK