Signature, Slots, Shows and Starbucks - Day 8 The journey home from Vegas, and our highs and lows

[BONZO]

Tuesday 30th September

Boo Hoo! our last day today. I slept on until Alison woke me up at around 7.30am. (Alison: I’d got up at about 5.45 so that I could sit on the balcony and watch the final Las Vegas sunrise of the holiday, while enjoying a pot of coffee).



We had tea and coffee in room before showering, getting dressed and carrying out some initial packing. Alison rang the reception desk to ask if we could keep the room for a little longer than 11am as out flight home was at 3.25pm. It would have been useful to be able to go straight from the room to the airport – unfortunately we couldn’t as the room was booked straight after us. Ah well - not to worry.

This morning was our only buffet breakfast of the holiday – at Aria. We decided to get a taxi to Aria as an end of holiday treat although it was quite a short journey (but a bit too far to walk in the time we had available). We had a chat and a laugh with the cabbie and made it worth his while with a good tip. We marched over to the Mlife desk armed with the reservation number as requested last night and no they didn’t need it – sheesh!

The buffet was lovely, thanks MyVegas, more dollars saved ($43 in total). There were an awful lot of conventions people here all queuing up for breakfast at this time. We still got seated very quickly though. The food, as expected, was hot and fresh – and lots of it.



The only downside for Alison was that there were no pancakes – she was quite happy with waffles as a substitute though! We waddled out after filling up and headed for the taxi queue – all very efficient as always. Hopped in the cab back to the Signature. We headed up to the room and finished off our packing – it was surprisingly quick and easy (I guess we are used to packing for 4 of us, so it’s quick with only 2!) We said a sad goodbye to our lovely suite and headed downstairs to leave our luggage with Bell Services.

We decided to wander into MGM for a final time to spend a last few dollars in the slots (reading our trip report back it sounds like we bet loads but we didn’t really! We tried to find the cheap machines and spun at a few cents at a time usually!) We actually came out on top again, but not by much – only a few dollars extra. We headed back to the Signature bell services to pick up our luggage at about 12.15 and got a cab to the airport. All very straightforward and quick as we didn't go near the strip.

McCarran airport seems huge but empty, perhaps it’s just the time of year we are here or they’ve future-proofed for potential expansion. We checked in at the desk and went through security which didn’t take any time at all. We went straight to the lounge for some drinks and snacks. There was a full bar service with unlimited free drinks, crisps/pretzels available and lunch was just brought out as we got there. Choice of 2 soups, lots of different rolls/sandwiches, humous and pitta, salad items, cheese, yogurt, fruit etc. Certainly it was nice for a few drinks and a snack but you couldn't have a big meal.



It was really quiet when we first got there - maybe 3 or 4 other couples, but soon after it really filled up with travellers who were glued to their mobiles and having loud conversations.

We had all the noises - chatty woman on a phone speaking to every member of her family, nose blowing man, crisp crunching man - you name it we had it! At least Bob Fleming and his family from our outward bound journey weren't there!

Then a phantom whistler started up too! Oldest DD Alexandra would hate this (she’s quite sensitive to annoying noises – especially eating and drinking noises)! And now we have ‘loud business man’ conducting his business by phone so that everyone can hear - and he has his feet up in the table - lovely manners some people have. He seemed to want to show off by talking about how important he was and how much money his business made – it was really irritating! :angry:Let's hope none of these annoying people are on the plane with us!

As the noise levels were steadily rising we left the lounge and had a look around the duty free shops but didn’t buy anything. We decided to use the restrooms and then head to the gate (which was right opposite the lounge) as boarding was just about to start. There was an announcement asking if a single passenger in Club World would be willing to be bumped off and travel back later that evening flying 1st Class to Heathrow. They made this announcement several times but there were no takers (although we did say that if they would take two people then they could count us in – however they said thanks but no thanks!).

Fairly quiet gate area:




They started boarding fairly promptly so we headed onto the plane to find our seats and who is sitting across the aisle from us, but ‘loud businessman’ from the lounge. And not only that - he has a friend with him across the cabin and they have several conversations over the top of other people's heads. I'm really not that interested in that fact that they are major shareholders in multi million dollar companies, and certainly not impressed with their lack of manners!

We felt sorry for the two women between them as they were talking across the seats – eventually they put the privacy screens up though; that taught him! He may have money but certainly has no class!

My report of flight: copious amounts of drink then time for me to turn in as the lights were dimmed for a long sleep. That was all I remember! So I’ll have to hand over to Alison for what happened on the flight.

Alison’s report: It was a smooth take off only a few minutes late, followed by a nice meal, low fat again for me. 2 drinks rounds first of course, and then nice wine to go with dinner. I had figs to start (I think!), then chicken, rice and vegetables followed by fruit for dessert. Shaun had trio of salmon then ravioli with truffles, followed by cheese and biscuits.














Then the lights were dimmed for those who wanted to sleep. I watched Divergent (IMO the book is much better but I did enjoy the film). Then I slept on and off for the rest of the journey, waking up about 2 hours before landing . I visited the Club World kitchen which was quite well stocked, plenty of choices of wine, soda, juices etc plus a big basket full of treat size chocolates, crisps, nuts and sweets, a bowl of fresh fruit, yogurts, fruit salad. I grabbed a small packet of cookies and some diet coke, while I waited for breakfast.

It was ok - nice yogurt and fruit, plus a not very nice cold roasted vegetables sub. That was the worst meal of both flights for me! I think Shaun had a bacon roll, with croissant etc beforehand. Tea and orange juice to drink:







Back to me now. We landed on time at 9.15am and were quickly off the plain, into the terminal to passport control. We went through the automatic gates (which didn’t work for Alison again)! She always has problems with those!
The luggage came off the belt quickly – good to see the priority tags working well – there are often reports that they don’t so maybe we’ve been lucky on these trips.

We telephoned Cophall Parking who told us to head to bus stop 6 – and the minibus was there waiting for us. Great service again – we were the only ones on the minibus and in no time we were back at the office collecting our keys. We were on the road before 10am – unbelievable from touching down at 9.15am!


Thoughts about the holiday:

Las Vegas was great, a mix of holiday resort and big town (kind of a mix of New York and Orlando). We really enjoyed it and would definitely go back - the journey didn't feel too long really, although I'm not sure if I'd want to go for less than a week. The jet lag wasn’t too bad at all even with an 8 hour time difference.

Highs:

Grand Canyon (including the helicopter)

The Signature (esp the 1 bed suite)

Travelling club world for the first time (hopefully not the last time!)

Bus and monorail were good (also see ‘not so highs’)

Starbucks everywhere! (that one is Alison’s!)

The casinos (specifically the slot machines) – we loved them!

MyVegas rewards – well worth it for no outlay except time. I earned over 500,000 LPs playing the online virtual game in about 6 months.

I exchanged these for 2 dinner buffets at Aria, 2 dinner buffets at Mirage, 2 tickets for Zumanity and 2 for 1 entrees at Wolfgang Puck (although we didn’t use that last one in the end. Alison earned around 400,000 LPs and exchanged for 2 dinner buffets at Luxor, 2 dinner buffets at MGM, 2 breakfast buffets at Aria and a 2 for 1 7 day ticket for the monorail.

Paying cash would have cost us around $550.


Not so highs:

Travelling between hotels on the strip took longer than expected - distances really are a bit deceptive (it was like a mirage in the desert, you kept walking and walking and your destination didn’t get any closer!).

Smoking was a bit intrusive at times -especially if sitting next to someone

Some monorail stations were miles away from the strip - although the MGM station was good for us at the Signature

And that's it - no more holidays booked at the moment either

[LRMD]

Loved your trip report, it makes me even more excited for next week! Now you need to book another trip!

[purple myra]

Great trip report...it's good to see that all those game rewards can actually be used for real treats.

[julie b]

Great trip reports got loads of tips...

[NatalieD]

Really enjoyed your trip report - I am going Vegas next july just me & my husband without our girls so really interested to see what you and Alison did on your trip!

Thanks for posting it!

Natalie

[mossyflossy]

Fantastic report and I see you've now booked up for next year too to beat the post holiday blues. I often fantasise about the " you need to spend a week at the grand Floridian at our expense and we will fly you back at our expense in first in a weeks time, and here is £1000 for your spends"... they never come true though. As to that obnoxious loudmouth in the lounge and the plane, some people are no uncouth and no money doesn't buy you class!

[BONZO]

Ah, you spotted our sneaky "East Coast" trip for next year then, offer from BA too good to be true going from Dublin etc.

(Must update my countdown).

[jas72]

can i give a quick tip just read your last day but now have to search for the rest of them have you created an index if so you should have it in your sig or at the top of each day.

Thanks for sharing your vegas holiday though how you going to go back to cattle class after that food in club ?

I'm really interested in Vegas as we went for 5 days in 2004 and didn't enjoy it one bit like a tacky blackpool could have been the hotel or the lack of middle ground between over the top expensive or tacky (including restaurants) but that was 10 years ago and I'm sure it's all change now.

[disney owl]

really enjoyed reading your reports, great photos too

[abiknox]

Ooh ive only just spotted this last day, it really was an amazing trip you had.

Can i ask if you have any tips on fetting so many myVegas points in 6 months? I have been playing for just under a year and only have 145,000. Thats playing on a desktop computer every working day until i have no chips left.

Also, i though you could only redeem 3 offers on each account but it seems like you managed 4. Are there some where this restriction doesnt apply?