A suite Adventure in 'Vegas

Alice and I just rolled in from our wedding in Las Vegas.
It went teriffic.

We got the Honda S2000 up to over 115mph a few times. Driving it top down around Vegas on the 85 degree warm days and evenings was a nice break from the winter we're coming out of.

We spent the whole week in Vegas, and busted up the trip by staying at a few different hotels for a few days each. Lots of shows, some gaming, nice restaurants,, the pools ect.
The Suite at "THE" hotel at the Mandlay Bay was a nice one chix love this place, the Stratosphere was huge but dated & shopworn.

The best overall experience was with the Hard Rock.
They gave us their biggest Suite normally for high rollers, and I got it for $69 a nite! The Comp'd us because we were getting married.

The Hard Rock Suite was huge, had Bose' sound systems throughout, plasma TV's everyplace on every wall in the suite it seemed, 2 bathrooms jacuzzi tubs, on and on,, pool view.
The Hard Rock has tightened up their machines and table rules, but the comp'd drinks flow,, the staff teriffic.

Across the street was a German restaurant and the food was mediocre, OK entertainment. The locals just buy a beer and pretzels then leave.
Never trust the advice of a hotel conseige in Las Vegas! It's a town of scams!!! They get comp'd deluxe by the local businesses, and can rarely give an unbiased opinion.

http://www.hotboatpics.com/pics/data/500/3812honneymoon__wedding_021-med.jpg
Nice pool area at the Hard Rock,, helpful, warm staff, waterslide ect., easy to get a lounge chair.

We went to Mystre' at the Treasure Island and what a show!!
Seemed to be a bit abreviated over the past, I could be wrong, but still good.
Mac King Comedy show is a locals favorite. The price is right, and one can usually get in at the last minute.

Lunch at the Fireside Bar at the Peppermill,, and dinner with entertainment at the really nice Bootlegger off Blue Diamond Hi.

Barry Manilo was $256 US Dollars per person,, Celine Dion about the same. We passed, and caught some very good acts in Hotels Lounges.

At the Bootlegger restaurant, they sat us with Nevada Highway Patrol, and LV Police on a dinner break.
I opened up talking to them, and it was fun. The food bland, the service teriffic, atmosphere and entertainment very good.

One never knows who will stop by the 24 hr Bootlegger for a cameo singing appearance with the band.
Several Rock and Roll hall of Famers did this nite. Ruth Brown opened the set.
"THE Hotel" is a hotel within the hotel at Mandlay Bay and was awsum. The pool was chaos, awful in fact. Avoid this place if you seek a nice 'Vegas pool experience, and the staff had brutal old 'Vegas surly attitudes.
We've been told that reserving a Cabana in advance is the trick here, but they were booked up.

"THE" hotel has a tops optional pool enclosed area. Alice being Euro has no problem with showing her double blessings, but they wanted $120 (U.S.) for us to get into that area.
Alice said most the girls were pros catering $20 beers to the single guys, and that area was tasteless and creepy, so we left.

Ya want a frozen Drink anytime,, or a Screwdriver,, or a Bloody Mary in the morning at the Mandlay Bay ,, forget it,, it'll never happen. They're catering to the under 23 year old Martini Crowd.

Tight gaming table rules, very tight machines, stingy with the comp drinks, and like I said, the pool is murder. Packed with families with kids, a pool staff with a bad attitude.

We went to Margaritaville at the Flamingo. The police at the Bootlegger Restaurant the nite before said the under 23 yr old Martini crowd is becoming more violent and the LV hotels are really catering to them.
It was so chaotic at Margaritaville the band never took the stage.

Maybe a hot, mid week afternoon for a quick beer.

Though the pool and room were below par at the Strat, the chapel at the top really nice, the gaming tables better that the rest, and the machines lively.
Absolutely avoid the "Crapless Craps" dice game. The house advantage is astronomical. Stick with the regular dice table IMHO.
http://www.hotboatpics.com/pics/data/500/3812honneymoon__wedding_121-med.jpg
http://www.hotboatpics.com/pics/data/500/3812honneymoon__wedding_102-med.jpg
http://www.hotboatpics.com/pics/data/500/3812honneymoon__wedding_111-med.jpg
Alice bought this at the Las Vegas Nordstroms on the strip. The girls all hung their gowns and let the shower run to steam out the wrinkles. It works.
The fad is now renting gowns, but for the same money a girl can buy a gown, so that's what Alice did at Nordstroms.
http://www.hotboatpics.com/pics/data/500/3812honneymoon__wedding_109-med.jpg
Front room of our suite at "THE" hotel.
http://www.hotboatpics.com/pics/data/500/3812honneymoon__wedding_056-med.jpg
The chapel in the sky at the Strat is the place to go.
Awsum view from the chapel,, excellent staff,, everyone loved it.

We threw an open host bar at the "Top of the Strat" lounge before and after the ceremony and it was awsum. Then onto dinner and another host bar at our huge Presidental Suite.

Dating Alice for several years, she is so compassionate, easy going and humble, I had no idea she came from a well off family. They picked up the whole cost.

If you're getting married in Vegas perhaps go to Ilenes formal wear on the Strip because it's about 30% cheaper than average, and easy to get to.
One can walk there or take the bus.
Carrie, the owner is teriffic, very helpful, up to date stock, and they pick up your rental formal wear at the hotel free!
I rented a really nice, conservative tux for about $79 (US), everyplace else wanted $130.

Sounds like fun.

indeed. fun.

Sounds like fun, hmmmmm, I smell a potential graduation present request....

Sweet....congrats on the weddin'. Here's to many years!