Las Vegas Las Vegas Trip Report

Flew in from Seattle 3-27 through 3-30. Stayed at the Hilton Grand Vacations, North Strip property. Very nice quality place. Survived the time share presentation with an easy no buy exit. One dinner at Andre's French Restaurant at the Monte Carlo, pricey ($$$$) and excellent in all aspects. We tried The Steak House at Circus Circus, ($$) very good. My wife and I make it a point to stop at the BLT just inside the door of the Mirage on every visit. Old time milkshakes and hamburgers. 2 shakes and 2 hamburgers, $50. Ceasar's buffet at 4o pm on a Saturday, $121.00 for 2 people, we declined. I overheard a conversation where a man said that he stopped into a bar at the Cosmopolitan for a Bloody Mary one morning - $24.

Being retired and a stagnant income forces me to look closely at expenses. Now we allow for at least one high quality usually pricey dinner per trip. In addition to that, we have our usual places. Prices on the strip are becoming too high for me for everything, everywhere.

I did not see a craps table below a $10 minimum anywhere. Large crowds of young adults, families with their children, pushing strollers etc. Buy ins of $25. or $50. at the tables. Many young couples and singles, there to see and be seen. Very few large buy ins. At a $500 buy in, a few times, I was the whale at the table. Is Casino gambling revenue declining to the point that the casino's are resorting to other means to prop up earnings?

Sadly, this will be my last visit to Las Vegas. I can drive to Reno and many Indian Casinos in this area and not feel totally hosed when I leave.