This is our first trip in 2 years post COVID! We were last in Vegas Dec 2019 and anxious to get back!
We arrived at the Calgary airport 2 hours and 45 minutes before check in and it took the entire time to clear security and customs and we walked up to our flight, just for final boarding
TIP = Especially with COVID complications, get to the airport with 3 hours to spare just in case these lines continue as more people travel to the US.
The line up for security and customs was the longest I have ever seen. It took us 2.5 hours to walk up to our flight for final boarding, we just made it.
TIP = If there are two or more of you, send one person to the electronic check in machines to print your boarding passes. Make sure to check in online 24 hours before your flight and to select your seats if you have not paid for reserved seats.
We did have vouchers and reserved our seats. We chose row four on our Westjet Flight.
TIP = The row before the beginning of “premium” or “first class” usually provides you with some extra leg rooms.
We landed on time in Vegas, and took our standard / favorite 1045 am departure. It gets us into Vegas and still have most of the day and by time we get to our hotel, it’s usually just the right time to get an early check in!
TILV FAVORITE = We usually split our time between Fremont Street and the Strip. This trip we stayed the first 3 days at our favorite Fremont Street Casino, the Golden Nugget.
TIP = You can use Lyft, Uber, a shuttle, or cab to get to Fremont Street from Terminal 3, McCarren Airport, but the cheapest way is the use the Vegas Reginal Transit CX bus (CX = Centennial Express). The link below will download the current PDF schedule and route details. The bus is ONLY $2 / person! It takes about 45 minutes to get downtown. You can catch the CX at the top floor of Terminal 3 / the Arrivals level and look for the CX / Las Vegas Regional Transit signs. Have $2 ready!
We arrived at the Golden Nugget around 2:00 PM and there was a pretty large line up but they were doing early check ins so that is a fair trade off.
We got checked in and went to our room, but the room was pretty disgusting! It had NOT been cleaned. We called down, and after approximately 40 min, they did move us down a couple rooms into a clean room. The first room clearly failed the white glove test, and the house cleaning manager did execute that test!
TIP = Never unpack until you inspect your room thoroughly. Check all the locks and doors work, the shower, toilet, sinks and drainage on them all work. Room should be spot less with no dust, especially during COVID. Look under all the sheets and make sure they are clean. Verify the safe is open and can be locked and works properly. Verify the TV, phones, hair dryer, etc … all works.
After we checked in, we walked down Fremont Street to see what changed.
You could SMELL the first change, with a few marijuana dispensaries on Fremont Street providing supply, there was a continuous and strong smell of dope up and down Fremont, for the entire trip. If you do not like that smell, you may struggle, even though it’s theoretically illegal to smoke dope in public places in Vegas.
Right after check in, we usually go get supplies and buy anything we have discovered we may need or may have forgotten after unpacking. We usually buy a few snacks like chips, beef jerky, and a case of beer or some iced teas. There are various liquor/souvenir combinations shops on Fremont Street.
TILV FAVORITE = Our favorite supplies and souvenir shop is the ABC Store on Fremont Street.
For the past couple years we used to play the Four Queens and Binions casino mobile app games. But about a year ago, Google policy apparently did not allow them to continue exchanging points for comps, but we had a approximately a $100 US between Twila and I between both casinos for food.
TIP = Some Vegas Casinos have mobile app games you can play where you can win points and convert them into points. Below is a screen cut of the ones I play; mostly the MGM / MLIFLE based games, plus the Wynn app. There is also an MGM Blackjack game, but I no longer play that one.
myVEGAS slota, myKONAMI, Pop!Slots, Wynn Slots, MGM Slots Live, myVEGAS Bingo, missing = myVEGAS Blackjack
In the other posts, I will mention us using some of the MGM app / MLIFE comps. We used a food voucher at Luxor at Diablos, MGM Grand 2 for 1 (BOGO) buffet voucher, and various match play gambling vouchers at Park MGM.
We did end up having a late supper at one of my favorite places, Binions Cafe, at Binions.
I had the steak and eggs and Twila had the Chicken Parm.
TILV FAVORITE = Binion’s Cafe. This is the same food your mom or grandma would make for you, down home, fresh cooked food and good service. Below is a link to their web site and current menu.
http://www.binions.com/dining/binions_cafe.phpx
We toured up and down Fremont gambling. We are LOW ROLLERS. We gamble to not loose too much, but provide us the ability to gather comps and occasionally win a jackpot, have fun, and have some drinks.
Have a look below for some quick shots on Fremont Street as it is today!
