Episode 9 - Walking the Las Vegas Strip

WEBVTT 1 00:00:06.120 --> 00:00:09.679 Well, how do you folks, and good morning, afternoon or evening, 2 00:00:10.039 --> 00:00:14.679 wherever and whenever you may be listening. My name is Tim and welcome to 3 00:00:14.960 --> 00:00:19.879 one day in so cal. Whether you've lived here your entire life or visiting 4 00:00:19.879 --> 00:00:23.960 from across the world, whether you only have one day in so cal or 5 00:00:24.000 --> 00:00:27.199 one month, I want to share some of the coolest, most fun and 6 00:00:27.280 --> 00:00:32.079 most unique things to do right here in southern California, whether that's solo or 7 00:00:32.119 --> 00:00:36.840 with friends and family. So join me on my next adventure and hopefully yours. 8 00:00:37.159 --> 00:00:48.520 Right now on one day in so cal. Welcome to episode nine of 9 00:00:48.560 --> 00:00:54.640 the one day in so cal podcast. It's Friday, September nine and I'm 10 00:00:54.640 --> 00:00:58.960 recording from beautiful right with California. Visit me on the web one day in 11 00:00:59.039 --> 00:01:02.399 so cal dot com, um one day and so calle dot com for the 12 00:01:02.439 --> 00:01:07.000 latest episodes, travelog videos, interactive map, social media links and more. 13 00:01:08.159 --> 00:01:11.560 All right, guys, before we start, I do want to give, 14 00:01:12.680 --> 00:01:19.519 and I mean this, my deepest sympathies and condolences to any Brits that may 15 00:01:19.560 --> 00:01:25.079 be listening. I mean, what an amazing woman Queen Elizabeth the second was 16 00:01:25.680 --> 00:01:30.920 and what a privilege that we got to be born out of eternity in either 17 00:01:30.000 --> 00:01:34.680 direction. Here and now, to share our time on earth with her, 18 00:01:36.719 --> 00:01:42.239 and that rainbow that appeared right outside Buckingham Palace right after her death too, 19 00:01:42.359 --> 00:01:46.920 is well, I guess all I can say is I'm too old to believe 20 00:01:46.920 --> 00:01:53.799 in coincidences anymore. But I've traced my family roots as far back as there 21 00:01:53.480 --> 00:02:00.280 and virtually everyone on my mom's side came from England. So even now I 22 00:02:00.319 --> 00:02:04.680 live and breathe red, white and blue, I also support red white and 23 00:02:04.719 --> 00:02:08.840 blue. The UK one of our greatest allies and between me and those of 24 00:02:08.879 --> 00:02:13.120 you listening, because of my ancestral roots, I've always kind of said I 25 00:02:13.199 --> 00:02:15.800 had, I have, some loyalty to the Queen and the Royal Family. 26 00:02:16.719 --> 00:02:22.919 But Queen Elizabeth dead at ninety six. Holy smokes, guys. We always 27 00:02:23.000 --> 00:02:25.960 knew this day would come, but it's hard to believe it came, isn't 28 00:02:27.000 --> 00:02:31.039 it? Um I used to work at Edward's Air Force space here in California 29 00:02:31.319 --> 00:02:35.719 and I met a lot of UK officers that were here training with our pilots 30 00:02:35.719 --> 00:02:38.280 on the F thirty five program and I would always joke with them on fourth 31 00:02:38.280 --> 00:02:42.680 of July, just saying happy trees and day, much to their laughter. 32 00:02:43.159 --> 00:02:47.000 But Seventeen, seventy, six jokes aside, you folks in England have always 33 00:02:47.000 --> 00:02:51.400 had our backs, Um, not just England but the UK as a whole, 34 00:02:52.280 --> 00:02:55.159 and in history we've had your backs to sometimes it takes us a little 35 00:02:55.199 --> 00:02:58.879 longer to wake up to the reality that we are part of this world and 36 00:02:58.919 --> 00:03:02.400 can't hide from evil for ever within our well placed borders. But I just 37 00:03:02.400 --> 00:03:06.599 want to say thanks for being there for US and I hope we'll remain steadfast 38 00:03:06.639 --> 00:03:10.280 friends with the latest growing threats out there. Um, and I don't usually 39 00:03:10.319 --> 00:03:15.719 get this emotional or sentimental on really a lot, but even I choked up 40 00:03:15.759 --> 00:03:19.360 a little when I watched that replay of the BBC announcement when they started playing 41 00:03:19.800 --> 00:03:23.680 God save the Queen at the end. Um, such a powerful moment, 42 00:03:23.800 --> 00:03:28.759 such a powerful song. There's, uh, there's truly nothing we can't do 43 00:03:28.800 --> 00:03:31.039 together, and as long as you keep producing people like that make my top 44 00:03:31.080 --> 00:03:36.639 five heroes list, I think I'm going to remain a steadfast fan of Britannia. 45 00:03:37.599 --> 00:03:40.759 Okay, guys, uh, so I did want to set some time 46 00:03:40.800 --> 00:03:44.680 at the beginning to say that, but now we'll get into this week's adventure. 47 00:03:45.240 --> 00:03:49.439 And speaking of the king, I'm gonna let an American king tell you 48 00:03:49.479 --> 00:04:24.839 where I went this week. Take it away, King Eva. Thank thank 49 00:04:24.879 --> 00:04:29.120 you, Elvis. This week I took one more trip to Las Vegas before 50 00:04:29.120 --> 00:04:31.800 the summer ended, even though we were just there in episode five for the 51 00:04:31.839 --> 00:04:35.759 Mob Museum episode. I wanted to go back and walk the entire Strip from 52 00:04:35.879 --> 00:04:41.079 end to end, something I haven't done in at least a decade, and 53 00:04:41.480 --> 00:04:45.399 the Las Vegas trip has changed dramatically in that decade. I can tell you. 54 00:04:46.040 --> 00:04:48.560 Along the way, we'll talk about each and every hotel, casino and 55 00:04:48.720 --> 00:04:54.720 restaurant. We're shopping area and UH, we'll start at the Tropicana, where 56 00:04:54.720 --> 00:04:57.360 I stayed for this trip. I walked northbound on the east side of the 57 00:04:57.360 --> 00:05:00.920 Strip all the way down to the STRAT hotel. From the Strat Hotel, 58 00:05:00.959 --> 00:05:04.279 I then proceeded all the way back down to Mandalay Bay, walking southbound on 59 00:05:04.319 --> 00:05:10.279 the West Side of the Las Vegas Boulevard. That's easily a twelve or fifteen 60 00:05:10.279 --> 00:05:14.680 mile walk, depending on how many casinos or stores you visit along the way. 61 00:05:14.879 --> 00:05:17.759 I also couldn't have chosen a worst day to do it. UH, 62 00:05:17.800 --> 00:05:24.399 temperatures range during my walk from a hundred five when I started two fifteen when 63 00:05:24.399 --> 00:05:29.959 I ended. Given the fact that Las Vegas is a huge concrete jungle with 64 00:05:30.000 --> 00:05:33.120 a lot of heat radiating back to you, this made for a borderline miserable 65 00:05:33.160 --> 00:05:38.040 experience. Oh Gosh, let me just not sugarcoated at all this. This 66 00:05:38.079 --> 00:05:42.959 sucked. Okay, Um, this was hot and I was miserable. I 67 00:05:42.959 --> 00:05:46.600 think I drink ten bottles of water and two bottles of Gatorade and uh, 68 00:05:47.519 --> 00:05:53.000 really, I was kind of at a point where I had I was full 69 00:05:53.000 --> 00:05:55.600 of water, like enough where you're walking in it, like the water is 70 00:05:55.600 --> 00:06:01.519 sloshing around in your stomach, but you're still overheating into hydrate. Um. 71 00:06:01.600 --> 00:06:04.240 But the thing is, once I started an adventure, I sell them back 72 00:06:04.279 --> 00:06:09.240 down unless I know it's gonna be a real big risk or something like that. 73 00:06:09.360 --> 00:06:13.600 I'm not a much of a risk taker. But unfortunately I didn't have 74 00:06:13.639 --> 00:06:17.199 to take big risks because along the whole walk there are a ton of ice 75 00:06:17.240 --> 00:06:23.160 called casinos and stores with cold water and Gatorade, and sometimes there's even some 76 00:06:23.199 --> 00:06:27.199 shade along the Las Vegas Boulevard, if the vagrants haven't taken over it. 77 00:06:27.279 --> 00:06:31.360 Yet. But something else I want to mention too, since this podcast is 78 00:06:31.399 --> 00:06:35.600 so heavily focused on Socil, I don't think I'm gonna step on the turf 79 00:06:35.639 --> 00:06:42.480 of the bigger names in Las Vegas Travel and News, basically UH Travel Ruby 80 00:06:42.519 --> 00:06:46.560 on Youtube, for example, or visit Las Vegas Dot com, like the 81 00:06:46.680 --> 00:06:50.360 overly crowded new media Disney space, to which W W N T is the 82 00:06:50.399 --> 00:06:56.240 top king leader. Um Others have been doing Las Vegas so long that I 83 00:06:56.240 --> 00:07:00.759 could never hope to compete on that combined level of intelligence on all things Vegas. 84 00:07:00.920 --> 00:07:06.839 So if you're looking for detailed information down to Um, how staying the 85 00:07:06.879 --> 00:07:12.399 carpet is and what it smells like, analysis and each hotel Agancino, go 86 00:07:12.480 --> 00:07:15.160 to those folks as opposed to the general overview I'm about to give you now. 87 00:07:16.319 --> 00:07:19.560 But I've done in Vegas enough, I've been to Vegas dozens of times 88 00:07:19.560 --> 00:07:24.800 that I think we're gonna stick to my personal experiences. And because we're sticking 89 00:07:24.800 --> 00:07:31.439 with personal experiences, there's certainly a lot um I'm gonna miss. Um I'M 90 00:07:31.480 --> 00:07:36.600 NOT gonna be able to go over every restaurant, show, free entertainment, 91 00:07:36.600 --> 00:07:43.120 hotel room, pool or things to do at each location, but I'll certainly 92 00:07:43.120 --> 00:07:46.720 go into detail on things that I've done personally here. So some of this 93 00:07:46.800 --> 00:07:49.720 is gonna be for you to still explore and see for yourself and maybe I 94 00:07:49.720 --> 00:07:53.120 can give you a few tips and hances along the way. Or maybe you're 95 00:07:53.199 --> 00:07:57.920 just gearing up for a vegas trip and you just want to get pumped and 96 00:07:58.000 --> 00:08:01.759 keep the keep the excitement going by listening to you have another podcast or watching 97 00:08:01.759 --> 00:08:07.240 another youtube video on all things Vegas. I know I do that when where. 98 00:08:07.240 --> 00:08:09.839 I just say I used to do that when I went to Disney world 99 00:08:09.839 --> 00:08:13.720 each time I would always listen to all the shows and and uh, before 100 00:08:13.800 --> 00:08:16.519 rick and morty comes out, I would listen to all them wicking morty shows. 101 00:08:16.519 --> 00:08:18.800 I I kind of do that. So maybe some of you are just 102 00:08:18.959 --> 00:08:22.800 getting ready to go to Vegas and you want you know you're you rolled into 103 00:08:22.839 --> 00:08:26.839 this socal podcast. Is supposed to be out at Socal, but you saw 104 00:08:26.879 --> 00:08:31.840 the Vegas title so Um and you clicked on it. Um, getting off 105 00:08:31.879 --> 00:08:35.799 track here, so let's get back on track. We're gonna start at the 106 00:08:35.799 --> 00:08:43.000 Tropicana and what we're gonna do is we're gonna walk the entire Strip all the 107 00:08:43.039 --> 00:08:46.559 way down to the STRAT and back. Um, we're gonna walk on the 108 00:08:46.600 --> 00:08:50.600 northbound side. We're gonna walk northbound on the east side of the Las Vegas 109 00:08:50.679 --> 00:08:56.919 Boulevard, also commonly known as the Strip, and uh, we're gonna start 110 00:08:56.919 --> 00:09:01.679 at the Tropicana. So Tropicana and most of the casinos on the Strip, 111 00:09:01.720 --> 00:09:05.240 the Tropicana isn't actually operated by M G M R Caesar's entertainment. I know, 112 00:09:05.360 --> 00:09:11.120 shocking, but it's actually operated by an independent corporation called Penn Entertainment. 113 00:09:11.679 --> 00:09:16.679 The Tropicana got its name, or got its start, in nineteen fifty seven. 114 00:09:16.120 --> 00:09:20.039 This hotel was also part of the Kansas City outfits infamous skimming operation in 115 00:09:22.279 --> 00:09:24.200 that was busted up by the FBI year later, in nineteen seventy nine. 116 00:09:26.120 --> 00:09:28.519 The theme of this hotel is going for a Cuban or, I don't know, 117 00:09:30.120 --> 00:09:33.720 Banana Republic Hotel and casino theme, kind of like they used to have 118 00:09:33.759 --> 00:09:37.279 in Cuba before Fidel Castro took over. Compared to the bigger casinos on the 119 00:09:37.320 --> 00:09:45.559 Strip, the Tropicana is unfortunately very limited in food and entertainment options. During 120 00:09:45.639 --> 00:09:48.399 this trip, I stayed on the tenth floor of the Club Tower Um, 121 00:09:48.440 --> 00:09:52.480 and the room was very adequate and comfortable. I actually I did like it 122 00:09:52.559 --> 00:09:56.080 spacious, and I'm kind of an aviation geek, so the view of McCarron 123 00:09:56.120 --> 00:10:01.279 international was just fantastic as well. I could just see the whole airport and 124 00:10:01.279 --> 00:10:05.519 watched planes land and take off. Yes, I know they changed the name 125 00:10:05.559 --> 00:10:09.559 to Harry Reid, but I'm kind of over changing names of places for the 126 00:10:09.559 --> 00:10:15.720 political flavor of the decade, so I'm sticking with mccaren. But you know, 127 00:10:15.799 --> 00:10:18.799 I did say that about Gramin's Chinese theater, which I now call tcl 128 00:10:18.879 --> 00:10:28.799 Chinese theater, but still. Um. So across the street from Tropicana is 129 00:10:28.919 --> 00:10:35.159 the MGM grand and you get to it by crossing over a pedestrian bridge. 130 00:10:35.840 --> 00:10:39.960 Um, from when I first visited Vegas to now, these pedestrian bridges have 131 00:10:39.000 --> 00:10:43.120 popped up all over the place and they are definitely a good thing, because 132 00:10:43.759 --> 00:10:48.879 people are dumb and they tend to cross the street when they're not supposed to 133 00:10:50.559 --> 00:10:54.759 and the next thing you know, Um, a cab's hawking at some guy 134 00:10:54.840 --> 00:10:58.679 and the guy's draft drunken masks. We bangs on the hood of the CAB 135 00:10:58.440 --> 00:11:03.000 and the driver gets out and it's ready to get in a fight and the 136 00:11:03.080 --> 00:11:07.080 drunk guys cursing back at him and Um, the cab driver comes to his 137 00:11:07.159 --> 00:11:09.320 senses and realize he has the family at home. Defeats. So it gets 138 00:11:09.320 --> 00:11:13.440 back in the CAB and takes off and, uh, you know, screeching 139 00:11:13.440 --> 00:11:16.840 of tires. Um. Yes, this actually happened on this trip. But 140 00:11:18.000 --> 00:11:22.440 Long Story Short, Um, these hopes these days, these pedestrian bridges are 141 00:11:22.440 --> 00:11:26.759 fantastic. Um, they really kind of keep the flow moving. It does 142 00:11:26.799 --> 00:11:30.559 kind of sucking the escalators don't work and you have to keep going up and 143 00:11:30.559 --> 00:11:33.480 down escalators or they're so crowded you take the stairs anyways, tires you out 144 00:11:33.480 --> 00:11:39.360 a little more, but I'm not complaying any of the exercise anyways. Um. 145 00:11:39.399 --> 00:11:43.879 But across the street is the Gargantuan and GM Grand Hotel Casino. The 146 00:11:45.000 --> 00:11:50.080 MGM Grand is the largest single hotel in the world, with six thousand eight 147 00:11:50.120 --> 00:11:54.200 hundred and fifty two rooms, and it's held that title even after opening way 148 00:11:54.240 --> 00:12:01.440 back in I've stayed here and this place is huge. I uh, but 149 00:12:01.519 --> 00:12:03.159 the thing is I don't even know what it's trying to go for anymore. 150 00:12:03.159 --> 00:12:05.879 Where a lot of a lot of hotels at least kind of have a theme. 151 00:12:07.759 --> 00:12:11.879 Uh. The MGM grant used to have a theme, but now it 152 00:12:11.919 --> 00:12:15.639 kind of does it uh like Hollywood studios to Disney world. It seems to 153 00:12:15.679 --> 00:12:18.360 have lost its way in some aspects. It used to have a huge giant 154 00:12:18.440 --> 00:12:24.559 light lions mouth entrance. That's gone. The Free Line Habitat was wildly popular. 155 00:12:24.720 --> 00:12:26.840 That's gone. They stripped away a lot of the MGM Hollywood theme, 156 00:12:26.879 --> 00:12:31.960 like the wizard of Oz stuff. That's gone. Honestly, what on earth 157 00:12:31.000 --> 00:12:35.480 is the MGM Grand Trying to be now? I just don't know. Um, 158 00:12:35.519 --> 00:12:37.320 they do have eleven restaurants and a ton of fast food options. And 159 00:12:37.360 --> 00:12:43.480 for entertainment, David Copperfield still performs here. Also start to slay also performs 160 00:12:43.559 --> 00:12:48.799 co here. Um, that was probably my last choice for start to slay 161 00:12:48.879 --> 00:12:54.320 when I went on episode five for trying to decide on which show I wanted 162 00:12:54.320 --> 00:12:58.440 to see from start to slay, but I'll get around to seeing it eventually. 163 00:12:58.279 --> 00:13:01.960 Um. Now, all that criticism aside, my favorite thing about the 164 00:13:03.000 --> 00:13:07.879 MGM grant is the Pool Complex. The pool complex features six point six acres 165 00:13:07.919 --> 00:13:15.799 of waterfalls, outdoor pools and Lazy River. It's well, uh Um. 166 00:13:15.840 --> 00:13:20.679 It's well manicured with with plants and it's just a nice tropical lust shedding and 167 00:13:20.600 --> 00:13:24.320 the pool complex that engin m grant is probably my second favorite on the Strip 168 00:13:24.399 --> 00:13:28.879 overall. I'm a big Fan of Lazy rivers and they have the biggest one 169 00:13:28.879 --> 00:13:33.440 on the strip. I've also watched the Beatles show here before, I forget 170 00:13:33.639 --> 00:13:37.000 Um, which is a Beatles tribute group, and it was pretty good overall. 171 00:13:37.159 --> 00:13:39.919 I actually enjoyed it. I felt like I was actually watching the Beatles 172 00:13:39.960 --> 00:13:43.399 perform. It was cool. Um. So anyways, we walk out of 173 00:13:43.399 --> 00:13:50.000 the MGM Grand Continuing northbound and we arrived at a series of shops and restaurants. 174 00:13:50.559 --> 00:13:56.480 Um. These include a sketchers, a four story EMINEM store, Coca 175 00:13:56.480 --> 00:14:00.440 Cola store, a Ross A, Denny's, a discount take it spooth, 176 00:14:00.600 --> 00:14:03.600 ticket s booth for shows and events in Las Vegas at hard rock restaurant, 177 00:14:05.080 --> 00:14:09.200 Burlington, coat factory, target, Walgreens, and after you passed by those 178 00:14:09.200 --> 00:14:11.320 stores, there's two or three war strip malls with things like tattoo shops and 179 00:14:11.360 --> 00:14:16.919 liquor stores. Finally, we get back to another casino and we reach planet 180 00:14:16.960 --> 00:14:22.000 Hollywood. So the theme I got from this hotel was the hip L A 181 00:14:22.039 --> 00:14:28.159 club scene. There's an art deco glamour theme here Um that features glass, 182 00:14:28.320 --> 00:14:33.440 neon and reflective surfaces and planet Hollywood on the side of the former lad which 183 00:14:33.480 --> 00:14:39.120 opened nineteen sixty two and was demolished on Um. And I have to admit 184 00:14:39.200 --> 00:14:41.720 something to you here. Planet Hollywood's been here for a while now, but 185 00:14:43.200 --> 00:14:46.799 this was the first time I ever walked into planet Hollywood. I don't know 186 00:14:46.840 --> 00:14:50.279 what it was about it. I just always skipped it or ignored it, 187 00:14:50.960 --> 00:14:54.279 but I finally walked in there and checked it out and it was it was 188 00:14:54.320 --> 00:14:58.559 pretty cool theme. Um. The one place I've never skipped, though, 189 00:14:58.759 --> 00:15:03.159 was the miracle miles ops, and they that that that that basically is like 190 00:15:03.159 --> 00:15:07.879 a mall that's attached to a planet Hollywood and that features a hundred, seventy 191 00:15:07.919 --> 00:15:11.159 stores, fifteen restaurants in live entertainment, which just seemed after the Las Vegas 192 00:15:11.159 --> 00:15:15.399 shopping scene. And since I am from socal I can honestly say they do 193 00:15:15.440 --> 00:15:18.679 a pretty good job of hitting that nail on the head. But yeah, 194 00:15:18.759 --> 00:15:20.759 first time I walked into planet Hollywood and that was another first for me in 195 00:15:20.759 --> 00:15:24.559 this in this case been to the Las Vegas dozens of times, never walked 196 00:15:24.600 --> 00:15:28.759 into planet Hollywood. For whatever reason, for this podcast I said, Oh, 197 00:15:30.000 --> 00:15:31.399 I've never been a planet Hollywood and I walked in checked it out. 198 00:15:33.440 --> 00:15:39.799 Um, so that's exciting, isn't it? Moving on next, we arrived 199 00:15:39.840 --> 00:15:45.879 at Paris. Needless to say, the theme here is well, Paris. 200 00:15:46.679 --> 00:15:48.799 That includes a half sized replica of the Eiffel Tower that you can actually go 201 00:15:48.840 --> 00:15:52.200 to the top of, a sign in the shape of the Mont golfier balloon, 202 00:15:52.840 --> 00:15:58.799 a two thirds size arc de Triumph replica of the La Fontaine Decimari's and 203 00:15:58.919 --> 00:16:03.000 a theater. Sorry for my French. I know some of you French listeners 204 00:16:03.039 --> 00:16:04.879 are probably pulling out your hair right now. Um, I do apologize. 205 00:16:06.480 --> 00:16:12.559 I'm just not a good French speaker. Um, after leaving Paris, heading 206 00:16:12.759 --> 00:16:18.000 northbound, we walk by a yet another strip mall and then we'll finally arrive 207 00:16:18.159 --> 00:16:23.240 at ballys. Now ballets is currently transitioning to a new hotel, the Horseshoe 208 00:16:23.279 --> 00:16:27.720 Las Vegas. So the ballet's name will come down and the multimillion dollar renovation 209 00:16:27.720 --> 00:16:30.960 will include a revamped casino floor, new restaurants and, of course, a 210 00:16:32.000 --> 00:16:36.000 new casino name on the side of the hotel. Because of the construction here, 211 00:16:36.000 --> 00:16:37.600 you'll have to actually cross the street three times to get back to the 212 00:16:37.639 --> 00:16:41.440 east side of the Strip. You'll cross over the west side, cross to 213 00:16:41.480 --> 00:16:45.759 the north and crossed back over, and finally you will arrive at the Cromwell. 214 00:16:47.759 --> 00:16:52.799 The cromwell was formerly barbary coast and more recently bills gambling hall and Saloon. 215 00:16:52.679 --> 00:16:56.200 In comparison to the rest of the larger hotels on the Strip, it 216 00:16:56.440 --> 00:17:00.480 might as well have been a hall in Saloon. Um Cromwell is going for 217 00:17:00.559 --> 00:17:07.839 a modern French designment that resemble Parisian apartments or maybe a French Boutique Hotel. 218 00:17:07.960 --> 00:17:12.599 Um. Despite the smaller size, however, the Cromwell has a really amazing 219 00:17:12.720 --> 00:17:18.319 rooftop pool called Drey's Beach Club, and it features basic glass barriers let you 220 00:17:18.359 --> 00:17:22.640 look down on the Strip and a stage for concerts Um and of course you 221 00:17:22.640 --> 00:17:27.440 know the usual things you can rent out, like like Cavanas and stuff like 222 00:17:27.480 --> 00:17:32.240 that. But Drey's Beach Club is really well done and just that a neat 223 00:17:32.359 --> 00:17:36.319 use of the space overall. So, after stepping out of the Cromwell, 224 00:17:36.359 --> 00:17:41.599 we arrived northbound to the Flamingo another hotel. It's definitely showing its age. 225 00:17:42.359 --> 00:17:47.279 But the Flamingo was one of the very first hotels and casinos in Las Vegas. 226 00:17:47.319 --> 00:17:51.640 That was really what Made Vegas what it is today. This, the 227 00:17:51.680 --> 00:17:56.279 Flamingo, kind of set off a chain of events that created Las Vegas, 228 00:17:56.279 --> 00:17:59.799 as you know and love, built and financed by mobster bugs, E C 229 00:18:00.000 --> 00:18:03.839 All. Today the hotel is going for an art deco Miami and South Beach 230 00:18:03.880 --> 00:18:07.279 theme. Um. It also has a really cool garden courtyard in the middle 231 00:18:07.319 --> 00:18:11.559 of the resort featuring a flamingo habitat ring till, ring till, ducks, 232 00:18:11.680 --> 00:18:15.880 Koit and turtles. Walla Newton currently plays here as well, so I mean 233 00:18:15.880 --> 00:18:22.039 you follow in. NEW VEGAS FANS know him as Mr New Vegas. So 234 00:18:22.119 --> 00:18:26.880 after the Flamingo we arrived at the link L I N Q. I stayed 235 00:18:26.880 --> 00:18:29.960 at the link only briefly when we're turning from a road trip from Zion National 236 00:18:29.960 --> 00:18:33.160 Park to so cal accommodations were comfortable and I have no idea what the theme 237 00:18:33.200 --> 00:18:37.640 is, if there even is a theme. Um. The link was previously 238 00:18:37.680 --> 00:18:42.400 the Imperial Palace and Oriental theme to Hotel Um. Unfortunately, the Imperial Palace 239 00:18:42.440 --> 00:18:47.279 had all kinds of lawsuits and controversy surrounding it, and if you want to 240 00:18:47.319 --> 00:18:49.640 dig up all that mess, uh, you know, feel free to. 241 00:18:51.680 --> 00:18:56.519 But it was rebranded for a very short time as the Quad betweeneen and finally 242 00:18:56.559 --> 00:19:00.920 they got it right in when it became the link, which includes a promenade 243 00:19:00.920 --> 00:19:04.359 shopping district between the Strip and its main feature, the High Roller, a 244 00:19:04.480 --> 00:19:10.279 k a the I of Las Vegas, copying London there, which is a 245 00:19:10.400 --> 00:19:12.519 giant ferris wheel. They also have a couple of other things to do, 246 00:19:12.599 --> 00:19:18.559 hear, like Zip lining and such Um. But unfortunately this this property used 247 00:19:18.599 --> 00:19:22.440 to feature an auto collection of classic vehicles, but that's no longer present, 248 00:19:22.519 --> 00:19:26.799 unfortunately. Um. So, after the link continue northbound, we arrive at 249 00:19:26.839 --> 00:19:33.720 Haraz and Haras was the second casino I've ever stayed out in Vegas, and 250 00:19:33.759 --> 00:19:37.039 this was way back in about two thousand eight or so, and I remember 251 00:19:37.039 --> 00:19:41.680 it because it was the Marine Corps Ball, an annual event where Marines traditionally 252 00:19:41.680 --> 00:19:45.880 celebrate the Brine Corps Birthday, which is on November of each year. The 253 00:19:45.880 --> 00:19:51.359 theme here is Carnival, Marty Gras and New Orleans. Since then, to 254 00:19:51.400 --> 00:19:53.759 be honest, I have not really had as reason to visit or come to 255 00:19:53.799 --> 00:20:00.319 this hotel. But don't, don't discount it completely. They usually have cheaper 256 00:20:00.400 --> 00:20:03.720 rates and the other hotels on the Strip than the accommodations are more than acceptable. 257 00:20:03.240 --> 00:20:07.359 So if you're looking for a cheaper hotel right on the Strip but want 258 00:20:07.359 --> 00:20:10.599 to avoid circus circus at all costs, and you do, you want to 259 00:20:10.640 --> 00:20:15.559 avoid circus circus at all costs, this may be the place. After passing 260 00:20:15.640 --> 00:20:21.279 by the well a tree and maybe you go in, but for me, 261 00:20:21.400 --> 00:20:29.279 after I passed by Raz I arrived at Casino Royal. Um, this casino 262 00:20:29.359 --> 00:20:33.759 caters to low rollers and the main hotel here is actually a best western plus. 263 00:20:34.519 --> 00:20:38.279 They're going for a European Billa theme. And there's also a white castle 264 00:20:38.400 --> 00:20:44.319 restaurant, and this white castle was the chain's first location in the western United 265 00:20:44.319 --> 00:20:48.039 States. Um, this is also where I had my first White Castle sliders, 266 00:20:48.079 --> 00:20:55.240 and I have to be honest here. They were absolutely okay. I'm 267 00:20:55.279 --> 00:20:56.960 spoiled that in and out, guys, I am. And Uh, to 268 00:20:57.000 --> 00:21:00.519 be quite honest with you, I'm unimpressed. Maybe they didn't cook him right, 269 00:21:02.440 --> 00:21:04.640 maybe. Uh, I'm spoiled on it and out, like I said, 270 00:21:06.200 --> 00:21:10.079 but I'm just not impressed with White Castle sliders. I could see the 271 00:21:10.319 --> 00:21:15.400 UH, I don't know, I could see I could see the I could 272 00:21:15.400 --> 00:21:18.680 see why a lot of people like White Castle, especially after that movie came 273 00:21:18.680 --> 00:21:19.960 out. You know, maybe it's a great place for potheads to hang out 274 00:21:21.039 --> 00:21:26.039 or something, but it's not for me. So that's the passing White Castle, 275 00:21:27.319 --> 00:21:33.759 or should I say the best western plus. We arrived at the Venetian, 276 00:21:33.039 --> 00:21:37.000 the world's famous Venetian. The theme here is pretty obvious as you approach 277 00:21:37.119 --> 00:21:41.839 Venice Italy, and most of you already know about the Gondolas and the canal 278 00:21:41.960 --> 00:21:47.039 built right into the shopping promenade that you can actually write on Um. And 279 00:21:47.079 --> 00:21:49.480 you'll find all your traditional high price luxury shops here, including Gralph, Laura 280 00:21:49.519 --> 00:21:56.759 and Chloe, Michael Cores Berbery and Barneys New York. And by the way, 281 00:21:56.880 --> 00:22:00.039 this is something I've always thought about, but if you ever wanted to 282 00:22:00.039 --> 00:22:04.799 create your own overpriced fashion store, all you have to do is put a 283 00:22:04.839 --> 00:22:11.480 sign up at the front with your last name and high price tags on Merchand 284 00:22:11.519 --> 00:22:17.720 dice and Vola la. You two can have an overpriced fashion store. For 285 00:22:17.759 --> 00:22:22.759 example, I can open a store selling Polo shirts and call it Alcozer, 286 00:22:22.880 --> 00:22:27.519 but we'll change the pronunciation and we'll call it Alcazar, nice and exotic, 287 00:22:27.839 --> 00:22:33.240 and people will shop there and buy my overpriced stuff man in China, just 288 00:22:33.279 --> 00:22:38.559 like they do today. Um, there's some really good free shows here too, 289 00:22:38.559 --> 00:22:42.880 by the way, getting back on topic, Um, there's a lot 290 00:22:42.920 --> 00:22:48.039 of traditional Italian Renaissance Street performers that perform here and and they're fantastic. From 291 00:22:48.519 --> 00:22:55.880 basically jugglers and UH UM, clowns. I don't want to call them clowns. 292 00:22:55.920 --> 00:22:59.200 What are they? But anyways, they're they're Italian Renaissance Street performers and 293 00:22:59.200 --> 00:23:03.920 and they're really good and really entertaining. So if you have any walking around, 294 00:23:03.960 --> 00:23:07.400 keep an eye out for those folks. Right next door to the Venetian 295 00:23:07.559 --> 00:23:11.720 is Palazzo, an all suites hotel which is technically a separate property, button 296 00:23:11.759 --> 00:23:15.559 reality is part of the Venetian brand. This is branded as a luxury hotel 297 00:23:15.599 --> 00:23:22.839 and themed in Genderica Italian. So, passing by Polazzo, we arrive at 298 00:23:22.880 --> 00:23:26.319 the wind next thing you'll be treated to another ultra luxury hotel. It's on 299 00:23:26.359 --> 00:23:30.920 the on the side of the Old Desert Inn Hotel and named after Steve Win, 300 00:23:30.000 --> 00:23:36.079 a famous Las Vegas developer. The wind has a huge eighteen whole championship 301 00:23:36.079 --> 00:23:38.640 golf course right behind it, which is the only hotel in the Strip to 302 00:23:38.680 --> 00:23:44.200 have one. Now the MGM does have a top golf but that is hardly 303 00:23:44.240 --> 00:23:48.000 an eighteen whole championship golf course. It's so huge that the Monroe has to 304 00:23:48.039 --> 00:23:52.880 divert, you know, for like a mile and a half around just to 305 00:23:52.000 --> 00:23:57.200 arrive at the UH, the next station, which I think is uh aw 306 00:23:57.240 --> 00:24:02.200 strip, but it's uh Um. Used to be the Las Vegas Hilton, 307 00:24:02.279 --> 00:24:04.799 but now it's something else Um. But the only real attraction here at the 308 00:24:04.839 --> 00:24:08.160 wind is the lake of dreams, which drew away from the trend established by 309 00:24:08.160 --> 00:24:14.839 the Mirage of placing an attraction directly outside to draw visitors in. Now visitors 310 00:24:14.839 --> 00:24:17.799 need to actually enter the building to see the attraction, which is a large 311 00:24:17.839 --> 00:24:22.880 curtain waterfall that is projected on. That is projected on basically the show video 312 00:24:23.599 --> 00:24:27.880 Um, and really you can't get that good of a glimpse of it. 313 00:24:27.880 --> 00:24:32.200 anyways. You have to usually book Ah. It's like a restaurant with the 314 00:24:32.279 --> 00:24:34.039 with the waterfall, and you have to book it so you can kind of 315 00:24:34.079 --> 00:24:38.039 see it through the glass. But Um, there's not really any free entertainment 316 00:24:38.160 --> 00:24:44.000 the wind Um, but there is a or priced property next door called encore. 317 00:24:45.039 --> 00:24:48.640 So that's all it is. It's just an extension of the wind. 318 00:24:48.079 --> 00:24:52.279 encore is an extension of the wind. So once you pass encore, things 319 00:24:52.319 --> 00:24:56.880 start to go downhill fast. In fact, I might even if you're a 320 00:24:56.880 --> 00:25:02.079 tourist and don't know Vegas that well or uh, not really street smart. 321 00:25:02.359 --> 00:25:03.599 I might cross the street to the other side if you were, if I 322 00:25:03.640 --> 00:25:07.319 were, at this point, because until they start finishing, until they finished 323 00:25:07.319 --> 00:25:12.480 building the Fontaine blue, which won't be completed until things will remain less torresty 324 00:25:12.559 --> 00:25:18.160 until you reach the Sahara, which is probably a good gosh, I don't 325 00:25:18.160 --> 00:25:21.839 know, to to and a half miles down the strip from this point, 326 00:25:21.839 --> 00:25:25.640 maybe two miles. Um Fontaine blue, just to hit on that real quick, 327 00:25:25.680 --> 00:25:27.680 will be a new hotel right next to the last agas convention center. 328 00:25:29.119 --> 00:25:30.759 All we know about the property is that it will have a hundred seventy three 329 00:25:30.759 --> 00:25:34.799 thousand square foot casino, three thousand seven or eighty hotel rooms, a ninety 330 00:25:34.799 --> 00:25:41.119 thousand square foot retail space covering two floors and yet another high end shopping mall 331 00:25:41.559 --> 00:25:47.359 Um, as well as uh AU, named Cayman Theater, performances, nightclub, 332 00:25:47.440 --> 00:25:52.079 day club, Ninth Floor Pool Deck. So hopefully not another traditional, 333 00:25:52.279 --> 00:25:56.240 generic hotel. Maybe, hopefully they break out and do something unique and cool 334 00:25:56.319 --> 00:26:00.400 the draw visitors in Um, but other than that it remains a mystery. 335 00:26:02.039 --> 00:26:06.440 Um, I am kind of sad to see the current trends set by Aria 336 00:26:06.599 --> 00:26:11.720 of modern, largely non themed hotels. I do like the UM. I 337 00:26:11.759 --> 00:26:18.400 do like the Luxe or and Caesar's Palace and UH Paris. I like that. 338 00:26:18.440 --> 00:26:21.319 I like the theming and the detail that goes into these places, because 339 00:26:21.359 --> 00:26:26.240 you're in Vegas. Is All about fantasy and entertainment and UH and UH. 340 00:26:26.359 --> 00:26:27.960 It's kind of fun to pretend you're in these places sometimes, I guess. 341 00:26:29.680 --> 00:26:32.640 But anyways, getting back on track. Finally, if you made it this 342 00:26:32.720 --> 00:26:37.799 far and survived the two mile walk, Um, we arrived at the Sahara. 343 00:26:38.119 --> 00:26:41.279 The Sahara was the first Vegas Hotel I ever stayed at in two thousand 344 00:26:41.359 --> 00:26:45.480 five. Um, in two thousand and five I was in the Marine Corps 345 00:26:45.599 --> 00:26:49.160 and just recently graduating boot camp and on temper recruiter assistance studio out of Victorville, 346 00:26:49.319 --> 00:26:56.160 California. Um, by the way, recruiting, recruiter assistance was honestly 347 00:26:56.319 --> 00:27:00.480 just away from Marines to go home without taking leave, especially as newer marines 348 00:27:00.480 --> 00:27:03.519 had just graduated, we didn't really have any leave time. So it was 349 00:27:03.559 --> 00:27:06.200 just a way to get home for the holiday. So it's just Christmas or 350 00:27:06.200 --> 00:27:10.519 Thanksgiving and check in with the recruiter, maybe helping with a few things, 351 00:27:10.559 --> 00:27:15.799 but in any case, you know, a bunch of Marines are recruiter assistance 352 00:27:15.880 --> 00:27:19.519 duty because we all live in or around or near Victorville, and we got 353 00:27:19.599 --> 00:27:25.559 the idea to go to Las Vegas for the weekend. Now, as young, 354 00:27:25.720 --> 00:27:29.119 dumb marines, we didn't have anything planned, and I mean anything. 355 00:27:30.160 --> 00:27:34.279 We all piled in a car and we went to Vegas without any reservations or 356 00:27:34.319 --> 00:27:38.720 details on what we would be doing or when we would be doing and how 357 00:27:38.799 --> 00:27:44.079 we get back. Who's paying for what we just went and in the end 358 00:27:45.119 --> 00:27:48.200 the Marines I was with ended up sleeping in the car while I ventured out 359 00:27:48.240 --> 00:27:52.319 solo and booked a last minute hotel to Sahara, which wasn't bad and far 360 00:27:52.400 --> 00:27:56.000 better than sleeping in a car with a bunch of marines. The Sahara was 361 00:27:56.000 --> 00:28:03.839 closed down and reopened and has a Moroccan theme to it. Um. But 362 00:28:03.920 --> 00:28:07.200 the only, the only way, the only reason I would go to Vegas 363 00:28:07.279 --> 00:28:11.960 last minute because some sometimes, uh, Californias, actually do do that. 364 00:28:12.240 --> 00:28:15.279 They go home on a Friday. What do you want to do this weekend? 365 00:28:15.279 --> 00:28:18.400 I don't know. And a lot of Californias are like, let's go 366 00:28:18.440 --> 00:28:21.640 to Vegas and you just go and you book your hotel over the phone now 367 00:28:21.720 --> 00:28:26.759 and you just go and and sometimes that's that's the best experiences. Um, 368 00:28:26.759 --> 00:28:30.279 just last minute, spontaneous stuff. But that is kind of a California culture 369 00:28:30.279 --> 00:28:33.799 thing. I think we've all done that once. I have. I've come 370 00:28:33.799 --> 00:28:36.799 home from work Friday. God, what am I doing this weekend? You 371 00:28:36.839 --> 00:28:37.720 know what? I have been to Vegas and I'll just go and get I 372 00:28:37.759 --> 00:28:41.720 just get in the car and go and, uh, those are some of 373 00:28:41.759 --> 00:28:45.640 the best times. But anyways, thanks for hanging with me this far, 374 00:28:45.759 --> 00:28:51.480 because we finally reached the, uh, I guess the northern end of the 375 00:28:51.480 --> 00:28:57.119 Strip, because we've arrived at the Strat Hotel, which is Um, used 376 00:28:57.160 --> 00:29:03.559 to be called the stratosphere, but now it's called the Strat and UH. 377 00:29:04.279 --> 00:29:08.680 It's basically a large tower that resembles other famous observation towers, such as the 378 00:29:08.759 --> 00:29:15.119 CN Tower in Toronto, the Vancouver lookout in Vancouver and Seattle Space Needle and 379 00:29:15.240 --> 00:29:18.160 I'm not sure what kind of legal maneuvering had to happen for it to be 380 00:29:18.279 --> 00:29:25.319 changed from stratosphere to Strat but stratosphere was such a better name. Strat just 381 00:29:26.079 --> 00:29:30.559 sucks. I don't have to put it the STRAT. What the Hell is 382 00:29:30.599 --> 00:29:33.440 the Strat? Uh, it's always gonna be the stratosphere to me because that's 383 00:29:33.480 --> 00:29:36.400 what it is. That's what it was, that's what it should be. 384 00:29:36.839 --> 00:29:41.720 But under new management it's now the STRAT and I will say I've been to 385 00:29:41.720 --> 00:29:45.400 the Observation Tower here a few times and it's definitely worth a visit if you 386 00:29:45.440 --> 00:29:49.000 are looking for the ultimate to real seeking, seeking experience. The rights here 387 00:29:49.000 --> 00:29:52.359 at the top of the observation tower would otherwise give guys like me heart attacks, 388 00:29:53.599 --> 00:29:57.279 and I'm not necessarily afraid of heights, but oh my gosh, some 389 00:29:57.319 --> 00:30:00.599 of the things they have on here, you know, like like this roller 390 00:30:00.640 --> 00:30:04.720 coaster ride that just bends over the side and and it acts like it's got 391 00:30:04.759 --> 00:30:07.839 to drop you off and I don't know, you've probably seen this on Youtube 392 00:30:07.920 --> 00:30:11.200 or Um. You should watch the videos and some of the crazy rides that 393 00:30:11.240 --> 00:30:15.240 are up here. But yeah, not for me. There's also an uncontrolled, 394 00:30:15.319 --> 00:30:19.880 or actually say a controlled, skydiving experience where you put on a horror 395 00:30:21.079 --> 00:30:25.920 harness and the cable helps you to stand quickly hundreds of feet down. Um. 396 00:30:26.000 --> 00:30:30.279 You can usually observe this and the rides from the observation deck. Um. 397 00:30:30.319 --> 00:30:33.319 But yeah, not for me. The view is Great Dayre night, 398 00:30:33.359 --> 00:30:37.400 though, and you definitely can't beat it. At night it's so high up 399 00:30:37.400 --> 00:30:41.279 you'll be eye level with helicopters flying around. Um. It used to be 400 00:30:41.319 --> 00:30:45.079 pretty gingy, but a recent room model, when it transitioned to the Strat, 401 00:30:45.119 --> 00:30:48.079 cleaned a lot of it up and there's even a rooftop pool now with 402 00:30:48.119 --> 00:30:55.039 amazing views. So this is about as far as you want to go northbound 403 00:30:55.039 --> 00:30:59.200 as a tourist. Um, the moment you step north from the strath hotel, 404 00:30:59.200 --> 00:31:03.599 because you know every thing, I'm just not gonna sugarcoat everything goes to 405 00:31:03.680 --> 00:31:07.359 hell, guys. Um you see the ugly side of Vegas after you walk 406 00:31:07.440 --> 00:31:11.880 past the Strad Hotel. Um, you start to kind of see it even 407 00:31:11.920 --> 00:31:15.720 between the Sahara and circus circus on the Strad hotel. But once you pass 408 00:31:15.720 --> 00:31:22.519 the Strat Hotel, uh, everything's just on full display. Vagrants, drug 409 00:31:22.559 --> 00:31:26.039 addicts, petty criminals, prostitutes, gangs. Um. This is a free 410 00:31:26.079 --> 00:31:30.480 country and while you shouldn't have to be fearful walking down the street in public 411 00:31:30.759 --> 00:31:37.359 in an American city, the reality is you do. And Uh, I 412 00:31:37.519 --> 00:31:42.119 do not recommend going anywhere past the Strad hotel unless you're taking a bus or 413 00:31:44.440 --> 00:31:48.640 or a lift or a cab or your own car. Don't walk. UH, 414 00:31:48.720 --> 00:31:52.279 there's nothing over here anyways. The FREEMONT street experience is too far to 415 00:31:52.319 --> 00:31:56.039 walk. So at a minimum take the bus, although I suggest taking a 416 00:31:56.039 --> 00:31:59.400 lift over a bus. We'll get to that in the Statan security section of 417 00:31:59.440 --> 00:32:05.799 this episode. So turnaround. We're going southbound on the west side of the 418 00:32:05.799 --> 00:32:13.240 Strip and instead of going north, Um, head south and there's an entire 419 00:32:13.279 --> 00:32:15.279 another side of the Strip to explore and see on the West Side of Las 420 00:32:15.359 --> 00:32:20.720 Vegas Boulevard. So we'll pass by the Hilton Grand Vacations Club and arrive at 421 00:32:20.839 --> 00:32:25.599 circus circus, and I will split hairs here. This hotel and casino caters 422 00:32:25.680 --> 00:32:32.039 to travelers on a low budget. It usually has some of the cheapest rooms 423 00:32:32.039 --> 00:32:37.200 on the entire Strip, and that's for a reason, um. But it 424 00:32:37.240 --> 00:32:38.759 also does cat here to families. There's a lot of things for kids to 425 00:32:38.799 --> 00:32:45.759 do here, and we'll go into that. Um. It originally open and 426 00:32:45.920 --> 00:32:50.200 UH, the hotel section of this casino was at invent two, and let 427 00:32:50.200 --> 00:32:53.359 me tell you, it feels as old as it looks, and I mean 428 00:32:53.359 --> 00:32:58.079 that in a good and bad way. Um, it feels like maintenance is 429 00:32:58.160 --> 00:33:01.400 kept to a shoestring. Budge you here. Even when entering the Casino off 430 00:33:01.400 --> 00:33:07.200 the Las Vegas Boulevard, the automatic sliding doors struggle to open and it feels 431 00:33:07.240 --> 00:33:12.119 like even they're tired of of opening here. Um, carpets looks like they 432 00:33:12.119 --> 00:33:15.680 haven't been replaced in years and it's even more dim as far as lighting and 433 00:33:15.759 --> 00:33:20.400 you usually see in a casino, if that's even possible. But that doesn't 434 00:33:20.400 --> 00:33:24.160 mean circus circus should be completely ignored. As I said, this place caters 435 00:33:24.200 --> 00:33:29.039 to those with families and there's plenty to do here with kids orangels. has 436 00:33:29.079 --> 00:33:32.559 just grew up too fast. The most obvious example and famous example, is 437 00:33:32.599 --> 00:33:37.920 the adventure Dome Behind the hotel and Casino, which is basically a large indoor 438 00:33:37.960 --> 00:33:43.160 amusement park. There's even a roller coaster here. Admission is free and you 439 00:33:43.200 --> 00:33:45.559 pay per ride, like you traditionally would at a carnival or a fair. 440 00:33:45.359 --> 00:33:49.079 Um, a lot of rides, a lot of prizes. Uh. It's 441 00:33:49.119 --> 00:33:52.400 it's really pretty cool and it's nice and cool because, speaking of cool, 442 00:33:52.960 --> 00:33:58.599 because it's sheltered indoor. Um, a lot of fun. I'm in here 443 00:33:58.599 --> 00:34:00.240 a couple of times. Um, I admit I've never written anything here. 444 00:34:00.279 --> 00:34:02.759 I just like to walk around and watch some of the rides go, but 445 00:34:05.319 --> 00:34:07.319 this is uh. I also want to say this is also one of the 446 00:34:07.359 --> 00:34:13.519 few hotel casinos that still offers a buffet, particularly at dinner. A lot 447 00:34:13.519 --> 00:34:16.480 of the hotels on the Strip have done away with their buffet's Um. That 448 00:34:16.519 --> 00:34:21.360 happened during covid and a lot of them haven't brought them back. The few 449 00:34:21.400 --> 00:34:27.800 that have often only serve breakfast and lunch. For some reason, and I 450 00:34:27.800 --> 00:34:30.199 don't know what it is. I don't know if it's a liability issue or 451 00:34:30.239 --> 00:34:34.039 they just weren't making enough money off of it, but a lot of hotels 452 00:34:34.079 --> 00:34:39.119 did away with dinner buffet, but it's still here at circus circus. Um. 453 00:34:39.159 --> 00:34:43.719 The truthful stuff I said Earli about circus circus aside, this hotel has 454 00:34:43.760 --> 00:34:46.400 some old Las Vegas charm, which I do like. Um, I was 455 00:34:46.440 --> 00:34:52.199 walking around feeling like I was in the movie casino and expecting lefty Rostin or 456 00:34:52.400 --> 00:34:54.519 Tony the ants belowto to pop around a corner at any moment. It's kind 457 00:34:54.519 --> 00:34:58.159 of got that old Las Vegas charm to it and I kind of like that 458 00:34:58.199 --> 00:35:00.960 a little bit. Um. A lot of the food here also caters the 459 00:35:00.039 --> 00:35:05.840 kids. There's ice cream and crispy cream donuts and ice seas and Pizza, 460 00:35:06.360 --> 00:35:08.920 Um. But a few places do have a more serious meal, such as 461 00:35:09.239 --> 00:35:15.239 the steakhouse. And that's what it's called. It's called the steakhouse, but 462 00:35:15.400 --> 00:35:22.800 despite the original name, Um, it's actually won several awards in Las Vegas 463 00:35:22.840 --> 00:35:27.360 for best steakhouse. Um. And that's in sharp contrast to their cheap eats 464 00:35:27.360 --> 00:35:30.639 buffet. The buffet here was voted the worst in Las Vegas for seven straight 465 00:35:30.719 --> 00:35:37.360 years. So eat at Jone risk, I guess. But if you're not 466 00:35:37.400 --> 00:35:39.239 feeling the buffet, there's a food court here with lots of other options, 467 00:35:39.239 --> 00:35:44.000 so don't don't stress. Um. There's even a small anime and comic shop 468 00:35:44.000 --> 00:35:45.920 here that I noticed, which was the first time I've seen something like that 469 00:35:46.000 --> 00:35:51.400 in the Las Vegas hoteler casino. Honestly, this place feels like a hotel 470 00:35:51.440 --> 00:35:54.480 and Strip from fallout new Vegas, which says a lot considering that's a post 471 00:35:54.480 --> 00:36:00.800 apocalyptic themed game. So, after escaping circus circus, we proceed down the 472 00:36:00.880 --> 00:36:07.079 Las Vegas Boulevard and we'll be passing by a metro police station. So if 473 00:36:07.079 --> 00:36:10.159 something happens to you at circus circus, you're in luck. The police will 474 00:36:10.199 --> 00:36:15.039 be here to save you. Probably. Um. After passing by the Metro 475 00:36:15.039 --> 00:36:22.000 Police upstation, heading southbound, we arrived at resorts world. Um. Resorts 476 00:36:22.039 --> 00:36:27.000 world is the newest kid on the block and it's operated by Hilton. So 477 00:36:27.119 --> 00:36:30.000 you'll have a choice between three Hilton Brands, such as, uh well, 478 00:36:30.119 --> 00:36:35.119 basically, based on your budget standards, there's the Hilton, of course, 479 00:36:35.519 --> 00:36:40.400 the Higher End Conrad or the ultra luxury Crockford's. Um. Usually, when 480 00:36:40.400 --> 00:36:45.960 I stay at the Hilton here, it's anywhere between. You know about. 481 00:36:45.119 --> 00:36:51.679 It's usually around bucks. Um. Conrads usually ten or fifteen bucks. More. 482 00:36:52.000 --> 00:36:53.639 And then there's Crockfords, which ends up being like three or four or 483 00:36:53.679 --> 00:36:58.559 five hundred bucks a night, no matter what night I choose to look at 484 00:36:58.599 --> 00:37:01.519 it. So I don't know what they're offering you over an ultra luxury crock 485 00:37:01.559 --> 00:37:08.239 for it's a butt Um. The obviously cater to a certain Um, certain 486 00:37:08.360 --> 00:37:14.719 no limit credit card kind of people, I guess. But anyways, uh, 487 00:37:15.000 --> 00:37:17.880 resorts world is very high tech. That's something I do like about this 488 00:37:17.920 --> 00:37:22.000 resort. It's so high tech, in fact, I could open doors with 489 00:37:22.079 --> 00:37:25.360 my phone. And if you pick up snacks and drinks that are basically that 490 00:37:25.400 --> 00:37:30.960 they put in each room and you pick it up for too long, a 491 00:37:30.079 --> 00:37:36.480 sensor on the on the table that you pick it up from automatically bills your 492 00:37:36.519 --> 00:37:39.000 account for the item. So, for example, I walk in my room, 493 00:37:39.039 --> 00:37:43.280 Oh cool, there's there's the there's water in the and the M and 494 00:37:43.400 --> 00:37:46.199 M's and there's a beer in my fridge. And I picked that up and 495 00:37:46.239 --> 00:37:50.159 I think it was I think it was about a minute, I think, 496 00:37:50.719 --> 00:37:54.280 because there's a little tiny mini sign on it that warns you if you happen 497 00:37:54.320 --> 00:37:58.519 to be looking at it and it says if you you know, if you 498 00:37:58.559 --> 00:38:01.199 pick this up for sixty seconds autumnat could be billed the fifteen dollars for the 499 00:38:01.199 --> 00:38:06.159 ball of water or whatever ridiculous thing they charged. By the way, over 500 00:38:06.199 --> 00:38:08.719 at Tropicana, because I'm a Hilton diamond member, they not only they get 501 00:38:08.719 --> 00:38:12.679 to park right in front of the door to the casino, but they gave 502 00:38:12.719 --> 00:38:20.280 me free water. So to Hilton Hotels, basically because Tropicana is a double 503 00:38:20.320 --> 00:38:23.679 tree technically, or at least part of it is, and resorts world down 504 00:38:23.679 --> 00:38:28.760 the street is charging fifteen bucks for water. So I don't know what the 505 00:38:28.760 --> 00:38:34.320 discommunication at Hilton Headquarters is here, but anyways, don't even touch that over 506 00:38:34.400 --> 00:38:37.000 price junk and you nudge it the wrong way by accident or bumping into the 507 00:38:37.039 --> 00:38:40.440 table and you might get charged. I'm not saying you can't go down to, 508 00:38:40.719 --> 00:38:45.360 you know, get down to after you check out and uh, you 509 00:38:45.400 --> 00:38:49.519 know, dispute the bill, but well, I go through that househole. 510 00:38:49.599 --> 00:38:52.599 Just leave that crappler Um. The theme here, by the way, is 511 00:38:52.639 --> 00:38:58.519 simply Asian. That's Asian. That's the theme Um, because room rates are 512 00:38:58.559 --> 00:39:01.000 frequently under a hundred dollars. This kind of tells me that they are not 513 00:39:01.039 --> 00:39:06.719 getting the guest numbers they were hoping for, and that's probably because this hotel 514 00:39:07.480 --> 00:39:09.320 is a shadow of what it was supposed to be. The theme here was 515 00:39:09.360 --> 00:39:13.760 supposed to be so much more. It was supposed to have a panda exhibit 516 00:39:14.199 --> 00:39:16.559 and Indoor Water Park, a replica of the Great Wall of China, two 517 00:39:17.440 --> 00:39:22.039 square foot retail space, a five hundred thousand square foot convention space. There's 518 00:39:22.239 --> 00:39:29.559 there's all supposed to be seven hotel towers. Um. And Uh, it 519 00:39:29.559 --> 00:39:32.239 has none of that. Um. It's new and clean, spacious and high 520 00:39:32.280 --> 00:39:36.480 tech and I like that, but there's really not a whole lot to do 521 00:39:36.559 --> 00:39:39.840 here, unfortunately. Um, honestly, when I stay here, I I 522 00:39:39.960 --> 00:39:44.400 usually cool. The first time I was here I walked around a little bit. 523 00:39:44.440 --> 00:39:46.000 Awesome, it's new, it's clean, cool, and I went back 524 00:39:46.000 --> 00:39:50.360 on the Strip and went down to the Middle Strip and have found something else 525 00:39:50.400 --> 00:39:52.559 to do. Um. They really, I think they really kind of missed 526 00:39:52.679 --> 00:39:58.119 a huge opportunity here to save a little money. Um. But one thing 527 00:39:58.159 --> 00:40:00.880 they didn't skimp on here at resorts were old is the restaurants. There are 528 00:40:00.920 --> 00:40:06.880 more than forty of them here, from steakhouse to street food, and room 529 00:40:06.920 --> 00:40:10.480 service here is provided by GRUB hub. Um. Honestly, they should have 530 00:40:10.480 --> 00:40:14.599 finished what they started, though, as it's just another Generic Hotel and casino 531 00:40:14.840 --> 00:40:17.199 in my opinion, as opposed to the groundbreaking Nigga resort it was supposed to 532 00:40:17.239 --> 00:40:22.519 be. Nonetheless, it's not a bad place to base our Vegas operations or 533 00:40:22.519 --> 00:40:24.079 if you just need a room for the night, like I did once. 534 00:40:25.079 --> 00:40:30.119 So after resorts world, we continue southbound and arrived at Fashion Mall. That's 535 00:40:30.119 --> 00:40:37.199 the main fashion mall, continuing our trick southbound. Um. Well, yeah, 536 00:40:37.199 --> 00:40:38.760 we were at fashionable. Um. What can I tell you about Fashion 537 00:40:38.800 --> 00:40:45.559 Mall? Well, I can tell you it's a mall and uh, there's 538 00:40:45.599 --> 00:40:52.199 a lot of fashion stores and shops. And that's about it, folks. 539 00:40:52.320 --> 00:40:57.760 This is a common suburban looking two story indoor mall with a lot of your 540 00:40:57.760 --> 00:41:01.840 typical mall related stories you might find in your own local neighborhood mall. Um, 541 00:41:01.840 --> 00:41:06.639 and that's about it. So I'm saying it doesn't have its place on 542 00:41:06.679 --> 00:41:10.719 the Strip, but Um, it's kind of Nice actually. You know, 543 00:41:10.800 --> 00:41:17.719 because I've been ripping on the overpriced, ridiculous Gucci Bag, Louis Vuitton five 544 00:41:17.719 --> 00:41:22.400 thousand dollar purse form made in China bag and UH. And now here's a 545 00:41:22.440 --> 00:41:25.039 mall that actually will cater to me where I can buy a Polo Shirt for 546 00:41:25.079 --> 00:41:30.239 twenty bucks. And I'm I'm mad and I shouldn't be. Um, it's 547 00:41:30.280 --> 00:41:32.079 just I don't go to Vegas to shop for these things. I guess. 548 00:41:32.360 --> 00:41:35.719 If I'm gonna do this, you know I'm gonna go to like eard hard 549 00:41:35.760 --> 00:41:39.760 drive or something. Um, but anyways, and see, this is the 550 00:41:39.800 --> 00:41:43.159 same. The same thing applies here. If I'M gonna go to the mall 551 00:41:43.519 --> 00:41:45.519 on vacation in Las Vegas, Um, you know, I might as well 552 00:41:45.519 --> 00:41:49.599 just do that at home before I go. I'll probably find better prices. 553 00:41:49.639 --> 00:41:52.599 anyways, because you know these this mall has gotta pay up the rear end 554 00:41:52.639 --> 00:41:58.880 for, you know, property taxes and and fees and rentals and everything else 555 00:41:58.920 --> 00:42:02.840 whoever owns it. But anyways, after fashion ball we arrive at treasure island. 556 00:42:04.519 --> 00:42:08.039 Treasure island is seeing pirates adventure and the Caribbean. There's also a hotel 557 00:42:08.079 --> 00:42:13.039 casino where I watched muster by Circle Slayn, episode five of this podcast. 558 00:42:13.920 --> 00:42:19.760 Treasure island was famous for the sirens of Treasure Island pirate battle show, which 559 00:42:19.800 --> 00:42:23.480 pits sirens against pirates on two ships. The show used to run nightly, 560 00:42:24.239 --> 00:42:28.920 but going with the typical theme at Las Vegas Resorts these days, the hospital 561 00:42:29.119 --> 00:42:35.440 the hospitality is on decline and the show stopped in Um and honestly, it 562 00:42:36.239 --> 00:42:38.400 kind of makes me sad as hee a lot of these hotels going away from 563 00:42:38.400 --> 00:42:43.480 this kind of stuff. Um, I mean these hotels are racking in billions. 564 00:42:43.840 --> 00:42:45.559 How much kind of a dumb pirate show you pay a couple of actors 565 00:42:45.599 --> 00:42:50.519 to perform and really cost you guys to entertain, you know, your guests, 566 00:42:50.760 --> 00:42:53.760 but it is what it is, I guess, Um, I really 567 00:42:53.800 --> 00:42:55.960 I've watched the show a couple of times. There was a lot of fun. 568 00:42:57.400 --> 00:43:00.360 The kids loved it. You know, his family friendly and the theme 569 00:43:00.400 --> 00:43:04.039 is still cool. The shipsters are still there, but they just sit there 570 00:43:04.800 --> 00:43:07.480 and uh, you know, the boardwalk and the pirate themed lights and the 571 00:43:08.320 --> 00:43:13.079 you know, Um Lamps, I guess, hanging from the boardwalk and the 572 00:43:13.440 --> 00:43:15.519 water. It's still kind of NEAT. But I do kind of miss the 573 00:43:15.599 --> 00:43:21.639 show and it's unfortunate I'll probably never get see it again. So anyways, 574 00:43:21.679 --> 00:43:28.239 after leaving treasure island southbound, we arrive at the Mirage. Unlike Treasure Island 575 00:43:28.280 --> 00:43:32.199 Mirage still runs the erupting volcano um at eight, nine, ten and eleven 576 00:43:32.239 --> 00:43:36.760 pm, at least for now. Um. The show used to run more 577 00:43:36.800 --> 00:43:39.559 often, but it was reduced. And Uh, I say for now, 578 00:43:39.639 --> 00:43:45.800 because the Mirage is allegedly closing and we'll be transformed into a hard rock casino 579 00:43:45.840 --> 00:43:50.719 and hotel, which sucks in my opinion. But that's because I admit I'm 580 00:43:50.719 --> 00:43:52.840 at that into rock and roll in general, so I'm biased here. But 581 00:43:52.960 --> 00:43:57.519 with the rebranding, the hot rock hotel will feature a thousand Room Guitar Shaped 582 00:43:57.559 --> 00:44:02.000 Hotel Tower which will demolish a volcano and with it the free show. Las 583 00:44:02.079 --> 00:44:07.440 Vegas is changing. Also, I want to mention when I was considering which 584 00:44:07.440 --> 00:44:12.679 circus latacy first love was also on my list, next to muster at treasure 585 00:44:12.679 --> 00:44:16.480 island. Um and this. This show features the Beatles and their music and 586 00:44:16.639 --> 00:44:20.679 uh, we've all heard the Beatles music. Some of that stuff is pretty 587 00:44:20.960 --> 00:44:27.159 whack. Uh Lucy and the sky with diamonds, Um, uh, yellow 588 00:44:27.159 --> 00:44:30.639 submarine. I mean, it was gonna be kind of fun to see how 589 00:44:30.679 --> 00:44:35.639 circus a lay could could take this to stage and add acrobats to it. 590 00:44:35.679 --> 00:44:42.599 But the reason why I chose Mster over love was because MSTER, basically the 591 00:44:42.679 --> 00:44:45.119 REVIEWSAI had had a lot more acrobatic stuff, which is what made start to 592 00:44:45.159 --> 00:44:50.760 slay famous, whereas the Beatles, uh, the love show was basically more 593 00:44:50.880 --> 00:44:55.320 dancing and stuff like that. So I chose MSTER first. Um, I 594 00:44:55.320 --> 00:44:58.400 still want to see the love though, and I definitely need to see this 595 00:44:58.480 --> 00:45:02.880 before they close mirrage for good. Um. I've also been to the back 596 00:45:04.360 --> 00:45:09.800 and they have a Um, they have a dolphin exhibit. Basically. They 597 00:45:09.800 --> 00:45:13.159 also have the lions here. I don't know, I admit I don't know. 598 00:45:14.400 --> 00:45:16.079 Um, I haven't done my homework on this one. I don't know 599 00:45:16.119 --> 00:45:20.800 if the the lion exhibits still there. I still see the pool for the 600 00:45:20.840 --> 00:45:22.039 Dolphin. Have a TAT, so I think you can still go back there 601 00:45:22.079 --> 00:45:25.000 and and kind of watch the dolphins and I think they have a couple other 602 00:45:25.000 --> 00:45:29.159 extra features where you can feed them and stuff like that. But Um, 603 00:45:29.239 --> 00:45:31.239 definitely worth a visit if it's still there to see the dolphins and lions. 604 00:45:31.800 --> 00:45:35.719 But I know most of the UH, I think they're still there, but 605 00:45:36.599 --> 00:45:40.039 Um, like n GM, moved their lines off strip to another location that 606 00:45:40.079 --> 00:45:47.840 you can visit any case, we're leaving the Mirage and we're arriving at Caesar's 607 00:45:47.880 --> 00:45:54.079 Palace, and folks, Las Vegas is temporary, but the glory of Rome 608 00:45:54.199 --> 00:46:00.199 is forever, and that sums up Caesar's palace. Them of Caesar's Palace is 609 00:46:00.280 --> 00:46:05.599 ancient Rome, a period in history I absolutely enjoy studying and reading about, 610 00:46:06.599 --> 00:46:12.400 especially after watching Rome. Uh, Caesar's Palace has my third favorite pool complex, 611 00:46:12.920 --> 00:46:15.199 but I have to admit I'm biased because I like stuff from the Roman 612 00:46:15.199 --> 00:46:19.519 Republic and the empire. They also have the forum shops here, which is 613 00:46:19.519 --> 00:46:22.679 another place for you to spend thousands of dollars on a purse. But not 614 00:46:22.760 --> 00:46:25.239 to worry, they have a lot of other places for US middle class commoners 615 00:46:25.239 --> 00:46:30.360 to shop to, such as I've seen a an autograph store here with a 616 00:46:30.360 --> 00:46:35.599 bunch of autograph stuff, Memorabilia. I've seen like a boutique electronic gadget store, 617 00:46:36.280 --> 00:46:38.960 stuff that's more reasonable, still over priced, obviously, but more more 618 00:46:39.000 --> 00:46:44.880 UN reasonable territory for US middle classes. And believe it or not, the 619 00:46:44.920 --> 00:46:50.239 forum shops is the highest grossing ball in the entirely United States and it's also 620 00:46:50.280 --> 00:46:54.199 considered to be the most valuable real estate in Las Vegas. Overall, pretty 621 00:46:54.199 --> 00:46:59.159 impressive. UH, in the forum shops. They also have a really neat 622 00:46:59.280 --> 00:47:02.719 spiral sal later you can write up several floors. The forum shops also has 623 00:47:02.760 --> 00:47:08.840 a a free show, the fall of Atlantis, which shows performers, Um, 624 00:47:08.960 --> 00:47:14.159 well, actually are not performers but animatronics and UH, fire and water 625 00:47:14.280 --> 00:47:16.599 fix and UH. It's not that great of a show, to be honest, 626 00:47:16.679 --> 00:47:21.639 especially if you're spoiled with Disney animatronics. But it's free entertainment, so 627 00:47:21.679 --> 00:47:23.519 you can't really complain that much, can you? Of course you can. 628 00:47:23.599 --> 00:47:28.559 This casino makes billions and they should upgrade the stuff. But Um, the 629 00:47:28.639 --> 00:47:32.159 colosseum has hosted all kinds of a listers. There's a colosseum here, um, 630 00:47:32.360 --> 00:47:38.079 from Frank Sinatra to Barack Obama. And there's also a health kitch. 631 00:47:38.119 --> 00:47:43.840 I haven't been to health kitchen yet, but I've heard mostly good reviews. 632 00:47:43.880 --> 00:47:46.800 But I've definitely heard a couple of bad reviews. So do your own research 633 00:47:46.840 --> 00:47:50.000 on that one if you're gonna pay, you know, a hundred bucks per 634 00:47:50.000 --> 00:47:55.639 person for a meal. So, leaving Caesar's palace, we arrived at Bellaggio. 635 00:47:57.159 --> 00:48:00.440 Even though it was built almost twenty five years ago. Bellaggio is a 636 00:48:00.599 --> 00:48:06.480 luxury resort that prides itself on its most on its UH, basically impeccable upkeep. 637 00:48:06.880 --> 00:48:12.239 The resort features they can't Miss Conservatory and Botanical Garden. And the cool 638 00:48:12.280 --> 00:48:15.679 thing about this conservatory and Botanical Garden has it changes multiple times a year. 639 00:48:15.280 --> 00:48:17.960 And I walked in and I was like that's not real. I touched the 640 00:48:17.960 --> 00:48:22.639 plant. That's a real plant and they just they designed these things with all 641 00:48:22.760 --> 00:48:29.039 kinds of themes and like, when I went it was it was kind of 642 00:48:29.039 --> 00:48:32.159 like animal kingdom, but it was like parents and children animal kingdom theme. 643 00:48:32.320 --> 00:48:36.880 So basically they had like the lions and they had like the little lion and 644 00:48:36.920 --> 00:48:40.599 then they had um zebras, you know, the parents Zebra, and they 645 00:48:40.639 --> 00:48:44.119 had like a little zebra and it was just different little things like that with 646 00:48:44.199 --> 00:48:49.559 plants and, uh, landscaping and African theme stuff, and it was cool. 647 00:48:50.000 --> 00:48:54.559 Every time I go to the Conservatory at Um Blaggio it's it's always different 648 00:48:54.639 --> 00:48:59.719 and it's always cool and always unique and always really like they had. They 649 00:48:59.760 --> 00:49:02.599 ad Asolutely have a year round team here of dozens of people. This is 650 00:49:02.599 --> 00:49:07.639 all they do, uh, is be really creative and figure out what they're 651 00:49:07.639 --> 00:49:10.519 gonna create next. Don't miss this. This is a free, complete free 652 00:49:10.559 --> 00:49:17.519 to visit and uh, it's really cool. Um, of course, like, 653 00:49:17.519 --> 00:49:21.519 like most hotels, most of the bigger ones, there's a high end 654 00:49:21.559 --> 00:49:25.960 retail shop area here which features luxury brands such as Chanel, Gucci and product 655 00:49:27.679 --> 00:49:34.239 and theater for circulae o production. Now, I went to muster and I 656 00:49:34.280 --> 00:49:37.719 was considering love as well, but what I really wanted to see was oh. 657 00:49:37.880 --> 00:49:43.360 What I didn't want to do was pay bucks for a Middle Tier seat 658 00:49:44.400 --> 00:49:47.800 compared to the eight I spent over at a muster. So I didn't go 659 00:49:49.159 --> 00:49:53.119 because, uh no, I'm not paying bucks for a halfway up seat. 660 00:49:53.840 --> 00:49:58.679 Um, the see, you know, even if it's circles, Um, 661 00:49:58.719 --> 00:50:00.880 but that tells you how popular Oh is. So it must be really good 662 00:50:00.880 --> 00:50:05.519 because people keep coming to see it and they keep selling out, which is 663 00:50:05.519 --> 00:50:07.079 why the ticket prices are high. Supply and demands, simple as that. 664 00:50:08.000 --> 00:50:13.039 So I'm not mad, but I really would like to see oh if I 665 00:50:13.079 --> 00:50:17.159 can get a decent price for it. Um. Finally, I want to 666 00:50:17.159 --> 00:50:22.480 mention the hospitality has not gone from Bellaggio. They still run their world famous 667 00:50:22.519 --> 00:50:27.519 fountains and a giant mad made lake orchestrated to popular music day and night. 668 00:50:28.199 --> 00:50:30.360 There's even a fine art gallery here, along with a two thousand square foot 669 00:50:30.400 --> 00:50:36.840 glass art piece that hangs from the ceiling of the hotel lobby. And UH, 670 00:50:37.719 --> 00:50:40.960 of course, they have several expensive restaurants and a buffet. They still 671 00:50:42.000 --> 00:50:45.480 have dinner buffet and I've been to the BELLAGIO buffet and I've been to the 672 00:50:45.480 --> 00:50:51.039 wind buffet. I think when takes the cake out of all buffets in Las 673 00:50:51.119 --> 00:50:57.400 Vegas, they definitely have the best of the best. But I would say 674 00:50:57.599 --> 00:51:02.639 UH. I would say blage is a very close second. Um. Third 675 00:51:02.679 --> 00:51:07.159 would be Um, would be Caesar's palace. But honestly, I've been a 676 00:51:07.159 --> 00:51:10.159 critical of a lot of hotels on the Strip, on this podcast or otherwise, 677 00:51:10.760 --> 00:51:15.239 but I can't find very much fault with Blaggio. It's a beautiful hotel. 678 00:51:15.280 --> 00:51:16.840 There's a lot of cool things to do here, whether you're a guest 679 00:51:16.920 --> 00:51:22.159 or not, including the Free Fountain and the Conservatory. Um, the pools 680 00:51:22.159 --> 00:51:27.480 are everything is an impeccable condition. But you're definitely gonna pay to stay here. 681 00:51:27.480 --> 00:51:30.320 It's one of the most expensive resorts on the Strip. For a standard 682 00:51:30.440 --> 00:51:35.440 room or otherwise. The theme of Belaggio is Italy. Belaggio Italy, I 683 00:51:35.480 --> 00:51:39.679 should say a city along a city in Italy, along the coast. Belaggio 684 00:51:39.800 --> 00:51:45.039 Italy. So leaving the Belaggio, sadly, because I love the Bolagio, 685 00:51:45.159 --> 00:51:52.039 were arriving down southbound to the cosmopolitan. The theme of the Cosmic Tlitan is 686 00:51:52.119 --> 00:51:55.960 metropolitan, or metro for short, basically high class urban you might find around 687 00:51:57.000 --> 00:52:00.400 Fifth Avenue in New York. Um, I'm a bigger fan, I said, 688 00:52:00.440 --> 00:52:02.840 of the more fun themed hotels and casinos like caesars palace and Treasure Island, 689 00:52:02.960 --> 00:52:07.920 and Cosmo has always been kind of one of those generic hotel casinos to 690 00:52:07.960 --> 00:52:12.639 me, so I don't visit that often. Never stayed here, but if 691 00:52:12.679 --> 00:52:15.840 I did, it would be to visit their boulevard pool, which is a 692 00:52:15.960 --> 00:52:20.480 rooftop pool a few stories above for the Las Vegas Strip where you can swim 693 00:52:20.599 --> 00:52:24.440 right next to the the Las Vegas Boulevard. Um, just a really cool 694 00:52:24.440 --> 00:52:29.000 feature. I think they also have a movies movie night here on a giant 695 00:52:29.039 --> 00:52:30.880 screen where you can swim and watch movies. Um, that would be kind 696 00:52:30.880 --> 00:52:34.800 of fun. I wouldn't mind doing that sometimes I may a book a hotel 697 00:52:34.800 --> 00:52:39.559 here eventually just to do that. Um Right next to cosmopolitan, arguably in 698 00:52:39.599 --> 00:52:46.079 the same hotel complex, resort complex is Aria, slimitter COSMO, generic, 699 00:52:46.159 --> 00:52:52.519 modern, metropolitan, Metropolitan Um. Moving on, Park N G M, 700 00:52:52.599 --> 00:52:58.000 Park Ngm, next to uh, the COSMO. It used to be the 701 00:52:58.039 --> 00:53:01.920 Monte Carlo, but it was transformed to the park and GM, which does 702 00:53:02.000 --> 00:53:05.400 go well with the New York New York theme. Next door. I have 703 00:53:05.440 --> 00:53:08.440 to admit, they even built a New York style park in between New York 704 00:53:08.440 --> 00:53:14.039 New York and park and GM, which I thought was well done. I've 705 00:53:14.039 --> 00:53:15.679 been to New York and it does feel like a New York Park, with 706 00:53:15.719 --> 00:53:21.440 the signs and everything else the style Um, but I have to stay at 707 00:53:21.480 --> 00:53:24.840 the park mgm it because it's brand new. Maybe eventually. But on that 708 00:53:24.920 --> 00:53:29.440 note, New York New York it has to be my favorite theme of all 709 00:53:29.440 --> 00:53:32.280 the hotels on the Strip, even Caesar's. When I when you walk inside 710 00:53:32.280 --> 00:53:36.880 New York New York, you'll travel down narrow streets packed with buildings on both 711 00:53:36.880 --> 00:53:40.639 sides and New York theme shops. The windows up in the basically you would 712 00:53:40.639 --> 00:53:44.039 see in the Bronx. Perhaps you know, a lot of the windows have 713 00:53:44.079 --> 00:53:47.119 little themes in them or something New York related, like a jets football or 714 00:53:47.159 --> 00:53:52.360 something like that. Um, the entire outside looks like the New York skyline. 715 00:53:52.880 --> 00:53:58.400 New York's Empire State Building Hotel Room Tower was the tallest building in Nevada. 716 00:53:58.679 --> 00:54:04.679 Um until when built the until when Las Vegas was built into thousand five. 717 00:54:05.480 --> 00:54:07.360 They also have that famous roller coaster that runs around the resort, including 718 00:54:07.400 --> 00:54:12.280 near Las Vegas Boulevard. One ride is between nineteen and twenty three dollars, 719 00:54:12.320 --> 00:54:16.159 depending on what time you go. And finally, they have a new search 720 00:54:16.239 --> 00:54:22.280 to slay show called Matt Apple here as well. Um, that was probably 721 00:54:22.320 --> 00:54:24.639 the last choice on my list. I wanted to see one in some of 722 00:54:24.639 --> 00:54:29.639 the more traditional search to slay shows, as search as like continues to evolve. 723 00:54:30.119 --> 00:54:31.960 I wanted to see more one of the more the original production that made 724 00:54:31.960 --> 00:54:37.079 it famous, which is why I went to seems so even Um New York, 725 00:54:37.119 --> 00:54:42.480 New York. We Cross over another pedestrian bridge and arrive at Excalibur. 726 00:54:43.000 --> 00:54:46.480 EXCALIBUR is scened after medieval Europe and his family friendly to a large degree. 727 00:54:47.079 --> 00:54:50.480 They have a huge arcade in the basement, as well as a tournament of 728 00:54:50.599 --> 00:54:54.159 kings, which is kind of like medieval times. Dinner and tournament pretty similar 729 00:54:54.239 --> 00:54:57.760 in a lot of ways. Um. I went to the tournament of the 730 00:54:57.840 --> 00:55:00.559 King's fairly recently and had a great time. The food was okay, but 731 00:55:00.719 --> 00:55:05.440 the tournament was a lot of fun. When buying tickets, you assign yourself 732 00:55:05.480 --> 00:55:09.079 to a particular country. These countries are Ireland, Spain, France, Hungary, 733 00:55:09.119 --> 00:55:15.079 Austria, Norway, Russia and Dragon. And basically you're sitting, Um, 734 00:55:15.199 --> 00:55:19.480 you're sitting in your section. I was in Ireland for this performance, 735 00:55:19.920 --> 00:55:22.320 and you cheer on your night and, Um, you know, hope he 736 00:55:22.400 --> 00:55:28.320 wins and everything else, and they teach you different medieval chant and and ways 737 00:55:28.360 --> 00:55:31.760 to do stuff and, uh, it's it's obviously all stage, but it's 738 00:55:31.760 --> 00:55:35.800 still a lot of fun chearing for your night and jeering at the enemy nights. 739 00:55:36.800 --> 00:55:38.920 Um, and it's just a good time overall. Plus, they feed 740 00:55:38.960 --> 00:55:42.960 you as part of your ticket, you know, like a traditional meal. 741 00:55:43.480 --> 00:55:49.360 They give you a big plate of of of food and no utensils. You 742 00:55:49.440 --> 00:55:52.480 eat just like they would have done way back in the day in Medieval Times, 743 00:55:52.840 --> 00:55:58.000 with your hands, as God intended. So anyways, after leaving uh 744 00:55:58.280 --> 00:56:04.199 Excalibur, we arrive at the luxe or next door and we're almost to the 745 00:56:04.320 --> 00:56:07.679 end. Um. The coolest thing I found to do at Lux or is 746 00:56:07.719 --> 00:56:12.679 the Titanic Museum and exhibit. Um. I haven't done bodies here, but 747 00:56:12.880 --> 00:56:16.599 I did do the titanic exhibit twice. And when you start the titanic exhibit 748 00:56:16.599 --> 00:56:21.920 you'll receive a completely random card with an actual titanic passenger and there are many 749 00:56:22.199 --> 00:56:25.039 as you go through the tour there are many actual artifacts that were brought up 750 00:56:25.079 --> 00:56:30.719 from the titanic, including the big piece, the largest titanic artifact ever recorded, 751 00:56:30.719 --> 00:56:35.599 which is a sixteen by Twelve ft section of Titanic starboards side Hole, 752 00:56:35.840 --> 00:56:42.639 weighing fifteen tons. Um. After all the movies and all the popular media 753 00:56:42.760 --> 00:56:45.880 stuff and Games and everything else, it's just walking into this room and just 754 00:56:45.920 --> 00:56:52.159 seeing an actual piece of the real thing is kind of mesmerizing. It kind 755 00:56:52.159 --> 00:56:54.000 of sets you back a little bit like wow, there it is, that's 756 00:56:54.079 --> 00:57:00.159 that's part of titanic. Um. Other areas of the of the a bit 757 00:57:00.199 --> 00:57:01.480 are set up to look like they actually did on the ship, including an 758 00:57:01.599 --> 00:57:06.320 entire one for one mock up of the grand staircase. You'll be able to 759 00:57:06.360 --> 00:57:10.199 have your photo taken Andy and basically take the purchase the photo later at the 760 00:57:10.280 --> 00:57:14.639 end of the tour. And at the end you also be able to look 761 00:57:14.719 --> 00:57:17.239 up on a big wall Um the story of your passenger on your card and 762 00:57:17.280 --> 00:57:21.960 find out whether they survived the sinking or not. Um Lux are also has 763 00:57:21.960 --> 00:57:24.039 the blue man group, which has mixed reviews, so definitely do your research. 764 00:57:24.119 --> 00:57:28.920 I haven't seen the show being put off by the mixed reviews, but 765 00:57:29.599 --> 00:57:34.079 the general gist I got from their views is that children love it and adults 766 00:57:34.079 --> 00:57:37.760 are divided. So if you're going to, you know, Vegas for a 767 00:57:37.800 --> 00:57:40.679 family trip, you know, maybe if the kids treat the kids and lets 768 00:57:40.719 --> 00:57:46.599 me watch, watch these comedic alien looking things do different things, but a 769 00:57:46.639 --> 00:57:50.440 lot of adults are like yeah, I don't know, some are like yeah, 770 00:57:50.480 --> 00:57:53.119 amazing, others like yeah, I wish, I wouldn't want to saw 771 00:57:53.119 --> 00:57:58.440 certain to like Um. Finally we did it. We've reached Mandelaide Bay, 772 00:57:58.559 --> 00:58:02.320 the final destination on the sea. Seemingly endless walk and at this point I 773 00:58:02.360 --> 00:58:07.360 have no idea why I haven't collapsed and gone to the hospital for he stroke, 774 00:58:07.719 --> 00:58:10.519 but I made it and let me tell you, I was absolutely exhausted 775 00:58:10.559 --> 00:58:15.159 at this point, kind of a walking Zombie Um, as you will find 776 00:58:15.199 --> 00:58:17.719 out if you walk this, but especially if you do this and on your 777 00:58:17.760 --> 00:58:22.719 fifteen degree heat like I did. Mandalaid Bay has my favorite pool complex on 778 00:58:22.760 --> 00:58:27.760 the entire Strip, hands down. They have a lazy river, regular pools, 779 00:58:27.760 --> 00:58:30.119 an adults only pool, a child Waiting Area Pool, a beach club 780 00:58:30.400 --> 00:58:35.320 and a wave pool, the only wave pool on the strip. Mandalaid Bay's 781 00:58:35.360 --> 00:58:37.360 beach also has real sand where the lounge shairs are set up, adding to 782 00:58:37.360 --> 00:58:42.559 the amazing environment, plus all the tropical landscaping. Honestly, if you are 783 00:58:43.440 --> 00:58:47.000 a pool person or a per or a pool family, this resort has a 784 00:58:47.000 --> 00:58:50.519 little bit of everything that will satisfy your needs. In the pool section, 785 00:58:51.559 --> 00:58:53.639 besides the amazing pool there's also one of my favorite attractions here on the Strip, 786 00:58:53.679 --> 00:58:58.519 the Shark Reef Aquarium. The aquarium is pretty well done, with over 787 00:58:58.599 --> 00:59:02.639 two thousand animals, including sharp works raised Green Sea Turtles, Piranhas, Komoda, 788 00:59:02.719 --> 00:59:07.000 dragons Um General and it starts at twenty nine bucks, and keep in 789 00:59:07.079 --> 00:59:12.440 mind they often have specials here. Basically, you purchase a taken to the 790 00:59:12.440 --> 00:59:15.960 Shark Reef Funday through Thursday, you'll get access to the pool complex as well. 791 00:59:15.719 --> 00:59:19.199 Um, at least that they were running that special when I checked a 792 00:59:19.199 --> 00:59:22.239 few weeks ago. So definitely check. If you are visiting on on a 793 00:59:22.280 --> 00:59:24.840 Monday through Thursday, you might get access to the pool I just talked about 794 00:59:24.880 --> 00:59:30.480 as well. Well, we just completed a walk down the entire Las Vegas 795 00:59:30.480 --> 00:59:35.880 Strip. Two things I want to add to this podcast are parking and safety, 796 00:59:35.880 --> 00:59:38.920 slash security. Over the years, some of the resorts have gotten a 797 00:59:38.920 --> 00:59:44.519 little greedy, in my ever so humble opinion, and started charging for parking. 798 00:59:45.159 --> 00:59:49.119 That includes Caesar's properties and MGM Properties, even for guests of the hotel 799 00:59:49.199 --> 00:59:52.440 staying at the stay in the night, and that drives me absolutely nuts. 800 00:59:52.519 --> 00:59:55.800 I'm your guest, I'm paying you for a room and I can't even park 801 00:59:55.880 --> 01:00:00.760 my car. Um, that drives me nuts. I don't agree with that 802 01:00:00.800 --> 01:00:05.599 at all, especially you're already paying a resort fee, which is often more 803 01:00:05.599 --> 01:00:09.000 expensive than the hotel room itself. Um, these people have just gone overboard. 804 01:00:09.800 --> 01:00:14.000 But on that note, there are a couple of resorts on the Strip 805 01:00:14.000 --> 01:00:19.760 that's to offer free parking and traditional Las Vegas hospitality. Um, that includes 806 01:00:19.800 --> 01:00:25.760 treasure island, the Venetian Palazzo, Tropicana, circus, Circus Sahara, the 807 01:00:25.800 --> 01:00:35.199 Strat stratosphere casino, Royal Win and encore. Also, if you are a 808 01:00:35.280 --> 01:00:38.559 veteran or in the military and can prove your status, such as a v 809 01:00:38.639 --> 01:00:43.199 a card, for example, you all cannot. You can automatically upgrade your 810 01:00:43.199 --> 01:00:45.920 players club card at MGM from Entry Level STAP fire to Pearl, and that 811 01:00:46.000 --> 01:00:51.360 gives you free parking. On the flip side, seasons also offers a rewards 812 01:00:51.360 --> 01:00:55.679 card for active duty and veterans that will give you a quote complementary self and 813 01:00:55.719 --> 01:01:01.519 bill at parking at many destinations. So not all of them, but many. 814 01:01:04.159 --> 01:01:07.519 Um Uh. You know. Something else I want to add to is 815 01:01:07.519 --> 01:01:09.119 getting around. Now, walking is used just the way to get around the 816 01:01:09.119 --> 01:01:12.800 Strip, but if you don't want to walk the entire thing like I just 817 01:01:12.840 --> 01:01:15.280 did, there are some options for you. The Las Vegas monorail travels from 818 01:01:15.360 --> 01:01:21.079 MGM to Sahara. Um Without the airport extension, it was kind of doomed 819 01:01:21.079 --> 01:01:25.320 to bankruptcy, but if you're staying at the Sahara or the strap, this 820 01:01:25.320 --> 01:01:29.639 will give you easy access to the rest of the Strip. The monorail is 821 01:01:29.679 --> 01:01:36.559 conveniently located to uh is actually stopped conveniently located? It's inconveniently located, I 822 01:01:36.559 --> 01:01:42.599 should say, Um far back behind all the hotels. Um. So if 823 01:01:42.599 --> 01:01:45.239 you're riding from let's say mgm to Flamingo, and especially writing it from a 824 01:01:45.280 --> 01:01:49.679 resort on the west side of the Strip, Um, it might just be 825 01:01:49.679 --> 01:01:53.360 better just to walk. Um. Honestly, if they ever get around to 826 01:01:53.400 --> 01:01:58.480 get in that airport extension done, that will just be uh, that will 827 01:01:58.559 --> 01:02:02.119 just be a miracle for the for the monorail. It will it will remain 828 01:02:02.400 --> 01:02:07.119 competitive and successful after that. But unfortunately, politics being what it is in 829 01:02:07.159 --> 01:02:13.519 Las Vegas, the taxi union fights at too the Mil and uh, it 830 01:02:13.639 --> 01:02:16.280 is what it is, unfortunately. Um. Hopefully they'll eventually do it, 831 01:02:16.320 --> 01:02:21.400 though, because I think everybody should have options, which is why I want 832 01:02:21.400 --> 01:02:24.480 to mention if you fly into Las Vegas, Um, the taxi union must 833 01:02:24.480 --> 01:02:29.000 be really strong in Las Vegas because, Um, as soon as you walk 834 01:02:29.000 --> 01:02:31.639 out of the terminal there's taxi after taxi after taxi and then there's a little 835 01:02:31.679 --> 01:02:37.079 sign um right share this way and you literally have to walk way out of 836 01:02:37.079 --> 01:02:45.079 your way, Um, down this huge airport entrance, you know, upstairs, 837 01:02:45.159 --> 01:02:49.320 across the bridge into a parking garage to get to your your lift or 838 01:02:49.320 --> 01:02:53.599 your Uber, Um, and all these taxies could just park front and center. 839 01:02:53.880 --> 01:02:57.840 Um, you know, I was so mad and angry about that and 840 01:02:57.920 --> 01:02:59.679 all these taxies I was are gonna come on, you want to go to 841 01:02:59.679 --> 01:03:00.760 the street? You know, no, no, no, no, no, 842 01:03:00.760 --> 01:03:05.320 no, you know, screw you guys. Um, just in spite, 843 01:03:05.360 --> 01:03:07.719 I'm gonna go take the extra you know, half a mile walk and 844 01:03:07.760 --> 01:03:14.119 go get in my uber because, Um, just in spite, um, 845 01:03:14.199 --> 01:03:15.360 that kind of stuff annoys me, you know. You know I'm always about, 846 01:03:16.159 --> 01:03:20.079 Um, maximum value for your dollar and not being screwed in a lot 847 01:03:20.079 --> 01:03:23.199 of things, and nothing is taxi drivers at all. If you're your tax 848 01:03:23.280 --> 01:03:27.039 driver and you listen to this podcast and or a newber left driver, you 849 01:03:27.079 --> 01:03:30.079 know, God bless you, but it's just, it's just that's ridiculous. 850 01:03:30.119 --> 01:03:34.400 Give give people the choice. Let the market dictate. I'm all about that. 851 01:03:35.079 --> 01:03:37.480 Um. Any case, there's also a double decker bus along strip. 852 01:03:37.519 --> 01:03:42.079 It's called the Deuce, and I don't mean the number two or taking a 853 01:03:42.159 --> 01:03:45.039 dump. I mean Um, well, actually it kind of is in a 854 01:03:45.079 --> 01:03:50.159 way. Um, but I've written this bus a few times and it's mostly 855 01:03:50.199 --> 01:03:53.679 convenient if you want a cheap ride to downtown Las Vegas without paying for a 856 01:03:53.719 --> 01:04:00.000 lift or Uber, but in general I can't necessarily recommend it. Um, 857 01:04:00.039 --> 01:04:03.119 the trip, especially on busy days, is painstakingly slow down the strip. 858 01:04:03.960 --> 01:04:10.760 Um, wait, traffic on Las Vegas Boulevard, especially on weekends and holidays 859 01:04:10.800 --> 01:04:15.119 and Summer Nights, is just crazy as it is. But this bus, 860 01:04:15.159 --> 01:04:18.280 on top of, you know, being a giant bus, you know, 861 01:04:18.400 --> 01:04:23.440 barely walk, barely rolling down the strip. It's almost it's almost faster to 862 01:04:23.519 --> 01:04:27.239 walk sometimes. But on top of that it's kind of make multiple stops and 863 01:04:27.239 --> 01:04:30.599 pick up people and there are some strange folks that ride the bus. On 864 01:04:30.639 --> 01:04:34.360 my last trip from the wind bus stop to downtown Las Vegas at night, 865 01:04:34.840 --> 01:04:40.559 the bus was absolutely packed, U standing room only. Some of the writers 866 01:04:40.599 --> 01:04:44.039 had terrible body order and a homeless female vagrant gave me the stair down for 867 01:04:44.119 --> 01:04:47.280 most of the trip. Um, I just kind of stared her down too, 868 01:04:47.320 --> 01:04:50.679 to be fair, after she stared me down. But that's just let 869 01:04:50.679 --> 01:04:54.440 her know. Hey, don't miss me, but Um, just take a 870 01:04:54.480 --> 01:04:59.079 lift, pay the extra few bucks and take a lift or or an over, 871 01:04:59.159 --> 01:05:00.119 if that's what you want to do. I take lift because I get 872 01:05:00.199 --> 01:05:04.400 Hilton points for it. But on that note, let's get into safety and 873 01:05:04.440 --> 01:05:11.920 security and concerns that I have walk in the Las Vegas trip. Um, 874 01:05:12.000 --> 01:05:14.719 for starters, if you listen to any of other episodes of my podcast, 875 01:05:14.719 --> 01:05:17.960 I usually add a safety or concern section. But, um, that's just 876 01:05:17.960 --> 01:05:21.320 because I want you guys to be safe wherever you go and as why? 877 01:05:21.360 --> 01:05:25.039 Do you know? As my previous podcast you know, I used to work 878 01:05:25.039 --> 01:05:28.360 in law enforcement. So this is something that I just noticed and I just 879 01:05:28.400 --> 01:05:30.119 want to add and just keep you guys safe. Um, for starters, 880 01:05:30.159 --> 01:05:35.159 I'm not afraid to go anywhere. I'll even walk past the STRAT hotel straight 881 01:05:35.199 --> 01:05:39.639 down into Denti in Las Vegas. I can take care of myself. But 882 01:05:40.039 --> 01:05:44.239 those of you who don't want any kind of issues, or maybe you got 883 01:05:44.239 --> 01:05:46.400 a family with you and you gotta look out for them. Um, that's 884 01:05:46.440 --> 01:05:49.280 why I add this section. I want to keep you as safe and first 885 01:05:49.320 --> 01:05:55.559 and foremost, vagrants. They are here everywhere, on each and every block 886 01:05:55.559 --> 01:05:59.239 of the Strip and sometimes in the casinos as well. They're begging for money, 887 01:06:00.039 --> 01:06:03.119 they're seeing or playing instruments for money. They're sprawled out across the sidewalks, 888 01:06:03.159 --> 01:06:08.400 high on drugs or passed out from alcohol. Some have changed their typically 889 01:06:08.400 --> 01:06:13.320 bad habits of trying to emotionally manipulate you for for money by being truthful, 890 01:06:13.320 --> 01:06:16.599 holding signs letting you know hey giving money because this is for drugs and alcohol. 891 01:06:17.239 --> 01:06:20.280 There are vagrants on virtually every bridge, in every corner of the Strip. 892 01:06:20.360 --> 01:06:25.880 Guys and uh, the ones that are not begging for money, Um, 893 01:06:25.960 --> 01:06:28.599 are basically passed out in corners or taking a leak on the side of 894 01:06:28.679 --> 01:06:32.000 multimillion dollar casinos. Um, photos will be on the website one day, 895 01:06:32.000 --> 01:06:36.679 and Silkale DOT com, by the way. But Las Vegas used to do 896 01:06:36.719 --> 01:06:40.840 a better job at keeping them off and away from the Strip. But the 897 01:06:40.880 --> 01:06:45.800 fact is, as much as I don't like seeing people, you know, 898 01:06:46.400 --> 01:06:50.280 uh, basically hitting rock bottom right in front of me, Um, and 899 01:06:50.320 --> 01:06:54.159 as much as I don't like seeing that on display in a tourist there like 900 01:06:54.159 --> 01:06:58.440 the Strip, unless they are doing something illegal that law enforcement actually enforces, 901 01:06:59.239 --> 01:07:02.119 they have the exact same rights and privileges as any American or legal alien walking 902 01:07:02.119 --> 01:07:06.360 down the public sidewalk, and that is what it is, and I say 903 01:07:06.440 --> 01:07:12.159 that law enforcement actually enforces, because the fact is there are a lot of 904 01:07:12.199 --> 01:07:16.039 low level misdemeanor or infraction crimes. Law enforced agencies such as Las Vegas Metro 905 01:07:16.079 --> 01:07:26.400 Police Um, have been directed by politicians basically not to enforce Um. Most 906 01:07:26.840 --> 01:07:30.719 most of these vagrants are not overly aggressive with panhandling. The ones that are 907 01:07:30.800 --> 01:07:34.800 most annoying and aggressive are the half dress show girls and the rappers giving out 908 01:07:34.840 --> 01:07:39.719 CDs. Um. A couple things I want to note about about the half 909 01:07:39.840 --> 01:07:45.199 dress show girls Um asking you to take their picture with them. Um. 910 01:07:45.280 --> 01:07:48.119 Just for a few of you out there that don't know, because I don't 911 01:07:48.159 --> 01:07:50.880 want to sell your intelligence, but every time I go to the Strip I 912 01:07:50.920 --> 01:07:57.199 see the back and forth between a naive tourist and a pair of show girl 913 01:07:57.599 --> 01:08:00.840 females who were initially nice and cordial and are now angry and demanding money after 914 01:08:00.920 --> 01:08:05.920 taking a picture with tourists, sometimes even threatening legal action or police action. 915 01:08:06.559 --> 01:08:09.719 So, first and foremost, I want to know, I want to let 916 01:08:09.760 --> 01:08:13.760 you know what your rights are. It's just an average tourist and American citizen 917 01:08:13.880 --> 01:08:17.079 or American visitor walking down the Strip. First, illegal BS. I'm not 918 01:08:17.159 --> 01:08:19.439 a lawyer, I can't give legal advice. Blah, Blah Blah. Now 919 01:08:21.239 --> 01:08:29.960 you have the Absolute First Amendment, constitutionally protected right, Supreme Court affirmed right, 920 01:08:30.840 --> 01:08:34.119 whether you are a citizen or tourist here, to take photos or videos 921 01:08:34.199 --> 01:08:41.279 of anything within plain view in public. Let me say that again. You 922 01:08:41.359 --> 01:08:48.319 have the absolute right to take photos or video of anything, absolutely anything within 923 01:08:48.399 --> 01:08:54.960 plain view in public. What does that mean? That means in public sidewalk, 924 01:08:55.079 --> 01:08:58.880 streets, parks, you can take photos of anything, shoot them all 925 01:08:58.920 --> 01:09:01.640 day long, all night long, and I don't care if the sidewalk runs 926 01:09:01.680 --> 01:09:06.279 up all the way to area fifty one and they have a top secret need 927 01:09:06.319 --> 01:09:12.159 to know only aircraft on full display and a soldier walks out and says stop 928 01:09:12.199 --> 01:09:15.720 taking photos. I don't care if it's a nuclear power plan. You're taking 929 01:09:15.760 --> 01:09:19.079 photos from the beach, from a public beach, and plant security or United 930 01:09:19.119 --> 01:09:24.760 States Department of Energy Police show up and demand you stop. And I don't 931 01:09:24.760 --> 01:09:28.600 care if you take photos with these girls and they demand money. You can 932 01:09:28.640 --> 01:09:31.359 take all the photos you want, with or without permission. That is your 933 01:09:31.359 --> 01:09:36.039 constitutionally protected right. Um, challenge me on this any time of day. 934 01:09:36.680 --> 01:09:40.840 Um, this is your right, of course, I have to add to 935 01:09:40.840 --> 01:09:43.439 disclaimer here. Don't be a creeper. You don't need to. You shouldn't 936 01:09:43.479 --> 01:09:46.359 abuse your constitutionally protected rights by harassing police or shooting photos of people that don't 937 01:09:46.399 --> 01:09:48.960 want it, and that includes these, the show girls, who are here 938 01:09:49.000 --> 01:09:53.399 for your entertainment. And be a decent human being. If you do take 939 01:09:53.399 --> 01:09:56.039 photos of these ladies, honestly, I think you should tip them. After 940 01:09:56.079 --> 01:09:58.960 all, they work very hard to keep their bodies and tip top shape and 941 01:09:59.039 --> 01:10:02.800 dress up and walk around Oum for really an an expensive souvenir photo for tours 942 01:10:02.840 --> 01:10:08.479 on the Strip. Um. But just know that you don't have to. 943 01:10:08.720 --> 01:10:11.279 And if they get angry or threaten you or walk, you know, walk 944 01:10:11.279 --> 01:10:14.039 away. If they follow you and continue to Thrid, you call the police. 945 01:10:14.520 --> 01:10:17.319 If I was a police officer and I responded to your call about non 946 01:10:17.399 --> 01:10:21.840 payment for services, I would pretty much tell these ladies go pounds and you 947 01:10:21.840 --> 01:10:29.840 are under no financial obligation or contract for goods or services rendered here. Um. 948 01:10:29.880 --> 01:10:32.920 So you know, just know that. Um, these ladies will size 949 01:10:32.920 --> 01:10:35.720 you up if they think you're made of a little bit more money. You 950 01:10:35.720 --> 01:10:39.520 know, I've seen them, I have. I've seen them try to ask 951 01:10:39.520 --> 01:10:42.680 people for Fifty Bucks for a photo and then I see him talk to the 952 01:10:42.680 --> 01:10:45.920 next group of people in five bucks. Um. So you know, just 953 01:10:45.920 --> 01:10:48.520 just just be street smart about that. At least. I don't want you 954 01:10:48.560 --> 01:10:53.760 guys to get ripped off or feel scared of threaten that you know that you 955 01:10:53.920 --> 01:11:00.840 just did something wrong and you're gonna get in trouble you're not. Um, 956 01:11:00.880 --> 01:11:03.039 I'll actually on one day in so cal dot com I will have the back 957 01:11:03.079 --> 01:11:09.000 and forth encounter between these show girl pairs and too naive tourists that I recorded 958 01:11:09.039 --> 01:11:12.279 from a live video feed off the Las Vegas Strip. So you can kind 959 01:11:12.279 --> 01:11:14.920 of see what I mean. Unfortunately there's no sound, but you'll get the 960 01:11:14.960 --> 01:11:17.680 idea. Um, it'll be on the website one day and social dot com. 961 01:11:17.720 --> 01:11:20.680 Now, ladies, you're in luck too, because there's a new group 962 01:11:20.760 --> 01:11:26.920 of entertainers roaming parts of the Strip now, Um, buff shirtless cowboys and 963 01:11:27.000 --> 01:11:30.399 jeans that will take pictures with you as well. Um, on this trip 964 01:11:30.439 --> 01:11:32.800 I only saw two pairs walls on the Strip, but they are there. 965 01:11:32.880 --> 01:11:39.760 Just now that they're out there too. I mean, if you can't wait 966 01:11:39.800 --> 01:11:44.159 for the professional Rodeo finals that occur every year in December, Um, where 967 01:11:44.159 --> 01:11:46.960 there's tens of thousands of cowboys and cowgirls, cowgirls flocking to the Veggat trip 968 01:11:47.199 --> 01:11:51.000 to watch the super bowl of Rodeo, then maybe some of these guys will, 969 01:11:51.399 --> 01:11:57.359 you know, fit fit your bill for now, Um, but when 970 01:11:57.439 --> 01:12:00.920 it comes to these, uh, these other professional act there's the same rule, 971 01:12:00.359 --> 01:12:03.279 the same rules that I just gave you apply. Your same rights apply. 972 01:12:04.119 --> 01:12:09.039 Supposedly, these street performers, including those addressed up like marvel or Disney 973 01:12:09.079 --> 01:12:13.640 characters or independent contractors, but I can't be sure. The strings maybe pulled 974 01:12:13.680 --> 01:12:17.680 somewhere behind the scenes where they fight for Tur for are controlled by Um, 975 01:12:17.720 --> 01:12:23.000 a group or I don't know. I've I've looked for I've researched that topic, 976 01:12:23.000 --> 01:12:25.279 but I can't seem to find anything on it. So they may very 977 01:12:25.279 --> 01:12:28.960 well just be independent groups going out. The other thing I want to point 978 01:12:29.000 --> 01:12:33.119 out is the rap artists giving, and I will say giving with in quotation, 979 01:12:33.159 --> 01:12:38.520 marks out their CDs. On its surface, it looks like an upcoming 980 01:12:38.600 --> 01:12:41.159 Rap Star, hopeful, is just trying to get his music out there so 981 01:12:41.199 --> 01:12:45.000 we can, you know, gain interest in his art, Um, but 982 01:12:45.079 --> 01:12:48.239 in general this is not the case. They hand you a burn CD and 983 01:12:48.239 --> 01:12:53.560 then expect payment for the CD or a payment for their autograph. Um, 984 01:12:53.600 --> 01:12:57.920 if you try and give it back, the last grew money instead and they'll 985 01:12:57.920 --> 01:13:00.760 try not to take it back. I mean, honestly, these guys could 986 01:13:00.840 --> 01:13:03.960 probably make way more money at one of the local time shows dead, but 987 01:13:04.079 --> 01:13:08.119 they're out here here asking tourists. And said, let me give you an 988 01:13:08.119 --> 01:13:11.119 example. When I walked by one, he held out a CD with this 989 01:13:11.319 --> 01:13:15.880 autograph on it and I said a'b straight man. I kept and I kept 990 01:13:15.920 --> 01:13:18.840 walking and he replied, man, where are you going come back here and 991 01:13:18.880 --> 01:13:25.079 shake my black hand? Um, almost like that, like like ordering me 992 01:13:25.159 --> 01:13:28.239 come back here and shake this hand. Um, what are he's doing here 993 01:13:28.319 --> 01:13:30.760 is trying to back you under a corner where, if you keep walking, 994 01:13:30.359 --> 01:13:33.840 it's because you won't shake his hand because he's black, but if you engage, 995 01:13:33.920 --> 01:13:36.199 he has your ear for another few seconds so they can try to get 996 01:13:36.199 --> 01:13:39.960 money off of you. When I was presented with this, I took the 997 01:13:39.960 --> 01:13:44.239 power out of the situation back by refusing to shake his hand, but instead 998 01:13:44.800 --> 01:13:46.960 I gave him a fist bump, to which he complied, and then I 999 01:13:47.000 --> 01:13:50.560 walked away. Apparently it wasn't a hard enough fist bump, as he said, 1000 01:13:50.600 --> 01:13:56.439 what was that? But I kept walking. Um, roll of thumb 1001 01:13:56.479 --> 01:14:00.000 here. Don't take anything from anybody else. True, even if it's, 1002 01:14:00.239 --> 01:14:01.640 even if they're saying, uh, you know, it's here's a free card 1003 01:14:01.720 --> 01:14:05.560 for a free show or Um. You know, what used to be on 1004 01:14:05.560 --> 01:14:10.600 the Strip was, and I hated these people with a passion, those those 1005 01:14:10.720 --> 01:14:15.000 uh, those people with the naked girl cards, and they would they would 1006 01:14:15.439 --> 01:14:18.159 flick them like like that and over and over and over again to get your 1007 01:14:18.159 --> 01:14:21.039 attention and they would just like shove them in your face as you were trying 1008 01:14:21.039 --> 01:14:24.760 to walk down the Strip, you know, in peace. I took some 1009 01:14:24.800 --> 01:14:27.720 friends to the Strip one time. We had never been there really, or 1010 01:14:27.960 --> 01:14:30.960 not for a long time, and weren't that interested in Vegas, and they 1011 01:14:30.000 --> 01:14:33.760 just hated you know, they were Christian people. They wanted to see the 1012 01:14:33.760 --> 01:14:38.039 Strip and everything else and and see what was about and all that, but 1013 01:14:38.239 --> 01:14:41.399 you didn't want all the throwing in their their faces left and right. Um, 1014 01:14:42.359 --> 01:14:45.800 Um. The the these these street vendors are not even vendors, but 1015 01:14:45.159 --> 01:14:48.720 a lot of these folks are just annoying guys. They bought. They annoy 1016 01:14:48.840 --> 01:14:54.000 me because they annoy you guys and they try to trick you guys and do 1017 01:14:54.039 --> 01:14:57.600 stuff like that and and uh, I don't like that, and especially when 1018 01:14:57.640 --> 01:15:00.359 they you know, they try to like if you don't do they this in 1019 01:15:00.239 --> 01:15:03.079 Um, you know I'm gonna ask you be a bully up. Um. 1020 01:15:03.560 --> 01:15:05.800 It's one of the reason they got into law enforces. I don't like bullies. 1021 01:15:06.199 --> 01:15:10.920 I don't like people abusing other people or tricking other people. And if 1022 01:15:10.960 --> 01:15:14.119 I see it and I can do something about it, I will and I 1023 01:15:14.119 --> 01:15:17.039 always will, even now. Um. Finally, there are a ton of 1024 01:15:17.039 --> 01:15:20.960 shops on the Strip that look like marijuana stores. Simply put, don't take 1025 01:15:21.000 --> 01:15:26.199 anything from anyone on the Strip or move on. Um. But but back 1026 01:15:26.199 --> 01:15:30.880 to the marijuana. These are not marijuana shops. They're not selling marijuana because 1027 01:15:30.920 --> 01:15:33.479 marijuana is not permitted to be sold on the Las Vegas Strip. They have 1028 01:15:34.039 --> 01:15:39.159 all the markings of a big marijuana store. They got the Big Green Leaf 1029 01:15:39.239 --> 01:15:43.640 for green cross on the side of the business. They got security guards out 1030 01:15:43.640 --> 01:15:46.960 front pretending to be security guards, all dressed up um, but they're not 1031 01:15:47.039 --> 01:15:51.800 marijuana shops. As Travel Ruby explains in our twenty worth scams and rip off 1032 01:15:53.199 --> 01:15:58.199 rip offs in the Las Vegas Youtube Video. It's chemical garbage and fake CBD 1033 01:15:58.319 --> 01:16:01.560 products. You have to go strip to get the real thing. Um. 1034 01:16:01.600 --> 01:16:05.600 So according to Traveler Ruby, they UM, they make it look like a 1035 01:16:05.600 --> 01:16:10.800 real business, like a real marijuana shop, but it's not. Um. 1036 01:16:10.880 --> 01:16:15.000 So if that's your thing, im I don't like marijuana at all, but 1037 01:16:15.479 --> 01:16:16.479 if that's your thing, you have to leave the Strip to go do it. 1038 01:16:17.439 --> 01:16:21.199 One last thing I want to know is to avoid casino gift shops for 1039 01:16:21.199 --> 01:16:26.159 snacks and drinks when possible. There are just a ton of CBS and Walgreen 1040 01:16:26.159 --> 01:16:30.600 stores directly on the Strip, along the entire boulevard. You're gonna find way 1041 01:16:30.720 --> 01:16:34.880 better prices here, Um, and they are completely located all over the Strip. 1042 01:16:35.760 --> 01:16:43.279 So Um, don't go to the hotel gift shop or or snack bar 1043 01:16:43.439 --> 01:16:47.720 or whatever, because you're gonna be paying a lot for way more than you 1044 01:16:47.720 --> 01:16:51.800 should. Um. I don't know if they're still doing it, but I 1045 01:16:51.840 --> 01:16:57.439 remember excalibur actually created a bit of controversy when they started a policy of of 1046 01:16:58.720 --> 01:17:02.319 changing prices of idea in the hotel's gift shop based on occupancy level. So 1047 01:17:02.359 --> 01:17:06.640 if the hotel was more occupied, that bottle of water just got more expensive. 1048 01:17:08.279 --> 01:17:12.520 If it was less occupied, it was cheaper. Um, kind of 1049 01:17:12.600 --> 01:17:15.359 ridiculous. Um, I don't even know who was buying, trying to raise 1050 01:17:15.399 --> 01:17:19.159 price on every little atom. anyways, that's a full time job. But 1051 01:17:19.399 --> 01:17:23.600 Um, I ran out of water and my fifteen degree walked down the street 1052 01:17:23.640 --> 01:17:27.560 multiple times and the most convenient spot was the flamingo get shop at one point. 1053 01:17:28.159 --> 01:17:30.680 Um, and I was charged eight dollars for a sixty outs bottle of 1054 01:17:30.680 --> 01:17:35.880 water. That's like fifty cents a sip. So there's there's just dozens of 1055 01:17:35.920 --> 01:17:40.520 walled grains and CVS. Just go to those places. There's still a little 1056 01:17:40.560 --> 01:17:44.359 more expensive than you would get probably back at home, but Um, you're 1057 01:17:44.359 --> 01:17:49.119 not gonna get that ripped off like he went at a hotel shop. Um. 1058 01:17:49.159 --> 01:17:53.560 So, anyways, that's my trip to the Las Vegas trip. I've 1059 01:17:53.560 --> 01:17:57.119 been to vegas dozens of times, but it's been a long, long time 1060 01:17:57.159 --> 01:18:00.520 since I walked the entire thing from Dan and there's just so much to eat, 1061 01:18:00.560 --> 01:18:03.439 see and do here that I could never even put it on one podcast. 1062 01:18:04.159 --> 01:18:09.079 It would have to be an entirely new podcast series. But I'm focused 1063 01:18:09.079 --> 01:18:15.000 on so call only so um, with occasional trips to vegas. So Um, 1064 01:18:15.079 --> 01:18:16.399 that's not gonna happen anytime soon. And, like I said, there's 1065 01:18:16.439 --> 01:18:20.039 other people that do this for a living that are just so much more knowledgeable 1066 01:18:20.039 --> 01:18:24.760 and all the changes or live in Vegas and can always go out and do 1067 01:18:25.560 --> 01:18:29.760 new things and see all the latest and greatest and and the latest scam on 1068 01:18:29.760 --> 01:18:32.000 the Strip and everything else. So Um, alright, folks, thanks for 1069 01:18:32.039 --> 01:18:35.920 tuning in. If you're planning adventure laws Niga soon, I hope this podcast 1070 01:18:36.000 --> 01:18:41.439 can give you a few tips on things from my perspective or just help build 1071 01:18:41.479 --> 01:18:46.239 that excitement. Um, for the first time, I actually don't know what 1072 01:18:46.279 --> 01:18:50.039 I'm doing this week. I haven't planned anything out, so I'm not actually 1073 01:18:50.079 --> 01:18:56.520 gonna play a little pan or rendition this time of of a hint. Um, 1074 01:18:57.239 --> 01:18:59.840 I'm just gonna think about it. I'm gonna SITT in the hot tub 1075 01:19:00.920 --> 01:19:04.039 and, uh, I watch you, Ndiana Jones, and uh and just 1076 01:19:04.880 --> 01:19:09.279 figure out where my next adventure is going to be. And one thing is 1077 01:19:09.319 --> 01:19:13.199 for sure, though, this time next week there will be a new episode 1078 01:19:13.319 --> 01:19:16.239 and I will be a new adventure and I will be sharing another little piece 1079 01:19:16.359 --> 01:19:19.640 of one day in Socale so thank you so much for tuning in listening and, 1080 01:19:19.960 --> 01:19:25.039 uh and we're coming back to so cal for sure to see what's coming 1081 01:19:25.119 --> 01:19:28.439 next. Um. Thanks a lot for listening, folks, and we'll see 1082 01:19:28.439 --> 01:19:39.039 you next week. Bye, bye now. Thanks for listening, folks. 1083 01:19:39.239 --> 01:19:44.439 Please visit the website one day in so cal dot com and if you enjoyed 1084 01:19:44.479 --> 01:19:46.920 this podcast, consider subscribing. Feel free to leave me tips and Info on 1085 01:19:46.960 --> 01:19:50.600 how I can improve. Thanks again. Back The blue