Vegas Baby!

I just got back from Las Vegas, it was my first trip there in about 2 years.  It was long overdue, I really missed it.  I used to go more often but being in a recession and all I felt the need to be more responsible and had to cut back some.  I'm guessing it won't be another 2 years before I return.  Gambling, booze, hot women, strip clubs, night clubs, people watching, general debauchery, you name it, it's all there.  It's paradise for a single guy!

See the next page for further details of my trip.

THE COMMUTE
Being that I live in Phoenix, I usually drive, it's only about 300 miles, it usually takes anywhere from 5-6 hours depending upon the day of the week and time of day.  By air it's only a one hour flight, but with all the hassles with air travel now days I just prefer to drive, when flying you need to arrive early, deal with security checks, there's baggage fee's and taxi's to pay for and you also don't have transportation while you're there.  The drive, although a pain, has gotten better.  First the I-17 in North Phoenix is being expanded from 2 lanes each way to 4-6 lanes each way, that will help a lot, especially if coming home during rush hour.  Next, they've built a bypass around downtown Wickenburg, that stretch could be a pain also if driving through during rush hour (yes, there is even a rush hour inWickenburg).  Much of the drive from Wickenburg to Kingman has also been expanded from curvy 2 lane hard to pass roads to 4 lane roads. They are also getting much

closer to completing the Hoover Dam bypass, that alone will cut anywhere from 20-90 minutes from the drive.  It will be nice to not have to deal with that long winding two way road that takes you directly over that damned Dam anymore.  I snapped a pic, see above, the structure of the bridge seems to be complete, it just a matter of getting the road down (as well as completing the roads leading to and coming from the bridge).  It has been interesting watching the progress of this thing over the years, it's been slow going, it'll be interesting to eventually drive over it.                                                                                                                                                                         

LUXOR

I found a cheap room rate for the Luxor on www.booking.com and decided to give it a try.  I had never stayed at the Luxor.  I liked it, it's still relatively new, it's clean, the rooms were nice, they had lots of amenities, lots of gaming options available, big sportsbook, the pool area was very nice (although finding a spot to sit was a bit tough), they offered free admission LAX nightclub to casino guests, there were plenty of shops, a food court, several restaurants, an indoor walkway to either Mandalay Bay or Excalibur, close proximity to other strip hotels such as MGM, NYNY, Tropicana, Monte Carlo and the new Aria.  I also rather enjoyed the fact that I ran into several working girls (if you get my drift), oddly enough that hadn't happened to me in Vegas before.   I was starting to think it was an urban legand (well except for Parhump and the flyers being handed out on the corner but who wants to use one of those girls site unseen?).  

BODIES...The Exhibition
I was given a free ticket to Bodies...The Exhibition by a passerby who had an extra tickets so I took in that exhibition.  Tickets are $31 each so it was a nice gesture.  She also gave me a free ticket to Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition, tickets for that one are $27 each, I didn't use that ticket but was also able to pay it forward to some guy upon checking out of the hotel (I hope he used it).  Anyways, back to Bodies...The Exhibition, it really was fascinating seeing all the body parts and learning about how they work together, but honestly I was happy I didn't pay $31 for it. 

ARIA
I made a stop into the Aria Hotel & Casino to check it out while I was in town.  They didn't go with a theme like many of the local casinos, well unless you consider opulence a theme, they went first class all the way.  My question though?  Does that make for a good time?  Everything and everyone seemed too smug and stuffy, I can't imagine having a good time here.  I say try Wynn Las Vegas or the Bellagio if you're looking for opulence but still want a sense that you are on vacation in Las Vegas.

GO-GO DANCERS
One trend that I really enjoyed seeing was Go-Go dancers around the gaming tables, it could be a bit distracting if you're playing but who doesn't like looking at scantily clad women dancing on a platform?

SPEARMINT RHINO
What's a trip to Vegas without a visit (or two) to a strip club, that means the Spearmint Rhino which is without a question the best strip club in Las Vegas.  Thursday night I called the club to arrange for a ride (they much prefer to provide their own transportation because cab drivers expect to be paid off at greater than $100 per person for anybody they bring to the club) and they were there in no time (20 minutes or so).  I got to the club about 10PM, it was already crowded, lots of beautiful women to choose from (as usual).  Fortunately for me I have been to the Spearmint Rhino before and believe it or not I know one of the girls, one very freaking hot girl too, she showed me a good time in the VIP room (I also got her phone number for my next trip up).  Of course I stopped in on Friday night too.