Bussin' it to Vegas

[Motorboat Cruiser]

My dad calls me on Tuesday to tell me that he is going to be in Vegas all weekend. Thanks for the short notice, pop (yeah, he sometimes forgets to mention semi-important things until the last minute:rolleyes: .) I haven't seen him in about 2 1/2 years so this is a big deal for both of us.

Its a little late to be getting a plane ticket (at a decent rate, at least) and while I could drive, I figure the gas is going to be about $150 and for that amount, perhaps I could do Amtrak. Then, I could at least use my laptop both ways and get some work done along the way. But alas, Amtrak uses Greyhound buses to get to and fro Vegas and I'm not a big fan of Greyhound. So, I do the next logical thing and go online.

And that's where I found what appears at least to be a pretty cool service called Luxbus. For $99 round trip, I get a "big and roomy" seat w/ footrest, free snacks and...drum roll, please...free beer and wine. They also show two movies along the way. It picks me up at the Anaheim Plaza hotel, w/ free parking, and drops me off at the Riviera, which is where my dad is staying. It really couldn't seem more perfect.

So, I posted this for two reasons. First, to let everyone know about this option. Buses leave daily from both locations, btw. Also, while it might not be the utmost in swank, I thought that maybe someone here had tried them before and could fill me in on whether it will be enjoyable or whether I will feel as if I am in hell for four and a half hours each way.

Anyone have any experience in this sort of thing?

[Alex]

The average age on that bus will be 73.

But if you're fine with that people I know who have done similar found it ok. Can't speak to the specific charter company.

[Motorboat Cruiser]

The average age on that bus will be 73.


That doesn't really bother me. I'm going to be writing for most of the trip and all the better if my fellow passengers are sleeping. :) Unless, I don't know, do the elderly get rowdy on this sort of thing? Are they going to break into song or bingo?

By the way, here is a link (http://www.luxbusamerica.com/tour-bus-services.php).

[Capt Jack]

lets see. fight with traffic for umpteen hours to get there driving and arriving burnt out or take a bus, watch a couple flicks and goof on a lappy/snooze till you arrive and be ready for a good time

yeah, gotta go with the bus on this one. it might not be the swankiest ride on the road, but neither will it feel like a coffin when you arrive.

[AllyOops!]

Ooh!! that sounds like a blast, MBC! Experiences like that always produce the best & most memorable stories! :)

(Okay, my boyfriend just looked over my shoulder, saw what I wrote and thought I was referring to something sexual above. He knows his girlfriend well. :D )

Anyhoodle, It sounds like a fun option! My boyfriend & I just drove to Vegas two weekends ago (I'm terrified of flying). We had a blast driving & I paid for the gas (I'm very fortunate the company I work for picks up the tab). He even stopped at the outlet shops on the way so I could shop at Coach for pre-Vegas bags. Golly, I love this man! :)

However, we were drained and so sleepy on the way back. I think your idea to take a bus sounds awesome! No flying, no driving. Perfect!! :)

[innerSpaceman]

Heheh, I was just in Vegas for a lark two weekends ago. We drove, but didn't have any place to stay until we got there.

I don't know what this has to do with anything but going to Vegas on short notice. We decided four hours ahead of leaving.


But I agree - the bus sounds like a great option. Where's the Riviera?

[Alex]

Across the street from Circus Circus and one block towards downtown from the Wynn.

[Motorboat Cruiser]

Yeah, the Riviera wouldn't be my choice of hotels but its a room and I'm not really there for any other reason other than to hang with dad. And who knows, maybe I'll have good luck there. (Dad likes video poker, so I assume we will spend some time playing together)

I have to say though - this trip is like the anti-swank Vegas trip. All it needs is a trip to the Circus Circus buffet and a hooker to really complete the theme.

[madmonkeygirl]

Good luck playing video poker. I won $100 on video poker at Saharah over Memorial Day Weekend when i was there for Tiger Jam. I only put in $1 into the machine too. That was when we had arrived and freshened up and went down to play before dinner. So needless to say i started the trip very lucky and my luck continued the next day. *rubs off some luck on you* btw i went with my mom and i loved hanging out with her.

[RStar]

I'd have to take a taxi as I prefer the other end of town. The Paris hotel is my fave, and a trip on the monoral to the Star Trek Experince!

[DreadPirateRoberts]

Yeah, the Riviera wouldn't be my choice of hotels but its a room and I'm not really there for any other reason other than to hang with dad. And who knows, maybe I'll have good luck there. (Dad likes video poker, so I assume we will spend some time playing together)

I have to say though - this trip is like the anti-swank Vegas trip. All it needs is a trip to the Circus Circus buffet and a hooker to really complete the theme.

The bus sounds like a fun adventure.

Ixnay on the ookerhay, Leo might read this.

[innerSpaceman]

I'd be a taxi passenger, too. The other other end of town is where I stay nowadays - I'm a Mandalay Bay man.


Though I fancy a stay at the Wynn. Alas, a tad pricey for my non-winning ways.

[Alex]

I don't really care where I stay. The rooms at pretty much any on strip hotel are fine by my standards (now that the Boardwalk is gone; and note, by my standards a Motel 6 room is more luxury than I really need) and even the $28/night hotels off Fremont downtown work for me.

I've never flown to Vegas so I always have a car, though I generally take a cab everywhere anyway.

MBC, since you're at that end of the strip I heartily recommend a visit to Luv-It Frozen Custard (http://www.luvitfrozencustard.com/). Very good stuff.

[Ghoulish Delight]

Last time we went to Vegas, we stayed in the Circus Circus bunaglows. The room had four walls, a bed, and a bathroom. Worked just fine for me.

When I'm on vacation I spend very little time in my hotel room, it's rare that I particularly care how "upscale" that room is. As long as it's clean and well maintained. Location is my main concern and in Vegas, as long as it's on or near the strip I'm good. Mind you, that's probably because while I was growing up my grandmother was a dealer/pit boss at the Sahara, so I'm accustomed to staying at the north end. And I've been known to walk the length of the strip rather than take a cab. I like that walk.

[innerSpaceman]

To each his own, and thank goodness for that.

Me? The luxuriantness of my rare vacation time must extend to every corner of my experience. Call it vacation themeing, and I enjoy its thoroughness in the same way I enjoy Disneyland's.

[madmonkeygirl]

I usually stay somewhere on the strip. Last trip it was Sahara due to prices on rooms and knowing i wouldn't be in my room very much and also it is a monorail stop. Thank goodness for the monorail. Easy access to pretty much whereever you want to go along the strip with minimal walking. My poor mom after Bon Jovi and we were riding back on the monorail she kept asking at every single stop if it was ours and i kept telling her our stop is at the very end. She did much better on our way to Mandalay Bay. I would love to stay at Mandalay Bay but unfortunately too pricey to me and i'd rather spend the money for a room elsewhere. Usually i stay at Excallibur the last few times i've been there.

[alphabassettgrrl]

Having done that drive too many times, the bus sounds like a much better way to do it. We always stay with my m-i-l in Henderson which is nice.

Enjoy your trip MBC!! I love Vegas.

[AllyOops!]

Heheh, I was just in Vegas for a lark two weekends ago.

Noway! We we're there at the same time?!?! It would have been cool if we had crossed paths! :)

I went for my cousin's wedding, which was held in the Mandalay Bay. My family stayed at Luxor, and my boyfriend & I stayed at Excalibur so that we would all be close to each other. Plus, the three hotels connect which makes it easier to jump to each one (I wish I would have remembered this whilst walking to the wedding outside, in searing heat, in stilleto heels. :() I've never stayed at Luxor, but I loved the Excalibur. Mandalay Bay is also nice to stay at. I'd like to stay at The Hotel at Mandalay Bay. That was my boyfriend's choice!

My favorite places that I've stayed in are Bellagio & the Venetian. I LOVE New York, New York. That's probably my top pick. The best room that I ever stayed in was a suite at the Monte Carlo. It was massive! I like to be on the end of the strip, or even in the middle. I don't care for off of the strip, which is why I wouldn't even attempt staying at the Palms (that and the Maloof brothers are creepy). I've stayed at the Hard Rock Hotel, which is fun! However, it's too far off of the strip & way too much like being trapped in an episode of MTV Spring Break. No thank you. :(

I'm no gambler, and these days the slots are tighter then my pants after Thanksgiving dinner. If I'm going to gamble, I like Caesar's Palace. However, I'd rather gamble at Harrah's in Laughlin. That place is lucky!

[innerSpaceman]

OMG - we went to the Luxor to see if they had a vacancy, but it was sold out. So we went next door to my current fave, the Mandalay Bay. How could we not have seen each other?!?!?


(I've never stayed at The Hotel at Mandalay Bay. Is it nice?)


I used to like the Luxor when it first opened, but it went waaaay downhill fast. Still, zapppop had never experienced the cool rooms with the slanty window wall. That would have been fun.

(Though he freaked when I took him to the very top of the pyramid and had him look straight down. We had to do all sorts of insider tricks to get up there without being guests, so it was too bad he hated it in the end.)

[€uroMeinke]

I've stayed at the Four Seasons, which actually occupies the top floors of the same building Mandalay Bay is housed in. It was nice. I think at the time (and maybe still) was the only hotel without any casino or gambling in it's lobby

[Not Afraid]

The last time I went to Vegas was on one of those 24 hour turn around deals thru Edison. It was the most miserable time I've ever had on a trip - and that includes being left alone with all of our luggage in Bahnhoff Zoo while an obnoxious drunk man with this dick out stood nearby. At least that time I was in Berlin.

[Kevy Baby]

...while an obnoxious drunk man with this dick out stood nearby. At least that time I was in Berlin.I thought you promised Chris that you wouldn't bring that up any more.

[innerSpaceman]

zapppop and I were in Vegas for like 12 hours. Instead of meeting SuPeR K! and Leigh-Ann at the Canyon, we decided to meet up with them earlier - in their home town for an evening. All we ended up doing was watching the Bellagio fountains and exploring the swank casino of the new Planet Hollywood hotel ... but it was so much fun turning the tables, and doing tourist things with them in their town for a change.

[AllyOops!]

OMG - we went to the Luxor to see if they had a vacancy, but it was sold out. So we went next door to my current fave, the Mandalay Bay. How could we not have seen each other?!?!?


(I've never stayed at The Hotel at Mandalay Bay. Is it nice?)


I used to like the Luxor when it first opened, but it went waaaay downhill fast. Still, zapppop had never experienced the cool rooms with the slanty window wall. That would have been fun.

(Though he freaked when I took him to the very top of the pyramid and had him look straight down. We had to do all sorts of insider tricks to get up there without being guests, so it was too bad he hated it in the end.)

How did we miss each other?!?! Damn!! I wish we would have bumped into you guys!! :(

You know, the Mandalay Bay is very nice! The rooms were very spacious & cozy. However, I don't remember much more (Vegas will do that to you :p ). Oh! They did have a groovy wave pool!

Ooh! I've heard about the slanty walls in the rooms at the Luxor! My Mom loves it there and has shown me pictures of the rooms. Is it a little freaky? It looks way cool! I also remember my brother telling me that there was a little Nile River replica inside the Luxor complete with non-rideable boats. I only remember this because my brother got trashed and hopped inside a boat for a ride. :rolleyes: :p Staring down from the top of the pyramid sounds both scary & cool- I didn't know you could do that!

Doesn't Criss Angel perform at Luxor? I've never seen a magic show in Vegas, but damn he's pretty smokin'. I'd go see him! :D

[innerSpaceman]

Um, the boats in the Nile River were definitely rideable, and I rode them many times. Though the reception area is prettier now, the removal of the Nile River was the death knell for the Luxor. The place went from coolesville to trash town within a year of that.

I'm not saying it was the proximate cause ... but it was symptomatic.



After the Luxor went bad, I stayed at Treasure Island for a few years. That place used to be great. Used to be. It's bad enough they removed the best sign in Las Vegas and replaced the Pirate show with that horribe Sirens thing ... but on my recent trip we noticed they've now desecrated the beautiful Caribbean town and waterfront along the strip. T.I. (as they like to call it now) went downhill faster than a Splash Mountain log.


Nowadays, I like the Mandalay Bay. It's classy without being pretentious. The pool area is great. The hotel is beautiful and the casino is one of the least annoying in town.

The Hotel at Mandalay Bay, on the other hand, seems a tad pretentious and I'm not sure I like the black & chrome decor. Also, since I believe it's all suites, I'm sure it's even more expensive than the regular Mandalay Bay, which is pricey enough. (well at least zapppop and I haggled them down to their regular room rates of a couple years ago, from the outrageous rate they first quoted when we showed up Saturday night without a reservation.)

[AllyOops!]

Really? Rideable boats? Did they close at a certain time? All I know is that my brother did something forbidden whilst totally loaded, which was like, all of his Vegas trips (or mine, without the forbidden part). :p

I won't even go into the time I pretended to blow a wax celebrity for a photo op in the Venitian's Madame Tussaud's while under the influence. Oy.

I definitely want to stay at The Hotel. I like staying somewhere different each time I travel to Vegas. :)

[Motorboat Cruiser]

The last time I went to Vegas was on one of those 24 hour turn around deals thru Edison. It was the most miserable time I've ever had on a trip - and that includes being left alone with all of our luggage in Bahnhoff Zoo while an obnoxious drunk man with this dick out stood nearby. At least that time I was in Berlin.

I wasn't aware that scaeagles had been to Germany.


Less than 24 hours before get on the good ol' luxbus, which, for all its amenities, is sure to be a grueling experience. I'll give a trip report when I get back, assuming I survive this ... adventure. Hopefully, I won't be able to assume the crown for worst Vegas trip ever.