Priceline Live Las Vegas Sweepstakes

Just after the Orbitz sweepstakes to Las Vegas were announced here, Priceline is also joining in by giving away a Las Vegas getaway here on facebook! Sign up by June 5, 2013 for your chance to win a pair of round-trip coach tickets to Las Vegas, 3 nights at a 4 star hotel and a $250 gift card. Priceline hasn't mentioned which hotel they'll be offering, but the Wynn/Encore offered by Orbitz would be tough to top. Priceline does also have the $250 gift card so that's a nice additional perk. Good luck to everyone!

Orbitz Long Weekend Getaway Sweepstakes

Orbitz is running a Spin To Win A Long Weekend Trip Sweepstakes here on facebook! The grand prize winner will get a trip to Vegas and 9 other winners will win a round-trip domestic flight. The grand prize comprises of two domestic round-trip airline vouchers worth $900 (2 x $450) and 3 nights stay at either the Wynn or Encore Hotel Las Vegas. The other nine daily winners will get a domestic round-trip airline voucher worth $385 each. So sign up today for your chance to win as the sweepstakes ends soon on May 24, 2013!

Jean Georges Steakhouse

Continuing on with the previous trip to Las Vegas, located in the Aria Resort & Casino is Jean Georges Steakhouse, tucked away on the second floor past the entrance to the Cirque du Soleil Zarkana entrance. Having sampled Jean Georges Nougatine restaurant in New York previously for lunch, expectations were high.

Cravings Buffet @ The Mirage

Following the excellent buffet at the Bacchanal, we were very disappointed with the buffet at the Mirage. Charging $30 for dinner, we were expecting a fairly decent buffet experience even if we weren't expecting Bacchanal or Wynn quality. The first thing I guess we should've noticed was the unexpectedly short line for the buffet. Previously, at the Bellagio, I had waited one and a half hours to get into that buffet and the Bacchanal had required a total of two and a half hours of waiting to finally get seated at a table.  With Cravings, there was just a few minutes wait.

 

Bacchanal Buffet

Among other things, Vegas is known for its buffets and this year, we were lucky enough to be able to try out the new Bacchanal Buffet that opened 2 months earlier back in September 2012 at Caesar's Palace. Boasting over 500 different food items by master chefs at 9 kitchens, you'll get a chance to sample Mexican, Italian, Chinese, Japanese, American cuisine along with some samplings of Seafood, Pizza, Deli and Dessert.

Overall, I'd rank it the same as the Bellagio buffet although they are somewhat different in focus.

Vdara Hotel Las Vegas

Took a short break from work during Thanksgiving to head to Vegas. Our first hotel stop was the Vdara hotel, a casino-free hotel located in the CityCenter complex near the Aria, the Cosmopolitan and the Bellagio. Tucked away at the back, one can get to the Vdara via the drop off roundabout area shared by the Vdara and Aria, or you can take the short covered walkway between the Vdara and the Bellagio. If you look for signs for the tram in the Bellagio, head in that direction and you'll quickly locate the Vdara.

Trump International Hotel Las Vegas

Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving weekend! I'd been waiting for this past weekend with great anticipation as we'd be staying at the Vdara Hotel and the Trump International in Las Vegas. More on the Vdara in the next post but whatever you may think about the Donald's hair, the hotel is DEFINITELY pretty swanky. Here's a picture from outside:

Luxor

The Luxor likely has one of the more unique exteriors among the casinos on the Strip. Like the Venetian, the Paris, the New York New York and the Excalibur, the Luxor aims to resemble one of the most recognizable structures on Earth, the great pyramids. The Luxor stands out on an approach to Las Vegas airport and can be found on the south end of the Strip next to the Excalibur and the Mandalay Bay.

Caesars Palace

Caesars Palace is a luxury hotel/resort/casino sandwiched between the Mirage and the Bellagio.  From a distance, we can see some of the buildings and the main entrance but the Colosseum (originally built for Celine Dion's show and used now for shows/performances) is hidden from view.

Vegas Night Shots

Some views of the Las Vegas Strip at night - the Planet Hollywood hotel and casino.

Views of the Strip

Having driven in from Los Angeles, I was a little tired after a 4 hour car ride.  Here, one of the first casinos I snapped was Caesars Palace.

Next up came the Paris Las Vegas.

Bellagio, Buffet & Sensi

Likely the most well-known casino on the Strip is the Bellagio, home of the gorgeous fountains. As you  in through the front, you'll encounter a very unique ceiling of colored umbrellas attached to the front foyer like a bunch of helium balloons.

Paris Las Vegas and Le Village Buffet

The Paris Las Vegas is a casino/hotel sitting directly across from the Bellagio.  On the right, we can see the Eiffel Tower behind the fountains of the Bellagio.

Eruptions @ the Mirage

The Mirage has been a fixture on the Las Vegas strip for over 20 years. With its palm trees and artificial lake out front complete with its iconic large 'man-made' volcano, the Mirage occupies a central place along the Strip opposite the Venetian Resort and next to Treasure Island.

The Venetian @ Christmas

Visiting Las Vegas near the Christmas season (this was just at Thanksgiving) is always fun since you get to see all the holiday decorations put up (not to mention the Christmas sales!). The Venetian Resort was all decked out with a giant lighted Christmas tree standing outside.

KPop Masters 2011

Dropped into Las Vegas recently @ Thanksgiving and happened to catch the Billboard KPop Masters concert at the MGM Grand Garden Arena with a friend who's into korean pop music.  We were there on the night of the 26th so SHINee was the special extra performer that night.