When we got there, there was a Starbucks. Now I'm not sure where this obsession has come from, but Emily has been bugging me constantly since we arrived that she wants to try a coffee from Starbucks. We have Starbucks back in Australia, but apparently this is better here. And this is coming from a girl who doesn't even LIKE coffee!!!! So anyway, we had to stop there first. I got her a half strength mocha - thought that might taste a bit better for her. She loved it! It was slightly *too* chocolatey for her liking, but she enjoyed it all the same. I have to admit, it was the best coffee I've ever had either - very "smooth" taste to it! I have a feeling I have created a coffee loving monster now - she keeps asking for more coffee!
Anyway - we finally made it into Target. OMG - the place was HUGE!!! My idea of a "quick" shop went right out the window. Not only did we have to contend with the vast size of the store, we then had to decipher the sizing on the clothes! What the heck is a size 30 jean?? After much trial and error on sizings, emily found a pair of jeans she liked, and some warm sweaters. Caitlin couldn't find jeans she liked, but did find some sweaters too. At least she'll be warm on the top half! And I walked out empty handed - couldn't find anything appropriate at all. Oh, to make my life more difficult - they're already stocking for spring, so even though the winter stuff is on sale now (bonus!) there is very little to choose from.
So, we've started gathering a few winter items together - and the prices were pretty good too. We then went next door to Best Buy - my goal - I wanted a Kindle! They had sold out :( My one and only treat I had set aside for myself, and they had sold out! NNNOOOOOOO!!!!! Emily got herself a DSi, about $100 cheaper than what we'd pay back in Australia, so she was happy with that. Then I spotted the GPS units - thought it would be wise to buy one ready to use when we get to Canada. The sales person recommended a 'good' one to me that was also on sale - it turned out to be the exact same one I had back in Australia! And at a fraction of the cost that I paid for the Australian one too! So that was a bonus!
We finished up our shopping, got back to the hotel with minutes to spare to finish packing everything into the bags and checking out on time. Then we were off to the airport again.....ready to learn my next valuable lesson.....
We arrive at the airport, and the driver is helping unload the suitcases from the car, and a guy (in uniform) comes up and asks if we're checking in. So I reply yes (like duh...isn't it obvious if someone comes TO the airport with bags, they're probably going somewhere?) He then grabs our suitcases and brings them over to the curbside check in. I'm thinking, hey, this is pretty cool, and it saves having to cart everything into the airport! So we get all checked in, he hands me the tickets, and then drops the bomb - "just so you know, we work for tips". HUH???? Apparently everyone who works the curbside checkin, they get tipped. Hmmm, ok, so if I had gone inside, I could have checked my bags in for free, but out here I pay. great. Ok I reply, what would be the standard amount for tipping in this occassion? (yes I know - it was a loaded question - he could have replied with any ridiculous amount, what would I know!) And he said, oh anything you feel is suitable. Great, so not helpful. So I figured the travel book I had said $1/bag for bellhops in hotels, would it be the same here? 5 bags so $5? but the bags are heavy....$10 seems so much, $5 seems so cheap.....so I gave him $10. god he must love tourists who are clueless about tipping!
Next we head inside to make our way to the departure lounge. Wow, security is NOTHING like it is in Australia! Off come the shoes, the computers out of the bags, the toiletries out of the bags, sunglasses off head, belts off.....we had a lovely long line of stuff to go through the scanner! Thankfully the body scanner was out of action. Phew. Then we get to the other side waiting for the bags to come through....waiting, waiting....oh dear, one of the bags is 'suspicious'. Oh great...what have the girls done this time.... They show me my handbag and ask 'is this yours?' Umm..yeah? "Sorry maam, we have to open it, there is something suspicious in there." What? You can't be serious! I'm thinking great, someones planted something on me, i'm going to jail, i'll be deported, oh shit, oh shit.... Out comes my half empty water bottle. "Sorry maam, we can't allow water bottles" and into the bin it goes. The girls were laughing themselves silly. Oh crap - had totally forgotten about that! I'm such a blonde.....
We then held up the line collecting all our stuff and re-dressing etc, only to find as we moved away, there was a separate area for that! Oops, obviously we were meant to just grab the stuff and move on. Oh well.... everyone behind us was probably thinking 'bloody tourists' :)
I went to the shop to replace my water. $3.50 for the exact same bottle I had just paid $1 for!!! Yeah, I'd rather dehydrate!
The flight to Las Vegas was pretty uneventful - well, if you ignore the lady infront of us who smelt like boiled cabbage. Was pretty gross. Thankfully it was a very short flight! Near the end of the flight, we found out the awful smell was actually her perfume! The flight attendant was telling her how beautiful it smelt, and they were chatting about perfume scents, and the girls and I were looking at each other thinking how could someone actually LIKE that smell??? hahahaha
We got into the airport - WOW! I had been told there were slot machines EVERYWHERE in Vegas, but its still a sight to see it in person! The first thing you see coming off the plane - slot machines! Everywhere you turn, its like they've put an airport in the middle of a casino! LOL Finding our bags was a mission - we followed the signs, walking, walking, walking.....only to end up at a tram stop to take us to the baggage claim! We're beginning to wonder where on earth the bags are! The tram went at lightening speed and we found ourselves walking yet another set of long corridors, to finally find our bags! They really don't give you much time to collect them - we got there JUST as they turned off the carouselle, and were about to go around collecting the 'unclaimed' bags! Geez...give us a chance! I then paid a whooping $4 for trolley hire, and we made our way outside to find a shuttle to the hotel. I paid the fare, go to the shuttle, the driver said he'll take care of the bags and loads them on board, and directs us into the bus. We're sitting there waiting to go, and I suddenly think - Hey! The trolley! What a gimmick - *I* pay for the trolley, and they collect the deposit back for returning it! Ugh! LOL You can so tell I'm not a seasoned traveller!
We're finally on our way to the hotel, and OMG.....WOW! This place is totally unbelievable! All the pictures you see on the internet, none of them do justice to this place. The sheer size is incredible. We were just sitting there going WOW. We came in at a good time - the sun was just setting, so the lights were coming on, and it just all looked so gorgeous! Being on the shuttle was great as we got to see a few of the other hotels too - more photo opps!
We get to our hotel -
the excalibur and made our way through to check in. Again....wow!! That was an experience and a half. You have to walk through the casino to get to the registration desk, slot machines everywhere! We checked in, and made our way back through the casino to get to our rooms. There is no avoiding the fact you're in the gambling capital of america here! Our room is "so-so" but the view......
Your trip sounds amazing - love your hotel and the view incredible. I remember the water when we were leaving Aussie - all had our $1 water for the plane ride and they took them all off us LOL never again take nothing - now pay for ticket to feed us cheaper in the long run. Hope you have a great day in Vegas
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