Vegas Vacation

Last week Gary and I spent a very relaxing week in Las Vegas.  This is our semi annual trip to Vegas.  Two years ago we bought into a time share and we own in Vegas.  With this we get two free weeks a year and one week of points, so we basically get three weeks of vacation a year staying in condos.  We use our free weeks in Vegas where we own, then use our points for one other stay.


We flew this year as you never know what the weather will be like in April in Montana.  It is not easy flying out of Billings.  You either fly early in the morning or late and you connect in Seattle, Denver or Salt Lake.  We flew Alaska Airlines and left Billings early at 6:00 am.  We had to be at the airport around 4:30, this way we can get through security pretty quick.  On the 25th it turned out that there were three early flights out, so the line at security got long.  Gary's boarding pass as TSA Pre check on it, so he didn't have to take off his shoes or hat.  This is designed to get people through the security check fast, but in the little airport in Billings there is only one security check point.  I guess this works well in the bigger airports.


Our flight took us to Seattle first, we had a three hour lay over so we were able to find a café inside the airport to eat breakfast.  This little café was so busy with people, that we managed to get a table right away.  A couple was leaving where we were standing.  We grabbed the table.  We ended up sharing our table with another couple and we had a real nice conversation with them.  They gave us pointers of where to vacation, mainly in Mexico.


The Seattle airport has free internet so we found a quiet corner to sit and browse, read up on news and check weather.  It was time to board our plane, we were delayed about 30 minutes.  Apparently a bird hit the plane while it was on the ground so they had to check it out to make sure everything was good.  We had to wait on the plane.  Don't know why they didn't make us wait at the terminal.


Had an uneventful flight to Vegas, it was very windy in Vegas.  Found the shuttle to get to the condo, got checked in received our coupon books for the South Point Casino.  We found our room, got settled then made our way to the casino to place our bets on the basketball games.  Gary even bet on the baseball games for fun.


We wanted to sit out by the pool, but the pools were closed due to inclement weather.  The inclement weather was wind.  People living in cold weather states like us couldn't believe.  The weather straightened out after two days, pools open so we lazed in the afternoons soaking up the sun and enjoying the warmth.


We took the shuttles to Fremont Street on Monday night, saw all the sights, listened to a couple good bands and music, watched the light show on the canopy and saw all the weirdos out and about.  We had fun.  Then on Thursday we took the shuttle to the strip.  This time we went to the northern part of the strip and wandered around Treasure Island, The Venetian, Caesar's Palace and The Mirage.  It was later when we said that we should be out here at night to see all the lights.


I won during the week, about $800 in total.  We ate breakfasts in the condo and then went out for nice dinners, since I won I paid for it. We considered this our anniversary vacation even though we were a week early.  I even treated myself to a pedicure at the spa.  It sure felt nice to have a foot massage.  I only twitched a couple time with my ticklish feet.  My toenails got painted so my feet are pretty and happy.


One day I went to school to learn how to play craps.  It is a complicated game and you have to be fast.  Betting is a bit complicated.  Since we went to the school we each got a $5 match play coupon which Gary gave to me.  I won about $40 on craps.


We had to take the shuttle back to the airport, this driver took us on a different route.  Got checked in at the airport and again Gary got TSA Pre-Check.  At the Vegas airport, he had to go in a different line than I did.  We got separated but found each other.  Thank goodness for texting on our phones.
Our route home we went Vegas to Portland to Billings.  That last flight home seemed to take forever, even though it was only a two hour flight, felt like four hours.


Our week went fast and before we knew it time to go home.  Our Vegas vacations we hate to see end, looking forward to going in November.  Jennifer will be coming with us and we are going to drive.