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Access Vegas Insider Vibe – May 13, 2009

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AccessVegas.com InsideráVibe

Serving Las Vegas Visitors and Residents Since 1999

Welcome to the Insider Vibe! This is the official newsletter of AccessVegas.Com. We talk about the Las Vegas activities you really care about.

AccessVegas.com Quick Info Menu:

Las Vegas Essentials
Featured Shows
Photos and Wallpaper

Newkirk’s Notes – comments on Las Vegas from AccessVegas.Com publisher Ted Newkirk:

Hello From Las Vegas! Sumer is here, temps have already hovered at the 100 (F) and the pools are packed. Hotels are working harder than ever on promotions that should make this one of the best Las Vegas summers in some time.

Reinventing Las Vegas – The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) was looking for ways to “reinvent” Las Vegas and the way they market it (Review-Journal April 13, 2009). Last we heard, the are probably going to bring back the “What Happens Here, Stays Here” motto.

My thoughts? Las Vegas does not need a budget in the hundreds of millions to reinvent itself. Supply and demand reinvents Las Vegas. Right now, we are in a significant “reinvention” without any slogans. The economy has brought back the Las Vegas of the 90’s (minus the “family friendly” attempt of that decade).

The economy has forced cheap room rates, and plenty of specials on food, drink, shows and attractions. People used to go home and tell their friends about the great room (for the money) or cheap late night meal specials which also soothed the gambling losses. Visitors are the best way to sell and promote Las Vegas (word of mouth). But… you have to give them something to talk about!

Casinos in other areas (in competition with Las Vegas) are following the tried-and-true. Reference this ad from a casino outside of Sacramento, CA:

99 cent breakfast

How about we see more of this in Las Vegas and the word-of-mouth (and gambling money) is sure to follow!

Clint Holmes Returns – If you’ve been coming to Las Vegas for a number of years, the odds are that you saw Clint Holmes perform at Harrah’s (or at least remember hearing about the long-running show). Clint is back later this month for a weekend run. Details down in our news section.

Wolfgang Puck Summer Dining – Many of Las Vegas’ nicer restaurants are offering some amazing Pre-Fixe (fixed price, fixed menu) meals right now. Starting June 1 – Sept. 30, 2009 the following Wolfgang Puck restaurants are offering the following:

  • Spago û $29 Pre-Fixe Lunch Menu: Spago presents a three-course, pre-fixe lunch menu created by Executive Chef Eric Klein. Available daily, the menu offers delectable, yet light fare, ideal for lunch and guests on the go. The menu changes weekly and features new dishes which arenÆt featured on the standard lunch menu. The pre-fixe menu is $29 per person (excluding tax and gratuity).
  • Chinois û $39 Three-course pre-fixe menu with wine: Wolfgang PuckÆs Chinois invites guests to savor the flavors of Asia with a three-course pre-fixe menu, paired with a complimentary glass of red or white wine. The pre-fixe menu is priced at $39 per person. (excluding tax and gratuity).
  • Postrio û $49 Three-course pre-fixe menu with wine: Postrio entices guests to experience its exciting new menu and stunning new design. The restaurant is offering a three-course pre-fixe menu priced at $49 per person (excluding tax and gratuity).
  • CUT û $75 Pre-Theatre Menu: CUT by Wolfgang Puck offers guests a new pre-theatre menu available from 5:30 û 7 p.m. nightly. The menu includes three courses, accompanied by three of CUTÆs signature side dishes. For dessert, guests have a choice of Banana Cream Pie, Baked Alaska or a Warm Chocolate SoufflÚ. The pre-theatre menu is available for $75 per person (excluding tax and gratuity).
  • Spago û $135 Six-Course Beer Pairing Menu: Spago has added a special six-course tasting menu paired with exotic beers from around the world including Belgium, Japan, Italy and Germany. The menu changes daily and is priced at $135 per person (excluding tax and gratuity).
  • Summer LocalsÆ Appreciation û 25% Off: Wolfgang Puck is expressing his appreciation to Las Vegas locals this summer by offering guests 25% off their check. Beginning June 1 through Sept. 30, guests may take advantage of this special offer at Spago, Postrio, Chinois and Trattoria del Lupo.

Did You Know – The president of the perennially failing Las Vegas monorail makes $339,000 per year and claims to work a 50 hour week? Let’s see: the line rarely announces new advertisers or promotions. The cars don’t even have drivers. I think we’d all kill for that kind of $1/3ámillion dollars per year, “50 hour week” job!

Ground Has Been Broken – on the downtown performing arts center. The one you are paying for with your rental car taxes and will probably never bother to visit. The one we needed so badly because we have such a lack of entertainment venues here (I’m being sarcastic).

Look… I think downtown will be an amazing city core in the next 5-7 years. We have a photo set of Fremont East coming up soon, and plenty of great development is taking place at Union Park (just west of downtown). Not to mention so many high-rise condos that are built and coming on line. But if a venue is needed downtown (as it eventually will be), one of the downtown casinos will build it when the time is right. Without taking any money out of your pocket (except for the voluntary money you choose to gamble).

Condos For “Cheap” – Just to give an idea of how Strip condo prices have fallen: Earlier this year, and formerly $11.5 million dollar penthouse condo at Panorama Towers was going for $3.1 million or best offer. No word on if it sold or what the final price was. Panorama Towers is just across the I-15 freeway from CityCenter, and now simply has a “panoramic” view of the back of the project.

Where Are You? – I often talk about our worldwide readership and I’m sure many of you have wondered where everybody is (on the face of the globe). I pulled the top ten countries from our statistics by percentage:

  • United States – 73.52 %
  • Canada – 10.02 %
  • United Kingdom – 5.43 %
  • Australia – 1.28 %
  • Ireland – 0.98 %
  • Germany – 0.98 %
  • France – 0.86 %
  • Mexico – 0.54 %
  • Italy – 0.44 %

Because so many people can use web email, the above stats are actually from our AccessVegas.com traffic. But based on our reader feedback, I’d say this newsletter readership falls into line with those state. Note: We have no way of knowing exactly who you are. When you visit our websites, we’re simply able to determine what country and city that request is coming from (i.e. who your internet provider is).

With over 15% of our readership outside North America, we’re pleased and humbled to be a key source of Las Vegas information. No matter where you live, we know that you expend significant time, effort, and money to come visit our desert paradise. We’ll continue to work very hard to provide you the best Las Vegas information and advice possible.

Enjoy This Issue!

Ted Newkirk
CEO/Managing Editor

Associate Editor: Amy Rayner-Cooley
News Researcher/Editor: Mark Jacobs

Las Vegas Is On Sale!
Get Great Rates At All Hotels:

Bally’s from $49, El Cortez from $33, Fitzgeralds from $33, Hooters from $20, Orleans from $40, Riviera from $54, Sahara from $38, Stratosphere from $44, Tropicana from $30, Tuscany from $38, More Savings At All Vegas Hotels!

The Hit Musical Jersey Boys At The Palazzo Celebrates A Successful Year On The Strip – JERSEY BOYS Las Vegas, the story of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, celebrates its first anniversary on The Las Vegas Strip at the Palazzo Resort-Hotel-Casino Sunday, May 3. The show has become a staple of entertainment in Las Vegas, being named the number one show of 2008 by the Las Vegas Review-Journal after only six months of performances. In addition, just last month, JERSEY BOYS was named “Best Show” in Las Vegas by the staff of the Las Vegas Review-Journal, in the newspaper’s 28th annual “Best of Las Vegas” poll.

Clint Holmes Brings His Smooth Sounds To The Suncoast Showroom May 22-24 In ‘An Evening With Clint Holmes’ – Singing sensation Clint Holmes brings his powerful voice and magnetic stage presence to the Suncoast Showroom in “An Evening With Clint Holmes With Musical Director Bill Fayne,” May 22, 23 and 24. Holmes’ fans know him as more than just a singer. He’s famous for making every performance an original and captivating audiences with his charisma and signature style.

Legendary Groups Chicago And Earth, Wind & Fire To Co-Headline Show At The New Joint – Music legends Earth, Wind & Fire and Chicago have reunited for a 30-city national co-headlining summer concert tour and will be making a stop at The New Joint at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino on Saturday, July 25. Each band will perform a full set, and the two bands will come together both at the beginning of the night and for a final set that features both bands onstage together. In 2004 and 2005, the two bands teamed up for what is still talked about as one of the great musical spectaculars in recent touring history.

Comedian Artie Lange To Bring The Laughs To The New Joint At Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Saturday, June 27 – Incredible comedy & non-stop laughter is coming to The New Joint at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino when Artie Lange brings his live show to Vegas Saturday, June 27. Those are just a few ways to describe this prolific talent who continues his rise in the entertainment industry.

Duran Duran To Perform At The Pearl At The Palms – One of the most popular “British Invasion” bands of the ’80s, Duran Duran, takes the stage at The Pearl Concert Theater inside the Palms Casino Resort on Friday, July 10, 2009 as part of limited run dates along the West Coast. Duran Duran was founded in the United Kingdom in 1978 by Nick Rhodes and John Taylor. Over the years Duran Duran underwent several lineup changes however never disbanded entirely. Today’s lineup includes Rhodes and Taylor as well as Simon Le Bon and Roger Taylor.

Original Creed Line-Up Of Scott Stapp, Mark Tremonti, Scott Phillips And Brian Marshall To Play The New Joint – Creed, one of the most successful rock bands of the past decade, has announced all four of the original band members are back together for a summer tour and new album. Since their formation, Creed has sold close to thirty-five million albums and millions of concert tickets. Creed will play The New Joint at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino on September 27.

Performers Announced For Reggae In The Desert – The eighth annual Reggae in the Desert concert returns with a collection of well-known reggae acts including Ky-Mani Marley, Gregory Isaacs, Third World, Yellowman, One Pin Short and Jah Fusion. DJ Rhamma will spin tunes throughout the day and in between sets. Steve Edwards is the host for the event. The concert is set for Saturday, June 13 at the Clark County Government Center Amphitheater in downtown Las Vegas.

Travel Back In Time To 1969 As Fremont Street Experience Presents “Summer of ’69: Vegas or Bust” – Fremont Street Experience takes Las Vegas back 40 years this summer with the “Summer of ’69: Vegas or Bust” festival and concert series beginning Memorial Day weekend. The celebration offers tourists and residents a summer full of free concerts by major iconic bands from 1969, including The Guess Who, Blood Sweat & Tears, Rare Earth, Janis Joplin’s Original Band Big Brother & The Holding Company, The Grass Roots, Jefferson Starship, The 5th Dimension, Canned Heat and Three Dog Night.

Easy Vegas Deals

These are only a few of the many Easy Vegas Deals we find each and every week. For a complete and constantly updated listing:

Members Mania – We Love Our Readers!

Love your newsletter! My son and I just came back from a four night stay at Sahara. Compared to a number of other casino floors, I found they had a much better selection of slot machines, and they actually paid from time to time. Riviera was OK, but Circus Circus and Stratosphere were lacking in the newest games.

On the other hand, our room at the Sahara was peculiar. I normally stay at Imperial Palace or Circus Circus (low rates), and the rooms are functional. Our Sahara room was larger, had more character and a balcony with a nice view. The plumbing was hardly working, the carpet had burn holes, cleanliness was lacking – it clearly hadn’t been deep cleaned in ages, as evidenced by the dust on the electrical sockets. We chose it because of the Monorail, and were very pleased with the Caravan and Grind food services – both 24 hours and offering good variety and reasonable prices.

I was disappointed with the slot machines and food services at Imperial Palace just before Christmas, so with price, location and convenience factored in, I’d choose Sahara again. But you get what you pay for.

Dave from Canada

p.s. Somebody had written their phone number on our mirror, and it wasn’t cleaned off before we checked in. Didn’t call it, however…

Ted Responds:

You do get what you pay for and unfortunately, hotels are cutting costs (no room improvements and similar) to compensate for how low they have to keep the room rates right now.

I need to check on this, but I understand much of the Riviera’s rooms were upgraded a couple of years ago. We’ll look into that. We are going to start sending our stable of writers on “staycations” at as many local hotels as possible, and we are probably going to institute a “bang for your buck” ratings system. We’ll also ask readers who have stayed at Riv to let us know their thoughts.

Couple of notes:

1. It is a little bit of a pain, but if a room seems not clean in any way (including writing on the mirror), do not hesitate to call the front desk and ask for either a room re-assignment or if they can send a maid up IMMEDIATELY (let them know it appears the room wasn’t cleaned).

2. The Sahara is owned by one guy, not a big corporation. Many other hotels like Riv, Hilton and others are also owned by smaller concerns as are most of the hotels downtown. Absolutely drop the hotel’s general manager a snail mail note on situations like this. Just be clear and to-the-point like you were with me. (When people start exaggerating, it starts to sound like the writer just wants money or a free stay next time).

This is stuff they need to know, and they actually might toss you a couple of free nights or something similar on your next visit.

Lots of rumor floating around that The Sahara is winding down to a temporary closing phase. The properties owner wants to completely remake it into a Palms style hotel. Given the changes going on at the north end of The Strip (Wynn/Encore, Fontainebleau, maybe someday Echelon and Plaza), the north end of The Strip may finally turn into the new hot spot.

Thanks for the report!

My wife and I spent March 19-23 in Las Vegas and had a great time. We travel there from Ohio 1-2 times a year. We enjoyed the excitement of the first weekend of March Madness. The weather was pleasant and a nice switch from the damp gloominess of northwest Ohio in March. We stayed at The Hilton.

What we found disappointing there and along the strip was the poor gambling options, particularly if you are a low limit blackjack and craps player. Almost every blackjack game at the Hilton, during busy hours, were 6-5 (blackjack payoff). There were no $5 craps tables. Same was true along the strip, even at some of the traditionally lower end casinos.

We did manage to find options, but had to go to the Sahara or downtown. We had a great time and I’m not complaining since I came back ahead. It’s just harder and less convenient to find lower limits and favorable conditions. A tip of the hat to the 4 Queens and Binion’s where we spend several hours our last night. My wife and I concluded our blackjack session at the 4 Queens with blackjacks and a successful craps session at Binion’s. We’re already looking forward to our next trip.

Mark from Toledo, Ohio

Ted Responds:

I’ve been very vocal about suggesting people do at least one of their big gambling sessions downtown, and for the very reasons you noted. The lower limits let you play longer, the better odds and looser slots give you a better chance of winning, and if your luck at one hotel isn’t good, you can simply get up and be gambling in another hotel in a matter of a couple of minutes!

First I do enjoy reading your comments on what is going on in Vegas. I thought I would point out to fellow readers and people on a budget that I found some very good deals on Memorial day weekend. My girlfriend and I started going to Vegas a couple of years ago and since have been a couple of times a year.

Right now like a lot of people we have to watch our money but when things get a little better for us. Our first vacation will be in Vegas. I never had any interest in going to Vegas but my girlfriend wanted to see the lights on the strip so she talked me into the trip. I guess I was sold because we have been 8 times in 3 years pretty good considering I never really wanted to go the first time.

I found Vegas not to be what I thought it was. I thought it was all gambling and after over a half dozen visits I can tell you there is so much to do for couples and family that the gambling is actually pretty far down on the list when I think of Vegas.áOh, I’m sure I heard some of the casino owners gasp when I say that. Keep up the good work. love your news letter.

Joseph from Imlay City, MI

I love your newsletter. Reading this is better than the newspaper!

Myetta From Granada Hills

We love to hear from you, and value your feedback! Here’s how to participate:

More Las Vegas News – Concerts – Events

Coming Hot Holidays – The following dates are huge times to be in Las Vegas, and rooms are in high demand. Booking in advance is the best way to save. Visit our friends at Las Vegas Hotel Deals and spend one of the following hot dates having fun in Las Vegas:

  • Memorial Day, U.S May 23-25 (3 day weekend)
  • Father’s Day June 21
  • Canada Day, Canada July 1
  • Independence Day July 4
  • Civic Holiday, Canada August 1-3 (3 day weekend)
  • Labor Day, U.S September 5-7 (3 day weekend)
  • Labour Day, Canada September 5-7 (3 day weekend)
  • Jewish New Year September 19
  • Halloween October 31
  • Veteran’s Day November 11
  • Thanksgiving Day, U.S November 26-29 (4 day weekend)
  • Hanukkah Dec. 2 – Dec. 9
  • Christmas December 25
  • New Year’s Eve-Day December 31 – January 2 (3 day weekend)
  • Martin Luther King, Jr., Day, U.S (Observed) January 18-20 (3 day weekend)
  • Lincoln’s Birthday, U.S February 12
  • President’s Day, U.S (Observed) February 13-15 (3 day weekend)
  • Chinese/Lunar New Year February 14
  • Valentine’s Day February 14
  • Mardi Gras February 16
  • Washington’s Birthday, U.S February 22
  • St. Patrick’s Day March 17
  • Easter Sunday April 4
  • Cinco de Mayo May 5
  • Mother’s Day May 9

Link To Us! – Have a home page, web page, or blog? Link to us, and give yourself and your friends a quick link to find us from your site. Simply link to http://www.accessvegas.com and name the link Access Vegas!

RSS Feed – We now have an RSS/XML feed! Most RSS programs let you visit AccessVegas.com and automatically pull the feed. For those who want to enter it manually, the feed is:
http://www.accessvegas.com/xml/whats-hot.xml

Share the info: Click to Email this newsletter to a friend!

For comments or questions regarding our content or this newsletter write us at allvegastv@aol.com.

New to the list? See our Newsletter Archives for back issues and subscription info. Don’t hesitate to forward this newsletter to friends and associates.

All contents copyright 2008 Ted Newkirk. All Rights Reserved.
Hotel Rates Published Accurate At Time Of Publication

May 13, 2009 ISSN: 1529-2770 About Us Privacy Policy

Access Vegas Insider Vibe – February 4, 2008

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AccessVegas.com InsideráVibe

Serving Las Vegas Visitors and Residents Since 1999

Welcome to the Insider Vibe! This is the official newsletter of AccessVegas.Com. We talk about the Las Vegas activities you really care about.

AccessVegas.com Quick Info Menu:

Las Vegas Essentials
Featured Shows
Photos and Wallpaper

Newkirk’s Notes – comments on Las Vegas from AccessVegas.Com publisher Ted Newkirk:

Hello From Las Vegas! Doom and gloom, doom and gloom… you would think that people have simply quit visiting Las Vegas if you listen to the national media. And a few new-resident bloggers who only have the past couple of years as their reference base.

Nothing could be farther from the truth! If your visit is planned, you won’t be lonely or find a shortage of amazing things to do. If you are holding off visiting, someone else WILL be enjoying that great room (and at a rock-bottom room rate) instead of you.

In fact… the bargain rates won’t last forever. Soon, people will realize that the sky is not falling and everyone is going to start to want to vacation at once. My advice? Book your Las Vegas room now before that crowd starts driving up rates again.

My Personal Trip Report – To ease things during the recent move (which was a combination of personal and business move combined), I spent a couple of dirt-cheap nights in a pretty nice hotel casino. I’ll put those details down in Members Mania including the $20 trick and other advice.

39,000,000 – This is the number of people projected to visit Las Vegas this year, 2009… in the midst of a “terrible” recession. (Actually, some note that the recessions of the 70’s and early 80’s were possibly worse when you look at economic contraction to date).

Just to compare, remember 2006? The red-hot year when everybody from no-name Florida developers to George Clooney were talking about building in Las Vegas because the city was so hot as a destination? Guess how many people visited in 2006: 38,9000,000. Which means…

More people are projected to visit Las Vegas this year than visited during the tourism “boom” year of 2006.

So why are all the gaming companies going broke? Two reasons:

1. They overbuilt. MGM Mirage has CityCenter (too ambitious), Harrah’s built onto Caesars and bought a ton of land at top-of-the-boom prices, and Station Casinos built Aliante smack-dab in the middle of one of the newest (and most highly foreclosed upon) areas of North Las Vegas. For 50 years, people have been saying that Las Vegas would get over-built. It happened.

2. They strayed away from value. When you think you are getting a deal (whether it be on food or good gambling odds or whatever), you actually spend MORE money. How many times have we gone into Target (or even the grocery store) to buy a sale item and end up walking out with a $100 worth of stuff we never intended to buy? Such basic marketing, and yet so lost on many major gaming companies. Which brings me to…

Don’t Be THAT Visitor – Local writer Corey “Oops, I forgot to mention Access Vegas Insider Vibe blog in a recent article” Levitan wrote a humorous piece about what it is like to live here and entertain out-of-town guests. If you live here, you’ll get a kick out of it. If you don’t live here, but regularly come to town to shack up with (and party with) friends that do live in Las Vegas, please… please read It’s deja vu all over again when friends come to visit Las Vegas (and don’t be “that guy” when you visit).

89110 Booziest Zip In Las Vegas – According to a recent article in the Review-Journal, local zip code 89110 has 56 liquor outlets. More than twice of any other Las Vegas zip code. This is an urban/suburban zip code about 3 miles from downtown, not a sprawling rural area. Needless to say, officials are looking to reduce that number. I live nowhere near that area, but I say “What better way to keep people from drinking and driving than to have a bar every two blocks!”

Still Not A Good Time To Move – We always have new readers, some subscribing because they are considering moving to Las Vegas. And we continue to say… Don’t. Unemployment is headed toward 12% (as the construction bust has resulted in empty mini-malls city wide), anyone hiring will first hire locals who are out-of-work, and the federal economic stimulus package has nothing for the gaming/resort industry that drives our economy (not that it should).

Treasure Island New Ownership Means… – We reported on this a few weeks ago, and I’ve been meaning to comment on it but the past few weeks have been a little chaotic around here.

As many of you know, financier Phil Ruffin bought Treasure Island (TI) from MGM Mirage. This could be the first in a number of casino sell-offs as some of the gaming giants are temporarily cash-strapped.áAnd let’s face it: With CityCenter opening later this year, did MGM Mirage really need Treasure Island? Does Harrah’s really need all of their properties with all that great land they own to expand on?

This is a good news for the consumer. Do you know why downtown Las Vegas (Fremont Street Experience) has so many better food deals and better gambling odds than The Strip? They have to. Almost every downtown casino is owned by a different owner. Tons of competition, pure and simple.

If (and that is a big IF) more sell-offs diversify hotel ownership on The Strip, expect a return to the heavy competition that established Las Vegas as a bargain resort destination that offered a world-class experience. If you missed this story completely a few weeks ago, reference:

Enjoy This Issue!

Ted Newkirk
CEO/Managing Editor

Associate Editor: Amy Rayner-Cooley
News Researcher/Editor: Mark Jacobs

Las Vegas Is On Sale!
Get Great Rates At All Hotels:

Aliante from $57, Boulder Stn from $29, Fiesta H from $28, Green Valley from $125, Palace Stn from $24, Red Rock from $125, Sunset Stn from $50, Texas Stn from $29, Wild Wild W. from $23, More Savings At All Vegas Hotels!

Jersey Boys Is Las Vegas’ Number One Show – Jersey Boys Takes The Top Spot In Las Vegas Review-Journals’ 2008 Top Ten List – The smash hit Jersey BoysClick Here at The Palazzo Resort-Hotel-Casino has been named the number one show of the year by the Las Vegas Review-Journal, Nevada’s largest newspaper. In a year of stiff competition, JERSEY BOYS claimed the top spot for entertainment in 2008 ahead of such celebrated productions as Bette Midler “The Showgirl Must Go On,” Cher and Donny and Marie Osmond. Click to Read The Full Story …

Wolfgang Puck Satisfies Dessert Cravings with the New Seasonal 15-Layer Carrot Cake – Wolfgang Puck invites patrons to indulge in the 15-Layer Carrot Cake, a unique take on the traditional dessert. Director of Pastry Kenny Magana created this mouth-watering temptation which is composed of fifteen savory layers of cake and adorned with candied walnuts, filled with a delectable cream cheese filling and complemented with ginger ice cream. For $12, the seasonal dish is available at Wolfgang Puck’s Chinois and Spago, located inside The Forum Shops at Caesars, as well as at the Wolfgang Puck Bar & Grill, located inside MGM Grand. Click to Read The Full Story …

Members Mania – We Love Our Readers!

Ted’s “Trip Report” – Living here, the one thing I admit we cover the least is the actual hotel experience. Fortunately, many of you write in with your experiences to share with everyone. We’ll get back to those next issue and you can always write in your Vegas experiences to us at allvegastv@aol.com

Having spent a couple of recent hotel nights, I’ll briefly share my experiences:

Needing to “get out of the way” (of movers, maintenance/construction people and everything else), I looked for three things in a hotel: Good, cheap, and near The Strip. Palace Station came to mind, and a quick search of their site showed a $25 a night rate. Not bad!

However… you should never book anywhere else without checking our friends at Las Vegas Hotel Deals. Guess what… they were doing Palace Station at “stay one night, get one free” for much of the month of January. My total for two nights with tax? $30 and change. Not bad for a place literally one mile from The Strip (The Sahara to be specific, but Sahara has a monorail stop that will get you just about everywhere else).

Now… Palace Station has their older courtyard rooms and their newer tower rooms, both of which have been extensively remodeled. Usually, booking the rock bottom rate will get you in the courtyard. Not bad… the room surround a surprisingly nice pool area. But nothing fancy. Here’s where the “tip the desk clerk” situation comes into play:

Upon checking in, I took my ID and my credit card and placed a folded $10 bill in between them, with it sticking out just far enough to see the denomination. I told the clerk “if you have any tower rooms, the higher, the better (for the view), I’d appreciate it.” He punched a few things up, said he could take care of me, and thanked me (for the tip) as he picked up the credit card.

The result? A 19’th floor room with great Strip view, a 42 inch flat screen, modern decor, tile shower (no bath) with upscale toiletries, granite counter tops in the bathroom, King Size bed plus all the usual nice amenities (hair drier, iron and board, safe, big closet, quietá heat/air).

Plus… make sure you ALWAYS look through a coupon book if your hotel gives you one. Mine had everything from a free beer in their Irish Pub to 25% off room service (not to mention a bunch of gambling coupons and other specials).

Final thoughts:

1. I tipped $10 at the desk because it was (after all) Palace Station and a slow Sunday night check-in to boot. Consider $20 a minimum tip anywhere on The Strip or downtown or on a weekend anywhere. Staying at one of the really nice hotels? Make it a $50 if you want them to try to pull an ámajor upgrade (to a full suite, for example).

2. Is Palace Station for the novice visitor? Maybe not unless you are really staying on a budget. There is something to be said for staying right on The Strip. However… with a free shuttle to/from both the airport and The Strip, it might be a small inconvenience for the budget-minded. In addition, you’ll find the usual assortment of casino restaurants with prices well below Strip pricing, and lower table limits as well.

We love to hear from you, and value your feedback! Here’s how to participate:

  • Drop us an email at allvegastv@aol.com – We read them all!
  • Call our recorded comment line at 702-507-0055. We listen to every call.

More Las Vegas News – Concerts – Events

Coming Hot Holidays – The following dates are huge times to be in Las Vegas, and rooms are in high demand. Booking in advance is the best way to save. Visit our friends at I4Vegas Discount Las Vegas Reservations and spend one of the following hot dates having fun in Las Vegas:

  • Lincoln’s Birthday, U.S February 12
  • Valentine’s Day February 14
  • President’s Day, U.S (Observed) February 14-16 (3 day weekend)
  • Washington’s Birthday, U.S February 22
  • St. Patrick’s Day March 17
  • Easter Sunday April 12
  • Cinco de Mayo May 5
  • Mother’s Day May 10
  • Father’s Day June 21
  • Canada Day, Canada July 1
  • Independence Day July 4
  • Civic Holiday, Canada August 1-3 (3 day weekend)
  • Labor Day, U.S September 5-7 (3 day weekend)
  • Labour Day, Canada September 5-7 (3 day weekend)
  • Jewish New Year September 19
  • Halloween October 31
  • Veteran’s Day November 11
  • Thanksgiving Day, U.S November 26-29 (4 day weekend)
  • Hanukkah Dec. 2 – Dec. 9
  • Christmas December 25
  • New Year’s Eve-Day December 31 – January 2 (3 day weekend)
  • Martin Luther King, Jr., Day, U.S (Observed) January 18-20 (3 day weekend)
  • Chinese/Lunar New Year February 14

Link To Us! – Have a home page, web page, or blog? Link to us, and give yourself and your friends a quick link to find us from your site. Simply link to http://www.accessvegas.com and name the link Access Vegas!

RSS Feed – We now have an RSS/XML feed! Most RSS programs let you visit AccessVegas.com and automatically pull the feed. For those who want to enter it manually, the feed is:
http://www.accessvegas.com/xml/whats-hot.xml

Share the info: Click to Email this newsletter to a friend!

For comments or questions regarding our content or this newsletter write us at allvegastv@aol.com.

New to the list? See our Newsletter Archives for back issues and subscription info. Don’t hesitate to forward this newsletter to friends and associates.

All contents copyright 2008 Ted Newkirk. All Rights Reserved.
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February 4, 2009 ISSN: 1529-2770 About Us Privacy Policy

Access Vegas Insider Vibe – January 21, 2008

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AccessVegas.com InsideráVibe

Serving Las Vegas Visitors and Residents Since 1999

Welcome to the Insider Vibe! This is the official newsletter of AccessVegas.Com. We talk about the Las Vegas activities you really care about.

AccessVegas.com Quick Info Menu:

Las Vegas Essentials
Featured Shows
Photos and Wallpaper

Newkirk’s Notes – comments on Las Vegas from AccessVegas.Com publisher Ted Newkirk:

Hello From Las Vegas! We continue to escape the bitter cold that has even enveloped South Florida this past week. Highs generally well into the 60’s although we are having a couple of rainy (yes, real rain in the desert) days as I type. Should be moving through soon.

Speaking of moving… we are in the process of relocating locally to be closer to the heart of The Strip and downtown to provide even a better level of coverage for you! Because of those responsibilities, my sections will be abbreviated this week. However, this issue still has the great Las Vegas news and happenings that you come to expect from us, and we’ll be back with our next issue the first week of February.

Folies Bergere Las Vegas Showgirls

The End Of The Showgirl? – After a nearly 50 year Las Vegas run, Folies Bergere is calling it quits. The 80 person cast and crew apparently no longer works out economically for a mid-priced show. This is a true shame as we’ll be losing one of the last remaining vestiges of “Old Vegas”.

Folies Bergere Las Vegas Showgirls

My advice? See this show while you still can. Many of you may not be able to say that you were ever in the Copa Room at The Sands (where the Rat Pack played and subsequently hosted other big name performers over the years) or that you actually drove a car down Fremont Street (the part which is now the Fremont Street Experience downtown) or that you even saw the Siegfriend and Roy show live.

If you are visiting between now and the end of March, absolutely make a point to see Folies Bergere. Whether you are 21 or 81 (or any adult age), you’ll enjoy this true, living slice of the way Las Vegas used to be. Even the ticket price is easy on the wallet compared to many other Las Vegas shows. Click for Folies Bergere Las Vegas Tickets.

Side Notes: The showgirls are covered (have tops on) in some shows and are traditional (sans tops) in others.

  • Monday, Wednesday, Thursday – 7:30p Covered, 10p Adult.
  • Tuesday & Friday – 8:30p Adult.
  • Saturday – 7:30p & 10p Adult.

Can’t make it to town in time? Treat yourself to Jubilee! (Click for Jubilee! Las Vegas Tickets). Not quite the same, but still that Old Vegas stage show vibe and well worth seeing while it is still around.

Enjoy This Issue!

Ted Newkirk
CEO/Managing Editor

Associate Editor: Amy Rayner-Cooley
News Researcher/Editor: Mark Jacobs

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Jersey Boys Is Las Vegas’ Number One Show – Jersey Boys Takes The Top Spot In Las Vegas Review-Journals’ 2008 Top Ten List – The smash hit Jersey BoysClick Here at The Palazzo Resort-Hotel-Casino has been named the number one show of the year by the Las Vegas Review-Journal, Nevada’s largest newspaper. In a year of stiff competition, JERSEY BOYS claimed the top spot for entertainment in 2008 ahead of such celebrated productions as Bette Midler “The Showgirl Must Go On,” Cher and Donny and Marie Osmond. Click to Read The Full Story …

The Mirage Las Vegas Launches Wine Nights Featuring Half-Prices Bottles Of Wine – The Mirage Hotel and Casino, much like a fine wine, gets better with age. This year, to celebrate its 20th anniversary, The Mirage is offering its vino-loving guests the chance to purchase bottles of wine at 50 percent off the regular price. Every Tuesday and Wednesday, half-priced bottles of wine are available for purchase at Onda Wine Lounge, Kokomo’s Steak and Seafood, Samba Brazilian Steakhouse, Caribe CafÚ and Cravings. With more than 900 labels available, even the most discerning palate will find a wine of their liking.Click to Read The Full Story…

Wolfgang Puck Satisfies Dessert Cravings with the New Seasonal 15-Layer Carrot Cake – Wolfgang Puck invites patrons to indulge in the 15-Layer Carrot Cake, a unique take on the traditional dessert. Director of Pastry Kenny Magana created this mouth-watering temptation which is composed of fifteen savory layers of cake and adorned with candied walnuts, filled with a delectable cream cheese filling and complemented with ginger ice cream. For $12, the seasonal dish is available at Wolfgang Puck’s Chinois and Spago, located inside The Forum Shops at Caesars, as well as at the Wolfgang Puck Bar & Grill, located inside MGM Grand. Click to Read The Full Story …

Special Performances Of The Beatles LOVE To Benefit Nevada Public Radio – Nevada Public Radio listeners and members have a special opportunity to support public radio while experiencing a little love. Two benefit performances of The Beatles LOVE at the Mirage Hotel and Casino are scheduled for 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. on Thursday, February 5. (Ticket Link For Non-Benefit Shows) All of the proceeds will benefit Nevada Public Radio and must be purchased through Nevada Public Radio. A special feature to this benefit is the “Help! I need somebody” section. When a single ticket is purchased through Nevada Public Radio, that seat will automatically be placed with other single public radio fans. You never know, you might just “find somebody to love.” Click to Read The Full Story and Benefit Ticket Info …

Celebrate Year Of The Ox At Bellagio’s Conservatory & Botanical Gardens – Bellagio’s Conservatory & Botanical Gardens ushers in the Chinese New Year, the Year of the Ox, with a spectacular new exhibit. The majestic centerpiece will be a 15-foot-long ox comprised of more than 10,000 living plants. The ox is the second animal in the Asian zodiac. Just steps away, an 18-foot-tall Chinese God of Wealth and Fortune will stand amidst golden lucky coins. Visitors also will delight to discover a trio of charming, 6-foot-tall giant pandas. Made of more than 9,000 living plants, the pandas will frolic in a lush garden filled with towering bamboo. Click to Read The Full Story …

“Defending The Caveman” Settles In Permanent Cave At Excalibur – “Defending the Caveman,” Broadway’s smash hit about the sexes, will begin a permanent performance schedule at Excalibur Hotel Casino beginning Tuesday, January 13. (Tickets) “Defending the Caveman” performances take place at 3 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday with additional performances at 7 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. “Defending the Caveman” has experienced tremendous success in Las Vegas, racking-up an impressive 700 performances since its Las Vegas debut in June 2007. Click to Read The Full Story …

Members Mania – We Love Our Readers!

Memebers Mania will return next issue. This is the section where we feature reader feedback and questions and I give my personal insight to help you have a great Las Vegas vacation!

Wish me luck on this move.

We love to hear from you, and value your feedback! Here’s how to participate:

More Las Vegas News – Concerts – Events

Coming Hot Holidays – The following dates are huge times to be in Las Vegas, and rooms are in high demand. Booking in advance is the best way to save. Visit our friends at Las Vegas Hotel Deals and spend one of the following hot dates having fun in Las Vegas:

  • Chinese/Lunar New Year January 26
  • Lincoln’s Birthday, U.S February 12
  • Valentine’s Day February 14
  • President’s Day, U.S (Observed) February 14-16 (3 day weekend)
  • Washington’s Birthday, U.S February 22
  • St. Patrick’s Day March 17
  • Easter Sunday April 12
  • Cinco de Mayo May 5
  • Mother’s Day May 10
  • Father’s Day June 21
  • Canada Day, Canada July 1
  • Independence Day July 4
  • Civic Holiday, Canada August 1-3 (3 day weekend)
  • Labor Day, U.S September 5-7 (3 day weekend)
  • Labour Day, Canada September 5-7 (3 day weekend)
  • Jewish New Year September 19
  • Halloween October 31
  • Veteran’s Day November 11
  • Thanksgiving Day, U.S November 26-29 (4 day weekend)
  • Hanukkah Dec. 2 – Dec. 9
  • Christmas December 25
  • New Year’s Eve-Day December 31 – January 2 (3 day weekend)
  • Martin Luther King, Jr., Day, U.S (Observed) January 18-20 (3 day weekend)

Link To Us! – Have a home page, web page, or blog? Link to us, and give yourself and your friends a quick link to find us from your site. Simply link to http://www.accessvegas.com and name the link Access Vegas!

RSS Feed – We now have an RSS/XML feed! Most RSS programs let you visit AccessVegas.com and automatically pull the feed. For those who want to enter it manually, the feed is:
http://www.accessvegas.com/xml/whats-hot.xml

Share the info: Click to Email this newsletter to a friend!

For comments or questions regarding our content or this newsletter write us at allvegastv@aol.com.

New to the list? See our Newsletter Archives for back issues and subscription info. Don’t hesitate to forward this newsletter to friends and associates.

All contents copyright 2008 Ted Newkirk. All Rights Reserved.
Hotel Rates Published Accurate At Time Of Publication

January 21, 2009 ISSN: 1529-2770 About Us Privacy Policy