Warnings About Travels to Las Vegas

 

These selfies were snapped in June 2021 on my way back home from Fabulous Las Vegas.  Fun trip! As you can see, I was doubled-masked.  I remained double masked during my entire 3-night stay in Las Vegas. I am fully vaccinated and made the decision to remained double-masked.

There is excellent signage in Las Vegas directing the unvaccinated to remain masked. However, most folks were NOT masked. I know they were not vaccinated.

The state of Nevada is rapidly becoming a COVID hotspot again. That is just so unfortunate that people in this country have not been committed to vaccinating and following public health safety practices.  I am including an article here from the LA Times warning folks to reconsider travels to Las Vegas.  

Advisory Against Travel to Las Vegas

I have a trip booked next week for Las Vegas.  I will be totally double-masked again.  I also have a hotel stay book in September... but, now I am rethinking my September trip.  I'll have to see the infection metrics for Nevada.  I just will not go if I have to quarantine on return home.

Las Vegas at Night

Some fun photos of Las Vegas Boulevard at night during my June 2021 trip.

Las Vegas Solo Travels - The Pandemic Years

 

I have always done solo travels. If I waited for others to join me, I'd never would travel. So, I just do me. As an experience solo traveler to Las Vegas, here are some tips for doing such during the pandemic.

• Book your hotel first. Check your online account and emails for comped stays.
• Secure your flight and be aware of travel rules during the pandemic.
• Have a plan to and from McCarran. Travel is easy at McCarran, you just have to know your options.
• Download the hotel app if they have one so that you can pre-check in and avoid registration lines.
• I opt out of housekeeping services. I know there is a worker shortage.
• I create and print off an itinerary. I never need to contemplate... "What am I going to do?"
• Eateries have long lines. So, be creative and consider the ones in the promenades.
• Beverage service at casino slots is variable. I'm forming a list during my next trip.
• Check for locations where to buy water- ABC Store, CVS or Walgreens.
• If you are a member of social media groups, be careful of announcing your travel plans.
• I prefer to ride elevators alone.

So, that is how I do solo travel to Fabulous Las Vegas in 2021  

Have fun!

Cosmopolitan June 2021 - Tuesday - Day 2 Trip Report

 I was up super early. I always say... I don't go to Las Vegas to sleep.  Anyway, after a nice nap I was out on The Strip at about 1am.  First stop was Bellagio for slot fun.  Boy did I have fun! I got a nice hand pay!!  I hopped to so many casinos.  I really missed my casino fun in Las Vegas.  These are the casinos where I did my casino hop!

• Bellagio - Hand pay! OK beverage service at slots
• Planet Hollywood- Tight slots / poor beverage service at slots
• Paris Las Vegas - Tight slots / poor beverage service at slots
• Bally's - Tight slots / poor beverage service at slots
• Cromwell - Tight slots / good beverage service at slots
• Flamingo - Tight slots / poor beverage service at slots
• The LINQ - Tight slots / poor beverage service at slots
• Harrah's - OK slots / poor beverage service at slots
• Casino Royale - OK slots / good beverage service at slots
• Venetian - OK slots / good beverage service at slots
• Palazzo - OK slots / decent beverage service at slots

Lunch was nice at Bally's outdoor promenade. Blue Ribbon Fried Chicken was great.  See picture.

Cosmopolitan - June 2021- Wednesday Trip Report

 My last day in Las Vegas. After I made up my bed and tidy up my nice room, I was out on The Strip for more casino hops!  I planned to go to Mandalay Bay, but no tram. Oh well.

• Aria - Tight slots / no beverage service at slots
• Park MGM - Tight slots / no beverage service at slots
• NYNY - Tight slots / no beverage service at slots
• Excalibur - Tight slots / lousy beverage service at slots

I had enough casino fun for this trip. Back to Cosmopolitan. Lunch was a delicious Pork Shoulder Kimchi sandwich from Lardo's. Cosmopolitan has a huge food court called The District. That place was packed. Social distancing not possible.

I headed back down to the casino floor at Cosmopolitan.  Slots were nice.  Good beverage service at slots.

Cosmopolitan Las Vegas - June 2021 - Monday - Day 1 Trip Report

 

This was my first return to Las Vegas during the pandemic. My 3- night stay was at Cosmopolitan. 

Monday

• Travel day. Quick check-in at ticketing with no wait. Long line and wait at TSA. 
• Nice flight. Many reminders to passengers to keep masks in place. 
• McCarran bustling with many travelers. 
• No one in cab line (Yippee) quick flat rate taxi ride to Cosmopolitan.
• Nice check-in at registration, but clerk rather incompetent as he used my landline number to text when room ready. UGH! The online Identity does not allow edits of profile. UGH UGH!!!
• A few minutes ago, I got the customer service survey from Cosmopolitan. YES!
• Lunch at Secret Pizza.
• Spent the entire day in the casino. Slots not too tight. Able to stretch my $20 bill.

Cosmopolitan June 2021 - Leaving Las Vegas -Thursday Trip Report

 Time to head back home.  Nice, easy, early checkout from Cosmopolitan via TV monitor. To the cab stand, no wait! Quick check-in at SWA Ticketing.  Fairly long line at TSA... as usual.

Early Bird fare, but at B position.... UGH!  But, I got a good seat at window.  Long time to pull out from gate. Mechanical issues.  Had to change planes.  Good that new gate was just across hallway. 2 hour delay.  New plane was a 737-MAX. Oh Oh.  But, nice flight.  Able to snap some photos of Resorts World during the flyover.

Good to arrive back at MDW.  Long Long Long wait for my luggage.  Was change to a different carousel without notification.... UGH!

Interesting.... Brand new checkout stations at the Economy Garage.  Hey... all lanes were open!  Hey... no lines!!!  Then, I noticed... when I pulled in, the kiosks are now self-service with credit cards only.  Now, that was a major change during the pandemic!

Satisfaction Surveys During a Pandemic

 I enjoyed my very first getaway trip during the week of June  20th after 18 months in a pandemic lockdown.  The last time that I checked, we are still in a pandemic even though public health restrictions are being lifted. 

When I checked into the resort, I was asked if I would be interested in opting-out of housekeeping services with a $40 food voucher.  I agreed to opt-out because I am aware of the hardship brought about by the pandemic worker shortage.  BUT, no information was shared about the food voucher.

I just received the customer satisfaction survey. I had concerns about the following:

Incompetence of the registration clerk who used my landline number to text my "room ready".

No information provided regarding the food voucher.

My  trash reciprocal was full of empty plastic water bottles.

Hence, I had to give poor ratings for room cleanliness and overall rating. I feel that businesses need to update their surveys to account for changes in practices.  Also, written information should be given to those who opt-out for housekeeping services.  Finally, why not provide large garbage bags for hotel guests who opt out of housekeeping services?  Its not that easy to simply provide an opt-out service.

I did a good job in tidying my room every day. But, my empty water bottles were building up. I also would have appreciated a small "caddy" to clean horizontal surfaces.  That's it... just a caddy of disinfectant and a large garbage bag to decently dispose of empty water bottles.

May I add.... it was nice to not have to leave daily tips for housekeeping!  I'm just saying.