Las Vegas - where we stayed and what we did

If you look online, there are a lot (and I mean a LOT) of posts about Las Vegas. Covering all sorts of topics from how to book, where to stay, where to eat etc etc.

So what can I add that's any different? Well, first up, a bit of back ground info - this was our 8th trip to Las Vegas! I really do think Vegas is like Marmite, you either love it or hate it, there's no in between. I always wanted to visit Vegas as a child and from our very first trip back in 2001, we've loved it wholeheartedly.

And so, as you'd probably imagine, after all those visits, we've done most of the typical must-see attractions that all tourists do. Even so, Las Vegas is a city that is constantly evolving and changing and as it was 8 years since our last visit (!) there was plenty to see that was new to us. So this post is not an exhaustive must do/must see post, more of a taste of what we did this time around.

Flamingo Hotel and Casino

First up - our hotel. We've started trying to stay in a different hotel every time we visit in the (very optimisic) hope of eventually working our way through most of the hotels on the strip. This time around, we chose The Flamingo Hotel and Casino.

We had a tick-box list for our Vegas hotel. It had to be central, with a view of the strip (the name given to the main road through the centre), it had to have 'character' and finally, be within budget. Not much to ask then? After a lot of searching around, we narrowed it down to two hotels. Bally's or Flamingo. The deciding factor? The Flamingo had a wildlife habitat with real live flamingos in. Decision made! It's also the oldest hotel currently on the strip so plenty of character there.

We booked direct, and made sure to join the Caesar's Reward Scheme. Caesars owns a surprising number of hotels in Vegas and elsewhere so if you're planning on staying a while here or in another Caesars property, it's worth getting a reward account. It's free and gives you benefits other than just points.

Not going to lie - resort fees in Vegas are a shocker. Just be aware of them, take a deep breath and budget for them. If you want to stay central, it really is the price you have to pay. Some hotels are starting to reduce or waive them, but whether they'll ever go is anyone's guess.

Overall thoughts on The Flamingo? We loved it. We paid extra for a strip view, but didn't pay for one of the newer refurbished rooms which we felt was a good decision. Our room on the 16th floor was perfectly good enough: clean, spacious and very very comfy. Now, if you don't like 24 hr flashing neon lights, then a strip view room might not be the one for you! Luckily, we slept through the light shows every night no problem.

The Peppermill Restaurant and Fireside Lounge

This classic Las Vegas icon has been on my must do list for years. Unfortunately, it's destined to stay there. It's open 24 hrs but despite all our best planning, we still managed to pick a time with huge lines waiting to be seated. So a quick peek in, a little whimper at missed opportunities and The Peppermill was added right back onto my wish list for next time.

The Linq and High Roller

Last time we visited, this was still in the planning stage - so this whole area was new to us. A quirky, lively side area off the main strip, The Linq shopping promenade sits in between The Flamingo hotel and The Linq Hotel. You can even take a zip line from one end to the other if that's your sort of thing. At the far end is The High Roller, a 550 foot high observation wheel, currently the tallest wheel in the world. As we were guests at The Flamingo and Caesars Rewards members (remember the benefits...?) we got discounted tickets and quicker boarding. Although, mid-morning when we went is a pretty quiet time to go anyway and daytime tickets are slightly cheaper than night time. There's also a evening option of a pod with an open bar and unlimited alcohol if that takes your fancy!

Walk The Strip

Not one for the faint hearted - and truth be told, we could only manage half the length at any one time. But when you remember the strip is just over 4 miles long, the heat (over 100 degrees everyday we were there), we didn't do too badly. It's been said many times, but sensible footwear, lots of sun cream (factor 50+ for us) and as much water as you can carry is the way to go. We always started early in the day, caught the monorail to the end of the strip and walked back to our hotel which was halfway along. Mornings meant less heat, less crowds and much easier walking. It's been a very long time since we did this and although we were pretty shattered afterwards, it was worth doing for just to be able to see everything up close and without the crowds (plus there's air conditioned shops along the way like Sephora to pop into...).

Visit a celebrity chef's restaurant

You'll spoilt for choice here and if you watch the food channel, you'll recognise a lot of the named restaurants. And if you're from the UK, be amazed (possibly dismayed) at how many restaurants and eateries Gordon Ramsey has. The other half's favourite chef is Guy Fieri so a visit to Guy Fieri's Restaurant and Bar was a must do. Heads-up, it's not cheap (as you'd expect) but a big part of the visit is the experience of going. Luckily, it didn't disappoint. The staff were lovely, the food amazing and the bill every bit as eye watering as you'd expect! Again, we went mid-afternoon so had time to relax and experience it all without the evening crowds.

The Flamingo Wildlife Habitat

Free to visit and some rooms in the hotel overlook this. It's a little hidden oasis in the middle of the madness of Vegas. There's scheduled feeding times and opportunities for photo shoots with the parrots (have to say - I was less keen on this, I never like to see that sort of staged interaction with any animal). Apart from this, the animals and birds in the wildlife habitat looked very relaxed and well cared for. You can even get married here if you want...

Monster Mini Golf at The Twilight Zone at Bally's

What can I add to this! Who would have thought glow in the dark indoor mini golf would be so much fun, so much fun in fact, we visited twice (and you get a discount ticket for the 2nd visit). The staff were amazing and so welcoming. Wear white if you want to stand out (literally) and visit early morning if you want to pootle around at your own pace. There's also a mini arcade and a food court nearby with the best Chinese food. We seriously loved this place, if you want to visit it can be hard to find though. Just head for the food court and you'll find the signs for it eventually.

So that's just a taster of some of the things we saw and did this time around in Las Vegas. We still have a very long wish list of things to do and see (Peppermill!) but that just means we have the perfect reason to go back again for visit #9

Thanks for reading

Cathy
xx

Planning an American road trip - some hints and tips

Earlier this year we headed over to America for a three week holiday. It sounds very extravagant (and there was a LOT of saving involved) but with a bit of careful planning, we managed to keep costs down wherever possible. I thought I'd share some of the things we've learnt over the years in the hope it might help or inspire you to do something similar (and a bit of a disclaimer - this isn't our first road trip - to date we've visited 38 states so this is just what works for us, not everyone is the same or likes the same things).

First of all, before we even booked the flights, we sorted out the visa. Depending on where you are when you read this, you'll likely need a visa of sorts to visit. Here in the UK we were able to apply for an Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA) which is valid for 2 years and allows visitors to travel to the US on the Visa Waiver Program. But remember to check your passport expiry dates. Generally it's recommended to have 6 months on your passport when travelling. I didn't so had to renew my passport, before even applying for an ESTA. When you're ready, don't go via an agency as it's cheaper to apply direct ($14 per person when we did it). Most times, applications are accepted straight away. Sometimes though you have wait 48hrs or so for approval (this always happens to me!).

Once you've got that - you're good to go! But before you rush out and book that flight for your dream road trip you might want to plan a few things. Our checklist looks something like this:

Budget
How much can you afford? Be realistic - you have to remember to allow for the flights (and all their hidden costs) accommodation, food, travel insurance, airport parking and transfers, car hire (and any extra insurance you add onto that) as well as spending money for that essential holiday souvenir. When you factor in tips, the cost of ESTAs and possible passport renewals - it quickly adds up.

Also credit cards - if you're travelling with another person and both have a card it can ease those awful 'Help! My cards stopped working moment' (which happened to us this year) plus it's extra backup in case you lose one.

How long have you got?
It sounds ideal to book three weeks off, but realistically, most people will have a fortnight. Plus you'll need a day or so after you get back to recover from jet lag and tackle the washing (seriously - why is there so much washing after a holiday!).

Also driving times - it can be tempting to pick up the car and head off into the sunset, but you'll need to come back at some time. We normally mark a halfway point in the holiday where we're heading back towards to the airport so make sure you allow enough time for that.

Driving
Are you confident drivers? Try to work out how much you'd be happy to drive in a day. America is vast compared to the UK and unless you're happy to have occasional days where you're driving for up to 6 hours or more, then it might be wise to narrow down where you want to go. If more than one of you is confident to drive it shares the load and takes the pressure off the main driver. For us, the other half likes to do the big long hauls during the day whereas I do the shorter drives in the evening/night time and that works fine.

Think also about the type of car you want. Chances are you'll be driving in safe areas, but sometimes you just want to blend in without shouting 'hey, look I'm a tourist'. You also want a car that's the right size for you! We normally opt for a compact car (as it's the cheapest option for just two people) and resist the inevitable hard sell at the rental desk to upgrade. This year when collecting our car, the agent behind the desk tried to tell us that the car we had chosen was too small to drive across state. That was until we pointed out that a small car in the US is bigger than a family car in the UK. We stuck with our 'small' car and it fitted 3 large suitcases plus hand luggage easily in the boot with room to spare.

Plan your route
When you hire a car, chances are you'll return it to the same place, but you don't have to. Look at the options your rental company offers. Some will offer free pick-ups and returns at different locations (even different states), other times there'll be a charge. Balance up the costs against where you want to go and how much in time it will save, how much more you could see etc. In the past we're done both options. This year, we collected a car in Denver and headed east out through Nebraska then west back to Denver via Kansas. It was a big loop that worked for us. And as I mentioned above - think about how much driving you're happy to do. A short distance on the map can actually take hours in real life.

Be prepared
Most rental cars will have the option of hiring a sat-nav. You could save money by bringing your own or download the relevant maps onto your phone beforehand. Or you could even go old school like we did and use paper maps only (which always seems to amuse and worry the car rental people in equal measures!).

Be prepared (as prepared as you can be) for the quirks of US driving. The turning right on a red light always seems slightly bizarre but is important to learn as is the no passing of a school bus when stopped. A bit of time spent online will help you get to grips as rules can vary from state to state. There's plenty of sites online that will help you adjust. I also make sure I have the number of the breakdown company when I collect the car and a spare power pack or two for the phone in case of emergencies.

Filling stations are always fun (possibly said tongue in cheek). Some of our most interesting moments have occurred while trying to get fuel. Nowadays, the majority accept credit cards, but in the more remote areas, you'll need to put in a zip code if you want to pay at the pump, which you obviously don't have. No worries, a quick trip into the garage normally sorts that - except that it's not quick if you're in a very rural location. Inevitably they'll want to know where you're going, where you've been, why you're here, and if you're very lucky, what do you think of Trump... We've really met the funniest, warmest people this way. It can turn a quick stop into a 30 minute layover though!

And last but not least - accommodation. This is so personal to everybody that I'm not going to say a lot - just what we do. We are signed up for every loyalty card / membership programme going for all the major hotels. This is a huge saving for us as we can book free nights, get members rates etc. We like to book in advance and know a room is waiting for us at the end of a long day. In the past we've just turned up and booked on the day, but with better internet access it's now just easier to book online and amend as you go along.

And that's it - some of my hints and tips for a road trip in America. Hope it helps and can't wait to start planning the next one!

Cathy
x

An evening at Southampton Christmas Market

It's finally December! The present shopping is (nearly) all done, there's mince pies in the cupboard and it's now time to relax a little and soak up the festive atmosphere. And if you haven't started shopping yet, then a Christmas market is the perfect place to find something a little bit out of the ordinary.

Earlier this week, I was invited along with Southampton Bloggers for an evening at the Southampton Christmas Market and to watch Santa fly. He's a busy guy but every night he and Rudolph find time to fly from the top of Southampton Bargate across the market.

The market is a traditional German one with alpine chalets, food and drink and even a Bavarian musician. We were given a personal tour of the market where we got a chance to talk to some of the stallholders and sample some of the food and drink available.

We then went up to Balcony Bar ready to watch the big man do his stuff and fly across the market. We really did have the best seat in the house, with hot chocolates, even more snacks and accompanying music from an alpine horn!

A big thank you to Southampton Bloggers and Southampton City Council for inviting us. If you want to watch Santa yourself (and it's the only place in the UK to see it) he's flying twice a day until 23rd December. Monday to Saturday at 5 and 7pm and on Sundays at 4 and 6pm.

Thanks for reading

Cathy
xx

48 hours in Brussels - something a bit different

What can you do in 48 hours in Brussels?

(Ok - to be exact we actually had 2 and a half days but you get the general idea).

Brussels is a city we've visited many times before, so we felt a bit like we'd done all the obvious bits already. This time around we wanted something a bit out of the ordinary, so we planned to visit The Smurf Experience at the Brussels Expo on one day and The Royal Museum of the Armed Forces and Military History on the other.

We started off by checking into a hotel which was the most centrally located we'd ever had in Brussels. We wanted the advantage of seeing the city at night while being able to walk back to the hotel (note to future self - cobblestones are a nightmare to walk on, wear sensible shoes). The Ibis off Grand Place fitted the bill perfectly, it really was just a few minutes walk to the Grand Place itself where the evenings were spent people watching, eating ice cream, drinking beer and trying to take half decent photos.

It's no secret I LOVE smurfs so of course we had to do a bit smurf spotting around the city. This year is the 60th anniversary of the smurfs so there's just a little bit extra to keep an eye out for. This mural by Brussels Central Station was unveiled in June and if you don't mind hopping out of the way of busy commuters it's fun to spot the Belgium/Brussels themed smurfs.

First full day - The Smurf Experience. Now I know this isn't everyone's idea of a good day out, but stick with me. If you remember watching the smurfs on tv or enjoyed the latest movies then you'll love this. I dragged the other half along and at the end he grudgingly had to admit it was better than he thought it would be! It's on until January 2019 and tickets start at 11 euros so if you want something different to keep the little people in your life happy then this is just the thing.

The next day was The Royal Museum of the Armed Forces and Military History. We've been wanting to visit this for years, but always seemed to be in town on a Monday (when quite a few things are closed). This time though, we scheduled in a whole day. Even then, we missed quite a lot - you seriously need 2 days to see everything here.

The building the museum is housed in was built for the 1880 National Exhibition to celebrate 50 years of Belgium independence. It's quite obvious in places that it needs a bit of care and attention but when you have collections ranging from tanks, aircraft, weapons and uniforms, it somehow just adds a bit of character!

If you're not military minded, some of the things that might appeal include a stunning roof top view over the city, a sweet little cafe serving the best cooked lunches and the Parc du Cinquantenaire which the museum is situated in. And at only 5 euros each, it's ideal if you're on a budget or it's a rainy day.

That was our 2 and a bit days in Brussels. I'll skip over the bit where we drove through Belgian rush hour traffic (scary) and the joy we felt when the sat nav lost signal (many swear words used). We do love Belgium though and every time we visit we find something new.

Thanks for reading

Cathy
xx