Big Bus Tour in Las Vegas, NV

With a long weekend in Las Vegas and my only set plan being the Aerosmith concert, I decided to spend a day doing the Big Bus Tour. Based on the information on their website, I believed the daytime hop-on/hop-off tour had two options—the Strip (red) and Old Vegas (blue). (There’s also a night tour, but I didn’t consider that one.) I decided to do the Old Vegas tour and start with the first stop at the Hawaiian Marketplace on the Strip. Right away there was confusion. I had purchased a Go Las Vegas pass and two of the Big Bus Tour staff members passed me off to someone else before I was able to use my pass to get a ticket. I also discovered that although the website makes it look like the red and blue are two different tours, the tour actually runs as one long loop meaning it takes over three hours to complete even without hopping off.

Big Bus runs with a guide using a microphone on the upper deck of the bus. The upper deck is open, so wind is definitely a factor. The first guide (I hopped off a few times) was fantastic. Not only was he engaging, he used a wind screen on the microphone so he could actually be understood. Unfortunately, not all the guides were as a great as the first one. Two of the other guides were adequate, but frequently more concerned about what other drivers and pedestrians were doing. At times they made snide remarks (usually about the driving skills of tourists) and also lamented their low wages. The other guide I had during my tour was so awful that I got off well before I planned at the second stop. In the short time I was on his tour, he made numerous wisecracks about American politicians including nasty comments about a former presidential candidate. It was highly inappropriate and had absolutely nothing to do with the tour.

Although things in Las Vegas change quickly, at least one of the tour guides was giving outdated information. For example, she referenced the Game of Thrones themed fountain show at the Bellagio as being current even though it had ended the previous week. The guides also gave very little history which is what I had hoped to learn.

The tour does hit some good stops—the iconic Las Vegas sign and the Mob Museum which has a speakeasy in the basement (and it’s just a short walk from the Mob Museum over to the Neon Boneyard where the Brilliant! show is fantastic)—but I didn’t find it to be worth the cost or the time. Another issue I had was the app not showing accurate times. The app was helpful for locating some of the stops, but showed a bus was less than three minutes away every time I checked even though wait times were actually more than 20 minutes.

myVEGAS Rewards for MGM Properties

Shortly after I moved to Phoenix, I stumbled upon myVEGAS rewards which is tied into MGM’s MLife program. Given Phoenix’s proximity to Las Vegas, I figured I’d make a trip at some point and began using the gambling-related apps to accumulate loyalty points that can be redeemed for comp rooms at MGM properties and other rewards like discounted tickets and buffet passes. Of course, MGM would like users to spend money buying chips to accelerate how quickly those loyalty points are earned, but I gained enough for two comp nights at the Park MGM and plenty of food redemptions without spending a dime.

Once I had enough loyalty points for the two comp nights at the Park MGM, I created an account for MLife (the myVEGAS account is separate) and followed the redemption instructions that were emailed to me. It was a very easy booking process although I was a bit nervous that one of the emails I received afterwards indicated I’d be paying full price (I’ve since completed my stay and am happy to report I was only charged the mandatory resort fee plus tax). Some nights (typically weekends unless you specifically choose a weekend reward) are blacked out, so definitely check the redemption calendar beforehand.

Upon my arrival at the Park MGM, I headed to the MLife desk in the casino to pick up my players card and add all my other rewards to the card. To my disappointment, I could only add the two I had for Primrose (a restaurant located inside Park MGM); all the others had to be added at their respective MLife desk. This meant a lot of standing in line (the wait at The Mirage was so long that the bathroom that closed for cleaning right as I approached was back open by the time I had added the free cheesecake to my card). It’s definitely not the most efficient process, but all the employees happily added my rewards and always asked if I planned to redeem within 24 hours as that’s when the reward would expire. I also lucked out when I off-handedly mentioned at the Park MGM desk that I was in town to see Aerosmith. The woman working the desk asked if I had purchased my ticket through Ticketmaster and then added points for the cost of the ticket to my players card.

My redemptions all went smoothly except at the New York New York Starbucks on the 2nd floor. Although the reward is listed as 2-for-1 drinks, I was given a $10 certificate. I asked the barista if I could use the certificate for food instead. She said yes, but I had to buy two items and insisted that the certificate was only for “up to $10” for one of the items. I had my doubts, but went along with it and selected a drink that was over $6 (the prices in the casino were quite inflated) and the lemon cake at $4.50. The register indeed took the full $10 off.

With some planning, myVEGAS rewards can definitely help offset the costs of staying and dining in Las Vegas. My redemptions were: two comp nights at Park MGM, free dessert with entrée at Primrose, free pastry with entrée at Primrose, 2-for-1 drinks (actually a $10 certificate) at the New York New York Starbucks, free cheesecake at Carnegie Deli, free brunch buffet at the Luxor, and 2-for-1 gelato at Café Gelato. For each redemption I had to show my ID.

Park MGM in Las Vegas, NV

When I learned Aerosmith was doing a Las Vegas residency, I absolutely had to go. With the venue being located inside the Park MGM (the former Monte Carlo), that hotel seemed the obvious choice. MGM has the MLife program which allows people to earn comp rooms and other rewards through the myVEGAS apps. I booked one of those comp rooms—a standard king.

When I booked my room, I was offered the chance to upgrade and guarantee early check-in for additional fees. I decided not to opt for any of those, though I later did request an early check-in. About a month before my trip, another email offered an upgrade for a fee which I again rejected. Yet another email arrived right before my trip, but this one was actually helpful as it was a pre-check-in where I was able to tell them the approximate time I’d arrive so they could try to accommodate me. Much to my surprise, I received notification that my room was ready while I was still at the Phoenix airport. My room was no longer a king, though; it was now a room with two queens.

Park MGM offers three ways to check-in: VIPs can go to the registration desk to check-in with a staff member while all others must either use the MGM app which gives a digital key or use one of the many kiosks in the hotel lobby. Although I’d read numerous reports that the kiosks were troublesome, I wanted a physical key and went with that option. The app may have been a nightmare as well, but the kiosk was a terrible experience I don’t wish to repeat. First off, a number of the kiosks were down and people were having trouble with the working ones which meant I had to wait in an unorganized line even though it was more than two hours before regular check-in. The email saying my room was ready included a QR code to scan at the kiosk, but every time I held my phone down to the scanner the orientation would change so the scanner didn’t register the code. I took a screenshot and that solved the issue. But then I needed to put my ID on a different scanner. It wouldn’t recognize that I had done so. After a long wait, one of the two staff members working the area finally came over to me after assisting so many others. She used her tablet to scan my ID, but left before I completed the check-in process. My keys printed, but my receipt showing the room number didn’t appear. I tried to flag down staff again, but eventually gave up because the QR code email listed my room number.

The room itself was spacious, had a security lock, and had a good number of power outlets and USB outlets, which I definitely appreciated. However, there was no clock or coffee pot to be found. I assume there was no clock because Las Vegas is known for not having clocks in the casinos. As for the missing coffee pot, I learned from a hotel staff member that MGM properties agreed to remove all room coffee pots so that Starbucks would set up on the main floors. (Also note that Starbucks prices inside the casinos are inflated—a slice of Iced Lemon Loaf Cake sells for $2.95 in Phoenix, but was $4.50 at the Starbucks inside New York New York.)

My room had a nightstand with a phone and two wall lamps between the queen beds. There was a TV above a wide shelf next to a full-length mirror.

In the corner was a table with a chair. A 4-person couch ran along the window which had blackout shades. My room on the 16th floor offered a view of the pools.

My room was an adjoining one and I could unfortunately easily hear that room’s TV. The bed was comfortable enough, but I have some doubts about the Park MGM’s claim of “luxury linens” as my own sheets from Macy’s are nicer.

The bathroom was where I was a bit surprised. The door was a slider, so that when the bathroom door is open, the closet (which has two small drawers, a safe, and ironing board with iron) is closed off.

The door had no lock! At one point, the door slid on its own from the closet side over to the bathroom. I was by myself, so it didn’t matter, but a two queen room might have coworkers sharing accommodations while attending one of the many conferences hosted in Las Vegas and I can’t imagine being comfortable in a situation like that. Especially because the shower has a glass door (and mine had a gap at the bottom that allowed water to spill onto the floor) that would afford no privacy if someone did walk in unexpectedly.

Because I wear RGP contacts, the way the sink’s stopper works is always a concern for me. This stopper was not a good one. I had to turn it with my hand to open and close it. The seal never seemed tight, so I always put a towel over the drain as a precaution. When I turned it back to the open position, the water drained so slowly that I initially thought it was clogged.

Fortunately, those were my only bathroom issues—a woman I met on the elevator (there’s a huge bank of high-speed elevators) said her room on the 21st floor had been without hot water that morning. The bathroom amenities include a hair dryer along with bar soap, shampoo, conditioner, and lotion.

During my stay, I ate breakfast and lunch at Primrose. Primrose had a long wait when I went down for breakfast around 9am. I got lucky and someone was leaving his seat at the bar, so I ate there but others were opting for takeaway. I ordered a chocolate croissant and the yogurt with granola and fresh berries. Both were delicious though service at the crowded bar was a little lacking. I had a much better experience with a late lunch at about 4pm. I had my choice of tables both inside and out. Service at the time was outstanding. My cheeseburger was excellent and I was happy to be able to substitute fingerlings (which I love) for French fries. I also indulged in a lavender sgroppino cocktail and strawberry sorbet for dessert.

Besides Primrose, Park MGM has a number of other restaurants and bars. The only other one I tried though was the new Eataly. It’s definitely not the typical restaurant. There are a number of sections in what the hotel calls a marketplace that offer a variety of Italian options. I stopped at the counter that had a selection of cheeses and again found everything delicious.

Room service is also offered.

Before my Las Vegas trip came to an end, I found myself too exhausted to wander the city more but with plenty of time before my flight. I received an email indicating I could check out on my phone and went with that option rather than attempt to do so on one of those troublesome kiosks. Although the email said late checkout might be available, that option never popped up. So at 11am I took my bag down to the bell desk. The woman there instructed me to wait by the luggage sign and eventually a man came out to collect my bag. (Later when I picked up, I took the ticket they gave me to the desk and it was about five minutes before someone else appeared with my bag.) While I was in the lobby I heard someone ask a nearby staff member about late checkout and the answer was 1pm was the latest they could do, so it’s likely that I could’ve had a few extra hours in the room had I attempted to contact the hotel. With a few hours left in Las Vegas, I perused the spa and salon menu. I called the concierge who transferred me to the spa (it doesn’t appear there’s a way to call direct) and found I could have a manicure at 2pm or 4pm. While I waited for my 2pm appointment time, I discovered that the 2nd floor where the spa, salon, and fitness room are also had a number of conference rooms and therefore also had plenty of tables and comfy chairs setup for people to work in a quiet space just outside those rooms—perfect for me to relax with a book.

The manicure I had included a glass of wine or beer (I went with the wine) and I was also given both sparkling and still water. Although it was a pretty standard manicure, I had a great conversation with the manicurist and was glad to have the time to relax.

I elected not to have a car, but the hotel does have a large parking garage with overnight parking costing $24 for valet or $15 for self-parking. Registered guests can move between parking lots at all MGM properties without paying extra. Also, being a part of the MGM network, Park MGM has a free tram that stops at The Shops at Crystals and the Bellagio.

One cost I couldn’t avoid was the resort fee. Park MGM charges $37 plus $4.95 tax per night. The resort fee includes high-speed internet access, but the network is unsecured (anyone, even those who aren’t guests, have access) and not as fast as my cellular network. It also covers phone calls (in the age of smartphones, does anyone use the in-room phone?), the printing of airline boarding passes (again, smartphones), notary service (I guess someone might need this), and access to the fitness center. I can’t say I find any of these useful.

In all, my room was adequate and my stay was pleasant enough. The check-in process is definitely lacking though which starts the entire stay off on a bad note. And unless a lock is added to the bathroom door, I wouldn’t stay here with anyone I wasn’t extremely trusting of or intimate with.

Ride the Ducks in Seattle, WA

When I live in a city, I rarely do any of the tourist things and yet I love them when I'm on vacation in an unfamiliar place. So I lived in Washington for years without ever doing the Ride the Ducks tour. (I also only ever went up twice to the Space Needle observation deck--it's pricey and a long line, but the view is pretty spectacular.) If you live in a city with tourist-y things, I think it's worth checking them out. I had tons of fun on my Ride the Ducks tour. I chose Westlake Center as my starting point (Seattle Center is the other starting point which is the location to choose if needing to store any large items). The tour covers the same area regardless of where you start. Although the boat captain/tour guide will have some cheesy jokes, the tour is tremendous fun especially when on the water. Getting to see the houseboats up close was amazing.

Dining Packages at Disneyland

Dining was one of the things I researched when I decided to go to Disneyland for Halloween this year. Some suggested saving money by bringing in your own food, but others recommended the dining packages that go along with some of the events. I ended up deciding to do the Blue Bayou Halloween Screams, Carthay Circle Frozen, and Sonoma Terrace Paint the Night dining packages. All of these are pricey, so are they worth it? The food and service were excellent (especially the service at Carthay Circle), in my opinion, but I found Halloween Screams and Paint the Night to be most worth the price. With Frozen, you get priority seating to one of the afternoon shows. I did get a seat close to the front and in the center, but the show wasn't sold out and I likely would've had a good seat regardless.

On the other hand, the Halloween Screams dining package provides seating in a prime location for the parade and I didn't have to camp out for it like I saw so many others doing. It was also easy to get to a good firework viewing area from the reserved parade location.

The same can be said for Sonoma Terrace's Paint the Night as you get to watch the parade from a great location while dining.

I wanted to pack in as much Disney as possible, so these two were definitely worth it for me. If I could only pick one, I'd go with Paint the Night. It was the most bang for the buck with an excellent view, a chair to sit in, and time maximization of eating during the parade. They also send you off with a small box of truffles. The dining packages do sell out pretty quickly, so check the Disneyland website for booking as soon as your date is 60 days out if you want to get a dining package.

Mickey's Halloween Party at Disneyland

Living in the northwest, I was unaware Disneyland (and Disney World) did anything special for my favorite holiday so I was excited to see the commercials advertising the Halloween décor after I moved to Phoenix. After researching a bit, I decided to attend a Halloween party this year. I read that parties often sell out quickly, so my first step was getting the Disney credit card from Chase which, among other Disney perks, allows cardholders to purchase party tickets at the same time annual passholders can. My plan worked and I was able to get a ticket to the October 29 party without issue. (Unfortunately, the late date meant most of the Halloween specialty items were sold out, so attend a September party if you really want to buy things like the Green Poison Apple Stein.)

Although the party didn't start until 6pm, my party ticket allowed entry (through a separate line) starting at 3pm. To save money, I didn't buy a regular park ticket for the day and instead bought plenty of special Halloween treats in Downtown Disney. Everything I tried was delicious, but I especially loved the caramel apples.

When 3pm hit, I made my way through the gate and over to Space Mountain which is one of the rides that gets the Halloween treatment. Just my luck, the ride went down right as I got in line (I did get to ride later in the evening) and there were no more fast passes for The Haunted Mansion which gets turned into The Nightmare Before Christmas so I waited in line for nearly two hours. I loved seeing The Haunted Mansion like this, but a better plan would've been to go after those not attending the party had to exit the park.

Disneyland was incredibly crowded from 3pm-6pm as all those who weren't attending the party tried to squeeze in as much as possible. During this time I started thinking the party ticket wasn't worth it, but I completely changed my mind once the crowd thinned and the decorations started to look even more amazing as darkness fell. I loved the Cadaver Dans performance and the Halloween Screams firework show was stunning--the fireworks alone were worth it for me. The Frightfully Fun Parade was just that, fun. From the start with The Headless Horseman to all the Disney villains that aren't regularly seen, the parade was definitely a memorable event.

I purchased the Blue Bayou dining package (I wanted to eat there anyway, so the cost was worth it to me and the Madame Leota's Crystal Ball dessert made it all the more special), so I had a perfect front row seat for the first parade.

Mickey's Halloween Party won't be an annual event for me because of the price, but I'm really glad to have experienced it.

Best Western Plus Park Place Inn in Anaheim, CA

Halloween is my favorite holiday, so the commercials Disneyland runs in Phoenix promoting the decor caught my eye. I didn't want to do just a day trip, so I needed a place to stay. On the advice of friends and coworkers who have been to Disneyland more recently then I had, I looked for a walking distance hotel that wasn't too expensive. While I would've loved to have stayed at a Disney property, I couldn't justify the price when there was a Best Western literally across the street from the park entrance. It took about five minutes to go from the motel lobby to the park security line. Like others in the area, the Best Western Plus Park Place Inn sells park tickets: the options are 2-day/1-park and park hoppers for 2-4 days.

I arrived before check-in time and my room wasn't available, so I filled out the paperwork and left my bags with the front desk while I headed over to Disneyland. I returned at check-in time to find a number of others getting their rooms as well. Fortunately, the lobby had comfortable couches (plus a gift shop and some computers).

There were three people working the front desk, so the line moved pretty quickly. The staff had proactively emailed to ask if I'd have a car (parking is an extra $10/day and they're apparently pretty strict about the hours guests are able to park prior to check-in and after check-out; one might also want to note that the spaces are more appropriate for a mid-size car than a large truck), but they weren't too helpful after that. I was given a sheet with a room map and information about breakfast (which is at the restaurant next door), laundry, and that housekeeping can be scheduled if guests want a mid-day nap, but the procedure for getting the breakfast wasn't explained (you go upstairs and give your name). And it wasn't until after I left that I remembered those with diamond status are supposed to receive a "welcome gift."

The location is the definitely the selling point of this motel which is fairly dated. My room was a king suite (all the rooms are suites) at the very back on the second floor. The rooms have been refreshed with furnishings, but the exterior shows the age and there are no USB charging connections in the rooms. Fortunately, each of the two bedside lamps had two outlets. In addition to the king bed, the king suite has a pull-out sofa bed (there's a half wall to separate the two areas) with an ottoman in front of the sofa. There's also an ottoman in the bathroom area.

The TV is on top of the dresser which is oriented to the bed. The dresser contains a mini-fridge and microwave. The room also has a desk with chair and a mirror above the desk.

Just past the bed, there was a closet and long counter with a sink. I found extra bedding and a hair dryer inside the closet, but no iron. On the counter, there was a machine to make single-serve coffee or tea which were provided.

The sink was separate from a very small bathroom with a toilet (that had a loose seat) and shower/tub combination. Both the small bathroom and sink area had very dim lighting. The standards of soap, shampoo, conditioner, and lotion were provided.

Being at the back and on the second floor meant I didn't hear other guests, but the garbage truck was quite noisy at 7am. Walking around, I noticed that the rooms near the pool/hot tub and vending machines had a lot of people passing by and likely were a bit noisier.

Although breakfast is at the restaurant next door (Captain Kidd's), it can be taken back to the room. Even so, it just wasn't that convenient to get breakfast there. The breakfast was also disappointing. Maybe I had too high of an expectation for the buffet since it was from an actual restaurant, but it all seemed pretty standard fare. Another letdown came when my apple was mushy and my banana was bruised. I primarily indulged in the excellent food of the Disneyland restaurants, so the complimentary breakfast was only a small part of this trip whereas I usually get my fill of the free breakfast for other stays.

Tocaloma Spa & Salon in Phoenix, AZ

Having been to a number of other resort spas in the Phoenix metro area, Tocaloma Spa & Salon at the Pointe Hilton Tapatio Cliffs Resort was a bit of a surprise. It's a small facility that the front desk staff describe as “intimate.” Although there are lockers and robes available, there are no locker rooms so the staff seems to prefer to have people wait fully clothed. For those who do change into robes, there's a bench in a curtained off area with the lockers otherwise guests wait across from the front desk.

Although the spa is small, they do have fruit and fruit-infused water as well as a salon area for hair and nail services.

While this spa might not be for large groups or those looking to spend an entire day luxuriating at the spa, the services offered are fantastic and the staff make sure the guests have a great experience.

Because of the small space, there’s no showers (although showers are available nearby) and the fitness center and pools are some distance from the spa. A shuttle is available to transport guests to the different areas of the large resort.

Santa Barbara Trolley Tour in Santa Barbara, CA

Having enjoyed my experiences on the trolley tours I took in San Diego and Nashville, I decided to give the trolley tour in Santa Barbara a go. It conveniently had a stop right outside the lobby of the Hilton Santa Barbara Beachfront Resort where I was staying. Based on the published schedule and online reviews, I knew that although this was billed as a "hop-on/off" tour just like the Old Town Trolley Tours it wasn't going to operate in the same fashion. (This tour is owned by a different company.) First off, the trolley only runs every hour which doesn't make it very convenient as transportation around the city. Next, there are really only four stops (the Visitor Center where the tour starts and finishes, the Hilton, the Harbor, and the Old Mission where it stops for about 20 minutes) although passengers can request the driver let them off at one of the other eight locations on the map. These stops are not marked at all, so it's only easy to get on at one of the four locations with pickups. When I hopped off at the Courthouse (the view from the top is definitely worth the stop), I decided not to try to flag down the trolley driver and simply took public transportation back to my hotel. The two drivers I had relayed interesting information about the city on the tour though one was more engaging than the other. Some perks of this tour are a second day for free and discounts at some of the museums in Santa Barbara.