Grand Canyon Railway in Williams, AZ

Before flying out for a job interview in 2014, I hadn’t been to Arizona. So once I moved to the state, it was time to explore and that meant a trip to the Grand Canyon. Although the drive from Phoenix isn’t bad, the Grand Canyon Railway provides a direct route from Williams (which is about three hours from Phoenix) without any of the hassle of driving yourself. There’s plenty of parking at the train station and an air conditioned building with a gift shop that has food to purchase and bathroom facilities. The historic train also has food and toilets along with the ability to watch the scenery instead of having to focus on the road.

Before boarding the train, there’s a show which involves a shootout and a threat that the train will be robbed (which becomes part of the entertainment on the return trip). The jokes were silly, but it was a fun show.

The train has different levels of accommodation, so I went with First Class on the trip up and the Observation Dome on the way back. The seats in First Class were much more comfortable than the Observation Dome seats, but they are in groups of four that face each other with a table in the middle, so you might end up with strangers across from you (the Observation Dome is the traditional groups of two that all face forward). The view from the Observation Dome is much better as one might expect. Both sections offer complimentary snacks (cheese, crackers, fruit, and vegetables primarily), bar service, and entertainment. Other sections have different amenities. I think splitting up the trip as I did is the way to go as it saves money and the sparkling wine toast included in the Observation Dome ticket is only done in the afternoon. On the way up, my section had a musician playing guitar and singing songs about being on the road (like On the Road Again by Willie Nelson). On the way back, there were some magic tricks and then the staged train robbery. The entertainment is all a little cheesy, but it’s fun to pass the time during the two hour each way trip.

Water2Wine Cruises in Richland, WA

For my trip home this year I wanted to do something other than hanging around the house. In my search for something interesting to do, I came across Water2Wine Cruises which started operating in 2016. The company offers a few different cruise options, including ones with entertainment, but the best option for my trip was a Sunday brunch cruise.

We set sail from the Columbia Point Marina in Richland, WA at 12:30pm. The marina has plenty of parking and it was easy to spot the yacht and where we needed to check in. After a short wait for others to arrive, we boarded the 96-foot yacht and were handed mimosas. At check-in we were given a table assignment, so we headed to our seats.

On the brunch cruise every party was seated on the lower level, but the upper level has tables as well. It appeared that every seat had a great view of the river and there’s also the option to leave your seat to get a completely unobstructed view from the front or back of the yacht during the 1.5 hours (other cruises are longer) you’re on the Columbia River.

The brunch was buffet style and the food was delicious, especially the roasted potatoes. Water, coffee, and tea were free while alcoholic beverages could be ordered for an additional price.

Although my table didn’t order anything extra, the staff was still very attentive. The yacht itself is decorated beautifully and also has bathrooms available. My group definitely enjoyed ourselves. I’d definitely go on one of the longer cruises next time.

Ultimate Salt Lake City Tour in Salt Lake City, UT

Although my experience in Las Vegas wasn’t so great, I decided to go for another bus tour in Salt Lake City. The company, City Sights, offers a few different types of tours including a 1.5-hour trolley tour and a 3-hour copper mine tour. The shorter tour around the city didn’t seem like it would offer all that I wanted to see, so I opted for the 3.5-hour Ultimate Salt Lake City Tour plus Organ Recital. If you're staying at a downtown hotel like I did, the bus will pick you up from your hotel and drop you back there at the end.

On this tour there are a few stops (including a break for lunch at the Beehive House—being part of the tour gets you 10% off your meal), but the time at each location is pretty short; I definitely could’ve used more time at Pioneer Heritage State Park (we had about 20 minutes). Outside of the organ recital at Temple Square (which anyone can attend for free), my favorite part of the tour was our walk through the State Capitol building.

I had already gone through the previous afternoon, but the Capitol was nearly empty on the Saturday of my tour which made it easier to take pictures and I appreciated that I was with a guide who could give some background. (It should be noted though that free tours of the Capitol are also available.) As luck would have it, my trip happened to be during the time that the Transcontinental Railroad Exhibit was featured at the Capitol. I had missed the sign during my solo trip through the Capitol, so I was really happy that the tour guide took us through the exhibit. In all, the tour was a good way to get familiar with the city so tourists can make note of what they want to visit when they have more time, but I would’ve liked a longer tour that gave me the chance to explore without having to come back on my own.

Kimpton Hotel Monaco in Salt Lake City, Utah

As I continue to knock off states in my quest to see a concert in all 50 of them, I headed to Utah for Memorial Day weekend. My initial plan was to stay at a Hyatt property less than a mile from the venue, but then I discovered the Kimpton Hotel Monaco was within the same price range, only slightly farther away, and part of the American Express Hotel Collection. The Hotel Collection comes with a $100 incidental credit for stays of two or more nights. This made the Kimpton a better deal than the Hyatt.

I arrived a few hours before check-in, but was greeted as an American Express cardholder and informed that my Deluxe Queen room had been upgraded to the Monte Carlo Suite and was ready for me. I’d also found a “code word” (a promotion that Kimpton occasionally runs) to give at check-in which granted me an extra $25 incidental credit. I ended up making use of the entire credit at the hotel restaurant Bambara for dinner, drinks, and brunch. My restaurant experience was great for dinner, but lacking at brunch when the waitstaff virtually ignored me and let my water glass sit empty for quite some time. The food at each meal was good, but overpriced. The drinks didn’t seem to contain any alcohol.

But on to the room. The elevator was controlled by the keycard, so I could only access the lower two levels (the fitness center and conference rooms were on the second floor) and the third floor where my room was located. The hallways to the rooms were a bit of a maze, but signs pointed me in the correct direction.

The first thing I noticed upon entering my room was that the door had no security bar. When I went into the bathroom, that door had no lock (Is this now commonplace? My room in Las Vegas didn’t have a bathroom lock either.) but I did find good quality shampoo, conditioner, and body wash (in full size bottles so I didn’t get to take any home which was sad because they smelled so good) plus hand soap, lotion, q-tips, and cotton balls. There was also a hair dryer and a pullout mirror to the side of the sink. With this Kimpton having been built in 1926, it did take quite a while for the water to heat up but the pressure was fine.

I next checked out the entry way closet where I was delighted to find two robes (sooo comfy!), an extra pillow and blanket, an iron and ironing board, an umbrella (handy for my rainy day arrival), and a yoga mat. (Kimpton properties all offer a yoga mat in the room and bicycles in the lobby.)

The living room and the bedroom were separated by a red curtain (red was definitely the theme here). In the living room, there was a pullout sofa with mismatched end tables and lamps plus a chair and wobbly coffee table. In this part of the room there was a desk (which had two built-in outlets and another two outlets on the lamp) with a chair.

There was also a large TV above what doubled as a dresser/safe and mini-bar. The mini-fridge was stocked with non-alcoholic drinks. The drawer above the mini-fridge had a variety of snacks and some personal care items. All of these were, of course, outrageously priced. A coffee maker is only supplied upon request. (Complimentary iced coffee with regular, vanilla, and caramel syrups was available in the lobby each morning.) An empty mini-fridge could also be requested.

As for the bedroom, my upgraded room had a king bed, which I found quite comfortable, with nightstands on each side. Both nightstands had a lamp with an outlet and there was an alarm clock.

There was another chair plus a dresser with a TV on top.

The lack of USB outlets indicated the hotel hasn’t done much updating, but the furnishings didn’t seem outdated or show too much wear. The in-room WiFi (free for IHG members) seemed just as fast as my LTE cell service.

In the room there was a sign to put out to refuse housekeeping in exchange for a $5 dining credit good for the restaurant or room service. No one cleans up after me at home, so I went ahead and took the credit. In the morning, I found a card on the outside handle of the door. I presented that card at Bambara and the $5 was taken off my bill.

My only real disappointment was the lack of a happy hour which was touted on the hotel website. On my first night I went down excited for the free beer/wine and maybe a few snacks. Instead I found the iced green and black teas (with peach and blackberry syrups), lemon- and lime-flavored waters, and apples that had in the lobby since I checked in. I waited a while thinking they were behind schedule, then inquired at the front desk. I didn’t get much of an answer (a different person from when I checked in was now working), but she confirmed that this was the happy hour. Later I got a text from the hotel asking about my stay, so I asked about happy hour again. This time I was told, “Unfortunately, the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control has ordered a cease and desist on our hotel. We’re working on getting our license back, but in the meantime, we’re unable to give guests free alcohol.” The missing happy hour was out of their control in terms of alcohol, but the hotel could’ve put out a sign as they did about the restaurant being closed on Memorial Day and they could’ve put out snacks beyond the apples to make up for the lack of alcohol.

As there’s normally a happy hour, it makes sense that people would spend a bit of time in the lobby. As such, there’s plenty of seating with charging stations. They also offer a lot of games like an oversized Connect Four to play while enjoying your beverages. The lobby also has free newspapers (local and national). Here’s hoping Kimpton gets to serve alcohol at happy hour again soon!

Since the Kimpton seems to focus on health with the yoga mats and bicycles, I wasn’t surprised to see a really nice gym. Along with the standard weights and machines, the gym offered up some more “fun” items like hula hoops.

There's no spa, but facials and massages can be scheduled in room. As usual, I didn’t bring a car, but it’s worth noting this property is valet only at $26/day. The hotel is also pet-friendly.

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.