Las Vegas Trip Report - 4.24.16 to 4.28.16 - Day 1

4.24.16-- Caesars Palace Bacchanal Sunday Brunch, 800 Degrees Pizza, Desserts.
​

To start off this trip right, we decided to equip ourselves with some
GOOD NEWS and 100 GRAND(s). 
​
​Five to be exact
​(4 is a an ominous number in Asian Culture).

We got 5- 100 Grand candy bars (2 for us, 2 for Fiance's cousin & their Fiance for good luck).

Were you expecting a Jackpot photo of 500k?
​
​I know, me too.  I thought that's what
​that meant when I got a fortune cookie recently that read
"You will soon witness a miracle." 
​
I'm still waiting for it to come true...

"What kind of SCAM is this" you must be thinking!  ;)

By the way, this is totally not endorsed by Adams & Brooks/ Nestle Inc.

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We weren't really planning on visiting Las Vegas this year but once you have the bug
 you are a lifer right?
​

[FLIGHT- FROM HONOLULU]​

​We took the red-eye out on Hawaiian Airlines on Saturday night.  Despite having Pre-check, we still had to stand in the regular security line as it was closed (between 9pm-6am).  Fail #1.

​On the way to our gate, I realized one of my keychains broke, Fail #2. 

Mid-way through the flight, I discovered my travel pillow went MIA and won't be returning any time soon, Fail #3.

Gosh, we haven't even touched ground yet...

Our plane finally landed around 7:20am.
​

    We've got lots of time to kill, so shuttle it is!

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      [Airport Shuttle- Price observation- McCarran to the Strip] 

Bell-Trans  charges less than Super Shuttle

• ​Bell- Trans  |  $8 pp.; $7.50 +  .50 cents Airport charge from McCarran.
• Super Shuttle  |   $11 pp.; cheaper to just grab a taxi, Lyft or Uber if you have more than 2 in your party. ​

We've used both before with no problems (all one-way tickets, not round trips)--just with some wait time involved.

​

Shuttle from McCarran Airport to Hotel.

Last November,  we tried Bell's VIP shuttle (depending on availability, they may dispatch a sedan/ Limo, and you may/ may not have to share with one other group).   There were some miscommunication on the return trip hence we decided not to use it again.    Our shuttle driver this time was really nice, and kept apologizing for the wait (as they fill up the shuttle before departing).  

We were the first ones to be dropped off at  Planet Hollywood (PH).   Since it was too early for check-in, we decided to leave our bags at the Bell Desk.   We gave up on the early check-in idea as from past experiences (with other LV properties), the rooms were left over from the previous (un-sold days) or not properly cleaned.

​That or we are just consistently un-lucky.  

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Brunch

I have a tendency to plan our trips around food nowadays, but was a bit disappointed in one of the restaurants we visited last time.  Notably, the Sterling Buffet at Bally's (which also happens to be one of the most expensive).   As we usually land on the weekends, we try to find  a new Sunday brunch spot.

​This time, it was at the much talked about Caesars Palace Bacchanal Buffet that's supposedly one of the best in Vegas.

We made it after going through the maze in Caesars! A momentous occasion as we didn't get lost for once.

​After not getting lost inside Caesars Palace (a first), we entered Bacchanal shortly after it opened (after 8:30am).  There was no wait, so we quickly paid the cashier and was escorted in by another friendly hostess. 
​

Some of the Bacchanal Sunday Brunch items  on-offer:

Seafood Selection. Although there was no Lobster for the Brunch, there was Lobster Egg's Benedict. Flavor of that was ok, the actual Lobster pieces were a bit small.

Breakfast items.

Gorgonzola Pizza. Looks yummy!

Italian Section.

Chinese (Portugese) Egg Tarts. One of my favorite foods. I missed eating this since non of the bakeries locally make it, only the Hong Kong-style ones. The taste was good, but the crust was on the oily side.

Muffins!

Pancakes, Donuts, and Churros.

Red Velvet Pancake Chef. So friendly and photogenic!

Drink add-on for $18.

​    [PROS]

• Wonderful Service by Santiago who was excellent and made sure we got the most out of our unlimited Mimosas ($7 upgrade pp.).  He was the only one working our area yet he always came back to check on us even though he was busy.
• ​Fresh Txt wait list (interactive kiosk for checking in); though it was closed when we went.
• Lots of  variety of choices (American, Asian, Italian, Mexican, Desserts, etc.).
• Great Prime Rib.
• Gluten-free options.
• You can use your Total Rewards Credit (RCs) here.
• Unlimited Beer/ Wine/ Mimosa  add-on  for $18.

​​​​

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[CONS]​​

• Some items were slightly overcooked (and we were one of the first to arrive).

[NOTES]

• 2 hour limit  |  Best time to go:  Early morning or after 2p (less crowded). ​
• You can use Buffet of Buffets pass (24 hours buffet pass for Caesar's properties; $54.99 pp/ $74.99; Sat + Sun.)  for Bacchanal, BUT, you still need to pay a  supplement (~$15-$30** depending on time of day).
• There's no King Crab in the morning (not unless they saw us and quickly hid them away).
• Unlimited "Champagne" is a really inexpensive Sparkling Wine (from CA, not France) if it matters to you. 

So many choices!

Crab legs? Yes please! The Oyster Shooter + Shrimp & Grits was pretty yummy.

Chinese Sweet & Sour soup with Thousand-year old egg. This was pretty good!

Chocolate cake. Very good. We had more desserts but I guess it was so good I forgot to take pictures (Rum + Raisin Cake- Excellent, Chocolate Mousse with fruits- nice and light).

​Caesars Bacchanal Buffet

Caesars Palace Las Vegas Hotel & Casino
3570 Las Vegas Boulevard South
Las Vegas, NV 89109 ​

702.731.7928

Mon-Fri: 7:30a-11a (Breakfast)  |   11a-3p (Lunch)  | 3p-10p  (Dinner).
​Sat-Sun:  8a-3p (Champagne Brunch)  $49.99  |  3p-10p (Dinner)
​Price: $30-$59+
​See current pricing from Caesars Entertainment's (CET) official page.

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Overall, we enjoyed Bacchanal and had a nice time, but since some of the items were slightly overcooked (e.g. Lobster Egg's Benedict + Regular Benedict- the poached eggs were done closer to hard-boiled; Jonah Crab- the meat was tough), our experience wasn't perfect.  

​The food was good, but it wasn't as amazing as I was expecting it to be (due to all the high praises on Yelp , TripAdvisor and YouTube). 

​No doubt they win on variety compared to other LV buffets.  However, for the price, I still think Aria Buffet (see my review) or Wicked Spoon (at the Cosmopolitan) is a good contender.  Though from what I hear (from my Fiance's sister-in-law who is a Vegas Local + Elite Yelper) that Bacchanal's dinner is awesome.   But I don't like crowds,  or long lines so I guess we'll have to try for an early dinner next time to see if it's true.

​I am glad we went early, because when we left-- the line to get in was quite long.

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After brunch, we wandered around Caesars for a bit. 
​Took some random pictures, then tried to explore Caesars more fully than on past trips.

We peeked inside the Forum Tower Memorabilia stores, then played a tiny bit of slots like Top Dollar, a Corgi game (which for the life of me I can't remember the name to).   Towards the end, we had a combined "winning" of a whole $1.55 haha.  (For the record, we have always lost at CP so we don't spend too much time there).
​​

And now, a short break for some Boobies...
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​Cleopatra's that is.
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​Hey, she's got a nice set of knockers.

Just saying...​

I censored it just for you guys, because after all, this is a family-friendly page. ;)

We walked, and walked some more...

Funny how sometimes we miss things in Las Vegas. 
​I didn't really pay attention to this fountain before:
​

We even passed by the Victoria's Secret store to admire the flashy costumes they had on their last fashion show.
​

The Victoria's Secret window display had the actual costumes from their last fashion show.

Later, we walked to Paris.
​After our last stay, we realized it's just not for us. 

​BUT...
I still like the casino a lot.

​​I was a bit thirsty at this point so we stood for a few minutes in line at their coffee kiosk (Le Cafe Ile St. Louis?).  But the only person working there didn't even acknowledge anyone, and the other visitors had be standing there much longer than we have.  

So we headed into Café Belle Madeleine for some dessert instead.
​

Pastries @ Cafe Belle Madeleine.

These are so adorable.

So many lovely pastries to choose from, which one to get?

​Keep in mind, we just finished eating at Bacchanal's not that long ago.

​For the sake of our waistlines, we decided to split a piece and get a drink.
​

We chose the Chocolate + Pistachio Mousse ("Millennium")- $6.

DELI-CIOUS!!!
​

I thought the dark chocolate would overwhelm but it tasted nice and light.

My feet was killing me at this point.  I had been wearing heels-- which I've worn before to walk the strip and was ok previously.   Heck, I've even trekked China in them before, but I guess times have changed.   So we rested a while inside the café.  After we were done, we headed back to PH to see how long the check-in lines were.

It was waaayyy too long. 
Forget it- totally not worth the wait.
​

Instead, it was almost time to meet with our friend (L) and their Fiance (E) at
800 Degrees Pizza at Monte Carlo. 

The two of them drove up to LV from California for an overnight trip to meet with us. The first time we met E was a few months ago, shortly after their engagement.  We didn't get to talk as we met on an unfortunate night of a dear relative's unexpected passing.   L + E were staying at PH too.  I give them props for braving the long line at the usual check-in time. 

Before arriving at Monte Carlo, we walked through City Center/ Crystals and saw these sculptures. 
​
I guess I've been oblivious, as I haven't noticed Glacia till now.
​

​Though I'm pretty sure this one (HOTO) is new (or at least it wasn't there a few months ago).
​
​

Interesting piece.  It kind of reminds me of a Christmas tree and feels very festive
​ (but on a totally geeky level).
​The story behind the inspiration is pretty neat as well.

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​800 Degrees Pizza
​

At 800 Degrees Pizza, we stood in line to have our meal freshly made in front of our eyes.
​

My lovely companion with my glass of Cabernet. She's underage so of course I get to drink it all.

As it was the weekend, their pie of the day special ($5 Pizza with Instagram follow) is NOT on offer. 
But that's ok because majority of their regular menu is under $15 bucks anyways.

L+E's Meal:

Sausage + Pepper Pizza (I think)- $14.45.

Greek Salad- $8/ $12 depending on size.

​OUR Meal:

Meatballs side dish- $9. (Tomato, Oregano + Parmigiano Reggiano).

​The meatballs were ok, but the sauce seems to get cold fast.

Tartufo Pizza- $16.45. (White pie with fresh mozzarella, parmigiano reggiano, garlic, oregano, olive oil base with truffle cheese, mushrooms and roasted garlic & arugula).

​Sure, we could have built our own pie from scratch, but this one really appealed to us.  This was really good, a bit reminiscent of the white slice at Hidden/ Secret Pizza at the Cosmopolitan.  We got it in the crispy (thin) crust.
​

[PROS]

• Fun concept, Pizza is cooked to order under 90 seconds just for you with option to buy beer, wine, or gelato.  It's like going to Subway except for Pizzas.
• Option to customized the toppings,  pick from house specialties, or make your own experiment or combinations.
  • ​​You can pick your crust (Crispy/ Original/ Gluten-free), sauce, toppings and add-ons.
• ​Great prices.  $5 specials (Instagram follow), and most items are under $~ 15.
• Good portion sizes.  One pie can be shared for two.​
• Restaurant is opened until late (2am).​

[CONS]

• ​Although there is wine or beer option, it's very limited. ​

​ 

​[NOTES]

• Wines BTG (by-the-glass) were ~$9 with​  generous pours.  Selections were ones you would find at the grocery store.
• They also sell:  Fresh Burrata , Prosciutto + Mozzarella, Salads.

Everyone enjoyed their meal and the casual atmosphere. 
​It was the perfect place to relax and unwind.
​

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800 Degrees Pizza

​Monte Carlo Hotel and Casino
3770 Las Vegas Blvd S
Las Vegas, NV 89109
(another branch located at SLS casino).

Hours:  11a-2a |   Dine-in or Take Out  |   Menu

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After dinner, we all took a stroll to the MC Casino since E like to play Craps there.   
But the tables were all full, so we continued to Excalibur on foot in search of a lower limit table.

​Craps to us is like a foreign language, so E proceeded to demonstrate how to play using the electronic version which is less confusing.  

​We understand the basic idea, but still too chickened to play at a real table when E presented us with the opportunity as the night went on.

L decided to play some slots with us (they usually don't play at all so as a fair trade, we showed them how it works).  

To channel positive vibes, we bust out our mini stash of "100 GRAND(S)" to share with L+E. 

I totally did not win a thing at Excalibur.

I had just finished playing a slot and forgot to cash out my 25 cents on the machine.  Both of us gals (L + me) were just chatting away 5 feet from the machine.   An older man with a cane came by and pushed the cashed out button. 

I know, you're thinking "it's only 25 cents" and you are right.   But then I noticed he was making his rounds and doing the same thing for other machines.   That really bugs me.

​It was almost 10pm now.  For fear that PH might not hold our room reservation much 
longer (and don't want to be sleeping on the streets--though I guess that would make for an interesting trip report huh), we returned to check-in.

Our front desk agent was really friendly and smiley.  We had wanted to do a paid upgrade (Caesars properties offer you a chance for a reduced- paid upgrade if the room is available day-of; this is presented to you at the time of booking).  I was thinking of the Resort Vista, but when we asked about it, no paid upgrades were available.  The agent gave us a high floor instead (see my separate review of the HIP Room).  She was really nice, and we got talking about Hawaii.   We had a box of Dark Macadamia Nut Chocolate with us, so we gave it to her after we got our room.

We go to the elevators, and come to find we got the top floor (of the South Tower).  ​

Hmm...maybe...just maybe it's a bigger room?

​Nope. 

HAHAHA.

​But the room is pretty roomy for a standard, especially the bathroom.

My partner says to me, "We got a Strip View."

​Um... "I booked a Strip View."

Guess what? 
​We got smart this time and packed our own toilet paper.
​

Good thing too because they have the exact same 2-ply toilet paper as Paris (which we anticipated).  
​Funny enough, in CP's public restrooms, they seem to use what I think is the Costco brand of toilet paper
(vast improvement over what the rooms supply).
​TMI? 
​ Going forward, we will be packing toilet paper every time we stay at a CET property. 

​Question for You:

​Does Caesars/ Nobu/ Cromwell have the same TP too? 
​Let me know if anyone has the answer!  :)
​

After checking-in and getting settled (for me that means taking photos of the room, checking for bed bugs, disinfecting all of the hard surfaces), we re-grouped and met up with L+E again at the Cosmopolitan (right across the street from PH).
 
The meeting spot was at the gigantic pair of "High Heels" near the East End Tower (on the side of the strip).  The two of them had never been to the Cosmo before, so we showed them around a bit.

​Everyone seemed to be craving dessert so I suggested we check out The Henry since it's opened 24 hours and we didn't have to walk far.

Oooh, is "H" for Hio? ;)

Chocolate Fudge Cake- $7 + Brookie Skillet- $10

We each ordered a dessert and shared it. 

Everything tasted great and service was friendly.

Though a word of caution, the Chocolate Cake + Cheesecake is very rich. 
​Service was really good and I got a soda (Coke) to go with my Brookie Skillet
​(Warm Chocolate Brownie with Vanilla Ice Cream).
​

Vanilla Crème Brulee + New York Cheesecake- $7 each.

What a sweet ending to wrap up the day!

​Then it was off to donate some money to the slots.

​I'm not keeping track, but I'm pretty sure gambling-wise, I am down at this point.

​Tomorrow's another day,  good night Vegas!
​

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