What a fun filled Tour and what a Deal!! Dec 5, 6 and 7 Las Vegas Casino bus tour was a great success with 28 participants enjoying to the fullest. And Bus Transportation, two nights lodging, 4 buffets, Gratuity and two Hot Mix and fruit snacks – all for just $80!!!
The Bus stops were very conveniently scheduled for our group. The sky was clear to enjoy Arizona mountain scenery going thru Wickenburg, Laughlin and on to the Whiskey Pistol casino in Nevada. We had time to rest, an early dinner, gaming and shopping in the mall at the Primm Valley casino. On Tuesday December 6Th after breakfast and lunch, we headed to the Las Vegas Casinos – on the Vegas Strip visiting Bellagio, Cosmopolitan and other casinos. Then on to the Fremont street Old World Casinos and evening entertainment including the laser Show on the dome stretched over two blocks. December 7Th we travelled to Hacienda Casino near Hoover Dam where we had more casino fun and a lunch. Some of the members got a money pot together and played a giant old style slot machine which was exciting as we were in a rush to stay on bus schedule and hoping to hit the Jack Pot!
We watched movies and concert on bus TVs. The return journey was quiet one except for a three hour traffic jam north of Wickenburg where our Hot Mix snack came very handy as dinner!! A member of the tour group who has lived mainly in India had following observation.
LAS VEGAS UNPLUGGED:
We prefer convenience to cost. Last time we rented a furnished house, drove our van with children and their families, and had fun. But this time around, when we saw a three-day package to Las Vegas by a tour operator and many members of the Indo-American Cultural Association racing to enroll, our preference took a U turn. We began to see the finer points in a group tour: you meet fresh faces, move with new people, and make many friends. The reasonable fare included transport, accommodation in a five-star hotel, and three complimentary buffet lunches and one dinner. “This is it, and we make it,” my wife and I said and jumped on the bandwagon. We roped in our friends Marathi and Kannada couples, also. Apart from the six of us, the Indian contingent consisted of 22 more, all from Gujarat fraternity.
Out in the open from the gambling den in Vegas, a fantastic world with marvels of modern architecture awaits you – hotel Bellagio, their registration lounge (in itself a feast for the eyes), their exhilarating fountain-show, Caesar’s Palace, The Venetian, The Treasure Island, and the evening shows at the Fremont Square, renovated at a cost of $ 30 million to add extra pixels in order to improve sharpness of images. The Christmas festive decoration was a bonus. A penguin in its snow-covered home peeping out alternately from its main door and the rooftop, the life-like Santa Claus ever ready to oblige, the huge artificial bells hanging as though all set to chime, and the Christmas trees with gifts carefully hidden here and there, all made us feel we have recovered value for our money.
Not satisfied at individual performance, some of our group members pooled money together, and went for a final unified assault before boarding the bus to Phoenix. They pulled the handle vigorously taking turns, some silently praying their favorite God, but luck evaded them. Die-hards, they shouted jointly, “doesn’t matter, there is always a next time,” which there is. The next bus leaves on 27 December, and we learn it is getting full. Wonder how many have re-booked.
The second Nevada Casino Bus tour is scheduled on December 27, 28 and 29, please contact Ramesh Patel (Tel# 480-525-2434) ramesht.patel@yahoo.com for details
