Weekend Getaway To Las Vegas

On somewhat of a whim my wife and I decided to head to Las Vegas for the weekend. We decided to meet a couple of friends from California and just spending a few days relaxing. We found some new places to eat, one old but still good hotel, and one hotel that will go on the “only-if-we-have-to” list. Overall it was a very short trip, but a very good one.

We all know Vegas is famous for buffets, prior to this trip I had been to four Vegas buffets, and been relatively satisfied at each one. We decided to hit the lunch/dinner buffet at the Rio to fill up on some all-you-can-eat crab. We’d been to the Rio buffet once before, but decided to go back for old time sake. Before getting in line one of our friends suggested we join the players club at the Rio. I was nervous about joining the club because I didn’t want to be forced to tie a credit card to a casino card in light of my uncanny ability to lose things. To my delight they only asked for my state ID. To my even greater delight the clerk handed me a book full of awesome coupons, five dollars in credit, and a buffet deal that was too good to be true. For $44.00 we got a 24 hour pass to buffets at the Rio, Paris, Caesars’, Flamingo, Bally’s, and Planet Hollywood.  We didn’t have to pay for the 24 hours until we arrived at the first buffet! The lesson here is research the players’ club at the various hotels, and if they look good, go for it.

From there we made our way to the Rio buffet. The line was sufficiently long, but not the worst. The clerks kept it moving at a steady pace and because we were with friends, we passed the time by telling stories and generally goofing off. The one line split into four lines, three going to ATM like automated cashiers, and one to the “guests only” line. Because of our player’s club card, we bypassed the three automated lines and entered through the “guest only” line. We were seated relatively quickly and set out to survey the landscape.

I am always surprised to see the vast amount and sheer variety food at the Rio buffet. They had everything from roasted duck, to sushi. The food was cooked to perfection and every bite of every dish was delectable. Even the duck, which I’m not a fan of, was juicy and tender. The crab legs however are the main draw of the Rio buffet. If you have never seen the crab legs counter at the Rio, it is a sight to behold. Imagine a 4 foot long, 18 inch wide counter stacked nearly 24 inches high with crab legs. Yes, it is that big! I piled three plates full of crab legs and went crazy. Like me, you will find the Rio buffet has more food than one person could ever eat. And like me, you will probably try to test that theory.

Two hours after we entered the buffet, four very stuffed friends emerged content and ready for a nap. However the strip sleeps for no man, and we had every intention of making it a good night. We checked-in to our room at the Excalibur and were very impressed by the entire experience. The rooms were the cleanest I’ve ever seen on the strip. The cleaning crew paid attention to almost every detail. The rooms were well taken care of and very modern. The beds and bedding were clean and so soft it felt like we were lying on air. We had a large flat screen television and great view overlooking the Luxor and airport. For airplane geeks like me, the view of the runway was spectacular. The only drawback to staying at the Excalibur was the parking. We had to park in a dilapidated two story parking garage that was behind the hotel and across a busy road. There were no walkways from the garage to the hotel, and absolutely no signage. We finally found our way into the hotel through the tour bus parking lot. This was a sizable negative, but not enough to spoil our experience. Overall I liked the Excalibur and would stay there again.

Checked-in, changed, and still aching from the food-gasm, we hit the strip. We walked through the Bellagio and were amazed at the fall flower display. I have blogged about this before, but it warrants another mention. The atrium was flawless, and as always made a monumental impression. We made our way through Caesar’s Palace and enjoyed the forum shops stopping only to watch the fish near the “Cheesecake Factory.” We ended the night relaxing in our friends’ room at Bally’s.

Bally’s was not impressive. The whole hotel/casino looked its age. Even the rooms were not modernized. The carpets in the hallways were frayed in spots, and wrinkled all over. The room we were in had an awesome view of the Bellagio fountains, and the club at the Paris. The fountains were great, the club, not so much. A person can only take so much “oomp, thud, oomp, thud” before they begin to lose their mind. At some point we made our way back to the Excalibur. I could go on for another page about the Bally’s, but suffice it to say, we won’t stay there unless we absolutely have to.

The next morning we decided to break our fast at the Paris breakfast buffet. This was the first time we had the Paris buffet, but the second breakfast buffet we’ve enjoyed in Vegas. The first was the Bellagio. I won’t take time to compare the two buffets, but I will say if I had a choice, I would take the Paris over the Bellagio.

The food was fantastic. They had a spread that included French toast, Eggs Benedict, hash, sausage, and a full service Crepe bar. I probably ate as much or more at the Paris buffet than I did at the Rio. I could not get enough of the Eggs Benedict, which by the way is my all time favorite breakfast. I also made a mess of a Caprese Salad Crepe with aged balsamic. It was mouthwatering delicious!

The atmosphere was awesome. The buffet eating area is split into sections that allow you to sit “outside” café style, or eat in one of the half dozen little houses and shops. The decor makes you really feel you are sitting outside on a calm Paris morning nibbling away at muffins and sipping fresh grapefruit juice. Add to this the waitresses who are dressed in stereotypical French Maiden dresses (not French Maids guys, sorry). The whole experience was awesome and we will go back.

We finally rolled out of the Vegas on Sunday evening, weighing more but also relaxed more. Sometimes I think we consider Vegas too busy to relax, but if you pick the right place to stay, eat at the right places, and have the proper company, Vegas can be just as relaxing as chilling on the beach. It is always worth checking out the deals associated with players’ club cards. Free rooms, discounted tickets, and buffet deals all await those who take just a few minutes to read up on the benefits.

Travel well.  

Downtown Disney

How could you build an annex to the "happiest place on Earth?" The thought is rather paradoxical. Apparently, the engineers at Disneyland have figured it out as they built a near half mile stretch of restaurants, kiosks, and novelty stores. And then, just to reassure the patrons they are experiencing part of the Disney phenomenon they named it, Downtown Disney. The essence of Downtown Disney is thus, take the happiest place on Earth and make it even happier with so much shopping, eating, and piped-in music you actually think you have been lifted up to a euphoric Disney themed heaven!

I spent a week in Downtown Disney, or DTD as we dubbed it, taking advantage of the food, random street performers, and shops. My impression of DTD is mixed; while I enjoyed the variety of food and stores, I was turned off by the prices and lack of customer service. Everything was expensive, in fact it was way outside of my price comfort level. I couldn’t imagine eating at many of the places with a family for under a $100. Sadly, not much of the food was worth the $20 price per plate. Only two restaurants outshined the others when it came to taste and value; the ESPN Zone and Ralph Brennan’s Jazz Kitchen. I’ve critiqued both places in the Downtown Disney Review blog.

Prices aside, DTD is a good place to walk around and spend a few hours. The kids will enjoy the Lego store where they can browse the new Lego lines and build their own creations on play tables. Another big hit with the little ones is the massive Disney Store. It does not have much that cannot be found at other Disney Stores around the U.S., but it is still fun to walk through and look at the myriad of Disney merchandise. There is a novelty cupcake store at one end of the strip, and small kiosks with amusement park style foods scattered about. As for the parents, the only stores that looked interesting were the Apricot Lane Boutique and Vault 28. 

Make sure to read my reviews of the restaurants on the DTD review page!

Travel Well.   

Where to stay in San Diego

San Diego has an abundance of two things; sunshine and hotels. While one is free, the other can cost you big if you are not careful. In most cases if you are travelling with children you are already on a budget and are probably looking for the bang for you buck. This being the case, hotel circle is probably your best bet. There are some pros and cons so before you jump to the reservations page, take a minute to read up on both.

The best way to describe hotel circle is, Las Vegas without the casinos or lights. As you enter the San Diego area on I-8 you will find yourself immersed in a forest of 6's, suites, and Westerns. "The Circle" is perfectly situated five minutes from Sea World and ten minutes from down town. With so many choices one would wonder how you could go wrong. The down side is, you are not the first quest to choose "the circle" and won't be the last. Odds are you will find yourself to be one of thousands of people with same ideas on lodging as you. Here is how to avoid the potential pitfalls of the swirling circle of hotel deals.

1. Do your research. Find a hotel that serves a free breakfast. It is the best way to save yourself anywhere from $20 to $50 a day depending on the size of your family. Also, try to avoid places that sound "not right." "John's Jolly Suites" is probably not the jolly you are looking for. Go with big chain names.

2. Get a room with refrigerator. If you travel like us you always have an extra supply of sandwich fixins, juice, and water. You will appreciate having a cool place to store your food that doesn't say "Igloo" on the side.

3. Don't go for the cheapest rate. I know you are on a budget, we all are, but a cheap hotel room is not the way to go. Cheap can also mean "scummy." And that reflects both the clientele and the quality of the room.

4. Arrive early. Getting into town early gives you the advantage of haggling for the best room. We prefer rooms on the top floor to avoid stampeding elephants waking you at 0130.

5. Google Earth! Go online and check out the area. Look for retail centers, convenience stores, and restaurants in the area.

Our choice? La Quinta Inn San Diego Mission Valley. The rooms are always super clean, the staff is awesome, and guess what? FREE BREAKFAST! If you are not a La Quinta fan, or want other options click here for a choice of like a 100 other hotels.

Other pros of staying in hotel circle include, dozens of restaurants near by, a Target store, two grocery stores, and quick access to most of the SoCal freeways.

Good luck, and travel well!

Vegas !

There is a misconception out there that Vegas is only for imbibing soul or the gambling aficionado and if you don’t fit into either category, then Salt Lake has some vacant hotel rooms. Our last trip to “Sin City” showed nothing could be further from the truth. To give you some background I traveled to Vegas twice last year; once for business and the other for fun. The first trip was to attend a conference and besides being the designated navigator during a short pub crawl, the fun was limited to the conference hall. The second trip however was all fun.

We travelled to Vegas with another couple from Poland who was enjoying the western US for the first time. They chose not to drink on the trip, which suited us fine since we also were not predisposed to drunken shenanigans. We stayed about two miles off the strip at the Hampton Inn & Suites Las Vegas Airport which had its pros and cons. The first pro was the price, since were in Vegas over the weekend the average room price along the strip was close to $200.00. Our hotel room was about half the average, and each couple got a huge room. The room would have been sufficient for a small family as it included a full kitchen, pull-out bed, huge bathroom, and plenty of space. Another pro? Free breakfast! Anytime you can get a free meal from the hotel is major plus because it saves most people an average of $20 a day. The only con of course was the distance from the action. We drove to and from the strip each day which when you include looking for parking took about 30 minutes each way. In the end however the hotel was a home run as far as price, cleanliness, and overall customer service.

Sleeping arrangements taken care of, it was time to find some fun in the city that never sleeps! If you are looking for free exhibits the first place to stop is the Bellagio. Outside you will be awe inspired by the fountain shows every 15-30 minutes. During the shows the giant lake in front of the hotel is transformed from a shimmering reflection of Bellagio grandeur to a stage complete with dancing pillars of water accompanied by classic and modern music. When you’ve had enough of the fountains, head inside for a cool stroll through the Botanical Gardens.  Trust me when I say both attractions are awesome for adults and kids.

When your eyes get tired of the vibrant colors of the gardens, take a short walk around the corner to the Jean-Philippe Pastry Café.  This is a perfect spot for mom and dad to grab an edible piece of art. We tried two different cakes, raspberry and carrot, and both knocked our taste buds out of the park. Due to the price and potential line, I would save this little piece of culinary heaven for the adults. The kids won’t appreciate the artistic nature of the café or the food. And no one wants to see a seven dollar carrot cake take a dive off the front of the stroller.

From the Bellagio we walked to Caesar’s Palace, which is by far my favorite spot on the strip. The layout of the shops looks like a European street complete with cobblestone walkways, fountains, and a myriad of Cafés and specialty stores. We stopped at the Cheesecake Factory for dinner, which is situated behind a massive indoor aquarium. To our surprise we were treated to a multi-media mythological battle between the forces of good and evil, played out above the aquarium. The show incorporates smoke, animatronics, fountains, and fire. It is loud and may be too intense for the little ones, but it is cool to watch while munching down on some gourmet cheesecake.

The next day we ventured into the Luxor for two museum exhibits, “Body Worlds” and “Titanic.” Both were cool in their own way. “Body worlds” is of course a morbid trip through plasticized human bodies splayed or posed for your viewing enjoyment. If you ever wondered what you look like on the inside, this is the exhibit for you. Titanic is a somber look at the boat, the crew, and passengers who perished on the moribund cruise.  Much to the dismay of some, Leonardo Di Caprio was not found among the dead. The artifacts that survived the tragedy and years of salt water are displayed along with personal stories from both the survivors and deceased. It was very a well displayed exhibit and really brought to the light the stories of real people. Both displays are somber and may cast pallor on what would ordinarily be a festive day, so keep that in mind when you go.

On a happier note make sure to check out the M&M’s factory, and Coke store! Both are awesome for kids and adults!

This is just a small sampling of what we found in Vegas. For more family fun, or just plain fun ideas, see the Vegas section on the blog.

Enjoy, and remember what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas!

Best Beach in San Diego

May not be in San Diego after all!

This last week we had a chance to spend some time in the City of Coronado, also known as Coronado Island. Being their during the 4th of July weekend was a super experience! Most of the houses were decorated with large red, white and blue banners, and flags were everywhere. The dozens of Star Spangled Banners and patriotic ribbons were enough to make anyone's heart swell with patriotic pride. The decorations and independence day festivities ushered us through the small streets to our favorite beach in southern California, Coronado Beach.

The entire beach begins just south of the Naval Air Station and runs past the Hotel Del Coronado, which is where we found the best spots. The beach near the hotel is clean and there is plenty of room. Even during the Independence Day Weekend, the beach was large enough so that we always had enough room to spread out the let the kids run. You had enough space between you and the next person so that you didn't feel squished, but they were close enough to strike up a conversation if you so desired.

The clientele on the beach was as diverse and the size of the ocean waves, there was everything from two-year-old children to senior citizens enjoying the cool ocean breeze. The diversity of beach goers created a festive atmosphere where you were not afraid to say hi to the people sharing the sand. The rhythm of the ocean waves crashing in on themselves was occasionally punctuated by the sounds of a random sand volleyball game, or an intense bout of Smashball. Relief from the heat of the sun was found in diving into the cool Pacific waves or by purchasing a large bowl of Ice Cream from the sweet shops in the Del.

We spent two days on Coronado Beach, and could have easily spent more. Alas, bills need to be paid therefore we reluctantly packed up, and drove home. But that does not mean you have to! So here is how to get to the best beach around San Diego:

Proceed South on I-5 to California 75
The 75 will take you over the "Blue Bridge" and on to Coronado Island
Once on the Island take a left on Orange Avenue and follow it through the center of the city
Orange Avenue turns into Silver Strand Way just past the Hotel Del Coronado, this is also the best place to find parking for the beach.You can take a right turn on Avenida Del Sol and park for free. However, unless you arrive before 10:00AM there is a god chance this will be full. For more free parking, park along Silver Strand Way.

Good luck and have fun!

Welcome to the Travelling Detective Blogspot!

Whether you are a seasoned traveler or just felt your first bite from the travel bug, the Travelling Detective blogspot has the information you need for an enjoyable trip! I specialize in finding destinations and accommodations for the travelling family but always have an eye for deals for the travelling couple.

Is this your first time visiting the southwestern portion of the United States? Well you've come to the right place! Travelling in Arizona, California, and Utah is unlike any travel experience you've ever had and you need a good resource to navigate you through the Saguaros, Sacatons, and San Diego Mountains!

My travel partner, who also happens to be my wife, and I have traveled to dozens of places in the United States and Europe. Together we have a very impressive list of places to eat, sleep, relax, and be entertained. We've ventured through Eastern Europe with three children, braved busy airports with a newborn, and cruised the West Coast while watching Disney movies! In all of our travels the one thought we always had was, "We need to share these wonderful places with other families!"

Read on, and travel well!