January 9 - February 26 2025 - WINTER 2025
Winter 2025 Southbound Trip Recap contains links to Day 1 - 8 posts.
Carriage House is a smaller style location with ample parking just off the Strip.
From our window, the two tall buildings on either side are the Marriot and Hilton timeshares. It is very quiet. Wyndham Grand Desert, is up the street, where we have stayed a few times.
However, this resort has incredible housekeeping services. They will not disturb you if the sign is on. Otherwise they knock everyday and you can request whatever you need. If you are out, they will take the garbage, recycling, dirty towels and generally straighten up. They then do a weekly full clean.
It is also closer to the Strip than Grand Desert, a block and a half, is a big deal in Vegas, where blocks are easily a mile long.
WEATHER
It was cool when we arrived, jacket weather. We had one day of rain, spitting. It really warmed up towards the end. There weren't any days when we wished we had a pool.
EATING OUT
Nobody wants to eat (or can afford to) eat three meals a day out when you're away for over two months. Breakfast was generally in.
We are NOT cheap by any means, and if we wanted to try something we would. But we've done Hell's Kitchen twice, gone for Ramsay's burgers many times and gone to his Pub several times.
Instead we loved eating at Letty's.
We ate at Letty's twice, true Mexican!
We had lunch at Quayo's, we've eaten here before, I did not enjoy my wings, which were comped.
We ended up at The Yard House three times! Twice at the Linq and once in Red Rock. We like it, it is reasonable.
Our last night we usually eat out (no clean up required) the plan was Ellis Island but it was horrible so we ended up at The Yard House.
We looked at booking a few other places, but honestly, the prices are a ripoff on the Strip. Mussels ranged from $22US to $50. We can get them for around $18 CAD at home.
We love steak, but they ranged from $50 to $150 without any sides. John cooks a great steak so we had our regular Friday night steak at "home".
A glass of wine on the Strip is going to be $18US, it is cheaper to get a bottle.
GROCERIES
On the whole we found groceries to be the same as or a lot cheaper than home even with the weak Canadian dollar.
WHAT WE DID
We've been here often enough that we only went to what we wanted to see.
We caught the Sphere Smiley Face! On our first night!!
John gave the finger to Trump Tower.
We went to Wynn to see the Okuda. We haven't been in Wynn in long time as we didn't stop in in 2024.
We took the Aria tram.
Bellagio - we always go there. We also like watching the Fountain. Year of the Snake.
We definitely wanted to go back to the Neon Museum ($) at night and we did.
We really enjoy the Arts District and went several times. We found the new English Hotel.
We drove out and did Red Rock Conservation 13 mile scenic drive ($).
We saw the mermaids at Silverton.
We visited Mandalay Bay to see Playland.
We wanted to see Big Elvis at Harrah's and tried on two Saturdays, but he wasn't there.
John golfed twice.
SOME FAVOURITE MURALS
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SHOPPING
I laughed at this as I had my hair cut at Wal-Mart's, yet I don't go there at home. The Wal-Mart on Rainbow is a super store and John said it is gigantic!
We went to both factory outlets, North and South. North is better, but you pay for parking. South is enclosed.
We bought a few things at the North. John got another pair of the Hurley pants that he likes.
