Las Vegas Trip Report during CV

Debated posting this but we did a Vegas trip during while the casinos were closed for a few reasons. The flights were cheap, I could use the miles toward elite status and I figured it was a once in a lifetime experience. Also one can’t preach there is next to no risk to most of us and not live it. I’ll put the pictures up in a few posts to not overload it.

I won’t announce the exact dates but it’s been over 4 weeks and I’m fine. I flew in one day, stayed 2 nights and flew back. My Non stop back was cancelled so they flew us to LAX for an hour layover and then NS back East. It actually got be more mileage so it was a win. Flights were not too full, maybe 30 people including flight crews from another airline.

We walked the strip with others including many bicycles with kids. Sorry, no one on a Unicycle. It was surreal with everything closed. Look a ride out west including lunch at the Pioneer Saloon and spent some time with Tom there. Said they are struggling big time but there was a few bikers outside who bought beers and sat across the street off their property. Other food options we visited were Pizza Rock and Taco El Gordo. Also spent some time on East Fremont and Boulder Highway taking pictures of the old motels still open and others now closed. I will say it was amazing to see hookers still working outside the motels and convenience stores in the area. Along with crowds of people hanging outside these places drinking. Drugs are bad, ok.

While many or most wont agree with my trip, I’m glad I did it and hopefully something I never see again.

Any pics of the plywood boarded up casino entrances?

Did you happen to notice if Tacos El Gordo or Tacos El Pastor next to Encore was open? I ask because although these are takeout food places they often attract long lines that extend into the street, and wondering how they handled social distancing.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by MDawg

Any pics of the plywood boarded up casino entrances?

Did you happen to notice if Tacos El Gordo or Tacos El Pastor next to Encore were open? I ask because although these are takeout food places they often attract long lines, and wondering how they handled social distancing.

---

El Pastor was closed, El Gordo was open. Long lines and a half heated attempt at SD there. But damn the food was great as always.

And most of the casinos on the strip were not boarded up, but had security outside them.

Pretty cool pics. It seems perfectly reasonable to take such trips if you're not worried about passing corona to someone directly. I'm actually somewhat envious. Since things have slowed down and hospitals are not near at capacity and things have sorted out, something like this seems fine to me.

Seems ok to me too. Good for you Boz! And you are right, this would be a once in a lifetime opportunity to see Vegas like never before. I have been to the strip a number of times during the shutdown. It's kind of funny, during the day almost no one, in the Evening more people milling around, including cyclists, just looking around.

Where did you stay Boz? I assumed Hotels were closed.

Never been to the El Gordo with the big line on the strip, have went out of my way to go to the one in the hood on East Charleston three times. Don’t have to deal with the crowd there, there’s been an armed guard or policemen inside each time.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by accountinquestion

Pretty cool pics. It seems perfectly reasonable to take such trips if you're not worried about passing corona to someone directly. I'm actually somewhat envious. Since things have slowed down and hospitals are not near at capacity and things have sorted out, something like this seems fine to me.

---

Thanks Accounting.

I actually considered driving out there just to witness the Apocalyptically abandoned look of everything, but it first of all didn't seem worth the effort and secondly here in California we're not supposed to leave our houses other than for essential movement. It would probably have been a trip I'd have ended up doing alone.

I am glad someone went and reported though. Glad it turned out okay Boz.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by kewlJ

Seems ok to me too. Good for you Boz! And you are right, this would be a once in a lifetime opportunity to see Vegas like never before. I have been to the strip a number of times during the shutdown. It's kind of funny, during the day almost no one, in the Evening more people milling around, including cyclists, just looking around.

Where did you stay Boz? I assumed Hotels were closed.

---

Chain hotel on Paradise by the new convention center by Westgate. Was a lot of construction people staying there and work was happening at the site. The one picture is of the roof of the new center.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by mcap

Never been to the El Gordo with the big line on the strip, have went out of my way to go to the one in the hood on East Charleston three times. Don’t have to deal with the crowd there, there’s been an armed guard or policemen inside each time.

---

Yes this line was nothing like normal. Was still impressed with how many people were still there. They have an impressive facility from a restaurateur standpoint. Incredible operation.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by The Boz

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by kewlJ

Seems ok to me too. Good for you Boz! And you are right, this would be a once in a lifetime opportunity to see Vegas like never before. I have been to the strip a number of times during the shutdown. It's kind of funny, during the day almost no one, in the Evening more people milling around, including cyclists, just looking around.

Where did you stay Boz? I assumed Hotels were closed.

---

Chain hotel on Paradise by the new convention center by Westgate. Was a lot of construction people staying there and work was happening at the site. The one picture is of the roof of the new center.

---

Ok, that makes sense. yeah construction HAS to continue. The convention center, the stadium, Resorts World, Circa downtown. No shutdown for those projects. ;)

Found this picture interesting. A full bottle of Jack at the bottom of the old pirate show at TI. Sure it had an interesting back story.

I took a drive over to the Las Vegas Blvd about an hour or so ago.
I didn't take any pictures but I wanted to do some shopping at Whole Foods.
So I turned at Flamingo and went down the Strip towards Town Square.
I thought it was great!
Hardly any traffic and only a few people riding bikes here and there.
More police on the sidewalks than citizens.
Felt kinda like visiting a Ghost Town in Arizona.
I got robbed at Whole Foods for 210 dollars.
Lamb Chop prices are insane!!
The easy life with Virtual Free Steakhouse has come to an end.
Good thing I actually saved resources instead of constantly partying like many Advantage Players I know who are now broke.
Investing in a Wife and Family seems to keep paying off compared to the usual self centered AP Lifestyle living at the Poker Room, Tables or Machines.
I have experience in both paths so I kinda know or can relate.

Oh yeah... sorry Boz!
As I normally do, I just post selfishly about my own experiences.
I went back and read this thread and all posts.
Great Trip Report and Pics!
Seems an odd Vacation but to each their own.
Personally, I am about to do the same thing but something more so along the lines of: The Great Outdoors.
Also, I just had a Vacation in Utah doing some Snowmobiling in February.
I see your point though as you have to practice what you preach.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by monet

I got robbed at Whole Foods for 210 dollars.
Lamb Chop prices are insane!!
.

---

They don’t sell lamb chops at el super?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by monet

Oh yeah... sorry Boz!
As I normally do, I just post selfishly about my own experiences.
I went back and read this thread and all posts.
Great Trip Report and Pics!
Seems an odd Vacation but to each their own.
Personally, I am about to do the same thing but something more so along the lines of: The Great Outdoors.
Also, I just had a Vacation in Utah doing some Snowmobiling in February.
I see your point though as you have to practice what you preach.

---

Are you kidding? No problem at all. Enjoyed your outside Vegas posts and helped encourage me to post this. Love reading about the locals perspective and had to add mine as an outsider. Ready to get back to Tahoe but they don’t want us there right now, even if we own property.

And wasn’t really a vacation, just bored staying home. Flights, room, rental Jeep and expenses were less than a dime total.

My neck hurts. Thanks a lot!

Those are great pictures--some locations of which will never be available in such a manner again.

My daughter and her husband have taken advantage of those cheap fares twice during this shutdown to come to Phx. from Minn. If people weren't so afraid then so many of them could be seeing things they didn't expect to see.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by mcap

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by monet

I got robbed at Whole Foods for 210 dollars.
Lamb Chop prices are insane!!
.

---

They don’t sell lamb chops at el super?

---

One thing good about El Super right now is if you go about an hour before close you don't see many people.
You can get in and out pretty quick.

I never seen Lamb or Lamb Chops at El Super.
Nor things like Halibut.

I'm pretty sure the meat at El Super is the same as Albertson's or Smiths.
The thing is they charge so much less.
Poison Meat is Poison Meat and the Vegetables are the same at Whole Foods as they are at El Super.
I don't buy into this Organic Lie.
They can't stop cross contamination on the fields as the pollen and bug spray travel through the air.
So I usually buy at El Super because prices can be 2 to 4 pounds per dollar.
You can buy a sack of 10lb potatoes for 2 dollars or pay 6 dollars at Albertsons.
Its kinda goofy.
The bake shop isn't so bad at El Super as its basically the same as any other store.
Explain to me why El Super charges 3.50 for a pound of Munster Cheese and Whole Foods charges 10 dollars a pound for the same product??
By the way, Whole Foods charges 22 dollars a pound for Lamb Chops or a Rack of Lamb but the Lamb Shoulder was only 10 dollars a pound.
So I splurged and bought the chops... can't spend money anywhere else these days!

Personally I like to spread my money around to all businesses.
Not that it matters but I am going to make Seared Salmon in a Cast Iron Skillet.
Garlic Bread
Butternut squash with Red Cabbage and Onions.
Perhaps I will annoy everyone with a picture.