ChiBeria to Las Vegas for a mid-winter getaway
Friday::
Venitian Breakfast at Bouchon (restaurant and NOT the bakery) and window shopping. We chose Bouchon on Friday because we assed Saturday morning would be too busy. And we were right, Vegas was easily twice as busy on Saturday.
We arrived by 8:30 on a rainy morning. We took the monorail thru Bally's. Unfortunately the hotels aren't connected underground all the way thru the strip. And it is a bit of a navigation to find our way thru the hotels. However we found our way through and managed to get around.
ChiBeria Chicago to Las Vegas Fancy Itinerary and Non-Gambling fun, a photo by APrincipalandWifeTravels on Flickr.
Granted the hotel is a "reproduction" of what you'd find in Venice, but beautiful nonetheless.
See more of our Flickr Album Here.
Ask the "cleaning / helpers" at the hotels for directions to get there to help avoid the resort staff trying to sell shows and tours, which sucks and kills the experience (similar to the time share sellers near Mexico resorts). When entering the hotels is was such a nuisance to have "solicitors" asking "how long are you staying? Have you seen any shows? Interested in a tour?" Good luck saying no. They follow up with more questions to keep you talking. The selling counts on people being polite and keeping you talking. Unfortunately the only way to stop the pestering is to ignore the questions and walk away - feeling like your being rude - and ignore the person talking.
Eating at Bouchon was completely worth the money!! You can get a full French or American meal for under $25 (eggs, bacon, sausage, coffee juice bread and pastry - OR go French ham and cheese sandwich with egg and fries for $18). I choose a salad with bacon (real bacon not american bacon) and a poached egg with bread - $14. You could also get al a carte yogurts, pastries, sides of fries, mashed or lyionaise potatoes, etc. Review the menu online.
ChiBeria Chicago to Las Vegas Fancy Itinerary and Non-Gambling fun, a photo by APrincipalandWifeTravels on Flickr.
Salmon cakes - delicious delight!
We arrived by 8:30, got a great table, excellent ambiance, great service!
Most bathrooms are located just outside the restaurants.
Then we headed downstairs to walk the Grand Canal. Window shopping and the Grand canal shops is a romantic walk. All of Vegas is climate controlled, indoors of course, they still haven't put the strip in an outdoor climate bubble.
ChiBeria Chicago to Las Vegas Fancy Itinerary and Non-Gambling fun, a photo by APrincipalandWifeTravels on Flickr.
We didn't take a gondola ride, but we did experience the INDOOR walk the "river." We visited an expensive jeweler on the walk. Their prices are easily 60+ % higher then "regular" non-Vegas prices. A beautiful pair if ruby earring in a diamond jacket started at $12,000. After a discount for this and that, the price fell to $6,400. And the ladies at the store insisted we make an offer, its the end of the month and the owner would surely take "offers." We left, without the earrings but the price negotiating was something to remember. Tiffany's prices and other brand name stores like Hermés are true to their "standard pricing" said our waiter at the Bellagio lunch.
ChiBeria Chicago to Las Vegas Fancy Itinerary and Non-Gambling fun, a photo by APrincipalandWifeTravels on Flickr.
After window shopping we enjoyed some cheese & wine at Otto Pizzeria in the grand room.
ChiBeria Chicago to Las Vegas Fancy Itinerary and Non-Gambling fun, a photo by APrincipalandWifeTravels on Flickr.
The sommelier was knowledgeable and happy to chat. They use a wine storage method with argon gas, and puncture the cork to pour the wine on their high end bottles and leaving no spoils behind. Clever method. The argon gas wine stopper / opener would run $200-300 but worth it if you want to occasionally enjoy expensive special bottles of wine. We were there for nearly 3 hours, nibbling on cheeses, bread (complimentary) and our wines.
The Chianti was spectacular. A Sangiovese blend "torra" monsanto, Mon Granna, and Il Borro were all good. They don't offer a cheese flight but you can have two wines served at 3 ounces each. The cheese flight is a selection of 3 or 5 cheeses, Goat cheese, Pecorino semi hard, and Mozzarella ball served with sides of Apricot mustard, Brandied cherries, and Honey w truffle oil. The Crusty Bread is served with Oil and a splash of balsamic vinegar.
An excellent afternoon at the Venetian. Afterwards we returned to the hotel to change and get ready for our comedy show that night. We had a simple meal for dinner since we splurged on lunch wine and cheese. We ate at the Grand Wok and Sushi at MGM, miso soup and vegetarian dumplings we're very good and authentic. Served with a pot of green tea was spot on refreshing.
