CHECKING OUT CIRCA HOTEL AND CASINO

This hotel is located in Downtown Las Vegas and is across the street from Golden Nugget, another fancy looking hotel.

Fancy for Downtown Las Vegas, that is.

Splash and dash is more for the hotel casinos on the Las Vegas Strip like Caesars Palace, Bellagio, Wynn or Encore, not Downtown Las Vegas.

CIRCA is located towards the end of the Fremont Street Experience, right before Plaza Hotel and Casino.

Even if you aren’t staying at CIRCA, which I hope to do very soon, God willing, have that ID out if you’re going to eat or play the slots there.

You MUST be 21 to enter and prove it.

There’s a security guard right at the entrance checking your driver’s license or state ID if you’re from the United States.

Have that passport ready if you aren’t from the United States, you will need it.

CIRCA is owned by the same gentleman that owns Golden Gate and The D hotel and casino, Derek Stevens.

All of these hotels are on Fremont Street.

Like The D, it’s all about the state of Michigan at CIRCA as well.

Derek Stevens is from Detroit, so you’ll feel at home in both casinos if you’re walking around in either a Michigan State, Detroit Pistons, Detroit Red Wings or U. of Michigan jerseys.

If you want to watch a game with some teams who aren’t from Michigan, you can do that as well on the big screen at the bar.

This just isn’t any old bar, it’s called The MEGA BAR, and it’s big.

Feeling homesick for those foods in Michigan?

CIRCA has you covered with Michigan favorites such as Barry’s Restaurant, Saginaw’s and if you’re really hungry for some Michigan eats, head on down to The D for an American Coney Island Dog, which is a staple in the Motor City.

Right in the middle of the casino is a figure that has nothing to do with Michigan.

It’s part of Old Las Vegas and it’s making a reappearance in Downtown Las Vegas.

It’s the figure of a cowgirl known as Vegas Vickie.

The last time Vegas Vickie was around, she was in front of a casino bar known as Glitter Gultch.

Glitter Gultch is no longer there. What’s standing where Glitter Gultch used to be?

You guessed it, CIRCA.

CIRCA pays tribute to all things old Vegas.

Right in the hotel store is a picture of Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Sammy Davis Jr., better known as “The Rat Pack”.

Only in Las Vegas can you swim in a pool, that’s heated all year round by the way, enjoy a beverage and watch sports.

Welcome to Stadium Swim, where if you want to watch a soccer match, but your wife wants to watch a Golden State Warriors game, you both can do that at Stadium Swim, just look up in front of you at one of the biggest tv screens you’ve ever seen.

I didn’t get to see Stadium Swim because it wasn’t open yet, after all it was just 7am, Vegas time.

What I did get to see was one of the biggest Sports Books I have ever seen, and I’ve seen a few in both Atlantic City and Las Vegas.

The seats are made as though you were seated in a movie theater, so all you needed was your bucket of butter popcorn and a drink, but I’m sure the waitresses can bring you your favorite beverage while you place your sports bets.

As for placing your bets, with as big as the screens are, there’s no way one can say, I couldn’t see what I was betting on.

The screens are that big.

As for the slot games, there were many that I wanted to play but didn’t because 1. I didn’t bring that much money with me 2. I was in a hurry to get back to my hotel and 3. I left my players card from The D that I can also use at CIRCA back at the hotel.

Sorry, the Sports Diva needs those comps so I can get those discounts at Las Vegas hotels.

CIRCA might just be my next place to stay in Downtown Las Vegas

PICTURES FROM RESORTS WORLD LAS VEGAS

The last 30 Plus Teams Tour of Las Vegas I took was in June of 2021.

The day after I left, another casino opened up .

It was Resorts World, but unlike the one near my home in Queens, New York, it has two hotels attached to it, Hilton and The Conrad.

Both the Conrad and Hilton have separate entrances for their guests.

I wanted to see for myself what the Resorts World was all about, after hearing so many different opinions about it.

When I went not only was it Chinese and Lunar New Year, but going on in town wasn’t only NHL All Star Weekend, but the NFL Pro Bowl, which is the All Star game for the National Football League.

My own opinion of Resorts World is this, it’s beautiful and different than the usual hotels that Vegas is used to.

The area where Resorts World stands used to be the old Stardust Hotel, and as you walk into the lobby of Resorts World, you see part of the old Stardust.

Enjoy the pictures of the newest hotel and casino in town.

TEXAS STYLE BARBECUE IN AN ASIAN SETTING

I finally got to visit the new Resorts World Hotel and Casino Las Vegas on this 30 Plus Teams Tour.

There will be more about the Resorts World Las Vegas in an another post.

Since it was my full day in Las Vegas there were a few places and things that I wanted to do but it didn’t happen that way.

Something else came up to spoil the Sports Diva’s plans, but the something else that came up was something very unexpected.

More about that also in another upcoming post.

As usual, the Sports Diva got hungry as I only had a Dunkin Donuts and a cup of coffee early in the morning.

I knew most of the restaurants in Resorts World are Asian themed because there’s a Resorts World in my neighborhood and they were opened before the one in Las Vegas was.

I couldn’t decide between the sushi, Pho or a food that I hadn’t had in a long time, Indian food.

I went to the order board and looked over my choices.

One particularly caught my eye right away.

Being the Sports Diva that was raised by parents from North and South Carolina, my eye went to a restaurant that has its roots in Texas, Blood Brothers.

So what did I order?

Texas style barbecue Brisket on white bread, a Pineapple Fanta soda and potato salad.

Now being the good girl raised by Southerners, you better believe that some hot sauce went all over this delicious food.

No matter what you order from any of the restaurants at Resorts World, your food is either brought to you or you pick it up when it’s ready.

Just put in your phone number and when your food is ready, you get a text.

The food court is just like the hawker stalls in Malaysia and Singapore where your food is brought to you.

It brought back memories of going to Malaysia and Singapore when I worked for Malaysia Airlines in Los Angeles.

All in total, I paid $21 for my meal, the brisket was $17 and some change, which I’m sorry isn’t expensive.

I would have paid a lot more in New York City for this and besides, Beef Brisket isn’t a cheap cut of meat.

For the meaty slices that I was given, I would have paid more, really.

Every time I do a 30 Plus Teams Tour of somewhere, I keep a list of restaurants that I want to return to when I go back to that city.

Another one has been added to the long list for Las Vegas.

FINALLY EATING AT HEXX.

It seems that whenever I do a 30 Plus Teams Tour of anywhere, I’m either going to a sporting event or eating at some restaurant.

This latest visit to Las Vegas for All Star Weekend is no different.

As often as I come to Vegas, one of the restaurants that I’ve avoided is HEXX, which is located inside of the Paris Casino.

The restaurant is in a prime location, across the street from the Bellagio Hotel and the Bellagio fountains.

You can request a table right by the window and watch the Bellagio fountain show.

In the summer, not only can you request a table by the window, you can sit outside as well.

I was going to eat at another restaurant for breakfast, but since I had just won $65 at Paris Hotel and figured that I need to treat myself to a meal at a place that is always mentioned by YouTubers and travel bloggers alike when they come to Las Vegas.

From the moment that I walked in to the time that I finished my meal, I wasn’t disappointed at all.

The service was excellent whether it was the hostess who seated me, the waiter who served me, (his name was Mike, I think, but his mom is from Michigan and he worked in New York)or even the server who refilled my water and coffee.

As for my meal of three eggs Sunnyside up, apple wood smoked bacon, and potatoes, it was delicious.

The meal was $14.99,(and worth every penny)and it came with English muffins or your choice of wheat or white bread.

If you’re like me and didn’t want any bread of all, you had the option of having fruit, which is a dollar more.

HEXX also has bottomless Mimosas for brunch, which starts around 8am, and costs $30 per person.

I passed on the Mimosas but throughly enjoy my coffee, and that view that I had from my table.

The hostess asked me if I wanted to sit at the bar since I came in alone, but a table was good enough for me.

I was so full from the brunch that I skipped lunch.

I’ve decided that for my next trip God willing, HEXX will be a stop for brunch.

Come to think of it, I have two more days for this 30 Plus Teams Tour, HEXX might be a brunch stop whether I’ve won money at the casino or not.

BACK AT THE EXCALIBUR HOTEL AND CASINO

The last time I stayed in this hotel which is between the Luxor and New York New York Casino was in March 2020 right before you know who came.

I decided to stay here again for my 2021 30 Plus Teams Tour of Las Vegas.

Now I didn’t get that great rate that I got at Bally’s, but since Excalibur is part of the MGM Properties, as a member of the MLife Players Club, I was able to get a good rate for my stay, which was Wednesday June 23 until Friday morning, June 25.

(Yeah, the Sports Diva plays the slots a lot in Vegas and Atlantic City, which also has MGM and Caesars Properties, don’t judge me!)

I had requested a room in the older, Resort Room section of the hotel.

When I arrived, I did what a lot of people do when they come to Vegas.

I asked if there were any complimentary upgrades on rooms.

All they could say was no, right?

The front desk clerk said she would check and five minutes later, I was moved to one of the newer rooms in the Royal Tower, all the way on the 24th floor, with double beds.

I had a nice view of not only Mandalay Bay and Luxor Hotel Casinos, but Las Vegas McCarran Airport, where I could watch the planes take off and land, and a partial view of Allegiant Stadium, home of the NFL’s Las Vegas Raiders.

Being the Sports Diva, you know I was happy to see something sports related.

This was a 30 Plus Teams Tour anyway, right?

The bed was nice and comfy.

My only complaint was unlike my stay at Bally’s a few nights before, there was no refrigerator in the room.

You just know another 30 Plus Teams Tour of Las Vegas is going to come, God willing.

If I can get a good or even a great rate, I’ll be making another visit to Excalibur.

STAYING AT BALLY’S HOTEL AND CASINO FOR THE FIRST TIME

Usually when I come to Las Vegas for a 30 Plus Teams Tour, I stay downtown at either Four Queens or the Las Vegas Hostel for a few days then I go to another hotel, more often than not, Excalibur.

This trip was different.

I stayed on the Las Vegas Strip, right in the center of things at Bally’s Hotel and Casino, which is connected to the Paris Hotel and not far from the Flamingo, Linq, Planet Hollywood, Bellagio and Caesars Palace.

To say that it was located in the center of everything would be an understatement.

It is.

This was my first time staying at Bally’s and as a member of Ceasar’s Rewards, I got a not good, but great room deal for the three days that I stayed there.

(You can’t beat $10 a night really. That’s how much I paid and had a double room, not a king sized bed like I had requested.)

My cousin and I were in the middle of everything and we pretty much walked every where, including to T Mobile Arena to see a Vegas Golden Knights Stanley Cup playoff game(which they lost but more about that in another post.)

Even though Vegas is somewhat open, some places require you to wear a mask.

However, while at the pool, one wasn’t required.

The pool at Bally’s was nice and not too crowded, which was great because the temperature was 105 degrees and the water felt oh so nice.

Because I got in so late, I didn’t have to wait to check into my room, which was on the 8th floor.

I had a very nice view, or at least I thought I did.

Good rate, bad rate, or great rate, I think Bally’s is going to be added to the list of hotels that I’m going to stay at when I come to Las Vegas

ANYTIME IS A GOOD TIME FOR A WALK ON THE LAS VEGAS STRIP

I usually do my 30 Plus Teams Tour of Sin City in June when the temperature is 106 degrees plus Fahrenheit.

For the past year and a half, I’ve been in town when the temperature has been ‘cold’ at 50 and 60 degrees.

I wondered if there would be anyone walking on the Las Vegas Strip when the sun was out but people were wearing hoodies, jackets, sweaters and coats.

Since I was staying at the beginning at the Las Vegas Strip at Excalibur Hotel and Casino, I decided to do number 11 on my bucket list, walking down Las Vegas Bouldevard in the Winter.

I started in the parking lot between Luxor and Excalibur and walked all the way down to The Linq Promenade, at the Linq Hotel and Casino.

I could have walked more, but if you have either been to the city or have seen Las Vegas, you know that objects and buildings aren’t as close as they seem.

I walked through Excalibur, New York, New York, Park MGM, Toshiba Plaza near TMobile Arena, ARIA, Planet Hollywood, Paris, Crystals Shopping Center among others before ending at the Linq Promenade where I had to get my Vegas fix on at In N Out Burger, home of the Double Double before walking back to Excalibur.

As it was my last day for my 30 Plus Teams Tour, I had to pack for my flight back to Newark Liberty.

Now as for the question are there as many people walking down the Las Vegas Strip in the Winter as there are in the Summer?

Oh hell yeah.

STAYING AT THE EXCALIBUR HOTEL AND CASINO IN LAS VEGAS

It’s located between the hotel that looks like a pyramid and the hotel that has the replica of the Statue of Liberty in front of it.

It’s the Excalibur Hotel and Casino and like the Luxor and New York New York , it’s located on the Las Vegas Strip .

Like most of the hotels in Las Vegas, Excakibur has a tgeme also.

Think the Middle Ages meets the glitz and glamour of Las Vegas .

It’s even shaped like a castle and in the entire hotel and in the casino, you’ll see statues of Knights, real Knights , not the hockey team.

As many times as I’ve been to Vegas , I never stayed at this hotel before.

Because I am a member of their M Life players casino card club, I was given a discount on my room for the two nights that I stayed.

Yeah, the Sports Diva plays the slots a lot, don’t judge me.

The hotel is near the airport, so since I had an early afternoon flight back to Newark Liberty , this was convenient for me,and I was able to get the room I requested .

High floor near the elevator .

I was on the 25th floor.

I was able to see the Luxor and Mandalay Bay hotels from my room.

It looked so beautiful at night.

I would stay here again if offered the great rate that I received this time.

The only thing that I really didn’t like about the hotel was that, if you needed to print out something other than your boarding pass which was free, you had to pay $7 to do so.

The Sports Diva of course, was printing out some hockey tickets for a friend who was going to the hockey game with me.

I didn’t pay it and went to the concierge across the way at New York New York, who did it for free.

(More about the hockey game in another post . )

Other than that , (and you really shouldn’t charge that Excalibur, get on your game, people) I would stay at the castle on the Las Vegas Strip again.

PICTURES FROM MY VISIT TO ATLANTIC CITY

I didn’t think that I would have a great time here, but they say never judge a book by its cover . Let these pictures from Atlantic City do the talking for me.

WALKING THROUGH THE HARD ROCK HOTEL AND CASINO

There are many branches of the Hard Rock Hotel all over the world, and while I have never stayed in any of them, I have spent time at the one in Las Vegas, which I did this past June.

Last week, while I was in Atlantic City, I spent time at the Hard Rock Hotel there.

This branch opened this past June.

It has many of same things that the one in Las Vegas has.

There’s even a Sugar Factory Restaurant right inside, the very same one that sells those humongous drinks just like the one in Vegas does.

This hotel used to be the Trump Taj Mahal, but like most of Atlantic City casinos, it was forced to close due to bankruptcy.

The hotel reopened as the brand spanking new Hard Rock Hotel, and like the other Hard Rock branches, there is a huge guitar right outside.

The only thing this one shares with the one in Las Vegas is the name, although Sir Richard Branson of Virgin Atlantic fame has brought the one in Las Vegas so we really don’t know how that will change the hotel.

As much as I love the city of Las Vegas , sorry, not sorry, but the Hard Rock Hotel in Atlantic City makes the one in Las Vegas look like the baby sister that gets the hand me down clothes from big sis.

This place is BEAUTIFUL AND SPACIOUS !

It’s also very high tech.

If you want to get a drink while you’re at the slot machines, you don’t flag the waitress down as she walks by.

Oh no.

Look on your slot machine.

Right in the middle of your machine, there’s a drink icon.

Push it for whatever you want to drink, water, wine, beer, or hard beverages.

The waitress will bring it to you.

Just remember, tip your waitress when she brings your drink, no matter what it is.

Don’t be stingy with your tip either.

(However, when I ordered a Pina Colada, the waitress never brought me my drink. Maybe I didn’t order it correctly or something, I don’t know , but that’s another story for another day. I didn’t need that drink THAT badly.)

As for the casino floor, there are lots of tables and slots and you can move around freely.

As I mostly play the slots, I looked for the slot machines that I play a lot.

I’m “old school” so it’s machines like Wild Cherry, Double and Triple Diamonds for me.

Always the penny machines by the way .

(My machines didn’t let me down. I hit for $78 and $46 on the same machine. Thank God for the bonus play. Instead of putting in the usual $20 that I play with, I only put in $6.50 to start with.)

The Hard Rock does have the cafe inside and yes, there are pictures of past and present musicians lining the walls of the restaurant, not to mention the rest of the hotel.

While the first floor is a sight to see , it pales in comparison to what’s happening on the second floor.

You can take the escalator as you watch the screen all around you showing different artists in the concert series known as “Hard Rock Calling.”

As I rode the escalator up to the second floor, the screen showed the rock group The Killers in concert followed by the Country and Western group, Lady Antebellum.

I could have watched the screen change all day, not to mention how mesmerized I was watching the stairs in between the two escalators changing colors.

The stairs were too beautiful to walk on.

I took the escalators to the second floor and checked out the food court as well as check out some of the stores.

(You don’t have to ask. Yes, I did buy some stuff to take back to New York City . )

Besides the pictures of muscians on the walls, there is an area known as “The Rock Vault”, which celebrates artists and venues in New Jersey .

I left the Hard Rock amazed at how dazzling this hotel really is.

It’s a Las Vegas style hotel with a party atmosphere and it’s right in my backyard .

I don’t need to fly across the United States to party like a rock star or like it’s 1999 (sorry but I just had to go there.)

A two to three hour bus ride from New York City to Atlantic City is all I need to get lit at the Hard Rock .