LAS VEGAS - for the RICH not the MIDDLE CLASS - WHAT HAPPENED TO VEGAS!!!

The good..the bad..the ugly side of LAS VEGAS my opinion and sis.

We just got back from a 4 day vacation from Las Vegas and have lots to share.

Our story begun on July 6th our departure by Canada Air to Las Vegas and it landed early approximately 11:40AM at Terminal 1 but forgot to tell us that our luggage was dispatched to Terminal 3. By the time we found Terminal 3 our luggage was in Security mode and we were tired, hot and not happy. Not all of us know that we are supposed to pick up our luggage at Terminal 3 and we were told find elevator on side of building and press Ground Zero (come again..Ground Zero???!!!), go outside and grab a shuttle bus going to Terminal 3.

Next was how to we get to Mirage (our booked hotel). Buy shuttle bus ticket round trip $20. Let me mention that CDN dollar sucks (we are losing 35-41 cents to US dollar).

Folks, we are now in the Mirage Lobby check-in which means hidden costs, RESORT FEES of $41.95 EACH DAY and $400 deposit for the bar and snacks. OMG..really. We had already prepaid our flight and hotel so we thought. Wait, I now have to add the 4 days of $41.95 but we said we are NOT depositing $400 as we WILL NOT OPEN THE BAR, which by the way is secured by an electronic pin # which you receive once you pay $400.

We ended up paying extra resort fees and $100 for extras.

Our room was on the 10th floor and nothing special. It was clean but our next day room service proved to be late, we were exhausted from our cab rides and 117 degree weather and running around when the maid showed up to do our room. We told her we preferred our rooms done at 9AM and asked for clean towels and had her empty our trash bins and waved her away.

Drinks we noted were cheap at a happy hour from 2PM TO 4PM or something like that near the lobby, otherwise they were AFFORDOABLE FOR THE RICH $18 a glass of wine..WHAT!!!!

We soon found out that we were enjoying great coffee and an egg white sandwich for breki at MCDONALDS across the street. Highly recommended.

What happened to the days of great entertainers 40 years ago and breki for $2.99. Be assured you are gonna be broke.

CVS was were we shopped for liquor and snacks.. I found great ice cream for $2.49 or less and was happy. We ate at the sushi bar at the Mirage and it was very expensive to what we pay for 6 rolls of tuna rolls and saki. The service was great but the price not so..

Sis and I found the waitresses nasty at some of the restaurants and at the Noodle House at the Harrah's the waiter told sis go get your own drink at the bar (2 days prior a waitress there brought her wine)...he was mean..so guess what I left him a mean 50 cents tip. HA to you buddy!!

We took a cab to the RIO as they have a great dim sum with carts and highly recommended. Cabs we took cost us more than we wanted to spend.

Now we wanted to gamble..really..what was left of our monies..a few bucks. I ended up with a wow factor of $12 extra with Casino Royale. I walked away and went to the Mirage and plugged in $5 as I thought the heck ..hotels want us to gamble..make it worthwhile like in the good old days. I ended up winning $100 and nabbed it and went upstairs and gave sis her lost $20 and added $15 to make her happy. As well, tipped the maid and bough breakfast for us. How sad as slots do not pay like they did before and I heard one woman get excited over $7 win. COME ON..really!

My best experience in Customer Service was at Saks at the Fashion Desert Mall on the strip. I ended up purchasing perfume and a fabby body moisture cream ONLY to have it taken away by US Customs as I neglected to check on the size and they were not willing to play nice. I lost out on $140 US so that is $200 CDN. The pool at the Mirage had free water..woweee!!!

Am I going back to Vegas ..NO!!!! well maybe a YES when I win the million dollar lottery as shows and other things are EXPENSIVE ..UNLESS you are a MILLIONAIRE.. and families with kids should stick to Disneyland!! MY EXPERIENCE as we needed $100 a day just for food and a drink.