Yet another trip to Las Vegas yields two more tips.

We have just returned from Las Vegas leading a Planet Travel client group of 20 and discovered two additional tips to pass along. How we missed them before we don't know. In hindsight they were as plain as the nose on our faces.

After hiking for seemingly miles to the closest monorail station from the Riviera (didn't know before that Donald Trump was once a minority stockholder of the Riviera that had something to do with his ongoing feud with Steve Wynn) we figured that there had to be a better way. The distance between monorail stations in Las Vegas and the resorts they serve will ultimately be the system's downfall. Not well thought out in hindsight. The speed of the monorail doesn't match the long, long, walks, to the stations. We decided to try the local transit system strip bus: the Deuce. Started in October, 2005, you can ride up and down the strip for 24 hours for just $5.00. The cost of just one ride on the monrail. It is a slow trip any time of the day on the very busy strip. And the wait time between busses can be long. It is still the best way to get up and down the strip or get downtown to check out Fremont street.

Here is a link to the deuce's web site

link to more information about the deuce

Walgreens has the cheapest souvenirs on the strip. What do you want? Ashtrays. T-Shirts. Las Vegas Signs. Retro Vegas pictures and posters. Walgreens has them. Cheaper than anywhere else we could find. The proof is the current fav souvenir a desktop flashing light up replica of the Las Vegas sign found on the far south end of the strip. Walgreens has them for $29.95. Everywhere else we found them the price was as much as ten dollars more. Save money to spend on the new shortened to 95 minutes from the original two hours and 40 minutes version of the Phantom of the Opera at the Venetian. What is with that anyway? I guess in Vegas anything is possible. Especially when you charge $150.00...twice the amount as the West End orignal version charges for the old original longer version.

link to Planet Travel's Las Vegas Connection with great prices to our favorite destination

Some pics from our latest Las Vegas visit.

The new Red Rock Casino is still under construction. It just opened in April and is still having some opening pains.






















We waited more than an hour in line to eat at the Red Rock's buffet. They simply didn't have the staff to handle the crowd. Our waitress Linda told us that they just blew it on Memorial Day. But it was worth the wait. Without a doubt one of the best casino buffets in Las Vegas. Great selection. An incredible value for just $8.00 at lunch.













The view just west of the Red Rocks. Desert. Mountains. Barren.















The new Wynn features a wall of water show. But you have to purchase a drink to get a close up view.














The cheap seats to see the new Wynn water show.





















The new Wynn casino reminds us very much of what casino? Bellagio perhaps.














The strip Memorial day evening looking south from Ballys.

link to our Las Vegas connection...more ways to get to our favorite destination

25 Ways to Make Your Next Flight Easier

We were researching a product called the "Knee Defenders." Knee Defenders help you stop reclining airplane seatbacks so your knees won't have to. A simple product, Knee Defenders are used in pairs to block or partially limit reclining airplane seats. We didn't buy them, but found something very interesting. Their website links to an old...but still relevent...article in the Washington Post chock full of tips for making that next flight a little more bearable.

The Planet Travel Insider gets some local press

Springfield, Illinois State, Journal Register article updates American Airlines recent change of service. Don Fuener is quoted in the story. Actually, if the truth be told we tipped the paper to the changes and American Airlines intial action of canceling flights from Springfield, Illinois, causing panic for hundreds of passengers. When we called American Airlines to find out what was going on....our clients were being asked to fly out of other cities...the agent's reaction was only "oh my this is very strange. I don't know what to tell you to do." American reinstated limited service to Springfield, Illinois 72 hours later. Such is life in a small airport market.

Book Springfield Illinois flights at Planet Travel and get super support from friendly fellow travelers

8 great American cities

Chicago Tribune staff reporter Alan Solomon asked eight people who know their cities well what we shouldn't miss on a visit. I think these type of travel articles are very rare and very valuable. Most travel articles rely on the stranger discovering the destination. In this case, we are relying on the local to pass on their favorite. Whenever we travel, we always try to become temporary locals. We are on a quest. Searching for the locally popular restaurant, the not to be missed tourist site, and the favorite neighborhood to discover. This article fits the bill very well.

visit Planet Travel to plan your next vacation to 8 great American cities

Urinals shaped like women's lips

Not quite as pricey to build as the new Wynn, the new Red Rock Station Resort does indeed have urinals shapled like women's lips. Here is a link of a review of the just opened five star wannabe resort from the Chicago Suntimes Travel Section.

A Link to more Las Vegas information at Planet Travel's Las Vegas Connections

Do I need a passport? Here is the latest update.

Here is the latest update about passport requirements from Chicago Tribune travel columnist Alfred Borcover.

link to travel insider all inclusive vacations.com