Got all our stuff packed up ready for the final leg of the road trip, off to the beach at Santa Monica and the end of Route 66.
Whilst I packed Sandra went downstairs to get a coffee, some 40 mins later she returned! She had 2 coffees, a muffin and a breakfast sandwich. She did want an omelette, but after waiting 30 mins to be served she was told it would be a 40 min wait for it to be ready!
This 5 star hotel is totally unable to provide sufficient facilities for the guests in it's 4000 rooms! It really does flatter to decieve. The decor, surroundings and rooms are great. Where it lets itself down is how long it takes to get food, drinks etc.
I have come to the conclusion that they are not hotels in Vegas as we would expect, they might boast 5 stars but they are casinos with rooms. I cannot imagine a 5 star hotel in London operating the way the Bellagio does. It would shut down in less than 6 months!
Of course, the trials and tribulations didn't stop there. As we went to check out we were told we had to join the same line as new arrivals checking in, there must have been some 50-60 people in the queue.
When we complained we were told to check out on TV in our room. On seeing Lel and Pat we found out that the system was down, so we couldn't do that either. Eventually I grabbed a house phone and checked out that way!
Since our last visit to Vegas it has changed quite dramatically, hotels have got much, much bigger, queues have got longer, the"Strip" has got much, much busier. It has always been a party town but is now a magnet for hen and stag do's and is more like an upmarket Albufeira, Magaluf or Malia!
I for one wasn't sorry that we were leaving, it certainly isn't reflective of America and I can't see myself coming back here again.
One thing that got to us all was the fact that smoking is still allowed in the casinos, I can understand why they allow it but having been in a non smoking culture in the UK for some years it is amazing how abhorrent a smoking environment is to us now. How times change!
So off onto I15 most of the way to Vegas, flat desert scenery as far as the eye can see, bordered by mountains in either side. Scenery changes to mountainous area but we start to see the effects of the LA smog. Visibility gets worse and there is a haze in the distance hanging over the mountains.
As we near LA traffic gets busier, the freeways get wider and driving gets more manic. We hit a few traffic jams on the way but nothing like the traffic on the opposite side. It must have been crawling along for some 15-20 miles. Don't think I'll ever moan about the M25 ever again, well at least not until the next time I'm stuck in traffic!
Finally found our hotel, right opposite the beach. Sandra asked for a room with a view, we got upgraded and we ended up with the worst room in the hotel!
We had loads of washing to do, so found the laundry nearby, had something to eat in a really trendy place. California is so different to the rest of the USA, so health conscious. Every other person has a yoga mat under their arm, they are either biking or jogging everywhere!
Food was good, we opted for burgers, yet again, and Sandra's one looked like a mini Devastator challenge from the Red Dog Saloon in Hoxton!
Got back to our cupboard of a room, changed and walked along the front to nearby Venice Beach. As it was getting darker we turned around and came home. A wierd place in daylight, not somewhere you want to be of a nighttime.
Found a nice hotel on the beach with a terrace bar, so had a couple of drinks there before going back to the hotel and our cupboard.
When we got back we asked if the rate could be reduced as it was a really terrible room, far too small, even though it was classed as a sea view room.
Guy said he would leave a note for the manager, not hopeful.
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