Flamingo's Paradise Garden Sunrise Brunch Buffet - review

I met my mom and cousin for brunch at Flamingo's Paradise Garden Sunrise Brunch Buffet on a Sunday during my July trip. I've always wanted to try a champagne brunch, but I didn't want to pay a huge amount of money for my first one. I'd heard about Flamingo's brunch from several of my online friends, and I decided that the reasonable price ($19.99, including mimosas) and mid-Strip location made it perfect to try.

We got to the buffet at around 8:30 a.m., and there was no line at the cashier and hardly anyone else in the restaurant at that early hour. The hostess gave us our choice of seating, and we picked a four-top table alongside the floor-to-ceiling windows that overlook the Flamingo bird habitat and waterfall. It offered a great view of the entire habitat area and the gazebos on the Flamingo property.

The waitress immediately brought us water and offered us mimosas to start. We were more than happy to try the mimosas while waiting for our coffee, too. They pre-mix the mimosas for you and bring them to your table with a little extra orange juice for mixing if you're not too fond of champagne. I preferred mine exactly as it was served to me, but my mom added a little OJ to hers because she's definitely not a fan of champagne (it didn't stop her from drinking it, though).

The buffet included a table full of muffins, biscuits and breads, as well as the usual hot breakfast selections such as eggs, bacon, corned beef hash, hash browns, sausages, grits, and pancakes. They also had a separate station for made-to-order omelets and eggs (over easy or fried).

For their non-breakfast selections, they had prime rib, turkey, crab legs, salmon, a variety of fresh fruits, salads, pastas and antipasti dishes, and a full dessert table that had several types of pies, cakes and cookies. In addition, they offered soft-serve ice cream in two flavors (mango and vanilla were the flavors of the day).

The hot food selections that I tried were not quite as warm as I would've liked for them to be. They were more on the lukewarm side, and I prefer my breakfast meats and eggs to be steaming hot. While their scrambled eggs were perfectly cooked, they were just not warm enough for me.

Out of all the foods I tried at this buffet, I found one dish I absolutely loved: French Toast Casserole. It was presented like a bread pudding without the sauce, and it was cooked through, very warm, and had a wonderful flavor and texture. I went back and got three big helpings of the casserole because I loved it so much.

After all was said and done, I'd had three mimosas and what seemed like a ton of food. The atmosphere was very relaxing, the mimosas were good, but the overall food quality was not quite as high as I had hoped because of the heating issues I experienced. It was a quite passable buffet, however, and I found a new love in the French Toast Casserole and mimosas as a breakfast option. I just don't know if I'll be back for another visit when there are so many other champagne brunches to try in Las Vegas. At least I started with an affordable one. For the price, though, the selection is certainly very good.

On a scale of 1 to 10, I'd give the Flamingo Paradise Garden Sunrise Brunch Buffet a 6.5.

The Flamingo's champagne brunch is available on Saturdays and Sundays, from 7:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Cafe' Bellagio - restaurant review for breakfast

During my recent stay at the Bellagio, I decided to try Cafe' Bellagio for a meal because I'd heard such good things about the food and the atmosphere. On my final morning in Vegas, I realized I needed to get down there before I missed another opportunity.

I got to the Cafe' at 8:30 a.m., and there was absolutely no line at all. The seating hostess asked if I wanted to sit at a table or if I minded sitting at the bar, and I decided to try the bar area because of the interesting-looking bottle display behind it.

They have a pretty extensive breakfast menu, and I was immediately drawn to their omelet selections. I couldn't help but do an "eeny-meeny-miney-moe" when choosing my omelet because so many of them sounded absolutely delicious. I finally landed on the Bellagio Classic Omelet: a three-egg omelet with Maine lobster, diced asparagus, tomatoes, and mozzarella cheese. It was served with a side of toast and hash browns, as well. Cost was $16 for the omelet, and the total with my coffee and the tax came to $21.62 before trip.

I have to say that it was the best omelet I've ever had! The eggs were perfectly cooked, with just enough veggies and cheese to make it a good combination but not overly veggie, and the Maine lobster tail placed inside was absolutely delicious and buttery-tasting. Along with the toast and hash browns - and the coffee I needed to fully wake up - it was an extremely delicious and satisfying meal. It was a huge undertaking to do it, but I managed to finish every single bite of the omelet. I resisted the urge to lick my plate clean.

While dining at the bar, I took the time to check out the interesting bottles on the shelves behind it (some functional and others for display only), and I made sure that I took a good peek at the rest of the restaurant, as well. It is laid out in an "L" shape, and the tables are all arranged with plenty of space to walk between them and not feel like you'll fall over another diner. In addition, the open area facing the conservatory makes for excellent people-watching, and the large windows facing the pool area offer the same opportunities and allow for a lot of natural light in the whole restaurant.

My waitress had a lot of customers sitting at the bar that morning, and that could be why they asked if I wanted to sit at the bar (besides being alone): because of staffing. Coffee refills were a little slow, but other than that the service was quick and very good. I think I waited maybe 5 minutes for my food to arrive, and I spent that time people-watching, so it wasn't like I was tapping my foot or anything.

On a scale of 1 to 10, I give Cafe' Bellagio a 9.75. If I'd had top-notch coffee service, I think it would've been absolutely perfect.

For a nice, relaxing meal in a great atmosphere, I'm looking forward to trying this restaurant again.

Bellagio room - hotel room review

The standard Bellagio room

Nice sized armoire - plenty of storage

Comfy robes for your use (but don't steal them!)

I love this bathroom sink!

This is a review of my experience with the Bellagio hotel during my recent stay. I have already written a separate review of the Bellagio Buffet, and I will be posting a separate review of breakfast at the Bellagio Cafe' at a later time.

Check in time for Bellagio is officially 3:00 p.m., but I was in the lobby at 2:00 p.m. and there was no line at the check in desk so I had to give it a try just to see if they had a room ready for me. I walked right up, handed the clerk my confirmation sheet, and I was up in my beautiful room - #11009 - within minutes. I took a video and some photos of everything before it got messed up.

From the marble tile in the entryway and the bathroom to the automatic curtain and lighting controls stationed around the room, this room exudes class on all levels.

The bathroom area has a separate glassed-in marble shower stall with plenty of room to move around in; in fact, you could easily fit four people in there with its size. There is also a deep tub accented with decorator vases if you prefer a soaking bath instead of a shower. A wall-mounted phone is located next to the toilet (in case of emergency?). The towels throughout the bathroom are monogrammed with the Bellagio "B" and are thick and fluffy. The vanity and the mirror above it are both huge and are also accented by wall sconces for extra lighting. There is a lighted makeup mirror next to the large vanity mirror, and a hair dryer is tucked away in a drawer to allow more room for your personal items on the counter top. Underneath the vanity is a digital scale (if you choose to weigh yourself on vacation), but it is kept out of the way and is not even noticeable when you enter the bathroom.

The bath amenities are Gilchrist and Soames and include shampoo, conditioner, shower gel, lotion, and mouthwash. There is also a shower cap, bath soaps, and even a sewing kit in the vanity drawer.

In the bedroom area, you'll find a fully stocked mini bar with the usual ice bucket placed on top of it, as well as a set of two drinking glasses and two champagne glasses for use during your stay (but not to take with you unless you want a charge to show up on your credit card). A full listing of the mini bar prices is also included on top of the mini bar.

The huge wooden armoire would dominate a lesser room, but it is a beautiful accent piece here. A flat screen TV is housed in the middle, and five full-sized drawers open effortlessly below it. Closet areas on either side of the armoire have full-length mirrors inside the doors, as well as plenty of hangers in each. One of the closets contains a digitally locked safe for your valuables, as well as a luggage rack for storing your suitcase; the other contains two Bellagio-monogrammed robes for use during your stay. What a life!

A full-sized desk with a phone and cable/internet hookup is situated near the floor-to-ceiling window, and it is accented by a large, gilded mirror, a lamp with an easy on/off switch at the base, and a comfortably cushioned chair. The drawer in the desk revealed the room service menus and other hotel services available during your stay, as well as some beautiful monogrammed stationery (which I just had to take).

Near the bed is a seating area with two very comfortable wing-back chairs and a side table with another easy on/off switch lamp. These chairs were almost as comfortable as the bed, and they were very nice to have when I invited my mom and cousin up to see the room later in the day. So many times there is only one (or maybe two) chairs in a room, and they are not always comfortable.

The bed itself is heavenly! The mattresses can be purchased for your own home, and I may consider buying one when my husband and I finally decide to replace our current pillow top mattress. I'm not a big sleeper in Vegas, and I usually only get about 4 hours of sleep every night I'm in town because I'm just not usually comfortable in hotel room beds as a rule - and maybe I'm just a little bit excited, too - but I slept almost 7 1/2 hours in that fantastic bed.

The bed is beautifully laid out with five thick and comfortable bed pillows, as well as a great comforter, two decorator accent pillows, and two other king-sized pillows in shams. The bed is framed by a "canopy" and accented by reading lights that are individually controlled from each side of the bed. On either side of the bed is a nightstand and lamp with the on/off switch located at the base. Each of the nightstands has a pull-out writing area for convenience. From the comfort of the bed you can control the lighting in the room, as well as the curtains and sheers at the window. A third phone and an alarm clock are located on one of the nightstands.

I'd forgotten all about Bellagio's turn down service, so I was surprised when I opened the door later that night and heard soft jazz music playing. Now THAT'S the way to walk into your hotel room! I almost didn't see my Bellagio chocolates because they placed them on the nightstand instead of the pillows, but I did look around for them because I knew they'd be there somewhere. The drapes were closed, the accent pillows cleverly hidden behind the seating area chairs, and my bed linens were turned down and looked very inviting. It took nothing at all for me to get ready for bed in my Bellagio robe and leave the jazz music turned on as it was - what a relaxing evening!

I'm glad to say that they have 24-hour security at the entrance to the elevator hallway checking room keys. Even when they were asking a couple to see some ID, they were very nice and pleasant. This gave me an added sense of security I haven't found anywhere else.

The offer I was staying on gave me $50 in Free Play, which I activated at the Player's Club desk. I was able to turn my $50 in Free Play into $170 in cash, which was another positive experience for me. Some areas of the casino were a little cooler than others, but I didn't feel overly chilly anywhere. In addition, some quick cocktail waitresses were always able to provide me with my alternating sodas or Bailey's and hot chocolate drinks, so I was very happy to stay in my seat and gamble for an entire evening.

I was also given a VIP line pass for use at the Bellagio Buffet and the Bellagio Cafe'. I used it for the buffet because there were about 40-50 people in line at 6:30 p.m., but I didn't need it for breakfast at the Cafe' the next morning because there was no line at all at 8:00 a.m.

I stored my bags at the outdoor Bell Desk when I checked out at noon the next day, and they were quickly retrieved for me when I came back to get them at around 5:45 p.m. to head for the airport. A little added touch: when I left my bags with the bellman, he asked me how I would be leaving and for my name. He indicated "taxi" and my last name on my slip so that they didn't have to ask me again when I picked up my bags later. Nice!

I have to say that the Bellagio has been my favorite hotel in Vegas to date. I hope I get the opportunity to stay there again, because it was by far the best top-to-bottom hotel experience I've ever had. The hotel itself, the people, and the service were all top-notch. A beautiful property with a lot to offer, I didn't even begin to scratch the surface of all the available services for its guests.

On a scale of 1 to 10, the Bellagio hotel deserves a solid 10. A fantastic place to stay and play!

Paris room video

Here is my room video for my Paris hotel room - another view of the pool and the Eiffel Tower, with a little bit of Bellagio in the background. A very nice room at a Harrah's-owned property.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p2CULhr27E0

This is a standard king room, but it is hardly anything to sneeze at. Between the Strip location, the ease of getting to and from the room, and the access to the rest of the property's amenities, it was a great room for a few nights' stay. It didn't hurt that it was free, either. :)

Bellagio room video

Here's my YouTube video of my Bellagio room - #11009. I had a pool view and LOVED it! I hope to get some great offers from Bellagio, because it was a fantastic room and very, very comfortable.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lwt8SQQuxH0

In my video, I forgot to mention a couple of things that some people may find very important to their stay:

• The makeup mirror in the bathroom is lighted on both sides
• There is a digital scale under the bathroom vanity
• A programmable safe is included in the armoire

There is also a turn down service every night - I came back to my room to find the lights turned down, the curtains closed, a jazz station tuned in on the TV, and chocolates on the nightstand. A girl could get used to this!

LOVE @ The Mirage - show review

LOVE is a Cirque du Soleil show housed at The Mirage Hotel & Casino, and July 2009 marks its third anniversary. This was my second time seeing the show, and I loved it just as much as I did the first time!

You don't have to be a huge fan of The Beatles to enjoy this show; conversely, you don't have to be a fan of Cirque du Soleil to enjoy it, either. People of all ages and walks of life enjoy this show, and it never fails to deliver a feeling of awe and wonder for those who are fans of one, the other, or both.

The show is approximately 1 1/2 hours long, and it encompasses songs from the entire Beatles catalog. I'll try to describe the show, but it's darn-near impossible to do. If you've seen a Cirque show before, you may know what to expect: aerial acrobatics of all types, scenery that doubles as costumes and props for the performers, and a stage that constantly metamorphosizes with every change of song or mood. It's truly sensory overload, but in a wonderful way. From the lives of four young boys in Liverpool during WWII, to the symbolic loss of John Lennon's mother, to the songs that made The Beatles world-famous, the entire musical career of the band is laid out on the stage and in the air above the audiences' heads, and it is jaw-dropping.

Not every number one song is used, and there are some songs that are a bit obscure for a casual fan, but the sensory delight of each performance makes up for any lack of immediate recognition a moot point. Some of my favorite parts of the show include "I am the Walrus", "Lucy in the Sky (With Diamonds)", and "Octopuses Garden". Again, you have to see it to understand it, but it's worth every penny.

I purchased my ticket online using a discount code through the Ticketmaster website for 40% off. I had previously seen the show from a 5th row floor seat, and I was curious to see it from higher up and compare the view from the two seats. Plus, I felt like I was looking up constantly from my floor seat last year, so I wanted to be able to look OUT or DOWN, instead. I scored seat 8 in the front row of Section 305, eye-level with some of the aerial acts that would be taking place during the show. Total cost for my ticket was $55, and it was still a great deal.

The theater seating is arranged all around the stage area, and there's truly not a bad seat in the house. After seeing the show from both a lower level and an upper level seat, I have to say that I prefer a lower level seat for the audience involvement in the show. Either way, it's a great show.

The online ticket purchasing process required me to go to the LOVE Theater Box Office at least one hour prior to showtime to get my physical ticket, and I'm glad I decided to go the day before the show to pick it up. Not only was there no line at 3:30 p.m. Saturday for my 9:30 Sunday show, but I was able to take a look around at The Beatles shop without being trampled by people exiting the theater after the 7:00 p.m. show. When I got to The Mirage for my Sunday night show, it was around 8:15 p.m. and there was a HUGE line to get tickets for the 9:30 show! I can't even imagine being in that line. So plan ahead and be sure to get your "physical" tickets early.

Seating for the 9:30 p.m. show begins about 15 minutes after the theater is emptied from the 7:00 p.m. show. Be aware that if you arrive late for any performance you may have to wait before you are allowed to enter the theater. No photos are allowed.

Shows are twice nightly, Thursday through Monday (dark Tuesdays and Wednesdays). Call toll-free 1-800-963-9634, or book online: http://www.mgm-mirage.com/showtickets.aspx.

On a scale of 1 to 10, this show is a definite 10. Go see the show at least once, and enjoy every wonderful minute of it.

Edited on 6/16/10: I have now seen the show 3 times - once from each of the 3 levels. While seating at the top level (300 sections) is fine, I think I prefer the lower 200 seats or the upper 100 seats to get a great mix of eye-level performance and not be distracted by the acrobats coming either A) down from the ceiling, or B) up from the floors...but even that is a bit fascinating.

Phantom of the Opera - show review

Phantom of the Opera is a 95-minute production show that is staged at The Venetian Hotel on the north end of the Strip. The show's venue was built specifically for this particular production, and the result makes the experience all the more enjoyable.

I was in row HH, seat 8, which is almost dead-center and far enough back from the stage so that I was able to see the entire stage from top to bottom, all the "box seats" for the "audience" that was part of the production, and also enjoy the chandelier rising and falling throughout the performance. This row is considered the front row of the Parterre section, and to me was a perfect seat for this type of show. I don't think I would've enjoyed being more than 5 rows forward, because I would've missed a lot of the chandelier "action" throughout the show.

I sat next to a really sweet older gentleman, Ed, and his 14-year-old daughter, Darcy, and talked with them quite extensively before the show began. Ed told me that it is customary for theater goers in New York City to introduce themselves to one another before a show, and I really enjoyed talking to both of them. Theater patrons everywhere should introduce themselves to their neighbors before a show!

Prior to booking my ticket, I was warned that the theater can be a bit cold, and I briefly considered bringing a shawl or sweater, but decided not to in the end. I think that the seats closer to the stage might be a bit colder because of all the action and the need to keep the area cooler, but I found the temperature to be perfect for me in my t-shirt, dressy capris and sandals. In addition, there is plenty of leg room between the rows of seats, and the seats themselves are comfortably upholstered and big enough to settle into without feeling too close to your neighbors' elbows. The seats and rows are at such an angle that you don't feel as though you are looking at the back of someone's head, and that's a big deal to someone who's only 5'5".

For the record, there were some people dressed up quite a bit, and there were even a few people dressed in shorts at the other end of the spectrum. I'm planning on coming back to see the show again, and I will be dressing up a bit more because I think the theater calls for it with its beautiful details throughout.

The show is divided into two acts and moves quite seamlessly and effortlessly the entire time. In fact, I couldn't remember what songs had been left out of this production, so I don't think you'll find anything lacking in the whole performance.

The chandelier is truly the production's centerpiece - it goes from being suspended above the audience in four pieces to a wonderful attraction for most of the show to a heart-stopping effect as it crashes to a point just above the audiences' heads.

Anthony Crivello stars in the role of The Phantom, and his voice is amazing. On the night I attended, Kristi Holden performed the role of Christine and Andrew Ragone performed the role of Raoul, and they were both fantastic. From the stage to the rafters and down to the Phantom's lair, all three led the cast of dozens in a magical journey that was seamless and beautiful. I was surprised by the use of on-stage pyrotechnics, but they were perfectly placed and a great addition to the performance.

Using a promotional e-mail from The Venetian, I purchased my ticket through a 40% off sale and spent a total of $60 for my seat. It was easily worth twice that, and I look forward to taking advantage of one of the many similar deals that are available through The Venetian's website in the future.

The show is presented at 7:00 p.m. nightly except on Sunday, when the theater is dark. In addition to the 7:00 p.m. show, there are additional 9:30 p.m. shows on Mondays and Saturdays. I took advantage of the later Saturday showing to accommodate my busy Vegas schedule for this trip.

A fantastic show in a beautiful theater, I recommend this show for everyone who's seen another version of it anywhere. It is wonderfully presented and a great performance. It's truly a gem on the Las Vegas Strip.

On a scale of 1 to 10, I give the production and my experience at The Venetian's Phantom Theater a 9.5. Simply wonderful!