Poor mobile phone camera shot from the Cosmopolitan gives the idea
Overall Grades
JFK Terminal 2: C+
Delta: B+
Hertz: A-
Cosmopolitan: B+
Wicked Spoon: D
VIP for Free LV: B-
Swake: D
Hakkasan: B-
Drais Nightclub: A
Earl of Sandwich: B-
Virgin America: A-
Traffic to JFK
Lovely as always – as in broken cars, potholes, gridlock and sunny skies.
JFK Terminal 2
Locating this mini-DL terminal from the AirTrain is a little strange given the lack of skywalks, etc. TSA worked efficiently but security was 100% rape scanners w/ courtesy radiation blast. There were a couple restaurants. Did a quick check using beer as barometer. The kiosk selling 12oz. bottles
ran around $9. The pint at the place to the far right as you come through security (BKLYN Beer Garden (if you are located in a cramped sealed windowed airport terminal with septic character – can you sleep at night after calling yourself a “beer garden”? I guess the phrase “beer garden” is going to become the new blank scrabble tile)) ranged from $9-$19 per the tender. Better pricing at Due Amici ($7+) located next to BKLYN Beer Garden. All ordering done via tablet computers and credit card only. If I order and self-pay, what am I tipping for? The 8 steps it took to bring it from a counter to a table without any personal touch?
Delta 1629 JFK-LAS, 9/26
Flight crew was excellent. There was an Asian flight attendant who was one of the best flight attendants I’ve encountered in the skies. It was announced several times that we’d arrive an hour or so early into LAS. Upon getting close, thunderstorms threw a groundstop into the equation and the plane was running out of fuel from all the circling. In the end, we wasted a lot of time up in the air waiting for the storms to clear but thankfully dropped into LAS. Was looking for a moment that we’d have to re-route elsewhere. Why do flight crews tell people they will get in early? Better to announce that upon landing. Any case, this flight gave me a good impression of Delta after having not flown DL for quite some time.
Hertz
SMS with selected car & parking spot, name in lights, keys in car, ready to roll. Always a great experience. Downside this time was a Ford Fiesta was the whip. But, given the short one-way, one-day ride it was needed for — I wasn’t going to swap out. It bucked at random intervals, had essentially no power whatsoever and was really just not a good car. Terrible finish on the interior with thin plastic doorhandles and so forth. I would never recommend buying a Ford Festiva. Return to the Cosmopolitan (park on the lowest level of garage in Hertz spaces, and return keys to Hertz desk which is now located (at present), around the corner from the East Elevator bank on the main lobby level. Seamless pickup, seamless return.
The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas
Second-time staying here. Wasn’t able to get a complementary upgrade this time around – but no matter – the room was fine. Did ensure I got a north-facing room (hence view of northern Strip & Bellagio fountain next door) on a high-floor which makes a difference. The service of the hotel in general tries to be top-shelf but just isn’t. Solid, but not opulent. More energetic than cool, more youthful than refined. Does that make sense? Anyways, I think one of the best properties to stay at for certain criteria but do your research to score a good rate.
Housekeeping missed a beat one day, despite a special call and housekeeping ticket created, but the front desk worked it out and made amends. Props there — they did try to make things right.
Pools were well run and the complementary towel service was as anticipated. Bamboo Pool is on the 14th Floor of the West Tower and is a little more calm/low-key than the Boulevard Pool which is located off the East Tower on the 4th floor. Both have jacuzzi pools. Both have regular pools. Both have nice sunbeds, etc. The big jug of complimentary ice water at the bar of the Bamboo Pool was a nice touch, especially given the over-priced and low quality of frozen drinks ($17!?!). Boulevard is bigger and brings a little more electricity while Bamboo brings more relaxation. I think you go to the pool in your tower. If you are in the west tower, the Bamboo tower is much more convenient, and vice versa.
The Wicked Spoon @ The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas
This is the all-you-can eat upscale/fine-dining buffet, or whatever you want to call it. Quick to the point – it is not good. Visited for a Monday lunch and it was $27pp. It is a $12.95 buffet parading as upscale. Do you like slab bacon and pork belly at luke-warm temperatures so the fat becomes a chewy mess? How about “tandoori” chicken that sits under a heat lamp and makes one believe that “tandoori” means “dried”. You want some rubbery-rice sushi with funky-smelling tuna? Why does the ginger ale taste funny — is it cleaning chemicals? Something in the water? I don’t know. Basically the food was mid-grade (at best) fare that sat infinitely under heat lamps ensuring that it was low-grade by the time you eat it. The waitstaff (or whatever you want to call the plate snatchers & beverage servers) was excellent. Dessert was slightly better than the rest of the food but that isn’t saying much. Whereas the Wicked Spoon was something to talk about several years ago, it is a shifty, low-grade overpriced calorie-fest. Not worth the $27 at all. Don’t know what happens at dinner but based on brunch, I can say it should be avoided (unless you really like Hometown Buffet and get it comped…)
www.VipForFreeLV.com
I thought I might as well try one of these highly acclaimed guestlist operations. Didn’t use them for the most part because the options were not appealing, however, I made it known that I would like to go to Encore Beach Club for the 28th. Received an SMS quite early on the 28th (4AM) that I was on the “Staff Guestlist” for EBC. No cover, show up by 3, so on and so forth. Showed up only to be told by EBC staff that the guestlist closed at 1pm. I showed them the SMS (as instructed) and they said they had no idea where it came from or what VIP for Free Las Vegas is talking about. I immediately texted back to www.VipForFreeLV.com to get clarification and after a little back and forth was completely ignored. Worthless waste of time and disappointed in them leaving me stranded. Have heard good things about //www.lasvegasguestlist.com and //www.freevegasclubpasses.com, so maybe good to jump on those as well.
Swake / Las Vegas Promoter
Another guest-list/promoter company that promises you the heavens. They were the worst of the ones I tried. Whereas VIP for Free was at least giving out offers and options for guys-only groups, Swake immediately scoffed at helping at anyone with less than a 1:1 ratio and otherwise could only do bottle-service nonsense. Totally worthless outfit – might as well go with the others listed above or get an individual promoter who isn’t hiding behind nonsense. They advertise the myth that if you are not in a 1:1 or better ratio, that you have no hope at a guestlist when this is just untrue. I think they’d be fine to use if you are a female-only group or a mix, but if you are guys-only, don’t bother — they won’t help you.
Hakkasan @ MGM, Las Vegas
Got free entry through a connection for the Sunday night show with Sunnery James & Ryan Marciano thus decided to check it out. Only the Main Room & Mezzanine on Levels 4 & 5 were open. Sunnery James & Ryan Marciano put on a good set, and music levels and all were good. However, Dance floor a bit overpacked for my tastes. Crowd a little rough around the edges, which is mostly due to Sunday night I’m sure. Tables nicely dabbled throughout. Overall an okay spot – nothing great though.
Drai’s Nightclub Las Vegas
Excellent club. Went to see Arty and everything worked as anticipated. Bought pre-sale tickets through the Drai’s website. Printed them out and walked right in without any waiting. It was cheaper to do it this way vs. WantTickets due to the service fee being a flat fee (for multiple tickets) on the Drais site vs being per ticket on the WantTickets site. Sounds, lighting, fog cannons, outside pool area, bathroom cleanliness & service, etc were all excellent. Of all the clubs I’ve been to in Las Vegas (XS, Marquee, Hakkasan, etc.), I think this was the best experience.
Earl of Sandwich, Miracle Mile / Planet Hollywood / Las Vegas Strip
I still find this to be an over-rated restaurant. You have to wait quite a long time to get your food and the food is okay. The chicken is quite questionable, and I would avoid that altogether (which hampers your options). $7 or so for a small sandwich of average quaolty with a long wait makes this a spot I just can’t get high on. I think the problem is quick, quality food options are very limited on the Strip. It isn’t a bad place, but just don’t expect much.
Virgin America
Here is the thing with VX – they almost have everything down. The soft-purple/pink hues of lighting upon entry, the amiable flight attendants, the ease of check-in and so forth — all on point. What really separated them from the legacy carriers was when I made a mistake at purchase and we were able to resolve it all a week later with very little stress incurred. They really went above and beyond. Where they fell flat was on the on-board service and the entertainment system. The IFE (in-flight entertainment) system allows you to purchase/request drinks. Soft-drinks and water are free, and you order these from there, and can also order for other seats. Ordered an apple juice for me and a coffee for my friend. The apple juice came, but the coffee was not to be found, despite the order for coffee being marked complete. My friend then ordered two waters — one for each of us. The FA dropped off one water and marked the full order complete. I then ordered two waters and the same happened. It seemed as though the orders were being filled with very little care. My suggestion would be for all orders to be batched together in 20 minute increments as to not make the FA’s life miserable. They could group everything together and pass out in intervals.
The other issue with VX, besides that flaky drink ordering mechanisms, were the $7 fees to watch a movie on the IFE. I understand paying this much for a theatre experience. Sitting in an airplane with engine cacophony biting through the earbuds is not an overly enjoyable experience and it seems they should make the movies complementary, or, if they really want to charge, how about offer an all you can watch package for $7. Can’t say how many time I’ve started movies on planes only to switch soon thereafter – $7/hit is just not a friendly gesture. I know, I know, airlines need to make money and all that, but the IFE system is there already and I just think $7 for a bad viewing experience is a little much.
So, in conclusion, Virgin America is an airline I am definitely open to in the future. I was very grateful for their customer service in ironing out my ticket kink I had. They could’ve beat me senseless but they restrained and I will look to use them again when able.
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