We're booked!

What's with this first person subject plural bullshit that's going round here? I'll tell you what it is. I'm going to LV with Kate, the insti-kater because, well... I'm pretty sure at some point years ago we made some pact to not go to parks without each other and this is what a good chunk of this roadtrip will be about (post wedding!)

She's a classy kinda dame, in as much as someone who I've called on formal and informal occasions "freak" for more than a decade (there's also rumors floating on her myspace page that she eats ants for sport, but let's not get into that.) I had no problems with staying in hostels when the cost differential was so large for one person staying in a hostel compared to two people staying in a hotel:
1 person per night: hostel--$25, hotel $100 = $75 in savings

2 person per night: hostel--$50/2, hotel $100/2 = $50 in savings

but $25 extra is worth is for a private (clean) room with a hot shower. Instead, we are staying at the Las Vegas Hilton, on average $71 a night for the first three nights of the trip. I didn't look into the benefits of staying there compared to other hotels-- it's where Dave and Jess are staying. It'll be easier to stay close by to them, and the hotel is off the strip, which means more savings.

The strip. I've heard people say if you are going to do Vegas, you should do it right and stay on the strip. At prices about 3 times as much as a block or two off, it's just not worth it. Having a 5 minute walk to save over $100 a night? Is worth it. I don't plan on being in the hotel for more than a few hours of sleep each day, so why go extravegent? Living in Philly, I know firsthand how much pricing decreases for each block your hotel/parking lot/restaurant is away from independence hall/city hall, for the same experience.

The contiki trip is out too. The message board had postings asking if anyone was going to some New Years Eve party that had a $300 cover charge, with no open bar! I wanted to do the tour because I thought I'd be alone for a week, and some fun would have been nice. Having a group of 50 people from all over the world celebrating the New Year in Vegas sounded like a good idea, moreso than hanging out at some house in Philadelphia throwing down beers and shots. With a large group theres no need to go to some ridiculous elite club. Get everyone to chip in $20 and get a penthouse for the night. DONE. I figured this portion of the trip would be the first to go, it was more wishful thinking that I'd have some kick-ass tour group just like the one I had in Egypt.