Re: Planes, Trains & Automobiles.......& Helicopter....& Airboat - A month in Nth Ame
Big day today!
Our first visit to Vegas was 1998 - it wasn't a place we wanted to be. We wanted to go to Aspen however, it was Christmas, the minimum stay was 7 nights and we simply didn't have the coin. Instead the travel agent talked us into going to Vegas for three nights. One of the things we did was a tour to the Grand Canyon.......by plane
It was a bad call, I've always regretted not doing the chopper and it's taken me 16 years to correct it!
Since 1998 I've been to Vegas a couple of times for work.....never had an opportunity or brains to plan ahead and book a helicopter tour however, this trip - I will right that wrong.
I know the best of the GC is the South Rim but we didn't want to spend all day on a taxing tour.....so we settled for the ease of accessing the West rim.
We booked Maverick Helicopters. They seem to have a good reputation and the best choppers for this sort of caper! The tour was their "Dream Catcher Sunset Tour" (who thinks of these names?) it took around 5 hrs door to door.
We had the best time and even though Vegas is practically dead this time of year - they still filled three choppers with 21 paying customers.
The Tip - if you're a AAA (RACQ, etc) member you get a decent discount.
We landed in the Canyon and they popped Champagne and provided nibbles.....really lovely!
The Chopper seats three in the front and four in the rear......swap over for the return journey. I took one for the family and spent the whole time in the back. The view is good in the back so no-one misses out. We stopped in the middle of nowhere on the return journey to re-fuel.....thirsty buggers!
Dinner was at a another favourite - Texas De Brazil
Las Vegas | Texas de Brazil I don't like buffet/smorgasbord set ups and avoid them like the plague.......but I make an exception for this one.
This is a meat lovers paradise.....don't come here if a) you don't eat meat b) you're not hungry
Unique service style - they serve the 16 or so different types/cuts of meat by walking around with large skewers and very large knives.....they carve the meat at your table straight onto your plate.
Each person gets a round coaster...one side is red and the other is green. When you want meat have the green side face up....when you want a rest flip it over and have the red face up. When the servers see green - you will not be disappointed.
The salad bar offers 50+ items including a whole wheel of Parmigiano-Reggiano that you shave yourself.
I've joined a few programmes over the years however, I've never stuck with one. Due to a stay at PH Tokyo in 2011 I got a decent stash of points with Hyatt Passport....actually booked to stay at Andaz in LA and NYC however, was overruled by SWMBO who wanted to stay at the Bel Air and Surrey in NYC.
