Day 2

We had booked a helicopter trip to the Grand Canyon on day two of our holiday.  We were picked up at 7 oclock outside our hotel by limo.  Whilst waiting for the limo Hayley got stung by a bee.  Well now we know that at least she is not alergic to bee stings.

The limo took us to the airport where we were weighed (boo whoo) before being given a safety talk.  Bob was reasonably ok which was good as we were not allowed to take the wheelchair on the helicpter.  He was able to go right up to the helicopter in the wheelchair though.  The helicopter trip was wonderful  We flew over the Hoover Dam and Lake Mead and past the Sky Walk.  It was truly spectacular.  We were given headsets which gave a commentry along with appropriate music (Indianna Jones theme tune as we dropped into the canyon). We could talk to one another through the headsets and also to the pilot.  Where we set down in the Canyon the Terrain was not too bad so Bob could manage a short walk before we sat down for our picnic breakfast supplied by the pilot.  Time for photos then back to head back to the strip.  The journey down the strip was reall something and this was a wonderful start to our holiday.

The Mirage

I think it's time I continued my blog.  The Mirage is a wonderful hotel and  ideally suited for the disabled.  There is not too much walking around and it is so easy to get to the strip.  (Some hotels have long walks as they are so far set back).  Another plus of the Mirage is that they own the sidewalk (or so I'm told) so you are not pestered by the clicky boys and girls flicking cards at you.

There are plenty of places to eat in the hotel and we had the buffet breakfast most days.  It is really good value for around 14 dollars. Although there was a queue most mornings this was quickly dealt with and we walked down the express line with the wheelchair.  The food was very good quality. There is a Macdonalds opposite the hotel which my boys visited quite a bit.  Also in the hotel is a Starbucks which is handy for a coffee.  Especially on the first day when you wake up so early with jetlag.

The disabled room was very good and had everything we needed (apart from a wedge to keep the door open whilst we pushed Bobs' wheelchair in).  We spent the first day looking around the hotel and some of the other hotels on the strip.  We had a lovely meal at The Cheesecake Factory (based at the back of the forum shops in Caesars Palace.  Good food and good value for money.

We had a flutter on the tables at the Mirage.  Bob likes roulette but the minimum bet was quite high so he went on the roulette machines.  This was actually better for him with the wheelchair and easy for someone to assist him. 

The Mirage and our first day

The check in at The Mirage was very quick and easy.  The hotel lobby is beautiful.  A tropical paradise.  Behind the reception is an enormous fish tank full of goldfish.  We were initially given rooms on three different floors because of the late check in.  Luckily we had been allocated a disabled/access room on the 19th floor with a lovely view of the mountains. the room was perfect, plenty of space and room for the wheelchair, even in the bathroom. We were assured that other rooms would be allocated on this floor the next day for the rest of our party and they were true to their word.  We all had lovely views.  My daughters room looked out over the beautiful swimming pools, the dolphin pool and part ofthe strip.  It was a fabulous view  (room 19128).  We had a quick bite to eat in the hotel deli and went to bed after a long and tiring day.  The beds are the most comfortable that we have ever slept in.

The Never Ending Journey

Early rise at 5am for the taxi to the airport which picked us up at 6 am.  Six of us are off to Vegas  Myself, Bob, my three adult children Ian Mark and Hayley and Hayley's friend Leesa.

On arrival at Manchester airport a Delta English rep met us and directed us to the express check in where they told us that they had reserved the bulk head seats for us if we wanted them as they thought they would be better for Bob.  We took these and the staff assisted Bob to his seat on the plane.  So far so good!.  The plane journey was ok and uneventful.  Bob coped really well.  the bulkhead seats were not much better than the others as there was no room to stretch your legs and it was difficult eating the meal as the tray fitted in the arms of the seat giving less room.  The staff were helpful and friendly and we arrived in Atlanta nine and a half hours later tired but excited about the holiday.

That was the good part of the journey.  The guy that checked our passports was really friendly and chatty (mainly to the two girls of course).  It went downhill from there.  We had to collect our luggage and put it through security again.  A nice porter helped us with this for a generous tip.  Security was a nightmare!  We were split up because of Bob's wheelchair. Bob and I had to go through a different security check to the rest of our party.  I struggled holding all our hand luggage, pasports  Bob's walking stick, both our shoes which had to be removed and Bob's belt whilst they took him away to check him and his wheelchair even trying to make him stand up.  Not a good first impression of the deep South.  A very large lady who worked at the airport kept shouting at everyone.  -Word of warning -if you go to Vegas avoid Atlanta airport!.

After a train ride to the other side of the airport, a quick drink we then boarded another Delta aircraft for another  four and a half hour flight to Vegas.

On arrival we were met by a lovley LIMO driver who gave us champagne and a tour of th Strip before arriving at our hotel The Mirage.  Definately our oasis in the desert.



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Case Overload

Case Overload!
Hair done, toenails nails minxed (in shiny gold for vegas) and cases nearly packed.  I bought new lightweight grey cases from Freeport.  The lightest in the world they said.  Trouble was that they had a large round sticker on saying lightest case in the world on the front of the case..  Packed case took off stickers and they left a large black sticky mark on the cases.  Emailed bags etc to complain about my nice new grey cases with large black sticky marks.  They replied saying this had been a problem but I could return the cases after my holiday but baby wipes may take off the mark.  Don't have a baby but got some baby wipes -mark even worse now.
Bob's OK today but has been off quite a bit .  I think he is worrying about the holiday especially the flight.  Must go and watch Stictly come ballroom now.



 

Problems...

First problem has  been the airline seats.  As we wanted six seats near one another as I may need help with Bob during the flight (is that too much to ask?).  The first seats they gave us were on row 41 at the back of the plane.  As Bob cannot walk when is he is "off" I thought perhaps the plane is loaded from the back so he won't have far to go down the aisle,  Wrong -- the plane is loaded from the front.  We telephoned Delta who have now given us aisle 29 which is over the wing so probably halfway down the plane.  We were hoping for extra legroom for Bob but it looks like this won't happen.  A lot of the seats are reserved.  We were originally told that Delta had taken over our booking because of the wheelchair situation and we assumed that they were sorting out the seats for us.  Wrong again - we probably  should have gone on line to book the seats.  It would have been better if they had made this clear earlier. Anyway everyone we have spoken to at Delta has been very helpful so lets hope the flight goes OK.  Otherwise I will have to bankrupt myself to upgrade Bob and I on the way back.

A good website to check out the plane seats is seatguru.  It shows all the different planes seating plan and comments about each seat.

Suitcases have been bought, travel money ordered and only a few weeks to go.

Not long now...

Not long now...
Only a month to go now.  Suitacases bought to pack all the new clothes  (sadly not a smaller size as I had hoped) and holiday paid for. We panicked a bit when we heard that BAA were thinking of striking and that could mean the airports would close but then realised that Manchester was not one of the ones threatened.  Also we were devatated to find out that Barry Mannilow is not on while we are there  (just like Penn and Teller he is on holiday).How inconvenient.  He must not have heard that we are coming.  We will just have to make do with Cher!

We also want to see the Love show at The Mirage as we have heard such good reviews of it.