Viva Las Vegas!

August 2 - 5, 2008

Our next adventure would be Las Vegas during the hottest time of the year, BC Day long weekend.  It was about 40C there!  However, it was dry heat so after suffering through 95% humidity in Florida, it wasn't as bad as I had feared.  Now this trip was actually booked back in 2007 when I was still single.  To my everlasting shame, this was part of the "limited time, one time special low price vacation package" I bought over the phone which came with a timeshare presentation.  Yes I bought the timeshare too.  :(

Megan didn't go to the Florida trip because she is going back to China in Oct and using up all her vacation,  so I didn't think she could go.  Plus the trip is in June and I didn't think I could convince her to go after just knowing her for 3 months.

For the Vegas portion, we stayed at the Sahara.  From Expedia, it said it was all renovated with new towers. Well unfortunately given that this is part of a timeshare package where the marketing company is trying to make extra $$, we stayed in one of the unrenovated rooms.  As well the hotel's is advertising $30/night on Expedia, so you obviously can't expect much.  I think I would probably have been happier to stay at a Holiday Inn instead.

The actual trip is 4 days, 3 nights while we only had 2 nights hotel.  So we decided to spend the first night @ Grand Canyon and catch the sunset and sunrise there.  Unfortunately we didn't realize just far the Grand Canyon park camp ground is from Las Vegas and ended up missing the sunset.  It was after 11PM by the time we arrived at the camp ground, though we did get in for free. :)  We slept in the back of the SUV which was pretty uncomfortable.  We did got up early in the morning to enjoy the sunrise and then started the long driving journey back.  I have to hand it to Megan on her driving stamina!

Cost: ?? hard to say given it is part of a package.

Below you will find the only good photo we took of Sahara.

Below are some pictures from the Seafood Buffet @ RIO

Finally sunrise at the Grand Canyon

Our First Adventure @ Wild Flowers B&B

March 21 - 23, 2008

As we are going to quite a few resorts this year (5 in total!), I got permission from Megan to write and document our adventures together. It will mostly travel related, reviewing the resorts we stayed at but will probably include some non-travel events as well. Hopefully people will find it interesting and useful. Given how obsessive I can be, this blog will start from our first adventure together, Wildflowers B&B on Sunshine Coast.

Easter long weekend was our first long weekend together and I wanted to surprised Megan by going somewhere a bit secluded and romantic and just the two of us alone. Luckily for me, my massage therapist suggested Sunshine Coast B&B as a good long weekend getaway and recommended Wildflowers B&B which was recommended to her by her friend. Now, Megan needs some convincing since she’s not sure how fun a long weekend on Sunshine Coast during April would be since there isn’t much there. Well suffice to say she was very happy we went!

The B&B is past Sechelt in a more rural area. We missed the entrance almost every time while driving on the highway and this was before we had our current GPS. The B&B itself is very nice. There are two units that are located away from the owner’s main house. Each unit is fairly large with a very nice bed and spa bathroom. The room also has a screen door that opens directly to a wooden patio and the backyard which is large with a nice pond and creek with few lovely geese around. There is also an outdoor hot tub which we  didn't have time to use.
Being a B&B, we are obviously served with breakfast and the breakfasts were excellent! Each morning’s breakfast were different, very nicely laid out with large portions and very delicious! There is also 1 complimentary bottle of wine for each unit. If you are a wine lover,you can enjoy the wine while in the hot tub under the stars or in your own private Jacquzzi!

The cost is about $230/night. Their website is Wild Flowers B&B

PS - We also ended up going to this Chinese buffet place for lunch and dinner everyday during our stay.  It was so cheap and the food was decent!