Ok, so this is my first time here in Las Vegas. And although this hotel is amazing, getting here was a bit more effort than I expected.

My plan ride was short and amazingly quiet (more on that later), and we arrived after what seemed no time at all. No time at all that is compared to how long I had to wait at baggage claim for my backpack. The plane ride from pdx to las took 1 hour and 59 minutes. It took the baggage workers 1 hour and 19 minutes to get me my backpack! Yes ladies and gentleman, it only took half an hour longer to fly here than it did to get my bags.

After that I proceeded to try to get a cab. This also was much more of an adventure than I expected. After exiting the baggage area I was directed into a line that had a sign labeled “Cabs”. After walking 150 feet or so in this line the area opened up and I was then ushered into a staging area that could not possibly have been shorter than the line to get on Magic Mountain at Disneyland. Actually this line moved pretty quickly. This, i am sure, was a direct result of the seemingly unending supply of cabs. They have 20 slots for cabs to park. The all pull in and load up, then pull out. No sooner have they pulled out but the 20 slots are filled up again. It was pretty amazing.

My cabbie was fun and I had a good ride over. The line to check in here at the Venetian was not bad and I quickly found myself in my room.

All and all the trip here was very nice. I wouldn’t really have a bad thing to say if I had not had to check my backpack. This stupid ban on more than 3oz liquid has got to stop. I dare say its ridiculous.