Ballin' on a Budget (27 Hours in Vegas)

In January 2019, money started to get tight for Kate & I.  With all of the rainouts & after handing over that big check to Eric, we were definitely "balling on a budget."  

That same month, my good buddy, Chase, was getting married- in Vegas.  I simply couldn't turn down the invitation.  He was too great of a friend & I had already asked him to be one of my groomsmen in my wedding.  I also knew that I didn't want to go solo, that Kate needed to go with me.

"Look, we could use a break here," I told her.  "We've been busting our asses & we only really need to go for one night.  And, I have points on Southwest for a free flight, so that's covered."

She agreed & we looked into it.  I found a reasonably priced Best Western with continental breakfast & a free hotel shuttle.  Of course- B-Dubb was still ingrained in my travel DNA.

But, how was Kate gonna get there?  Flights to LAS were pricey that weekend.  

The Saturday of his wedding, the Pacquiao/Broner fight was going on at the MGM Grand & the Pittsburgh Penguins were in town to face the Golden Knights at T-Mobile Arena, along with all of the other concerts & shows.  I get it.  I've been to Sin City in January, it's one of the better times to go there.  The weather is about as good as it gets & the days are short.  More time to enjoy all those neon lights.

As luck would have it, a few weeks before, Kate & I overheard one of our neighbor vendors at Poway talk about a cheap bus he took up to see his girlfriend at UCLA.

"It was only like $6 to get up there.  I think the company is out of Germany & they're trying to get people to ride it," Ari said.  He sold Greek Olive Oil & Garlic in jars.  "I think you can take it to Vegas for like $10."

That was it!   Kate looked it up- the FLIX Bus had three trips daily from San Diego to Las Vegas that took about six hours.  She booked a round trip (returning Sunday afternoon) for around $20!  I booked the same bus ride home, leaving Las Vegas Sunday at 9:30am.  It was about $10.  We had booked transportion for two roundtrip to Vegas for under $40!  I felt like we had somehow time-traveled. 

The Saturday morning of the wedding, I dropped Kate off in Mission Valley at one of the hotel stops.

"I get in around 2pm," she said.  "I'll walk over to Madame Tussauds & then meet you at the mini golf after the ceremony."

"Sounds good.  I'll shuttle to the hotel, check us in & then I'm gonna bus over to the Pinball Hall of Fame," I said.  "I should have just enough time to make it to the wedding at 1:30.  My flight gets in a 10:45."

Only in Vegas, can you make plans like that.  And, it was great.  The pinball place was worht the bus fare & Chase's wedding ceremony in a ballroom at Manadalay Bay was wonderful & classy.  

Kate & I both enjoyed our solo adventures before we met up at the mini golf course on the Strip.  She loved the wax museum & showed me plenty of photos as well drank some white wine from her backpack.

"The reception is at 5, back at Mandalay Bay, so we won't have time to go back to the hotel first," I said.

"That's cool.  I'll just change into my dress at one of the casinos on the way," Kate said.

"Perfect.  Chase told me not to be late.  It's an open bar & dinner buffet," I said.

After golf, we hopped on the city bus that went down the Strip.  It was standing room only on the bus, the traffic moved at a crawl, but I loved every minute of it.  We took the tram from Excalibur to Mandalay Bay & got there in plenty of time to congratulate Chase & Marilyn.

"I'm so glad you guys could make it.  I know how busy you guys are with Mad Munch & the shop & everything," Chase said.  "It wouldn't be the same without you guys.  I hope you guys have a great time."

"We wouldn't miss it, buddy."

The seafood & prime rib buffet was unbelievable & top shelf cocktails were going down.  Kate & I made some fast friends there & we all made our way to see a rock cover band at one of the casinos.             

The clock radio alarm clock went off way too early the next morning.  We barely had time to shower, pack up, grab a bite downstairs & catch an Uber to the Flix Bus stop back on the Strip.   

"We don't wanna be late for the bus," Kate explained.  "On the way here, the driver left someone in San Bernandino who got out to have a smoke.  He was chasing the bus, but she just kept going!"

We got there plenty early, with a few other people standing around, smoking cigarettes waiting for the bus.  The big green charter coach motored up & into the parking lot about 20 minutes late.  

No worries, I thought.  The hardest part was getting to the stop & we had no plans for the rest of the day & had Monday off.

The driver got out & lit up a smoke.  "We start boarding in five minutes," she said.

"That's the driver I had on the way here," Kate whispered to me.

After she stomped out her smoke on the asphault, people lined up at the door to start boarding.  She began taking role call, checking off names with a pen & a clipboard.  

"Kate Uhle," my fiance said when she reached the front of the line.  

"Go ahead," the driver said & she got on.  I gave my name next.

"Zach...Heintz?" she asked & flipped through her stack of papers.  "I don't see it, but go ahead."

I got on the bus, put my carry-on in the overhead bin & grabbed a seat in the back next to Kate.  The seats was comfortable & spacious, more like an Amtrak train than a Southwest plane.

Everyone got on & there were a few open seats when the bus rumbled to life.  And, then it coughed & the motor died.  The driver stood up & looked at her clipboard.  

"A few of you aren't on my list, so you'll have to vacate the bus," she announced & called out a few names, before saying mine.

"What are talking about?  I booked my ticket 2 weeks ago!"  I pleaded with driver to let me stay on but it didn't get us anywhere.  

"Call FLIX bus.  I don't deal with reservations," she repeated over & over to me.  So, I called their 1-800 number & let someone have it on the other end after I was put on hold for over 20 minutes.

"I'm really sorry, sir, but you'll just have to take the next bus to San Diego," the lady on the phone said.

"What time does that leave?"

"5:30 tonight."

"What?  I already checked out of my hotel.  What the hell am I supposed to do for the next 8 hours?"

She couldn't answer that, of course.  But, we were on the Strip in Vegas.  So much for ballin' on a budget!

Disgusted, Kate & I went over to Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville across the way & signed up for their Sunday "Bottomless Mimosas."  We needed the champayne & juice to cool our jets.  

With a powerful buzz, we trudged off the Strip to Stage Door Casino a dive bar that we knew would be showing the NFC Championship Game.  The LA Rams won in New Orleans on a long buzzer beater field goal as we finished up our $2 Michelob Ultras & $1 Hot Dogs.  

From there, we staggered with backpacks in tow back to the FLIX Bus stop.  This time it was already there, early, waiting for us.  Both of our names were on the list & we boarded with no issues.  I slept most of the ride home, waking up for the lone stop somewhere in the middle of nowhere at some sort of candy store/truck stop that lit up the night sky like a Roman candle.

Kate & I grabbed some snacks & drinks & I dozed off back in my seat.  We arrived at Old Town Transit Center well after midnight & called an Uber after Kate ran off & threw up in the bushes.

"I'll never take a FLIX Bus ever again," she said on the ride home to OB.  

"Yeah, same here," I said.  "For $10, I think I actually got less than my money's worth."