Skate America 2021 Returns to Las Vegas

[MacMadame]

One of the lamps in my room doesn’t have a switch,

One of ours is like that. I can turn it on with a light switch on the wall though.

Didn't Ice Network buy out FigureSkatingWorld and froze out all the thousands of members unless they paid $30 per month?

It wasn't Ice Network. It was way before Ice Network was a gleam in USFS's eye. It was a site run by Paul Martini and some other guys. iSkate? I don't remember the name because my reaction to their promo material was

What do you think, guys - any reason I should bring my vaccine card with?

If you are going to do things outside of watching skating and hanging at the Orleans, some places do require it. (I don't remember which ones specifically; I just noticed when I was making a list of things to do on Thurs.)

So we are here. Our room is still 1900s Whorehouse but everything is not only clean but new. So I guess one of the rooms they've refurbished lately. And it has an actual view! I can see the arena and part of the pool arena. I'm happy.

We tried to get reservations for all the restaurants in The Orleans and they were all sold out or only had very late night ones. So we went down to Ondori and were shown right to a table. It was empty! Also, we got to eat "with" Nathan Chen! Okay, they were at another table but they checked in right behind us. Man, he's kind of short. Shorter than he looks on ice where he looks tall.

Also, I had the Lychee Martini and it was to die for.

 

[Theatregirl1122]

Just be patient and try again later (it's an IT issue that is being worked on): https://twitter.com/AnythingGOE/status/1450897557912178712

ETA:

Hopefully the FSU Predictions contests (held in the Kiss & Cry forum) & website will make a return someday.

As of right now, the FSU prediction contest doesn’t have a website to run on because our webmaster isn’t able to maintain it right now. Unfortunately that means we don’t have a way to offer it this year. We would also like to bring it back, but we don’t have the tools right now. I meant to make a post/start a thread but it slipped my mind.

 

[AnnM]

What do you think, guys - any reason I should bring my vaccine card with?

If you plan to do any other activities than watch skating, I'd bring the card itself or a digital copy if your state offers one. I'm going to a concert tomorrow, at a venue inside a hotel, and the venue requires proof of vaccine or a negative test even though the hotel doesn't.

 

[Birdseye]

Anyone know of a reasonable accommodation? My airbnb was just cancelled last minute and I'm having trouble finding anything. Looks like there's a big event in Vegas this weekend sucking all the rooms out of circulation.

 

[Vash01]

What do you think, guys - any reason I should bring my vaccine card with?

I always carry it in my purse and I have a digital photo of it on my phone.

 

[Spikefan]

Anyone know of a reasonable accommodation? My airbnb was just cancelled last minute and I'm having trouble finding anything. Looks like there's a big event in Vegas this weekend sucking all the rooms out of circulation.

Have you contacted Airbnb? I haven’t looked at their terms lately but I thought they were supposed to find you something if the host cancels last minute.

It appears The Luxor has availability.

 

[Karen-W]

Anyone know of a reasonable accommodation? My airbnb was just cancelled last minute and I'm having trouble finding anything. Looks like there's a big event in Vegas this weekend sucking all the rooms out of circulation.

I believe there is a Raiders-Eagles NFL game in LV this weekend.

 

[Spikefan]

There is also the EDC music festival. Several people on my flight had clothing from the 2018 festival. I had to look it up but they fill up the entire speedway for a festival (100,000 people a day according to the website).

 

[JeffClair1979]

Have you contacted Airbnb? I haven’t looked at their terms lately but I thought they were supposed to find you something if the host cancels last minute.

It appears The Luxor has availability.

I’m at Luxor. It’s ok, fairly inexpensive. But there are zero frills in the room- no fridge, microwave, safe or coffee maker. And all of the food here is twice the price than it is back home in western NY. And an Uber to the arena is at least $10 each way. I should have just stayed at Orleans. Live and learn!

 

[Vash01]

I’m at Luxor. It’s ok, fairly inexpensive. But there are zero frills in the room- no fridge, microwave, safe or coffee maker. And all of the food here is twice the price than it is back home in western NY. And an Uber to the arena is at least $10 each way. I should have just stayed at Orleans. Live and learn!

From what I am reading, you probably have a much better room at the Luxor than at the Orleans. I have stayed at Luxor twice in the past. It was pretty good, but it is always convenient to stay where the skating is. I am in a different hotel but it is not very far. I hope to walk to the Orleans during the day, and use Lyft at night.

 

[Birdseye]

Sadly Luxor is pricing at $500 a night like everything else available. Might have to cancel this trip.

 

[JeffClair1979]

From what I am reading, you probably have a much better room at the Luxor than at the Orleans. I have stayed at Luxor twice in the past. It was pretty good, but it is always convenient to stay where the skating is. I am in a different hotel but it is not very far. I hope to walk to the Orleans during the day, and use Lyft at night.

I’m not complaining too much, room is clean and more than adequate. I’m just thrilled to finally be seeing skating live again and attending my 4th skate America

I’m so sorry @Birdseye to hear about your Airbnb issue. I really hope something works out and you can still make it!

 

[Spikefan]

Sadly Luxor is pricing at $500 a night like everything else available. Might have to cancel this trip.

Priceline has a few hotels between 200-300 but likely before resort fees. They likely won’t be great places for that price either. This will really make me rethink Airbnb in the future.

 

[Garden Kitty]

It probably doesn't make a big difference, but I always try to engage the main sponsors at least once on social media during the event to let them know I noticed and appreciate their sponsorship. Sure some of their commercials are cringe-worthy, but it's not easy to get sponsors in this environment and they have a lot of choices for their marketing dollars. I'm glad they're supporting skating and figure it never hurts to let them know.

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

I’m at Luxor. It’s ok, fairly inexpensive. But there are zero frills in the room- no fridge, microwave, safe or coffee maker. And all of the food here is twice the price than it is back home in western NY. And an Uber to the arena is at least $10 each way. I should have just stayed at Orleans. Live and learn!

Yeah Luxer is so so accommodations

 

[SidelineSkater]

Are all of the practice sessions open to ticket holders or only the Friday/Saturday practice sessions?

 

[Vash01]

Yeah Luxer is so so accommodations

The two times I stayed at Luxor, it was beautiful. First time I got a one bedroom suite for the price of a room. It had everything. The second time I had family visiting so I got two rooms. Both were beautiful. Wonderful decorations, very good furniture. I don' t remember if there was a fridge in the rooms but we didn't miss anything. We just went downstairs to small cafes to pick up what we needed.

Hotels that provide fridge, micro, coffee, free breakfast are a chain Usually. The big hotels/resorts usually have a mini fridge and a coffee maker but the Vegas hotels are different. My room at Bellagio a year ago (before the YKW) had a view of the fountains, large bathroom, etc. No coffee maker or fridge. Same with Venetian and Paris. So I wouldn't criticize Luxor for not having those amenities. The hotels in Vegas can't afford to be so so quality either. Too much competition.

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

The two times I stayed at Luxor, it was beautiful. First time I got a one bedroom suite for the price of a room. It had everything. The second time I had family visiting so I got two rooms. Both were beautiful. Wonderful decorations, very good furniture. I don' t remember if there was a fridge in the rooms but we didn't miss anything. We just went downstairs to small cafes to get what we needed.

Hotels that provide fridge, micro, coffee, free breakfast are a chain Usually. The big hotels/resorts usually have a mini fridge and a coffee maker but the Vegas hotels are different. My room at Bellagio a year ago (before the YKW) had a view of the fountains, large bathroom, etc. No coffee maker or fridge. Same with Venetian. So I wouldn't criticize Luxor too much. The hotels in Vegas can't afford to be so so. Too much competition.

I am much more of a Ritz or Waldorf Astoria type of guy But I can do just as well at the red roof inn

I think the rooms in both structures at Luxor are very standard and in need of a major upgrade

If I were to recommend 10 hotels on the Vegas strip Luxor would not be in the top 10

They have a nice outdoor pool area if you are into that

 

[AJ Skatefan]

When I went to SA last time I found my room at the Orleans to be quite decent. Clean and comfortable.

 

[MacMadame]

From what I am reading, you probably have a much better room at the Luxor than at the Orleans.

Our room in the Orleans has a coffee maker.

Are all of the practice sessions open to ticket holders or only the Friday/Saturday practice sessions?

Thursday practices are included

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

On a sidenote, has anyone had any Amber Glenn Realness sightings yet? Please Tweet me or myspace me or send a fax once you have

 

[toddlj]

I've stayed at the Mandalay Bay (across the street from the Luxor) and there are some great bars and restaurants there. Well worth a quick walk over there if you're at the Luxor.

 

[Spikefan]

Some positives for the rooms at The Orleans: spacious, a lot of counter space in the bathroom, a lot of counter/table space everywhere and a wall holder for the hairdryer. I hate how so many upscale hotels just shove the dryer in a bag and then it takes up counter space when I have it out.

I brought a travel electric kettle so had a breakfast of instant oatmeal and instant Starbucks PSL. Very reminiscent of my first trip to SkAm when I was just out of college and poor.

 

[Vash01]

I am much more of a Ritz or Waldorf Astoria type of guy But I can do just as well at the red roof inn

I think the rooms in both structures at Luxor are very standard and in need of a major upgrade

If I were to recommend 10 hotels on the Vegas strip Luxor would not be in the top 10

They have a nice outdoor pool area if you are into that

I am not a billionaire. I have not stayed at at Ritz or Astoria. I am fine with a four star hotel. I do avoid one star but I did stay at Motel 6 during the Winter Olympics in SLC. It was walking distance from the rink and at $110 per night it was a bargain during the Olympics. It actually had a fridge and microwave in the room.

 

[maatTheViking]

I can't find my little cup boiler to make my own tea in the evening .

I'm flying out soon. I don't think I plan to go to practices.

 

[Spikefan]

@maatTheViking the Java place in the food court sells hot water for $1. There is also a coffee maker in the room, take the coffee out of the little holder and just run water through it.

 

[Karen-W]

Ekaterina Kurakova and Daniel Grassl have a cute pic on their IG stories with the Geico Gecko cutout and when I saw it, I thought of this thread, lol.

 

[maatTheViking]

@maatTheViking the Java place in the food court sells hot water for $1. There is also a coffee maker in the room, take the coffee out of the little holder and just run water through it.

The joe water is great. Too late I didn’t pack tea tho haha

I’ve never been able to get water from a coffee maker that didn’t taste like old coffee

 

[jkl]

They are serious about the clear bag policy!

 

[maatTheViking]

How are they about clutches? I got a clutch that’s slightly bigger than the measurements (I don’t know who has that small clutches lol)

I also have a clear plastic bag (just a regular bag not a purse ) as a last resort. Or I’ll walk in with my cellphone in my pocket, assuming they accept Apple Pay