Some friends who have a time-share at the Flamingo Hilton in Las Vegas asked me if I would like a free hotel room for a week in January, 2000.  Not one to pass up free gifts with no strings attached, I jumped at the opportunity!  Las Vegas in January isn't exactly tropical, but the added bonus was the Consumer Electronics Show (CES).  For a confirmed gadget freak such as myself, CES is pretty close to nirvana!

The Horizon Air flight from Victoria to SeaTac was a direct flight. Last time I flew this route, we stopped in Port Angeles to clear US Customs. The flight from SeaTac to Las Vegas only took one hour and 48 minutes instead of two hours and 15 minutes, since we had a tail wind. Lunch on Alaska Airlines consisted of a small cold chicken Caesar salad made with lettuce. Only adequate. I ate the breakfast bar I saved from the Horizon flight to fill me up. They do serve Seattle's Best coffee - a nice way to end the meal.  This is the first time I have flown with Alaska Airlines - they appear to be a discount airline.  I'm spoiled with the superb service from my preferred airline: Canadian Airlines...perhaps that's why they had such financial problems, and are now part of Air Canada.

The airport was as I remember it - decorative palm trees, moving sidewalks, high ceilings, sandstone columns, grand spaces...and of course, slot machines!

After arriving at Las Vegas airport, I have to take a shuttle to the Alamo car rental office. There are no signs from the car rental companies directing arriving passengers to the  shuttle bus area. If you are renting a car at the Las Vegas airport, and your car rental company doesn't have a booth in the airport (most don't), please be aware of the shuttle service.

 I checked in to the  Flamingo Hilton Vacation Club, and find some pretty impressive and spacious suites. My friends have two suites reserved.  Their one bedroom has a dining area, full kitchen, washer/dryer. My bachelor unit has a kitchen nook, and is very roomy. Both units have Jacuzzi tubs, as well as showers, and all the comforts of home.  As stated previously, this is a timeshare.  It is located behind the main Flamingo Hilton hotel complex, and is completely sold out. If you are interested in timeshare property, Hilton is building another Vacation Club at the Las Vegas Hilton - their second property in Las Vegas.  Enquire at the sales desk at either hotel.

When I checked in at the Alaska counter for my departure flight, the woman booked me on the 4:30pm flight, instead of the 6:30pm flight. So I get home much earlier than planned, since she also booked me on an earlier Horizon
flight (Vancouver to Victoria). Good thing I have my car waiting for me at Victoria Airport.

Alaska Airlines served the same dreadful Caesar salad on the Las Vegas to SeaTac flight! I found a slip of paper with Psalm 107:1 inside the meal container. Have they considered their non-Christian (or non-believing) passengers in this decision to include religious material in their food trays? I think not.

Here I am waiting at gate S16 at SeaTac airport. It's still cold in this airport, and my  only entertainment is a bunch of Russians waiting for an 8:30pm Aeroflot flight to Moscow. Cranky kids, old folks, and everything in-between. They all look pretty affluent...but I suppose these would be the only ones with enough money to fly to the USA.  The duty-free shop opens for them, and they seem to be buying just about everything to take back with them!