T-Minus 2 Weeks. Maybe.

The winter of my discombobulation continues.

Our old friend COVID is spiking across the country. The Bay Area including SF has basically re-imposed the full shutdown again, at least until after Xmas. There's no ban on travel, yet, but it's "discouraged". I don't think legally they can ban air travel unless cases go through the roof, and in an emergency I could always drive anyway, so now the only roadblock (probably) to me being able to go to Vegas is the NV Gov. He could re-impose a lockdown like March - probably unlikely. To update a previous post, I'd probably put my go/no go odds now at 70% go.

But enough worry for one post. Assuming I'm able to go and do a Thanksgiving-level trip, I think I have a good one lined up. 3 nights Cosmo in a Terrace Studio, 3 nights Bellagio in a Resort Tower King still locked in. Moving resorts not ideal but I'll just do mobile check-in with the MGM app and avoid the check-in lines, I doubt there's an upgrade available for the room I'm in. If I can just drop the bag at Bellagio's bell desk on check-in day it should be minimal trouble. Both rooms are suitably posh for an end of year trip and this will finally tick Bellagio off my list of stayed resorts.

I'm imagining bars and restos will be in Thanksgiving-style 25% capacity, which if T-giving was any indication will be fine. I had no real trouble getting seated anywhere bar-wise with a couple exceptions. I don't imagine it will be any too much busier for the traditionally mellow Xmas week. I have made food rezzies, for every night in town to CYA, will make more for lunches if the "must have a reservation" thing is still in effect.

The money should be fine, I got part one of my bonus bump yesterday, and will get the other, bigger one on the next check which is right on time. As it stands I should have at least $5200 in hand for the cash part of the trip. That's $900/day for the 5 full days and $700 for the slightly shorter first day, cash spend. Fine. Then will have a shit ton of discounts and avenues of savings for eat/drink, so I shouldn't have to bang the CC too hard except when I want to for points purposes. If for some reason I do need the Mlife CC I'll still have $4K avail there too so no spending worries.

Working on a Vegas playlist tonight and the next couple weekends, some of the old Xmas standards that I always include then some other batch of tunes. Don't think a theme is going to happen which is fine. I've tried to force a "virus" theme a couple times this year and failed, I really don't want to be reminded of the damn thing while I'm there.

Other than that I'm pretty much set. Ready to jump on BART on that Sunday morning, get to OAK and get the show on the road. It's been a long, strange, stressful Vegas road this year but if this ends up being a 4-trip year it will be amazing. Knock wood it'll happen.