Started 2025 with a trip to Las Vegas
Porter now has direct flights from Ottawa to Vegas. If you are new to my blog I used to live in Vancouver and flew to Vegas often because it was only a 2 hour flight. I have lived in Ottawa for 2 years now we don’t have very many direct flights from here so I am always excited when we get a direct flight. Flair no longer operates out of Ottawa they previously had a direct Vegas flight. You can read about that here I flew Canada’s worst airline and had a great experience. My flight was on New Years day at 6pm. I had planned to leave home at 3, but I didn’t leave until after 4. I know the US terminal in YOW doesn’t have any vegan food except an express TimHortons that doesn’t even have bagels. I brought some snacks with me but I probably should have eaten more before I left.
I knew from my past experience on Porter that my carryon doesn’t fit in the bin on Porter flights read about that here I flew from Ottawa to Toronto city on Porter. I had booked the upgraded package because it was one of the only seats left on the plane. This included luggage and an upgraded seat. I prefer to travel with luggage because I like to put my suitcase against the door when I travel. Also at this time of year I need to pack all my winter gear just to get from my apartment to the Uber without falling. I was at the airport around 3:40 but by the time I changed out of my boots and went to the check in desk they were worried it was past the check in luggage time. They called etc and warned me my luggage might not make the plane. I knew from my AirTag my luggage did make the plane but to avoid any issues in the future Porter is more strict about luggage cut off times than I have experienced other airlines. For Porter 1 hour and fifteen minutes is the cutoff.
I went through security and border control. There seemed to be a note on my file that I had lost my passport but I haven’t and had the original with me. It took them a little time to look into it but they eventually just let me go. One of the things I like about Ottawa airport is it is easy to find the water fountains. I got these flat water bottles from kickstarter that ended up also being a great phone stand on the plane. I did get a lot of comments about it looking like a flask even my uber driver asked me if I was drinking alcohol. I don’t drink so it’s only water in there. I had a few minutes before boarding enough time to go to the bathroom and fill up my water bottle and to see that the Tim Hortons was closed. Boarding was fast. We then sat on the plane for a long time something to do with paperwork. They made up a lot of the time in flight but we were still a bit delayed. I had an upgraded seat on the plane which is really only more leg room. Porter only has two seats per row which is nice. The person beside me had come from Montreal because the flight was much cheaper from Ottawa. I did end up paying a little more because of the flight dates was around $300 each way but there were flights available on different days for $150.
Porter includes wifi on the flight. I thought I would be productive on the plane but I wasn’t. The bathroom was great. I had to go behind the curtain where the flight attendants are but once you get in bathroom is a good size. The flight was over quickly. I did ask if they had vegan food to purchase they didn’t have the noodle bowl I wanted but they had a different bowl that wasn’t appealing to me. I kept thinking I would get something to eat at the airport like last time.
I always stay at South Point which is off strip but I like it there and I have a host so my room was free. You can read about the hotel in this blog Going to Las Vegas solo for the first time They have a shuttle bus I suspected that I wouldn’t be able to make the last bus so I had planned on taking an uber. I didn’t have to rush for the bus. The terminal porter lands in is a bit confusing you take a tram to another terminal and then there are arrows pointing to where you go for luggage. They had announced on the plane it was carousel 45. I guess I was one of the first people to get there and there was no carosoul 45 nothing on the signs for Porter and there wasn’t anyone to ask. I was wondering if I had somehow ended up on the wrong tram and now I was past the secure zone wasn’t really sure what to do. I found a group that looked as lost me I asked if they were on the same flight they were so I followed them. One of them found someone in an office to ask and they said the tv doesn’t update until the luggage comes and it should be carosoul 25. The luggage came after that. Once I got my luggage I went to see where the uber pickup section was and then went to see if I could find food. It was 10pm at this time and everything was closed. I decided to go to the hotel I looked at uber prices and my aeroplan credit card wasn’t working it was $37 to get to the hotel and the taxi stand was closer so I took a taxi it ended up being the same price.
I checked into the hotel and was really glad I have a few different credit cards because I was having issues with two of them. It was now 11pm in Vegas and 2am in Ottawa. I just wanted some food the only thing that was quick and open was steak and shake. I knew they don’t have vegan options on the menu but I asked if they still had a vegetable sandwich I had a long time ago when I was vegetarian. They said they had a melt I asked for it without cheese. It was a really good sandwich and was really good after a long day of travel. I played a couple of slot machines on my way to the restaurant but it was time to go to my room shower and go to bed.
You can see a room tour from a previous trip here Room Tour South Point Hotel Vegas
The nice thing about solo travel is I don’t have to make any plans. The next day I Ubered breakfast. If you don’t know me I will plan trips around just what vegan food I get and I study menus all the time. I ordered a vegan crab Benedict and because I can’t just order one thing got the chillaquillas. When I was vegetarian and visited Mexico frequently chillaquillas was one of my favourite breakfasts. This was the first time I saw a vegan version on a menu. The food was delicious but I think it wasn’t good for delivery would be nice to visit the restaurant and eat it hot. My leftovers were good cold though.
It was now the afternoon and if I wanted to go shopping it was time for me to leave my room. I had already gone down before I got my breakfast and made a haircut appointment at the next day. Any spa service gets you use of the spa the day of your appointment so I knew I would be spending that day in the hotel.
I still intend to do lots of traveling the destinations or mode of transportation might change. I may still travel by cruise ship. You can read about the cruise I took in the summer here NCL cruise from Vancouver to Alaska
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