A Pittsburgh couple found themselves unexpectedly immersed in Formula One mania during their first trip to Las Vegas, unaware that their visit coincided with the Las Vegas Grand Prix.
“I had no idea what F1 was,” said Nikki Wheeler while riding the tram between Bellagio and Park MGM on Saturday night. “I was like, ‘What’s an F1? Did they say FB?’ I know it’s the little cars, right?”
The Wheelers, along with their Morkie, Masi—a crossbreed of a Yorkshire terrier and a Maltese—drove to Las Vegas in a rental car for a three-day stay. They checked into New York-New York, not knowing about the disruptions the F1 race would bring to the Strip.
An Unexpected Encounter with F1
The trip was supposed to be a simple getaway. The Wheelers planned to spend Friday through Tuesday in the city and fly back Tuesday night. Instead, they found themselves navigating a Las Vegas transformed by the Grand Prix.
Nikki, unfamiliar with the high-speed open-cockpit cars, described them as “low to the ground” and “little.” The cars, which can reach speeds up to 233 mph, were unlike anything she had expected.
Travel Troubles and Sightseeing
Their road trip wasn’t without complications. The couple faced delays due to car trouble, with Nikki explaining, “I think the rental company gave us a lemon. We got a flat tire and had to go a couple of hours out of our way.”
Once in Las Vegas, they explored the city on foot with Masi, who rode in a clear backpack on Larry’s shoulder and occasionally walked on a leash. Fans they encountered admired the dog and stopped to give her attention.
“This is our first trip to Las Vegas, and it’s Masi’s first road trip,” Nikki shared.
A Room Without a View
Larry had hoped to catch some of the race from their hotel room but was disappointed to discover their window faced the New York-New York roller coaster rather than the track.
“Maybe we’ll watch it on TV,” he said. “Our TV is about as big as the tram door.”
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Navigating the Strip’s Price Hikes
The Wheelers planned to visit a cousin who lives in Las Vegas and explore the city on Segways. However, they quickly realized the event had driven up prices.
“He told us everything is going to be a little more expensive with the race,” Nikki said. Although they had won $100 in free casino play and $200 in food credits through an MGM app, Nikki noted that “the $200 credit won’t go too far” with steaks priced at $150 in some restaurants.
Despite the surprises, Nikki described the trip as positive overall. “So far, it’s been a good trip, but this race turned out to be a pretty big surprise,” she said.
