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Wizard
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March 5th, 2012 at 3:39:59 PM permalink
As I mentioned in my radio show, I went to a casino security conference last week. The conference was at the M, which was sold out. So I stayed down the I-15 about 20 miles at the Gold Strike. It also gave me a new place to review.

I'm always nagging teddys and my other reviewers to make their reviews more amusing and funny. If they should read this one, don't use it as an example. I pretty much just slept there and had one buffet. No amusing interactions. I was dressed up nicely for the show and wouldn't have blended well among all the truck drivers at the two blackjack tables that were open.

Wizard's Gold Strike review.
"For with much wisdom comes much sorrow." -- Ecclesiastes 1:18 (NIV)
Nareed
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March 5th, 2012 at 3:47:18 PM permalink
You absolutely need to expand on the "no safe or shower" part.
Donald Trump is a fucking criminal
EvenBob
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March 5th, 2012 at 3:54:55 PM permalink
How do you wash your hair with no shower?
"It's not called gambling if the math is on your side."
WongBo
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March 5th, 2012 at 3:59:02 PM permalink
The place I board my dog when I go on trips is nicer than this place...
In a bet, there is a fool and a thief. - Proverb.
Wizard
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March 5th, 2012 at 4:18:37 PM permalink
Quote: Nareed

You absolutely need to expand on the "no safe or shower" part.



Oops, I did it again. I meant no bath tub.
"For with much wisdom comes much sorrow." -- Ecclesiastes 1:18 (NIV)
EvenBob
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March 5th, 2012 at 4:24:52 PM permalink
Quote: Wizard

Oops, I did it again. I meant no bath tub.



Who takes baths in casinos anyway. My wife takes one
every morning at home, I've never ever seen her take
one in a hotel room.
"It's not called gambling if the math is on your side."
Nareed
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March 5th, 2012 at 4:31:47 PM permalink
Quote: Wizard

Oops, I did it again. I meant no bath tub.



Oh, well. That's very different...

Once upon a time I stayed at a hotel in Cuernavaca which had a shower head but no stall. You just flooded the whole bathroom if you wanted to shower. Other than that it was a very nice hotel. It was nicer than a cut-rate hotel in London which had the showers, and toilets, at the end of the hallway.
Donald Trump is a fucking criminal
pacomartin
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March 5th, 2012 at 5:39:09 PM permalink
Quote: Nareed

Once upon a time I stayed at a hotel in Cuernavaca which had a shower head but no stall. You just flooded the whole bathroom if you wanted to shower. Other than that it was a very nice hotel. It was nicer than a cut-rate hotel in London which had the showers, and toilets, at the end of the hallway.



The hotels in Bogota Columbia also had no stall. Funny story, one guy was in the middle of a shower and they cut off the water mid-shower to save water. He dried off and went out for the evening. Next morning he is sitting on the toilet, and management turned the water on again, flooding the entire bathroom.

In Europe it is much more acceptable to have shared showers and toilets in budget hotels.

My aunt tells a story about a small hotel in rural Mexico where iguanas kept coming into the room. At night one crawled across the ceiling and fell into the bed scaring her to death.

It's funny what constitutes a bad hotel room in America.
Nareed
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March 5th, 2012 at 5:58:36 PM permalink
Quote: pacomartin

In Europe it is much more acceptable to have shared showers and toilets in budget hotels.



London's in England, not Europe, as countless Londoners told me way back then ;)

Seriously, Europeans have very peculiar ideas when it comes to human habitation.

Quote:

It's funny what constitutes a bad hotel room in America.



Years ago a friend and I stayed at a roadside motel near Cape Cannaveral in florida. The room was ok, but the water from the shower was kinf od yellow-orange in color and smelled funny; not bad but funny. We didn't shower, and I brushed my teeth with bottled water. On the way to Miami the next day, my friend sat on a lengthy lecture about why we should have returned to Orlando in the first place the previous day.

IMO that qualifies as a bad hotel room.
Donald Trump is a fucking criminal
buzzpaff
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March 5th, 2012 at 6:05:34 PM permalink
Gordon Ramsey has a new show on Fox in April " Hotel Hell"
RogerKint
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March 5th, 2012 at 6:20:40 PM permalink
On my drive from Southern California to Las Vegas last month I saw a sign at The Gold Strike that said "We Comp Gas". Maybe these truck drivers have a bunch of Gold Strike gas cards.
100% risk of ruin
DJTeddyBear
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March 5th, 2012 at 6:44:38 PM permalink
Quote: EvenBob

Who takes baths in casinos anyway?

My wife requests rooms with a jacuzzi. If we get it, she will use it. Sometimes we both do. If it's a standard tub, we don't bother.

Quote: Nareed

Once upon a time I stayed at a hotel in Cuernavaca which had a shower head but no stall. You just flooded the whole bathroom if you wanted to shower.

We stayed in a room like that at Disney World. It's a handicap room, designed so that you could wheel in, transfer to a shower chair, etc.
I invented a few casino games. Info: http://www.DaveMillerGaming.com/ ————————————————————————————————————— Superstitions are silly, childish, irrational rituals, born out of fear of the unknown. But how much does it cost to knock on wood? 😁
Nareed
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March 9th, 2012 at 7:14:04 AM permalink
Quote: DJTeddyBear

We stayed in a room like that at Disney World. It's a handicap room, designed so that you could wheel in, transfer to a shower chair, etc.



Disney's famous for acommodating the handicapped. Still, the whole hotel in Cuernavaca was like that, not just a few rooms. Nor was there any kind fo chair in the bathrooma t all. Just the toilet, sink and shower head, and a drain in the middle.
Donald Trump is a fucking criminal
FleaStiff
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March 9th, 2012 at 7:37:09 AM permalink
There is no casino but would anyone like to do a review of the TOD Motor Lodge now known as the Tod Youth Hostel? Its in the lengthening shadow of the Stratosphere or would be if the Strat cast its shadow northward along the Blvd. Kennel on the Strip?

No baths while on vacation? Just showers? That is the clientele the builder of the Imperial Palace wanted!

I doubt a casino could comp those gas guzzling behemoths, a lot of motels have special rates for commercial licensed drivers. You park your rig somewhere safe, you get meals, showers and telephones. Its sort of a truckers rest stop when they are between loads. Its probably a way for the casino to get revenue from an otherwise empty parking lot.

A shower head but no stall ... just flood the entire bathroom? H'mmm saves on hiring a maid to scrub the floors I guess?

Someone once described his job at the M as "Driving half way to California each night" ... did the "M Conference" seem geographically remote to someone living in Las Vegas?
TIMSPEED
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March 9th, 2012 at 7:51:24 AM permalink
Quote: FleaStiff

Someone once described his job at the M as "Driving half way to California each night" ... did the "M Conference" seem geographically remote to someone living in Las Vegas?


That's what I was going to say...don't you LIVE in LV, Wiz??
Shoot, here in California, we drive an hour EACH WAY just to get to work everyday, LOL.
Gambling calls to me...like this ~> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Nap37mNSmQ
DJTeddyBear
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March 13th, 2012 at 8:03:40 AM permalink
Quote: FleaStiff

Someone once described his job at the M as "Driving half way to California each night" ... did the "M Conference" seem geographically remote to someone living in Las Vegas?

I had reason to read the review again, and was wondering the same thing.

I was also wondering why, if the M was sold out, why didn't you just go home each nite?

I get that you were half-way to the Gold Strike. But was that really the reason? Just to do the review?
I invented a few casino games. Info: http://www.DaveMillerGaming.com/ ————————————————————————————————————— Superstitions are silly, childish, irrational rituals, born out of fear of the unknown. But how much does it cost to knock on wood? 😁
Wizard
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March 13th, 2012 at 8:14:39 AM permalink
The M is very far from where I live in north Summerlin. I'm quite sure it was faster to get there from the Gold Strike from my house, considering traffic. Yes, I also wanted to write the review. Otherwise, I probably would have stayed at the South Point, but I already reviewed that.
"For with much wisdom comes much sorrow." -- Ecclesiastes 1:18 (NIV)
AlanRRT
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March 13th, 2012 at 8:36:43 AM permalink
I stayed one night at Gold Strike a couple years ago on my way to Las Vegas, since it was Sunday night of Super Bowl weekend, and there was nothing to be had anywhere in Las Vegas. I don't remember why I didn't stay at Primm, it's much nicer and not far away. The heater in the room had two temperatures: molten lava and arctic chill, and nothing in between. The bathroom was motel style, with the sink outside the toilet/shower area. When the light is turned on in the bathroom, it turned on the light in the sink area, so when my wife got up to use the bathroom in the middle of the night, the light woke me up.
The few tables seem to be closed more than they're open. They make a big deal that they have coin in slots. However, since slots that take and pay out coins haven't been manufactured in years, all they're newer machines require hand pay. It's kinda silly when you cash out 80 cents and require a hand pay. On the plus side, they are very quick about it and know when you cash out so you don't have to call someone.
It's sad, they used to be much better. Time/the recession/neglect haven't been good to them.
slackyhacky
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March 26th, 2012 at 8:55:02 AM permalink
Quote: Wizard

As I mentioned in my radio show, I went to a casino security conference last week. The conference was at the M, which was sold out. So I stayed down the I-15 about 20 miles at the Gold Strike. It also gave me a new place to review.

I'm always nagging teddys and my other reviewers to make their reviews more amusing and funny. If they should read this one, don't use it as an example. I pretty much just slept there and had one buffet. No amusing interactions. I was dressed up nicely for the show and wouldn't have blended well among all the truck drivers at the two blackjack tables that were open.

Wizard's Gold Strike review.



I just stayed there last Wed (so March 21).

They have one of those electronic BlackJack machines with a virtual dealer (made by the same company that makes the Shoot to Win craps machine). Personally, I thought the electronic dealers were way to fresh with me, with their big blue fake eyes.

Anyway, the rules for that game are 3:2 on BJ, hold on soft 17, surrender allowed.
sevencard2003
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December 24th, 2012 at 5:03:27 AM permalink
this is the best deal ive even seen, been living there for 2 months, rules are so good on the dealers angels VBJ game im amazed they havent been hit by big bankrolled players and removed the machine. the full 1% in comps for such a high paying machine is unbelievable.

sad thing is i dont have the roll to take advantage of it, but ive made my last $1000 to my name last forever, had a free place to live, and still got $1700. id be seriously screwed if it got removed before i get my roll built back up. where else could i live FREE for only $1200 in coin in a day on VBJ?

thats a theoretical loss of under $5 a day, and of course, no loss at all if u know how to count since it shows u the shuffle point.

-----
on a side note, id really like to know where besides vegas and Jean i can find these aruze dealers angels machines in NV, or CO WA FL SD, anywhere in fact. would love to have other little places to hide out in with good comps other than just here. without a car im very isolated here, making it next to impossible to play any live poker, do laundry, buy food at a grocery store, etc
sevencard2003.blogspot.com
FleaStiff
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December 24th, 2012 at 7:35:41 AM permalink
Quote: sevencard2003

where else could i live FREE for only $1200 in coin in a day on VBJ?


How much actual cash out of your pocket would it take to do 1200 coin in a day???

>do laundry,
Cheaper to buy clothes at a thrift store than to do a laundry some times.
Johnzimbo
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December 24th, 2012 at 9:49:37 AM permalink
"According to the Nevada Gaming Control Board, Hooters has 450 slot machines. By way of comparison, the MGM Grand has 2,470 slots"

Did you mean Gold Strike rather than Hooters?
Venthus
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May 28th, 2013 at 12:53:05 PM permalink
Just stayed here over the weekend, on free nights.

The bed was comfortable enough, I guess, but there was kind of a discoloration on the sheets that was just plain creepy and disturbing, so I flipped the outer blanket over, wrapped my head in a towel I brought and slept on that fully dressed. Nice layer of dust on the top of the paintings.

I think I would've rather paid to stay elsewhere.
teddys
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May 28th, 2013 at 5:02:15 PM permalink
Quote: Venthus

Just stayed here over the weekend, on free nights.

The bed was comfortable enough, I guess, but there was kind of a discoloration on the sheets that was just plain creepy and disturbing, so I flipped the outer blanket over, wrapped my head in a towel I brought and slept on that fully dressed. Nice layer of dust on the top of the paintings.

I think I would've rather paid to stay elsewhere.

I agree. One of the few places I've questioned if it was worth free. (The Hacienda was the other).
"Dice, verily, are armed with goads and driving-hooks, deceiving and tormenting, causing grievous woe." -Rig Veda 10.34.4
Beethoven9th
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May 28th, 2013 at 5:10:17 PM permalink
Thx for the info, guys. I've always been curious about this place since I always pass by, but not anymore. lol
Fighting BS one post at a time!
Pokeraddict
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May 28th, 2013 at 5:14:45 PM permalink
Quote: Venthus

Just stayed here over the weekend, on free nights.

The bed was comfortable enough, I guess, but there was kind of a discoloration on the sheets that was just plain creepy and disturbing, so I flipped the outer blanket over, wrapped my head in a towel I brought and slept on that fully dressed. Nice layer of dust on the top of the paintings.

I think I would've rather paid to stay elsewhere.



And that is the newer tower. They closed the one that was even worse. It is basically a truck stop with a hotel. It does have some FPDW but they are on slow coin op machines. In fact, every machine there is either a coin op or hand pay. It is the graveyard of MGM unwanted machines.

My next question is how is the 24 hour buffet? I picture it rivaling Circus Circus.
Venthus
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May 28th, 2013 at 5:25:11 PM permalink
Oh, and the tables don't open until 11AM.

What kept me stopping there was the STW craps machine (Here) except they got rid of that since my last trip.

The buffet's actually not TOTALLY awful. (Note: We're talking $10 buffet, not, say, The M's Studio B down the street.) It's REALLY small though. Just one wall, plus an island of ordinary desserts.

But... comes down to it, I'd probably rather eat at {your pick of fast food restaurants here}. Jack in the Box's breakfast sandwiches are tasty... I used my ACG coupon and got in right before lunch ended, so it was 2 people for 12$ or so.

One of the dealers was iffy about saying anything about the buffet, other than it was a value proposition. She did, however, have good things to say about the steakhouse, but that's only open on weekends evenings, I think.
Boz
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September 8th, 2013 at 5:06:28 AM permalink
We stopped in to try the "Gold Strike Lager" I observed on a unique beer website. If was the worst ever, perhaps Hamms or worse run through their tap. Overall the casino was quite depressing, but on a related note, it is the exit for the Pioneer Saloon in Goodspring that I wrote about before.
Greasyjohn
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December 24th, 2013 at 3:27:44 AM permalink
Years ago I looked at the pool at The Gold Strike. Pretty depressing. Just like the pool area at Railroad Pass.
Greasyjohn
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December 24th, 2013 at 3:38:28 AM permalink
Quote: Wizard

Oops, I did it again. I meant no bath tub.



If I recall, the soap for the shower came out of a dispenser. A noisy operation.

They used to have a very nice champagne breakfast. And they used to have a shuttle bus that would go back and forth to Nevada Landing. Once, my girlfriend and I walked from the Gold Strike to the Nevada Landing. It was a very cold night and it was invigorating. I'll bet not many people have done that. Walking on the side of the road traveling on foot under the freeway at night. I don't think we'd do it again. (And you don't need to remind me that we'd only be walking to a parking lot now.)
Pokeraddict
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September 19th, 2015 at 5:39:49 PM permalink
I was told that Gold Strike had changed since MGM sold it so I dropped by after lunch at M Resort. Most of the machines are gone. All of the coin VP are pulled. It is down to four tables with nothing playable blackjack wise or VP. I can't think of any reason why one would stop there now. At least before it had FPDW.
DRich
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September 19th, 2015 at 6:01:27 PM permalink
Quote: Pokeraddict

I was told that Gold Strike had changed since MGM sold it so I dropped by after lunch at M Resort. Most of the machines are gone. All of the coin VP are pulled. It is down to four tables with nothing playable blackjack wise or VP. I can't think of any reason why one would stop there now. At least before it had FPDW.



They still have NSUD in single and multi-line.
At my age, a "Life In Prison" sentence is not much of a deterrent.
Pokeraddict
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September 19th, 2015 at 6:11:31 PM permalink
Quote: DRich

They still have NSUD in single and multi-line.



I saw the $1 on VPFree but I couldn't find them. I found a few 9/6 JOB.
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