Vegas Trip Report + Pics

Great report! Thanks for posting.

That was some great reading, I'm glad you had a good time!

My shuttle bus to the airport from Orlando had me saying, "Thank God I'm getting the Hell out of here," so a bittersweet cab ride is definitely better than that!

Quote: KeyserSoze

Nice trip report blount2000. I like your writing style.

I look forward to the day when I can do a father/son Vegas trip. He's only 14 now, so it'll be a while.

A couple of years ago I had been looking forward to my son's 21st birthday for quite a while, and two days after he turned 21 we were in Vegas! Since then we have been going every six months and it has been a blast. We are both on the same wavelength regarding the types/level of activities to enjoy when in Vegas, and I think that has been the main reason our trips have continued to be successful.


I also hear what everyone is saying about the penny machines not being the best play. On past trips we have always played the penny machines a little here and there, but this trip we really hit them pretty hard and our diminished bankroll reflected it. My son and I discussed our play (slots and table) after we came home, and we came to the conclusion that the penny machines kind of lured us into a false sense of winning when we really weren't. And this was because we would have "winning" spins VERY often, but the winning spins were paying less than the original bet. So when the spin costs you 30 credits and you hit three bars for 20 credits, you are still losing overall even though you hit a winning combination and the machine is flashing a win.

This is pretty obvious and of course we could see the "net loss per spin" at the time, but when you are hitting those wins every other spin it feels like you should be doing better than you really are. You don't really focus on the 30 credits going down when you press the spin button, you focus on the machine indicating a win when it hits those three bars (that unfortunately are only worth 20).

We are definitely going to reevaluate our "gambling mix" for the next trip and make certain it is not so heavily weighted towards the penny machines (or slots in general). We were a little disappointed in ourselves for not playing two of our favorite table games at all on this past trip: Craps & Pai Gow Poker. I guess we'll have those to look forward to next time!

I know the math difference between VP and penny machines, but I just really don't like playing video poker. It's slow and boring to me. I know these posts are trying to be helpful and maximize gambling wins and minimize the losses, but it is just more fun for me to play a penny machine and get a few bonus games than playing VP.my point is If eating pizza everyday and playing star wars penny machines is fun for you, then keep doing it. It is vacation after all. I enjoyed the report and look forward to another one in 6 months

Thanks for your Vegas Trip posts.I hope to be taking my first trip to Vegas very soon and look forward to all there is to see and do.Maybe I'll even meet a few of you guys and we can go gamble.From what I have read on here I'll probably stay at a CE property in the middle of the strip.

KB1

Thanks for your Vegas Trip posts.I hope to be taking my first trip to Vegas very soon and look forward to all there is to see and do.Maybe I'll even meet a few of you guys and we can go gamble.From what I have read on here I'll probably stay at a CE property in the middle of the strip.

KB1

Quote: Beardgoat

I know the math difference between VP and penny machines, but I just really don't like playing video poker. It's slow and boring to me. I know these posts are trying to be helpful and maximize gambling wins and minimize the losses, but it is just more fun for me to play a penny machine and get a few bonus games than playing VP.my point is If eating pizza everyday and playing star wars penny machines is fun for you, then keep doing it. It is vacation after all. I enjoyed the report and look forward to another one in 6 months

Although I have been clarifying the VP side for him, I totally agree. If you're on vacation, as long as you are enjoying yourself, that's step 1. If video poker bores the hell out of them, I wouldn't recommend it, even if the machine gives them a long-term advantage. In their particular case, if they didn't like VP, I would just suggest more table games and less slots, or at least tone down the betting amount on the slots. I like video slots sometimes too, I blew $20 in less than 10 minutes with "Family Guy" on Sunday...whoops. I fortunately won the difference back on VP that day. But since I love the TV show, and the fact it has a ton of different bonus games, I'll probably give at least one more crack.

Quote: KB1

Thanks for your Vegas Trip posts.I hope to be taking my first trip to Vegas very soon and look forward to all there is to see and do.Maybe I'll even meet a few of you guys and we can go gamble.From what I have read on here I'll probably stay at a CE property in the middle of the strip.

KB1

Personally that's where I like to stay. ~Cheap (flamingo/quad/ballys) and great locations.

Quote: Beardgoat

I know the math difference between VP and penny machines, but I just really don't like playing video poker.

Oh, you're absolutely right in playing slots, then.

One casino game I can't stand is blackjack. I know it's the lowest HE table game, but I don't like it. So when I feel like playing cards at a table, it's either PGP or some carnival game that I enjoy (if any).

Nice report, and in refreshingly correct English to boot!

Its your vacation and your money... and that is why casinos often try to have a mix of games and a mix of slots and mix of different carnival games open. They want to please customers but can't always predict the ebb and flow of crowds and spouses and trends.

It took me 90 minutes to read the entire thread. Getting out of town or away from home is always a good time. Glad you enjoyed the trip and from the numbers, it wasn't too expensive and not one got hurt. In your re-evaluation, you may want to consider putting in a Superbowl or world series bet, or even the next game out be it baseball or football right before you leave for the airport. It kind of keep the trip going a bit longer.

Love the report...

Quote: wroberson

It kind of keep the trip going a bit longer.

Yeah, searching thru every pocket in the laundry when you get home looking for that darned sportsbook ticket.

Great report. i agree if VP bores then play some slots, afterall it is a vacation. While I obviously agree that VP gives you a better return, (and I LOVE playing VP especially the multi hand games) in the amount of gambling you did I do not even know what the difference would be in the return although there would obviously be some. However, since the "long run" is millions of hands, what would be the "short run" difference in return. is it still the same?

Quote: hook3670

Great report. i agree if VP bores then play some slots, afterall it is a vacation. While I obviously agree that VP gives you a better return, (and I LOVE playing VP especially the multi hand games) in the amount of gambling you did I do not even know what the difference would be in the return although there would obviously be some. However, since the "long run" is millions of hands, what would be the "short run" difference in return. is it still the same?

In percentages, the average return would be the same for a particular game. But if a slot paid 88% longterm, and VP paid 97% longterm, then the average return difference between the two will consistently stay 9% if your play error rates stay constant. In the shorter term, the actual return percentages can vary much wider though. An extreme example, make a Royal on your first hand and quit. Your return for that time frame is 80000%...haha.

Quote: KeyserSoze

I look forward to the day when I can do a father/son Vegas trip. He's only 14 now, so it'll be a while.

I treated my son and his wife to their first trip to Las Vegas last May, and it was very satisfying.

They gambled little if at all, which is good because they're young and cannot afford serious gambling yet.

I didn't see them a lot as they spent most of their time poolside at MGM, soaking up the sun.

Daughter in law loved seeing Chris Angel at Luxor.

Quote: KeyserSoze

I understand the need for them, but those motion sensor thermostats suck. Luckily, there is a way around them.

1) Do a google search or visit youtube. Either will provide instructions to override this.

2) Pack a couple balloons and some string. Blow them up and hang them from the ceiling. They will gently sway when the room is empty, or when you are asleep, and the AC will run uninterrupted.

Another option when staying at Harrah's is to grab a maintenance man and get them override the system. I did this last Spring and it was a relief to have a permanently cool room.


Excellent report Blount! I enjoyed it.

Quote: Blonde4ever

Another option when staying at Harrah's is to grab a maintenance man and get them override the system. I did this last Spring and it was a relief to have a permanently cool room.


Excellent report Blount! I enjoyed it.

Thanks for the info on the system override. I have received quite a bit of valuable advice from numerous folks here in response to my trip report, and I really do appreciate all of it!

I also thank you (and everyone else) for the positive comments on the report. I've always enjoyed reading trip reports, and I was glad to finally write one of my own!

Great post Blount, glad you enjoyed your time in vegas. Also both you and your son seem very level headed. Good to see.
It is amazing how much us who actually live in Vegas take the place for granted. We hardly ever go to the strip, we don't enjoy the amazing deals and restaurants we can. We just live a regular suburban life in a place that you can almost quite literally cook an egg on the sidewalk :)

When I'm in Vegas I rarely visit the Strip and eat mostly
take out food in my room. Eating in a restaurant full of strangrs
by myself is a barbaric and recent custom only a couple
hundred years old. Sleeping, crapping and eating are
very personal human functions and are best not done in public.

Have you ever watched someone eat? Disgusting. Why do you
think they rarely show eating in movies. They get the food
but they eat little of it. Nobody looks good when they eat.
Nobody.

Quote: EvenBob

Have you ever watched someone eat? Disgusting. Why do you
think they rarely show eating in movies. They get the food
but they eat little of it. Nobody looks good when they eat.
Nobody.

I heard about a diet with only one rule. You could eat anything you want and as much as you want but.....

Whenever you ate, you had to watch yourself in the mirror.

The thinking was you would get so sick of watching yourself eat, you would stop early.

Quote: KeyserSoze

I heard about a diet with only one rule. You could eat anything you want and as much as you want but.....

Whenever you ate, you had to watch yourself in the mirror.

The thinking was you would get so sick of watching yourself eat, you would stop early.

Even on the food networks they very seldom show people
eating. Its just not watchable. Next time you eat with someone
anywhere notice that you avoid watching them eat even if
they are right across from you. There's even a movie called My
Dinner With Andre that lasts for two hours and they show very
little actual eating. Watch a lion eating a gazelle on Nat Geo
and you'll say Yuk. We don't look any more attractive when we
eat.

See what I mean?

deleted

Quote: Ibeatyouraces

Quote: EvenBob

See what I mean?

I don't want to see this scumbag whether he's eating or not.

+3

Edit: removed pic of the scumbag