Trip Report, 5/8-11

Hmm...where to put this? We don't have a forum for trip reports? This is good as any...

I went to Las Vegas on 5/8-11. It was a pre-planned trip that just happened to take place right after my last exam, so it was a nice release. I flew to Las Vegas on US Airways with a connection in Phoenix. My plane ticket price was very low, so I spent a little extra to rent a car. I rented from Budget using Priceline for a price of $57 for 3 days. I got a Hyundai Accent, which was a nice car. I arrived in Las Vegas on a Saturday night. I drove directly to the Palms, where I had a reservation (review of the Palms forthcoming). The club kids were out in force, and I definitely didn't fit in with my oversized sweatshirt and duffel bag. They gave me a room in the Palms Tower, but when I got to the room, the door was propped open and there was stuff inside. I called down and went back to check-in, and heard the magic words every Vegas visitor loves to hear: "I'm upgrading you." I got a studio suite at Palms Place--the residential portion of the Palms--which I was very happy with, since it usually goes for $600/night on weekends. Palms Place was also good because it was set apart from the casino portion and parking was easy. There was a mini-kitchenette and a balcony with an immaculate strip view. The furnishings were all very contemporary and comfortable. Best hotel room I've stayed in.

The next day I planned on doing some gambling because many casinos were giving out multiple points for Mother's Day. I first picked up my freeplay at the Palms, and played it through the FPDW machines. I did poorly--I think I made about a 75% return. Next, I walked over the Gold Coast and played some 3-play 25c STP jacks, and some NSUD multistrike. There was a semi-pro player there who helped me with my multistrike strategy. I left Gold Coast down a hundred or two. Next, I went to South Point and played some 50-play NSUD nickels. This is a fun game you can only find at the South Point. It was really crowded there. At one point, I was up four hundred, but I lost all that back and $400 more. I underestimated the volatility of this game. I also gorged myself on the $.75 hot dogs at South Point (Yum!).

I then went back to Palms Place for a swim and a nap, then decided to hit the strip for dinner. I went to Ginseng 3 at the Imperial Palace. I made sure to ask the host if they accepted Total Rewards Credits at a 1-for-1 ratio, and she assured me they did, but I checked my balance later and they took 2-for-1. Anyway, I had a really excellent Dwenjang Jjigae there (fermented soybean paste soup -- believe me, it's good). Afterwards I walked down to Casino Royale to pick up their funbook, which usually is good but they've changed it so it's worthless now: coupons for bonuses on Jaws and Star Wars slots. Ugh. I walked over to the Venetian to check in for a comped suite I had reserved. They have a mandatory resort fee of $17 now which cannot be waived...I tried. I played some double deck blackjack there for an hour and lost $125. Venetian dealers are top-notch. I make a point to play there now every trip.

The next day I woke up early and drove to the Wynn for early morning $15 blackjack and Mimosas. I also had a mocha cappuccino. Early morning play at Wynn is another tradition. I all the money that I lost at Venetian back and more: +135. Then I drove downtown to check out what was going on there. I found a $1 Ultimate Texas Hold 'Em video game at Binion's and was in heaven. Played for an hour. I also played VP at the bar at Main Street Station and got some microbrews. Finally, I got the deep fried twinkie at Mermaids.

I then met Nareed at the Rio to go to the Wizard's coffee, which you can read about in the other thread. After that, Nareed and I visited the Pinball museum, which wasn't a museum at all, just a collection of pinball machines in a warehouse. I played some old nostalgia games from my childhood (Taxi, anyone?), and Nareed played Star Trek and a weird space-themed game called Orbital. Afterward, I dropped Nareed back at the Rio and met my friend Mike at the Rio buffet, which I had a coupon for. Mega-gorging. Mike and I then went to play craps on the Boulder Strip, first at Fiesta (loss), Joker's Wild (small win), and Sam's Town (big win!) For the second time we've played together, Mike had his last chip down on the table, and came roaring back to more than double his bankroll. Hope this tradition continues.

The next day I stopped at Venetian to pick up the freeplay I had with my room comp, and then went to Terrible's because it is the closest casino to the airport. I got a cheap $2.99 breakfast and played some Jacks video poker for a while and had a slight win. I need to stay at Terrible's next time to take advantage of all the coupons they have in their coupon book :)

All in all, I broke even for the trip, which is markedly better than my last trip where I busted out my bankroll. It was fun to meet Nareed and the Wizard. Hope I can get back to Vegas soon.

Quote: teddys

Mike and I then went to play craps on the Boulder Strip, first at Fiesta (loss), Joker's Wild (small win), and Sam's Town (big win!)

Great trip report but, what, no stop over at The Library?

i cant believe you drove all the way out to southpoint just to play some video poker. how long did it take you to get there? ive been to the pinball "museum" before. the funnest game i played there was this one with aliens that was like half pinball and half a video game. i tried playing dragon's lair on their multicade machine but couldnt figure out the controls for the game and ended losing all my lives before i even crossed the bridge so was extremely dissapointed. boulder strip is a lot of fun for some inexpensive gambling. i live on the other side of vegas though so dont make trips out there as often as id like.

I can see driving around when you have a car and you want to check some different places out. I drove from the east coast all the way to Vegas, and we drove all around. We went everywhere.

Quote: rudeboyoi

i cant believe you drove all the way out to southpoint just to play some video poker. how long did it take you to get there?

South Point is less than 9 miles from the Palms. It takes only about 10 minutes. M Resort is a little farther south, but I think well worth the trip.

The M resort is extremely nice, equal to any upper mid level resort on the strip. The owner's father used to own the Rio before he sold it to Harrah's (the first purchase of the new COO Gary Loveman).

Tony's father also built all of Steve Wynn's properties in Vegas (Mirage, Bellagio, Wynn, and Encore). He may have upgraded the Golden Nugget as well.

The South Point is not worth driving to, unless you really like hot dogs. It is a generic slot barn. However, some of their VP games turn positive on multiple point days. I was happy to add another slot club card to my collection.

I must make it a point to make it out to M Resort and The Library next trip. I usually don't go to strip clubs unless I am with a certain friend who really likes strip clubs. I thought the "bevertainers" at the Rio were pretty titallating, and free.