Pre-Trip Asian New Year Feb 18th to 23rd

For me up and down is not good. Straight win from the beginning is great. Straight loss is okay if not a lot also. Up and down is not good for me, over the years I would recover once maybe twice, rarely more than that.

Nice change, go over to the Tropicana to see a buddy from the old Las Vegas Hilton. Now a senior executive in their Player Development Department. Had the great Italian Meal there Saturday night I briefly described and saw Illusions Show. Wife swears we seen it up at The Riviera maybe in 2013, I don't remember, I only remember seeing Andrew Dice Clay there and gambling with him at The Bellagio the night before. Anyways, at Bacio @ The Trop my wife had the Risotto di Capesante, my friend had the Pollo alla Piccate, his girlfriend had the Veal Scaloppini and I had the Tagliolini which was the seafood over the pasta--which was great!! All old school and not swimming in sauces you had no idea what it all was. Of particular note was the Eggplant. The eggplant stayed together when you cut it and not fell all apart needing to eat it with a spoon. All reminded me of the original restaurants in Atlantic City, South Jersey and New York City back in the 80's to 2000's. We also had the Asparagus, Calamari and some special meatballs for the table community appetizers. Also of particular note the meatballs did not crumble and fall apart when cut. The meatballs had a nice portion of mozzarella and spices drizzled over them. The food was mouth watering and a nice change compared to the over rated, over priced, pompous attitude and service of a lot of the celeb chef places these days. The entire bill for all that was $290.00. I thought very reasonable along with 4 drinks with a couple of them being refilled at least 3 times. It was fully comp'd but even if I had to pay for it, it would have been a great value. (we ate at Beijing Noodle at Caesar's for 2 and the bill was about $220.00).

On Tuesday we headed back down to the Tropicana to eat a late breakfast and for the wife to preview the 2 Bedroom Pool Bungalows and the top floor Sky Villas. The pool bungalows have a private back yard and a huge deck for laying out in the sun enclosed by a fence and bushes. The Sky Villas' are about 2,000 sq feet and simply on par with most other properties upper tier suites. They are all brand new and renovated. The took a floor of 32 older suites and made it into 6, 2 bedroom sky villas.

We ate at the Beach Café. What a welcomed place! Normal, Normal and Normal. Did I say they have normal food?? Unlike all that junk you have no real idea what the sauce or decorations are, this is normal! I love it. My host was not around and the fie and baby were hungry when we got there so we just went in and ate before going over to the VIP section off to the side of the front registration desk. They probably would have comp'd it but my buddy wasn't there and he was more then generous with almost $1,000.00 of comp and never playing there-at least in the past 10 plus years or so anyways.

I had the steak and eggs which came with shredded potatoes, 2 slices of whole wheat or choice of breads, a couple eggs, etc. My wife had the BLT Wrap and the baby had a grilled cheese and fries. Juice, Coffee and a soda. The entire bill came to $50.31. I think a fantastic deal for the strip. Anywhere else about $80-$90 maybe I am wrong, I seldom pay attention as I am comp'd anyway, I sign the bills and leave a cash tip. What was kind of unusual was I mention "only 2 slices of toast" when my plate came. The waitress said, "I will be glad to bring you 2 or 4 more, no charge, just that plate comes with 2, but really no problem". Again, the service and friendliness of the place.

After we ate we strolled up front. A gentlemen whom was in host management gave my wife the tour of the fitness club, the spa, the pool and private cabanas as well as the other restaurants. She saw the pool bungalows and the sky villas. Both of them have a complete private en-suite massage room with full sized massage table, tv, sink and stereo system, making it very conducive to that late night or early am relaxation (psst.... hun I love Vegas). She likes the Sky Villas more than the pool bungalows due to the open floor design of the living room.

I like the renovated property as it is minus about 5,000 douche bags and the crowds that only get in your way and awe and ooh at everything in sight. I also like the ease of getting around the place without having a city within a city layout. I am tired of 30 solid minuets to get to a room or to the other side of the property for whatever reason.

I simply love the frozen cocktail stand right at the end of the table games and just a few steps from the HL Room. I can picture it now. At the baccarat table in the small and cozy high limit. Ordering up a nice 20 oz. Rib Eye med. rare with a side of calamari and sliced tomatoes. A large frozen concoction with a triple shot of something in it.

Next trip I am certain we will stay at wither Red Rock or The Tropicana but I think it will be Tropicana due to it being on the strip. They offered me 15% loss rebate but I countered with changing that up to promotion chips up front. The HL is small but hey, I don't need all that reserved tables and a hundred people to do our thing.

Quote: Baccaratfrom79

Trip was pretty good. however, we risked over $50k and if I don't at least double that, then the gambling was mediocre. I play to win and I risk what I bring or my FM. Double is okay and triple is the start of something really good. Looking back, there was only one shoe that I could have smacked the casino on and that one had about 17 chop and a whole section of 4's and 5' and 6's repeats side-by-side. But I was down about $30 or $35k at that point and I was playing catch up. In a good mood and if I was up something I could have made $75k or better off that shoe at $5 to $15k a hand.

Have you considered doing this full time?

Thanks for the trip report Bac. Sounds like it was a pretty exciting and fun trip, other than the measly $25k =P. Would love to see pictures of the high limit stuff us common folk don't even know exists lol.

Quote: Romes

Thanks for the trip report Bac. Sounds like it was a pretty exciting and fun trip, other than the measly $25k =P. Would love to see pictures of the high limit stuff us common folk don't even know exists lol.

we took lots of pictures, will post soon. just been slammed with work due to the weather from the moment I got back home.

Quote: 1BB

Have you considered doing this full time?

no way for several reasons. one, I love what I do now, owning a company that is an environmental haz mat spill clean up service. second, I never found it easy or even possible to make money gambling when I 'had to' or something along those lines. it's fun several times a year.

We didn't get over to Palace Station or The Gold Coast. Part in cause, was the baby asking not to go to day care on the third night. He woke up when we went to leave him and said, "No mommy, stay with you please". He is so adorable and we love him so much. If it wasn't that, we just got busy with the other people with us or stayed at C.P. and played there. Next time we go, we will have grandma with us or one of the brother in laws that is capable of taking care of the kids if they come.

Monday evening we strolled over to the Bellagio. I will post some beautiful pictures of their Asian New Year display in the rear gardens behind the lobby. Absolutely 'red' and stunning as most all their displays are. I swear their displays there are done by someone with an unlimited budget and high on LSD or something??? Anyway we ate at Café Bellagio which is usually---always spot on!! However, left something to be desired, especially for the $84.00 ticket, for two. I used the last of my express comps I had on my MGM card and had to throw in $1.26 to cover it, plus the $15.00 tip. It was about 8 PM or so and the place was deathly empty, strange?? My wife had the 10 oz rib eye with a side of asparaguses. Steak was a 7.5 on a 10 scale and the veggie was plain, steam, dried and without any seasoning, not even butter and lemon slices. Very unusual for Café B. I had the rigatoni with shrimp. Nothing to garnish or bread or anything. I think the crew must have been drunk or sleeping?? Never ever had this before at Café B. Similar to a rural roadside old Denny's that went independent as a steak house and on its way out of business. I didn't feel like complaining and since we were hungry and wanted to get back to C.P. we just ate and ran. I also had the blueberry cheesecake which was great. Soft, creamy with fresh blueberries and strawberry's and whipped crème. The rigatoni was okay but a little dry, cooked too long I think. All kind of lumped together like it was sitting already made? For almost $100 w/tip, the meal really sucked. And we have been there liked 50 times before, okay maybe an off Monday night without supervisors in the place I assume??

On the positive side of Café B, we have lots of fond memories of large groups of us with 10 or more celebrating casino wins or other events and flawless food. This was a first. Personally with me, 2 strikes and your out. Unless it is a C-store that has great doughnuts or something!!!