1. Welcome to VegasMessageBoard
    It appears you are visiting our community as a guest.
    In order to view full-size images, participate in discussions, vote in polls, etc, you will need to Log in or Register.

3-1 thru 3-5 thoughts and meanderings

Discussion in 'Vegas Trip Reports' started by Iu25, Mar 7, 2014.

Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.
  1. Iu25

    Iu25 High-Roller

    Joined:
    Jan 18, 2012
    Messages:
    820
    Location:
    Indiana
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    10

    My Trip Report

    Just got back Weds eve from our trip out to LV! I am not going to post a minute by minute, day by day report, it would bore us both, but here are a few things I saw and found interesting while out there as well as a few things that happened to us!

    Flew out of Indy early on Sat 3-1 and landed right about on time. We were afraid the weather was going to be rainy, but it was actually partly cloudy and mid 60s on arrival. ALot better than the low 20's I had just left that morning for sure! C gate seemed different at the airport, but maybe its not. I always remember walking off the plane to slot machines but this time just passengers and slots were a little ways away. I always fly SW so im not sure if something changed or what.

    Anyway, finally go our bags and moved onto the rental car facility, dollar reserved via Total Rewards, 4 days and our total was just over 100 for a standard car. I was going to try and upgrade but made no sense realy, going from a nice Ford Fusion to a Maxima or Malibu wasnt a big deal to us. Fusion is a really nice car, we were surprised and very happy with it. Drove from airport to DT and to strip twice and only needed 10$ in gas.

    Got to the Plaza DT and knew since it was 11am we would not be able to check in, although we had early check in set up. Tried around 1pm and they had one room but not a connecting set ready for us, told them we will wait. After about 3 more tries, finally let us up at 4pm with connecting still not ready, walked in room and maid was still making bed in connector. I will say that we were only supposed to have two connecting rooms, but they gave us a two bed suite with the connecting living room in the middle, Plaza version of a two bed suite I guess you could call it. It is what I have stayed in the last 3 trips and was happy they decided to hook us up again! The fridge and extra bathroom are lifesavers!

    1st night wife, myself, and wifes friend got pretty wasted. I wasnt al that bad but wife was having trouble walking so we pretty much had to help her back to the room, two La Bayou bones will do it everytime! Some 20 year old girl was not looking and ran right into my wife at one point. Wife got pretty upset and being drunk wanted to go let her know it wasnt appreciated. I had not even turned around and they were nose to nose yelling at each other, figured at that point I better get her to bed asap! Was a long day and long night but had a blast!

    I somehow managed to pass out on the couch in the living room and woke up about 5am to wife asking why our door was open. Its a non smoking room so I had left the deadbolt out when I went out to smoke in the stairwell. Well wife closes the door and back to sleep for a few more hours. Wake up around 7 to wifes friend freaking out cause her purse is no where to be found. Im not sure if she lost it the night before or it was taken during the night, but its gone! Two odd things here though, we sat up and ate pizza the night before and even drank a little before bed. Most ladies would realize if their purse was gone I would think in that time. Also she had a cell phone battery pack in her purse, which was sitting on the counter the next morning. Not sure how that would have go back to the room if she didnt have her purse either. I think someone saw the door open and walked in, but another odd thing is my wifes purse was right next to hers and it was there in the morn. I slept right there if they did come in, and I am usually a light sleeper! BTW, Plaza does not post a guard at elevators anymore, at least not during our trip.

    Next day I ran down to MSS Boars head bar and watched the IU vs OSU game, good game but bad VP, more on VP later, but wow just terrible! Later we had two nights comped at Cosmo so we all decided to head out to the strip for at least one night. I will give Cosmo props, rooms are very nice and hotel staff is genuinely friendly. We got checked in and went over to Diablos to use a MYVegas comp. IMHO Diablos has hands down the best Nachos in Vegas and possibly ever. I used to like the Volcano Nachos at Margaritaville, but these are really just better in all aspects. Everything tastes so fresh, salsa and guac are really very good. We also had a few drinks and some stuffed quesadillas that were just as good as the nachos. Highly recommended to anyone wanting fresh Mexican food. Ran around the strip a bit and back to Cosmo, where I couldnt hit a damn thing on the machines. Tables were packed and I hate squeezing in. Met back up in the room and everyone was fed up with losing, so we promptly checked out 6 hours after checking in and headed back downtown! Nothing against the Cosmo, but I am done with the Strip. It takes an hour to get anywhere these days, construction is all over, and its not like you can just walk down the sidewalk anymore, its become borderline ridiculous. I knew before I was more of a downtown person, but that little trip sealed it, if it wasnt for wifes Vegas Virgin and the MV comp, I doubt we would have left downtown for the 3rd straight trip. My element is more downtown, its just a more comfortable atmostphere and you dont have to fight thru crowds to play a machine, table, or get to the next casino.

    more in a few
     
    Last edited: Mar 7, 2014
  2. Iu25

    Iu25 High-Roller

    Joined:
    Jan 18, 2012
    Messages:
    820
    Location:
    Indiana
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    10
    Back DT, we got my MIL and wifes friend u p to bed. Wifes mom is about 78 and kept asking if we were going back to the apartment on the ride from Cosmo, I finally gave in and just started calling the Plaza an apartment as well! Stayed up pretty late playing Slots and BJ that night after getting back. Nothing huge but stayed pretty even compared to the beating I took on the strip!

    Next morning I knew I had to start getting some of the LVA couppons used so we went around to ElCo, Grand, and others. Had a nice hit on quickhits for a couple hundered at ElCo, saw a blind guy playing slots as well. Saw him again behind me in line and he asked me if I could tell him how much his ticket was worth that he cashed out. Really got me thinking, how exactly does this guy do this? He had to be a local, as he had that look of and ElCo local we all know so well, but maybe he has one machine he plays and knows the sounds when he hits. Kinda crazy, never thought about a blind slot player before! Downtown Grand was next and I was really surprised at how nice it is inside. I only looked around the casino but it really gives downtown a shot of class, whatever you might think about VP odds or lack of beers. Its a neat place and will be a place I stop by on future trips. I thougth the little tv screen on the slots was a neat idea, never had seen that before.

    Wifes friend who lost her purse had signed up for 100$ rebate at Plaza and had $90 left. I decided it would be better for her if I gave her $90 in cash and just played on her card since she was short on money already. Didnt work out well either, only got back about half that $90 but was happy she had some extra food and gambling money to use. I had done well for the first couple days on slots but after that it just went to hell in a handbasket. I couldnt hit anything. I even started slow playing and didnt hardly drink that night since I wasnt playing much. I did hit $100 and they both hit $50 on multi play Sex and the City at 4Q. That was my last decent win of the trip, as the next day was just lose, win it back, lose lose, win a little, lose lose lose. Although I had alot of fun playing Sigma Derby at the D. I lost but it was well worth it, always a highlight of the trip!

    A few things I noticed while downtown....

    Bought a beer at Bier Garten, went outside to sit on the picnic table with it. Wife, MIL, and friend all had MCD cokes from Plaza. Lady comes out of bar at BG and says they need to finish the outside drinks quickly as no outside drinks are allowed. We didnt argue, but it still made little sense. I had bought a beer and they bought drinks for the Plaza as well, plus we were staying there. Time to rethink the rules a little!

    For some unknown reason as they wouldnt tell me why, Plaza and LVC have taken all TITO machines out and you have to cash out at the cashier. Normally there are at least two on duty at the Plaza so its no big deal, but sucks you have to walk halfway across the casino to get paid now.

    Someone said the back entrance to Las Vegas Club was closed, well its back open again. To go out from inside just go past jerky store and follow the hall way back. Its a long winding hallway but it takes you right back out to the back door across from Cal Club.

    As for LVC it was never crazy busy but it had steady players at tables and slots the whole time I was there. The dealers are much hotter there than at the Plaza too. Plaza seems to be older men or older foreign ladies. At LVC they are younger and fairly cute girls, makes you wonder why that is, maybe since its open right onto Fremont st and people can see inside to them??

    I found a nice little secret place for a gorgeous picture view at the Plaza and will try and put up some pics later. If you go up to the 25th floor just head out the end door on the hallway, it takes you right out to the roof, with a view of mountains or strip, either side. If you are afraid of heights, stay away, the railing is about waist high and its a loooong way down!

    The new international foods food court in the Neonopolis has some pretty god food. Wife and her friend got the Chinese meal for like $6.99 and I got a burrito the size of a football and drink for about $9-10. The burrito was as good as any I have had in my life, and the choices of toppings is endless. Highly recommend.

    SlotZilla looks pretty much finished. They were doing some final work on the booth so I would expect next few weeks for it to open. That thing is HUGE! Not sure if I could get up there and do it or not!

    Finally got to eat at HHGG in the Plaza, we got two meals, tenderloin and Meatloaf(Kokomo) sandwich to split between 3 of us. We ate all of the Kokomo but no where near finished the tenderloin. I am from Indiana so I know big tenderloins, but that is ridiculous! Kokomo was one of the best sandwiches I have eaten in a long time, service was slow but it was late and they were closing, so no big deal. I try not to complain much in Vegas as its vacation and complaining just brings everyone down.

    Its Nascar weekend coming up and they had a giant Nascar bus parked outside the D setting up to sell merchandise I expect.

    Bums and characters were out but not so much it was annoying, I think our time on the strip was worse with the slappers, I just kept walking by them slapping the cards out of their hands. Was really expecting one of them to come up from behind and tackle me, but maybe they are used to it!

    Ate Pop Up Pizza twice at the Plaza, couldnt have been happier, very good stuff! Plus they give free refills on drinks, so if you stay there, dont throw your cup away. We used the refills deal multiple times.

    Overall it was a great trip tho, except for the loss of wifes friends purse. Also my phone died the night I was at Cosmo so I never got to meet up with CaptainRon either, those would be about the only two things I would change if I could. I will try and put some photos up in a little while if I can figure out how. It was a great trip and cant wait to get back next year!
     
    Last edited: Mar 7, 2014
  3. Iu25

    Iu25 High-Roller

    Joined:
    Jan 18, 2012
    Messages:
    820
    Location:
    Indiana
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    10
    Oh yeah also, played alot of VP, more than normal actually. Did not hit one 4Oak the whole trip, never seen anything like it! One session while watching the IU game at MSS I dropped $250-300 on vp and nothing to show for it but maybe 5-6 delicious MSS beers!
     
  4. Iu25

    Iu25 High-Roller

    Joined:
    Jan 18, 2012
    Messages:
    820
    Location:
    Indiana
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    10
    Bier Garten, nice to see grass in Vegas!
     
    Last edited: Mar 8, 2014
  5. Iu25

    Iu25 High-Roller

    Joined:
    Jan 18, 2012
    Messages:
    820
    Location:
    Indiana
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    10
    View from the roof of the Plaza!!
     
    Last edited: Mar 8, 2014
  6. captainron62

    captainron62 VIP Whale

    Joined:
    Oct 2, 2011
    Messages:
    3,282
    Location:
    Tampa, FL
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    24
    Nice TR buddy! Sorry we didn't get to meet up at the Cosmo. We didn't leave out of there until almost 4am. You are not the only one that didn't hit 4OAK that weekend! I couldn't catch a card to save my life. No love on my birthday!!

    I am just glad we ended up with good weather. :beer:
     
  7. sybgal

    sybgal VIP Whale

    Joined:
    Apr 19, 2004
    Messages:
    6,261
    Location:
    Indiana
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    36
    Thanks for the TR IU!! Appreciate you mentioning the meatloaf sandwich at HHAGG....been looking at that one for a long time! Think we may try it to split between 3 of us along with something else. Glad you had a good time!!! We are counting down the days for our MM trip but very sorry our Hoosiers will not be in it!
     
  8. kaceyco

    kaceyco Tourist

    Joined:
    Mar 4, 2011
    Messages:
    19
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    15
    Great TR Iu25! Nice to see other Hoosiers on here. We can still make the ncaa if we with the B10 tournament:) I'll be in LV next week and will be cheering them on from the Long Bar at the D!!
     
  9. joshrocker

    joshrocker VIP Whale

    Joined:
    Feb 16, 2003
    Messages:
    1,810
    Location:
    Saint Louis, Mo.
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    10
    A downtown report! Yes! Thanks. I really enjoy the "thoughts and reflections" type reports.
     
  10. Iu25

    Iu25 High-Roller

    Joined:
    Jan 18, 2012
    Messages:
    820
    Location:
    Indiana
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    10
    I guess those pics were too big, ill try and load them up on photobucket and relink them. Thanks all, we had an absolute blast!
     
  11. Joe

    Joe VIP Whale

    Joined:
    Sep 11, 2009
    Messages:
    16,023
    Location:
    Wisconsin
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    175
    I like these kinds of reports.:thumbsup:

    So the back door at the Vegas Club is back open? The one on Ogden?

    The friend who lost her purse...don't most women carry their wallet in their purse? What did she do for ID at the airport?
     
  12. insin

    insin Speed Spender

    Joined:
    Aug 26, 2009
    Messages:
    1,770
    Location:
    midwest
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    99
    walk to cash out? ridiculous!

    "For some unknown reason as they wouldnt tell me why, Plaza and LVC have taken all TITO machines out and you have to cash out at the cashier. Normally there are at least two on duty at the Plaza so its no big deal, but sucks you have to walk halfway across the casino to get paid now."

    They do this hoping you will just stick the TITO back in rather than walk allllllll the way to the cage. They want you to gamble, but they don't want you to actually leave with any of that money! LOL :wink2:
     
    Last edited: Mar 8, 2014
  13. Dewey089

    Dewey089 VIP Whale

    Joined:
    Aug 4, 2001
    Messages:
    4,786
    Location:
    averill park ny
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    26
    Thanks for the post. Some new ideas here.
     
  14. wishman35

    wishman35 VIP Whale

    Joined:
    Mar 24, 2010
    Messages:
    1,461
    Location:
    Chitown
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    20
    Thanks for the report! Don't worry, it costs $50 for a beer at Cosmo anyway ;)
     
  15. Iu25

    Iu25 High-Roller

    Joined:
    Jan 18, 2012
    Messages:
    820
    Location:
    Indiana
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    10
    Joe, yes the one on the back corner where the old check in desk was. Except now when you walk in the desk area is walled off and you have to follow a walkway that has been partioned off, it curves around some of their offices and comes out near the old food court and gift shop, which are now empty. Only thing back there at all any more is the jerky shop, makes me wonder if they are hoping they leave so they can wall that area off as well!:nono:

    As for the airport, you dont actually have to have an ID to fly, but you will get backroomed and questioned like a terrorist by the TSA. She had filed a police report and was asked a series of questions like....what is nearest cross st to your address, who is your closest living relative, what was your previous address, ect. They say if you do lose your ID, head to the airport earlier than normal since the backrooming takes awhile. She was in there maybe 15-20 mins from the tiem we made it through security, not too bad. Still gave us time to smoke, eat, and gamble a little more.

    BTW, I forgot to mention, at least in C gate, there is a smoking area with slot machiens and bar beside it now. I havent been down C gate in awhile so this was new to me.
     
  16. tringlomane

    tringlomane STP Addicted Beer Snob

    Joined:
    Jan 21, 2013
    Messages:
    31,301
    Location:
    Chicagoland
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    28
    Good report!! Sucks about your friend's purse getting stolen. And $250-$300 lost at MSS over 6ish beers? Ouch! Please tell me you weren't playing 9/6 JoB for only quarters. Might have to call the gaming commission if you were...:evillaugh
     
  17. Former Plaza Host

    Former Plaza Host Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jan 6, 2014
    Messages:
    465
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    200
    Great trip report my friend! Sorry for the little hiccups in a few aspects, but it seems you still had a great trip. Let me know when you come back of course. :)
     
  18. Iu25

    Iu25 High-Roller

    Joined:
    Jan 18, 2012
    Messages:
    820
    Location:
    Indiana
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    10
    Was playing full pay DDB until I got tired of losing and played about $20 on JOB just to try and keep playing for free drinks while I watched the game!
     
  19. Iu25

    Iu25 High-Roller

    Joined:
    Jan 18, 2012
    Messages:
    820
    Location:
    Indiana
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    10
    Feadolphus, thanks again for everything, you guys were great! Room was great as well, couldnt have been happier! Folks, give this guy a call if you need a room and are gonna play some money through at the Plaza, he will make it happen for you! Thanks again buddy!
     
  20. Former Plaza Host

    Former Plaza Host Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jan 6, 2014
    Messages:
    465
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    200
    Thanks for the shout out. As for the Tito machines, we are in the process of replacing them for upgraded ones. I do not know when that will happen at this moment but I will keep everyone as up do date as possible. I do agree it can be a pain to walk to the cage constantly. However, just grab a drink to make the walk a bit more enjoyable. lol :evillaugh
     
Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.