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The 6th Every other Year Family Trip (Oct 6-11)

Discussion in 'Vegas Trip Reports' started by buzz_king, Oct 17, 2014.

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  1. buzz_king

    buzz_king Low-Roller

    Joined:
    Jul 22, 2012
    Messages:
    136
    Location:
    Iowa
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    49

    My Trip Report

    Cast of Characters

    Buzz – Trip number 46 for me, first trip in 1995 and the 45th in August.

    Buzzette – Trip number 37 for my girl, all but two with me. If you remember from previous trips, we have been happily unmarried for 22 years now.

    Family – We started every other year trips in 2004 with various members of Buzzette’s family. This trip we have two brothers, one sister, and a 21-year-old Vegas virgin nephew.

    Monday, October 6

    We flew Delta out of MSP for about $300 each with free bags with My Delta AmEx. We arrived on time and shuttled to the Car Rental Facility where we picked up a minivan from Alamo with Buzzette as the driver. On family trips, I let her drive so I don’t have to be the chauffer.

    Buzzette and I each had two comp nights in Go Deluxe Queens at the Flamingo. One brother had one comp and one reduced night in a Fab Deluxe Queen after someone played just a little on his card in August. I was able to get my room changed to a King and we ended up with a view of Drai’s pool and the Bellagio fountains.

    After settling in, we all met at Margaritaville. I had chicken wings and a boat drink while Buzzette shared the Volcano Nachos and another appetizer with her sister. I charged the $140 bill to my room to use up my $50 resort credit and collected cash for the difference!

    Buzzette and I gambled on our own the rest of the night. We spent almost three hours playing Mississippi Stud at The Cromwell and followed that up with a little slot play at Flamingo. I then played $25 double deck blackjack after she went to the room. Flamingo gave back just over half what The Cromwell took.

    Tuesday, October 7

    Before lunch, Buzzette and I played off various freeplay. I think she won about $60 on the $50 that came with her Flamingo room and I won a total of $12 at The Cromwell and Bally’s. We crossed to the Bellagio where I low played a China Shores for $0.90 a spin. I got in the bonus on the 3rd spin and ended up winning about $78 on 108 free spins.

    Lunch was at the Bellagio Buffet but not before hitting the players club to cash various MyVegas offers. I had a 2-free and 1-free buffet while Buzzette and each of her brothers had the 1-free. I think it was close to 1:00 but they still had bacon out so I really enjoyed the buffet. I think we all did and it was free. Our rewards did not require a MLife stay and were purchased before the price went up. Great value.

    The family went to the Shark Reef at Mandalay Bay (MyVegas) and Buzzette and I went on our own MyVegas run. First we picked up Buzzette’s 2-for-1 drink award at Monte Carlo’s Big Chill. And then we went to New York New York to get my $50 credit at the Bar at Times Square. I was somewhat concerned that this award would be difficult to get because it now requires a MLife stay but it was no trouble at all.

    After picking up the award, we went to Planet Hollywood to play more Mississippi Stud. I lost again but I just can’t stop playing the game. We met the family back at NYNY where we easily overspent our $50 credit on six drinks and six jello shots. Buzzette and I split the extra cost and the tip.

    I’m not sure what Buzzette and the family did the rest of the night but I spent the next five hours at The Cromwell playing Mississippi Stud (often solo) and drinking many Miller 64s. I doubt I will ever stay at The Cromwell but I love playing there. It is quiet and relaxing, and full of “beautiful” people. At about 11:15 PM, I played K7 to a K77 board for $400. I cashed out a small profit and then won a drunken $60 on the Wild Panda back at Flamingo. At least I assume it was the Panda.

    The next morning I would cash out my 975 resort credits toward my resort fees and be just short of 5000 tier credits for Platinum. I am still waiting the ten days for my room charges to post to my account which will get me there.
     
  2. buzz_king

    buzz_king Low-Roller

    Joined:
    Jul 22, 2012
    Messages:
    136
    Location:
    Iowa
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    49
    Wednesday, October 8

    Wednesday was Moving Day after two great days on the Strip.

    We found the minivan where we left it on Monday and headed out to show the Vegas virgin the rest of Las Vegas. Our first destination was to find lunch on our way to the Pinball Hall of Fame. And after 46 times to Las Vegas, I finally made it to In N Out Burger. It was good but not special.

    I only spent a dollar at the Pinball Hall of Fame and I think one quarter was for a gumball. I am having some trouble with my wrist (carpel tunnel?) and pinball did not help.

    Eventually we made our way to South Point for three nights. I had an any two free night mailer and Buzzette had a two free weeknight mailer but our host lined us each up with three free nights plus a third room at casino rate. My mailer also had $65 freeplay, $40 resort credit, dinner for two at Don Vito’s or Primary Prime Rib, and 25% off at the Spa. Buzzette had some freeplay.

    We were at South Point long enough for me to turn my freeplay into $101 on the Wild Panda and then lose all but a dollar of that at blackjack in 10 minutes.

    Buzzette then took Las Vegas Boulevard all the way from South Point to the Neon Museum to show the Vegas virgin the whole Strip. We booked the 6:30 tour (first time for all) which was the first night tour. Jeff was a great tour guide and Buzzette took lots of pictures. Someday I will get them transferred from her camera to my laptop.

    Next we parked at the California for $3 and walked to Fremont Street. I decided I did not want to worry about gambling to get free parking so we just paid the $3. Buzzette and her nephew did the shorter zip line for $20 each. They wanted to take the longer one but there was an hour wait for it.

    After deep dish pizza and a root beer at the Chicago Brewing Company, I won $20 playing Mississippi Stud at the 4 Queens and then $180 on the Wild Panda back at South Point. I went to bed early (for Vegas) after my first (and only!) winning day of the trip.
     
  3. buzz_king

    buzz_king Low-Roller

    Joined:
    Jul 22, 2012
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    136
    Location:
    Iowa
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    49
    Thursday, October 9

    Our tour of Greater Las Vegas took us to Green Valley Ranch for lunch where three of us cashed the 2-free buffet award from MyVegas. I was worried about a long line here but we had no problem when lunch started at 11:00. And before lunch, I hit their Wild Panda for a quick $60.

    Next? My first trip to Hoover Dam since 1998. The nephew and his dad wanted to take the full tour but they were only offering the Power Plant tour so we all just walked around. I took a two-state selfie with the <--Nevada|Arizona--> sign. And then we drove across the new Bypass Bridge and turned around at Exit 2 in Arizona.

    Back to South Point where I needed to start earning my future comp. I won $200 on the Wild Panda putting me ahead for the trip! I should have quit! I then settled in at a blackjack table where I would eventually be for over six hours and many Bud Select 55s. Buzzette and the family went back to GVR to eat at Lucille’s in the District but I stayed put.

    I was still on my first $100 when they returned which means I was still ahead for the trip. At 9:42 PM, I receive this text: “Guess what baby! I am going to be getting my first hand pay!!” I eventually find Buzzette at a Pompeii machine where she had hit $1404 in a bonus at $2.00 a spin. She hit five chariots for $1200 on one spin.

    This was awesome for Buzzette but the Kiss of Death for me. We NEVER both win on the same trip. Well, maybe not NEVER but almost NEVER. My marathon blackjack session turned ugly as did my next attempt on the Wild Panda. I did manage a small blackjack win to end the night but nowhere close to what I had lost when I went full tilt after her win.
     
  4. buzz_king

    buzz_king Low-Roller

    Joined:
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    Location:
    Iowa
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    49
    Friday, October 10

    I spent the whole day Friday at South Point playing slots, a little 2-cent 10-play VP, and blackjack. I had a couple of good slot hits but overall the day was a disaster. Not a huge loss compared to some days in the past, but very disappointing considering I was ahead or even 3 ½ days into a 5 day trip.

    Buzzette and I had lunch with her sister and nephew at Baja Miguel’s to use my $40 resort credit. I had a taco and two enchiladas. Buzzette had shrimp tacos.

    Buzzette took the family to the Silverton as well as a drive through Town Square Mall. The Silverton use to have two Wild Pandas but they were gone in May so I did not go. Maybe I should have.

    All six of us ate dinner at Primarily Prime Rib. For our dinner for two, we had a bottle of wine, two appetizers, two entrees, and two desserts. I had the shrimp cocktail, the blackened Cajun prime rib, and a chocolate layer cake. It was about a $100 comp but I paid for it!

    Saturday, October 11

    We got a late checkout for our room, returned the minivan, and caught a late afternoon flight back to MSP arriving about 9:00 PM. We did a reverse Stay and Fly in Eagan.

    CET – 550 coin-in plus 10 hours of Mississippi Stud and 30 minutes of blackjack, 583 tier credits. I should reach Platinum once my room charges are added to my tier credits. All I need from CET is free rooms. Anything else is a bonus.

    South Point – 7395 coin-in plus 8 hours of blackjack. A little more coin-in but less blackjack than our May trip so we will see what happens to my offers. My winter offer is the same but I’m sure it does not reflect this trip.

    Other – a little play at Bellagio, 4 Queens (unrated), and GVR.

    This was not a good trip money wise but I had a great time. And Buzzette came home ahead so that’s a plus. Not sure when I will be back but it won’t be too long.
     
  5. tringlomane

    tringlomane STP Addicted Beer Snob

    Joined:
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    Thanks for sharing! Glad your ~wife won at least! And agree with you on in-n-out burger. I was pretty disappointed when I tried it.
     
  6. buzz_king

    buzz_king Low-Roller

    Joined:
    Jul 22, 2012
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    Location:
    Iowa
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    49
  7. carolineno

    carolineno VIP Whale

    Joined:
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    Location:
    Boston
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    Great photos! Can't wait to go to the Neon Museum at night!
     
    Ladies getaway, somewhere on the strip with a pool :)
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