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Solos - Any Tips for a Good Trip Report?

Discussion in 'Misc. Vegas Chat' started by katmu, Apr 8, 2015.

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  1. katmu

    katmu Well-Known Member

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    My trip is getting close and all of the awesome trip reports recently have me thinking about writing a trip report. It's just that I'm going solo and I normally don't write trip reports for my solo trips. After all, there are really only so many selfies I want to take of myself, my meals when I'm solo tend not to be epic multi-course events and I sort of just go with what I feel like doing. So my fellow solo travelers what would you love to see in a solo trip report? What makes a good solo trip report?

    Here's a few things on my agenda for this trip:
    • Staying at Aria for the 1st time
    • Gym time including a couple of classes (weights and TRX) and spa pass
    • Meeting Kari to see Pat Benatar!!!
    • Trying to increase my confidence with table games, and try at least 1 new game. I've been "studying" every night for the last couple of weeks.
    • Go 4 days without anyone assuming I'm a hooker, MILF or a Cougar
    • Do some shopping
    • Would love to get my 1st Vegas handpay
    • Trying to decide on where to go for 1 nice dinner
    • Just generally relax, get a break from work and HAVE FUN
    • hopefully meet some new VMBers.
    • EDIT: Try Vesper martini at Vesper bar at Cosmo


    What should I add to my list?
     
    Last edited: Apr 14, 2015
  2. TheCooler

    TheCooler Professional Gambler and the Best Football Handica

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    Hey Katmu!

    I really enjoy a good trip report, so let me share some opinions. First, a live trip report beats a long report at the end of the trip almost every time. When someone writes a report at the end they are more likely to leave something out. Additionally, those end of trip reports usually just turn out as a huge wall of text with a few photos if you're lucky. However, a good live report posts events as they happen and are usually much more detailed. I am much more likely to subscribe to a good live report than I am to a wall-of-text report at the end of someone's trip.

    Joël Robuchon at MGM is great for solo dining. They have a a bar that wraps around the kitchen area and you can see them making things. There are usually other single people there too.

    BTW, best of luck at the tables. Soon you will be sitting down with tons of confidence! What games do you play and what are you thinking about trying?
     
  3. BlacklabberMike

    BlacklabberMike MIA

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    for a good TR you have to have a very good memory....but copious notes written on a napkin,receipt,or a scrap of paper will help jog the memory cells...
    or you could be like Bill Blazejowksi in night shift with a small tape recorder.
    Bill: I'm an idea man Chuck, I get ideas all day long. I can't control them. I can't even fight 'em


    Bill: if I want to. You know, 'AAAA!' So I say 'em in here and that way I never forget 'em. You see what I'm sayin'
     
  4. makikiboy

    makikiboy VIP Whale

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    I'm not the type to do live trip reports, mostly because I'm busy enjoying myself and don't want to spend time writing about it when I'm there. Also don't want to worry about wifi connections since I don't pay for it. Like mike here I usually have a tablet where I jot down what I did each day and anything special that I did on my trip. Prior to my trip I also have a day by day schedule of what I want to do each day. While I never fully keep to the schedule I generally use it for info (in case I get distracted or forget what I wanted to do). Later if I want to write a TR I use the notes and my schedule to come up with a item by item list of what I did on my trip.


    Like you, I'm not much of a solo trip TR person but I usually do a TR for myself when I go to special places like Europe or Asia. This is because I want to remember what I did on those trips, where I went, etc.


    BTW, unfortunately if you are a female solo traveler many people get the wrong impression of you, especially if you dress certain ways. Also many guys think because you are solo you may want company so may still try to hook up with you.
     
  5. boxofbirds

    boxofbirds Royally Flushed

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    In my experience here are a few tips: I agree a live report is better than remembering everything and having the energy to summarize your trip after you get home. Use tapatalk and do a test run to get familiar before you go if you haven't used it because it's a bit different than using the website. I like to take photos with my phone as I go along my day, and then I make my posts whenever I get back to my room to take advantage of the free wifi. Lots of short posts and let the photos speak for themselves!
     
  6. katmu

    katmu Well-Known Member

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    Ok, so it sounds like I should try a Live TR if I'm going to write one this trip. I downloaded the TapaTalk app and I can post pics ok from my phone. I'm fairly detailed oriented so hopefully that will help.

    I've played mostly craps and BJ in the past. The blogs and books I've been reading seem to recommend baccarat but I'm not sure which casino might be a good one to start at for baccarat?

    And the solo woman issue- I'm not dressing in a micro-mini or something but I would like to be able to wear a nice dress and heels if I'm going to show or dinner. And flirting and attention are fine, I've just had a few experiences with really aggressive men that make me a little more nervous in Vegas than I am at home.

    Joel Robuchon looks really nice and the food would remind me of France so that might be a good choice.
     
  7. dannyocean

    dannyocean High-Roller

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    L'Atelier is a great spot for a solo diner. Also, if you feel up for something extravagant, drop an e-mail to e by Jose Andres ... I got in there on short-notice as a solo diner. And it's such a fun, interactive experience, you don't notice being solo. Anywhere with a good bar, too, is great for solo dining ... StripSteak is my go-to for steak on that front, Bardot Brasserie has a really great bar, and I've eaten solo at the bar at Bouchon and DB Brasserie. Good choices abound.

    Also, katmu, I remember you had questions about Aria's gym. On my last trip there, I didn't see a rowing machine, that I recall, but they did have the "bicycle" style machine where you could work the pedals with your hands. Not sure if that's of interest at all.
     
  8. GreatGamblino

    GreatGamblino Low-Roller

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    Excited to read your report! And would love to hear about your gym & spa experiences, your take on any of the solo-friendly (or not-so-solo-friendly) dining places that you try out, and, of course, the gambling.

    The majority of my Vegas trips are solo (I'm female) and it is true that I am "approached" at least once every single trip. But it has always been friendly and good-natured - everyone is just having a good time. Never had a problem with anyone not taking the hint, or becoming aggressive or disrespectful, or mistaking me for a hooker (that I'm aware of!). Follow all of the basic safety measures just as you would anywhere else, and I'm sure you'll be fine. Even in your flirty dress and heels. :)

    Enjoy!
     
  9. katmu

    katmu Well-Known Member

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    Thanks Danny. UkFanatic had reported he saw a rower tucked away in a corner of the gym. If not, I can always hit the treadmill. It looks like we have similar tastes in restaurants as I really liked both DB Brasserie and Bouchon when I stayed at Palazzo so I will check out your other recs.

    GreatGamblino- great to see another solo female Vegas lover. I will do my best not to disappoint with my TR.:) It was really just one incident in particular that made me nervous (crossing the street from Mirage after seeing Love back to Palazzo and 4 guys walk up behind me and one of them became physical.) I'm sure this trip will be fine.
     
  10. IWannaBeInVegas

    IWannaBeInVegas VIP Whale

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    Im in the minority in that I only read select live trip reports. I prefer to read everything together for the most part, but reports like PT had could not be done that way and I did enjoy it.

    I go solo every trip and last trip I went (although in 2011) I did both a live report and a complete report, I was catering to both audiences and if you read the live report the other was more than likely boring. I don't do selfies and its VERY RARE that I will take photos of food. Most of my pics will be of rooms, things I see interesting and things like that. I know for my next trip I am going to do both live and complete report as well, just to make sure all audiences are covered.
     
  11. xman30

    xman30 High-Roller

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    All 10 of my trips have been solo trips. I've done reports for my last five trips. I've been told that that my reports are good (I have to agree!!! :whistle: :wink). What helps me with the reports (it's something I did even before I started doing reports) is to do meticulous planning. I always start months in advance. I write down in a little notebook what I'm going to do & where I'm going to eat each day. I write it down in the order I'm going to do it in. I write down where attractions & restaurants are located, when they open & close, & how much they cost. During my trips I write a lot down. When I got to an attraction/event/restaurant & what my thoughts are about what I experienced. I also take a lot of pictures & videos. I include the best ones in my reports because a picture is worth 1000 words. I separate each day. One post = One day. I think it helps the report be more organized.

    xman30
     
  12. Packer

    Packer VIP Whale

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    You are more than welcome to play with me. I mean play baccarat with me! Lol. Micro mini or a burka I don't really care but the heels do sound good. With clothes of course. Lol again. Seriously, come on over Saturday night if you can and say hello. We will play some low limit baccarat, throw the dice and play whatever you want. Turns out I might be going solo too. Haven't done that in years. So PM me if you can. I'm sure I will be getting together with pleepleus and we will show you a fun time!
    And yes do a live TR!!
     
  13. katmu

    katmu Well-Known Member

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    Thank you for the offer Packer. I would love to learn baccarat from a pro.

    I'll PM you once I'm home. I'm stuck at work late as it's my on-call week.
     
  14. Packer

    Packer VIP Whale

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    Nice!
    Pro, no. Know how to play and willing to take a chance-gamble, yes! So let's do it! Will be fun. Maybe we can meet up with some other VMBers that night? Or not. :)
     
  15. breanna61

    breanna61 Super Moderator

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    It's 2015 Mike.....smart phones have a Notes app.
     
  16. BlacklabberMike

    BlacklabberMike MIA

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    i wouldn't know... i have a dumb phone
     
  17. breanna61

    breanna61 Super Moderator

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    Shhhhhhhhh, it'll hear you.
     
  18. BreakEven

    BreakEven High-Roller

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    Kudos to you for planning ahead on the gym stuff. I was surprised at how many other people were in the gym there early in the morning and not puking. Have you tried TRX before?


    You should change that to "go 4 days without anyone TELLING ME I'm a hooker/MILF/Cougar" because someone will be thinking it (blame DNA & booze).

    Looks like a great list, hope you have a wonderful time. I've been to Vegas solo on almost every trip & love it.

    What you described goes several levels beyond organized. Even travel writers don't do that. It's really not worth it. Nobody cares that much. Enjoy the trip & the experiences, don't focus on transcribing them. Something you might want to consider for future trips: http://www.bestbuy.com/site/gopro-chest-mount-harness-black/1004804.p?id=1218249514750&skuId=1004804. It would make things easier.
     
  19. katmu

    katmu Well-Known Member

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    Thanks Breakeven.

    I go to the gym to relax. I currently alternate between TRX, kettle bells and free weights for resistance training. I like mixing it up.
     
  20. msujen12

    msujen12 Low-Roller

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    I've been on several solo trips and tend to make friends along the way. Last time I was there I made a friend in the a Diamond Lounge so I had a buddy for dinner and then went our separate ways. My point being that your solo trip only needs to be as "solo" as you want it to be.

    Old Homestead at Caesars is a great solo meal. I usually just sit at the bar and the bartenders are cute and fun and it makes for a nice dining experience.

    When are you going Kat?
     
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