When Vegas works on MY terms 1/23-1/26

So this was a fairly last minute solo trip for me - i had been looking forward to seeing Janet Jackson here in Houston on the 23rd but she postponed for 6 (!) months (after already waiting 6 months since i got the tickets). On top of that, i broke up with someone just before the holidays, so yeah i needed an escape.

Even though i go to Vegas twice a year, this is my first trip report in quite a while, and for good reason i suppose! I do enjoy myself when i’m there (of course) and i do have withdrawals after i get home but this is the first trip in a while where i wish i never left! Here we go…

First off, i love a sale, and was able to get an amazing rate for 3 nights at Westgate (LVH), paying all but the resort fee with credit card points. Also paid for half my flight with Southwest miles, and only paid $88 for a car through Enterprise.

Also important to note that i really only play $5 blackjack and $0.05 or $0.25 video poker. Low roller all the way!

Sat 1/23
Arrived in Vegas at about 1130am and had my first meal downtown at Le Thai. Was happy to see that they offer a lunch special on Saturdays ($9.95 which includes drink). Spicy full and happy, i went over to El Cortez to use my slot play coupon from the Las Vegas Advisor members rewards book (LVA MRB). Also played some blackjack there and came out ahead.

Next was a trip to the Cal to play video poker and blackjack. The last time i was there my favorite VP machines were closed off due to construction. They have returned and are still full pay - brilliant! Strangely enough i was there while they were filming the one year anniversary episode of a Hawaiian TV show called Living 808. Terry Fator was there and other local performers - random! Thankfully it only blocked off a few tables and not the machines.

After call i went to Binions, 4 Queens, and Downtown Grand to use LVA slot play coupons. Unlike most people, when it comes to slot play i play only the required amount to cash out, so i always come out ahead playing VP. Always fun when i get four of a kind on $10 slot play!

By that point i was hungry so i went to Chicago Brewing Co. at 4 Queens and had half an order of garlic knots (amazing) and took the rest to go (never ended up eating them - oops). I hadn’t checked into Westgate so i went there for a break. A ‘heads up’ of some sort went from the valet to an employee standing right inside the door of the hotel who greeted me by name and led me to the check in desk. I didn’t mind that - kind of a nice touch and surely something that Westgate implemented once taking over the hotel. Unfortunately my feeling towards the new Westgate ended there - there were employees lurking all over the place trying to talk to you and entice you into signing up for things. I had no patience for that and i think eventually they could tell!

After resting for a bit in the room (keep in mind i had been awake since 345am Vegas time with just a short nap on the plane) i watched some basketball in Westgate’s wonderfully renovated sportsbook. I was also thrilled to see that they had moved the ‘good’ VP machines to a different part of the room but maintained the pay tables. I used an LVA slot play coupon there and called it a night. I was up big thanks to my VP/BJ luck and the relative abundance of slot play.

Sun 1/24
Up early (as is my way when i’m in LV) and off to Blueberry Hill on W. Flamingo for breakfast. Chose to sit at the bar which resulted in amazingly quick service! Had the french toast with strawberry sauce and fresh strawberries (no whipped cream). Definitely tasty but may try the waffle next time.

Since i got done so quickly i had plenty of time to play BJ and VP at Orleans which is only 5 minutes away. Also played my American Casino Guide (ACG) and LVA slot plays and did well. I even hit on my ACG matchplay - an unexpected surprise!

Decided to quit while ahead and went back to Westgate to watch most of the 2nd half of the Broncos/Pats game on the big screen in the theater. Helluva finish and certainly chose the right hour to spend there! Only disappointment was price increase for hot dogs - $3 instead of $1? *sigh*

Was about to watch some of the Panthers/Cards game and then realized that i was in Vegas to GAMBLE, not watch football (plus i didn’t think it could get more exciting than what i had just seen at the end of the first game - another gamble that paid off)! I went back downtown to Cal and promptly lost money at both BJ and VP. Not willing to give up, i went over to Main Street Station for some VP. Broke even there and then decided to play BJ which i haven’t done there in around 5 years. I hesitantly sat down at an empty table - dealer and i going head to head. What followed was the most glorious ~45 min in my Vegas blackjack history - i was hitting EVERYTHING and only stopped after the table starting turning a bit. Cashed out +$120 ($5 table)!!!! What a run!

Took my winnings over to M&M Soul Food Cafe (on LV Blvd off Sahara) for dinner. Had a delicious plate of oxtails & gravy, sweet potatoes, and fried okra (plus free corn pancakes to start).

It was still early, so i said i might as well go over to Ellis Island to use my slot play coupons there. Good Lord was it loud thanks to some woman either lip syncing or doing karaoke in the middle of the blackjack pit. They moved the good paying VP machines but i found them and did decently on the free play. I decided to switch to playing Bonus Poker Deluxe on that machine with my own money. What followed was arguably the most glorious hour in my video poker history - i hit SIX 4OAKs!!!! $40 EACH TIME ($0.10 machine, max bet)!!!! Cashed out up $200!!! Needless to stay, i didn’t want to give back my bounty so i went to Westgate and called it a night.



Mon 1/25
Up early still grinning from the run(s) i went on the night before! Was excited to head over to Caesars for the Bacchanal buffet using my LVA $10 discount coupon. Was even more excited when there was no line - the good luck continues! Since i got in earlier than expected, i had to be there a while so i could try breakfast and lunch. Had a plate of breakfast/lunch food (what was already out), then a dessert plate, then a lunch plate, all spread out over 90 minutes or so. Overall i was satisfied but i now know what i liked and didn’t like and will keep that in mind if/when i go again.


It was off to Gold Coast to use my LVA slot play and ACG matchplay. Had another great BJ session - one on one with the dealer again. May have even gotten a blackjack with this matchplay i think? On a ROLL!

Unfortunately i got a little cocky and took a risk at Orleans that didn't pay off - $25 BJ. Lost a bit, but then made some of it back when i returned to a $5 table.

Decided to make a couple bets on basketball and then went to Lagasse’s Stadium to watch parts of the games. Won both bets (!) and had a decent hamburger dinner there. Went over to Ellis Island and won at blackjack, which i never play there! Finished off the night back at Westgate playing VP but couldn’t get anything going.

Tues 1/26
Last day - had to make the most of it! Had breakfast at Golden Gate - pancakes at DuPars! Literally scarfed those down and then went to Plaza to use my LVA slot play.

They have finally allowed you to use it on certain short pay VP machines after only allowing you to use it on slots for a while, so i came out ahead. Head to El Cortez for some blackjack and then Ellis Island (obviously) for some VP. Came out up on both. Used my LVA Ellis Island 50% off cafe coupon for their decent fried chicken plate - 4 pieces with fries (subbed out for some great mashed potatoes) and cole slaw. Took half to go and head to the airport.

I won’t go into the nightmare that was McCarran airport when i got there, since the trip was so amazing leading up to this point and i don’t want to kill the mood! Needless to say i did make my flight, and had an empty seat in my row on the flight going home - score!

Hopefully this report makes you almost as happy as i felt experiencing it! Thank you for reading!

LS

 

Thanks for the report. Glad it was a success.

 

I enjoyed the read, hope the heart is on the mend from the breakup. Thank you for taking the time to tell us about your trip.

 

I was smiling reading about the whole trip! Sounds like everything went your way & there is no better Vegas trip than that. I enjoyed all the photos - 6 4OAKS amazing!
Thanks for putting it together

 

Nice active report! You did a lot and highlighted why solo trips are a roaring success. Whatever, whenever.

The excessive hawking of products would get old for me too. They're super aggressive there.

 

Especially at "Boner Deluxe". Flusher and BeeeJay would definitely be proud! I'll be tempted to play some of that too next time I go to Ellis Island...if I can drag myself away from the Quick Quads! :evillaugh

Great run! Nice to see when gambling lines up so well!

 

Thanks for the report, enjoyable read. Love it when people win.

 

Hope I can have a run like you did next week on my trip! Like you I am going to take advantage of the slot play and match plays and move around a lot. Thanks for the report!

 

Very nice report and was a pleasure to read! Also, congrats on your wins and thanks for posting the great pics!

 

Great trip! Well done!

 

Well done! Great report and even better trip...gives the rest of us hope for our next pilgrimage to the holy land.

 

Congrats! Looking forward to my first solo trip post-breakup! Hope the gambling Gods are kind to me also. Thanks again for sharing!

 

Nice report, thanks for sharing. Sorry to hear about the breakup.

 

Greta report and pictures!! Congrats on a winning trip. Being solo in Vegas is the best!!!

 

Nice report. Sounds like one of mine ( stay off-strip, hit Blueberry Hill, hit downtown). What's you avg at the lanes?

 

Six Boner Deluxe quads in an hour and crack cakes... nice report, Laur!

 

This is my kind of trip!
Enjoyed your report!

 

Great trip and thanks for sharing!

 

Nice report - love the food pics.

 

Where were those VP machines at Ellis Island????

Where were those VP machines at Ellis Island?