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Stayed at Venetian - Gambled downtown June 29 - July 2

Discussion in 'Vegas Trip Reports' started by DiamondJim21, Jul 4, 2016.

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  1. DiamondJim21

    DiamondJim21 High-Roller

    Joined:
    Aug 20, 2014
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    Location:
    Indiana
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    52

    My Trip Report

    Trip Report June 29-July 2, 2016


    Flew out on Cleveland on Southwest touching down at 12:15 p.m. on Wednesday June 29. Used Uber for the first time. Took Uber from the airport to Venetian. The pick up location for Uber is little hard to find, but there are very good directions on the McCarran Airport website – they refer to it as Ride Share. For Terminal 1, it’s in the parking deck on level 2M across the pedestrian bridge from the Terminal 1 building.


    Uber arrived promptly and had a nice drive with driver to Venetian. From the airport to Venetian at Wednesday at about 1:30 p.m. was $10.87, although I had the first time use coupon, so it was free (value of coupon was $15 for Vegas). No problems checking in, Venetian had the correct rate and my $150 resort credit in place. Opted against the higher cost room with a view of the strip, so I had a view of air conditioner units from the 19th floor, although I could see the sunrise. The room was beautiful, I think the best in Vegas and I have stayed in numerous nice Vegas hotels (although nothing can beat the balcony at Cosmo).


    After getting settled in the room, I went down to walk around the casino. I played some video black jack and JOB near the Grazie desk. Grazie card didn’t work, so had to get that replaced – no problem. Started drinking Jack and diets at a reasonable clip, so I was feeling pretty good. I also played some Game of Thrones slots for a little while, which was fun since I am a big fan of the show and I won about $50 bucks. Then it was time for happy hour at DB Brasserie for oysters (from 5-6 only). Arrived at about 4:40 p.m. and sampled the babganoosh (puree’d eggplant) and hummus – very good and plentiful for $9 at happy hour price. Also got a Green Flash IPA, which was actually pretty good and I don’t like IPAs as a rule. They it was oyster time and they were good and medium sized from the west coast - $1 each you can’t go wrong – I had a dozen.


    I had a business associate arriving in town at 9 p.m. and we had agreed to meet at Ellis Island for dinner. I headed over to EI at about 7 p.m. using Uber again. Venetian to EI was $5.63. I like EI although I’m not sure about all of the recent upgrades, almost like a different place. Still enjoyed playing 9/6 JOB at quarter level, video blackjack, buffalo slots, and $5 blackjack. Started drinking their seasonal beer, which was a Bock, and it was very good. Had more than a couple of those. My friend arrived at about 11 p.m. We headed over to the Café for the steak dinner only to be told it would be an hour wait. This was because they had half the restaurant shut down, not sure why. Well we were both still on east coast time, so that wasn’t going to work. We headed back to Venetian.


    We decided to eat at Grand Luxe Café, and it was good. Just had sandwiches but they were very good. After that we called it a night.


    June 30

    The next morning we had a business meeting at 10:00. We met at 8:30 am Bouchon for breakfast. It was very good, although I just had the American breakfast consisting of eggs, potatoes, sausage, bacon, toast, a baguette, coffee, and fresh-squeezed orange juice. My friend had eggs benedict, which he said was very good. We then headed to the meeting.


    After the meeting, we headed over to Mirage to play some $10 Freebet blackjack and blackjack switch. They only have one table of each now. Historically, they have always had two of each – too bad. We played both for quite awhile, but couldn’t find any luck. Still, had a few Jack and Diets, and then switched over to Manhattans. We then headed back over to Venetian and played some blackjack switch. Funny side story, well not really funny – while playing at Venetian, this crazy gal sits down at third base and after losing a few hands starts yelling about how she won earlier at this table, in the seat I was the seat she won in, and that if she was sitting in that seat she would be winning (which of course was not true since I was not winning) and then she starts telling me how I should be playing and what cards I should be switching and what she would be doing. I can usually put up with a lot from other players, but this was really annoying and unrelenting, and typically I leave when a table no longer is fun, but $10 blackjack switch tables at Venetian are rare, and my friends wanted to stay. So I stayed for awhile because my friends wanted to, but left when it was time to head to dinner.


    Then it was time for another visit to DB Brasserie for happy hour and Lavo at Palazzo for dinner. Everyone enjoyed IPAs and oysters at DB Brasserie. We then headed over to Lavo for dinner. Lavo is an Italian restaurant but with a widely varied menu including steak. It is located near the front desk at Palazzo. Our reservation was at 6 p.m. and it wasn’t too busy when we arrived, but continued to get busier through the evening. I started with a grey goose martini. We had the giant meatball with ricotta cheese for an appetizer, and it was delicious. It is about the size of a slightly small baseball, which is a lot of meatball. I would get this again. For an entrée, I went with a seafood pasta dish with a light cream sauce and while it was very good, I probably would not get it again – too many other good things on the menu. The chicken parmesan was also a big hit with two members of our party. They also said the wedge salad was very good. High marks all around for Lavo.


    After dinner we headed over to Casino Royale for some cheap blackjack switch. We played here for a while, but couldn’t find any wins. So I played slots for awhile and then we headed back to Venetian. We played blackjack switch again for awhile back at Venetian, which was still at $10 a hand even on Thursday night. Still couldn’t find a winning table.


    July 1

    Had breakfast at Grand Luxe Café. Friend had eggs benedict again, not as good as Bouchon, but still good. I had their breakfast buffet, which was just set up for breakfast, but was a good value compared to the rest of the menu. It was $19.50, which included coffee and fresh-squeezed orange juice. The highpoint of the buffet was the omelet station, but they also had scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, potatoes, fruit, yogurt, oatmeal, cereal, and some good bread for toast. I had the omelet, which was slightly undercooked. We then went over to the Venetian sportsbook and made a bet on the Indians game. We then headed downtown. Valet parked at D. We walked down to Golden Gate. We played blackjack for awhile, and then took a break and played video blackjack and watched part of what turned out to be a 19 inning game between the Indians and Toronto, which the Indians ended up winning (and we won our bets).


    After Golden Gate, we headed down to Four Queens to play some $5 blackjack switch. Played for a long while but couldn’t find a winning session. Also, played some 9/6 JOB while at Four Queens. (One note, Four Queens did not seem as hot (temperature) as it has in the past, maybe they improved their HVAC system). We then headed over to Main Street Station for happy hour. We both got the Porter, which was very good, and more oysters and some kind of a pulled pork flat bread that was delicious. Oysters are not part of their happy hour, but they are $16.99 at regular price, and they are big, fresh blue points – so that’s a pretty good value. We then blackjack for awhile at MSS at the $5 dollar level, but still couldn’t find a win. By now it’s around 6 p.m. and we headed back to Fremont Street and it was starting to pick up. We walked all the way down to El Cortez, checking out some of the new establishments along the way like Park on Fremont and Therapy. Played blackjack for awhile at ElCo, but didn’t win. Headed back to Four Queens for some more blackjack switch. After that, we listened to a band for awhile and just watched the crowd in downtown LV on a Friday night.


    We then headed back to Venetian and had a late dinner at Grand Luxe Café again. I had the chicken parmesan and it wasn’t that great, wouldn’t get it again (chicken wasn’t pounded thin enough and breading was too heavy and marinara sauce on the spaghetti was very flavorful or plentiful). Friend had some sort of California chicken sandwich, which he said was good. That was it for today. Heading home tomorrow.


    July 2

    I got up and got breakfast at the food court at about 6:30 a.m., which most places seemed to be open early for breakfast. I had a normal breakfast of scrambled eggs, sausage, and breakfast potatoes. We took off for the airport at about 7:15 a.m., returned the rental car and said our goodbyes since we were flying out of different terminals. Only a short line for check in and security so I got to the gate in plenty of time. Uneventful flight home and we actually arrived a few minutes early.


    Overall this was a good trip, but gambling was awful. Couldn’t find a winning session anywhere. Oh well, my last three trips have been winners, so I guess the odds just caught up to me – and a losing trip to Vegas is better than most trips anywhere else. Still had a great time with good friends and got to play a lot of blackjack, had many good drinks, a bunch of oysters at a great price, and a great meal.


    Thanks for reading.
     
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  2. CheeseHog

    CheeseHog Low-Roller

    Joined:
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    We love Grand Lux! The only "problem" is that their savings are huge. We always have the Asian Nachos appetizer and a second appetizer and call it a day!
     
  3. casinokid68

    casinokid68 Caesars Diamond Member

    Joined:
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    Great trip report!! Sounds like you had a great time, despite the losses. And you are 100% correct, a losing trip in Vegas is better than a vacation somewhere else!!
     
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  4. RynoBU

    RynoBU Low-Roller

    Joined:
    Apr 13, 2015
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    Location:
    Texas
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    8
    Nice report; thanks for posting.
     
  5. tringlomane

    tringlomane STP Addicted Beer Snob

    Joined:
    Jan 21, 2013
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    Nice report! Sounds like you really like those oysters! And yeah, I like quite a few of Green Flash beers. I usually have at least one at TAG every trip. A bit pricey in stores though. :( Hopefully you'll go back to your winning ways next trip!
     
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