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June 29-July 4

Discussion in 'Vegas Trip Reports' started by Texas Pam, Jul 7, 2007.

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  1. Texas Pam

    Texas Pam Low-Roller

    Joined:
    Nov 26, 2004
    Messages:
    102
    Trips to Las Vegas:
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    My Trip Report

    Warning: Very Long:ssst:

    Went to LV Fri 6/29-7/4 with 4 nights comped at Bally’s and the fifth night at the rate of $65. Had an offer at MSS for free nights, but didn’t want to change hotels – I like being settled in one place for my trip. Normally I fly non-stop on SW, but I had an American ticket that I had to use. This required a stopover in Dallas, which I will never do again.

    I’ve had great experiences with Dollar, so I reserved a car as well.

    Fri 6/29
    Left work early to catch the 6:55pm flight to Dallas. Got to the airport, TSA takes my toothpaste and a tiny can of hairspray that I’ve traveled with for the past year. The guy repacks my small baggie, and leaves some remainder “toiletries†in the larger baggie.

    The plane was delayed an hour. Finally got on the plane and pilot comes on saying “Dallas airport is closed due to thunderstormsâ€. The cell phone people start – all I hear is “Dallas airport closed†over and over again. The pilot comes back on 30 minutes later saying the airport opened and we have to wait for the planes that were circling Dallas airport to land before we can take off. Here come the cell phone people again “Dallas airport open, we have to wait until we can take offâ€â€” I swear, it was 3/4th’s of the plane doing this. Then the pilot comes on again and says it would be another 45 minutes before we could get clearance. The cell phone people again. The wait was not annoying; it was the cell phone people on the phone every time the pilot made an announcement.

    Finally left 3 hours later and landed in Dallas. I was on was the same plane that was going to Las Vegas, so I didn’t have to deal with a missed flight. I had to get off that plane for my sanity, but luckily the plane was leaving soon afterwards (so I thought). Get back on the plane and it was delayed. Cell phone people again.

    Took off and arrived in Vegas 10 hours after I started. It was 1am Vegas time. Went to catch the bus to the car rental center and the line was longer than the taxi cab lines of days past. The bus fumes were unbearable. I got up closer in the line and noticed a bus was ready to leave and had a lot of space on it. So I went through the “barriers†and stood in line to get on that bus. The guy who was doing a lousy job of not filling the busses came screaming after me, put his body in front of the bus door with his arms extended and told me that he was not going to let me get on that bus. I couldn’t believe it! He held up loading the bus behind him to do this.

    Anyway I finally get on a bus and arrive at the car rental center. I walk down to the Dollar Express loading area (I’m a member), and it was closed. It’s 2am. So I went back up to the counter and stood in a very long line. Finally get my car after dealing with a wrong reservation and a very pissed off clerk, and it took another 45 minutes to get out of the lot; the man checking paperwork was taking forever to let cars go by (I don’t know why). Get on the road to head to Bally’s and the traffic was at a standstill.

    It’s 330am. Finally get to Bally’s – and there is yet another line. So tired, and so fed up, I get up to the counter and the nice man said “Gee you look tiredâ€. I said “A fifty is in it for you if you get me a good room nowâ€. That perked him up and he put me in a two-level suite for 2 nights and I’d have to move to a Diamond room after that. I told him I didn’t want to change rooms, please just give me a good room. He didn’t have any, so I stayed in suite that night, with plans to move to another room the next morning. Stop at the gift shop to buy some toothpaste and head up to the room. It was nice, but the stairs getting up to the bedroom were a killer. I didn’t unpack since I was moving the next day.

    Hungry, I walked over to Paris “Le Cafe†restaurant to eat. It’s 4am. Another big line. I’m seated and it took FOREVER to get waited on. I just wanted some eggs and pancakes and to get to bed! They are out of sausage, so I get the ham. It’s 5am and my breakfast arrives. Pancakes are cold and hard, ham looks greasy and inedible and I could only eat the eggs. I told the waitress to bring my check right away. She never returned; half hour later I left $3 and bolted. On my way to the room I put $5 in a penny slot and won $20. Inching closer to the elevator, I put that $20 in a Top Dollar machine and won $35.

    It was 6am when I took the elevator to my room.

    This was the first day of my Vegas vacation!

    Saturday 6/30
    Wake up at 9am. A message is waiting on the phone with a text message saying my new room was ready – call the front desk. So I did. The lady was very nice, and also surprised that I was up so early. She told me to come down and get my new room key.

    I made some coffee, showered, packed up my stuff and went to the desk; another line. The lady at the front desk said my room wasn’t ready and she didn’t know what I was talking about. OMG! Not another day like yesterday!! It took her two trips – “to the back†-- and she finally had it figured out. I Got My Room!

    Unpacked and headed out to meet BigAl and Mr. & Mrs. Northern girl at MSS. We hooked up, talked awhile then drove over to Silverton for the Yahtzee craps fest. We all signed up for players card and got 4 free match plays. Went to the craps table and it was an unexciting and cold table. Went over to play super fun blackjack and knew it was sudden death for me when there was a dealer change to an Asian women. Lost a few hands, then I got up and went back to the craps table. Got on a roll and recouped my previous craps and blackjack losses. Overall, craps was very good to me on this trip.

    We were hungry and I had two 241’s for the buffet, so the 4 of us went to eat. Thanks Big Al for picking up the tab. Had a good time at brunch, then we headed back and I dropped them downtown and went back to Bally’s to clean up for the evening. Walked over to Caesar’s because I had a ticket to see Celine Dion. Got there a little early, so I hopped on some slots and won a few hundred. Celine was GREAT! I was so glad I got tickets. After the show walked over to Barbary Coast (Bill’s, but I still feel like it’s the Barbary), and caught a few hundred on a hot craps table. Walked back to Bally’s and hopped on the $1 WOF and won $400 in spins. Cashed out and called it a night.

    :blink:Pet Peeve: What’s with the people and their kids? The kids are crying and miserable; what are these parents thinking?

    Sunday 7/1
    Up at 930am. Have a meet at the Hilton between 10-11am. Get there at 11am and get a players card. Looked around for the couple I was going to meet and didn’t hook up. Went to the craps table and was down about $30 from my buy-in. The table wasn’t crowded, but the pit boss kept giving me a hard time because I was taking too long to shoot. I’m a newbie at setting dice, and it works for me, but I’m not really fast yet. I kept telling them they were breaking my karma by bugging me. The players at the table don’t mind at all—I hit the points. I hate tables with stickmen and pit bosses that get annoyed when you win, and the Hilton is someplace I will never play again. I had a 241 at the buffet and they let me use it for myself. I was heading out the Hilton and spotted a powerball machine, which I love and don’t see too often, and won the jackpot of $385.

    With a full belly and some cash in my pocket, I head over the New Frontier. I had $45 in match plays to use. Walked up to the blackjack table and the dealer told me I could only use one match play. I told her to get me the pit boss. The pit boss was a bitch, and said the same thing. The dealer asked if I wanted to play my match play and I told her I was not going to play in this casino. So I took my match plays and handed them out to everyone playing at the tables. The pit boss was so mad. Then I left, glad to know my match plays came to some use. BTW, the Frontier is a depressing dump, and I’ll be glad to see it imploded.

    Went over to the Hard Rock and got a players card which came with $10 of free play on certain machines. After looking around a bit, found a machine that took the free play. Put $20 in and cashed out at $145. Had a match play coupon from the POV and went to the craps table and lost it. Time to go….

    :blink:Pet Peeve: What’s with the 20 something’s that travel in packs?

    Go over to Terrible’s on Paradise. Get a player’s card. I am so thirsty! Have not been served any drinks at the places I’ve been. Head over to a blackjack table with my 2 match plays that I have from the POV and ACG. Lost $25, and still no drink. Decide that the craps table is the best place to get a drink! On a roll (my dice setting technique) and up $100 – and got a drink. Color up. Head over to play some $1 slots – they don’t have many at Terrible’s. No luck. Head over to play some penny slots – zillions of penny slots there. Found a Davinci Diamond machine and put in a $6 TITO. On a run up to $200! Who would have thought on a penny machine!! Time to head out and go back to Bally’s to get ready for the evening.

    Get ready and drive over to Wynn to see Le Reve. Got there early so played some dollar slots and did OK. Then found an All That Glitters penny machine near the door to the theater and was up $50 and wanted to keep playing but had to go to the show. Le Reve was just OK. I would not recommend unless you get free tickets.

    Needed to go back to Terrible’s to get my free stuff for signing up for the player’s card. It needed to be redeemed that day. I scored 3 tee shirts, car sunshade, $5 gas card, breakfast buffet comp, and a T-bone dinner comp. I found another $5 match play and went to the craps table… was the only one there. Up $25, tip the dealers and leave.
    Go upstairs to use the T-bone steak dinner coupon. Dinner was great.

    Was a long day so I head back to Bally’s. Figure I need to play there since they were comping me. Between Bally’s and Paris, lost all my winnings from this trip so far, except $100. Went to bed hating Harrah’s and feeling like a loser although the money I brought to gamble, eat, tip, etc. hadn’t been touched.

    :blink:Pet Peeve: What’s with all the Chinese at Bally’s? Even the TV has 5 Chinese channels.

    Sunday 7/2
    Off to Boulder Highway casinos. Sam’s Town—hated it. I can’t remember why but I wasn’t there too long and I couldn’t wait to leave.

    On to Arizona Charlie’s—pretty unremarkable. It’s owned by the Stratosphere , so I got nothing in the way of new player sign up since I already had their card. Didn’t stay long.

    Boulder Station. They also own Red Rock, so I already had a card. They transferred my small amount of points. The player’s club lady was really nice and gave me a comp to the Mexican restaurant because I told her I was hungry. After lunch I played in there for a little while. Up and down, but hit $100 on a $1 WOF.

    Sunset Station. Had 4 $5 match plays which I instantly lost at the craps table playing by myself. Then I dabbled around on some penny machines until I got bored. All I wanted to find was a DaVinci Diamond penny machine and they only had two of them. They were in this promotional area for 7/7/07 and nobody was playing anywhere near these machine for good reason. I lost on both of those machines.

    Went to El Cortez because I had 2 fun book coupons. I had the most amount of fun in El Co that day. Played some penny machines (Jackpot Party) and won, played blackjack and the dealers and pit boss were great. They ROOTED for you to win. The pit boss also let me use 2 match plays there. When I was starting to lose at BJ went over to the craps table and had so much fun. Won $100 on that great table.

    On the drive back to Bally’s wanted to stop at Slots of Fun but couldn’t get a place to park at Circus, Circus. I just wanted a free hot dog and after awhile it didn’t seem worth the effort. So I ended up at the drive through at McDonald’s where the meal cost me the most I spent on this trip for food so far.

    Back to Bally’s for the evening where I once again blew all my winnings for the day, including the $100 win I got on a $1 slot.

    My plan for the next day was to hit Terrible’s to use my free breakfast buffet before heading out to the Cannery.

    Monday 7/3
    My last full day in Vegas. I ended up waking up so late. I think the heat (113 degrees outside everyday) and lack of sleep was catching up to me. So I missed the breakfast buffet, and got in the car to Ellis Island. Missed the steak and eggs breakfast by an hour, so I got the $4.99 steak dinner. There was NO wait to get in the restaurant. It was great. Had a match play coupon and the BJ dealer was kinda bitchy about it. Ended up losing the match play and didn’t want to play anymore at HER table.

    Took the drive to the Cannery. My “maps on us†directions were wrong! I ended up at Nellis AFB before I figured out how lost I was. Took me way too long to get there, but finally made it. It’s not worth the trip. They had nothing to offer as far as new player sign up, and I only got a tee shirt and cards because I had a coupon. Dabbled around there a bit, losing, until I found a penny blazing seven machine that was treating me well.

    Left the Cannery and drove back to the strip in search of a Chevron station to use my free gas card. Could not find one (although in the past 2 days I’d passed many of them but I couldn’t remember where!). Ended up just getting the cheapest gas I could find. Wanted to go the Westin to play their “happy hour†craps, but I was just too tired.

    Back at Bally’s, I ran over to Paris to pick up some soup for dinner and muffins for the next morning. I needed it to be an early night since I had to be up at 6am the next day for my flight.

    Up to the room, eat my soup, pack up and head down to Bally’s to get in some play. (You’d think I’d know better). I got on $1 machines and was playing $1 at a time. The machine hit for $500, then it hit again (this time playing max bet) for $200. I was a happy camper. I also had a Producer ticket that night I just didn’t feel like going. This sweet eighty year old lady sat next to me at a machine and I gave it to her. She was very, very happy. I wandered over to Paris and another $1 machine ($1 bet at a time) hit for $300! I ended up putting about $300 back in these machines before I called it a night.

    Tuesday 7/4
    Up at 6am. Housekeeping was being very good to me because I left a $3 tip everyday, so I was stockpiled with shampoo, conditioner, lotion, soap, shower caps and coffee. I carefully packed my baggies for the airport. The TV checkout in the room said my balance was $26 something. The charges were $3.00 a day safe charge (WTF), and my soup and muffins. I guess the guy at check in took off my last night room charge. I called the front desk and asked for VIP services and asked the women who answered to please make those safe charge fee’s go away. She was pretty nasty and said they needed to come off of my RC points. For a safe charge?? On a comped room?? I finally said whatever, and she said my balance after she took my RC’s would be 93 cents. Unbelievable. So I got back on the TV to check out, and it was too early. I called the front desk. The guy who answered took off the 93 cents and I realized I should have called him to begin with. Harrah’s is weird!

    Off to the airport. Car ended up being $30 cheaper than I thought, and it was a great rate to begin with… Got to TSA, the guy was complaining about my big baggie; said I needed to get a regulation size baggie. So I went to the gift shop and they gave me one. Repacked my baggie and went through security with my 2 regulation size baggies. Plane was delayed 1 hour.

    Finally take off and get to Dallas. Plane #2 is delayed. Went outside to smoke a cigarette and when I came back through security TSA did the “bag check†thing again. I had my 2 regulation size baggies out of my bag and they said I could only have one. After arguing with these idiots, they ended up taking my Bally’s stash. I was pretty upset to the point of tears, and I will never change planes on an airline again. What’s truly amazing about TSA is that each and every time they took my stuff, they never caught the 2 lighters I had in my pocket. :nono: Gee, don’t you feel safer now?

    Overall, it was a great trip. I came home with more money than I started and I’m looking forward to my trip again next month! :wave2:
     
  2. atcmurph

    atcmurph Watcher Of The Skies

    Joined:
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    Thanks for the great report...really enjoyed reading it! I may be staying at Bally's on my next trip. I really take issue with the whole charging to use the safe thing. It's irritating. I mean, seriously, what's up with that?
     
  3. chef

    chef Resident Buffetologist

    Joined:
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    Pam,
    Lisa and I looked for you at the Hilton from 10:00-11:00. We were at the slot machines by the Fortuna area. We must have just missed you.
    I even went over to the crap table close to 11:00 and asked a female if she was Pam.
    Oh well. Maybe next time.
    Sounds like you got mucho gambling in.
     
  4. dmadms

    dmadms Tourist

    Joined:
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    Great TR!

    Thanks for sharing!

    Dana
     
  5. gmoney590

    gmoney590 VIP Whale

    Joined:
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    That's a helluva travel day 12 1/2 hours before you're actually in the casino. Anytime you leave Vegas with more money than you went with you know you had a good trip. We always try to fly nonstop to Vegas even if it costs a little more it's worth it.
     
  6. northerngirl

    northerngirl High-Roller

    Joined:
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    Pam,

    Good to hear you came home a winner. You sure pack your days in and I am glad you enjoyed Celine. We probably passed through the Cortz on Sunday. It was fun to meet both you and Al.

    My next trip is August 6 with no husband. Just my sister and me with my oldest son meeting us mid-way through the trip. He loves craps so I am hoping to learn some of the finer points of the game from him at the El Cortez (his favorite place).

    Thanks again for driving us to Silverton.

    Cathy
     
  7. bigalbr

    bigalbr VIP Whale

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    I had a great time at our meet also. Thanks for driving! Sorry you had so many travel difficulties coming and going. I heard bad things about Dallas coming and going. I was lucky enough to be going through Houston. I thought I might have some equipment problems, but no late flights.

    I'm glad the gambling went well. I was convinced I took a complete bath at the craps table at Silverton, but the next morning I counted down the wallet and was only -$92 for the day including dinner. I view that as a big win for the pleasure of meeting you, Phil, and Cathy. Of course, Jackie Gaughan may feel differently. I think a 3 am craps session pushed me up to the -92 mark.
     
  8. Texas Pam

    Texas Pam Low-Roller

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    Cathy ~ My next trip is August 17th and I'm glad I booked it before this last trip because my offers with HET in LV have stopped. Probably due to the lack of gambling at their properties my last 2 visits. I'll miss you in Vegas by a few weeks! It was great meeting you.

    Al ~ You are the funniest guy in town....was great meeting you. I do have an offer for free nights in NOLA before Sept 5. Let me know if you're going to be there. Glad you did well at craps. Trip report?
     
  9. jgates8

    jgates8 VIP Whale

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    Thank you for sharing! Hopefully I will have an entertaining one when we visit next month.
     
    Easter again..:
  10. Leeza14

    Leeza14 VIP Whale

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    Great TR -- good info to have about Bally's -- we'll be there in two short weeks...glad you had a great time overall!! :thumbsup:
     
  11. Texas Pam

    Texas Pam Low-Roller

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    :blink:Pet Peeve: What’s with all the Chinese at Bally’s? Even the TV has 5 Chinese channels.


    I found the answer to my question!! :wiggle:


    Asian high rollers: the new thing?
    Breaking news out of the NY Times: casinos like Asian high rollers:

    Casino operators have long recognized that a large number of Asians, especially Chinese and Chinese-Americans, are avid gamblers. For years, casinos have dispatched special buses to any Chinatown within a day’s drive.

    Recently, though, casinos have become much more aggressive in wooing Asians both domestically and abroad. They are aiming not just at the newly wealthy from China, who in recent years have emerged as Las Vegas’s best customers, but also Asian-Americans and recent immigrants from the Pacific Rim.

    The vigor of their efforts is stirring the ire of some Asian activists and others. “If the casinos singled out African-Americans and marketed to them as heavily as they do Asians, I’d imagine there’d be this huge political outcry,†said Timothy W. Fong, co-director of the Gambling Studies Program at the University of California, Los Angeles. “The marketing has been so aggressive, and the penetration so deep, we’re starting to see alarming increases in the rates of problem gambling among Asians.â€

    These efforts include redesigning large portions of a casino floor to cater to the tastes of Asian guests; advertisements written in Asian dialects and placed in community newspapers in nearby cities; and mailers written in a recipient’s native language. The impact has been especially heavy among recent immigrants, Dr. Fong said.
     
  12. Vegasman

    Vegasman Low-Roller

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    Pet Peeve: What’s with all the Chinese at Bally’s? Even the TV has 5 Chinese channels.

    I found this to be a rather racist remark. Shame on you.

    Secondly, on the TSA web site it clearly states 1 baggie. Like it or not those are the rules.
     
  13. Texas Pam

    Texas Pam Low-Roller

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    My, aren't we snippy today.
     
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