APRIL 19-23 Downtown

So this trip was on a total whim, i checked expedia one night and found a flight for 240$ from Buffalo and was on my way 4 nights later. I have an ice cream business, so i figured this would be my last hurrah before the busy season starts. No friends could join on 4 days notice, so this was an alone trip. No big deal, i was there to gamble and i'm pretty outgoing so i knew i'd meet people. This was my 4th trip to Vegas, so i decided to make it my first downtown adventure. Booked a room at the Plaza for $35/nt.

I arrived 10pm Saturday, got the rental car and headed for the Plaza. I didn't know what to expect since i read some really bad reviews. It wasnt nearly as bad as people made it out to be. Just a typical motel style room. I didnt feel uncomfortable sleeping in the bed, and i dont itch or have a rash a week later... so it was clean.

The first night was primarily to go around and find all the new slot machines and to try to get bonus. They sure are loose in that joint. I was getting bonus left and right. I really like those vibrant (or brilliant?) 7s machines. Those megabucks penny machines are the worst! I tried the entire trip for bonus, got it once for a lousy 35 credits. whatever. Anyways, that casino is pretty boring and i was itching to explore so i was off.

No clue where the people who think the walk to main street station is unsafe come from. I did it, alone and drunk, at 2 or 3 am and felt completely safe. Nice inside, but i just went to check out the berlin wall bathroom. Played a few, walked out up. Rest of the night was a big blur, i don't drink but figured what the hell i was in vegas. Needless to say i'm a lightweight and boy do they keep the drinks coming! All i remember the rest of the night is some blackjack dealer being annoyed with me because i kept forgeting to tell her if i won the same suit side bet. I won the 50 to 1 bet on like my 3rd hand, but didnt know... so she had to call the pitboss over after she took my money. whoops. eh, whatever.

Finally check in around noon (didnt go for a room sat night because i arrived so late and figured i'd be up all night so no need to waste it.) passed out... but only gave myself 4 hours to sleep. Sunday was pretty rough on the wallet. I mainly played blackjack at the Plaza. I probably wouldve gotten up and went to another casino but the dealers and players were fun, so i enjoyed myself. Stayed up till the wee hours, asked for a comp to the breakfast buffet (which was just eh) then dragged myself to bed. Woke up monday with the absolute worst headache so i decided to make it a sober day. Oh, sometime that evening i ended up at the buffet at the golden nugget. Didnt realize sunday was seafood night...yuck. Not too much for me to eat, and my fork had a tiny sliver or something on it which cut my lip... i felt it of course, but didnt think much of it till i wiped my mouth and the napkin had blood on it. I told the server to throw the fork out, hope he listened to me.

Monday was another blackjack day, i eventually found my way to a nice 2 deck 3-2 table at Fremont. Um, what is up with all of the 6-5 tables... what a joke! Anyways, again there was great company and i got one of those get a stamp for every blackjack cards so i spent alot of time here. I never made the 21, i think i got to 11... not like i would ever wear a fremont jacket - but it was fun trying and fun having other players try to earn stamps for me (they wouldnt allow it, ha) Asked for a buffet comp and took a break. This buffet was plain awful. Not sure if the hangover caused everything to taste like cleaning supplies, but everythign sure did. I dont know, may sound wierd, but everything tasted like 1970s to me... if thats even a taste. Made perfect sense to me. Heck, i wasnt even around in the 70s. I tried to get on the wizard of oz slot all night, but couldnt. There were only 2, and they always had a line. I did play a monopoly slot next to them with a guy from france...we had a ball, and would press each others bonuses. only his machine paid tho. owell. back to the table. Everyone was a sloppy mess, and they wouldnt accept me ordering waters (oh the peer pressure) soooo... i got sloppy too. quite a shock on a nondrinkers system let me tell you. Didnt go too well, and i didnt earn enough stamps for my jacket so i stumbled over to the golden nugget and sat down at a table with some guy who was betting 2-3000 hands, exciting! The table was hot, and i was able to turn my measly 100 into 6... much to his dismay. By now its atleast 5am and i'm over at Four Queens. I was able to get onto a wizard of oz slot. i got a bonus, but not the monkey one, so that was out of my system. Not sure if i like that casino, the table area was too bright for me... but yet again, there were cool characters, so i stayed. earned my breakfast buffet comp but then realized the time - checkout time. whatever, i went and took a 2 hour nap instead.

I had a ticket to the price is right at ballys, but i was in no condition to drive anywhere so i didnt go. today i ventured to east fremont and played some slots at el cortez, pretty nice in there. then walked down to the western. Again, totally a non-event walk. i was on guard expecting some bum to pop out and stick me with a syringe, nope. Didnt even get asked for 'change for the bus.' I kinda liked this casino. Sure it was dumpy, but the people were nice. I was giving them some 25-50$ action, so the pit boss was pretty nice to me (i loooove how the player card is paper...haha) i was getting hungry so i asked for a comp for myself and a gentleman i befriended. Big mistake. I'm thankful i dont have worms. We both took a bite and noticed the quality of the meat and tossed the food. You must go there and order an enchilada or nachos supreme. Do not eat it tho, just inspect and take pictures.

My flight left at midnight that night so i figured i better atleast make use of the rental car, so i ventured over to Stratosphere . Didnt like the blackjack, so didnt stay long. Over to Sahara and got spanked at the tables. Riviera, did ok. Circus Circus, what a dump and bad blackjack payouts too. Played some in slots o fun, they had this neat wheel side bet. Played til i got to spin then called it a day in there. My bonus was only 10... boo. By now, i've wheted my appetite enough for the rest of the strip and totally didnt want to leave so i called delta to inquire how much it would be to extend my stay 1 day... 170 bucks, i took it. Of course i didnt have a room anymore so i had to pull an all nighter again. Worked my way back to Sahara and donated some more... i really dont like that casino! Then hopped on the monorail to imperial palace. The dealer was lots of fun, i was doing pretty well, she was even giving me high fives (didnt know that was allowed) then she seemed pretty sketchy when i colored up. soooorry, i wanna win. the rest of the late night was spent between flamingo, bills, and royale where i got washed and started thinking maybe it wasnt a good idea to have extended the trip. Went back to the flamingo and cleaned up at a blackjack table but there was some guy in there trying to hustle me so the dealer called security to have him booted. i was pretty nervous since he totally watched me take 2 purples from them (replacing my nights donation) so i left. the second i walked out i had to prostitutes on me grabbing my crotch. Uh, get off!

Worked my way across the street, std free, to the mirage. total night and day from what i had been doing the previous few days. I won a couple hundred then went over to caesars. again, what a change. I played with some great company and walked out up 1200. then on to TI, won again. Over to Palazzo, winner again. i was definitely on a lucky streak. Ate breakfast at Grand Lux Cafe, what a change... the first good meal. Over to Wynn... wow! The place looks great, the people do too. Staff is very friendly and i won again. By now i'm completely exhausted and recouped all the money i lost the past few days so i called it a day with the gambling. It was 11amish and my flight left at 5. So i walked back down to The STRAT (if i had known how long that walk was i wouldve taken the monorail) and took a drive to find some karate gym place a friend wanted a tshirt from... wasnt very sure where i was going since i printed the directions from them to my hotel instead of the other way around. Outside of the casino areas, that city is a dump. I'm sure it has alot to do with there being no greenery. everything was so dirty, bland, and cookie cutter. i could never live there. anyways make it back to the airport around 1 and sit it out til my flight. i thought for a brief second to play some slot to pass the time, but i was pretty happy with what i won that morning so i just read the newspaper instead.

thanks if you read this far.

 

I can say I've never pulled all nighters without a hotel room. That's brave and I know a LOT of people that do it. I couldn't though. But it sounds like you had fun, even if you went alone!!!

 

i was pretty exhausted when i got home and slept for 16 hours. i did doze off at a machine at the flamingo on my last day (maybe because i wasnt getting bonus haha) but other than that it really didnt bother me. i'm only 28 too, so that helps. i would definitely do another on a saturday night... no need to spend so much on a room.

about going alone... probably wouldnt do that again. this was a total spur of the moment thing and i didnt really expect anyone to be able to take the time off on such short notice. but hey, i really wanted to go.

 

Enjoyed your trip report.
Where was the best low limit black jack?

 

This trip report was one of the funnest reports I have read thus far. Thank you for posting.

 

Great report. Nice run of luck that last day I'd like to have a run of luck like that.

 

my favorite place to play blackjack was definitely fremont. $5 2 deck 3-2 hit soft 17 (but i didnt see any table in vegas where they stayed) and you can ask for a little card which they stamp with every blackjack, if you get 21 stamps you win the prize of the month (april is a jacket)
i also liked el cortez and riviera. And of course the places i won

i would probably never play blackjack again at stratosphere, circus circus, sahara, or plaza.

for kicks, head down to western. i think the minimum was 3$ and the dealers tend to goof alot and pay out when they're not supposed to. i wouldnt allow it tho, didnt want that karma curse hanging over my shoulder. but if its ok for you...

 

what kind of hustle was the guy trying to run on you @ the Flamingo?

 

Nice TR! Much respect for not getting a room your last night.

 

Great TR!

And you didn't like hookers grabbing you?!? LOL :evillaugh

 

Lol, no i dont normally like hookers grabbing on me, especially when they're hookers at the point type girls and i don't have a very large can of lysol in my pocket to spray them with. Now a classy call girl from Bellagio... nah, i think i'll still pass.

I'm not exactly sure what the hustle was, after all i was pretty trashed and sleep deprived, but i figured something was sketchy when it went from him rooting me on to smooth talking to asking me for money to him having his arm around my shoulder and eyeballing my chips. I colored up and took a little walk then came back, dealer said he called for security and that the same guy was in there nightly pulling the same game. Doesnt really say much for Flamingo security... guess i missed my opportunity to count cards! hah.

You know, i read a book by a guy who wrote about blowing his 50,000$ book advance in vegas. It was a pretty good read and rather ingenious way for him to get to spend a month in vegas ultimately gambling for free... maybe i should look into writing a book about a multi-day all-nighter gambling binge. God knows theres enough characters to meet to provide enough filler content. Anything for another reason to go back, hah.