TR 5/3/03 - 5/8/03-good trip

O.K. Lets give this a try. I'm at work and will have interuptions, so excuse any mistakes.

Flew on America West from Raleigh, 1st 30 mins. were very bumpy but after that we had a pretty smooth flight. Long wait for shuttle to downtown. My sister & I travel together and have always stayed on the strip. This year we decided to try a couple of nights downtown & then move to strip for a few nights. Ck-in was smooth at Fitzgeralds. Nice room with plenty of counter space in bath (a must for 2 females). Changed clothes quickly--gotta get to the casino!! When I put on my tennis shoes, thought my feet had swollen on the plane because shoes were so tight-discovered later that I packed the wrong pair of Reeboks-1st night I ended up with blisters on both heels & on bottom of 1 foot & YES, I know the importance of comfortable shoes in Vegas. Lost, lost, lost. Get to bed approx 3am, then wide awake at 6:09am! (we're talking about the "Queen of Sleep"). O.K. that's alright-we're here! New day & we'll do better. Breakfast & dinner at Binion's coffee shop, very good. Played at Fitzgeralds, Binion's, Plaza, MSS, Golden Nugget (& viewed the BIG nugget)-up & down on gambling, playing slots & VP. Saw the light show, ate Shrimp coctail-all the goodies one has to do downtown. Next to Fitzgeralds, they were having a slot tournament (emceed by Bob Eubanks) to introduce new slot machines - "Cash for Life" ($1,000/wk for life).Don't know what the winner was getting.
Mon. AM.-awake again by about 6am (this continues the entire trip). Breakfast at Golden Gate Deli. Basic breakfast, good food for $1.99. Played some machines we didn't understand, won a little & didn't know why. Did so-so on regular slots.
Decided to ck-out (moveing to Flamingo) about 10:30. Went upstairs to ck on something on my players card & as we were leaving, spotted a .25 Double Diamond machine that I just had to play. My sister suggested we play together (we do this a lot). Big time gamblers that we are, we put up $5 apiece. Told Becky(sis) that since this was a progressive machine I know we wouldn't hit that, next payoff was red 7's-chances slim to none on that one-o.k. next payoff is triple bars @ 80 quarters, we'll win that one & double our money & quit.(Our policy-cash out when we double or no less than 20% ahead-sounds good, just doesn't always work). I played my $5. first, put in 3 coins........DD,DD,DD. I just sit there with my mouth wide open, PROGRESSIVE JACKPOT! I had not looked at the amount because I know I wouldn't hit it. $955.95.
Moved then to Flamingo-feeling GOOD! Had bags held (tipped, waited in ck-in line 1hr (thinking we would pick up keys later-its now about 11am), but they gave us keys right away. Got bags (tipped again-could have kept bags with us had we only known). I have a free upgrade due to letter I had written last year with a minor complaint-really nice room, sofa, 2 chairs, coffee table, desk, etc. in long room with floor to ceiling windows the entire width. Again, plenty of counter space in bath. Things going good today, feel like a queen!
Following tip for the ladies.....when I go to Vegas, I have a little cotten bag that I pin to the inside of my bra with 1 or 2 $100 bills-in case something happens to my purse. Becky wanted to do the same thing this trip,so after we won the jackpot, the $100's went to the "bra money". For the rest of the trip, we would be walking along patteing our bras with one saying "I have 2 ($100 bills) left", then I would pat mine & say "I have 3 up here". Got to be a joke of ours but I don't think passersby understood.
Weather had been cool so far & we had not gone to the pool (didn't even ck with Fitzgeralds but had heard it would not be completed) Glad we took light jackets, used them several times.
Gotta go to lunch.....will continue when I get back.

 

O.K. its still Monday. We're on a "high" so decided to forgo the pool for today & hit the casinos again. Played at Flamingo, Barbary Coast, O'shea's, & Harrahs. Up & down all day. Dinner at Cheesecake Factory. Got "Rene's Special"-1/2 turkey sandwich, soup & salad for $7.95. Good deal, good food plus cheesecake, of course. Walking has been rather slow due to the blisters. Wearing sandels & have heels plastered with bandaids. Oh, we saw the Larry G. show while at Fitzgerald & it was good.
Tues: I treated us to breakfast at Paris. It was wonderful. No waiting at approx: 7:30-8am. We'll definately be back. Gambled a little at Bally's & won a few dollers then back to Flamingo's pool. Went out about 10:30 & just tipped the pool attendant to get chairs for us. Water very cold. Decided on chinese food at O'shea's for dinner. Played a little here but O'shea's was not good to us like it normally is. Went to see the butterflies & water show at Bellagio's. Up & down again at the casinos.
Wed: last full day & again decided to forgo the pool. Breakfast at Barbary Coast (always good). Started doing good at the casino here. Played $1 & .25 slots & VP. Came out ahead on all of them (including 4 of a kind on VP). Also got 500 coin on the Wheel of Fortune spin. Up to Harrah's & came out ahead. Took shuttle from BC to Gold Coast (won a little), walked (slow again) to Palms & broke even here. After taking shuttle back we walked (here we go again!) to Ellis Island for the steak special (they no longer have the Wed. special where everything is $3.98). Started raining right after we left & just as was got to Barbary Coast we had a real downpour. Good excuse to play here again. Did good again. Hit another 500 coins on Wheel of Fortune. Later went back up to Harrah's & did O.K. here.
Thurs: ck-out, played machines at airport-ended up losing $1.50.

All-in-all one of our best trips. Took $700 in travelers cks & $200. cash. After paying for hotels, food, airport shuttles, cab & tips-left with all travelers cks & $285. in cash.

Sorry this was so long and I'm sure I left quite a few things out. Have been going for 20+ years and get more excited each time I go. Again, excuse any errors, not going to take time to proof read or do spell ck.

Thanks for reading!

 

That was an awesome trip for you. Came home with all your traveler's checks plus your cash and a little more - all I can say is AWESOME!

My twin sister and I are traveling together to Reno, NV in July for our birthday, actually arriving on our b-day. She's not much of a gambler but I can't wait.

Again, great trip report considering you were at work and all. Thanks.