JK Coney September TR

We started out this one with the flight from hell. Our 6pm Jetblue JFK closed it’s doors on time at 6pm EST due to arrive at 9pm VST (Vegas Standard Time). Pilot tells us we’ll be a bit delayed due to Obama and Airforce 1 still here on the runway. All air traffic must wait until he leaves. As we approach 2 hours sitting on the tarmac, our “tea party†pilot tells us that because of the “stupid†3 hour rule, we have to return to the terminal. Takes us about an hour to return and get off again. When we get back in queue to depart, thunderstorms have us waiting another few hours. OK now it’s 6 hours later and we finally leave.
Shuttle to the car rental area to get our Dollar weekly auto. 1 clerk at 3am. Thank god for Dollar express or another hour in line. We pick a white Charger. Only about $120, but another $70 in taxes and fees. Not too bad.
Only 1 desk clerk at 3:30am at Bally’s. We get a north tower room. Very nice, with the 2 nights comped. Get to sleep about 4am, 7am our body real world time.
Thurs morning we head towards Henderson to look at more homes in Sun City Anthem. Our current short sale deal looks like it’s not going to happen due to the bank’s foolish greed. Breakfast/Lunch at GVR buffet. 2 for1 POV coupon. Really nice with a 3 out of 4 stars from us. We look at 8 or 10 homes and find one just listed that we like. We meet up with AVLV’s Marsha at GVR that night for Jazz at the pool. Nothing like live music. Gorgeous setting at night overlooking the city. Wife’s little drink was a whopping $14! Then on to Lon Bronson band. Great free concert with an allstar band of local musicians, and some guest performers as well. Sitting next to us was a couple of old rockers from Cheap Trick and Foreigner. 2 sets and lots of fun! Morning Tea & coffee at Paris pastry shop. Ask for the flavored cream cheese packs.
We check into Orleans for 2 nights comped. Room was perfectly OK, but nothing to write home about. I love the casino and buffet there. Low limit tables, and friendly atmosphere. We get our car and schmooze all over town and gamble a bit everywhere. Our strategy is to use our players cards as much as possible to help generate free room offers. We’re low rollers, but get constant email and mail freebees. We decide to make an offer on the house at slightly lower than asking, expecting a counter. We meet broker at house and do the paperwork. Off to Rampart casino for another 2 for 1 buffet coupon. Nice clean, cheap. They take your plate of crablegs and shrimp and whatever else, and then blacken and grill them Cajun style. That night finally get to play $5, 3CP and LIR at Orleans, and ask the pit for a breakfast for 2 comp. I’m surprised but he puts in on card.
4 star Sat morning breakfast buffet at Orleans, on them. Tastes better for some reason? Broker calls to tell me our offer has been accepted! Finally, after 2 years and 3 or 4 short sale fiascos we have a deal in the area we love. She schedules an inspection for Monday, so I can attend while there. We pay $15 each to see the Dolphins and Tigers in the Mirage Secret Garden. Save your money. That night we hit Cravings buffet at the Mirage with our 2 for 1 POV coupon. I was underwhelmed especially at $25. It was OK but not in the class of the top: Belaggio, Planet Ho, M, Paris, Wynn etc etc. You can’t take your salad yourself. You have to pick what you want and the attendant then puts it in a bowl for you. Silly and pretentious. OK I have to tell you how hooked we both are on Hot Shot Frenzy video games. Only Fireball Frenzy is more addicting. It’s the one where when you get 3 of the game symbols, you see a tiny 3 reel slot machine within the slot machine where the bonuses are as high as 1 million…. Penny’s that is. The demented inventor of this one should be shot. The music and effects are amazing.
Sunday morning I pick up my 2 old time buddies at the airport, and we all head to the Palms for the buffet. I use my POV coupon and save a nice $40 bucks that pays for the entire book by itself. The brunch buffet there was very blah and disappointing. Free champagne was nice treat. I go and check in at the Palazzo, for my next 3 days comped, this time with the guys. My wife has to go back home alone to work. We schmooze around the Bellagio, MGM, NYNY, M&M store and then it’s to the airport and goodbye to my wife. Now it’s only the 3 babyboomers. I rush back to watch the Jets game. I’m told by the desk clerk that Lagasse Stadium is the place. When we get there all the stadium style sofa seating has reserved signs on them. Host tells us that IF they had a seat it would require a $50 fee. Hmmm for the privilege of paying for overpriced drinks and bar food? No thanks. Choice then is Venetian sports book, or the room. If you don’t know this, the Palazzo has arguably the best suites in Vegas. 2 queen beds, full living room with mechanized drapes, leather sofa, bar, and 2 big screen TV’s. Guys were tired anyway, so we opt for the room, and to make things even better, my J-E-T-S Jets Jet Jets win! We gamble in the stuffy Palazzo until the next day.
Monday we’re off to meet up with the house inspector in Henderson. We go straight to Fiesta for a 2 for 1 POV breakfast buffet. I go get my players card and then find out no breakfast buffet. Bummer. Hell with them. Back in the car and the GPS takes us to Sunset Station, the next nearest coupon in my book. Nice spread, and cute clean casino. Pleasantly surprised that Marsha cancels dentist and shows up to add her keen eye for detail to the search. The 5 of us probably drive the 15 year old inspector a little nuts, but all works out fine, with little wrong to find in a home that was built in 2002. We say goodbye to Marsha and our broker and move on with our adventure. I found a bunch of free admission coupons for the Auto Collection at Imperial Palace, so that’s where we ended up in the late afternoon. I didn’t expect much, and was overwhelmed at what I saw. On an enormous floor, the size of 2 football fields, are what has to be 100 million worth of cars. Rolls, Deuzenbergs, Bentley, Alpha Romeo, Elvis cars etc etc…. it’s a must see even if not a car enthusiast. We go look at the buffet. I always thought it was a Chinese only, but looks like Harrahs has it turned into another $20 PR and such one. We pass and head to the casino. We are attracted to people singing and whooping it up. The table area features a bunch of celebrity look a like dealers, that regularly go up an a stage and sing. I can’t remember having such a blast at a table game in my life. It was a riot, especially if you like oldies rock and roll. Our dealers were Stevie Wonder, Aretha, Little Richard, etc etc. and they were all great singers too! All Harrahs props have an added bet, which is a 6 card bet on 3CP. Even if you have garbage, you still have the chance of getting a combined great hand. I had pair of 9, when dealer flopped another 2 nines for a 50x payoff! Pretty sweet.
We were a bit wiped from the heat and walking, so back to Palazzo for a rest. I swear all I did all day was drink water and pee a million times from the dry heat. 7pm and we head downtown to party and eat. My buddies were blown away by the big Fremont dome Doors tribute show, then next hour it was tribute to Queen. MUST SEE and HEAR for you that haven’t done it, if you like loud oldies music. Parked in the GN and checked out the shark tank and the very cool pool area. For the next 2 for 1 coupon, we chose Golden Nugget buffet for our dinner meal. YUCK. Worst food and service I’ve ever had in Vegas. Place was busy, food was awful, and a mess as if not tended too. Beef was tough. Even the cooked shrimp dishes were all in shells, Ribs on carving station looked like shoe leather. 3 racks I saw should have been thrown out as overcooked, but the poor guy was sawing them apart. Only a few dessert choices, and was served by a guy that spoke no English. NEVER AGAIN for me even with a coupon. Guys loved it downtown. I was surprised to see the makeover at many places with sexy young girls dancing on tables in the pits. They are great eye candy for us older guys, but the worst dealers I have ever seen! So many mistakes in cards, counting, payouts, but they giggle and move on… sooooo cute! Back to Palazzo and late night gambling until finally some sleep. As each day passes we find that it’s the damn cigarette smoke that takes the biggest toll on our bodies. Few smokers seen here in NY area public places, but seems like everyone smokes in Vegas. Don’t they read? LOL
We head to the Neon Museum in N Vegas next day. Lot empty. Closed up. But we can see many of the old signs from the car. I see a sign for the Nevada Museum so we drive there to give it a try. Closed Mon-Tues. I think of trying the Zoo, but we decide to go and eat. Next buffet has no lunch so the coupon take us to the Cannery. WOW the place is great looking and the food is awesome! Costs us about $7 total. Highly recommended place to play and eat. We head back to the strip to use the free coupons I got on the net for Nathan Burton at Flamingo. Box office has a long line even though it’s only Tuesday afternoon. I’m told the free balcony seats are sold out but for $10 we can upgrade to regular seating. As Mike from the American Pickers says… “I pop for themâ€. I gamble while friend waits on line out the casino doors. Amazing crowd. I saw Nathan Burton when he was at the V couple of years ago, and now he’s moved up a bit to this medium showroom. He still is a very bland guy. Nice but just no flash or spark to his stuff. $10 was about right. Pet peeve: Every show in Vegas ends with the headliner begging you to buy the CD, DVD or teeshirts sold outside, and then to tell a friend to come and see the show. Tactless, petty, and cheapens it all for the audience. Oh well that’s Vegas. Back to Palazzo for a rest. We fall asleep. I wake at 10pm and go down and gamble until the wee hours.
Next day is getaway day. We get up, pack and checkout. I ask them if they will pick up the almost $20/day resort fee at Palazzo. I’m told they never do. No complaints the place is gorgeous and quite amazing. Oh 1 more thing. On check in I’m given a stub that’s a $50 pocket casino credit. You give them $50, and now you have $100 to gamble on this tiny Ipod sized handheld game machine. You take it to the pool, etc so you can play when you’re not in the casino. I pass.
We head to Gold Coast for my final 2 for 1 coupon of the trip, and maybe the year. It’s 10:15, and the buffet is closed at 10am, and not open until 11 for lunch. Oh well, I really wanted to use the coupons up so I drive up the block to the RIO. It’s about $33 for the breakfast buffet, after the coupon and my points it’s a total of $2 for the both of us. It was 10:45 so they were bringing out the lunch stuff as well. Chinese, prime rib, seafood, etc etc… WOW a 5 star meal. We flew Virgin home and it was very pleasant. Unlike Jetblue they have a first class section, and the next generation entertainment screen to play with.
We had a great trip, bought a retirement home, saw some old classmates, and saved hundreds using coupons. I may have transposed and mixed up a couple of days, prices, or facts, but pretty much accurate.
--

www.myconeyislandmemories.com

 

Nice trip report!! Next time try writing in paragraphs so it's eaiser to read.

 

Enjoyed your report. Congratulations on the home purchase too.

 

You're right. I pasted it in there, and it got formatted like this. Maybe I'll redo it, if anyone else complains.

 

We started out this one with the flight from hell. Our 6pm Jetblue JFK closed it’s doors on time at 6pm EST due to arrive at 9pm VST (Vegas Standard Time). Pilot tells us we’ll be a bit delayed due to Obama and Airforce 1 still here on the runway. All air traffic must wait until he leaves. As we approach 2 hours sitting on the tarmac, our “tea party†pilot tells us that because of the “stupid†3 hour rule, we have to return to the terminal. Takes us about an hour to return and get off again. When we get back in queue to depart, thunderstorms have us waiting another few hours. OK now it’s 6 hours later and we finally leave.
Shuttle to the car rental area to get our Dollar weekly auto. 1 clerk at 3am. Thank god for Dollar express or another hour in line. We pick a white Charger. Only about $120, but another $70 in taxes and fees. Not too bad. Only 1 desk clerk at 3:30am at Bally’s. We get a north tower room. Very nice, with the 2 nights comped. Get to sleep about 4am, 7am our body real world time.
Thurs morning we head towards Henderson to look at more homes in Sun City Anthem. Our current short sale deal looks like it’s not going to happen due to the bank’s foolish greed. Breakfast/Lunch at GVR buffet. 2 for1 POV coupon. Really nice with a 3 out of 4 stars from us. We look at 8 or 10 homes and find one just listed that we like. We meet up with AVLV’s Marsha at GVR that night for Jazz at the pool. Nothing like live music. Gorgeous setting at night overlooking the city. Wife’s little drink was a whopping $14! Then on to Lon Bronson band. Great free concert with an allstar band of local musicians, and some guest performers as well. Sitting next to us was a couple of old rockers from Cheap Trick and Foreigner. 2 sets and lots of fun! Morning Tea & coffee at Paris pastry shop. Ask for the flavored cream cheese packs.
We check into Orleans for 2 nights comped. Room was perfectly OK, but nothing to write home about. I love the casino and buffet there. Low limit tables, and friendly atmosphere. We get our car and schmooze all over town and gamble a bit everywhere. Our strategy is to use our players cards as much as possible to help generate free room offers. We’re low rollers, but get constant email and mail freebees. We decide to make an offer on the house at slightly lower than asking, expecting a counter. We meet broker at house and do the paperwork. Off to Rampart casino for another 2 for 1 buffet coupon. Nice clean, cheap. They take your plate of crablegs and shrimp and whatever else, and then blacken and grill them Cajun style. That night finally get to play $5, 3CP and LIR at Orleans, and ask the pit for a breakfast for 2 comp. I’m surprised but he puts in on card.
4 star Sat morning breakfast buffet at Orleans, on them. Tastes better for some reason? Broker calls to tell me our offer has been accepted! Finally, after 2 years and 3 or 4 short sale fiascos we have a deal in the area we love. She schedules an inspection for Monday, so I can attend while there. We pay $15 each to see the Dolphins and Tigers in the Mirage Secret Garden. Save your money. That night we hit Cravings buffet at the Mirage with our 2 for 1 POV coupon. I was underwhelmed especially at $25. It was OK but not in the class of the top: Belaggio, Planet Ho, M, Paris, Wynn etc etc. You can’t take your salad yourself. You have to pick what you want and the attendant then puts it in a bowl for you. Silly and pretentious. OK I have to tell you how hooked we both are on Hot Shot Frenzy video games. Only Fireball Frenzy is more addicting. It’s the one where when you get 3 of the game symbols, you see a tiny 3 reel slot machine within the slot machine where the bonuses are as high as 1 million…. Penny’s that is. The demented inventor of this one should be shot. The music and effects are amazing.
Sunday morning I pick up my 2 old time buddies at the airport, and we all head to the Palms for the buffet. I use my POV coupon and save a nice $40 bucks that pays for the entire book by itself. The brunch buffet there was very blah and disappointing. Free champagne was nice treat. I go and check in at the Palazzo, for my next 3 days comped, this time with the guys. My wife has to go back home alone to work. We schmooze around the Bellagio, MGM, NYNY, M&M store and then it’s to the airport and goodbye to my wife. Now it’s only the 3 babyboomers. I rush back to watch the Jets game. I’m told by the desk clerk that Lagasse Stadium is the place. When we get there all the stadium style sofa seating has reserved signs on them. Host tells us that IF they had a seat it would require a $50 fee. Hmmm for the privilege of paying for overpriced drinks and bar food? No thanks. Choice then is Venetian sports book, or the room. If you don’t know this, the Palazzo has arguably the best suites in Vegas. 2 queen beds, full living room with mechanized drapes, leather sofa, bar, and 2 big screen TV’s. Guys were tired anyway, so we opt for the room, and to make things even better, my J-E-T-S Jets Jet Jets win! We gamble in the stuffy Palazzo until the next day.
Monday we’re off to meet up with the house inspector in Henderson. We go straight to Fiesta for a 2 for 1 POV breakfast buffet. I go get my players card and then find out no breakfast buffet. Bummer. Hell with them. Back in the car and the GPS takes us to Sunset Station, the next nearest coupon in my book. Nice spread, and cute clean casino. Pleasantly surprised that Marsha cancels dentist and shows up to add her keen eye for detail to the search. The 5 of us probably drive the 15 year old inspector a little nuts, but all works out fine, with little wrong to find in a home that was built in 2002. We say goodbye to Marsha and our broker and move on with our adventure. I found a bunch of free admission coupons for the Auto Collection at Imperial Palace, so that’s where we ended up in the late afternoon. I didn’t expect much, and was overwhelmed at what I saw. On an enormous floor, the size of 2 football fields, are what has to be 100 million worth of cars. Rolls, Deuzenbergs, Bentley, Alpha Romeo, Elvis cars etc etc…. it’s a must see even if not a car enthusiast. We go look at the buffet. I always thought it was a Chinese only, but looks like Harrahs has it turned into another $20 PR and such one. We pass and head to the casino. We are attracted to people singing and whooping it up. The table area features a bunch of celebrity look a like dealers, that regularly go up an a stage and sing. I can’t remember having such a blast at a table game in my life. It was a riot, especially if you like oldies rock and roll. Our dealers were Stevie Wonder, Aretha, Little Richard, etc etc. and they were all great singers too! All Harrahs props have an added bet, which is a 6 card bet on 3CP. Even if you have garbage, you still have the chance of getting a combined great hand. I had pair of 9, when dealer flopped another 2 nines for a 50x payoff! Pretty sweet.
We were a bit wiped from the heat and walking, so back to Palazzo for a rest. I swear all I did all day was drink water and pee a million times from the dry heat. 7pm and we head downtown to party and eat. My buddies were blown away by the big Fremont dome Doors tribute show, then next hour it was tribute to Queen. MUST SEE and HEAR for you that haven’t done it, if you like loud oldies music. Parked in the GN and checked out the shark tank and the very cool pool area. For the next 2 for 1 coupon, we chose Golden Nugget buffet for our dinner meal. YUCK. Worst food and service I’ve ever had in Vegas. Place was busy, food was awful, and a mess as if not tended too. Beef was tough. Even the cooked shrimp dishes were all in shells, Ribs on carving station looked like shoe leather. 3 racks I saw should have been thrown out as overcooked, but the poor guy was sawing them apart. Only a few dessert choices, and was served by a guy that spoke no English. NEVER AGAIN for me even with a coupon. Guys loved it downtown. I was surprised to see the makeover at many places with sexy young girls dancing on tables in the pits. They are great eye candy for us older guys, but the worst dealers I have ever seen! So many mistakes in cards, counting, payouts, but they giggle and move on… sooooo cute! Back to Palazzo and late night gambling until finally some sleep. As each day passes we find that it’s the damn cigarette smoke that takes the biggest toll on our bodies. Few smokers seen here in NY area public places, but seems like everyone smokes in Vegas. Don’t they read? LOL
We head to the Neon Museum in N Vegas next day. Lot empty. Closed up. But we can see many of the old signs from the car. I see a sign for the Nevada Museum so we drive there to give it a try. Closed Mon-Tues. I think of trying the Zoo, but we decide to go and eat. Next buffet has no lunch so the coupon take us to the Cannery. WOW the place is great looking and the food is awesome! Costs us about $7 total. Highly recommended place to play and eat. We head back to the strip to use the free coupons I got on the net for Nathan Burton at Flamingo. Box office has a long line even though it’s only Tuesday afternoon. I’m told the free balcony seats are sold out but for $10 we can upgrade to regular seating. As Mike from the American Pickers says… “I pop for themâ€. I gamble while friend waits on line out the casino doors. Amazing crowd. I saw Nathan Burton when he was at the V couple of years ago, and now he’s moved up a bit to this medium showroom. He still is a very bland guy. Nice but just no flash or spark to his stuff. $10 was about right. Pet peeve: Every show in Vegas ends with the headliner begging you to buy the CD, DVD or teeshirts sold outside, and then to tell a friend to come and see the show. Tactless, petty, and cheapens it all for the audience. Oh well that’s Vegas. Back to Palazzo for a rest. We fall asleep. I wake at 10pm and go down and gamble until the wee hours.
Next day is getaway day. We get up, pack and checkout. I ask them if they will pick up the almost $20/day resort fee at Palazzo. I’m told they never do. No complaints the place is gorgeous and quite amazing. Oh 1 more thing. On check in I’m given a stub that’s a $50 pocket casino credit. You give them $50, and now you have $100 to gamble on this tiny Ipod sized handheld game machine. You take it to the pool, etc so you can play when you’re not in the casino. I pass.
We head to Gold Coast for my final 2 for 1 coupon of the trip, and maybe the year. It’s 10:15, and the buffet is closed at 10am, and not open until 11 for lunch. Oh well, I really wanted to use the coupons up so I drive up the block to the RIO. It’s about $33 for the breakfast buffet, after the coupon and my points it’s a total of $2 for the both of us. It was 10:45 so they were bringing out the lunch stuff as well. Chinese, prime rib, seafood, etc etc… WOW a 5 star meal. We flew Virgin home and it was very pleasant. Unlike Jetblue they have a first class section, and the next generation entertainment screen to play with.
We had a great trip, bought a retirement home, saw some old classmates, and saved hundreds using coupons. I may have transposed and mixed up a couple of days, prices, or facts, but pretty much accurate.

 

Not complaining, just suggesting.

 

Congratulations on the house! I was beginning to wonder if you were ever going to get one. When's closing? Going to move before the snow flies?
Also, the one thing we did find much cheaper in Vegas was furniture. Sell all you can before you move and buy new in LV. At about .55 a pound with the major movers, it's not worth it.
BTW, I believe you now must make a reservation to tour the Neon Museum.

 

As always it was a matter of timing. This one was just listed by an estate, so NO BANKS! It's furnished now and we'll be renting it out for a year or so. Question for you is, do we keep the existing furniture and rent it furnished, or ask them to get rid of it? Any opinion Joe?

 

My personal feeling is I'm not a big fan on sitting on other people's furniture. That being said, I would think you would have an easier time renting if it is furnished and in good shape. And when you do move, you could replace furniture room by room rather than having to furnish the entire house at once. Assuming the renters don't trash the place. Just my .02.

 

Congratulations on the new house. I've toyed with the idea of moving to Vegas but the bride will never, never leave her grandkids, so I'm doomed. Seems more fun to anticipate a Vegas trip anyway I suppose. Be interesting to hear your thoughts about living there after you've been there awhile. Thanks for a fun read.

 

The issue isn't the paragraphs, but the lack of spacing between them. Next time hit "enter" TWICE after the last sentence in a paragraph. Some forums don't work that way, but this one apparently does.

Here's a link to your post as it appeared on Google Groups. Each paragraph is indented, and that helps a little, but there isn't an empty line between them and that can make a huge difference. http://tinyurl.com/2b8f6jk

For those who don't know that I've already said this... congrats neighbor