Sniff, I don't have a countdown timer.

I am very torn over this. We just got back on Wednesday and are really questioning Vegas as our destination of choice. We have no other Vegas trips planned for the remainder of the year. Seattle in August and that's it.

However, I look at the budget and prices for Seattle and part of me says in Vegas we get drinks, room & food for "free". Yea, yea, cost of gambling.

Vegas is feeling like work, plus some of the personnel changes at our favorite place to gamble, the Boar's Bar at MSS, is ruining our experience. Maybe ruining is too strong a term, but certainly it's not as much fun as it used to be.

Our annual Oct trip is to go to Vegas to celebrate our anniversary and we have done that 25 of the last 30 years. Not sure about this year.

Love everything downtown, so don't want to switch to the Strip, but MSS is just feeling-not fun, yet everyone knows us by name and having to build a relationship with another casino, just seems like a PITA. Plus, VP, our game of choice is full-pay, at MSS.

OK, I know I'm rambling, but if we cut back to say 1 trip per year, there goes my Emerald status and my RFB. We don't play for comps, but if we are going to play, it's a nice bonus.

Plus my 75 year old brother is in for heart bypass surgery right now (95% blockage) and I'm waiting for a phone call to see how things went. So, I'm in a bit of a funk and just killing time because it's also pouring outside, so VMB helps pass the time.

Sorry, don't want to be a downer.

 

You're not a downer, Joe. I just think you're being a regular person. Time, dollars, interests, circumstances ... nothing wrong with mixing things up, by necessity or opportunity. I know I'm a heretic but there's a huge combo plate out there and it is just as tasty with a slab of Vegas as without. And maybe, just maybe, your are rationalizing things a bit when insisting you're not chasing comps.

It'll come back to you, whatever it is.

 

That is a terrible thing to say.

Actually, this may be a sign to simply take a break. Even too much of a good thing is bad. Take a break BUT continue to save and add money to the Vegas fund. Eventually the urge will come back and you will have the funds already saved.

Maybe that is why Vegas is being viewed as work. Just play and let the comps fall where they will and don't worry about status.

 

Hope your brother does well, Joe. Keep us posted.

 

Hope everything goes well with your brother, Joe.

I agree with other posters: may be a good time to take a break, if things are seeming like work. RFB is great, but if you're not both enjoying it, what's the point? You want this to be fun

 

Your post was very sad. Maybe you just need to take a breather...too much of a good thing and all that.

Hope all goes well with your brother.

 

take a few months off and see how you feel then. no need to plan another trip right after you get back all the time. sometimes you just need a break for any number of reasons.

i don't see how cutting back to once a year would get rid of RFB. yeah you wouldn't have whatever status, but you should still be able to call your host and he can set it up the same way as always. but i wouldn't worry about that at all right now. just take a break for a while and see how you feel later. you may find that a few months away will do wonders and you'll be back to being excited about Vegas again.

 

Might be time for you two to join me over at ReHab!!!!

 

Brother -update

Surgery went well and he is in recovery.

They did the bypass using robotic surgery, no need to crack open the chest.
They made 4 port holes in his chest and I guess 3 robot arms go in and the 4th is for the camera.

He still was in a lot of pain in recovery, but recovery is the key.

Thanks all!

 

That's great news! The recovery should be swifter without the invasiveness of opening the chest. Unfortunately, our family (including me) knows a thing or two about bypass surgeries... but fortunately everything has always gone well with good results on the backside!

 

Thanks for the update, Joe! Glad to hear he made it through o.k. They'll probably have him up and walking today and hopefully his recovery will be swift and uneventful.

 

We sorta went through the same thing a few years ago. We only go once a year, but we always stayed at the MGM. I still like it there, but it was getting old. We changed venues, and seasons. Almost always went in February due to the Presidents day 3 day weekend. It was always cool outside and we would burn through our gambling budget in a hurry, due to being kept indoors. Started going in mid May and stayed at the Monte Carlo, got to spend a ton of time at the pool and outside. Next year we stayed downtown, had even more fun, went to the pool every day and really enjoyed the warmth. I understand those relationships that you build are very good, but when it becomes a chore, it is time for a change. We had not paid for a room in 7 years at the MGM, and when we changed hotels, and had to pay again, it was a shock. It wasn't that bad though, the payoff was a new place to discover and new people to meet. We still play at the MGM, they still send us offers. If MSS wants you to stay with them, they will certainly make it worth your time.

 

Glad to hear surgery went well. I don't have a countdown timer either and I'm living with it. Our last trip was in January and I hope to do one more trip in the fall. We have been going 3 to 5 times a year since 9/11. I have a wedding to attend in Orlando in 2 weeks and plan on doing the Disney thing with the family and 5 year old grand daughter. It's a major expense cutting into my Vegas trips.

I am just glad to be able to go as much as we did. I know there are people on this board who would love to go more often. Everything in moderation as they say. Just take some time and cool your jets. You moved away from Vegas for a reason and now you may need to explore other vacations.

I stay at all the b connected properties to mix it up. Variety is the spice of life.

 

I am weak

Just out of curiosity, I was nosing around SWA flight prices during our anniversary in October. I found $250 pp, non-stop.

Yes I did. Booked it this morning 10/13-17.

Great flight times also. Arrive at noon, leave at 11:30 AM, 5 days later.

Staying downtown, but we are skipping MSS and going to try Plaza and maybe Four Queens. Waiting for some offers before booking a hotel.

I hate to give up RFB/limo at MSS, but we only enjoy playing at the bar and we are just growing tired of some of the new bar employees.

Yes I know I am a very weak person. Don't make too much fun of me.

I sent the itinerary to my brothers and got the reply that none of them are surprised.

 

lol, that didn't take long!

 

Joe ,it all comes with the territory

I dont know anybody who's just always skipped down the sunny side of life's street so enjoy what you enjoy when you can because you gotta be ready for the bad stuff too.
Even though we're about to take our third vacation this year next week,we've had some disappointments also and were just gonna stay close to home for the rest of the year,just go to AC when we feel like it.
Sounds like youre coming out of your funk already,glad your Bro is good.

 

Joe: We just booked today too! R/T air was running $445, but took a dip to $279 and we pounced. Only three of the seven nights are free, unlike all nights last month, but at least the others are discounted. It can really be a scramble arranging things only two and a half weeks out, but it's still easier than winning in the casinos!

Like you, I'm finding Vegas starting to feel like a job, but then I remember the main reason for going … because we can! My advice would be to go to Vegas AND take another trip somewhere else. (Wish I could take my own advice!)

 

We are, heading to Seattle in August. Hope it doesn't rain the entire time we are there. Always wanted to go there, so we are branching out.

 

Joe: Good luck in Seattle. I keep meaning to go on another cruise, back to Cozumel, or at least a couple days diving in the FL springs. Seems I always end up in Vegas instead.

 

I don't have one either.

But I'm glad your brother made it out of surgery, and I hope he makes a speedy recovery.

Moderation is the key, I guess, and it applies to our Vegas adventures as well.
Glad to hear you booked your trip for October. Something to look forward to.

As for me I still don't have a countdown timer. And yes, it's sad to know that there is no Vegas trip to look forward to. Oh well, I hope I'll be able to change that....