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Best Birthday Bash she could ever miss 12 12 12

Discussion in 'Vegas Trip Reports' started by SandsFan, Jan 6, 2013.

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  1. SandsFan

    SandsFan VIP Whale

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    My Trip Report

    I will save some of you the read by saying this will be long, wordy and nothing too degenerate.

    Pre-Trip

    We first started planning our 12 12 12 trip when returning from our 11 11 11 Vegas trip. My wife’s birthday is Dec 12th so it turned into her birthday bash. Originally we had our magic number of 12 people commit to the trip, special group T shirts and a special birthday girl T shirt were designed, received and ready for the trip. A lot of thought went into the significance of each part of the shirt: year of the dragon, lucky colors, three dice totaling 12 each and other symbolism.

    lucky day.jpg

    We’ve been in Vegas for most of the triple dates since 4 4 4 and would definitely be there for 12 12 12, or so we thought. Dec 4th, Birthday Girl (BG going forward) got a call that her father was in critical condition and she would need to return to see him. Very stressful long days were spent getting her flights, visa and plans to make the trip.

    Not the same without BG, so should we cancel Vegas? Should I go with her? Absolutely not she says, “Make this the best birthday I ever missed!” And so the trip begins.

    What a strange start to a Vegas trip! BG and I planned for over a year and spent the last three weeks working details of shows, attractions for our Vegas Virgins and then for this to happen right before the trip. I had been running on 3 to 4 hours sleep a night and she even less.

    Finally the night before was time to pack. Maybe a glass of wine or two will help the packing. Let’s see…..guess I don’t need the fancy clothes we planned for a couple nights, got everyone’s shirts to bring, don’t want them wrinkled, throw in the lucky charms for everyone from BG, oh yeah, a few clothes and I am good to go.

    For those who stop by to rub the Buddha’s belly at the California downtown you might appreciate this little portable version.

    IMG_3767.jpg

    More to follow
     
    Last edited: Jan 6, 2013
    The 3 P Trip (Paris and Palms)
  2. SandsFan

    SandsFan VIP Whale

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    Best Birthday Bash she could ever miss 12 12 12 Day 1

    Day 1

    We were to arrive first, Dec 11th and get the rooms for everyone at PH. The rest were to arrive between 9PM and 9AM the next day. Flights were uneventful stopping in Denver on the way but I did get upgraded so call that the first win. Six day Dollar premium car rental was $152, “sweeeet!”

    After taking the leisurely drive down the strip to PH, I was able to check in all 4 rooms early with no early check in fee. Didn’t try the $20 trick but he set us up with nice strip facing rooms so call that another win. I got settled in the room, got the stack of shirts laid out, sorted by couples and I’m thinking best to sit at the bar, have a couple drinks, play some VP and maybe a cigar. I am running on fumes so I can then take a nap before the rest arrive. But first a couple shots of the room and a question for the group, “What is this thing on the wall?”

    Photo0423.jpg

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    The 3 P Trip (Paris and Palms)
  3. SandsFan

    SandsFan VIP Whale

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    Best Birthday Bash she could ever miss 12 12 12 Day 1 Cont'd

    The bar was almost empty but the guy two seats down I recognized from both flights (how odd is that). Seems he is desperately trying to restore his nicotine level and proceeded to puff as quickly as possible, all smoke drifting my way. Well, normally doesn’t bother me but a little dry from the flight and exhausted so no problem, I’ll switch sides of the bar.

    No sooner had I sat down, got my first drink and started, I hit my first quad of the day. Glad I switched.

    4 kings PH 121211.jpg

    Continuing to play and shortly after, the first was followed by 2s with a kicker. Glad I switched games. Now I am feeling much more relaxed and settled in.

    Photo0431.jpg

    There were several nice hands and another quad along the way but I was steadily depleting the winnings. Switch to keno, no luck best I could get was this 5 of 7 so decide it might be time to leave, maybe take a nap.

    Photo0435.jpg
     
    Last edited: Jan 6, 2013
    The 3 P Trip (Paris and Palms)
  4. SandsFan

    SandsFan VIP Whale

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    Best Birthday Bash she could ever miss 12 12 12 Day 1 Cont'd

    Day 1 Cont'd

    But then again….I really didn’t get to play the machine where I first sat down so let’s try it for a hundred. Boom…Aces with the kicker on dollars and it was dealt.

    Photo0437.jpg

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    Sweeeeeet, look at all those hundreds!

    Photo0442.jpg

    Slip in another hundred, play a little VP, little keno and back to VP. Unfortunately I had a chatty bartender who was distracting me and I didn’t realize at the end of the hundred, I only had 4 left due to the earlier keno play so instead of max bet it dropped to 4. Feed in another hundred, hit the button about the time I realized only 4 is bet and hit Aces no kicker. Ouch $160 distraction.

    4 aces distracted by talking bartender 121211.jpg

    Continued playing and hit two more quads.

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    Feed a bunch back in but still up about $3000, several drinks, nice cigar and about 3 hours of relaxation when I quit. Nice part was paying off the $2000 marker with cash that I got just a few hours before. Needless to say, I fought through the exhaustion and continued on until the 9 PM and midnight arrivals got there.
     
    The 3 P Trip (Paris and Palms)
  5. SandsFan

    SandsFan VIP Whale

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    Best Birthday Bash she could ever miss 12 12 12 Day 2

    Day 2

    BG had planned a Casino Crawl requiring us to play and of course have at least one adult beverage in a total of 12 casinos in 12 hours. There were also a few tourist activities along the way, mostly for the newbie(s) amongst the group.

    The last of the group arrived from the airport about 9AM so we had a quick buffet at Spice Market Buffet before starting the day. Plan was to meet up about 9:30 and start our crawl. Shirts were distributed as well as surprise lucky bracelets tailored for each of us by the Keno King. Here’s mine and BG’s for all the times we yell “Big Money”. There was one extra bracelet titled “Royal Flusher” for the first one to win a Royal. Unfortunately, it wasn’t me, so no pics.

    IMG_0006.jpg

    With group T shirts on, we commenced the crawl with a bit of play and a drink at PH. At each stop along the way, we took a picture with some of the group holding BG’s shirt. We also had an official timekeeper telling us when we needed to meet up and move on. Of course if someone was having fun or winning, they knew the route and where to catch up.

    First stop Paris for a bit of VP at Gustav’s bar and beverages. Nothing special happening here so everyone was ready to move on. Walk the back way through the shops to Bally’s and hit Sulley’s. BG had her own chair with her shirt slid over the back. A few quads amongst the group but nothing to stay for.

    There was this one accidental full house when a ten was held by mistake.

    Accicental full house see the ten held by mistake .jpg

    About this time, I find out Vegas Virgin (VV going forward) would like to play one of those very large dollar slot machines at 12:12. Ok, next stop Bills for a little libation and some Wheel of Fortune for Lady Luck, then on to Flamingo hoping they still had one of those big slots.

    Bill’s was ok but no quads hit there so we moved on to Flamingo. I had to make sure we arrived in time to find a large slot machine before noon. Yes they have one. The rest of us settled at Bugsy’s Bar and the adjacent Mississippi Stud table while VV and Lady Luck found the large slot machine. A couple quads hit here and a few beverages while we waited to play at 12:12. The idea was to bet $12 at that time but I was not on the right machine for that so I tried to play 12 hands of max bet dollars instead. That was an expensive minute for me but not for VV. He started with a $20 at noon and pulled a couple times. Decided he would wait so exactly at 12:12 he pulled to hit $400. I think it’s the first time I’ve seen anyone hit one of those.


    Our Mississippi Stud fan could not pass the table in Margaritaville so the group made the decision that Margaritaville would count as a separate casino and we would stay awhile. By this time, all were several beverages into the day but fortunately our timekeeper was able to round us up and keep us moving. Not before Mississippi Stud fan left a few Benjamins at the table and we tried our hand at Three Card Poker.

    Here’s BG’s shirt at Margaritaville with a good sport who joined in the fun.

    IMG_2785.jpg

    Next unofficial stop was a moment of silence for O’Sheas. Part of the group was very excited to go back to O’Sheas but found out that morning that it was no more. In the past we spent many days playing at the O’Sheas bar and tables and a trip to the strip wasn’t complete without a stop to pick up cigars and have a few while playing VP at the bar. Alas, all good things must pass….I guess.

    Another sad moment when they found out their favorite bar at IP for VP and watching Dealertainers is gone. My son had a VP machine that he claimed every trip. Several Aces with kickers were hit on that machine over the years. Truly sad to lose our bar and favorite bartender, Angelo. A little VP and beverages at another bar where I hit a Royal in the past, Geisha I think, before moving on.

    We went up the escalator to Ginseng III for lunch. BG had planned to order 3dozen (12 12 12) dumplings as an appetizer to the meal. I understand dumplings are made for the New Year and represent money bags or prosper in the New Year. I think it worked for some of the group as the day went on, but for me, not so much. A wonderful Korean meal was enjoyed by all and on we moved before the beverages and full stomachs could slow us down.

    The plan was to go out the back of IP and over to Harrah’s so we could pass by Ice Pan for an ice cream. Sorry Birthday Girl but everyone was just too full. We had intended to see Big Elvis but found out he is off on Wednesday, bummer. Instead the group fanned out to favorite machines and games for a bit of play.

    I always enjoy Harrah’s and have several machines and tables I like to play. With a tight time frame, best I could get was a quick beverage and a quad. Not complaining.

    4 3's.jpg

    Casino Royale was eliminated due to the stop at Margaritaville so it was time to cross the street and crawl the casinos on the other side. First stop, Mirage. Photo at the Mirage registration counter aquarium was on the list of things to do. A group picture with BG’s shirt, a walk through the habitat and we were back to the crawl.

    A bitter sweet stop for Keno King. We are playing at the bar and as his credits are disappearing fast, he realizes 25 cent DDB max bet is 10 credits instead of 5. At this point he has been punished by VP on the crawl and thinking that is a bit much. I remind him of BG’s first Royal at 4 Queens with 2 credits in but he thinks he better pull back to the typical 5 credits. A few hands later all diamonds; Ace, King, Queen, Ten and Nine. A bit of joking about keeping the flush or go for the royal????? Like that is really a decision. But then again wouldn’t that be rough with only 5 bet and getting 4000 instead of 8000? OK, hit the button. …. Yes, Jack of diamonds for the ROYAL….. Yeah….. but wait….it only pays 1250 credits???? Not dollars, credits????? For 5 quarters most places is 4000 credits or $1000! Such a bittersweet or bitter shit win that we did not even get a picture of his first ever royal. He has since commented that he has definitely learned his lesson.

    Crawl continues with a walk thru the forum shops to Caesars. By now there had been enough adult beverages that the photos with BG’s T shirt are getting quite creative. Fortunately the shirt fit many of the statues and we got through with photos and without getting thrown out.

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    Original plan was a birthday dinner at Mesa Grill for BG but we were still full and sinking fast. All endeavored to finish the challenge so skip dinner and on with the crawl. There was a little success at Caesars but overall a bit cold. I would like to return for a longer play in the future. So, on the walk we encountered a rodeo fan hat and all…….no the guy is not pissing on the flowers.

    rodeo vegas.jpg

    Bellagio is where things get a bit fuzzy and we lost one of the group, Beginner’s Luck. Well not actually lost physically, we did not know until the next day when Beginner’s Luck said peach bellini was the last thing she remembered. On BG’s list was a peach bellini at Bellagio. Fortunately she was able to motor through and didn’t require assistance, since there was not much available.

    Cosmo was a blur of fun with VP, tables, photos and back to PH. Somewhere along here are pictures of different crawl members sitting in a giant red high heel shoe holding up the shirt but we’ll leave those out. I must admit, the younger group continued on with food and play at PH but I headed to the room. I intended to drop off my coat but when I laid across the bed, I realized I was done. Report was the last of the group shut down at 4AM.

    So ends the first ever BG Birthday bash, hopefully an annual event. The dragon squad completed the 12 casino crawl challenge in 12 hours playing at all casinos and consuming at least 12 adult beverages along the way. The trip continued on with a few days of more serious less entertaining gambling.
     
    The 3 P Trip (Paris and Palms)
  6. gabd13

    gabd13 Tourist

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    The outfit in your room looks like it is from the movie Running Man
     
  7. JDinTN

    JDinTN MIA

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    Sounds like a fun time! Thanks for the report! Always loved doing pub crawls in Vegas but haven't for so long. How was Spice Market buffet? I haven't been for a while. Is it still one of the better buffets? Problem with eating in Vegas is you usually have dinner plans for some place but with all the good options I'm not even hungry by dinner after eating big lunches!
     
  8. Suekel

    Suekel VIP Whale

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    Great trip report, but man I feel badly for BG that she missed it! I would be so bummed. Seems like you guys did a great job of having her there in spirit!
     
  9. SandsFan

    SandsFan VIP Whale

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    Thanks BG was very happy we had a good time and really got a kick out of all the pictures with her shirt. There are a lot of really funny ones I better not include.

    BG edited the trip report and helped me with uploading everything so I think she was happy. Already planning her belated Vegas birthday (any reason to go to Vegas, right?)
     
    The 3 P Trip (Paris and Palms)
  10. SandsFan

    SandsFan VIP Whale

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    Hard to give a good review of Spice Market buffet because we were there for breakfast. It was about $18 or $19 which was an awful lot for breakfast buffet food.

    I don't normally do breakfast buffets so can't really judge it but seemed like it had been out a while. Dennys, IHOP or McDonalds would have been good enough.

    Maybe we will try it for a different meal next time.
     
    The 3 P Trip (Paris and Palms)
  11. gongoman

    gongoman MIA

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    Wow..Thanks for trip report:beer:
     
  12. KellyLovesVegas

    KellyLovesVegas Earthling/retired space nerd

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    Nice trip report! It's great you're making plans for BG's Belated Birthday trip to Vegas :)
     
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