1. Welcome to VegasMessageBoard
    It appears you are visiting our community as a guest.
    In order to view full-size images, participate in discussions, vote in polls, etc, you will need to Log in or Register.

Mr. & Mrs. "Buddha" in Vegas , Sept. 18 - 25

Discussion in 'Vegas Trip Reports' started by Buddha, Sep 30, 2013.

Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.
  1. Buddha

    Buddha VIP Whale

    Joined:
    Apr 3, 2012
    Messages:
    1,470
    Location:
    Chicago 'burbs
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    60

    My Trip Report

    Las Vegas -- Sept. 18-25 @ Main Street Station :

    Well, folks … this is Vegas trip #49 for us. We actually booked these September Southwest flights back in February, when the reservation window opened up. We originally paid $162 each for our flights to & from Vegas, out of Chicago Midway … of course using our Southwest Visa for double Rapid Reward points. Also added to that were the Early Bird boarding fees of $12.50 each way, per person … well worth it, to reduce the anxiety of boarding passes, and getting on the plane early enough to get luggage space for our carry-ons. A month later, I was able to re-book all flights at $142 … getting an $80 future credit (already used it for booking our November flights), and then getting instant credits of 786 Rapid Rewards points for each of us on each flight

    In setting up our room reservations, I eventually got my usual mailer offer from Main Street Station for 4 comped nights anytime, plus $35 free-play … followed by Nancy receiving her usual 3 comped nights (Sun. to Thurs.) at the California , plus two $15 dining coupons. However, in dealing with our Host at MSS, she is able to book Nancy’s room offer at MSS, which then allows us to stay all 7 nights in the same room at MSS, instead of moving from MSS to the Cal, since both places are sister properties. And, it would not even matter how much we played at either property, as it all goes in the same pot … so to speak.

    Next was the rental car for the week, and I search the Alamo reservations page, as our usual source for decent prices, along with RR promo points from SWA. As expected, my first search showed the compact cars at over $225 all-in for the week … I passed. About two months later, the all-in price dropped to $138, and I booked it. This booking comes with 2400 RR points from SWA, plus being charged to our SWA-Visa card, this price will also yield 276 additional RR points. I tend to be a whore, when it comes to collecting SWA Rapid Reward points. J

    Our daily itinerary is planned, my dozens & dozens of ACG and LVA coupons are organized, our bags are packed, the early-bird boarding passes ( # A-30 & A-31) are printed, and we are raring to go !!


    Wednesday - Sept. 18 :

    As is our regular plan, we catch our local commuter train into downtown Chicago Union Station, and walk over to the elevated (the “L”) CTA transit trains, and board the Orange Line directly to Midway Airport. TSA screening was quick & easy, except for a couple people, again & again who have not taken EVERYTHING out of their damn pockets, even though it is always announced over & over … and we are soon on our way to Gate B-17. Our plane is scheduled to depart at 12:25, so we grab a couple burgers & fries from the McDonald’s … as it will be at least 7 hours until we have dinner in Vegas. It is then we see that our departure time has been changed to 1:05, due to a delay in our plane having not left Detroit. About 15 minutes later, our departure time changes to 1:30, as our plane is still sitting on the ground in Detroit. AAAARRRGGHH !!!

    EVENTUALLY our plane arrives from Detroit , and eventually we load up and depart for Vegas almost 2 hours late, with the pilot promising to make up some of that time.

    After take-off, and reaching cruising altitude, we enjoy a couple traditional free Bloody Mary’s along with the standard in-flight snacks, and settle back for the 3 hour 45 minute flight, and arrive in Vegas over an hour and a half late, and 94 degrees. We are soon off the plane with our carry-on bags, and onto the shuttle bus to the rental car facility. All of our paperwork is in order at Alamo, and we are soon up the escalator picking out our KIA Rio for our week in town.

    We head down Warm Springs Rd., across LV Blvd., to Dean Martin Way (Industrial Rd), and head to the Walgreens on Charleston and LV Blvd, picking up a case of water, a few snacks, and some incidental toiletries. Unfortunately, it is now 4:30 pm, and it seems like we have most of the day.

    Back down LV Blvd to Main Street, heading north, and we arrive at Main Street Station in short order. Our room at MSS (# 801) is all set for us for the week, having been blocked out by our host. Room is clean, with a good view to the south, and at the extreme east end (next to Main St.) away from the railroad tracks. We unpack our bags, as we await the delivery of a house coffee-pot to our room … and then it is off to the Four Queens for our usual arrival dinner at Magnolia’s. Using an LVA 2/1 coupon, we each order the spaghetti & meatballs with a side-salad … delicious and filling, at a final billing of just $8 + tip.

    We finish off the evening with some video poker at 4Q (+33 for me, and +25 for Nancy), and match-play coupons at the Las Vegas Club (+5), and the Plaza (-20). It’s been a long day, and we are bushed… more fun tomorrow … ZZZZZZ …….


    Thursday & Friday & Saturday - Sept. 19 - 20 - 21 :

    These three days of casino play will be spent mostly at MSS, as my comp offer came from them, and we will both be playing on my B-Connected card, in order to maximize the daily play to around $7500 to 8000 per day. We both strictly play quarter 8/5 Bonus (99.17 % game) and 9/6 JOB (99.54 % game) … and there are plenty of those single-line games at MSS for Nancy …while I prefer the 3-Play / 5-Play machines at MSS, in order to maximize my coin-in, and the additional opportunities for a big hand. We will also periodically be doing several match-play coupons from the ACG book, and the Las Vegas Advisor rewards book, on our coupon runs at the Riviera, Palms, Orleans, Tuscany, Longhorn, Jerry’s Nugget, and the LVC & Plaza downtown

    .

    Thursday began with a breakfast buffet at Boulder Station using a Las Vegas advisor 2/1 coupon, as we are meeting our friends Darryl & Carolyn from Pittsburgh, who we only get to see once or twice a year. After a great breakfast, and lots of friendly conversation, and solving the world’s problems, our attention turned to the casino action back at MSS. Nancy and I begin our first day’s serious VP at MSS, with us cycling about $5K (-175 ), with additional LVA & ACG MP’s at the LVC (+20 ) and the Plaza (+10 ).

    The evening dinner get-together was completed at MSS, where we met Illinois friends of ours (Garry & Marcia) at the MSS dinner buffet, with each of us using the LVA 2/1 coupon, and points. It was a fun time meal, as the friendly conversation was non-stop, with lots of good food choices. Upon returning to the MSS casino for some evening video poker, we settle in at our usual machines, finishing with a (+15) for Nancy, a (+125) for me, and then watch a little TV before …. ZZZZZZZ

    Friday morning began with an early VP session at MSS (+40), each of us slightly handicapped with a Bloody Mary in one hand. We take a break at this early stage, and head for Harrah’s, to meet our Missouri friend, Diane, for a nice buffet breakfast. Diane has a Groupon for her & Nancy, and I use an LVA coupon + points, and we’re all eating free !! A good selection of morning chow, and an even better time exchanging war stories, family news, current events, her St. Louis Cardinals and my beloved White Sox … a great time. Back to MSS with a full tummy, we find the VP games more troublesome than we had hoped (-300). Time for a road-trip break, doing an assortment of MP’s which yield an opposite result … Palms (+40), Orleans (+10), Tuscany (+5), and the Riviera (+10).

    For dinner, we end up at Applebee’s on West Charleston, where we can use a $30 gift card from our daughter & family. Nancy enjoys a chicken & pasta alfredo, and I get the Riblets platter ($22 special for the twosome), plus two ice teas, for a smart total of $29.16, and a nice tip for our very helpful waitress. After our dinner, we return to MSS for one final VP session for the day, but no big hits … just a lot of small wins, and we close out the night VP at (+32). Before going up to the room for some TV, we stop at the MSS player’s club, and ask the Host on duty for a comp to the Saturday morning Brunch buffet breakfast (the “clerks” can no longer do this). The host checks our play, and slowly decides to print out a voucher for two (value - $21.98). Keep that in mind for tomorrow evening ….. *** NOTE …. if you have not been to any of the Boyd properties lately, ALL comp requests must now go through a host at the player‘s club. Gone are the days when the “clerks” at the player’s club could issue comps to the buffet … more on that later…..

     

    Saturday morning brings us down to the MSS breakfast Brunch buffet, shortly after 7:00 … a meal we always look forward to. Our friendly waiter starts us off with a tasty Mimosa, as we begin with a plate of fresh fruit. Our second course has offerings of Eggs Benedict, a carving station, country-fried steak w/ biscuits & sausage gravy, assorted sausages and ham and bacon, etc., etc. … hardly leaving any room for a chocolate iced long-john doughnut. What a breakfast …. “burp” …..

    Today (Saturday) is also the day that James (NY) and his wife Dawn arrive later this afternoon, with whom we will meet for dinner at James’ favorite place … the Market St. Café at the California. But first of all we have a few hours of VP to deal with at MSS. Our morning session got us back some of our missing $$ (+170), and we put a bunch of points on my card. We take a short break from the VP, and walk over to the Las Vegas Club (+20) and the Plaza (+10) for some MP profits. While at the Plaza, we visited their McDonald’s for a couple of their hot fudge sundaes … tasty.

    Back to MSS, we resume our attack on the VP machines, but with very different negative results (-245). And over the last 3 days here at MSS, all of the scratch-cards (for quads or better) were ALL just $2 … never anything better.

    It’s now about 4:00, and we have cycled $8K through the machines, and I head over to the player’s club to ask for a comp to the Market St. Café, for our dinner with James & Dawn. I find our “usual” host, Brenda, and I ask for a $20 comp. Brenda proceeds to check my account on her computer, looks around the screen, hit’s a few more keys, looks around some more, hit’s a few more keys … and then DENIES my request, saying that they are over-extended on their comps. WHAT !!!??? $8K through the machines, and I can’t get a lousy $20 comp ????? The bean-counters at MSS must really be watching the bottom line. L .

    We meet James & Dawn at the Market St. Café about 4:30, and talk & talk & talk over dinner, since it’s been ages since we have seen each other, out in Atlantic City about 3 years ago. Dinner was fine, but the friendly conversation and old war stories were even better !! We temporarily part ways, us to our rooms for some TV, and James & Dawn to get warmed up on the VP machines, but we will meet for another dinner on Tuesday. However, I am still steamed about that comp rejection …..

     

    Sunday -- Sept. 22 :

    Sunday is “moving day”, but we really are not moving at all. This is the morning that we go down to the hotel front desk, and I check out, and Nancy checks back in … to the same room. This is a practice we started back in April, with the help of our host, putting Nancy’s 3-night offer from the Cal, connected right behind my reservation at MSS. Once the “sign-in” was completed, we headed for the car for our usual Sunday destination … the Rampart, out west in the Summerlin area. This is a beautiful property, with good VP, and a nice “early bird” breakfast special in their Promenade Café. With a player’s card, their standard “Sunrise” breakfast of eggs, bacon or sausage, hash browns, toast, AND coffee … is just $3.99 each, which we just pay for with our Rampart player points. It’s become a Sunday tradition.

    After a very relaxing breakfast, we head into the casino for some full-pay VP. Nancy likes the single-line slant-tops for quarters, around the back side of the Round Bar with 9/6 JOB, and 8/5 Bonus, as well as 16/10/4/4 Deuces (99.73 %) …. and, I settle in at the 10-play uprights, with the same games, even for nickels … at $2.50 at max coin. We play for a couple hours, including me hitting a nickel Royal ($200), and even with that we end up at (-30).

    From the Rampart, we go on a MP run … Palms (-20), Orleans (+40), Tuscany (+5), Hard Rock (+10), and the Longhorn (-10). Next stop, a short distance down Boulder Hwy is Sam’s Town. Here at Sam’s Town, we each have two coupons to play … the LVA - “Play 10 - Get 10 free-play” , and then the ACG - “Earn 200 points - Get a free buffet”.

    Playing slant-tops with 8/5 Bonus at Sam’s, the “10 for 10” coupons got us a (+15), and the additional play for the 200 points each, got us a (+26) … AND , two free dinner buffets. Now that’s how a promo should always work. The dinner buffet at Sam’s was not the best you’ll find, by any means. However, there’s always enough to put together an acceptable meal … in my case, salmon & catfish and steamed veggies, and Nancy found turkey on the carving table, potatoes & gravy, Asian lemon chicken, and the veggies. And … there’s always some nice desserts. J

    ..

    After leaving Sam’s Town, we head back on Flamingo Rd., and up north on Koval, to the back entrance to the Harrah’s Parking garage. We are here at Harrah’s for one main reason … the 7:00 performance of the “Million Dollar Quartet”. This is a great show, put on as a small stage musical play, centered around the Sun Records recording studio in Memphis, where many, many years ago, Carl Perkins, Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, and a young Jerry Lee Lewis meet up and have a jam session. If you are a fan of these performers, this is a must show, and trust me, the place was rockin’ !! We even skipped watching the Bears game to see this show. Prices are reasonable, but you can also use your TR points, and the show has been added to the Diamond List. Thanks, “D”.

    We are back to MSS by 9:30 pm, and we head back to our room at MSS, in order to catch all the TV highlights of the Bears win over the Steelers. It was a very busy day, and we had no trouble getting some ZZZ’s …..

     

    Monday & Tuesday -- Sept. 23 - 24 :

    Today & tomorrow, we will be doing all of our VP at the California, and both playing on Nancy’s card, since these days were part of her mailer offer. Nancy has her choice of several 8/5 Bonus machines, but her favorites are the uprights on the upstairs east wall by the tournament machines, and the slant-tops downstairs, in front of the cashier. I sometimes play those same machines, or a couple of their 9/6 JOB (not the coin-droppers), but today, I have decided to try the 50-play nickel machines with 7/5 Bonus, but I only do between 10 to 25 lines.

    We play our VP at the Cal for about 90 minutes (+42), and at about 8:30, we drive down to Planet Hollywood for their breakfast buffet. Even though their prices have increased, using the LVA $10 off coupon (-20 for two people), and paying the balance with our Total Rewards points, it is still a very nice free breakfast. Lots of good choices here, and well worth the drive down, as long as you can figure out the maze of getting in and out of the parking garage, and the long walk getting TO the buffet, and then back out to the garage. J

    Returning to the Cal, we settle back in at our earlier machines, but something is very much wrong now, as the cards have seriously turned on us (-140). We decide to let the machines torment someone else for a while, and we take a walk over to the LVC and the Plaza, armed with our usual assortment of MP coupons. Fortunately, we did not actually lose anything on the MP’s, as we went (+20) and (-20), but grabbed an ice cream cone at McD’s. J

    We head back to the Cal for a fresh afternoon session, but first we decide to try out the Cal’s live Keno parlor. We each play a card with 8 numbers, for 25 drawings, for $10 … for a little side fun … maybe we’ll get lucky. J The new VP session works out with some better luck (+160), mainly due to my 2nd nickel Royal (200) of the trip … turning the day into a profit, all the while cycling about 5500 coin-in.. It’s now about 4:00 pm, and we go to the Keno counter to turn in our game slips… and find out that we won a total of $7.20 back from our $20 investment. Our eyes are getting blurred … time for a break up in the room, and freshen up for dinner.

    About 6:00, we head down to the MSS dinner buffet, and Nancy uses one of her $15 mailer coupons, plus some of her player points, and we enjoy a free dinner. Nancy liked the carving table with Roasted Turkey breast, with potatoes & gravy, and brown-sugared carrots … while I took a liking to the baked salmon and swordfish, along with steamed broccoli and cauliflower … all with a couple of nice Caesar salads,

    Based on our day’s play, we make one more trip to the Player’s Club. Here, Nancy requests, and receives from another Host (Gloria), a comp to the Tuesday morning MSS breakfast buffet, with absolutely no qualms at all . Remember how I got stiffed back on Saturday … ??? Oh well, time to relax for the rest of the evening watching some TV, and checking the email.

    .

    Tuesday morning begins with our free breakfast buffet at MSS … always good … and then continues over at the California casino. We play for a couple hours here at our usual machines with very mixed results (-235), and decide to try our luck once more at the Keno parlor, each playing another set of 8 numbers for 25 games ($10 each). From there, we once again visit the LVC (+20) and the Plaza (-20) with MP’s. I swear the Plaza has us jinxed !! And, while we were playing our MP coupons there, a young fellow, about 25, or so, put down a C-note for four $25 chips, and placed them on four separate numbers, and hit one for a pay-off of $875 !! He was calling friends on his cell-phone, before the dealer could even figure out how much to pay him. It was funny.

    Back to the Cal for a new session of VP at our usual places, and this time the cards were more favorable … with both of us hitting a few quads, and even a straight flush for the both of us … would you believe mine was K- high ? AAAARRRGGHH !!!! Anyway, we came away from that session at (+115) … and time to go check our Keno tickets. Nancy was again the team winner, pulling in $8.60 on her $10 card, while I limped in with just $4.80 back on mine. I think we’ll try this again on our future trips, and maybe hit a big one. You never know, and it’s an inexpensive way for a little side action.

    We now finalize our points and our VP winnings, and head over to the Market St. Café, where we will once again meet James & Dawn for dinner … James loves this place !!

    Nancy still has one more $15 dining coupon from her mailer offer, and that, plus a few points off her player’s card will cover our tasty chicken breast sandwich platters. James uses his Silver Card to cover theirs .. BBQ chicken platter for James, and a veggie omelet for Dawn. This is our “get-away” meal for all of us, as James & Dawn are headed down to Laughlin in the morning for a few days (before returning back to Vegas), and Nancy and I will be flying home. Always good to see them, as our meetings are not that often … but only an email away. Good seeing you guys ….

     

    Wednesday -- Sept. 25 :

    Our bags are packed, our early-bird boarding has been logged in, and all paperwork organized for later, and we check out from 7 nights at MSS … no charges. As it’s become sort of a tradition, we hop on the I-15 South, and head for the South Point Hotel / Casino, for a final getaway breakfast buffet with our Illinois friends, Garry & Marcia, who are actually flying out first on an earlier plane. Nancy and I use a 2/1 buffet coupon, which I acquired in a trade … my, what a surprise there !! J

    This buffet at South Point is better than MSS, and even better than the Orleans, due to the ownership of Michael Gaughan (Jackie’s son). And, after you go through the cashier here, be sure to pick up your complimentary Bloody Mary … no need to order juice. J

    After a great breakfast, and saying our “good-byes” to Garry & Marcia, there’s still time for a some VP action, and South Point has a good selection. Nancy finds her single-line 8/5 Bonus machines, and I’m only a short distance away at one of the many Triple-Play machines, which contain both 9/6 JOB and 8/5 Bonus. Nancy has two winning sessions, but three other losing sessions (-15), while I was successful in four straight sessions. It seemed like I would fall behind on every session, and then scramble back to the top, and this was an example of the excitement of Triple-Play. The first session put me over my goal on the last hand, being dealt three 10’s, and catching a quad on one line, and a FH on a second line. The 2nd session was up & down, and as I was fighting my way back up, it dealt me a nice flush. The 3rd session went the same way as the other two, but in the end, it dealt me a Full-House. The 4th session was even more exciting, as I was down to my last three quarters, and scraped out a few small wins to begin a come-back. And then, playing Bonus Poker, it dealt me Quad - 3’s , and I immediately cashed out for a nice total win for the morning at +173 !!!

    Leaving South Point, we gas up the rental car on LV Blvd, at the Circle K just north of South Point ($3.33 /gal)., and make the return to the “car barn” … $138.00 all in. Shuttle bus quickly delivers us to Terminal 1, we print out our Early Bird boarding passes , and are soon to be on our Southwest plane, for our 3 hour 10 min. gate-to-gate flight. HOWEVER … as it seems to be a regular happening … the incoming flight from Orange County , Calif. is about 30 minutes late arriving to our gate, and by the time they unload, and we load, we are a full hour late departing. When we FINALLY get to the front of the take-off line, the outside wind is really buffeting the plane, and as the pilot puts the hammer down, we are racing down the runway like the plane is out of control, with no steering The plane is bouncing and veering from side-to-side … I swore we were going to completely leave the runway, but somehow, the plane lifts off, with continued turbulence as we leave the Vegas area. Luckily, with a strong jet-stream behind us, and the extra padding in the air schedule times, we arrive at Midway only 15 minutes late.

    Back through the Chicago transit system, and onto the suburban Metra commuter train, we find our car sitting where we left it a week ago …and we pull into our garage just a few minutes later. Vegas trip # 49 is complete … # 50 coming up in November …..

     

    Summary :

    >> 7 nights @ Main Street Station … all comped through mailer offers

    >> Alamo rental car - KIA Rio --- $138.00 all-in total , and 2400 Rapid Rewards credits

    >> 3 meals with coupons, and cash out-of-pocket --- $22

    >> 11 free meals, from room offers, comps, coupons, and player points

    >> Tips --- Maids, waiters, waitresses, bartenders, service personnel, shuttles --- $70

    >> MatchPlay coupons : + $170

    >> Casino play : cycled & re-cycled about 36K coin-in

    >> Video Poker (including Free-Play) : Nancy -360 , Me -77

    Hope you enjoyed the read (beware of typos). Questions & comments are always welcome.
    Next trip in November …. Viva Las Vegas !!!!

    *** P.S. --- I have lots of extra coupons posted in my “Coupon Clearance Sale” ... check 'em out.

    Buddha
     
    Last edited: Oct 5, 2013
  2. skybank

    skybank High-Roller

    Joined:
    Aug 29, 2007
    Messages:
    896
    Location:
    Chicagoland
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    42
    Thanks for sharing your trip with us!


    I love me some Southwest and Midway, no other way to fly to Vegas from Chicago!
     
  3. jpw711

    jpw711 Is that your cat?

    Joined:
    Mar 10, 2009
    Messages:
    10,928
    Location:
    Southwest Missouri
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    74
    enjoyed the read, lousy they denied a $20 comp.

    Did she mean they had overextended comps to you, or to everybody?
     
    No reason to go home yet.
  4. Buddha

    Buddha VIP Whale

    Joined:
    Apr 3, 2012
    Messages:
    1,470
    Location:
    Chicago 'burbs
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    60

    She was referring to everybody getting comps before me ... as I was the late one to the feeding trough .... and they had limits. My contention was that I earned that comp according to their reward system.
     
  5. westie

    westie VIP Whale

    Joined:
    Jun 24, 2002
    Messages:
    4,548
    Location:
    Kensington, CT
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    60
    Great use of comps, coups, points and MPs as usual. I cannot figure the logic behind the comp refusal. Is the host really saying that had you arrived earlier in the morning you would have gotten the comp? Makes no sense.
     
    Last edited: Oct 1, 2013
  6. jamesxnj

    jamesxnj VIP Whale

    Joined:
    Oct 12, 2009
    Messages:
    2,296
    Location:
    TN
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    17
    Thankyou for the nice TR!!
     
  7. jrinct1

    jrinct1 VIP Whale

    Joined:
    Aug 25, 2011
    Messages:
    2,192
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    20
    Jim,
    Another GREAT TR:nworthy::nworthy::nworthy:. Glad you were able to see my friends( and YOURS TOO) Stungazed and Dawn.

    That line about checking out and back into the same room is CLASSIC!!!!

    49 trips! WOW! Just out of curiousity when was your 1st trip to Fantasyland??
    This is now the 5th year!!!!!! I haven't been out and cant see that happening for the foreseeable future.....SIGH.....:cry::cry:
    Oh well,another great read.!!!
     
  8. TIMSPEED

    TIMSPEED Money’s on the way, with CashNetUSA

    Joined:
    Aug 8, 2013
    Messages:
    9,133
    Location:
    BART Blue Line Trains
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    0
    FWIW, I've found that ever since 1/1/2013, MSS has been getting really tight on their discretionary comps...(I think it has something to do with them getting rid of the 2:1 FSE coupons for the buffet too)
    What I found works best, is just to get a buffet comp on my card one day, then the next day, play on the wifes card and get a buffet comp on hers.
    I've played HUGE at dice, and STILL only recieved a buffet comp for 2 ONCE in a 4 day trip!!! (and I asked each and every day, even on different shifts)
    I've basically given up on MSS, sans for the Treasure Chest machines (since NO ONE else has them) and just PAYING for the damn buffet (since it's cheap and good)
    Sounds like you had a good trip though, other than that annoyance.
    :beer:
     
  9. Buddha

    Buddha VIP Whale

    Joined:
    Apr 3, 2012
    Messages:
    1,470
    Location:
    Chicago 'burbs
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    60
    Well, Westie ... I was asking for a $20 "dinner" comp, so I could not ask for it in the morning, before I did my play. So, we played in the morning & afternoon, and asked for the comp at 4:00, right AFTER I had put 8000 on my card.

    It makes no sense to me either, as I was always led to believe that a comp was a "reward" for my play ... no matter what "someone else" does. It should not a race to see who can get to the player's club host first.
     
  10. Buddha

    Buddha VIP Whale

    Joined:
    Apr 3, 2012
    Messages:
    1,470
    Location:
    Chicago 'burbs
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    60
    We had no problems getting comps on our Jan./Feb. Super Bowl trip, nor on our April trip. These new comp changes ... according to what the "clerks" were telling me just changed over the summer, and now the hosts must take care of ALL comps, and sounds like they are accountable to how much they are giving out ... The bean counters cometh ....
     
  11. tringlomane

    tringlomane STP Addicted Beer Snob

    Joined:
    Jan 21, 2013
    Messages:
    31,301
    Location:
    Chicagoland
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    28
    Thanks for sharing!

    Damn beancounters though... :grrr:
     
  12. edinpa

    edinpa Tourist

    Joined:
    Jun 9, 2009
    Messages:
    39
    Location:
    Bucks County PA
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    40
    Hey Jim,

    Always an enjoyable read, but I'm still shaking my head over that comp denial.

    Thanks for the report!
     
  13. wa8ckt

    wa8ckt Tourist

    Joined:
    Sep 22, 2012
    Messages:
    18
    Location:
    Caro, MI
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    90
    Great report.

    Well Jim, great report as usual. You and Nancy sure make a game/vacation out of just the comps, coupons, and such. Masters at it. Too bad we didn't make connections on last trip, same place, same time. We will get it together in the future. Yes it sounds like the bean counters are on the way to the other areas besides the strip hotels. We have been dealing with them for the last several years. When the owner of the IP passed away and Harrah's bought it, now of course CET group, the comps are given out like gold pieces. You drop one or two K and it must be at the right times, machines, tables, etc. for it to count. They sure come up with strange and secret ways of calculating comps. Darn computers. This year they increased the tier points for each level of play; Gold, Platinum, Diamond, and 5 Star and reduced perks for each level. Sure not worth "playing for comps", as if it ever was. Thanks again for the super detailed report. John in MI
     
  14. VegasGroove

    VegasGroove VIP Whale

    Joined:
    Jul 27, 2009
    Messages:
    3,311
    Location:
    3h 45m Away
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    60
    Buddha,

    I always know I'm in for a good read when I see your trip reports posted. Thanks you for another great one! You make me want to look into staying downtown one trip.

    Thanks for posting!!
     
  15. bubbakitty

    bubbakitty Doing retirement again and happily so....

    Joined:
    Feb 17, 2003
    Messages:
    14,899
    Location:
    Texas
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    65
    Not to beat a dead horse but what if when denied the comp you simply charge it to your room and stop by later to see if it can be taken off at that time or at check out? Does seem petty but there could be ways around petty. Good trip report.
     
  16. Buddha

    Buddha VIP Whale

    Joined:
    Apr 3, 2012
    Messages:
    1,470
    Location:
    Chicago 'burbs
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    60
    Thanks for the kind remarks JR , Ed , and John , and Vegas Groove.
    We always try to make each trip fun, but also take on the usual "Vegas challenges" to maximize our $$.

    Bubba Kitty -- Your idea of the room charge is a possibility, but I might be right back to square one, with the hosts. The comp system at MSS used to be very simple for several years, but things have changed, and I hate to beg.
     
  17. sco5123

    sco5123 VIP Whale

    Joined:
    Jul 29, 2011
    Messages:
    2,711
    Location:
    East
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    11
    This is such a fun read! I really enjoyed the details about your flight, rental car, comps and swa points.

    Ahhhh I love how frugal everything is! You are one of the best!

    OMG How is magnolia's spaghetti? Do you have any pictures? I hope to try it!

    You are making me want to stay downtown. I found myself opening up several new browsers while reading your trip report, with all these helpful hints!
     
  18. Buddha

    Buddha VIP Whale

    Joined:
    Apr 3, 2012
    Messages:
    1,470
    Location:
    Chicago 'burbs
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    60

    Hello Sco .... Thanks for the kind words. Every trip for us is a fun challenge, in order to stretch our $$ as far as possible. I have to give Nancy credit for putting up with all of my hi-jinx. :)

    No pictures of our 4Q spaghetti, and it's really nothing "fancy". The sauce is pretty standard & commercial, and I'm sure that the true-blue Italian "experts" might have some criticism, but we like it. There is a good-size helping of spaghetti, with two LARGE meatballs, and comes with a side salad and garlic toast. All for about $8 !!
     
  19. Kobra2848

    Kobra2848 VIP Whale

    Joined:
    Oct 30, 2011
    Messages:
    2,418
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    38
    Great report. I have been trying to talk my wife into spending a couple nights downtown one trip but so far she's not agreed to. In May I got her to agree to split our trip up by spending three nights each at MGM and Planet Hollywood.
    Maybe next year I can include a night or two downtown.

    Mark
     
  20. Buddha

    Buddha VIP Whale

    Joined:
    Apr 3, 2012
    Messages:
    1,470
    Location:
    Chicago 'burbs
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    60
    Thanks, Mark ....
    And, here's a plan to work on your wife for your next trip reservations.
    Let's say you plan another 6-night Vegas trip. Ask your wife which Strip property she would most prefer to stay at ... and then book four nights there. Then ... tell her (ask her), if in exchange you could then book two nights downtown at the Golden Nugget (the "nicest" property on Fremont St.). Does that sound like a good trade-off ? Give it a try ....

    "Buddha"
     
Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.