Thanksgiving week Trip! Slot wins and lots of Craps/Blackjack

Background:

10 people going on this trip ages from 24 to mid 50's. We all stayed all over the strip including NYNY, Cosmopolitan, Mirage, Las Vegas Hilton and Bellagio. For most of us this is our 2nd 3rd and 4th trips of the year but we did have 1 Vegas Virgin and another that had only been there once on a family trip so this was a different world.


Getting there and getting around:

6 of us flew out Monday late night around 10:30 pm from Bush Intercontinental in Houston flying Spirit Airlines. I read a lot of reviews and was a little nervous going into it but if you know what your are getting and do your research it is no big deal. The people that complain are the people who are to lazy to research and pay for things up front. Flight there was on time and we had no issues.

When we landed we had Presidential limos waiting for us at the bag drop. Since it was some people 1st and 2nd time we thought this was the best way to experience Vegas. The only issue I have with presidential is that the time starts when the plane lands and when you have to wait on a checked bag and walk through the airport you are only left with 20-30 minutes in the limo until they charge you for extra time which I think is crazy when you are spending $75 an hour. It was a lot of fun though. A bottle of champagne was waiting on us and we stopped at a liquor store for some beers and got the see the strip a little bit before being dropped off. The stretch Escalade was really nice and would do it again in a heartbeat.


The Hotels:

I can only speak for the wife and I but we stayed at NYNY for 2 nights on a Myvegas Comp and 2 nights at Cosmopolitan on a 2 night free offer. I did the $20 trick when we checked into NYNY for the first 2 nights and got upgraded from a basic room to a Spa Suite. There is nothing to fancy about the Spa Suite except the big tub which was awesome. You could have fit 3 more people in there. I love the NYNY because it is not to big and the casino floor is a lot of fun to play in.

The last 2 nights we stayed at Cosmo and it was incredible. We had a Terrace Suite that looked down south strip in the East Tower. The balcony was incredible and the bed was one of the best I have ever experienced. The wife could not get over the pink chandeliers and wanted to own one for our house so bad. Did not try the $20 trick but got a room on the 61st floor and could not ask for more. We did not play at this casino much but did do the $100 rebate play and won nothing.



1st Day:

As I said we landed about 11:00 pm from Houston hopped in the Limo got our rooms checked in and headed to the tables. There was nobody in the casino so we got a table in NYNY Blackjack for 5 people at $10 3/2 and started playing. The entire table started off ordering Vodka Redbulls and this got the night going in the right direction. After about an hour and half of losing BJ we wanted something different so we decided Casino Royal $3 craps was the best idea so we started walking down the strip in that direction. About the time we crossed in front of Monte Carlo we saw a party bus door open and ask where we were going so we said Casino Royal. The driver said $20 and I will take you all down there so we hoped on and danced our way to $3 craps.

Once again the Casino was dead so 4 of the 6 of us jumped on the craps table with no problem and started throwing. Drinks started to flow like water and in about an hour all of us were sauced and having the bets time I have ever had throwing craps. I was one of the first in our group to have a great roll that included 3 hardways 5 points and a lot of numbers. We were all making money and thowing 2 way hards for the dealers. It seemed like every throw I made was something good. Had all the numbers working on Come Bets and was making money on every throw. You would have thought we were up millions the way we were laughing and cheering. For us though being mid 20's being up $500 was a good night. We got to Casino Royal at 2:30 am and threw craps till the sunlight came up at 7:00 am. We decided to call it quits and walk back to the hotel but first we needed some breakfast. As we pasted Bellagio we thought that the Bellagio Cafe would be the best place for a bunch of drunk people.

We were the only people under 65 in the entire place and I do not think we were welcomed with open arms but who cares. Ordered Eggs Benedict, Waffles and something else and we all feasted on some great drunk food. After that it was 8:30 am and we decided to finally call it a night and stumble back to NYNY for some sleep.


2nd Day:

After getting to bed at 9 am woke up at 11:30 am and could not go back to sleep. Got out of bed still very drunk from the night before and started filling up the giant Jacuzzi in our room. The wife woke up and joined me for a nice soak that made me feel 100 times better and made her feel 100 times worse. She took the hangover all wrong and spent the entire first day in bed

Funny story about her that I have to tell. We had to get our KA Tickets for that night before 4 pm so she had to leave the room with me to get them since they were Myvegas under her name. As we walked toward the elevator she saw a room open that was being cleaned out and she had to duck in and call some dinosaurs while I stood outside the door waiting for her. I felt so bad for the person who had to clean the toilet but I also felt so bad for the wife. After we walked to MGM and back she went straight back to the room and slept till dinner time.


The rest of us spent the day exploring South Strip and playing at NYNY, MGM, Mandalay Bay and Luxor. Had a great dealer and pit boss at Luxor and had a great time even though I lost my ass the entire time. After that we made our way back to NYNY to get dressed for dinner and KA.

We headed over to MGM and ate at Wolfgang Pucks there which was amazing. I had the braised short rib and the wife had the BBQ Pizza. The friends we were with had the Spicy Spaghetti and Burger which they both said was great. I would recommend this place to anyone. We then played a little in MGM. The wife hit Quads and paid for dinner. After that we headed into KA. This was my 2nd time to see this show and everyone else's first. They loved the show and ohh and awed at all things they did. The only issue we had with the show was the annoying as people behind us talking in Chinese hitting our cheers and screaming the entire time. Come to find out it was some student exchange program. They need to teach them manners!! We also were kinda freaked out when we stood up at the end and the entire row was wearing masks!! When the show was over we went back to NYNY to play a little longer and called it an early night.


Day 3-5 still to come.

 

Nothing says class like taking a limo to the liquor store

 

Nice! Looking forward to the rest!

 

Nice report sofar!! waiting for the rest!!

 

good start cant wait for the rest

 

3rd Day:

After a well needed nights rest we woke up around 9:00 and jumped in the huge tub once again for a little morning wake me up. After a great start to the morning we all met in the NYNY casino to head to Mandalay Bay for the buffet and Shark Reef which all 8 that went had the Myvegas comp. As the wife and I waited for the rest of the people I put in a $20 into the Wheel of Fortune .25 machine right by Time Square bar and started playing trying to just get a spin. I am not a slot player at all but really wanted to spin the wheel. About 5 spins in the slot hit something...CHING CHING CING CHING.....$325!! Nice. After it paid out we still had some time to kill so I told my wife I will just play this down to $300in hopes of getting a spin. NEXT pull the exact same thing hit again! CHING CHING CHING $325 more! Time to cash out and take our $630 profit.

We catch the tram from Excalibur to Mandalay Bay and have a great lunch via Myvegas at the Buffet. I really like Mandalay Bay but it is so damn far down the strip from anything it is tough to stay there. We then went to the shark reef and wondered through. For the price it was worth it to us but if you had to pay $20 per person it would not have been. Pretty cool but in Texas you can go to any aquarium and see the same things. Now it was time to get on the tables and play. The casino floor was empty to was found a table with 6 spots and set down. $10 3/2 6 deck shoe. After a while the cocktail waitress came by and was the most stuck up rude waitress I have ever dealt with. I am not sure why but it seemed like she looked down on us and just rolled her eyes at everything we ordered than started skipping our table. Give me a break woman you are a waitress and we TIP ALWAYS!!


Well now it is time to get back to NYNY and get our bags because it is moving day for the wife and I. Headed to Cosmo for the last 2 night of the trip. Did not try the $20 trick but got a high floor facing South Strip and great view. Terrace Suites are amazing. This would be an awesome bachelor pad for a single guy. We had a drink looking out over the strip and then headed to Bellagio to play with friends that were staying there. Got on a craps table quickly at $10 and started rolling with no luck! Quick points and 7 outs....rough start but dealers were nice and we talked about the Cowboys and Chiefs the entire time. Then we headed to BJ where my friends, wife and I all got our ass kicked up and down from a autoshuffle machine. She kept pulling 4,5,6 on the face up card and making 20 and 21 every time. It was incredible frustrating when you make the right plays over and over and get your ass kicked over and over. I guess that is gambling.

Time to head back up to the room and get ready for ABSINTHE that night. Got ready and headed to Ceasars to meet the entire gang of 10 at Gordon Ramsey's Pup for dinner but we get there early and want to throw some craps. $10 table so just my buddy and I wanted to play. Put passline odds and threw for a little while made a bit of money and 7 out. No biggie about even. Dice comes to my wife who is down the table from me talking with one of her friends. I throw her 10 and say let her shoot for the table. She puts the 10 on the pass and starts to throw. Point, Number and Hits Point! Winner!! On the come out rolls a gentleman next to her throws $15 on the hard 10 for the shooter which non of us heard. Next roll.....hard 10! The stick man pushes $150 to my wife and nobody knows why. "What did I hit?" "The gentleman next to you put $15 hard 10 for you!" Well hell yeah that is awesome. Thanks.....well he says he wants to press the hard 10 to $20 for the shooter....NEXT ROLL HARD 10!!! OMG!! $200 more dollars for free. She is so pumped now. After that she throws 1 more points and 7 out right before dinner. Thanks you kind sir hope you were not trying to get laid because she was with me!

Gordon Ramsey Pup was another great choice for dinner. The wife had the flank steak and chips while I had the shepards pie! Really good food and a lot of great beers on draft. I had a couple of Guinness and she had some wine. Total bill was around $80 with tax tip and total rewards discount. I would suggest this place to anyone. Now on to the show. If you have not seen Absinthe then you are missing out. This was the funniest most entertaining show I have ever seen. If you are a prude then stay away and what the hell are you doing in Vegas? A lot of adult jokes and amazing acts. If you can't enjoy this show you are in the wrong town and need to visit Nebraska instead.

After the show we headed over to the Quad to check out the remodels. They have done a lot with the place but to me it is like putting a fresh coat of paint on a turd. Same crappy dealers and bad drink service IP used to have. I am not much a CET person because they seem lower end and like you get less for your buck. I will stay with Mlife and enjoy the good life! lol After a couple hours there we headed over to Casino Royal for a little craps session and then back to Cosmo for bed.



4th Day:

Woke up after the best night of sleep ever on the best bed I have ever slept on. Jumped in the Orgy shower and got cleaned up and ready to head to Venetian Sports Book to watch some games and place some bets. Got there at the half of the Greenbay vs Detroit game to find it was an ass whippin. Wish I would have bet the Lions like I had intended. Next game was my Cowboys playing the Raiders. Went up to place my bet of $50 on the boys giving up 8 points but when I said Cowboys -8 she said I am sorry the line just moved to 9.5 so I reduced my bet to $20 and withered away knowing that was a lost cause. After a horrible start they came back and dominated a bad team and won but of course did not cover. I will say the Venetian has the best sports book IMO. Nice seats great TVs and not to crowded.

Now it was time for Thanksgiving dinner which the 10 of us decided Fogo De Chao would be the perfect indulgence restaurant for a feast. It did not disappoint at all. Brazilian Steakhouses are the way to go for a feast. Now it was time to do our normal downtown excursion. 3 cabs for 10 people where 2 cabs took the highway and our cab took the back way and cost us $10 less. A little local knowledge will get you a long way!! Unlike most people I read on here downtown does not do it for me anymore. It seems so trashy and low class. I am not trying to sound like a snob because I am not at all. I am a low roller and just love Vegas but I do not come to here to play in crappy hotels with shady people. I come here for Vacation and to play in places to wow me. I have come 13 times now since I turned 21 6 years ago and downtown has gotten less interesting to me the more I come. I understand the odds are better but during the week we found amble $10 3/2 BJ and $5 craps on the strip. If I wanted a vacation of lackluster hotels and shady people I would have just driven to Louisiana. Sorry for the rant.

Headed back to the Bellagio with our 2 friends and got the most obvious long hauler cabbies in Vegas. He kept changing lanes to get behind traffic and slowed down so lights would turn yellow then slam on the breaks. When we got out our $17 cab ride downtown was now $27 on the way back...Same route and same distance. We got out threw him exact change and said thanks but no thanks NO TIP FOR YOU! Walked into the casino and found a $15 shoe game at 3/2 so we set down and started playing. Everything was going great for the 3 of us. Dealer was busting we were doubling down and then the dreaded $40 player sits down....2 of them put down$40 a piece and get their chips. No English and NO sense of the rules of the game. First hand comes out. Dealer shows a 5 and both the $40 players have 6 and 5 respectively. Both take a hit and bust. The rest of the table stays and dealer flips a 15 then the next card is a 5....20 winner....table loss. OK WTF? A couple hands go by and then the same thing happens. The lady gets a 16 with the dealer showing a 6. She hits and the dealer says "Are you Sure?" She smiles and keeps scratching the table. Of course she busts and the dealer flips over a 16 to the next card 5 for a 21 table loss. I get it that its your money and you can do whatever you want with it but damn at least have common sense. They finally bust out on that turn and leave but the damage is done and we decide to call it a night. Back to Cosmo for another drink over looking the strip and a great night sleep.


LAST DAY:

Flight was delayed from 4 pm to 6 pm but no big deal just more time to see Vegas. Non of us were ready to leave. So we hoped over to PH for Earl of Sandwich then Miracle Mile for some shopping for the ladies. Nothing special here just normal women shopping and spending winnings. As long as she is happy I am happy. Back to NYNY for a last ditch effort at BJ. I win over a $100 and the win looses $100 so break even but got 3-4 drinks and had a good time. Our friends with us both won so that was nice for them since they had a rough trip. Once again as we wait for some people I stick $5 into a $1 wheel of fortune machine and hit spin....on the 1st spin I get a Wheel of Fortune Bonus and finally get to spin the wheel. 1 spin and $50! NICE....went a put it on black and hit it again. Time to call it a trip. Catch a good cab to the airport and sit in the bar for 2 hours getting drunk before the flight only to pass out for the entire flight and sleep like a baby. PERFECT.


This was a lot different trip than the normal guys weekend or bach party but I will say it was a lot of fun and one of the best trips I have ever taken. Hope you enjoyed the read. Sorry about all the grammatical errors spelling was never my thing.

 

Hey there is nothing wrong with a cheap liquor store in a pimped out stretch hummer!! Keepin it classy.

 

Forgot to mention that we did the $100 loss rebate at Cosmo with no problems. Lost $100 and went to the desk and they put it right back on our card. Went to VP and played through the $100 fp and got back $50....did not have much luck but it is a great promotion.