Vegas 12/26-12/31

Vegas 12/26-12/31
Hi everyone! I finally feel up to trying a TR. I got sick with a bad cold the day I arrived home and I'm feeling more like myself today.

This was supposed to be a solo trip, but 2 weeks before I left I got a call from a friend that wanted to go. Paula had never been to Vegas. She has a family and works all the time, so I thought this would be a great opportunity for her to get away for a while.

I was excited to be staying at Bally's comped for 5 nights in the new Jubilee tower. I was also anticipating making diamond for the first time ever and I was going to use my $100 celebration dinner to take us to a nice dinner at Bally's steak house since Paula was on a tight budget.

 

12/26

We arrived at the hotel at 11:30 at night after a slightly delayed flight. It's always tiring getting there so late with the 2 hour time difference.

I checked in with no wait at the platinum line and got to the room. It's a very nice room since the remodel! I'm not sure I'll stay there again though, because I really need a tub on vacation.

After we got unpacked, downstairs we go to play! My plan was to try to get 500 TCs before going to bed tonight. I went to my favorite slushy place in Bally's and got my favorite drink called "wake up call". It''s blended cappuccino with irish cream. YUM!

I started out with Quick hits and did pretty well. Soon I made my way over to my favorite VP machines. The bank of 8 quarter DDB progressives. Spent the rest of the night there. Managed to get my 500 points. Up to bed at 4:30 and down about $300. Not bad for a first night!

 

12/27

I can't sleep much in Vegas, so I'm up and ready by 8ish. We started out the morning doing my favorite first morning tradition-Wicked Spoon for breakfast! Unfortunately pricing this time of year for 'Holiday' pricing was outrageous. It was $42 pp WITHOUT the mimosa add on. As always, it was great, though.

Another tradition for me is after Wicked spoon, I always play Dean Martin Vegas Shindig and see if he will sing for me. I put $20 in mine and $20 in Paula's and we sat there for quite some time. He did sing to us, but we got some decent line hits as well which is unusual for this game.

I decided we better get back to a CET place so I could continue getting points. I needed right at 1000 TCs to make diamond and I wanted to get them today. We headed across the street to PH and I took Paula to the miracle mile shops to look around. We spent a good bit of time at my favorite art gallery Oh My Godard. I love Michael Godard's work and the other artists they have at this place are wonderful as well.

After a while I needed to play, so I found some VP and started going at it. I did pretty well here and played a long time. In the meantime, Paula played her first BJ in Vegas and lost $100 and was pretty down about it. She had seen Sin City Brewery in the MM shops, so she went back there to have some beer while I continued to play.

At around 4 we went back to Bally's to regroup. I got another wake up call and played more slots and VP. At this point I was getting killed. We decided to see if Paris would change my luck. It was even worse here and I blew a bunch of money playing Quick hits with nothing to show for it.

We hadn't eaten since breakfast and were starting to get hungry. I wanted to try Le Burger Brasserie this time since I'd never been there before so that's where we went. The hostess tried to seat us at a table between two extended tables with a bunch of little kids and I told her no way. We ended up getting a nice two seater booth in the adult section Whew! Let me explain, DH and I don't have kids, don't want kids, and I don't like kids period. I don't want to be around them at home, but I don't want to be around them in Vegas for sure.

We got the onion ring tower, an order of fries to split and we each got an order of sliders. WAY too much food! It was good, but I have to say, the service was terrible.

After dinner, another wake up call and more VP. It wasn't long before Paula was tired and said she was going to the room. It was only like 9:30! I stayed up trying to get my points and I succeeded, but wow I had lost a lot of money. I went to diamond check in to see if they could print me a diamond card and they did. I was contemplating playing some more, but I had already lost so much I decided to go to bed too. How sad is this, I'm in Vegas and in bed by 11.

 

12/28

I had come in on an offer for a series of drawings. Today I had 4 different drawings at 4 different properties. I had to be at each property early to swipe my card to get my entries activated.

This morning breakfast was at Bachannal buffet at Caesars. We did the buffet of buffets also since we knew we'd be at CET props all day.

Bachannal was good, but not as good as Wicked Spoon. Since we got there when they first opened, everything was hot and fresh, but not the same kind of selection you'd get later in the morning. They have these pecan tarts that are to die for, but I noticed they didn't have them this time. I asked the lady manning the dessert station and she said those don't go out until 11, but she was nice enough to give me a couple!

After breakfast, I was able to go ahead and swipe my card to activate my entries at Caesars for the last drawing tonight at 9pm, so that was out of the way. From Caesars, we took a cab to Rio where the first drawing was being held at noon. The cab driver was upset because it was a "short trip" and said he'd waited a long time for the fare. I really thought he might cry! It was our worst cab experience of the trip, but we didn't let it upset us.

When we saw the line at Rio to swipe my card I thought I was going to faint! It snaked from the TR booth all the way under the steps by where they used to do the show in the sky! Paula got in the long line and I got in a shorter line I saw. I wasn't sure if they would let me swipe in the shorter line or not. Sure enough, it was only for regular transaction. That was OK, because I had a coupon for $10 FP that I cashed in anyway. After that line I found Paula in the line way, way back. I had her stand in line while I had a smoke and some VP. When I was done I gave her the FP voucher and my card for her to use and I stood in line the rest of the way. It was ridiculous.

At each drawing, you had to be present to win and each drawing got progressively larger. This one was $25,000 and they drew 10 names. The first one got $10,000 and each one after was smaller. My name wasn't drawn.

After this one was Flamingo at 3pm. There were so many people leaving Rio by cab and all going to Flamingo that the cab stand person started putting multiple groups in cabs together. We shared one with a married couple who were nice but very quiet. It took a long time to get to Flamingo and I was glad we were able to share the cost.

The line at F wasn't long like at Rio, so I swiped and then we took off for Paris so I could do my swipe there really quick and then make it back to Flamingo before 3. Got all that done and then played at Flamingo while waiting. I didn't really win or lose. As a matter of fact, I'd been doing so much running around today I hadn't had much time to lose money! Not smart CET, not smart at all on your part. Of course, my name wasn't called at Flamingo either.

Back to Bally's and played there a few minutes and then on to the buffet at Paris. No wait at the diamond line and they brought us steamed crab legs. They were good and Paula really enjoyed them. I thought this buffet was better than the last time I had it in June. Everything was fresh and tasted good. Then I went to get dessert. OMG you should have seen the dessert station! It was out of everything and looked like a tornado had hit it! No plates, no ice cream spoons, no tongs. It was gross and I was mad. I saw a guy in a suit that looked like he worked there and asked if he was in charge. He told me he was the general manager. I told him how disgusting the dessert station looked and how it looked like it hadn't had any attention since lunch. He said he would take care of it. After a while he found me and apologized and asked what my favorite dessert is and he could have it made for me. I thanked him, but declined and told him how great the rest of the food was on that night. It was a nice gesture, though. Especially for a buffet!

After that, we headed to the casino to play a while before the drawing. Since Paris had beat my ass yesterday I was going to low roll here and not invest much money. I played on a Pompeii machine until it was time for the drawing. My name was not called. Paula texted me where she was and when I met up with her she had gone back to Bally's for a bit and had a wake up call for me. How sweet!

We made our way over to Caesars for the final drawing of the night. It was to be at 9pm and we'd been doing this all day. By about 8, Paula found me and told me she was going back to Bally's and going to bed lol. Some peeps just can't hang in Vegas! Once again, my name wasn't called and I was pissed at CET for "making" me go all over town for nothing. The crowds for the drawing were huge and at each one of them people were crowded up together and pushing. I understand they want to get people in all their properties, but this was not the way to get them to gamble. We weren't at any one property long enough to really even play and I felt like the day was wasted.

Still at Caesars and dreading the walk back to Bally's, I got on a Quick hits machine and in a short time ran it up to $300. Back at Bally's, I went back for another wake up call, and back to my favorite VP. Sometime that night I hit 4 aces and also 4 aces w/kicker! This was a really good day for me gambling wise! I made it up to the room around 2 am.

 

12/29

We were still on our BOB pass so we went to Paris again for breakfast. It was good, not great but it did the job.

This was the day I was going to show Paula the strip. We took a cab to Mandalay Bay and leisurely stopped at all the places on the south end except Trop, MGM, and Monte Carlo. Whew, that was a lot of walking!

We were back at Bally's around 2 and Paula wanted to take a nap. While she napped, I played. This was going to be our night to dine on my $100 diamond dinner so I thought I'd go ahead and get the voucher printed before I went to the room. The TR desk at Bally's told me since I'd only made diamond the day before that the computer couldn't generate the voucher. I was pissed and kind of threw a fit. They told me it would expire in March 2014 before I'd be back to use it. I went to talk to a host about it and he said there wasn't anything he could do either. I was really upset and feeling like why would they offer this if there wasn't a way for people who make diamond at the end of the year to use it?

I went to the room and told Paula the bad news about the dinner. She was sad for me. We decided we'd eat on the cheap, so we went to the pizza place between Bally's and Paris and each got a slice. In the glass case they had tarts and things like that too, so we decided to get a dessert and split. This was the best dessert I have ever had! It was called cinnamon nut cheesecake. The crust was made of ground nuts. we decided it was almonds and pecans with a little oatmeal and toffee. The cheesecake part was cinnamon, but not overwhelmingly so. If any of you are ever in the area, OMG EAT THIS!

After calming down a bit about the $100 dinner, I decided to go to Paris and see if they'd tell me anything different or help me in any way. I got the nicest woman named Laura O. who told me she could email TR headquarters to see if she could get the to expedite my diamond status in the system. She took my number and said she's call me later tonight to update me. I thanked her for doing all she could, but figured that would be the end of it.

I played a while in Paris because I wanted to play Survivor. They have the only Survivor machine left that I know of on the strip. We stayed a while because I kept getting bonuses. Paula was watching me and not playing. She isn't fond of losing money like I am lol. I kept ordering her shots of Knob Creek whiskey, and she was sipping those, so she was happy to just watch.

From here, we took off to the north to show Paula the rest of the strip. We walked to Harrah's across to Mirage to see the volcano. She thought that was pretty awesome and I did too because I hadn't seen it in years! Then we trammmed to TI and crossed the street to Venetian. She saw St Mark's Square and all that. Walked through to Palazzo where I spent a bunch of money on lotion and bath gel. I love the lemon verbena product they have in the rooms there and they sell them at the gift shop, so I always pick some up and that's what I use at home. It brings a little Vegas into my life each day! After the gift shop we stopped at Coffee Bean, where I got a large cup of the very best hot chocolate in the world! Then I sat down and played Green Acres LOL! I haven't seen this slot in years. I used to play it at Wynn, but all of a sudden there was a whole bank of them at Palazzo! I lost $20 in that and then it was on to Wynn, our last stop of the night.

Just like I thought, Paula's jaw dropped when we walked in here and she saw the décor. She got $10 FP for signing up and we both found a place to sit and play. I got on a slot called Jaguar Princess and it kept going up and then bringing me down a little and then up again. I started with a $20 and I swear I played this thing for 3 hours and finally cashed out at $100! I haven't been on a machine that would let you play like that in a long time! By the time I cashed out it was about 2 am and I didn't think Paula was going to make it! This was the latest she'd been up since we got to Vegas!

We cabbed back to Bally's and hit the sack!

 

12/30

I woke up with $400 left of my bankroll this morning and thinking I'd have to hit the ATM today. I was prepared for that, and after the beating I took on the first full day I was happy I'd lasted this long without doing the walk of shame.

We went back to Wicked Spoon for breakfast since it was so good the other day. Went to have some time with Dean Martin afterwards as well, but he wasn't in the mood today. Back to PH afterwards, just like the other day. I played a long time on VP, but in the end lost about $200.

Our feet were so tired from walking the whole strip yesterday, we decided to stay close to home today and just played around PH, Paris, and Bally's.

I forgot to mention, last night when we were at Wynn Laura O. from the TR desk at Paris had called me and said she didn't know if the $100 dinner could be updated in time, but they did tell her it was good until March 2015 not March 2014. I thought if we could use it tonight, that would be good, but at least I wouldn't lose it and I can use it for a nice dinner with my mom when we go for the M&G in April.

Back at Bally's, I thought I'd show Paula how to play Let it Ride. I used to play this game all the time, but the last few years I can't ever get anything going on it. I usually try it out at least once a trip, though. I sat down and started doing pretty well with some pairs. Then I got a straight and that paid well. It started to turn, so I cashed out and played some BJ. I was at a pretty fun table doing well and cashed out up $100. By this time it was late afternoon and Paula decided she was going to go back to Sin City Brewery to use a coupon for a B1G1 we got at check in. I played my favorite bank of VP. For a couple of hours it was like I had a Horseshoe up my ass! I hit 4 aces no kicker, 4 aces w/ kicker and all sorts of other 4oaks! I mean, I was playing some back down in between, but it looked like I wouldn't have to hit the ATM this trip!

Paula had been gone quite a while, but I wasn't worried because she's a big girl. About 8pm she finds me and she is WAY too drunk! I mean goofy and slurring. We hadn't eaten anything since morning and I knew we had to get food in her fast! We went back to the pizza place for slices and to have more cinnamon nut cheesecake. I thought since Laura O. at TR Paris was so nice, I'd get her some too and take it over because I wanted to thank her for taking the time to follow up with me anyway.

When we got there, they were out of cinnamon cheesecake! I was very disappointed, but maybe they'll have some next time.

Paula scarfed her food down and I knew that look. I told her if she was gonna be sick and needed to go back to the room, don't wait for me just go. So she did. I told her I'd text and check on her in a little while.

After I finished my food, I decided to go to the diamond lounge since I hadn't been in one yet. I went to the one in Paris. I didn't order anything since I was too full. It was kind of a let down, but I guess my expectations of what it would be like were too high.

I went to the TR booth at Paris to thank Laura, and she was very sweet. I spent some more time at Survivor and stayed pretty much even. Paula texted that she was in the room and OK and was going to bed.

Back to my favorite VP are at Bally's and I stayed there, losing. My horseshoe was gone. I did end up hitting the ATM after several hours of losing.

Before I went to bed I go to the check in desk to have my TR credits applied to my room charges. The girl I got screwed it all up and said the computer would only let them apply $58 of my $170 in RCs. I had to pitch another fit to get that fixed.

When I got to the room I called for a 5:30 am wake up call and it seemed I had barely fallen asleep before the phone was ringing....

 

12/31

I was afraid of what kind of shape Paula would be in this morning, but luckily since she got sick I guess most of it was out of her system.

We were in a cab and on the way to the airport by 6:15 for our 8:30 am departure. We had a great cabbie this morning that was telling us how his 83 year old mom spends every day at the casino playing penny keno! More power to her I guess.

DH was there to greet us at baggage claim at Lovefield and we dropped Paula at her house and I went home to crash. Within 2 hours of being home I knew I was getting sick. I'm so happy to be well again!

 

Final thoughts

It was interesting taking a Vegas virgin with me. It's something I'd never done before. I knew she was on a budget, but I guess I didn't realize what a tight budget it would be. She hardly gambled at all and really I felt like we were hardly together at all. We didn't do some of the things I wanted her to experience because of it. At least she got to take advantage of the very nice room we had.

I don't think I'll go again with someone who doesn't gamble like I do. It made me feel guilty playing and having her watch me so much. Also, sometimes she would freak out that I'd win like $5 and not cash out lol. I'm sure her opinion of me has changed since watching how I blow money in Vegas!

Including the trip to the ATM I lost $2350 plus $100 FP from my offer. That's better than my last trip, so I'm good with that! Looking forward to the next one which is the April M&G.

I know this was long and I just can't be bothered to take pics when I'm there. I guess I just like to write it all out, but thanks for reading if you made it 'til the end!

 

Great report! Loved the details. I have always been very hesitant to go to Vegas with a newbie. I really think my experience would be similar to yours and I don't think I would enjoy that. Vegas is all about doing what you want, when you want!

 

thanks for posting, good read.
funny about the kids, I have children but I don't want to eat around a bunch of little kids. Especially when I am on vacation !

 

I usually don't read the long trip reports but yours flowed really well and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Better to be sick AFTER Vegas than being sick in Vegas.

Isn't Platinum great.

Lucky you. My wife can't sleep either and gets me up around 5am.... (Eastern).

Ate there a few times. The burgers were always great, but the fries and shakes seem to vary in quality.

Not sure why hostess do this. If there are empty tables at a place, who would actually want to sit next to a table of kids when on vacation.

Awesome crab legs. Not only steams but also pre-cut.

We aren't the buffet type but the Paris breakfast buffet is one of the few we try to do once each trip.

They screwed up my Free Play last trip. We arrived on Sunday and they said I needed to be there Saturday to pick it up. My host was able to resolve the issue but it wasn't easy. I think their computer system is conveniently designed to grant limited access so the employees can use it as an excuse.

That is the same one my wife plays for the same reason. Appears to be the only one left.

 

Aww thanks for the kind words LVBound!

Hey, I have an update to share about all the problems I had when I was there.

When I go to Vegas CET always sends me an online survey, and I really gave them a hard time in the survey this time. Last night a nice lady from Total Rewards called and wanted me to go into detail about what happened. For my trouble she added $150 to my reward credits to use on my next trip!

I thought that was pretty great customer service to follow up with me like that and acknowledge they dropped the ball on this one.

 

Loved your TR, and thanks for sharing.

I took a Vegas Virgin a couple of years ago and taught him how to play roulette. The very next night guess where I found him? Playing roulette of course!
This went on for a bit and I'm glad he enjoyed it.

I don't mind taking Vegas Virgins at all. Sometimes you gotta pull back on what you wanna do, and hang out with them for a while.