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Just another great TR.........

Discussion in 'Vegas Trip Reports' started by captainron62, Feb 4, 2014.

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  1. captainron62

    captainron62 VIP Whale

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    My Trip Report

    DAY 1, a long day, a long haul and lot of drinking...[/B

    I did a pre-tr a few weeks or so ago. Long story short big group supposed to go, some fell out, some fell in. Me and the GF hit a bump in the road, but got it somewhat straight, so off to LV......


    So my cohorts for the trip are my GF Steph and my longtime vegas partner Jerry and a friend of my GF we will call Tina. Night before we leave Tina's flight gets cancelled. Tina was using an AirTran credit she had to burn so she was flying out of Dayton and had a layover in Atlanta. ATL was of course shut down. She calls me in a panic, said AirTran rep told her sorry, she would send a refund and reimburse her if she found another flight. I told her to call back and refuse to take no for an answer, there were still room on SWA flights leaving out of Columbus, but the prices were sky high, make them book for you. She called back and got ahold of someone a lot more customer service oriented and they did just that So we are off..............right? :nono:

    First mis-step of the the day, I park at my office and have a cab pick us up. We are at the airport and I realize I forgot my briefcase containing my laptop. This vacation just got a little less busy as now I would not be able to work a couple hours a day as I need my laptop w all the software, etc. Oh well. :eek:

    We had a layover in Chicago, plane is taking forever to board. Passengers are lining up without being prompted. We finally board, flight attendant offers some good news and some bad news. She stated due to severe headwinds our flight would land at least 50 mins late. The good news she offered was that the airport was likely to close in about an hour due to a severe storm coming and we were at least flying out.



    Plane lands, took over an hour longer to get to LV. We notice the forecast of 74 and sun now featured 20mph winds based on the trees bent half over. As we are leaving the aircraft, some jackass tries to reenter saying a lady had left a bag on the plane. For some reason this seemed to cause chaos and the flight attendant made everyone deplaning stop until this guy could locate the bag. The trouble is, he was doing a favor for a pregnant passenger and did not even know her or where she was sitting. 10 mins of silliness, seemed like an hour. Diaper bag located.

    We get to baggage claim and wait a good 20 mins, nothing comes out. We then receive an announcement that our baggage will be delayed about 30 mins. Damn, are we ever going to get to our hotel??? :thumbsdown:

    We finally get bags and get through the cab line, by this time my nerves are about shot. I am a very patient guy, but in a few minutes I will find my limit. My GF and I are sitting in the back of the mini-van cab, my buddy Jerry is in the front. I am digging out sunglasses, putting my jacket away etc, wait a minute are we headed for the tunnel????? Sure enough we are in the tunnel. My blood starts boiling and I am trying to just stay calm until we get to the hotel. This cabbie is just jawing away to Jerry, laughing and joking all the way. The fare is already over $15 and we are not even half way to the Luxor.

    I finally cant take it anymore, I ask "So why did you take the tunnel?" [STRIKE]Cabbie[/STRIKE] responds traffic is heavy and this was quicker. I reply that asking where the back up is and how he knows there is a traffic delay? I tell him its mid day and I have never had a fare to the Luxor over $15 dollars and ours is now past that and we are not even close yet. He obviously starts getting twitchy. I then tell him that he long hauled us and I will be filing a complaint with the commission. He immediately turns the meter off at $17.90 and offers to work something out. I say no deals, get us to our hotel. It was dead silence except for the loud groan when I snapped a pic of his license.

    We get to the hotel, our fare would have easily been $25 or $26 if he had not turned the meter off. We exit the cab and he asks for the $17.90, I say no way. He then locks the door and wont give us our bags. I demand our bags and get very loud and lose my temper a bit and tell him what I am going to do to him if he doesnt unlock the rear door. He runs to the Luxor and gets security and tells them there is a problem. I explain to security what happened and he sides with us and tells the cabbie its our call what we want to do. My GF and Jerry do not really understand what is going on fully as far as the reporting process with the commission, etc. The security guy offers to broker a deal where we just pay him $13 to $15 for the fare and call it even. Before I can really say much I decide to just get on with the vacation and pursue the complaint later. We paid him. I now kick myself and said I would never do that, but I had three other people who wanted to just get on with their vacations and I was already tasting a Fat Tire beer at the Aurora Bar. I give the cab driver a couple closing thoughts that I am not proud of and wont put into print and we are headed to check in. :rolleyes2:

    We walk to the lower level tower check ins and avoid the line on the casino floor. This is one of the best kept secrets of the pyramid for sure. Tina had beat us to the hotel and already checked in. As we were approaching she sent a text stating the clerk said there were two rooms reserved for her so she of course cancelled one. I had booked the rooms on my MLIFE offer for everyone and had even called and confirmed them, no clue what caused this snafu, but as we attempted to check in there was no room for Jerry. The clerk of course offered to give him a room at full rate, $200 over what we had booked for. We politely argued and the clerk finally agreed that it was their mistake and honored his booking.

    Steph and I headed to our 17th floor West Tower room and Jerry and Tina to their separate pyramid rooms. We found our room clean and comfortable and a big improvement over the pyramid room we had in June. A word of advice, pay the extra $$ for the tower room, it is worth it. The elevators function like real elevators and there is never an issue or a wait.

    We headed to the Aurora Bar where I put a 20 spot in the quarter VP bartop and ordered a Fat Tire. 5 beers later I cash out up $20 and we cab to Ellis Island to have dinner and pick up our "Big Game Party" tickets. Steak special and beer at Ellis Island was great, better than usual even. I have about 4 house beers at E.I. and then head back to the Luxor. I cashed out down $1.50 at bar top VP, but got 3 beers out of them, so I decide to see if the luck continues at the Aurora.

    Things are a bit hazy, but I drank another four or five Fat Tires' and cashed out up $16.50 for the day playing VP with about 13 comp beers under my belt. A good day for me.

    and that is it for tonight, goodnight, to be continued........
     
  2. monczkia

    monczkia Tourist

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    I hate to hear the trip start off so rocky but can't wait to hear more:thumbsup:
     
  3. dfalk

    dfalk VIP Whale

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    Not off to a great start but hopefully your luck turns around. And good for you for standing up to that crook!
     
  4. captainron62

    captainron62 VIP Whale

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    Here is a preview of what lies ahead:

    Leave for the club at 9pm, back to room 652am

    A walk from Mandalay Bay to Freemont st., Mob Museum actually.

    A random newsie hat and mysterious receipt for a timeshare purchase?

    27 free drinks on a $20 VP bet

    Sold my GF's $6 headband to random drunk guy in club for $60.

    Who all called me crazy for betting Seattle -7.5?? Yes, that says minus. Shoestring close on a prop bet.

    and more.......
     
  5. Smo

    Smo Mr. Las Vegas

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    I can't wait to read about this one!!
     
  6. Mayoman

    Mayoman High-Roller

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    I'm surprised the cabbie actually tried to get security. Sucks to get tunneled, but glad you had a good time.
     
  7. smartone

    smartone VIP Whale

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    Lookin' forward to the rest of this trip!
     
  8. Matty Ice

    Matty Ice High-Roller

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    Sorry things started out so shitty, but I know you'll make the best of it.

    Can't wait to hear the rest.
     
  9. captainron62

    captainron62 VIP Whale

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    Friday morning we get up about 8:30 or 9:00. It takes me awhile to get moving so we don't head to breakfast until about 10:30. We hit up the buffet at Mandalay Bay. This turns out to be an excellent choice, the food and the service were amazing. The rolled blueberry pancakes and turkey bacon were my personal faves.

    After breakfast we decide to do some casino hopping. Tina has not been to LV in over 10 years, so she is basically a first timer. We basically hit all the usual touristy places and try to orient her so we don' t have to lead her around the rest of the trip. My tour guide position has gotten old over the years. This is the 9th first timer I have brought to the city we love, the Chamber of Commerce should give me some freakin' award.

    We also decide to do something that we don't typically do, shop. I have been drooling over some of the new Tag Heuer sunglasses and I knew this is the perfect city to do just that. I hit up the shops in Crystals and Caesars but settled on a pair of good old Ray Bans that I found in the Miracle Mile shops.

    We stop at the Heart Bar in PH, Jerry loves this place but it has rubbed me the wrong way after a couple bad experiences. A couple years ago I was playing VP at the bar, put a hundo in, max bet and bartender tried to charge me like $7 for a Miller Lite, said we don't comp drinks anymore. I said funny, always have and just gave the beer back to bartender, cashed out and left.

    The year after that I had been gambling in the Casino, was down about $400, Jerry had been hanging in the Heart Bar, drinking Gin and tipping the dancing girl like she was a stripper. I walk and sit down, guy comes over from the bar and asks what I want. I say Miler Lite, he says $40 minimum if I want to sit in a leather seat. Its mid-day, no one around. I told him what he could do with his leather seat and we just left. Told the dancing girl, tell bartender/wanna be doorman he owes her another $100 for the loss of tips since I was taking Jerry with me.

    Anyhow, back to the story......Steph and I ditch Tina and Jerry at the Heart Bar, my private boycott continues. We decide to walk to NYNY, I had been craving the pizza and caesar salad since we touched down. We start to exit the casino and its absolutely pouring rain. We head back to the Miracle Mile and find a pizza joint in there. It wasnt as good, but it was dry. We say Mike Tyson preparing to do a signing at a sporting goods store, there was quite the crowd building.

    We eventually make our way back to the Luxor and prepare for the Sin City Club Crawl that will take place at 9:30PM. We all agreed to meet at the Aurora Bar at Luxor at 7pm. We take our seats at the bar and I am enjoying some video poker, I hear some jackass a couple stools down asking Steph if she is married, she is trying to just be polite, but he continues with the questions. I finally say to him that we are there to relax and enjoy the company of our friends and please excuse us. He looks like a homeless skater is about the best way to describe him, mid 30's, flat bill hat and neck tattoos, just totally down for some sort of cause only known to him. He then approaches us and my buddy Jerry says, "oh this isn't going to be good". He pulls out a black camera, one of the cheap disposable ones that I didn't even know was still sold. He says hes on some kind of quest and asks if I will take his cheap dirty camera and photograph Stephs cleavage? He even offers that he doesn't need her face or name for the shot, just the cleavage. I tell him that we are out for a nice time and he needs to take his camera and get moving, no photo shoots here. He seems a little taken aback that I was so firm with him, but just moves on.

    My VP luck continues for a couple more beers before we cash out and head to dinner at PF Changs. PF Changs is my favorite pre partying meal, its not too heavy and not too light. I have dined at PF Chang restaurants in 6 different majoy cities, it has never let me down. To me its as important as Gatorade is to an athlete, Changs really sets the table so to speak for a great night of drinking.

    And now onto the Club Crawl...........
     
  10. RockyBalboa

    RockyBalboa Front Line Winner

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    Yo Ron!

    I must tell you that I took your Pedialyte advice this past weekend and it was like a magical elixir from the gods of booze.

    Thanks again!
     
  11. captainron62

    captainron62 VIP Whale

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    It saved me twice on this last trip! I love that stuff, 3yrs hangover free in LV.
     
  12. thecarve

    thecarve Misanthrope

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    Are you sure it's not the PF Chang's? :poke::beer:

    Good stuff so far, Cap'n! Looking forward to the rest.
     
  13. captainron62

    captainron62 VIP Whale

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    All part of the plan!! ha! :beer:
     
  14. captainron62

    captainron62 VIP Whale

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    We met at PBR Rock Bar, the "clubby" side. It was super loud, so we just got our meet up time and headed to the restaurant side and sipped vodka at the bar. The bartender tried to talk to me, I swear I was temporarily deaf, I couldn't hear a word she said. We left PBR and boarded the Sin City Bus. This Sin City Bus is ridiculous, two tier. glass floor, stripper polls, LED tv's playing dance music, it was great. True to their reputation the Sin City Staff is very generous with the shots, we could hardly finish one before the other was coming. They were a mildly fruit taste, I don't like sweet drinks, but I was able to handle these. The only bad part is we were stuck on the top floor with a worlds lamest bachelorette party and a bunch of dudes. The dudes were foreign with heavy accents, one was wearing a turban, I couldnt really understand all they were saying. They were def having a good time, kind of odd they were pole dancing for each other and then laughing uncontrollably. One of them offered my GF $20, and then $40 for her headband, he declined *more on this later.


    Our first stop was 1OAK, it was packed, playing really good hip hop, had some hot dancers, we liked a lot. I bought us each a vodka, $14 a copy. While at the bar we are next to the same guy on the bus that was trying to buy my GF's head band. He now offers $60, I tell her just sell it if he is that stupid, she said she paid $6 for it. He takes it and wants one of his buddies to wear it, the buddy refused to he just hands it back to my GF, says thanks and we hit the dancefloor. Easiest $60 ever. We danced and drank and then exited the club. We hung at a bar in the Casino, I put some $$$ in a bartop video machine. I ran it down, then hit a full house to get right and cashed out. Onward.........

    Next stop was HAZE at ARIA,, this would turn out to be our favorite of the night. Funny experience on the bus, our Host It was packed, but not uncomfortably so. The music was strong hip hop, great dancers, great crowd. Same price on drinks as 1OAK We would stay here until 1:30 am before heading to Tryst at Wynn, the final stop.

    Tryst was our least favorite, Wynn is of course beautiful and so was the club, I just didn't care for the layout or the music. It was a lot more EDM than the two other stops. I am probably not their target market, I will be 40 in less than a month, so I get it. We didn't take many pics, but here is one in the entrance of Wynn.

    525.jpg



    We only drank one at the WYNN, not sure of the price Jerry paid. We left Wynn about 3am We cabbed back to the Luxor. Steph passed out in the cab, I literally carried her to the room over my shoulder.

    Jerry and I then decided to hit the Casino bar. I inserted the TITO from my original $20 and began a video poker run. I don't remember it very clearly, but we started about 330am and Steph called me about 6am and I was still playing. Steph rrequested some hangover prevention from McDonalds, so I cashed out. I hit McDonalds and then back to the room, as I was falling asleep I caught a glimpse of the clock, it read 6:52am. Oh what a night.....:beer:
     
  15. Lady Fortuna

    Lady Fortuna Blessed with luck and ignorance...

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    Enjoying this TR a lot! How long will you be staying? Looking forward to the rest of it!

    :beer:
     
  16. Joe Strummer

    Joe Strummer VIP Whale

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    Keep it comin', Capt Ron -
    Nice report.
    *
    And what is up with that headband ?
     
  17. captainron62

    captainron62 VIP Whale

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    We are back home, we stayed 5 nights. That was plenty this trip. I def do better on the summer trips when I can spend a lot of time by the pool. Way too much drinking and eating this time!
     
  18. captainron62

    captainron62 VIP Whale

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    Thanks,

    The headband is not my favorite accessories, but she pulls it off. I guess it is destined to live on since she got it back.
     
  19. Royal Flusher

    Royal Flusher Savvy Gambler

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    Enjoying the hell out of this report!

    Glad you are standing up against stupidity in its various guises (cabs, photo guy, etc.)

    BTW, I am cancelling my membership at xxxcleavagepyg.com - I had no idea until now how they got the photos.
     
  20. broncofn

    broncofn VIP Whale

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    Glad you had a great trip and put the aholes in their place too.
     
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