A more than long overdue report

I don't know why I never gave this report except for being lazy so I will offer no other excuse.

Took the trip the 1st week of September last year. Myself, the wife, and a friend of mine who was having his date fly in for one night in Vegas and then on to Tucson with us.

The wife and I flew out of Little Rock on Wed. morning and arrived around lunch. Met up at the baggage area with my buddy who had gotten in a few minutes earlier out of Dallas. Grab the bags and off to the Dollar Rent-A-Car shuttle.

I have reserved a full size car and was the only one on the bus that used Fastlane. Thanks for the tip on here. Was told to stay on the bus as he let the others out and then was driven to the back of the lot and told to take anything on the back wall. Well all that was on the back wall were their luxury 300M's. I asked the driver are you sure? Yep, any one of those. Grab a nice white one and off to the strip.

I had 3 comp nights at the Barbary Coast and got my buddy a casino rate when I called to book mine. It was his first trip ever to Vegas.

I cruised down the strip for him to check everything out and then finally pulled into The STRAT for lunch at Roxys. From what I remember it was pretty good. Not many people in it as I remember.

After lunch we headed back and checked in at the Barbary Coast. Fast and easy as usual. It was my 4th time to stay there, but the first with the wife. She likes the bigger places better I later discovered.

After unpacking and freshening up we headed out and about just checking out some the nearby places. Not really doing any gambling and just grabbing a drink here and there. Ended up later at Caesers and had a light dinner at the Cheesecake Factory. It was getting a little late and being on CST the wife was ready to call it a night. NO PROBLEM. Walked her back to the room and then it was down to the craps table. I stop here to tell you I LOVE the game. One reason my room was comped was from my last trip with two other buddies. I leaned on my elbows against the table one day and night until my elbow was actually rubbed raw and bleeding. I stayed at their tables a looonnnnngggggggg time that trip.

Anyway we hit the BC table and started out pretty good winning a little here and there. But, there was just nothing happening as far as anyone having any fun. I blame it on the dealers and pit bosses. I have never in my life seen so many long faces and unhappy acting people in one place. Tired of the vibe here I told my buddy lets cash and head down the street. I am pretty sure I know where we can find another game.

And down the street to the Imperial Palace we headed. I learned to play the game here in 1984, and according to what Mikey had written here, not much had changed since then. Boy was he ever right. Same friendly dealers, pit crew, and oh my the waitresses. Ummmmmmmmm

Bought in for 3 hundred and started playing on a five dollar table. Played pass line with odds and come bets with the same. As soon as we started playing a dealer asked our names and we felt like family. After a few minutes a pit boss asked if we had players cards. Nope, we didn't stop long enough on the way in to get them. No problem, give me your license and I will get them. Nice move on his part I thought.

Well the table was cold and we went through most of our buyin pretty fast. I told my buddy lets take a little break and come back in a few minutes. Headed up the escalators to the sports book. Right as I stepped in I saw the horse racing machine. Now here is a good place to waste a little time. Grabbed a couple of beers from the nearby bar and played the ponies for about 30 minutes. Had a blast with a couple of youngsters that were sitting around as well.

Time to go get my money back and these horses aren't going to do it. Back to the crap table. By this time it probably 1 or so in the morning. Left at 4 and crawled back to the BC with 400 dollars more than I landed in Vegas with. A long but profitable day.

Up Thursday morning rather early. Wait a minute. I went to sleep Thursday morning rather early. Anyway, I had to give the wife her time. Got dressed and into the car to drive down to the outlet mall south of town. Kicked around there for a couple of hours and then went back and picked my buddy. Headed to another outlet mall just on the outskirts of downtown. Now my wife was in heaven. I find this buddy of mine likes to shop more than my wife does. I am like the 3rd wheel in this shopping frenzy. I walk, they look. I walk, they buy. Anyway, she is happy so who am I to complain. And I think my buddy is happier than her. Go figure.

After many hours of shopping we head downtown for a little walk through. Don't really remember where we went other than the Shoe and the Golden Nugget. Didn't really play at all. Just looking. Got bored pretty quickly and headed back to the BC as we had tickets for Penn and Teller that night at the Rio.

Got cleaned up and headed over to the Rio. Walked around for a few minutes and decided to get something to eat before the show. Ended up in the Voodoo Cafe. Great view, less than great food in my opinion. Can't remember all of the details but none of us were impressed. Went down to the Penn & Teller show. A very good show and I am glad we saw it this time. I don't think I would do it again however.

Headed back to the Barbary Coast and the wife was ready to call it night. NO PROBLEM. Her to bed, us to the IP. Same thing as the night before. Same crew, same great drink service and same cold table when we got there. Only one thing to do, you guessed it, the HORSES. Back upstairs and more free beers for playing a quarter and watching mechanical horses on a machine. You have to love that.

OK, time to get our money back. Back down to the tables and just like the night before. Head out about 4 and about 3 hundred up this time. Of course, everytime we hit a little cold streak the dealers and pit guys are busting our chops about going to see our "horses." Don't threaten us or we just might and you will be working for us before this is over. We were having a great time.

I interrupt to tell you a little more about why we are on this trip. I am huge fan of the LSU Tigers football team and they just happen to be playing on Saturday night in Tucson against the U of Arizona. So what better reason than to make it vacation in Vegas. Anyway, I have been wearing a LSU shirt or cap both days in the Imperial Palace and one of the dealers has taken a keen interest in who we thought was going to cover the spread in the game. LSU was favored by 11 and we guaranteed Joe the Dealer that they were a "lock" to cover that. Well sometime that night a guy with a UofA cap is at the table and starts telling us how Arizona is going kick ass etc. I thought my man Joe was a LSU alumni before it was over. He was busting all over the guy that Zona had no shot. We had some good laughs and banterings back and forth with the guy.

This is getting long so I will buzz through Friday. Did some more shopping early and then picked up my buddies date at the airport. She had been to Vegas a few times so no tour needed. We ended up later that night at the IP again playing craps. I would have never of guessed it. Her and my wife were playing a few slots as we rolled the cubes. After they came back by we introduced them to our new "family" at the craps pit. One of the bosses asked where we eating that night. No idea. Haven't thought that far ahead. It's only about 30 minutes from now, what's the hurry? He ask if we like seafood? Sure, we are orignally from Louisiana. How about our seafood place? OK. Called upstairs and we are set. $ 80.00 comp for each couple. Good food and not crowded in the least. Had a very nice lobster myself.

After dinner the wife was ready to go back as we had an early flight to Tucson. We walked back to the BC and she was ready for a hot bath and bed. I was ready for a crap table. The remaining 3 of us did the only sensible thing we could think of. Headed back to the IP crap table.

After we had played about an hour or so it was getting around midnight. We were down some and my buddies date was ready to go back to the room. So my buddy tells everyone he is walking her back and will see us in a few minutes. As soon as they I giving odds to the dealers that they have seen the last of those two. Too bad they wouldn't take them. I know the guy TOO well. Anyway, I again stayed until about 3 and got ready to leave a couple of hundred down for the night. Still 3 or 4 hundred up for the trip so I was happy. Bid the guys farewell and was promised by "Joe the Dealer" he was going to the lay the 11 points as soon as he got off in the morning and watch the game as he was off the next night. I hope he did what he said.

As far as my sports betting, we had played a couple games and pretty much broken even on them. I think there were a couple Thursday and a couple of them Friday night. Anyway, I was in the sportsbook at the IP on one of our horse racing episodes and a buddy back home wanted me to bet 20 on the S.F. Gaints winning the World Series for him. I took out a hundred and bet that, also give me 60 on LSU minus the 11. Why 60 I have no idea. I had plenty in my pockets and should have used it. Hindsight. And that 20 change there, give me LSU to win the National Championship at the 40-1.

Bets made and it is off to Tucson. Arrive at the airport and meet my friends date who had left earlier on a different flight. Our Intrepid is a Concorde this time. 2 for 2 on the upgrades. Now the big one hits. I had reserved our rooms at the Marriott in Tucson right by the UofA campus in March. They had a "conceirge suite" for 30 bucks extra that had a little sitting room and was on the top floor with a balcony. I thought, well there will be 4 of us hanging out for the day so why not. I booked that for myself and when my buddy booked they were out so he got a regular room. I give the guy at the desk my and license, he does his computer stuff and slides me the keys. Room 416 sir. Uh, no I am on the top floor. Try again please. He hit the keys. Seems whoever had that room decided to stay another day. Well give them 416 and tell the maid service to get to work. He hits the keys again. "We are not showing you reserved a "conceirge suite" sir." Go to the bag and pull out the confirmation. "It says here I did sir." Hit more keys, get on phone. "Check this confirmation number. Uh huh, that is what the man that is standing here ready to check in said too." Hangs up phone. Makes new keys. " Sir, we have upgraded you to the PRESIDENTIAL SUITE at no extra charge." Key hitter, you are a fine young man.

Needless to say we had plenty of room to hang out and get ready for the game. Walk across the street to Frog & Firkin for great pizza and beer and then to the liquor store for drinks in the room. The Marriott is packed with LSU fans and we have a great time leaving the door open and people stopping by to say hello.

Off to the game and I must say that UofA has the best looking grass of any stadium I have ever been in and I have been in quite a few in my day. And they the only grass I saw in Tucson as well.

LSU easily covered the 11 so I have a ticket to send in when I get I home. Left the next morning and actually flew back to Vegas but only had about a hour layover so no time to leave the airport. Stuck 20 in a VP machine as I was smoking a cigarette before boarding and was playing max credits until I had one left. Hit something that payed 60 and I took it and ran back as my wife was about to board.

Mailed my ticket to the IP when I got home and got back a check for 115 I think it was a couple of weeks later.

Went to the National Championship in New Orleans on Jan. 4 and later that week mailed another ticket to the IP. The $ 820.00 check they sent me back almost covered what I spent in New Orleans. Hindsight again. I had about 3 grand in my pocket and only bet 20 that night at 40-1. Talk about feeling stupid. Anyway it was great to Vegas that ended up lasting about 4 months total.

 

Neat trip, No Sevens. Lotsa dice and winning at the book, can't beat that. Aside from the outlet mall scene, that is; there's such a thing as knowing your friends too well...

 

NICE!

You know, I've noticed over the years that whenever there is a big LSU game on in Vegas, there are Tons of fans...Real fans, not just people with a wager...at the sportsbook having a great time. I can only imagine what it must be like tailgating a game.

Sounded like a great quick hit trip.

Thanks for writing it up....makes me long for football season.

Pac-10 love.

out.

 

LV Terry,

I saw the Pac-10 love at the bottom. I think it should have been LSU and USC in New Orleans. If you ever are going to be near Louisiana during football season do try and get be Tiger Stadium. It is an awesome experience.

As far as the LSU fans in the sports book during a game that is great to hear. I have a trip scheduled in September and plan to watch LSU and Oregon in a sportsbook that Saturday night.

 

I think that would have been one of the all time great games. I'm actually a Bruin fan, but you don't have to be a fan of a certain team to know what is right.

I may be in the South this Fall, and checking out a game would be Awesome.

 

Great report 777's!

LVTERRY--you think it was on during March Madness! I promise you, there is nothing in the wolrd like going to a LSU game! Vegas rocks, but for sheer eating and drinking till your eyeballs pop, them Cajuns will have you under the table, the car, the winnebago,the stands etc., etc.! Cajuns drink liquor like a jogger in the Nevada desert drinks water. If you get a chance to go, hold on tight, it's going to be on heck of a ride!

Laisser Les Bontemps Roulez!

Moe

 

LSU Games are a hoot! Not sure what is more fun, the game itself, or just watching everyone.

LOL!!

 

Excellent job winning with LSU for the national title.
Very nice to win that 800 bucks!

Great trip report.
It makes me want to be at the IP craps table right
now. I will have to try it May 17-21.
THANKS!

 

Be sure and ask at the tables if Joe from St. Louis is still working there. If so ask him if he bet the LSU-Arizona game like the 2 LSU fans touted him on. He will know what you are talking about.