Pre-Trip Notes - Last Minute/New Job Version

Wow, less than 2 months since the last trip, and I'm going right back. However, this is precipitated by a life event - I got a new job! This will be the 1st full time position for me since August, 2013. I took some time off on purpose, but for the last 5 months or so I have been looking for a new permanent position. Somehow I was passed by on at least 3 positions I felt were perfect matches, but this one will definitely be both interesting and challenging.

Unfortunately this means March Madness will not be an an option this year. So last night, just on a whim, I checked out Allegiant fares for next week (the new job starts the day after Super Bowl, ack). I booked round trip air for $150, and I had an offer from the Plaza for 3 weeknights comped. Boo-yah! Last chance Vegas, baby.

So here once again are my not-quite-as-voluminous-as-usual Pre-Trip notes. Since this is a last minute trip, I haven't had much time to research, but I wanted to post what I have so far in order to help anyone else going to town this month. For those that don't know me I'm a red chip blackjack and quarter video poker player. I'm a coupon user and promo chaser. I pride myself on eating well for $10 or less before tax, tip, & drink. I do research online and put together a document before every trip including promotions, deals, new (to me) info, and other interesting stuff. So here we go!

Disclaimer: This is info gathered from casino websites, trip reports, blogs, forum posts, and other unsavory sources. I take no responsibility for the accuracy of the information, and the typos are NOT mine. The casinos are listed in groups beginning with downtown, then Strip, then off-Strip.

Have fun & good luck!

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Main Street Station - 2PM - 6 PM daily Penny Lane Bonus Spin promo, select machines.

California - 2PM - 6 PM daily Penny Lane Bonus Spin promo, select machines.

Plaza - Ate Pop Up Pizza twice at the Plaza, couldnt have been happier, very good stuff! Plus they give free refills on drinks, so if you stay there, dont throw your cup away. Hotel guests get free Louie Anderson tickets but I didn't have time to use them. You also get a fun book of hotel discounts on food etc at check in. 10X points every Tuesday and 2X points every Thursday (not VP?). DAILY SPIN 2 WIN - Earn 1 entry with every 300 points earned while playing your favorite slot machines! 5 names will be drawn everyday at 8:15pm for a chance to win up to $1,000 in CASH. WEDNESDAY’S SENIOR 50+ SLOT TOURNAMENT - Play FREE 1st Session 10AM, Earn 500 Points and Play 2nd Session 2PM, Best combined score wins $1,000. $3 poker tournaments? Check for WinCards.

Golden Gate - Dupars Egg’n NY steak, $4.95 midnight-2 am. Check for Allegiant $50 match play promo, present within 24 hours of arrival.

Four Queens - 55+ 20% off Hugo's, Magnolias, Chicago Brewing, 20% off gift shop excluding food, cigs & alcohol. Chicago Brewing HH M-F 3-6 including half price appetizers.

Fremont - 2PM - 6 PM daily Penny Lane Bonus Spin promo, select machines.

The D - $10 matchplay (email).

The Grand - Daily drawings 8 PM, earn 500 points for entry, 5X tickets on Wednesdays. Free pull tab on Tuesdays, get up to 15X points.

Happy hour is made happier when there’s pizza, so from 3-6 p.m. weekdays and from 10 p.m. till close daily, Pizza Rock makes your night with individually sized pies. You can pick from the award-winning Cal Italia or the simple Frank’s True Italian, but our preference is the meat-laden Molinari, topped with salami, pepperoni, Italian sausage, mushrooms and mozzarella. Closes at 11:30 during the week.

$2 off Mob Museum (internet coupon)

El Cortez - 100 Base Points in any calendar day, you get to Spin 'N Win at the Club cortez kiosk, 1500 points gets Jackie burger or $5 Subway voucher. For those over 50, the Cafe Cortez has all entrees half price on Wednesdays. $10 - 1000 slot play with jackpot of $200/300 in January. Free Klondike bar Wednesdays for jackpots $25+. 5X points one day.

The new grocery store across from El Cortez is really nice. Prices aren't inflated. For example, a bottle of wine that was $16.99 at the ABC store near the Golden Gate was $11.99 at the market. They've got a nice deli section and fresh baked goodies. Large cookies are only $1, and they are tasty!

Mandalay Bay - Wincards.

New York New York - Slot tournament Mon - Thurs 10 AM - 5 PM, earn 250 points per entry up to 3 per day, $1500 freeplay top prize. Check for WinCards.

We stop in Cosmo to play one of those giant multi-hand blackjack rigs. The rules are actually pretty decent (for the strip) on these machines, and they’re only $3 minimum.

Max (Westin) - $3 blackjack 11 AM - 6 PM. $.25 roulette & $3 craps 6-8 PM. 2X points all day Mon - Thurs. 1/2 price select appetizers at the bar for players club members M-Th 2-6 PM & M-F 2-6 AM. Sign-up Gift: Get $10 in Slot Play or Table Game Match Play (only match play now?). Bonus Gift: Earn 100 Points on sign-up day and get a special Max gift .

There is a free slot tournament at Quad on the weekdays. Approached by a cleavage-y blonde in a red dress offering us a free drink. Turns out it was legit, an offer from Total Rewards to have a drink at their new Tag lounge, valued at up to $10. Free admission auto collection (internet coupon).

Wynn - Play slots with your Red Card through February 28 for your daily chance at a share of up to $5,000 in FREECREDIT. Earn 500 same day points on your Red Card by 3 p.m. Register at the Encore Red Card desk from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. to enter. Daily tournament starts at 4 p.m. Daily Prizes: 1st place - $1,500 in FREECREDIT, plus two (2) tickets to Steve Wynn's ShowStoppers; 2nd place - $1,000 in FREECREDIT; 3rd place - $500 in FREECREDIT; 4th place - $250 in FREECREDIT; 5th place - $100 in FREECREDIT; 6th–8th place - $50 each in FREECREDIT; Session Prizes: 1st place - $100 in FREECREDIT; 2nd place - $75 in FREECREDIT; 3rd place - $50 in FREECREDIT.

Palace Station - $9.99 t-bone steak special at Grand Cafe. $.99 margaritas. 50+ Wednesdays 6X points VP (2X?), free Starucks tall coffee, $100 hot seat every 20 minutes 10 AM - 8PM, free slot tournament 10 AM - 7 PM.

Orleans - Young At Heart Wednesdays: mystery multiplier 7 AM - 7 PM up to 50X, drawing at 4:30 PM, earn 100 points for free dinner buffet or 50 points for lunch, redeem by 7 PM. Visit kiosk to activate multiplier. Free jacket with any taxable jackpot with max bet played. 2PM - 6 PM daily Penny Lane Bonus Spin promo, select machines. 11 AM - 7 PM Tuesday 1/27 earn 100 points for VP tournament, $5k prizes.

Palms - Happy hour at Simon 7 days 3-6 PM, $6 apps, drinks, sushi. N9NE email says $9 lounge menu & $5 cocktails, no details on website.

Gold Coast - Young At Heart Wednesdays: mystery multiplier 7 AM - 7 PM up to 50X, drawing at 4:30 PM, earn 100 points for free dinner buffet or 50 points for lunch, redeem by 7 PM. Visit kiosk to activate multiplier. 2PM - 6 PM daily Penny Lane Bonus Spin promo, select machines. Free jacket with any taxable jackpot with max bet played.

Ellis Island - 50+ drawings Tues & Thurs at 11 AM, 12, 1, 2, 6 & 7 PM. A wrinkle in the new card readers: When you follow the prompts to download free play, you will come to a notice that says that the machine is not enabled to do downloads. Just ignore this – that’s not true – and continue with the next prompts and you will be able to get to your free play!

Sam's Town - Young At Heart Wednesdays: mystery multiplier 7 AM - 7 PM up to 50X, drawing at 4:30 PM, earn 100 points for free dinner buffet or 50 points for lunch, redeem by 7 PM. Visit kiosk to activate multiplier. 2PM - 6 PM daily Penny Lane Bonus Spin promo, select machines. Free jacket with royal, max bet no wilds, any denom.

Jerry's Nugget - 50+ Tuesdays 5X points, $5 match play, $10 food award with qualifying play.

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Do you plan to do all those promos?

Good luck! And congrats on the job!

 

Ha! Not even..

In fact, since this trip is so short (3 nights with a late arrival and early departure) I'm thinking that I may not even leave downtown.

Normally on a 5 or 6 night visit I rent a car, and trot around town chasing the promos. In addition to the notes, I create a schedule with all the options listed, and make plans each day, and/or on the fly. Here's an example for the upcoming trip:

Wednesday 1/28
Spin & Win promo El Cortez
7 AM - 7 PM mystery multiplier promo Orleans, Gold Coast
10 AM Senior slot tourney Plaza
2 - 6 PM Penny Lane Bonus promo MSS, Cal, Fremont, Orleans, Gold Coast, Sam's Town
4 PM slot tournament Wynn, earn points by 3 PM, register by 3:30 PM
4:30 PM drawing Orleans, Gold Coast
8 PM drawing Grand, 5X tickets
8:15 PM drawing Plaza

So I know at a glance that I have to decide between the Wynn promo & one of the Boyd drawing(s), and between the Plaza & Grand drawings. I use the notes to help decide what's a better investment time/money-wise, and look at the notes whenever I enter a particular casino to make sure I don't forget anything that's available.

Thanks for the good wishes. I'm looking forward to having an income again to start replenishing all the savings I've used up this past year. A quarter royal wouldn't hurt, either. The good news is I won my Fantasy football league this year, so the trip money is coming from that.

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I wanted to give a quick kudos to my buddy jimboguy. I read a response by him in a trip report post about the Downtown Grand mobile app. My mailer offer from them was just a lower room rate, but when I installed the app, it had 3 free nights plus $40 freeplay and $20 food credit. So I booked it, and cancelled my Plaza res, which had a 200 point/day play requirement. I love the Grand anyways, so this is definitely a win for me. Vegas here I come!

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Congrats on the new job. Looking forward to the trip report. I also like the DTG and play similar games (BJ, .25 VP) so I'm interested to hear your opinions during this trip.

Best of luck

DF