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Trip Report 5/12 thru 5/20

Discussion in 'Vegas Trip Reports' started by Dean Martin, May 24, 2003.

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  1. Dean Martin

    Dean Martin VIP Whale

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    My Trip Report

    Well....we're back and I can't say that even after 8 days in Las Vegas that I was ready to come home :( I absolutely love this town...starting to think about making an Aug trip...we usually only go once a yr. Anyway...we left Norfolk at 10 am after a typical traffic jam going thru the bridge tunnel. We had cashed enuff FF miles to go 1st class since I wasn't sure how long my United miles might be good w/ the Chapt 11 BK and all. Man...we are spoiled now! What a great way to fly, first on, first off and you are actully comfortable in the seats! OK...arrived at LV about 5PM and was supposed to be met by a Limo but no one was there...we waited a while and finally grabbed a cab and off to the Mirage. Check in went great and we checked into a tower deluxe room w/ a volcano/strip view. Called the Limo folks and they had no record of my reservation...we were having a few 7 & 7's and looking at Vegas websites the night I made them so it very well could've been my screw up...lol Anyway, we were in Las Vegas and it was pretty hard to be pissed about anything! [​IMG] Coming from the east coast, we're pretty shot the 1st day (not as young as we used to be (48 & 40). We had a few drinks and played some VP, headed for the Carribe Cafe for some food and off to bed. The next day, I began my Las Vegas ritual of getting up at 6, getting a double Mocha Latte at the Roasted Bean and headed out w/ my load of caffeine in search for my VP machine of fortune. I pretty much do this every morning and then meet my wife at the line to get into the pool about 8:30. If you've stayed at the Mirage and like to lay out by the pool...ya know that to get the prime seats, you gotta do the line thing of 30-45 mins. It's worth it if your sun maniacs like we are and you want a lounge right at the waters edge. Anyway...in a nutshell, we visited the Palms hotel and played some VP for the day there. Nice place w/ a TON of VP but we didn't win or lose (big anyway) there. We did join their slot club so at the end of the day we got a comp'd dinner and margaritas at the (good) Mexican resteraunt. Back the the Mirage where even though it defies everything I ever read, we always seem to do the best gambling there. It's probably cause we mostly play there...duh!! LOL My wife got lucky last yr and hit 2 RF's on the same machine within about 4 hrs! This yr her luck was a bit off but I hit a RF on the 3rd day for $1K and then 2 days before we left hit a progressive RF for $1,880 (Qtr VP). Man...I love it when you get a free vacation!! There was also some good 9/6 machines (4 to be axact) at TI at the end of the Swashbuckle (or something like that) bar. They paid good too but were popular machines thru the week. Walked by a Roullete table one night and it had not hit "zero's" in forever. We usually play a i little roullete even though I know it's a heavily favored game to the house (hell, what games aren't...lol). We have this thing about always covering the zero's cause they seem to hit pretty regular. Anyway...I stopped, bought a $100 in nickel chips and started betting $10 on splitting the zero's. After $50 and no zero's I said screw it, cashed and NEVER looked back. I used to do that and inevitably, your number hits when you quit betting it,Murphy's law you know..lol We had great dinners at the Calif Pizza Kitchen (3 times) and sat at the bar area w/ EXCELLENT service from our freind Jim who has been working there ever since we started comming to the Mirage about 8 yrs ago I guess. We also had a great dinner at the Samba Grill. This place is awesome but let me warn you...bring your appetite!! They just renovated the pool area and the Paradise Cafe out there...it's beautifull! The 3 rd day we were there, we came to the pool in the morning and all of the lounges and pool deck furniture we NEW! Excellent surprise. The Lagoon Salloon was closed for renovation and is supposed to open in late June they said. La Reve looks like it has a longgggggg way to go...should be interesting when it's done. Steve Wynn's places have never dissapointed the people yet. Didn't play any BJ this trip...not sure why?? Just never went there...I was having too much fun and luck at VP so I figured don't fight the tape as they say. They treated us really well for what I consider to be pretty low rollers...lol We take about $400/day to gamble w/ but hopefully don't spend it all. [​IMG] They ended up comping 4 nights, took $122 off of our food bill and gave us back $114 in "free play". All in all it was a very cheap vacation thanks to the VP God's :cool: Good luck to all of you that still have your trip in front of you...it was a little depressing coming home but like I said...I'm scheming another trip...my wife just shakes her head and laughs at me..lol You know the feeling guys... when your wife does that it makes you feel good cause you know you're still acting like a young kid! [​IMG] Hope you enjoyed my write....hopefully I'll have another TR soon! :cool: ~ Dean (man, I love those martini's w/ the big olives!)
     
  2. Escape

    Escape Tourist

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    Dean nice trip report. Really enjoyed it. We will be leaving in seven days staying at the Luxor. I was wondering what type of VP do you play, I want to give it a try been practicing JOB on the computer but don't know which VP is best to play. All new to me. Thanks! [​IMG]
     
  3. Lynne in the Falls

    Lynne in the Falls Tourist

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    Loved your trip report Dean. You sound like you'd have fun anywhere, but I agree, Vegas is the BEST. I wish my husband would be like you(Planning our next trip before the plane lands), but in our family, it's me who plots and schemes.
    Picked up alot of useful info in your report. Thanks.
    Lynne in the Falls ;)
     
  4. kristin

    kristin Guest

    Great Trip Report Dean, thanks sooo much!! I LOVE video poker, but I didn't know that you could play it and get comped for rooms and stuff...I thought it was just "points", but I am also not all that familiar with the Mirage's players card.

    I too love the mirage, it's such a nice atmosphere there, I have never stayed there but hope to on one of my next trips!

    [​IMG] Yeah that's excellent about your wins!! CONGRATS!

    [​IMG] Kristin
     
  5. Dean Martin

    Dean Martin VIP Whale

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    Escape ~ I'm not an expert but have practiced and played a lot...we love the game. "5 Card" put up an excellent post under gaming when he/she responded to my post called "9/6 VP on the Strip?" Check it out. 5Card put an EXCELLENT link to a website for places to play. We play JOB because that is the game we practice and know the strategy. Your best bet (IMO) is to buy Bob Dancers software (he has a website, just search by his name). It lets you know when you've made an incorrect hold and tally's your return on money played.

    Lynne ~ Glad you enjoyed the report :cool: It brought back great memories just writting it! LOL Remember, "somebody" has got to be the "schemer"... [​IMG] LOL

    Kristin ~ it really is all about points. Just remember, it's total $$ played not just what you feed into the machine. If you're winning and you keep playing for a few hours, it ALL counts as money in. We try to eat and drink mostly where we stay too and always charge everything to our room. They take into account all the money you spend at a hotel/casino. Remember...ALWAYS join the slot club, use your card and the rule usually is :if you don't ask, you don't get". Don't be afraid to ask the slot host at the Players Club desk for comps on the day you check out and all your playing is done.

    Good Luck all and thanks for the comments. I have enjoyed the postings here by so many others that I felt it was my duty to post our trip too...LOL

    RAT PACK FORVEVER ~ DINO (John :cool: )
     
  6. frani

    frani Guest

    Dean,
    Curious as to if you visited the pool area at the Palms. We'll be there in July & I'm hoping it's a nice pool since it will be sooooooooo hot!
     
  7. Dean Martin

    Dean Martin VIP Whale

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    Frani ~ we did go out and look at it. It was kind of a gray sky that day which is why we picked that day to venture out and skip our pool time at the Mirage. Their pool looked pretty kool and they have these pool parties at night. There was some pictures right inside before you went out to the pool of nite time action. It was really wild looking at night w/ all of the light effects. They have these great lounges and the chairs actually sit partially in the water. I'm a little partial to the Mirages pool but this one was a lot better than most. It was a fairly small apool area but then the Mirage has about 4000 rooms and I think the Palms has about 400 so I'm sure it's plenty. Have a blast.... Dino :cool:

    Also ~ to the other folks that asked about the "comp'd" rooms. I forgot to mention that we got invited to this party that the slot club put on and 3 comp'd nites might have been part of the "party thing". I'm not sure but I'm thinking that cause we normally only get comp'd 1 night w/ a few hundred off our food/drink bill. But...even so, if you join the club and play at the MGM Mirage properties, you should get some future specials in the mail (w/ reasonable play) for $55/nite Sun-Thur and $75 on Fri & Sat. Pretty good rates for this place (in my opinion).
     
  8. HoyaHeel

    HoyaHeel Grammar Police & Admin

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    Dean--if you get up early & want to go to the pool--but don't care about what seat you get--do you still have to wait in a long line? We're going in July, I know we'll want to spend some time at the pool--and since we're on the East coast I know we'll be up early ;) But I don't think I want to wait in line for a half hour....How about later in the afternoon? I noticed at Monte Carlo that if we went out around 4 or so, there were more seats available. Is that true at Mirage, or is it pretty much full all the time? Thanks!!! Hope I'm as lucky as you guys were--I NEVER get any RFs!!!!
     
  9. Dean Martin

    Dean Martin VIP Whale

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    Hoya... it just seemed to vary from day to day. When we have stayed at the Mirage in the past, you could always come out later and still get a lounge chair but it would be "back in the pack" a bit. This time, there were some days that if you came out at noon say, there was nothing. You couldn't even find a chair way back by the Dolphin habitat! Then the last few days we were there (a Sun & Mon) you could find chairs again. We may have just picked a busy week...I noticed a LOT of convention people were there that week and most seemed to have brought their wives/husbands and some(pre-school) kids. As a rule (based on our prior visits)...it seems you can always find chairs if you come out after about 2. A lot of folks that have been out there since 8:30 or 9 have had enuff by then and can't stand not gambling for that long...LOL, yours truly. This web site has a great link to see what conventions are in town on any given week. http://www.a2zlasvegas.com/
    You'd have thought I would've used it too huh? LOL Good luck and have fun...winnings a great bonus but having a fun and memorable trip in Las Vegas is what it's all about :cool: Dean
     
  10. LVLady

    LVLady Tourist

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    Dean we are planning on stay there at the end of June, we usually stay at TI, but thought for $75 a night with premium view we would give Mirage a try, what are the rooms like?? How is service?? Are the bathrooms alright, I keep hearing they are very small, and this kind of concerns me. Have you tried the spa?? Thanks in Advance :confused:
     
  11. Dean Martin

    Dean Martin VIP Whale

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    LV Lady ~ The rooms (and bathrooms) at the Mirage, TI & Beau Rivage (in Biloxi) are nearly identical....so if you like the TI rooms you'll be happy w/ the Mirage. Service is excellent....8 yrs staying ther now and not had a bad time once. Good Luck! Dean
     
  12. LVLady

    LVLady Tourist

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    Dean I think you have made up my mind for me, Thanks............Are the bathrooms as small as I hear, and should I be concerned about the pool if I don't want to get there at 8:30? We are going Sunday through Friday. Thanks again.
     
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