1. Welcome to VegasMessageBoard
    It appears you are visiting our community as a guest.
    In order to view full-size images, participate in discussions, vote in polls, etc, you will need to Log in or Register.

8K Post! Monkeying Around Vegas in 80 Hours! Most Jammed-Packed Trip Yet!!!

Discussion in 'Vegas Trip Reports' started by tringlomane, Feb 24, 2016.

Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.
  1. tringlomane

    tringlomane STP Addicted Beer Snob

    Joined:
    Jan 21, 2013
    Messages:
    31,301
    Location:
    Chicagoland
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    28

    My Trip Report

    Prelude: Last Minute Plans and Meeting Up with wanker751 at the Shoe!

    For 4 of the last 5 years, I've been in Vegas for the Presidents' Day Holiday. For whatever reason, we seem to find good deals over the holiday. It also helps that my g/f's (known as M from this point on) parents also have birthdays on V-day and the day after. So they also like going to Vegas on their birthdays! So we had been periodically looking for good flight deals for the trip. We saw a last minute deal for a week trip on Frontier that was good for us, but we balked a bit, and then prices shot up. Once that happened, M was pissed, so when a $128 rt out of Midway on SWA (near where her parents live) for an ~80 hour trip popped up, we snagged it!

    So with the last minute plans, there was a bit more chaos, and we had a few more days to burn which we did in Chicagoland. It ended up being a perfect opportunity to meet up with wanker751 at Horseshoe Hammond, who also happened to have an unused 2016 American Casino Guide to barter away.

    Bartered beer: Dark Horse Plead the 5th Imperial Stout (11%; 4 sips)
    [​IMG]

    It was good to catch up again, and thanks to a snafu in the kiosk for a free meal for playing 30 minutes of playing Pai Gow Tiles, they hand wrote him a comp for two and he offered to have lunch on him!

    Over lunch we had a nice chat while I tried one of these. Southern Tier 2X Presso (7.5%; 3.25 sips)

    [​IMG]

    After lunch we played a little VP before he had to pick up his “little man” from school. Unfortunately neither of us had any big hits, but still a good time! Unfortunately, some games we would have rather played were shut off while we were there. The bad aftermath when those games were reactivated; they were downgraded!

    Since I didn't have to drive home...I also indulged in these and got pretty tipsy.

    Bell's Hopslam (10%; 4 sips)
    [​IMG]

    (no pic) New Holland Brewing Dragon's Milk (11%; 3.75 sips)





    _________________________________________________________________________________
    Day 1: Sun. Feb. 14th Valentine's Day in the City We Love and Multiple VMBer Meetings!

    Counting down the hours, the time was finally here! The flight was a little bumpy thanks to the rough jet stream, but other than that good. Since M was an Alamo Insider, we skipped the line and picked our car in our class. Only problem, our car class was nearly sold out at 11:30am! We settled on a Ford Focus. Not bad, but seemed a little slow on pickup.

    Check-in into Orleans a little after noon, and valet and check-in looks a mess. Also a ton of kids in sports uniforms! Must be various sports tourneys running. Well, we're too early for the room preferences we requested, so they say to some back in an hour or two. During that time, we decide to eat the brunch buffet to utilize her dad's $40/day food credit. Buffet was good, and service was excellent!

    Since we were still waiting on the room, we decide to gamble for a bit. While walking with the group, I see a familiar looking group of folks at the Crawfish Bar. They hinted they would be at the Orleans all week on VMB, so after a second look, I went up and said a “Hey Now!” to flysrb and his lovely wife, Sweet Ti. From there we had a nice chat about all sorts of things while I had a couple of Guinness. We also learned we were all “Monkeys” according to the Chinese calendar! Also said a quick hi the next day and flysrb was kind enough to give us a special gift! Very nice and friendly! The chat was also beneficial to me because everyone else attempted to check into our room, but it wasn't cleaned yet! So we got moved and got $25 more in food credits.

    After the room was finally straightened out, we decide to run to the North Premium Outlet near Downtown. That may have been a mistake. That place was a mess. At least M didn't want to shop here!

    [​IMG]

    All the while, I was scheming in my head, was their any logical way we could do the Plaza loss rebate without pissing them off? The more I thought about it...nope, no way. Good-bye Downtown...maybe next trip.

    I did get them to agree to coupon whore at Hooters though with our 2 ACG books, and after a terrible parking garage snafu, the coupon users came out a bit ahead. I lost money into “Family Guy”. This trip I only saw that machine at Hooters and Mirage on the strip. It's hard to find. I also did a bartop check, and almost all of it was the same.

    Now it was getting later and we were hungry. We order the Original Chicken Tender at Monte Carlo after 8pm. While ordering, I soon bail because I hear a song I like on the Monte Carlo floor. This typically makes me want to find some machine I like to gamble. That night the machine was “Buffalo”. Didn't work this time for a win though. :( Quick bartop check (no change...yet) and I was back just in time for the food. Awesome as usual! But so much. This is the 4 tender meal after some of the fries are already eaten.

    Original Chicken Tender
    [​IMG]

    Now it's pushing 9, and I had been talking to some VMBers about meeting up around that time. M's parents wanted to play at Monte Carlo for awhile. Before any meet ups though, I was a bit “thirsty”, and thought I would play/check the Alibi bartops at Aria. Those were $1 level games. :( I look at the beer menu, and then ask what beers can be comped. He said “any”. Okay then, a Dogfish Head 90 min. ($13 retail; 9%; 4.25 sips). I had the game set on one credit, and he pretty much knew what I was up to. He politely asks me to hit max bet once. Which I did. And did a few more times for the hell of it. No big wins though. :(

    Decorations at Aria
    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    One of the people I met was wccan, a VMBer that asked me for advice a little while back. He told me where he was, and was wearing a white polo. I found another guy in the area also wearing one and asked that guy if he was wccan...oops! Once I found the right guy, he was with his wife, and was playing a dollar TDB game. Both of them were very nice, friendly people and I could tell they both enjoyed being in Vegas as much as I did. And it was nice to hear they were doing decent for the trip, makes things much more enjoyable, imo.

    The other VMBer I had planned to meet was sindustry. I was happy to hear that he was able to extend his weekend trip through Monday, making our schedules overlap. He also had pleepeus in tow! Great, outgoing, and friendly guys! Sin and I been chatting about VP on and off ever since he began the shift to the “dark side” this fall. When we first met, no VP though...just sindustry hitting 3-reel quick hits for $5,000! Also watched plee play some hands in Beeejay Memorial Row. Nothing too exciting to report there, unfortunately. :( But hitting 5 of 10 flush draws on a hand wasn't too bad!

    I also wanted to log in a little Aria play time myself. The machines in BeeeJay row were taken, so I went back toward the carousel I played in August (carousel 1107) across from the poker room that was still there. 8/6 Boner Deluxe w/DSTP (98.99%) for nickels! And it pays off nearly right a way with this. My first Boner Deluxe Quads in Vegas! Hope it's for quarters soon!

    [​IMG]

    and less than 2 minutes later
    [​IMG]

    I was able to leave Aria a quick $30 winner.

    Not hearing from M yet, I get ahold of sindustry, and they are at Cosmo waiting on a handpay for plee. I was hoping to go there anyway, so I run up there a bit. Watch plee have some close calls with Double STP in the high limit room. Eventually test the new sports book. It happened to have one of sindustry's and my favorite games, Super DDB. It's also the game M got her first royal on, so she likes it too. That game is great news for strip bartops too, because 6/5 Super DDB is 97.69%. They also had 97.68% Double Bonus Deuces for quarters. At the $5 level, it becomes 7/5 Super DDB (98.61%) and sindustry and plee stab at that while I wuss out at quarters. No good wins for us here either. :( But nice to be around good company. :) About that time, I needed to get back to Orleans.

    [​IMG]

    Fortunately M did pretty well at Monte Carlo:
    [​IMG]

    And right before me showing up...
    [​IMG]

    An 108X Bonus Win overall
    [​IMG]

    When we get back to Orleans, they all look a bit tired after all the travel and running around. But my head thinks, you should play with 7/5 Bonus at the Bourbon Street Lounge with a nearly $2000 Royal (>100%) and 7X points for Presidents' Day.

    Some beers...

    Joseph James Craft American Lager (5.2%; 4 sips)
    Magic Hat Electric Peel (6.2%; 3.5 sips)


    Things were going well...but then I hit this...no Presidents' Day luck here...skstktlxl,t,,xlyfkysxksxks

    [​IMG]

    Minutes later, a lady hits the Royal! Argghhhhhhhhhhhh

    A less depressing diamond hit
    [​IMG]

    I still play there for a bit as I'm still doing okay, but it eventually cools off. Now it's past 2 and I see the count team collecting from the machines making me feel like a degenerate. Seems a bit early, but machines aren't super busy. Take a stab at one of the best machines in the house, Double Bonus Deuces Wild (99.81%). At least I pulled the deuce.
    [​IMG]

    Try other bartops which weren't nearly as kind. 98.91% Deuces saved me from doing too badly for the day. But still mostly evaporated my Aria winnings.

    [​IMG]





    ________________________________________________________________________________
    Day 2: Mon. Feb. 15th Another Presidents' Day in Vegas, Will We Be Lucky Again?

    We actually slept in later than expected. M makes a last minute booking for her and her mom for MJ One that night as the cheapest seats had one pair left. Eventually rouse ourselves to head toward our lunch plans. The Del Mar deli at South Point and some Vienna Beef hotdogs from the the hot dog cart. Since South Point gives you $7.50 in comps for your birthday month, this helped defray some of the cost.

    I didn't purchase any drinks though because I figure I can get some “free” beers while playing 9/6 Boner Deluxe (99.64%)!

    [​IMG]

    Also squeezed in some 8/5 Bonus with Double STP (99.67%) on the floor. And 8/5 Bonus with STP (99.44%) at the Lobby Bar. Lady next to me was pounding away at 9/6 Boner Deluxe at $50 a pop (10 line dollars). It was point multiplier day. I didn't catch a glimpse of Bob Dancer though.

    Best I could do on STP :(
    [​IMG]

    We end up staying at South Point longer than expected, a minor theme this trip, as her parents were doing well and enjoying themselves. Those 3 Fat Tires cost me $40 though...Oops!

    View of mountains from South Point
    [​IMG]

    More mountains
    [​IMG]

    Quick detour to the other outlet mall, and then run to Flamingo to check in.

    [​IMG]

    We were double booked on Monday to take advantage of her dad's offers. Thoughts of pphold flashed through my head! Since her dad is Platinum at CET, we were able to skip that horrendous main check-in line which may have saved us an hour by the way it looked. He has a Go room comped for the last two nights. I luck out again and can skip some of the paperwork. So I plop down at penny deuces w/STP (97.00%) with my new “Year of the Monkey” card.

    Get to play there for awhile as processing her dad's offer takes awhile. Fairly quickly I get my first one of these.

    [​IMG]

    When these happen, I question why I subject myself to the game. I take pictures of all natural quads for bookkeeping. To save on future boredom, for the trip as a whole I got five natural quads this trip playing penny deuces for either 20 or 50 cents a pop. Woohoo. Played for over 20 minutes and no waitress came by to ask if I wanted a drink. Flamingo is the worst for that. But right before they return from the Go room, I was able to get this. 4 Deuces ($100 at 10X) would have been nicer though!

    [​IMG]

    Go back to the Orleans so they can play on the point multiplier and so we could hit the pool a bit. Pool was pretty nice, but tons of kids with minimal supervision... :( Hot tub size in the pool area was also generous, but since it was a bit chilly late in the afternoon, it was quite full with over 80% kids. Forgot our phones/cameras for a pic. Doh.

    Here's an alligator in the elevator though
    [​IMG]

    CNY decor at the Orleans
    [​IMG]

    We again eat the buffet to burn another food credit. It tasted better for Sunday brunch. We then discuss plans on where we want to place ourselves for the evening. We decide to all move to the Strip. Even though I love the idea of the Presidents' Day multiplier at Boyd offstrip properties that day, I love my craft beer at Linq and the convenience of the strip. Also this way, they wouldn't need to pick us up after the show as they would drop us off at Flamingo and we would drag more of the luggage up there. But discussing this over dinner, her parents were consistently clueless as to which hotel we were going to stay at for the night. The conversation repeatedly went like this. Her dad or mom, “So let me get this straight, we're playing (staying) at (wrong hotel here) tonight?” M and I, “No!”

    But once we finally got all that straightened out, we play for a little bit longer before the show because we had ACG coupons and her dad's $50 in freeplay to claim. I had $10 freeplay to use from the ACG book. I was initially thinking of burning at a bar, but then I walk by some Five Star Poker machines as cheap as nickels! Nickels/dimes had 7/5 Bonus with Quick Quads (98.28%) and quarters 8/5 Bonus (99.55%)! Okay then!

    I decide screw it, I'm in Vegas with 7X points, just play quarters. Burn through that free play quick. Shove a $12 voucher in. Not a quick quad, but I'll take a $57.50 hit!

    [​IMG]

    And a couple minutes later, hoping to find the Ace for the quick quad, but no dice. :( But I turned that $12 voucher and $10 freeplay into $80 in less than 10 minutes!
    [​IMG]

    Now time is marching away, and we get out of Orleans by about 8:25 with the MJ One show at Mandalay Bay at 9:30. Run over to Flamingo first, and try to direct her to the most efficient route to MB. All back streets. She followed it and it worked well. Fortunately valet didn't give her trouble when they showed her mom's wheelchair as we forgot to bring her disabled car tag this trip.

    Pic of the cheap seats
    [​IMG]

    Her dad and I bring up the bags, and I give him a quick tour of Flamingo, looking for slots he tends to like to play. Soon after I bid him adieu and hop next door to the Linq, taking my “lucky Flamingo shirt” that I bought 4 years ago on Presidents' Day after my dealt Royal at Flamingo that night on my back.

    Ahhh, my second home, TAG Lounge. Set the game to my nemesis, 7/5 Triple Bonus Plus (97.67%), and I ask a new bartender to me if they had and Double IPA not written on the menu. He says not much, but he does mention Liberty Double IPA from Anchor Steam. Haven't tried it; sure why not? Meh, not good (8%; 3.25 sips).

    [​IMG]

    5 minutes later, my first tease there.
    [​IMG]

    Had to follow up with a beer I knew I would like. Ballast Point Sculpin (7%; 4.25 sips). But feel like this is a waste at TAG. Sculpin is also at Cosmo/Venetian now too.

    [​IMG]

    Down that in a fairly rapid fashion. Then ask for a Victory Storm King (9.5%; 4 sips). This one I forgot to put into the Untappd app until writing this up! Doh!

    [​IMG]

    Five minutes later and I'm on the board!
    [​IMG]

    Since I switched to the stout, I thought maybe I should have a Black IPA. But Stone Sublimely Self-Righteous was unavailable. Now the bartender is balking on suggestions for me. The other bartender I initially avoided since he threatened to cut me off in April stepped in and suggested a Pizza Port Kook Double IPA (8.5%; 4.5 sips). That was the beer I hoped to try in the first place as it was not on the menu!! He definitely redeemed himself there!

    [​IMG]

    After that pint, I'm quite the happy camper, so it was appropriate to have a “Happy Camper” (6.6%; 3.75 sips)

    [​IMG]

    Minutes later, much less of a “happy camper”...wtf, just fill it all in or don't tease me!!!

    [​IMG]

    About 30 minutes later, I learn the luck of the “Lucky Flamingo shirt” stayed at Flamingo. M's dad was up about $900 at Flamingo for the night! At the time, I was out of beer and still up $20 at TAG, so I figure I would head back to meet them all at Flamingo. Obviously her parents wanted to stay, but M and I wanted to hit up Cosmo real quick.

    [​IMG]

    The former Kitson, now an overpriced Las Vegas souvenir store...
    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    Hit up the sportsbook for a night cap with a stab at 6/5 Super DDB (97.69%). Tonight was 21st Amendment Down to Earth (4.4%; 4.25 sips) to help cap it off.

    [​IMG]

    No hits for me at Cosmo though. M beckons me to come over with this hit.

    [​IMG]

    Back to home base.
    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    Since I had a good amount of play at TAG, I am quite toasty at a little after 2am. So we go up to the room and see her parents calling it a night too. Looks like the luck from that shirt mostly stayed at Flamingo tonight! But when that luck pulls in a $900 win on Presidents' Day night, I'm not gonna complain!

    View from room
    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]





    _________________________________________________________________________________
    Day 3: Tues. Feb. 16th Last Full Day in Vegas, Let's Make the Most of It!

    Even though we had a fairly late night, her parents were up pretty early by my standards (8:30 am) unfortunately, and I couldn't go back to sleep. Shit. M was still sleeping away so I browsed my forums for an hour and tried to keep quiet. Eventually, she gets up and we watch some Price is Right in the bathroom with the mirror TV...haha

    [​IMG]

    Daytime view:
    [​IMG]

    Shot of CP:
    [​IMG]

    We eventually get down to the floor, and unfortunately her dad has already given a couple hundred back from last night...Doh! Then try to fetch the car from the valet at 11:20am. Bad idea. Took about 20 minutes. Officially check out of Orleans just before noon. Now we head to Green Valley Ranch because we had a Groupon deal on some Fatburger. Her parents ate breakfast, so they aren't too hungry. :( M is totally not into GVR today. She cares less if she gambles or not...blah. I sorta feel the same for awhile, so we pick and choose some slots, with little luck.

    Eventually I see some Ultimate X for as cheap as pennies that catches my eye. Two units down from me, a lady well into her 80s makes a royal on 1 line of 10 for $40 holding just Queen Ten! And then I say congrats... and say “too bad you didn't have a multiplier.” Oops, I opened up a can of worms. She was just betting 5, so she wasn't really playing Ultimate X. I explain to her that if you bet ten, you get multipliers for your next hand if you have a winning hand. I may have started a new Ultimate X addict...whoops...

    Also saw a Game Star open, so I thought I would play some wacky games. Fun to make a full house by just holding a 7 (I knew the next card off the deck was also a 7).

    [​IMG]

    Around this time, M is getting hungry and we decide its better for us to just eat now. Fatburger was delicious. Definitely worth the Groupon, the burger was seasoned perfectly. After that, we see stairs that lead to an arcade. “Wtf...let's check it out”, I say.

    I peek in... and I see this...

    [​IMG]

    Oh shit...my favorite game in college! I had a challenge with djatc from Wizard of Vegas last trip at Excal, but the competitive nature was called off thanks to a broken seat. Well this one is much more functional. Except for the token slot of course. I paid 75c vs. 50c thanks to a bum coin slot. After that I played for about 15 minutes. Challenge back on djatc! ;)

    This ends up getting my gambling juices flowing a bit more while her parents ate their Fatburger. Find my fave slot my first trip to Vegas “Texas Tea”, so blow a few bucks in that.

    Then try a new VP game, “Super Hand Poker”. With double the bet, you win prizes on dealt winners, and your best dealt hand of the 3 becomes the main hand you draw to. Didn't do too shabby. Painful miss along the way though.

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    Then play some “Five Star Poker” for dimes, but nothing. Then make the decision, I'm at Stations, why not play Full Pay Deuces (100.76%).

    It doesn't get enough love here...
    [​IMG]

    Unfortunately, that cost me, and I was $20 in the hole there.

    Now we run to Circus Circus because it contains two key things. One: Our cheapest frozen drink, even after a $1 increase. Two: Her parents favorite sweatshirts are sold there. They wear them a LOT.
    Pics to Circus Circus:
    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    I also love Circus Circus for their Aces and Eights! Well over 101% at the 50c level today. I take the frozen drink over there for a little bit.

    And with this hit and run...yep...gonna end up a winner!

    [​IMG]

    Quit up $60, eventually move to a bartop for better beer service.

    I pick a machine that looks like it has had better days and shoved my $110 ticket in it. Often clicked between hands and slightly flickered. Chatting with jpw711, I said it looks like it was going to keel over soon.

    It tried to give me more money, but not quite...see the line in the flickering machine. Ominous.

    [​IMG]

    Now it's getting closer to 5pm, so I thought it was better to find the rest of the group. Hit the cashout button while even on the bartop. I was right that it was going to keel over. Ticket error. Shit. Once the slot attendant gets there and tries to reprint the ticket, my initial ticket paper looks significantly wet. Apparently that's what happens when an asshole (not me) spills a drink all over a bartop. Slot attendant comes over. I see the ticket that was supposed to be mine was significantly wet! She can't reprint it. Grrr. She informs a manager, and this is becoming my biggest handpay ever! Dammit. Unfortunately it's either so big or took so long that extra paperwork was necessary. Since she was nice and friendly, I give her a buck anyway. After about 20 to 30 minutes since my initial attempt to cash out, he comes with the form with apologies for the wait. Asks for ID, sees that I'm from Missouri and says he went to Mizzou, my undergrad. Small world. My biggest handpay ever!!! $110... arghhhhhhhhhhh

    I stumble across M's dad on the slots that are rotating literally on a carousel. M and her mom are watching a circus show. He admits to me he has blown over another $100 here. I tell him to save his money since he doesn't get shit from here unless he plays with a card. In front of me he wins about $10 back though.

    A bit after 5, we reunite and want to go back to Flamingo. I snagged SWA seats for our return while she drove. A53/56 for us, not terrible. Even though her parents planned to preboard, I also checked them in about 8 minutes later. They were close to B20. I suggest to go via Koval again, and that might have been a mistake. It was quite crowded and we take over 20 minutes to get back to the Flamingo valet. We were hesitant to move the car for the rest of the night, for better or worse.

    They were a bit beat, so they wanted to nap in the room. But not before we partook in a fountain show from our room.

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    Drai's (Earplugs needed!!!)
    [​IMG]

    While they napped, we took the time to look for a gift for her cousin Gabby, and for me to sneak in a Sculpin at Venetian. Sheldon got the upper hand here though, I couldn't hit shit on either 8/5 Boner Deluxe (97.4%) or 97.36% Bonus Deuces and for the second trip in a row, a beer costs $15 there.

    Mirage and Volcano from a distance
    [​IMG]

    Venetian/Palazzo
    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    Get back to Flamingo, and call them to come to dinner while we walked back. But they were slow. Took them awhile. I again luck out and get to stay on the floor while she fetches them. But I wasn't nearly as lucky as this other lady!!! Wish this was mine!

    [​IMG]

    Finally reunite with them. I say I want to try to cash my tickets out and that I will catch up with them walking to Planet Hollywood. Well, apparently my tickets hate the kiosk, and I go to the cashier instead. Well, I eventually beat them to Planet Hollywood. I guess I passed them over the Bally's elevator. Again thankful for her dad's platinum status as it probably shaved another hour or so off the line, created thanks to 50 Tier Points promos or Groupon/Travelzoo vouchers. Buffet was decent, but nothing to blow you away. Definitely missed the Nutella crepes we had last time.

    [​IMG]

    Since we're here, we decide to play a bit. M and her mom go to the t-shirt store first. I eventually belly up to the sportsbook bar since it looks like they have Lagunitas IPA on tap. Nope, they are out. Okay I'll settle for a Sierra Nevada (5.6%; 4 sips) and their shitty 30/6/5 Bonus (96.18%) then.

    Take that Loveman, et. al!
    [​IMG]

    All the while I hear the two women next to me arguing with each other. The chick furthest from me (“her friend”) left, and the other started to talk to me, and I had a confused reaction, not knowing what to say. She guilted me into interacting with her. Ugh. Mainly she was a downer, which has been rare in my Vegas experiences with strangers. Basically saying she was looking for a job...while in Vegas! It would be one thing if she was a local, but she was from Stillwater, OK, on vacation! WTF??? Eventually I saw an opening to remove myself when I was $30 up from that quad, so I did.

    We eventually reunite and prepare to move to Paris. Another $75 loss for M's dad...shit. I see that downer chick in front of me and point her out while walking with M. Even though she was a buzzkill, hopefully things go better for her.

    We move to Paris, mainly for her dad and mom. I used to love Paris, but no longer. M and I have plans to go to Bellagio to view the conservatory. Here are the obligatory pictures...haha

    Bellagio People Mover
    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    Conservatory/Lobby
    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    Afterward, I was tempted to check out the sportsbook bar for ~good VP. But she was saying she would have to go back to retrieve her parents. I felt guilty to bail out again, so I didn't. Word from VPFree2 and macker is that the Sportsbook got downgraded. Damn PGP. We make a compromise to go back to Cosmo and get me a copy of my cards to play on a bit to keep what little I had on them active.

    Pick up a quick Sculpin at Queue Bar. At this point, my contact lens was bugging me for the last 15 minutes or so, and I end up rubbing it out. Whoops. Fortunately I can survive without a replacement. A little play at 98.91% penny Deuces, but nothing doing. Then I see an opening at CliQue, so I double check the bartop and maybe try to sneak in another sculpin. But M texts me before I could even ask for one.

    We head back to Paris. Can't find her parents. She can't get a hold of them on the phone and she gets annoyed. Fortunately I get ahold of her parents and we learn they moved to Bally's. So we head to Bally's, and he's on a decent run with “Top Dollar”, so we end up stuck at Bally's a bit longer than we hoped. While waiting, I decide to try this game (Triple Double Diamond Deluxe with Cheese) thanks to mattjs's great video report. Decent bonus at $15 (20X bet), but I only hit 2 cherries at $1 each while trying to hit the bonus! Net gain was about $1 on the machine.

    [​IMG]

    Her dad finally quit after a decent bonus on Top Dollar $30 (40X bet). He was thrilled that he won at Bally's! He won about $100 after losing over $500 there last year...yikes! We get them settled in at Flamingo while we run back toward Casino Royale for a quick White Castle fix and to buy the gift for her cousin Gabby that M decided on. Poor Gabby, who is six, asked why she couldn't come to Vegas with us before we left!!!

    Then we hit up Mirage per tradition. Every trip for both of us, we have stepped foot in Mirage. Once we enter, she needs to go to the bathroom immediately. So I take my water from Whitey's to the sportsbook bar while waiting. I get carded for my 2nd time all trip with my water in hand. D'Oh! At least this bar has VP unlike the Casino Royale Outback...lol

    I take another stab at “Family Guy” there. No dice. Now being patient most of the late evening, we wrap up our night at TAG like I hoped. Or so I thought. It was 1:50 am now, and I walk up to the bar and the dude immediately points out “I'm closed.” I mutter, “Figures.” And now I have to try to figure out what the rest of my night's plans are. I initially planned to go pretty hard on the last night of this trip.

    The way I felt after no TAG access, you would have thought I lost a dear friend. I told M that I would walk her back to Flamingo because she was getting tired and I needed to figure out what my alternative plan would be. They also used to have “Happy Camper” at Bugsy's there in the past. Nah, not this time. Eventually, I decide I would go back to Catalyst bar at Linq and have their more limited craft selection with poorer paytables to boot. M wishes me good luck and I'm off.

    Belly up to Catalyst Bar and begrudgingly order another Dogfish Head 90 min. IPA for the trip (9%; 4.25 sips)

    The machine immediately starts off a winner for me. 3X high pair for 15 quarters.
    [​IMG]

    The wins keep coming too! First 6 hands or so, I at least hit Jacks or Better.

    11 minutes later, Loveman and Linq management sincerely sends its apologies for TAG being closed.

    [​IMG]

    First quarter straight flush since October 2013! Wow, it's been that long?? Of course, the game I typically play at TAG (Triple Bonus Plus), straight flushes pay double...whoops!

    After 3 90 min. IPAs (Yep, I'm a lush), I move over to TAG to play that Triple Bonus Plus. That was a mistake. Pissed away $20 in no time. Now I was only up $20 at Linq.

    So move to Harrah's as their main bar is a bit crafty too. And if I was playing TB+, I would have gambled on this one. But instead, I reluctantly took the sure thing here for $5.
    [​IMG]

    But for “free” Victory at Sea (10%; 4 sips), I'll take the slightly worse paytable!
    [​IMG]

    They also have 8/5 DDB w/STP on the end unit and “Not Your Father's Root Beer” (5.9%; 4.5 sips) here too!
    [​IMG]

    So now I'm feeling pretty good, but I'm losing my profit. Stumble over to the penny games, and of course the natural quads on deuces come along. Dammit.

    Work my way back to Linq.

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    Ask for an Oskar Blues Dale's Pale Ale (6.5%; 4 sips). Also get a high five from the bartender after this!

    [​IMG]

    Since it was slow, I was chatting with him a bit. I announced my displeasure with TAG closing at 2am. He said, “I steal some beers from TAG for people who want them at Catalyst. And if you know what you want, I can get it for you.” Shit...why didn't I ask that earlier??? But at that point, I'm tipsy for sure, so to save him effort, I just took a Firestone Walker Easy Jack that he had on hand (4.5%; 4.25 sips). I'm glad to hear that tip though, and he obviously got an extra couple of bucks for it too!

    Now it's well after five and I need to burn this off.
    [​IMG]

    I drunkenly decide to take a stab at the full pay games at Cromwell. Get there at about 550, and decide I'll play til 6 am. So just a hit and run. Since DDB wasn't available, I stab at 9/7 Triple Double Bonus (99.58%). Best I could do though. :(
    [​IMG]

    Then try their best game, “Not So Ugly Ducks” (99.73%). This wasn't too ugly.

    [​IMG]

    Well, I screwed up the 6 am thing slightly.

    [​IMG]

    Then go back to Flamingo to wrap up.
    [​IMG]

    Pic of floor at 6:10 am, get a dirty look from a waitress in pic.

    [​IMG]

    Play penny poker for a bit, but nothing doing.
    [​IMG]

    Then wander toward the elevators, but not before checking out these people. Most of them look like they are just getting up...
    [​IMG]

    Crash.





    ________________________________________________________________________________
    Day 4: Wed. Feb. 17th One last stab at TAG's Triple Boner Plus!

    Wake up in 3.5 hours, get moving, check out and check our bags at the bell desk.

    Mandatory glance at the habitat. We did stay there after all!

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    Eat Chipotle. Nothing special but good value. M takes them to Casino Royale for T-shirt shopping and doing the loss rebate we already did. Me, being greedy, wants to go back to TAG to squeeze in some beers I missed. M doesn't seem to mind though, so I go.

    First off, one of my favorites, Oskar Blues G'Knight (8.5%; 4.25 sips)

    [​IMG]

    Bit of a tease here, one more for $300!
    [​IMG]

    I actually wasted some of the G'Knight (blasphemy!), so I could consume other beers before ever rapidly approaching flight. :( Next I try Firestone Walker Wookey Jack (8.3%; 4 sips).
    [​IMG]

    This wasn't on the menu, but I saw it in the fridge. Bartender said, you'd be surprised how much it costs to make these menus, which I believed. He also said...eventually they are going to simplify the menu because too many of these beers are sitting around not being consumed very fast. Nooooooooooooooooooooo!!! :( Terrible news! I told him, “Well, they better not cut the menu enough that I'll want to go to M Resort (96 comp beers on tap) instead.” He chuckles, but I was serious! Bah.

    Around 2pm, I get dealt this.

    [​IMG]

    As jpw711 likes to say, “Gambo!” My best chance to break that Aces through 4s drought that has plagued me on this game while slow-playing CET Vegas bars since 2011. And the math says to break it... all the better! I take my time though. End up waiting until the bartender comes by for him to watch. Here we go...

    [​IMG]

    Shit.

    Let's drown my sorrow in my favorite beer for the trip! Better than Sculpin, Pizza Port Kook Double IPA (8.5%; 4.5 sips). I get “last call” from M at about the same time. :(

    [​IMG]

    Once last chance...
    [​IMG]

    No dice. But only down $10 today. Meet up with the rest of them at the last minute. She texted me while I was walking over to meet them...haha Saw this in the bathroom. Other than having to go home, indeed I was.

    [​IMG]

    Final tallies. I was basically a “gambler's even” once again. I was +/- $40 in gaming. 11 natural quads (5 from penny deuces :(). Plus a timely quarter natural straight flush! M lost $20. Her mom was close to even as well, and her Dad won a few hundred! We all didn't want to leave and already talking about coming back!
     
  2. Imperial_Palace_King

    Imperial_Palace_King High-Roller

    Joined:
    Mar 9, 2015
    Messages:
    846
    Location:
    NorCal
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    18
    Great report as usual Tring! I really forgot where I was and what time it was about half way through.
    Good tip about the beers at Tag and them being able to serve them at the other bar.
     
  3. greekjim

    greekjim King Gyro

    Joined:
    Aug 30, 2011
    Messages:
    2,149
    Location:
    Somers WI
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    20
    I want a beer now
     
  4. tringlomane

    tringlomane STP Addicted Beer Snob

    Joined:
    Jan 21, 2013
    Messages:
    31,301
    Location:
    Chicagoland
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    28
    Haha...I can't edit, I know. Some of it is because I want to recall every detail for myself later. And yeah, we jumped around a lot, and probably would have done even more if we didn't have her parents with her! :eek:

    haha :beer: What I just cracked open...Deschutes Red Chair NWPA (6.2%; 3.75 sips)
    [​IMG]

    And I even sacrificed M Resort this trip! D'Oh!
     
  5. Travel Fanatic

    Travel Fanatic The Arbiter of Taste Caviar Kid

    Joined:
    Jul 11, 2010
    Messages:
    21,514
    Location:
    Tennessee
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    50
    Great pics, Tring! I was wondering what had become of the Kitson space (too bad its nothing interesting)
     
    The plans have changed
    Post-Shopping Recovery Period
  6. journaljim

    journaljim Low-Roller

    Joined:
    Apr 4, 2012
    Messages:
    368
    Location:
    East Central IL
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    18
    Great TR and pics Tring. I hope to pick up where you left off next week.
     
  7. Royal Flusher

    Royal Flusher Savvy Gambler

    Joined:
    Feb 18, 2008
    Messages:
    6,550
    Location:
    Flusherville, Canada
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    60
    Nice pics, nice report - and all in one post?!
     
  8. wanker751

    wanker751 Dutch Rudder Enthusiast

    Joined:
    Sep 23, 2014
    Messages:
    7,484
    Location:
    Chicago
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    17
    Great report!

    Sucks no downtown once again!
     
  9. wanker751

    wanker751 Dutch Rudder Enthusiast

    Joined:
    Sep 23, 2014
    Messages:
    7,484
    Location:
    Chicago
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    17
    "hey hey come on over it's crazy taxi" ya ya ya ya ya!
     
  10. Travel Fanatic

    Travel Fanatic The Arbiter of Taste Caviar Kid

    Joined:
    Jul 11, 2010
    Messages:
    21,514
    Location:
    Tennessee
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    50
    Its super-sized
     
    The plans have changed
    Post-Shopping Recovery Period
  11. DBDWN11

    DBDWN11 Newbie

    Joined:
    Oct 23, 2014
    Messages:
    4
    Location:
    MId West
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    40
    Great report! M-I-Z
     
  12. Electroguy563

    Electroguy563 Vegas Joker

    Joined:
    Apr 26, 2011
    Messages:
    8,195
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    21
    Great trip report, Tring! Loved the pictures! I never realized how many different types of beers there are out there and you definitely are a beer connoisseur!

    Enjoyed reading about all of the things you folks did, you really get around, lol! I doubt that I would be able to keep up with you!

    Thanks for sharing your trip with us. :beer:
     
  13. breanna61

    breanna61 Super Moderator

    Joined:
    Aug 6, 2008
    Messages:
    17,824
    Location:
    Ontario, Canada
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    130
    Great photos and report tring!
     
  14. Raptor

    Raptor High-Roller

    Joined:
    May 27, 2011
    Messages:
    689
    Location:
    Southern Ontario
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    10
    Great report thanks for sharing. And I second the "I want a beer now" comment.
     
  15. Dutch34

    Dutch34 High-Roller

    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2009
    Messages:
    633
    Location:
    Brookfield, MO
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    100
    Amazing! You can tell you dabbled at J-School (maybe???) at Mizzou! Great writing and detail. Thanks!
     
  16. Jejas

    Jejas VIP Whale

    Joined:
    Dec 6, 2014
    Messages:
    5,943
    Location:
    New York
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    10
    Nice report and nice pics as always! enjoyed reading it.
    Sorry about not seeing any premium hands in VP.
     
  17. LVHooked

    LVHooked High-Roller

    Joined:
    Jun 5, 2012
    Messages:
    613
    Location:
    Fairview, Pa.
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    12
    Great report, but damn I would be sick mixing all the beers.
     
  18. thecarve

    thecarve Misanthrope

    Joined:
    Aug 24, 2009
    Messages:
    6,341
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    75
    Always love the beer porn. :beer:

    Another great report, Tring. Well done.
     
  19. Kobra2848

    Kobra2848 VIP Whale

    Joined:
    Oct 30, 2011
    Messages:
    2,418
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    38
    Great report. One of these days our trips will align and I can share some great beers with you at TAG. Thanks for the heads up on the Catalyst bartender swiping beer from TAG.

    Mark
     
  20. smerrian

    smerrian View from Bally's

    Joined:
    Apr 22, 2014
    Messages:
    8,343
    Location:
    South Jersey
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    50
    What an excellent TR. Thanks so much. I want to hang out with you just to learn about the beers! I'm lost once I get past Bud Lite.
    I have 2 vp areas of questions:
    1) Isn't Circus Circus an MGM property? You mentioned they have A&8 progressive at $0.50 giving over 101% return. Where are these machines located?
    2) Isn't Cromwell a CZR property? You mentioned that they have 9/7 TDB at 99.58% and NSUD at 99.73% both at the $0.25 level. Where are these machines located?
    Thanks again for such a great report!
     
Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.