(LIVE 7/8 – 7/12) Kids Are In Camp And We’re Low-Rollin’ @ Luxor

Sitting in the gate in Austin, listening to the Red Sox game, and waiting to take off for our 18th trip to Vegas!



4 of the 5 in our family are all starting this week in our happy places.

For our daughter, it’s the horsey-camp she’s attended since was 10. She’s 19 now, a camp counselor, and in charge of the barns.

For our youngest son, it’s a week at Sherwood Forest where he’s been promoted to a “druid.” He’s disappointed that they no longer have an owlery, but he’s looking forward to learning beekeeping and working with the blacksmith.



For me and my bride, it’s Vegas!! This is our second trip this year and as an “extra” we’ve decided to go a little more low-key than our last few trips. We were in Vegas back in March for my 50th and we really overdid it. In many ways! During that trip we met 2 other couples for the birthday extravaganza, but this time it’s just us.

We’re staying at the Luxor all 4 nights in a Pyramid Corner King Suite (not comped, but discounted). I usually try the $20 trick, but since is the room we wanted this trip, I decided to try the online pre-check-in. I pulled the trigger at 8am this morning (CST) and am still awaiting the confirmation email.

With it only being the two of us this trip, there’s no firm schedule outside of the 7pm poker tourney at the Orleans Monday night. Here are some of the other items on our loose itinerary:

• · Le Thai
• · Face Up Pai Gow
• · Texas Hold ‘Em Bonus Poker (Fremont Street)
• · Orleans poker tournament
• · New method of slot play trial
• · Bellagio Conservatory
• · Pai Gow with Manush at the Wynn
• · Frankie’s Tiki Room
• · Secksy times
• · Carmine’s (Forum Shops)

We didn’t even hear about it until earlier today, but it appears we’ll be arriving too late to watch the Travis Pastrana’s Evel Knievel tribute. Is there an over/under on the number of bones he’ll break?

Lastly, I’ve been a long-time lurker on VMB and specifically on the Trip Reports thread. This is my first attempt at my own trip report, so thanks for anyone who endures it!

P.S. My own tribute for this trip. Any of you recognize the inspiration?

 

@Vegasworm finger clickers?! This is starting out pretty well already! Good luck and have fun. Sorry the other son isn’t at his happy place; but, 4 out of 5 ain’t bad.

 

Go Sox!

 

I recognize those beauties in your picture!!! Hope they help. I have a fond affinity for the hot pink ones. LOL.

Have a majorly awesome trip! My daughters would love to go to a horse camp.

Vegasworm

 

Enjoy! Looking forward to your first TR

 

You win, RynoBU! Montana is our oldest son's happy place. He could not get out of work this summer to make the trip. 2019 for him.

They won! 6 in a row now.

Thank you, Vegasworm! I'll keep track and let you know how it goes. And if I win a handpay, I'll feel a tiny bit guilty (but not that much!). And my daughter says to bring yours on down to Texas and she'll take good care of 'em!

Thank you. Hoping I can sustain a thread of interest over the 4 days. But even if I fail, it's not like I'm even close to done visiting Vegas. I'll have lots of chances for improvement!

 

Good luck!! Will be following along!

 

Have fun! Enjoy your trip

 

We just landed 10 minutes ago and the Bride already gave the first, “What day is it?”

It’s going to be a good trip!

 

Somehow while shopping for a clearance romper, I've missed what the finger clickers are used for. Enlighten me please.

 

They're for counting up all your spins on Beefallooooo. Or various other slot games. To what end, I'm not sure...

 

Have a great trip Mr and Mrs MWD!

 

Good Luck

 

So…. two hours after landing, we’re finally checked into our room.

First, Southwest Airlines lost my bag. They think it got left behind in Austin, but they’re not 100% sure. At least the bride’s bag made the trip. And when she’s happy, I can roll with just about anything.

On the way to the Luxor, the mobile check-in confirmation email arrived with our room number. 01160. That’s right, first floor. We remained optimistic and thought, ok, low-rolling trip means a low floor. When we hit the registration desk, the line was a mile long. “Thank goodness we used mobile check-in!”

Wrong.

All of the kiosks were down.

The Luxor had responded though, and there was a separate line for mobile check-in that was much, much shorter. We breezed through in about 5 minutes and then made the 5-minute walk to our room, ready to dump our (single) bag and get our Vegas on.

Then we entered the room.

I’m not exactly sure what died in that room, but it has yet to be found. The stench was over-whelming and literally made me gag a little. Avoid this room at the Luxor at all costs!



A quick call to the front desk had our room switched and they said they would run the keys over to us “real quick” – less than 10 minutes. We waited. And waited. Outside the room, of course. But we waited.

After 20 minutes, I schlepped back up to the registration desk, explained the situation, and was promptly put in another line. This one wasn’t quite as fast.

Once it was my turn, the gentleman helping me was very polite and apologetic and quickly secured a new room for us on the 28th floor. I urged him not allow anyone to enter the other room without a full hazmat suit, thanked him, and we made our way to our terrific smelling (seriously) new room.



The bride is unpacking her bag and now and then we’re off to Le Thai. I last ate at 11:30am (CST) , and I normally don’t do well on 11 hours and no food.

I am hopeful, that we got all of the bad stuff out of the way now and the rest of this trip is going to be all aces!

 

Looking forward to following your adventures!

 

Hope all of the snafus happened in the beginning and the rest of the trip will be fabulous and full of handpays!

Vegasworm

 

Le Thai was a no-go. Closed for a special event.



So we swapped our dinner plans for the week and decided to hit Carmine's in the Forum Shops tonight. And finally our luck began to change. I guess because of the motorcycle jump and the Sunday night shows, all of the valet parking was full at Caesars. I asked one of the attendants what he would recommend if we wanted to eat at Carmine's. He directed us to the special VIP Valet behind the Forum Shops. This place is so well hidden it took us a while to find it (the only signs were ones warning you to turn around), but it was great. No wait and great service from the staff there (we tipped in accordance).

The last time we were in D.C., we ate at Carmine's and loved it. Of course, there were more of us then, and if you know the portion sizes at Carmine's it may seem like a bit much for only two, but we were both famished by this time. We sat in the bar area where they have a special menu with portion sizes for 2-3. We ordered off of the main menu anyway.



Mrs. MWD had a cocktail (I tried a sip and didn't much like it - the Tuaca seemed to contract too much for my tastes), and we split the Chicken Parm. I meant to get a picture, but my fork won out over the camera. Our waiter was one of the bartenders and the service was fine considering. A great dinner in Vegas for the 2 of us for less than $60 was our first win of the trip. (Second, if you count the valet.)



While we were eating Southwest called to say they had found my bag and it was on the way to the Luxor!

After eating, we stopped in Caesar's casino for a second. I saw an Animal House slot machine that quickly turned my $100 into $40. (I had forgotten the clicker in the room). Luckily, Ron Swanson was next door and came to the rescue to make it a winning session. $100 total in.... $102.50 total out. And time to exit the Palace!

We're back at the Luxor now, awaiting the arrival of my luggage. On the way up to the room, I grabbed this picture. Apparently, someone wanted to make sure they didn't forget they were staying in Room 303.



Maybe we'll head down to the casino now and find the Heads Up Pai Gow. The luck is turning....

 

@MWD, we were able to do our camp enabled trip last week to vegas. Highly recommended!

Good luck on your trip!

D

 

Enjoying following. That corner suite (sans death) actually doesn't look bad. I always wondered how they were.

 

Great start!
Thanks for taking us along on your adventure!

RICHARD