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TR 9/27-30 - Luxor Family Trip

Discussion in 'Vegas Trip Reports' started by JosieCat, Oct 7, 2019.

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  1. JosieCat

    JosieCat VIP Whale

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    My Trip Report

    Just a few thoughts on my recent family trip to see the Eagles. It was a really awesome trip, and I think we all really enjoyed it!

    It was my brother, sister and brother in law. I’ll do this in categories:

    [​IMG]

    Airport picture. Check!

    upload_2019-10-7_7-2-19.png

    Pet picture. Check!

    Luxor Hotel

    Absolutely no complaints with our stay. I had a 2-bedroom suite as part of my offer, that I shared with my sister and brother-in-law, and I got another room for my brother with some e-mail offer that gave him $20 a day in food comps. I paid for his room using express comps. It worked really well having the shared suite.

    I did mobile check-in on both rooms. I was told there were kiosks once I got there to get the keys. Just an FYI – there are NO kiosks anymore. They did have a mobile check-in line, which actually worked out better, as the man who helped us took the time to switch my brother’s already assigned room to be in the same tower we were in, and even on the same floor – his idea. Excellent customer service, so I did tip him. We were on the 13th floor of the West tower.

    @Multifarious5 – it looks like we had the same layout as yours, rather than the one pictured on the web-site.

    I didn’t get any pictures of the suite. It was late, and we just wanted to get unpacked and get downstairs. When you walked into the suite, the door to the connecting room was on the left, to the right was a living room with a regular couch, and across were 2 chairs and a TV. Next was a wet bar and dining table, and then the bed and bath.

    The bed and pillows were very comfortable. No noise issues. I can't speak about housekeeping because we didn't use it.

    My brother settled himself in at Centra – which was very nicely centrally located and became our meeting place. My brother hit 4 deuces 3 times playing Deuces Wild during his stay and was quite content with that. As long as they kept the beers coming he was happy!

    OK, one small complaint - but not about our stay there. Luxor Host - I did get an updated offer about 4 weeks before for the trip with more FP and RC, which VIP marketing couldn't figure out how to update my existing offer without cancelling and re-booking, which might cost me the suite. So I e-mailed a random host.

    He was very friendly, and actually called me. He told me he would make sure that I got the larger suite (which I didn't :)), and said he would make it so I was using the new offer with more FP and RC, which he didn't. Luckily I called VIP marketing on a different issue, asked if the newer offer was booked, and she said it hadn't been changed, and luckily she knew how to change it for me, so my itinerary immediately reflect that. This was about a week before the trip.

    Not a big deal at all, but why make promises that you aren't going to keep? The only thing this dude did do for me was to cancel the 3 Excalibur rooms that I unknowingly still had booked because the host at Excalibur had apparently forgotten to cancel them :).

    ClumsyCat

    Clumsy Cat strikes again. On the way to the room the first night, I was leaving Centra and had gone down 3 steps and across an area with tables, not knowing there was one more step down, and missed it – falling and hurting my ankle. So I was limping and in pain for a good portion of the trip. It didn’t stop me, and my Fitbit registered 9,900, 23,443, 19,108 and 18,840 steps from Friday through Monday.

    Flights

    Delta Basic economy. Not sure I would do that again. Kind of a PITA. Our flight going to Vegas we were assigned seats when we checked-in. Delta has changed their boarding so that the basic economy people board last – regardless of where your seat is – which makes perfect sense and is only fair. The only other time I did Basic Economy I was in the Sky section, and was able to board with them. No more :). They ran out of space for luggage long before we were able to board, so they made us check-it. This did NOT thrill my brother, who we made purchase a carry-on because we didn’t want to check luggage. Oops.

    On the flight home, we didn’t even get a seat assigned, even at the gate window. You didn’t know your seat until you got on the plane. Because of that and knowing we would end up having to check our luggage anyway, we did volunteer to check it as then we could board with the first group in Main 1. That worked out fairly well, and we were all given seats in row 17.

    So, if you want to fly basic economy, plan on most likely having to check your luggage. I can live with the crappy seat, but hate having to check my luggage, so don’t know if I will do this option again.

    Food

    I had a $350 resort credit and used that to pay for the buffet for breakfast for all of us on all 3 days. I know many people don’t speak highly of the Luxor buffet, but we thought it was good, and were quite happy with it. I also know many hate buffets where you have to get your own beverage, but I actually like it. Too many times, my beverage comes half way through my meal when I am dependent on a waiter/waitress to bring it.

    Saturday afternoon we went to Public House. It was good. I had the French onion soup, and an embarrassingly large pretzel that came on a hook so you could rip chunks off of it. Brother and sister had the fish and chips, brother-in-law the chili and a milkshake. Everyone enjoyed their meal.

    Sunday we went to Mandalay Bay to see if there was room in the sportsbook to watch the game. No, there was not. So my family headed back to the Luxor and I said I was going to stay at the MB to play. They ended up stopping to watch the game and ended up eating at Ri Ra, which was completely ironic as when I asked them if we could eat there, they say absolutely NOT and had no interest in eating at an Irish Pub. I ate a hot dog later :).

    Monday, we were killing time before our flight at 5:00 and walked over to House of Blues, as my brother-in-law wanted something from the gift shop and we decided to eat there. I had a burger, and it was a damn fine burger. Sister had a salad, brother-in-law the pulled pork sandwich, brother had Budweiser. All were happy with their choices.

    Eagles Concert

    Let me just start out by saying I guess I am just too old to go to concerts, especially on only 4 hours of sleep :). So, I’ll apologize in advance for the whining to come!

    The concert itself was awesome, at least what I saw of it, which was the first half. These boys can still rock. Vince Gill was an awesome addition to the band. I didn’t see enough of Deacon Frey to comment, although my sister said he was great, and that the second half of the show was the best.

    The venue, I didn’t like so much. Packed in like sardines. Me and my brother were in the nosebleed section, which if quite frankly, we paid $400 a ticket for, God only knows what the people in better seats paid. We were in the second row from the very top. Facing the stage we were on the far left, pretty much even with the stage. My sister and brother-in-law were directly two rows below us.

    The woman sitting next to me, was REALLY into the show, and I mean REALLY into it. If she wasn’t screaming at the top of her lungs, she was clapping as loudly as she could, and this was during the songs - not at the end. She’s lucky she wasn’t sitting directly next to my crabby ass brother, or she probably wouldn’t have survived :). As it was, we spent most of the concert with our finger in our left ear to avoid permanent ear damage from her constant screaming.

    Did I mention the gyrating? I’ll admit to some toe-tapping and head bopping of my own, but she was full on gyrating in her seat. At one point, I was actually wondering if she was having a sexual experience. Maybe if she had shared her doobie with me, it would have been different :).

    So, at intermission, me and my brother needed to use the restroom (shouldn’t have had those drinks before the show). Well, clusterfuck is the best way I can describe what we walked into. Between all the other people trying to use the restroom, to the people trying to get refreshments, you couldn’t move...... at all. We finally just fought our way through and headed for the exit.

    While I was sorry to miss the second half of the show, I’m just really glad my sister and brother-in-law enjoyed it so much. Their whole reason for this trip was to see the concert. My brother’s was to drink beer without having to worry about driving, and mine was to gamble and have a vacation with my family. We all accomplished our goals!

    Gambling:

    I did OK, and brought home a little bit of the bankroll I had planned on spending. If I can gamble as much as I want, and still bring home some of my bankroll, I consider it a success. I would win, get stupid, rinse and repeat. I did hit Platinum, and the last time I checked before they disappeared, I had 250,000 tier credits – starting off with 154,000.

    I hit one hand-pay on a 9-line Top Dollar (pics below). I was playing 2 cents – 180 coins - $3.60 a spin. We can thank my inability to do math very well on 4 hours of sleep as a contributing factor of hitting the jackpot, as I just couldn’t figure out what I had won on the first 3 offers, so ended up refusing all offers, and on the last one it gave me the top one. I then knew I had hit a jackpot, but just couldn’t do the math so I had no clue what I hit.

    I finally saw in the little window, that it was $1,201. Duh!

    We mostly gambled at Luxor and MB, with a small bit of play at Flamingo. I played far too much of the Buffalo machines on this trip, but the machines I like to play (Siberian Storm, etc.) are getting harder to find. I was far more aware of the points I was earning, so am convinced that the Buffalo machines (Grand/Gold, etc) are paying as a specialty machine.

    I did create a monster though, and my sister is now addicted to Buffalo Grand and Quick Hits.

    Topdollar2.jpg

    TopDollar1.jpg

    MyVegas

    I did the $25 Konami free play at both Luxor and MB. Luxor has Konami machines you have to play it on. MB just considered it regular free play like the Bellagio did.

    What we did:

    On Saturday, headed over to MGM Grand so my brother-in-law could shop in the Harley Davidson store. He bought a few things. Then we took the monorail up to the Flamingo, visited the habitat, played a little VP, and then walked back to the Luxor. No one had slept well the night before, and none of us had much energy, and me with a bad ankle, so why we decided to walk back is anyone’s guess.

    After coming back I headed for Buffalo Grand and did very nicely on those. Unfortunately, after my ankle had recovered, we headed over to Mandalay where I lost all of my Buffalo Grand winnings. Easy come, easy go!

    Dinner at Public House, and then the show later on. We did opt to taxi over to the MGM Grand, as we were all a bit tired from the walking that we did.

    Sunday, back to the Mandalay Bay to see if we could get into the sportsbook for the game, but no tables were available, so they headed back and I stayed at the MB, and did pretty well on a 2 cent Buffalo Gold, left $500 up. Proceeded to lose that and more in a penny Buffalo Gold back at the Luxor.

    Early evening, we walked over to Park MGM, which I thought looked very nice, took the tram to Bellagio, stopped into the conservatory, and then walked outside to see a fountain show. We then walked back outside – with a quick stop into the Cosmopolitan. If I end up taking a trip to Vegas next year, I will seriously consider a stay at the Nomad based on reviews I have read.

    Shopping:


    The Excalibur has a shop called Dragon's Lair (I think), and if I happen to be in that area I will usually stop in. I picked up this little guy during the trip.

    upload_2019-10-7_8-31-16.png

    That's it! A really enjoyable trip and I am glad we had the opportunity for all of us to take a vacation together.

    Next up, New Orleans next June, and hopefully an M Life cruise now that I hit platinum.
     

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  2. cjcjcj

    cjcjcj VIP Whale

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    Great report!
    I wondered about those Luxor suites, good to hear they worked outAl.

    I too agree with self service drinks at the buffet. Yes, at places like Bellagio, its not as classy but I like to get 4 or 5 refills and can't stand making the waitress go back and forth so many times..
     
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  3. rhinoman7

    rhinoman7 A Diamond in the Ruff

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    Very nice report. Thanks for sharing!!!

    3 nights at the Luxor, and not even one breakfast at the Pyramid Cafe?????? :hmmm:
     
  4. JosieCat

    JosieCat VIP Whale

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    Rhino - first of all - good hearing from you. I don't make it to the "other" forum as often as I used to :).

    No, my family was really happy with the buffet, and I actually mentioned ordering room service one morning in the suite for something different, but they wanted to go back to the buffet. Go figure.

    Thanks!
     
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  5. JosieCat

    JosieCat VIP Whale

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    Thanks!
     
  6. zerofan

    zerofan VIP Whale

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    Your kitty is gorgeous. Thanks for sharing your trip with us.
     
  7. JosieCat

    JosieCat VIP Whale

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    Thanks! That was my Josie! She was my first adult cat, who had us wrapped around her paws in like 2 days.
     
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  8. ardee

    ardee It's only money.

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    Wonderful report, @JosieCat. I just love your new dragon.
     
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  9. emmas

    emmas VIP Whale

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    Congrats on a wonderful trip with your family. It's always good when you play a lot and manage to bring some of the bankroll home. I'm so glad the 2-bed suite worked out despite the host.
     
    I need all the luck I can get!
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  10. tringlomane

    tringlomane STP Addicted Beer Snob

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    Nice report! Bummer to hear about the eagles concert. Sounds like they needed to have it at T-Mobile. And glad you refused all those Top Dollar offers!
     
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  11. JosieCat

    JosieCat VIP Whale

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    Thanks so much! Isn't he cute :).

    Thank you!

    Thanks! You know, I think it's like I said, I'm probably just too old. I've never been into big crowds that much.
     
  12. casinokid68

    casinokid68 Caesars Diamond Member

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    Great trip report, enjoyed reading it. And nice hit on the Top Dollar machine. You see, sometimes it pays to be gambling while getting very little sleep!! :snore:
     
  13. JosieCat

    JosieCat VIP Whale

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    Thanks so much! Gambling with very sleep, or just really bad at math :).
     
  14. andyg99

    andyg99 VIP Whale

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    nice report! I'm one of the few who is ok with the Luxor buffet also. For some reason I love the tacos there!
     
    Vegas Trip #57
    Vegas Trip #58, Sammy Hagar
  15. Bloomview

    Bloomview Tourist

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    Maybe I am too old too because more and more I am finding the audience at concerts and shows to be an annoying distraction! With the price that it takes to attend I am often mad at nearby patrons ruining my experience. Anyway, sounds like a fun trip otherwise. I have been reading your reports for years now and always enjoy. Thanks.
     
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  16. JosieCat

    JosieCat VIP Whale

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    Thank you. Yes, I would have gone for the tacos too, but that early, they didn't have them :).

    I'm glad I'm not the only one. Thanks for the very nice comments!
     
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