Aug 20-23 LIVE from the Wynn: A Different Kind of Trip

So this past Sunday, I made the decision to head to the Wynn for three nights this weekend. Well, I guess I sort of made the decision a month ago when I received an invite for the summer shopping event. A little preamble ....

I was down on vegas last year (which means I only made 10 trips instead of the usual 20, lol). I went back in late January and had a horrendus trip gambling wise. So a little break from Vegas was a good thing. Before the pandemic, I had already decided to skip my annual march madness vegas sojourn for the first time since 2007. But by summertime, I was starting to feel that call of the desert and had planned a trip to Aria at the end of June. Then I saw the pics, read reports, and talked to people I know in vegas about how the casinos were not taking health precautions seriously (or at least not as seriously as I would have liked). I also talked to friends that had been on flights who also told me that the airlines weren't seriously enforcing their stated mask requirements. That was very disconcerting to me, as I viewed the flight as the riskiest part of the trip. The cherry on top of the poop sundae came a few days later when I learned that Aria had fired my all time favorite Vegas host. I was (and still am) pissed at their decision, so it made it easy to cancel that trip.

I was disappointed to cancel my trip, but not heartbroken. I would easily estimate that I have spent over 600 days of my life in Vegas over the past seventeen years. So its not like I was missing out on a once in a lifetime opportunity. My partner and I decided it was safe enough for me to drive to Tunica for a day, play a little, make some bets on the shortened baseball season, and that would tide me over til the health situation improved. My hope had been to go back to vegas for a weekend in November and bet the upcoming NBA season. I could live with that. It gave me something to look forward to.

Then I received the Wynn offer for the summer shopping event. I went to vegas twice last August, for the same Wynn shopping event and for my annual NFL betting extravaganza. Those two trips were the most recent Vegas TRs I have written. The August trip is always such a fun one! I love the heat, can usually get away for some great hiking in the desert, and there's always great pool time while I nerdily review all my notes on what to bet for the football season. Add in thousands of dollars of free shopping, and that is hard to resist.

So a month ago I contacted a host at the Wynn (my usual host has been out sick since before the pandemic), booked a spot in the shopping event, and confirmed my usual upfront comps. Then, I waited. My partner told me the decision whether or not to go was entirely up to me. But I actually left it up to her. I'm 45, type A+ blood, with a pre-existing medical condition that may or may not make me more likely to contract a more severe case of covid-19. The experts aren't really sure. But we read a small study out of Italy that indicates persons with my condition are at no greater risk than the general public. Still, I need to be more careful than the average person. Not only would I not want to bring something home that makes everyone else in my house sick, but I am at a position in my life where it would be a tremendous burden for those around me if I was incapacitated. Nevertheless, this past weekend my partner told me I should go. She knows I am very meticulous about trying to remain safe, will avoid riskier situations, and recent reports suggest the vegas resorts (especially Wynn) are taking health measures more seriously and the airlines are actually enforcing their mask requirements now. So come Thursday, I am headed west for a solo weekend ....

THE PLANS
The host set me up in the usual salon suite for three nights, RFB for the duration of of the stay, and $4k for the shopping event. I have plans for each day of the trip, but to an extent, its all up in the air. I have a plan to (mostly) avoid crowds and if I am not able to do that, I might just be chilling in my suite for the weekend ordering an obscene amount of room service. But as long as I can avoid big crowds or people ignoring safety precautions, here's what you can expect to read about in the coming days:

*Arrive Thursday evening. I might hit up the casino high limit if its empty and I'm not too tired. But otherwise, after checking in, I need to sign some updated paperwork on my credit line and will probably either get some carryout from Charlie's Bar or room service

*Friday morning I plan to bet the NBA playoff games, hit up the pool for a few hours, find some food, and then start shopping. I want to do most (if not all) the shopping early on Friday before any weekend crowds start checking in. I am hoping there will be smaller crowds in the shopping areas during that time. Last year, my partner and I used our shopping credit to get an assortment of clothes, shoes and household stuff. I asked her if she wants me to get anything for her. She told me a few small things she would like, but encouraged me to spend the money on myself. She knows I rarely buy myself anything. I'm the guy who waits for my clothes to disintegrate on my body and turn to dust before I shop for something new! So who knows what I will do with the credit. If I find stuff I like, I will buy it up and feel certain there will be plenty left over to buy the things my partner wants. But if I don't really see anything I want, I might just put the entire $4k toward one big item for her and surprise her with it when I get home. We shall see.

*Friday evening I have a reservation at the teppan table at Mizumi. But I am pretty certain I am going to cancel it when I arrive Thursday night. I love the teppan table, but it looks like they have changed the menu and the idea of eating in an enclosed room with other people, no matter how spaced out we sit, doesn't seem very appealing. I will see if I can change the reservation to one of the outdoor tables and just fill up on sushi.

*Saturday morning after making some more playoff bets I have a breakfast reservation at Tableua sitting outside. After that, I feel certain I will hit up the tower suites pools for a few hours again. Then, I will trek down the Strip to cash my NBA futures bets from this past season (most of which are just refunds) and probably make some bets on the NFL season.

*Saturday evening I have a reservation at an outdoor table at SW.

Then, I leave very early on Sunday. So not a ton planned in advance this trip. I hope to sneak into the casino when its not busy and spend time relaxing in the suite. I have a new phone and camera, so I am looking forward to taking some new pics with it (and will do my best to try and remember to take pics of the meals and other things people always ask me about, but I forget to do).

I will try to update this report frequently while I am there. If there is anything specific anyone wants to know about Wynn or that end of the Strip in general, let me know and I will report what I see. Hope you enjoy following along. To get me warmed up, I found these old pics from bygone halcyon days at Wynncore. Enjoy the warmup pics ....

 

Good luck @UKFanatic !
Tell us how you enjoy the new Vegas.

 

Nice TR @UKFanatic following along .... seeing those pics of chips!!!! Awesome !!! What are you playing? HL baccarat or BJ?

 

Good Luck My man.

 

Honestly, my plan right now is to play whichever game in the high limit has an empty table, lol. I will also probably play more early in the morning when the HL is usually empty. Ideally, I will play some high denomination BJ and bacc early, get up a healthy amount, and then play smaller (maybe add in some roulette or craps). I'd love another pic like the chip pic above, but I don't usually play consistently big anymore. Nowadays, if I get up, I slow down a lot. So the old days of coming home up 30 to 50k are very rare. Now, if I get up between 5 and 10k, I suddenly become a black chip player.

 

So, how was the flight? More or less stressful than you were anticipating? Is Wynn following along with others on the rollback on housekeeping?

 

Oops, I just realized...you haven't gotten there yet! Well, hold my questions till you do get there tomorrow!

 

Good luck and enjoy Vegas! I haven’t stayed at Wynn excited to hear about it

 

Good to hear you became more “wiser” lol can’t say same about me either ... but I know exactly what you mean.. won big money but lost lot more lol. Good luck @UKFanatic sending you some serious “bank run” lol and awesome winning kick ass vibe!!!

 

Good Luck -- hope you have an enjoyable trip and come home with a profit. I think Wynn had a Craps table in the HL some time ago. Is that an option for you to play?

 

No problem. I will let you know after I arrive

 

lol, not always (hence the horrendous result in January)

 

Yeah, I have played that table in the past. I recall when they first reduced the odds a few years ago, they still offered 3x4x5x at that high limit table. But I have rarely seen that table open since they went back to typical odds

 

Thanks. Its different than Skylofts and Mansion, but hopefully I can give you some insight if you're considering Wynn in the future

 

Safe travels and good luck, look forward to following along.

When we stayed at Encore 2 weekends ago, the Encore casino was significantly slower than Wynn. Even on Friday and Saturday nights, not all tables were open, and the tables that were open were not full. When I looked at the High Limit, there were multiple times even deep into the evening that there were completely open tables. Something to consider if you are looking to avoid big crowds.

 

as of last weekend turn down on request only. make up service daily without request. some extra little bells and whistles as i’m sure wynn regulars are used to (fancy organization of toiletries. folding of clothes left out. etc)

 

This sounds promising Best wishes for a winning, safe, and fun time... hopefully between the shopping event and winnings there’s enough for something extra-awesome for both you and your SO

 

Good luck and a happy trip to Vegas.

 

Yeah, seems like the Encore side is always slower, even pre-pandemic. But still good to know. I'm sure I will make it over to the Encore side at least once or twice during the weekend and will definitely see if the HL room is empty

 

I stayed at Encore 3 weeks ago, and like you I have A+ blood and an underlying health condition that caused me concern. You definitely chose the right place to stay. Wynn is doing all the right things to keep their guests safe. Good luck, have fun, and stay safe!