December solo trip report

December Vegas trip report: No big issues involved . Flew out of Flint Michigan at 2:10 P.M. Saturday Dec 19th on Southwest direct flight. Really like this schedule as Bishop is only one hour away and easy parking. Had a pre boarding TSA printed on the ticket so was ready to speed through check in. Not to be, their reader couldn't read my ticket so off comes the belt, shoes, jacket, etc. I'm getting too old for all this action, lol. Must say on the return trip from Vegas I also had a pre check on the ticket and it did read so walked in with shoes, belt, jacket all on. Almost like the old days. Both flights were very smooth with a few bumps over the mountains but not bad. Had my usual Bloody Mary coming and going. Something to do while your sitting there. And I like the free WIFI somewhat, can watch a few movies, news and sports channels, and my favorite, watching the flight's results as you go across the USA. Going, had a cab driver which I couldn't understand, and he couldn't understand me and dropped me at Paris not Harrah's. I didn't think they sounded that close in sounds but any way we went on to Harrah's. Cost a couple bucks extra for the extra stop I'm sure but things happen. I didn't know Paris had a cab line next to the strip. Seems like most have moved the cabs out back of the casinos.
Arrived at Harrah's on time, around 3:30 and checked in fast. Nice room on the 14th floor facing the High Roller. Decided to start the trip with the Flavors buffet and it was good as usual. You can only eat so much. Then on to bar video poker for the afternoon and evening. Machines cold. Outside temps cold. Casino fairly warm, which is why my wife doesn't do Vegas in the winters anymore. You don't know what to wear to cover outside and inside temps. First day bounced around the close places, Quad, Flamingo, Bally's, Paris, Mirage, TI, up and down at most. Think I was down $500 or so for the day (many hours of play with no real hits). Not much action on the machines and really looking forward to the football games on Sunday as main event, wearing my LIONS jacket of course. Lions won the game but I lost my bet by points!!
Started Saturday morning about 7 AM, shower, shave and down for breakfast by 7:30. Not being much of a breakfast person thought I'd save money and grab a couple of eggs at the newly opened Fulton Street Food Hall inside Harrah's back where the 24 hour restaurant was located. While sipping on my coffee and looking at the menu I decided this really was not the place to eat breakfast as the two eggs, toast and sausage was like $16 plus the $3 cup of coffee.... with tax it came to $19.99!!! I wish I would have just gone to the buffet for around $15, gee an egg is an egg. The machines did improve Saturday giving me a Royal at the bar in TI. TI is one of the few casinos on the strip that use VP machines that still hand pay a Royal as most just give you a $1k ticket to cash in. It popped up saying "Call Attendant" which worked out well, a slot attendant was working on a machine next to me, lol, I just had to lean over and tell her. Thanks to the Royal I end Saturday even for the trip. Sunday comes a day or football.
Again up and out of the room by 8:00. No $20 breakfast this morning! I'll wait and have a dozen eggs at home for a couple of bucks. I only have until 10:00 am to find a VP bar to watch the Lions game. Of course I know very few bars show the Lions game so I might have to settle for a sports bar to catch it on one of many TVs of all the games being played for the bettors. Walked into the Quad (my old home The Imperial Palace), checked out the new sports bar on the main floor, and wow, one of the bartenders was wearing a Lions #9 Stafford shirt! With my Lions jacket on I asked if maybe one of the bar TV's would be showing the Lions game, "Sure will", he says. So I sit down and play VP and watch the Lions beat the Bears, but not by the point spread. Next TV over the Packers are beating the Bucs, ouch. Unfortunately I had to go over to the Mirage for their lunch buffet by 3:00 PM won on "myVegas" slots site. We really enjoy the Mirage buffet with it's large shrimp and good quality food. This time they had the old salad making stand and the ice cream area boarded up so obviously redoing it. I had also cashed in 5 free rides on the tram from the same site. It is free to play and offers many free Vegas things so you might want to look it up. After lunch I continued to keep up on the games until all were over. Since I had a 9 AM flight Monday morning I decided to turn in by 11:00. Over all had a good day with VP, which going all day and ending up even is a good day. The whole trip I never hit quad aces, with or without the kicker, best I had was quad fours with the kicker. If it wasn't for the Royal I would have been down $1200 but ended up only down $200. And that includes a rather nasty Lions bet because of the point spread. Can' win them all.
Last morning, up at 5:30 having planned on taking the luggage to the bellman and paying the $10 for them to take it to the airport, do the buffet for breakfast tram it down to MGM for a little more play, and on to the airport. Some plans don't work. The luggage drop off didn't start until 7 and the buffet didn't open until 7 so ended up going to the empty bar and playing VP with a morning cocktail for breakfast. I did pickup a couple of quads for another $200 so I guess a good ending to a short trip. Was getting anxious to get home, not usually my feeling when in Vegas, as it was only 3 days until Christmas. All in all the casinos were quiet as business is very slow this time of year. No crowds or lines anywhere. Good thing the kids and grand kids kept my wife busy over the weekend. No problem getting to the airport as the driver did know where it was. As said above the pre check on the boarding pass worked so right to the gate. Happy, Healthy and Prosperous New Year to all. John in MI

 

I tell the cabbie "Harrah's" with an H. This solves the confusion. Too bad that the prices were so high for a breakfast. I noticed the construction last summer. The prices at the old diner were better. Thanks for posting.

 

Nice report and thanks for sharing... Happy New Year!

 

Great Report-Thanks for sharing!!!!!

 

Nice report. One of these days I'm going to do a solo trip. People think I'm weird when I even mention it.

 

I do a solo every year or so. My wife, her sister and I go out a couple times a year. That's a lot of fun but sometimes I just like to solo, do what I want, when, how, etc. Don't have to round up the group, see if all agrees, split the difference and so on. When your playing whatever game you do, it is you against the machine or dealer anyway. No group decisions needed or wanted most of the time. I don't even mind eating alone as that saves more discussions of where, when, etc. I don't like shows alone as they seem more of a couples or group thing to do. Some folks wouldn't think of a solo because they need the security of having someone with them I guess. Sometimes it is nice to just get away and do MY thing. But I do enjoy sharing the trips with my wife and others most of the time. I don't think it is weird.

 

I've had a cabbie take me to Paris when I said Harrahs too; now I always clarify by adding with a P or with an H.

 

Thanks for the trip report. Some of my best trips have been solo.

 

You didn't say much about your room other than it was facing the high roller. I'm curious as to what you room looked like pros/cons. I'm hoping to get my annual "hoops on the strip offer" from CET and Harrahs is always 1 of the locations that they offer the 3 days comped at. I've always taken Ballys or theFlamingo but Harrahs is probably where they will be hosting the party at ( along with Paris being the other location).