Lad's Trip In October

So this time it’s a lad’s trip and there are 5 of us, so the players are.
Myself
Vegas Vet: A veteran of Vegas visits.
Poker Guy: No explanation needed.
Jnr: The youngest of the group but a few Vegas visits under his belt.
Newbie: A first time visitor.

Saturday 17th October


So we all meet up at the airport, I stayed at a hotel at the airport so I didn’t have the earlier start the rest of the guys did. We were flying American Airlines and going via Chicago which after previous experiences I don’t really like. The flight over to Chicago was pretty uneventful and we arrived there on time. It’s been a couple of years since I have changed over here and it is much better now as they have machines for people who have visited the U.S.A before. We went down that route but unfortunately Newbie had never been here before so he had to join the queue for first timers.

After we got through we reconvened and went to get something to eat as we had allowed ourselves 5 hours at Chicago for the changeover. After a couple of drinks as well we got ourselves to the gate only to find the flight was delayed for about 40 mins. Eventually we board and we leave the gate and taxi around then after a few mins find ourselves back at a gate and we are greeted by vehicles with flashing lights. At this point no announcement has been made so nobody knows what’s going on.
The gangway comes across and next thing the police board the plane and walk towards the back, very soon after a woman is escorted off the plane. Eventually we find out what has gone on, apparently the woman was lighting a lighter and making threats to another female passenger.

After a further delay we then take off and have a quiet flight into Vegas. We are about 1 hour and 20 mins late, we collect our luggage and get into the limo and take the drive to El Cortez with newbie gazing in wonder at the lights and tall buildings.
We arrive at the Cortez and check in and agree to meet back up in about 30 mins, I get to my room and unpack and get in the shower to freshen up as it’s been a long trip to get here. I’m the first down and I grab a beer and wait for the others, Newbie is next and gets a beer as he looks around the casino. The rest soon follow and they are going to hit the machines, I decide I’m starting my gaming tomorrow so I decide to head out to Fremont and I eventually get to the Golden Gate, this place always feels like home when I’m Downtown. I have a few drinks before heading back to El Cortez and hitting my bed for an overdue sleep.

 

Sunday 18th October


I’m up for about 10.30am and meet up with the rest at 11am in the casino, they are going to the outlet mall and I’m not that keen so decide to go my own way. I get a taxi down to Tuscany and during the ride there is an almighty downpour and it’s still raining when I get to Tuscany. Once there I go to the café for breakfast and get eggs benedict which they do very well. After filling with food I go to the bar and get a drink and hit the VP. I’m not doing too bad and have a couple more drinks before heading out towards the Strip.

I end up in Caesars Palace as I’m looking at maybe going to see Elton John, I know Newbie is interested but after I text him how much tickets are he decides against it., I head over to Bellagio and get the tram down to Monte Carlo and have a walk to NYNY. I End up in Nine Fine Irishman for a beer before heading back towards Downtown.
Once back at Cortez I find Vegas Vet who says the others have gone off onto Fremont, I catch up with them at Golden Gate and we head back to El Cortez for a beer and a gamble. Poker Guy wants to watch a NFL game so me, Poker Guy, Newbie and Jnr head back out onto Fremont and we end up at the outside bar at Golden Nugget. As we watch the game and have a beer we have to abandon our seats as the rain starts to fall and before long it is a torrential downpour. Once it eases we get to Golden Gate and have a few drinks in there and we meet up with Vegas Vet as well.

After a while in there we have a walk on Fremont and end up in the D I get a drink while Poker Guy, Vegas Vet and Jnr hit the tables with Newbie looking on. It hasn’t gone well for them and they decide to go back to the Cortez. The rest are off for something to eat but I’m not hungry and decide to hit the Strip, I end up in Tilted Kilt for a few before moving to O’ Sheas for a few more. I get a taxi from the Linq and the driver isn’t familiar with El Cortez, I tell him Downtown and get him to drop me near Fremont. I get back to El Cortez and don’t see anybody about so I decide to hit my bed.

 

Monday 19th October



We all met up about 11am and decided to have a trip down to the Strip, we got the bus down and got off Caesars Palace. Newbie is overwhelmed by how big this place is as up to now he had only seen the Downtown casino’s. We walk around the Forum shops before heading over to the Linq and ending up in Tilted Kilt for something to eat and drink. Vegas Vet decides to head back Downtown while the rest of us stay on the Strip. We head to PH for some gambling and drink and after a few head over to O’Sheas where we stay a while and consume a few pints between us.

Vegas Vet re-joins us and we head over to Bellagio to watch the fountains, Newbie likes it and for the rest of us this never gets old. We get a cab back Downtown after we watch 3 songs at the fountains. We hit the Golden Gate and have a few beers in there while playing, it’s getting a bit late now so we head back to El Cortez and finish off with a beer or 2 in there.

 

Good start! Fortunately you weren't next to that crazy lady!

 

Tuesday 20th October



I was up and about for 12 and went downstairs to see if the others were about and see what they were up to. Nobody was around so I went to get something to eat in Siegels1941 which is the new place to eat in Cortez. I did like the old café here but Siegels1941 is nice and the food is very good. After finishing eating I met up with the guys in the casino who had been out to pick up the car for our trip to LA the following day.
The afternoon was spent at the bar and playing VP, at one point I was a $100 up and pushing for a bit more but in the end my profit was $60. The wheel of fortune was next and I gained another $60 out of that. We all agreed to meet up at 8pm and go to the Steakhouse at Golden Nugget for a meal.

We met up as arranged and headed to Golden Nugget but as we had been warned by bar staff in Golden Gate night before, part of Fremont Street was blocked off for a private party. You couldn’t even get up either side of the street so we cut through the D and came out at the entrance and made our way round to the front entrance to Golden Nugget.

We got to the steakhouse but with no reservations they couldn't accommodate us there and then so we decided on the buffet. Now this is my 10th visit to Vegas and this would be the first time I had ever gone to a buffet in Vegas, I did enjoy it though and felt full by the time I was leaving. We headed back to El Cortez as we planned for an early night as we were up early in the morning for the trip to LA.
I hit the bar for a couple more drinks and some more VP and was joined by Newbie as the rest hit the machines, I wasn’t being as lucky as I was in the afternoon and was about $40 down by the time I decided to call it a night.

 

Wednesday 21st October


I was up for about 6am and got ready for a long day and met the rest of the guys in the casino for about 6.45 am. The car was parked up in the hotel car park and when I saw it I couldn’t believe how big it was, I think we rented it off the CIA.






Anyway we get going and we call for some fuel before stopping again just before Barstow at Peggy Sue’s Diner which is like stepping back in time to the 50’s. We set off again and eventually reach LA and we get down to Santa Monica and park up. We head to a bar first for a drink before heading out on to the pier for a walk around, on the way back Newbie decides to dip his toes into the Pacific and got a little more Pacific than he bargained for.

We head back to the car and drive over to Beverley Hill’s and look at how the other half live, then it’s a drive on Hollywood Boulevard before fighting the traffic as we get out of LA which takes an absolute age. We had driven for a long time through the traffic until we got clear and managed to pull in somewhere to get something to eat and drink and stretch our legs. We set off again and just a quick stop at South Point before we get back to Vegas. I have never been in here so it’s another one to tick off the list. We eventually get back and land at El Cortez at about 11.30pm.
The rest of the gang go and get something to eat and I decide to have a walk out and end up of course at Golden Gate for a few beers. I get out of there about 2am and immediately spot a working girl a few yards away, I manage to avoid making eye contact but she spots me and all I hear is.

“Hi honey.”

I keep walking and don’t hear from her again but it’s always fun on Fremont at this time and further down I spot 4 guys carrying their very drunk friend on their shoulders. Although after a while they drop him on the ground. I get back to the Cortez and decide to play a bit of VP before bed and I miss out on Royal again.

 

Thursday 22nd October


Despite the previous long day I was up about 11am and made my way down to the casino, I text Jnr who replied that they had gone to take the car back and would be back about 12.30. I take a seat at the bar and hit the VP and after an hour of playing I’m about $70 up. Jnr texts me to say they are in Four Queens so I head over towards there but first I have a look in Toy Shack and Sports Memorabilia.
I meet up with Jnr, Poker Guy and Newbie and they are playing on the machines and Jnr has a few good mins and lands just over $1300 on Willy Wonka. We have a wander to the food court on Fremont for something to eat before heading back to El Cortez. The plan for the evening is a trip down to Tropicana but Poker Guy, Newbie and Jnr are going to Heart Attack Grill later on before going down to the Strip. We go our separate ways as we go gambling in Cortez, I hit the bar for VP and again I just miss out on the royal.

I go back to my room and get changed and I get a taxi down to TI, I sit at the bar and hit the VP and after a short while playing I’m up $60 and that’s good enough for me and I have a walk down the Strip and I get the tram from Excalibur down to Mandalay Bay. Once there I go to the memorabilia store to have a look round, I have bought from this company before when they had a store in Rio.
I speak to the director and enquire about the Clint Eastwood worn sunglasses that I had seen on a previous visit this year but unfortunately they have been sold. They do have however a replica gun signed by Clint Eastwood, I’m told I would get a good discount as I’m a previous customer, I tell him I will think about it.

I get a text from Jnr who says they are on their way down to Tropicana, so I get the tram back to Excalibur and walk over to the Trop. I meet up with the rest except Vegas Vet who will join us later. Myself and Newbie hit the bar for VP and Poker guy and Jnr are on the machines. The band are just about to start as well so a bit of entertainment as we play VP. We are joined by Poker Guy and Jnr soon after and eventually Vegas Vet turns up as well. Me and Newbie stay at the bar while the rest hit the tables.
After a couple of hours the others meet us back at bar and we decide to head back Downtown, Vegas Vet decides to take the bus while the rest of us get a cab and get dropped off on Fremont. Jnr heads back to Cortez while the rest of us head up to Golden Gate. We have a few drinks and Poker Guy plays at the table. We return to Cortez and meet up with Vegas Vet for a few more drinks and some more VP and before we know it it’s about 4.30 am so it’s time for sleep.

 

Friday 23rd October


I was up about 1 pm and went down to the casino for a drink and some VP before catching up the rest of the gang, I got a cab down to NYNY and grabbed a hot dog in there before making my way towards Mandalay Bay. I stop off in Luxor for a drink and some VP and I hit 4 aces and finish $150 up. I make my way through to Mandalay Bay and I get to the memorabilia shop I was at yesterday. I speak to the director again and I get a price for the signed Clint Eastwood replica gun, I like the price so we do the paperwork and I look forward to getting it in about 2 weeks or so once it’s been shipped.

I catch the tram up to Excalibur and have one last walk up the strip and I get to the miracle mile to pick up some presents and I watch the rainstorm show which I haven’t seen for a while. I get a cab back to Downtown to drop off my stuff and pack my case. I get changed and head out to Golden Gate for my last night, I enjoy a few beers in there before heading back to El Cortez and playing some VP at the bar before going to bed.


Saturday 24th October


I’m awake about 5.30am and I get washed and changed and pack my last bits before meeting the guys at reception for checkout. The limo arrives to pick us up and take us to the airport. The flight to Chicago is on time and we have about 4 hours to kill in Chicago before the flight back to the UK. We arrive back in UK at 7am and the flight was good.
So that’s it until February when I’m back for a solo trip.

 

Nice report! Thanks for sharing!

Now I've heard rumors of a decent craft beer selection at El Cortez but I've never have made it to their bars. Did you perhaps notice this?

 

Stig,


BeeeJay JerseyBill Leslie Chow and I was all downtown and at the strip that weekend. and I flew back in right when you left.

BeeeJay and Bill might have been next to you at the VP machines.


Thanks for the TR.

 

They might well of been near me I wish I knew as would be nice to meet them

 

I'm not a craft beer drinker so can't really help sorry, I know I saw some beers but not sure what they were

 

I always enjoy seeing a newbie's reaction to the strip? Did he get into any of the nicer properties like Wynncore, V/P, Bellagio Conservatory?

Nice Wonka hit for your friend!

 

He didn't go in them as he spent most of time Downtown, but he did get to see the fountains. He has said he will be going back but said he would stop on the Strip next time

 

Sounds like you had a good time. It would take me a month to fit all that in, so well done you.

 

Yeah we had a good week and always great seeing the reaction of a first timer especially all the lights at night. It's back to the solo trips now for Feb and May.