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Low Rollers 2 weeks in Vegas for Shows and Slots!

Discussion in 'Vegas Trip Reports' started by bignig135, Jan 20, 2016.

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  1. bignig135

    bignig135 Low-Roller

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    My Trip Report

    We left Edinburgh for Vegas via London Gatwick and had an uneventful trip, only point worth mentioning was how quiet the London to Vegas BA plane was - great for us but may be a problem for the route continuing in future?
    On leaving the airport, we were so tired and just wanted a sleep, we failed to say to the driver to " avoid the Tunnel" we just said the cheapest way please and for the first time ever we were tunnelled and paid our heftiest ever taxi fare, McCarran to the Excalibur cost just ubder $30 !!!!!! The drivers details weren't easily legible to complain about him but we have learned our lesson!
    At check-in, as we are staying 14 nights, we used the $50 sandwich and ended up with a small upgrade fron Standard to " Resorts" room. Since last year, they have re- named Tower 1 into the Royal Tower and Tower 2 into the Resorts Tower.
    After a nap, we set out to use the tip our taxi driver who took us back to the airport last year gave us which would apparently give us a great chance to win big on Megabucks! Surprisingly, we quickly lost $20 on the $1 x 3 coin max play and quit! Still, for a $12m. progressive, worth a shot. They have shifted around a lot of their slots since last Jan., so in trying to find our usual WoF 25c. machines we lost big for us on Double Top Dollar, Money Mad Martians, no bonus spins on either and when we eventually found our favourites, lost on them too! $150 down on slots, we went upstairs to the food court, had a McDonalds and just before bed, went into their 24/7 shop for snacks.
    Previously, we have grumbled about their high prices in that shop, but not this year - they have removed all price tags from individual items such as sandwiches, chips, candy, water and just about everything else so you are stuck with a complete guessing game! Not a very large bottle of water turned out to be $5.25, sandwich was $5 and when I handed over my basic level Mlife reward card the assistant said oh we only accept Platinum or Gold!!!!
    As they say, things can only get better, I will update regularly throughout our trip, we usually play low roller slots every day and go to quite a few shows every trip .Speak soon.
     
  2. bignig135

    bignig135 Low-Roller

    Joined:
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    Incidentally, we were immediately hounded by timeshare reps. as per usual, but for the first time ever, we had a note slipped under our door offering a free meal, a free show and $200 free slot play in return for " attending a fun 60 minute holiday presentation" which for anyone new to Vegas you ahould avoid like the plague!!!
     
  3. TOWNSVILLE

    TOWNSVILLE Low-Roller

    Joined:
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    Location:
    TOWNSVILLE,AUSTRALIA
    Trips to Las Vegas:
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    London to Vegas flight,surely not.London/L.A./Vegas seems more like it.How long did the flight take?Australian here,hence my enquiry.l have to do Townsville/Brisbane/LA./Vegas for a two day trip.Good luck to you lot and enjoy,soooo jealous.My exchange rate at the moment really puts me off doing a trip.As you all know by now,our resources boom is all over,gee who could have seen that coming.China is all smoke and mirrors,nahhh could not be so.Again enjoy and make me jealous.
     
  4. Vtamanda

    Vtamanda VIP Whale

    Joined:
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    Thanks for doing a report! I'd love more details about the Excalibur. I am staying there for the first time since '04 coming up in March. How was check in?
     
    Dita show, Girls trip!
    Twentieth Anniversary Extravaganza
  5. 20hof

    20hof Low-Roller

    Joined:
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    Michigan
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    Thanks for doing the report. A little irritating that the shops only take platinum or gold. So I guess my lowly pearl has no benefit anymore. Just another way to squeeze a few more nickels...
     
  6. bignig135

    bignig135 Low-Roller

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    BA fly from both Gatwick and Heathrow direct to Vegas, journey time from Gatwick to Vegas was just over 10 hours. Virgin also fly direct Gatwick to Vegas.
    Vtamanda, we arrived dead on 3 pm, which is also their official check in time, you can check in earlier, but for a $ 25 fee! Not a long queue, but did take a fair time, maybe 25 - 30 mins. to complete. The resort fees were approx. $313 for 14 nights, main benefit is wifi access for one device. Some rooms have been renovated, in the Royal Tower, in general the hotel is clean, but definitely tiring quickly, decent sized casino, fair amount of restaurants and a good food court, casino is noticeably smoky, you can still book smoking rooms but not many of them available. All rooms now appear to have their own safe, large TV, ironing board, excellent hotel choice for value and good position for accessing Luxor, Mandalay Bay, MGM, NYNY and Tropicana hotels.
     
  7. BarelyHangingOn

    BarelyHangingOn VIP Whale

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    The first thing we did right the last time around was to head to the Walgreens and CVS and stock up on water, booze and snacks for the week. We got caught on our first trip buying a few things from the Casino stores but I recall our regular old Mlife card got a bit of a discount.

    We also booked round trip shared fare from the airport to the Casino which I think was $22 two ways for the both us round trip. Showtime Shuttle. The guy on the way there went to the Monte Carlo to Mandalay and then took us back to the Aria which was odd to me. Will be looking into Lyft next time. Both sound cheaper then your cab ride.
     
  8. MikeOPensacola

    MikeOPensacola El Jefe

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    Looking forward to following along. Have a great trip!!!
     
    Annual CCA (Casino Collectibles Association) Show at South Point
    Long Overdue Stay At The Golden Nugget
  9. vegas_runner

    vegas_runner Low-Roller

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    We rent a car and go grocery shopping on our trips, fun and saves a lot of money better used for gambling. With a long stay like yours it might be worth it. Regardless, have fun and I'm looking forward to following along.
     
  10. momo325

    momo325 Low-Roller

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    no wonder lyft and uber is getting all the business... $30 to Excalibur is ridiculous.

    - - - Updated - - -

    have fun and looking forward to ur TR
     
  11. bignig135

    bignig135 Low-Roller

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    Day 2
    Much better day on the slots at MSS - we joined the B Connected rewards scheme last year as we had just turned 50 for their " Young at Heart ". Won over $200 from a WoF 25c. and another $60 on video poker. Wed. is meant to be a bonus day where you only have to earn 10 points on the slots and then receive a 2 for 1 voucher for a buffet, but we discovered that as we aren't locals, the only Downtown Boyds property that we could earn points at for buffets or draws is the Fremont hotel! Last year we went to Sam's Town and the Gold Coast respectively and got 2 for 1 buffets without question. If you get a " natural quad" at MSS, you qualify to receive a free scratchcard, I won $2, but you can win up to $5000.
    RAIDING THE ROCK VAULT ( Tropicana) tickets cost us $44 each via Tix4 Tonite
    This is the third tome we've been to see this show, first time was at Westgate, last year at the Trop. Wepurposefully chose this to be our first show this trip as we know its brilliant! Not overly busy but we were allowed to sit near the front and despite the half full crowd, the cast gave it their all and a great atmosphere ensued. Such a wonderful show we might even go back again this trip!
    Tomorrow we plan to get tickets for Love at the Mirage. Like many people, we have mixed feelings about the Cirque shows, we really enjoyed Ka, Mystere, their Elvis show, MJ One for example, but hated Criss Angel and Zumanity. So many have written on this board that Love is their favourite Cirque show that we have very high hopes!
     
  12. pollyspa

    pollyspa MIA

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    You can fly direct from London to Vegas with BA, Virgin & even Thomas Cook. This service has been available for years, You can even fly direct from Manchester at busy times.
    It's a 10.5 hour flight.
     
  13. pollyspa

    pollyspa MIA

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    We sympathise about the taxi rip off.
    A lot of Vegas cab drivers feel that overseas visitors are fair game to long haul. I think they know, that after say 12 hours in a plane, the last thing we foreigners want is a fight with a cabbie.
    We got so sick of being took, strange routes (one time along Industrial) that in 2014, upon arrival at The Plaza, we simply refused to pay the $44 plus tip.
    We had asked not to go via the tunnel. Eventually after quite some time he reduced his "fare" & drove off like a maniac.
    Maybe Uber will help change this nasty practise??
     
  14. bignig135

    bignig135 Low-Roller

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    Hi Pollyspa, thanks.On our first trip to Vegas we didn't know the rules about tipping, so we simply gave the driver a small tip - once he saw how low his tip was he started swearing and shouting at us, effing and blinding and we slunk quickly into our hotel! On another trip we had a guy who seemed a bit deranged and he started going on about loving Brits and invited us back to his house to " have a play with his AK47's and meet his Dobermanns!" We thought he was making this all up until he insisted on showing us pics. of them! He was then cut up by another taxi driver he knew and said " that guy always carries his gun with him, I wish I'd brought mine today,"
     
  15. bignig135

    bignig135 Low-Roller

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    Day 3 Thurs. 21st
    Lost $100 on slots. We intended booking Love at the Mirage via Tix4Tonite and went there in plenty of time, fully expecting to pay up to $80 or even $100 per ticket, even after the so-called up to 40% discount but were shocked to be quoted $120 per ticket, so decided against! We aren't misers but this seemed far too much. Feeling a little despondent today, partly due to slots losses, also that Excalibur aren't playing fair by hiding the prices of every item in their 24/7 shop, extortionate prices for the Cirque show and we passed by the Riviera building today, which was sad.
    A few years ago, we saw an elderly woman win the Wheel of Fortune progressive there - $390,000! With the Riv closed, the Imperial Palace now the Linq, Hooters bought over etc., it would seem prices on the Strip will only rise and provide less affordable options in future. We were Downtown yesterday and for the first time gave serious consideration to staying there next trip, but one sticking point would be a lack of decent shows there for us.
    Tomorrow we plan to try out a covers band in the evening at Sam's Town. Only problem is that their shuttle bus doesn't run very late so that will entail a taxi back afterwards.I'm sure tomorrow will be more positive, slots are generally looser off- Strip, certainly seem very tight so far here at Excalibur!
     
  16. casinokid68

    casinokid68 Caesars Diamond Member

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    Nice report!!! I agree, the Strip prices are getting out of hand. Not like Vegas used to be But with the amounts of people coming into town on a daily basis, you can expect the prices to keep climbing. And wait for the parking fees. That's coming shortly for people who are renting cars and parking inside the parking garages.
     
  17. Kjell28

    Kjell28 Tourist

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    I'd make a trip down to CVS or something and stock up...forget the 24/7 shop!
    FWIW, I've always had good luck on the Super Jackpot Party slot right outside Dicks Last Resort if it's still there. And the Excalibur crap tables are always fun
     
  18. bignig135

    bignig135 Low-Roller

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    Day 4 Fri. 22nd
    Discovered the covers band at Sam's Town called Jukebox Heroes, are on again tomorrow night, so we've decided to go Sat. night instead. Sun.night, we have tickets for a Neil Diamond tribute, and planned shows at Purple Reign, Island Heat, Tommy Wind, Ka, Rock Vault again and now that we have found out that Love tickets are available from their own box office for under $90 each, will most likely attend after all.
    We lost $200 at Main St. Station, only consolation is that it went slowly! Managed to stay on $1 Megabucks for quite some time and on VP missed out on a diamonds Royal Flush by one twice!
     
  19. tringlomane

    tringlomane STP Addicted Beer Snob

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    Nice report so far. If you need transport from Sam's Town., may want to try Lyft or Uber instead. Getting tunneled to Excalibur is bad!
     
  20. Bondy3

    Bondy3 High-Roller

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    as a general rule, megabucks is one of the worst slot machines to play because they hold an average of 15% (more than almost any other slot machine) so if you managed to stay on a $1 megabucks machine for a long time, you were lucky!

    as a general rule I tell people to use Lyft over Uber, I think the service is better, there are more drivers, the drivers are nicer and the company treats its employees (and contractors better) Uber is an evil corperation that should be stomped out for the way they treat there drivers
     
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