Returning on a whim - 3/11 - 2 Nights at Mandalay Bay - Semi-Live?

VegasSchemer can't stay away....

I was in Vegas a few weeks ago and will be back in April but when there's an opening, you've just got to take it.

I scored standby flying from a friend who flies for American Airlines, so I can get anywhere in the US for under $100. That coupled with MyVegas releasing some two night rewards made this an easy call.

I'll lay out the game plan and then hope to do a semi-live report while I'm there.

Night 1:

Get in at 11PM and head to friend's place in Henderson. Keeping this trip cheap meant I needed to stay off the Strip for Saturday night. We'll gamble a bit downtown after I arrive and then we'll head to his place. I'm expecting to get dropped off at Mandalay Bay after lunch on Sunday.

Night 2:

Check in at Mandalay Bay and hit the Beach. I love that pool. I'll be the 30-something year old loner in the wave pool. lol Oh well, it's in the 40s where I live and I want to get away. I grew up on the coast, so I love things like this and PH's simulated surfing machine.

I plan to hit the slots and Mandalay Bay and Luxor.

For lunch, I'm going to do Excalibur's weekend brunch via MyVegas.
For dinner, I'm planning to swing over to Ellis Island for a little table games and their BBQ plate. Love it.

Night 3:

Swim more!!

Quest for Rewards! I'll earn 25 tier credits ($125 coin-in) at all 8 CET Strip properties. Probably won't do Rio unless I decide to eat there or something. I'll give a running count here. I'm hoping to keep losses under $150!

For lunch, I'm going to hit Monte Carlo's buffet. I figure it's the last shot I'll get there and it's free, again through myVegas.
For dinner, after wrapping up the Quest at Caesars Palace, I'll head to the Bellagio buffet. I'll let you know if it's a pick me up meal or a celebration!

Return to Mandalay Bay and Luxor to play more slots! Probably throw in some blackjack at the $25 3:2 table.

The End Game:

I'll fly out the next Morning. I always like to finish with a visit to the spa to wash the Vegas off me, so that'll probably be at Mandalay Bay. If I have time, I hit the buffet there (myVegas coming through again) and the spa.

This trip is a super frugal one (expect that whole gambling away my money part).

Getting all this done without losing more than $500 would be considered a great victory. Will the Quest succeed? Is my stomach ready for 4 buffets? Will my legs hold up on the walk from MB to Harrah's and back?Will Schemer triumph?!?! Stay tuned!

 

Good luck!! Also, nice job on piling up the myVegas rewards!

 

Looking forward to reading along as you post. Good luck and safe travels.

 

Good luck. That quest is a lot of travel in a short time. You'll be walking off those buffets.

 

Last month on our trip we did the Quest in one day even making it over to the Rio via the free shuttle from Bally's. I got my points on 100 play BP video poker at most of the casinos and cashed out even or up. I also helped the wife get her points since she only plays certain machines at 20 or 40 cents a spin which takes forever to get to 25 points whereas it only takes 50 hands on 100 play to reach 25 points.

Mark

 

Nice work the VP. Yeah, I'm unsure on Rio. Probably only if I have lots of time to kill and decide to do something else over there. Thanks for the reminder on the shuttle.

 

Good luck and have fun!

 

Good luck and have fun ! I love MB/Delano

 

Smart plan!

 

T-minus 21ish hours until I am on the plane and making my way to Sin City....got the Vegas playlist going now as I pack up (Sinatra, Elvis, Ocean's 11 & 13 soundtracks...)

 

Knock em dead!!

 

Great start: I've got the entire plane row to myself!

Hoping to hit the ground running tonight. The time zone adjustment (from East Coast) is always a killer on these late arrivals in Vegas.

 

Good luck schemer! Now make some $$$! Giddyup

 

Arrived last night and hit The D and Golden Gate. The D is always nice with little comps. I rarely go there and play so little and there was $5 freeplay, $10 matchplay and $5 resort credit available for me. Thanks, Derek.

Settled in at the long bar for some VP while watching the final NBA games of the night.

Cashed out up $3 after a few hundred coin in. Good start.

Also stopped by Golden Gate to then see if they had anything for me. Nada. Lost $100 on blackjack playing $15 hands. You're welcome, Derek.

Pretty high minimums for Golden Gate it seems. Sometimes that'll get you in the high limit pit. lol

Derek was on the floor too. I always tell myself I'll say hi but I always feel awkward acting like a fawning fan of anyone.

Finished the night with a Triple-Triple (three parties and slices of cheese) from In N Out. Great call.

Here's some pics from Night one-

Photo 1: Glimpse of the Strip from the airport's passenger pickup area.

Photo 2: At The D's longbar

Photo 3: My favorite photo at the Golden Gate

Will soon check in at Mandalay Bay and grab brunch at Excalibur.

 

While I'm talking about Mr. Stevens, here's a bonus story about my recent trip to London.

I visited London and stopped in at the Hippodrome casino. Nice place. Certainly smaller than Vegas but worth seeing if you're in town. It's an old theater converted to a casino, so it has unique touches like our table at the steakhouse, which used to be balcony seating, overlooking the gaming floor.

Walking out of dinner, I spot the owner, Jimmy Thomas and chat for a bit. He's a great guy and told me this story about Steve Wynn:

Steve visited the casino and told him he wanted a building exactly like the Hippodrome in Vegas.

Jimmy, in his British accent: You can't do this in Vegas, Steve, you haven't got a building anywhere like this. It's 150 years old!

Steve: I'll build a 150 year old building.

Love the attitude behind Las Vegas. We can build and do anything.

Disclaimer: This could also be about Sheldon Adelson. He referred to the person as, "a good friend who owns two of the nicest casinos on the Strip." Seems to fit Steve better.

 

GREAT trip planned, GREAT start, and GREAT story! Good luck and have a great time!

 

Nice relaxing start to the day. Went to mass at 8AM, and then rushed over to Mandalay Bay for some sinning.

Enjoyed the Excalibur buffet since it was free. It's just good enough to keep mem

It's been a very up and down day on the gaming side.

Started out making $42 at Luxor on slots and then $80 at Aria while killing time waiting for a friend.

Then, I launched into the Quest for Rewards. I took $100 to the Double Diamond machine at Harrah's and began my trek Southward. Lost $40, made $30 at Linq, and then bled about $25 at a time at Flamingo, Cromwell and Bally's. I've got $9 left from the original $100 and I'm probably done with it. My hope was for that bill to last through Caesars but it's Vegas and not everything works out.

Went over to Ellis Island after Bally's for a little play and the steak special. The walk was shorter than expected. Made $17 while here but crushed to learn a beer/root beer isn't included so I had to play for the house brew at the bar. I was so excited for it; sucks when promos change but that's life.

Overall, I'm up though and really can't complain!

Photo 1: Lunch! The omelet station was solid.

Photo 2: Went Into Monte Carlo just to make sure I got to say goodbye.

Photos 3 & 4: Quest TITOs. Went okay. Hope was 1k coin in but $600 was my more realistic expectation. Finished at $625. Still debating making an appearance at Paris as I've never played there.

 

Good luck the rest of the way!

 

Decided not to do Paris and just went back to Luxor to grind out some coin in on the slots. Lost $200 but it was one of those really slow and gradual sessions. Pumped through about 3k, so I'm happy with the outcome. Still in good shape for my $500 loss goal.

Pool at Mandalay had been great. Took me until today to really nail my body surfing timing. The reward for a great ride though is scraping your belly on the shallow edge of the pool haha not an issue on regular sand beaches!

Hitting up the Bellagio buffet now and then sleeping. I was at the slots until 1AM and that's 4 back home.

 

I haven't been to the Excalibur Buffett in years. It looks pretty upgraded.