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Dueling TR (Live/Semi-Live!) - May 5th-9th 2017 - Derby Weekend - Downtown/Strip - Pic Heavy!

Discussion in 'Vegas Trip Reports' started by JTrau24, May 4, 2017.

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  1. JTrau24

    JTrau24 Low-Roller

    Joined:
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    Location:
    Northwest Ohio
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    My Trip Report

    My associate/cousin Wezvidz and I have made two previous trips to Las Vegas together (my only two trips to Vegas). Once in January 2016 (college football National Championship & NFL wildcard weekend) and then in October 2016 (Halloween, Phish/Disco Biscuits concerts, CFB and NFL games). So this will be #3 coming up. We did not make a TR at all for the Halloween 2016 trip. I think a combination of drunken shenanigans, plus lack of detailed planning led to not even thinking about it. I did remember to take notes/pictures the last two days which I'll share unedited as a tapatalk test. Not sure if Wez did, if so he'll probably share as well.

    Going to attempt to do this as live as possible. Wez has made many TR's on the site, including live, but this will be my first Vegas TR. I did do a post-trip TR for a trip to MGM Grand in Detroit this past summer where I found out one of my best friends, whom I consider a brother, and his wife were pregnant (they had their little girl a month or so ago and she's cute as can be and doing very well!) and due to good karma, walked out of the casino $407 richer than when I started the day thanks to a fun session of dice. Said TR... here.

    Alright, on to this trip...

    I'll be flying Delta out of DTW, wheels up at ~0845 on Friday. Should be fun as I'm working until 0400 Friday and then driving two hours straight up to Detroit. Hoping I can catch a few z's on the plane, but doubtful. Sleeping on a plane generally doesn't work for me. Combination of being geeked for where I'm going, plus I like to stay aware on flights cuz I'm weird like that. Wez is flying out of FLL. I believe we should both get into LAS within the 1000 hour. I'm supposed to land at ~1009. First night will be downtown at the D. Saturday, Sunday and Monday night at Bally's on the strip. Arrangements all made by Wez.

    Shows:
    - Penn & Teller on Saturday & Jim Gaffigan on Sunday are locked in. Will be my first time seeing either. When Wez suggested Gaffigan, I checked out some of his specials on Netflix. Loved them. Can't wait.

    Gambling:
    - Video poker, craps, sports betting and hoping to get back in to roulette which I haven't played in a while since a run of really poor luck dating from the back end of the January '16 trip bleeding over into plays at MGM in Detroit. Just really, really poor luck. Hoping to turn it around this trip.

    - Personal BR: $2K.

    - I have a system that works great for me where I theoretically split that money evenly by gambling day. So here, $500 for FRI, SAT, SUN and MON. When we get back to the room at the end of the night, immediately half goes in an envelope to come home, half goes into the next days $500 to increase that days BR. I do that for each day. Ensures I don't run out of money, have to hit the ATM and can have fun each day. Each trip I've come home with about 50% of my BR just by doing that, while still being able to have a lot of fun gaming. Take a bit of discipline, but definitely worth it.

    Food:

    - Nothing locked in, but we are talking about hitting Wicked Spoon, Chicago Brewing Co. at 4 Queens, ShackShack and/or In-n-Out (I've never had either), Momofuko, Mon Ami Gabi, 107 Sky Lounge at the Stratosphere , Giordanos and Andiamos. Holstein's is one we've talked about but never done. Of course Secret Pizza and/or Pin-Up Pizza is a must for me. I also went to PBR Rock Bar and Grill in Planet Hollywood in October. I was quite happy with it and would go back again in a second. Same with Yolo's in PHo. Also looking for the best mac & cheese. Just a basic mac & cheese, no crazy frills or additions (e.g. no lobster mac or anything like that). Suggestions welcome.

    Personal Goals/To Do:

    - Hit a royal on VP - I mean... c'mon. I need to channel the spirit of Wez's sister who hit a complete redraw royal at Que Bar (RIP) in Cosmo on max bet $0.50. That was awesome. That TR... here.

    - See some new casinos - By my count, to play I've been in (downtown) The D, 4 Queens, Golden Nugget, Golden Gate, Downtown Grand, (strip) Excalibur, NYNY, Monte Carlo, Aria, Cosmo, Bellagio, Caesars Palace, Mirage, Casino Royale, Harrah's, Cromwell, Linq, Paris, Planet Hollywood. I'd like to check out Mandalay Bay, Luxor, maybe go north and hit TI, Wynn-Core and play at Venetian/Palazzo (walked thru Venetian the first trip). Not a necessity at all, but would be fun. One of these trips in the future I'd like to explore off-strip places, or even places outside of Vegas.

    - VP Golf

    - Sign up for players cards at the Downtown properties. Got Identity and CET in October, had MLife since before then because of Detroit.








    Weather has been miserable here in the Midwest for the past week, so can't wait to get out to the desert for some heat and sun. Have had this planned for a few months now. Vegas fever has been as hot as the Nevada desert in August the past few weeks. This will probably be my only trip this year, so hoping to do it right!

    Viva Las Vegas!
     
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  2. JTrau24

    JTrau24 Low-Roller

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    Completely unedited notes from Sunday October 30th (written chronologically - VMB update for things to clarify):

    - 50/50 Aria Pepperoni
    - Ignite Lounge - Monte Carlo: Bonus 20->50 (quad 3; held three); Vodka/Sprite
    - Bald bartender not attentive at all. Ignore signals, never checked in
    - NYNY - Center Bar: DDB 20 ->60 (quad 5; held 2); Jack/Coke (2)
    - Solicited by hot hooker (hooker according to "Wez")
    - Excalibur - Craps ($5 min); 100 ->91; rolled for approx 10 min (vodka/red bull)
    - Lack of TVs in pits

    Cab to Cosmo, walk to PHo room. "Wez" to Phish. At $785 now BR.

    - Dinner - PBR Rock Bar & Grill (PHo); BBQ Burger & Tater Tots with water
    - Waiter from Alma, just south of CMU (VMB update - Alma, MI... just south of Central Michigan University, where I spent time at... small world)
    - Came out very quick even tho good amount of people
    - County music and delicious. Great place
    - Barely finish

    Solo

    - Cosmo - Sports Book: Bonus 20->30 (Quad 7; held 2); Jack/Coke, vodka/red bull
    - Drink ticket rejected - over 24 hrs old (VMB update... just the one bartender... I had other similar ones taken by other tenders)
    - Cosmo: Craps: 200->207
    - Great crew and players
    - Killed it on the pass with one shooter (VMB update... full table, including a dude next to me who kept having his girl blow on the dice... this after he was told she couldn't touch them when they tried that first. But this one shooter... man that roll was going awhile). Approx $100 gain brought my money back to par
    - Two vodka/red bull

    Wez back; got buzzed in room; vodka shots + vodka/7up

    - Cosmo: random slot ("Quick Hit") while waiting for Wez to piss 20 ->34
    - Cosmo - Chandelier bar (2nd floor): Verbena; Neither liked much. Very intrusive; almost worried having allergic reaction
    - Met hot chicks. Told them to get Verbena (they split it). Paid for it since I told them to get it. Fun convo. Nothing else.
    - Cosmo - Sports book: STP bonus 100->80 (regular bonus to get to an even cash out number)
    - Cosmo - Secret Pizza: meatball/ricotta
    - Ate two bites, too drunk, not enough appetite. Wez finished

    Back to room; end night
     
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  3. 93 Octane

    93 Octane Chief Bottle Washer

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    Giddyup JT:drunk:

    Level 107 was a blast I think you guys will like it if it's your first time
     
  4. JTrau24

    JTrau24 Low-Roller

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    For some reason I can't post pictures from Tapatalk from my camera roll. Tried as pictures and as attachments. Keeps saying "Error" and something about it being potentially spam?

    Was able to send this message from Tapatalk though.
     
  5. JTrau24

    JTrau24 Low-Roller

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    I hit the "plus" botton to the left of the reply box on the thread... then tried picking both the 2nd and 3rd icons (picture and attachment), select my pictures one at a time, pic a size (medium with picture, optimized with attachment), hit "reply" and get:

    "Post Error

    Your content can not be submitted. This is likely because your content is spam-like or contains inappropriate elements. Please change your content or try again later. If you still have problems, please contact an adiministrator.

    OK"

    HELP! :cry:
     
  6. JTrau24

    JTrau24 Low-Roller

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  7. JTrau24

    JTrau24 Low-Roller

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    OK, was able to post pictures if I went to "Web View" in tapatalk and upload via "Upload a file" option in the thread web-view style... but still cannot via the tapatalk app itself. Annoying, but at least I can get pics posted. If anyone knows what my issue is with tapatalk and has a solution, let me know. Otherwise, I'll just consider it a small annoyance.



    Completely unedited notes from Monday October 31st (written chronologically - VMB update for things to clarify):

    Up around 1400 Vegas time

    - Planet Hollywood: Spice Market Buffet
    - Cosmo: high limit bonus. $5x5. Lost. Both put in $50
    - Cosmo - Sports book: STP bonus one line $0.25x6 100->0; Bonus 20->40 (quad J; held 1)
    - Bellagio: Craps 200->99
    - Bellagio: Sports book bar MNF 20->0; 100->0
    - Planet Hollywood - ABC Store: Turkey + PB&J sandwiches

    Cab to MGM for Phish

    Walk back after Phish. Stop at Pin Up Pizza. Pepperoni + garlic knot

    Bed at 0215. Up at 0700. Cab to LAS together. Flight out at 0945 PDT. In to DTW 1659 EDT. Acutally got into DTW at 1620 ish. So 30-45 min early
     
    Last edited: May 4, 2017
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  8. JTrau24

    JTrau24 Low-Roller

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  9. JTrau24

    JTrau24 Low-Roller

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    Alright, now that we're a go on pictures and old notes/pictures are posted, should talk to y'all again from DTW terminal approx 0730 EDT!
     
  10. JTrau24

    JTrau24 Low-Roller

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    Well I don't think I'll miss my flight. At the gate at 0615 for 0845 departure. Always overestimate how quickly security checkpoint will go. I guess better to over than underestimate.

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    Last edited by a moderator: May 5, 2017
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  11. Wezvidz

    Wezvidz High-Roller

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    Tales of Derby trips past popped up on my Facebook news feed.

    2014 watching California Chrome with my two buddies at Book and Stage.
    [​IMG]


    2015.
    [​IMG]
     
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  12. Wezvidz

    Wezvidz High-Roller

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    Ah the ole B gates with 4 people in precheck line.
    [​IMG]

    TRIP GOALS:
    - Win sports betting (NHL playoffs and MLB especially)
    - VP Golf with newly modified rules
    - Penn & Teller (just saw them in January, love them)
    - Jim Gaffigan show at Caesers
    - Work in some CET / Cosmo tier points
    - No naps! aka controlling day drinking lol.
     
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  13. Wezvidz

    Wezvidz High-Roller

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    2nd row window. Sleepy time.
    [​IMG]
     
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  14. JTrau24

    JTrau24 Low-Roller

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    IMG_0670.JPG
    39D. See you soon Wez!
     
    Last edited by a moderator: May 5, 2017
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  15. Kobra2848

    Kobra2848 VIP Whale

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    Earl of Sandwich at PHO has a pretty good Mac-N-Cheese.

    Mark
     
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  16. JTrau24

    JTrau24 Low-Roller

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    On the ground!

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    Wez is still an hour or so out, so gonna find a bar or something at the airport to kill time.
     
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  17. Wezvidz

    Wezvidz High-Roller

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    Going nuts. Small nap here and there but this long flight makes me crazy. Can't wait to land. Trying to burn time capping today's games.
     
  18. JTrau24

    JTrau24 Low-Roller

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    Viva Las Vegas!

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  19. WDMJB

    WDMJB Low-Roller

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    :wave: Let the games begin!
     
  20. Wezvidz

    Wezvidz High-Roller

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    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]

    Landing now thank god.
     
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    • Wow! Wow! x 1
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