Post-trip Summary and a few Pics, 7/2-7/8, Flamingo/The D

Just a quick scattering of thoughts from the last 6 days in Vegas.... I've given up on the live or even very comprehensive TR, because I'm just too focused on Vegas to do much else while I'm there. I love reading them though, even the short unfulfilling ones like this!

I'm diamond with CET, mostly a VP & slots player, a little BJ and roulette here and there, etc. Went with my buddy who doesn't come out much or get a lot of Comps, so Flamingo was what best fit his price range. Cool with me, I'm easy and love the location. Five nights comped, then I'd do one night DT at the D on the back end since I'd never stayed down there before, only a few quick visits.

Last time I stayed at the Dirty Bird I had a GO room, and it was pretty legit. I couldn't get one this time, so I got a Fab Executive, which, while having some typical Flamingo Fab shortcomings (old furnishings, tiny bathroom from the Nixon administration) was just fine; the Exec rooms are BIG, lots of extra space, and they're up at the very top of the tower on 27 & 28. My view was the pool/High Roller/mountains in the back, which was nice. Everything worked, and even though it wasn't always in the most modern manner (I had a freaking power strip on the floor by the bed) it was just as convenient and effective.

Room at the D (corner king) was nice enough, most of it definitely felt updated (especially the bathroom) but the lamps didn't work (none of the plugs on one side of the room worked actually) and the AC struggled to keep up with the 115 outside. Also, do they have AC in those hallways? Dayum! Oh, and the last day when i went to leave, all the elevators at the D were down. Employees were busting their tails going floor to floor on the freight elevator herding people into that thing... the check in downstairs was a real cluster. Luckily they had them up again by the time I grabbed a Lyft and rolled out.

Fireworks the first night on the strip were awesome (a little more low key than last year when I watched from Voodoo Lounge at Rio; last year they closed the street and had paratroopers and stuff for Caesars' 50th I assume), a long and quality show. It was crowded, but still easy to find a spot to just stand in front of the Flamingo and watch the show.

Got all 9 slots badges and a food badge. Got a couple of nice slot hits and a bunch of 4OAKs (no Royals in sight), but more than enough to keep me playing and drinking all night which is generally the goal for me. Played the most at Cromwell, which I really love (and is the only CET property I never get comped, darn it), but really spread my play out among all the CET spots given the Quest. Favorite VP bars on this trip were Cromwell, Gustav's, Bugsy's, and Vue Bar upstairs at the D.

Used my diamond celebration voucher at BLT, which is probably my favorite CET steakhouse (haven't done GR Steak, but hit most of the others) and it was incredible as usual. Great service, and they recognized the diamond status with the check coming out with a complimentary charcuterie and pate before the absurd popovers and the rest of it.

Another typically solid lunch at GR Burger (#RIPBURGR), another place where the Diamond card works wonders... passed the always epic line, got a placard on the table, manager came over and chatted us up for a while, etc... just nice little touches that make you feel special.

Lots of time in the Harrah's Diamond Lounge, which I love because of the staff, bar-like feel, TVs, and lack of pretension. I also really dig the PH Diamond Lounge, and spent some time there as well. Finally checked out the Flamingo's infamous tiny pink DL, and it is what it is. Oddly enough I also ended up playing a lot at that little VP bar across from the Flamingo DL - it has huge new TVs and the entire bar faces huge floor to ceiling windows overlooking the gardens and Flamingo exhibit, really nice.

Oddly enough, a huge food game changer for both of us was Eatwell opening at Cromwell on 7/3. The addition of a nice quick service option on the floor at Cromwell really puts that place over the top for me, and I ended up spending most of my time there. Also, the 3 mini chili dogs + drink for $5 is a ridiculous deal for the strip, especially at a nice joint like The Cromwell. My buddy even told the manager (who came and spoke with us on opening day) that was an awesome but ridiculous price, and he responded that it was here to stay!

Anyway, I'll post a few pics in the next couple of posts. Another fun trip, back again in December! Cheers!

 

More fun

 

Great report and awesome photos! Where are the party pit girls? The D? May have to add to a stop on my next trip!

 

Yup, that was the D casino! I'm not really a downtown guy, but it was fun for a change up and the D is probably my favorite spot there.

 

LoL, that dude hit the grand progressive playing minimum bet...nice!
That will literally bankroll him for vegas trips for LIFE! haha

 

Great pics! Thanks for sharing.

 

That double-smoked bacon @ BLT is ridiculous.

 

Great pictures - where was the first burger from?

 

Like others have said, excellent photos! Thanks.

 

The first burger was a Brisket Burger at Virgil's in the LINQ Promenade. We were starving when we landed, and just walked out of the Flamingo and rolled into the first spot we hit and outta the heat.

 

Where is this game? Vu Bar? 10/8 Bonus Poker? Nice.

 

Loved all of the pictures! Thanks for sharing!

 

Look closer at the pay table before getting excited. Losing 1 on two pair is brutal.

Go up to vue bar upstairs. They have quarter 8/5 bonus with a 3 way progressive. That's a better game than this.

 

Damn! Wish you captioned the pictures -- definitely wanna know what was the first burger pictured as well as where you got the gyro. There were a lot of great pics in this report!!

 

Nice report and great pictures. I'm also a big fan of the Cromwell and it's great that they have another food option.

Mark

 

Don't all the Bonus games do that? I usually play at Kings Bar for the DDB and DB games.

edit: looks like a DB game. Nevermind.

 

First burger was at Virgil's in the LINQ Promenade, the brisket burger! Not bad at all!!!

The Gyro was actually at American Coney Island at the D, and was way better than it had any business being.... or maybe that was just my alcohol fueled low standards, who knows?