Trip Report 8/30 - 9/5 minus poker

This trip report is a summary of my activities minus the poker that has it's own thread in Casino Gaming. If the activities seem rather slim, I was in LV for 144 hours. I spent 60+ hours playing poker, so there's not much besides sleeping, eating, and degenerate gambling in this report.

Please note: From time to time I will quote some absurd statements that I directed toward defenseless casino and restaurant staff. Please understand that I was joking, and that the recipient immediately got it. I'm a jackass, but I'm a jovial jackass.

Accomodations:

This trip was supposed to be a 4 day trip with a friend + 3 solo days at the end for me to get my poker fix. Friend is a pool guy, so when making the reservations a pool was a requirement. Last year he stayed at TI and thought the pool was great, so I didn't feel that a premium pool was required. 2 weeks after the reservations were made, he bailed on the trip. I thought about changing up the reservations, but my rates weren't terrible, so I didn't make any changes.

8/30 - 9/1
Stayed at the Monte Carlo. I've always lked the MC, and found rates at $69, $79, $149. Could have stayed 9/2 for $279 but that's kind of high for me for a room that I spend less than 2 waking hours in a day. Key feature was pool complex including wave pool, lazy river, and standard pool for buddy plus a good general ambiance for both of us for what I felt were good rates. I was pleased by the Monte Carlo, but felt that complaints I've heard about the water pipe noise were justified. Each morning I heard toilets flushing and showers/sinks running. It wasn't enough to wake me, but once awake there was no chance of me falling back to sleep. It's very possible this wouldn't bother you if you aren't a vampire like me, but since I never hit the pillow before 4 am in Vegas I wouldn't know. The piping noise is fairly typical for any business hotel I've ever stayed in, so I don't feel it's a huge demerit. It's just the price you pay when you want to sleep late in a communal dwelling.

9/2
Hooter's Hotel and Casino. I made my 9/3 - 9/4 reservations first since my hotel of choice wouldn't let me check in on Saturday 9/2. I found a $198 two night package on their website that it allowed me to book at $89 for 1 night. I was a little concerned since the website stated that I would be charged the full amount for the stay in advance, which didn't happen. The San Remo charged the full amount in advance, so this just may have been a holdover or had something to do with my package. When I showed up, they tried to charge me $170+. I pointed out that my confirmation stated an $89 rate. The desk girl says, "I see that, I don't know what's wrong." She fixed the rate in under 5 minutes without a supervisor so I feel good about the integrity of the Hooter's commitment to honoring their web prices even if there's some issue.

Hooter's is basicly just a facelift on the old San Remo, but it's a good facelift not a Kenny Rogers special. I stayed at SR in 2004, and the 2006 Hooter's is significantly spruced up. My room was clean, smell free, and had a giant ice bucket. These aren't the insulated things other hotels have. There the buckets that you get when you order a bucket of beer. If you're trying to fill a sixpack cooler. One bucket and you're done. At MC, it's three trips. Minor bad beat on the giant ice bucket was that multiple trips wouldn't have been a huge issue since the ice machine was 6 feet from my door, but I still like the big bucket.

One other huge plus for Hooter's is that they have continued the $6.95 San Remo prime rib special with the exception that side orders are of higher quality. This special is like a little slice of Downtown almost on the Strip. The special is located in the coffee shop, which is called the Dam Restaurant. Supposedly this is named after the Hoover Dam, but I really believe that the guys who own Hooter's just wanted to hear this exchange as many times as possible:

Tourist: "Where do they serve the prime rib special?"
Staff member/Knowledgeable guest: "It's in the Dam Restaurant!"

9/3 - 9/4
This is where you find out how low I will go. I spent the last two nights at Casino Royale. Rate was $69/night. As pretty much everyone here knows, Casino Royale is reknowned for the quality of their casino. While you may not appreciate the Gold Spike on the Strip decor, I'm actually OK with it. A major + is that although there's only 1 desk clerk, nobody but me wanted to check in. I got there before any rooms were available, so I asked if I could check my bag. Desk clerk says, "Yes." I ask, "Where do I go?" "You're already there." Bell Check time = 18 sec.

After a poker session, I return to CR about 5 pm. Still no one but me is interested in checking in. Check-in is uneventful. The room is OK, bathroom is very clean, dressing area has both a refrigerator and coffee maker. So those of you who wish to have these amenities now know where to stay.

I've been slamming the CR somewhat, but it's location is a jewel if you're a poker player. You're right in the middle of the V, Caesar's, Mirage, and Harrah's. The Bellagio, Bally's and Wynn aren't too far away. If you just want to crash for 4-6 hours a night, it's pretty sweet. I wouldn't recommend it for an extended stay or for people who really need a good bed, because the beds just suck. Even taking the beds into account, I think the CR is a good value play. It's still no Hooter's.

Meals:

Since this was a solo trip, spending a lot of time eating was not my plan. Although I feel I'm a good conversationalist, when you just sit there talking to yourself people look at you funny.

8/30

I didn't get into Vegas until 5:30, so just dinner Wednesday. I had the Alladin buffet. I'd never had a premium buffet, so I decided to go for it. This buffet had the best prime rib I've had on a buffet. All of the prime rib is center cut cooked rare/medium rare, so if you like an end cut or medium to well you're out of luck. I like rare, so I was happy. Buffet also includes excellent king crab legs. I didn't find the lamb or apple stuffed pork very good, but I got close to the last pieces of each. If I would have waited for fresh, I might have gotten better servings. All of the complementary dishes I had were good, including both the pastas and a warm garlic shrimp in cream sauce dish. I typically find these two types of items to be mushy and gross, but Alladin did them adequately IMO.

8/31

Breakfast -- The Breakfast of Champions -- Miller Lite while watching Sportscenter.

Lunch
After hearing so much about the $.25 martinis and prixe fixe lunch at Commander's Palace, I decide to try it. I show up at 11:10 am. They don't serve until 11:30. No problem, I'll just play a few minutes of Pai Gow Poker. I sit down with $100. 6-1/2 hours later, I realize that I have in all likelihood missed lunch. At least I stand up with $109. I wait for the cocktail server since I have a drink coming. As we make our final drink for tip exchange she says, "Thanks for everything." I'm just a $1 tipper, but apparently volume makes up for price.

Dinner
After my liquid lunch, I'm really quite hungry. I walk down to the Barbary Coast to get the prime rib special. My standard fare is the $13.95 Prime Rib with the clam chowder. I alternate between the fries and baked potato. This time I have the baker. After Diet Coke, tax, and tip, the bill is in the $23 range. After dinner I roll out into the casino and play some craps and Pai Gow Poker. Craps +$50, PGP +$5. The BC has just paid me $32 to consume their bill of fare. WINNER, WINNER, PRIME RIB DINNER!

9/1
Breakfast -- BOC

Lunch
Since it's my last day at the Monte Carlo, I elect to try the Brew Pub. I'm not really feeling very adventurous and want to try the beer, so I get a club sandwich and a stout. The stout is very smooth and not bitter at all. The club sandwich has some nice marinated red onions on it in addition to the normal club sandwich stuff. Quite good, and quick service at the bar.

Dinner
I walk down to the Barbary Coast to get the prime rib special again after pokering my way from Hooter's to Bally's. I'm informed of a 40 minute wait. The hostess asks if I wish to wait. I ask, "Does this establishment still offer gambling?" "Uh, yes, sir." "Then I'm more than happy to wait." I find a PGP table. The Barbary Coast does not offer the fortune or envy bets, so no one thinks I'm a moron when I don't play it. After what seems like 5 minutes, but is probably actually the stated 40 minutes my name is called and I am seated in the Victorian Room yet again. I'm up $51 on PGP. I have the standard with fries this time. After Diet Coke, tax, and tip, the bill is amazingly $23 again. The BC has just paid me $28 to consume their bill of fare. WINNER, WINNER, PRIME RIB DINNER!

9/2
Breakfast -- BOC

Lunch
Since I'm at Hooter's, I decide on the Prime Rib special in the Dam Restaurant. I choose salad and fries. This PR isn't big or especially good, but it's better than a sharp stick in the eye. For $6.95 I enjoy it.

Dinner
I manage to gamble and poker my way all the way through dinner to about 5 am. Since I don't eat any breakfast that is not the BOC in Vegas, I decide the meal I'm consuming is dinner 9/2 even though it's now 9/3 at 5 am. I end up in the Dam Restaurant yet again. I'm very tempted to consume the PR special again just to prove I can, but I realize that I have no one to impress and my stomach really wants some eggs, cheese, and bread. I order an omelette. It comes with chunky hash browns and I order the sourdough toast. For about $8.95 + tax + tip it's huge (4 eggs) and very good.

9/3
Breakfast
BOC -- unless you disallowed my previous dinner, then it's just a lush drinking a wakeup beer and watching some Sportscenter.

Lunch
I roll back to the BC yet again, but this time I try the steak. It's now a top sirloin, not a T-bone. I've finally done my last BC steak. It's just bad. The last time it was better, but it didn't measure up to the PR. I'm so unhappy I don't even bother to win my money back at Pai Gow.

Dinner
I feel no need for dinner, I'm enjoying my poker.

9/4
Breakfast
Breakfast of a Broken Champion -- Given that Casino Royale serves Michelob for $1 24/7/365, I don't replenish my in room supply. I buy one in the bar as I roll out but no Sportscenter.

Lunch
Since I was enjoying my poker all the way through dinner the day before, I am famished. I go the the Venetian poker desk and cash out all my comps ($28.05) for the Grand Luxe. I order the Calimari and Rock Shrimp appetizer, an omelette, and a Diet Coke. This turns out to be a gruesomely large amount of food. I grind through it, knowing that in all likelihood it's my last meal of the day. The appetizer is quite good. The omelette is filling, but surprisingly I wish it was cooked at the Dam Restaurant. I didn't expect that.

Dinner
I'm still digesting the 3.5 lbs of food I ate at lunch.

9/5
Breakfast
BOBC

Lunch
After more pokering at the V, I have another $12 in comps. I go to the Grand Luxe again and order a Barbeque Chicken Pizza and Diet Coke. My comp ticket is about $0.40 short, but my darling waitress just zeroes that out. On the off chance she'll have to pay it, I add it to her tip.

Dinner
I eat at the Cuervo Tequilaria in the airport just so I don't expire before I get home. It's not bad, but I preferred the old sports bar.


Gambling:

From the meals section, you might think that I had tremendous success in the gambling department. This is unfortunately not the case. I played 4 BJ sessions that lasted about a total of 25 minutes. They erased all of my minor success.

Final Results:

Slots: +$5.10 (Includes a 13.05 free play win from Aladdin)
PGP: +$74
BJ: -$250
Craps: +$51

NET: -$120

 

It sounds like you had a fun time and that is what is important. Thank you for the report.

BTW,

When they ring up a comp ticket, they romove the tax portion and that makes the bill less.

 

Drinking, eating prime rib and gambling. Perfect.

 

Nice. That PR at SR was my first-ever meal in Vegas.