Last Minute First Solo Trip 8/12-8/16 - LIVE

(My plan was to start this thread on 8/10 but life got in the way like it usually does. I am still posting this like it is Saturday and will just update it with new posts like I would have if my plan stayed true. Also, I realized that this first post is very long winded. Sorry about that. Guess I am just overhyped for this trip. Hopefully I won’t loose you before my trip even starts!)

Well, well, well. How did this happen? After my last guys trip in December of 2017, I didn’t think I would be back in Vegas for a very long time. Did I win the lottery? No. Did I get a raise at work? No. Did I just get lucky? Kind of. Do I have a loving, understanding and caring wife? Sure do. So, how did this all come about so quickly?

Over the past few months I started getting that itch like we all do. I started to lurk on VMB reading trip reports and other posts. I started watching movies that had a Vegas theme: Ocean’s 11 (original), Vegas Vacation, Hang Over, etc. My buddy Bob, who I usually go with, planned a trip with his wife for her 40th birthday. (How dare he go without me!!!) Finally, I couldn’t take it anymore. I had to figure out a way to go. So, on a drive back to Iowa to celebrate my daughters 3rd birthday, I asked my wife if she would be ok with me planning a solo trip to Vegas. I figured I would have to lay out a huge sob story, poor me, blah, blah, blah. Nope!! She said sure, go!! HOLY SHIT!!! Really?!?!

You see, I travel for work. Sometimes I will be gone Monday-Friday for 4-6 weeks at a time. I always hate leaving my wife alone to take care of our kids (9 year old son and now a 3 year old daughter) plus our puppies (right now just a Pit Mix that is 3 years old that we saved about 6 months ago). Usually when I leave someone gets sick, or one or both become a major pain in the ass, or she gets sick. Never fails. So anytime I plan a trip to Vegas with my buddy, or my Mom’s place to do work, or fishing trip, I just feel so guilty. She does so much I hate to leave her with it all to do on her own again.

I think she said go because she knows this will be the last time for Vegas for many years. The company that I work for is phasing out my division and between March 2020 and 2021 I will be out of a job. Plus, I have taken on a lot more responsibilities outside of work and family. I ran and was elected to our local school board. My son is getting more involved with the cub scouts and I try to be an active father in those activities. Plus, she is a loving, caring and understanding wife that I truly do not deserve.

All of that was just over two weeks ago. As soon as she said yes, and we got to my Mom’s place, I started looking for a flight and hotel room. I promised my wife that I would only go if I could get a flight for $300 or under, and if I could get a comped room. Mission accomplished!!!

Flight:

Allegiant out of Cedar Rapids, IA. I chose this for a few reasons. First, the time of the flight worked out the best. Flying out of home would have been at 9:30 p.m. on Monday. In CR it was at 2:30 p.m. I will take as much time as I can get in Vegas. Second, if I didn’t choose a seat during the booking, I could get the ticket for just under $300 ($298). I am checking a bag though, so I could have gone cheaper, but I like to have a few changes of clothes for the 5 days I am there. Plus, flying out of CR, I could take my son to spend time with his Grandma before he started up the new school year. This also lets me get in CR the night before my flight, and I can park my van for free at my Mom’s place. And she will drop me off and pick me up for free!!


Hotel:

I’m staying at the Flamingo. It was really the only comp I have left since I haven’t been to Vegas in 1 ½ years. I will be staying in a King Go Room. I have stayed in this type of room before. The first time many years ago when the Go Rooms were brand new. It was the first trip to Vegas that my Father and I took together. The second time was almost 9 years ago with my best friend. I have always liked the Flamingo. This will be my sixth stay there. I love the central location and as long as it has a working fridge in the room, I am all good.

The Plan:

Since this is my first completely solo trip to Vegas, I will keep this as live as possible. My son and I will be leaving home on 8/11 in the afternoon and headed to Iowa. We will do dinner with my Mom that evening and just chill out with her. I will work from her place for a few hours on Monday morning before we leave for the airport. I always like getting to the airport early. I will have my customary beer before I head through security, then have at least another after I get through security. The throughout the trip I will keep this report going with everything I do. Breakfast, lunches, dinners, gambling, dispensary, etc. (Well, almost everything. No one wants to read in detail my mornings in the john before I head out for the day). I am not a major foodie, but I won’t be eating at Subway and McD’s the whole time. There will be plenty of White Castile pics though. I do love me some sliders. I am mostly a quarter VP player, but will play an occasional $1 VP. Some slots, roulette, pai gaw, 3 card poker and maybe a poker tourney or two. And of course plenty of drinks and cigars throughout my trip.

Thanks for following along and if you have any questions or want me to check something out for you, please let me know. Updates while packing and traveling to come!!

Rob

 

Customary photo of the bank roll. I think the half dollar and bubble game signify my status as a High Roller.

 

Cigar porn!

 

Never underestimate the worth of pocket lint!

 

Best of luck...

 

Good Luck

 

While packing up the van for our trip to Iowa, Rizzo decided to play hide n seek. You can see his thought process in those eyes. “I’m a suitcase. I’m a suitcase.”

 

Selfie of me and my first offspring at the gas station while we made our way to Iowa. He's excited to finally get to spend some one on one time with Grandma. Even if it is during the last week of summer vacation.

 

Good luck on your trip!

 

Hope it is pocket and not navel

 

I hope that is what it is!! My lucky lint!!

 

Thanks!

 

Thanks!

 

Thanks!

 

I’m not telling!!

 

Made it to Iowa. My Italian Mama made us dinner. Pizza, garlic cheese bread, pasta with a ground meat gravy, freash salad with garden fresh cucumbers and grape tomatoes. Sorry for the late pic. This was my third helping of pasta and I realized I didn't take a pic for you all. We ate it all. It was all great!!! Freash basil on the pasta that had a hint of lemon. Plus some freshly grated parmegiano to top it off.

 

Plus a couple after dinner Buffalo Trace whisky.

 

Good luck and have a great time!

 

Thank you very much!

 

Have a wonderful trip, sounds like you needed it! Wishing you much luck!!