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Live Again at Cosmo/Wynn 8/9-14

Discussion in 'Vegas Trip Reports' started by HHFan, Aug 8, 2019.

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  1. rutgers

    rutgers Low-Roller

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    What is this drink?? Looks frozen and yummy!
    Great report!
     
  2. pooh@NCSU

    pooh@NCSU Low-Roller

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    I'll try not to finish the keg before you get there...lol
    I feel I'm on VMB way too much now that I'm 2 days out from being there
     
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  3. tringlomane

    tringlomane STP Addicted Beer Snob

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    Frozen Baileys at O'shea's. You can get it comped while playing too.
     
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  4. The Rumor

    The Rumor VIP Whale

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    yeah, just sit down at a shitty o'sheas VP quarter game, put in a 20, play a couple max bet hands, and ask the dealer for a frozen bailey's. It's a nice little treat. Then take the money and go play somewhere with a better paytable.
     
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  5. rutgers

    rutgers Low-Roller

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    Thank you!! I hate O'Sheas now .... I miss the old O'Sheas! But I will stop in for this!
     
  6. spdandpwr

    spdandpwr VIP Whale

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    Regarding your experience with slots at the Wynn, I've found that there are MUCH better games available on the Encore side. The Wynn side did have some newer games sprinkled about (near parasol up/down) and closer to the outskirts of the casino floor. I wish you stayed a wynn a bit longer as the food selection is amazing. Either way, I loved following along. The trip looked so fun
     
  7. SandsFan

    SandsFan VIP Whale

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    Next trip is solo which means 30 minutes max to pack four days. Used to travel a lot so easy to do. Besides it’s a bit hot so shorts.

    First post retirement trip so no pre trip stress or post trip dragging at work
     
    The 3 P Trip (Paris and Palms)
  8. HHFan

    HHFan VIP Whale

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    That was my thought, although I don’t remember anything standing out when we breezed through there on our way to the north strip. Nonetheless, my wife didn’t want to drag her tired legs over there to check it out that night.

    I’ll talk about it a little more tomorrow in my last couple wrap up posts now that I’m back home and have time, but oddly nothing really jumped out at us dining wise in the complex. If we were there longer I’m sure we would’ve enjoyed whatever we tried, but nothing seemed worth ditching the diamond meal or forcing ourselves into another big meal on this trip. Definitely missed out on having a nice cocktail or two at Parasol Down though, and that’ll be in my list of Vegas regrets for this trip.
     
  9. HHFan

    HHFan VIP Whale

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    I’m struggling with how to format my final thoughts and stray observations, so apologies for the scattershot info.

    -Turns out that Frozen Baileys was not free after all. He ended up charging my card for something even though there was no total on the receipt I signed for the grat. I put in a dispute with my card company just because if I actually signed something showing a total for the drink I might be losing my mind. I hadn’t been drinking that day, so that wouldn’t explain it.

    -Sent an email to Identity and was informed that I did meet Gold for next year. No explanation for why the site calc was so different, but it now also reflects the right info now. Overshot by 2,000 tier points, so I didn’t need to buy the gift card. Guess we’re just going to have to go back to Vegas and use it within the next year, what a shame. :haha:

    -Service across the board at Cosmo was amazing, with the notable exception of the Sports Book bar. This seems to be the case on every trip, with one bartender in particular, who’s name I always forget, that is always a jerk. It’s so odd when everyone else is so good.

    -Drink service was frequent on the floor, although my wife mentioned the pours still seemed light. That was not the case in HL, where I was legitimately given a full glass of Woodford.
     
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  10. The Rumor

    The Rumor VIP Whale

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    Don't give them a card at the bar...just leave a cash tip.
     
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  11. HHFan

    HHFan VIP Whale

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    Gambling

    In a word, ouch. $10,000 coin in with a $2700 loss at Cosmo. An absolutely brutal trip slot wise, as we just couldn’t get anything going after some good hits right after we arrived. We tried a variety of games and dropped our bet level a bit, hoping something would pop eventually. Three trips in a row with $2K plus loss on a similar amount of coin in. We’ll have to reconsider our gaming options if/when comps dry up, as it’s hard to believe our luck could be much worse than it has been at Cosmo. They’ve got the games we like and it’s our favorite hotel though, so that’ll be tough to finally do.

    Most enjoyable games were Piggy Bankin’ and Huff n Puff for my wife, while I spent a decent amount of time on Ultimate Fire Link. Basically any time we could get $200+ coin-in with our initial $100 in the machine we considered it a win. Things were that bleak after those initial few wins on day 1.

    Played a limited amount of VP due the drink ticket issues at Cosmo and our guests not being interested. Tried some $5 VP for the first time, stakes were probably a little too high for me. I’ll do it on slots, but for some reason knowing I’m impacting the result makes it more unnerving. Had one 4OAK between the two of us, never got up much and had a few sessions where we burned through cash quickly.

    Did not play craps or BJ, which I had hoped to do on this trip. I figured those would be good group games, but they didn’t have the bankroll to participate. Did play some LIR on our last day at Harrah’s, as that used to be my wife and I’s game when we first met and we’re just trying to milk the casino for drinks. I lost and my wife walked away even, which is a good result for a carnival game.
     
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  12. HHFan

    HHFan VIP Whale

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    I gave them my card with my order as I expected to pay for the drink. He presented a zero total check with a gratuity line, so I put the grat on the card since he’d already run it. If I had known going in that it was going to be free I would’ve just tipped cash.

    I’m just confused as to why he would go back and charge me, as I’ve never met a bartender who cared if the bar was making money. I hope they actually respond to the inquiry so I can see the receipt again, but I wouldn’t be surprised if a resort doing big revenues doesn’t bother with such a small chargeback.
     
  13. spdandpwr

    spdandpwr VIP Whale

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    I've been there in the gambling rut. A couple of times I've been to Vegas and I've left with a 30-40% Hold...In other words, disproportionately high losses relative to the wins. I've changed how I play slots and it seems to have helped immensely. Specifically, if you have a hot hand, stay on the machine...don't hit and run because you actually earn more if you stay there a little longer (handpay and massive wins notwithstanding). Second, if the day is cold, don't chase it. Come back the next day. These changes have brought me closer to a 10-15% hold, which is the difference of a couple of grand. OH, and my coin-in is much higher so they can't argue comps.
     
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  14. HHFan

    HHFan VIP Whale

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    Yeah, that’s all I’m looking for. I’d like to get to the point where our trip are closer to 15% loss than 25-30%. I know slots are a losing proposition, just want to get the fair entertainment and comp value for the money.

    I agree with the hot machine idea, unfortunately my wife tends to play a bit more scared and she was the one hitting the wins this time. If she gets up $100-200 on a machine she won’t allow herself to go negative before cashing out. I’ll play it down to zero trying to get the next one.

    Also it pains me to say this but I’m officially breaking up with 3 reel Wonka. Put $300 through with one $15 Slugworth bonus to show for it. The machine at Luxor got me hooked on slots 5-6 years ago when it turned a $100 bill into $300-500 on 4 separate occasions, but I’ve suffered heavy losses ever since. Also the ones at Cosmo are very clearly on their last legs given the display and audio quality.

    I should also say in fairness to Cosmo we had no better luck at Wynn with $400 loss on $1400 coin in. Smaller sample size of course, so not a totally fair comparison given the variance on slots.
     
    Last edited: Aug 19, 2019
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  15. julia

    julia VIP Whale

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    Nice! I have yet to win on Heidi but maybe Hannah will be good to me! I’ll look for this at Cosmo!
     
  16. spdandpwr

    spdandpwr VIP Whale

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    Yeah, I used to lose a lot at the Wynn. My last trip I lost 800 on 30k coin-in lol. Played Cleopatra for a good 3 hours straight and took my 100 to 700 during that time. I like to slow my play down when playing slots... Also, I throw in table games to mix up the variance a little. Roulette mainly since it comps out better
     
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  17. HHFan

    HHFan VIP Whale

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    Feelings on Wynn from a Cosmo loyalist. I'll warn you this is a little long. I'll make up for it with quicker points in my final wrap up.

    We'd been interested in trying Wynn out for years based on glowing reviews from others, but did not want to pay for a room anywhere other than Cosmo and generally had satisfactory comp offers elsewhere when Cosmo's comp/rate didn't make sense. The no paid stay rule was set in stone after SW's actions were revealed and the company responded in a way that I felt was insufficient. Thankfully the Wynn Slots app allowed us to stay for two nights free with no spend and relatively little effort.

    We'd walked through the property a few times previously, but never spent much time inside as it had only been to visit The Buffet. Staying as guests really allowed us to take in just how beautiful the design and art is throughout. We've never stayed at Aria/Bellagio and our time at V/P was before we really took note of these sorts of things, but it's hard to believe any other resort does better visually. The lobby carousel display obviously gets the most attention since it's out front and over the top, but the check-in area, the elevators, the pool, it just goes on and on. I truly wish we had more time to wander the resort, and if this had been a trip for total relaxation (which I think is what Wynn/Encore is really meant for) we likely would have explored every last nook of the property. The resort certainly lived up to expectations in this regard.

    As for service, I didn't find it particularly pleasant or attentive. No team member stood out as going beyond, the cocktail servers were pretty curt, and the service at Charlie's bar was poor. Most speak as though the service here in unsurpassed and I certainly didn't see any of that, but I wouldn't hold anything against them other than the guys at Charlie's. I only bring it up because our expectations were so high, and we feel like we receive wonderful service across the board at Cosmo (which generally doesn't have the same positive rep). The service here didn't feel like it met that level, let alone exceed it. It could be that we did not have enough interactions where employees could show that special touch, so I don't want to read too much into it.

    We were given a double room, rather than the standard King. That was a disappointment, as a double bed is a tight fit under normal circumstances and even more so when you're hot/bloated from too much eating/drinking. We had to sleep in separate beds as a result, which is not how we wanted to spend our nights. Nothing we could do about that though as you're going to get whatever is left when your using a Wynn Slots comp. Just thought it was odd that a property of this caliber had doubles rather than queens, especially when it seemed like there was a surplus of floor space in the room. I found the layout odd overall, because of all that empty space and the two chairs on the sides of the dresser. It may have seemed more out of place having come from the more apartment like Cosmo room.

    The views from the large windows were beautiful, and the auto drapes worked wonderfully. Alexa was a nice little perk, although I'm unsure the ability to control the drapes/lights/thermostat and listen to music is worth the tradeoff of having a listening device in your hotel room. The bathroom was a bit of a disappointment other than the tub which easily fit two for a soak. The shower was much too small, the trade off for having the larger tub, and water pressure was so-so. The biggest issue was that the shower barely drained at all, we had water up to the bottom of the glass door by the end of the shower each time. Not the type of condition I would expect given the attention to detail elsewhere. There was also an issue with the deadbolt on the door not engaging unless I physically lifted the door up by the handle to get it aligned with the opening. Another item I would not expect at a place with Wynn's rep.

    The pool area was absolutely stunning, a true oasis in the desert. If it wasn’t hotter than hell you’d never know you were in Vegas. For me, that was actually a bit of a downside as I prefer to be in “Vegas” when I’m in Vegas. This is certainly a personal preference, as there was nothing to complain about with the pools themselves. Only oddity was the number of lap swimmers and louder business/money conversations. Basically the total opposite of our experiences at the Cosmo pools.

    As I said previously, we didn’t end up eating anything on property. We moved over to Wynn late on the day of check in, and didn’t feel like a big breakfast when we woke the following morning. The cafe line was way too long for us to wait for a quick coffee and sandwich or pastry, and nothing on the Tableau or Terrace Pointe menus convinced us to sit down. For Wynn’s guests additional quick service options might be worthless, but we would have appreciated them. We were out during the day and had our diamond celebration dinner to use so there were no other opportunities to eat on property.

    The location was not as much of a minus as I thought, and given that the resort is meant to be an escape it’s secluded location is a benefit. It was a quick walk to properties on the north end, and since we haven’t spent as much time in those as resorts on the south end this was a nice change of pace.

    Overall I’m glad we had the opportunity to stay, but I don’t not feel like it’s a good match for what we want out of our Vegas trips. We want to be surrounded by the excitement, energy, and Vegas of it all, rather than in a beautiful luxury oasis. The older, more traditional luxury vibe was also not as good a fit for us in general. I certainly understand the appeal of the property, and it is breathtakingly gorgeous, but it’s not the right one for us at this point.
     
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  18. UnicornTX

    UnicornTX High-Roller

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    Your words match my thoughts exactly. I absolutely love luxury but in Vegas I want the energy and excitement of Vegas too. Thanks for sharing your report!
     
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  19. HHFan

    HHFan VIP Whale

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    Had a bunch of lists type up yesterday, but timed out before I got around to hitting post.

    Top Bites of Food
    1. Octopus at Estiatorio Milos
    2. Porchetta Sandwich at Lardo
    3. Dan Dan Mian at China Poblano
    4. Al Pastor taco at Tacos El Gordo
    5. Pork Belly Bun at Momofuku

    Top Sweets
    1. Champagne Nama Chocolate at Royce (Grand Canal Shops)
    2. Strawberry Champagne Marscapone Donut at District Donuts
    3. Vietnamese Coffee Pudding at Bacchanal Buffet
    4. Frozen Bailey’s at O’Shea’s
    5. Sugar cookie at Cosmo HL

    Top Beers
    1. Bubble Stash IPA - Hop Valley Brewing (Linq Sportsbook)
    2. Homestyle IPA - Bearded Iris Brewing (Momofuku)
    3. Dirty Dog IPA - Big Dog Brewing (Liquor store)
    4. Mural Aqua Fresca - New Belgium (Cosmo Pool)
    Bonus SF pick: Denogginizer DIPA - Drake’s Brewing Company

    Top Non-Beer Drink
    1. San Remo - Scarpetta
    2. Mr Miyagi - Chandelier
    3. Vietnamese Iced Coffee - District Donuts
    4. Tall glass of Woodford Reserve - Cosmo HL
    5. Bellini - Cosmo HL

    Most disappointing F&B
    1. Pad Thai at Pok Pok
    2. Any desert at Wicked Spoon
    3. Short rib appetizer at Scarpetta
    4. Cupcakes at Bacchanal Buffet
    5. Superfuzz Blood Orange Pale Ale - Elysian Brewing (Cosmo Sportsbook)

    I’ll post a few more non F&B ones in a separate post. Don’t want to make the same mistake.
     
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  20. HHFan

    HHFan VIP Whale

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    Saddest casino
    Slots of Fun

    Most confusing casino
    TI

    Casino trying something different that I’m really liking
    The Linq

    Most recognizable casino scents
    1. Flamingo
    2. Mirage
    3. Harrah’s

    Best place to catch a contact high
    1. Casino Royals
    2. Cosmo Terrace

    How to stop a Strip tourist
    Bellagio revolving doors

    Percentage of photo hawking show girls that fit the look
    5%

    Best place to get offered drugs
    Miracle Mile doors

    Worst audience participation entertainment
    What Harrah’s calls Karaoke

    Best audience participation entertainment
    Miss Behave Game Show at Bally’s (see it!)

    Best service
    1. Cosmo Front Desk
    2. Momofuku
    3. Slot attendant at Casino Royale

    Worst service
    1. Every single employee at Mirage
    2. Charlie’s Bar at Wynn
    3. Cosmo Sportsbook Bar
    Bonus SF entry - Every single service employee in the city. I get living on a service wage in the most expensive metro has to be miserable, but it was absurd how poor it was everywhere. I don’t think people appreciate how great Vegas is in this regard.

    High point of the trip
    1. Walking into Cosmo feeling the full excitement and anticipation for what lies ahead. No better feeling in life than those first few hours in Vegas where anything is still possible
    2. Running onto the stage in Miss Behave and chugging a beer to give our side the show win

    Low moment of the trip
    Schlepping back and forth to Jockey Club doing laundry while my wife got her massage, ruminating on all the things we could have done if we hadn’t traveled with anyone else

    Things we missed
    1. Ghost Donkey
    2. Secret Pizza (first trip since Cosmo opened we didn’t do this)
    3. Seeing the hawk at Wynn pool
    4. Seeing more than one show
    5. Having a big “activity” planned

    When we want to return to Vegas
    Right now

    Thanks all for following along! I love reading everyone else’s reports, so I always make sure to add to the pile. Vegas is a very special place, and VMB represents it well.
     
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