Diamond Nevyn rides again - SF/Vegas semi live

Trip kicks off today.

Hopefully you will all forgive starting with some non Vegas content, as today will be a mostly travel day to San Francisco, tomorrow is all about the Niners Seahawks MNF game, and I'm not getting into Vegas until Tuesday night.

What to look forward to in this trip report:

• A VIP tailgate experience before MNF
• One more tour of abuse of tier matched CET Diamond benefits.
• 3 nights PHo (the last a checkout day) and two at Wynn.
• Aerosmith
• Some more really bad poker
• Other shows and restaurants TBD based on diamond show availability and whether I like the Cut of the Week menu when released.

 

A long day of airport waiting has now begun, so a good time for a write up.

This trip is another adventure through travel hackery. Aeroplan lets you do one domestic stopover destination for the same miles as a round trip, so a good chance to get in a prime time game on my way to Vegas. The sf hotel, paid for with Marriott points. The Vegas hotels, comps through CET with no resort fee thanks to diamond status, and then Wynn room earned through Wynn slots.

Throw in the diamond dining credit, some Rewards Credits from a 10x multiplier day at Caesars Windsor, and this becomes a very economical little trip, especially with family treating me to my VIP tailgate experience, and to Aerosmith.

Biggest non gaming expense for the second trip in a row? Boarding the cat.

Today is going to be a long day, to be documented for posterity, but if i were you i would not check back breathlessly for updates today. At a regional airport now, then on to YYZ for a long wait watching football in the premium lounge before flight to SF. So todays updates will mainly be lounge food and travel minutiae.

 

How do you kill time for a flight at a Canadian regional airport? Watch curling..

 

At Pearson. The plaza premium lounge in this terminal is hot garbage. Full, has a service bar and they’ve suddenly made every beer but Molson Canadian a surcharge.

So sitting here drinking draft Canadian and eating meh Penne and Meatballs.

 

Dinner ...

 

Dessert

 

WORTH EVERY PENNY

 

Good luck!

 

Safely landed at sf and stuck on the plane waiting for a gate agent to move the ramp as i sweat the outcome of the trips first gamble ... a round trip voucher for the BART i cant use if i don’t get to the booth in 26 minutes ...

Edit: made it with 10 minutes to spare

 

Got to the Palace Hotel and checked in without incident. Smallish room in sq ft but marvelous high ceilings

 

Well breakfast plans escalated quickly. Thought i would do a nice light breakfast next door at the Sentinel but it seems to be closed. Wasn’t going to do a Starbucks or Macdonalds thing so decided to just eat at the hotel.

And with a la carte prices high anyway, the siren call of the smoked salmon at the buffet won me over.



That should hold me until tailgate time ...

Relaxing in my room and then maybe a swim before i start the days travels.

 

This is not my first trip to SF so not giant tourist binge. Just a walk down to the Ferry Building, some sitting on the dock of the bay, a little strolling about, and then the walk all the way to Caltrain.

Between the swim and the 12k steps and counting Id say I’ve worked off that breakfast. Now begins the pilgrimage to the stadium.

Random pics

 

Prepare for lots of traffic and a long drive, since the stadium is in Santa Clara. San Jose airport is lots closer.
Enjoy the game! I’m jealous-grew up in the Bay Area, 49er fan for 50 years.

 

Caltrain to Light rail takes you to the stadium.. should be a breeze.

 

Sounds like a fun trip, enjoy! Following along.

 

Enjoy the game, wish I was there!

 

So apparently even though the vip tailgate i have a ticket for starts 4 hours before game time, the ticket i have wont let me in to where i can access that until 2 hours before.

So i get a lovely vip experience of standing around outside. Fucking horseshit

 

Partys on

 

Graduated from a local ipa to Deschutes nitro stout

Plate #2 a little fancier



I could just spend the day eating the saffron arancini ...

 

And on to a Golden Road red ale.

The stout is the winner so far