I’m going back....

This will be my first trip report. I haven’t been to Vegas in about 5 years.
Last time started out with a Friday pool party at the Palms, followed by dinner at STK and then clubbing at Marquee. Then the next morning at a pool party again. That night I was in bed early. My brain wants to be 26 again. My body is not a fan.

(I used to go to Vegas at least once a month from 1998-2004. Work trips that spilled into weekends. Stayed at every hotel on the strip that existed during those years).

Time before that was for a youth soccer tournament (I coach as a hobby ) where I turned $150 into $2,500 playing blackjack until 3 am before a 10 am soccer game.

Flying in Thursday with my wife and another couple. Staying at Encore (other husband got a special “poker” rate. Didn’t seem like that great of a deal, but he took the time to book rooms, so I’m not gonna argue with him.)
Coming in from So Cal via Orange County. We plan to land around 5pm and already be a little drunk. (Maybe a lot).

Not a big bankroll- hoping my wife lets me loose with $500 per day. And a few hundred for her.

I told the crew that the only thing i care about doing is a mid-afternoon stop at Frankie’s Tiki Room for a few drinks on Friday. Never been and the reports on this board make me want to check it out. I told the crew about it and they want to check it out.

They have friends that live in Vegas as a “throuple”. Guy, his wife and their girlfriend. They all live together. Looking forward to seeing how this dynamic works. (Who has the energy to keep 2 women happy? I don’t even mean physically. Just the mental/emotional side would be daunting).

No plans to go clubbing, but it could happen. I just don’t have it in me at 45 years old with a wife and 3 kids to spend a few thousand dollars to listen to “DJ Button Pusher featuring Lil Who Gives a F” play tunes from their Mac book. There’s better ways to waste money in Vegas.

I like blackjack and prefer to start at cheap tables ($10-$15) and press when it feels right. I table hop if the vibe is bad. Makes it hard to get comps, but keeps the bankroll in tact when there’s a cooler at the table. If I go up a little, I like to play some craps and 3-card poker. I don’t really understand craps, but it sure can be fun.

Wife likes blackjack and slots. But I have a hard time playing blackjack at the same table as her. She gets freaked out if I’m pressing and I don’t need that kind of negative energy.

We’ll be drinking a lot. Beer, whiskey/bourbon and tequila for me. Vodka and tequila for my wife. We’ll either have a great time or wind up wanting to kill each other.

Considered stopping for some weed, but it’s been a while. Last few times I smoked/ate something, I was a mess. Thinking a vacation without the kids for the first time in a long time is best spent without being a blubbering stoner all night.

Might place a few sports bets. USA v Canada on Friday night in Soccer. MSU v Michigan (blow me harbaugh) on Saturday. And maybe an NCAA hoops future bet on MSU.

We fly home Saturday afternoon.
Not sure if this will be live or if I’ll post after we get home.

 

I, for one, am really looking forward to seeing how this goes!

This is very reality based, and it could get interesting. Or it could cool.

Stay tuned!

 

Amen brother...Good luck!

 

Have a great time! I’m sure you know from reading trip reports, but those drinks at Frankie’s are no joke. Looking forward to the updates!

 

Not a good idea. When I play at the tables on our Vegas trips together, the last thing I need is for the wife to watch how I'm betting. Negative energy for sure!!

 

I feel you and I'm barely 38!

 

Seems very aligned to my interests. Following along!

 

Looking forward to the report.

 

This absolutely sums up the whole "club" non-experience...well said!

 

Ooh this could get messy. I'm in! Lol.

 

Have a blast! Following along.

 

This could be a great 24 hour trip. Looking foreard to hear how it goes. Just be sure to get 1 good run at BJ. Good Luck

 

2 day trip. Flying in Thursday late afternoon. Flying back on Saturday late afternoon.

 

Following!

 

Good Luck,,,,,I'm in for the ride!

 

Wheels up in about 6 hours. Which means wheels down in about 7. Can’t start drinking yet- I have a few client meetings. They are remote, so I’ll be in shorts and a dress shirt in case I need to be on camera.

Here’s an obligatory pre-trip cat picture.


Yeah, I know. That’s a dog. But she’s the size of a cat. Yorkie-ShiTzu mix. They call it a “Shorkie” these days. Would have been a “mutt” back in the day. Awesome little thing. She thrives on barking at small lizards in the backyard and sleeping on soft blankets. If she ever caught a lizard, I fear for her safety. She couldn’t hurt a fly. But she did (accidentally) murder a baby bunny a year ago.

 

Good luck and have fun!

 

Details!!!

 

Day / night 1 was solid.
Arrived a John Wayne Airport (which there is a petition to change the name. Apparently he was a racist.). Hit Javiers for a quick bit to eat and drinks.
Me: 1 draft modelo beer
Wife: 2 margaritas
Poker Guy: 1 margarita
Poker guy wife: 1 margarita
Had a little credit card trouble when trying to pay the bill and leave, but got it straightened out. No big deal, but we were flying southwest. We were all “A” group seats, but the delay in paying the bill put us at the end of c group. All middle seats and all separate from each other.
None of us are giant fatasses, so whoever we sat by couldn’t have been to upset. Planes make me sleep like a baby (which means I woke up screaming and pooped in my diaper).

Airport was uneventful. Cab ride took forever. We complained to our cab driver that he took the wrong route. He apologized and was cool about it. Said he tried to avoid some accident. He offered to give us back $6.00 but we declined.

Bit of a hiccup with check in. Apparently Poker Guy confirmed with his poker host a few times that we had 2 rooms at the poker rate. $139 for Thursday and $199 for Friday. Front desk told us they only had 1 room for us at those rates. After about 15 minutes, they straightened it out.

I’m always amazed by some of the ******y things I see in Vegas. Some bro rolled up to the front desk wearing a sequined bathrobe. With blinged our “Versace” on the back. Unless you are Floyd ‘Mayweather or your last name is actually “Versace” there is no reason to walk around in public like that. May as well just wear a clown suit and a big red wig. His buddy was wearing jeans and a button down. I wanted to ask them if the robe came with a lifetime supply of Summers Eve. (I’ll post a picture later)

After we checked in, we grabbed drinks at the bar near the elevators. I was going to take it easy to start and ordered a bud light. Wife got s captain and coke. Poker guy got a lychee martini. His wife a captain and coke.

We arrived too late for me to bet on the MSU v Seton Hall hoops game. Good thing too. MSU was favored by 6. I would have lost $50 since they won by 3. So I consider this my first win of the night.

Will post the rest of the night a little later. Dinner. Drinks. Gambling. In bed by 2am. Poker guy was still out when I went upstairs.