Family in The Caribbean, no problem

I broke my first rule of flying for this trip. I booked a ticket on spirit airlines and am writing this while sitting in seat 2A on my way to Vegas for three nights solo. I purchased the extra large seat and I do have to say it’s pretty comfortable. I feel bad for the the peasants in the 36 rows behind me. My back is hurting just thinking about those tiny hard seats.

My family is on a Caribbean vacation for Thanksgiving and I wasn’t able to take enough time off of work to justify two long days of travel. I could either spend Thanksgiving alone in Oregon or spend a few nights in Vegas, easy choice. I have three nights comped at Planet Hollywood in an ultra hip king.

This is my 7th trip to Vegas in 2019 and second since my last and first trip report. My Vegas trips are all fairly similar focusing on gambling most of the day, drinking all day, one show, and one decent meal. The bankroll for this trip is $1,000 per day with a backup of an extra $500 per day if I’m still having fun. If you remember my last trip report in August it will consist of craps, blackjack, and some video poker. I learned DDB strategy since August and have hit a few premium quads at my local since. It’s so much more satisfying hitting the higher payout but $100’s sure do go quickly. I like report exact numbers in trip reports for personal records and for you all to follow along with.

I’ve recently became hooked on betting $5 hard ways and parlaying them Dr. Mike style from the podcast You Can Bet on That. I know it’s a terrible bet but it really adds to the excitement of craps when there is $50 on both the hard eight and hard six.

I was most recently in Vegas 11/1-11/5 and thought it would be too much work to keep a trip report updated since it was a family trip. It initially was supposed to be a father son trip until my sister and mom decided they wanted to go. At that point I figured I might as well invite my brother too and make it a family trip. I was able to get two rooms comped at the Rio for four nights. I surprised my parents and upgraded their room to the Caricao suit. The room was beautiful and huge. Say what you want about the Rio but I love it there. Yes, it’s run down and could use some upgrades and the restaurants aren’t the best but I love the casino. The sports bar is a great place to play video poker and the dealers are some of the friendliest in Vegas, especially the craps dealers. There was even $5 craps every morning and all of Friday and Sunday night. If it was located on the strip I’d stay there every visit.

I introduced my brother to craps and we played late into the night and drank way too many bourbons. The highlight of the trip was Le Reve at the Wynn. We purchased the cheapest tickets on tix4tonight and they turned out to be first row. We were definitely splashed with water a few times. While watching the performers I kept thinking to myself that I need to work out more.

We also saw The Rat Pack is Back at Tuscany. I first saw the show in Reno this past May and loved it. It does great job of taking you back in time to old Vegas. The actor that plays Dean Martin really steals the show with his one liners. It was essentially the same show as it was in May and I liked it as much as the first time. I highly recommend it. The food highlight of the trip was pork belly at one of the Asian restaurants at the Wynn. Wish I could remember the name but I think there was a lot of red inside the restaurant. I was very disappointed in the food and service at Gordon Ramsey Pub in Caesars. The food was mediocre and it took forever for the server to come to our table. Wasted my celebration dinner on that one.

I redeemed my diamond tickets for Bronx Wanderers and let mom and dad use them. I had no interest in seeing it but was told it was really good.

Gambling for the trip consisted mostly of losing but was able to hit two parlayed hard 6’s late on the last night to bring the loss down to only $1200.

Plans for the trip are: Atomic Solomon Friday night, free Wynn buffet before the show unless there’s a long line, a day downtown at the D and Golden Gate playing craps, and one nice meal to be determined. After checking in this morning I’m heading to the Cosmo sports book to catch a buzz while placing some football parlays. I know nothing about football so I may as well flip a coin. I have no idea what to do for Thanksgiving meal but might just skip it to avoid the crowds.

I think I’ve rambled way too much for an introduction and am about to put in the Irishman on Netflix for the remaining hour and 50 minutes of the flight. I’ll post this when I land with a picture of an upset dog while I was packing. What’s up with no WiFi on Spirit? It’s 2019 guys. At least they have Lagunitas IPA on the flight. Not my favorite Lagunitas beer but it’ll do.

I almost forgot this. I worked a 13 hour day yesterday and didn’t get in bed until 11 last night. I had alarms set at 2 AM and every minute after until 2 15. I must have hit the snooze alarm until 3 30 until I frantically woke up. I threw on my clothes I had laid out the night before, brushed my teeth and was in my car and on the road for my hour drive at 3 45 for my 6 AM flight. Almost woke up with a heart attack. All’s see that ends well.

See you guys in Vegas!

 

Poor pup!

Congrats on being a carryon guy!

 

And I made it. It’s so nice leaving the plane from row two and not dealing with ten minutes of people standing in the aisle getting off the plane. I timed my Lyft perfectly and will be at the hotel in 5 minutes. This is the one part of the trip where my hopes and dreams can still come true. I’m looking forward to a shower beer and starting the day.

 

Checked into PH o. The 19th floor with a fountain view. I forgot to ask for a room without the window art over it. The only upgrade available was a panoramic suit for $50 a night. I’ve been in one before and they’re really nice but I have no need for a room like that this trip. Maybe next time if I bring a date. The room is clean and comfortable but it’s a bit dark like all PH rooms. Touch down to the room in 22 minutes. Fastest time yet!

 

Cute pup; where is puppy spending Thanksgiving?

Have a fabulous trip!

 

After unpacking and showing I walked over to Cosmo and say at the sports bar to grab a few drinks and start the trip. I was expecting 7/5 bonus poker like the chandelier bar has been in the past but found 6/5. I started with a light beer and clamoring juice. The first drink ticket came at 20 identity points and the second at 45. I took a mimosa and sugar free red bull to go and walked over to a $15 craps table. I rolled well but pressed enough before severing out and left after. 45 minutes with a $20 profit on V.P. and $40 at craps. I did hit one premium quad

I too a Lyft to the D a bought in for $500 at a $5 table. I rolled amazing three different times. My shortest roll was five minutes. On my second roll I hit a parlayed $5 hard 8 for $450. I played $5 on the pass line 4-5x odds with 2-3 come bets for two hours. I was rated at $100 for 2 hours and colored up for a $835 profit.




I’m currently at the D Grill having a cob salad for a light lunch.

I was contacted by a host at the D after my last trip telling me to contact her about any future trips. I responded right away describing my play, offers at CET, and that I would stay downtown this trip if she would come rooms. I received a response this morning saying they don’t match offers. She’s lying because I know they would for the right player. I spoke to a host after my craps session and he said he’d come me a suite at the D this weekend or my next trip for similar play. I switched over to him. I’m disappointed. I really wanted to try an entire trip DT but didn’t want to gamble on backend comps.

After lunch I’ll probably wander over to the GG for more craps.

Drink count is 6. I’m behind schedule.

 

Thanks! She’s currently at the doggy hotel. She tolerates it well enough but doesn’t love it. Not as comfortable as a couch or a bed. She’s socially awkward and doesn’t play with other dogs unless they’re her size. She’s more of a spectator.

 

I love that they have a puppy cam so you can see her when you are away. My boys LOVE the pup hotel (they go crazy as we approach and pull to get in) but ours doesn’t have the webcam...we just get daily text or email updates.

 

This pretty much sums up my night. I have a pack of cigarettes and I don’t smoke. I remember some of the Lyft rude home and my receipt says I got back to PH at 2:30.

After finishing the salad I went back to the D’s craps table and dropped $500. I walked in the rain over to GG and my notes say -395 at craps. I played double deck blackjack in the high limit room for a few hours and had a blast doing shots with two other people at the table. I have $22 less than I started the day with. Not a bad first day. I just took 800mg of ibuprofen and am considering room service for breakfast hoping it will make me feel less like death.

 

And I found a $500 atm receipt lol. Looks like I am down $522 after all of my expenses. I know I won the craps dealers more than that last night. It seemed like I was the only one tipping the dealers last night. They were super appreciative of it. I always ask if they’ll stack the tips instead of dropping them. It’s fun to see how much they earned.

I had one blackjack dealer in the D’s high limit room who was no fun at all. She looked like she was miserable and hated her job. I stopped tipping her after 20 hands when she never said thank you after wins. I don’t expect much from dealers but do think they should acknowledge The tips every time.

I now remember that I played baccarat last night. I don’t really know how to play. The dealer was great and let me try and and figure out which side needed to take a hit and which side won. The game just isn’t for me.

The Wynn app won’t let me cancel my free buffet. I just don’t think I’m willing to travel that far north to stand in line for food. I’m trying to motivate myself to shower and head down to the bar. I need a drink to feel better badly. I look pretty terrible at the moment. My eyes are blood shot, my face looks puffy, and need to shave. But in better news 31 new girls like me on the Bumble app.

It looks like a beautiful sunny day out there. I’ve been laughing at the people from California in their big puffy jackets. I grew up in North Dakota and Minnesota. 48 degrees is perfect for me. I’m hoping my next update has a picture of my first royal or some yellow chips. $1,000 is the most I’m willing to lose today. No more trips to the ATM!

 

I made it down to the casino and proceeded to stand over a toilet hoping to throw up. I couldn’t force myself too and hoped that booze would make me feel better. I got a clamoto beer at the heart bar but couldn’t last sitting there. Had to go back to the room to lay down. I’m looking at the room service menu now. Can’t decide between breakfast or a burger. I hate paying the 19% service charge and the $8 fee. Does the service charge count as a tip?

 

Hope you are feeling better.

 

Ok, after two beers and a mimosa I’m feeling better. I had a burger with grilled onions and fries in my room while watching the rangers bruins hockey game on tv. I made a lie bet when the bruins were down 2-0 half way through the second at +800 to win $40. I think I’m ready to put on pants and walk over to Paris to play some craps. It’s been a while since I felt like that in Vegas. I need to remember I’m 32 and not 22. I think I’ll try and keep it to beer today.

 

I got caught up at the tables and couldn’t update this. Once I finished my room service and three drinks I was feeling good enough to put in pants and start the day. I walked over to Paris and took a $500 marker out in the craps table. I can’t remember anything significant but paid off the marker and profited $126

I walked through Paris to Bally’s high limit from for some baccarat.i didn’t stay long and won 32. I then moved to the craps table and quickly lost $250 of my $500 buy in and called it quits.

I then went to Cromwell to play $10. They eventually moved it to a $15. It was a fun table and I left with a $51 profit.

From there I went to the flamingo for more craps. They only had $15 tables which was surprising. This table was great. Many points were hit and I hit a parlayed hard 6 for $450. The dealers and shooter was thrilled to. I always piggy back the hard ways for an extra dollar and usually put $5 on for the shooter once it hits the first time.




I left the table with an $870 win.

I then walked back to PH in the cold windy evening and got a slice of porchetta and arugula pizza at Pin-Up pizza. The crust was crunchier then I prefer for NY style.


I lost $275 at craps, won $600 at BJ with an average rating of $50, won $99 at craps with a $105 average bet, then won another $70 at Bj.

I decided to calm it a night at 10 45 and head to the room. I mostly kept to beer all day and only have a slight buzz. I’ll probably still be hurting tomorrow.

It was a great gambling day with a win of $1,123. I have an extra $817 in my wallet from when I started the trip.

I’m going to finish the Irishman on Netflix then pass out. I hope to go to Atomic saloon tomorrow and have a nice dinner. After playing with the dealers in the blackjack pit I’ve realized how badly I need to work out. Some phenomenal figures on those women. Fingers crossed it’s a mild hangover tomorrow!

 

Looks like I earned 1027 tier credits today. I might maintain diamond this year. With the 1,000 TC bonus I’m at 1369. If the gambling is decent tomorrow I should hit it.

 

Good stuff so far! Yeah not sure why Spirit or Frontier don't have wifi. If they charged 10 bucks a person, i assume they would make money off it. And Cosmo bartop VP has been 6/5 Bonus for 25c-50c and 7/5 for $1-$2.

 

Good morning Vegas! I feel so much better today than yesterday. I still took 800 mg of ibuprofen and a pedialite to be safe. I fell asleep watching the Irishman and so far I love it. I highly recommend it.

I’m taking a lazy morning laying in bed watching Gone in 60 Seconds on TV planning out the day. It’ll probably be more of the same as yesterday but with less alcohol and a sit down meal. My fitness band says my resting gear rate increased from 56 to 67. Not good.

I talked a lot with the pit boss at the PH craps table last night and discovered that he has a podcast , Two Morons Talking. I plan on giving it a listen at some point. I jokingly asked if I could be a guest at some point

I’m going to give myself 15 more minutes of laying in bed before jumping in the shower. Steak and eggs sounds like a good way to start the day.

 

Watched The Irishman last night! Fabulous and didn’t feel like it was 3-1/2 hours long. My hubby hates long movies, but not this one. Acting was phenomal! Definitely Oscar-worthy.

 

Someone from the hotel just knocked on my door, handed me these and said, “ these are complimentary for you.” Kind of strange. Am I right in assuming I can keep them? Can’t say I’ve ever worn a robe before. They need to start delivering beer instead.

Just ordered steak and eggs, a beer, and a mimosa to my room. I’m in no hurry to start the day.

 

And I’m stuffed. Decent enough breakfast. Not worth $72 after tip but that’s Vegas. The beer is almost gone and I’ll start on the mimosa. The juice is really pulpy and I love it. I’ve never had mimosas with pulp before.

I’m starting to get the itch to throw some dice all afternoon until it’s time to dress up for the evening. Atomic Saloon may or may not happen. Dinner will be at Koi. I looked at the menu and the wasabi braised short ribs jumped out at me. Does any one have a better option off the menu?