1. Welcome to VegasMessageBoard
    It appears you are visiting our community as a guest.
    In order to view full-size images, participate in discussions, vote in polls, etc, you will need to Log in or Register.

Great Offer Adventure, CP/Cal/?, 7/22-?, CZR/TLC/Boyd/?, (Semi-Live)

Discussion in 'Vegas Trip Reports' started by Tarpie, Jul 31, 2020.

Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.
  1. eliza

    eliza Creepy Vegas Friend

    Joined:
    Jun 9, 2014
    Messages:
    6,092
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    12
    I'm sorry for your loss.
     
    • Agree Agree x 2
  2. Tarpie

    Tarpie VIP Whale

    Joined:
    May 23, 2007
    Messages:
    1,233
    Location:
    Northern Virginia
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    86
    Day 26, Sun 8/16,VP, Magnolia's Breakfast, Cal Backend Comps, Move to Cosmo, Holstein's

    One problem with the current state of Vegas is there are few if any 24 hour restaurants. Most of the breakfast restaurants don't open until 7...not ideal because there are just enough people to form a line at that late time. I woke up well before any place was open and was ready to eat. I was just futzing around in the room until I re-read the 11x promo e-mail and saw that it started at midnight Sat night/Sun morning. I just assumed it didn't start until 6 because I'm so used to CZR's promos. So I went downstairs and earned 600 TCs before breakfast. Nothing like being down a few hundred before the first meal of the day :(

    I got to Magnolia's at 7:05 and they had not opened. There were about 7 parties in line. Maybe whoever opens the gate was off fetching eggs? By the time I went and washed my hands and got back they were seating people and it only took a minute or two to get a table. I went for the country-fried steak and a gravy again. It's always a winner at Magnolia's. I did find it amusing that when I asked for rye toast the server wanted to know if marble rye was ok. Is there anyone who would be upset with marble rye?

    IMG_20200816_072445.jpg

    Went back to the Cal to take care of morning ablutions and pack up everything. After that I went to earn 400 TCs at VP. I ended up using a fairly large cash out ticket as my buy-in and then went on a good run. That's when the machine reminded me that Boyd VP ejects any winning that brings your cash in the machine to $1,200. Kind of a pain because I did not have cash to avoid it. In the end I received only two extra tickets. Made back some of what I lost before breakfast, but still finished down on the day.
    IMG_20200816_101303.jpg

    Before checking out I visited the host desk to see if they could reduce the bill at all. The total was supposed to be $200-$300 (not sure and I added on the last Sat night without being clear on the cost). The host looked at my history for quite a bit of time before saying: "I can take care of the whole stay." I was not expecting that! My optimum play theoretical was < $200 for the entire week. But business is hurting so maybe they're just trying to get me back. Or she factored in my earlier stay where I did not ask for comps.

    So the total for a seven night stay at the Cal was the $10/weekday I paid for enhanced wifi. I had charged two meals to the room that were taken care of with a $20 upfront comp and the remainder by the host, and I used points at Tony Roma's during the week. Oh, and I made $3,500 off of VP due to the royal the previous Sunday. Sadly, my streak of hitting a $1 royal on Sundays at the Cal ended at two.

    Loaded up the truck a very happy camper and headed off for the Cosmo. Cosmo had sent me an offer for $99/night and no resort fees, so I pulled the trigger on a Sunday-Friday stay just to see if I can get them to like me going forward.

    At 11:30am the Cosmo check-in area was a zoo. So I purchased a Truly Lemonade Hard-Seltzer (much better than regular Truly) and wandered off to Aria to kill time. I explored more of Aria than I have before. I had never been up to the restaurant level or seen the Buddha near valet. They must have a person in surveillance whose sole job is to watch for homeless people stealing the dollars from Buddha. Hope MGM gives them to a good charity. The Ratatouille inspired art display was entertaining. And I guess all the Gucci and Louis Vitton stores in Vegas have lines.
    IMG_20200816_130745.jpg IMG_20200816_130839.jpg IMG_20200816_132041.jpg

    Cosmo check-in was still a nightmare at 1:30 so I went a killed more time at the Bellagio Conservatory.
    IMG_20200816_143110.jpg IMG_20200816_142937.jpg

    At 3:30 Cosmo check-in was still not socially distanced. This time I noticed the VIP check-in, the Invited Guest check-in, and the Autograph check-in. A little googling said the Autograph check-in is for Marriott "elites." I walked in and asked if Marriott Golds could use the check-in. The answer is no (Platinum and above), but that I could use the Invited guess line in the main lobby. But no one was waiting so they took care of me anyway. Asked for and received a Boulevard tower room. Was upgraded to a one-bedroom terrace facing Planet Hollywood. More on the room in a later report.

    Dinner was at Holstein's. I did not have room for a shake, so just had "The Classic" burger with blue cheese and Garlic-Parmesan Fries. The burger fell apart in my hands. They had lubricated both top and bottom and put a very thick, unripe, slippery piece of tomato on it. I think being in the sun drinking Trulys caught up with me. I was irate :mad: at how horribly they had constructed the burger, probably unreasonably so. The fries were decent but I should not have sprung for the garlic-parmesan. I will say the burger was cooked pretty close to the temp I ordered and tasted fine. And service was fine. I just did not appreciate being forced to eat a burger with a knife and fork.
    IMG_20200816_170751.jpg IMG_20200816_170753.jpg

    Status: Up $23,200 cash on vp. Two quarter royals. Four dollar royals.
    Up next: VP, Cosmo Room, STK
     
    • Like Like x 12
  3. tringlomane

    tringlomane STP Addicted Beer Snob

    Joined:
    Jan 21, 2013
    Messages:
    31,301
    Location:
    Chicagoland
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    28
    Sorry for your loss. I am impressed with your devotion to Vegas though! Going right back at it!
     
    • Agree Agree x 3
  4. eliza

    eliza Creepy Vegas Friend

    Joined:
    Jun 9, 2014
    Messages:
    6,092
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    12
    Strong disagree. Truly's are awesome. Lemonade Truly's are meh. :confused::D:angel:
     
    • Like Like x 1
    • Agree Agree x 1
  5. AyDee

    AyDee is getting too old for this

    Joined:
    Jan 20, 2019
    Messages:
    6,288
    Location:
    City Of Angels
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    888
    That's funny, just the other day, P & I were talking about the superiority of shredded lettuce in a burger, one factor being that slip and slide disintegration, and I noted a fat slice of tomato does the same thing..

    I'd blame that lettuce just as much..

    also same :clap: for the come back, like you said about playing VP, maybe it gets your mind a little off worries about what's past, and useless worries about the future..

    I'm guessing you got a highish room for your wait at Cosmo.
     
    Last edited: Aug 27, 2020
    • Like Like x 1
  6. casinokid68

    casinokid68 Caesars Diamond Member

    Joined:
    Sep 25, 2013
    Messages:
    2,934
    Location:
    brooklyn, ny
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    90
    Not a fan of Holstein's. I know so many people love it, but I never had a good experience there with the food. For the price, there are much better places.
     
    • Agree Agree x 1
  7. Tarpie

    Tarpie VIP Whale

    Joined:
    May 23, 2007
    Messages:
    1,233
    Location:
    Northern Virginia
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    86
    Day 27, Mon 8/17, Work, VP, Cosmo Room, STK

    Another eight hour day, another wrap for lunch. Cosmo wifi was more than up to the challenge of the work VPN.

    My room was on the "50th" floor. But the Cosmo is after Asian gamblers, so there are no 4s in their room numbers. So it was more like the 36th floor. Plenty high, and it was one of the lowest floors on the high bank of elevators so little chance of making a stop on the way up and down. That's something I usually ask for at hotels that have multiple banks: the lowest floor on the highest bank. The lack of 4s makes for an ugly pattern of elevator buttons. And I just noticed there is a fourth floor...but no hotel rooms on that floor so it's OK.
    IMG_20200817_082941.jpg

    The room was on the east side of the Boulevard Tower (facing Planet Hollywood), adjacent to the corner suite on the northeast corner. It unfortunately had a connecting door to the suite where there was definitely at least one party during my stay. Luckily the door between the bedroom and living room did a good job with the noise...until the party moved to the balcony. Street noise was also a little bothersome. It seemed like PH and Cosmo reflect the sound straight up so you can almost make out conversations of people in front of Chick-fil-A. And the Bellagio light to Harmon light is Vegas's own drag strip...I saw multiple cars fish-tail racing each other throughout the week.
    IMG_20200821_114702.jpg IMG_20200821_115138.jpg IMG_20200821_130105.jpg

    Got to live out a twenty plus year Fantasy and shower with Gwen and Christina. Really lucked out not having creepy barefooted Criss Angel peeking in on me.
    IMG_20200821_115112.jpg IMG_20200821_130331.jpg

    Cosmo was running the "Lucky Drop" slot promotion for August. Earning 5,000 Identity Points got you a prize of 1000, 500, 250, 100, 50, 25, or 10 dollars in Identity Play (up to 10 prizes/day). Video poker counted. At $6 coin-in per point at VP it took $30,000 coin-in to earn an entry. Cosmo actually has some decent VP, so I ended up playing 9/6 JoB Spin Poker to earn the 5,000 points. Only cost $400 to win the minimum $10 in FP :confused: Also, when I went to pickup the voucher at the club desk they handed me my new Sterling level card. Woohoo?
    IMG_20200817_162800.jpg IMG_20200817_162805.jpg

    I stumbled across STK while wandering around Cosmo waiting for restaurants to open at 5. Nothing much is open before then and most of the food court is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.

    STK has a great happy hour until 6. $10 wine, $7 appetizers ($7 for beef tartare instead of the normal price of $28), and half-price cocktails. Happy hour is in the bar/lounge only. Perfect for a solo diner. I started with wine and beef tartare (soon to become a theme this trip).
    IMG_20200817_173321.jpg IMG_20200817_172652.jpg

    Pre-entree bread was great, with some kind of herbal olive oil instead of butter. Dinner was a ribeye and $17! creamed spinach. The spinach was good, but I don't think I got $17 enjoyment out of it. The ribeye was delicious. Cooked a perfect medium-rare. And some bearnaise sauce to add even more fat to the meal. Total for two glasses of HH wine, beef tartare, steak, spinach, and bearnaise was $142 pre-tip and was supposed to earn 655 points. But I actually received double points. Not sure if there was some kind of promo or a glitch, but I happily took the extra $6.55 in comps.
    IMG_20200817_172940.jpg IMG_20200817_174638.jpg

    Status: Up $22,800 cash on vp. Two quarter royals. Four dollar royals.
    Up next: Work, VP, China Poblano
     
    • Like Like x 10
  8. Tarpie

    Tarpie VIP Whale

    Joined:
    May 23, 2007
    Messages:
    1,233
    Location:
    Northern Virginia
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    86
    Thank you.

    I probably did have time to drive back home and end the Vegas trip, but this week is the CZR Cycle promotion, which was supposed to be profitable. Also, I want take an actual vacation on the way back...still to be determined what that will entail.
     
    • Like Like x 3
  9. Tarpie

    Tarpie VIP Whale

    Joined:
    May 23, 2007
    Messages:
    1,233
    Location:
    Northern Virginia
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    86
    I'm still mad about that burger falling apart and it happened almost two weeks ago.

    Highish is how I would describe the 50th floor. And judging by the smell in the hallway plenty of people on the floor were high. :)
     
    • Funny Funny x 5
  10. vegas superfan

    vegas superfan VIP Whale

    Joined:
    Sep 14, 2010
    Messages:
    4,526
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    30
    I struggled with coffee while working in Vegas last month. The Starbucks at Flamingo opens at 6:00 am, which is my start time on the East Coast. Day one there was a long line. I too am packing a coffee pot for my next trip to avoid this. Can't even think about getting food before work with everything having reduced hours, sigh.

    Loved seeing your Royals. And the food porn.
     
    • Like Like x 1
  11. Flowers

    Flowers VIP Whale

    Joined:
    Mar 29, 2014
    Messages:
    14,642
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    30
    Very sorry for your loss.

    And glad you are back in Vegas. I'm loving your amazing and long trip. Not odd to me at all. I'd do the same if I could, in a heartbeat!
     
    • Agree Agree x 1
  12. Chrisbeans

    Chrisbeans High-Roller

    Joined:
    Jan 17, 2010
    Messages:
    604
    Location:
    Lalaland
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    30
    Thanks for taking the time to write this report. I found it yesterday and stayed up past midnight to catch up on the thread. Congratulations on all the big wins! I’ll be following along. Thanks for keeping me entertained!
     
    • Like Like x 1
  13. Tarpie

    Tarpie VIP Whale

    Joined:
    May 23, 2007
    Messages:
    1,233
    Location:
    Northern Virginia
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    86
    Live update: Still plugging along in Vegas. I managed to wait until the last days of August to get my play in for the 4Q/Binion's promo. Should be able to catchup on posts later in the week when I don't have to play so much VP.
     
    • Like Like x 5
  14. Depdawg227

    Depdawg227 Low-Roller

    Joined:
    Dec 23, 2018
    Messages:
    284
    Location:
    Florida
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    27
    Tarpie

    leaving late Wednesday night to come out. Can you advise if this is last month for 4Q promotion
     
  15. nfajgmbr03

    nfajgmbr03 MIA

    Joined:
    Jan 21, 2015
    Messages:
    839
    Location:
    Oklahoma
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    5
    It's been great to read. You've inspired me to work a few days from Vegas and wrap a weekend around a 5 night trip late September. Hope everything's still going well.
     
    • Like Like x 2
  16. B T

    B T ‍♂️

    Joined:
    Jan 29, 2017
    Messages:
    1,481
    Location:
    Los Angeles
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    40
    Yes this promo lasted two months and was stated in advance it would end Aug 31 so not looking likely they will do another for September. We would know by now if 4Q would have another promo for Sept.
     
  17. Depdawg227

    Depdawg227 Low-Roller

    Joined:
    Dec 23, 2018
    Messages:
    284
    Location:
    Florida
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    27
    Thanks again, continued good fortunes to you my friend.
     
  18. Tarpie

    Tarpie VIP Whale

    Joined:
    May 23, 2007
    Messages:
    1,233
    Location:
    Northern Virginia
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    86
    I actually asked about September/October when redeeming the offer tonight at 4Q. No dice on a new promo for September :(
     
    • Informative Informative x 3
    • Agree Agree x 1
  19. Tarpie

    Tarpie VIP Whale

    Joined:
    May 23, 2007
    Messages:
    1,233
    Location:
    Northern Virginia
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    86
    Day 28, Tue 8/18, Work, VP, China Poblano

    Work, lunch in room, then downstairs for some video poker. Made a small profit earning 2,500 Identity points.

    Cosmo had a fun vibe, but it definitely didn't feel like it was at only 50% capacity. The casino floor was hopping every time I went downstairs. Morning, night, weekday, weekend didn't matter other than degree. This was the first stay of the trip where I frequently had to wait for multiple elevators before one had fewer then the four person limit. So the employees may be right to be complaining.
    https://www.vegasmessageboard.com/forums/index.php?threads/daily-beast-cosmopolitan-casino-staffers-working-in-fear.177081/

    The food court and check-in areas were often packed. And of course Eggslut had a non-socially distanced line.

    To avoid the crowded food court I ended up at China Poblano. They gave me a single seat at the China counter. At one point another solo diner was seated way more than 6 ft away from me at the same counter. It was nice to not take up a whole table.

    I started with a salt-air margarita. I love these things. Much neater than salt on the rim, and a neat flavor/texture combination. It went great with the pork and beef tacos. The daily special biang biang noodles were also great.

    IMG_20200818_164308.jpg IMG_20200818_164855.jpg IMG_20200818_165435.jpg

    That didn't quite fill me up, so I ordered some wings. They brought out little marshmallows. Turns out they were towels that expanded when water was added. The wings were tasty but unmemorable.
    IMG_20200818_173730.jpg IMG_20200818_173734.jpg

    The east facing views at night are very colorful!
    IMG_20200818_203732.jpg IMG_20200818_203704.jpg

    Status: Up $22,900 cash on vp. Two quarter royals. Four dollar royals.
    Up next: Work, Laundry, VP, Lardo, Sexy Bitch
     
    • Like Like x 11
  20. Tarpie

    Tarpie VIP Whale

    Joined:
    May 23, 2007
    Messages:
    1,233
    Location:
    Northern Virginia
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    86
    Day 29, Wed 8/19, Work, Laundry, VP, Lardo, Sexy Bitch

    By this time I had settled into a routine of sitting on the balcony to watch the sun come up while drinking coffee and doing a sudoku. The best part of the balcony was the view of the airport. I might have to book a room at MGM or Mandalay just to plane watch once air travel recovers.

    Later in the day I popped out onto the balcony to find this:
    IMG_20200819_123756.jpg

    A free 50 cents from the sky! It definitely wasn't there earlier in the day. Oops, ticket was from July 19 and today is Aug 19. That's more than 30 days. Cosmo came out ahead of someone. Still not sure how it got into the middle of my balcony on the "50th" floor.

    After work it was time for another trip to 24 Hour Laundromat Twain. Wednesday at 1:30 proved to be a lot emptier than the same time on a Tuesday.
    IMG_20200819_141202.jpg IMG_20200819_153006.jpg

    Dinner was at Lardo. I think someone mentioned the Pho'Rench Dip on @AyDee's trip report so that's what I went with. The sandwich was great, and using pho instead of au jus for dipping was a nice change of pace. My only regret was getting the fries dirty style. Somehow pork belly didn't really do anything for the fries. The fries would have been fine or possibly even better without the pork and peppers.
    IMG_20200819_162804.jpg IMG_20200819_162833.jpg IMG_20200819_162802.jpg

    After dinner it was video poker time. I wanted to get another 2,500 pts to get another Lucky Drop entry. It took about an hour of 10-play 50-cent 9/6 JoB and cost only $300 :rolleyes2:. The machine was a royal tease, but a Bombay Sapphire martini in an actual martini glass kept me happy anyway. The Pellegrino is due to the salty dinner.
    IMG_20200819_170804.jpg IMG_20200819_174302.jpg

    I managed to hit $25 FP for the Lucky Drop promotion. But I didn't play it through until the next day. And here's the sexy bitch that was waiting for me upstairs.
    IMG_20200819_181320.jpg IMG_20200819_092331.jpg

    Status: Up $22,600 cash on vp. Two quarter royals. Four dollar royals.
    Up next: Work, VP, Momofuku, STK
     
    • Like Like x 5
    • Funny Funny x 4
    • Love Love x 1
Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.