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All Over The Place Solo--Excalibur/Downtown/South Point

Discussion in 'Vegas Trip Reports' started by iambumbo, Sep 7, 2021.

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  1. iambumbo

    iambumbo Tourist

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    Some pics from Coronado Cafe. 20210831_115849.jpg 20210831_194955.jpg 20210831_200057.jpg 20210831_115057.jpg
     
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  2. iambumbo

    iambumbo Tourist

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    And some more pics ahead of my last full day... story 20210901_195120.jpg 20210901_195017.jpg 20210901_194613.jpg 20210901_134639.jpg 20210901_095320.jpg 20210901_092858.jpg 20210901_195120.jpg to follow tomorrow!
     
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  3. midliferetired

    midliferetired VIP Whale

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    Y'all forgetting the bowlers and cowboys at South Point. It's no one trick pony. Aren't there time shares there too?
     
  4. vsop

    vsop VIP Whale

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    Great info in your TR regarding South Point casino and catching the bus from south strip to Ellis Island....OUCH, on the RF with no bonus bet in PGP...that would have been a sign for me to call it a night gamblingwise...nice food pics, btw...
     
  5. iambumbo

    iambumbo Tourist

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    Wednesday September 1-- My last day in town and I decide to head back downtown to use up my September $25 free food comp from Golden Gate. As on Monday, I hop on the CX bus in front of NYNY, which shows up a few minutes early so I frantically scramble across the bridge and just make it on time. Maybe that Transit app isn't always quite accurate! On arrival I wander around downtown to get a feel for the tables. Once again, most places have virtually no players and $10 minimums or higher on everything. The only tables which seemed to have any action were the $5 blackjack at Golden Nugget with the mandatory $1 bonus bet which destroys your odds. Thought about playing because of the smaller risk of ruin at the lower stakes but passed.

    I head back to Saginaw's at Circa to use my $25 comp. A couple months ago I'd gotten an email saying I had $5 in expired comps which they'd validate if I showed up before the end of the year but they said they had no record of it. I'm not going to fight over $5 but then don't send out the emails, Derek. Once again I'm served the largest BLT sandwich in modern history, this time with the chicken noodle soup, which is not worth the $10 they charge for it. With a full belly I head out to get on my gamble for the last time this trip.

    And so begins Groundhog Day. Start with some bubble craps at Circa. Lose. Across the street to Golden Gate where the craps tables are $15 so try their bubble craps. Lose. Head down to the D and try some $10 blackjack. Lose. Head to Binion's for some face up pai gow poker. Lose. Head to Fremont for some double deck blackjack. Lose. This is where I'm grateful that I'd only taken about $350 with me and most of the money is still back in the safe at Excalibur so I'm not tempted to steam. Running short of funds and getting to around 5:00, I cry uncle and stop at Lanai Express in Fremont for some beef and broccoli, which actually isn't bad for fast food. I head over to the bus stop to take the CX back and find it had moved from the usual spot due to construction. That's where the real fun begins.

    I follow the handwritten map instructions at the usual stop trying to find it a block or two away. No luck. It's getting pretty hot and I'm tired of wandering around in circles and by then I'd missed it, so I decide eff it, I'll just head to the Bonneville station where I know I can get picked up. Six blocks later, I wander around to find the CX stop at the station and a security guard points me in the wrong direction but quickly realizes his mistake and finds me to point me where I should be. Then of course the CX bus doesn't show up at all so I say screw it, I'll hop on the next Deuce. At this point a tired, frustrated, beaten man with some choice expletives going through my head, I say I'm not leaving this town on a bad note so I decide to get off at Bellagio and tram it back to Excalibur to leave on a somewhat high note. My previous post had some of the pictures on my walking around Bellagio.

    I decide I'll drop $10 in a slot machine at each casino along the way: Bellagio, Aria, Park MGM, New York New York, and Excalibur, in hopes of making one big score. And can you guess what happens???

    Nothing really. This is real life, not a movie. I win $5 at a couple of them and lose the $10 in three of them. Oh well, another $20 in the hole. With a 4 a.m. wake-up call in the morning to catch my 7 a.m. flight, I head back to the room and settle into bed a little after 10:30. No problems getting ready and out the door on time and I catch a Lyft to the airport at 5:15a.m. No problems on the Allegiant flight home to Rockford which arrives on time and have an easy drive back home to the Madison area.

    All in all, it was nice to get back to extended play in a casino for the first time in almost a couple years. Would have been a really nice trip but the last 24 hours of gambling starting after dinner on Tuesday night really spoiled the experience. If you've got to lose, I would much rather have done it early instead of on my way out the door wihich leaves a really bitter taste in your mouth. Anyways, retelling this story makes me remember more of the fun and less disgust at the closing streak of loss after loss. I know it's incredibly small potatoes for most of you but what can I say, I'm competitive and don't like losing regardless of the amount. Thanks for following along and let me know if you have any other questions!
     
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  6. kkinwi

    kkinwi VIP Whale

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    Always good to hear some reality for us gamblers! You covered alot of ground....thanks for reporting!
     
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  7. Rookies11

    Rookies11 High-Roller

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    VERY well written!

    SP is our go to now and we will be spending a week. Very conversant with all you’ve described and agree with all!
     
  8. TomTWI

    TomTWI Custom Title

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    Next door there are time shares. I don't know if they are related to each other in anyway.

    TomTWI

    Edit: I don't recall ever seeing timeshare hawkers in the casino.
     
    Last edited: Sep 17, 2021
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  9. TomTWI

    TomTWI Custom Title

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    I think the Private ownership and lack of leverage allows them to accept a lower rate of return.

    Just my guess,

    TomTWI
     
  10. 5squaredeb

    5squaredeb Low-Roller

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    Excellent TR!!
     
  11. LAURLUVS2BOWL

    LAURLUVS2BOWL Low-Roller

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    Thanks for sharing your experience! I too am a very low roller and was really frustrated back in March when there were no $5 tables anywhere. Good to know that Ellis Island and South Point have them (at least at off peak times). Which was your favorite prime rib?
     
  12. casinokid68

    casinokid68 Caesars Diamond Member

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    Great trip report, and love your honesty. So many reports on here have people constantly winning, which we all know is nonsense. I really appreciate a really honest observation like you described it. I wish you would have put at least a $1.00 on the Envy Bonus and the Progressive bet at Pai Gow. You just never know what cards will pop up. I actually hit 5 Aces once, and sure glad I had $5.00 on the side Bonus bet.
     
  13. drfishalot

    drfishalot Low-Roller

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    Thanks for taking the time to write that up
     
  14. nopabloingles

    nopabloingles Low-Roller

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    I totally get what you mean about Downtown Grand. Doesn’t have much of an exciting casino vibe but sometimes it’s nice to get away from the craziness. Also the craps dealers are always super friendly
     
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  15. Dewey089

    Dewey089 VIP Whale

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    Great report. Informative. Good to read of another bus rider.
     
  16. boxofbirds

    boxofbirds Royally Flushed

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    Thanks for the report! Sorry gambling didn't go so well at the end, but we've all had those days (or those trips)!
     
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