NYNY/Caesars Trip Report Thanksgiving Weekend

Well I know I have been extremely lazy and haven't got around to getting this report in but I know that I better do my message board duty and help others in their planning.

For starters this was a two week notice trip since I booked this trip for myself and my girlfriend due to Allegiant's $100 round trip airfare from Wichita, KS. I love that airline. I wish that I could just sign a contract with them at those discounted rates for a trip every couple of months. When booking my trip I had an offer from NYNY for some free play and a rate of $129 for that Friday night so I took advantage of that. Little bit of background on me.....I am a veterinarian, 32 and this is my third time to Vegas....love the place. I have a conference every year in Vegas at Mandalay and I have only stayed at NYNY during those stays. I like the hotel and location for a south strip location and especially for my conference. The casino and hotel I feel very comfortable in and I do like it in comparison to some of the other favorites on this board. I wanted to venture out a little bit so I took advantage of some cheap rates at Caesars and for $120 a night for Sat/Sun night.

Flight was good....left on Friday afternoon and arrived Vegas at about 3:00. One of my former employees moved to Vegas last year where her husband was the school superintendent of schools here at home. They picked us up from the airport and took us out to their home in Sun City out west of Vegas after checking in at NY/NY. Didn't try the $20 trick because it was a one night stay and my concern was a location next to the elevator versus an exciting room. I loved their home and retirement community.....if you call it that (they are 55) and located on three golf courses/etc. To describe what kind of people they are they took their entry way room/dining room and mounted a huge plasma with a poker table and pool table in the room. My kind of formal dining room. Had a few beers and ate supper and then they wanted to take us out to Red Rock casino. I have to say I give this place a big THUMBS up. Very nice casino that is open but very well designed. It is a casino that has a little bit more of a family feel with the movie theaters/bowling alley but still a taste of the Vegas strip. Didn't see the hotel but the pool area looked outstanding and if someone was looking for a trip off the strip I would say that this is the place to go. As for gambling I am the type of guy that love to gamble but hates to lose money. Ok you can call me that "tight ass". Lets just say the older I get the less tight I have become. I never thought that I would be a slot player but I have become addicted to these things. It is mindless and kind of a topper to my get away to sit (DRINK) and get away from the daily grind of life. Yes I do like to drink........big time social drinker and let's just say that Vegas is one social trip. After an evening of gambling we got delivered...thank goodness back to NY/NY and played a few games but crashed at about 3 am Vegas time which would have been 5 am back home.

We had no real plans for Vegas and so therefore when it was all said and done we didn't accomplish much. My goal was to as much as anything visit hotels/casinos that I had not ever been into. Mission accomplished. Woke up on Saturday fairly early 7:30am to call my kids. I am divorced about a year ago and have a 5yr and 2yr old daughter. Never miss that phone call when I don't have them. After hanging out at the casino....or should I say playing excessive amounts of Star Wars slot machine. I love this machine for some reason. Maybe it is the Death Star bonus spins....haha. Got right back on the sauce with some bailey's and coffee. Like my waitress said, "sure beats the hell out of that Starbucks crap". I couldn't agree more. Big plan for today was to watch excessive amounts of college football and chill in the Bellagio sports book. We packed our bags and headed for Caesars. I was hoping to be overwhelmed by this place and was prepared for the $20 trick. Wanted a tower room...augustus or at least a Palace tower. Something that had happened on my way out was the rate had dropped another $20 bucks online for the last minute Thanksgiving weekend rates. Had the $20 ready and went to check in at about noon....(this is probably what hurt us by being too early). Yep as you guessed no dice. I even played up the I am going to propose to her tonight game as my girlfriend stood back.....yes I was desperate. Attendent called her manager and with no success had zero upgrades. I successfully got a hotel room that was nothing exciting other than a small TV in the bathroom. The room showed some aging to it but by no means should I have stayed at Caesars for about $50 more a night. Had a nice strip view of concrete from another tower. We were on the 11th floor. After getting settled into the room. I wanted to head to the sports book and make some bets. My beloved Kansas State Wildcats were playing and at 12:30 and was a pickem game that I should have never touched but being the loyal fan I did and the results were very unrewarding. As for sports betting you have to put your personal bias aside and truly bet what should happen.....duh on my part. For example Notre Dame was bet on and won even though I can't stand the Golden Domers. Grabbed a quick bite to eat in the Chinese restaurant in the Forum shops. (Wolfgang's maybe)....but shared an entree and had some Calamari which was a very good/fairly inexpensive meal. Had to grab a piece of cheesecake from the Cheesecake factory to take to the Bellagio sports book. Get to the sportsbook to find that it was packed. I have only been in Feb. (Daytona 500 weekend) and by no means anything what football season is like which was great except for finding seats. Girlfriend wrestled out way into some leather seats in the sportsbook and let the games begin. Goose/red bull, makers/coke, pina coladas, the beverages were flowing. I love that place. Watched the 3 OT game between Tenn and Kentucky...that place was rocking. Stayed there until halftime of the KU/Missouri game. I hate KU...have to hate the cross state rival. After many drinks decided to get up and get some fresh air....watched the fountains and casino hopped. The legs had to actually get back to working mode. After that many drinks and sitting on your ass you need some time to work back into shape. Made our way down the central strip on Saturday night and eventually ended up dancing the night away at Carnival Court. It is just too convient. Was going to Voodoo but we were too lazy and drunk to get ready to go clubbing. Actually was going to head to Voodoo...we love that place. Stumbled back to Caesars only to find that the cafe was the only thing open and of course it served food with the middle of the night drunk mark-up and we chowed down like we were starving dogs. Off to bed at about 5am and to get ready for the final day.

Wanted to go eat the Paris buffet....Sunday brunch excellent with many varieties but I think next time I might try somewhere else just for some variety. But I would highly reccomend the brunch/breakfast buffet. Go a little earlier than 11 on Sunday and pay the breakfast price but take advantage of the Sunday brunch menu. We were late and lazy and so paid the full price. Oh well. I definitely like the whole Paris casino. Good feel and open. That is what I like. I love to play poker but didn't feel like I wanted to leave the girlfriend too much so hadn't made my way to the poker tables yet. I decided to sign up for the 1:30 tournament only $65. Good tournament with nice blind raises so it didn't go too quick. Before the tournament we made our way over to P-Ho. I have to say that I love the renovations made at this casino and wouldn't mind staying here sometime. Back to the tournament made it to the top ten but out of about 50 players. Paying top three quite well but had a great time and the drink service was overwhelming at the tournament. I couldn't keep up. I like the change of the location of the poker tables (small) but nice to wedged between a sports bar and open into the sports book to watch all the NFL action that was taking place. Would reccomend playing here. After a couple hours went back to the room and chilled for about 1/2 an hour and then back to casino hopping. Headed to Mirage/T.I./Venetian/Palazio construction/Wynn and ventured back through the classic Casino Royal/Harrahs/flamingo/O Shea's/etc. Casino Royal was great in the $100 win on Star Wars and the margaritas. Kind of just vegged the evening away to the point of exhaustion and with the 9:00 am flight called it an evening at about 3am.

Grabbed a cab Monday morning with little trouble in the airport and buzzed right through to get my send off Cinnabon cinnamon rolls. About the time I get airborne I am planning my next trip......Ok so actually I am always planning for my next trip. Presidents weekend is when the conference is so the countdown is on. Next trip I want to actually go see a show....may Ka/Mystere/Zumanity?? and going to buck up and pay for a massage/spa treatment. Tough for this tight ass to play $200 to loosen up his "ass". For the conference they have Howie Mandel scheduled and LeAnn Rhimes...might take those in. Not a country fan but what the heck it is free. I better get to work. Enjoy...and I apologize for the poor grammar and spelling....I am sure that there is plenty.

 

Thanks for sharing SHAQ...too bad on the upgrade at Ceasar's

March is always an excellent time to go...especially, the last weekend :evillaugh

 

Ditto what Angel said.

 

Hopefully I would be able to keep up...........

 

Poor grammar and spelling are expected of a K-Stater:evillaugh

 

Don't tell me KC.....you must be one of those Jayhawkers.....??

 

thanks for the report, shaq, but i gotta ask, because you fit the profile of all the vets i know as a cattle rancher, are you a large animal vet?

 

Nice report. We love Bellagio's sport book as well. Comfortable chairs and the drinks just flow.