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Vegas Cherry Poppin (11-15 January)

Discussion in 'Vegas Trip Reports' started by markr520, Jan 20, 2009.

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  1. markr520

    markr520 Tourist

    Joined:
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    My Trip Report

    My friend Shane and I departed frosty, frigid St. Louis early on Sunday 11 January, where, before our flight departed, we heard that the high for the week was at that point and was 28 degrees. What a time to be going to Vegas!

    The flight over was uneventful outside of the flight attendants having a drawing for a bag full of dollars. I didn't win, sadly.

    We arrived at McCarran at 9 local time and meet up with our other friend, Mike. We take the shuttle to the Flamingo to check in. I was frightened to try the 20 dollar trick since it appeared that a Casino manager was overlooking our attendant's shoulder. Regardless, she didn't seem very friendly, but did allow us to check into our Deluxe room with a beautiful strip view!

    After that, we head down to the sports book, make a few wagers, grab a bite at the Burger Palace (good stuff) and start drinking. After watching quite a bit of football and sucking down Bill's delicious dollar margaritas, we contemplate what to do for the evening while touring Bally's (one of our favorites), Paris, and Planet Hollywood. We grab a bite to eat at Ellis Island (great meal, drinks, and casino!)

    We settle on X, the Burlesque show at Flamingo and enjoyed it thoroughly. After some more drinking, we head back our room around midnight and decide to tour the northern part of the Strip (Venetian, Wynn, TI). We were miffed at Venetian, mostly because it was very confusing to get into, as well as the outdoor hallways smelling like a port-a-john. After hitting up Wynn, we go to TI and play some 5 dollar blackjack on 20 bucks for about 45 minutes before succumbing to the MGM Monopoly. Back to the hotel for a few hours of sleep.

    Monday morning, we wake up and grab an old Vegas favorite for breakfast, Burger King. Arrangements had been made to tour Hoover Dam, so we hopped aboard a bus and visited the Dam. The tour itself was incredible, with some breathtaking views, and some great photo opportunities. We really didn't pay too much attention to the tour guides too much, kind of just tuning out, taking pictures, and exploring on our own. After the pointless Chocolate tour, and harassing M&M workers, we arrive back at the Flamingo around 1:30 and decide on seeing the Beatles Cover Band performance, "Fab Four Live" at the Miracle Mile Shops at 5:30. We had a few drinks in between then (as well as losing a small amount at Bally's) and had a solid buzz for when the show began. As I emerged from the restroom, a man came over to us (we had been cheering for the whole show, so I didn't know if someone was complaining about us) and asked me if I wanted to go on stage! I was excited. They call me up to the stage, I play some tambourine and get some excellent photos and head back to my seat. Great show, and highly recommended for those going. Afterwards, we eat at Pink Taco, which was a hike and a half to Hard Rock and not worth the trip. We head back to the strip, do some touring, gamble at Bill's, head back to TI (and lose badly) and call it a day.

    Tuesday brought forth promise since we had our best plan: go all the way to the south, come back North, and see Price is Right! We grab our tickets at 9:30 and head to Mandalay Bay (via the deuce, thank god). Check out the sights there, gamble a bit and start coming back North (all the while stopping at MGM, NYNY to gamble a bit) for our 2:30 show at Bally's. We all loved the Price is Right! although none of us had the opportunity to participate in the show. The highlight was a woman who was devastated to be called up winning 2400 dollars! We were also pretty certain that the showcase was staged since the man who "won" the car was so non chalant about his guess and so close. All in all, a great show. Afterwards, we start heading downtown, and get to the Stratosphere around 7 (after seeing the great statue show at Caesar's, the Volcano at Mirage, and sitting through a wretched half of whatever that pirate show is at TI) and do the tower and Insanity Ride. It was a fantastic experience and an amazing rush to be hanging over the tower like that looking straight down. We stomach the Sahara Buffet for dinner (cheap) and get to downtown around 8:45, just in time to stop at Fitz's and grab two (STRONG) drinks before the show starts. Excellent light show with "American Pie" by Don McLean. We head to Four Queens, get two more drinks, play some VP, Craps, and head over to Golden Nugget. We're told to see the shark tank and we go out to the pool area, and there is a man with no pants or shirt on and his boxers are split in the back! He is not a small man either. He was telling people to not run, and he's just watching out for their safety! Awesome stuff. After another light show (Queen?), we get to Mermaids where they proceed to bring the hammer with the strongest drinks I have ever had in my life. I am gone at that point, but make it back to Fitz's to play some 3 dollar black jack (including a hand where the dealer had 19 and another player had 18 and didn't take the money. Even drunk, I was dumbfounded) After the last light show, we take the Deuce back to the hotel for the night. We were done.

    The next morning, I woke up at 8 and went to Bellagio to grab two tickets (our third person didn't care for the show) for "O" that night. After some tomfoolery in the morning (including some good wins at Bill's in Craps), we go to Pampas for lunch, and that was excellent. Great meat selections, lightning fast service, and everything tasted great. Afterwards, we head to Harrah's for the Mac King Comedy Show and that was great with our friend Shane getting called up to help with some of the magic tricks! Great show all around. We go to Rio for a few minutes, but didn't care much for it and head over to Paris. We go up in the tower and take some great pictures of the fountain at night. Afterwards, Mike and I decide we want to feel like "big shots" and play a decent amount at the Bellagio. We each plop down 80 dollars at a 10 dollar a hand Blackjack table (high rollers, yeah right...) and Mike is out of money within 5 minutes (couple bad beats on splits, double downs, etc) and I still have 40 left so I try my luck at Craps. I get back to about even when a man drops 10 thousand dollars down (!!!) and places 3 grand in bets down and the next roll is a seven out. I instantly had to move while fearing for my life. Dude did not look happy. After going back and forth for about a half hour, I walk away (show time) 10 dollars down total after I had lost my point as shooter. Went to see the show and it was phenomenal and the eye candy that was viewing the show was exquisite as well. We head back to the room, grab a few hours of sleep, and are awoken by Shane to come out to a bar/club (rockhouse at IP) and we do that for about 10 minutes before nearly passing out and going back to our room.

    Thursday was only eventful since I woke up early (force of habit), head over to Bill's for some more craps fun, and I walk away up 140 dollars, getting myself back to about even (between zero and up 25, for five days of gambling, I consider that a win). Head over to ESPN Zone for some good eating (albeit overpriced) and head back to the airport for departure.

    All in all, I spent about 800 dollars in my first Vegas trip and I cannot wait to go back!! I'm looking to take another trip later this year (November) and am hoping to stay somewhere nicer along the Strip.

    (Casinos played at: Mandalay Bay, MGM Grand, New York New York, Paris, Bally's, Bill's, Flamingo, Harrah's, Casino Royale, TI, Mirage, Caesar's Palace, Bellagio, Rio, Ellis Island, Fitz's, Four Queens, Golden Nugget, Mermaids, Binion's).

    I can see why everyone wants to go there so badly!

    [​IMG] (View from room)


    [​IMG] (View from room)

    [​IMG] (View from Eiffel Tower looking down at Fountain Show)
     
  2. blackjacknut

    blackjacknut VIP Whale

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    Nice TR, glad you had a great time
     
  3. ghetto71

    ghetto71 Tourist

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    Nice TR.:peace:
     
  4. gotavegasjones

    gotavegasjones VIP Whale

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    Seems like you all had a great trip. Thanks for posting your TR.

    later, GVJ
     
  5. DBear

    DBear VIP Bear

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    Nice TR. I think you're insane to ride Insanity.
     
  6. gmoney590

    gmoney590 VIP Whale

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    See how easy it is to become addicted. You go to Vegas once; you're overwhelmed with everything and when you get home you can't wait to go back again.
     
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