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Trip Report May 6th to 13th Gold Coast

Discussion in 'Vegas Trip Reports' started by Lynne in the Falls, May 15, 2003.

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  1. Lynne in the Falls

    Lynne in the Falls Tourist

    Joined:
    Mar 21, 2003
    Messages:
    70
    Location:
    Niagara Falls,Ont.

    My Trip Report

    Just got back Tuesday and had a great time. I have a new favorite Hotel and Casino. Absolutely loved the Gold Coast. I felt comfortable gambling in every corner of that casino. Thought the rooms were great for $29.00 a night plus breakfast buffet coupons. Were able to get $35.00 taken off hotel bill from my husbands table play, and used mine towards a nice dinner at the Cortez Restaurant.
    Carpets and decor were all new. Casino is bright and fun. Buffet breakfast was pretty good especially being free.
    Day one-

    Weren't too happy with Southwest Airlines. We boarded in Buffalo and had a stop over in Baltimore. We were supposed to fly to Vegas from there, but were informed at that time that we were going to Chicago. Everybody that complained were told that it's considered a direct flight if you don't get off the plane.
    I never heard that rule before.
    As a result, we left our house at 5:00am and were actually travelling 12 hours before we arrived in Vegas. It was a very long day. The airline service was pretty good other than the obvious deception.
    Caught the Las Vegas Limo shuttle right outside the baggage claim and were at The Gold Coast in ten minutes.
    Check-in was a breeze.
    My sister and I hit the washroom right away, and while the guys were waiting for us right outside the washroom, my brother-in-law hit a Royal on a nickel machine for $200.00.
    Before we got into our room, my sister went to the same group of Game Kings and was playing Triple Double Poker, and hit 4 Aces with a deuce for $500.00.
    We were hungry so we went to the Monterrey Coffee shop for their steak special $8.95 it was great.
    We got into our rooms right afer we ate, and were really surprised. We were wondering what kind of room we'd get for $29.00 a night. I liked it better than the room I had at the Flamingo. We've stayed in quite a few places in Vegas including The Rio, and I thought the room was just fine.
    The only thing I was worried about, was that the closet isn't out in the open, but hidden in the alcove where the the sink is. My husband throws alot of water around when he gets near the sink, and I feared for my clothes. I threatened him with his life, and all was fine.There was a hair blower and an ironing board& iron.
    Neither my husband or I won anything that day at all.
    Day 2

    My sister and I went to the pool. It was a nice little pool with a hot tub. It had a nice gazebo effect for those who wanted to get out of the sun. We checked out the exercise room. I thought I might try to keep up my routine, but that was a laugh. It went out the window with the diet. The room was nice though, clean and new.
    We went downtown in the afternoon and ate at The Freemont Paradise Buffet. We thought it was the seafood day, that was why we went down that day for the GIANT lobster claws.Wrong day. There was still alot of Lobster, just not what we were looking for.
    I cashed out a couple of hundred dollars on the treasure chest machines at the Fremont.
    My sister and I went to Main Street Station to play the Treasure Chest Machines at the bar.These were suggested by Lee from P.A. on another message board. Thanks Lee. Cashed out another $200.00 there. My sister and I were trying Hurricanes made her way, then the bartenders way, then a couple from Wisconsin" forced us " to try a Carribean Cosmo.Lord knows what was in that, but this poor bartender by the name of Ray, will always be known as Kelly to us.My sister couldn't handle her hurricanes and insisted that Kelly was his name.Lots of fun.
    My brother-in-law was trying to hit the Royal on his favorite machine at Daves Bar at the California. He won it there the last 2 years we went. He didn't win the Royal, but cashed out a bucket full.
    My husband won zilch. We went back to The Gold Coast, and we were so tired, but forced ourselves to gamble some more. My sister could hardly see straight when she hit the Royal on a different triple double poker. The nice thing was that most of the machines have the tickets now, so she didn't have to wait for an attendant, she just cashed out and went to bed.
    The next day we went to The Orleans for their breakfast buffet. It was excellent. We decided we were going to use their pool for awhile, you just have to show your room key, but no one was checking when we went in.
    Anyway, we decided to gamble for a bit before we went to the pool, and didn't my sister hit another Royal on a Shock Wave.If you hit a Royal while the shock wave in going on, it's a progressive jackpot.She got $1000.00 and was happy.
    We have a rule, that if any of us hit a jackpot of $1000.00 or more, they have to buy dinner for the group.There was only four of us, so she lucked out. So did we, we had our meals paid for 2 nights in a row.
    We went to see Honkey Tonk Angels at The Gold Coast that night, and she bought us dinner at Arriva. It was a nice atmosphere and a good meal.
    I'll continue my report later. It's almost midnight here. I think I'm still on Vegas time. I have jet lag in the day and I'm wide awake at night.
    Lynne in the Falls

    [ May 16, 2003, 11:56 PM: Message edited by: Lynne in the Falls ]
     
  2. jack_retired

    jack_retired Tourist

    Joined:
    Jun 22, 2002
    Messages:
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    Trips to Las Vegas:
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    That is the rule.

    While Southwest may not have mentioned Chicago, I suspect they did give you an arrival time in Las Vegas. How did they do on the arrival time?
     
  3. KathyinNY

    KathyinNY Tourist

    Joined:
    Jan 29, 2002
    Messages:
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    Location:
    Upstate New York
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    2
    I never thought you could win decent money ($200) at any bar slot machine. Now you've proved me wrong, lol. I like your trip report so far!
     
  4. JUDY OF NC

    JUDY OF NC Tourist

    Joined:
    Jul 25, 2002
    Messages:
    41
    Lynne,
    Enjoyed your report. Just got back myself & ready to go again!

    Regarding the airline, as a former airline employee, they are correct in saying "direct flight". This refers to any flight that does not require a change regardless of the number of stops. However, at the time of booking, they should have referred to it as "direct 1 stop service" (not required, but just good customer service).

    Sure was nice when I could travel to Vegas on a pass but now that I have to pay, its only about once/twice a year.
     
  5. Lynne in the Falls

    Lynne in the Falls Tourist

    Joined:
    Mar 21, 2003
    Messages:
    70
    Location:
    Niagara Falls,Ont.
    Big Jack...You're absolutely right. We should have known by the arrival time. We couldn't figure it out. It was a very well kept secret.
    Judy thanks for the info. We're new at booking on the internet. We always flew charter until now, and we were used to direct flights with no stops unless it was just to refuel. We'll know enough to ask next time. It didn't bother me as much as my husband whose life depends on when he'll get his next cigarette. I'm the one who has to deal with him. I just slipped him a couple of gravols and knocked him out.
    Lynne in the Falls
     
  6. HoyaHeel

    HoyaHeel Grammar Police & Admin

    Joined:
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    Location:
    North Carolina
    Trips to Las Vegas:
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    Southwest has notations on its online schedules that tell you where the flights stop--you shouldn't have to do time zone math in your head to figure out if your plane is stopping anywhere :D
     
  7. Lynne in the Falls

    Lynne in the Falls Tourist

    Joined:
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    Location:
    Niagara Falls,Ont.
    They must have changed it after we booked it if there was a posting. My husband was doing his best to get the most direct flight down, and it was not listed at the time of booking. We were able to get a direct flight back though. Being a smoker, direct was foremost in his mind. He wouldn't have missed it had it been posted at the time.
    Lynne in the Falls
     
  8. HoyaHeel

    HoyaHeel Grammar Police & Admin

    Joined:
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    Location:
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    Trips to Las Vegas:
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    That's too bad. I don't know how often Southwest changes its routes, but it always has the number of stops in the 4th column of the reservations or schedule matrix (Flight #, Departure, Arrival, Stops)
     
  9. Steve in RI.

    Steve in RI. Low-Roller

    Joined:
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    Messages:
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    Location:
    Rhode Island
    Trips to Las Vegas:
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    Lynne,

    It seemed that you enjoyed the Gold Coast. I'm going in October and have 2 nights booked downtown at Golden Nugget and 3 nights on the strip at Treasure Island. The rate at TI. is $99 per night, and I just called Gold Coast using a coupon in the American Casino Guide and got a rate of $49 per night, with the 3rd night free. I think its a big savings, and we could use the extra money to rent a car and see a few more shows.

    My wife is still a little iffy about the idea. A few more questions about Gold Coast. I have never been in that area and is it safe to walk around at night? How do the rooms compare to Ballys or NYNY where we stayed previously? So long as they are clean and everything works properly I'm happy. Any info. is much appreciated.

    Steve
    T- about 130!
     
  10. Lynne in the Falls

    Lynne in the Falls Tourist

    Joined:
    Mar 21, 2003
    Messages:
    70
    Location:
    Niagara Falls,Ont.
    Hi Steve!
    The rooms were very clean and all redecorated. The shower had great pressure.(One thing that bugs my hubby if the shower just drizzles)
    There really aren't alot of places that you can walk to from the Gold Coast, other than the Rio, and the Palms. I felt perfectly safe. The rooftop/parking lot that you would walk across to get to the Rio, is well lit, and the walk to the Palms is directly across the street, so there is alot of traffic. (nothing secluded)
    The shuttle runs every 15 minutes or so to the Barbary Coast which is directly across from Ballys, and also one in the opposite direction to the Orleans.
    I also read somewhere that the Palms has a shuttle that goes to The Forum Shops at Caesars, and the Fashion Mall. I wanted to try and take that shuttle to the Fashion Mall to get to The Frontier(right next door)
    We found that we were so comfortable gambling at the Gold Coast, that alot of our week seemed to slip away and I didn't get to go to alot of the places I had planned on.
    If you've been to Vegas before, and basically know your way around abit, and where you want to
    go, I highly recommend it. If it was your first time, I think it might be confusing, not knowing
    where the Casinos are that you're trying to get to.
    We had our room booked for $49.00 per night, then came across the LA Times hotel rates on this board. As far as I know,this deal is still on. I didn't see it listed as expired.$29.00 per night plus free breakfast buffet coupons,(for each day) and two for one tickets to the Honkey Tonk Angels show.
    My husband just called them back and said he saw this deal in the L A Times, and they sent us a new confirmation number with the new rates. It's worth a shot!
    Good Luck ;)
     
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