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Discussion in 'Vegas Trip Reports' started by StickyFingers007, Oct 31, 2003.

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  1. StickyFingers007

    StickyFingers007 Namer of T2V Gatherings

    Joined:
    Aug 30, 2002
    Messages:
    1,263
    Location:
    Seattle (Formerly Edmonton, AB CANADA)
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    14

    My Trip Report

    Trip Report Oct 26 to Oct 30 - Warning.. This is a long one... I left out some stuff too!! but, I hope you find it entertaining and somewhat informative!


    Flight - Westjet. Left Edmonton 25 minutes late. It was a smooth flight and the Captain came on to say we would be arriving only 10 minutes late. Surprise! We're exactly on time. The Landing was a tad quick as the rear of the plane felt like it was going to flip over the front of the plane but it was fine and we're on time!

    I was meeting a friend, her BF and two friends of theirs I hadn't met before. They were due to arrive in Vegas 4 hours after me.
    I went outside and tried to snatch up a free limo ride from some of the drivers but no takers... Oh well. I caught a shuttle to Mandalay Bay for $ 4.50. The driver started to leave and another driver was yelling " hey.. Stop!" but we kept driving. I was a little concerned as to what the problem might be but i kept my mouth shut. The shuttle driver must have been in a hurry because he felt that the bus really didn't need 4 wheels and we could be faster only using 2 wheels. " WHEEEEEE".. As we made our way through the maze of side-roads, a voice came on the radio " # 318 your back door is open" Ah crap........ great.. there goes our luggage. He stopped the bus and went to check and while he's getting back on the bus I hear him say " stupid idiots. that door aint open" and off we were.

    Get to Mandalay bay with luggage intact and in record breaking time I'm sure and check in was fine. I was planning on using the $20 trick but last minute decided to just be nice and see what I get. I get to the desk and have some Miami vice wanna-be ask for my card.. I pass the credit-card and ID and politely say " I'd REALLY like a high up strip view if possible" in the cutest voice I could manage. He says I'll see what I can do.. Then I'm thinking small talk... small talk.. " Thats a nice accent you have.. where are you from? I say " Oh I'm from Miami. Ty for the nice comment" he says. " Oh. how do you like Vegas compared to Miami? I say.. You get the idea.... and he says " I'll be right back". I get my keys and a wad full of junk to read and he says " you'll be on the 31st floor in the Fiji wing.. SCORE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! [​IMG] I know the fiji wing is good.. I'm happy I had room 31203 and was very happy with it. While i was checking in I also wanted to get the room my friends would be in close to mine so I ask him to find something close and hold it.. He got the same floor but the other wing ( I can't remember which one.. Facing in and out burger ) So I decided to give him $10.00 Seeing how he seemed to have done me a favor. So I guess if your polite and friendly, you can get a small upgrade before the money gets laid out.

    I get up to my room, dump the suitcase on the floor, check out the view WOW and I'm down to the casino. I had 4 hours to waste so I thought to call home and let them know I got there okay.. Well, change of plans. My cell phone doesn't seem to be roaming so I have no service.. what a pain in the butt.. I end up calling collect and I'm off to the slots. I sign up for the ONE card slot card. Not that i'll get anything from it but it's a neat thing to have in the wallet.
    I sit down at the funniest game.. Risque Business.. If you haven't seen it, it's a nickel ( or penny at BC ) 9 line slot type thingy.. Like all the others but the bonus round is getting three male of female faces and you go to the bonus.. Now for the fun part, you pick a stripper, male or female then pick 3 people in the crowd. The stripper ( male for me of course ) starts to strip and your ladies in the crowd have to tip so much to keep moving on. The more they tip the more credits you get. As long as they tip the minimum you move on. It's a Riot.. I couldn't lose.. Started with $10.00 and cashed out with $22.00 Not bad for first game of the trip. I got a few drinks, wandered around the MB casino and then decided to head out to the strip for a bit before it's time to meet up in the lobby at 11:00 pm

    I use the tram to Excaliber and make my way over to MGM and to Walgreens to get some water and other junk. Stop in at NYNY, wander there a bit, and then make my way back to MB. I head up to my room to drop off the goods and have about 20 minutes to kill before heading down to the lobby to meet up.. I get a knock on the door and it's Dizzy and the gang LA, CP and Ian. Yipeeee!! the gangs all here! We go to their room and drop off their luggage and then we're on our way to do some strip stuff. Of the 5 of us, 2 were Vegas virgins so we wanted to take them down and see the sights. Here I am walking down to MGM and Walgreens AGAIN... argggggggggg.. oh well. I'm just happy to be in Vegas and don't seem to care where I'm heading.. We end up grabbing a late bite in Mcdonalds and then walk down north a bit and then turn around and make our way back. Stopping in at NYNY and check out the piano bar.. Too crowded so we just wander around a bit. I like the atmosphere of that place.. the steaming man-hole covers, the buildings and the extremely high ceilings in the casino really can make you feel like your in NY ( i've never been, but i'm sure if i had been i'd say " this is just like the real thing ") lol
    Get back to MB and it's about 1:30 am and after the flights and time change we're all a bit pooped so we call it a night. I loved having a room to myself.. No sharing anything, no hassels.. Good deal

    DAY TWO

    Knock knock knock.. " what the hell?" I get woken up by Dizzy at about 7:30 am.. Usually I am up early because I have a three year old and I expected to be the one waking people up this trip. I open the door in my jammies and dizzy comes in and I put on some clothes and we head down to Kona Cafe to get some coffee and a glazed Krispy Kreme and head out to the pool area to enjoy our treats. The pool doesn't open until 9:00 am so we just found a bench and chatted. Head back up and get the rest of the gang and we all decide to hit the pool for a while
    Nice day.. about 92 degrees I think? ( I'm used to Celcius ) It was very warm. We lay around by the wave pool for a bit, watched 3 guys play with their " dates" for the weekend ( it was VERY obvious what the deal was here ) and just had a good time swimming tanning and cracking hooker jokes.

    We get changed around 3:00 pm and take a cab to the Premium Outlets downtown. Good shopping for us Canadians.. Hung out there for a while and then caught the shuttle down to fremont St. This shuttle is $1.00 and you catch it behind the Tommy Hilfiger shop. First stop Labayou for some mudslides ( well, just me ) and play some Elvis and then wander around a bit.. We're all hungry and wanted a cheap buffet so we head to the Freemont hotel. The buffet was $8.99 I think.. ( by this time I had finished the mudslide, had a few rye & cokes) I don't really remember what we paid.. I shuffled around the buffet in slow motion and ate who knows what.. Had a good meal I guess because I didn't get hungry at all that night. We leave the Freemont and head over to Binions.. I had decided this trip i would try Craps at least once and after reading all the reports escpecially Mikeys, this was the place to try. I take a 20 out and stand behind the table for a while BWAKK BWAAAK BWAAK.. I'm too chicken to buy in. I really don't understand this game. Then this nice older man says " you coming in sweetie?" so I say to him," I really don't understand the game" and he says " i'll help ya out" okay.. So i'm at the table i've read so much about and i'm thinking about all the quotes from Mikey.. I kinda play cute and the dealer warms up to me and is helping me out as well. Didn't do too bad.. took my 20 up to about 40 and then quickly back down to about 10. then it's my turn to throw... The sweat starts to form in my palms... everything gets blurry and all i hear is WAAA WAA WA WAA WAAA WAAA.. I pick two and throw... OOPS.. off the table goes one die... Okay.. throw again.. set the point at six and then i rolled a few more who know's what and then a seven i guess lol.. I'm done and I thank the gentlemen for their help and throw a chip to the dealer and Carlos and I walk away.. I'm happy that I can now say I played craps.. It's all good.
    with the mudslide and copious amounts of booze, I really didn't pay attention to the tables.. It was a $3 minimum thats all I know [​IMG]

    We leave Binions and bounce around the rest only really looking and then decide to head back to the strip. We take the CAT 301 down to MB and head back up to the rooms.. We're beat so we call it a night about 2:00 am - side note.. I'm in my jammies and I'm thinking how strange it is to be in bed this early in Vegas.. then, I flip the TV on and STING is on Oprah.. heaven.. I'm in heaven.. All my thougts about early bedtime drift away because STING is on.. I just love him.. nighty night. Sting on TV.. curtains wide open looking out on the strip... it's a good thing

    DAY THREE


    Same routine as day two.. Coffee, donut and the wave pool. It's smokin hot tuesday.. We sizzle by the pool and check out the lazy river.. You don't really need to rent the tubes for $20 a day.. We had a blast just cruising through.
    The heat gets to be a bit much so we decide to head down to the TI/Venitian area and work our way from there. We take a cab to Venetian and check it out. then head over to TI. seeing the new sign is a bit disapointing. Not as eye catching as the pirate one.. They are doing a dress rehersal for Sirens so we watch for a bit. Head inside and look around a bit ( basically just the show the newbies the casino and look of the place ) Walking south we pass by the Mirage and head into Ceasars. We're all hungry so I suggest the Stage Deli in the Forum shops. YUMMM.. I get the BLT and the others order various deli sandwhices.. Big portions and not one of us were able to finish.. Great food and great prices and I just love the bucket of fresh dill pickles they bring to you. Now we head out to the shops and spend some money on this and that. Watch the statues. We head out of Ceasars through the casino and make our way south. We decide that with the RMA's at the Aladdin it would be a good opp to spot Celebs so we scurry back to MB, change and catch a cab to Aladin. We get there about 10:00 pm and hang out around the valet area. Feeling like total Dorks for hanging around with camera in hand, we say.. what the heck and stay because we have no opportunity like this back home. We see Joe Jackson and ask for a pic and he's polite and friendly, we then see Coolio, Howie of Backstreet Boys, and some other's I can't remember. We head into the casino and wander around.. I spot Kasey Kasem at a blackjack table so we watch him play for a bit. We move on and I see a woman holding one of those giant casino cheques they use for promotions and I turn to Dizzy and say " did you see that? she must have won $18,000 " and CP goes, that was $18 million.. yes.. $18,000,000.00.. HOLY !*(%*($#*!.. we go back and start to talk to her. She was a sweet lady and very polite and said that early that morning she put 500 into a megabucks machine and hit the jackpot. She took the lump sum for just over $11,000.000.00.. She will buy a house and donate to church and charity.. She seemed very deserving and very tired from standing around all day with the cheque for press and what not. She let us take her picture with us and the cheque. Thats the closest i'll ever come to seeing a jackpot like that.. It was exciting to see that.. After that we leave Aladdin and make our way south. We get back to MB about 2:00 am and hang out for a bit and call it a night.

    WED DAY FOUR

    Yup, you guessed it.. coffee, donut, pool. Today the smoke from the fires was really heavy in Vegas.. So much that we left the pool around 1:00pm and headed over to Luxor, Excaliber and walked around a bit.
    Dizzy and I wanted to check out the primm outlet mall so we thought we'd rent a car. We get to budget and find out that Dizzy's license expired two weeks ago and I couldn't rent because my mastercard was almost maxed out.. ( ouch ) so we said screw it and went to Fashionshow mall.. The two of us power shopped and called CP's cell phone and after leaving 4 messages, agreed to meet at TI sirens show and catch a bite to eat and then go out to a club that night.... STOP...... hold it.. We all get a bit cranky standing between the two boats.. Three of us we're cleaned up and ready to eat and hit Studio 54.. Two of us shopped all day, chocked on smoke and needed to change.. So change of plans.. Dizzy, Ian and I head back to MB to change and meet up with the other two infront of Bally's.. their mission was to scope out a cheap buffet in the middle.. At ballys, they suggest the buffet at Imperial Palace.. NOOOOOOOOO!!! not the IP I can't go back there... Well, i'm not about to eat by myself so next thing i know i'm paying $9.99 for a buffet i dreaded... It was exactly like i read.. Not the most pleasant dining experience, although the meatloaf was awesome.. the jello looked like plastic and the cheescake that was cream and chocolate colored turned out to taste like dishwasher detergent.. disgusting.. We had fun though drawing our own smut pamphlets on the placemats. We leave the buffet and it dawns on me that we're at the IP so I call hubby at home and tell him to go on my computer and click on the link for the IP webcam.. We go to the front entrance of the casino and proceed to make ass' of ourselves, then out to the street view and do the same... I call hubby back and he said that he saw us on the cams so that was kinda neat.. it's a neat thing to do if you have someone at home to watch.. We go into the casino and CP and i play some roulette.. A few wins and I'm up about 20 bucks.. then it's gone.. but it was fun, CP made a few good hits and won a bit. After roulette and some rye and cokes, we head out. LA wants a mudslide so we mosey into Tequila joe's.. ( if thats what it's still called ) and we all get a drink.. Then it's Karoake time!! I decide to completely lose all self control and get crazy. I break a chain of 50 somethings doing one of those group hug ring dances and start the mexican hat dance in the center. Then i''m wearing a twisted sister wig and next thing, i'm on stage doing air guitar with a blow up guitar with a guy singing American woman.. [​IMG] Well the place goes nuts and it's a total hoot... Then LA, is up.. She is a amazing singer and working on her career and did an awesome job.. the crowd really loved it... Having had some good laughs, we're headed down to MGM for Studio 54. Along the way, Dizzy is trying to pass out our smut pamphlets we drafted up during dinner to the porn slappers.. They just looked confused and we hung on to them.

    Studio 54.. No go... Apparantly if you just bought 90 dollar shoes from Diesle, your not allowed in.. The guys couldn't get in with their shoes.. BUMMER.. I loved this place and was sad to not get in but mad at the same time.. Dumb rule.. They both were dressed very nicely.. Ohwell.. We head over to NYNY to check out Coyote Ugly but it was dumb.. Off to Mandalay bay with our hopes of a rocking night turned into hopes of an Oprah re-run.
    We make one last ditch effort for fun at Rum Jungle and there is about 7 people in there and the skinny bouncer says " 20 buck cover" HA HA HA.. as if... Good luck. I couldn't beleive it.. They weren't even playing music and they wanted a cover charge like that at midnight.. We ended up in one of the casino lounges ( can't remember what it's called but the big one near Rum Jungle. The band was AWESOME. the MVP's.. great music. We danced had a few drinks and had a great time. After the show the singer came to our table and started talking to us.. Nice guy, he and LA hit it off talking about singing and music in general.. Was a nice night after the let down of not finding a club to go to.. Went to bed about 3:30 am

    LAST DAY. Thursday Oct 30


    Surprise Surprise.. Coffee, donut and pool.. The pool wasn't so fun today as the winds were gusting around 50. Held out for a while and then I made plans to go do some alone time shopping and check out some of the other fav places and meet up with the gang at Barbary Coast to see Fat Elvis at 3:30. I leave and hit the M&M store, Desert passage, and make my way down.. I head into Bellagio to get some pics and kill time and I walk over to BC around 2:00. With time to kill and the fact that i spent less than I thought I would, I found a penny Risque Business slot and set up camp. Put 20 bucks in and WHAMMO!! it's HOT.. Win win.. 80 credits, 90 credits. 50 credits.. BONUS ROUND, BONUS ROUND.... one bonus round for 800 credits, another for 680 and then a ATM bonus for 600.. I'm betting 2 on the 9 lines I get my credits up to about 4000 and decide to do a full play 180 credits... WOOHOOOO!! 2000 credits and a bonus round again... I'm just grinning ear to ear, I have 5 empty rye and coke glasses and no one around to high five.. I cash out for 44 dollars and go see if Elvis wants to add to my win.. No luck.. He's in no mood to sing ( see later ). I cash in my ticket for 35 bucks and check out the Roulette.. I buy in a $1.00 minimum with 20 and place one chip on black 22.. ( my birthday ).. HELLO!!!! " black 22 even.. THANK YOU!!!!!!!!.. okay... lets try 17.. " 17 red odd" OMG.. Thank you again... i'm up 70 bucks plus the 15 or so from the slots.. it's all good.. I play some more being more cautious with some six ways and four ways and after all said and done I cash out for 90 bucks.. [​IMG] Paid for all my shopping that day.. It's now 3:10 so I head outside by the escalators to wait for the gang. I'm sitting there with the biggest grin just waiting to tell them my story.. They show up and are excited about my winning. We head inside and my story was sooo good that I convinced Ian the NON gambler to play my risque business machine. he put in $1.00 and cashed out $5.40.. I'm telling you, this game is awesome.. We mosey over to the lounge area and it's all dark, not a soul around.. the security guy show's up and says " If you're waiting for the show, he called in sick today" ... son of a #($%*!(*%(#@......... [​IMG] I guess Elvis really wasn't in a mood to give out money.. He didn't even show up. I'm sooo bummed...
    We have 2 hours before we have to head to the airport. We make our way back stopping here and there and get to MB around 5:30 grab our bags and head off to the airport.
    Check in and go to security and I get pulled aside.. Take off the shoes, stand here, legs apart and a very close scan with the wand.. WOWSERS.... it's all fine though and I grab my stuff and head to gate 3.. I hang around the slots but decide not to ruin my win so i just watch.. Some lady won 1600.00 five minutes before getting on our plane... Damn.. should have played i guess.. oh well.. Smooth flight home, landed exactly on time and it's about- 18 C ( thats about what.......... 15 in F? ) flippen cold what ever it is.. brrrrrrrrr.. Walk in the door, and head to bed... Glad to be home but already thinking.. hmmm.. another trip? We'll see...

    SUMMARY

    Flights - great.. Love the westjet charter..
    Hotel.. Very very nice place. Pool area was great, location so so, lots of walking. Room 31203.. GREAT VIEW.. staff had a bit of attitude though. not very friendly
    Shopping - forum shops, desert passage, Premium outlets, Mandalay place ( new shops just opened.. love the Urban Outfitter store.. great stuff. check it out )
    Food. Buffets: freemont hotel.. pretty good, IP... yuck but had fun there, Stage Deli in forum shops.. Highly recommended and the rest was mcdonalds and Krispy Kreme lol
    Gambling - I don't gamble much but i guess i won a little bit.. Risque Business slots a ton of fun and most likely to win something and got lucky with Roulette. I enjoyed my first crack at craps ( pardon the punn )
    Shows.. Only tried to see Fat Elvis and was disapointed he called in sick.. Hope he gets better soon.

    It was a great trip. More time spent relaxing instead of accumulating blisters. Can't wait to go back. Thank you for taking the time to read, I know it's a long one..


    Here's a few pics.. I'll add more in the next few days.. Please check back later http://community.webshots.com/user/stickyfingers007
     
  2. doctor_al

    doctor_al VIP Whale

    Joined:
    Nov 25, 2002
    Messages:
    11,670
    Location:
    Twin Cities
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    18
    Craps at Binions... right on! [​IMG]
    You posted some nice pictures, esp. first one I've seen of "ti" sign at night. Didn't post the Joe Jackson pic though? Too bad. (I'm a fan of his from way back). Anyway, thanks for the report, sounds like you had a lot of fun.
     
  3. sunni

    sunni VIP Whale

    Joined:
    Feb 6, 2003
    Messages:
    1,620
    Location:
    Sunshine State
    sounds like you had a blast ! Thanks for sharing.

    sunni

    T-22 [​IMG]
     
  4. milehiman

    milehiman VIP Whale

    Joined:
    Sep 21, 2002
    Messages:
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    Location:
    Scottsdale, AZ
    Great Trip report and pics.

    I did the web cam thing too (at MGM). Wasn't it great getting all the strange looks from people that don't know what was going on?
     
  5. StickyFingers007

    StickyFingers007 Namer of T2V Gatherings

    Joined:
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    Messages:
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    Location:
    Seattle (Formerly Edmonton, AB CANADA)
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    14
    Ty everyone. It was a great trip. The other pics were taken by my friends and I have to wait for them to be e-mailed to me. I'll post them when I get them. It is funny to be jumping around on the sidewalk waving at the sky and people are thinking " oh my, that poor girl". Check back later for the other pics. And craps at binions was fun the whole time I kept thinking of Mikey there. I was glad to have at least tried. One vegas DO checked on my list. [​IMG]
     
  6. bigdogmom

    bigdogmom VIP Whale

    Joined:
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    Location:
    Prescott Valley, AZ
    Trips to Las Vegas:
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    Sticky, great report as usual and your pics are awesome!!! :cool:
     
  7. LV Terry

    LV Terry Captain Flop'N Fold

    Joined:
    Sep 30, 2001
    Messages:
    3,957
    Location:
    Santa Barbara, CA, USA
    Great read! Thanks for writing it up, and more importantly, including pictures! I love seeing people having fun in Vegas, really makes the trip report come to life...I need to remember to do that...I just never feel like hauling a camera around...guess I need to get one of those super tiny digitals...

    oh, were we supposed to Not notice the VS bag in your hand? :D Nice! [​IMG]

    Always enjoy reading your reports...you have the zeal for LV that we can all appreciate!

    T.

    [ November 01, 2003, 05:14 PM: Message edited by: LV Terry ]
     
  8. StickyFingers007

    StickyFingers007 Namer of T2V Gatherings

    Joined:
    Aug 30, 2002
    Messages:
    1,263
    Location:
    Seattle (Formerly Edmonton, AB CANADA)
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    14
    Oh.. I forgot a Celeb sighting.. After checking into MB in the Elevator i'm with Bryan Dattilo ( Lucas from Days of our lives ) then the next day I'm getting a burger at one of the beach cafe's and he's behind me and as I turn around I say oh excuse me and he just smiled... There.. I knew there were a few more celebs I saw.. Thats one of them... [​IMG]
     
  9. HurricaneMikey

    HurricaneMikey A-List Buffoon

    Joined:
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    Trips to Las Vegas:
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    Hey Sticky--

    Great report! Glad I could inspire you to try your hand at rolling the bones.

    I would've loved to see ya jumping around in front of the web cam. I'm sure somebody else saw you doing that and it's part of their "Man, you wouldn't believe what we saw in Vegas...." stories when they got home.

    Mikey
     
  10. paulajpa

    paulajpa Guest

    Sticky I love the report funny when I was playing craps I kept thinking and talking about Mikey I think hubby might have been getting jealous [​IMG] Mikey even was the inspiration for me taking craps lessons , hubby and I won every time we played .....

    I loved the pictures

    [ November 03, 2003, 10:17 AM: Message edited by: paulajpa ]
     
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