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7 Nights at The Tuscany: An Ace of a Trip!

Discussion in 'Vegas Trip Reports' started by JuliaNPete, Jun 7, 2004.

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  1. JuliaNPete

    JuliaNPete Low-Roller

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    My Trip Report

    Vegas Report: An Ace of a Trip

    5/29--6/5
    Background: Pete & I have been to Vegas five times--we were married there in 1999. We go to Tunica regularly.

    Cast:
    Me & Pete staying at The Tuscany and one night at Bellagio

    My Mom & Dad staying downtown at The Plaza

    Al (Pete's dad) and Eddie (our best friend) bunked together at The Four Queens (also downtown)

    Saturday--Took Southwest's last non stop to Vegas out of Nashville at 5:30. The flight was smooth and seemed quick even though we had to fly out of the way of storms...
    Picked up the van and dropped everybody off, then over to check in at The Tuscany. I sent an email a couple of weeks out and asked to have a room with a balcony saved for us since we were arriving late, and, low & behold: they came through. Check in was quick and every single employee we met was extra nice. Our room was huge(600 sq ft)--it had a "living" area, a "kitchen/dining" area complete with a fridge, sink, microwave, and coffee maker, and a huge bathroom with separate soaking tub and shower. The balcony had two chairs and a table. It was an outstanding value. The place is fairly new and everything seemed clean & new including the casino. If you go to The Tuscany's website and take the virtual tours--it is exactly like what they show you. We made the reservation at rack rate which was $107 that first night (Sat) and something like $69 for the nights after that. Casino rate runs about $45 a night mid week. We ended up paying neither. [[Wink]]
    Oh! There was also a fruit basket in our room with candy, drinks, kiwi, strawberries--with a note from the hotel manager congratulating us on our anniversary. Cool! I had mentioned it when I asked for the balcony. And since we had never played a penny in the place, it was a great touch. The Tuscany is near the strip behind Bally's on Flamingo. This is a great place for folks who go to Vegas every year or whatever and have "been there, done that". It's quiet, the casino is small (but has any game you could want), they have a nice pool, the food is very good and affordable (even at The Steakhouse)--just a great place to vacation, but you can still go see other stuff if ya want to. We really loved it. When we drove around and saw the legions of people walking the Strip, we shuddered and were so happy to go "home" to the Tuscany.

    Anyhoo, the first night we stayed up all night with our friend Eddie gambling at the Tuscany. They also do not have any machine over $1. And 100% TITO. Could be rather easy to be a "higher roller" here. Didn't win, but played all night! When we drove Eddie back downtown, we had a meal at The Las Vegas Club's diner--Pete & Eddie had the graveyard steak & eggs special ($1.99) and I had a burger--all terrific.
    I called my Mom and they were up already, so we went on a Wal Mart run. Bought goodies for our rooms and went back to The Tusc for a nap. It's so hard to sleep in Vegas!

    Sunday after we slept a little while, we went out to Ellis Island and Key Largo. We ate at Key Largo--very good $1.99 burger & fries deal. Service was good, and we got a great laugh out of the lady that served beverages-- she was Asian. She walks up and says "What you want to drink?!" We told her, then she went to the next table-"What you want to drink?!". LOL. If it wasn't so funny, someone might be offended--we started calling her "The Drink ****".LOL. "No drink for you!!" She wasn't mean, just to the point and non social. We enjoyed the laugh.
    After we ate, Pete hit four 7's on $1 DDB for $250. Yay!
    That evening we visited The Aladdin. Nice place--played Top Dollar .25 machines long enough to earn a nice logo cap from the slot club and didn't lose too much. Played a little more at home, but called it an early night. I don't know how we got so tired. [:rolleyes]

    Monday we took my folks and Eddie on a road trip. Al decided to stay behind and bet the greyhounds at The Freemont. In fact, that's about all Al did the whole week, but he was happy so we left him alone. When we were downtown, we knew where to find him!
    We drove over to Hoover Dam, and then down to Laughlin. I think we'll have to try that again another time. We stopped in at Harrah's , lost too much right away, and was too tired to do much else--so, at least for the time being, we think Laughlin kinda stinks. The river was pretty...

    Tuesday was double points day at Tuscany, so we stayed around there all day. We were losing on VP and slots, but Pete kept winning that money back on craps. Yes, the crappy craps streak is over!! Altogether Pete won $500-$600 every time he bought in for $200. But we still kept losing at the machines, and ended the day with all the $$ we brought with us lost. So, we wrote a check and hoped that would keep us playing the rest of the week.

    Wednesday we played & shopped a little downtown, Pete played doggies with his Dad for awhile (yawn), then drove back to the Bellagio with Eddie & my folks. This day was our anniversary--so we treated ourselves to a lake view room at Bellagio. We checked in, and all of us went up to check out our high dollar digs. Wow! We were on the 24th floor overlooking the lake. The view was incredible!! We bought tickets to "O" for us & my folks for that evening. They were $100 each, so I expected to be impressed or else!! It's almost impossible to describe this show--the stage would go from totally dry to being a deep pool of water in seconds. The performers were amazingly talented and flexible! The effects were unbelievable! I can't describe it--we decided they should change the name from "O" to "Whoa!" because that's all we kept saying: "Whoa! Look at that! Whoa! What happened there? Whoa! how did she get her leg all the way around there!?" Really, whoa... Then Mom & Dad caught a cab back downtown, and Eddie went and spent the night in our room at Tuscany. We didn't want to bother with checking out and checking back in the next day, so we just packed a bag to stay at the Bell. We stayed up until almost 2am playing at Bellagio and didn't lose a penny. Broke totally even. We were surprised how we won at Bellagio. And, since we played so long, we went to the Players Club to ask to something to eat. They gave us a comp for two at Cafe Bellagio. This place is only a step and a half below Fairbanks at Hollywood. We ate $80 worth, including the best banana split we've ever had. Great service, too. We only got to sleep about five hours, but we loved being there, and never dreamed we'd get a food comp at Bellagio. Woo hoo!

    Thursday was also double points day at Tuscany, so we played hard there again that day. That afternoon, we picked up Eddie and took him over to see the Hard Rock casino. We feel only slightly out of place there--lots of young hard bodies walking around--but we settled in at a couple of Five Play .25 and played a good while. Pete caught a couple of hard quads on DDB and we walked out $400 up. Another first! Never won at the Hard Rock. We do like their casino, and we had a good time playing in a booth with two multi-denom Five Plays in front of it. We had our own little VP nook. Fun!
    We went back to The Tuscany to take advantage of the rest of double points day. We sat together and played 9/6 DDB Five Play quarters. We were both hitting quads like crazy, having the time of our lives, and racking up points! Then, while I was up about $500 on this quarter machine--I was dealt 4 ACES. I held them before I told Pete. After getting over the excitement of a definite win (all five hands were worth at least $200), I finally hit the deal button hoping for at least one kicker. I caught THREE! Total win: $1900. My first taxable win!Wow!It was a dream hand. They paid me quickly and then this security guard insisted he escort us to the room to put the wad in the safe. You never know who's watching you win, he says. Better safe than mugged! We went back and played & played --and right at midnight I saw my points start counting up by one instead of two. LOL. We retired for the evening dead even again and happy.

    I don't remember exactly when we ate, but we had four meals at Tusc including one at the steakhouse--and it all was delicious and we had terrific service each time. We charged what we ate to our room.

    Friday we played in the morning at home, didn't lose much. There was this 5 cent progressive 8/5 DDB poker bank that never hit the entire time we were there. It was at $1200 when we started trying for it. We'd play & play until we just couldn't stand it. (it gets mighty tedious playing single line .05 poker for a long time) That bastard was up to over $1400 when we left--it drove us crazy!! We had never seen a nickel progressive so high. There were always seat available too. We knew in Tunica you wouldn't be able to get a seat!
    Friday we also took my Mom & Eddie to the Venetian and the wax museum. Very cool, very fun, very freaky! Then we took Mom back downtown, and went to The STRAT with Eddie. Rode the Big Shot, saw the sights, played a little, and left. Dropped off Ed and headed back to the Tusc for supper at their steakhouse. Pete had ribs and I had Chicken Marsala. It was great. Played a little more, and headed to bed. Well, I did. Pete played another hour or so on a Triple Play .50 machine. He says he came up about an hour later; I wouldn't know--I went comatose.

    Saturday was our leaving day. We got our crap together and then went downstairs to negotiate our bill. We had great time there--loved the hotel, loved the casino, loved the staff, loved the food--we have found our new Vegas home.
    Then, the slot host and the pit boss got together and decided we didn't owe them anything. And we had $60 cash back. We were patting ourselves on the back for a gambo job well done, when they informed us we also had a $250 gift shop comp. Whoa! Again! We did our shopping quickly (had to pick up our dowtowners and get to the airport)--our kid's got more than they ever dreamed, we got plenty of logo stuff , and we were off! We lost only the money we had saved on the side for a year--got everything else back plus all our "compages". We were giddy!! We dropped off the van, checked our luggage and went to play slots until boarding time. Lost a little--then started playing some .25 9/6 DB. I lost my $20 pretty quickly, so I watched and cheered Pete on. He was up a little when he hit a low quad, then he played almost all the out when he hit another low quad, and then he hit 4 ACES! ACES at the AIRPORT! We cashed out $350 which put us at a total gambo loss for the trip of about $700. The flight back went quick and it was a cool 72 degrees in Nashville when we landed. What a trip! We didn't come home millionaires, but we won more than we have in YEARS! (Including the Tunica rapings) We had a ball. We can't wait to go back, because the next time there's no mystery on where we should stay, and we just love it in Vegas! It may be 110 degrees, but there's no mosquitos, and my hair stays styled. (I do not get along with humidity) An ace of a trip, for sure! [​IMG]
     
  2. NEON

    NEON Tourist

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    Great report! and nice to here you not only had loads of fun but had good luck too!!! [​IMG]
     
  3. btodd

    btodd High-Roller

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    Loved your report, it's nice to hear reviews for the off strip properties, because after you have stayed on the strip many times, the novelty does wear off but the high prices remain........Love those aces!!!
     
  4. JuliaNPete

    JuliaNPete Low-Roller

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    Here's some pics --ignore the first one, it's in Tunica. There's a pic of almost our whole room at Tuscany...Mom, Pete & Eddie with The Duke...me at the window of our Bellagio room in my swanky Bellagio robe...Me & Pete at the dam...the fountains (see the rainbow?)...and Pete on Top Dollar

    Vegas photos.
     
  5. KathyinNY

    KathyinNY Tourist

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    That was a great trip report! Glad to hear you had a great time. I see that it is off the strip but is it a decent walk to the strip or is it more like miles? Their rates seem to be decent too (I just checked for rates in October).
     
  6. JuliaNPete

    JuliaNPete Low-Roller

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    It's about a mile...I didn't want to walk it..but, like I said, we're more or less done with the strip.
    It's kind of like an aparment complex--the buildings are only three stories. They're going for a "local" crowd in the casino, but I still think it's a great place for Vegas veterans who would like to be away from the gazillion people wandering the Strip. Small enough that the cocktail waitresses stopped asking us what to drink, but just were we ready for one...Friendly dealers, good security (saw them all over)--a place where you can be a bigger fish than on the Strip...we liked that!

    [ June 10, 2004, 04:05 PM: Message edited by: JuliaNPete ]
     
  7. KathyinNY

    KathyinNY Tourist

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    That sounds great. I've only been to Vegas once (wishing I could be there at least twice a year) but living in upstate NY, being taxed to death, and raising a family it is hard to get to Vegas for me. We stayed at the Tropicana and enjoyed it but would like something further up the strip. My husband and I loved Harrah's Carnival Bar and a lot of the attractions up that way. Your report has given me better ideas too! Thanks.
     
  8. KathyinNY

    KathyinNY Tourist

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    I had another question for you. If it is a mile walk from Tuscany to the strip, is it safe to walk at night time? I've been looking up sites for Tuscany and it looks like a great place to stay. Thanks.
     
  9. JuliaNPete

    JuliaNPete Low-Roller

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    Pete's dad came down to see our room and watch Pete play craps one night--he left after 10pm and walked up to the strip to catch a bus. He's 73 and he said it was pretty good walk but doable--he didn't indicate being uneasy at all..
     
  10. bigdogmom

    bigdogmom VIP Whale

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    Great report and thanks for the link to the pics. Now I want to check out the Tuscany on my next trip! Sounds like a great place to stay!
     
  11. KathyinNY

    KathyinNY Tourist

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    Thanks Julia, that's what I thought but wasn't sure. Your trip report has been helpful to many of us. [​IMG]
     
  12. TonyV

    TonyV Tourist

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    Julia, very nice report. Checked out the rates for October also and may give it considerable thought to stay there.

    You mean they took care of your room rate for the entire trip that you stayed there? How many hours a day would you say you spent gambling ??

    Again nice report!
     
  13. JuliaNPete

    JuliaNPete Low-Roller

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    Okay, good question, and I hope I can give you a good answer.

    We averaged at least 5 hours a day (didn't play at all Wed. because we were at the Bell)We play on one account. The system as I understand it is: $1 per point on slots, $2 per point on VP. Pete bought in for $200 each time he crapped (you know what I mean), AND he won all but two sessions--he hid no chips and tipped the dealers (karma). He would have as much as $50 on a number sometimes (wins permitting). Every time he left, he'd ask the pit boss "Boss, am I rated?" And they always said "Oh, yes.."
    We like to play, and as long as were winning enough to play, we will. (sometimes we'll keep playing if we're not [​IMG] ) I think we had roughly 70,000 points when we checked out (double points days helped!), and given that we played mostly VP Five Play ($6.25 a push--impressive in a place with no slot over $1), I figure we put about $70,000 THROUGH the machines over the week, and then however they rated Pete. The pit boss and slot host had a short meeting before we got the word. Another thing that helped is that even though we charged all our food to the room, we didn't eat there every day and their food's inexspensive. And, once the pit boss asked Pete when he inquired of our status: "Do ya'll drink ??" And we don't usually. So, the B wasn't really there, and the R & F we got no problem. We took $2000 to gamble, and thanks to some wins, came home with $1300 give or take. Got lots of play and took good advantage of double points.
    I know this is long, but all these places take awhile to figure out--at Bellagio, we actually only had enough credit for ONE Cafe comp, and $35 cash back--we were surprised to have that (we were playing .25 poker and slots)! We said we'd take it and thanked this gal profusely.Her boss was behind her with his back to us--he turns around, looks over her shoulder at the computer and says: "Go ahead and give them two for the Cafe..." Just liked our looks I guess...so, anything's possible!

    [ June 10, 2004, 08:52 AM: Message edited by: JuliaNPete ]
     
  14. TonyV

    TonyV Tourist

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    Julia,

    Ok thanks for the quick response and you guys did very, very well on your trip. That's about what I take to gamble usually so I'll see what I can do when I go.

    Thanks for a very complete answer........

    [ June 10, 2004, 09:10 AM: Message edited by: TonyV ]
     
  15. KathyinNY

    KathyinNY Tourist

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    Ok, so if you are a slot player this place is ideal for slot players? My husband and I are not table players. My husband might play blackjack but I am strictly a slot player and not too much VP slots either. I do not go to chase comps but would like a night or two comped. Your explanation was good. Thanks.
     
  16. Jane

    Jane Tourist

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    Thank you so much for your the great trip report.
    Oh yes, now I can't wait to stay at the Tuscany.
    We will be married 35 yrs. and plan to go to Vegas the weekend prior to our anniversary and stay at the Tuscany. We are very young at heart and a mile walk will be no problem for either of us. Thank you again.
     
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