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Getting that exciting feeling again

Discussion in 'Vegas Trip Reports' started by cruiser, Dec 14, 2004.

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  1. cruiser

    cruiser High-Roller

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    My Trip Report

    Just returned home a few days ago from a 6 week long exhausting business trip to NY. I'm trying to 'catch up' on my sleep in time for our next trip to Vegas. We're going back to the Green Valley Ranch (GVR) Resort, Casino, and Spa. Although not actually in Las Vegas, I still consider it to be Las Vegas. We will never stay/gamble at the Tropicana again but we did receive something in the mail. We have a certificate redeemable for $$$ at the Tropicana during the time we're staying at GVR. So, we'll take the GVR shuttle over to Mandaley Bay, pick up our cash and either take the GVR shuttle back or more likely, we'll take a cab back to GVR.

    I'll be playing in my first Video Poker Tournament so I'm also practicing my Double Double Bonus VP. I much prefer Deuces Wild but we can't always get what we want, nor should we.

    We pack tonight and tomorrow, it's half a work day, lunch with Wifey, followed by jacuzzi time and then 90 minute massages for each of us. It's a nice way to relax the day before heading to Las Vegas.

    Go Longhorns!
    [​IMG]
     
  2. -KorkedBatz-

    -KorkedBatz- Tourist

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    Have fun Cruiser....I am right behind you...
     
  3. Coaster Kikky

    Coaster Kikky Tourist

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    And I'm sandwiched in between the two of you (shh, don't tell my husband!)... we leave so early on Thursday that it isn't "bright" and early yet, and get to Unincorporated Clark County around 10:30am. The massage sounds wonderful - I'll be very very busy at work until 5pm Wednesday. Dang!
     
  4. RamBill

    RamBill Tourist

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    Don't forget to keep up your rigorous training regimen in Vegas, Kikky! I want to see you hoisting double fisted Patron Margs the following week! [​IMG]
     
  5. Coaster Kikky

    Coaster Kikky Tourist

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    how quickly do you want to see same "hoisted" back at ya, Bill? LOL
     
  6. RamBill

    RamBill Tourist

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    LOL!! It won't hit ya until you're either in the car or on the plane. Either way, that's John's problem!!!! ROTFLMAO!! Tell you what, I'll just make sure you're nice and "happy" so you can't say anything "bad" about me to M!
     
  7. Coaster Kikky

    Coaster Kikky Tourist

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    I wouldn't be so sure about it not hitting me that quickly! I AM quite sure I'll have to keep enough sobriety about me to place a phone call from the car [​IMG]
     
  8. cruiser

    cruiser High-Roller

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    Kikky,

    You're actually going to beat both of us to Vegas. My plane doesn't arrive until 11:45am on Thursday. I do plan to start drinking bailey's on the rocks as soon as the flight attendants start serving alcohol. That should be by 11am CST (or 9am Vegas time).

    [​IMG]
     
  9. NEON

    NEON Tourist

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    Good luck all Cruiser and Kikky!!!
    We get in Friday around 2pm!!!

    We hope to catch the Big Elvis show Friday at 3-6 and you are all welcome to join us! We might check the "Dec meet" at Orleans on Sunday, but not sure as no one seems to comment back??? Maybe they are hiding, moving the party, ????? Could not imagine why as Rob can attest we are not too scary LOL!!!
     
  10. mexicomich

    mexicomich Guest

    Cruiser, I am new here but have been lurking for awhile.

    Just wondering what problems you have had with the Trop? I will be in town this weekend and for the first time ever was not offered an up front comp. My host wanted me to pay (not much mind you) for the slowest weekend of the year. I went above her head and was granted a full comp. Still, it has me wondering.

    I'm not too sure about the Trop anymore...
     
  11. Absolutdrinker

    Absolutdrinker Low-Roller

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    im a couple paces behind you all.. about a week's time... what stands in front of me is a cold, which im fighting right now, two exams and a 4000 word paper.. knock'em down and Vegas will be here. just like in world war two... take Paris and win the war... or was that berlin... oh bloody hell AH CHOOO
     
  12. Coaster Kikky

    Coaster Kikky Tourist

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    I hear you Absolut, I've been fighting a cold for about a week myself. It's mostly gone, but should be just enough to make my sinuses miserable on the flight LOL! I think I'll order a screwdriver with a robitussin chaser ;)
     
  13. cruiser

    cruiser High-Roller

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    Mexicomich,

    You want to know why I will not gamble at the Trop anymore? Where do I begin??? Since May 2002, we've been to the Trop 7 times (33 days total). I posted trip reports for every trip but maybe I can summarize some of our 'problems' with the Trop.

    First, I should mention that since May 2002, we've been assigned 5 different hosts. The first one was great that first trip but started pissing me off after that. She wouldn't return my phone calls in what I consider a timely manner and said some things that finally were the last straw. She was actually our host for those first four trips to the Trop.

    After that fourth trip, I finally decided I needed a new host. I wrote a letter to the President and General Manager of the Trop and requested a new host (by name). I received a letter back from one of their VPs granting my request. The next two trips were with who I will call Host #2. This host was great and I was planning to bring a gift during trip #7, which would have been the third trip with this host. When I called my host (Host #2) to book the trip, I found out he was no longer working there. He was fired. The Trop had assigned me another host (Host #3). Since this host had the same last name as my first host, I wanted a different host. I spoke to a few different people at the Trop about getting a different host and was told I would have to write a letter.

    Letter #2 sent to the VP who had responded to my first letter and explained my situation and requested a different host (by name) and a week later I get a phone call from another VP. It seems the VP I sent the letter to and the President and General Manager who I had sent the first letter to had both left the Trop. What the heck was going on? In any case, I was granted my change of host. I now have Host #4. Booked trip #7 with my new host.

    My game of choice through trip #7 has been blackjack and my Wife plays only video poker (full pay deuces wild). In the past at the Trop, I've ended our trips where I've had an much as $130 average bet in blackjack for over 8 hours per day and for those 7 trips, I was still averaging roughly $90 average bet for over 8 hours per day. During trip #7, I was run off the blackjack tables and dropped $4,000 after about 8.5 hours of blackjack that trip. So for the rest of the trip, I stuck to video poker. That last trip (#7), my Wife and I played a combined 106+ hours of video poker ($1.25 per hand) over 5 nights plus I managed to get 8.5 hours of blackjack in at an average bet of $75 before dropping that $4 grand. We had been comped full RFB upfront for trip #7 as we were for most of our other trips to the Trop. We still had an overall rating of a '2' at the Trop.

    As a side note, I forgot to empty the bottom dresser draw in the room we had during trip #7 so I called VIP services when I landed in Austin. I explained that my host (Host# 4) was leaving for his vacation that day but I was assured that the clothes I left behind would be mailed to me. Nope, never received them.

    After this trip #7, Wifey wanted me to take a break from the blackjack tables and stick to deuces wild video poker. I agreed and sent my host (Host# 4) an e-mail explaining that we wanted to come back to the Trop for trip #8 and #9 before the end of 2004 but that I would not be playing any blackjack. Rather, we would both stick to video poker, playing max coin ($1.25 per hand for roughly 500 hands per hour) for up to 24 hours a day (combined play). This host proceeded to explain that we were over comped on our last trip and that if I wasn't going to play my usual blackjack, then we would not be comped anything up front. That really pissed us off. I didn't think putting $15K per day through the video poker machines (for our combined play) was chicken feed but I suppose the Trop felt their 'take' just wasn't worth our business.

    Well, that was the final nail in the coffin for us with the Trop. Even though we still had a overall rating of '2' for our past 6 trips, this host wasn't willing to comp us anything up front. We were both pissed and Wifey wasn't real happy with the Trop the last few trips anyway.

    The air conditioning and ventilation system at the trop is poor. On every one of those 7 trips to the Trop, by the end of the first day, I was putting up with nose bleeds and Wifey always seemed to get sick probably due in part to all the smoke since their ventilation system was terrible. Add to this the fact that there were only four 'full pay deuces wild' video poker machines in the entire casino, and we needed two of them so we could both play. These machines are old and the buttons stick. Wifey was just ready to move on to a better, nicer casino.

    Wifey did the research and we decided to try the Green Valley Ranch (GVR) Resort, Casino, and Spa. We were there for 5 nights in August and loved it. We both played only video poker (120 hours combined) over those 5 days/nights and put $75K through the machines. We got three of the nights comped and a reduced rate of the other two and we had to pay for our food but to us, it was worth it. This is a much nicer casino and more much upscale then the Trop and they have lots of full pay video poker machines which is what we were looking for.

    BTW, a couple months back, I received a letter from the Trop telling me that our host (Host# 4) has left the Trop and that they have asigned us a new host (Host# 5).

    Tomorrow morning, we leave for trip #9 since May, 2002 and the second consecutive trip to GVR. We plan to make GVR our new home away from home.

    [​IMG]
     
  14. mexicomich

    mexicomich Guest

    Cruiser, thanks for the detailed reply. I see a lot of similarities in our experience.

    You said, "This host proceeded to explain that we were over comped on our last trip and that if I wasn't going to play my usual blackjack, then we would not be comped anything up front". This was like deja vu. I just heard the same line from a host despite many hours (6-8/day) of $50/hand BJ last March. All of it severely unprofitable.

    I have been noticing a steady decline in customer service at the Trop and a steady exodus of hosts. I still do like some of their BJ dealers but that is not enough of a reason for loyalty.

    I will post my findings after this trip, in which I will decide if there is a future for me at the Trop. I was granted an up front room comp this time but was told that my grub would have to be taken care of later. We'll see what they can do.

    If things go poorly, I am done with the Trop as well.

    Again, thanks for your response.
     
  15. earth-3

    earth-3 VIP Whale

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    There will be a day when casino's will comp no one, except high rollers. Free drinks will remain because they generate much more revenue than their cost. They are changing their gaming rules to help their cash flow and will change their comp system as well. Large corporations need to show their stock holders a better bottom line every year. Otherwise the executives could be replaced. What do you think they will do given this alternative?

    [ December 16, 2004, 07:07 PM: Message edited by: earth-3 ]
     
  16. mexicomich

    mexicomich Guest

    Well, returned from the December trip where we once again camped at the Trop - for the last time.

    We too heard the standard response that we were over-comped. When asked why, previous to March 04, my play - which was somewhat lighter than it is now - was enough for room and some food comps I received a convoluted response. The jist of it was that they have revised their comp system slightly, and I was likely over-comped on those trips as well.

    The bottom line is that I played roughly 2 hours daily of $1VP, and 3-4 hours of $20-30 BJ on average. Now I know this is not High Roller coin, but it used to warrant up front room comps and sometimes a meal or two as well. When I left, my host said that he would take care of the room however, upon my return I noticed that I was still billed for one night (this on the slowest weekend of the year). So, I was either lied to or a mistake was made. As of yet, I have not had my calls returned.

    Ultimately, its not a big deal. I ended up playing a bit at the Palms, which I really liked, and might try staying their sometime. We had a great time at the Imp as well (fantastic dealers) so its an option. This will be the catalyst that causes me to try other places.

    Also, on this trip it became apparent just how run down the Trop is getting. Its looking rather frayed. It could be that I am starting to compare it to the higher end places and my perception has changed.

    I also noticed that they once again moved the pits around to accomodate more pull toys. Maybe their ultimate goal is to become the "Mermaids" of the strip - who knows.

    In the end, my experience somewhat mirrored Cruiser's and I am left with the feeling that it is time to try something different for our May trip. The Palms, somewhere center strip or maybe even downtown.
     
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