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Solo Trip Report 05/27-06/08

Discussion in 'Vegas Trip Reports' started by ARE U SRS?, Jun 15, 2013.

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  1. ARE U SRS?

    ARE U SRS? Tourist

    Joined:
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    Location:
    Nuremberg, Germany
    Trips to Las Vegas:
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    My Trip Report

    First of all – thanks to 2+2 and VMB for all the good advice and information about Sin City! It was really helpful when I planned my first trip half a year ago. So now I want to share my third trip within six months with the forums.

    Since English is not my native language, please excuse any mistakes in grammar or spelling – I’ll do my very best ;-)

    Prologue:

    I started playing poker about 20 years ago. The first homegames were 5-Card-Draw, inspired by “Maverick” and all the classic Western movies. In 2003, I came in contact with NLHE and in 2004, I started playing online at Party Poker and in 2007 at Pokerstars. Man, I wish I could turn back time and could play again these tables with today’s knowledge ;-)

    For about 5 years I always wanted to go to Vegas, but I never did… Until last year.

    After a six-month-duty in Afghanistan I decided to make a dream come true, and I booked 10 nights at the Mirage in Dec/Jan, including an awesome New Year’s Eve! A buddy came with me and we had a fantastic first time in Vegas!

    In March 2013, we came back for another 11 nights, celebrated my 33rd birthday here and had another great trip!

    After the first time I saw the Bellagio Fountains, all the huge hotels, the blinding lights on the Strip, I got addicted to this city! And so it didn’t take very long until I came back, this time solo…

    DAY 1: 05/27

    "The more you see the less you know
    The less you find out as you grow
    I knew much more then than I do now

    Neon heart, day-glow eyes
    The city lit by fireflies
    They're advertising in the skies And people like us

    And I miss you when you're not around
    I'm getting ready to leave the ground

    Oh you look so beautiful tonight..."​


    U2 - City of blinding lights


    The day started pretty early (04:00am), but hey: I’m going to Vegas, so who cares about the time?

    And from the beginning, there were signs that it’s gonna be a good trip! The first song I heard on the radio was “Don’t stop believing” from Journey (one of my favorite songs, not only since I have seen Rock of Ages on my first trip).

    While having breakfast, I zapped the TV-program, and what was on? The TV-series “Las Vegas”…

    The train to Frankfurt Airport was on time, no delay and 2 ½ hours later I arrived at the airport.

    The check-in and the security-check went pretty fast, and after a second breakfast and two hours of waiting the boarding started and I got a very good seat:

    69vfdyyn.jpg

    Very spacious and comfortable…

    To my left sat a German MTT-pro who was heading to Vegas for 2 months for the WSOP, and it was pretty interesting listening to his conversation with his friend behind him…

    After a 11 ½ hours flight (next good run: 30 minutes faster than scheduled) we landed at McCarran and I couldn’t wait to get off the plane…

    After that, I got the only bad beat of the day, when I came to the immigration control:

    no7fq6yf.jpg

    One hour later, I passed the immigration and listened to these beautiful words: “Welcome back to the United States, Sir!”

    Picked up my baggage, went through the customs control and saw that wonderful sign:

    vvmb3dqz.jpg

    The next good-run: the taxi-driver brought me to the Flamingo for less than $18. No tunnel, no freeway, he really deserved his tip…

    The check-in at the Flamingo went really fast and some minutes later I could enjoy my view:

    guaau229.jpg

    (booked a standard GO-room, was upgraded to a strip-view without asking… good-run continues!)

    I put my baggage in the room and head down to the casino, got some cash, buy some food and drinks and… oh, look! A craps table…

    Twenty minutes and +$60 later I got back to my room, had a shower and went straight to the Forum Shops for dinner…

    d62dbgbj.jpg

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    Smokehouse BBQ Burger with fries and three diet coke for $17, pretty good!

    Unfortunately, after the burger, there was no room for the dessert:

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    After the dinner, I rolled the dice at the QUAD (with a negative result) and saw a really nice poker-table there: .5/1…

    Since I am still new to live-poker, I prefer the lower tables (esp. 1/2 at Planet Hollywood or Bally’s), and I really loved the .5/1-game at Bill’s on my first trip. I know, the rake is ridiculously, but I liked the game and the location, so I will give it a chance in the next days…
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Jun 15, 2013
  2. tomb3006

    tomb3006 Tourist

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    Nice start. Looking forward to the rest of this report !!
     
  3. JSR1968

    JSR1968 Low-Roller

    Joined:
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    Location:
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    The longest flight I have ever been on is 10 hours. Can't imagine going much longer than that.

    Good start to you TR
     
  4. ARE U SRS?

    ARE U SRS? Tourist

    Joined:
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    Location:
    Nuremberg, Germany
    Trips to Las Vegas:
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    "When the daylight is falling down into the night
    And the sharks try to cut a big piece out of life

    It feels alright to go out to catch an outrageous thrill
    But it's more like spinning wheels of fortune

    Which never stand still
    Big city, big city nights
    You keep me burning
    Big city, big city nights

    When the sunlight is rising up in my eyes
    And the long night has left me back at somebody's side

    It feels alright for a long sweet minute like hours before
    But it's more like looking out for something

    I can't find anymore"

    Scorpions - Big City Nights



    DAY 2: 05/28

    On my previous trips, I’ve never had problems with jetlag. After the 12 hour flight, I always managed to stay awake until 1 or 2 am, slept 8 hours and got a good rhythm from the beginning.

    But this time, I fell asleep at 10pm and woke up at 6am. Could be a little hard the next days…

    I walked to the Venetian to get a breakfast. Thank god for the 24/7-open hours at the Grand Lux, where I got a really good omelette:

    [​IMG]

    After the breakfast I walked through the Venetian. Although I don’t like the perfume in the air, I love the casino. Large, very bright and a good place to sit down and play for a while. And I also really like the style of the hotel:

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    I walked back to the Flamingo, time to go to the pool, enjoy the sun and the views ;-)

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    In the afternoon, it was time to roll some dice… I started at the Planet Hollywood, dropped $300. Flamingo, dropped $300. Harrah’s, dropped and so on… This afternoon was a complete disaster, I couldn’t catch one single good run at the tables.

    After this disappointing results I went back to my room. I wanted to relax a little and have a little nap before playing some poker at the PHo.

    And the jetlag hitted hard again. The “little nap” lasted from 5:30pm until 3:30am. I couldn’t even remember turning off the alarm clock…
     
  5. ARE U SRS?

    ARE U SRS? Tourist

    Joined:
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    Thank you!

    The flight is indeed pretty long and boring. I always try to sleep / watch some movies / have some drinks. Well, mostly the drinks :beer:
     
  6. Suekel

    Suekel VIP Whale

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    Great start, looking forward to more. Love the song lyrics and the pictures!!!
     
  7. mjames1229

    mjames1229 # of visits includes only trips w/ hotel stays

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    That's why I always hesitate to take a nap unless my wife is in the room with me.
     
    USBC Nationals are back in Vegas
  8. Joe

    Joe VIP Whale

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    Enjoying the TR.
    Yea, I did a 8 hr "little nap" one time and it had nothing to do with jet lag!:drunk:
     
  9. breanna61

    breanna61 Super Moderator

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    I had one of those long "little naps" in Vegas once....now I set my cell alarm and put it across the room so I have to get up to turn it off ( or incorporate the racket into a dream and ignore it lol).
     
  10. ARE U SRS?

    ARE U SRS? Tourist

    Joined:
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    Thanks! I am also pretty good in ignoring the alarm ;-)
     
  11. ARE U SRS?

    ARE U SRS? Tourist

    Joined:
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    Location:
    Nuremberg, Germany
    Trips to Las Vegas:
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    "There's so many different worlds
    So many different suns

    And we have just one world
    But we live in different ones

    Now the sun's gone to hell
    And the moon's riding high

    Let me bid you farewell
    Every man has to die

    But it's written in the starlight
    And every line on your palm

    We're fools to make war
    On our brothers in arms"

    Dire Straits - Brothers in arms


    DAY 3: 05/30

    Early morning, 3:30am, and I was wide awake. All attempts to fall asleep again failed, so I got up, had a shower, updated my blog and saw the Bellagio in the sunrise:

    [​IMG]

    At 6am, I went down to the casino to get a coffee:

    [​IMG]

    Since my last meal was yesterday’s breakfast at the Grand Lux, which was almost 24 hours ago, I headed to the buffet at the Flamingo to get another little, healthy breakfast:

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    After the breakfast, I wanted to chill a little bit at the GO-pool. Unfortunately, about 100 other people had the same idea and the line was pretty long. So I went to the family pool, only a couple of people waiting in line and five minutes later I enjoyed the early morning sun:

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    After two hours at the pool, I made a little walk to the Forum Shops and the Bellagio. I really like the flowers:

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    And it was time to catch up the CCF-dessert:

    [​IMG]

    After the cake and the coffee, I walked to the Planet Hollywood and finally played my first hands of poker on this trip.

    [​IMG]

    In for $300, cashing out $400 one hour later. Good start!

    Dinner-time, another burger today:

    [​IMG]

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    [​IMG]

    Western BBQ Burger, two Diet Coke, $16. The Hooters-girls: priceless! ;-)

    After the dinner I played another session at the Mandalay Bay. Didn’t hit a single flop within one hour, doubled up a short-stack who sucked out my kings on the river, so I booked a $170 loss and called it a night.
     
  12. LV2GAMBLE

    LV2GAMBLE Certified LOW Roller

    Joined:
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    Nice start to your TR. Great pictures. Keep it coming:beer:
     
  13. gambler

    gambler VIP Whale

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    Really enjoying your trip report. Great photos!
     
  14. ARE U SRS?

    ARE U SRS? Tourist

    Joined:
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    Thank you, guys! Next update incoming...
     
  15. ARE U SRS?

    ARE U SRS? Tourist

    Joined:
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    Location:
    Nuremberg, Germany
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    You - you got a nasty reputation
    We're in a sticky situation - it's down to me and you
    So tell me - is it true ... they say there ain't nobody better
    Well now that we're together
    Show me what you can do

    You're under the gun
    Out on the run
    Gonna set the night on fire
    You're out on the run
    Under the gun
    And playin' to win

    Raise your hands
    When you want to let it go
    Raise your hands
    And you want to let a feeling show
    Raise your hands

    Bon Jovi - Raise your hands

    DAY 4: 05/31

    Once again, the night ended early. 6am, no more sleep… Note to myself: start excessive drinking at night, maybe it helps!

    I went down to Java Detour to get a little breakfast:

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    After that, it was time to get some royals at the VP-machine!

    [​IMG]

    Well, not a royal, but not bad at all!

    The rest of the morning went as usual. I looked at the line at the entrance of the GO-pool and decided again to go to the “Beach Club”. Since I don’t want to party at the pool (well, at least not at 8am) but only catch some sunrays, the family pool is fine for me.

    [​IMG]

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    Two hours later, it was time to go back to my room, have a shower and pack my bags. Friday and Saturday night I am staying at the QUAD.

    Yes, the QUAD! ;-)

    On my second trip, the prices at all hotels were extremely high on the weekend, because of March Madness and Spring Break. So we decided to go to the QUAD for two nights. The room was ok, the bathroom was clean and that is all we needed for two nights.

    And so I did it again this time and got a room for two nights for a price, for which I wouldn’t have got a room for ONE night at the Flamingo.

    And again, everything was fine. I got a room with a pool-view, so there wasn’t any noise from the construction, the Strip or Carneval Court. And the balcony is a little extra, so I don’t have to leave the room for a cigarette.

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    I walked down to Planet Hollywood for another short session with a small win:

    [​IMG]

    In for $300, cashed out $320.

    In the evening I wasn’t in the mood for more serious poker, so I decided to give the .5/1-game and some drinks at the QUAD a try…

    I played three hours, the first 2 ½ I lost almost every hand I played…

    It started good, got AA, flopped a set, but no action. I doubled up a short-stack, when I flopped a set and he turned the higher set, three times AK in one orbit, three times check/fold on a small flop. I was in for $400 and had a stack of about $150, when I again got the aces and managed to double up.

    A little later, I cashed out $320 with a $80 loss. Could have been worse…

    After the session I walked down to the Planet Hollwood to get a late dinner:

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    The plan worked pretty good: thank to the drinks, the walk and the sandwich I was tired and went to bed at 2am. Let’s see if I could get some sleep…
     
  16. carrie_dave_and_cody

    carrie_dave_and_cody Low-Roller

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    Great report so far. Love the pictures from your room. We are staying at the Flamingo in a few weeks.
     
  17. ARE U SRS?

    ARE U SRS? Tourist

    Joined:
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    Thank you!

    Have you ever stayed at the Flamingo before? If not, here are some pictures of the room I took on my trip in March:

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    If you stay in a GO-room, I’m pretty sure you will enjoy it and have great time!
     
  18. techie223

    techie223 High-Roller

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    Really enjoying your TR. Thanks for taking the time to post it along with all the pictures. Looking forward to the rest :beer:
     
  19. Smo

    Smo Mr. Las Vegas

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    Loving the Trip Report so far.
    Earl of Sandwich is my favorite late night drunk food. Is that the club sandwich?
     
  20. derek33

    derek33 Tourist

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    Great TR and loving all the pics. I thought I was seeing double since I frequent 2+2 and saw your TR there too!
     
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