9/18 - 9/24 Live Updates To Follow

Well I normally don't start posting until I'm in Vegas, but this trip has quite a few new wrinkles that precipitate a pre-trip explanation, so here goes.

My former pay-as-you-go cell provider quit supporting my $400 phone, so I no longer can take advantage of their free cellular internet service (it wasn't supposed to be free, but hey). My new provider charges an arm & a leg for 3G data, so I will be looking for free wifi connections to upload photos. Posts without photos shouldn't be an issue, though. Unfortuantely the new $50 phone doesn't have a flash for the camera (WTF?), so I will be carrying 2 phones, one for calls/texts, one for photos. Weird.

So my "live" posts may be a bit more erratic than in the past. Like they weren't erratic anyways, right?

For the 1st time in many years (since the 80s maybe?) I will be staying 2 nights on mid-Strip at FlamingO. Out of the blue I got an offer from CET for 2 comp nights (plus $18/night resort fee) with $25 freeplay. Plus an additional CET offer for $10 more freeplay & $10 dining credit. I will then move downtown, where I normally stay, for 2 nights each at 4Q & The D.

Last week I happened to log into Groupon after getting an email, and found I had ONE DAY left to redeem an old $10 referral credit. I ended up with a $40 dinner credit at Toby Keiths for $10 - not bad. At this point I am planning on using it Thursday night during the NFL game that starts around 5:30 Vegas time, so if anyone is around and wants to meet up, that's probably where I will be.

I got a great deal for the flight on Delta ($185 RT), and had to sign up for their FF plan, that's how long it has been since flying them. I'm going through Salt Lake in both directions, but the outgoing flight only has a 35 minute layover. First gamble of the trip! So the other day I sprang for the $10 early boarding. I decided to deal with a middle seat up front to save time getting off, and didn't want my carry-on bag (no checked bag) to end up in the ass-end of the plane or gate-checked. Worst case scenario will be spending 4 hours in SLC waiting for the next Vegas flight, but to be honest, I never have had any desire to visit SLC. Sorry, Utes.

I'm renting a car for the 1st time from Payless. Despite signing up for their club, from my reading of other folks' experiences, I am planning on spending up to an hour at the rental center. I will report on my experience. Despite checking daily, the bigger chains never came down on their rates.

Despite all the stress, I am really looking forward to my trip. I even did myVegas enough to get a free ticket for Love, which I will see following the game on Thursday night. I rarely do shows, and especially big ticket ones, but I expect this will be fun.

I still expect to go boppin' around town for promotions, so I will update those as they come. Jason on the Strip? Watch out!

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Sounds like a good plan is in place. Cant wait for the rest of the report.

 

I rented from Payless for an incredibly low price in July for the first time and was completely prepared to hate them based on reviews. But for $75 all in for 4 days compared to $200 at all the other places, I could deal with a little inconvenience. There wasn't a problem at all.

The line was roughly 15 people, but they had 4 agents working and my wait was only 12 minutes (yep, I timed it... prepared to hate). I recommend you take a copy of your car insurance statement showing your coverage and that it is paid, I did this to head-off the big insurance sell and it worked perfectly. Once the gentleman saw my insurance for our fleet of cars (we have 3 teens), the topic immediately dropped.

The car was really nice and only 1000 miles. Checkin was the same scan and go as the other companies. So... based on reviews they are "spotty" with service, my experience was excellent. Best of luck to you!
diane

 

Are we there yet?

 

Never in my life did I think I'd want to visit SLC either, let alone take up residence. I've lived her seven years now. It took some getting used to - but, despite the quirks, I like it here. Beautiful mountains and no humidity in the summer.

 

Yes RF I'm here. First flight was 20 min early to SLC, so layover wasn't an issue.

Now in line at Payless. More later.

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Wahoo!

 

Hey Now!!!!

Have a blast dude..
enjoyed meeting you last June.

 

Give'em hell! Will be hitting town about 7pm tomorrow.

 

Payless tried a fast one on me but I caught it - roadside assistance "it's not included in the base rate anymore". $3.99/ day & taxable. Got it removed, and after some add'l bullcrap about NV laws requiring add'l insurance I finally got rolling.

Stopped at Silver Sevens & LVH, then had lunch at Ellis Island. Got checked in to FlamingO fine in the Gold line, then had some misunderstandings regarding the promos at the TR desk, but got it resolved eventually.

The stops at Silver 7 & EI were to make free football selections, which I also did at Fremont later on. Used half off ACG for meal at EI. Free swipe promo at LVH got a free dessert with burger purchase, but burgers were $12+ & $3 more for fries. Not.

Finally went downtown to play for drawing tickets at GN, & free slot tourney at Plaza.

At this point after being in Vegas for more than 5 hours, I have yet to gamble or drink alcohol. WTF! (At SS the DD table was $10 min or I would have started gambling earlier).

Lost $80 on 8/5 Bonus at GN earning 11 drawing tickets, and didn't win. Lost $65 at Plaza to get in the "free" slot tournament & did sucky. This is sometimes how the promo chaser results.

Played BJ at Fremont, walked away $9 ahead before heading back to the Strip.

Decided to use my $10 food credit on the Volcano Nachos at Margaritaville. No mas! Ended up sharing them with a nice couple.

Went to Sin City Brewing for VP & beer. Lost $10, then put in my $35 freeplay - hit quad 2s on Triple Bonus for $150, & suddenly I'm back even for the trip! Way to turn $35 into $185. And that is also how the promo chaser sometimes rolls.

Played some LIR & more TB at Garden Bar later on, hit quad 8s there.

Photos to come if I can get any of these wifi connections to actually connect to the internet. Including: before & after nachos, quad 2s.

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Can't wait to try the nachos this trip! Four hours till we hit the airport! I will follow your trip closely as I love to find the good deals too.

 

I hate the puddle jumper that I had to take out of SLC. Won't ever have a layover there again!! I love margaritaville. It's one of the best places to socialize, always the nicest people there. I can't wait to do another solo trip.

 

Day 2ups & downs. Skipped 4 promos at outlying casinos as I slept late after a long 1st night.

Made it to EI for pizza & another lost drawing. Dropped a few bucks on the 7/5 Bonus nickels - they moved them again. Now next to the main bar on the karaoke side.

Went back to Flamingo, rested a bit, hurting after last night. Got ready for my night out & hit the Strip.

Stopped by the Quad for $5 freeplay, made $2 on LOTR slots. Next stop Casino Royale - they have downgraded their bartops to 7/5 Bonus from 8/5. I didn't check the floor games as I was desperate for a coffee & Baileys, so I played a bit. Went to BJ Switch to do the double BJ coupon, went up $200, then lost $50, so I cashed out $150 ahead with no BJ.

Watched the game at Toby Keiths, used my Groupon no problem. Sandwich, fries, 2 beers & a Coke pretty much used up my $40. Glad I only paid $10 for it.

Saw Love at Mirage, was a bit disappointed. First off let me say the staging, costumes, & lighting were exceptional. I found myself upset at the use of multiple song fragments simultaneously, it was annnoying at best. I'm not a Beatles purist or anything, but it detracted from the experience. Also, there were no real "wow" moments. Maybe I was expecting too much athletecism/acrobatics from a Cirque show. I don't think it's worth over $100/ticket, but the occasional sale price of $50 or so might be worth it. I was happy I didn't pay for it, but I'm glad I got to see it.

Headed back to FlamingO after the show, Sin City's machines were all occupied, so I sat at Garden Bar. They have a brew called Batch 19 which reminds me of an amber, so I wasn't beer deprived. Dropped a couple 20s, then pissed away a hundred at Let It Ride, and now I'm down a few bucks for the trip.

Moving downtown in the morning, more hijinks to come, & I will post photos soon.

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Ok, finally got connected at
Boulder Station. Here we go - pics from Margaritaville, 1st quad of the trip from Thurs, & 4 aces at EI.

Today had the $3.99 steak & eggs at AZ Charlie's, headed back downtown to park for the night. Will probably head to the boar to avoid the fight crowd.



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Nachos before:


& after:



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Ouch!!
AWAK on nickle bonus!

 

I checked the floor a couple of weeks ago. It's all downgraded. 7/5 Bonus is the best you'll find at Casino Royale now.

Nice hit on 7/5 Triple Bonus Plus! I'm still waiting for Aces, 2s, 3s, or 4s on that thing though. But for free Sin City, or Dogfish Head 90-minute IPAs at The Quad, it's not so bad.

 

Comebacker! Was down like 4 bills at one point last night, then some savvy single deck & the below hit pushed me back into positive territory.

Free Wifi works at the Plaza, still can't get the FSE service to work. Nice comfy couches in the lobby, too.



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I had bad dreams about those nachos!

 

1st scratcher of the trip at the Boar.



4 Queens has a great promo going - spend $20 - $50 at Chicago Brewing on football days & players club will match it in freeplay plus give a $10 matchplay coupon. Awesome, I think I will try it.tomorrow. Still ahead slightly for the trip.

Just hit this as well. Two $2 scratchers.



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Keep the hits coming!