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The Flamingo 5/6 - 5/13

Discussion in 'Vegas Trip Reports' started by TwiceTheJava, May 20, 2014.

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  1. TwiceTheJava

    TwiceTheJava Low-Roller

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    My Trip Report

    Travel
    I took Southwest on a three-flight tour of the east coast until finally arriving in Las Vegas for an early evening check-in. $20 trick successfully upgraded me from a Fab room to a Go room. Clerk refused to waive my resort fees, regardless of TR platinum card/status. She said it's because I didn't book through TR. More on that later. The room was a nice, with a view of Caesar's directly across the street and a lovely HVAC unit below me. I had a fridge and, in my bathroom, a purple light. I was officially in Vegas.


    Gambling
    I play Big Six. There, I said it. I play at the PH party pit while drinking a lot and trying not to annoy everyone at the table with my cigars. I usually succeed. This trip I shifted heavily towards video craps; some at The Flamingo ($3 min, 2X odds), but most at Hooters ($2 min, 5X odds). First night up $50 on big six, about even on craps. Second night lost that $50 and more on big six, about even on craps.

    The next two days I lost $200 (so much for riding out that negative variance) and then $100 at craps. I didn't do as badly at big six, as I didn't gamble as much there. Managed to earn about $50 back in craps at The Paris before bed (worst midori sour ever - it was all sour mix). Also, I did not win the $2.3 million Lion's Share progressive with my $20 worth of spins.

    At this point I'm souring on video craps but I try again, and win $200. I had a couple of 'hot shooter' streaks and got *plenty* of coronas (I don't think the Hooters CWs are used to getting $2/drink). The next day I put $100 into video craps and rode everywhere from just over $300 to back down to $100. I left around $200. And just like that, I finished even for the trip on craps! Lost about $400 at big six for the week, but I had fun chatting with the lovely dealers there and drinking/smoking my nights away.

    I meant to try the "$5 craps 24/7" at the margaritaville casino, but it definitely wasn't 24/7. I also didn't get to do any roulette. How does a week in Vegas fly by so fast!?


    Food
    First night there I needed a late night snack, I was at PH, and I was craving chicken tenders, so I went to Twin Peaks. What can I say? It's Twin Peaks. Good bar food, a great view of the strip, below-ice-cold beers (29.4F to be exact, when I was there), and a fantastic interior view.

    I'm from the northeast, so I love getting mexican food when I'm in Nevada. I went to Diablo's Cantina twice (my favorite so far). I tried carlos 'n charlie's at The Flamingo and I did not like it. It was so bland and no amount of their "hot" sauce could fix that. I checked the ingredients and it contains "peppers." Yep, just regular garden peppers.

    I tried BLT at Mirage. It was fine, and in the general ballpark of other great Vegas burger places, but I'd take Holstein's, Burger Bar, or BurGR over it, and once Shake Shack moves in outside NYNY/MC in the fall, I'll have no need to go anywhere else for burgers. I will say this though: my fries were absolutely perfect! Just the right thickness, crispy outside, hot 'tater goodness inside, perfect.

    Koi, ahh Koi. I used my TR RCs here and had a free meal. I'd punch my grandmother in the face for an order of their spicy crispy shrimp tempura right now. I also got a specialty sushi roll. I sat there at the sushi bar and when the chef handed it to me it came out looking like a work of art and was damned tasty.

    I finally tried China Poblano at Cosmo. I had chicken and some other meat fried wantons (very good) and a mole poblano something. I forget, it had tortilla with beans (because that clears it up). The bartender said they use 40 ingredients and it takes 3 days to make their mole sauce. It shows.

    Amongst all that I managed two trips to secret pizzeria as well. Booze was either free or purchased at ABC stores, home of the $4 22oz Stella, and the $3.49 24oz Foster's. Aloha!


    Entertainment
    Zombie Burlesque - I don't want to ruin any surprises, so I'll just say it's crude, fun, silly, and a good show for the price.

    Rock of Ages - This show apparently owes me royalties for borrowing my entire MP3 collection as their soundtrack. It rocked. I liked the movie, so I knew I was going to enjoy the show. The music was show volume, not rock concert volume (fortunately). The after party at the Bourbon Room is great fun too, although somehow I pissed off my CW and she served the groups on either side of me three times before bringing me my next round. I guess $11 for a $9.40 beer is a bad tip? I left at that point.

    Sin City Comedy - This is a hidden gem! It's on nightly, and there's usually someone handing out passes where you pay $15 for your ticket and it includes a free drink. You see three comedians and two burlesque dancers. They rotate comedians weekly. This is my fourth time seeing it.

    Las Vegas Live - A comedy club at V Theater. First time seeing it. It's stand-up comedy; they're all pretty similar, and I like going to these because I love to laugh. Worth the ticket price, for sure.

    L.A. Comedy Club - This one is at Bally's, same review as above. One note, I saw a repeat comic here who was also at Sin City Comedy earlier in the week, so maybe three comedy shows in 3 days is excessive for me.

    Vinnie Favarito - The Flamingo. I've seen him before, so I knew what to expect and I had a great time. Crude, hilarious, offensive. I bought a $20 CD recording of the show afterwards, which includes an "admit 2 free" card, which I'll definitely use again. So that was a bargain.


    Other Entertainment
    Got propositioned in the middle of the day at The venetian after picking up my Rock of Ages tickets. Now, as a single male traveler to Las Vegas, I'm used to this particular form of saleswoman, but that early in the day was a first for me.

    Another young lady late one night at PH was far more subtle. Why, she just wanted to fix the tag sticking out of my jacket. Then a little chit chat, soon we're having drinks (she even gave me a $14 Aria voucher to pay for the drink that I bought her). Around the time she asked me if I like to party is when I remembered I was in Vegas, that attractive women don't ever talk to me for free, and that I was actually sitting at a "timeshare presentation" for "intimate property." I declined, we resumed chatting, and later she doubled-down with the hand-on-thigh "time to close this sale" technique. I declined again, and she was on her way. I finished my cigar, headed to Aria, and cashed in my voucher.


    Check-Out / Post-Trip
    I went to the desk to check out to see what could be done about those pesky resort fees. She swiped my card and told me I had $7 in RCs. I started the trip with ~$145, and had a free $50 meal at Koi. Hmm. She asked me if I wanted to use my RCs towards the resort fees. No. No I don't want to pay them at all. I just said "No thanks." She finally took off my fees. This was way too much work. After I got home I followed up with TR customer service about their resort fee policies, but I can't get a straight answer out of them. At first they claimed I traveled with a group and the group, not me, had platinum status. Then they said correctly that I booked through a third-party, and the fees were removed as a courtesy. Now, I do have platinum status due to the TR Visa card, and not due to my play, so I suspect that has something to do with my resort fee troubles. The experience soured an otherwise nice stay at The Flamingo, so I'm not sure if I'll go back there again.

    Edit: Travel back was through Chicago, on the day their air control center had an evacuation due to smoke and the FAA canceled travel to/from o'hare and midway. So that was a fun day of delays and waiting. I ended up getting home at 3:00 am. I guess it could've been worse.
     
    Last edited: May 20, 2014
  2. gotavegasjones

    gotavegasjones VIP Whale

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    Thanks for posting a very enjoyable trip report. Nice job. You covered a lot ground. I'll surely consider Sin City Comedy next trip.

    later, GVJ
     
  3. Suekel

    Suekel VIP Whale

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    Thanks for sharing your trip with us, I enjoyed it. I may have to look into a comedy show during a future trip - which would be your top choice of the ones you listed?
     
  4. hattrick225

    hattrick225 Low-Roller

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    Thanks for posting.

    How was Rock of Ages? Considering seeing it this summer.

    Also, read somewhere recently that Sin City Brew Co at Flamingo had closed (or is closing)? Was it still open when you were there?
     
    Vegas Vacation 2024
  5. TheCanoe

    TheCanoe Low-Roller

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    W, why'd you book thru a third party? Doesn't CET offer a price match guarantee on any third party sites? I thought they even advertise that they beat all other rates by 10% if you can find one cheaper than on the total rewards site.

    If I remember correctly, the resort fee is never waived for anyone who books thru a third party site.

    Glad you liked rock of ages. I take a lot of shit for liking hat one vein a 28 year old up.

    Do you have a big 6 strategy? Or just kind of bounce around?
     
  6. Viva Las Vegas

    Viva Las Vegas Elvis has left the building

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    Cool report and I learned a few things including what Big Six was after looking it up (clueless of the actual game name despite 22 years of Vegas). I always called it Big Wheel (or Proud Mary). :thumbsup:

    Never heard of Shake Shack either, but will have to check it out down the road.

    I want to check out Raiding The Rock Vault next trip.:headbang:

    Does CET rate you well for Big Six (Platinum) or is your rating the result of craps or something else?
     
  7. tcocona

    tcocona Low-Roller

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    Don't Do IT

    I know you wouldn't really punch out your Granny. Would you ???????
     
  8. wpete

    wpete High-Roller

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    I meant to try the "$5 craps 24/7" at the margaritaville casino, but it definitely wasn't 24/7.

    Do you mean it was closed or wasn't $5? I played at the table one night (the same time frame you were there ironically), and put my 5 bucks on the pass line and was told the min was ten bucks. I said I thought it was a $5 table all the time and was told it is, on the other side. One side of the table was 5 bucks min and the other was ten. Talk about confusing.
     
  9. Loluvsvegas

    Loluvsvegas Low-Roller

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    Thanks for the report! I'm so excited to be there in a few days...
    How was the Flamingo? Super crowded? And what about booking with TR to cover your resort fees?
     
  10. bjpcyclone

    bjpcyclone High-Roller

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    Enjoyed your TR and writing style! You definitely kept busy with shows. Thanks for sharing.
     
  11. breanna61

    breanna61 Super Moderator

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    I enjoyed your TR; I have got to get to Rock of Ages!
     
  12. TwiceTheJava

    TwiceTheJava Low-Roller

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    I looked at booking through TR, but it was at least $100 more expensive than every other travel site I looked at. I'm aware of the price match guarantee, but I looked at the fine print and the hours of effort it would take to meet all of their stipulations and requirements was too daunting for me to even try. I don't gamble enough for them to offer me so much as a $5 off a one week stay, lol.
     
  13. TwiceTheJava

    TwiceTheJava Low-Roller

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    Of the ones I listed, Sin City Comedy, but they're all pretty comparable.
     
  14. TwiceTheJava

    TwiceTheJava Low-Roller

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    Rock of Ages was a lot like the movie version, if that helps. It was fun, and all the 80s you could ever want! :)

    I don't remember seeing the Sin City Brewing Co over by the shops when I was there, so they either closed or I was oblivious.
     
  15. TwiceTheJava

    TwiceTheJava Low-Roller

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    I usually go with either 1s and 10s or 2s and 20s. If gambling is going poorly that day and I'm feeling like taking things slow, I'll even do 1s and 2s, but with a game with such a high HA, I don't think you can call it "strategy" if you're actually playing it.
     
  16. TwiceTheJava

    TwiceTheJava Low-Roller

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    I always called it The Money Wheel.

    Shake Shack is a NYC chain that went from 1 store about 10 years ago to over 40 worldwide now. They use some kind of grain-fed, hormone-free beef, and they add spices, or crack, or something to it, to make it the best burger I've ever had. Many places add toppings/sauces all kinds of things to make their burger stand out, but Shake Shack is the only place I know that focused on making just the meat itself delicious. A Shake Shack burger with lettuce and cheese on a simple bun is the tastiest burger I've ever had.

    I have a Total Rewards Visa card that has granted me two years worth of platinum status. I earned 408 tier credits this trip. Micro-roller!
     
  17. TwiceTheJava

    TwiceTheJava Low-Roller

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    She has Alzheimer's, she wouldn't remember anyway. :wink2:
     
  18. TwiceTheJava

    TwiceTheJava Low-Roller

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    It was closed a lot, and then when I did see it open, it was $10. I'm pretty sure I saw it for $5 at one point, but it was always too late or I had a show to see or other plans.
     
  19. TwiceTheJava

    TwiceTheJava Low-Roller

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    The Flamingo itself was mostly just crowded at the elevators, of which only a few were working (and what's up with them always stopping on floors 5 and 11?), at the Go Pool (party pool), and at the Starbucks at The Linq early mornings.

    Also, I never saw any dancers in their party pit, and what kind of clueless, casual gambler would I be if I gambled someplace with no go-go dancers to ogle?
     
  20. Aaron5

    Aaron5 Low-Roller

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    That’s funny! I was there the same weekend and every time the elevator would stop at 11 we would yell “Who pushed the eleven?”.
     
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