4 Queens - April 22 -27

After reading and enjoying all the trip reports on here, I am going to try my hand at it - hope you all get something out of it. It seems the last few times we mentioned we were going to Vegas, someone would say "I always wanted to go, can we go with you and you can show us around" and we ended up spending a lot of time seeing the same things, doing the same things, etc. So this time, it was to be just Hubby & me.

Since we prefer downtown, I looked around on the web and found an offer from 4 Queens for $44/night. Next was to find a flight - we live near Central Wisconsin Airport - but anything out of there was way too high (I want to save as much as possible in order to have more to put in the slots.) I checked with Allegient out of Green Bay and no luck on a deal there either (besides I absolutely hate leaving Vegas before 7 AM). I did find a redhot special from Worry Free Vacations out of Minneapolis leaving Sunday and returning Friday. It was $60 less if we took one night's lodging with the package than if we just took the flight - total $432 for both of us. I then rented a car through Priceline ($17/day plus taxes, $138 total for the five days for a compact car - got a Chev HHR).

Our flight landed 1/2 hour ahead of schedule, bags came through right away. The new consolidated car rental place worked like a charm, both coming and going. We were at 4 Queens within 1-1/2 hours of landing. We were the only people checking in. When I just happened to mention that it was our 45th Anniversary, the friendly young man said that it was his parent's this year too and he'd see what he could do and he set us up in a suite on the 19th floor, near the elevator overlooking Fremont Street (no $20 slipped to him although hubby tipped him nicely after the transaction). Yes, it would have been noisy if we had tried to go to sleep before midnight (but does anyone do that in Vegas?). It was a little on the old side, furniture a little worn but the king sized bed was clean & comfy. All the amenities (iron, hair dryer, coffee maker, refrigerator). There was a safe in the room that you had to pay an additional $2/day for. We used valet parking while we were there and they were always extremely prompt and cheerful as was all the staff.

We settled in and then went downstairs, ate the prime rib special, at Magnolia ($18 total), which was very good for the price. After registering for players' cards, we tried our luck which was non-existent. Watched a couple of the light shows before retiring.

Monday, hubby wanted to go to the Sahara and check out the NASCAR shop, so we had buffet breakfast there ($17 total) - better than some not as good as others but adequate. After buying out the store and a little trying of their slots, we headed over to Circus Circus where Aunt & Uncle from Anchorage were staying. He's 91, she's 85. They were already down and playing the $1 slots. While we were visiting & playing, Auntie hit $1200. Wow - so this is what Vegas is like!!! After spending some time & money on slots there, we decided to go down to the Strip as we had to pick up our tickets for Mama Mia (another bargain that came in an e-mail - $55 per ticket - 3rd row section A - Fantastic seats for a Fantastic show). We ate at House of Blues - food was good ($25 total) but service was terrible. After the show, we went back downtown, strolled along Fremont Street, losing money at just about each casino we stopped at. Well - tomorrow is another day and a day for serious gambling.

Tuesday morning (after breakfast at Magnolia-$10 total) we decided to drive to the strip - parked at Mirage and tried their slots - same result. But I sure am a sucker for those big Wheel of Fortune machines, either penny or nickel. Tried them at each place we stopped the whole week and never won on any of them. We walked through Cesaer's to Bellagio and checked out the conservatory (which I thought was not as awesome as in the past) & the fountains. Looked in at the WPT tournament that was going on but didn't see any of the celebs. You can only watch through the window at the back of the bar - they don't let you in the room. We then crossed the street and stopped at O'Shea's for $1 beers, which were cold and refreshing. Won a little there on a penny Dolphin machine - finally. But it didn't last - stopped in Harrah's so I could see Toby Keith's place (and the rest of the places along that stretch). Returned to Fremont Street.

We picked up the Fremont Street coupons and decided to try MSS 241 steak buffet - $14 total. While the buffet itself was very good, the steaks were almost inedible. Their dessert bar was scrumptious which made up for the bad steaks. Went to Plaza and signed up for cards (even tho we had old ones from there) and got free t-shirts. Stopped at the Nugget and checked out the pool - it is as beautiful as they say. Will have to stay there again some time. Went back to 4 Queens, checked our card balances and got their free t-shirts for having enough points in first 24 hours.

Wednesday, we were up at 6 AM and left for the Grand Canyon (as Hubby is a retired truck driver, 10 hours of driving is just a lark for him). We stopped for breakfast in Kingman at a truckstop and then stopped at the Visitor's Center. We also stopped for gas in Williams as Hubby felt gas would be much higher up near the Canyon. WRONG - it was $3.58 in Williams and 20 miles up towards the Canyon, it was $3.19. The Canyon is magnificent - I'd seen pictures all my life of it on TV, etc., and they didn't do justice to it. We spent about 4 hours there (arriving about 12:00, leaving 4:00). We were back at 4 Queens at 8:30 PM. Traffic really moves on those open highways. Had to go to Golden Gate for Shrimp Cocktails & $1 beers. Again we spent the evening losing (at Binions, Fremont, 4 Queens) - I was playing mostly nickel multi-hand video poker and managed to stay about even. Hubby was playing dollar slots and held his own.

Thursday, after the 241 buffet at The Fremont ($6.24 total, worth every penny), we walked up Fremont St. to the Neonopolis - maybe we didn't go in far enough but it seemed to me to be very deserted with a lot of empty storefronts. After stopping at a few of the souvenir shops (which Hubby just loves….yeh!), spent the afternoon losing at Fitzgerald's & 4 Queens. We then picked up Aunt & Uncle at Circus Circus so they could treat us to dinner at the Café at Boulder Station. It seems they were busy while we were sightseeing - they were over $14,000 ahead - having 4 tax statements between them. Dinner (steak & shrimp for the gals, ribs for the guys - $42 total) was excellent. Hubby came out about $180 ahead for the evening while I just puttered around, win a little, lose a little. Since it was our last night in Vegas, it was only fitting that it paid a little (very little).

Friday 7 AM - time to leave. Another Vegas trip is history. I had made up my mind to try Let It Ride at the tables but when I couldn't find even a $5 table to start on, decided I'd wait & begin my table gambling at one of the Indian Casinos here. Asked for comps towards our room but the Casino Host doesn't come in til 9 and girl at desk said she'd forward our bill to her and they'd adjust our credit card balance if we had anything coming. Although it sounds like all we did was lose, we did come home with a (very) little bit of our budget and did not hit the ATM machines. I found that I really like Strawberry Daiquiris. The drink service was great at most of the casinos downtown but not on the strip - the best service was at Boulder Station. The new car rental place is easy to find and very efficient. Our flight home was uneventful, landing in Minneapolis a little ahead of schedule. Caught the shuttle to pick up our car at Team Parking ($59) and headed for home and our real life.

 

Thanks for a well done TR!

 

Really good TR and your aunt & uncle winning and enjoying Vegas at their advanced age gives me hope.

 

Wow, $14,000 ahead? What were they playing and at what $$ slots?

 

How long a drive to the Canyon?

elbee - thanks for a well written and useful TR. In July we'll be in Vegas, then we're going to the Grand Canyon for a couple of nights. Staying in the National Park at Mawsik Lodge. How long a drive is it from the Strip to the National Park?
Again, Thanks!

later,GVJ

 

Very nice TR. I like the 4Q to gamble and Magnolia's is always good for me.

$14000 winnings, wow! What were the aunt and uncle playing?

Where in central Wisconsin do you live? I have a place in Merillan, which is a little over an hour west of Mosinee(Central Wisconsin Airport).

Marty