6/17-6/21 Bally's & JW Marriott (Long)

This is my first attempt at a trip report and I tend to get a little long winded. Hope you like it!

After a countdown that lasted all too many days, June 17th was finally here. I was headed to Vegas BABY! My dad arrived at my place around 4:30 am and we off! The drive to airport and flights were uneventful, besides this is a Vegas report, I am just going to skip to the good stuff.

Arrived at McCarran at around 12:15 pm and got my suitcase. We were staying at Bally’s, so I proceeded to the Park Place Airport Check-in and tried the $20 trick. The lady said she was putting us in a mini-suite, south tower. With keys in hand we were off to begin the festivities. We went straight up to the room to see what my $20 had garnered. The “suite” was one big room and a bathroom. We had a table with four chairs, couch, two chairs, a desk and a sink. Outside the bathroom had a separate vanity area. The room had yet to be remodeled and had a disappointing view.

With luggage deposited we were off to make our fortunes. We walked around the casino to get our bearings and then decided to use my $2 off coupon at the Buffet. It was average at best. The horseradish for the prime rib was potent to the point of lethal. The only thing I saw that was appealing besides the prime rib was the fried shrimp so I gorged myself on that and we left.

The quarter progressive draw poker machines (which would become my only real downfall) were up to almost $1,200. My dad had won about that amount when he was out in February so we each put $20 in there. Five minutes (and I am being generous) later we were on the Strip heading north. We strolled through the Barbary and decided not to wait the half hour until Elvis went on. We then hit O’Shea’s, I found a Reel ’em In machine and sat down. I was down to my final few credits and made a small comeback. My dad showed up and was not having any luck (this would become a theme for his trip) and wanted to leave. I started to bet 18 credits just to eat up the remaining 80 credits, when bingo, I hit for a cool $101. Then the fun begins…

I am not sure what is going on at O’Shea’s, but the lady behind me and I started a conversation. She had been waiting 45 minutes for someone to come fill her machine. The girl next to me hit for a $50 hand pay and now there were three of us waiting, and waiting, and waiting... Finally, an hour later a “suit” showed up, handed a stack of pay slips to an attendant and said, “Just get them paid”.

Vowing never to enter the establishment again, we headed back north. Played a little at Harrah’s, IP and Casino Royale. Nothing to brag, or conversely, to cry in my fuzzy navel about, but the sights were breathtaking. We then walked into the Venetian and played the Clue machines for a while. I got a $50 hand pay and we left to find “My machine” at TI. Sadly this must have been everyone’s machine as they decided to move it and rearranged. Lost about $60 trying to find it. Not a terrible thing, but on nickels that takes some effort. We hit the Mirage and the Bellagio before getting back to Bally’s. We skipped the draw poker machines and headed up to the room for a minute, thinking we could hit them before going to the Café. Something entertaining happened at this point. On our way back down to the Café, we noticed that the progressive was back down to $1,050 or something like that. My dad was less than pleased.

The NY Strip and Eggs special did not start until 11:00 pm so we went over to Paris to look around. I had vowed to win the $2.4mil progressive on the Adams Family long before we left for Vegas so I tried my luck. The machine ate that $40 faster than I would eat my steak an hour later. The loss at the machine was more satisfying, so that should tell you the caliber of the “steak.” So we headed back to the room and gave up on the day around 1:15am.

My uncle called at 6:30 am to tell us he was on the road from Phoenix. We got up, hit the draw pokers again and I had two $10 match plays for Blackjack. I got a 19 on the first hand and 20 on the second. Sadly the dealer drew to 21 on both! Then we walked over to Paris, two more $10 match plays, a win and a push. So with an expected value of just shy of $20, the coupons netted me $10. Off to the Aladdin… Uneventful so back to Bally’s for more of the infernal draw pokers. We waited for my uncle to arrive and right on time at 11:00 am he was there. They wanted to play some more draw poker so I hit the craps table. I dropped $70 in 5 minutes betting the dark side on what had been a cold table! We checked out and headed off to Palms. I played some pai gow poker, draw poker (got 4 of a kind on the $1,199, $100%+ machines) and hit the Reel’em In’s. Pretty productive stop as I was up about $100 there. Then it was off to the Orleans. Nothing spectacular on the win-loss front, but man what a view! We then headed out to the JW Marriott in Summerlin. Traffic was crazy and it took forever. Alas we arrived, and again I tried the $20 trick. My dad and uncle had their own room and I had one to my self on the company tab. (I had convinced my boss that there was this great conference I had to go to and he bought it!) The lady managed to find me a King – One bedroom suite. And we lugged out luggage to the other tower.

When I walked into the room I was amazed! As I walked down the marble hallway, to my left was the guest’s half bath. When I got into the living area, there was a sectional sofa, entertainment center, fridge, sink and table with six chairs. Off the living area was a deck. Then I walked back to the bedroom, king bed, entertainment center and another deck. From there it was down another hall where I find three doors, the one in the middle was a walk-in closet, on the right a ¾ bath with a marble shower that had to be 8 foot by 8 foot. It came complete with a seat, a regular showerhead and a “rain” showerhead in the ceiling. Across the hall from this bathroom was a full bath with whirlpool tub. Here I was by myself with three bathrooms at my disposal. My wife was a little ticked that I never hooked us up with that type of accommodations when we go to Vegas. I told her I would try in December.

After showing my new “digs” to my dad and uncle we were off for downtown. It was my uncle’s turn to wait forever for a hand pay at the GN. But finally he got his money and we went over to Binions. I rolled the bones for a bit, but came out about even since I was trying to hit some sucker bets for the big payday “Mickey-style”… At least I held my own. By then we were hungry, so we walked up to the Plaza because my dad saw they had a $7.95 Prime Rib special. We got there and the smell was about enough to send us over the McDonald’s. Many have tried to describe it, so I too will take a shot. How about “Eau Du-Skanky-Stripper?” Anyway the meal was surprisingly good, well worth the $12 with beverage and tip. As I bonus, I won $15 there. On the way back to GN to pick up the vehicle I had to stop at Mermaids for a Fried Twinkie. Good God! Imagine a funnel cake wrapped around a Twinkie with powdered sugar and Chocolate sprinkles. I managed to eat about half and had to stop as my arteries were beginning to clog.

Back to Summerlin. Before going to the JW, we stopped at the Suncoast. This place was a lot bigger and nicer than I imagined. Played about an hour (got 4 of a kind) and then went back to JW. We all tried to gamble at the Rampart Casino (at the JW Marriott) but never had any luck. I did the best over the three days with a $35 hand pay. That is it!

The next day I had my conference and my dad and uncle played golf. My uncle thought we were staying in Henderson, so both days he made tee times there! They had to leave an hour and half before their 7:00am tee times just to get there. I felt no pity though, as I was listening to my fellow accountants drone on about Sarbanes-Oxley for two days! That probably won’t mean anything to anyone, but if it does you understand my pain.

That night we headed to the Excalibur, Luxor and, my personal favorite place, Mandalay Bay. Here I went on a run. Nickel I dream of Jeannie, $20 in $35 out. $5 Double Diamond, $40 in $50 out. $25 Double Diamond, $50 in $150 out. $1 Double Diamond, $20 in (3 red Sevens!) $180 out. As I counted my cash, I realized I was down $3 in three days gambling. So dinner was on me! We went over to Raffles. As we were looking at the menus, I made a comment about one item not being very good and caught a raft of crap from my uncle about needing to vacation somewhere else if I know the menu that well! The food was standard fare for Raffles, which is to say above average for 24-hour café food.

My uncle left after golf the next day and I met my dad for our ride back to Bally’s for our last night in Vegas. We got picked up in a Town Car from Las Vegas Limo. The freeways were backed up with accidents so we came in on Desert Inn. Fastest trip I took over the three days we were in Summerlin. I tried the $20 trick at check-in and was quickly informed that I could have a remodeled room for $20 plus tax. I took it after not being impressed with the condition of the room we had the first night. Alas, I was unimpressed with the remodeled room as well.

We had reservations at Emeril’s, another of my Vegas must do’s, at 7:00 so we walked down to the MGM. I didn’t get offered any timeshares, but I could have gotten all the smut I wanted. One question, if I didn’t take it from the first six guys in the line, what makes that seventh one think he has a chance? Maybe I should get a shirt that says, “Yo no nessecito tus SMUT!”

The food at Emeril’s was excellent as always. I must say I was less impressed with the service this time, and I didn’t even mess with the Salt and Pepper Shakers! Maybe it was the fact we were not dressed like rest of the dinner clientele. Oh well, I went on another little run and pulled enough out of the machines to pay for Dinner. We walked over to NYNY so I could get a Pina Colada at Coyote Ugly, and then it was back to Bally’s.

By now the draw pokers were back up over $1,300. So we plowed some more cash in. I got another 4 of a kind. My dad was shot so we went back up to the room. I got some traveler’s cheques and went over to the Bellagio to take care of the “Vegas-tax.” My wife has always thought Tiffany & Co. was too high end to go into. I went in and found were a necklace and used my first traveler’s cheques of the trip! Back to Bally’s were I lost some more to the draw pokers.


My dad was up way too early for his flight back while I had to sleep in since I had a late flight back and a two-hour drive after that. I got up and headed back to Mandalay Bay for my favorite machines again. Lost a little of what they gave me. Stopped for another Pina Colada at Coyote Ugly and hoofed it back to Bally’s for one last shot at the draw pokers (They were up to $1,567). I checked out of the hotel and headed to Mccarran. While I was waiting for my flight, I assessed the damage and realized that the sum of my gambling losses was less than the sum of my food and beverage tab, a good thing! But roughly equal to the amount I shoveled into the draw pokers at Bally’s. I learned a lesson, gamble your game, not someone else’s in hopes of matching his or her earlier wins. I am sure people were laughing at my “strategy” but, oh well.

Overall, it was an outstanding trip! The company picked up a big chunk of the tab, and I came back with money in my pocket! I can’t wait for Christmas! T minus 179 days! Yeah, I have a problem, but my new goal in life to is constantly have a Vegas countdown going!

Thanks for reading, if there is anyone left!

T-179

 

I'm glad that you enjoyed your trip. It sounds like you had a great time and I enjoyed it reading it.

 

Interesting report. Based on your comments about the Bally's rooms, I guess I'm glad I didn't take my wife there.

 

Hey HabanaMan...

Great report! I like the variety of games you played--seemed to get 'em all. You gotta figure SOMETHING would hit, right???

Thanks for sharing with us.

Mikey

PS--There is no 'C' in 'Mikey'

 

Sounds like a great trip ! What was so wrong about Bally's ?? I have read and heard only good things...just curious.

Sunni

 

We are checking into Bally's on Sunday and appreciate your description of check-in and the room you received. I guess I'll make sure to request a remodeled room. If you have any other comments or suggestions about playing or eating at Bally's or in the surrounding casinos please post them or write me. Thanks for posting a great trip report. - Bob

 

Thanks for the feedback. I am glad folks liked it. It was fun recounting/reliving the events.

sunni - It may not be that there is anything really "wrong" with Bally's, but it is about the way I felt there. I am probably a bit spoiled by quality of accomodations at the Mandalay Bay for starters (but even Bally's "renovated rooms" didn't show much in the way of careful craftmanship or attention to detail) and also, as the results of my play indicated, I was just not lucky there. If you don't feel lucky, it takes away a key element of enjoying Vegas. It's all about the vibe!

Sublime Bob - I can't help you on good tips for playing there. But when it comes to eats, tha is another thing entirely! There is a pastry shop at Paris called Lenotre. It is towards the end of walkway from Bally's. The individual quiche is great, as are the bear claws. The croissants are so flaky they almost turn to powder in your mouth. The Aladdin has a P.F. Chang's. I know it is a chain, but the chicken wraps never disappoint. Also a little bit of a walk over to Spago at the Forum Shops is worth the trip. Get a seat out in the front and people watch while you eat. Hope you have a great time!

Mikey - Oops, should have paid more attention! You're right shear probability says something has to hit! I like to move from game to game, but unfortunately in doing so, I don't master any. Oh well, it is all "entertainment" expense and well worth the dollars in my book!


Thanks again!

T-178 Days, 4.5 hours