IP May 15 - 17

Left Toronto on Saturday May 12 and flew WestJet to Vegas. Picked up rental car from Thrifty and drove to Laughlin for our first two nights. Quick note - stayed at Harrah’s – rooms OK, excellent buffet but tight, tight, tight slots. Every casino we visited had $3 Blackjack, which we loved.

Monday

Drove into Vegas. Got to the Tropicana around 1pm and picked up our tickets for Dirk Arthur and Folies Bergere, which were ordered through Goldstar Events. Dirk Arthur was good. It was a cheap and entertaining way to spend an hour. After the show, we played a bit in the casino.

Drove to the Imperial Palace and checked in – Friend was booked under the VIP Spa Getaway (3 free nights, 2 free spa treatments, 2 free robes), Hubby and I booked under the Daylight Special (3 free nights + a coupon book for nothing worthwhile). Unpacked, gambled, had a quick bite to eat, then walked back over to the Tropicana for the Folies Bergere show. Not an overly impressive show but it was OK. I’m just glad we paid half price and not the full price for the tickets. Jubilee was much, much better. On the way out, we saw the old ‘Lightning Streak’ slots. We haven’t seen those in years and it brought back such good memories so, we had to play. Oh, how I miss that slot machine! Anyway, got back to the IP around 1am and spent the next few hours losing our money and getting happily drunk.


Tuesday

When we awoke, none of us were hungry so off we went. It was going to be a shopping day. Spent a couple of hours in the outlet mall and when we left and were going to hit another mall but as luck would have it, the radio was on and there was a commercial to get $100 cash back from Arizona Charlie’s. We turned the corner and there it was! Well, I guess it was meant to be. We decided to put off our shopping for a little pit stop. The deal, we learned, is that for new player’s card enrollments, they will reimburse you up to $100 of your losses. No strings attached. It took over 2 hours for all of us to lose $100 each. We got our money back and continued on our way. Free gambling – gotta love it!

Did a bit more shopping and on the way back home, we happened to drive by Ellis Island. We still hadn’t eaten and I was getting hungry so I talked the others into going in for the $4.95 steak special. They were skeptical, but I told them that I read about it on the internet and everyone raves about it. So, they agreed to give it a try and they were glad they did. The portion was huge, perfectly cooked and tasty. I myself only finished about half my meal. We’re definitely going back the next time we’re in Vegas. Played for a bit in their casino then, back home to IP. Freshened up and then explored the strip on foot; ducking into various casinos as we pleased. Got back to the IP and gambled and drank the rest of the night away.


Wednesday

Did a bit of shopping in the morning then dropped the friend off at the hotel. Hubby and I went to the Gun Store for our bonding time. For many visits, now, this has been on the To Do list and now we’re actually doing it. Hubby got 50 rounds and had a blast shooting them off. I’m not so into guns so I just got 10 rounds. I didn’t have as much fun, or get as much of a rush, as hubby but I am more accurate than he is. Now it’s back to the IP for bonding time with Friend – and to use her 2 free spa treatments. We got massages then relaxed in the eucalyptus steam room and the whirlpool. We were going home tonight so we packed, had an early dinner, then did the last of our gambling for this trip.


Overall

- Had a great time, though not profitable
- I’ve never been anti-Harrah’s but I’m getting there – since their takeover of IP, we’ve started getting free room offers (instead of special rates) but their comps have gotten worse (only $2 Comp for Hold ‘Em instead of $3, less comp $ and cash back even though we played more than on previous trips), no snacks for the Hold ‘Em players, the slots are beyond tight, the employees less friendly. We’re thinking it’s time for a new home
- The $4.95 steak special at Ellis Island is fantastic
- Arizona Charlie’s has the best promotion to get people in the door
- 1st time to a spa but it won’t be the last

 

~Thank's for the trip report!
It sounds like it was a great time... just one question if I could ask..

Did you find anything worth wild at the outlet mall?

 

Nice report. Sounds like you had a good time. I'll have to check out the Lightening Streak slots next time I'm in town. I managed to at least "hold my own" on them the last time I played them...which was several trips ago.

Thanks for sharing.

 

I only bought baby clothes, which were a good deal compared to Canada.

Hubby bought size 14 shoes, which are really, really hard to find in Canada.

Other than that, I only browsed. There was nothing that I saw that was a killer deal, or that I 'just had to have'.

 

It’s always fun to bring back memories when you come across old slot machines. Although, they never seem to be as kind as I remember them to be. Ellis Island is one of the last places left to take advantage of cheap eats, we eat there a few times a month. If you like BBQ ribs or chicken, be sure to give the BBQ a try (it’s only open for dinner, though).