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Lack of Luck 1/29/05 to 2/2/05

Discussion in 'Vegas Trip Reports' started by jamesNC, Feb 5, 2005.

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  1. jamesNC

    jamesNC Tourist

    Joined:
    Feb 22, 2004
    Messages:
    45
    Location:
    NC
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    34

    My Trip Report

    This trip to Vegas was quite different than any other trip I recall taking. I have had good and bad luck on most of my trips to Vegas, but on this one I had minimum luck. This trip is actually in part a continuation of a trip that I had taken last August, did not do a trip report on that one.

    Just a little explanation of how and why the last August trip reflects onto this trip. Although a lot of people on web sites that I read do not like Harrah’s (referred as the Evil Empire), I have found myself often staying at one of their properties due to the fact that they continually offer me free room stay even with my low level of play.

    I typically play a little of everything and play everywhere I get the chance (prefer blackjack, but find setting at a table all day about as boring as setting at a slot machine all day). I never seem to be able to get a profitable round at craps and as for video poker it never seems to pay me (very rarely get 4OK and have never gotten a royal). Slots seem to occasionally pay out decent jackpots, but only on dollar and five dollar machines.

    On this trip last August I had been offered 3 days fully comped at the Rio and combined that with a 2 day offer for Harrah’s, the reason I was able to do this is that the Rio and Harrah’s have there reservation systems on separate databases.

    The trip in August was for the most part a typical trip for me until the last day, I had played up and down the strip and had been downtown, my winnings were that I found myself on the last day of that trip up about $1500 and decided to just play at the Rio all day since I would be leaving early the next morning. I played everything (BJ, slots, craps and VP) as usual that day until 6:00 a.m. the following morning and was still at $1500+/- up for the trip. What happened though is that I made over 1800 points which moved me to the Total Rewards tier level of Diamond status immediately.

    Retuning home from that trip I found the offers coming from the Rio and other Harrah’s properties almost on a daily basis, so they offered a four night stay with a leather jacket and automatic entry into a $5000 drawing. So I started making my plans, made the hotel reservation and found an airline ticket for $175 round trip.

    So now on with this current trip for the free leather jacket

    The air flight was fine except for the fact that I was not on a direct flight and had a connection in Chicago. This flight loaded and we sat at the gate for an hour due to luggage being transferred from some other connecting flights. The pilot made up most of that lost time and we arrived only 20 minutes later than original itinerary. Went to retrieve my luggage and after standing there forever (it felt like hours, although it was only 30 min) my luggage did not arrive, filed the report and they said that they would deliver it to my hotel as soon as possible.

    Caught the Dollar shuttle and was on the drivers ‘Fastlane’ list and was told to pick out any intermediate car that I liked (all of them were Dodge stratus). Pick out a silver one with very low mileage and no scuffs. Drove to the exit and the booth guy did not have my paper work. So, back to the office to find my paper work, this was nowhere to be found, although my reservation was on the list. The person at the counter decided they would just create new paper work and asked for my credit card (Swipe!! Of the credit card). She says to me that she is going to upgrade me to a larger car for the trouble (Swipe!! No. 3 on the card – found out later that they had already taken a hold earlier that day for the ‘Fastlane’ paper work). Oh, I do not want the auto gas, she says OK (Swipe!!!), your card is not being accepted. So, no car will be rented to you, unless you have another card. At this point I was so angry I just took the shuttle back to the airport to take a shuttle or taxi to my hotel.

    I chose to take a shuttle which was $5.50 (what a mistake, should have just taken a taxi), the driver barely spoke English and had very poor vision. He took everyone to different hotels that no one had requested and after riding up and down the strip for an hour I finally decided to get off at the next hotel, which first luck I have had this evening, it was the Imperial Palace, I got off and walked over to Harrah’s Rio shuttle.

    Arrived at the Rio and got a room in the Ipanema tower, the rooms at the Rio are very nice and large compared to most hotel rooms. I enjoy staying at this resort even though the gambling is normally worst than other places.

    The Rio-Harrah’s shuttle runs until 4 a.m. on weekends, so since I do not have a car I decide to ride to the strip and wonder around. Arriving at Harrah’s, I decide to make use of my newly (last August) acquired comp, which is to use the Diamond lounge. This room is very nice, I went in there and other than tips, had some sandwiches and drinks to make me forget about how much of a bad arrival this had been.

    My luck from the bad arrival continued into my gambling and I could not seem to win at anything anywhere I played, so I decided to go back to the room.

    Awake at 7:00 a.m. and decide to take care of some phone calls to see if I could clear the holds on my credit card that Dollar had done the last evening. After talking with two different support people, one decided to get this resolved and called the credit card and had her manager on the phone after about 45 minutes of qualifying that I was whom I claimed they released the charges.

    Feeling like I accomplished something, I decide for some free breakfast at the diamond lounge to find that at the Rio they do not open until 4:00 p.m., I walk around until the free Rio-Harrah’s shuttle starts running at 10:00 a.m. and go to Harrah’s diamond lounge. They have a very good continental breakfast and served beverages (I believe that I probably drank a quart of Drambuie with my breakfast each day this trip).

    Walked down the strip stopping and playing at most places, but just could not seem to get any good wins. At the Barbary Coast they were just finishing a craps lesson and were handing out $5 match play coupons, which I used and turned into $50. I took the free Barbary to Orleans shuttle to the Orleans and quickly loss the $50 plus more playing blackjack. Then caught the Orleans to Gold Coast shuttle where I continued this loosing streak. After playing at the Gold Coast I walked across the street back to the Rio.

    After playing several tables and a few slots went to the Diamond lounge for a drink or three and by this time it was around 7:00 p.m., which is when they serve chicken wings, ate chicken wings along with the drinks.

    Next day woke and decided to go to the strip again, and still experienced the same as before, which was loose at everything. Arrived back at the Rio early afternoon and decided to use a coupon that Harrah’s had sent for free tickets to the Scintas, show started seating around 6:30 and started at 7:30. This show is a very good bar room music and comedy act, they do several impersonations and add a little comedy mixed with the music. Prior to the show I decided to eat at Fiores, had the filet which was excellent, the service was very good, but I believe they treated me well due to showing the diamond card to avoid having a reservation.

    After the show I was drifting around the casino and was watching a three card poker table. I had never played, but this time the dealer talked me in and I proceeded to play. Down about $200 and only had enough chips to play another hand, I won a couple of hands and then was dealt a 7-8-9 of clubs which paid 40 times my $10 bet. This was the best win of this whole trip.

    After that win I drifted around playing some craps and ended up deciding to play a blazing seven slot machine and hit the sevens twice in a row. Now I am thinking I am on a streak and it is time too win back all of my losses. This was totally wrong as I proceeded to drop those wins back into some other slots and a session at a $15 blackjack table.

    Woke the next day, packed for my early afternoon flight, then walked around the Rio casino playing a little of everything. Bought into a $5 craps table and had a good run myself, and the guy after me had an excellent run of the dice. After a few more players, I walked and cashed in my chips for $190, this is probably the first profitable craps session that I have had in several years.

    Plane ride back was uneventful, except when I arrived, I waited for my luggage and you guessed right, mine was lost. They delivered it the next day to my home.
     
  2. HurricaneMikey

    HurricaneMikey A-List Buffoon

    Joined:
    Jan 25, 2002
    Messages:
    5,865
    Location:
    Southeast of Sin City
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    25
    Damn dude, that was a rough trip report...you could change your handle from JamesNC to Schleprock after that one.

    Hey...it can only get better--time to start planning another trip!

    Mikey
     
  3. JR Swift

    JR Swift VIP Whale

    Joined:
    May 15, 2004
    Messages:
    1,068
    Location:
    Lawrence, KS
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    40
    Well...at least did your sleeping, drinking and some of your eating for free. We don't see too many glimpses Harrah's Diamond status here so it is interesting how well they take care of you.
     
  4. jamesNC

    jamesNC Tourist

    Joined:
    Feb 22, 2004
    Messages:
    45
    Location:
    NC
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    34
    I have already made my next trip reservations through another offer from the Rio. It is for four days of free hotel and I combined it with a coupon for a free round of golf at Rio Secco.

    Found airlines tickets for $189 including airport fees and taxes.

    So, this next trip will be for the golf and food. I keep telling myself I won't gamble that much, but have already been calculating how much I can afford for that trip.
     
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