My 40th Bday report

Trip dates Feb 9th- Feb 14th Stayed at MGM

Left at 430AM for Detroit Airport and arrived thru the sleet and snow at 515AM for our 700AM flight on USAir. Why they have let you print your boarding passes ahead of time is beyond me because we still had to wait in the long line to check our luggage, as none of the kiosks worked. They finally came around and pulled everyone from the Vegas flight to the front and let us all go first. Flight actually left an hour late due to deicing. We arrived in Vegas about ½ hour late.

I sent my sister who we will call “C†and two friends “M†and “K†to luggage claim while I went to check in. I tried the being nice for an upgrade and failed!!!! We knew they were almost sold out and they told me that. I asked for a room as high up as possible with a strip view and close to the elevator, and that is what I received. We hopped in a cab and off to MGM we were. The room would not be ready until noon so we just check our luggage with the bell hop and off we go.

Every trip to Vegas we try to beat our cheapest food trip and this would be no different. First stop is going to be Ellis Island for the Breakfast special, Steak, 2 Eggs, Potatoes and toast for $3.95. We hop onto the Deuce and get off at Paris, walk to Ballys and hop onto the 202 bus for one stop to Ellis Island. From MGM to Ellis in 15 mins!!!! We are seated right away and the meal was great as normal. We played at Ellis for a little bit with no wins and have our first Vegas drink. At Noon I call MGM and our room is ready, so back on the bus we go and off to the MGM.

Upon arrival back at MGM we go to the Bell Desk to get our luggage (C thought it would take them to long to deliver it). Well it took them 20 mins just to bring it out!!! We finally get to our room 27-101, which is second room off of elevator and very nice (for now). We partially unpack and freshen up and are off again. We are going downtown tonight so we decide to go to Hooters to do the $100 freeplay and check it out. The freeplay was fun but would have been better with drink service!!!! We have no wins to write home about so we leave to head downtown.

First stop downtown is the ElCo for our first time. We never felt unsafe walking there and it was dark out by this time. We liked the vibe and played here and there with really no wins. We decided to walk back to Fremont Canopy and hit the 4 Queens to use our coupons to have prime rib. The meal was great and it cost us about $4.50 each. We went to Binions to sign up for cards and play our free play where K hit on a Quick Hit machine. Then off to Mermaids for some beads and drinks. We played the Monopoly machines for a bit but the trend continued of no hits. Off to La Bayou (sp?) for a $1 slushie for me, and WHAT !!!! they are out of cups!!!! I was to tired to drink the big one. So off to the Nugget for our cards and free play and to see the great pool. All in all we love downtown, but this trip we couldn’t hit anything down there!!

Back to the MGM for a little losing and off to bed by 11pm. It had been a long day and we had 4 more to come.



Day 2 Sunday

Up at 6am and what is missing from this room???? A mirror in the room!!!! Sure there are two in the bathroom, but that really does not help with 4 women trying to get ready at once. Oh well we will make it work and are out of the room and off to the races at 730am. I leave before them for a morning coffee at the Crazy Horse bar along with some losing Video Poker.

We take the Deuce and 202 again to Terribles. We go directly to the buffet with our ACG coupons and eat the Champagne brunch $4.50 per person. This is a great small buffet for the price. We play at Terribles for a bit and yes we do not win anything. We do get drink service though which is a plus. We leave Terribles and make the 5 min walk to Hard Rock. We once again sign up for cards and get our freeplay. It was looking like a loser again, but I finally hit for about $100 on a top dollar machine. It is very quiet in Hard Rock on a Sunday morning and we quickly get bored. So it’s back to Terribles and the bus to the strip.

We went to Bills so that M and K could get players cards and played a little while. I sat at the bar as normal and played Video Poker. I finally hit 2 4OAK’s and actually got one drink!!!! Ok so the bartenders need to stop yapping and start working, but who am I to want them to do their jobs. We were getting hungry so we used our ACG coupons for a free hotdog and beer. After eating we left and walked towards Harrah’s. K is a big roulette player so we stopped in OSheas to have a try at it, $50 up for me and we left to continue to Harrah’s.

C and M go into Harrah’s to play and I steer K into CR for some more cheap roulette. We win here also and then go into Harrah’s. I go to the bar once again and hit the video poker. Now this bar had service and while I was betting max the guy next to me was betting a quarter and we were all getting free drinks. No big hits on video poker, but the drinks helped. I went out to the floor to play some slots and nothing to write home about.

We leave the strip once again to go to Ellis Island for the BBQ. We end up waiting about an hour for a table. While waiting I made $60 at Black Jack and lose $10 on craps. We ate the BBQ ordering (2) ½ slab ½ chicken dinners using $6 in comps and an ACG coupon the bill was 86CENTS per person. BEAT THAT!!!

We took a bus back to MGM and walked over to Hooters for the Bobby Slayton Show (free with card sign up). The show was good for free, very raunchy and not for anyone easily offended. The seating was very uncomfortable in the high chairs. After the show its back to MGM. I play the Majestic Lions and win $200, I love these machines for now, boy would they hate me later!!!

Day 3 Monday and My Birthday

Up at 6am again and down to the food court for a Cheap?? Breakfast. Now for a lesson, Read the entire ACG coupon and ask questions prior to ordering. M saw a sign for Breakfast specials at Nathans and with our ACG coupon it should have been 2 for 1. Well NOT because it is 2 for 1 Menu Items. So K is buying my breakfast and we order the breakfast specials and end up paying $8.00 for breakfast. C and M fly over to McDs quick upon hearing this and spend $1 on breakfast to save our budget.

This is going to be our Monorail day so we hop on. First stop is Sahara, we gamble a bit but the trend of losing continues. It’s off to the Hilton for a little gambling and not a long stay. We then take the monorail to Ballys and play in Ballys for a bit then walk over to Paris. It’s at Paris were my losing trend turns. I hit $100 on Devils and Diamonds and C hits $200 on a 100xs pay quarter machine. We take our money and run. It’s off to Flamingo where I see my first Wizard of OZ Machine. They are all taken so I cannot play. Next up is Harrah’s again for a little try at the machines and to just put points on the card.

Our dinner that night will be the Wynn buffet for free. We get to the Wynn and K and C sign up for cards. It’s off to rack up the 50 points each and I take one of C’s cards to video poker. After winning $170 of Steve’s money we have our 50 points and call to check on the other girls. They have won a little money and also have their points so it’s off to the buffet for us. The buffet is great as usual and our waiter is a riot. He brings me a birthday candy apple with a candle in it and sings Happy Birthday!!!!

After the Wynn we check out Palazzo and the Venetian. We notice when walking over the bridge from the Wynn that they place is really not finished and there is more painting to be done. The inside is nice but not really our style. We do find machines and play for a bit before walking into the Venetian. We play there a bit and decide its time to go back to the MGM. We hop the monorail back and K goes to room.

C, M and I go to NYNY because this is one of my favorite casinos. Upon walking in I am in SHOCK!!!!! What is all this construction and why are they ruining my favorite place???? Needless to say I feel the vibe is gone and so is my money and fast!!! M does hit for $100. We decide to leave and go back to MGM and bed.

Day 4 Tuesday

Up at 6am again!!! We take the monorail to Ballys and catch the 202 to Terribles for breakfast. NOTE on the Monorail: every time K put her pass in and walked thru an alarm sound would go off!!! It had us laughing so we had her use M’s and it did the same thing!!! We were sure she was in trouble!!! We all have free breakfast buffets so that’s a bonus. We decide to hang out on the strip and take the bus back and just hang out at Bills, Harrah’s etc until about 3pm and then take the 202 to the Palms. I do not like the Palms but M had never been. We all get to do the daily card swipe for prizes and I win a Bottle of Juice??? Ok now I am not carrying this around, but M decides she will drink it now. We play for a bit with really no wins and head to the Gold Coast for 2/1 buffets. I have to say I was a little leery of this buffet from the revues but it was good. After the buffet we play a bit before going to Rio and the Voodoo for a look around. M and K have never been up there so we take the elevator and they are in awe. I really do not think there can be a better view of the strip and the valley in Vegas!!! We take pics and decide to go down to catch the New Show in the Sky. Warning for parents this show is not for children. They have made it into an adult show with scantly clad women and men and a lot a bumping and grinding going on. We play for a bit and decide to shuttle back to the strip. I visit my friend the Majestic Lion and it is not my friend anymore!!!! Well maybe tomorrow it will be my friend again!!!

Day 5 Wednesday

Up at 630am and I go next door for some Dell Taco for breakfast while the others get ready. They eat at McDs and it’s off to explore the other side of the strip. We start at the EX and play a bit. This place just doesn’t vibe with me so it’s off to the Luxor. We play a bit here and take the walkway to MB. Along the way I get my slushie and all is good with the world. I find a cute machine at MB that would not stop hitting the bonus’s and I was having fun!!!! I am sad to say I do not recall what the machine was though.

We decide we are hungry so we bus it to Slots a Fun for our free hot dog and beer. Wow the Hot Dog could have feed a third world country and honestly I have not seen a group of more unhappy employees this trip!!! We play a little roulette and some machines but soon tire of the coin out. We make our way to TI and I visit my friends at the bar. Well, well finally some more luck at video poker. After hitting 3 4OAKS and a few drinks I try my luck at some machines and just hang out for awhile.

We finally left TI and go back to MGM for a bit before hitting Ceasers. We decided to skip Mirage as the scent they pump in causes my allergies to act up and I do not feel like sneezing and eyes watering. We go into the Forum Shops and I spot the MAC store so I go in and buy some Lip Glass from the Fergie line and I am a happy camper. Once in the casino we play around for a bit until I spot them all playing the Devils and Diamonds. One machine is open next to M and I see she is just getting up. I ask her if she was going to this machine and she says no. Well BIG MISTAKE!!! I sit down and after 3 spins hit for $100 and then about 4 spins later BAM another $100. This machine would not stop hitting. I am a happy camper and finally the machine stops the hitting and I cash out and leave.

We are now off to the B and I sit at Video Poker and I am really not hitting until I talk to the bartender and he touches my machine and what pops up but the 4 OAK!!! I am happy and cash out to find the girls. I find them at a bank of Quick Hits and we all play. K’s machine would not stop hitting and it was getting funny. That and the fact that we could have died of thirst there!!!! We are cracking up because for an hour straight this machine is just paying out every spin and we are telling K that they will be coming to close this machine soon and it was too funny when a casino employee walked up by us with a camera. He was actually going elsewhere but it was as if he walked up on cue. M did acquire a lurker and as soon as she got up I thought this lady was going to knock us over for the machine!!!!

We need to get to Orleans for 2/1 buffets and K realizes she has a cash out for Gold Coast still. We walk towards the bus stop at Ceasers for the 202 and man did the wind pick up and it’s cold out!!!! While eating sand and with sunglasses on to protect our eyes we wait for the bus and it’s off to cash out the ticket. We do not stay at Gold Coast and wait for the Orleans shuttle and we are off. There are trees down and the bus and shuttle were rocking!!!! Garbage is blowing everywhere!!!! We get to Orleans and go directly to the buffet. This is a great buffet for the money. We play machines after eating with no big wins to talk about but it was fun. We shuttle back to Bills and decide to cab it from Ballys to MGM. It was to cold and windy to walk to the bus stop and wait for the bus. Our cabbie is great and takes the parking lots behind for a straight shot to Harmon and then goes up to Koval right into the MGM!!!

This being our last night and I am only a little down for the trip so I decide to just go for it. I find a $1 12xs Pay and play a dollar a spin for NOTHING!!! I decide I better visit my friend the Majestic Lions for one last time. Well those Lions are EVIL!!! $100 later and nothing!!!! In the meantime my sister is playing $1 slots and the guy next to her hits for $6000, but wait he has no ID and does not speak English??? My sister offers to the 3rd person who comes that she will take the win and she has an ID!!!! They laugh it off and continue to try to figure out what to do?? (I think they should have made their job easier and gave it to her:evillaugh) It’s off to the room to pack and bed.

Day 6 Thursday going home day

Up early and call for a noon checkout. I have to go to front desk and put my sister’s name on the room so she can get her free play from an offer (she had to be a registered guest). I stand in the Invited Guest Line and here is where the MGM turns me off. The girl working says “This is the line for Invited Guests, but I guess I can help youâ€, I say “Really, well I am an Invited Guest!!!â€. She helps me all the while I am thinking, does an Invited Guest look like something I don’t??? I have never had this questioned at TI before. We have her added and off to the Players Club to get the free play loaded.

We all decide to go to the buffet and charge it to the room. While we got seated right away our waitress was slow and took 10 mins to take our drink orders. I seen that she was busy and it would have been ok had she not stopped to talk to coworkers a few times for extended time. We never did get drink refills and her tip showed it.

Our flight is at 130PM and we decide to meet at the room at 1115AM. We play around a bit hoping for the last hit, but it wasn’t to happen at the MGM. I go to the players club and get the buffets comped off and then go to get my bags. I once again go to check out and I am greeted the same way as before!!!! Really does a 40YO woman with nice jeans, shirt and fleece on not look like an invited guest, was I supposed to be dripping in diamonds and be a size 2??? They need to work on training their employees to not assume anything. The best way to handle it is when they notice upon pulling up the room that the person is not an Invited Guest is to explain that this is the line for that but help them anyways. Most people would not get in that line by mistake, seeing there is only one of them and many of the others.

We go out to the long cab line and finally get a cab to the airport. We are pleased that McCarren handled the crowd at USAir and Security much better then Detroit and we are at the gate in no time. I decide I am going to play Wheel of Fortune and know I will never hit anything just pass the time. Well I am in shock when I hit for $125!!!! Nice way to end the trip.

Our plane leaves late as it was late coming from LA, but we land on time in Detroit. It is cold but not as cold as it had been while we were gone. Off to get my car and my husband had came up to Quik Park found my car and put a birthday and valentines card in it for me!!!! I knew he was a romantic guy but he just proved it!!!

All in all we had a great trip and some fun times. I only left about $600 in Vegas including food, drinks, shopping and gambling!!!!

We did not beat the food total, but did eat for the entire time for $33.11 per person!!!!

While the room at MGM was nice, I would only stay again if the rate was right. I love the TI end of the strip and the rooms at TI. MGM was large but I did find my way around it and even found the West Wing way out (even though we only used it once)

Now to wait till April for next visit then till December!!!!

 

Great TR! Don't you just love girl trips?! (I am T-11 for mine!) Happy Birthday - women in their 40's rock! By the way - your avatar of the creepy Mardi Gras guy at Harrah's really freaks me out - as he does every time I walk past Harrah's. I guess just knowing he has cameras in his eyes and people are watching me.....yikes!

 

Loved your report, all of our trips are girl trips as all of our husbands are not Vegas fans (can you believe there are people like that out there?). You really did well on your food budget - there might be a day when we get by for $34 but never an entire trip! Thanks for the great read.

Sandy

 

Fun TR -- thanks! You gave me some good ideas for our next trip!

 

Great read. It's always fun when you go with friends when one of you finds a machine that acts like an ATM. 33.11 for food nice going.

 

Nice TR. Thanks for sharing your experiences. Definitely some great tips on cutting down the food budget. Only 3 weeks to go for me & my wife....

 

Wow! Sounds like you guys had a great trip. When are you going in April?

 

Great trip report! You gave me some great ideas for my trip that is in 3 weeks.

 

Holy Crap...you're food budget is amazing! You must teach me the way! I completely agree with training staff on how NOT to make assumptions based on what the person looks like

Glad you gals had a great time!

 

Thanks for the trip report, you're a lady after my own heart! (Playing games with the frugal possibilities).

I don't think I've ever covered that much ground in one trip though. Surprising you could get 4 people to move as one to accomplish it!

 

Thanks All!!! The food budget is a game we play every trip. We use coupons from the ACG, find any deals out there by living on the internet.

I am going April 20th -23rd with hubby and I am going to show him the cheap food way!!!

Just a hint to those who have never been to Ellis Island or who have and did not sign up for players card. If you sign up, you get $5 in comps for the next day. So if you use a 2/1 coupon for the 2nd visit and order for example the steak its like $4 for 2 people to eat!!!

 

Thanks for the great report.
In a few weeks I will see your 40 and raise 10.

 

You eat like I do in Vegas, but I could never pull off $33 since I always throw one buffet in there. You are the champ

Maybe next time you could throw some pictures into your report? That always makes them more fun.

 

enjoyed your trip report

you girls covered a lot of ground! How did you get the free Wynn Buffet? I'm in awe of your budget for food, also. With age comes wisdom - please share it!