My first disapppointing trip to Vegas 7/18-20

Day 1 Sunday
Departed NY JFK at 7:30 on time Sunday morning. Flight was crowded and I originally had the middle seat. The aisle was a couple and they wanted to sit together so they asked if I would switch seat with his wife. Gladly as I now had an aisle seat. Woo-hoo.

Landed on time at 10:30. Flight was a breeze. Flew Delta round trip and although I haven’t used them before, it was a good experience for me all the way through.

Cab driver nice took short cut and went right to MGM that led to a nice tip for the guy. I was at the hotel in 15 minutes.

Check in was quick, I checked my bag with valet thinking my room would not be ready but it turned out it was. Left the bag thinking I will pick it up later.

Had a monster headache. Probably because I was hungry. And it was Hot. Real hot. 110* hot. I wound up just going to the food court and grabbing McDonalds for a quick meal. Disappointing but I wanted to feel better as fast as I could. I went back to the room to relax for a bit.

After quick walk around MGM I was going to go rest at the pool. But it was real hot and I wasn’t primed up for a Wet Republic type afternoon. I decide to go play some blackjack after a quick nap.

I wound up knocking down too many Corona’s during my BJ session. The problem with a solo trip is there is nothing to pull you away from the tables. Also you go in expecting a certain outcome, read: winning. Played up and down and then down some more and then lost my budgeted $500. So being over served, I pull out another $400 and according to the dealer who I saw the next day I got bludgeoned. I went up to my room with the intention of showering and going out for dinner. That turned into room service and passing out to the TV. I must have passed out right away because I woke up to pounding on my door so I was psyched room service was finally here. The waiter proceeds to tell me he has been here twice already and they called the room once which I didn’t answer. Wow I am drunk! I felt so bad I gave him a $20 tip which seemed to make him feel better. I ate and went back to sleep resigned to the fact I am drunk, solo and probably looking for trouble if I start drinking or gambling again.

Day 2 Monday
I woke up early (8:00) being on east coast time. After a hot shower and a shave, I got dressed and walked up to Planet Hollywood for the buffet. At 9:30 it was already 95 degrees. I was sat after waiting on a very short line and had a very good breakfast. Egg white omelet with peppers mushrooms and onions. Corned Beef Hash and hash brown potatoes rounded out my meal. Two very large Cranberry juices and I was feeling much better. Went back and loaded up on some fresh fruit. I was going to back for more but I decided to eat a normal meal.

I walked around some more stopping in various hotels up the strip. I had a weird vibe and didn’t get that feeling to stop and gamble anywhere. I figured I am not going to force it I will just head back and go to the pool for a while. By the time I made it back to MGM it was VERY hot, almost 100 and it was before noon. I stopped at Walgreens along the way for a couple bottles of h20 and Gatorade. I dropped that off in my room and came back down. Watched some baseball and made my way back over to BJ where I doubled my $200. I walked around the casino thinking I will hold onto this money for a while before I lose it back. Ran into the BJ dealer from the night before who clued me in on my condition from Sunday night. Played a little craps where nothing got going. Money in money out no gains no loss. And no drinks. So I realized some hair of the dog may help me loosen up.

Walked around by NYNY and other hotels around MGM. Walked by the pool and sat out there for about 10 minutes when I gave up because it was 115 degrees. Went back showered and went downstairs. I really wanted some sushi but didn’t feel like leaving the southern part of the strip. Went to Grand Wok and Sushi bar and really enjoyed the rolls I had. Red dragon roll, spicy California plus some garlic tuna sashimi. Had great service at the sushi bar. Waitress was very helpful and even talked to me about my trip. Obviously she could see I was solo and made me much more comfortable while I was waiting for my food.

I went back out seeing if I could soften the blow from the night before. I made $200 back so I thought if I can make another $200 I will write off the other losses and take that money and head out for drinks and socializing. Make some friends. Well this was a long BJ session. I never made money and just slowly bled out my money. So I started to press my bets some and that just sped up the decline. Never one big hand just busts and pushes over the course of a few hours. I finally realized that this was going to be a losing session as well so I might as well give up. I look at my watch and see it’s already 1 am!!

Knowing I am getting up for my flight by 7 or 8 I starting thinking how much of a waste this trip turned out to be. Typically I have fun anywhere, make friends, win some money and just blow off some steam. That never happened on this trip. I tried to make too much happen starting with gambling.

Day 3 Airport and flight home with no events. Landed early and was home vefy quickly with little rush hour traffic.

Typically you don’t have a bad time in Vegas but my mistake was I knew I wanted to win some money and party as fast as I made it. Neither happened and without friends there to walk away from the tables and go somewhere else I shouldn’t be surprised by the results. I wound up staying mainly on the MGM property.

All in all it was a very strange trip even for me. I have been to Vegas many times and even solo before but I never got into a party atmosphere this time. I don’t know if it was me, small bankroll, being there Sunday through Tuesday or what but I left Vegas disappointed for the first time. I won’t say I wont be back but I know it will be a while.

Apologies it wasn’t a better trip report. Maybe next time.

 

I've been there

I've had similar experiences.

I've never been solo to Vegas, but I had a solo night when I got in before anyone I knew was coming in for a wedding I was attending.

I figured I'd play at the tables and wait for people to arrive.

I got robbed fast from the first table I sat at, and as you noted, when you're alone in Vegas, you tend to press when you lose more than when you have a buddy around. It's not like your friends and you can go kill some time somewhere else for a few hours to calm down from tilt mode, too ... you're solo. Ugh!

Anyway, you'll head back. I took two years off after that trip (once everyone finally got there, I was already ready to quit gambling and leave), but I went back last January to bet the Alabama-Texas BCS title game. I had a great time. A little distance between trips helped.

Also, having something other than straight table gambling to do helps at those times you are getting fleeced. I was there to bet football with friends, so instead of trying to get even when I lost, we'd simply go over to the bar, watch ESPN and prepare for the game. I know it doesn't sound like much, but it's enough of a diversion to get you back to gambling rationally when you return to the table.

 

i was there at that time and the heat was unbearable!!! we didn't do near as much walking as normal and it was a bit weird...too damn hot!!!

sucks you didn't have a great time, but it will improve!!!

 

I have a solo trip one in exactly 7 days. Landing around 7:00 ish Friday.

I plan on playing poker which, when solo, is a really good way to spend some time when alone. Poker is a very social game and as soon as you start getting too drunk (about the time 4,5 suited looks good for a $15 raise) you stumble to a craps game or low limit bj and cross your fingers.

I am quite stoked for my solo trip. I usually get one solo every 6 months or so and I can't seem to recall if I chase more or less. I will let you all know.

 

These things happen. I never take a 2 night trip to Vegas but I often do in Biloxi. On these trips I feel I have to cram everything into the first night as I turn into a pumpkin at midnight on the second night since I need my sleep before traveling home the next day. It can evolve into dangerous overindulgence.

 

Hey at least you scored that aisle seat

 

I did notice you always had a cold beer in your hand though

 

I won't complain if I get a lot of really annoying cell phone pics of premium quads and royals while I'm trying to sleep next weekend!

 

Are we all really at home on this website on Friday night at 8:30pm?

 

isn't that appropriate???!!?!!??!!? it did make the heat more bearable! i drank a SHIAT TON!!!

 

I'm still working, gotta pay for the next trip somehow...

 

Sorry to hear you didn't enjoy your trip

It does sound like for this trip you really did tie winning in to being able to enjoy yourself... and since the winning didn't happen you weren't able to get away from the tables and go out and have a good time.

I've had a few trips like that, and some where even losing isn't much of a deterrent to having a good time, but sometimes you just go and take a horrible beating and can't wait for the trip to end.

But when that happens you can always look back on the good trips and then start planning another

 

That is a tough combination of solo trip, gambling going bad, and too hot for pool. On a solo trip especially the pool is usually what saves me from over-gambling. When that option is out due to weather I find solo trips more difficult.

I think the one bright spot was your sushi meal, well besides that aisle seat. I had some solo time a few trips ago and the buffet waitresses at Bellagio who I saw about 5 days in a row helped me feel more at home.

I have never won a thing at the godforesaken MGM, never gotten good drink service, never gotten checked in early, and they have sent me shit offers. Every time I go in that place I feel like I'm getting butt-jacked by Jon Gosselin at Wet Republic, which is not my idea of a good time. If JNCVH could steal dreams like Leonardo DiCaprio, he would definitely steal that Jon Gosselin butt-jacking nightmare....but I digress....

Better luck next trip!

 

Sorry to hear about the bum trip...hope the next one is better!

 

Sorry to hear your trip didn't go very smoothly .......Hope the next trip is much better!

 

I take a lot of solo trips, and not just Vegas but all over.

If you'll indulge me: Last year I was up in way northern California, checking out a new-ish golf course. The golf was absolutely stunning--truly--but even playing 36 holes/day, I was on/off the course in a matter of hours and I needed to avoid like the plague the truck stop-cum-casino next to the course. I ended up driving over to Chico twice. Did a tour of Sierra Nevada Brewing, ate some good pub grub, had a couple brews, hoofed around campus; just something to do that I knew I'd enjoy and avoid the crappy VP schedules. I still spent WAY too many hours in my room with the CRT and 5 cable channels. lol

What I'm trying to say is I empathize. Luckily in Vegas I find enough other stuff to do so my casino hours are of a manageable duration and as a result the gambling is fun. I'm not much of a pool guy and I'm not at all when the merc goes northward, but that doesn't keep me off the course. The spa is cheap in comparison to a short bad stint at a table. I'll drive around and check out casinos I might not have seen in a while. Hit the outlet. Go ahead and eat a good, long meal. I both can't do the time in the casino and I don't want to do it after a couple painful lessons years ago, and particularly when solo. I gambled far far more in Reno last week the two days when Terri was in town that the six when she wasn't.

Anywho, you'll get back on the horse and have a good ride next time out.

 

On your next trip if staying at the MGM you might consider getting "blotto" at the horse races (machine) a quarter at a time. The waitress doesn't care what you are betting and it is tough to go through 20 $ in quarters without getting a good buzz. Probably my favorite 40 square feet in that monstrous glass building since they took down the Land of Oz. Better luck next time.

 

Yep, we were. Sad, ain't it?

 

Sorry your trip wasn't what you hoped it would be. Hope you have a much better next time and it is cooler too. I love Vegas in mid November best.