Home Friday nite from 6 nites at Paris with 13 traveling companions out to have a great time in our fav place. Hubby, daughter, son-in-law & I flew out from Louisville on SW on Saturday 2/28. On Sunday 3/1 another daughter, son-in-law & 5 friends (one the local poker playing priest) arrived. On Monday, 4 more friends also came in from Louisville on SW. The priest has a condo so he & 1 couple stayed there. Everyone else stayed at either Paris or Bally's. We are all part of a large local Hold'em group that plays at least once a week, many weeks there are several games - 25-50 people.
Since there were only 4 of us that 1st nite & we are too excited to stay anywhere too long. We bounced around playing at Bally's, Paris, Bill's, Flamingo, IP & PH. Everyone kind of held there own with very small amounts of daily bank rolls lost. We ate at the Paris burger restaurant with only a short wait. We have never been to LV at this time of year but the crowds seemed small for a Saturday night.
The next day, 4 more arrived at Bally's & the priest & another couple whent to the condo. We all met up at the Rio to see the new show since it is dark on Monday-Wednesdays now. We saw 2 shows & they really sexed it up. The talent of those kids was impressive but liked the old one just as much.
I've read reports of how tight the slots are on the strip recently but we really didn't see much difference. Many of us had some pretty good hits & held our own & one of the guys even had his 1st royal on a VP machine at Bally's. I had a bad day on Tuesday, lost all of daily bankroll & part of the previous hold-over $ but won it all back the next day. The new Star Trek machines at Paris were very hot for us & the Zeus helped a bunch too. I hit 6 4ok's at Bally's on .50 machines. Kept cashing out when it hit $100 & putting another $20 in. On Thursday I was wandering around Paris, waiting on the group to meet & put a $5 bill in a Triple, Double Stars quarter machine. The first time I hit the button, it was a Tripple symbol, then the next 2 were the striped 7's. 600 credits on the first spin....and I want just wasting time. Just $150 but a nice easy win!
The final 4 arrived on Monday & we made the rounds...Bellagio, Caesars, Wynn, Venetian, Encore, Palazzo, TI, Mirage...etc. Everyone would split up & meet up. No way to keep 15 people together & happy all the time. At least 4 nites many played in the tournament at Sahara with several cashes but no wins. Hubby cashed out 4th in a small tourn at Bally's also. He played mamy cash games & usually walked away a small winner.
Most of the group ate at Tacone in the MM shops with Rest.com certifs. I had purchased a $10 certif for each couple & everyone enjoyed the food. Plus we could all sit together out in the mall area & people watch & act crazy. Took one couple to Ellis Island who had never heard of the place. Bet they go back every trip from now on. Crazy good & crazier amount of food.....had a great waiter this time who seemed to really enjoy his job. Kidded around with us & made it a good time. He was left a hefty tip....he earned it! Had the volcano nachos at Margaritaville...should have seen son-in-laws eyes when they were delivered...knew we would enjoy our meal there. Due to invites with others in the group, we ended up there 3 times. I like the place but it was too much. The last time, I decided it was better to just drink my meal. There is something real special about sipping a Margie while listening to Jimmy Buffet music in the company of good friends.
Honestly, most of the week is a blurr - so much going on is so many different places with so many different people. I wish I had taken notes but I probably would not have been able to read them or would have just lost them.
We had seen on the net that the Heads Up Poker tournament started on Friday, the day we left. BUT, it said there was a pre-party at Pure Nightclub at Casesars on Thrusday nite. Boy, was there!! Every poker pro was there & they mingled with the crowd outside in the casino area...like they really didn't want to go into the party. Got to meet & had pics taken with almost all of them. Only the poker brat himself, Phil Helmuth was illusive with his nose in the air & went straight to the red carpet & into the party. Talked with Scottie N, Phil Laak, Gus Hansen, Daniel N, Eli E, Doyle B, Huck Seed, Annie Duke, Jennifer Harmon & her cute hubby Marco, Johnny Chan (pic only - not friendly, moves quickly), Mike M (the mouth), Antonio E (the magician), Chad Brown (what a nice guy & a real doll), John Juanda, announcer & player Mike Sexton, Barry Greenstein, Moneymaker....on & on & on. It was surreal..a once in a lifetime opportunity for our poker playing crazies.
I will hopefully get some of the pics posted soon. It was truly a trip to remember. We are hoping for a 2nd trip this year at our regular time in August. Since all our rooms were comped, most of our food was covered by comps & SW came thru with a sale in late Dec that gave us a credit of $270 to use before Dec 09....we may get lucky. We came hope with about $300 left in our comp balance & will be able to get rooms free again.....should be a go. I am not sure how much hubby lost...he's kind of secretive about it right now but I came home only loosing $150!! With the free food & rooms, that is a great big win in my book. I better get to work planning that T-time....haha...maybe.
Good luck on your next one everyone!!
Since there were only 4 of us that 1st nite & we are too excited to stay anywhere too long. We bounced around playing at Bally's, Paris, Bill's, Flamingo, IP & PH. Everyone kind of held there own with very small amounts of daily bank rolls lost. We ate at the Paris burger restaurant with only a short wait. We have never been to LV at this time of year but the crowds seemed small for a Saturday night.
The next day, 4 more arrived at Bally's & the priest & another couple whent to the condo. We all met up at the Rio to see the new show since it is dark on Monday-Wednesdays now. We saw 2 shows & they really sexed it up. The talent of those kids was impressive but liked the old one just as much.
I've read reports of how tight the slots are on the strip recently but we really didn't see much difference. Many of us had some pretty good hits & held our own & one of the guys even had his 1st royal on a VP machine at Bally's. I had a bad day on Tuesday, lost all of daily bankroll & part of the previous hold-over $ but won it all back the next day. The new Star Trek machines at Paris were very hot for us & the Zeus helped a bunch too. I hit 6 4ok's at Bally's on .50 machines. Kept cashing out when it hit $100 & putting another $20 in. On Thursday I was wandering around Paris, waiting on the group to meet & put a $5 bill in a Triple, Double Stars quarter machine. The first time I hit the button, it was a Tripple symbol, then the next 2 were the striped 7's. 600 credits on the first spin....and I want just wasting time. Just $150 but a nice easy win!
The final 4 arrived on Monday & we made the rounds...Bellagio, Caesars, Wynn, Venetian, Encore, Palazzo, TI, Mirage...etc. Everyone would split up & meet up. No way to keep 15 people together & happy all the time. At least 4 nites many played in the tournament at Sahara with several cashes but no wins. Hubby cashed out 4th in a small tourn at Bally's also. He played mamy cash games & usually walked away a small winner.
Most of the group ate at Tacone in the MM shops with Rest.com certifs. I had purchased a $10 certif for each couple & everyone enjoyed the food. Plus we could all sit together out in the mall area & people watch & act crazy. Took one couple to Ellis Island who had never heard of the place. Bet they go back every trip from now on. Crazy good & crazier amount of food.....had a great waiter this time who seemed to really enjoy his job. Kidded around with us & made it a good time. He was left a hefty tip....he earned it! Had the volcano nachos at Margaritaville...should have seen son-in-laws eyes when they were delivered...knew we would enjoy our meal there. Due to invites with others in the group, we ended up there 3 times. I like the place but it was too much. The last time, I decided it was better to just drink my meal. There is something real special about sipping a Margie while listening to Jimmy Buffet music in the company of good friends.
Honestly, most of the week is a blurr - so much going on is so many different places with so many different people. I wish I had taken notes but I probably would not have been able to read them or would have just lost them.
We had seen on the net that the Heads Up Poker tournament started on Friday, the day we left. BUT, it said there was a pre-party at Pure Nightclub at Casesars on Thrusday nite. Boy, was there!! Every poker pro was there & they mingled with the crowd outside in the casino area...like they really didn't want to go into the party. Got to meet & had pics taken with almost all of them. Only the poker brat himself, Phil Helmuth was illusive with his nose in the air & went straight to the red carpet & into the party. Talked with Scottie N, Phil Laak, Gus Hansen, Daniel N, Eli E, Doyle B, Huck Seed, Annie Duke, Jennifer Harmon & her cute hubby Marco, Johnny Chan (pic only - not friendly, moves quickly), Mike M (the mouth), Antonio E (the magician), Chad Brown (what a nice guy & a real doll), John Juanda, announcer & player Mike Sexton, Barry Greenstein, Moneymaker....on & on & on. It was surreal..a once in a lifetime opportunity for our poker playing crazies.
I will hopefully get some of the pics posted soon. It was truly a trip to remember. We are hoping for a 2nd trip this year at our regular time in August. Since all our rooms were comped, most of our food was covered by comps & SW came thru with a sale in late Dec that gave us a credit of $270 to use before Dec 09....we may get lucky. We came hope with about $300 left in our comp balance & will be able to get rooms free again.....should be a go. I am not sure how much hubby lost...he's kind of secretive about it right now but I came home only loosing $150!! With the free food & rooms, that is a great big win in my book. I better get to work planning that T-time....haha...maybe.
Good luck on your next one everyone!!
-
SOON.....
