TR Nov 7 - Nov 11

It seems like I waited FOREVER for the time to get here for this trip and now it has come and gone....oh so is life.

P & I have been friends for 15 years and have been coming to Vegas for 10 of those years. There is a 30 year difference our ages but we get along so well and I can't imagine going to Vegas without her.

(Shhhhhh, I'm at work and won't have time to proof read, sorry for any typos)

Caught a non-stop from LIT to Sin City on Cattlewest...oh I mean Southwest on Tuesday afternoon (Election Day-Damn Ads!). Due to P having a "new knee", we were able to score the ever popular "pre-board pass". Flight was uneventful and we arrive ahead of time, 5pm. Got our luggage without any problem, caught shuttle to Dollar and after trying to talk the cute little guy behind the counter to be our "personal driver", we were off to the hotel within an hour of touchdown.

Since this was our 5th trip in the past 10yrs, we decided to stay off the strip and chose to give Palace Station a shot. We didn't try the $20 trick becasue we believe we only need a room to shower and lay our head down for a few hours. Our room was just off the casino floor in the courtyard and even though it was small, it was clean. But for two "young" ladies, how much room do you really need. The only problem we had was this big blue dumpster right outside our window that was visited every morning at 5pm to be filled up with things that were being replaced in the casino. It sounded like bombs going off when things were being thrown in. Next time I'll be sure to ask if any construction is being done and where is the dumpster.

I won't bore you with a really long report so I'll just summarize things from here on out:

Food
P and I had three places we wanted to make sure we ate at and was able to enjoy all three. First was Ellis Island. This was a first for both of us and with the information off of this wonderful board, we wanted to try it. We each had the steak & shrimp with a drink. Total for both was $25 (with the tip). The only draw back was the Karoke bar off the dining room and we had to suffer through "American Idol" want-a-bes. Second we ate at Bahama Breeze (corner of Flamingo & Paradise). I love this place. We had wonderful cocktails, great appitizer and the main meal was out of this world (almond crusted Talipa w/mashed sweet potatoes). Total was $65 (with tip). Third what the Grand Lux at the Venetian. This is by far my favorite place. I had cripsy carmeled chicken and it was almost better than sex....I said almost. The best part of the meal however was the show. Wait a minute you say, "Grand Lux doesn't have a show". Well this night they did. A very attractive gentleman, who was alone, was seated next to our table. And from the time he was seated until he left, his waiter was working him hard for a tip. He was giving this man movie reviews, asking him where he lived and what kind of work did he do. But then he started telling this poor man HIS life story including the fact that he had been married three times and the last was to Russian woman whom he found out after they were married was pregant with someone elses child!!! He goes on to tell how he divorced her and had her deported. After he walks off, I lean over and say "Damn Women". P and I, the gentleman and next table over with a family all are rolling in the floor. But then the waiter comes back to ask if the guy has a sister. Go Figure!!

Shows
P and I usually don't go to shows but through the wisdom and knowledge of this board, we went online to GoldStar Events and purchased half price tickets to An Evening at LaCage. I must say it was pretty good. I have tought about this since the show and I still can't figure out where they put it! :confused2:

Even though this isn't a show, we did drive out to Red Rock Canyon one afternoon just for a break and to breath air without smoke in it. Just sitting there looking at all the colors and formations of the rocks, how can you not beleive in a higher power. Can I Get An Amen!!

Gambling
We are very low rollers and never expect to win. We play slots for the "entertainment" factor (yeah, right). Anyway, no big wins at the machines. We did try to play Bingo for the first time and I think I speak for both of us when I say it was our last time to play Bingo. It was the most boring hour I've spent and just kept thinking "shoot me now!". Bingo is not for me!!!!!!! We did play the rapid roulette. It was a hoot. We only played for 15 minutes and I bought in with $20 and cashed out with $46. My favorite slots I played were Star Wars, Tobassco and Wheel of Fortune.

I did play Blackjack for the first time on this trip. I had never played except on the computer. So the morning we were leaving, we stopped at Terrible's for breakfast and I sat down at a $5 min table that did not us a shoe. As I laid my $20 on the table I told the dealer I had never played before. She just smiled and gave me my chips. I placed one chip in the circle and the first two cards dealt to me.....A-K, Blackjack! I think I like this game.
One hour and 11 blackjacks later, I cashed out with $100! The dealer said she was amazed at my luck.

Home
We made it to the airport and got checked in and through security with no problems. I will say the security people were really nice to P when they had to "pad her down" when she went through and set off the alarms (remember the knee). We caught our plane was was home 30 minutes early. One good note (or bad which ever way you want to look at it) was on the trip back, the first lady of our state was on the plane and she is a big football fan. She was able to get the pilots to keep us updated on the score of the Ark vs Tenn game. Way to Go Mrs. H!

Highlights
New Knee
Grand Lux
Red Rock Canyon
Blackjack

Lowlights
Big Blue Dumpster
Smokey Casinos
"As the Chips Fall" starring "Wally the Waiter" (not really a lowlight)
No Big Wins

Thanks to everyone who posts trip reports on this board. You have no idea what great information is pasted along.

 

Thanks for posting a very nice report. One question, did your hands shake when you first played BJ? I remember mine did and that was many, many years ago.

 

Hell Don, mine STILL do....until I get enough drinks in me, of course.

 

Not only was my hand shaking but I think I wet myself. I know when my first hand was blackjack I said to myself "Self, what HAVE you been waiting on all they years".

 

By the way VegasGroupie>
You made me bust up laughing when you wrote: It was a hoot.

My friend from Minnesota says that all the time....

Thanks for the laugh.