working trip to vegas

[kitson]

called the last trip report from may the best trip ever, really. even though it was also for a set of trade shows, we did get some more time to play, and hitting those royals was something that just did not happen this time. still, we did get to do a few fun things, and have a few setbacks to make you aware of, so here goes.

flights on delta, and their shuttle partners. out of great falls on time, told that our connecting flight in salt lake was running late, when we got to salt lake it had been cancelled, so they got us on the next flight two and a half hours later. gave us 7 dollars each for breakfast, that and another 7 covered the breakfast for two and the tip! losing that time cost us our attendance at one of the three trade shows we were going down for, it was the last day, and really takes two DAYS to do right, the 5 hours we had got whittled down to less than 3, just not enough can get done then, so changed plans and got a little more time at the one we most unfamiliar with.
flight home was on time, though when we hit salt lake, had to circle for 20 minutes, to allow for an emergency landing, of a plane bound for las vegas that had to turn back with a pressure problem. have not heard any bad news, so assume everything turned out ok, heard no buzz in the airport that night. everybody running to catch connectors, all of them were running late anyway, we thought we had 20 minutes, turned out to have 70, then loaded and sat for 45 more on the plane before take off. landed one hour and 50 minutes after schedule.

no more bitching about travel! cabs were all good this trip, and it seems like there was either less construction, or the cabbies had all found good alternative routes, because we made good time all 6 times we took cabs, downtown to convention center, strip to downtown, usually very busy routes, and at times that would be peak, i think.

 

[kitson]

stayed for three nights, the first two at the four queens, at the casino rate of 28 dollars a night, and the last at the rio, at their calendar rate of FREE. to top that, the last trade show we needed to attend was at the rio! so with the first night already charged out as a deposit, the damages to the credit card for hotels on this trip was a grand total of 31 dollars, with the tax. did do enough playing at both places that they made a little more from us than the room charges, gotta play enough to keep those offers coming.

we did not have many meals downtown. the first day, i did run down to the snack bar at the golden gate for lunch, i had dropped off the luggage, while my wife had went right to the trade shows. french dip, shrimp cocktail, and a beer. just gotta do that once a trip, at least.

had a breakfast, with a twofer coupon, at magnolias in the four queens, huge portions at good prices, and good coffee shop type service.

the next morning, just made a run to the krispy kreme stand in the front of the fitz, another one of our vegas traditions, cause we dont have one where we live.

played some vp at the four queens, did not hit anything huge, biggest hit was four of a kind on a dollar machine for 200.

our second night downtown, played at the four queens some, but wound up at the golden nugget, and found the big split poker machines still in the same spot. only place i have ever seen them. you get dealt 8 cards, split them into two hands of 5 and 3. the 5 card hand has to be a flush or better to get paid, and then if the three card hand is a pair or better, the pay table for that hand multiplies the pay table for the first hand. my best hit there was a straight flush times a straight flush. cant remember what it paid, cocktail service was very good. did play for three hours, on the first hundred dollar bill, and cashed out at 150 and lots of 24 karat club points.

did not make it into any of the other downtown places, which just amazes me, but when you are having fun in one place, makes it easier to stay!

 

[kitson]

other gambling

played some vp at the aladdin, before and after our dinner at commanders palace, cashed out 20 up each time.

played a little at the mirage, broke even i think, played while waiting for the band, CLOCKWORK, to play. saw their last set the first night we were there, and went back the next night to see their first set of the night, an accoustic set. thanks to vegas acf, who let us know about these guys and girl. wonderful entertainers, and it was classic rock! accoustic set included fleetwood mac, cat stevens, james taylor. the last set the night before, steve miller, joan jett, rush. they were at the AVA lounge, which i see was closing soon in another post. look for clockwork on your next trip, they are worth a listen!

did get to play some at the rio, after the trade show was over the last night we were there, and the day we left before we went to the airport.

played the table game crazy four poker, did not do well. watched fellow players hit straight flushes, confirms that it takes lots of bankroll to play this game, until you hit the big one, there will be lots of up and down swings, but definitely possible to hit big and walk away ahead, if disciplined.

wound up playing a lot of the newer gimmick video poker games. found a multistrike poker machine, where you play four hands, but must win the first hand to get to play the second, and so on. the first hand pays off the regular pay table of whatever game you play...job, deuces, etc., then the second hand pays off at 2x, the third at 4x, and the fourth at 8x. my biggest hit was 4 of a knod on the second line, payins 2x, so 125 dollars on a quarter machine. another time, i had all four lines pay, with a flush on the top hand, that was over 50 dollars. did have 4 to the royal on the third line once, that would have been 4000 dollars! played some of the other gimmick machines over at the gold coast when we tired of the rio, actually did ok and held money together.

 

[kitson]

other meals

we grabbed lunch at the trade shows, so nothing special there.

our one really nice meal of the trip was at commanders palace. thanks to ken2v for all his advice, it was definitely worth breaking our habit of steakhouses while in las vegas. service was fantastic, from inquiring if we were going to any shows and on a time schedule, to wanting to know if we had dined with them before. our water glasses and wine glasses were never empty, dishes were explained, wine was paired with our choices.

wife had the sherry turtle soup, i had the alligator appetizer. she had pistachio crusted hake, i had the louisiana soft shell crab, and we shared the bread pudding souffle. the wine was a white, roussanne, which i was not at all familiar with, but theburst of lime when it hit the tongue made it very refreshing, and then the taste changed and lingered. probably the only mistake here was that all of our entrees, and my appetizer, were all crusted with peanuts or pistachio, though that let one wine go with all. we just did not have the appetite for the tasting menu, but this will be a place we plan on returning to in the future.

we planned on having a steak at the all american grill, at the rio, and made reservations there on our last night. i guess we should have been leery when we were the only reservation at 8 at night! this place is like a sports bar out front, then the back is very nicely decorated. knew in advance from looking at the menus that the back had a different menu, but was surprised that everything there was ala carte, like the fine steakhouses, because the rio also has fiore, at those steakhouse price points, and thought the aag would be a little less. anyway, we showed up for our reservation, and were taken in and seated at the first booth in the door. there were not more than five parties in the whole place, and lots of empty tables in more desirable areas. we were right by where all the staff walked by each trip, with a view of the servers station. we had asked our hostess if the other menu was available in there, it was not. so we had the pricy menu, with the ambience of the hallway, and the noise of the sports bar 6 feet away. when no server arrived after 4 minutes of being seated, we were glad to get up and walk out.
wound up having very good prime rib, and lots of other stuff, down at the buffet. probably saved 80 bucks, too.

we did have lunch at the aag the next day, during lunch you have the option of sitting in the back nice area, and the menu is the same as out front. food and service were good, maybe some day they will figure it out at dinner time!

 

[kitson]

forum shops and shopping.

we did make it into the remodeled forum shops this trip, and the circular escalator is worth seeing. having the construction done, and being able to walk easily from the mirage to caesars is also very refreshing. we walked on up through the forum shops and had a late lunch at cheesecake factory, have to say that that level of the mall has not changed much. did find a nice tee shirt for our son at the exotic car store up by niketown and the cheesecake factory.

we also made our way to tobys keiths place to buy a top for our daughter. she is a toby fan, and the tee that said, i wanna talk about me me me was just right for her.

they had a band playing in the bar, they were horrible. we had planned on sitting down and having a drink, but the tables by the dance floor are reserved for diners only until 11 pm! the bar area was full enough, and smoky, so we wound up not spending any money in the bar. nobody was eating there, it was about 10 pm when we were in there, and i think you would have to be pretty drunk when you walked in to stand the music for long. of course, if you were drunk, you probably would not find the place. this place is on the second level, all the way to the back of harrahs, near the monorail depot.

toby had better fire his people, and sign on with jimmy buffetts people, because there is just no comparison between this place and margaritaville, in terms of location or atmosphere. i dont think it is going to last long, and i expected to have a good impression of the place! oh well.

one last comparison. we walked in and sat at an empty table in harrahs, while the dueling pianos there were playing! that would not be an option at nyny times square bar. one of the blonde twins and a guy were playing right then. i made a face and looked at my wife, she made a motion toward the exit with her eyes, and we were out of there. the musicians at times square are levels above the ones we saw playing at harrahs.

thats all i got. any questions? know it doesnt contain any clubbing, or swingers, or young tipsy girls. it sure is hard to grow up.

 

[Jimbucc]

How were the rooms at the Four Queens? They always have some pretty good deals on Travelworm. I like the bank of 10/7 DB progressive quarter machines they have along the back wall.

 

[kitson]

room was clean, definitely not large by las vegas standards, drab, but updated more than the room just two doors down where we had stayed in may. our view was of rooftop, and beyoned that the north four queens tower, and the side and top of the fremont street experience. we could hear the fse, once, but once in bed, it wasnt loud enough to wake us back up, which i think probably is not the case with the north tower. for 28 bucks, i dont have any complaints, am getting a few offers from them from the first stay in may, like one night at 28, second night free, though that did not fit the time frame of this trip. will stay with them again, its no golden nugget, but at least the gn is right next door.