I've never posted a trip report before and from some comments about others it appears as though people enjoy hearing about them. So here goes. My wife reached Seven Star status last year and so we took her 2011 annual trip to Las Vegas this past week (needed to complete it by 3/31). Through my Seven Star status we got another room for my wife's sister and an offer from Caesar's for a coupon to be used by any friend or family for two free nights gave us a room for her brother and his wife. They drove up from Phoenix and we flew out from DFW meeting up this past Wednesday, 3/28. A previous call to the Caesars property made sure we were all in the new Octavius tower.
The flight from DFW was OK although there was a two hour mechanical delay that could have turned ugly if they cancelled the flight. The remaining flight for the day were full. Fortunately we got in about 12:30 PM, met by a nice driver and limoed to Caesars. Tough life. Check in was great and the desk clerk put us all on one floor. Ours was ready and the others would be in a couple of hours.
Rather than going to the room, we went to the new 24 hour Central for lunch. It was not good. The waiter started off by giving a monologue about his travails with kitchen. That should have tipped us off. The wines and sodas were just fine. The wait for food was intolerable - hour and 15 minutes. When it did arrive, the food was cold - not warm, cold. We ate anyway as we were starving. The waiter did apologize and took 20% off. We were too annoyed and tired to escalate the issue.
We walked over to the Harrah's TR desk and got the free coupons for four (two from my wife and 2 from me) for the Legends. Over to the box office and picked up the four tickets plus another that we charged to the room.
The room were now ready, so back we went to get all the keys and go up to our rooms. We had our luggage delivered by the bellman. The luggage appeared in 5 minutes and the bellman was very cordial. Nice recovery for the property as a whole. The rooms in the new tower are great. While not the size of the Venetian's, they are still quite large with a nice sitting area, ipod dock, several electic outlets, nice bathrooms and a nice view of the pool. For some people, the tower is a long hike to the lobby or casino. If you have trouble walking, this will be an issue. We looked at it like added exercise. Then down to the casino for some adult entertainment.
As most of you are aware, the only full pay VP in Caesars (or for that matter any of the Caesars LV properties) is at the $5 level. That level is out of my comfort zone. Actually, winning at that level is definitely within my comfort zone; it's the losing part that isn't. While I have the resources to sustain a loss at that level, I don't like it. If necessary, I will play it to a point. So we start out there ($5 JOB). After an hour of play, we are down about $1500. Not too bad. We head back to the room to change for the evening and meet down at the Diamond Lounge for a quick snack and drinks. I had talked with a host and got a pass for an additional person for the Diamnod lounge - remember we total 5 people and our cards will only let in 4. The service was just fine, very cordial wait staff and the snack were good - wings, egg rolls, chips etc. Off to the show.
We like Legends (the price is right) and the seats were great. Dean Martin, Michael Jackson, Celine Dion, Elvis (of course) and Lady Gaga. All were good but I'm not sure about Lady Gaga - don't know much about her songs. Now back to Caesars. That night did not provide any solace as our losses kept mounting, now down about $3K total.
I went for an early walk to the Tropicana to see the new place. I was impressed, considering the old place was well worn. After dressing, we played for an hour and neither of us hit 4 of a kind. Off to breakfast at the coffee shop at the Flamingo which was good, reasonable and fast (we couldn't take Central again). A quick tour of the spring exhibit at the Bellagio and then on down to MSS to play their $1 10/7 DB. I love that game, but if you don't hit 4 of a kind, you are dead meat. Call me road kill. Two and a half hours playing and not one. We left there down another $1200.
Back to Caesars, tired and kind of cranky. We had a light bite at their food court - all charged to the room. Actually the food was quite good for what it was. The rest of the crew played some more while I went to the spa for some R&R. I love the Roman ritual pools and hot rock lounger. Just melted into Nirvana. Back to the room to shower and change for dinner. Met up at the Diamond Lounge again for a drink - always good.
Dinner was my wife's Seven Star annual dinner which was set up at the Old Homestead Steakhouse. Absolutely excellent on all counts - food, service, ambiance. They made us feel special. The three women just had appetizers and salads while we men had to have our steaks. They were great. A shared dessert and bottle of wine and the total was only $416. The waiter suggested we get a bottle of wine to go, which we did. Such a deal! Back to the machines again and still not good, but not bad either. End of day 2 down total of $4500.
On Friday morning we meet up and go to the food court again for coffee and sweet rolls, all charged to the room. Back at the machines for a couple of hours and not bad results - up and down but net $500 positive for the morning. For lunch we wander over to the Burger Brasserie for a burger. Very nice place, good service and very good food (burgers and onion rings). Again charged to the room. Back to Caesars to pick up some tickets for the Matt Goss show and a coupon for $500 shopping spree at the Forum shops. Note: my room was on an offer that included the shopping spree.
While my wife went shopping to scope out what she wanted to get, I had to go pick up the voucher. As I waited in line, I realized there as a much shorter line for 7 Stars, so I jumped over there and was being waited upon within a minute (the 7 Star status does have its privilege). I'm feeling like a big shot with my wife's family but now I get my comeuppance. I give the offer to the attendant who proceeds to walk to the end of the counter behind her to get my voucher. There were probably 8 stacks of vouchers on the counter. The person next to me presents his and the attendant picks one up near the other end of the counter then proceeds to tell the man "Your offer is for $5,000 ...". Man, did I feel like a guppy.
I get back down to the Forum shops and give my wife the voucher and I proceed to go get the tickets for Matt Goss. It took a while since we had two separate offers (one for 2 free, one for BOGO) and we were paying retail for the other. Again charged to the room. While they power shopped, I went down to the pool to relax. While generally not a pool aficionado (I'm a chubby grey hair retiree), I thought I would relax in the sun and get a feeling for the whole atmosphere. I was amazed at the scene. Tons of young people chatting, drinking, flirting and generally having a good time. Boy, do they spend on the cabanas, fancy lounges and cocktails. The water was cold but the scenery was soothing.
Back to the room to shower and change for the evening and see the purchases my wife made - two Coach handbags and a couple of blouses. A $500 voucher plus an additional $56 (they do not take reward credits or charge to the room). Again meet at the Diamond Lounge, all have fancy fruit drinks and a few snacks and then off to Planet Hollywood to have dinner at the Spice Market Buffet, which my brother-in-law loves. Generally, I hate buffets - too slam and jam for me. I may be a snob, but I like service. Actually the buffet was good (the Middle Eastern section very interesting) and the service, given that it was a buffet, was good. The waitress offered us a special shrimp appetizer which was quite good and also gave us a chocolate covered brownie after dinner with coffee.
Back to Caesars and played for a bit then queued up for the show (they do not have assigned seats and the box office attendant suggested we line up at 8:30 to insure we can sit together). We were let in at 8:45. The room is set up like an old style lounge with small cocktail tables and a stage, seating perhaps 100. Long wait for the show to start (10PM) but when it did, it was excellent. Great music, good showmanship and singing. While we didn't recognize many of the songs (Matt Goss is a Brit and very popular there) it nonetheless was very entertaining.
We hit the machines once again. While I paid the cocktail bill (of course charged to room), my wife staked out a particular machine we had been having luck with. I met up with her and proceeded to play. A man came and played two machines next to us - a 50 play $1 and a 100 play $1. So one cost $250 a spin and the other $500. Guppy time again. He gets a marker for $12K and proceeds to tell us how much he enjoys playing the multi hand games. He is playing 9/6 DDB and of course looking for 4 of a kind. In the beginning he is getting decent drawing hands and is staying ahead. Unfortunately, his luck turns south and he is feeding the monsters. He gets a couple of cocktails from the waitress but stiffs her saying that he doesn't have any small bills - "catch ya later" (BS). After an hour he is down to $150, pulls out the money and calls it a night saying his wife will be pissed - I wonder why.
In the meantime, we are playing (and watching his action) and keeping even - up a hundred credits, down a hundred. We are bleary eyed with our heads hanging low ready to call it a night. My wife goes to the bathroom. As I play, I hit a couple of full houses and am up from when she left then start the downward trek. As I am now down 50 credits ($250) from when she got up, I am thinking what am I doing. Next hand I hold K,J hearts, push draw and look at the results glassy eyed. Hey, they are all hearts - great a flush. Wait, they are all the right ones - a Royal! Hot damn. The attendants are over in a flash and congratulating me. I request a check - they suggested to put in on the account and get a net check before I leave (I had a $5K marker out). My wife comes out and wonders what the commotion was about and then sees the Royal. She was smiling. Another 30 minutes of playing and we called it quits for the night - tired and ahead $17K for the trip.
Saturday morning we met up for breakfast and again went to the Flamingo and again had a good breakfast. We were all leaving and said our good byes. We settled up with the casino and took our money in a check and kept out $1000 for any other playing (our plan left at 2:55PM). We settled with the hotel and had a net bill (after the $500 resort credit) of $415 which was paid off with RC's. So here we had 3 rooms for 3 nights, all the food and drinks, tickets to two shows and airfare for us (I figured about $5K in value) plus go home up $17K - ain't live great. Before we get the limo, we have an hour to kill. I decide to break my vow to never play short pay machines and played a quarter DB machine - did not want to give up much cash. Fortunately, we broke even then and left tired and on the plus side of the ledger.
