I was thrilled to have the opportunity to make a 6-night pilgrimage back to LV last week. Started with 2 nights at the Cromwell on a respectable FSP offer, a 2-night bridge stay at Trop, ending with 2-nights at Caesars (where Bev would catch up with me for the weekend).
August was a long frustrating month, in which I had to cancel an earlier trip to the gulf and was anxious to enjoy a little play after a 3 week hiatus. Still, I've been more than a little stressed and looked forward to the chance to simply kick back ... so play on most days was limited to a couple of hours.
------
Hadn't stayed at the Cromwell property since the Barbary Coast days. Love the fact that the property maintains it's intimate appeal, while enjoying a fanfastic makeover. Stayed on the top floor (8, the highest of their 4 guest floors ;), with a wonderful lateral view of the Bellagio fountain. (The rooms have a modest window, but it's great to able to stand near it and take in the waters.)
The standard rooms maintain their former modest dimensions, but have been redone in inviting, warm tones -- dark wood tile, attractive furnishings, and a bathroom update, w/ walk-in show (and the coolest tile) that round things off comfortably. (I look to return in October w/ Bev so that she can get a gander at things; a little concerned she might be disappointed vs our usual Augustus Tower digs at CP, but I'm keen to reutrn.)
As has been discussed, Cromwell play options are challenging, but found something I was comfortable putting through 2500 points on. Unfortunately, took a modest bath ($3400 gross loss).
------
So, the Trop is Trop, but had a $100 FSP/night offer there. First stay (having played just once before on the loss refund offer a couple of years ago, coming away about $1k to the good).
Actually, everything about the Trop was much better than I anticipated, and it was a decent place to cool my heels and continue to chill out.
Had a room in what I presume was their basic tower, just off the casino floor (only room option was 2 queens). The room was bright and airy, overlooking the pools, and comfortable in every respect.
Coffee shop service was distinctly on the slow side on my two visits, but pleasant. Enjoyed a satisfying steak wrap the first night, and was blown away by the qualify of their Angus burger the second.
Had a good run playing $1 BP, with about $30k coin-in, and netting a modest $600 loss.
------
So, via email w/ Bob Dancer, he clued me in on the Palms tournament on Saturday. So, I put through $40K over at Palms on Thursday to qualify. Seemed like a great opportunity to rate myself more strongly than my initial $12k trip during a loss rebate promo (where, again, I walked early having hit a $600 win). This time, I again had a smooth ride (though not winning), and gave up a mere $850 on my play.
Was a fine opportunity to meet up with Dancer's new wife, Bonnie. I sat with her for about 30 min in the food court during a break while she waited for Bob to complete his qualifying play. I found Bonnie thoroughly charming, affable, and intelligent and am very pleased for the two of them in their new venture.
Also encountered the ever gracious Ms.vpFREE, who I hadn't seen in a fair number of years and who fortunately recognized me. Had a pleasant re-acquaintance. The "Mr" was playing over in another section of the casino, and to my loss (pressed for time), I didn't take the opportunity to seek him out until they had left for the afternoon.
------
Friday came and I awoke with a throbbing headache. (Wish I could say I had been imbibing liberally the night before.) By the time I checked into a gorgeous high-tower room at Augustus CP directly overlooking the Bellagio fountain, I had broken into massive sweat and was unsteady on my legs ... it had been about 6 weeks since my last migraine, and this one was to catch up with a vengeance.
Spent the next 8 hours throwing drugs at the misery (Imitrex, my mainstay, seemed to only moderate the worst of the suffering this time). Alternated between countless ice packs, hot baths, and steaming shows to keep the pain at bay.
Bottom line, my intent to square away my CP play in advance of Bev's arrival at 10p went astray. I finally managed a couple of hours after 8p. She caught up with me at the machine and we enjoyed a later dinner at Gordon Ramsey's Pub -- a real treat.
She went up to bed at midnight, and I returned to tough out the balance of my play, 2 hours at a time with a long break. I finished up shortly before 6a, beat to a pulp physically, but with over $1k in net win.
I emailed Bob to let him know I'd take a pass on the Palms tournament and wouldn't catch up with him and Bonnie there.
-------
We 'slept in" Saturday until 10a. (I should note that I wasn't the only one worn down ... Bev and left Atlanta on Monday as well, on a 3 city business meeting tour. She joined me directly from Philly on Friday -- tickled to be in LV, but equally anxious to "kick back".
She started her day off in the salon and arrived back at the room with Payard pastries (ummmm!) Her favoriate, orange-almond croissant, weren't evident in the case and she sent the attendant scrounging in the back for two (she swears they set them aside to take home themselves ;)
We then did a more standard breakfast in 24 Central, who served up Eggs Benedict as part of the finest breakfast we've enjoyed there. (We've repeatedly encountered service problems in the past, which has made us wary, but this breakfast went far to heal any residual discomfort I was experiencing.)
We then did a modest excursion out to get some air. I gave her a quick walk-through of the updates at Cromwell (where we were returning that night for dinner at Giada), and then to the Linq to get tickets for the High Roller after dinner. Then returned to the room and catch a refreshing nap before dinner.
-------
Our experience at Giada was nothing short of astounding, despite getting off to an awkward start -- they couldn't find our reservation.
Bev had an offer for a $250 dinner credit there, but we were late in requesting a reservation (having waited a week before the trip, looking for her work travel schedule to finalize itself). We were wait-listed for a reservation, and fortunately were comfirmed on Saturday morning. For whatever reason, that confirmation never made it into the books.
Fortunately, after cooling our heels about 20 min, the host graciously seated us at a "4-top" in the bar, overlooking the kitchen and the restaurant. It actually proved a very comfortable venue to take everything in and the dinner that was served up was worth any aggravation.
I won't spiel out our full menu, but will offer up that when you go there you definitely want to opt for the crab & scallop risotto as a pasta dish to share -- it's simply incredible. Bev managed a down about a 1/3 of her "Flintstone proportioned" 28 oz bone-in rib-eye (done to perfection). I was beside myself in satisfaction by my more modest 7 oz filet. We look forward to returning (with more advance reservations ;)
Posted by: harry.porter@verizon.net
| Reply via web post | • | Reply to sender | • | Reply to group | • | Start a New Topic | • | Messages in this topic (1) |
