RE: [vpFREE] XVP Trip Report to LV 10-1-15

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To: vpFREE@yahoogroups.com
From: vpFREE@yahoogroups.com
Date: Sun, 11 Oct 2015 12:47:08 -0700
Subject: [vpFREE] XVP Trip Report to LV 10-1-15


























Trip Report 7 Nights in Las Vegas Beginning October 1st 2015








Thursday








This trip was seven days with my wife to celebrate our 11th anniversary. We traveled from Boston non-stop via Spirit Airlines. In the past we have traveled Southwest (but no direct flights exist anymore), and more recently Jet Blue (but their rates are up by about 50% from last year plus baggage fees have been added). At Spirit Air, I found direct roundtrip flights for $600 total for the two of us including various baggage fees, seat selection fees, etc., etc., while Jet Blue was $1,300 for the same flights. Sure we'll have to pay for drinks and snacks, but for half the price of Jet Blue, I can afford to pay $20 to $30 for ala carte soft drinks and snacks onboard.








Flight was delayed about two hours as a result of not having enough gates available for all Spirit flights at Logan. Some gates were down for unexpected maintenance. We finally got into McCarran about midnight about 90 minutes late.








I had rented a mid-size SUV via Dollar Express for the week. After many rebookings I got the price down to $194 total. At the Express booth about 10 parties were waiting for cars as only compacts were available. After about a half hour wait other cars began to show up and about an hour later I was informed I could take a "full size" Nissan Altima as no SUVs would be available for the foreseeable future. They were disorganized and unapologetic about the situation. A similar but different semi-horror show occurred the last trip at McCarran Dollar Express booth. Dollar "Express" my backside!








After getting the rental car, we headed to Green Valley Ranch (GVR) for just one night (got a good rate of about $85 through Kayak via reservetravel.com). We got a late bite at the GVR Grand Café before hitting the hay using an American Casino Guide (ACG) $10 off of $20 coupon. Food and service were good and reasonably priced.








Friday








Got up at 5:30 AM and hit the GVR casino at 6.00 AM. Played 25c Full Pay (FP) Deuces Wild (DW) Video Poker (VP) and FP Loose DW VP for about two hours. Mostly was up, but with no four deuces, left even. I brought coffee and muffin to the room for my wife; took a nap; and then did some pool time at GVR's very nice sandy beach pool area. Weather was a perfect 80 degrees F.








We then checked into a one-bedroom timeshare condo (via an RCI trade) at Grandview Resort (next to Southpoint on South LV Blvd.) for the next six nights. Units were standard apartment-like, but did have granite counters in kitchen, decent flat screen TVs, and the unit was well maintained and clean.








We then went next door for lunch to the South Point Casino Deli. The corned beef sandwich was overly lean and dry and my wife's matzo-ball soup got just an average rating.








After lunch, we hit a nearby Smith's Supermarket (associated with Kroger's) to get some provisions for the week such as soda, cereal, milk, coffee, snacks, etc. I got a Smith's member card at the courtesy booth providing significant savings on many items.








Friday night we saw Herman's Hermits (HH) at the Golden Nugget. Parked at Binion's and got parking ticket validated by floor person in the casino. So parking was free. Peter Noone and band put on an energetic and entertaining performance. He still has a great voice and has a large catalogue of hit songs from which to choose. Besides all his better known hit songs, they also did some songs that HH was not known for. Turns out they had released, "For Your Love", a subsequent hit by the Yardbirds before the Yardbirds. They also released "Bus Stop" before the Hollies had a hit with it. They performed both songs flawlessly, very similar to the Yardbird's and Hollies' versions. The HH band was talented and was into their performance. Peter Noone also had a great sense of humor about his age, career -- and the age of most audience members.








Before leaving Fremont Street, we stopped briefly at the Fremont Casino to play some 25c Pick-A-Pair VP. I quit after losing a fast $20. From there, we drove to the Peppermill for a late supper. I had their excellent and enormous fruit platter accompanied by a small loaf of banana nut bread. Although I ate as much as could, I still was able to take half to go, thus providing fruit for the rest of the week in the condo and banana nut bread for breakfast a couple of mornings.








Thus far for the trip, my gambling bankroll was down just $20.








Saturday








Saturday morning I went to Circus Circus solo and did their $45 in chips for $30 Wincard deal. Despite having $15 in free chips, I couldn't do much at the roulette wheel and just broke even (ending with $30 in cashable chips, my initial investment).








I then played 50c Aces & Eights VP (a potentially 100%+ return game) for an hour or so, but lost $300 garnering no better hand than a 3-of-a-kind, the entire session (no flushes, straights, full houses, or 4-of-a- kinds): brutal.








About 1:30 I picked up my wife at the condo and dropped her off at the Catholic church on the strip next to Encore for 2:30 services. While waiting for services to get over I meandered over to Westgate and played some 25c FP LDW VP and won $10. I picked up my wife at church and we had a late lunch at Maggiano's at the Fashion Show Mall. I had $5.00 left over on a gift card I used and also had a $10 off coupon. I had chicken parm and the food and service was good as usual.








My wife was in need of a new handbag, so we headed to the Premium Outlets South. We first hit Michael Kors but found nothing that got her excited. We next hit Coach and headed to the back of the store where the real bargains are at 50% to 60% off. Again she didn't love anything. Close to the front of the store she kept eyeballing a 20% off bag and decided she had to have it. I told her I would get it for her birthday, which is coming up soon. When the cashier said that will be $400 (rounded), I said what about the discount. She said that is with the discount (and sales tax). Oh well! She did love the bag and her old Coach bag, which had five+ years of daily use on it was starting to look a bit ragged.








That night we went to see Ray Romano at the Mirage at a 10 PM show. He was funny and put on a good show. Afterwards about 4 miles south of the strip we pulled into an IHOP (near the condo), for some crepes and pancakes.








Thus far for the trip, my gambling bankroll was down $310.








Sunday








Sunday morning went solo to play some old coin-droppers, $0.25 x 10 coin FP Deuces Wild (FPDW) VP at the Skyline Casino in Henderson. Unfortunately they have no players club, so there are no points, freeplay, or cashback. Fortunately, no one was smoking in my vicinity so at least it was bearable. During the approximate three hour session, I managed to pull four deuces for $500 and left with a $300 profit.








From there I went north on Boulder to play a $10 free slot play coupon at Sam's Town and some FP LDW VP. I left with a $20 loss. I next went across the street to the Longhorn and played a $5 match play (MP) and lost $5.00 on one hand of blackjack. Before heading back to the condo, I stopped at GVR to play some 25c FP DW and FP LDW VP and dropped $100.








I had fruit for lunch at the condo and we did some pool time there with some perfect low 80 degree F weather.








For dinner, we ate at Bahama Breeze on Flamingo which serves good food at reasonable prices (and we always seem to get a flaky but funny waiter, which adds a bit of entertainment value to the meal).We then stopped at Tuscany Casino across the street and my wife and I each got $10 of free slot play with American Casino Guide (ACG) coupons. She got a lot of play and I won $10 playing VP, but lost $10 playing a $10 MP on roulette.








That night we just stayed at the condo and through the miracle of the internet, we watched DVRed TV shows on my laptop in Las Vegas that were located on my TV DVR at home in Massachusetts.








Thus far for the trip, my gambling bankroll was down $135.








Monday








I got some bagels to go next door at South Point Deli and brought them back to the condo for breakfast. The bagels were excellent.








I then went to Circus Circus solo and played 50c Aces & Eights VP for a couple of hours or so, but lost $100. From there I went on a downtown coupon run. I first stopped at El Cortez and got $10 of free slot play (FSP) which I converted to $15 in winnings.








Since it was raining hard, I postponed the rest of the coupon run until the rain subsided and I went into the Fremont Casino and played 25c Pick-A-Pair VP. After a while I lost $100.








The rain finally slowed down so I continued my coupon run at the Plaza with $10 in FSP (which couldn't be played on VP but only in slots/reels) but won $5, and then lost $10 on a $10 MP on roulette.








From there went to the Golden Gate and had a juicy $25 MP from LVA's MRB. I played it on red and won $50. Next at Binion's and Four Queens my $10 FSP coupons netted me $5.00 at each on VP. Next, another juicy $25 MP coupon was played at The D, winning $50 on 1-18.








From there, I went to the Downtown Grand, where I had another $25 MP coupon, a $10 MP coupon, and a $5 FSP coupon. The roulette wheel was not open and only one BJ table was open, but was full. The crap table was open but no one was playing. I never play craps and barely know the basic rules. But I knew I could play the MPs on the pass line. So I played the $25 MP with $25 of my own matching cash on the pass line. Since no one else was playing, I got to roll the dice. My come out roll was a 5. So I knew I had to roll a 5 before rolling a 7 to win. My very first roll I got another 5 and won a fast $50. I next had a $10 MP and put it on the pass line with $10 and rolled an 8. Although neither the pit crew nor I could believe it, my very next roll was also an 8 making the point again and quickly winning $20 more. I tipped the crew $5. Then I played my $5.00 FSP coupon, but that netted me $0.00.








For lunch my wife and I went to the GVR buffet and used the ACG 2-for-1 coupon. Most items were good but the shrimp weren't peeled and were small and the roast beef was dry. The desserts, however -- especially the gelato -- was very good.








That night we had discounted tickets to see Mat Franco (a recent series winner of America's Got Talent) at the Linq. He is an exceptional young magician and put on a fast-paced entertaining show.








For the day I lost $10 gambling, and for the trip my gambling bankroll was down $145.








Tuesday








I had bagels from the South Point Deli (and more fruit) again before heading to the Skyline Casino solo for more 50c FPDW VP. Although four deuces did not show up, I still was getting a number of 4- and 5-of-a- kinds, straight flushes, and wild royals resulting in a $100 win.








Next I drove west to Ellis Island and played two $10 FSP coupons for $0 winnings and a $5 MP on roulette for $10 in winnings. From there I drove west on Flamingo to Gold Coast and played a $10 FSP coupon for $5.00 in winnings and two $10 MPs for $10 in winnings (lost one and one won).








After picking up my wife back at the condo, we had lunch at Greenberg's Deli at NYNY, which wasn't bad (actually better than the South Point Deli). We then walked next door to the MonteCarlo where we got the tram to the Bellagio and checked out the fall display in the conservatory. On the way back, we also checked out part of the Crystal Mall attached to Aria.








That night we saw Brad Garrett at his comedy club at MGM. He was over the top but very funny as well were the supporting comedy acts. Afterward we stopped at Wolfgang Puck's Bar & Grill at MGM for a lite late supper. Food was just okay IMO.








For the day I won $125 and for the trip was down $20.








Wednesday








Once again we had take-out bagels from the South Point Deli with coffee and fruit at the condo.








A solo trip to Circus Circus resulted in a $150 loss playing 50c Aces & Eights VP.








Afterward I picked up my wife at the condo and we ate at the Palm's 24/7 café using the LVA MRB 50% off coupon. I had the prime rib and my wife had the hot turkey sandwich plate. Food was above-average as usual. The new Hooters seems to be taking over a large area of the casino level and above it. While there, I played a $10 MP on red and won $20. Although still listed in vpFREE2, the three 1c multi-play FP JoB VP slant-top machines were nowhere to be found.








We then drove south to the Orleans. They had a 50s and 60s musical group playing there who were excellent. We each got $10 of FSP and I got a $10 MP. I made $10 on the FSP and $20 on the MP.








That night we went to a 9:30 PM show of Zarkana at Aria. I've seen most Cirque shows except for this one and it appeared to me they just stole bits and pieces from other shows and cobbled them together to create this one. So there was nothing new here. It seemed mostly like Mystere, but less funny. I got the tickets at Tix4tonite and allegedly they were $180 tickets for $90. But the seats were not that good - about three quarters back all the way to left side of the theater. If I paid the full $180 per ticket I would have been totally BS.








After the show, we had some fancy coffee drinks and pastry at Jean Philippe Patisserie at Aria.








In the gambling department, for the day I was down $100, and for the trip down $120.








Thursday








Today is our last day here. After bagels, coffee, and juice in the condo, I drove solo to GVR. I played a few hours of 25c FPDW VP and 25c FP LDW VP. Without getting four deuces, I lost $200.








Being down now over $300 for the trip and hoping to change my luck, I decided to drive to Westgate and just play 25c LDW VP which pays $625 for four deuces instead of just $250 for FPDW. I noticed they also had some 99.20% pay schedule $1.00 LDW VP machines and figured I'd invest a couple of hundred hoping my overdue set of deuces would show up for a large payday. I figured I'd go big, or literally go home (as I was leaving later in the day for home). After the first 30 hands or so I was up about $40. I then held one deuce and three more deuces showed up on the draw. The machine locked up and registered $2,700 in credits and was blinking "$2,500 Jackpot".














http://www.propertyvalu.com/4%20Deuces%202500%202015.jpg http://www.propertyvalu.com/4%20Deuces%202500%202015.jpg











http://www.propertyvalu.com/4%20Deuces%202500%202015.jpg





http://www.propertyvalu.com/4%20Deuces%202500%202015.jpg http://www.propertyvalu.com/4%20Deuces%202500%202015.jpg








View on www.propertyvalu.com http://www.propertyvalu.com/4%20Deuces%202500%202015.jpg


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I had to sign a W-2G and then received a $2,500 hand pay.














http://www.propertyvalu.com/CAM00025.jpg http://www.propertyvalu.com/CAM00025.jpg











http://www.propertyvalu.com/CAM00025.jpg





http://www.propertyvalu.com/CAM00025.jpg http://www.propertyvalu.com/CAM00025.jpg








View on www.propertyvalu.com http://www.propertyvalu.com/CAM00025.jpg


Preview by Yahoo




















I then cashed out my initial $200. This type of win wasn't even on my radar screen when I walked in there as I was thinking the best case scenario was that maybe I could win $625 for four deuces playing at the 25c level. I texted my wife with a picture of the four deuces showing the $2,500 hit. I think she now felt less badly about me spending $400 on her handbag (I know I did).








We had planned to go to the Cosmopolitan for lunch to the Wicked Spoon Buffet as I had a special LVA MRB 2-for-1 coupon. Unfortunately, after going through the hassle of getting there by about 2:15 PM, come to find out they close at 2:00 PM on Thursdays. I was extremely upset as that would be our last opportunity to use this valuable coupon. Who closes a lunch buffet at 2:00 PM? Answer: Cosmo does! FU Cosmo. Alternatively we had lunch at the Grand Lux at the Palazzo and as usual, it was excellent.








We eventually went back to the condo and watched a few more unwatched DVR shows on the laptop; packed; gassed up the rental; and headed for the rental car center return. We then were shuttled to the Spirit terminal for our non-stop redeye flight home. We got back to Boston on time at about 6:00 AM, but with my gambling bankroll about $2,100 larger than when I had left.








Thanks for reading this.








ST













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