Thursday AM October 27 2016
Left Boston by Jetblue non-stop and arrived about 1:30 PM. I had three rental car reservation options: the highest was Dollar at about $220 where I have Dollar Express (in case lines/queues were long at the other rental companies at which my reservation costs were lower). I also made reservations at Budget for $185 and at Alamo for $155 (all in) through www.carrentalsavers.com . Luckily the lines were short at Alamo, so I rented there at the lowest rate of $155 (all in).
I decided to try Harry's Bagelmania for lunch which was supposed to have some of the best bagels in Vegas, so I thought their deli would be good too. WRONG! The corned beef was dry and had a smell to it which can best be described as old.
The good news, however, was that at the next table was Oscar Goodman (notorious former Mob lawyer extraordinaire, and more recent long-time mayor of Las Vegas whose wife is now the current mayor of Las Vegas). He was sitting with five guys who seemed to be fixed on his every word. I wasn't trying to overhear the conversation at Oscar's table (alright I was). The conversion seemed to be about getting the Oakland Raiders to come to Vegas. Adelson (owner of the Venetian) and Steve Wynn's name kept coming up. Most people at the table listened as Oscar seemed to dominant the conversation. I was going to introduce myself, but couldn't think of anything clever to say, so I just ate a small part of my crappy sandwich and eventually moved along.
Next stop was my comped hotel room during the pricey weekend period (from Thursday to Sunday). Unfortunately the comp was at Circus Circus (where I play a lot of video poker), but at least I was supposed to be getting an alleged renovated room in the well located Casino Tower. In reality the room was still a bit old looking like the rest of the facility and did not have that new car smell (to say the least). But it was 100% free including the resort fee and they even threw in free valet parking (which now has a fee associated with it). Only self-park at CC is still free, unlike the rest of the MGM owned hotels which now charge even for self-park.
The only two places at CC that looked newly renovated in the entire resort was the Deli restaurant area and the fitness room (which was actually nice but hard to find and very small, though not busy).
My brother and my cousin were joining me on this adventure and were arriving very late Thursday night and they also were staying at CC. They, however, paid about $400 all in for their room for the same time period, so I guess I saved $400. This was the weekend leading up to one of Las Vegas's largest conventions, the SEMA convention of about 160,000 attendees, so prices were high everywhere.
While waiting for them, I played quite a bit of 50 cent x 5 coin Aces & Eights video poker (A&8s VP) at CC. With the help of a few 4s of a kind, I managed to go up $300. Following that, I drove to see the renovated sportsbook at Westgate and to play a free slot play (FSP) and match play (MP) coupon there. I had a Las Vegas Advisor (LVA) Members Rewards Booklet (MRB) coupon for $10 in FSP (that made me no money). In addition I played $20 of my own money playing Full Pay Loose Deuces Wild (FPLDW) VP at the 25 cent x 5 coin level, which I also lost. The $10 MP, however, brought back my $20 loss when the ball landed on a red number. Lastly, before driving to the airport to pick up my brother and cousin, I had dinner at the Peppermill. I had a basic burger and fries, which were good as was the ambience and the service.
I picked them up at McCarran and they eventually got into the check-in line at CC about midnight. Even then the line was very long and it sort of looked like a third-world refugee camp After finally checking in and going up to their room, their room looked and smelled like a mirror image of my room (so at least CC is consistent). But they were not happy with the room (nor would I be if I paid $400 for it, but mine was free).
After they got settled they planned to hit the hay. Before going back to my room, I swung by the casino for more A&8s VP at which I quickly lost $100.
So for the day I was up $200.
Friday
As typical, my first morning (as a result of still being on EST) I was up very early and played more A&8s VP for a $50 loss.
My brother and cousin love buffets especially good quality inexpensive ones. Despite my warnings about the reputation of the CC buffet, mostly for expediency sake they wanted to eat there. Luckily, when we got there we learned that CC did not call Friday morning buffet "breakfast", but instead call it "brunch" and wanted $18 for it. For them that settled it -- that was too much for a buffet of questionable quality. They asked if there was another buffet very close by that had a good reputation. I said the closest one within relatively quick and easy walking distance would be Wynn. Although I have had no buffet better than Wynn in Vegas, at $25 for breakfast, it was more than the Bellagio, and more than they wanted to spend for breakfast. Although there were others on the strip not too far, they were far enough that we would need to drive there as well as likely pay a parking fee, as well as dealing with strip traffic. Although it was a long drive -- but mostly highway -- one of the best bang for the buck buffets was Green Valley Ranch. So we went there. In addition to the price being reasonable we all got an additional discount by having player's cards. Anyway the food there was great, and dirt cheap, and even cheaper with the player's card. Afterward we gambled a bit there. I ended up losing $20 playing full pay (FP) FPDW at the 25 cent level.
After that we went back to CC, where I showed them how to get the $45 for $30 Wincard deal that gives you essentially an extra $15 in free chips. We played blackjack (BJ) with the chips. I played mine as two $25 hands by adding in another $5 of my own money. The reason is because the BJ tables below the $25 minimum only paid 6-5 on a blackjack there and I refuse to play 6-5 BJ on general principal under any circumstances. I strongly feel it's not the fault of the casinos that offer it, but it exists because of the putzes that play it. If no one played it, it would not exist (high horse rant over). Anyway, I lost both $25 hands but was only out $35.
That night we had two conflicting missions. I wanted to see Michael Grimm (AGT fame) at Sunset Station and they wanted to watch the World Series. So we decided to eat at Sunset Station before the 8:00 PM concert and although the World Series began before the concert and before we ate dinner I had a cunning plan how not to eat another buffet. The buffet at Sunset Station had no TV to watch the World Series, but the Grand Café had a number of them. So we ate at the Grand Cafe. The food in most Station's Grand Cafes is good and reasonably priced. I had the prime rib special for $12.99 and they each had other specials and they could watch the beginning of the game while we ate. So they were happy and I was happy. After dinner, they went to the sportsbook to watch the rest of the game and I went to see Michael Grimm for the ridiculously low price of only $5.00 with a Station players cards. Grimm was great and his band was fantastic. The guitar player stood out the most followed by the male back-up singer, followed by the drummer. This was a high energy quality show with talent oozing off the stage everywhere (and all for $5.00).
Meanwhile, apparently the Cubs were getting their asses kicked that night, so my brother and cousin left the sportsbook early and hit the blackjack tables. They found some $10 blackjack tables with 3-2 payouts.
I kind of have given up blackjack for video poker but since they were there playing I decided to join them. Although I was a bit rusty, I had a strategy chart in my hand-made Vegas paper booklet I carry around. So for the most part I made the right decisions. They both ended up winning so were happy and I won $60 after playing for an hour or so.
From there since it wasn't too late, we decided to head back closer to strip and went to the Palms to play some MPs and check out the sights. I had four $10 MPs and gave them each one. In the past on Friday night the place had been mobbed and loaded with eye candy. Well that night the place was dead (likely as a result of the previous restructuring and change of the controlling ownership and the uncertainty regarding the recent takeover by Stations). Anyway I put my $10 MP coupon on red and won $20. They played theirs at the blackjack table at a $10 3-2 paying table.
For the day I was up $75 and for the trip now $275.
Saturday
This morning, since my brother and cousin had seen a sign for a low price at the Palms buffet the night before, they wanted to go back there for breakfast. I have never been a fan of the Palms buffet having eaten their two or three times in the past. The problem is that it has been inconsistent so you never knew how good or bad it was going to be. Although we got there in the nick of time to pay the slightly lower breakfast buffet price, they were removing most of the breakfast items and bringing out the lunch items. Since it was only 11:00 AM, I really wasn't ready to eat lunch food so it was a struggle to find something that would sit well as the first meal of the day. In my opinion, the food was limited and just okay, really not good enough. So for now I am still not a fan. That may change for the better when Station is fully in charge.
Following the buffet, the plan was to do a near-strip coupon run as I had multiple coupons for many casinos surrounding the strip. The first stop was the Gold Coast where I had multiple $10 free slot play (FSP) and MPs. I played both of mine and lost both for a loss of $20. Their FSP coupons require you to play $10 of your own money first. Since my brother and cousin were newbies at getting and playing FSP it took forever for them to understand how it all worked and to finally use their FSP. So the coupon run took three times longer than I typically take as a solo hit and runner. That said we hit the Orleans next and then Hooters, where combined I netted a very poor overall $10 gain. At Hooters they played BJ for quite some time. Although I also planned to hit Ellis Island, we never made it as we ran out of time as they wanted to watch the World series which started about 5:00 PM Vegas time. They also for some reason wanted to see Rich Little who was playing at the Tropicana at a 7:00 PM show. Since we were at the Orleans we went to the Tropicana sportsbook to watch the World Series until it was time to go to the Rich Little show (also there). The Trop's sportsbook was closed for renovation, but we watched it at a nice lounge there that was serving as a temporary sports lounge. We watched the game until it was time to go to the show.
Although Rich Little still can do spot on imitations, unfortunately I don't think he has learned any new ones since the end of 20th century. Most of those that he imitated were dead. The only living ones were Jimmy Carter (near death) and Bill Clinton. He also spent a great deal of time showing clips of the TV shows he used to be on. Since the show was only an hour total I think his actual performing time was less than 45 minutes (if you take out the old TV clips). We got "VIP" tickets (2ND row) from Tickets4Tonight at half price, so the price was right. Despite not updating his repertoire, he still can do a mean Johnny Carson and Dick Nixon. For some reason during his show he made it a point to say how much he vehemently hated Ed Sullivan (that rant was almost worth the price of admission).
Since it was only about 8:00 PM when the show let out, we decided to head downtown to play some coupons and grab supper. Since this was Saturday night on the weekend of Halloween, the normal downtown freak show became a mega-freak show. The volume of people in costumes, and in some cases the lack of costumes, was amazing and the place was mobbed.
We parked at Binion's garage and after some debate decided to go to Dupars in the Golden Gate. The line wasn't too long and we all had excellent meals at reasonable prices. I went with the Golden Gate shrimp cocktail and also being famous for pancakes (and not able to have pancakes for breakfast at the Palms buffet earlier in the day), also had the Dupars pancakes for supper. Everyone was happy with their meal. I was told by my cousin the chicken pot pie was also very good.
Following dinner, we all did $25 MPs at the Golden Gate. The good looking, skimpily clad dealertainers enhanced the overall experience. Since blackjack paid 3-2, I played my MP at blackjack and won a fast $50. They also played theirs but being new to the world of MPs stuck around and played some straight up blackjack. I think they both won their MPs and continued playing blackjack and won despite being mesmerized by the dealertainers.
After I was finally able to drag them out of there, we all played another $25 MP at the "D". I won $50 on mine and after that they also played a little blackjack. Then we moved on to El Cortez. Most of the independent lounges and bars along this section of Fremont were just as busy as those under the canopy and the crowds on this section of Fremont Street seemed younger. Anyway I was the only one with a FSP coupon at ElCo and I won $10 playing VP.
Since ElCo has $5 single-deck 3-2 blackjack we all decided to play blackjack there. Despite the advantageous rules, I lost $30.
Before going to bed at CC, I "snuck" down to the casino solo and played some A&8s VP. As a result of hitting four aces paying $200 and other good hands, I made $300 in about a half hour.
For the day, I made $380 and for the trip was now up $655.
Sunday
We all wanted to see the Pats game and since it began 10:00 AM Vegas time and since we were checking into Green Valley Ranch (GVR) today on a low reduced room rate also with 50% off the resort fee, we checked out of CC early and headed over to GVR in an attempt to check in early and watch the game in their sportsbook.
Since we couldn't check in this early we checked our bags and waited for a call while we went to the sportsbook to watch the game. We got a three seat high top table and watched the game to half-time and then we were able to check in. As usual the room was great (kind of like going from rags (CC) to riches (GVR)). Since my brother was leaving later tonight on a red-eye flight only my cousin was staying overnight so he shared my room with two queen beds.
At half time, I decided to play some FPDW which pays $250 for four deuces. I played for a while and went sideways. I decided to switch the game at the same machine to Loose Deuces Wild that pays $625 for four deuces (but pays less on the lower value hands).
Within less than 20 hands, I held two deuces and two more showed up paying $625.
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After the game we went to their brunch buffet (which included champagne and mimosas for $18). But we had an ACG 2-for-1 coupon which was good on a Sunday and an LVA MRB coupon with 50% off for one. So the price and the buffet were both fantastic. I focused on shrimp cocktail, prime rib, ribs, and pecan pie with real ice cream to mention but a few items.
Next before sunset we went to the beautiful sandy beach pool and then capped the evening off with some $5 minimum 3-2 blackjack before having to drive my brother to the airport for his red eye flight back to Boston.
I lost $50 playing blackjack at GVR, so for the day I was up $580 and for the trip up $1,235.
Monday
My cousin needed to be at the airport by 5:30 AM to catch his early morning flight to Washington DC. Since GVR's free airport limo service did not start until 7:00 AM, I was elected to take him there at that ungodly hour. After dropping him off I thought I would go to Ellis Island to use the rest of my FSP and MP coupons that we did not use because we ran out of time on Saturday. Unfortunately, the players club does not open until 8:00 AM which was about two hours away. So I decided to head downtown again and use the rest of the MP and FSP coupons I didn't use Saturday night. To ensure all the player's club booths would be open I decided to get a Dunkin Donuts coffee and play some FP Pick-a-Pair VP at the Fremont Casino first. I played for a while as I was up for quite a bit of the time but then things went south and I ended up having a $60 cup of coffee there.
By now the player's club booths were all open and I got $10 of FSP at 4Queens but lost it all. Next was Downtown Grand making $15 on a $10 FSP coupon but losing $10 on a $10 MP. I next walked down to the Plaza where I had a $10 FSP coupon that turned into $15 and a $25 MP which turned into $50 betting on black. My last stop downtown was Binion's converting $10 of FSP into $5.
I then headed back to Ellis Island where two FSP coupons and a $10 MP turned into $35 of profit. Then, since I had a LVA MRB 50% off coupon at the Palms I decided to use it at their 24/7 café where I've yet to have a bad meal. I had a shrimp cocktail with a chicken club sandwich with a side of fresh fruit and a slice of pecan pie for a net cost of $10 after using the 50% off coupon. I was afraid they would not honor it since today was the day where Station officially took over at the Palms. I asked three employees there before I ordered if they would accept it just to be safe. They did take it even though the menu no longer called the place the 24/7 café but the menus now are titled Station Grand Café. The sign outside still says 24/7 café but they said that will change in the near future. My Palm's player's card was no longer recognized there or in the machines any longer, however, but my Station Card was recognized. Before leaving I played my last $10 MP on black and won a fast $20.
Then it was back to GVR for some pool time and then a nap as I had been up since 5:00 AM. I awoke about 10:00 PM and then played some FPDW and FP LDW but lost $100. Sometime after midnight I went to the GVR Grand Café and had their midnight eggs, bacon, home fries, and toast special for about $4.00 and then crawled off to bed.
For the day I was down $20, and for the trip was up $1,215
Tuesday
Today was my last day here and my flight was leaving about 1:30 PM. In the morning, I got a coffee to go and an apple fritter at the Grand Café and then proceeded to play some more FPDW and LDW VP. I switched back and forth hoping to get four deuces while playing LDW at $625. I did not get the four deuces for $625 or for $250, but totally unexpectedly got my first royal in about five years for a $1,000 payout.
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I also won another $30 before packing it in.
After dropping off the rental car I got my one stop SW flight to Boston with a brief plane change in Nashville where I saw a Cub hit a grand slam to seal the fate of that game (Game 6).
For the day I was up $1,030 and for my final trip total I left up $2,245. After a dozen or more trips there, this was the most winnings I've ever gone home with. The other unusual aspect was that I was never down at any part of the trip which was also a first.
Thanks for reading this.
