I guess I never really wrote up the entire trip because I got caught up in going to California and then to Hawaii, but since there seems to be some interest expressed in another thread, here is a good sense of what happened to me in June in Vegas.
Keep in mind that my evaluations are from a frugal point of view. I am happy with almost anything when I travel. For a room I need hot water, air conditioning and a clean bed. Vegas always gives me that anywhere.
14 nights all downtown at an average of $22 a night was a good deal considering I had to do two weekends and the 4th of July. The poorest rooms were El Cortez pavillion. The best was MSS. Binions and 4 Queens were in between.
+ I liked an electric coffee at Binions and MSS. I make tea from my own brands.
+ I liked the small pools at Binions and the smaller pool at California. MSS guests can use it. Good for an early morning stretch. Binions was especially fine at sundown. Heliocopters and a view of the city. No key check at Binions. Key needed at California
- - I sleep midday. It was not possible to close off all the afternoon light at MSS. Other places I bring dollar store bag clips for drapes.
POOLS
I got my little in water stretching going every day at Binions or at MSS (you can use California pool) Small pools and no people. Perfect for me. You need a key for California. Mentioning you are at MSS will get one. Nothing needed at Binions.
FOOD
Rarely paid for food, Ate comps where I played. At El Cortez this is harder, but I had a light breakfast there three times and the bacon was crispy. All free. And did I mention the bacon was crispy. There is little else of value to say. Great place to talk. Unless you have someone to talk to, avoid this place.
In fact, there is nothing much good to eat at El Cortez short of Roberta's and I find that place too expensive. Still I had hallabut one night and porterhouse another with little tiny three penny size tastes of garlic onion medallion. Vegetables are extra. We used up free coupons and with the conversations of Bigfus (Roberta's is her happy place) I had a great time there on coupons and her comps.
Careless Kitty's is only good IMHO for Jackie's melt (nice to use up $5 funbook coupon) or the prime rib.
I loved the spice market buffet at PH. Everything tasted better than average. the middle eastern section is wonderful. I love their plates at this place. Here and at cravings the plates are sort of half bowls. Also the butter at Spice Market is in great little dishes. Nice for dipping. So much good food here but I can't remember. I payed to go twice. LVA was right to rate this place again. Cheap too compared with Paris and Bellagio.
I loved Mamacita's across Freemont from the El Cortez. Just like Mexico and maybe Cuba too (I have not been to Cuba) and a wide assortment. I had a seafood 7 flavor stew, yucca with garlic, and horchata with free refill.
I loved the eggs cooked at the Plaza buffet in the live cooking station. There I don't do any deep fried but the beef is always good.
Cravings tasted better to me this time, but that may have been that it was free. Four hours of live poker gets you free buffet, line pass and solo you can sit at the counter. No waiting. Still, I won't wait in the middle of my game again. I need more leisure for a good buffet like that.
Bigfus had a rest.com coupon for Mikie Finns and I ate a wonderful scallop shrimp grilled deal with veggies on a stick.
Mamacita's across Freemont from the El C is a really authentic Mexican restaurant and perhaps authentic Cuban also. I have not been to Cuba. Mexican in my town is nothing like this. At home it is all the standard American idea of what Mexican food should be. this was a real experience and I loved it.I ate a seven variety seafood stew, yucca with garlic and drank horchata with free refill. About $28 for more than I could eat. Other meals are cheaper. It is half Mexican and Half Cuban and will vary the food for the flavor of either country.
Along with the food comes the latest variety of Latin music on video screen. Great for solo eating.
MSS buffet, lunch or breakfast free with $1000 pumped into machine that day or the day before. Always my favorite. If they just offered Hawaiian pulled pork and collage greens I would be happy, Oh, and butterfinger pieces for the iced cream.
DRINK
The doc gave me a vacation from arthritic meds. When I hit Vegas I had not had a drink of alcohol in 6 months unless you count O'Doull's. So that MSS Black chip Porter went down very very good. Also thanks to the poster who mentioned the drink nuts and berries. Very good, but I like the hazelnut by itself better. Finally, at El Cortez they will give you Myer's rum over ice. Yummy.
SHOWS
Saw Makuri at the Sahara and loved it. Got a free ticket on Goldstar.com for $9.50 handling fee and the ticket had $10 free play on it. Used it at the Sahara, used my winnings to play two matchplays, then to play a craps matchplay at the Strat and a little VP to save points there. Result $27. Not bad on a $9.50 investment.
Huck Daniels review. If you like rhythm and blues, Black American music before hip hop, and being in a small music community of folks, go to the Strat lounge on Monday night and stay for the jam session from 10-2. Local performers are gathered together there and they perform on stage taking tours, Even musicians are changed up after every few songs. Different every week. I saw the Ray Charles immitator and he was incredible. Free. Buy one $5 drink and nurse it, Hold your seat and people watch. It gets crowded. Dancing too. Absolutely the best thing for me in Vegas. Lawrence T is always a treat.
Gold Coast jazz band. If you don't mind old people and like music from your grandmother's era check out this place in the afternoon. Again free. Got old Orleans funbooks? Use the freeGold Coast coupons for a drink. Dancing too but everyone is over 75. Ed was there for his birthday. He was 92. Danced every number.
Hypnosis Gone Wild. Get a $10 coupon and see this show if you want to begin to understand how little your mind is in charge of your actions. Funny adult humor underlies the antics of those from the audience. Moving soon I hear to Mandalay Bay but now in a little theater across from Monte Carlo.
I like the Trop comics. Three for $15 with drink. ($5 coupon in the free books) Non smoking show is early evening.
GAMBLING
I play live poker and 10/7 DB. The live poker killed me. The World Series attracted too many high level players who spilled into my limit games. They could beat me and they did not stay long so the tables were chaotic and playing the people was impossible. I got killed. Even at EC little local game the World Series attracted guys showed up and were as hard to beat as the tight morning locals. I won't go at this time again. I am just a limit player and usually I can grind out a profit, but it was hard.
Of course, I played with Jackie a couple afternoons. What a treat. Time is running out for this old joint. Fremont expansion is coming a little at a time. New neons are in the center of Freemont. Soon the deals at Ec may dry up. And when Jackie dies, well, who knows. the poker game has to be there just to entertain him on afternoons. It is the only one like it in all of Vegas. 1-3-6. I love it.
VP gave me a royal at 4 Queens. Dealt club flush broken to catch the queen. $1090 progressive.
Now let's once again explain why we all should look for good pay tables and extra pay deals.
I lost $85 total in all gambling in my 14 days.
Suppose I had played the same games on 10/7 DB machines that had reduced pay tables and there were no benefits other than cash back.
I would have been short payed $90 on my royal win
I would have been short played by my estimates $63 on full houses (conservatively figuring I hit one about every 200 hands)
I would have missed the MSS scratch cards and missed $25 on my quads there.
So even a conservative estimate of my losses for the week would be $177 or over THREE TIMES what I actually lost.
And had I played at the 9/6 DB that in December the Orleans put in when they slaughtered their signature 10/7 VP, it would have been even worse after the short pay on the flush was added in.
Note that this has nothing to do with randomness or luck or anything except getting less money on winnings. This is just how much less they would have given me for exactly the same play and exactly the same luck at casinos or games that paid less than full pay.
If you are serious about gambling, look for the good deal games if you value money. Skip the other games and ignore those on the boards who tell you that game selection does not matter.
Actually, table selection in live poker is crucial too. I may have ignored that advice myself this week to my downfall.
I did make the Saphire level card that the El Cortez. Over 6000 points in four days. I also pumped the 4 Queens and MSS hard (for frugal me), so I hope to get good room deals for December. I'm booked for another 14 days with free air starting Dec 2.
FELLOWSHIP
I met up with two regular posters on the LVA board who I met last December and had a great time. Joel is one ( I can't remember handle) and Bigfus is the other. They were wonderful gambling/couponing companions and very smart about deals and comp strategies. I also met with some local nieces and nephews, watched Yatzee craps fest for a while and me Northern Girl and had my son's exgirlfriend drive 4 miles each way from Irvine California just to spend a day with me watching dolphins, lions, IP old cars, and catching up. then my brother-in-law spent one night with me after he cinched up his reservations for the World Series of Poker. He'll be be playing on July 8. So for a solo trip I hardly had a moment to myself.
Also met a few folks at poker tables. Saw again this sweet Jamacan girl Jelly who mostly watched poker. She was all over downtown watching games. Lots of good conversation at the tables. Playing limit you can talk between playable hands. I had long stretches between playables. Long, long stretches.
TRANSPORTATION
I bought the $40 30 day bus pass and was glad. It meant I did not have to carry quarters or figure a frugal bus strategy. I learned the 105 route and I loved it once I found out which bus to take. DTC is in the middle of that route. The Deuce is just too crowded.
I rode the bus a lot even on the 4th of July when the temperature was 124 degrees. But I'll ride it more in December.
LOSSES
Other than the $85 loss I mourn the loss of my journal where for the first week I had recorded details like tips, food expenses, poker hands, for later detailed write up.
PURCHASES
Fine fishing lures at the Silverton Pro Bass shop.
Great 75 cent cards at California gift shop. Opened boxes and no black marks on them.
So, that is all for Vegas for me until December when there are no World Series no limit yahoos confusing me, and no days when 107 was cold so I can ride the bus to find the better games.
Well, that is enough for now. I have a few days here in San Jose, then six days at Fort Bragg on the ocean, and then 6 days at Kauai Hawaii. From the Pavillion El Cortez rooms to the Hyatt regency in Kauai in one vacation. Now there is contrast.
Good luck to all. I will get to read comments and answer questions for a few days. then not until I get back home on July 23. Good gambling and good luck to all.
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