TR SNIPPET - THE ORLEANS

My play on the nickle three play 9/7 DB progressive earns me just two free weekday nights here at the Orleans every six months. But I can use two nights in October and two in November, one of the benefits of bridging my booking over those two months.

Then this year Wild Bill had free nights, so I came up to spend another Wednesday and play with him for the Young at Heart benefits of buffet and cheap movie tickets.

October 21-23

The Orleans was my first booking for the trip.

This is a fine place to come on the bus straight from the airport. I caught the WAX and then the 201. I decided this time to catch the 201 at the earlier Koval stop, but I won't again. Turtleman, who often goes to the Orleans on the bus, speculated that this would get us a better seat on the 201, and it did do that, allowing me to manipulate to a seat directly across from the exit door, which makes moving my large and heavy suitcase easily out the exit door. I pack so that once I get to the airport, into the suitcase goes a second light suitcase, my sleep apnea machine and small (very slow ) computer which I use primarily for writing. Off the internet the machine is not that slow and good as well to check my VP play on the tutor.

The problem with the Koval stop was there were four pan handlers hanging there and no one else. First one came and I actually broke my custom and gave the fellow a dollar. He told me a huge story of being locked out of his money and promised that one day I'd see him there, dressed in a suit and giving me my dollar back.

He thought he recognized me as a guy who comes to that stop often, in spite of my huge suitcase.

Three more followed. They actually asked for nothing, but they congregated just behind the stop shelter with their tall cans of beer and talked baseball. Wild Bill might have liked overhearing the conversation.

From what I gathered they congregate often. Both the first fellow and one other took me for a fellow they see regularly who must on occasion hand them a few dollars.

Normally, none of this would have bothered me much, and I might even find the characters worth collecting for a story, but I was really tired from the journey and from no sleep the night before and so a bit uncomfortable.

So, from the airport I recommend getting off at the NYNY stop where there are more people and no resident pan handlers.

The bus should have cost me $2, but I decided to get the $2.50 24 hour pass, thinking I might use the bus the next morning to ride in for my senior 30 day pass. And I did not have the 50 cents in change, so it cost me $3. Some bus guy I am!!!

I did not test any ID theories. I held my expired in April RTC pass with my fingers over the date. I was too tired to test anything. No one asked me for anything on the 201 and perhaps that was one more advantage to having the 24 hour pass in hand.

Our WAX driver was great. He gave out plenty of information on the buses. He said that two WAX buses often arrive at Terminal 1 at the same time, one going to Terminal 3 and other going Downtown. This had happened. We were all directed to the one going Downtown for the quickest ride.

He also gave me some information on the CX going to the University. I learned that there are more stops around the University now that the CX goes to the airport. It would be easier getting back downtown.

VP

October 21-23

I only play one machine here, the nickle three play progressive 9/7 DB VP.

I started with a poor VP run. I lost $80 in the first session, and quit to come up to the room. Then I remembered I had left my sheets of VP notes at the machine and went back. They were still there, and so I put in another $40 and won, bringing my daily losses down to $59. I noticed the Young at Heart Give away and got $5 and a very cheap plastic tupperware gift which I inadvertently set down and left. Not much regret there.

So my losses the first day were $54.

I played hard the second day. In the first dozen hands I hit four Aces and then a Club royal, filling in 10-J-Q after tossing a pair of jacks. Mine had not progressed much, $210, but it gave me plenty to play for all day. I never hit the Aces or another Royal. Toward evening there was one that was over $400 but I missed.

In the end I wound up down $32 for this first Orleans booking. I did not play the third day figuring I had played enough to keep the mailings coming for another year.

October 29

I came up from downtown to spend the Young at Heart club day with Wild Bill who was staying at the Orleans. I arrived in the morning, we played enough for breakfast. There surrendipitously we met Lucky Pete and his wife Carol, very old friends. Lucky Pete sat with us and caught us up on Silver Strike news and all the deals he had found around town as well as personal bits.

Then we went back to play the three play nickle 9/7 DB progressive which I think is the best VP in the place partly because the lower bankroll gives us a longer time for fun.

This was quite a day for luck.

First on the Mystery spin for a mathematical multiplier I hit 10X for video poker, a pretty good number.

Then the play itself just was very lucky.

I was down almost $100 when things started to catch. I ground my score up a bit and then had some fine hits. I hit a royal for over $300, had two lines hit the four Aces from a 3 Ace draw and had quad 7's dealt to me. I played until it was time to see the Nite Kings in the Lounge and cashed out ahead $250. This ia a pretty huge win on a nickle machine. I also had put over 1200 points on the machine before applying the multiplier so I'll get some good meals out of that day. Of course, both Bill and I ate a free breakfast and a free supper with no point reduction as part of the Young at Heart promotions. We skipped the movie this week. Lucky Pete came over an played a bit with us as well. I think he did pretty well. He is a great Silver Strike collector because many years ago I showed him a machine right there in the Orleans and that got him hooked. I also started him on video poker and he loves it.

BUFFET

reviewed with the rest of “Food”

INTERNET

I have read posts about the confusing bits to answer to get the free internet that comes with the resort fee. Comped rooms still have the resort fee, but the casino pays it, so the amenities are there. There is a free level and a more expensive, faster level. The free level is plenty for me.

I have a very old, small computer that goes to Vegas with me and it is slow. I don't go online much and it is slow when I do and often gets stuck in some ad virus. I use it mostly for writing out the day's adventures and thoughts, organized by subject. When I can catch an internet connection, I download Radio Deluxe, the John Pizzarelli show. Once downloaded this will give me the best music in my room.

November 13

My last two nights of the trip were to be at the Orleans again. This time I came from the Gold Coast and found that the shuttle would take my large suitcase in the back to make it easier for me to go. The driver was great.

It was a smooth and quick ride and an easy check in. I quickly got my lunch buffet for 50 points and ate. Then I went back to gamble a while. My point multiplier this time was 15X, a huge multiplier for VP.

At 4 PM I quit and deposted my virtual drawing tickets in the drum. Then I listed to some of the Nite Kings, coming back for the actual drawing.

I then returned to the Nite Kings.

YOUNG AT HEART

The main advantages for us old folks are concentrated by Boyd on Wednesdays now, but this first Tuesday they had a give-a-way for anyone earning 300 points.

Wednesdays include free buffets to be earned with very few points, a mystery multiplier that can be as much as 50 X. I got 5X for the VP and a 4:30 PM cash drawing which I missed because I forgot the time between the movie and the Nite Kings.

On my second trip I got 12X point multiplier and on my third it want up to 15X. That sure helps with food. I used some of the points too at the Gold Coast for the one room I bought. Even after all the buffets I had $11 to apply to my room.

THE ROOMS

I started and ended my trip at the Orleans. I was really exhausted this trip because I could not sleep the night before leaving for the airplane. I had been awake since midnight Eastern time. And I don't think I slept much on the plane, mostly because of this motormouth in my aisle. This woman's voice somehow penetrated my ability to drift off. She never took a breath. I envied the young fellow in the seat behind me. He was asleep the entire journey. Why does life make sleep so easy for the young who need to be up and about and so difficult for us old folks who need to be rested for all the opportunities of retired life.

I was just delighted to arrive at 11 AM, and be given a room with no early check in fee nonsense. And the rooms are always just delightfully comfortable with no displeasing odor. Both had a nice overstuffed chair and a sofa, a fine desk for the computer, and nice TV where I found things to watch.

Everything is spotless and in full repair and it is always quiet here.

I did not care much about view either time. I liked better having a low number, near the pool and without much of a ride. However, I got a delightful view of the spacious pool area.

The curtain actually shut out light as does the extra sliding bathroom door. I used my curtain clips, but I probably did not need them.

The only thing I don't like is that the water would not run cold in the first room. Both faucets ran warm water. Grabbing a quick drink without ice is just not an option. I don't mind room temperature, but this is heated water in the cold water pipe. I solved it by buying a gallon of water for 99 cents at the Walgreens.

However, the nice little coffee pot makes a good cup of the honey lemon ginseng green tea I brought and that makes a good iced tea in my oversized glass cup.

All this is important because I am up in the night and up early as well, so a cup of tea while writing is delightful.

This year I even packed in some Saratoga organic peanut butter, corn cakes and some flat wraps so a light and free breakfast is easy at any time.

For napping this is a great room. The curtains block the sun completely. I used my curtain clips but probably did not need them.

The small window in the shower opened for fresh air and for music from the pool area while I showered. I could not hear the pool music in the rest of the room unless this window was open.

Also, a call to housekeeping with a NO SERVICE request is noted and there is no knocking at the door in the morning. Some hotels rely only on the “do not disturb” note on the door, but these can be taken by other guests. I had a particularly bad time with that at the Flamingo one time.

My next hotel was a MyVegas night at Monte Carlo. I knew there would be no free early check in there. So, I thought I'd keep the room at the Orleans for as long as possible. Easy. The clerk said they could only extend for an hour because they were “sold out” tonight, but one o'clock is perfect. It cuts down on the time my bag spends with the bellman at Monte Carlo and gives me time for a late morning swim when the water may have had a better chance to warm up.

POOL

Swimming here at the Orleans is hit and miss at this time of the year. However, it was grand this first day and it let me stretch out all the muscles from sitting on the airplane and refreshed me. The water was plenty warm enough. I did not even feel chilled. However, I know some of that is bringing this Northern body that has somewhat adapted to much colder weather. The day before my swim I fished off the dock in a winter coat and scarf.

And the rest just the luck of warm days and sun in Vegas that arrival week. I went to the pool about noon the first day. The air was cold and it was windy. Out of the pool and out of the sun made a short uncomfortable walk to the jacuzzi.

The jacuzzi was just fine as always except they have taken out all the decorative rocks and put in an island that is practical for sun bathing, but not as nearly aesthetically pleasing. I missed the old rocks. It made it all look a bit sterile.

On my last day I felt pretty good so I took a fine hour swim and hot tub soak, my last for a while now because I can't do that outdoors in upstate New York.

It was November 14^th and the pool was well heated and comfortable. I guess I will be giving more attention to the Gold Coast followed with the Orleans on future trips.

I got to the pool before it opened at nine. I sat for a while, but I rolled in at 3AM and I was pretty tired. Down the right side the pool, where the bathrooms are located, were lounge chairs that were outside the locked gates. These were very comfortable for waiting. There was a huge exhaust fan for I could not hear the birds. Otherwise it was great.

And the life guard was there on time. No delays. Gates were unlocked and I could get a good swim in and still have time for a nice free meal before checking out.

If you like the pool, ask for a room on that side. Mine was facing the pool, 448, and that gave me a pleasant view. But most important to me is a quick ride in the elevator when I come back wet, both for my own comfort and for the comfort of the other riders.

There is an issue with the local dancers thinking they own the lounge. Sometimes it makes a tourist feel invisible and finding a seat is not easy although the later sets seem to offer more opportunities. I wrote and complained to the Orleans and the letter follows this post.

Drinks are reasonable. My wine was under $5, Bud Lite was on sale for $3 and iced buckets were available. They seem easy enough about the drinks. The Orleans cabernet is tolerable, but not wonderful. Sometimes I add just a touch of Stevia. On my last visit I had the Merlot and liked it better.

LAST NIGHT IN VEGAS

I pushed the walking and dancing so hard that I sent my left foot the wrong message.

I skipped my plans to hear out to the Springs Preserve and tour the museum. Another trip for that.

I skipped the pool one day and iced the foot. Then I wrapped it with a gauze bandage. I forgot the bandaging tape, but electrical tape worked fine and with one icing the pain was great decreased.

I was a bit sorry to change my plans, but being infirm at the Orleans is not so bad. I played the nickle triple play all day. I lost $42. In the evening I decided to take in a movie and have some popcorn.

FREE PLAY

I used my free play from the B Connected site in October and in November I used my American Casino Guide freeplay. On an earlier trip I had trouble using multiple printed offers on the same trip.