I'm
a great fan of the benefits of this game associated with Facebook.
I
don't much like playing slots, so I just accumulate chips every time
I'm on the computer. When I get over 2 million I play at 20,000 a
pop and that makes the time tolerable.
I
am in a unique situation because I have many gambling Facebook
friends from the various boards as well as family who play and share.
When
I collect chips I also do all the sharing bits, so my friends get
benefit of chips from me at a regular benefit.
The
buffets I used to focus on are much more difficult to use. The free
ones now require a stay in an M Life hotel. Son Frank did get to use
an Aria 2 for 1 without such a stay, but he did not get to use
freeplay.
I've
focused on taking the rooms. This trip I took three nights on the
Strip: Monte Carlo-then Mandalay Bay- then Montecarlo once again. I
thought perhaps that this would be more of a hassle than it was
worth, but it was actually very easy. The tram from Excalibur is
very easy with luggage and the short luggage roll to it and back was
not that great a hassle.
I
don't gamble much on the strip because the VP is so terrible, but I
do like both the 2-6 spread limit poker games and the 3-6 game at
Mandalay Bay, especially in the late night hours when the locals go
home and there are just a few tourists.
I
also am quite willing to pay for the Aria buffet. I think of it as a
great treat. It is one of the places where the food is healthy and
my choices don't affect my diabetes.
In
addition, this trip I discovered the Lazy Rivers. Enjoyed before
there are tube folks, as soon as they open in the morning, is great
exercise if I swim those rivers. It really did a job for me. An hour
in that river and I felt muscles were used that are rarely used at
all. It does more for upper body, but then the walking common in
Vegas does the legs and such so I get a good walkout without being
bored.
I
expected to see some shows the nights I was in that area, and I
almost went to see Jimmy Buffet, but I ended opting for the poker and
just seeing a Buffet clone group on the steps outside Monte Carlo. I
am cynical of “improvement” but the new frontage of Monte Carlo
and I think of NYNY when it is finished that puts more people outside
and builds a small amphitheater for a band is just grand. Behind the
band is the strip and the changing people. I listened at dusk and so
I saw the strip change from day to lighted night.
When
I go solo, I go frugally, but if I can ever convince my wife to go
with me for a week, she likes no gambling and upscale rooms. I got a
good sense of the lowest priced Monte Carlo room and that is nothing
to bother with. However, Mandalay Bay put me in a fine deluxe room
and that was wonderful. However, rack rate there is between $325 and
$375 which seems a bit much even for my wife.
Still,
I am probably the worst MyVegas market for M Life and yet I'd say
giving me a free night here and there may have sold some rooms for
then at other times in my more upscale life.
The
problem of moving luggage, or at least my huge bag, packed with my
soft bag and all my airplane carry on is very hard on strip buses.
The Deuce is generally too packed. The SDX is impossible to exit
because there are a stream of aggressive folks trying to enter.
However,
the WAX serves this area of the strip and that is a fine bus, built
for luggage.
And
most of the buses on the 201 Tropicana route are not bad. So, I
started my trip at the Orleans for two free nights, got over any jet
lag, then took my three one lighters and finished with two nights at
Planet Hollywood, not really much of a luggage roll from Monte Carlo.
I
did have to use the Deuce to get downtown from Planet Hollywood, but
it was not that bad and wherever I land once I get on, I have a long
ride to wiggle my way into one of those seats facing the exit door.
Those are easy. Often my luggage fits out of the way in a space
right next to those seats.
Finally,
although I did pay resort fees for those “free rooms” they
covered Thursday- Friday- and Saturday, which are the most expensive
days to cover in a long trip.
I
would say that I booked these at a very good time. Going solo made
the check in/check out much easier. And there was no early check in
fees. Check out was eleven. Each morning I called and extended that
until noon. I used the Lazy River and had a good buffet before I
rolled out to the next place and by 1PM most of these hotels have
rooms.
I
added two other rewards to the M Life. I got a free Tee shirt from
Palace Station. Again this was great advertisement. I have not been
there in over a decade and I liked it very much. For one thing, if I
scale back on my level of play, I can play dimes there. That is my
comfort level because my risk of ruin on a full pay machine is lower
even if the machine is volatile.
I
got the free Tee Shirt, but the gift shop that gives them is just not
ready for MyVegas redemption. The one they give away is not the one
in the photo anyway. It is a really sad shirt with nothing about
Palace Station on it. However, they let us upgrade and for a dollar
I got a really fine shirt with Palace Station logo plastered on the
front. It was the only XL shirt anywhere.
The
two free buffets worked great. We came on a Sunday and had missed
that the voucher is not good for Sunday brunch. We made the mistake,
but the Player's Club woman issuing the voucher also made that
mistake, and once it is redeemed, it is only good for 48 hours.
Well
the clerk at the buffet counter called someone and got permission to
give us the Sunday Brunch for just a small upcharge, the difference
in value from the daily charge. That was fine.
The
damned resort fee at Station casino usually makes them deal breakers
for me, but perhaps I'll try them next trip anyway and see what kind
of play it takes to have the resort fee comped. We played a bit
there, so I'm hoping perhaps for offers. I know the cheapest rooms
are not very nice, but solo I'm not too fussy. I want to go frugal,
but I can't go all free if I have to pay for it in quarter play
because the variance will melt away my bankroll on losing trips.
The
ease of redemption on M Life rewards is really fine, but tickets to
Chris Angel were casino specific and had to be redeemed at the Luxor.
That was unexpected for us. My son had a free ticket and I bought a
companion for $87. These tickets racked for $130 so that seemed a
fine deal. The show was just okay. I think he was disappointed.
But he decided too late to catch a better show.
Otherwise,
the redemption is smooth. For hotels it is done right at the hotel
desk and I found that better than having to get to the casino so
early before the show.
I
also have collected some rewards at the Eastside Cannery on their
Webpass site. They are just mostly free food and drink, and if I am
lucky, a hat. But I must print them and get to the East side Cannery
with 7 days of arrival in Vegas and I can't print any others that
might come free. No printing is required for the M Life.
Once
redeemed at the Eastside Cannery those vouchers are good for 30 days.
I don't play much there, but I go for the Claudine Castro Latin
lounge act late on Monday night, so I like a free buffet when I got
and some wine to have with the buffet or to carry into the lounge. I
don't then have to buy much.
I
don't play the games on Webpass anymore at all. Just a check in adds
enough points over a year to get those cheap benefits. The good ones
go too quickly. I'd have to hit them just right on the day before my
trip.
The
American Casino Guide is my major source of coupons although there
were some mailed to me and some at check in at the D as well as in
some of the Vegas advertising books left in the room or on racks
around town. I pay attention to piggy backed show ticket deals where
one show will offer a deal for the next in the same venue or nearby.
However, this trip I did not actually take advantage of any of those
deals.
AMERICAN
CASINO GUIDE COUPONS
- One of the best coupons is the point doubler for the Four Queens which doubles points up to 500. Play first and then go to the counter. Play does not have to be on the same day, but does have to be in the same “trip”
- Magnolia's 2 for 1. The frustrating thing about this coupon is that we can't use it with any other deal, even the lucrative new system of comp dollars. However, if we have the reduced price charged to the room, we can then use the comp dollars to pay for it because all the hotel sees is the dollar amount.
- Riviera comedy is still two free tickets. No fees. Easy.
- MacKing Comedy now has a tax added to the cost of the drink and show package so the free American Casino Guide coupon will get you a seat for $15. That being said, this show is worth that cost. The wine was not bad either.
Young
at Heart day at the Orleans is full of coupons and giveaways. Twice
I got $5 just for standing in line.
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