Bag stuffed with goodies after a coupon run, (like a kid coming back from Halloween or the Midway), I marvel at all the T-shirts, coffee cups, dice, playing cards, hats, and more that I’ve collected on my trip to Vegas. Keep your Gucci. I like free.
Yeah, I’m one of those guys taking the soaps and shampoo. But what really gets me going is the twice-daily room service in the five-star towers at Wynn and Encore literally sweeping it all into the cloth laundry bags along with … well … they haven’t gone out of their way to invite me back, but I don’t think it’s the Super Swag runs.
But I digress. I love to collect. I’m into vintage LPs and 45s, Do Not Disturb signs, seashells, everything Japanese (even anime, though I stop at Hello Kitty), and of course anything Vegas.
My question to you is: What’s your favorite Vegas swag?
Come on, I know you sneak some soap and shampoo home and love to sing Bon Jovi, Taylor, Lady Gaga, or Rod Stewart while soaping up from the Cosmopolitan.
Anyway, I considered a Top Five, but it’s even hard to stop at the 10, so here goes.
Soaps and shampoos from Downtown Grand, Rio, and especially Wynn.
Long-gone-casino swag: Crazy Girls coffee cups from the Riviera (you know the one) and my Mirage bathrobe.
Wynn bathrobe and leather long shoe horn. No not for shoes, silly … think kinky!
Circa Stadium Swim towels, (mine cost me $10,000; Superbowl Stadium Swim for 12), though I passed on Circa’s replica gold bars of their Legacy Club Million in Gold Display … a must-see, BTW.
Did I mention my Vegas coaster and matchbook collection and Vegas/Reno/Atlantic City dice collection? Or Shaq’s Super Bowl party at XS at the Wynn? The music was hot — and the swag was off the charts.
Or my favorite LVA MRB online printed free lap-dance coupon I never used? Like the whale in Atlantic City who kept losing millions and on the trip where he won millions, he kept the check in his wallet to show his buds he was a winner? Well, I didn’t win millions and not cash the check (I always cash the check!), but I kept the lap dance coupon, because I couldn’t imagine asking for a dance and handing over a coupon.
Besides, it’s really number two. My number one Vegas swag? The Stardust “Maid service, please” door hangar. I still remember looking down at the pool, wishing I had one of those poolside rooms (before they plowed it under to create Resorts World).
Oh, the stories those rooms could tell!
What’s your favorite swag or swag story?
Best swag story wins a Bobby Vegas T-shirt, the best swag of all.
Whenever I visit Vegas I pack my souvenirs in a large priority mail box and send it to myself. That way I don’t have to carry the stuff in my luggage. The postage on a box used to be about $20. Last month it was up to $31! And I hear shipping rates are going up again next year.
In 2000 the wife (fiance then) and I went to Vegas about a month before our wedding. We were staying at the Hilton Grand Vacations Club next to the LV Hilton (Westgate now) and decided to walk the strip. Being early August it was hot, but we figured we stop at each casino, have some drinks and play some slots or tables. We got to the Riviera, the first casino we hit, and did their $40 for $20 free play promotion. Back then it wasn’t real money you won, but credits to get “swag”. I did well enough to get the Crazy Horse Mug and a Riviera jacket. The wife got the mug and T-shirt.
The funny thing was they had a free wheel spin where you could win prizes. I ended up landing on free Splash tickets, and the employee didn’t know what to do. Said he had never had anyone win tickets before. He had to get a slot club person to find out what to do. Well, they worked it out and I ended up with the tickets, and saw the show that night. Had a great time. Oh, and the fiance got a deck of cards for her free spin.
Its a tough call between Edso’s Riveria run and Brent’s “party till dawn on a dime” story but as its the holidays why don’t you both email me ?
Bobbyvegas@
bobbyvegas.com
and lets get you some more swag.
Bobby
Sent you an email Bobby. Thanks
It isn’t swag but I remember when they put a fruit basket in your room.
For swag the old Riviera was tops They had nickel town and all the crazy stuff they did and they would fill your hands up with hats, Tee shirts and cups etc Then they had the counter where they would give you stuff if you paid them 25 bucks My sister stills wears coats and shirts, they gave her
Good times, Fred!
Love my Satan jackets
San Remo
Westward Ho
MGM Sands. only for a very short period of time before it closed
Satan jackets? Well, they do call it Sin City for a reason.
Back in the 90s we were playing pool at the Riv for nationals and staying at Circus Circus. One night about 6 of us went to Deja Vu .and none of us had a lot of money. Well we ended up staying there all night and they sent us home in a limo with free t-shirts and glasses as the sun was coming up
Two of my favorites, both long gone now: the Hard Rock shot glasses (and that steak and shrimp special!) and that time I spun the wheel at Vacation Village (man I’m old) and won $100 about an hour after landing at McCarran.
Its a tough call between Edso’s Riveria run and Brent’s “party till dawn on a dime” story but as its the holidays why don’t you both email me ?
Bobbyvegas@
bobbyvegas.com
and lets get you some more swag.
Bobby
Got the shirt today, Bobby. Love it! Will be proudly sporting it when I’m in Vegas on the 29th of this month. Happy Holidays to you and yours…….and thanks again.