Category: Lifestyle & Travel Tips

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Bobby Vegas — Free cookies AND a Video Poker Strategy Guide for $9.88 ? Heaven

Bobby Vegas: Friends Don’t Let Friends Play Triple-Zero Roulette

Talk about stacking. My “Video Poker Strategy Guide” e-book deal just got, much sweeter. Literally!

Using Tiffs Treats Summer Pass mentioned in my previous blog, I’m giving LVA subscribers a dozen FREE made-to-order warm cookies with the purchase of the mobile “Frugal Video Poker Strategy Guide” e-book and my “Best Video Poker on the Strip” booklet, for $9.88. I’m giving away one dozen every day this month until gone.

They’re packaged in one or two blue-ribbon-wrapped boxes (option for a personal message). You can also gift your cookies.

The cookies would cost $24/dozen. That’s $44 in value for under $10 and that’s a sweet value play.

You just have to pick up your cookies at one of 150 locations. Where? You can find them here.

There are four locations in Las Vegas (Henderson, downtown, Boca Park, and Arroyo), 100 (!) in Texas, 15 in So Cal and Georgia, 6 in Florida, 4 each in Arizona, Colorado, and Kansas and 8 each in North Carolina and Tennessee.

How it works:

1) Find a location you can pick up your dozen free cookies at.

2) Go to BobbyVegas.com. Order your Mobile “Frugal Video Poker Strategy Guide” e-book and “Best Video Poker on the Strip” booklet using code COOKIE for $9.88.

3) Once your VP Strategy Guide and Best VP Booklet are downloaded, go to the CookieDelivery website and choose up to two types of cookies (or order a mixed box), 6 each or 12. I’m into Double Chocolate Chip (I also like Double Bonus Poker) and Banana Nut.

Send an email to [email protected] with your name, email, the name you’ll pick up under, and your (preferred) date, time, and location for pickup.

If the location list doesn’t show the EXACT address, it’s in a Jason’s Deli.

4) Your warm cookies will be waiting for you.

Upon order confirm, we send you the address.

Limitations

LVA Subscribers only.

I have only one dozen free per day to give away, so once that day is claimed, we’ll suggest the next day available for you to confirm.

Pickups from 8:30 a.m. to 9:15 p.m. 7 days a week.

Best to order and then request delivery the next day.

Once all days are claimed, the promotion is over and we’ll announce it on LVA.

Most pick up locations are Jason’s Deli. Some are Tiff’s Treats.

Multiple orders? Yes. You can order as many days as you want ( until all days are claimed) @ $9.88 each.

If you want to get or give 6 or 12 cookies to friends, associates, or family, have at it; $10 for 12 cookies is a very good deal alone. You still get the VP Guides.

Once over, the “Frugal Video Poker Guide” and “Best Video Poker on the Strip” will still be $9.88 for subscribers (SUBSCRIBE) … just no cookies.

Enjoy!

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Bobby Vegas — Welcome to NoResortFeeNation

Bobby Vegas: Friends Don’t Let Friends Play Triple-Zero Roulette

Ya know what I love about Vegas? Casino competition. When they sweat, we win.

A couple corporate casino number crunchers are sitting around at the bar, cooking up short con schemes, and wondering, “So! How can we squeeze another couple of bucks — No, wait! How can we really hose these yahoos out of as many of their hard-earned scheckels as (in)humanly possible? Let’s add a resort fee and charge ’em for things they’re already getting! And a parking fee! And raise prices on everything, even coffee, and make it real hard to cash TITOs, and even charge for plates and tableware on room-service deliveries. And while we’re at it, let’s keep laying off employees to save on the expense side.”

Well, that worked like a charm, to the tune of a billion smackolas a month for a few years and you’re all fat and happy. But you know what? The regulars aren’t just grumbling, but are finally downright PISSED. “Vegas ain’t what it used ta be. Where’s value gone? I’m bein’ hosed six ways thru Sunday.”

A lot of them got their revenge. How? They stopped coming.

Empty rooms. Shows closing. Gross gaming revenue down 10 months in a row. International tourism down 20%. Corporate shills sweating. What to do? Sober up? Fuggedabouddit.

Lightbulb moment. “Let’s drop resort fees!” Brilliant.

Now, I don’t hate to say I told you so. I’m glad I said, “The trickle of No Resort Fees this spring is gonna turn into a river.”

I reported many no resort fee deals (call it NRF), like Treasure Island and Fontainebleau. And just last month Golden Nugget and just this week Resorts World. Ka-ching. Next!

Oh, and a shout out to Four Queens and Binion’s, which are always NRF (plus great video poker and points promos).

I’ve already written about the awesome $125-a-day package at the Plaza: 2 nights, 2 meals a day, unlimited drinks, NRF, and free parking. (Or try their bingo deal.)

Now Downtown Grand is running to catch up: two weekend nights, $100 food an beverage credit, 4 drink tix, upgraded room, free parking (that’s a given) NRF for (drumroll) 250 smackers. Add the food-bev credits, toss in the $50 matchplay at checkin, and you’re talking a Hilton-quality room for $50 a night. On the weekend.
(Use code SMRWEMD. During the week SMRWDAY.)

This is the Vegas I love. Great quality, low cost, gamble till dawn.

And here are a couple of other cool your ***off freebies. $2 ice cream cones at Baskin Robbins right now and my new favorite, at Tiffs Treats, 45 days of a dozen cookies delivered to you or a friend for $99! A $1,000 value. Yummy! And no Red Robin burger debacle either; I already bought it, but Summer Passes are limited, so if you have the munchies or just a sweet tooth, as David Lee Roth sings, JUMP!

Special Announcement: My next, and hopefully last, surgery is Wednesday July 2. Please say a prayer. Whether you believe or not, it helps. Well wishes, sacrificial goats, vestal virgins, it’s all good. Except what exactly is a vestal virgin anyway?

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Bobby Vegas: Living Well Anywhere Anytime

Bobby Vegas: Friends Don’t Let Friends Play Triple-Zero Roulette

I’m a stone cold Vegas nut and I actually live on Dare Street in Raleigh, North Carolina. Raleigh has been in the top five places to live for the past 25 years. I’ve lived here 23 years and still love it.

We have incredible tree cover (The City of Oaks) and on New Years we drop a giant acorn designed by my artist buddy Dave from Third Place Coffee. My yard is full of birds and squirrels. We have long springs (it’s cool and wet today), long gorgeous falls, and in summer we’re a few hours to some of the best beaches anywhere — Outer Banks, Crystal Coast, and Wrightsville — and the mountains to the west. Our 400-acre Dix park is one of the largest city parks in the USA and right behind it, the State farmers market runs seven days a week.

This holiday I was at the NC State Fairgrounds’ weekly flea market, hunting vintage vinyl (and bought a silver money clip; now THAT’S old school, my friends). I picked up 25 albums for $1 each, such classics as Nat King Cole Live at the Sands, Jackie Wilson Live at the Copa, Diana Ross, Herbert Mann, Dionne Warwick, and many more. Score!

The nearest casino is in Danville, Virginia, 90 minutes away (Caesars … yawwwnn). Which is one of the many reasons I love Las Vegas. We have easy access to an international airport (RDU) with a Wright Bros.-inspired design. Southwest flies nonstops to Vegas, along with American and Delta.

Yes, things are getting pricey there and everywhere. So? Watcha gonna do about it? Complain? Raise backyard chickens? (In Raleigh, you can.)

Or … Myself, I subscribe to “triangle on the cheap.”

Eggs are cheapest at Trader Joes. Yes, we have Aldi, Lidl, and Costco. At Alamo Drafthouse Cinema, Tuesday’s are $6 movies. I’m going to see Mission Impossible today. It’s $13 at the Regal.

Besides our original real Southern diners, Watkins Grill and Pam’s Farmhouse restaurant, we have Snoopy’s, where on Tuesdays it’s 2-for-1 hot dogs. Cook Out (our In n Out”) has them every day, with 50 flavors of milkshakes. And how about Fresh Market’s Thursday $5 sushi, $5 shrimp cocktail, and $6 roast chickens?

To top it all off, there’s the amazing $2 half-pound Monday burger deal just 5 blocks from my house and next to our historic 5 Points Raleigh Rialto Theatre, home of Indy movies, comedy, great music, and one of the longest running Rocky Horror Picture Show’s in the U.S., having played at least once a month for decades. It’s been there so long, the children and grandchildren of folks who used to go now go see it. Yeah, we’re that hip … or crazy .. or both.

What local bargain-hunter resources do you enjoy? It would be interesting to have folks comment on their favorite local value play. Tell us about your favorite local deals

Because while you’re waiting on your next Vegas jaunt, ya gotta have a good time, right? And keep your scuffling chops sharp.

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Bobby Vegas: Points on Points

Bobby Vegas: Friends Don’t Let Friends Play Triple-Zero Roulette

Want $1,000 for your next Vegas trip? It starts at home with the two of the five P’s — proper planning.

A recent Chase credit card promo for 100,000 points that was featured in LVA just ended. If you caught this, it’s a real winner. Those points are worth $1,000 or more. If you missed it, many promos throughout the year are worth grabbing.

I’m a big fan of Chase rewards points, along with a Chase Southwest card. Together they’ve provided me free flights, rental cars with free insurance, and more. Yeah, rentals are my big splurge, but they’ve paid off many times over. Case in point, I get to drive out to Rainbow and Emerald Island in Henderson, where good values abound.

The Chase promo required $5,000 in charges in three months. Paying food, gas, utilities, and other expenses got me there. Of course, it’s important to pay off your card every month to avoid the vicious interest rates, but if you’re charging basics, like food, gas, utilities, and other routine expenses, it should be easy.

When you book through the Chase travel portal, you get a 25% bonus. Let’s say your flight is $400. You use $300 in points. Nice.

I work the systems to get my one week trip to Vegas, complete with air, car, and hotel, for around $600. Yes, for the whole week. At that point, I’m $1,000 ahead even before I’ve landed.

Some folks like the comp route and if that works for you, fine. As for me, I don’t want to be obligated to a casino for playing several hours a day for comped RFB. I live by “stay where I want to stay and play where I want to play.”

I may stay at the Downtown Grand and play some, but will play more at Four Queens, Plaza, and out to Rainbow or somewhere else where the video poker is richer and the points promos are sweeter.

Downtown, your Southwest boarding pass is worth free matchplays at The D and El Cortez. Southwest has nonstops from my Raleigh airport several times a week and no baggage fee when using your Southwest Chase card.

I often do a one way on points to Vegas (Southwest) and a red eye back on another airline, which I prefer, as I don’t like wasting the whole day in the air. And leaving late gives me that whole last day.

If you missed the Chase $1,000 deal, there are still great offers. I find sites like Points Guy excellent resources to keep up on them.

At least once a year, Southwest has card deals where you can easily qualify for a free companion pass for a year. This amazing bonus can easily run $750 to $1,000 in value and that’s on top of your free points. I used to fly on points and my wife on a free companion pass. Again, we saved $750 to $1,000 before we landed.

So work the systems, folks.

You can create a bankroll from savings with proper planning. It’s a great feeling to be ahead $1,000 before you land.

Enjoy!

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Bobby Vegas: A Break in the Blog Dam

Bobby Vegas: Friends Don’t Let Friends Play Triple-Zero Roulette

I’ve been having severe medical problems over the last 9 months. After six trips to the ER/Triage, three surgeries and one under emergency conditions, and two months of catheters, I’ve lost 38 pounds. At several points in the process, my crew was very very concerned. So was I.

But I’m a tough old bird (it takes a lot to kill me), and though I’m not exactly bouncing back, I am up and grumbling.

I haven’t been publishing my blog every couple of weeks, which is another indication of how severe it’s all been. Writing this blog is an honor and a joy for this unrepentant old Vegas scuffler.

And now … sigh … my issues are exacerbated by flying, so I won’t be back in Vegas for at least another three months. I’ve got plenty to write about, but I’ll be pining for video poker, the dance floor at the Pinky Ring, comped meals, and scoping out the latest “shews,” as Ed Sullivan used to say.

I can’t get to Vegas unless I drive. And I live in North Carolina. Before you ask, no, Harrah’s Cherokee just doesn’t do it for me.

In short, life has slowed me down in a way I’ve not seen in nearly seven decades.

Please bear with me. I apologize that I may be slow in responding to comments on my blog. Our system doesn’t alert me when a comment posts, so unless I sign in I don’t see them, some time for weeks. You can also reach me at bobbyvegas.com

Luckily, I still have plenty to write about. I continue to see deals getting better (eternal optimist that I am). I get offers from over a dozen casinos, including juicy mailers from the Rainbow. Treasure Island, Fontainebleau, and Plaza are sending creative deals, such as no resort fee, free parking, and in the case of the Plaza, all-inclusive packages starting at $125 night that come with two meals a day (Hash House a Go Go included) , unlimited drinks, and access to all the resort-fee amenities including free parking, pool, exercise access, and more. The Bingo deal is even better.

Is this a sign of prices stabilizing and deals getting better? Are you seeing good deals? If so, tell us about them, please.

Finally, last year I cut a deal with Anthony to create a downloadable-app phone version of Jean Scott’s fantastic Video Poker Scouting Guide, which I’ve cheered on in my blogs as it’s led me to literally thousands of dollars in video poker wins. We expect it to be up and running in May. Stay tuned.

And please, keep me in your thoughts and prayers.

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Bobby Vegas: The Cat in the Hat

Bobby Vegas: Friends Don’t Let Friends Play Triple-Zero Roulette

Why gamble when some high roller buys the hat off my head for $1,720?

I’d come to town to celebrate the one-year anniversary of my favorite dance spot ,The Pinky Ring, squire my aspiring advantage player Sean, meet music friends, take meetings on projects, and of course hit the video poker hard.

Sean offered to get me a comped room at Aria ($500) and let me use his premium Caesars and MGM cards, so I didn’t have to pay for parking (saving $125 ). I always rent a car, my big splurge, and this trip it was $35 a day. Not too shabby.

I hustled over to Aria, checked in, and hopped over to Bellagio.

The Pinky Ring with Bruno Mars and the Hooligans is a madhouse, totally over capacity. The hosts are frantic, so it takes an unprecedented 20 minutes to get in.

I’m dancing with two lovely ladies — Jenny from Seattle and Serena from Santa Barbara — for a good 45 minutes (for perspective, I was older than both of their ages combined), then head up the riser to stand by the sound and light guys, have a Perrier, and catch my breath.

An inebriated high roller comes up to me holding out a wad of $20s and says, “I’m buying your hat.” Entitled? Anyone?

I’m wearing my iconic Kenyan Kente’ bucket hat, Afro-centric design crossed with Keith Harring.

I love this hat. Everywhere I go (Costco, on the street, even earlier at the Pinky Ring), I get compliments on it. I’ve been trying to find a copy online, but no luck, even with a Google image search. The guy I bought it from for $20 at a (of course) dance event had disappeared.

This swaggering high-roller has the back-center-court $10,000 VIP booth with Bruno in the next booth. Of the six lovely young ladies in his, one might have been his girlfriend and the other five her girlfriend’s. Who knows?

So I say to him, “Sorry, man but this hat? It’s irreplaceable. One of a kind. I can’t sell it.”

He reaches into his pocket and pulls out some purple and yellow Wynn chips, $500 and $1,000 each, definitely a big-time player in town for a $50K weekend. He puts a purple on top of the $20s.

“Man, you’re making this really hard …”

Then he places a yellow $1,000 chip on the pile.

Stunned, I take the $1700+. That’s 86-to-1. Best bet in ages.

He gets the hat. I later see one of the ladies wearing it.

I’ve been in town 48 hours. I cashed the chips. The next day I find the material online.

Cool cats? Get ready for Bobby Vegas bucket hats.

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The Secret To Maximizing Las Vegas Birthday Deals

Bobby Vegas: Friends Don’t Let Friends Play Triple-Zero Roulette

You do have a birthday, right? And an ID? (No AIs need apply.)

Plan wisely and you’ll get several complete days of free fun, free play, three meals every day, and more drinks, desserts, and coffee than you can shake a chocolate-dipped stick at. The best deals give you a week, two weeks, and even a month to cash in, so get ready to run around your whole birthday month collecting freebies. Damn. Tough job, eh?

Be sure to sign up for every e-club online in advance. You almost always need to be a member to qualify for the birthday freebies and discounts. Even if it takes a few hours, there’s nothing like walking into all these places, getting your birthday specials, and walking out with no money changing hands. And there are enough free play ($85 to $1,500) deals, plus and several hundred dollars in free food, to pay for your LVA subscription 10 times over. How cool is that?

As for technique, one word: stacking. Use more than one coupon where they’re available. Some places (Excalibur?!) have five deals. Fashion Show Mall has four. Many have three meals a day. Stack a great view (Eiffel Tower) and a great meal with another great view (Bellagio Fountains).

Consider doing a Fremont run by stacking your LVA MRB matchplay and free play offers and go crazy. Free food and double free play — all day long!

I’m abbreviating free play with FP.

No, it’s not worth going to Morton’s and spending a Franklin or two to get a free dessert. But walk in to Cheesecake Factory and leave with a free slice? Yes.

I’m space limited in this blog, but you can go to BobbyVegas.com for an even more complete and detailed list and several dozen more places. Also, these freebies can change at any time, so definitely check online or call ahead to be sure the promo is still active.

And Happy Birthday!

Why start with Starbucks? You’re gonna need caffeine, people.

Starbucks– Free coffee or food item, need active Starbucks card within 30 days of birthday.

Eureka Casino – (595 E. Sahara Ave.) – Player’s club members $25 birthday FP
(MRBs too and signup bonuses)

Ellis Island – $10 FP Passport Club members (MRBs too and signup FP)

SAHARA – Join Infinity Rewards, swipe at kiosk during birthday month, win up to $500 FP. (plus MRBs and signup FP)

Wynn — Wynn Rewards up to 48 hours before or after birthday get $10 in free play. Higher tiers get birthday month annual dining credit $150, Platinum, $300 Black.

Palms – Swipe Club Serrano Card at kiosk during birthday month, receive up to $1,000 in FP (plus MRB)

Earl of Sandwich (Planet Hollywood, Palms, Fashion Show) Join eclub for free sandwich, wrap, or salad + birthday month free cookie or brownie.

Hooters (OYO +) – Hooters eClub email certificate $10 free birthday wings. Good for 2 weeks, 7 days before or after. Nice $10 for $10 signup and $10 match play, plus signup FP.

Steak ‘n Shake (OYO + ) – Free specialty milkshake and another for birthday. Join Steak ‘n Shake Rewards Club.

Del Taco (near MGM Grand +) – Free birthday regular premium milkshake, plus 2 free tacos for joining Raving Fan eClub.

Krispy Kreme (Excalibur, Circus Circus + ) – Free donut and coffee eClub.

Dairy Queen – (Excalibur + ) Free Blizzard.

Buca di Beppo FANTASTIC $50 DEAL! (Excalibur + ) for Buca eClub members, $10 off for signing up, plus $20 off $40 and a Colossal Brownie Ice Cream Sundae ($18 value) on your birthday month.

Cinnabon – (Excalibur + more) – Free iced coffee within 1 week of birthday for members of Club Cinnabon.

Orange Julius (Excalibur + more) – Join Orange Julius’ Julius League for free birthday Premium Fruit Smoothie or Julius Original.

Diablo’s Cantina (Luxor) Special occasions wheel spin (including birthday) for free shots +.

Eiffel Tower Observation Deck – Free birthday admission, check in advance, as freebie is seasonal.

Lettuce Entertain You (Paris, Fashion Show, Forum Shops) – $15 account credit on birthday, does not expire, good at Eiffel Tower Restaurant, Mon Ami Gabi, and Joe’s Stone Crab.

P.F. Chang’s (Planet Hollywood + ) – Club members free appetizer or dessert during birthday month.

Cheesecake Factory (Forum Shops, North Premium Outlet Mall) – Free birthday dessert.

Grimaldi’s Pizzeria (Palazzo + ) – Free birthday pizza and free appetizer on signup

Fashion Show Mall

RA Sushi, Bar & Restaurant – $20 RA gift certificate every year during birthday and half-birthday month. Signup / The Hook Up.

The Capital Grille – Free birthday dessert, no signup required.

Maggiano’s Little Italy – Join e-club for $10 certificate and free birthday dessert.

Dunkin’ – (LINQ, Fashion Show Las Vegas, South Premium Outlets, Fremont Hotel) – DDPerks Club members free drink within one week of birthday.

Lettuce Entertain You (Fashion Show Las Vegas, Caesars Forum Shops) – $15 account credit

Downtown/Fremont

Denny’s (Fremont and Strip) – Denny’s Rewards free birthday Grand Value Slam Breakfast

Pinkbox Doughnuts – ( Plaza / other locations ) “It’s Ya Birthday” – birthday special doughnut Join Perks club.

Plaza – 25% off rooms, free dessert at Oscar’s Steakhouse, free bingo card. (plus MRB)

Hash House a Go Go (Plaza, LINQ, Rio Casino + ) – Free birthday dessert via Twisted Farm Club.

Hennessey’s Tavern (Fremont Street) birthday week free dinner entree.

Tony Roma’s – (Fremont) – Rib Expert Club signup receive free birthday entree. Check current offer at (702) 385-3232. (plus MRB)

Landry’s (Golden Nugget + ) – $25 membership fee, get $25 welcome reward + free $25 birthday reward during birthday month. In Las Vegas: Bubba Gump Shrimp Co., Chart House, Claim Jumper, Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steakhouse, Grotto Ristorante, Red Sushi, Morton’s, Rainforet Cafe, Strip House, The Palm, and Anthony’s Steakhouse.

South and off Strip

Baskin Robbins (Orleans +) – Free scoop of ice cream.

Bonefish Grill (Town Square + ) – free birthday Jamaican coconut pie or bang bang shrimp.

Sickies Garage Burger (Town Square) – Sickies Rewards program free burger during birthday month

King’s Fish House (Green Valley Ranch) – Free birthday key lime pie / homemade whipped cream

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Bobby Vegas—Plaza, MRB, and Birthday Fun

Bobby Vegas: Friends Don’t Let Friends Play Triple-Zero Roulette

Due to medical issues beyond my control, I missed the $160,000 two-day New Year’s Eve Bingo Spectacular at the Plaza. However! The Plaza does it every month and the room deal for $40 per night is available each time. No resort fee. That’s an incredible deal and the Plaza folks are fabulous.

My stay in the South Tower before the medical situation was very quiet, old school with a tub, and near self-parking, Bobby V style. You want a newer upgraded room with a view (and the noise) of Fremont Street? Stay in the North Tower.

The self-parking for hotel guests is free. Some of the video poker is full pay. Some roulette is single zero. The $500 royal flush Member Rewards Book coupon is back in 2025. Anthony values it at $142, making 9/6 JoB positive expectation. Go for it! Play 9/6 JoB in the very cool Sand Dollar Lounge. Tell ’em Bobby V sent you. Please. (I want to meet Jonathan Jossel, Plaza’s CEO, and tell him, “Thanks for making old school new school and cool again, JJ.”)

Pink Box, the lobby and always mobbed, has a special free birthday donut for you. Sign up on the Pinkbox app.

Speaking of birthday bonuses, we’re finishing up a super free birthday run to be posted on my next blog. But here are some highlights: $100 to $1,500 in free Play, three meals a day (yes, breakfast, lunch, and dinner), coffee, donuts, drinks, desserts and more during your birthday month. That’s right, month. Many of the deals extend out two weeks from your birthday or even the whole month, not just your actual birthday. Plan a birthday-month trip!

I can’t wait for you to see it. The blog will be set up as birthday runs for the Strip, Fremont, locals casinos, etc. And now that the 2025 MRB is available, you can stack your LVA coupons for even more fun, free play, and free food.

Watch this space!

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Bobby Vegas: Dealing with Travel Emergencies in Vegas

Bobby Vegas: Friends Don’t Let Friends Play Triple-Zero Roulette

Hustling through Harry Reid over the years and onto my next Vegas frugal/advantage adventure, I’ve often felt sorry for the old wheelchair-bound gambling geezers.

Now I was one too.

Unfortunately, I had a repeat of my Labor Day kidney-stone experience on my New Year’s Eve trip.

I won’t dwell on how painful, scary, and frustrating it was. Instead, I want to focus on the resources in my wallet or with me and some of the stand-out support I got from the Plaza, Southwest Air, and Hertz.

Not since a female pit boss at the Wynn asked a doctor to call me in my room to follow up on my leaving the tables in the middle of a run (“You looked bad and were winning, so yeah, I was concerned,” she told me later; I sent her chocolates) had I experienced such good customer care as this trip.

If you’re going to Vegas, check your credit card benefits for trip interruption and/or travel emergency coverage. I use Chase cards both for points to travel free and other benefits like airport-lounge access.

On my Labor Day torture-by-kidney-stones “adventure,” I happened to have sprung for $20 for travel emergency/interruption insurance. This ended up reimbursing me for my hotel, car, and airfare, including extensions to my stay and flight changes like a nonstop home.

Some of the temp-insurance providers like Alliance previously were no help after the fact, though some premium credit cards will provide an advocate or other help too. So check reviews before you buy if you’re not covered on your card.

The next level up is full-stop travel emergency insurance, which can be purchased under annual plans for $200+. This is for major medical-emergency support when not at home and includes an advocate and even a trained nurse or to fly back with you if needed. I’ve had that before and will re-up.

Having an advocate to assist you from your hotel, get meds and food, arrange travel and support if you’re alone, can be a life saver. Literally.

The Plaza staff was incredibly cooperative, especially Ray, who runs the $160,000 SuperBingo events every month (and includes their $40 a night no-resort-fee room offer). When I told Ray what happened (hospital, etc.), he refunded my entry fee. That’s customer service. I’ve said it before and I’m saying it again: The Plaza is classic Vegas updated and done right and I’ll be back. (Seeing my matchplay coupons expire unused wasn’t nearly as painful as kidney stones, but the New Plaza MRBs will heal that wound.)

Next, I’ve flown Southwest (often for free) for 25 years and have a SW credit card. I buy in advance on points and all points, flights, and canceled or changed plans are fully credited (along with two checked bags up to 50 pounds flying free). I had an open trip home depending on meetings, etc., so when I called to upgrade to a nonstop and said I’d been in the hospital and would need wheelchair assistance at the airport, they used my points ticket to upgrade me to a nonstop one day ahead and transferred my ticket gratis. That was a $400 upgrade.

Finally Hertz. Wow.

Just getting from my hotel to the airport was going to be an ordeal and when I arrived at the rental-center drop off, looking like a crazy man the cat dragged in (they wouldn’t give me a razor at the hospital), and told the Hertz check-in person I had trouble walking and would need baggage assistance, she said,” Wait here.” Next thing I knew, a driver was chauffeuring me to the airport where a skycap and SW took over.

Between my hotel valet and Ray, the Hertz driver, the SW wheelchair assist, and all the great service I received again at my home airport, I tipped out $100. You can never be too sick to still be George.

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Unbelievable New Year’s Deal

Bobby Vegas: Friends Don’t Let Friends Play Triple-Zero Roulette

Bulletin! New Years trip, five days in Vegas including resort fees, and 38 chances to win $160,000 in 10 hours over two days, plus $10 in free play and free drinks at bingo. For you, $400.

Bobby? What’s the catch here? I mean, there’s gotta be a catch, right? Like what, a friggin’ timeshare pitch? What?

No, it’s real. It’s the Plaza bingo!

I saw this puppy coming down the street back in August before my kidneys decided to send me on a masochistic little trip to painland. So folks, I paid the price — literally. I bled for you. Then I waited and just caught the announcement and whammo! I’m in. (Yeah, I said “whammo.” Yeah, pretty corny. Hell, you want corny? I grew up in Cleveland.)
Okay, I’m gonna let you in on this. You can do it too.

It’s the Plaza’s Super Bingo Spectacular over New Year’s. Book five nights for $200. No, not per night. All five nights, including resort fees. That’s $40 a night!

Over New Year’s? Did someone drop a zero?

You have to sign up for bingo for $200. Twist my arm.

Thirty-eight chances to win $1,199. Plus, they’re giving away $80,000 a day for two days. You got five hours to spare?

Do I play bingo? I do now! Who wouldn’t, to get five nights in Vegas over New Year’s for $400 ($200 for bingo, $200 for the room)? Hell, at most places, New Year’s Eve alone is at least $400. Register here and tell them Bobby Vegas sent you.

Feel me loving the Plaza? Matchplays, great VP, single-zero roulette, the Sand Dollar royal flush MRB $500 bonus I wrote about in my last post, along with great food and discounts. Downtown Grand, move over, it’s the Plaza, baby, and man, I’m hittin’ this one lock, stock, and bingo! And another tip: 9/6 JOB in the entrance to the bingo hall at $.25 to $2 a hand.

Then there are all those matchplay chips and MRB coupons I’ve been saving up for my Fremont run and the free Champagne coupon up in Circa’s whatta-view Legacy Club. And fireworks and, well, New Years in Vegas! And maybe I’ll also chill uptown at The Pinky Ring or see the Three Sacred Souls or just go total old school and hang out at the Pinball Hall of Fame.

This is gonna be fun, guys ’n gals. Book this puppy now — Bobby just gave you your Santa Vegas Christmas gift, five nights in Vegas for the biggest party of the year. Be there and be square with me when we yell BINGO!

Please tell them you read about it from Bobby Vegas’ blog at the Las Vegas Advisor. Please.