-Sun. the 16th- Friends gone, we check out and our daughter arrives all within an hour, so timing was great. We hold our bags at Luxor and daughter wanted to wander the stip, so we hit NFI at NYNY for lunch, wife had salmon, daughter had soup and I had breakfast omelet. All was really good, daughter really liked hers and mimosa as well. Went touring to Flamingo area, across to Caesars and worked back with tram to Luxor, stopped for a couple cocktails and play along the way. Wife was able to win a little bit, daughter did as well and ended up ahead. A poor med school student she is so didn't start with alot and some help from dad but held her own to start. We decided to head to The D around 3. First time staying here and read some reviews on here to help with rooms. Good cab trip considering traffic, arrived and easy checkin with barely a line. Got to room and were about 7 levels up from stage. Wife and daughter rested a bit but said that music was too much. They were nice enough to move us away to different floor and away from music so kudos to them for making the switch and liked the free Molson at check-in. Hit Walgreens for some snacks and some vitals (water) Hit Fremont to start trying out some machines, 4 queens first stop, daughter is learning to play VP and doesn't get much time to practice so had to help her out but that's what I'm here for. Wife doesn't have the patience for it. Wasn't able to hit too much at but daughter hit a few full houses and straights, cashed out and was ahead about 20 bucks. Grabbed some dinner at Whiskey Licker Up. Had 25 in free food so that helped, food was very good, had another salad, wife had wings, daughter had pasta all were very good, service wasn't great but our waitress looked like she was bartending and waitressing at same time. So very busy, food portions were good here as well. Moved to Circa for some play between the varying people on Fremont. Tried same machine from earlier on trip and not as generous, but daughter was up a little again. Went from here to Plaza, was able to break even mostly, daughter same and wife actually won a little bit on slots so up for her on the day. Headed back to the D. Wife to bed, daughter wanted to play more, so we hit upstairs and tried a few spots, basically even for us and got to the Vue bar with some open spots. Daughter hit 4 A's on .50 play but was only betting 1.50 and I was able to hit a 4OAK on the progressive so ended up there but down overall. Daugher still winning for the day. Daughter went to bed and stayed playing for a little bit but nothing hit lost around 50.
-Mon. the 17th - Circa pool day! Went to Bacon Nation for great breakfast, Great service, wife had good traditional breakfast, I had sandwich, daughter had omelet, very good portions and good vibes of this place. Got there a little after their special ended, but had food comps to cover part of the bill. Hit Circa pool. Low attendance day here which was great, allowed us to get chairs, small drink lines, water was a little cold, tunes were pumping, temp was around 95 (felt great) and since never here before really like it, little too much pure sun overall, so got a little crispy in a couple spots, but sunscreen did work as well. Midwesterner who doesn't see sun alot, needed some color so all good overall. Wife and daughter decided to stay for a little and a couple more cocktails, I left to go shower, freshen up and rest a bit, accomplished all 3 and got caught up on some money totals and figure out what LVA coupons I still wanted to use. Hadn't used many as yet. Women were back and definitely full so they needed time to shower and recover so went to play some, found a Bonus poker machine in upper level that had some potential and decided to keep it rolling, gave me a great streak of 3 OAK/full houses and flushes and hit one 4OAK of J's, ended up 300 at $1 play. Wasn't really going to get much done the rest of the evening with 2 drunk females so we decided to go to Magnolia's. First time here, and really liked the food, wife and I had steak special daughter had gumbo and salad, very good food for first time and will definitely visit again. LVA coupon was great to use. Daughter wanted to play some more and wife needed to go to bed. Stayed at the D and daughter was even but was done for the day. I decided to stay and play and I'm glad I did. Decided to play some slots and got on a streak for about 2 hours of not having a losing session. Hit a couple bonuses on a maxed out Best Bet dollar storm machine, up around 40 with minimum bets. Moved to Dragon train and hit bonus on 3rd spin at 5.00, almost hit major but still ended up 55 after bonus. Next to VP at VUE on progressive and hit that for almost 34 at .25. Small profit but ended up ahead about 15. Next to progressive Mustang Machine, hit a bonus on 5th pull and won 35. Moved down to Mo Mummy and got 2 bonuses at .10 and 5.00 bet. First one didn't give much but was up about 30, hit next one about 3 spins later and got to 2nd to last round and was able to cash out up about 250. In between, these plays I kept cashing out and the younger girl behind the cash counter was asking, are you still rolling each time and I said you can't get off work for awhile, big laugh. Decided to use the LVA match bet on roulette and red came through with a match at 25 so up another 50. Next to Huff N Puff, again .10 denom and 5 dollar bets, was down to 60 bucks and got bonus. Got a couple of mansions and almost full screen of some houses, not big hits but mansions were a mini for 100 and 50. Played a strategy play that I've tried a few times and upped the bet to 10 buck on next spin and lo and behold back to back bonus on buzz saws this time. Buzz saw feature set me up with 4 wood houses to start. End with 4 mansions and less houses, but hit 2 minis and a major coin and gained 970. At this point, was over 1400. Tried the 15.00 bets and no dice, but cashed at 1300. Cash girl deserved a tip here and said she needed to leave soon, I told her work overtime. The run ended after this and lost a couple 100, but ended up 1300 for the night a welcome sight for the rough Sat. we had.
-Tues. 18th - Got a workout in, played a little following D and women were ready to go. Nothing to really speak of winning as was only playing .25. Skipped breakfast so looked at lunch options, used LVA pop up Pizza coupon(s), we had 2 books, and split lunch between the 3 of us. Played some at Plaza and wife was about even and daughter and I played, she hit 4 OAK on .25 again and I couldn't get anything so was down about 100. Moved to Circa next and same results for me, daughter lost a little here, wife did same, but had some good cocktails for a bit. Watched some of the goings on on Fremont which wasn't much at this time but was picking up, went to Nugget to walk around and wife played and lost, daughter didn't want to play since not great poker. Moved our way to Fremont, same story, cocktails for a bit, wife lost a bit and was getting tired of losing. Went back to 4 queens and played by Subway, nothing good for me, wife won a little on slots, tried VP and couldn't do it but daugter did get a few hits to come out ahead. Unfortunately, the old guy in my had a brain fart and left my cards/keychain in the machine as cashing out. Realized when got back to D to play that I Didn't hav them, went back and all gone, asked security and cashier and players club, no luck. So had to start over on those which got me an extra walk in for the day while the ladies freshened up for dinner. Since we don't play at Nugget or Fremont much, I didn't get those, but had to get Plaza, Club One, 4 queens. Got them and checked some points/comp situations I had since leaving on Wed. We wanted to try Seigel's for dinner since I had 50 in comps from El Cortez promos. First time here and really liked the vibe and feel. Wife had the prime rib which was very good, Daughter and both had the Mac and Cheese with prime rib and very filling. Very good dinner for about 40 bucks including tip. We all decided that we would play a little at the D and didn't hit much, daughter had done cold but her and wife had fun with Heidi machine on 2nd floor given their German heritage and bonus they got, got a little win. Not much to speak of for me was basically even. But early to be night for us and I was going to get up early and try to do an early morning shift on Wed. morning.
-Wed. 19th - Got up at 5:00 a.m. to see what I could do went for the long walk to Plaza to start wanted to be back by 8:15, 5:00 a.m. good time to go as Fremont was ghost town so easy walk. Wife wanted a pinkbox so after play would get one. Hit $1 JOB and was able to work total up to being 300 ahead, good start. Got donut, hit Circa next, tried lower level Bonus Poker at sportsbook and wasn't able to hit much, did get up about 50, but ended up even. Hit Binions next for free luggage tag and noticed a Dragon Link that was maxed out, hit a bonus on 3rd pull and unfortunately didn't hit much except 1 decent win so cashed out up 40. Next moved to 4 queens. Tried $1 on bank by fishing area, wasn't able to hit anything so lost 130 or so, but did try a progressive slot machine that ended up hitting a minor at 52 bucks plus a big win to end it so up 120 of the 130 I lost. Needed to cash in some El Cortez TITO's that I forgot the night before so made the trek and played some Bonus Deluxe by Starbucks and tried 3 machines and nothing so cut into the profits. D was last stop and hit the ..25 progressive again for 35 and tried 1 more round on Mo Mummy/Dragon Train to no avail so ended up with 150 profit in the morning run along with 2 comped fleeces for my other daughters and a new wallet all from 4 queens with comps. Went to Nacho Daddy for lunch and used 30 in comps for help with that from the D. So lunch was only 35. Good deal there also. Walked a little to take in sights and then hit the D to head home. Long Taxi ride to airport from downtown, probably should have Ubered, but daughter little skeptical of them,even though she can hold her own very well. Flight to Boise delayed for 45 min. Our flight delayed an hour, flights were good and got home unfortunately in early Thurs. a.m. hours.
Overall, impressions: Need to rethink about possible rental car, set cab fees from airport are fine. But other costs might be more worthwhile to get car with free parking with MGM card and staying at places in downtown that have low cost or no parking fees.
Servers and workers overall were very good people and friendly at numerous places. Tried to tip as best as possible but I do think the overall costs of things do hurt them also. I think eateries and bars have good products and food as noted, but if they could lighten those prices a little it would help all involved.
Gambling was basically as expected, Fremont much better than strip, but considering the last trip was a kick in the shorts this was welcome to actually get some wins and come home with something. Had a number of chances at the Royals but couldn't get one, but practice and strategy cards have helped me become better and daughter as well. Wish the wife had more patience, but that's the way slots go. Glad to get something out of it though.
Still more of a fan of MGM casinos/buildings than Caesars. Like Fremont experience and even though there are some issues with people there, the police presence was very good I thought and bands/music was good. Many people talk about D music and I can agree with it, but it doesn't bother me at this point as I like a lot of different types and can handle it right now.
Glad to have things like these chats and reports, LVA, ACG and pop slots/myvegas apps to make some of the costs easier. Coupon runs and app points can really help alleviate some of those costs to help us do other things, more gambling, pools, drinks etc.
Thanks to everyone for their input on things and if things fall right, might be able to make another trip this year or win Derek Stevens truck with my 25 entries I put in and drive it home!
Cheers!
