I've been to Vegas the week before Christmas. I've been to Vegas the week between Christmas and New Years. This was the first time I've been in Vegas on Christmas Day. I did not expect to see crowds similar to March Madness, NYE or Super Bowl Sunday walking the strip.
First stop Christmas Day was Ak Chin. Played through my weekly fsp. Earned 60 tier credits, collected my bonus reward credits and left +$20.00. Hello Vegas, here I come. Flight was on time and booked using SW points. I used Super Shuttle from McCarren to Paris, cost $9.00, prepaid using the app and AAA discount.
Shuttle driver told me depending on the time of year, sometimes MGM Signature Suites cost less than a room in the hotel. If any MGM players can confirm, please let me know.
At check in I asked for the nicest room they could put me in with a view. Diamond Registration Associate asked if 2 queens were okay and suggested one of the newly remodeled burgundy rooms. I was given room 1496, my home for the next 3 nights.
If I had one goal for the trip, it was to be present and enjoy the sites; not to care about points and daily average. My other goal was to stay within budget and not go to the ATM.
I played slots for 2 hours or so at Paris cashing out even. I love playing the Gold Pays machines and mostly played them. I walked over to PHo to try to pick up my tickets for Tuesday's Lionel Richie concert. The box office on the mezzanine was closed. I learned the next day, I needed to go to the Axis box office located on the lower level across from the Axis Theatre. While at PHo, I stopped in the diamond lounge for a drink and some snacks. PHo's DL was the only place not busy Christmas Day.
Later, I took the shuttle to Rio where I met up with a friend, VF (Vegas Friend), also my partner in crime. We went to Orleans, played a little before enjoying Christmas Dinner at the Prime Rib Loft. I lost $50.00 playing slots and a little VP at Orleans. Back at my hotel, I called it a night.
12/26
First stop, Bellagio Conservatory then breakfast at Mon Ami Gabi. I love that hardly anyone is out and about around 8 am. After breakfast, I hung out in my room for a bit before going downstairs. I enjoyed a glass of bubbles at the bar located near registration before hitting the casino.
I played gold pays and other various slots and didn't hit anything. I played the new "wonder tower" I think that's what it's called, and got the buffalo super games. Won on that and won on buffalo gold. Played some other things including single line quarters. Didn't hit anything significant. I hit the major jackpot on one of the Ainsworth machines, $1.50 bet and did okay on another. Lost on 88 fortunes and 5 Treasures. Won on a game similar to 88 fortunes.
I love watching the first Fountain Show and always tear up when the Star Spangled Banner is played.
Dinner on the 26th was mostly liquid mixed in with Caesar's DL junk food. I was seated by myself next to 2 men while waiting for VF. I was entertained by their conversation. They were conversing in a language other than English except for when they swore. They conversation went something like "yada yada yada, f*ck, yada yada, f*ck." "Oh shit! yada yada yada."
Sometime before leaving Caesar's and before returning to Paris, my evil twin arrived. "LET'S GO GAMBLE!!!" And, gamble I did. I didn't hit squat and played through the day's win plus. Yet, I kept to my goal and did not go to the ATM.
12/27
I walked through Bellagio on my way to Aria. VF and I planned to use her My Vegas award for the buffet. When she got there, she found out it was blacked out this week. Instead, we enjoyed breakfast at PHo. While at PHo, I picked up our tickets for Lionel. Host made the reservation for me. I was able to charge them to the room and pay with reward credits at check out.
Because my flight was way toooooo early on the 28th, I used reward credits to settle my room charges on the 27th. Because I wanted to play and not go to the ATM, I converted reward credits to fsp saving $50 of them for food. I turned the fsp into 60 then cashed out at 45. Mission accomplished! I now had 65 cash on me, enough for tips, cab fare and some cash to travel home with. I made my baby bankroll last 3 days in Vegas.
Or, did I?
One of the things I wanted to do was sight see. It was sunny, not too cold and a nice afternoon for a walk. While walking between Harrahs and Venetian, I decided to adult and not photo bomb some dude's Facebook live video. I walked through Venetian to Palazzo then over to Wynn. It had been so long since I've been to Wynn, I forgot he has his version of dancing fountains and music.
I intended to walk to Encore. Instead, I heard "Lisa, Lisa." One of the Ainsworth slots was calling my name. It was the same game I won on at Paris and recently won on at home. I played $10 through and didn't hit anything. I had a feeling and put in a twenty. I told myself I could always cash a check at Caesars.
I played $2 more then won $67 on an 80c bet. Then continued to hit. I played that machine until it was time to leave and cashed out + $100.00.
I walked through the Forum Shops going to Caesars. Big mistake. People everywhere. I eventually got to Caesars. Another machine called my name. I once saw someone hit the major progressive on a 50 c bet. Both the major and minor progressives were high.
I played and got the bonus game several times. I then hit the minor for $78.54. Within 5 minutes, I hit it again for $50.19. I won $175.00 on that machine.
Score!!!
VF and I went to Bachannel for dinner. She used her diamond celebration certificate and I payed the balance with reward credits. They had a special holiday menu and the place was packed. I would have enjoyed it more had it been less busy.
If you have the opportunity, go see Lionel Richie. He is AWESOME. I really liked how he interacted with the audience and encourage us to sing along. Seeing his show was the perfect ending of a perfect trip.
I played a little at Paris before going to bed as I was too hyper. I had about 3 hours of sleep, packed and out the door by 4 am for my 5:30 flight.
I used the total rewards app to check out of my room while en route to the airport.
Random photos
According to this guy, I'm going to hell.
View from my room
Fancy Christmas Drink
Wynn
Bellagio
Julian Serrano
On the way to Aria
First stop Christmas Day was Ak Chin. Played through my weekly fsp. Earned 60 tier credits, collected my bonus reward credits and left +$20.00. Hello Vegas, here I come. Flight was on time and booked using SW points. I used Super Shuttle from McCarren to Paris, cost $9.00, prepaid using the app and AAA discount.
Shuttle driver told me depending on the time of year, sometimes MGM Signature Suites cost less than a room in the hotel. If any MGM players can confirm, please let me know.
At check in I asked for the nicest room they could put me in with a view. Diamond Registration Associate asked if 2 queens were okay and suggested one of the newly remodeled burgundy rooms. I was given room 1496, my home for the next 3 nights.
If I had one goal for the trip, it was to be present and enjoy the sites; not to care about points and daily average. My other goal was to stay within budget and not go to the ATM.
I played slots for 2 hours or so at Paris cashing out even. I love playing the Gold Pays machines and mostly played them. I walked over to PHo to try to pick up my tickets for Tuesday's Lionel Richie concert. The box office on the mezzanine was closed. I learned the next day, I needed to go to the Axis box office located on the lower level across from the Axis Theatre. While at PHo, I stopped in the diamond lounge for a drink and some snacks. PHo's DL was the only place not busy Christmas Day.
Later, I took the shuttle to Rio where I met up with a friend, VF (Vegas Friend), also my partner in crime. We went to Orleans, played a little before enjoying Christmas Dinner at the Prime Rib Loft. I lost $50.00 playing slots and a little VP at Orleans. Back at my hotel, I called it a night.
12/26
First stop, Bellagio Conservatory then breakfast at Mon Ami Gabi. I love that hardly anyone is out and about around 8 am. After breakfast, I hung out in my room for a bit before going downstairs. I enjoyed a glass of bubbles at the bar located near registration before hitting the casino.
I played gold pays and other various slots and didn't hit anything. I played the new "wonder tower" I think that's what it's called, and got the buffalo super games. Won on that and won on buffalo gold. Played some other things including single line quarters. Didn't hit anything significant. I hit the major jackpot on one of the Ainsworth machines, $1.50 bet and did okay on another. Lost on 88 fortunes and 5 Treasures. Won on a game similar to 88 fortunes.
I love watching the first Fountain Show and always tear up when the Star Spangled Banner is played.
Dinner on the 26th was mostly liquid mixed in with Caesar's DL junk food. I was seated by myself next to 2 men while waiting for VF. I was entertained by their conversation. They were conversing in a language other than English except for when they swore. They conversation went something like "yada yada yada, f*ck, yada yada, f*ck." "Oh shit! yada yada yada."
Sometime before leaving Caesar's and before returning to Paris, my evil twin arrived. "LET'S GO GAMBLE!!!" And, gamble I did. I didn't hit squat and played through the day's win plus. Yet, I kept to my goal and did not go to the ATM.
12/27
I walked through Bellagio on my way to Aria. VF and I planned to use her My Vegas award for the buffet. When she got there, she found out it was blacked out this week. Instead, we enjoyed breakfast at PHo. While at PHo, I picked up our tickets for Lionel. Host made the reservation for me. I was able to charge them to the room and pay with reward credits at check out.
Because my flight was way toooooo early on the 28th, I used reward credits to settle my room charges on the 27th. Because I wanted to play and not go to the ATM, I converted reward credits to fsp saving $50 of them for food. I turned the fsp into 60 then cashed out at 45. Mission accomplished! I now had 65 cash on me, enough for tips, cab fare and some cash to travel home with. I made my baby bankroll last 3 days in Vegas.
Or, did I?
One of the things I wanted to do was sight see. It was sunny, not too cold and a nice afternoon for a walk. While walking between Harrahs and Venetian, I decided to adult and not photo bomb some dude's Facebook live video. I walked through Venetian to Palazzo then over to Wynn. It had been so long since I've been to Wynn, I forgot he has his version of dancing fountains and music.
I intended to walk to Encore. Instead, I heard "Lisa, Lisa." One of the Ainsworth slots was calling my name. It was the same game I won on at Paris and recently won on at home. I played $10 through and didn't hit anything. I had a feeling and put in a twenty. I told myself I could always cash a check at Caesars.
I played $2 more then won $67 on an 80c bet. Then continued to hit. I played that machine until it was time to leave and cashed out + $100.00.
I walked through the Forum Shops going to Caesars. Big mistake. People everywhere. I eventually got to Caesars. Another machine called my name. I once saw someone hit the major progressive on a 50 c bet. Both the major and minor progressives were high.
I played and got the bonus game several times. I then hit the minor for $78.54. Within 5 minutes, I hit it again for $50.19. I won $175.00 on that machine.
Score!!!
VF and I went to Bachannel for dinner. She used her diamond celebration certificate and I payed the balance with reward credits. They had a special holiday menu and the place was packed. I would have enjoyed it more had it been less busy.
If you have the opportunity, go see Lionel Richie. He is AWESOME. I really liked how he interacted with the audience and encourage us to sing along. Seeing his show was the perfect ending of a perfect trip.
I played a little at Paris before going to bed as I was too hyper. I had about 3 hours of sleep, packed and out the door by 4 am for my 5:30 flight.
I used the total rewards app to check out of my room while en route to the airport.
Random photos
According to this guy, I'm going to hell.
View from my room
Fancy Christmas Drink
Wynn
Bellagio
Julian Serrano
On the way to Aria
