My wife (Kim) and I recently took our 3rd straight Christmas Break trip to Las Vegas. I was too lazy to write a trip report the past two years, so I decided I would make an attempt to do it this year upon returning from the trip. So here is our venture out to the land of fun:
December 21st - 22nd : We spent the afternoon with Kim’s parents after church. We opened presents, ate lunch and visited a little. We were finally pulled out of our little town in Arkansas about 5:00 PM. We drove the three miles down to I-40, then it was only 1250 more miles west on I-40 until we reached Kingman, Arizona. Then the short 95 mile drive up Hwy 93 to Las Vegas.
We stopped at the Cherokee Casino on Roland shortly after crossing the Oklahoma line. The casino gives us $7 each every half month to apply for food at their grill and also give us $5 free play. We both ordered quesadillas to go since that would be easy to eat in the car. We went to the nickel video poker machines with the typical hideous pay tables to play our free play. I decided on 6-5 Bonus and after 8 pulls I hadn’t won a dime but had seen two deuces several times. I switched over to deuces wild to try my last $3 of free play. The 2nd hand up, I was dealt quad ducks for a nice $50 win. I cashed out $52 up and Kim got her original $5 in free play back too. So we headed back on the road a combined $57 up and with lots of free food to munch on along the way.
The drive through Oklahoma seemed like forever. We stopped in Oklahoma City for gas and was amazed to see it selling for $1.89 a gallon. We made it to Albuquerque about 3 in the morning and had to pay an inflated $1.99 for gas. We finally made it to Kingman around 1 in the afternoon. I was getting hungry so I decided no need on waiting on my In and Out burger fix and pulled in for another meal to go. We were soon on our way up across the Colorado River and through Boulder until we crested the hill to see the beautiful outline of the Las Vegas Valley.
Our first stop was at the Las Vegas Advisor to pick up another POV that I got when I signed up my wife for the end of the year $13 special We drove straight to the El Cortez where we would be spending the nest two nights at the Cabana Suites. This is one of Kim’s favorites and we were given a suite for $21 a night and with $15 in food credit. As you will see, we really don’t play at a level to get a whole lot of room comps, but try to take advantage of any offers we do get. We checked in and actually decided we both could use a nap since we drove through the night. We actually slept only an hour and got up and showered and was ready to go play some.
We walked down to Fremont Street and my wife was pleased that it was too cold for the naked “Devil Lady” to be out. We decided we were getting hungry so we went to the California to put 250 points on our B-Connected cards to take advantage of the American Casino Guide free buffet when getting the points. We started out on some 50/100 play penny machines that had 7-5 bonus poker. We played 10 hands at a time. Kim was doing well at first and had her $20 buy-in up to $34. I also started good but started to cool off quickly. I soon lost my $20 buy-in and still had 120 points for the buffet. However, our plans had changed and we decided to go for 400 points each so we could also each get two of the plush Pepsi stuffed dogs they were giving away for a promotion.
I decided to go up stairs and play some of the quarter fed 9-6 jacks or better machines. I was doing well at first getting several flushes and full houses. I had bought in for $20 and probably had close to $40 of quarters in my tray. Then my machine starting eating quarters and giving nothing back in return. No longer was I hearing the magical sound of quarters and metal tray. I looked down and found my last 4 quarters sitting there. That wasn’t even enough for a full bet so I pocketed them and looked to see I still needed 100 more points for those dumb dogs.
I went back down and trying a couple of nickel machines, my wife had left the penny machines and was venturing into the all so dangerous penny slot area. I tried the penny video poker machines and lost again. I still had around 40 points to get and headed to the quarter treasure chest 8-5 machines. These come up with a treasure chest where you pick when you get a four of kind. The value of the chest is from 125 coins (I think) up to 4000. I’ve played these some at Main Street Station, but never had at the California. I’ve never had a four of kind on these. Well I got my 400 points finally and guess what? Still no four of a kind. The final damage was that my little doggies and buffet would cost me $69. Kim’s dogs and buffet would only cost her $20.
We headed over to the booth to turn in our coupons for the “free” buffet. I commented to Kim that I had never ate at the buffet at California so it would be an adventure. When we presented our coupons, I found out why. The buffet they were good for was the Main Street Station casino. That was no problem with me since I really like their buffet. We got our vouchers and our four stuffed dogs and headed over to across the bridge to the buffet. It was great as usual. My favorite this meal was the cheese enchiladas. They were incredible. By the time we finished it was 9:00 so we started the long walk back to the El Cortez.
When we got to the stage by Binion’s there was an Elvis impersonator performing. We stayed and watched him for ½ an hour until the overhead show started. We watched in then stared down Fremont towards the Tez again. This time we stopped for another 30 minutes to watch an 80’s band by the D. They were very good. We finally decided to cross towards El Cortez when we heard the giant praying mantis roar down the road. We decided to walk over and check out container park. There was security as we walked in and they asked my wife and I for our ID’s. At least I thought they were asking both of us, but all they did was check hers and told me I could go on. With me being 53 and (I won’t say my wife’s age, she is 5 years younger than me.) my wife being older than 21, she was very proud to be asked for her ID. We walked around the park and really didn’t think it was that special.
We finally headed back into the El Cortez. We just couldn’t resist playing just a little more. I played some of the nickel ten coin Joker’s Wild machines and my wife jumped around on some penny slots. After about ½ an hour she was ready to sleep. I had managed a $10 win and she had lost $11. We headed to our rooms to call it a night. However, in spite of such little sleep, I couldn’t get to sleep. She suggested I head back over and play the Joker’s Wild machines since the progressive was in the upper $800’s and I had activated my 5x points offer. I waited till she was asleep and then headed back to chase the progressive.
Day 3 will be tomorrow.
December 21st - 22nd : We spent the afternoon with Kim’s parents after church. We opened presents, ate lunch and visited a little. We were finally pulled out of our little town in Arkansas about 5:00 PM. We drove the three miles down to I-40, then it was only 1250 more miles west on I-40 until we reached Kingman, Arizona. Then the short 95 mile drive up Hwy 93 to Las Vegas.
We stopped at the Cherokee Casino on Roland shortly after crossing the Oklahoma line. The casino gives us $7 each every half month to apply for food at their grill and also give us $5 free play. We both ordered quesadillas to go since that would be easy to eat in the car. We went to the nickel video poker machines with the typical hideous pay tables to play our free play. I decided on 6-5 Bonus and after 8 pulls I hadn’t won a dime but had seen two deuces several times. I switched over to deuces wild to try my last $3 of free play. The 2nd hand up, I was dealt quad ducks for a nice $50 win. I cashed out $52 up and Kim got her original $5 in free play back too. So we headed back on the road a combined $57 up and with lots of free food to munch on along the way.
The drive through Oklahoma seemed like forever. We stopped in Oklahoma City for gas and was amazed to see it selling for $1.89 a gallon. We made it to Albuquerque about 3 in the morning and had to pay an inflated $1.99 for gas. We finally made it to Kingman around 1 in the afternoon. I was getting hungry so I decided no need on waiting on my In and Out burger fix and pulled in for another meal to go. We were soon on our way up across the Colorado River and through Boulder until we crested the hill to see the beautiful outline of the Las Vegas Valley.
Our first stop was at the Las Vegas Advisor to pick up another POV that I got when I signed up my wife for the end of the year $13 special We drove straight to the El Cortez where we would be spending the nest two nights at the Cabana Suites. This is one of Kim’s favorites and we were given a suite for $21 a night and with $15 in food credit. As you will see, we really don’t play at a level to get a whole lot of room comps, but try to take advantage of any offers we do get. We checked in and actually decided we both could use a nap since we drove through the night. We actually slept only an hour and got up and showered and was ready to go play some.
We walked down to Fremont Street and my wife was pleased that it was too cold for the naked “Devil Lady” to be out. We decided we were getting hungry so we went to the California to put 250 points on our B-Connected cards to take advantage of the American Casino Guide free buffet when getting the points. We started out on some 50/100 play penny machines that had 7-5 bonus poker. We played 10 hands at a time. Kim was doing well at first and had her $20 buy-in up to $34. I also started good but started to cool off quickly. I soon lost my $20 buy-in and still had 120 points for the buffet. However, our plans had changed and we decided to go for 400 points each so we could also each get two of the plush Pepsi stuffed dogs they were giving away for a promotion.
I decided to go up stairs and play some of the quarter fed 9-6 jacks or better machines. I was doing well at first getting several flushes and full houses. I had bought in for $20 and probably had close to $40 of quarters in my tray. Then my machine starting eating quarters and giving nothing back in return. No longer was I hearing the magical sound of quarters and metal tray. I looked down and found my last 4 quarters sitting there. That wasn’t even enough for a full bet so I pocketed them and looked to see I still needed 100 more points for those dumb dogs.
I went back down and trying a couple of nickel machines, my wife had left the penny machines and was venturing into the all so dangerous penny slot area. I tried the penny video poker machines and lost again. I still had around 40 points to get and headed to the quarter treasure chest 8-5 machines. These come up with a treasure chest where you pick when you get a four of kind. The value of the chest is from 125 coins (I think) up to 4000. I’ve played these some at Main Street Station, but never had at the California. I’ve never had a four of kind on these. Well I got my 400 points finally and guess what? Still no four of a kind. The final damage was that my little doggies and buffet would cost me $69. Kim’s dogs and buffet would only cost her $20.
We headed over to the booth to turn in our coupons for the “free” buffet. I commented to Kim that I had never ate at the buffet at California so it would be an adventure. When we presented our coupons, I found out why. The buffet they were good for was the Main Street Station casino. That was no problem with me since I really like their buffet. We got our vouchers and our four stuffed dogs and headed over to across the bridge to the buffet. It was great as usual. My favorite this meal was the cheese enchiladas. They were incredible. By the time we finished it was 9:00 so we started the long walk back to the El Cortez.
When we got to the stage by Binion’s there was an Elvis impersonator performing. We stayed and watched him for ½ an hour until the overhead show started. We watched in then stared down Fremont towards the Tez again. This time we stopped for another 30 minutes to watch an 80’s band by the D. They were very good. We finally decided to cross towards El Cortez when we heard the giant praying mantis roar down the road. We decided to walk over and check out container park. There was security as we walked in and they asked my wife and I for our ID’s. At least I thought they were asking both of us, but all they did was check hers and told me I could go on. With me being 53 and (I won’t say my wife’s age, she is 5 years younger than me.) my wife being older than 21, she was very proud to be asked for her ID. We walked around the park and really didn’t think it was that special.
We finally headed back into the El Cortez. We just couldn’t resist playing just a little more. I played some of the nickel ten coin Joker’s Wild machines and my wife jumped around on some penny slots. After about ½ an hour she was ready to sleep. I had managed a $10 win and she had lost $11. We headed to our rooms to call it a night. However, in spite of such little sleep, I couldn’t get to sleep. She suggested I head back over and play the Joker’s Wild machines since the progressive was in the upper $800’s and I had activated my 5x points offer. I waited till she was asleep and then headed back to chase the progressive.
Day 3 will be tomorrow.
