Fun Trip, No Big Wins, Nov 29- Dec 5, 2018

Hello, here we go again on our 4th trip of 2018.   I am Bobby 78 (BW) and wife is Martie 63 (MJ).  We have now lived in Smithville, TX for one year, after 50+ years in Austin, TX.   Smithville is in the middle of a triangle located between Austin, San Antonio and Houston.

TRANSPORTATION:

From Smithville to Bergstrom Austin and return we again used Super Shuttle Execucar.  This is semi costly but it puts us at ease, the moment we leave our house, no muss no fuss.  Our driver for out last two trips has been Lauro, a charming gentleman who is originally from Brazil.  He is five star plus.  We used Personal Sedan from McCarron Airport to the D Hotel and return for our Vegas transport.  They are okay but nothing special.  We flew out to Vegas on Allegiant out of the South Termial, late, 10PM flight was additionally one hour late.  Return Flight on SW arriving at the Main Terminal at midnight.  Cost of flight was no bargain and the times were not great, but oh well we are going to Vegas.

HOTEL:

Five nights at the D was fully comped,  Room 302.   Nice room, very convenient, no view but thats okay.   On Sunday Dec. 3 our neighbor in Room 304 from Detroit ranted for 30 minutes at his girlfriend using every profanity in the book, real nice pal and me a Detroit Tiger fan.

FOOD:

Had comped meals at the D Grille and 4 Q, Magnolia,  D Grille food is below average and Magnolia is above average.   Also paid for our meal at McDonalds and Hot Dogs at the D.  We are not foodies, so this is not a major item for us.  Dogs at the D are good.  

GAMBLING:

We gambled at the D, 4Q, Golden Nugget and Golden Gate.  We intended to gamble at other Casinos, but did not get that done.  BW gambled 70% video poker and 30% craps, MJ gambled 60% video poker and 40% slots.  BW & MJ had four walk arounds where they go from slot to slot playing a few spins at each at all four casinos, fun but no big hits.  Overall came back with 70% of gambling budgets, both again never hit a royal flush.  MJ had 14 four of a kind and BW had 10.  $1-2, .50-7 and .25-15.   BW had four craps sessions at the D and 4 Q $5 tables, came out overall up $150.00 all good sessions and enjoyed very much, Both D & 4Q workers at tables did a great job, will continue to increase craps sessions on future trips.  BW & MJ enjoyed gambling this trip just needed one big hit to put us over the top, where are you Royal Flushes???

DEREK SIGHTINGS:

Saw the man Saturday at Long Bar watching College Football, no communications.

RANDOM THOUGHTS:

-  Next trip April 17- through 23, already booked flight SW flight for 2 Austin to LV and return $250.00 add Early Bird boarding another $100.00.  Total $350, still the best airfair we have seen in the last 10 years.

-   Will use Super Shuttle

-  Evaluate Personal Sedan.

-  Love Vegas, Love downtown, comments should be constructive criticism not complaints

- The D is great for room comps, 4 Q is great for gambling and freebies

-  Downtown is getting more crowded and with new wing of 500 rooms at the Fremont, Derek Stevens new casino of 700 rooms and 120 rooms at Binions, does Downtown have room for all of this???

-  Downtown appears to be getting more sketchy.

-  Vue Bar music is getting louder and younger

- A ton of F Bombs and MF bombs heard at the Vue Bar and Sports Book

-  Bartenders at the D Jason, Rafael, Roy, Sebastion and Antuan are fantastic

-  Bartenders at the 4 Q Alan, Nathan, Mike, Dexter, Dominic were super

-  Only saw one light show (our bad)

- Did not establish a 3rd Downtown Gambling Casono  (our bad again)

-  Did not take quick trip to strip (our bad)

-  Saw JFO from LVA neat guy, enjoyed visit

-  Saw Big Ray Security at the D,  great guy

-  Coffee Bar at the elevator at the D, best buy in Vegas, Phillip and ladies are great

-  Enjoyed BW & MJ walk around on slots, will continue and maybe increase

-  Royal Flush drought over 3 years 10 trips.  We play mostly Double Double Poker, like their payouts.  Reason for drought??

- 5 nights appear to be ideal length of trip for us.

- South Terminal in Austin is still neat

-  Comfy playing craps Downtown on $5.00 Tables

-  Love Las Vegas, Viva Las Vegas!

Thanks for Reading

Bobby and Martie

Smithville, TX

Enjoyable TR!  Your Royal Flush drought, don't feel rained on.  So tight.  That Super Shuttle Execucar sounds wonderful.  I'd pay extra for stress-reduction on travel day.  Haven't heard of Personal Sedan.  I find taxi for return to McCarran to be sufficient, no worries, quick trip.   

That's a fabulous price for two people RT on Southwest.  We pay double that, usually.  I'm peeved about the increase in Early Bird price, especially since they advertise EB "from $15-25."  Y'all have read my quizzing about that, will it be $15 or $25?  Well, disappointed that the trip I just booked for us (next May) sure enough EB is $25 per each way.  I hovered over it before saying oh well...grrr.   It is a seller's market for SWA.

Yes, it seems more and more that we don't get around to things we plan on doing.

And the music is getting younger and louder everywhere.  I complain, in a detailed manner, about this when I get a survey to complete.   Maybe someone will read them, hopefully someone over the age of 70.  LOL.

Your gambling was good if you came home with 70% of the budget.   Not bad at all.

Thanks for reporting!

Gee whiz,that is a great TR! You remember names like that?

I'm very glad to hear that the craps dealers are skilled and efficient!

It makes for a lot better game.

No RF,again? Make up for the deficit by getting a lot of QUADS,please.

 Louder and effing louder? Yeah,I don't go in there,anymore. I have been known to wear ear plugs at a few places.The D is the absolute loudest,thanks Derek..

B-4 that,it was The Las Vegas Club. I had to shout at my BJ partner,sitting next to me! I'm 67.

 The most pleasant place to play BJ is at The Down Town Grand with 80's music overhead.Trust me on this.

You already booked your next trip? I applaud you both.

A very enjoyable trip report. Thank you.

My TR will be in mid-March.Erin go bra-less.(Insert clover leaves,here)

Dave in Seattle.

Thanks Candy Wright & Dave in Seattle for your comments, Candy Wright always have loved Southwest & always use early bird but $25 per is to too two much, SW has some super prices from Austin to Vegas right now check it out, noise at D is out of hand. Dave in Seattle, thanks for the info on Downtown Grand, have had some luck there will try it next trip, Love the D but noise noise noise. OK trip reports due from both of you. Thanks again Bobby & Sweet Martie Smithville Tx

Trip Update, 910 am Jan2,2019 in Smithville, Tx. By Univ of Texas winning last nite 28-21 over Univ ofGa, I hit a $50 4 team parlay for a win of $600 ( had Clemson-11, A & M -5, OU +14, UT +10.5) will mail ticket in today, nice start to our gambling budget for our April trip. Wow!!! Hookem Horns, Viva Las Vegas Made bet in Dec trip to Vegas.

Southwest question (if you have run into this)

Our December flight was delayed getting off the ground due to getting everyone seated and luggage jockeyed around. If you have early bird but are delayed( for connecting flight, do you just lose the seating and the $25?? We were Early B seating but after running through the airport, got to the gate at the end of C.??

Thanks

MO

Thanks for trip reports, I do agree about the loud music, Do they give a survey if you stay at the D??

Thanks Maureen, we aways fly direct so have not run into your problem, but in my opinion they should refund. Yes they have a survey & I do complain to the point of ticking off our casino host, oh well. Leaving in 1 month & 2 days getting antsy & saving every penny for our trip. Will post a pre trip report in early April. Thanks again, Viva Las Vegas

Bobby said that the 4 Queens is noisy? If it is,I won't play there very long at all!

  The D is insane LOUD! 

My D.G. earplugs will be worn!

It takes energy to fight off that kind of noise and my BP goes up a notch.

  Also,I may find it difficult to concentrate on my game(s.)

Downtown Grand is so mellow in comparison.Not crowded,usually.

I have NEVER found it too smokey inside,either.(I'll smoke outside)

  It's an excuse to have a smoke break when the shoe goes into a minus count.

  I certainly hope they still have 80's 'big hair' tunes on the casino floor.

The system has a few sub woofers that I cannot see in the cieling.

Update or the Downtown Grand:

The blackjack tables use continious shufflers! GAKK!

Craps was good with 3/4/5 free odds and excellent dealers.

On St Patrick's Day,it was crazy-busy and yeah,NOISY!

  The casino tunes were cranked up a bit to deal with the crowd noise.

I used my ear plugs.

There are only TWO 9/6 machines in the entire casino.Confirmed; 3/17/2019.

2 end machines in a bank of 4,in front of cashiers cage.

QUARTERS only. Weird. Not dollars.Not nickels.

[url=[url=https://imgur.com/j5ae7Oq][img]https://i.imgur.com/j5ae7Oq.jpg[/img][/url]://imgur.com/j5ae7Oq][img]https://i.imgur.com/j5ae7Oq.jpg[/img][/url]

Same machine using dollars:

[url=https://[url=https://imgur.com/8BXCYuX][img]https://i.imgur.com/8BXCYuX.jpg[/img][/url]/8BXCYuX][img]https://i.imgur.com/8BXCYuX.jpg[/img][/url]

Very strange. Whatever they do,it's wrong.

I'll do a TR much later. I have 'Vegas lag.

I had a special 'lunch':

[url=[url=https://imgur.com/BT5YiQi][img]https://i.imgur.com/BT5YiQi.jpg[/img][/url]://imgur.com/BT5YiQi][img]https://i.imgur.com/BT5YiQi.jpg[/img][/url]

[url=[url=https://imgur.com/BT5YiQi][img]https://i.imgur.com/BT5YiQi.jpg[/img][/url]://imgur.com/BT5YiQi][img]https://i.imgur.com/BT5YiQi.jpg[/img][/url]

Lotsa beef,but a little tough.

Triple George menu,across the street.

https://https://imgur.com/zJrtRI0/zJrtRI0

I met and shook hands with Derek Stevens,when he came out of the dining area! Made my day.

I'm having trouble posting photos.(Insert frown,here)

I used BB code on Imgur for the last photo.