Trip Report August 17 to August 22, 2014
GENERAL INFO- This trip report will be by item rather than by day. I'm BW 74 retired Residal Market Auto General Manger, wife MJ 50ish Subrogation Rep. , we live in Austin (South) Tx, BW since 59, MJ since late 60s. We are veterans of Vegas with 40ish trips, and were married there at the Little Chapel by the Courthouse. ( now closed) We love Vegas and go as often as possible and considered this a good trip, any negative comments in this report should be taken as construtive criticism not just griping.
TRANSPORTATION- Taxi to airport with our favorite cab driver Marilyn. (more expensive than driving and parking, but less stress and worth it) Check in was quick and painless, met nice young man waiting in line who worked for Allegiant. Security was busy for a Sunday afternoon but after 10 minutes we were ready for a light meal and waited anixously for our flight. We flew Allegiant for the first time on a commercial flight, we have flown several times on their charter flights. We saved $150 compared to our longtime company plane Southwest, we really miss you Herb Kelleher. Brian our Fight Attendant was super and we enjoyed his company. Left 10 minutes late and arrived 5 minutes early, after a nice little hike we waited 10 minutes for our luggage. I don't understand why people don't step back when they see you are struggling to get your suitcase off the carousel. Belem of Presidental Limo (nice lady) delivered us safely to The Flamingo. (Yes it is more expensive than a Taxi, but we are in Vegas)
Checked our bags, quick checkin at Platinum check in got room# 17076, went straight to Bugsys for beers and video poker.
While in Vegas we walked everywhere except for a round trip to Orleans by taxi, drivers were nice, one asked where we lived, Austin we replied , driver have you eaten BBQ at Franklins, no , we don't stand in line for hours, we will leave that to the hipsters.
Presidental Limo picked us at 7:30 am on Friday to airport driver was a gentlemen who grew up in Hawaii, check in and security was a snap and flight left 10 minutes late and arrived 5 minutes early in Austin. We gave cab driver cross streets of William Cannon and Westgate, MJ said tell him to turn on Manchaca, I didn't... major mistake poor guy didn't know Austin and it cost an extra $10, no sweat we had a good trip.
LODGING- Flamingo 5 nights comped, Go Luxury with a strip view room 17076, view of Cesars and Bellagio, room ok maybe a little worn, last night Thursday sirens all night long didn't sleep that well. We have been staying at the Flamingo since 2005, probably will stay at Paris or Ballys next trip, no big problems with Flamingo but seems like a lot of small stuff is happening lately, or maybe I am geting old and grumpy.
FOOD- We are certainly not foodies, we take our coffee pot and fixings, breakfast bars and buy yogurt and snacks in Vegas. At the Flamingo we buy hotdogs and sandwiches in the food court, we also ate several meals at Johhny Rockets, there is a nice young lady we always enjoy visiting with, one of these days I'll remember her name. We ate at Big Als in The Orleans, always like their food and staff did a good job. One of the highlights of our trip was our meal at Toby Keiths at Harrahs, being from Texas I love Chicken Fried Steaks but it is hard even in Austin to find even a decent one, but the chicken fried steak we had at Tobys was the best I've had in 10 years, MJ said the best she has even had, she even had the leftovers with bread the next morning. (she is originally a West Texas girl, where chicken fried steaks is a staple) I'm sure the staff thought I was goofy insisting on congatulating the Chef in person.
PLACES VISITED- Stage Door, loved it will visit it every trip, drank beer and visited with neat lady bartender, meet newly weds from Katy, Tx enjoyed talking to them. Bought snacks from their liquor store. The Quad, what they have done to the old IP casino is amazing, nice bar back worked hard while bartender was showing off, but not really working. Harrahs got to see Big Elvis again still sounds great, but looks like has gained weight that he lost a few years ago. The walk form Flamingo to Harrahs is much improved from last vist. Cromwell is amazing, really loved the decor, really great lady bartender, but her Super or Manager stood around starring at people doing her impression of Big Brother Host. Orleans nice big casino decent gambling except for WOF Big Wheel, Big Als is very good, in three trips to Orleans have only found 1 good bartender, the others are BAD. Flamingo bartenders are fantastic we lovem Big Steve was on vacation but Steve from Jersey is 5 Star, Manuel, Marty and others do a good job. As usual the SUITS at Flamingo are no where to be seen.
GAMBLING- BW plays 95% .25 to $1 video poker usually Double or DD Bonus Poker. MJ 75% .25 to $1 DDB poker, 25% Slots. At Flamingo BW only one 4 to Royal, six 4oak, best hit was 4 2's for $800, MJ two 4 to Royal, and eight 4oak. We haven't hit a royal (BW&MJ) since 2009. BW played craps at a $5 Table for about an hour lost $10 and tipped $10, really enjoyed it do more craps next trip. We played craps on a machine for several hours, enjoyed it and doubled our money. At Orleans BW hit one 4oak, MJ hit four 4oak. Gambling at Stage Door, Cromwells, Quad, and Harrahs minimal with no big wins. Came back with 50% of Gambling Budget. Enjoy betting parlays on college football when in Vegas, bet $100 3 team parlay, took A&M +10.5 vs South Carolina WIN, Okla State +17.5 vs WIN, LSU -4.5 vs Wisc , LSU wins but only by 4, close but close only counts in horseshoes, hand grenades and country western dancing.
MISCELLANEOUS THOUGHTS-
# Next trip would like to go over Christmas but pobably next Spring
# Allegiant gives you options on pricing but not options (only 4 flights per week) on days of week or time, but if we can save $ we may use them again instead of Southwest, again we miss you Herb.
# Love Vegas and will continue to visit even though gambling isn't break even or profitable as it was 5ish years ago.
# Love Bugsys and food court but will probably stay at Paris or Ballys next trip.
# Appreciate free rooms from Cesars/Harrahs etc. but still don't like their latest tier score or TR formulas, yes I understand it I've had it explained numerous times but still don't like it.
# My rating for this trip B- or 7.
Thanks for reading
Bobby and Martie Austin (South), TX
GENERAL INFO- This trip report will be by item rather than by day. I'm BW 74 retired Residal Market Auto General Manger, wife MJ 50ish Subrogation Rep. , we live in Austin (South) Tx, BW since 59, MJ since late 60s. We are veterans of Vegas with 40ish trips, and were married there at the Little Chapel by the Courthouse. ( now closed) We love Vegas and go as often as possible and considered this a good trip, any negative comments in this report should be taken as construtive criticism not just griping.
TRANSPORTATION- Taxi to airport with our favorite cab driver Marilyn. (more expensive than driving and parking, but less stress and worth it) Check in was quick and painless, met nice young man waiting in line who worked for Allegiant. Security was busy for a Sunday afternoon but after 10 minutes we were ready for a light meal and waited anixously for our flight. We flew Allegiant for the first time on a commercial flight, we have flown several times on their charter flights. We saved $150 compared to our longtime company plane Southwest, we really miss you Herb Kelleher. Brian our Fight Attendant was super and we enjoyed his company. Left 10 minutes late and arrived 5 minutes early, after a nice little hike we waited 10 minutes for our luggage. I don't understand why people don't step back when they see you are struggling to get your suitcase off the carousel. Belem of Presidental Limo (nice lady) delivered us safely to The Flamingo. (Yes it is more expensive than a Taxi, but we are in Vegas)
Checked our bags, quick checkin at Platinum check in got room# 17076, went straight to Bugsys for beers and video poker.
While in Vegas we walked everywhere except for a round trip to Orleans by taxi, drivers were nice, one asked where we lived, Austin we replied , driver have you eaten BBQ at Franklins, no , we don't stand in line for hours, we will leave that to the hipsters.
Presidental Limo picked us at 7:30 am on Friday to airport driver was a gentlemen who grew up in Hawaii, check in and security was a snap and flight left 10 minutes late and arrived 5 minutes early in Austin. We gave cab driver cross streets of William Cannon and Westgate, MJ said tell him to turn on Manchaca, I didn't... major mistake poor guy didn't know Austin and it cost an extra $10, no sweat we had a good trip.
LODGING- Flamingo 5 nights comped, Go Luxury with a strip view room 17076, view of Cesars and Bellagio, room ok maybe a little worn, last night Thursday sirens all night long didn't sleep that well. We have been staying at the Flamingo since 2005, probably will stay at Paris or Ballys next trip, no big problems with Flamingo but seems like a lot of small stuff is happening lately, or maybe I am geting old and grumpy.
FOOD- We are certainly not foodies, we take our coffee pot and fixings, breakfast bars and buy yogurt and snacks in Vegas. At the Flamingo we buy hotdogs and sandwiches in the food court, we also ate several meals at Johhny Rockets, there is a nice young lady we always enjoy visiting with, one of these days I'll remember her name. We ate at Big Als in The Orleans, always like their food and staff did a good job. One of the highlights of our trip was our meal at Toby Keiths at Harrahs, being from Texas I love Chicken Fried Steaks but it is hard even in Austin to find even a decent one, but the chicken fried steak we had at Tobys was the best I've had in 10 years, MJ said the best she has even had, she even had the leftovers with bread the next morning. (she is originally a West Texas girl, where chicken fried steaks is a staple) I'm sure the staff thought I was goofy insisting on congatulating the Chef in person.
PLACES VISITED- Stage Door, loved it will visit it every trip, drank beer and visited with neat lady bartender, meet newly weds from Katy, Tx enjoyed talking to them. Bought snacks from their liquor store. The Quad, what they have done to the old IP casino is amazing, nice bar back worked hard while bartender was showing off, but not really working. Harrahs got to see Big Elvis again still sounds great, but looks like has gained weight that he lost a few years ago. The walk form Flamingo to Harrahs is much improved from last vist. Cromwell is amazing, really loved the decor, really great lady bartender, but her Super or Manager stood around starring at people doing her impression of Big Brother Host. Orleans nice big casino decent gambling except for WOF Big Wheel, Big Als is very good, in three trips to Orleans have only found 1 good bartender, the others are BAD. Flamingo bartenders are fantastic we lovem Big Steve was on vacation but Steve from Jersey is 5 Star, Manuel, Marty and others do a good job. As usual the SUITS at Flamingo are no where to be seen.
GAMBLING- BW plays 95% .25 to $1 video poker usually Double or DD Bonus Poker. MJ 75% .25 to $1 DDB poker, 25% Slots. At Flamingo BW only one 4 to Royal, six 4oak, best hit was 4 2's for $800, MJ two 4 to Royal, and eight 4oak. We haven't hit a royal (BW&MJ) since 2009. BW played craps at a $5 Table for about an hour lost $10 and tipped $10, really enjoyed it do more craps next trip. We played craps on a machine for several hours, enjoyed it and doubled our money. At Orleans BW hit one 4oak, MJ hit four 4oak. Gambling at Stage Door, Cromwells, Quad, and Harrahs minimal with no big wins. Came back with 50% of Gambling Budget. Enjoy betting parlays on college football when in Vegas, bet $100 3 team parlay, took A&M +10.5 vs South Carolina WIN, Okla State +17.5 vs WIN, LSU -4.5 vs Wisc , LSU wins but only by 4, close but close only counts in horseshoes, hand grenades and country western dancing.
MISCELLANEOUS THOUGHTS-
# Next trip would like to go over Christmas but pobably next Spring
# Allegiant gives you options on pricing but not options (only 4 flights per week) on days of week or time, but if we can save $ we may use them again instead of Southwest, again we miss you Herb.
# Love Vegas and will continue to visit even though gambling isn't break even or profitable as it was 5ish years ago.
# Love Bugsys and food court but will probably stay at Paris or Ballys next trip.
# Appreciate free rooms from Cesars/Harrahs etc. but still don't like their latest tier score or TR formulas, yes I understand it I've had it explained numerous times but still don't like it.
# My rating for this trip B- or 7.
Thanks for reading
Bobby and Martie Austin (South), TX
