It's neat when after all the advance planning, doing all your homework, booking
your Shows before you leave home...EVERYTHING, that it all comes together for
one great Vegas vacation! This was one of those trips.
The only snag I ran into (and this is quite curious so stick with me here...)
Remember...I go for Shows 1st/Gaming 2nd and because of that, I'll book
many advance 'stays' per the upcoming Shows I want to see.
You may have seen my post, 'Fegan, McDonald, Scaggs at the JOINT'.
Once a year, Donald Fagen from Steely Dan, Michael McDonald from...well,
Michael McDonald and his early Doobie Brothers years, along with Boz Scaggs
(Lowdown, Lido)...any way, they all get together for a tour.
They call themselves 'The DUKES OF SEPTEMBER RHYTHM REVIEW'. Three music
legends all in one place playing their greatest hits ranging from R&B, to Soul,
to Jazz Rock.
............... SUNDAY, JUNE 24th, The JOINT, www.hardrockhotel.com ................
Well...I got my ticket, then went on line to book the RIO.
When I came to the BOOK THIS ROOM 'click', a box popped up saying a problem
had happened and to call 1-800...
Now 'this box pop up problem' happens nearly every time I book on line for the RIO.
I just call...explain what happened...and they book me over the phone...NO PROBLEM.
This time, the booking person tells me he can't book me at the RIO...I've exceeded
my advance booking allotment.
He said..."you're only allowed 3 advance bookings and you have 5. I can't book you
any more."
...NEWS TO ME !?!
...CET DOESN'T WANT MY BUSINESS !?!
...I CAN BOOK ELSEWHERE YA KNOW !
He says..."sorry. I see you've booked on line and have confirmation numbers so
you...'probably'...won't receive a phone call asking you to cancel some of your dates,
but I can't book you at this time".
My, my, my...
When I got home, went on line, booked the 24th, have ANOTHER confirmation number, lol.
Goofiest thing I ever heard of.
(All the above is call 'filler' folks...I just don't have much of anything new for a TR)
Everything is good at the RIO.
Pools and restaurants open, (Gaylord's India has closed), the RIO's 'new' dim sum restaurant
where the bowling alley used to be seems to be doing well...
On busy days/nights at RIO, they're trying a new drink service program. Cocktail servers
wait at the various bars while 'AMBASSADORS' walk around taking your drink orders with
their hand held notebooks. Your order and location are beamed to the closest bar and the
cocktail servers bring your drink order. It seems to work okay...still takes about the same
amount of time and the regular 'BEVERTAINERS' still make their rounds when it's slow.
I got lucky at Diamond/Platinum registration and they gave me a VIP room on the 19th floor.
These are basically the same Premium Deluxe rooms with new color schemes (gold,burgundy,tans)
along with a nicer bathroom/dressing area design and flat screen TV. (that isn't hooked up to HD, lol)
Nice if you get one, but they all look the same when you're asleep.
Most weekday mornings I use the buffet for breakfast. It's half the price of their Cafe and
MUCH MORE variety. Weekends the price is higher for...'Brunch' only (and there's nothin' new added)
so I'm fine with just a muffin and cappuccino from RIO JAVA in Masquerade Village.
I prefer RIO JAVA over Starbucks.
Both use the same pastry supplier and I'd rather support the 'little guy' over the corporation monster.
(i like their flavor of their coffee better anyway...)
GAMING?...what can I say. It was SOS. I play dollar BONUS video poker but during the first
few stays of each year, I play my favorite SLOTS to run up my Total Reward Tier Points to insure
my Platinum players level.
Slots earn Tier Points twice as fast as video poker...
You need 4000 Tier Points for Platinum level and I prefer Platinum level over Diamond.
(i was Diamond for a couple years...gave it up/highly over rated)
This was my second trip of 2012 and I reached my 4000 Tier Points this trip. Now I can relax,
play just video poker and not worry about my Tier level for 2013.
By the way...when booking a room using my Total Reward number, I haven't used ANY of 'My Offers'
awarded by Total Rewards. HOT DEALS work much better for me.
Here's the way I do it:
Put in your Total Reward number and your dates in the home page property calendar...see what comes up.
On that same page, 'click' HOT DEALS in the ROOM DEALS box.
'click' View on calendar.
I (usually) find 5 COMP nights and book that way but....BE CARFUL!
YOU'RE ONLY ALLOWED 3 ADVANCE BOOKINGS, LOL! (lest RIO RITA will personally come up to your
room and spank you)
Sorry...got off the track there a minute. GAMBLING was hit 'n miss.
Friday, my first day in...put in a FRANKLIN, had a good long session and came out
with six hundred.
The next 4 days were so-so, then EVERYTHING dried up. I couldn't get any cards on any
machines in any part of the casino.
An odd burst of luck on Wednesday gave me a little over a thousand dollars with some lucky
hits on 4 quads and other higher payouts but not a ROYAL in sight (it's been 2 years!)
Then the machines all dried up again...couldn't even hit 2 pairs.
Awww...the volativity of video poker. I licked my wounds AND STOPPED PLAYING for the
rest of the trip.
(Oh!......and I gave over $200.00 away too)
I was just about done playing early one morning when I spied an old 'Change' person friend
of mind I hadn't seen in over a year. Harrah's layed off lots of Change people to cut costs.
Then...they hire 'em back temporary...get a 3k tax gift from the government for helping the
economy by hiring people.............jezzzzzz, go figure.
ANYWAY...I spot 'Fore' and we start catching up on ol' times.
She says come with me, I gotta go over here. It's around 8am and I'm meeting 'westie'
at 8:30 so I'm sorta in a hurry...
I clean up my area...empty coffee cup, napkins, empty water bottle and toss 'em in the trash
and follow her. (ya see where this is going?)
I DID NOT CASH OUT OR PULL OUT MY PLAYERS CARD.
Half way out of the Village, I realize what I forgot and went back to my machine.
My card was in the machine, but the ticket was gone.
My first thought was I'd cashed out the tic and it got mixed up with the trash I'd thrown out but...
it was now 8:15 and 'westie' was picking me up at 8:30 on the other side of the RIO. I'd look through
the trash when I got back.
A couple hours later, I'm pulling up the plastic trash liner from the garbage container...MESSSSSY !!!
YA KNOW HOW MANY PLAYERS CLUB CARDS WERE IN THE TRASH ??? lots, but no ticket.
I went into High Limits and had one of my friends run a check on the machine I was playing.
YES the times all matched, the ticket showed my total of $283.47 AND...that it was pulled from the
machine just after I'd left and cashed on the other side of the casino 5 minutes later.
I PROBABLY WALKED RIGHT BY THE PERSON ON MY WAY TO MEET 'westie'!
The RIO's Security had busted two guys the day before for searching for and cashing in...forgotten tics.
I was just another victim of the Las Vegas bad guys and it was entirely MY FAULT.
This trip was longer than I prefer. These days, 4 days/3 nights floats my boat just fine.
It was because of my 2 Shows at the 'new', wonderful, SMITH CENTER for the PERFORMING
ARTS that extended my stay.
There was 1 Show Friday (The Pink Floyd Experience) and the 2nd was the following Wednesday
(The Color Purple) so............it was a LONG week.
I'll have some info on my Shows and The SMITH CENTER later in the Entertainment section...
Went to breakfast one morning with 'westie' (Frank&Ann) Always a great way to start your day.
(aside from the ticket snafoo mentioned above, lol)
We hit a little local pancake place called 'BABY STACKS' and I swear...this wasn't breakfast, it
was dessert. It seemed like every style of pancakes you could order were more like a dessert
than a breakfast. I just ordered good ol' buttermilk pancakes.
'westie' took pictures and you'll see what I mean in HIS TR I'm sure, lol.
Had lunch at the Hard Rock after picking up my 'DUKES' tic. Had the (not on the menu)
Steak and Shrimp with a salad. Also not on the menu, Prime Rib in the evening, both a great
value for what it is...they're good.
Went to the COSMO one night after a Show for 2 slices of pepperoni pizza from the 3d floor,
(not so secret any more) Secret Pizza joint.
Had a good Italian dinner in 'FELLINI's' in between Frankie Moreno's Show and BITE later
that night over at the Stratosphere.
A couple nights after my Shows, I'd just grab some 'Wings' from the All American Bar and Grill
back at the RIO and take 'em upstairs to share with David Letterman.
Checked out Thursday morning...11:15am flight and no issues.
THAT'S IT!
Another good trip...AND IT'S GREAT TO BE HOME.
TAKE CARE ALL and I'll see ya on the board.
Greg
your Shows before you leave home...EVERYTHING, that it all comes together for
one great Vegas vacation! This was one of those trips.
The only snag I ran into (and this is quite curious so stick with me here...)
Remember...I go for Shows 1st/Gaming 2nd and because of that, I'll book
many advance 'stays' per the upcoming Shows I want to see.
You may have seen my post, 'Fegan, McDonald, Scaggs at the JOINT'.
Once a year, Donald Fagen from Steely Dan, Michael McDonald from...well,
Michael McDonald and his early Doobie Brothers years, along with Boz Scaggs
(Lowdown, Lido)...any way, they all get together for a tour.
They call themselves 'The DUKES OF SEPTEMBER RHYTHM REVIEW'. Three music
legends all in one place playing their greatest hits ranging from R&B, to Soul,
to Jazz Rock.
............... SUNDAY, JUNE 24th, The JOINT, www.hardrockhotel.com ................
Well...I got my ticket, then went on line to book the RIO.
When I came to the BOOK THIS ROOM 'click', a box popped up saying a problem
had happened and to call 1-800...
Now 'this box pop up problem' happens nearly every time I book on line for the RIO.
I just call...explain what happened...and they book me over the phone...NO PROBLEM.
This time, the booking person tells me he can't book me at the RIO...I've exceeded
my advance booking allotment.
He said..."you're only allowed 3 advance bookings and you have 5. I can't book you
any more."
...NEWS TO ME !?!
...CET DOESN'T WANT MY BUSINESS !?!
...I CAN BOOK ELSEWHERE YA KNOW !
He says..."sorry. I see you've booked on line and have confirmation numbers so
you...'probably'...won't receive a phone call asking you to cancel some of your dates,
but I can't book you at this time".
My, my, my...
When I got home, went on line, booked the 24th, have ANOTHER confirmation number, lol.
Goofiest thing I ever heard of.
(All the above is call 'filler' folks...I just don't have much of anything new for a TR)
Everything is good at the RIO.
Pools and restaurants open, (Gaylord's India has closed), the RIO's 'new' dim sum restaurant
where the bowling alley used to be seems to be doing well...
On busy days/nights at RIO, they're trying a new drink service program. Cocktail servers
wait at the various bars while 'AMBASSADORS' walk around taking your drink orders with
their hand held notebooks. Your order and location are beamed to the closest bar and the
cocktail servers bring your drink order. It seems to work okay...still takes about the same
amount of time and the regular 'BEVERTAINERS' still make their rounds when it's slow.
I got lucky at Diamond/Platinum registration and they gave me a VIP room on the 19th floor.
These are basically the same Premium Deluxe rooms with new color schemes (gold,burgundy,tans)
along with a nicer bathroom/dressing area design and flat screen TV. (that isn't hooked up to HD, lol)
Nice if you get one, but they all look the same when you're asleep.
Most weekday mornings I use the buffet for breakfast. It's half the price of their Cafe and
MUCH MORE variety. Weekends the price is higher for...'Brunch' only (and there's nothin' new added)
so I'm fine with just a muffin and cappuccino from RIO JAVA in Masquerade Village.
I prefer RIO JAVA over Starbucks.
Both use the same pastry supplier and I'd rather support the 'little guy' over the corporation monster.
(i like their flavor of their coffee better anyway...)
GAMING?...what can I say. It was SOS. I play dollar BONUS video poker but during the first
few stays of each year, I play my favorite SLOTS to run up my Total Reward Tier Points to insure
my Platinum players level.
Slots earn Tier Points twice as fast as video poker...
You need 4000 Tier Points for Platinum level and I prefer Platinum level over Diamond.
(i was Diamond for a couple years...gave it up/highly over rated)
This was my second trip of 2012 and I reached my 4000 Tier Points this trip. Now I can relax,
play just video poker and not worry about my Tier level for 2013.
By the way...when booking a room using my Total Reward number, I haven't used ANY of 'My Offers'
awarded by Total Rewards. HOT DEALS work much better for me.
Here's the way I do it:
Put in your Total Reward number and your dates in the home page property calendar...see what comes up.
On that same page, 'click' HOT DEALS in the ROOM DEALS box.
'click' View on calendar.
I (usually) find 5 COMP nights and book that way but....BE CARFUL!
YOU'RE ONLY ALLOWED 3 ADVANCE BOOKINGS, LOL! (lest RIO RITA will personally come up to your
room and spank you)
Sorry...got off the track there a minute. GAMBLING was hit 'n miss.
Friday, my first day in...put in a FRANKLIN, had a good long session and came out
with six hundred.
The next 4 days were so-so, then EVERYTHING dried up. I couldn't get any cards on any
machines in any part of the casino.
An odd burst of luck on Wednesday gave me a little over a thousand dollars with some lucky
hits on 4 quads and other higher payouts but not a ROYAL in sight (it's been 2 years!)
Then the machines all dried up again...couldn't even hit 2 pairs.
Awww...the volativity of video poker. I licked my wounds AND STOPPED PLAYING for the
rest of the trip.
(Oh!......and I gave over $200.00 away too)
I was just about done playing early one morning when I spied an old 'Change' person friend
of mind I hadn't seen in over a year. Harrah's layed off lots of Change people to cut costs.
Then...they hire 'em back temporary...get a 3k tax gift from the government for helping the
economy by hiring people.............jezzzzzz, go figure.
ANYWAY...I spot 'Fore' and we start catching up on ol' times.
She says come with me, I gotta go over here. It's around 8am and I'm meeting 'westie'
at 8:30 so I'm sorta in a hurry...
I clean up my area...empty coffee cup, napkins, empty water bottle and toss 'em in the trash
and follow her. (ya see where this is going?)
I DID NOT CASH OUT OR PULL OUT MY PLAYERS CARD.
Half way out of the Village, I realize what I forgot and went back to my machine.
My card was in the machine, but the ticket was gone.
My first thought was I'd cashed out the tic and it got mixed up with the trash I'd thrown out but...
it was now 8:15 and 'westie' was picking me up at 8:30 on the other side of the RIO. I'd look through
the trash when I got back.
A couple hours later, I'm pulling up the plastic trash liner from the garbage container...MESSSSSY !!!
YA KNOW HOW MANY PLAYERS CLUB CARDS WERE IN THE TRASH ??? lots, but no ticket.
I went into High Limits and had one of my friends run a check on the machine I was playing.
YES the times all matched, the ticket showed my total of $283.47 AND...that it was pulled from the
machine just after I'd left and cashed on the other side of the casino 5 minutes later.
I PROBABLY WALKED RIGHT BY THE PERSON ON MY WAY TO MEET 'westie'!
The RIO's Security had busted two guys the day before for searching for and cashing in...forgotten tics.
I was just another victim of the Las Vegas bad guys and it was entirely MY FAULT.
This trip was longer than I prefer. These days, 4 days/3 nights floats my boat just fine.
It was because of my 2 Shows at the 'new', wonderful, SMITH CENTER for the PERFORMING
ARTS that extended my stay.
There was 1 Show Friday (The Pink Floyd Experience) and the 2nd was the following Wednesday
(The Color Purple) so............it was a LONG week.
I'll have some info on my Shows and The SMITH CENTER later in the Entertainment section...
Went to breakfast one morning with 'westie' (Frank&Ann) Always a great way to start your day.
(aside from the ticket snafoo mentioned above, lol)
We hit a little local pancake place called 'BABY STACKS' and I swear...this wasn't breakfast, it
was dessert. It seemed like every style of pancakes you could order were more like a dessert
than a breakfast. I just ordered good ol' buttermilk pancakes.
'westie' took pictures and you'll see what I mean in HIS TR I'm sure, lol.
Had lunch at the Hard Rock after picking up my 'DUKES' tic. Had the (not on the menu)
Steak and Shrimp with a salad. Also not on the menu, Prime Rib in the evening, both a great
value for what it is...they're good.
Went to the COSMO one night after a Show for 2 slices of pepperoni pizza from the 3d floor,
(not so secret any more) Secret Pizza joint.
Had a good Italian dinner in 'FELLINI's' in between Frankie Moreno's Show and BITE later
that night over at the Stratosphere.
A couple nights after my Shows, I'd just grab some 'Wings' from the All American Bar and Grill
back at the RIO and take 'em upstairs to share with David Letterman.
Checked out Thursday morning...11:15am flight and no issues.
THAT'S IT!
Another good trip...AND IT'S GREAT TO BE HOME.
TAKE CARE ALL and I'll see ya on the board.
Greg
