As much as I enjoy reading a lot of peoples ideas and opinions on where Vegas stands at this point, both the wife and I really like going to Vegas to give us a chance to unwind especially after this last year of our professions. We booked a trip back in Dec. and were just hopeful at that point to be able to get on a plane and get there.
Trip from Minneapolis on Sun Country was on time on mid-Sat. afternoon and arrived about 5 in Vegas, with 5 nights at Luxor. 4 of them comped. Taxi ride was smooth and about 24 bucks from airport with zone pricing (without tip) but driver was informative on how things are going. Should add brought oldest daughter and boyfriend with for their first time too so that was fun to show them some things and spend time seeing them having fun.
Checked in on Sat. morning online and had online key and was given room number when we got on the ground so that was nice. Needed to get kids checked in though so had to stand inline anyway, took a little bit but I think there were probably 7-8 people working behind desk so it went decently well. Liked our room as we were on 4th floor, but unfortunately didn't have great view outside or inside as we were on the backside of the food court and have stayed at Luxor a few times with different views, this was not one of better ones, but not a biggie.
Got to moving about around 7 and went to Hofbrauhaus for dinner. Wife and daughter have been to Germany and lots of German descent in family so fun for them. Food was very good, not a big beer drinker but had one and server was great, lots of people and very good atmosphere for Sat. night, lots of guys with sore asses from getting spanked was pretty comical. Following dinner, went to Strip to show kids Flamingo and Paris and mid-strip area. Margaritas at Margaritaville were great as usual and couple other beverages going from Flamingo back to Luxor made it a fun night, managed to lose some money on slots in Paris and Excalibur as well. But got some freebie cocktails. So not starting off well for trip around 200 down. But alcohol level was up. Aside from the too potent weed smell, was great to be back on the strip again and just enjoying the sights. Hit the sack after a little play in Luxor which was an even night there (not normal for us)
Sunday started really well as went down to play and hit a 200+ bonus and actually got 60 ahead on the
poker machines in the high limit area (hit a number of 4 of a kinds on triple play bonus poker). So a good start. After breakfast sandwich at Nathan's (still a favorite of mine), wife and kids were ready to roll for the day. Used myvegas Nine Fine Irishmen BOGO entree offer. Wife had the salmon, had a great burger and salmon was undercooked so got a replacement with no issues. Headed to MGM and used myvegas monorail reward for 5 days, not as good as it used to be with BOGO but 50% off 2nd is still almost 20. Hit the whip-its show at Carnaval Court and they never disappoint with their selection and music. Lots of drinks, couple shots, seltzers and morgans later, found the always popular White Castle that my daughter and I like so got some booze soaked up and were on our way looking for more. Kids were full and wife was on her way as well, when we tried Harrah's and didn't get much accomplished there lost at both the slots and video pokers on some deuces.
Decided that everyone else had had enough booze for the day so railed it back to MGM and got them all to rooms and went and played at Excalibur. Hit a straight flush and 4 of kind on bonus poker one on machine and hit another 4 on the next one. Great way to end the night.
Monday decided to try Mandalay in the morning and very quiet but was early. Not a great morning but did hit another 4 of a kind for a little profit, but gave it back on a couple slots and also in Luxor slots and VP as well so was down some. Headed to Fremont street after a little food at Excalibur food court. Wife had pick up sticks with generous portions and was good. Schlotzky's breakfast sandwich was good as well. After 30 dollar cab ride, Fremont started ugly at Binions as no hits on VP by deli and tried the slot tournament, but only a hat. Wife hit a little on a couple slots but was down a little overall. No better at Plaza as nothing hitting there either for anyone so things we heading south by about 200 or so.
Did start coupon run on free play and match play losing match at plaza on roulette, but did pull through at Downtown Grand and the D. Nacho Daddy was a stop for us as daughter wanted to stop there and again server was great and food was very good as never had been there before. Headed to Downtown Grand and used coupons on gambling there, roulette was a winner but poker was not, wife got a couple wins on slots so that helped, but basically broke even. Moved on to 4 queens, used free play and wife couldn't hit on slots but video poker started to hit for us. Kids are rookies but learning and hit a little on JOB, daughter hit a mother load of full houses and straights for some profits and daughters boyfriend hit a few flushes as well on quarters. I was able to hit 4 4's on dollars and followed that with a run up to about 500, wife was getting impatient, but a couple drinks took care of that so played a new machine and hit another 4 J's. Decided to cash out and head to the D. Slots not great for wife again, but kids did ok on VP upstairs and I hit 4 A's playing quarters so cashed out ahead a little from wife's losses. During all of these plays, had some great drinks at these places with Morgan's, Crown's and Malibu's rolling for all of us. Servers were great and very upbeat which was great to see. Got cab to Strat as kids wanted to see that and didn't play but was impressed with how new that place looked and was upbeat, planning on going back there next time we come back. Took tram from Sahara to MGM and headed back to Luxor. Stopped for a couple favorite New York pretzels and hit NYNY for a little play, hit another 4 of a kind at the bar to counter wife's slot losses and kids won a little at lower vp, but wasn't able to do that on my tries with bigger stakes. Decided to call it a night on a successful day, but not overly ahead given our early losses of the day and some other spend, but a fun day.
Tuesday was Luxor pool day, played games early again and headed to NYNY to check VP again. Hit another 4 on same machine and finished up about 130, gave some back at Luxor on way back to rent smaller Cabana, had MGM buffet for breakfast starter, good food, price was good, used gift card to pay for it so bargain there, witnessed some melonhead trying to walk out with plate of food, can't fix stupid, but good humor seeing his smug face look get shot down by security. After 1 p.m. arrival at pool, finally got first round of drinks at about 2:10, waitresses seemed a little disorganized, but pool was great, for about 4-5 hours. Temps were climbing so little sun gave us northerners some color, but had fun and good conversations with others. Needed a little rest time after pool, hit the Ellis Island for another few coupon uses, rounds of drinks were great and wife wanted to eat in front yard, food was really good along with service, no steak dinner and couldn't get on VP machines, but watched great hockey game and wife wasn't feeling well with too much sun so headed back early. Kids went to mid strip and took in fountains, Caesars, and a couple others stops and saw a lot they liked. After dropping wife off, went downstairs for some play and Luxor was not helpful lost a couple hundred, but went to Excalibur and won a portion back again. Fun day but tiring too.
Wed. hit morning play in high limit room again and no help this time down and other slots were just as bad for about 200 loss overall, but after a great time of massages at the spa, did sprinkle in a little win at Mandalay on VP but losses on slots put us behind a bit, prior to small bites at House of Blues with a couple of beverages. Hit Excalibur again with VP wins but slot losses 1 4 of 5's this time so about even here, had to grab a couple Fat Tuesday drinks again and little play here and there, led us to Tom's Urban for watching hoops finals and some good food of a couple apps and beers and cocktails. Headed to slots for wife to try and was able to hit a little bit and moved to VP with kids winning a little, lost a little bit and moved to 3rd machine and on 3rd pull hit 4 10's on bonus poker. After a little more play ended a little ahead. Wife wanted to move to Luxor for a little try to end the night which ended up just a bit for her. Tried to get a little more at Excalibur and was able to get a few small things, but also tried their high limit room and a couple slots and lost some there.
Thurs. was last day as checkout was smooth, bell desk was very prompt and made things smooth. Flight was 6:30 p.m. so headed to Paris for Cafe Americano lunch, little pricey but food was good. Had great salad, wife had great chicken sandwich. Played a little and walked through WSOP area, kind of cool. Little toasty for temps outside, so used up our tram tickets. Hit a couple places for light play and nothing good for us on the last day, but considering how things had gone other days was pleased overall. Will also add that probably missed about 10 royals so goes the breaks.
Overall trip, lots of good drinks and lots of servers and bartenders with smiles and prompt service. Some lines at cashiers and MGM Rewards places, but overall workers seemed to be quite upbeat. Had one issue with room safe not opening but maintenence was there in about 20 minutes and was very quick to reset it and great demeanor, very helpful. Probably winner of the trip was using points to get MGM giftcards to cover resort fees, pool cabana and drinks and couple smaller meals and getting enough points to maintain pearl status. Great help from this site for that. Loser of the trip was somehow losing my couple of poker strategy cards somewhere on Monday morning, so probably going to need another couple for you Anthony if you read this.
Still very fond of Vegas and wife and I really love coming for a getaway and doing different things. I will agree it is getting a little spendy, but hopefully that will change and I'd say considering we really didn't lose a lot on the gambling side and was able to get rooms, freeplay, resort credits, lots of drinks for free and LVA coupon book deals, we feel like we came ahead in a lot of other areas. Safe travels to everyone who may be attending soon and might be heading back in November as daughter might be playing college hoops tourney there for a couple days which would be great!
