Laughlin/Las Vegas: 3/22-3/26

Long story short, this was the trip that almost wasn't. Girls Trip to Vegas - Mom and Me.

The drive to Laughlin Sunday was uneventful. First stop, the Outlet Mall. There’s a shoe store there that mom likes. She found a pair. That mall has potential and it is sad to see it so depressed.

I think we arrived Harrahs Laughlin around 2:45 pm. My room was ready upon arrival. Mom’s was ready around 4 pm. We dumped our luggage in my room then headed to the DL for a snack. Although she only tasted her drink, we clinked our glasses and let the vacay begin.

The offer.


I selected the one on the right. I also received a separate mailer from Harrahs Laughlin that included $50 fsp, and a coupon for 2 buffets. We used the buffet coupons for Sunday dinner. Surprisingly, it was very good.

More surprisingly, Sunday afternoon, the machines were generous. I hit the minor progressive on Cashman Tonight for around $110.00 and one of the progressives on Black Orchard in the low $100’s, and had a good bonus round betting max on Bier Haus.

Mom was with me when I hit this.


I didn’t hit much of anything after dinner and was in my room by 9 pm. I earned 500 + tier points and qualified for the 125 bonus.

We were up and on the road early. We decided we’d see where the car took us for breakfast. First stop, was one of the dive restaurants in Searchlight. It was too divey for me. Second stop, breakfast buffet at Fiesta Henderson. Fiesta Henderson no longer serves a weekday breakfast buffet. Third stop, a charm, breakfast buffet at Sunset Station. We used the MRB coupon. The food and service were top notch.

After our lovely breakfast, we continued to the Premium Outlets South. We both found some items at the VF Outlet. Next on our itinerary, the Welcome to Las Vegas Sign. It is interesting how this one guy spend the afternoon taking pictures for everyone. I wonder if some people tip him.



We continued north on the strip to MGM. I needed to pick up our tickets to KA for Tuesday night. Monday was one of those days that I wish I used a pedometer. I’m guessing I walked at least a mile from the parking garage into MGM, looking for the “box office,” eventually finding where I collect the tickets then back to the car.

I booked 3 nights in a Go Room at Flamingo for the Millionaire Maker’s Slot Tourney. Mom was able to book 3 nights complimentary at Rio. I want to give a big shout out and thank you to my friend’s host who kindly moved mom’s rezzy to Harrahs. Not having to commute back and forth simplified many things.

We arrive at Flamingo, valet park, leave my luggage with the bellman, and I go to check in. Mom goes to total rewards to work on getting her diamond tickets for a show. She wants to see Menopause the Musical. It’s sold out for Monday so she gets tickets for Wednesday. I go to total rewards and find out what shows are available for Monday. Million Dollar Quartet it is. I quickly meet her at the box office and get the tickets. One of the things I like about Flamingo is the proximity of the box office to Total Rewards.

Mom is rested and says she is okay to walk from Flamingo to Harrahs. It’s an easy walk and I lug her luggage. Her room is ready. The kind host upgraded her to a mini suite. In reality, it’s a larger room with a nice sitting area. Her view looks north toward TI, nothing special. However, the room is clean and quiet.

I have one chore left and that is to register for the slot tourney which is being held at Harrahs. Once registered, I walk back to Flamingo, have my luggage brought up, call my brother, and chill.

Monday was going to be my no play day. I’m glad I didn’t hold myself to it as I quickly hit this.


I treated mom to dinner at Ruth Chris. We shared an entrée and sides and I paid with points.


After dinner, she wanted to watch me play. I selected a machine that was kind to me in February. We never got to see the “shockwave,’’ and I was dealt this.



Other than one 4ofkind in kings playing bonus poker, this was my last good video poker hit of the trip.

It worked out well dinner and the show were both located in mom’s hotel Monday. We both enjoyed our meal and Million Dollar Quarter. After the show, she watched me play for a bit. I then walked her to her room. I worked my way back to my room via Caesars, played slots there and at Flamingo. I earned 500 and some tier credits and the 125 bonus tier credits.

end of Part 1.
Part 2: food porn, etc.

Fun report so far! You have had great luck gambling so far, hope it continued for you! Glad your mom was able to be moved over closer to the Flamingo. Nice that you treated her to Ruth Chris after your gambling wins, what a great restaurant - can't beat the view! And thanks for posting pictures of you and mom, as well as of your wins! Glad you enjoyed Million Dollar Quarter - I thought it was really good also.
Gail from MN

Love those great VP hit photos! You did good.
And you two are cute in the pictures. Your mom looks like fun to be with.
Did I miss the "almost wasn't" part? Curious.

Lisa, my parents are at Aquarius. They went over Tuesday. Arrived in time for lunch and a drink, got their room and about two hours later my mom called having hit a RF. Now my mom is a piddling, plodding player, but she seems to hit RFs at Aquarius. Her first was with me at the River Walk Bar back in the Flamingo days. We were playing quarters and she hit a royal ... with one quarter in. She was just thrilled to get the $62.60. And I can't really blame her. lol (And she was with us at Silverton when I hit my dealt 3-line RF.) Two years ago she called having hit a royal and said they must've upped the pay tables because they brought her $4000 and a tax form. I laughed, said she was playing dollar by accident and she said she'd NEVER play dollars; too rich. Thank god she offed up sitting down at a multi-denom.

Glad you could get over there with your mom.

Ken, congrats to your mom. How fun.

Candy and Gail, thanks for your kind words. Candy, since you asked, mom has health issues. She was diagnosed with pneumonia 2 days before we left, put on antibiotics. Other than one coughing incident Monday on the way to the Outlets, everything was fine. I'm really glad we didn't cancel.

I forgot to mention I played on Mom's card in Laughlin and Monday at Harrahs LV. I might have played some on her card Tuesday. Also Monday, I sat next to a lady who won the top progressive. $4088, on Spinx in HD.

Continuing. To the friends we got together with, it was great to see you. To those we missed, I hope to see you next time. To the friend with her own family emergency, I hope things are well.

Tuesday morning, we had a lovely breakfast with a friend at Mon Ami Gabi. Mom had a custom made crepe and I had an omelet and small serving of the blueberry french toast. I thought her crepe was the prettiest I've seen. She said it was good, yet not as good as the crepes she had in France. My food was delicious.





I played in the Millionaire Maker Slot Tournament. Sadly, I will not be the next millionaire. I held up the rear on Tuesday, did better Wednesday. I placed 858 out of 920 something and won $25 in FSP.

Mom originally wasn't going to gamble. However, she enjoyed watching me play. I was very concerned about her health and distracted. Everything I played Tuesday turned to stone. If the host who helped with her room checked my play, I lost enough for both of us.

After my tournament session Tuesday, we played random penny slots at Harrahs. I was done. She had a feeling about a machine. She looked at me and said, "I wasn't going to do this." She played through $5 and nothing. She put in another $5, hit a bonus then cashed out for $15.00.

I left and went back to my room at Flamingo. Later, she told me she played for a couple hours and won around $30.00.

Before meeting for dinner, I stopped at Flamingo's DL for a cocktail. When my friends and I go to DL's, we go to drink. The person standing in front of me and the couple standing behind me were talking about which ones have the best food. Apparently, Flamingo's has the best food.

I met mom at Harrahs then we cabbed to Tropicana. We enjoyed a lovely dinner at Bacio®. She had linguini with clams. I enjoyed the salmon and a glass of their house cabernet. Everything was excellent,





We played penny slots before heading over to MGM to see KA. I played the new Can Can game trying to get the Wheel Bonus. Didn't happen. However, I did get the Kick Bonus. After the 2nd one, I should have cashed out.



At MGM, mom wasn't going to gamble. It started with her watching me. I didn't want to play this one game, Bumble. So she put in a $20, and got the bonus on her first spin. This game, if you get a buffalo in a certain square, you get a section of wilds. She got buffalo's in both squares and had a $50.00 line hit. She won close to $80 on her free spins. This was the best hit of the day.



KA was excellent. Seeing the joy on Mom's face was priceless - favorite moment of the trip. Thank you MyVegas for the excellent seats.

I approached Wednesday with a new attitude. No more chasing penny progressives. My gambling day started with +$200 on a slot bonus round.

After my tournament session, we played at Harrahs and the Ling for a bit before heading over to Cosmopolitan for lunch. We thoroughly enjoyed Wicked Spoon. I don't remember what we had, yet everything was top notch. I sampled many good items including dessert. We both played at Cosmopolitan. I lost around $20 and think mom was even. She may have lost around $20.

As we were walking into Bellagio, we stopped for the first fountain show and saw my favorites, Time to Stay Goodbye and the Star Spangled Banner. The Spring display was exquisite.





I did very well on one of the Red Envelope progressives. Although I didn't get the red envelope bonus, I did very well on the free spins and smaller progressive.

We eventually worked our way back to Harrahs. We had tickets to the 6:30 showing of Menopause the Musical. I thought the show started slow. It then became hysterically funny. We laughed a lot.

Afterwards, we had a junk food snack (dinner) at Harrahs DL and I enjoyed some cosmopolitans. She ordered a strawberry margarita. Unfortunately, it didn't taste right to her. I tasted it and it was fine. Neither of us had luck playing afterwards.

Thursday was check out day. Neither of us really wanted to leave. We met friends for brunch at GVR then played. The new cash express train on a Buffalo game was very generous. I made a nice recovery that enabled me to come home with a profit. I sat next to a lady who was dealt 3's w kicker playing the 25c TDB progressive.

Final thoughts.
I left home with $250 and came home with $600. Paid cash for all tips, shopping and my share of everything that wasn't comped.
Comps:
All rooms.
Paid for dinner at Ruth Chris with points.
Paid for in room internet with points.
MRB 50% off coupon at Bacio.
MRB 241 coupon at Sunset Station.
MRB 241 coupon at Wicked Spoon.
2 premium tickets to KA courtesy of MyVegas.
2 buffets at GVR courtesy of MyVegas.
2 diamond tickets to Million Dollar Quarter - me.
2 diamond tickets to Menopause the Musical - mom.
2 buffets Harrahs Laughlin.

Thanks for reading.