Less than 48 hours removed and my head is still spinning from 4 nights on the Strip. Stayed at Treasure Island and since it was rather quickly prepared, there were no bargains for either airfare or hotel. Not all of my hastily scribbled notes could be found for this report either. It only bothers me as I seem to notice some recent short term memory loss. Hopefully that's only temporary.
Arrived Sunday afternoon, the 21st. Got checked in at the hotel and already noticed the heat. Maybe it's because I hadn't made the trip out last year but so many items seemed so overpriced. I didn't mind $14.50 for the airport shuttle and that was RT anyway. But $3.88 for a small bottle of water was a bit much. I had the distinct feeling I was paying 10 cents for the actual water....and all the rest for the cashier's health insurance.
Boarded the bus early Monday for the ride downtown, to get to as many casinos as possible. Didn't realize at the time I'd be playing my 1st...and last session of blackjack on the trip. Otherwise I found either table minimums too high or those awful 6:5 payouts. They were all over! My very 1st hand was a blackjack and I left a few minutes later, a whole $9 ahead.
Rode back toward the MGM and stopped in at MM World, the Hershey store and Coca Cola World. I still can't get over how many parents I saw with small children.
Met a couple friends Monday night for dinner. I paid since they were nice enough to take me to a casino I'd otherwise not be able to get to, South Point. Turns out my slot card was still good there.
Tuesday was to meet my friend Joyce at the Excalibur. I'd forgotten where it was and a longer walk than I'd anticipated. But she never showed up so without any plans, I began the long walk back to TI...trying to stay out of the heat and get into whatever casino came next. Now and then I'd win a small jackpot which helped make things more tolerable.
Wednesday, got to meet my brother from southern California. He took the all night bus from Orange County and we had a nice 8 hour visit. Took our time walking down the Strip. I even hit a small jackpot at the Excalibur, one with all the free spins. After buffet lunch at the Monte Carlo, he had to head back. We boarded the bus toward downtown and I exited by TI.
Thursday, my last day, was so worried about packing properly, I discovered, too late, a nice $5 BJ table down in the TI casino. It was 3:2 but by then, time was more an issue than money.
From my 1st visit back in 1991, when I came back with less than $2, I learned from then on - always keep winnings separate from gambling budget. I took out $2,700, spent it all and returned with just a bit over $1,700 in 'winnings' - thankful for all those free spins!
Finally, was fortunate to have a very nice seatmate on the flight back to Chicago. It was only 3 hours 4 minutes of actual flying time and though I offered her a few dollars to use her cellphone to call my sister, the woman refused to accept it.
Tim
Arrived Sunday afternoon, the 21st. Got checked in at the hotel and already noticed the heat. Maybe it's because I hadn't made the trip out last year but so many items seemed so overpriced. I didn't mind $14.50 for the airport shuttle and that was RT anyway. But $3.88 for a small bottle of water was a bit much. I had the distinct feeling I was paying 10 cents for the actual water....and all the rest for the cashier's health insurance.
Boarded the bus early Monday for the ride downtown, to get to as many casinos as possible. Didn't realize at the time I'd be playing my 1st...and last session of blackjack on the trip. Otherwise I found either table minimums too high or those awful 6:5 payouts. They were all over! My very 1st hand was a blackjack and I left a few minutes later, a whole $9 ahead.
Rode back toward the MGM and stopped in at MM World, the Hershey store and Coca Cola World. I still can't get over how many parents I saw with small children.
Met a couple friends Monday night for dinner. I paid since they were nice enough to take me to a casino I'd otherwise not be able to get to, South Point. Turns out my slot card was still good there.
Tuesday was to meet my friend Joyce at the Excalibur. I'd forgotten where it was and a longer walk than I'd anticipated. But she never showed up so without any plans, I began the long walk back to TI...trying to stay out of the heat and get into whatever casino came next. Now and then I'd win a small jackpot which helped make things more tolerable.
Wednesday, got to meet my brother from southern California. He took the all night bus from Orange County and we had a nice 8 hour visit. Took our time walking down the Strip. I even hit a small jackpot at the Excalibur, one with all the free spins. After buffet lunch at the Monte Carlo, he had to head back. We boarded the bus toward downtown and I exited by TI.
Thursday, my last day, was so worried about packing properly, I discovered, too late, a nice $5 BJ table down in the TI casino. It was 3:2 but by then, time was more an issue than money.
From my 1st visit back in 1991, when I came back with less than $2, I learned from then on - always keep winnings separate from gambling budget. I took out $2,700, spent it all and returned with just a bit over $1,700 in 'winnings' - thankful for all those free spins!
Finally, was fortunate to have a very nice seatmate on the flight back to Chicago. It was only 3 hours 4 minutes of actual flying time and though I offered her a few dollars to use her cellphone to call my sister, the woman refused to accept it.
Tim
