Our Fearless Leader's favorte month: Trip report, 2/1-5

I went to our favorite city for the Big Game hoping to take advantage of my coupons and look for opportunities at the sports books. I stayed two nights at the Orleans (comped) and two at the El Cortez ($50 total, less $30 dining credit, less $15 in freeplay). Both stays went smoothly. Typical rooms at both places, which as I've mentioned before bear more than a passing resemblance to each other. I was on the 5th floor at the Orleans and the 11th at the Tez. There was one glitch checking in at Jackie's old house - they couldn't find the reservation I made on hotels.com. They eventually did something and I got my room.

I'll do the sports betting first. I made a total of $691 in bets on the game:

a) $15 on Ravens scoring first and winning at +300. WINNER!
B) $20 on the 1st quarter total score under 9.5 at +100. I should've taken the extra half point...
c) $20 on Flacco not throwing an interception at +135. He didn't so, this one was a WINNER!
d) $21 on Rice's first run over 3 yards at -105. He got 4, so this was a WINNER!
e) $15 on Kaepernick throwing over 1.5 TDs at +100. Everyone knows the refs keep the flags in their pockets during the Big Game, unless the call absolutely has to be made.
f) $600 on interceptions by both teams under 2.5 at -300. This one probably needs some explanation, so I'll take the time for that. When I first saw this bet on the board, I couldn't believe it. So I double checked it and crunched the numbers. This only confirmed things - short of a total meltdown by Kaepernick or a fix by the boys in Singapore, there was no possible way that there were going to be 3+ picks in this game. Kaepernick made me sweat a little with his 2nd quarter pick, but that was the only one. Like candy from a baby. WINNER! Boyd initially put this one up at -135 and I imagine the wise guys pounded it before I got there. I bet it on Friday afternoon and by Sunday morning the line was down to -350. I think they lost at least five figures on this one prop alone.

Overall I got $948 from my bets, for a total profit of $257. Not bad; it paid for all my expenses on this trip with a little extra.

* Here's how the coupons went:

a) I won the $25 free bet at the Orleans, but lost a $10 match at the same, another $10 at the Riv, and a $5 free bet at the Gold Coast. With subpar cover play, I would've been better off staying away from the tables entirely.
b) I got $45 in WinCard chips from the clown house but could only turn it to $22.50 at blackjack.
c) Out of $125 in freeplay, I was able to turn it into $112.30 into cash.

* The town was pretty crowded, especially at the sports books. I saw fewer 49er/Raven jerseys than I expected.
* I got a lunch buffet at P. Ho. It was pretty good; much better than the one I had two years ago. But at $24 it's not good value. I had a coupon and points, but still...
* I don't get the Ellis Island love. I really don't. I'm sure the food is good, but it's not like good, cheap food is hard to find in LV. It remains beneath my standards, but for a free $10... I grinned and bore it. I'm not sure if I'll ever go back. I don't want to. I should say the book here is about the nicest thing about the joint and I signed up for William Hill's mobile account here. Kind of a pain in the butt, but the staff was helpful. It was somewheat useful on this trip and will be more so in the future.
* The dining credit at the Tez came in the form of two $15 "breakfast" vouchers. I could use them for any meal at the usual joints (not sure about places like Subway), one or both at a time, but no refunds.
* For the first time, my schedule aligned so that I could take the Tez's shuttle to the airport. The hours are limited (on the hour 7 AM - 2 PM all days except Saturday) and needs to be reserved in advance. It's free, though tips are appreciated. The shuttle was actually a luxury sedan that took only about 15 minutes to get to the airport. I was dropped off at the new terminal, T3. This was a treat. It's nice and new. There's a monorail to the D gates that's similar to but different from the other monorail from T1.
* United put me on a 737-900 on the way back. Very nice, very new.
* Overall I won about $250.

That's about it. Thanks for reading. I'm not sure when the next trip will be. It could be as soon as next month, or it might not be until November. I'll try to let you know.

Thanks for the trip report! Congrats on your winning trip!

Thanks F4E for your report and congratulations on your nice SB Prop Bet Wins!

As for Ellis Island, I agree with you -- that place for me is just not my cup of tea -- except for chasing after coupons for a nice vacation diversion.

And as for the $45 in Win Card Funny Money Chips at CC, what do I tell them at the Slot Club booth at CC? That I want both Win Cards from CC and SAF?

RecVPPlayer

Thanks bigbob & RecVPPlayer for your kind words.

Go to the CC Players' Club (I forget what it's called) and say you want the WinCards. They'll offer you the "normal" $15 in chips for $10 in cash. They'll also offer you a voucher for $30 in promotional chips for $20. When you're done there, take both vouchers to the cashier and you'll get the usual WinCard package with $1 chips plus six $5 funny money chips for your $30.

Slots-A-Fun doesn't have real table games anymore, though they do have some virtual versions.

Thanks again for a great trip report. The only downside is that it was too short!!!!!

It's funny. I love high end -- The Cosmopolitan is now my favorite casino at which to play and stay -- but I also like the El Cortez too, especially the Cabana Suites, and will be staying there a few days during my next trip. I like the lounge, the café, and the Flame. And it's a treat to see Mr. G every now and then too.

Hope you go again to Mecca soon so I can read another one of your trip reports!

Thanks F4E for the Win Cards info. They're still good only for Even-Money Bets, right? I'm asking this because I have a friend who if he comes might want to use them on Craps.

And does CC still not have a Funbook any longer? I miss that since I liked the gaming coupons -- that's where I had first found out about them having the Win Cards deal.

Now as for the Virtual games at Slots-A-Fun, do you mean that they have the "Bet The Set 21" game that we played with previously at El Cortez (when they had that)? If so, I hope that it's paying 3 To 2 and not that rotten 6 To 5!

Thanks again!

RecVPPlayer

Thanks, all, for your kind words!

I think the WinCard chips are still good for just even money bets. I've used them at the craps table with those. I haven't heard about CC's funbook in years, so I assume it's either gone or accessible to hotel guests only. I miss it too.

I didn't get a good look at the virtual games at SAF, but I think that's one of the ones they have. That, or one of its similar cousins. I have no idea about the payout for blackjacks.

We have not been impressed with Ellis Island because of the smoke. Now we go for breakfast to use our coupons, when the air is clear. Reminds us of a small town cafe, the food is good with generous portions and the waitresses are friendly.

Nice Trip Report.

Thanks for taking the time to write and share.


Rick

Did you try the RIBS at Ellis Island? I tried Ellis Island for the first time last September, and thought the ribs were fantastic! I didn't mind the place - i had heard terrible stories about how smokey it is, etc., but i didn't find it to be that bad. I thought the meal was well worth it, and didn't mind waiting the hour it took to be seated - except it would have been better if i didn't have a losing session on BJ while waiting! They know how to make you pay for the cheap ribs i guess! - Gail from MN