Found out my son's wife had a birthday on Feb 29th (Leap Day) so we planned a trip to celebrate and also get some bids on work at my two rentals in Seven Hills.
Although we are "Fallen" Diamond members, my wife and I still receive 2 or 3 night room offers from Harrahs. We plan to go to Reno to get our Diamond in a Day on some passable VP but that's another story.
We ended up getting two coupons in the mail from Harrahs for "Friends and Family" which gives your friends 2 free nights at a Harrah's Property. My son and his wife don't really gamble so we gave them 2 free nights at Harrahs and his buddy Dave and his wife the other two free nights. My son has American Express points so he was able to book the other 2 nights for both couples for free via AMEX.
My wife and I ended up leaving early from Seattle on Wed Feb 16th and were upgraded to First Class for $50 ea which was good as we both needed to check luggage due to stuff for the houses. I ended up getting a Mini Van from Alamo which was a very nice vehicle. I usually tip the Alamo attendant to upgrade to an SUV but for this trip I needed to make sure I had a 6 passenger vehicle so had to pay a higher rate.
Once we got to Harrahs at 930am I went to the Diamond Check In as Platinum was closed. We always stay in the Carnaval tower and also on the 21st or above floor. That way the first stop on the elevator is the 21st floor in some banks of elevators. Our room was not ready so I went upstairs to try to bribe the maid to clean it. Unfortunately the maid spoke no english and I can only imagine what she thought about the $10 bill I was waving in her face. It was at that time my wife rembered that we forgot our Son's friends and family coupons. After speaking to several people including the manager we found out "No coupon No free room" They wouldn't budge and print another one. Had to have our son drive over to our house and grab the coupons. Won't make that mistake again.
We ended up going about our business for the day and getting bids on the Waterfall repairs on our swimming pool in Henderson, Seven Hills.
On our way back to the Hotel we ended up going to the Wednesday M Resort for 50 and over Senior day. Got two free bottles of fairly decent wine and settled in to play some 8/5 BP VP. I also entered the 430pm Senior drawing. (I'm in my mid 50's for reference) and I am still getting used to asking for Senior comps. Well at 430pm my wife calls and says I won some money in the drawing. I looked up and saw my name $500! Well that was a good start. I got my money and then we left after breaking even on the VP.
Went to the Room and it was ready so checked in and later picked up the kids brought them to the hotel and then called it a night.
The next day we played our free play at Casino Royale and the kids got their free margarita. I then went over to Treasure Island and played a little 50cent and $1 JOB. Didn't really get anywhere but did get most of my money back. We also played at the Palms and took the kids to the Red Rock while we looked at a swimming pool tile job in Summerlin.
Over the next couple of days we played at Green Valley Ranch, Palms, and Harrahs (only a little) along with some time back at the M Resort.
Took my son and his friend down to Old Vegas but the only time we could go was about 100am on a weekday. Nothing but bums and beggars and some really drunk people. We had planned on playing some $3 craps at the El Cortez but they only had one table going and it was packed. We drove past the seedy part of town on the way to Downtown Vegas and I remembered that my first few trips to Vegas included me being broke and staying in one of those motels prior to my flight leaving that night. I had hoped to see the zip line but it was already closed by the time we got downtown. They did have a Female DJ though in front of the Golden Gate Casino playing music and dancing in a go go outfit with fur lined go go boots. Actually were quite a few people hanging out there and dancing too.
We played at the Palms on Friday night so it was fun to see the Night club partiers strutting their stuff. I did walk over and go throught the sky tube to Palms Place to check out the Restaurant and pool at Simons. The Restaurant atmosphere was kind of romantic and was dimly lit with candles and fireplace. The pool was lit as well and I plan to go back there and try the restaurant out. I have also heard that the condos there can be rented so that may be an option should I, god forbid.. have to pay for a room.
We also checked out the new Cosmopolitan and could only find 1 single VP machine that was playable an 8/5 bonus Spin Poker game. I didn't even play just had my wife play on my card just to see if it might generate some offers. I wasn't that impressed with the place and would only stay there not for the gambling but for the nice rooms with Kitchens and balconies.
The kids went to the Mandalay Bay Shark Exhibit and then went and got "Yardsticks" at the minus5 bar in Mandalay Place. These were not your ordinary Yardsticks. The 50oz one has 5 plus shots and for another $6 they pour an additional 1-2 shots. Needless to say when I picked up my 30 yr Old son and his group they were all pretty tipsy and were quite giddy. Apparently there is also a minus5 bar at the Monte Carlo Casino too.
We ended up doing Buffets at the M on Seafood night getting all 6 of our $30 meals comped with coupons along with some Video poker promotion where you get a meal when you earn points and no points are deducted. They Seafood buffet was very good and it really helped that one of the coupons I brought from Seattle had a line pass!
I also had 6 coupons for the Green Valley Ranch buffet but I didn't think they would let us use them all at once. We did show up about 1/2 hour before they closed and my wife got them to let us use all 6 of my coupons. The food was pretty good but not the caliber of the M Buffet.
My son and his buddy Dave were putting a couple $20 bills in the High Limit slot area at Harrahs one here one there ect..
Dave who is not normally a gambler hit for $1500 and got his first W2G. He kept saying "I Love Vegas"... He actually put the money away and quit gambling so I didn't have to give him a lecture on going hog wild after a win.
We also ate at Batista's Hole in the Wall for Dave's birthday as he wanted Lasagna. The prices and meal were good and included wine and some really good bread. Found out the next day there was a $10 off coupon in the What's on Magazine not sure how I missed that. I would say though that I wished we had split our dinner and paid whatever they charge for an extra plate as there was way too much to eat.
On VP often at either 50cent or $1 games I had 8 times which I had 4 to a Royal but couldn't draw that 5th card.
We also picked up our 2011 MRB books at LVA. We then went on a short coupon run and hit the Orleans for the $10 free play and also the Gold Coast for the $10 free play. When getting the free play at Gold Coast we discovered I had $40 in Cash back and my wife had $134 cash back from previous trips we didn't remember having. Needless to say we took the cash. Also won on the free play too. Played some kind of swipe your card promotion at the Palms and got a $5 coupon good for the vendors in the food court. Haven't confirmed it but I was told by another member that we wouldn't get to use the $100 Terribles coupon because we are not new members and we did it last year. Anyone heard of this?
Ended up down roughly about $300 for the trip but my wife was up about $275 so pretty much a wash.
Did earn valuable comp points though. As soon as the plane took off I was already dreaming about coming back.
We have to be in Vegas in a couple of weeks to pick the colors of the paint on the waterfall but this time I plan to stay at the M. Much more comfortable beds and I don't plan on being the tour guide.
Although we are "Fallen" Diamond members, my wife and I still receive 2 or 3 night room offers from Harrahs. We plan to go to Reno to get our Diamond in a Day on some passable VP but that's another story.
We ended up getting two coupons in the mail from Harrahs for "Friends and Family" which gives your friends 2 free nights at a Harrah's Property. My son and his wife don't really gamble so we gave them 2 free nights at Harrahs and his buddy Dave and his wife the other two free nights. My son has American Express points so he was able to book the other 2 nights for both couples for free via AMEX.
My wife and I ended up leaving early from Seattle on Wed Feb 16th and were upgraded to First Class for $50 ea which was good as we both needed to check luggage due to stuff for the houses. I ended up getting a Mini Van from Alamo which was a very nice vehicle. I usually tip the Alamo attendant to upgrade to an SUV but for this trip I needed to make sure I had a 6 passenger vehicle so had to pay a higher rate.
Once we got to Harrahs at 930am I went to the Diamond Check In as Platinum was closed. We always stay in the Carnaval tower and also on the 21st or above floor. That way the first stop on the elevator is the 21st floor in some banks of elevators. Our room was not ready so I went upstairs to try to bribe the maid to clean it. Unfortunately the maid spoke no english and I can only imagine what she thought about the $10 bill I was waving in her face. It was at that time my wife rembered that we forgot our Son's friends and family coupons. After speaking to several people including the manager we found out "No coupon No free room" They wouldn't budge and print another one. Had to have our son drive over to our house and grab the coupons. Won't make that mistake again.
We ended up going about our business for the day and getting bids on the Waterfall repairs on our swimming pool in Henderson, Seven Hills.
On our way back to the Hotel we ended up going to the Wednesday M Resort for 50 and over Senior day. Got two free bottles of fairly decent wine and settled in to play some 8/5 BP VP. I also entered the 430pm Senior drawing. (I'm in my mid 50's for reference) and I am still getting used to asking for Senior comps. Well at 430pm my wife calls and says I won some money in the drawing. I looked up and saw my name $500! Well that was a good start. I got my money and then we left after breaking even on the VP.
Went to the Room and it was ready so checked in and later picked up the kids brought them to the hotel and then called it a night.
The next day we played our free play at Casino Royale and the kids got their free margarita. I then went over to Treasure Island and played a little 50cent and $1 JOB. Didn't really get anywhere but did get most of my money back. We also played at the Palms and took the kids to the Red Rock while we looked at a swimming pool tile job in Summerlin.
Over the next couple of days we played at Green Valley Ranch, Palms, and Harrahs (only a little) along with some time back at the M Resort.
Took my son and his friend down to Old Vegas but the only time we could go was about 100am on a weekday. Nothing but bums and beggars and some really drunk people. We had planned on playing some $3 craps at the El Cortez but they only had one table going and it was packed. We drove past the seedy part of town on the way to Downtown Vegas and I remembered that my first few trips to Vegas included me being broke and staying in one of those motels prior to my flight leaving that night. I had hoped to see the zip line but it was already closed by the time we got downtown. They did have a Female DJ though in front of the Golden Gate Casino playing music and dancing in a go go outfit with fur lined go go boots. Actually were quite a few people hanging out there and dancing too.
We played at the Palms on Friday night so it was fun to see the Night club partiers strutting their stuff. I did walk over and go throught the sky tube to Palms Place to check out the Restaurant and pool at Simons. The Restaurant atmosphere was kind of romantic and was dimly lit with candles and fireplace. The pool was lit as well and I plan to go back there and try the restaurant out. I have also heard that the condos there can be rented so that may be an option should I, god forbid.. have to pay for a room.
We also checked out the new Cosmopolitan and could only find 1 single VP machine that was playable an 8/5 bonus Spin Poker game. I didn't even play just had my wife play on my card just to see if it might generate some offers. I wasn't that impressed with the place and would only stay there not for the gambling but for the nice rooms with Kitchens and balconies.
The kids went to the Mandalay Bay Shark Exhibit and then went and got "Yardsticks" at the minus5 bar in Mandalay Place. These were not your ordinary Yardsticks. The 50oz one has 5 plus shots and for another $6 they pour an additional 1-2 shots. Needless to say when I picked up my 30 yr Old son and his group they were all pretty tipsy and were quite giddy. Apparently there is also a minus5 bar at the Monte Carlo Casino too.
We ended up doing Buffets at the M on Seafood night getting all 6 of our $30 meals comped with coupons along with some Video poker promotion where you get a meal when you earn points and no points are deducted. They Seafood buffet was very good and it really helped that one of the coupons I brought from Seattle had a line pass!
I also had 6 coupons for the Green Valley Ranch buffet but I didn't think they would let us use them all at once. We did show up about 1/2 hour before they closed and my wife got them to let us use all 6 of my coupons. The food was pretty good but not the caliber of the M Buffet.
My son and his buddy Dave were putting a couple $20 bills in the High Limit slot area at Harrahs one here one there ect..
Dave who is not normally a gambler hit for $1500 and got his first W2G. He kept saying "I Love Vegas"... He actually put the money away and quit gambling so I didn't have to give him a lecture on going hog wild after a win.
We also ate at Batista's Hole in the Wall for Dave's birthday as he wanted Lasagna. The prices and meal were good and included wine and some really good bread. Found out the next day there was a $10 off coupon in the What's on Magazine not sure how I missed that. I would say though that I wished we had split our dinner and paid whatever they charge for an extra plate as there was way too much to eat.
On VP often at either 50cent or $1 games I had 8 times which I had 4 to a Royal but couldn't draw that 5th card.
We also picked up our 2011 MRB books at LVA. We then went on a short coupon run and hit the Orleans for the $10 free play and also the Gold Coast for the $10 free play. When getting the free play at Gold Coast we discovered I had $40 in Cash back and my wife had $134 cash back from previous trips we didn't remember having. Needless to say we took the cash. Also won on the free play too. Played some kind of swipe your card promotion at the Palms and got a $5 coupon good for the vendors in the food court. Haven't confirmed it but I was told by another member that we wouldn't get to use the $100 Terribles coupon because we are not new members and we did it last year. Anyone heard of this?
Ended up down roughly about $300 for the trip but my wife was up about $275 so pretty much a wash.
Did earn valuable comp points though. As soon as the plane took off I was already dreaming about coming back.
We have to be in Vegas in a couple of weeks to pick the colors of the paint on the waterfall but this time I plan to stay at the M. Much more comfortable beds and I don't plan on being the tour guide.
