Pre-Trip Itinerary ~ Feedback Appreciated

Greetings fellow LVA'ers!

I've been working on my 7 day Vegas itinerary for about a month now. DH and I have become so extreme w/our couponing that it's no longer practical to invite other couples along. As we explain our eccentric coupon runs, friends tell us it sounds like too much work. When they go to Vegas they want to sit and lounge at the pool, blow their money on short pay machines, eat at over-priced tourist traps like Margaritaville, and pay $40 for watered down yard bong beverages. To each his own.

So here's where we're at so far. For those of you who don't know me, I'm Paige Turner. My husband, Tony, has converted - under my tutelage - from the prototype described above to a shrewd master of frugality. We've spent $100 on 2 MRB's plus 2 ACG's. A most prudent investment indeed.

This is the first year we'll get to spend two nights downtown (MSS) then four nights at NYNY (courtesy MyVegas). We're pulling an all nighter on the 7th night (no hotel) and if we get to tired or lose too much money; may resort to selling water on the bridge or begging for coin.

Before our adventure can begin, we have three young daughters, ages 9-10-11 that we'll need to bivouac somewhere out west with Grandma and Auntie. So the travel plan looks like this:

The five of us fly out of Milwaukee on Southwest Air at 6:20 am on Saturday June 15th - scheduled to land in Denver at 8am. Grandma says she'll meet us at the airport (she lives in Ft Collins, CO) and collect our excess baggage - then we have tickets for the 2:30 Southwest flight out of Denver to Vegas. Free at last. Free at last.

I've pre-paid ($52 out-the-door) for a 48 hour compact car rental via Budget. I've seen people get better rates on these boards, but I'm satisfied with this amount...hell a cab ride downtown would cost about $30 one way, right?

We're scheduled to pick the car up at 4pm Vegas time. I may take "the tunnel" downtown because I damn well please it...probably just joking about that. The rest of the itinerary is bulleted below. If you have recommendations for adaptions, additions or deletions, I'd certainly appreciate them.

Saturday
-check in MSS (I've been advised to request a low, odd-numbered room to avoid train noise)
-hit the 777 Brew Pub for Happy Hour
-purchase Mike Hammer Comedy tix at 4 Queens Box Office w/ACG 2-4-1
-7pm Mike Hammer Show

Sunday (Father's Day)
-breakfast at MSS (2-4-1)
-El Cortez ATM Rebate Promo & $20 MRB free SP
-drive to Ellis Island to redeem ACG $10 SP each
-Hard Rock $10 MP's
-Casa di Amore (never heard of this place) but have MRB $20 SP each
-Sam's Town $10 SP each
-Longhorn? Maybe
-Head back Downtown
-Four Queens ($10 SP) each
-LV Club ($5 SP & $5MP) each
-Binions ($10 SP) each
-Plaza ($10MP & $5SP) each
- Back to El Co
$.25 Roulette
$1 Craps
Dinner at the Flame

Monday - moving day
-check out MSS and drive to Rio
-redeem 2 complimentary Buffet of Buffets passes (compliments my new TR Visa)
-Gold Coast misc coupons & free play
-drive to NYNY (room probably won't be ready but we'll drop off our luggage)
-return car to Stratosphere location and buy 24 hour bus pass
-Deuce to Circus Circus/Slots-a-fun (wincards $45 for $30)
-back to NYNY
-dinner at Planet Hollywood

Tuesday
-breakfast at Flamingo
-Deuce to Riviera ($40 MP's)
-Single Zero Roulette still there?
-win cards
-walk the strip back to Bellagio: pick up Cirque "O" tickets from Box Office
-Monte Carlo Happy Hour at the Pub 3-6pm & $50 Dining Credit (courtesy MyVegas)

Wednesday
-redeem 2 more Buffet of Buffet passes (compliments Mr. T's TR Visa) at Planet Hollywood
(yes, I know dinner is a better "value" but we prefer breakfast buffets over dinner buffets)
-Hooters ($40 SP)
-walk to Ellis Island, redeem ACG SP and earn MRB SP (spin the wheel)
-3 free rounds
-"hop the wall" to Tuscany
-$.50 roulette and MP's at Tuscany
-might also book massages (they're currently running a $60 one hour massage special) @ Tuscany
-dinner at Paris Buffet
-10pm Show "O" at Bellagio (2 free tix courtesy MyVegas)

Thursday
-breakfast at Paris Le Village Buffet before 24 hours is up!
-shuttle to Gold Coast
-palms ($40 for $25 slot-play-coupons) and ($20 MP)
-shuttle to Orleans ($40 MP & $20 SP) and $1 Craps (electronic)
-Monte Carlo Pool
-Picnic at the Pool: free bucket of beers and order of nachos (MyVegas)
-light supper somewhere...I've got lots of CET Rewards Credits..

Friday
-check out NYNY
-2 free breakfast buffets at Excalibur (compliments MyVegas)
-win card run to Excalibur, Luxor, Mandalay Bay
-play Lions Share at MGM
-if I've got the bankroll left, would like to find the $2 FP JOB at Bellagio (according to VPfree)

Saturday
-collect bags from NYNY about 4am
-cab to airport
-6:30 am flight to Denver

El Cortez does have (at least they did have in March 2013) Electronic Shoot To Win Craps and it takes the Slot Club Card (I think that it's $3 of coin-in per point).

At El Cortez you earn both Cashback (or Freeplay) Plus Comp Dollars.

I'm happy that your husband has converted and seen the light to the benefits of smart play and frugality!

Keep in mind that I understand that NY-NY supposedly has 9/6 Jacks or Better but it will not accept a Slot Club card so you won't get any points for playing it.

If you have any interest, the view from the top of Stratosphere is nice and there are 2 For 1 coupons (I think) in the ACG and/or MRB.

I think that I'll be in LV two weeks before you (hopefully 6/2-6/6) so I'll let you know about other stuff.

And get your hands on as many as possible Freebie Magazines because you never know what may be in them!

I think that "Today In Las Vegas" is by the Hotel Registration at El Cortez and other stuff is by the Bell Desk at Plaza and by the Tix4Tonite booth at Four Queens. And don't forget about the Free VP Hand at the entrance (at least the East Entrance to) Four Queens!

Enjoy!

RecVPPlayer

Wow, you are a planner! I think you itinerary looks great. My only comment would be that Sunday looks a bit busy. Maybe you could try to redeem some of the downtown coupons either sat after the show or early Monday morning. Oh, and we have done the walk from hooters to Ellis island. Just a warning that its a long walk. We like to walk, but just warning you in case you don't do a lot of walking. Good luck with it all and enjoy the break from your kids!

The shuttles can get crowded. You may have to wait for the shuttle and not get on, then have to wait for it to come back.

No $10 VP buy-in at Money Plays that comes with the taco dinner and a beer? That's a GREAT coupon!

What a great plan.
We have noticed that we burn out others on even mini-coupon runs ("What?- but we just got here....).
Nice job on the myvegas and TR cc hustling.

We look forward to a trip report.

Paul and Sonya from Iowa

Thanks All, for the info and feedback. I usually hit close to 100% of the of coupons I make up my mind to use (search last summer's "Ultra" reports for some history) but don't always get them in on the days I've designated. The MyVegas 'Picnic at the Pool' reward is a way for us to "force" ourselves to relax a little.

And RecVP, thanks, I will look for those "freebie" mags at the El Co. Too bad we will miss each other! I always like your comments, feedback, and knowledge. Appreciate the input.

Lots of places to go things to do. Don't think you can do Happy Hour at MSS on Saturday.

You're very welcome, Paige! I'm happy to help.

And before I forget, Plaza also has the "Shoot To Win Craps" machine although I seem to remember seeing a sign on it saying that points earned can not be used for any promotions that they may have.

And don't forget to check out the casinos' websites to see if any promotions are going on when you're there.

The Freebie magazines might give you additional ideas on what you might want to do and maybe something in there might make you change your mind about something that you were planning to do in favor of something else better that you might find in the magazines.

On occasion, ads in Freebie magazines have caused me to do something that I wasn't necessarily planning.

I think El Cortez only had "Today In Las Vegas". The others were at Plaza and Four Queens.

And El Cortez definitely has promotions going on so check into that too (for example getting a Free Ice Cream Bar on Wednesdays when you hit a $25 or more jackpot -- you have to notify a Slot Person before playing off the hand) and some kind of gift or Gift Card for hitting certain denomination jackpots.

RecVPPlayer

How about the slotplaycoupons.com $40 in slot/vp play for $25? If it's still available, and I think it is, you can both get one for the Palms & Tropicana. Also, have you done the $100 loss rebate at the Cosmopolitan? It was still available last December and I haven't heard that it has ended. It sounds like it will be a great trip; hope you have a wonderful time & win lots of money.