Quick LV Trip, Dec. 26-28

What kind/amount of blood have you had to shed to get that level of comps? It's been a while since I ventured into the Westgate other than to make a Thursday -105 football bet. I remember that they had surprisingly decent VP, in the sports book area of the casino, but I haven't checked it out recently.

Benihana's, to me, has always been more about the flying knives performance than the food, which I suppose is decent in comparison to more conventional Asian joints. I remember back in, oh, 1985?, my first date with a girl with whom I wound up in a long relationship, I took her to Benihana in SF when she told me she had worked in a Japanese restaurant and really liked the food. She actually laughed when she found out we were going there, as she said that their food was very "Americanized" and not at all authentic Japanese. Still, we had a good time, and we attended a concert at the San Francisco Symphony afterward.

Casinos should let you use comps to cover tips. Frequently, you have "leftovers" on your comp balance, and that would be a good way to use them. But I suppose that since all comps are basically sold at wholesale, not retail (a $100 food comp actually costs the casino around $50), exchanging them dollar for dollar with staff would cause them existential agony.

We put a good deal of money through the "bandits and tables", but have a good time and eat and drink very well.  It's vacation to us and we've had some "rewarding" stays,  especially this year.  Jean Scott's books, as well as the LVA info and coupon book has allowed us to have fun being low rollers.  We will be going back in February for a slot tournament and then in March we will spend our spring break on a cruise my wife received from the Tuscany.  

It is nice to hear about some different hotels than I have ever stayed in.  Thanks for sharing.

Thanks.....I appreciate your trip reports very much, as well.  You always have some great adventures and excellent pictures of the food you sample. 

It is pretty much the same concerning "Chinese" eateries, at least in my neck of the woods.  Years ago we became favorite/frequent customers of what was and is considered a top notch place, ate there every Friday night.  They invited us to wedding receptions, baby showers, etc.  Imagine my surprise at 'our' first event when food served at their private (and quite lavish) functions, was way, way different from that served in the restaurant.  Thankfully, they almost always had carrot sticks etc. and ranch dip, which I learned to load my plate with quickly.  I don't have the cosmopolitan palate for chicken feet, cow stomach, and similar items that were "authentic" to and liked by them. 

Candy