In part one I forgot to give the basics. Here they are. I've been coming to LV since the early '90s,totalling probably 60+ trips. I stay with friends a couple of nights and move to hotels for the next four or five nights. I'm a low roller that no longer receives comp offers. I only play .10-.25 VP and $5-10 craps 3-4 hours a day, so you can see why. This trip I'm staying three nights at the Fremont after Bob and Sue's. The deal is $36/nt and $15/day F&B credit which nets out at $21/nt.
Tues started with coffee from Duncan Donuts taken back to the room for the morning news. After I showered, I headed down to play a while before breakfast. I stopped by the Players desk for a card and saw a kiosk ad for free breakfast with 200 pts the previous day. I planned to eat there anyway, so it was a no brainer. My omlet was good and I was ready to get going. I had LVA coups for free play at 4Qs and Binions, so I thought I'd take care of those. I turned the 4Qs coup into a net $14, so that was good. At Binions you were restricted to certain machines for the free play. I found no VP I wanted so I got on a Buffalo machine that netted about $7. $21 for nothing is good. My next move was to the D which turned into a single lap around the casino only to exit. I just don't care for the music level. I went back to the room for my phone and headed to valet.
The plan was to head down the strip to stop by Pawn Stars if they weren't too busy. It was bad, but I didn't feel like standing in any line at all. Recalculated plan led me to the Double Down Saloon for a beer. Itry to stop into this ultimate dive bar every trip. I just had a bud. No Ass juice (house specialty) and spent most my time waiting for my Transitions lenses to adjust to the darkness. My next plan originally was to visit Jimmy Buffet and Toby Keith's bars on the strip. My inner self said to turn left on Trop instead of right though, so again the plan recalculated. I just have a problem with the strip. I haven't stayed there since the DI closed and haven't missed it. I decided to stop by Sam's Town and the ECan for a while.
I pulled into ST intent on valeting, but after seeing no attendants at all for about 3-4 minutes and a number of cars in front of me, I headed for the garage and parked. This place gets updated, but never seems to change and that's a good thing. I played some Bonus Poker for a while upstairs making maybe $2! Better than losing I guess. I then drove over to the ECan, whose valet performed well. I self park a lot, but in that heat valet was the ticket. I got a new car and took a tour of the place. I didn't see any changes since my last stay there. I found a VP machine that gave my $20 about 10 min of play. My next one netted about 15 min before cashing out at $11 or $12. I moved over to the snack bar by the sports book for some lunch. I just had a chicken salad, but the sandwiches are not bad if you go. I moved over to the sports book and watched some east coast games for a while. Before leaving I dropped a $20 into a Buffalo machine and cashed out about fifteen ahead a half hour later. Second trip in a row that slots are paying better than VP. Guess I better practice before next trip! I grabbed the car and headed up Boulder for DT. It's really depressing to drive that stretch. 15 min later I pulled into valet at the Fremont.
I went up to room to chill for a while and watched a couple of sitcom reruns. I tried to take a short nap, but as usual to no avail. Later I grabbed some money and headed down for what I hoped would be an enjoyable experience. I planned to sit at one of the outside bars and people watch a while. I sat at Binions offering and ordered a wine. I forgot about changes about glassware on Fremont. I never thought it extended to these bars. Let me tell you, nothing's better than a mediocre house chard served in a plastic cup! While I was there I was treated to bountifull exibits of entertainment. There was the guy wearing only crime scene tape and not much of it. Another example was the very heavy gal in a thong and pasties! Too much something or other and too little time! Fortunately it was time for my constitutional. I got a paper, some ice and sat down watching/reading news with a scotch. I had PR in Tony Romas for dinner and moved to BJ table as craps was crowded. I played for couple of hours and cashed out a little over $50. Next I found a spot at a craps table. I was getting tired and cashed out an hour later about even. So far gaming's good.
I woke up the next morning to the same routine. After news I went down and got my comp for breakfast, which was again decent. Plan for today was to run around north and west. I played for about an hour to assure my comp breakfast tomorrow. I pulled out of valet and went west to Rancho and stopped by Texas and the Fiesta. I played at each a bit, but Station points mean little to me, so I headed for lunch. North on Rancho is the Bacon Bar which was on an episode of Bar Rescue. I walked in about 12:30 to find two table in the dining room and two people at the bar. Nice place and large, but like most local joints VP was ugly. Service was bad as evidently the bartender needed extensive practice on her smartphone! I guess they better get Taffer back for a follow up.
I headed south, but stopped some sort of dollar store. I love walking through to see if any real deals exist. This wasn't a true dollar store. They had some items up to $5 and a food section. I picked up a few wine openers for $2 a piece that could sell for $5-6 and some good fruit, believe it or not. Next stop was Summerlin to have a beer at Angel Park GC and stop in at Suncoast. AP was as always and I played some VP at Suncoast, again getting decent play but no profit. Time to head home.
After the afternoon constitutional, I headed over to Hennessey's for a glass of wine, thereby avoiding the previous day's debacle. No crime scene tape guy or pasties chick, just a decent sauvignon blanc actually served in a wine glass! I had a second, then went back to the Fremont to play a bit. Once again VP yielded little. Next a $200 buyin at craps gave me about $70 profit after a couple of hours. Time for dinner.
The buffet had steak night going. After the cashier said they were cooked order I decided to try it. If the steak was bad I'd fill up on shrimp. It would be impossible to cook a steak that thin less than med, so shrimp it was.
Live and learn.
After dinner I played some more of that wonderful 6:5 BJ. Not sure how long I played, but it was a fun table. I cashed out with a modest profit, so mission accomplished. Last night or not, it was time for bed.
I had pack most things the previous afternoon, so the morning went smoothly. I followed the usual plan and went down for breakfast. I went back to the room and just watched news for and hour or so I could have spent that time playing, but on the last morning I don't unless I have at least a couple of hours in case I get on a roll. I had time before needing to get the car back, so I drove down the strip. I got the car back and breezed through security. I spent the next hour sipping overpriced wine and watching golf. Plane left on time and I got home without incident. All in all a good trip.
A few thoughts.
Always seeing Bob and Sue is great. Next trip I won't tell them where we're eating!
Rooms at the Fremont were fine for me. Might be cramped for two.
Try the special at the 2nd St Grill. You can't go wrong. Tony Romas was ok.
Avoid steak night at the buffet at all costs!
When having a drink on Fremont to people watch, don't forget your sleep mask. Save those eyes.
Thanks for reading.
Good Luck!
Ric at Joes
Tues started with coffee from Duncan Donuts taken back to the room for the morning news. After I showered, I headed down to play a while before breakfast. I stopped by the Players desk for a card and saw a kiosk ad for free breakfast with 200 pts the previous day. I planned to eat there anyway, so it was a no brainer. My omlet was good and I was ready to get going. I had LVA coups for free play at 4Qs and Binions, so I thought I'd take care of those. I turned the 4Qs coup into a net $14, so that was good. At Binions you were restricted to certain machines for the free play. I found no VP I wanted so I got on a Buffalo machine that netted about $7. $21 for nothing is good. My next move was to the D which turned into a single lap around the casino only to exit. I just don't care for the music level. I went back to the room for my phone and headed to valet.
The plan was to head down the strip to stop by Pawn Stars if they weren't too busy. It was bad, but I didn't feel like standing in any line at all. Recalculated plan led me to the Double Down Saloon for a beer. Itry to stop into this ultimate dive bar every trip. I just had a bud. No Ass juice (house specialty) and spent most my time waiting for my Transitions lenses to adjust to the darkness. My next plan originally was to visit Jimmy Buffet and Toby Keith's bars on the strip. My inner self said to turn left on Trop instead of right though, so again the plan recalculated. I just have a problem with the strip. I haven't stayed there since the DI closed and haven't missed it. I decided to stop by Sam's Town and the ECan for a while.
I pulled into ST intent on valeting, but after seeing no attendants at all for about 3-4 minutes and a number of cars in front of me, I headed for the garage and parked. This place gets updated, but never seems to change and that's a good thing. I played some Bonus Poker for a while upstairs making maybe $2! Better than losing I guess. I then drove over to the ECan, whose valet performed well. I self park a lot, but in that heat valet was the ticket. I got a new car and took a tour of the place. I didn't see any changes since my last stay there. I found a VP machine that gave my $20 about 10 min of play. My next one netted about 15 min before cashing out at $11 or $12. I moved over to the snack bar by the sports book for some lunch. I just had a chicken salad, but the sandwiches are not bad if you go. I moved over to the sports book and watched some east coast games for a while. Before leaving I dropped a $20 into a Buffalo machine and cashed out about fifteen ahead a half hour later. Second trip in a row that slots are paying better than VP. Guess I better practice before next trip! I grabbed the car and headed up Boulder for DT. It's really depressing to drive that stretch. 15 min later I pulled into valet at the Fremont.
I went up to room to chill for a while and watched a couple of sitcom reruns. I tried to take a short nap, but as usual to no avail. Later I grabbed some money and headed down for what I hoped would be an enjoyable experience. I planned to sit at one of the outside bars and people watch a while. I sat at Binions offering and ordered a wine. I forgot about changes about glassware on Fremont. I never thought it extended to these bars. Let me tell you, nothing's better than a mediocre house chard served in a plastic cup! While I was there I was treated to bountifull exibits of entertainment. There was the guy wearing only crime scene tape and not much of it. Another example was the very heavy gal in a thong and pasties! Too much something or other and too little time! Fortunately it was time for my constitutional. I got a paper, some ice and sat down watching/reading news with a scotch. I had PR in Tony Romas for dinner and moved to BJ table as craps was crowded. I played for couple of hours and cashed out a little over $50. Next I found a spot at a craps table. I was getting tired and cashed out an hour later about even. So far gaming's good.
I woke up the next morning to the same routine. After news I went down and got my comp for breakfast, which was again decent. Plan for today was to run around north and west. I played for about an hour to assure my comp breakfast tomorrow. I pulled out of valet and went west to Rancho and stopped by Texas and the Fiesta. I played at each a bit, but Station points mean little to me, so I headed for lunch. North on Rancho is the Bacon Bar which was on an episode of Bar Rescue. I walked in about 12:30 to find two table in the dining room and two people at the bar. Nice place and large, but like most local joints VP was ugly. Service was bad as evidently the bartender needed extensive practice on her smartphone! I guess they better get Taffer back for a follow up.
I headed south, but stopped some sort of dollar store. I love walking through to see if any real deals exist. This wasn't a true dollar store. They had some items up to $5 and a food section. I picked up a few wine openers for $2 a piece that could sell for $5-6 and some good fruit, believe it or not. Next stop was Summerlin to have a beer at Angel Park GC and stop in at Suncoast. AP was as always and I played some VP at Suncoast, again getting decent play but no profit. Time to head home.
After the afternoon constitutional, I headed over to Hennessey's for a glass of wine, thereby avoiding the previous day's debacle. No crime scene tape guy or pasties chick, just a decent sauvignon blanc actually served in a wine glass! I had a second, then went back to the Fremont to play a bit. Once again VP yielded little. Next a $200 buyin at craps gave me about $70 profit after a couple of hours. Time for dinner.
The buffet had steak night going. After the cashier said they were cooked order I decided to try it. If the steak was bad I'd fill up on shrimp. It would be impossible to cook a steak that thin less than med, so shrimp it was.
Live and learn.
After dinner I played some more of that wonderful 6:5 BJ. Not sure how long I played, but it was a fun table. I cashed out with a modest profit, so mission accomplished. Last night or not, it was time for bed.
I had pack most things the previous afternoon, so the morning went smoothly. I followed the usual plan and went down for breakfast. I went back to the room and just watched news for and hour or so I could have spent that time playing, but on the last morning I don't unless I have at least a couple of hours in case I get on a roll. I had time before needing to get the car back, so I drove down the strip. I got the car back and breezed through security. I spent the next hour sipping overpriced wine and watching golf. Plane left on time and I got home without incident. All in all a good trip.
A few thoughts.
Always seeing Bob and Sue is great. Next trip I won't tell them where we're eating!
Rooms at the Fremont were fine for me. Might be cramped for two.
Try the special at the 2nd St Grill. You can't go wrong. Tony Romas was ok.
Avoid steak night at the buffet at all costs!
When having a drink on Fremont to people watch, don't forget your sleep mask. Save those eyes.
Thanks for reading.
Good Luck!
Ric at Joes
