Took a short 4 night trip to celebrate Father's Day. My kid is working at summer camp so I had to spend it in the second best way possible, in Vegas. Just a brief summary of the 'lights:
Highlights:
meeting Sue Casey. I finally managed to make it up to Alliante and not only met Sue, but she helped me out of a jam when the buffet couldn't take my Fiesta card. She was able to transfer points from that card to my Stations card. Voila! Thanks Sue!
Alliante. it's a nice place. I like high ceilings and machines with some space between them. Some people say it's too far away from the Strip but I've had 1.5 hr commutes in the past, so this is nothing.
Alliante buffet. I think it's pretty darn close in quality and variety to the Red Rock buffet, if not the same. And cheaper. I read that Sue recommended the brisket, but they weren't serving it. They had roast beef instead and even though buffet roast beef is typically tough or dry, the lady carving it suggested I try it. I did and it was tender and juicy, so props to her. They had quite a selection of various foods - the sampling that I tried was all good. I wasn't expecting gourmet at those prices, but I got better than I expected.
Smashburger. I'm a burger fan and a fan of this place. They put this rosemary seasoning on the fries where you don't even need catsup. You can get your burger in 1/3 or 1/2 pound sizes with any variety of toppings including crispy thin onion rings, smoked bacon, a fried egg, etc. Some foks come to Vegas to drink to excess, I burger to excess.
Tommy's. More on the burger front. They put chili on their burgers. What's not to like?
Vp. I got dealt a straight flush and drew one card to complete a straight flush. Never had two on one trip before. And both in clubs. Sometimes it goes your way.
Terrible's coffee shop. Good grub at cheap prices.
Panera Bread. I went against my rule of not eating at a chain that is also located where I live, but I just wanted two things at that particular moment: wifi and a salad. Panera offered both very nicely thank you.
Caesar's Qua: a really nice oasis away from all of the noise. I'm not a HET guy, but I do like Qua.
Sam's Town: went to play Winning Wednesday's, where you get free swipes for attaining certain point levels. Played for 45 minutes at .50 bp, ahead $50, went to swipe and nothing appeared. Went to booth where they said it started at 10 a.m. - it was 9:30. Decided to kill time by playing .25 bp and half an hour later won another $20 so up $70. Now it was 10 am and I said to heck with it, I'll get to the point levels faster by playing $1 bp. Even if I lose, I'll start with a $70 buffer. Half an hour later, got my point levels and ahead by $450. I love this game! Only got additional points in the swipe, but walked away a winner and thats what counts.
Mid-lights:
South Point. I like this place, they have a great variety of vp, the restaurants are decent, they comp my room and meals. But I just can't win there. Anyone else have a similar place that you like most everything except the fact you can't win there?
M Resort. Ditto.
Suncoast. Ditto. Also, at both SP and SC you have to traipse right thru the table games to go from hotel registration to the room elevators. What kind of design is that?
Tropicana. I want to like this place. It's fresh and lively, at least when I was there. But I went to do the $200 rebate and my money sure did go fast. I'm not really a Strip kind of guy because the vp paytables aren't desireable. So I'll play the hundred I have left from the rebate and say sayonara to the Trop.
Fiesta Henderson. This should be under lowlights because it's darker than my last marriage and empty of people in there - but it has high ceilings and I win there so it works for me. More so than the marriage.
Lowlights:
Terrible's casino. low ceilings, smoky, and I don't win there. That about sums it up.
Bad vp streaks. had a couple where I couldn't even get a high pair to sustain me.
Hotels w/o free wifi, even in the public areas. if Mickey D's and Starbux can have free wifi, c'mon, get with it. It just forces me out of the hotel to find a place that has it.
Freeway construction. is this about the ultimate in job security nowadays?
Strip traffic. Thank you Frank Sinatra Drive.
Alas, I won't return to Vegas until November so I'll have to live vicariously thru the trip reports of the rest of you. Best to you!
Fredo
Highlights:
meeting Sue Casey. I finally managed to make it up to Alliante and not only met Sue, but she helped me out of a jam when the buffet couldn't take my Fiesta card. She was able to transfer points from that card to my Stations card. Voila! Thanks Sue!
Alliante. it's a nice place. I like high ceilings and machines with some space between them. Some people say it's too far away from the Strip but I've had 1.5 hr commutes in the past, so this is nothing.
Alliante buffet. I think it's pretty darn close in quality and variety to the Red Rock buffet, if not the same. And cheaper. I read that Sue recommended the brisket, but they weren't serving it. They had roast beef instead and even though buffet roast beef is typically tough or dry, the lady carving it suggested I try it. I did and it was tender and juicy, so props to her. They had quite a selection of various foods - the sampling that I tried was all good. I wasn't expecting gourmet at those prices, but I got better than I expected.
Smashburger. I'm a burger fan and a fan of this place. They put this rosemary seasoning on the fries where you don't even need catsup. You can get your burger in 1/3 or 1/2 pound sizes with any variety of toppings including crispy thin onion rings, smoked bacon, a fried egg, etc. Some foks come to Vegas to drink to excess, I burger to excess.
Tommy's. More on the burger front. They put chili on their burgers. What's not to like?
Vp. I got dealt a straight flush and drew one card to complete a straight flush. Never had two on one trip before. And both in clubs. Sometimes it goes your way.
Terrible's coffee shop. Good grub at cheap prices.
Panera Bread. I went against my rule of not eating at a chain that is also located where I live, but I just wanted two things at that particular moment: wifi and a salad. Panera offered both very nicely thank you.
Caesar's Qua: a really nice oasis away from all of the noise. I'm not a HET guy, but I do like Qua.
Sam's Town: went to play Winning Wednesday's, where you get free swipes for attaining certain point levels. Played for 45 minutes at .50 bp, ahead $50, went to swipe and nothing appeared. Went to booth where they said it started at 10 a.m. - it was 9:30. Decided to kill time by playing .25 bp and half an hour later won another $20 so up $70. Now it was 10 am and I said to heck with it, I'll get to the point levels faster by playing $1 bp. Even if I lose, I'll start with a $70 buffer. Half an hour later, got my point levels and ahead by $450. I love this game! Only got additional points in the swipe, but walked away a winner and thats what counts.
Mid-lights:
South Point. I like this place, they have a great variety of vp, the restaurants are decent, they comp my room and meals. But I just can't win there. Anyone else have a similar place that you like most everything except the fact you can't win there?
M Resort. Ditto.
Suncoast. Ditto. Also, at both SP and SC you have to traipse right thru the table games to go from hotel registration to the room elevators. What kind of design is that?
Tropicana. I want to like this place. It's fresh and lively, at least when I was there. But I went to do the $200 rebate and my money sure did go fast. I'm not really a Strip kind of guy because the vp paytables aren't desireable. So I'll play the hundred I have left from the rebate and say sayonara to the Trop.
Fiesta Henderson. This should be under lowlights because it's darker than my last marriage and empty of people in there - but it has high ceilings and I win there so it works for me. More so than the marriage.
Lowlights:
Terrible's casino. low ceilings, smoky, and I don't win there. That about sums it up.
Bad vp streaks. had a couple where I couldn't even get a high pair to sustain me.
Hotels w/o free wifi, even in the public areas. if Mickey D's and Starbux can have free wifi, c'mon, get with it. It just forces me out of the hotel to find a place that has it.
Freeway construction. is this about the ultimate in job security nowadays?
Strip traffic. Thank you Frank Sinatra Drive.
Alas, I won't return to Vegas until November so I'll have to live vicariously thru the trip reports of the rest of you. Best to you!
Fredo
