Summer 2012 – Day 18
Moving day once again. As is my routine when I first wake up, I first turn on the TV and watch the morning news just to completely wake me up and see if I missed anything overnight. What I forgot is that it’s Sunday and there is no local news on Saturday and Sunday mornings in Las Vegas. I got up and there was a piece of paper at my door. It was my bill for the two nights here at Candlewood and I was given a nice surprise. I was only charged $79 for the first night and $59 for the second night. When I figure in my $75 rebate I’ll receive in a form of a VISA card when I get back, that turns out to be a pretty sweet deal (about $35 per night) for what amounts to a fully furnished and stocked studio apartment. No question that if I find myself in a similar situation in the future, this is where I’ll stay.
I packed up and put everything into my car and sat down in the driver’s seat and just sat there for a moment. It was only 10 AM, much too early to check in to my next stop. I wasn’t hungry, and I wasn’t in the mood for another early movie. Then it hit me, I needed to go to Planet Hollywood sometime this week to get a couple of tickets for Holly Madison’s Peep Show, which are for a couple of previous students coming this next weekend (I’ll explain more about that later). So I drove over and parked once again at Bill’s Gambling Hall and when I went to the escalator for Ballys, I saw that the line for the Discount Ticket Booth here at Bills was snaking around the corner and all the way down Flamingo (should have taken a picture). If only these folks knew that if they went to the Towne Center booth, there’s never anyone in line. These discount places that only sell tickets for that night’s or next night’s performances do offer good discounts, but many times the “retail” prices they show are inflated, then you have to pay a $4 to $6 per ticket service charge, the seat selections are usually the more undesirable seats in the venue, and you’re not given tickets, but rather a voucher you need to then take to the theater to be exchanged usually many hours before the performance. I went through all of this once and decided that to save $20 or $30; it simply wasn’t worth the hassle. At least when you buy your own tickets at the box office, you can choose the seats you want. I suppose it’s all in what you’re looking for.
I walked over to Ballys, and played the new Lord of the Rings machine—no luck. I made my way from there to the Paris where a huge (and I mean huge) line was waiting to get into the Paris buffet. As I passed them, I said under my breath, “It’s not worth it; it’s not worth it…” I saw a sign at the front of the line that said, “Want to go right in? For $10 added per person, go to the front of the line.” WHAT? It’s already $22.50 per person. Would you be willing to pay $32.50 for a mediocre breakfast? By the way, there was no line in the Diamond entrance (Diamond and 7 Star players are casino veterans, they’re already aware of this place and don’t bother).
I walked over to the corner of the Paris and waited at the light. While waiting, behind what used to be a beautiful fountain that was a great picture opportunity was now a Sugar Factory retail outlet—no need for beauty when you can squeeze in an extra buck. I then turned to look up at the Cosmopolitan Hotel and Casino. I still can’t quite see where the $1.3 billion was in this. Gee, are you noticing the sarcastic tone?—maybe I should have had breakfast after all.
The 1.3 Billion Cosmo...really?
As I was walking into Planet Hollywood, I was accosted by two people (not your usual porn-slappers) who were pushing “free shows” in my face. I didn’t bother to ask but just kept walking. There were also a few of the costumed panhandlers trying to make a buck as well. It’s already over 100 degrees, and I can’t imagine what it must feel like in the costumes and make up. Is it really worth it? Inside the Planet Hollywood, I headed up the escalators to the box office. There was no one in line, and I got the tickets to some terrific seats. I then walked over to the Diamond Lounge, which is also located on this floor, and saw that they only open at noon on Fridays and Saturdays. They won’t be open until 4 PM. I looked over the edge at the casino, took a picture and thought back to the days when this was the Aladdin and I was standing in what used to be the London casino—times, they just keep a’changin’.
Casino at Planet Hollywood
I played a couple of games (had a nice hit on their Lord of the Rings machine for $60+) and then headed back to the car. As I made my way through the Paris to Ballys, I was once again accosted in the byway by a very pretty, young lady who put a small packet of face cream in my hand and wanted to show me her “miracle” face products all along throwing in the usual questions of where I’m from, what’s my name, how many kids do I have, yada, yada. Usually I just keep walking but this time, in my present mood, I chose to let her do her thing. I told her I wouldn’t buy anything, she said, she wouldn’t try to sell me anything (right). I sat down and she began to put this cream over the wrinkles on my face. She kept remarking how MUCH better I looked and for me to look in the mirror for the AMAZING difference. This went on for a while and then the pitch. She’d sell me the two boxes of face cream that usually sell for $300 each for half off at only $150 each. I reminded her that she told me she wasn’t going to try to sell me anything, but she just ignored that and started in on the sell’s pitch again. Then, I turned things around. I reached into my pocket and gave her my card which has my name s my being a blog writer for the Las Vegas Advisor (my son had these made up for me before I left). I told her I wasn’t going to buy any cream, but I’d be happy to write up all of this if she’d allow me take her picture in front of the booth holding the cream up. She refused. I kept going on about how much it would improve business, how she might even become famous, she still refused. I showed her my phone number on the card and told her if she changes her mind, just give me a call. I left. The plan is that when I check into Ballys next Sunday, and she’ll have long forgotten about me, I’ll sneak a picture of her for you. A jar of face cream for $300? Are you kidding me?
It was almost 1 PM and I drove to my next stay, which is the South Point Hotel and Casino. They offered me two free nights and $15 in free play along with the usual coupon book for free drinks and half off the buffet (used to be free). I checked in was given room 2088. She asked if I preferred a Strip or desert view. I told her I’ve been here many times before, and to leave the Strip view room for the young couples. Though the room is for two nights, I’ll only be staying for one as I’m booked tomorrow at Harrahs for the first of the two tournaments I’ll be playing during this trip. Of course, if my room at Harrahs is bad, I’ll stay here the second night.
South Point from parking garage
Room at South Point
Not the best view from window this trip...not the worst
Today, I was going to get in some live poker. I’ve only played once at the Colorado Belle early in this trip and I do like to play poker. South Point is a good place to play. The people are nice, and you get a dollar for each hour you play in comps. You do have to get a separate Poker slot card, but I have mine already. I sat down at a 2/4 table and for the next four hours I waited for some decent hands. How I can sit for four hours and not get dealt one set of pocket pairs or A/K is amazing to me. Four hours! I did take a few pots here and there, but it was just a terrible day of dealt cards. For those of you who play, you know that though you throw in your hands, you still look at the flops and the rest just to see if you would have won had you stayed in and invariably there are many hands you would have taken. Well, on this day, I noticed I would not have won even one hand had I not thrown in my cards—simply bizarre.
Horse Betting area in South Point...obviously a favorite
It was almost 6 PM and all I had to eat today were two hot dogs (South Point still has a cart outside the sportsbook that sells dogs for $.75), so I stopped over at the Deli, picked up a sandwich and headed up to the room. There wasn’t much on TV but “America’s Funniest Home Videos” and a repeat of “America’s Got Talent” (America is very big this year), and the insane “Big Brother” (how is this even still on the air?). I called it a night.
More tomorrow
Moving day once again. As is my routine when I first wake up, I first turn on the TV and watch the morning news just to completely wake me up and see if I missed anything overnight. What I forgot is that it’s Sunday and there is no local news on Saturday and Sunday mornings in Las Vegas. I got up and there was a piece of paper at my door. It was my bill for the two nights here at Candlewood and I was given a nice surprise. I was only charged $79 for the first night and $59 for the second night. When I figure in my $75 rebate I’ll receive in a form of a VISA card when I get back, that turns out to be a pretty sweet deal (about $35 per night) for what amounts to a fully furnished and stocked studio apartment. No question that if I find myself in a similar situation in the future, this is where I’ll stay.
I packed up and put everything into my car and sat down in the driver’s seat and just sat there for a moment. It was only 10 AM, much too early to check in to my next stop. I wasn’t hungry, and I wasn’t in the mood for another early movie. Then it hit me, I needed to go to Planet Hollywood sometime this week to get a couple of tickets for Holly Madison’s Peep Show, which are for a couple of previous students coming this next weekend (I’ll explain more about that later). So I drove over and parked once again at Bill’s Gambling Hall and when I went to the escalator for Ballys, I saw that the line for the Discount Ticket Booth here at Bills was snaking around the corner and all the way down Flamingo (should have taken a picture). If only these folks knew that if they went to the Towne Center booth, there’s never anyone in line. These discount places that only sell tickets for that night’s or next night’s performances do offer good discounts, but many times the “retail” prices they show are inflated, then you have to pay a $4 to $6 per ticket service charge, the seat selections are usually the more undesirable seats in the venue, and you’re not given tickets, but rather a voucher you need to then take to the theater to be exchanged usually many hours before the performance. I went through all of this once and decided that to save $20 or $30; it simply wasn’t worth the hassle. At least when you buy your own tickets at the box office, you can choose the seats you want. I suppose it’s all in what you’re looking for.
I walked over to Ballys, and played the new Lord of the Rings machine—no luck. I made my way from there to the Paris where a huge (and I mean huge) line was waiting to get into the Paris buffet. As I passed them, I said under my breath, “It’s not worth it; it’s not worth it…” I saw a sign at the front of the line that said, “Want to go right in? For $10 added per person, go to the front of the line.” WHAT? It’s already $22.50 per person. Would you be willing to pay $32.50 for a mediocre breakfast? By the way, there was no line in the Diamond entrance (Diamond and 7 Star players are casino veterans, they’re already aware of this place and don’t bother).
I walked over to the corner of the Paris and waited at the light. While waiting, behind what used to be a beautiful fountain that was a great picture opportunity was now a Sugar Factory retail outlet—no need for beauty when you can squeeze in an extra buck. I then turned to look up at the Cosmopolitan Hotel and Casino. I still can’t quite see where the $1.3 billion was in this. Gee, are you noticing the sarcastic tone?—maybe I should have had breakfast after all.
The 1.3 Billion Cosmo...really?
As I was walking into Planet Hollywood, I was accosted by two people (not your usual porn-slappers) who were pushing “free shows” in my face. I didn’t bother to ask but just kept walking. There were also a few of the costumed panhandlers trying to make a buck as well. It’s already over 100 degrees, and I can’t imagine what it must feel like in the costumes and make up. Is it really worth it? Inside the Planet Hollywood, I headed up the escalators to the box office. There was no one in line, and I got the tickets to some terrific seats. I then walked over to the Diamond Lounge, which is also located on this floor, and saw that they only open at noon on Fridays and Saturdays. They won’t be open until 4 PM. I looked over the edge at the casino, took a picture and thought back to the days when this was the Aladdin and I was standing in what used to be the London casino—times, they just keep a’changin’.
Casino at Planet Hollywood
I played a couple of games (had a nice hit on their Lord of the Rings machine for $60+) and then headed back to the car. As I made my way through the Paris to Ballys, I was once again accosted in the byway by a very pretty, young lady who put a small packet of face cream in my hand and wanted to show me her “miracle” face products all along throwing in the usual questions of where I’m from, what’s my name, how many kids do I have, yada, yada. Usually I just keep walking but this time, in my present mood, I chose to let her do her thing. I told her I wouldn’t buy anything, she said, she wouldn’t try to sell me anything (right). I sat down and she began to put this cream over the wrinkles on my face. She kept remarking how MUCH better I looked and for me to look in the mirror for the AMAZING difference. This went on for a while and then the pitch. She’d sell me the two boxes of face cream that usually sell for $300 each for half off at only $150 each. I reminded her that she told me she wasn’t going to try to sell me anything, but she just ignored that and started in on the sell’s pitch again. Then, I turned things around. I reached into my pocket and gave her my card which has my name s my being a blog writer for the Las Vegas Advisor (my son had these made up for me before I left). I told her I wasn’t going to buy any cream, but I’d be happy to write up all of this if she’d allow me take her picture in front of the booth holding the cream up. She refused. I kept going on about how much it would improve business, how she might even become famous, she still refused. I showed her my phone number on the card and told her if she changes her mind, just give me a call. I left. The plan is that when I check into Ballys next Sunday, and she’ll have long forgotten about me, I’ll sneak a picture of her for you. A jar of face cream for $300? Are you kidding me?
It was almost 1 PM and I drove to my next stay, which is the South Point Hotel and Casino. They offered me two free nights and $15 in free play along with the usual coupon book for free drinks and half off the buffet (used to be free). I checked in was given room 2088. She asked if I preferred a Strip or desert view. I told her I’ve been here many times before, and to leave the Strip view room for the young couples. Though the room is for two nights, I’ll only be staying for one as I’m booked tomorrow at Harrahs for the first of the two tournaments I’ll be playing during this trip. Of course, if my room at Harrahs is bad, I’ll stay here the second night.
South Point from parking garage
Room at South Point
Not the best view from window this trip...not the worst
Today, I was going to get in some live poker. I’ve only played once at the Colorado Belle early in this trip and I do like to play poker. South Point is a good place to play. The people are nice, and you get a dollar for each hour you play in comps. You do have to get a separate Poker slot card, but I have mine already. I sat down at a 2/4 table and for the next four hours I waited for some decent hands. How I can sit for four hours and not get dealt one set of pocket pairs or A/K is amazing to me. Four hours! I did take a few pots here and there, but it was just a terrible day of dealt cards. For those of you who play, you know that though you throw in your hands, you still look at the flops and the rest just to see if you would have won had you stayed in and invariably there are many hands you would have taken. Well, on this day, I noticed I would not have won even one hand had I not thrown in my cards—simply bizarre.
Horse Betting area in South Point...obviously a favorite
It was almost 6 PM and all I had to eat today were two hot dogs (South Point still has a cart outside the sportsbook that sells dogs for $.75), so I stopped over at the Deli, picked up a sandwich and headed up to the room. There wasn’t much on TV but “America’s Funniest Home Videos” and a repeat of “America’s Got Talent” (America is very big this year), and the insane “Big Brother” (how is this even still on the air?). I called it a night.
More tomorrow
