Arrived Sunday a.m. at Bally's. Friends had gone to Paris a couple of weeks prior and paid an additional $15.00 for early check in. Used the old $20.00 routine and was upgraded (for third year in a row) from South to North tower. No wait for the room. Meanwhile the couple next to me were haggling over paying $20.00 per night for an upgrade and then offered an upgrade at $10.00 per night but still not happy. I grabbed my keys and left the scene. The room was large with large bath and vanity with extra sink. The door would not close automatically and I needed to play with the inside handle to get it to close. I called maintenance and when I returned it was repaired. Engaged in the World Pass buffet for $44.95 by going to dinner at Paris after 8:00 p.m. I time it this way to get in a second dinner the next night around 7:00 p.m. or so. I had a good night on Sunday with video poker but it seems the number of video poker slots at Bally's is diminishing. I stay here for the convenience to Ellis Island. Quick review of the trip: Mob Museum; was very interesting a lot of reading and standing but a good history of the mob overall and not just there action in Vegas. Left there and went to Main Street Station it was Tuesday and that is T-Bone night at the buffet. Very happy with the steak and buffet at $14.99. I haven't been downtown in years and it seemed much nicer with the Nugget's pool and shark tank, Binion's seemed to be remodeled and had my picture taken with a million bucks, the D was also a nice change. I didn't feel secure enough to use the zip line....maybe next time if I lose some weight. The DaVinci exhibit at Venetian was interesting and informative. None of his artwork is on display it is purely a show of his work, inventions, designs, study of anatomy and an interesting history of the Mona Lisa the result of a unique photographic study. Re-visited the auto's at Imperial Palace, still an impressive display. As for shows I did not plan ahead...should I be surprised...'Donnie and Marie' are still selling out! I went to Legend's at Harrah's bought a ticket which included the buffet. The show was a disappointment. I guess I'm aging out since I didn't think tribute performances of Justin Timberlake and Adele are warranted just yet. I had seen the show years ago and believe it was much better back then. For diversion I went to Frank Marino's DIVA's. Would he be so successful anyplace else but Vegas, probably not (like so many other Vegas acts over the years). However, I had seen his show years ago as well, the jokes are topical, the delivery quick, he is genuinely funny and can work the audience. The impersonators were all on par and easily engaged the audience for a fun evening. I was biased as the show opened with Dame Bassey's 'Get the Party Started'. The real Dame is still the greatest at 70+ years old it was nice that they covered her as well as the usual tributes to Tina, Diana, Bette and Cher.
Ellis Island: what can you say...it's a nice little dive and they try hard. I wanted the BBQ ribs to go, but they don't do take out. Instead they sit you at a table, order the ribs and then bring you 'to go cartons'. It worked! On Thursday and Friday they had drawings on the hour to win $25.00 free play. I arrived a little before 11:00 a.m. each morning and won the 11:00 a.m. drawing each morning. Last year they had machines at 40X comps and I accumulated a lot of comps (as witnessed by my collection of Ellis sweatshirts). This trip I earned less then $20.00 in comps; enough to cover dinner (with my LVA coupon) and a T-shirt. By the way the BBQ ribs were fine, the corn mushy, the cole slaw good, the beans a little spicy for me and the bread nondescript. But at $12.99 for a full rack, where else can you go?
Slot Fans: The Wizard of Oz at Bally's near the North Tower elevators seemed to have pent up anger if no one was playing. I went to an empty bank of machines and within minutes the Wizard had appeared (again and again) offering free spins etc. I was only playing at forty cents a pop but cleared about $35.00 on the way back to the room. Sex in the City: locally it is $1.00 for four plays in A.C. and Vegas they all want $2.00 per pop. Surprisingly Caesar's had two machines (heading from the sports book past the barge then to the right past the restrooms left onto the casino floor and immediate right. They were at $1.00. I was playing Breakfast at Tiffany's right next to them and doing OK. The young lady playing Sex in the City told me she was playing one screen (twenty five cents) and doing very well but had to catch a plane. When Audrey Hepburn gave up on me I moved over and collected some money via Charlotte and cleared out before I gave it all back. I learned years ago that if I have any luck I usually blow it out my ears because people on either side of me are usually winning. At Bally's I played the Double Double progressive and a guy to my left got a royal. Meanwhile if I got a quad it would be low paying and the person next to me would get two. Will I ever learn? I guess not, I was planning my next trip before I left the ground. ENJOY
Ellis Island: what can you say...it's a nice little dive and they try hard. I wanted the BBQ ribs to go, but they don't do take out. Instead they sit you at a table, order the ribs and then bring you 'to go cartons'. It worked! On Thursday and Friday they had drawings on the hour to win $25.00 free play. I arrived a little before 11:00 a.m. each morning and won the 11:00 a.m. drawing each morning. Last year they had machines at 40X comps and I accumulated a lot of comps (as witnessed by my collection of Ellis sweatshirts). This trip I earned less then $20.00 in comps; enough to cover dinner (with my LVA coupon) and a T-shirt. By the way the BBQ ribs were fine, the corn mushy, the cole slaw good, the beans a little spicy for me and the bread nondescript. But at $12.99 for a full rack, where else can you go?
Slot Fans: The Wizard of Oz at Bally's near the North Tower elevators seemed to have pent up anger if no one was playing. I went to an empty bank of machines and within minutes the Wizard had appeared (again and again) offering free spins etc. I was only playing at forty cents a pop but cleared about $35.00 on the way back to the room. Sex in the City: locally it is $1.00 for four plays in A.C. and Vegas they all want $2.00 per pop. Surprisingly Caesar's had two machines (heading from the sports book past the barge then to the right past the restrooms left onto the casino floor and immediate right. They were at $1.00. I was playing Breakfast at Tiffany's right next to them and doing OK. The young lady playing Sex in the City told me she was playing one screen (twenty five cents) and doing very well but had to catch a plane. When Audrey Hepburn gave up on me I moved over and collected some money via Charlotte and cleared out before I gave it all back. I learned years ago that if I have any luck I usually blow it out my ears because people on either side of me are usually winning. At Bally's I played the Double Double progressive and a guy to my left got a royal. Meanwhile if I got a quad it would be low paying and the person next to me would get two. Will I ever learn? I guess not, I was planning my next trip before I left the ground. ENJOY
