Trip report August 2023
Trip started parking car using spot hero near DCA. So much cheaper to do it that way, Uber wanted $80 plus just to go to the airport. Spot hero was $59.00 for the whole trip.
Took First class on American, so nice, very relaxing. Listed to “how to count cards by Dominique rhone”. Also started on colon jones book “The 21st century card counter”. Got to Harry reid no problems. Using turo for renting a car, been doing that for the past few times, cost $200 for the trip. Hertz wanted like $900. Even Budget and Avis were close to that, Turo seems to be the way to go. Arrived around 9:30 am, so room at Park MGM was not ready(got the notice room was ready at 3:00 pm, so normal time).
Played at Park Mgm mostly VP, liking that Ultimate X, played with nickels and used my slot play with MGM rewards. Then it was onto some spa time for my wife and I. Have to admit, as a man’s man, its really pretty good. My feet feel great right now. After that onto the Downtown Grand to play in the blackjack tournament. What a great place. Got to sit with Andrew Hunt and Anthony Curtis(AC) for a while. So great to be able to sit and talk videos, books, counting cards. shout out to Joe, glad to be able to drink and chat. Used my LVA coupon for the $25.00 matchplay, won that on the craps table and played a little longer to hit the point again. Quadrupled my money.
Then onto the blackjack tournament, first buy in for $25.00. Used every tip I learned from study about BJ championships. All the AC videos. Played small to try to let other knock each other out, but doesn’t always work. Shoved in all my chips at the end, but just wasn’t enough. Oh back to JOB 8/5 VP, and the $25.00 rebuy. Got to sit with AC for a little longer, then just like the blogs say, faced off against Anthony himself.
Back and forth, betting up and down, keeping the count, watching everyones else’s bet. In the end out lasted Anthony, but I didn’t win either, came in 3rd, not enough to go to the next table. But truly and honor to play with some fellow LAVers. Headed to Circa to put down my bet for Circa Millions. Good luck to all Im playing with/agonist this year.
Onto top of Binions steakhouse for dinner, even though our guests were late, but the steakhouse was very accommodating. Again saving over $100 using my LVA 25% off coupon. Cant beat that, pork appetizer was really good!
Next day was a trip across the desert to see Metallica, smooth ride across the desert, finally stopped at the original del taco in Barstow. Clear traffic until we hit the 110, the slow traffic all the way to the hotel. Hilton was nice upstairs, but the room was hot and after 2 calls to front desk, nothing done. Ok have to complain to hilton directly for that one.
Went with my cousin and my wife to the concert. Parking was odd, was going to drive, as So-fi stadium was only 3 miles away on century blvd. Spot hero parking was $69.00. But since my niece was driving, I cancelled it.
Bad move as when we wanted to park at the Hollywood casino the guy wanted $150.00 to park. Then he said, oh I can $100. Then thought, ok well he already dropping prices, so I offered $69.00 to park, same on spot hero.
Parking attendant said cant do it, then I said ok ill give you $60 plus a $20 tip, he cant do it, then I pulled out the money right in front of him. He said I do $80.00, yea ok, he took the money, then said oh shoot, oh well go ahead. Guess he was focusing on the money instead of thinking 60+20 is $80. So in the end paid $11.00 more for parking. Ok lesson learned, but glad I outsmarted him a bit. Saw mammoth, Pantera and Metallica. Great show all the way around, over 70,000 people.
Wanted to give props to my cousin. The line for t-shirt and souvenir trailer was over an hour long. My cousin is a cutie, so she kinda hangs out in the front. Then smiles nice to this big biker dude, and says oh im kinda lost, he says no problem, slides right in line, gets two totally awesome t-shirts within 5 minutes. If I had tried that, not a chance. Feminine wiles,
Pretty good cousin!!
Quite the evolution coming out of the concert, stuck on bridges with so many people, older crowd, so very peaceful. In the morning, back to Vegas for my second stay at PARK MGM. Played some craps, roulette for a short time,Pai Gow. Sportsbet. Love the Park MGMs sportsbook. Went to Aira’slobby bar, pretty good place to hang out. Used some of my mgm points to pick up the check for a couple from Kentucky. Nice chat.
Room was finally ready at 4:00, nice to have the bellhop guys bring all the bags to the room and not have me lug it upstairs again. $6.00 tip worth it. Showered and then onto see Neil Rogers Chic and Duran Duran at T-mobile arena. My wife brought a clear bag but the security said it was too big, was only 5x7 bag. So i asked for ruling from the supervisor and said my wife has medicine, so the supervisor said ok let me see the medicine bottle, showed that to her, and then no problem right into the concert. Again having to stay clam and be smart. Both shows great. A little complaining from a lady a few seats down saying we were blocking her friend view. We were on the end in the isle. Ok i just let it go, then she is up there signing with me every song, weird, people, what can you do?
Next day back to downtown to go on coupon run, 4 queens, the D, downtown grand(DG), Binions. Matchplay works great, used the coupon for coney island dogs, just great.!! Then went back to DG to continue to practice my card counting, doing that shoe after shoe, mind you as tired after 3 hours. Betting $5.00 to $10.00 a hand, side bet a little, i know no side bets. After 2 shoes the pit boss came and talked my ear off, ok my first experience with distraction. Colin jones says be sociable, love video where he says one guy was telling the pit boss, “im counting”, yea don’t do that. Still laugh about that on his you tube videos. 3 hours straight, counted through 6 shoes. Watched alot of people come and go, buy in and rebuy. I was able to hold my own with my original $100 buy in. Great practice time.
Then onto A.Y.C.E for dinner again using my LVA palms coupon. Again saving $48 bucks. Palms pretty good food, steamed dumplings were good.
Morning came and time to go home and cash out. Love playing VP at the center bar. Always love playing there. Thanks to Robert for the great advice, went up $300 on Ultimate X playing nickels, some dimes. I know that being a tipping george can have some controversy, but I do believe in spreading the wealth around.
Returned the turo car and am sitting here at Harry Reid waiting to board the plane. look forward to returning in October and playing again on the tournament at DG on Thursday 5 Oct 2023. Going home even, bringing back with the bankroll i brought. After everything, thats a winner!!!
Take care fellow LVAers
Dave
