It’s moving day AGAIN. Woke up fairly early and hit the restaurant to redeem our breakfast comp. Both Mr. T and I ordered your standard eggs, bacon, toast, hash browns and coffee. A pleasant breakfast at the little Café – four forks!
We decide that morning to be a bit adventurous and explore a new place we’d never visited before: Red Rock Canyon. We arrived at the park around 8 am. It’s a very pleasant 80 degrees that time of day - only problem: we forgot our water bottles and were therefore unable to hike too much off the beaten path. We took our car round the one-way 13 mile scenic route stopping along at most checkpoints to admire the beauty and terrain of this desert gem. The pictures will speak for themselves. I highly recommend this stop on your itinerary; but go right away in the early morning if you can. By the time we left, it was nearing 90 degrees.
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Returned to the El Co about 10:30 am. Zoomed up to our room and packed up. Check out was smooth and painless. I withdrew another $400 from the ATM (now at a total of $1200 for the trip) and traded in the receipt for another $20 in free play. Gradually blew through the entire amount on degenerate penny slots; but am overall very satisfied with our hotel accommodations, food comps, and the abundance of free play were able to parlay into $125 net profit.
Pleasure doing business with the El Cortez!
Our reservation for the next four nights is at NYNY on the strip. All nights are comped (including resort fees) courtesy MyVegas online (facebook) game.
It’s much too early for check in, but we drive the car up to their valet entrance where a bellman grabs our bags out of the trunk for safe keeping, and without missing a beat or even turning off the car, we’re off again to return the rental at the Stratosphere.
Just like their inefficient and slow pick-up process, there’s nothing convenient about Budget’s car return process either. We gas up near the Strat then pull into the main entrance to inquire about car rental drop off as there are no signs – anywhere. We’re told to drive around and find the 7th floor of their parking garage. Ok, we drive all the way up to the 7th floor and get the car checked in w/an attendant in the garage. You’d think that be the end of it. Nope. She hands us a receipt, we now have to ride the elevator down, traipse through the casino all the way back to hotel registration where there’s one, snide little douchebag working the counter. Wait in line FOREVER just to return this stupid slip of paper, and I ask him why they make car return so inconvenient for their customers. “That’s just the way it is” is all I get in return. Whatever, never again, at least never again through Budget – EVER.
It’s my vacation. I’m not going to let the Budget debacle get me down. I’m so relieved to be rid of that damn car, I decide to celebrate with a beer, only I have to walk about a mile first.
I ask Big T if we can take the bus to Circus Circus. He says I’m getting soft and that walk is nothing from the Strat. Fine. We’re huffin’ puffin’ and sweating like hogs by the time we finally make it under the Big Top. Fortunately, there is no line and the slot club boothling in very friendly. We buy our win cards: $45 in chips for $30 with no problems.
Played a long time at their roulette table (well 2 beers long at least) with a funny little woman Asian dealer. Cashed out down $5 overall but my mood had improved remarkably.
We skip hand-in-hand across the street to the Riviera where we have a total of four $10 matchplay coupons. The dealer is a grumpy old fart but grudgingly allows us to play all four coupons consecutively. Tells me he’s only supposed to allow one coupon per person per day.
The woman we’re sitting next to said she would have bet one for us had he prohibited the transaction. No matter. I was pleased to have won both my MP’s (biggest loser Mr. T lost both of his). When all was said and done, we left the Riviera even plus four free beers… which means we’re really ahead in my book.
I realize much later I completely forgot about the wincards available at the Riviera. Must have been all that beer clouding my head!
We leave the nearly empty Riviera, and after a few steps outdoors, realize we still have a LONG walk back to NYNY. This definitely requires additional hydration. A quick pit stop at Casino Royale to buy two bottles of beer and suddenly the walk is nothing at all.
You’d think after all this fooling around it would be time to check in at NYNY, but really it’s only about 2:00. We decide to detour over to Ellis Island to redeem the free slot play we’d earned the day before and turn in one of our MRB “three free rounds” coupons.
We see Manny-The-Mope (Ellis Island’s daytime bartender) is working. Remembered him from last summer. Guy is expressionless until you leave him a tip at which point he lights up like a Christmas tree. We leave big tips at Ellis Island, even when Manny’s working. I so badly want to say to this guy, if he’d light up that smile a bit before people order, he might (gasp) get more tips after the drink is delivered. Bartender science 101. No wonder he’s always so miserable, he’s got it all backwards!
Well, despite the surly bartender, our detour to Ellis Island resulted in a good profit. First we ran through the $20 freeplay we’d earned the day before. Then we earned ANOTHER $10 free play each w/our MRB coupons. These coupons are redeemable right away after playing your ten bucks through (no 24 hour waiting period). When it was all said and done we left Ellis Island up fifty bucks and six free beers.
We stumbled over to NYNY to check in just after 4:00. The queue was long, but the wait was short. They had many people on staff and moved us all quickly and efficiently through the line. Those assholes at Budget oughta come visit this place and learn a thing or two about prompt customer service!
After moving into our Park Avenue room at NYNY we freshened up and headed out for dinner. We redeemed two free “Buffet of Buffet” passes at Planet Hollywood. These we scored after opening new Total Rewards Visas. The Spice Market buffet at PH never disappoints, and this meal was no exception. We love the seafood selection and desserts at this place. Five Forks.
We finished dinner, realized we were full and tired and estimated that we had walked close to 8 miles on this day. Called it a night (at least for a few hours) when I stupidly woke up and felt “lucky”. Wandered downstairs to check out the NYNY casino and promptly lost sixty bucks on degenerate penny slot gambling. When will I learn this is never a good idea? Sigh.
Oh well, more tomorrow…
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We decide that morning to be a bit adventurous and explore a new place we’d never visited before: Red Rock Canyon. We arrived at the park around 8 am. It’s a very pleasant 80 degrees that time of day - only problem: we forgot our water bottles and were therefore unable to hike too much off the beaten path. We took our car round the one-way 13 mile scenic route stopping along at most checkpoints to admire the beauty and terrain of this desert gem. The pictures will speak for themselves. I highly recommend this stop on your itinerary; but go right away in the early morning if you can. By the time we left, it was nearing 90 degrees.
[URL=https://s699.photobucket.com/user/pergandeh/media/Facebook/Summer%202013/994284_10200685509517426_1266338651_n.jpg.html]
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[/URL]Returned to the El Co about 10:30 am. Zoomed up to our room and packed up. Check out was smooth and painless. I withdrew another $400 from the ATM (now at a total of $1200 for the trip) and traded in the receipt for another $20 in free play. Gradually blew through the entire amount on degenerate penny slots; but am overall very satisfied with our hotel accommodations, food comps, and the abundance of free play were able to parlay into $125 net profit.
Pleasure doing business with the El Cortez!
Our reservation for the next four nights is at NYNY on the strip. All nights are comped (including resort fees) courtesy MyVegas online (facebook) game.
It’s much too early for check in, but we drive the car up to their valet entrance where a bellman grabs our bags out of the trunk for safe keeping, and without missing a beat or even turning off the car, we’re off again to return the rental at the Stratosphere.
Just like their inefficient and slow pick-up process, there’s nothing convenient about Budget’s car return process either. We gas up near the Strat then pull into the main entrance to inquire about car rental drop off as there are no signs – anywhere. We’re told to drive around and find the 7th floor of their parking garage. Ok, we drive all the way up to the 7th floor and get the car checked in w/an attendant in the garage. You’d think that be the end of it. Nope. She hands us a receipt, we now have to ride the elevator down, traipse through the casino all the way back to hotel registration where there’s one, snide little douchebag working the counter. Wait in line FOREVER just to return this stupid slip of paper, and I ask him why they make car return so inconvenient for their customers. “That’s just the way it is” is all I get in return. Whatever, never again, at least never again through Budget – EVER.
It’s my vacation. I’m not going to let the Budget debacle get me down. I’m so relieved to be rid of that damn car, I decide to celebrate with a beer, only I have to walk about a mile first.
I ask Big T if we can take the bus to Circus Circus. He says I’m getting soft and that walk is nothing from the Strat. Fine. We’re huffin’ puffin’ and sweating like hogs by the time we finally make it under the Big Top. Fortunately, there is no line and the slot club boothling in very friendly. We buy our win cards: $45 in chips for $30 with no problems.
Played a long time at their roulette table (well 2 beers long at least) with a funny little woman Asian dealer. Cashed out down $5 overall but my mood had improved remarkably.
We skip hand-in-hand across the street to the Riviera where we have a total of four $10 matchplay coupons. The dealer is a grumpy old fart but grudgingly allows us to play all four coupons consecutively. Tells me he’s only supposed to allow one coupon per person per day.
The woman we’re sitting next to said she would have bet one for us had he prohibited the transaction. No matter. I was pleased to have won both my MP’s (biggest loser Mr. T lost both of his). When all was said and done, we left the Riviera even plus four free beers… which means we’re really ahead in my book.
I realize much later I completely forgot about the wincards available at the Riviera. Must have been all that beer clouding my head!
We leave the nearly empty Riviera, and after a few steps outdoors, realize we still have a LONG walk back to NYNY. This definitely requires additional hydration. A quick pit stop at Casino Royale to buy two bottles of beer and suddenly the walk is nothing at all.
You’d think after all this fooling around it would be time to check in at NYNY, but really it’s only about 2:00. We decide to detour over to Ellis Island to redeem the free slot play we’d earned the day before and turn in one of our MRB “three free rounds” coupons.
We see Manny-The-Mope (Ellis Island’s daytime bartender) is working. Remembered him from last summer. Guy is expressionless until you leave him a tip at which point he lights up like a Christmas tree. We leave big tips at Ellis Island, even when Manny’s working. I so badly want to say to this guy, if he’d light up that smile a bit before people order, he might (gasp) get more tips after the drink is delivered. Bartender science 101. No wonder he’s always so miserable, he’s got it all backwards!
Well, despite the surly bartender, our detour to Ellis Island resulted in a good profit. First we ran through the $20 freeplay we’d earned the day before. Then we earned ANOTHER $10 free play each w/our MRB coupons. These coupons are redeemable right away after playing your ten bucks through (no 24 hour waiting period). When it was all said and done we left Ellis Island up fifty bucks and six free beers.
We stumbled over to NYNY to check in just after 4:00. The queue was long, but the wait was short. They had many people on staff and moved us all quickly and efficiently through the line. Those assholes at Budget oughta come visit this place and learn a thing or two about prompt customer service!
After moving into our Park Avenue room at NYNY we freshened up and headed out for dinner. We redeemed two free “Buffet of Buffet” passes at Planet Hollywood. These we scored after opening new Total Rewards Visas. The Spice Market buffet at PH never disappoints, and this meal was no exception. We love the seafood selection and desserts at this place. Five Forks.
We finished dinner, realized we were full and tired and estimated that we had walked close to 8 miles on this day. Called it a night (at least for a few hours) when I stupidly woke up and felt “lucky”. Wandered downstairs to check out the NYNY casino and promptly lost sixty bucks on degenerate penny slot gambling. When will I learn this is never a good idea? Sigh.
Oh well, more tomorrow…
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