Upcoming First Solo Trip April 6-10

I've been to Vegas countless times and have stayed virtually everywhere over the years. But in a few weeks I'm going solo for the first time.  Originally I went with friends.  Got married and went with my wife (and sometimes friends too), got divorced, went with my girlfriend, now splitup after 10+  years together.  In recent years my GF and I used Vegas as a starting/ending point on vacations.  We'd fly in, spend a night or two, drive somewhere for awhile (Utah is my favorite, 5 national parks.  Also drove to Mammoth Lakes, CA and AZ), drive back, spend a night or two and fly home. 

So I've never been solo and it's been awhile since I've had a Vegas only vacation.  Sunday-Thursday yields good rates, used points for the flight.  I've long ago stopped staying on the strip.  Not worth it, I've stayed everywhere there.  I love Red Rock and Green Valley Ranch but this time staying at Palms Place.  Stayed there before.  I like the Palms casino but the short indoor walk to Palms Place yields a more serene place to sleep.  Rooms start at 600 sq feet and are pretty nice.  I've never heard a peep from another room while staying there (jinxing it I know).  They have a small pool which is great for relaxing.  The rate was good and includes $25 a day food/beverage credit. 

So I'll have 4 days to myself. Relax by the pool, eat some good food and gamble.  I'm a craps and blackjack player mostly.  A little VP when I want to relax.  I can walk over to the Gold Coast, I like to gamble there, so many "characters". The only time I've ever had a "beef" with another gambler was there.  Some old timer next to me told me to be quiet (the table was hot, everyone was loud). I told him to go to church if he wants quiet. Fellow craps players know how racous a table can get, part of the appeal. I'll wonder over to the Rio. I used to really like that place but the last time I stayed and played there 3-4 years ago it was terrible.  I've heard they've made some changes, we'll see. In the past I've rented a car, my GF wasn't a gambler and we did a lot of other stuff in the area (Red Rock, Valley of Fire, Mt. Charleston, Pinball HOF, etc..).  This time I'm not bothering. I'll just Uber wherever else I want to go.  Probably downtown for a day/night.  Probably not the strip.  Maybe Red Rock, I do love it there. 

Anyway, it kind of sucks to be alone (my GF and I traveled well together all over) but it's kind of great to do what I want, when I want.   

Enjoy the trip and hopefully you can give us a trip report.  It's been awhile since there's been a Gold Coast Trip report, and make sure to have your LVA book for the AYCE coupon.    Hey, might as well go check out the LVA office and say hi to Anthony since you'll be in the neighborhood. 

1) Don't bother to go to the Rio; there's nothing worthwhile there. The LVA coupon is quite a boost, though, if you haven't booked your stay elsewhere.

2) No, really, don't bother.

3) Gold Coast ain't what it used to be, which is true of all Boyd properties, unfortunately. That said, it's one of the better places to play blackjack, "better" meaning these days, of course, "not TOO horribly shitty." I've heard that you can find $10, or at least $15, 3:2 double deck at GC. The key for me is deck penetration, but my recent experiences at Boyd have been that they cut off one deck out of two, which is absurd. The game is unplayable under those conditions, but hey, everyplace else is worse. As far as craps is concerned...a $15 minimum table is a joke--you'll need several hundred bucks just to play for ten minutes--but it's the norm. And if you want to play VP--you earn NO points on ANY game until you've dumped in seven hundred and fifty thousand dollars. That gets you out of the initial Dirt level to Sucker.

4) Palms marches to the beat of its own drummer, which can be refreshing, but they seem to have recently veered away from their initial value- and good deal-oriented business model to "Meh, we're just another gouge joint." Use the LVA coupon to have them throw lobsters at you, of course. Allow seven hours for the experience (6 waiting in line, 1 actually eating).

I used to spend a LOT of time ping-ponging between Palms and GC, back when good deals abounded. I even poked my head into the Rio to play in their nutso poker room. This corner of Vegas offered everything you needed. Now...meh.

We're looking forward to your trip report. And as far as being solo for the first time in a while: take advantage of that, and deteriorate to a level of sloth, waste, and degeneracy that your female companion(s) would never have allowed before. What happens in Vegas shortens your lifespan. Embrace that, unconfined by the shackles of "Honey, you really shouldn't do that in front of all these people."

LOL Kevin.  I'm a math guy and I loathe playing 6-5, I won't do it.  As for craps, you're right, $15 is steep for the way I play.  I like to have several numbers working at once.  If I just played the pass line and odds I'd go nuts if other numbers started hitting.  So it's $10 for me, which you can find fortunately.  Especially weekdays/nights. I've always had fun playing craps at the Orleans.  When I think about where I want to go (Orleans, Southpoint, downtown, Red Rock, GVR) maybe I will just get a car.  I don't drink enough that it would hinder my driving.  I also always have a soft spot for Jerry's Nugget.  Cheap gambling and characters. That it's across the street from the Palomino is a coincidence. 

We just got back from that area a couple weeks ago/  The Rio was much better than it was a year ago and is worth giving them a smal amout of play,  You will diffinately get some free play and room offers when you get your new card.

    Gold coast has the 10 times points day on tuesday, so you can rack up some good comps and they will give you some good room offers for the next trip.  Also the craps table has been hopping by the south end of the pitt. 10 dollar table, and you should be able to play and have a great time over there.

       The Palms seems to be doing alot of things right, but can get pretty busy over there .  I think they have multipier days on wed and fri, but only certain hours so you might check.  Also if you earn 500 points you earn a free buffet.  The tables over there were 15 and 25, when we were there.   I haven't seen the working girls at the Palms like in the old days.  I think they still hang out at the Westgate when the big conventions come in town!

       Have a great trip 

Thanks Brent!

Of my 103 trips, 78 have been solo.  They were the best.  Freedom without anyone telling me what I "have" to do because that's what "we've" planned.  Enjoy the solo trip.