Vegas Trip Report
August 3 – 7 2025
Sunday 8/3
Left from Boston on JetBlue at 7:41 AM Eastern and arrived 10:30 AM Vegas time.
Weeks before leaving, I began a search for a four day midsize rental car with the best available rate at $250 from BJ's website -- and with AutoSlash even higher. Eventually through Car Rental Savers I booked a midsize Kia SUV for four days for $151 from Thrifty. The car was like new with only 8,000 miles and had built-in GPS navigation, so did not have to use up my I-Phone battery using Bluetooth and Waze. The car's GPS, however, took a bit of getting use to with a temperamental search function. Overall, a nice vehicle though.
From there, I drove to the Green Valley Ranch (Shopping District) to Crazy Pita for lunch: a lamb-tip pita sandwich with fries. Being a lover of lamb, it was delicious and priced reasonably.
I then drove to Palace Station for three comped nights. Palace Station used to be old and dingy. About four to five years ago it was entirely shut down, gutted, and rebuilt/renovated. Currently it is still in overall nearly new condition. For the fourth non-comped night, I paid $110 all in. The upper floor, double queen room I was assigned was in great shape and roomy.
After getting settled, I went to the casino and played Loose Deuces Wild video poker (LDW-VP). This is one of the few video poker games left in Vegas with a potential 100%+ long term return at 100.15% if played perfectly. The downside, however, is the complex strategy and the high game variance. Without getting the expected number of four deuce hands, and/or royals, the game will gobble up your money quickly. I’ve been playing this game for a few years (ever since the higher return and lower variance deuces wild games were phased out in Vegas).
About a month before a trip, I typically begin practicing video poker at home on error notifying/correcting software and also when dealt difficult hands refer to a small, hand-held, paper strategy card.
Even with perfect play or near perfect play, however, the game can be a nightmare without getting an appropriate/expected number of four deuces and/or royals. In practice sessions, playing five quarters per hand, if four deuces do not show up after many hours of play, I’ve gone long periods losing a thousand or more of hypothetical dollars.
The game is available at most Station Casinos in Vegas including Palace Station. But since it offers potentially a greater than 100% return, no comp points are awarded on this game and the few other potential 100%+ return video poker games. Although I acquire no comp points while playing, I do keep my players card inserted and based on the amount of coin in and time on the machine (and perhaps the previous win/loss results), I am usually offered three nights comped at Palace Station (sometimes with additional food credits – though no food credits this trip). I paid for the fourth room night at $110 all in.
That afternoon upon arrival I played LDW-VP for an hour or two and lost $100. I had a ticket for an early evening concert at Southpoint. It was a tribute band of the Beach Boys called “Good Vibrations”. On the way, I stopped at Silverton Casino at which I had a Las Vegas Advisor (LVA) $10 free slot play coupon from their Members Reward Booklet (MRB). With the free slot play coupon I ended up with a gain of $15. Next at Southpoint (which was busier than I’d ever seen it) I first stopped at their deli and had a large, overflowing, and delicious corned beef sandwich along with a side of potato salad, and something I have never seen before: Diet Doctor Pepper from a fountain dispenser.
I still had a bit of time to kill before the concert, so I saddled up to a 9/6 Jacks or Better VP machine playing 25 cents x 5 coins per hand. After playing about 20 minutes I broke even, garnered a few player’s club point, and then made my way to the showroom.
I’ve seen recent on-line concerts of the “Beach Boys” with Mike Love. Also, over the past decade I’ve seen Brian Wilson’s band with Al Jardine in person/live when Brian was still alive and still touring: in Boston and in Vegas. One of the things about their music: the size of the bands they needed to recreate their music: typically required fifteen or more band members.
What impressed me about this tribute band was not just the fantastic singing harmonies and faithful instrumentals, but doing it with so few band members: just a lead singer and four other band members to include keyboard, drums, lead guitar, and bass guitar. In addition to all of them being exceptional instrumentalists, they all could sing and harmonize extremely well. In addition, the lead singer was a great showman, often emulating Mike Love’s mannerisms, etc. Overall, it was a surprisingly impressive show.
After the show, I drove back to Palace Station and played about three+ hours of LDW-VP mostly losing or going sideways. I was getting really tired and was about a minute away from calling it a night, when I was dealt four deuces for $625. I’ve never been dealt four deuces before (even while practicing on my computer at home) – ever. So I was very careful to save all of them before hitting the draw button. In the end, overall I left winning $575 for the session and $490 for the day.
Monday 8/4/2025
For breakfast I went to the Palace Station’s coffee shop, the Brass Fork for coffee and Danish and then proceeded to lose a quick $100 on LDW-VP.
Today was my day to hit Downtown Las Vegas. First stop was El Cortez where I valet parked (one of the few places Downtown where you are not charged for parking but a tip is expected upon leaving). Next at the Player’s Club I showed my recent JetBlue boarding pass (can be any airline), which earns you $10 of free slot play (FSP) and a $25 match play (MP). On the FSP, I squeaked out a $5 win. On the MP, I played one hand of black Jack for $25 and got a 20 against a dealer bust for a $50 win.
I next went to the Downtown Grand about 11:30 AM because I learned last year that their table games do not open until 11:00 AM. I had a $50 MP from LVA MRB and all their table games were closed. I eventually found out that their table games now do not open until 2:00 PM (Arggh!!).
Based on that, I walked to the Golden Gate and played a $25 LVA MP on red and won $50. From there, I walked across Fremont St. to Circa where if you say “Hello Mathew” at the player’s club booth, they will give a $25 MP. I bet it with $25 on red again and again won $50. I then walked back to the Four Queens at which I had an LVA MRB $10 FSP coupon. After playing the free $10 through a video poker machine, I ended up with $5.00 and cashed out. To make sure I did not go back to the Downtown Grand until 2:00 PM, I first stopped for lunch at the newish food court at the rear of the Fremont Casino at Huey Magoos fast food chicken restaurant. I had their salad with grilled chicken and as usual it still is the best salad, chicken, and dressing I have ever had: fresh and delicious in every aspect including the dressing.
By now it was after 2:00 PM and the Downtown Grand table games were finally open. I played my best and only MP: a $50 MP from LVA MRB. As usual for this trip I played it on red. If I won I’d be up another $100, if I lost I’d lose $50, so the result would be a $150 swing in my bankroll. Playing red, I lost $50 instead of going up $100 had I won. Large MPs will definitely affect your final results. Licking my wounds, I moved on to The “D” with one $25 MP from LVA MRB and another one from the Player’s Rewards booth for again mentioning “Hi Mathew” or “Richard Wilk” Again betting red, the first one won for $50, and the second one lost for $25, netting me $25.
My total MP and FSP Downtown net winnings were $135.
Later for supper, I went to the Brass Fork restaurant at Palace Station where they were offering a special of a cheeseburger with fries for only $6.00. It was pretty good especially considering the price.
After dinner, I played a little more LDW VP but lost $50.
For the day, in total I lost $15 on gambling but for the trip was still up $475.
Tuesday 8/5/2025
For breakfast I just had toast and coffee at the Palace Station coffee shop and then proceeded to play 25 cent LDW-VP. After playing for quite a long time and losing about $100, unbelievably I hit four deuces again for $625.
Later in the afternoon I drove over to Ellis Island for a late lunch. While there, based on LVA MRB coupons, I got a $10 MP, which won on red for $20 and a $10 FSP coupon which won $10. I then had a late lunch there with a 50% off LVA coupon. For no particular reason, I had ham and eggs and home fries with sourdough toast. The ham steak was very large but was not very good with a lot of fat, bone, and grizzle. Everything else was excellent, however.
That night I attended a concert at The Smith Center for the Performing Arts <https://thesmithcenter.com/> not too far from Fremont Street Downtown. Michael Grimm (a rhythm and blues and rock singer) and his band were playing. I've seen him in Vegas at various venues both solo and with his band over the years. Years ago he won the national popular televised America’s Got Talent competition. He and his seven piece band put on a great performance as usual. He is backed by some of the best musicians in Vegas as well as a fantastic female backup singer.
After the concert I had a great dessert pastry at the Brass Fork coffee shop at Palace Station, and then for a change, proceeded to play a brief session of 9/6 JOB VP (that does award players club points) for a $20 loss.
Overall for the day, I was up $585 gambling and for the trip up $1,060.
Wednesday 8/6/2025
This morning I again played a short session of 9/6 JOB VP for a $20 loss at Palace Station. I then went to the Palms (non-lobster) brunch buffet. I had been there before on unlimited lobster day at a much higher price, but based on the small lobster sizes, claws missing, and the spices added to the boiled lobsters, etc., it was not for me. I guess I’m a lobster snob living in a northern MA seacoast city abutting the NH seacoast where lobsters are in abundance and are bought live or fresh steamed or boiled year round with no spices or anything added to the water.
Anyway, the Palms non-lobster buffet was $44 per person. With the LVA MRB coupon, however, it was half price for one at only $22. Although they do have crab legs included, I’ve never liked crab so I did not partake of that. They also do have tiny lobster rolls with a miniscule amount of lobster in them, but again the lobster meat tasted awful to me (not that there was much in the tiny roll to begin with). They do have an abundance of other stuff most of which is pretty good, I especially liked the unlimited large peeled fresh shrimp with cocktail sauce, fresh cut fruit, NY strip steaks, carved ham and turkey, the omelet station, and other mains and side dishes. Besides the shrimp, my next favorite items were the abundance and quality of the desserts. My two favorites were the banana cream pie and the coconut frozen custard.
At full price it seems a bit expensive to me, but with the 2-for-1 or 50% off for one LVA coupon at $22.00, it is a great deal.
That evening I had tickets for a show at the Planet Hollywood V Theatre, the R-Rated Magician. I hate to go to the strip since nearly everywhere they now have exorbitant minimum parking fees of $30 (even for short periods): not to mention the unfavorable gambling when it comes to video poker and most low minimum table games. They say TI still may have some free parking, but typically there is a catch to it and it’s a great distance from there to the southern end of the strip.
So I developed a “cunning” plan. I had a $10 free slot play coupon at Sahara and a $10 matchplay coupon for Westgate. Parking is free at Sahara and the first stop on the monorail begins at Sahara. So I bought a 24 hour monorail ticket for $13.50 and parked at Sahara for free. I then gambled my $10 free slot play coupon there and won $5.00, I next took the monorail to Westgate. Up until about a year ago parking was mostly free at Westgate, now more frequently than not, there is a parking fee there. It became irrelevant to me since I took the monorail there instead of driving and played an MRB $10 matchplay. As usual for this trip I played red; and I won $20.
I then took the monorail to the Paris/Horseshoe station and I walked across LV Blvd to see the Bellagio Conservatory. As usual, it was very nice and it smelled good too.
Following that, I walked back across LV Blvd. to Planet Hollywood/Miracle Mile Shopping Mall and was planning on getting a sandwich at Earl of Sandwich, but I was still so full from the lunch buffet, I only got lemonade. From there, I walked through the Miracle Mile Mall until I got to the “V” Theatre where the “R-Rated Magic Show” would be taking place.
Although the show was somewhat humorous and energetic, it was sophomoric. In addition, the small cramped theatre venue was dingy.
Following the show, I walked back to the abutting Paris/Horseshoe monorail station and took the monorail back to the Sahara where my car was parked for free. I then drove back to Palace Station about a mile away.
For the day I was up $5 from gambling, but overall for the trip up $1,065.
Thursday 8/7/2025
Today was my final day and I checked out of Palace Station; gassed up the rental car; returned the rental; and took the shuttle bus from the rental car facility to the airport. Without TSA Precheck and without Global Entry, I still quickly made my way through TSA (with my shoes on, my laptop still in its case, and with small liquids still in my carry-on). I then eventually (after grabbing a coffee and a muffin near my airport gate), boarded my JetBlue flight which was leaving at 11:45 AM. I had reserved a window seat and slept part of the way home. We landed in Boston as scheduled about 8:30 PM.
The End
