This was a solo trip over Super Bowl weekend. The first 3 nights were spent at Excalibur, the last 3 nights at The Orleans. I am now convinced more than ever that the machines on the strip are set too tight and if you want to win (or at least get some play for your money) you need to go off-strip.
I arrived on Wednesday night / Thursday morning just after midnight as my planes from Albany and from Baltimore was delayed. Usually I stay up late my first night in Las Vegas but I was too tired from working my job during the day and bouncing around airports since 3pm EST. I grabbed a quick bite from McDonalds and decided to start fresh the next morning.
Thursday was beautiful. It was 73 and sunny. I set out around 8am and walked from Excalibur to the Wynn and back while occasionally stopping to play some video poker and a few cocktails along the way. I caught a 4pm show of Murray the Magician at the Tropicana on my way back. I had a coupon and for $15 it is definitely worth the price. He not only is a good magician, he is an excellent entertainer as he keeps the show moving. Once I returned to Excalibur, I had dinner at Buca de Beppo. The portions are meant to be shared but since I was traveling solo, I had plenty of leftovers for an after midnight snack. I had absolutely no luck on any machines. I got very few bonus rounds and nothing higher than 3 of a kind while playing Jacks or Better. I was down $300 for the night.
Friday I grabbed a rental car and headed for Sunset Station. I like to check out different places on each visit as I like to stay at off-strip properties. I played for over 2 hours on video poker, made $60 and had a nice buffet lunch for only $10. At night I headed over to the Monte Carlo as there is a dancer who performs on a stage near the blackjack tables in the front of the building who is HOT!! I sat at the VP bar and didn’t mind losing $60. Around midnight I headed back to Excalibur and tried the slots again with no luck. Total for the day was -$200.
Saturday I went to the Egg Works on Flamingo for breakfast. This is about 15 minutes from the strip but is well worth the drive as they have a menu of many options and everything is fresh. They have the best home fries I’ve ever had. I had the bacon and mashed potatoes omelet. Even though it was a large portion I ate the whole thing and was able to skip lunch. I then moved to the Orleans. I really consider the Orleans my home base in Vegas. I have a wonderful host, the rooms are large and comfortable and the food and entertainment is less expensive than on the strip. I played some blackjack and won $300 and I could feel my luck beginning to turn. I went to my room and studied the 10 pages of Super Bowl bets before settling on the 11 different wagers on the game. I ate dinner at the Prime Rib Loft. I really think this is a hidden gem in Las Vegas. I had a steak dinner with 2 lobster tails, soup and potato for $27. This would have cost twice the amount on the strip. I then spent the remainder of the night trying different machines and had several small wins. I ended up ahead for the day +425.
Super Bowl Sunday was spent at a party in the Orleans Stardust room. Doors opened early and I sat at a table where there were plenty of Bronco fans. Sadly, the Broncos were crushed and I left right after half time. I won several prop bets so altogether I lost $23 on the game. After the game I played blackjack for 4 hours and broke even but I did hit a $200 bonus on the Hangover game. Total for the day was +140
On Monday I decided to use a free buffet coupon at the M Resort. This is one of the better buffets in Vegas even though it seems to take an unnecessarily long to be seated even though the line was not long. There is a huge selection and all the foods are served hot, not lukewarm like some places. Since I wanted to keep the free buffet coupons on coming, I decided to give them some play. Within 30 minutes I won 500 quarters on a wheel of fortune spin and stayed on the machine for another hour before cashing out $150 ahead. I then saw a Ferris Buehler Day Off slot machine on the way out. I put $20 in and I kept getting small bonuses on the bonus rounds but then I hit a bonus for $220. Not bad for betting .35 a spin. I left the M Resort up $450 and feeling good. Back at the Orleans I had a $250 winning session at the blackjack tables and then around 2am just before I was getting ready to stop, I got into the Stewie’s bonus round on the Family Guy slot machine. I hit 3 different character’s progressive for $583. What a good way to end a vacation. For the day I was up $1300.
Checked out with my host on Tuesday morning and she removed all the food charges and I headed back to snowy Albany with an extra $800 in my pocket.
I arrived on Wednesday night / Thursday morning just after midnight as my planes from Albany and from Baltimore was delayed. Usually I stay up late my first night in Las Vegas but I was too tired from working my job during the day and bouncing around airports since 3pm EST. I grabbed a quick bite from McDonalds and decided to start fresh the next morning.
Thursday was beautiful. It was 73 and sunny. I set out around 8am and walked from Excalibur to the Wynn and back while occasionally stopping to play some video poker and a few cocktails along the way. I caught a 4pm show of Murray the Magician at the Tropicana on my way back. I had a coupon and for $15 it is definitely worth the price. He not only is a good magician, he is an excellent entertainer as he keeps the show moving. Once I returned to Excalibur, I had dinner at Buca de Beppo. The portions are meant to be shared but since I was traveling solo, I had plenty of leftovers for an after midnight snack. I had absolutely no luck on any machines. I got very few bonus rounds and nothing higher than 3 of a kind while playing Jacks or Better. I was down $300 for the night.
Friday I grabbed a rental car and headed for Sunset Station. I like to check out different places on each visit as I like to stay at off-strip properties. I played for over 2 hours on video poker, made $60 and had a nice buffet lunch for only $10. At night I headed over to the Monte Carlo as there is a dancer who performs on a stage near the blackjack tables in the front of the building who is HOT!! I sat at the VP bar and didn’t mind losing $60. Around midnight I headed back to Excalibur and tried the slots again with no luck. Total for the day was -$200.
Saturday I went to the Egg Works on Flamingo for breakfast. This is about 15 minutes from the strip but is well worth the drive as they have a menu of many options and everything is fresh. They have the best home fries I’ve ever had. I had the bacon and mashed potatoes omelet. Even though it was a large portion I ate the whole thing and was able to skip lunch. I then moved to the Orleans. I really consider the Orleans my home base in Vegas. I have a wonderful host, the rooms are large and comfortable and the food and entertainment is less expensive than on the strip. I played some blackjack and won $300 and I could feel my luck beginning to turn. I went to my room and studied the 10 pages of Super Bowl bets before settling on the 11 different wagers on the game. I ate dinner at the Prime Rib Loft. I really think this is a hidden gem in Las Vegas. I had a steak dinner with 2 lobster tails, soup and potato for $27. This would have cost twice the amount on the strip. I then spent the remainder of the night trying different machines and had several small wins. I ended up ahead for the day +425.
Super Bowl Sunday was spent at a party in the Orleans Stardust room. Doors opened early and I sat at a table where there were plenty of Bronco fans. Sadly, the Broncos were crushed and I left right after half time. I won several prop bets so altogether I lost $23 on the game. After the game I played blackjack for 4 hours and broke even but I did hit a $200 bonus on the Hangover game. Total for the day was +140
On Monday I decided to use a free buffet coupon at the M Resort. This is one of the better buffets in Vegas even though it seems to take an unnecessarily long to be seated even though the line was not long. There is a huge selection and all the foods are served hot, not lukewarm like some places. Since I wanted to keep the free buffet coupons on coming, I decided to give them some play. Within 30 minutes I won 500 quarters on a wheel of fortune spin and stayed on the machine for another hour before cashing out $150 ahead. I then saw a Ferris Buehler Day Off slot machine on the way out. I put $20 in and I kept getting small bonuses on the bonus rounds but then I hit a bonus for $220. Not bad for betting .35 a spin. I left the M Resort up $450 and feeling good. Back at the Orleans I had a $250 winning session at the blackjack tables and then around 2am just before I was getting ready to stop, I got into the Stewie’s bonus round on the Family Guy slot machine. I hit 3 different character’s progressive for $583. What a good way to end a vacation. For the day I was up $1300.
Checked out with my host on Tuesday morning and she removed all the food charges and I headed back to snowy Albany with an extra $800 in my pocket.
