Finally… time for the “semi-annual” trip to Sin City. (Yeaaaaaa!)
DAY #1 ( Apr. 12)
Wife & I (C & G) are up at 5 AM, out the door at 6:30…ride from our neighbour to the airport (“thank you”). Arrive airport at 7:00, check-in is fairly quick. Stop at “duty-free” and pick up a couple of small gifts for our host and a carton of cigs for me. Customs is busy but moves good. (albeit agent is a bit of a miserable prick). But hey, we’re goin’ to Vegas…you can’t possibly piss me off. Security is easy… all is good. Board plane...seats are “first row” of economy… therefore quick exit upon arrival in Vegas. Flight leaves on time and 2 ½ hour flight is without incident.
Arrive LV at 10:30 am…bolt off the plane to find our waiting limo driver holding our “name sign”. (I love this part…makes me feel “important”. <LOL> Luggage comes out damn near last ! (grrr). Hop in the limo…we’re off to a glorious week, “all comped”, at South Point ! Arrive at hotel, tip the driver…whip in to front desk…60 seconds later we’re on our way to our room with ‘fun book’ in hand. Dump the luggage…down to the bar for drinks & VP.
Beer for me, vodka/soda for C and let’s play some quarter VP on our “favourite” machine. (Note: C hit a $1700 progressive last trip and I hit a $3200 progressive the trip before on this “very same” machine. (Thus, as you can imagine, it is “our” favourite). Time…11:05 am… ahhhhh…all is good and everything is on time as scheduled. Sweeeeet! (NOTE: We both ‘typically’ play BP & BPD from .25 -$1 level dependent on how things are going.)
2 hour morning VP session proves fruitful… C gets 4 – 4OAK and I catch a couple of 4OAK plus a SF (on a 2 bet…grrr!). All in all…a reasonable start. Current bankroll shows: C +$80 / G +$60. Need food…buffet (??). Lunch at the buffet is decent ($8.95 x 2 - charged to room). RATING: 3.25 out of 5 “forks”.
Next on the agenda is a stop at the Prestige Travel “Half Priced” show tickets office at the hotel to scope out some shows we are thinking of seeing. “Half-Priced” ?? …. Not so much. Pretty sure we can do better at Tix4Tonight, etc. Guess we’ll see ?
Afternoon VP session shows: C +$40 / G -$50
Dinner is at Don Vitos Italian. C has the ravioli, I opt for the gnocchi. Bread & bruchetta is good. Salad is decent. As usual, dinner is VERY good & plentiful. (can’t possibly eat it all). Service is decent. Present our funbook coupon for 2 free desserts. (tiramisu) which we take back to the room for later. Total bill: $35 (?) charged to room.
(NOTE: We NEVER order “booze” (maybe a soda) with meals as we drink “free” (?) all day while playing.)
RATING: 3.75 “forks”
Evening VP session is hot and heavy, up & down but overall pretty good. Long day so ‘early” to bed…10:30 PM.
RUNNING VP TOTALS: (for the trip)
C +$200
G + $223
DAY #2
As this report may be a little “long-winded” for some…I will try to “summarize” from here on in.
Up early 7am(?). Breakfast at the buffet (2 x $5.95) charged to room. RATING 3.5 forks
Morning VP session then off to FSM.
Pick up tix for “VEGAS ! the Show” (2 GA x $45 approx. for tonight) & “DIVAS Las Vegas” (2 GA x $48 for day 6) at Tix4Tonight. These prices are better!
C hits Victoria’s Secret for some shopping…don’t have her size….so off to the VS at Forum Shops at Caesars. Mission is completed. ?
Over to IP to redeem ticket vouchers for DIVAS. We get FREE upgrade to VIP seating. This is good. Glad we didn’t pay for VIP tix.
Down to PH to get “VEGAS !” tix for later tonight. God, this is a LONG walk to the Saxe Theater box office thru the Miracle Mile shops. Guy tries to get us to “buy” the VIP upgrade to save “lining up” for a mere $22 each. NO THANKS ! (Could have purchased the upgrade at Tix4Tonight for $6 each !!) More on this later when we do the show review.
Back to the hotel for some afternoon VP.
Early Dinner at Baja Miguels (Mexican)
Service excellent. Food excellent. Total bill $30 (charged to room)
RATING: 4 forks
“VEGAS ! The Show”… REVIEW
OK…here we go ! Arrive at the Saxe Theater about 6:15 PM for the 7 PM Show. There is already a “line-up” for the General Admission. “VIP” tix are sent “inside” to wait by the bar. SCOOP !!! If you go to the bar & buy a drink ($7) you are now in the VIP section…WTF! We did and were probably about the 10th person to go in. After you go up 3 flights of stairs (???) you are now “sort of” entering the theater. HOT TIP ! The theater is REALLY small. There are only about 8-10 rows of VIP seats and then a small GA area behind that…but better still…they don’t really check ANY tickets and just pile everyone from basically the 1st row back. We sat about the 6th row dead center (by choice). Show was ‘decent’ with a 9 piece live band, singers and dancers. Sort of a “history” of LV acts over the years. The show is all “live” except for a very short video presentation near the very end. Was the show worth the $45 “half – priced” tix? YES! But I wouldn’t have been very happy had we bought VIP or full priced seats.
Anyway, back to the hotel….more VP.
RUNNING VP TOTALS (for the trip)
C -$140
G +$150
DAY #3
Breakfast Buffet ($5.95 x 2) . Charged to room.
RATING: 3 forks
Morning VP session
Afternoon: Went to the FREE Dennis Bono show in the showroom at 2 PM. Was good for Free! Met another nice local older couple at our booth. Laughed my ass off at Pete Barbutti as per usual. If you’re a musician (I am), you should not miss this guy. He is hilarious (lots of semi-subtle musician jokes). I sit here laughing even now just thinking about the guy.
More VP & drinks.
Dinner was at Primarily Prime Rib.
We tried this place once before…and the service and food was not good. Thought we would give it one more chance as most seem to enjoy it.
Well ! This time was GREAT!!! Service was EXCELLENT (Thanks Heather) Salad was wonderful and the prime rib & baked potato were done perfect ! (Funbook coupon provided 2 pieces of FREE cheesecake for the room later.)
Bill was about $35 (charged to room)
RATING: 4.25 forks
More evening VP & Drinks.
RUNNING VP TOTALS (for the trip)
C -$200
G +$185
DAY #4
Kick-back day. Lounge at pool. LOTS of VP & drinks
Lunch at Buffet ($8.95 x 2) Charge to room
Dinner was 75 cent hotdogs at the cart by the sportsbook (always good).
RUNNING VP TOTALS (for the trip)
C -$170
G -$430 (ouch!)
DAY #1 ( Apr. 12)
Wife & I (C & G) are up at 5 AM, out the door at 6:30…ride from our neighbour to the airport (“thank you”). Arrive airport at 7:00, check-in is fairly quick. Stop at “duty-free” and pick up a couple of small gifts for our host and a carton of cigs for me. Customs is busy but moves good. (albeit agent is a bit of a miserable prick). But hey, we’re goin’ to Vegas…you can’t possibly piss me off. Security is easy… all is good. Board plane...seats are “first row” of economy… therefore quick exit upon arrival in Vegas. Flight leaves on time and 2 ½ hour flight is without incident.
Arrive LV at 10:30 am…bolt off the plane to find our waiting limo driver holding our “name sign”. (I love this part…makes me feel “important”. <LOL> Luggage comes out damn near last ! (grrr). Hop in the limo…we’re off to a glorious week, “all comped”, at South Point ! Arrive at hotel, tip the driver…whip in to front desk…60 seconds later we’re on our way to our room with ‘fun book’ in hand. Dump the luggage…down to the bar for drinks & VP.
Beer for me, vodka/soda for C and let’s play some quarter VP on our “favourite” machine. (Note: C hit a $1700 progressive last trip and I hit a $3200 progressive the trip before on this “very same” machine. (Thus, as you can imagine, it is “our” favourite). Time…11:05 am… ahhhhh…all is good and everything is on time as scheduled. Sweeeeet! (NOTE: We both ‘typically’ play BP & BPD from .25 -$1 level dependent on how things are going.)
2 hour morning VP session proves fruitful… C gets 4 – 4OAK and I catch a couple of 4OAK plus a SF (on a 2 bet…grrr!). All in all…a reasonable start. Current bankroll shows: C +$80 / G +$60. Need food…buffet (??). Lunch at the buffet is decent ($8.95 x 2 - charged to room). RATING: 3.25 out of 5 “forks”.
Next on the agenda is a stop at the Prestige Travel “Half Priced” show tickets office at the hotel to scope out some shows we are thinking of seeing. “Half-Priced” ?? …. Not so much. Pretty sure we can do better at Tix4Tonight, etc. Guess we’ll see ?
Afternoon VP session shows: C +$40 / G -$50
Dinner is at Don Vitos Italian. C has the ravioli, I opt for the gnocchi. Bread & bruchetta is good. Salad is decent. As usual, dinner is VERY good & plentiful. (can’t possibly eat it all). Service is decent. Present our funbook coupon for 2 free desserts. (tiramisu) which we take back to the room for later. Total bill: $35 (?) charged to room.
(NOTE: We NEVER order “booze” (maybe a soda) with meals as we drink “free” (?) all day while playing.)
RATING: 3.75 “forks”
Evening VP session is hot and heavy, up & down but overall pretty good. Long day so ‘early” to bed…10:30 PM.
RUNNING VP TOTALS: (for the trip)
C +$200
G + $223
DAY #2
As this report may be a little “long-winded” for some…I will try to “summarize” from here on in.
Up early 7am(?). Breakfast at the buffet (2 x $5.95) charged to room. RATING 3.5 forks
Morning VP session then off to FSM.
Pick up tix for “VEGAS ! the Show” (2 GA x $45 approx. for tonight) & “DIVAS Las Vegas” (2 GA x $48 for day 6) at Tix4Tonight. These prices are better!
C hits Victoria’s Secret for some shopping…don’t have her size….so off to the VS at Forum Shops at Caesars. Mission is completed. ?
Over to IP to redeem ticket vouchers for DIVAS. We get FREE upgrade to VIP seating. This is good. Glad we didn’t pay for VIP tix.
Down to PH to get “VEGAS !” tix for later tonight. God, this is a LONG walk to the Saxe Theater box office thru the Miracle Mile shops. Guy tries to get us to “buy” the VIP upgrade to save “lining up” for a mere $22 each. NO THANKS ! (Could have purchased the upgrade at Tix4Tonight for $6 each !!) More on this later when we do the show review.
Back to the hotel for some afternoon VP.
Early Dinner at Baja Miguels (Mexican)
Service excellent. Food excellent. Total bill $30 (charged to room)
RATING: 4 forks
“VEGAS ! The Show”… REVIEW
OK…here we go ! Arrive at the Saxe Theater about 6:15 PM for the 7 PM Show. There is already a “line-up” for the General Admission. “VIP” tix are sent “inside” to wait by the bar. SCOOP !!! If you go to the bar & buy a drink ($7) you are now in the VIP section…WTF! We did and were probably about the 10th person to go in. After you go up 3 flights of stairs (???) you are now “sort of” entering the theater. HOT TIP ! The theater is REALLY small. There are only about 8-10 rows of VIP seats and then a small GA area behind that…but better still…they don’t really check ANY tickets and just pile everyone from basically the 1st row back. We sat about the 6th row dead center (by choice). Show was ‘decent’ with a 9 piece live band, singers and dancers. Sort of a “history” of LV acts over the years. The show is all “live” except for a very short video presentation near the very end. Was the show worth the $45 “half – priced” tix? YES! But I wouldn’t have been very happy had we bought VIP or full priced seats.
Anyway, back to the hotel….more VP.
RUNNING VP TOTALS (for the trip)
C -$140
G +$150
DAY #3
Breakfast Buffet ($5.95 x 2) . Charged to room.
RATING: 3 forks
Morning VP session
Afternoon: Went to the FREE Dennis Bono show in the showroom at 2 PM. Was good for Free! Met another nice local older couple at our booth. Laughed my ass off at Pete Barbutti as per usual. If you’re a musician (I am), you should not miss this guy. He is hilarious (lots of semi-subtle musician jokes). I sit here laughing even now just thinking about the guy.
More VP & drinks.
Dinner was at Primarily Prime Rib.
We tried this place once before…and the service and food was not good. Thought we would give it one more chance as most seem to enjoy it.
Well ! This time was GREAT!!! Service was EXCELLENT (Thanks Heather) Salad was wonderful and the prime rib & baked potato were done perfect ! (Funbook coupon provided 2 pieces of FREE cheesecake for the room later.)
Bill was about $35 (charged to room)
RATING: 4.25 forks
More evening VP & Drinks.
RUNNING VP TOTALS (for the trip)
C -$200
G +$185
DAY #4
Kick-back day. Lounge at pool. LOTS of VP & drinks
Lunch at Buffet ($8.95 x 2) Charge to room
Dinner was 75 cent hotdogs at the cart by the sportsbook (always good).
RUNNING VP TOTALS (for the trip)
C -$170
G -$430 (ouch!)
