1. That read-the-fine-print drum I have been pounding on for a thousand years must be mentioned again here to be sure you didn’t miss this recent downgrade. Station’s MyGeneration program has long time offered 10x/6x points for senior Wednesdays. Now that 6x for video poker is “up-to 6x.” This has been changed on their website, a reason that I have encouraged you in the past to check the benefits each month as the details can change. If you get the monthly Station mailer and check the calendar, you will see that change, but get out your magnifying glass to see that tiny “up to.”  Actually, many of you recently missed this same “up to” in their newspaper ads telling about special multiplier days.  And did you notice that the Palms logo is missing on many of these promotions described in the newspaper ads?   And remember that the Palms does not participate in the MyGeneration program that is in place at all the other Station properties.  No special benefits for us oldsters there!

2.  Here’s a policy at Station casinos I didn’t know about – one that isn’t widespread, I don’t think – but might be wise for some players, especially elderly ones who want to be sure that benefits aren’t lost if one member passes away.

Up to two (2) eligible Boarding Pass members residing at the same address may link accounts to share Boarding Pass points. Both members must be present with valid photo identification at the Rewards Center to link accounts. Either member may request that a link be removed from his/her account in person at the Rewards Center with valid photo identification. Each Member of a linked account will be issued an individual Boarding Pass program card and account number. However, all Members on a linked account may modify any linked account data and will share Boarding Pass points. Visit the Rewards Center for additional linked account details.

3. Palace Station’s new buffet is very similar to the new one at the Palms. Although the prices at the Palms are reasonable compared to other more-upscale buffets in town, the prices at Palace Station are even lower. Check them out here.  And if you are at one of the top two tiers, President and Chairman and paying with your points, you get that hefty 50% discount on top of these low prices for a party up to four.  Platinum tier gets a 25% discount for party of two.  (These discounts are in place for buffets at all Station properties.)

4. At Harrah’s Laughlin, if you have a Las Vegas address, you are considered a “local” and can get their half-off local discount on the breakfast/lunch (brunch) buffet. I didn’t ask how far “local” goes but perhaps it goes wider in NV and/or includes Bull Head City and wider areas in Arizona. Just ask!

5. More and more food coupons require careful reading. Here are some fine-print restrictions I have recently run across:

•  “One coupon per table” rather than the more usual “One coupon per person.”
• “Not valid on holidays.”
• “Offer Monday through Friday only.”
• “Not valid for Specialty or Seafood dinner”

You might be asking now why I am not adding new details and explanations about the new Boyd Gaming players club here.

I will tell you why not!  I am exhausted trying to find verified answers to the many questions this drastic downgrade has raised.  I have read everything from official company sources I can find and so much is not spelled out clearly. I have talked to numerous employees, many in management positions, but I am getting extremely conflicting explanations.  If the employees don’t know what is going on, how do we players have a chance of understanding? (Be careful reporting a “fact” because you heard it from a host or someone in management – most employees mean well, but it seems corporate has put out a “line” that the employees are to parrot, but it often seems just like hype, and doesn’t always make math sense!)

I will keep up my research, and just as soon as I find out some definitive information I will post it here.  In the meantime, the discussion is still raging on vpFREE.  You can check out resources I gave in my last blog.  I do have one more to add – the Young at Heart rules for the downtown Boyd properties. One of the differences from the others uptown is that they still have a cap on the number of bonus multiplier points.

The huge number of comments on my last blog will be helpful reading for many of you, suggesting ways to cope with this major change, including new casinos to which to move their play.  More discussion is encouraged following this blog, by using the “Comments” feature.

One can “get lucky” on recreational non-advantage play, but we did not on this trip.  So, our losses on our play just went into the column of “Vacation Expenses.”  But we had a relaxing and fun time, which was our goal.

We aren’t finicky foodies, so we enjoy the buffet, especially at breakfast.  Locals – and Vegas residents are considered “local” – automatically get the 2-for-1 price during the breakfast/lunch serving time.  We also like their Beach Café where prices are very reasonable. We have eaten at the Range Steakhouse many times and it is always top-notch when we want to go gourmet.

Since we are both at the Seven Star players club level, we took advantage of their Diamond Lounge frequently.  They serve hot food from 4 p.m. opening weekdays, at noon on the weekends.  We eat very lightly these days, so we often find items we like to make our complete small meals.   We especially like their chunky chicken salad with cranberries and walnuts. Seven Stars have an added benefit of a special-order appetizer/dessert menu.  Brad is a chocaholic but met his match with the “too-rich” double-chocolate cake selection and the next time joined me in the tasty and lighter ice cream and berry option.

We have been to Laughlin many times over the last 30+ years and enjoyed many of the fun activities this area affords.  Back when we were younger and long walks was our exercise of choice, we would hike the “river strip” – even in the hot summer heat.  It was an easier walk down from Harrah’s to the Riverside, but then we had to tackle the strenuous climb back up the hill on the way back, stopping often to cool off at each casino along the way.  These days when we want to visit other casinos, we take the river taxi!

Harrah’s is definitely a family destination.  Especially during the weekends, the restaurants, beach, and family pool are crowded with kids.  Good there is also an adult-only pool for a quieter experience!  The sandy beach is popular for all ages and the jet ski rental business there is booming all summer.

Down through the years we have enjoyed many side road trips. The Indian-owned Avi Resort and Casino 25 miles down the Colorado River has a Vegas-style hotel and casino, with many amenities that include a movie theater, an RV park, and beach and water activities.

You can see the original London Bridge, dismantled and brought over from England and reassembled, in Lake Havasu City, AZ.  An adventurous way to get there, which we did with our granddaughter and her friend, is on a jet boat that leaves the beach at Harrah’s for a scenic 2-hour ride 60 miles down the Colorado River.  There will be a stopover in Havasu City to see the bridge and have lunch and then the cruise back to Laughlin.

One of our favorite places to take friends and family is the historic former mining town of Oatman, Arizona, on Route 66, about a 45-minute drive from Laughlin.  These days it is a quirky tourist destination with fake gunfights in the streets, wild burros roaming carefree, and the usual places to eat and drink and buy kitschy souvenirs. If you don’t mind crowds and long walks after you finally find a parking place, hit the town during special events like the annual Bed Races or the Sidewalk Egg Fry Contest on the 4^th of July.  If you don’t have a car, there are commercial tours to Oatman and to many of the other attractions around Laughlin.

Many visitors to Laughlin are those who drive from Las Vegas, as we did.  That drive used to be a traffic nightmare before a divided highway was built.  And now it is even easier since the bypass around the Railroad Pass Casino has been completed.  However, a little bit of the old bad memories came back on this last trip since there is now construction between Searchlight and the Laughlin turn-off and we had to contend with about 16 miles of no-passing single lanes coming and going!  ☹  I talked about bus service between Las Vegas and Laughlin in a recent post but you need to Google that subject  for up-to-date information since these opportunities have come and gone down through the years, especially free trips sponsored by the Laughlin casinos.

One thing that many people may not know about is that Harrah’s Laughlin runs numerous air charter trips from many parts of the country, mainly the Midwest and South.  Some visitors take these charter packages regularly every few months, praising their convenience, with straight-through flights and included room accommodations.  When they land in the Bullhead City airport across the river, a bus is waiting to take them straight to the hotel.  The prices for these vary, but for many visitors, after they pay for the first trip, the future ones can be discounted or completely comped depending on their previous casino play history.  Some gamblers feel Laughlin is more laid-back, more like the good old days, and opt for it as an alternative to the hustle and bustle of Las Vegas.

Yes, we occasionally do.  Down through the years I have talked about providing casino vacations for our families.  Sometimes these are 100% comped and there are good machines to play so they stay in the advantage-play category.  More frequently they fall into a “discounted” category, with luxurious rooms and/or suites almost always comped, but perhaps some meals and shows and other activities only partially comped.  However, they end up being a frugal bargain if you compare it with paying for the whole thing with money out of pocket!

If you are at Harrah’s Laughlin this weekend, you might see us on one of our rare purely recreational casino visit.  This one is not with family but a chance to meet up and socialize with friends.  As is usual, we will have a comped suite and most of our meals will be free.  However, you might just see us “messing around” with some low-denomination not-very-good-schedule VP games that we might like to try just for a fun change.  No serious gambling this trip – just the goal of relaxing with no stress.

Stop if you spot us and say hello!

Q:  Do you know anything about bus transportation between Las Vegas and Laughlin?

A:  This seems to be a very fluid subject. I remember taking free bus day trips from Las Vegas many many years ago that usually included a sightseeing feature or two on the way down and a free lunch buffet after you got down there. I have heard of several such programs down through the years but don’t know if any are running now.  And sometimes I’ve heard of inexpensive bus schedules both ways.  Best advice is to google for current info.  Someone recently mentioned a Silver Rider bus and I found this phone number on their website where you might get more information – 702-298-4435.  If you have taken one of these bus trips recently – free or with a paid ticket, it would be great if you could put details in the “Comments” section below.

Q:  You often mention promotions or information you find in the local Vegas newspaper.  Do you think that I should subscribe to it even if I am an out-of-towner?

A: Although as a local and a person who reads “The Review-Journal” daily, and I do find out some helpful information this way, there are almost always online resources where this same information could be found for free.   Here are the ones many people check frequently:

• Individual casino websites
• Scot’s Bonus Point List
• The ACG’s “Vegas Values,” a weekly report that gives you details on the best Las Vegas Casino Promotions.  
• Then there is this blog, where I scour many other sources and try to fill in with details that might not be given in other places.

Q:  Was there a Blackjack Ball this last year?  I didn’t read any reports about it.

A: Yes, although the usual date in January was changed to April this year.  Henry Tamburin attended this event and wrote a detailed description of all the action.  Part 1 of the “Inside Scoop on the 2018 Blackjack Ball” talked about the famous and always insanely difficult test that the attendees faced.  Part 2 gave the answers to that test and named the winner who gets bragging rights as the “World’s Best Blackjack Player.”

Smile of the Day

I love schoolteacher jokes and here is one that made this English teacher chuckle:

Q: What do you say to a crying grammar teacher?

A: There, they’re, their.

Hurry for this one: The lifetime senior pass to national parks and other federal lands will go up – way up – on August 28, from the present cost of $10 to $80. This pass, available for seniors 62 and older, covers entrance/day fees at federally run parks and properties all over the US. At some parks the pass will also give discounts on paid activities like tours and camping. More information can be found at the National Park Service website.

This pass can be bought at any park location covered by the pass. Closest to Las Vegas is Red Rock Canyon and Lake Mead. You can also order one by mail or online but will pay a $10 processing fee.

If you already have a pass – as Brad has had for the last 20+ years – that will be valid the rest of your life.

Airline Bumps

I just read this newspaper headline: U.S. airlines’ bumping rate declines to 22-year low. This is a good news-bad news situation, depending on your personal druthers.

If you always need to travel on a tight non-flexible schedule, you don’t ever want to be bumped from your airline seat for any reason. But if you love to get paid to give up your seat, then this news can be a mixed bag. On one hand, these volunteers might see higher compensation since the airlines want to avoid the bad publicity of angry passengers being involuntarily bumped. However, airlines are starting to look at the whole overbooking procedure and considering whether it is more trouble than it’s worth. In fact, Southwest no longer overbooks at all so pre-boarding volunteer bumps have mostly gone away for us since we almost always fly SW. At our ages, we need their flexibility to change reservations with no penalty.  We call it the don’t-buy-green-bananas factor!

Movie Discounts

Frugal moviegoers – like Brad and me – are always looking for theater bargains. Of course, “free” is always the best price – and you can score this by just a little play at the Palms on their Tuesday movie ticket promo. There are a few restrictions on these free passes: no IMAX or Sony titles and good only Monday-Friday. However, on those days, they are good for showings at all times. There is also an expiration date on the passes, but I noticed that the ones we earned recently are good until the end of 2018.  Palms also has an all-ages bargain all day on Mondays – all tickets $4 but with the same restriction as above.

South Point has changed its movie discounts. They still have $5.25 Tuesday for all ages, all day. However, the senior discount that used to be in effect every day before 4 p.m. is gone. Seniors now have a $4 admission price only on Mondays, part of the benefits of the casino’s  50+ Prime Time Mondays. This discount is good all day but you must show a players card and there is an extra charge for 3D and XD showings.

Do you have more tips for reducing your movie-going expense?  Feel free to share in the “Comments” section below.

Final Note:  We will be at Harrah’s Laughlin this weekend (Aug 17-19).  Stop and say hi if you see us there.

We also had a “drama dip” – but not one we would exactly choose.  At about 11 p.m. one night there was a fire in a room on the 2^nd floor in the tower where we were staying and everyone had to evacuate.  Of course the elevators were shut down so we had a long trek down the stairs from our 15^th floor suite, with many in their nightclothes, and out to the pool area where we found two empty lounge chairs.  The night air was only slightly chilly, and employees were passing out water and blankets, so the 90-minute wait for the All Clear was not uncomfortable.  But the episode did bring home to me a forgotten lesson:  Always read the “In Case of Fire” instructions on the back of a hotel room door.

We also had another “dip” for our basic ice  cream cone this trip – but not a gambling one.  Brad was due to have his driver’s license renewed.  This had to be in person and going to a DMV is definitely not a fun activity for Vegas locals.  However, the little DMV office in Laughlin is a wonderful alternative.  No line and Brad was in and out in about 10 minutes.

A special note about this trip:  We learned of a new green program.  Caesars Entertainment (new name for Harrah’s) helps fund “Clean the World,” a nonprofit that collects and sanitizes discarded soap and shampoo products to distribute to impoverished people worldwide.  There was this note in our room:  “You can help.  Leave your unused shampoo and soaps in the room when you check out.”

It’s time!  After 27 years I just bought – with real money! – two big bottles of shampoo.  Nobody has to feel sorry for me any more because I have run out of little hotel shampoo bottles.

This trip to Laughlin, however, not like the 4-day visit to Reno via jet, was a short overnight visit via the Frugal Plum, our trusty little PT Cruiser.   We had several goals.  The main one was to get my driver’s license renewed at a DMV office where we wouldn’t have to set aside a whole day to wait in line.  We usually do all our renewals by mail, but I had recently reached the old-woman age when Nevada wanted to be sure I could still see and wasn’t too feeble to operate a vehicle.  I could have gone to the trouble of seeing a doctor and optometrist and having them sign documents which I could have mailed in.  But since we go to Laughlin every month or so anyway, it seemed easier to do it in person at the DMV office there, a 20-minute in-and-out procedure.

I am big on multi-tasking and we rarely go out of the house for personal business without doing some “casino errand.”  Brad usually picks up free play at one or two casinos before stopping to buy groceries.  I plan shopping trips to the mall on a day when we need to play at a casino on the way home.  I try to make doctor appointments on a day of the week I know there will be bonus points at a nearby casino.  If we have a medical problem, we don’t stop at a casino on the way to the emergency room, but I must confess that several times we have made a quick stop to pick up soon-expiring free play on our way home after Brad has been dismissed after a hospital stay.

So the DMV visit in Laughlin was easy to justify because Harrah’s had sent us a couple of offers, totaling $650, to pick up.  Plus we had just a few reward credits left to earn for both of us to reach the Seven Stars tier level for another year.

People ask us if we ever play slot machines.  Usually we don’t, but once in while we might if we think a casino is cutting back on offers to those customers who play only video poker.    So this time in Laughlin, we decided we would mix in a little slot play with video poker.  We usually pick a new machine that looks like fun – some of our favorites in the past have been “Texas Tea,” “Wizard of Oz,” and “Sex and the City.”  This time we decided to play penny “Gold Fish” since it seemed like these machines are always full of players and they always seem to be having so much fun.

As is our custom, we set a limit for these forays into purely-entertainment machine territory.  In this case, we set a $200 limit, hoping that would last long enough to generate enough points to show that we were a “well-rounded” casino customer.  Well, we lasted about an hour, thanks to one $100 jackpot that kept us going longer than we thought we would.  But we finally lost our original investment of $200.  However, we had achieved our purpose – and we really had fun.  I usually think of slots being boring, but these new bonusing ones like “Gold Fish” have  frequent enough second-screen fun bonuses that we were thoroughly entertained the whole hour!

It was an enjoyable visit.  We had plenty of food coupons to let us overeat.  We watched two in-room movies for free, compliments of our Seven Star tier status. (You really didn’t expect me to pay for them, did you?  Have you seen the prices they charge these days?)  Both the movies we watched were ones that were on our must-see list and we were not disappointed.   The “Wall Street” sequel might not be quite as engrossing as the first one, but Brad didn’t fall asleep during it, so that is high praise in his book!  I knew he wouldn’t fall asleep in “Secretariat” –  he was an avid horse-racing fan back then and remembered all the details of that era.

We took the long way back home so we could traverse the new bridge on the Hoover Dam bypass.  And then we stopped at Penny’s in the Galleria Mall to buy Brad a pair of shoes.  The kind he wanted was on sale at $10 off and I sweet-talked a young salesman and he gave me an extra $10 coupon discount even though that sale wasn’t to begin until tomorrow. 

Then we stopped at Ellis Island to pick up $25 in bounce-back cash.  And finally stopped at Tuscany for the weekly free gift.  It was “your choice” of gifts today but all the good stuff was gone time we got there.  Oh well, two serving dishes go to the garage, a gift for someone who actually cooks and “serves.”  (I don’t think I need them for casino restaurant leftovers!)

We’re home now.  But in just another week, we will be traveling again, to Columbus, GA, to spend the holidays with the Frugal Princess family.