As I have mentioned in past blogs, we are planning to phase out our play at CZR, but it is a slower process than we expected.  They keep sending us good offers!  First, we had a monster offer in April from Harrah’s Tahoe.  And then we got a good offer if we checked into a Vegas Caesar property in May or June.

We hadn’t stayed or played locally for several years, so decided to choose the Cromwell, an old haunt of ours back when it was called the Barbary Coast.  We did have a room there once when it was first bought by CZR and renamed the Cromwell, and I had written how the rooms reminded us of a stately old library that was the scene of an English murder mystery – dark, with heavy old furnishings.  That was still our impression when we walked in our room this time, much the same historical romantic mysterious atmosphere of that old Barbary Coast.

We had chosen the Cromwell over other local CZR properties because it is easy in- and-out self-parking and you didn’t have to walk a mile to check-in and then to your room.  Brad and I are both having trouble walking long distances these days, a major change in our lives from when we would take long power walks up and down the Strip.  However, we had forgotten that going through and between casinos is always a longer distance that one expects.  So, our plan to walk down to Harrah’s for dinner and a show became a stop-and-go experience as we would grab an empty slot machine chair for a rest period every so often!

We enjoyed a return to Harrah’s buffet, one that we had visited many times in the past but not recently.  Not as fancy as some, but with a large selection of food we liked – as Brad remarks when we visit some of the new buffets and restaurants around town, “No weird food.”  The only lack for me was no-sugar-added ice cream, but they did have other SF desserts.

We rarely take advantage of shows in Vegas these days, even when we could have them comped.  After 35+ years we have seen most of the on-going big productions, and many of the new shows feature modern music that is not to our tastes.  We miss our “oldies” music, with so many of the stars we loved passing on.  But sometimes a “tribute” show can bring back some happy memories of by-gone days, and so we used the monthly free-show Seven Star benefit to go see the new Harrah’s show called “Heartbreak Hotel.”

I hate to review a show really, because it is like trying to recommend a restaurant.  So many different tastes!  But I really enjoyed this tribute to Elvis.  It was high energy with a live band of six guys and 3 gal singers – all very talented!  It concentrated first on Elvis’ early life, with biographical narrative and photos on 4 huge LED walls in-between the performances of his early hits, then covering many of his most well-known songs.  Here is a review that gives more details about the performance.

I talked earlier about the old-fashion atmosphere we liked about the Cromwell room.  So why am I writing this blog tonight from home when we are checked into the Cromwell.  Well, it’s hard to explain.  Maybe it’s because we are old – or maybe just jaded?  We have enjoyed staying in fancy casino hotels for 35 years.  But with this offer we could do just “down the street” we decided to skip the packing and lugging the CPAP machine. Just go for the day and do the little bit of play we needed to do, eat, and see a show.  Mess up the bed and gather up all the nice toiletries, and then return home to sleep in our own bed.

Some of you might understand.

A great start to what will be a personally fulfilling week for me, the arrival from the printer of the fourth addition to my frugal family, The Frugal Gambler Casino Guide. For several years now I have wanted to broaden my writing to help more casino gamblers. Although I still look for and share information to help the serious gambler who is looking for an edge, I find that the casual recreational casino player is the one who is really in need of assistance. He wants to enjoy the entertainment that the casino affords but he is losing too much and too fast. This new frugal Guide was written to help this player, no matter what game he plays. My hope is that this book will allow more casino gamblers to lose less so they can enjoy the exciting casino atmosphere longer.

A very entertaining show – but such high energy that I came out exhausted just from watching.  Amazing how they can still do it just like they did when they were young.

Donny and Marie do a very personal meet-and-greet after the show.  Since Brad and I have been on Nutrisystem for several months, Marie and I talked for several minutes about how great it is for losing and keeping off extra weight.  When she met Brad she said she was impressed that a 83-year-old man had such good success with this program!!!

It was fun having a chance to personally chat with both of them, but I was glad these were comped tickets that included this meet-and-greet.  Others attending this after-the-show event had paid $306.25 apiece for the package!  Of course that did include a photo and front-row seats – but still…….  I’m afraid my frugal self would not have put out the money!  Brad and I discussed if there was anyone in the world that we would pay that much with whom to have a 3-minute personal conversation.  We couldn’t come up with anyone.  I guess we just aren’t much into celebrity status.   Give me a good “ordinary” friend that I can talk to for hours.