Bobby Vegas — Going to Vegas, Finally!

Well, ya can’t keep a good scuffler down forever. If ya can’t kill me, I’ll eventually be back in Vegas.

After four surgeries (two failed), three hospitalizations, eight trips to the ER, months (ouch!) of catheters, and constant antibiotics, I’m back!

Actually, I’ve been running around for months, but out of an abundance of caution (and that I ended up in the hospital in Vegas twice) I’m there now.

It’s Golden Week, the gap week when rates drop 75% after the 100,000 cowboys and cowgirls from NFR leave town and before Christmas. It’s Bobby Vegas time and I’m happy to report it’s another one week in Vegas for $425. Total.

Other than kickin’ it at the Pinky Ring, I’m staying well away from the Strip, bunking with my friends at Downtown Grand two nights (50% off and reduced resort fee) and two nights comped (weekend) for a total of $175, then moving to Rio using my LVA 25 coupon.

I stay in the Gallery tower at DG and require a medical fridge. I get a tub to soak in as I’m dancing hard several nights and need to stay limber. Update: I was concerned, hearing Freedom Beat at DG closed, but am happy to report it’s just a remodel. Phew!

In between, there are many places to eat nearby.

Siegel’s at El Cortez using your half-off LVA coupon and Wednesday is half-off for seniors; try the roast half-chicken. Awesome. The new Binion’s food hall right across from DG. BERRY good! Pizza Rock is just a stone’s throw away. Four Queens where your play gets generous comps as well as birthday deals and again LVA MRBs. Triple George ain’t too shabby either.

Calling the Rio, avoid the AI answering (“Live agent, please”). Though you’ll be on hold for 15-30 minutes, the live agent is worth the wait to get their $57 resort daily fee waived. I booked four nights Saturday through Tuesday for … drumroll … $133.33.

I also discovered that on Priceline, if you prepay, it’s half-price, so my car is $125 — for a week, from Hertz!

My flights on Southwest were free on points.

STRIP WARNING: So you got a Strip room comp? You’re paying the resort fee and parking ($75-$100)? And you ordered breakfast in your room ($100)? And grabbed some Hennessy from the mini bar and now that COMPed ROOM cost you $350 a night!?

All they do is drain you dry. And “Where have all the good Strip video poker games gone?” Long time passing (or now $25). When will they ever learn? WE INTERRUPT THIS PROGRAM TO GIVE YOU THE ANSWER. Never

Stick with Downtown (Plaza, DG, Four Queens), Rio, M, South Point Palace Station, Rainbow, and Emerald Isle and for god’s sake, leave the strip to … NOT YOU.

Oh and merry ChanuKwanSolstMas. There. I covered everyone.