Sat 3rd.
Go for a walk up the strip and eat breakfast at the Monte Carlo, as they open at 7am.
Eventually make way to the IP to get their fun book, key ring, fridge magnet.
Use the '$5 Double Bonus ticket' and end $20 up.
Eat at the Tropicana then some serious craps,, which resulted in some serious loss!!
Sun 4th.
After breakfast at the Tropicana I Played BJ for about 15 mins, where upon I lost $250,
I lost hand after hand after hand :-( I did manage ONE push and I was so excited.
The dealer said "Sir, you only pushed"
I said "Yes, but I didn't lose!" which then spawned the phrase which dogged me for the rest
of the vacation,
I actually hit my first 4 of a Kind. 4 Queens for $125 on a quarter machine.
Well Chuffed!
Went to play craps and got stuffed for $100 in record quick time.
Still up, so ate at the NYNY 'America Cafe bar'
Food was super, I can recommend the 'Boston Style Fish & Chips'
Got sorted out and went over to the Monte Carlo for a meeting with Ted & Mike.
Stayed over 3 hours chatting.
Mon 5th.
Uneventful day really.
Picked up my hire car, then went shopping to the Beltz, and several other places for things
that I needed to buy.
Late evening took the Monorail to the IP (Key ring, magnet etc)
Decided to eat here, food nice.
After eating I hit my second 4 of a kind!!!!
4 aces (+ king) on a double bonus VP (7,4) for $200!
Went to see the Legends in Concert show. It looks lame but is really very good.
I'll see this show again.
It started iffy, but rapidly got better, 4Tops, Michael Jackson & Elvis were VERY good.
Works out to around $25 a ticket (with coupons) which included 2 drinks.
Walked back to the Trop and played BJ for 1.5 hours and ended up $20 down.
Tues 6th.
After breakfast I drove out to the Hoover Dam.
I did the $25 'Dam' hard hat tour. WELL WORTH THE COST!! Go do it on your next trip.
Played craps, ended $50 down after 1 hour.
Went over to the MGM to see the Englebert Humperdink show.
I Thought it was singing only, but greatly enjoyed it, and I don't like him :-)
Not worth the $51 ticket price, more like $35-40
Seating arrangement was superb. We had end row seats but the view was perfect. Impressed!
Wed 7th.
Hung around Kitty Korner most of the day,
Watched the Excalibur slot promo $15 entry. very funny indeed.
Went in the Luxor, looks nice now finished.
After dinner played BJ for 1.5 hrs and got comped breakfast.
There was LOUD music in the Atrium room, you can't hear yourself speak.
You had to Shout at dealers, they couldn't hear you so I gave up and head to bed.
Thurs 8th.
Played slots on and off most of the day, winning a little and losing a little.
After dinner went to play BJ. Both BJ/Craps full solid, so I sat at the Bar playing
Video Poker with a nice guy from Chicago until 3am.
Fri 9th.
Uneventful day all round :-((
Ate at the Monte Carlo, then went down to the Desert Inn to see Don Rickles.
I have NEVER laughed so much in all my life! Go see him if he is in town on your next visit.
Absolutely well worth the $55 a ticket.
Waited for the bus, which was full so I decided to walk back to the Trop,
the bus beat us by 200 yards or so.
Wanted to play BJ but it was packed full, so I played VP for a while then off to bed.
Sat 10th.
Did a lot of driving around today, and little gambling.
Went out to Red Rock Canyon. What an amazing place. IF you get the chance then go do it.
Ate at the MGM Star cafe, nice.
Played slots for a short while & had an early night.
Sun 11th.
Ate at the Trop, then walked to the Flamingo, dropped $40 on the Crap table, leave 15 mins
later $148 up!
Go to IP (key ring, magnet etc), do the Auto Museum, (again)
Went next door to Harrahs to get tix for Spellbound, 2 for 1 coupon.
Return to the Tropicana to enter the slot tourney.
Played Slots & Craps, ended down.
Ate at the "Welcome Buffet" I found it terrible.
The choice was very poor, unless you liked vinegar covered tomato & cucumber.
Raw (blood dripping) Beef or Pork, or cold Pasta.
I like neither :-((
If there is blood dripping then is isn't dead!
The cakes were delicious though.
Went over to the Monte Carlo and met up with Bill, Matt, Ted and 'Lucky' Ned.
It took 6 months, but Ted finally payed back the Beer he owed me :-)) (Thanks Ted!)
Ned told me a few tips and tricks, I thought he was talking crap. I left the other guys
and walked back to the Tropicana. I visited a roulette table and thought, "What the Hell"
I tried his roulette system, and even though the house has a massive advantage I came away
$430 UP!
I went to a $10 crap table and followed the same system. It was unbelievable.
I just couldn't lose!
I looked round for an empty seat at a BJ table, but as there were only seats at $100 tables,
I didn't trust Lucky Neds system all that much :-)
Eventually decided upon an early night.
Mon 12th.
Did the slot Tourney, 5566 points (poor) and after a snack did the second half of slot tourey,
6454 points, again poor, for a 12,020 total.
Took the trolley bus to the Strat, it went the back streets and stopped everywhere along the
strip, took an hour.
Did the free 'Viva Las Vegas show, for a compulsory $4.25 a drink, quiet enjoyable, but not
worth the normal $22.
Ate at Suzies next to the buffet, so nice decided to eat there again.
Just missed the free shuttle and the Cat were full so decided to walk it back to the Trop.
Arrived outside the Monte Carlo and bumped into Matt on his way into eat.
Looks like he will be losing his 'Mr Cheap' image :-))
Played BJ at the Trop for 3 hours with 3 funny guys from Cleveland, they were moaning that they
played 8 hours of $10-$15 BJ at the Maxim, then asked the pit boss if they could eat.
He replied that they hadn't played enough!!!
After a 'consultation' he reluctantly gave them a buffet comp each.
After eating, they said it was disgusting then 10 mins later they all ran to the bathroom as it
ran straight through them.
Looks like the Maxim can be added with CC for "Great buffets of Vegas"??!!
I asked the Pit Boss (Archie) if I had earn't enough for breakfast. He looked at my card and
said "Sure you have, see me when you leave"
I was playing $10-$15 a hand and toking the dealer a dollar every 10 mins or so.
He put me down for 3 hours of play at $25 a hand.
Tues 13th.
Went to the slot tourney awards breakfast, checked the scores and I came 278th out of 280!!!
I won $25! "Well, a win is a win"
Walked to Caesars and played VP for an hour, ended even.
Crossed over the road to the IP to get the key ring and fun book (Yet again!) came out on top
and won a buffet comp on the scratch card.
Took a slow walk back to the Monte Carlo to eat, played BJ for an hour and ended up $50 down.
Note: I dropped my slot card on the table and the pit boss told me that my "time would start"
as soon as I played an average of $25 a hand, (I was playing $15)
Made it back to the Trop and watched the baseball for 30 mins then down for more BJ.
It again was VERY noisy in the Tiffiny Room area, no wonder most of the tables were empty.
Played for an hour, lost $100 then decided to call it a night as you couldn't hear what was
being spoken :-(
Wed 14th.
Breakfast at the Trop $17.01 inc tax for 2. (didn't pay again!)
Took the shuttle to the Rio, I wasn't impressed at all. It seemed sort of 'compact'
Played VP, got stung for $40 without even 2 Jacks :-((
Got the shuttle back to the strip, then got onto the Cat to Fremont for the afternoon.
Went to Binions for one of their beautiful Danish.
They stopped serving them at 2pm and I got there at 2:15, shame.
Took a few dollars at craps and VP from the 4Q and the Californian, then returned back to the
MGM for dinner. Again nice.
Played BJ at the Trop for a while ending $25 down,
Took the bus to Harrahs to see the 10pm Spellbound show.
It was quite good but not a good as Jubilee or the Folles. Just about worth the price. 7/10
Returned to the Trop and played BJ until 2am ending up exactly $2 and a breakfast comp!!
Thurs 15th. Bellagio Day.
Played VP for an hour, got stung but not too bad :-(
Went to the $5 Craps table and run $100 in 10 mins :-(
Took a walk outside for an hour or so.
Returned back to the Trop for 2 hours of BJ, ended up about $40
Had a meeting with my 'Casino Host' to sort things out, then 2 more hours of BJ, still ending up
for the session :-)
Ate at the Monte Carlo again as I really like the food there.
Return to the Tropicana then debating whether to go to the Bellagio opening or not??
The wind is high and the town will be like new years eve,,,,,,,
Decide to stay at the Trop and play BJ, end up over $200. Good Choice!
Saw the Bellagio opening on TV. There was a high wind and the fireworks display was cancelled,
the water fountain show was funny. The high winds blew the water all over the VIP's :-)
Fri 16th.
Had a late morning, and ate a comped breakfast.
Played BJ for a few hours, ending up $240.
Walked to the Bellagio. The place was chock-a-block full.
Queued for 15 mins to get my slot card (Number 380,900!!)
Ran $100 through MeggaBucks (24.2 mill when I played) and came away with $352
Cashed out and put $20 in a new type 25c slot (One with pictures of dogs, bones, kennels etc on)
pulled out $152 (Thanks Steve!)
Walked round the rest of the building. Luxurious indeed.
Everything looks 'Perfect' as it should. Fittings are marble and wood finish.
Even the slots are surrounded in tan leather and wood look finish, plus tan leather seats
everywhere at the slots and tables. ($10, $25 & Up)
(See other reports for more detailed info)
Personal Note:
I had LOADS of static electricity shock's from the metal surrounds everywhere around the slots
and other things!!
Buffet foods prices were not all that much more than average strip prices in relation to where
there are. $9, $13 for breakfast-dinner.
'Posh' restaurants run around $17 for steak, other meals accordingly.
The "Conservatory" (Where most of the eating places are) is beautiful indeed. There are real
flowers (You can smell them in the air)
Returned to the MGM for dinner (Hollywood Cafe) again, beautiful.
Played BJ at the Trop and promptly got stung.
Sun 18th. Last day.
Played BJ and dollar slots most of the morning, ending $40 down, so not too bad, went over to
Excalibur to see 'King Arthurs Challenge' (It's really funny, you have to be there to understand
it! "The Final Spin",,,, "2 dollar, 2 dollar")
Played 'Let it Ride' for the first time, lost $10 after 30 mins, but enjoyed it.
Returned to meet my Casino Host to check the bill, ended up getting comped _VERY_ well, and a
good room rate for the 18 days of our stay.
Decided to eat at Blackstones the Steak House in the Monte Carlo after recommendations, and
because I had more money left than I envisaged.
What can I say, but 10 out of 10!!!! It worked out to almost $25 per person, but well worth it.
We arrived at 5:30 when they opened, by 6pm the place was absolutely full solid!
Reservations are suggested.
Had the last fling on the table and ended about even.
Mon 19th.
Flew back home to the UK and planned the next visit for April 1999.
Losing money too quick!
Having to come home.
Have fun in Las Vegas on your next visit, and Remember:--
More to follow in future updates.
If you visit then please send me Mail telling me what you think?
