December 17: Arrived In Las Vegas for three days. We were planning a wedding and a family Christmas reunion for the following weekend, so we didn't do much gambling on this particular visit. Stayed at the Mandalay Bay and got the "honeymoon" suite for ourselves. If I had been a true honeymooner, I'd have asked for a refund and moved out. I guess they knew I was in the room just for kicks because it wasn't anything special. In fact, it kinda made me mad! This had to be a room were a beginner decorator got to try their hand. There was nothing there except a couch, coffee table, desk and king bed. You had to crouch in a corner and peek around the couch to even see outside. Then again, the outside was nothing but the top of the parking garage. The bathroom was large with jacuzzi tub.

My husband arrived the next night and we decided even at the price we got it at ($109), it wasn't worth it. So, we checked out on Sunday and went to the Golden Nugget for $44 and at least had a great view of the strip in the South Tower.

The gambling at Mandalay was horrible! I won't go back there again.

December 23rd: Now this was a trip of trips! The entire family from AZ, Ca. & Texas arrived for the "big" wedding. My brother-in-law who lives in Vegas got married at The Little Chapel of the West on Christmas Day. That's a cute chapel. A lot of famous people have been married there and it went off without a hitch. They invited "ELVIS" over for the reception at their home and it was a BIG PARTY. I guess this Elvis, can't remember his real name, is pretty famous. They had a special on strange and unusual Las Vegas weddings on TV this week and he was seen a lot in many of the ceremonies. Pink cadilliac and everything! Found it strange the cadillac had Texas tags! Elvis is a neighbor of the bride and groom so he came over and did his routine for the crowd. It was really good and a fun time.

Now, the fun part for me. On this trip we stayed at Caesar's. Got upgraded (I guess) in the Forum Tower (per Veronica) and we were all on the 83rd floor, just below the penthouse. I had $20 for the check-in gal and she brought out the book showing the layout of the rooms and asked me to pick one! The room was really nice. Had beautiful decor and hot tub in the room. I hate those d**mn cement blocks though outside your window! This room was so full of mirrors, I was getting paranoid! It's not a lot of fun waking up in the morning staring at yourself and wishing you looked like Cindy Crawford. Major complex! Looks like they could at least use flattering mirrors to make you "look like" you were a size 6 again!

On the night of December 24, I was playing video poker at Caesar's and winnning a little bit but not enough to hang around too very long. So, I decided to head on back to the room when a $1 Bonus Poker machine kept calling me, "Psst, Jan, over here..." So, what could I do?

I sat down with $40 and had credits up to $300 and then I started losing. I think the cheap scotch was causing me not to concentrate. Do they use Walgreen's scotch there?

At 70 credits I thought about cashing out when all of a sudden B I N G O..Royal Flush! It was a progressive, so I hit for $4124. The rest of the machines within this bank had $4000 listed, and the person who came over to pay me off couldn't figure out why this one particular machine was different. She had to call her manager over and they paid me the full amount. More Walgreen's scotch, please!

I decided to go ahead and play out the 70 credits when I started hitting 4-kinds like crazy. I was up to over $1300 and decided to get out while the getting was good. I think it "might" have hit for another royal, but I was too tired and too stinkin' dizzy to make a sound decision. So, I cashed out again and went to bed.

I can't believe I hit for 2 royals this year. The tax-man-cometh! And, the nice thing is that I brought it all home with me.

That's my two trip reports in a nutshell.

We decided NOT to go back afterall on New Years Eve. Next year......

Happy New Year to Everyone!

Jan in AZ

[This message has been edited by Jan (edited January 04, 2000).]

Jan,
Thanks for taking the time to type out the 2 reports.
I enjoyed the read!
Now let me get this correct.....your not going back to Mandalay bay? [img]http://www.talkvegas.com/ubb/wink.gif[/img]

So, whens the next trip? January, I mean, your name is in the month you know! Sounds like a lucky month to me....how about you? LOL

------------------
Lee-PA
Moderator, What's New Forum
lee@talkvegas.com

Jan: Thanks for the Two For One!

What a great deal at the Golden Nugget. Glad to see you snagged a Strip-view room. Long walk to the room from the elevators, huh?

Were you happy with the Caesars Forum Tower? Would you ask for that tower again? I take it the Caesars clerk took the $20?

Jan, WTG on the Royal.....especially the part about bringing it all home. [img]http://www.talkvegas.com/ubb/smile.gif[/img] LOL on the scotch (I'm not allowed to use the W word since I work for the competition<g> ).. did you try asking for a good brand by name? I've been served Glenlivit by request at Caesars.

Sorry to hear the news about the honeymoon non-suite at MB ....I got to see the Senator's room there on one trip, so I know they have some nice rooms (and views).

I love your idea of modifying those mirrors in the Forum tower!

Jan,

Thanks so much for posting about your two trips in Dec.. Boy, would I love to be able to be in LV twice in one month instead of having to visit Atlantic City for a substitute.

Congratulations on the wins! Sure makes a trip exciting, and especially when you bring the money home. Are you planning the next trip with the winnings?

Beth

Nice report. Congratulations on the royals!

Lee: You got it! No more Mandalay for me. I really wasn't impressed with anything that would make me want to go back. The valet guys were good, but that's about it.

V: I did like the Forum Towers. I have stayed there once before but this room was 10X nicer than the previous one. I think I'll try the Palace Towers next though. I've actually stayed in that tower once before.

Daisy: Sorry about the "W" word. Are you with the "E" or the "O" competitor? I usually do ask for name brands, but thought I'd take my chances on the scotch. Major headache the next day. I swear it was Walgreen's brand...

Beth, I could actually go back again this weekend because the in-laws are leaving for Dallas from Vegas after having been there 3 weeks. I'm just a little burned out. Plus, I'm having new tile and carpet installed with the winnings. At least I can walk on the money for a while...

Jan in AZ

[This message has been edited by Jan (edited January 06, 2000).]

Jan, I'm with the "R" guys ....and if that scotch isn't to your liking, Caesars does serve some pretty good champagne to VP players. [img]http://www.talkvegas.com/ubb/smile.gif[/img]