Beth & Fred

Beth-Fred, I love the way you two get around that town sans vechicle!! I love Sam's too but it's tough getting to and from? Especially when you have a lot of adult beverages.I've had to pick up my car the next day more than once at Sam's!If you eat at Papamio's you will be able to drive back to the strip even if you have a few.I love the dinner's there.Hope to see you in town soon.
Bob NY.

Fred,
Thanks for reporting back! [img]http://www.talkvegas.com/ubb/smile.gif[/img]
Sounds like a pretty good trip all in all. Was a shame you couldn't have brought more of your winning home, but look at it this way, you'll get it back next time! LOL
Beth, Congrat's on your first royal! Now do you have a matching lucky jacket, like Fred?
National questions....
Where you not able to upgrade to 1st class, or didn't you try?
You'd fly them again?
Reason I'm asking is, we use them for our May trip. I hate to book a 2nd trip with them, when I haven't flown a first yet. I know everyone seems to love this airline, but empty seats are not a good sign. I don't remember when I've flown to LV and had an empty seat aside of me on both flight out & flight home?
Where the airline employee's as friendly as the phone people?
Again, thanks for a great report.....I only wish I could have been there, at Popamio's, for the meet. I was stuck home working. Sounds like you had a great time!

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

Bob,

We usually have few problems getting around; however, Friday night is another scene. We absolutely could not find any taxi at Gold Coast and forget the Rio. That place was a zoo!

Do hope we get to meet up again soon. How about this Sunday, April 2, in A.C. at Pickles Deli in Bally's at 1:30 p.m. for
lunch? Would be great if you could join us!!

Hope all is going well for you these days.

Beth

Lee,

No more jackets at Sam's Town! Guess Fred will have to do without his.<g>

We did not try to upgrade to first class. We were in Row 9 and our seats were quite satisfactory. We would definitely fly National again. The worst part was the use of Terminal "E" out of Philly. I did not like that area; however, I do understand how a startup airline must take a back seat.

I wouldn't worry about the empty seats. Our plane was nearly full.....except for the empty one next to me. Maybe I should take a shower before flying.<g> We also had oodles of empty seats on U.S. Airways on both legs of the trip in December.

Airline employees were just as friendly as when I spoke on the telephone. They genuinely seemed to want the passengers to enjoy the flights.

By the way, exit rows do recline and would be nice rows in which to have a seat. Talk about space! The one seat I would not want is in the first row of first-class. If you would upgrade, I would definitely not take the first row in first-class. Wall is right in your face.

Oh, yes, seems as though the captain cut off a few minutes flying time. Flew at 35,000 on the way out and 37,000 on the way back. Best times ever for our trips to LV. You mean Sue is willing to fly nonstop?????? Wow, that's progress!

Missed you at Papamio's.<vbg>

Beth

Fred & Beth,
Beth congrats. On the Royal!! Glad to hear you had a winning trip.
My only negative comment on National is that they use Term. #4 at JFK which is probably one of the least user-friendly that I have ever been in. The good thing is that a new Term. #4 is under construction now and will be open in about a year.
Have you ever tried the seafood linguini at Papamios, it

JohnSr.,

The terminal at Philly also is probably the worst part of flying National. IMO, it just needs some cleaning and maintenance and it would be acceptable. It's like they've forgotten about Terminal "E" of the airport.

No, I've never had the seafood linguini. Will have to give it a try. I always did enjoy the "Beef Medallion", but it was not on the menu this trip. Both Gail and Fred had chicken scampi and seemed to enjoy it thoroughly.

When is your next LV trip? Are you planning any late in the year?

Beth

Great trip report! Congratulations on the royal and a winning trip.

Thanks for sharing your trip report. Love to hear about that royal! Sounds like you had a nice time. It's hard to decide no car/rental. This past trip, we rented a car and barely ever used it. The previous trip, we ended up cabbing it everywhere and could have used a car. You just never know . . .

Thanks for teh great report.
We still don't have National in Columbus. I doubt we will very soon. America West has direct flights and SW just started.
Congrats on the royal!
I still don't think I could stand to be in Vegas without a car. I'm glad you were able to work out your transportation all the time. Sounds like a couple close calls.

jm

Beth & Fred: WTG Beth! Thanks for sharing the news about your Royal [img]http://www.talkvegas.com/ubb/smile.gif[/img] I've been waiting to put you down as a member of the Talk Vegas Royal Flush Club 2000.

Been there having to get a broken lock cut off my suitcase but called hotel maintenance and by-passed Security and all those endless forms they seem to have.

Fred: Congrats on getting the Deuces twice!

Beth & Fred.

Sounds like a great trip.

I'm curious to know if you asked anybody at the Gold Coast to get a taxi for you. Since you mentioned a line at the Rio then I'm figuring there was a shortage of taxis at that time, but it seems to me that a casino would hat to have a guest inconvenienced. And I'm not just saying that because I work there.

dirtricky,

There was no one around to call a cab as we left the Gold Coast. As we walked over to the cab station, the last one pulled out. We waited for 5 minutes and no more showed up. At the Rio, the people line waiting for a cab was three blocks long and the cab line was four blocks long. People were loading into cabs and leaving, but the line never seemed to get shorter. Rio customers must tip better than Gold Coast customers.

Fred,
So I take it you lost your claim to your Sam's town jacket? <S> Your just going to have to go again and win it back!
Seems odd no one outside at GoldCoast working the entrance? I've always had good valet & taxi call service from them. I've had differances with the lazy roulette dealers inside, but never the front door personel. <S>

Beth,
Thanks for the heads up on the first row of 1st class on National. And yes, I got Sue & Sandy to commit to a direct flight because "it would incress our playing time on a weekend trip"! LOL
Sue also has some nicotene patches, I'm going to suggest she wear, or at least try that nic-o-ret gum. Both things aren't for her per say, they will however make my flight more enjoyable! LOL

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

Thanks for a fun report...and congrats on the royal!

Personally, I wouldn't stay at Sam's without a car - but you know how we Californians are about cars...



------------------
Bill in Santa Monica, CA

Gregg,

Thanks for the congratulations. I thought it would NEVER happen.....only on the computer which doesn't pay well.

Aren't you the person who had quite a few royals in such a short time span?

Beth

Gail A.,

I agree with you about the car rental. It sure would have been nice to have one the night we had trouble getting a taxi and happened to be staying off the strip. However, after being surprised by a completely stopped empty vehicle(with no warning lights flashing) on I-15 one time and trying to maneuver with crazy drivers going all which ways, we then decided who needs a car in LV. We were darn glad to get away without any accident that particular time. We've since made it a point to get around with shuttles, taxis, busses, etc..

Thanks for the congrats.

Beth

V,

Thanks for adding me to that Royal Flush 2000 Club List. It was about time.

JM - Guess if you're a person who will drive a motorcycle around LV, driving a car in that crazy town would be a cinch for you. We've rented one for sidetrips in the past which wasn't bad, but found out we enjoy it just as much, and don't really waste very much time, using public transportation.

We were quite happy with National, and with the rates, will definitely be flying with them again before too long. We needed another choice departing from Phila. and non-stop flights I definitely like.

Bill - Oh, yes, I forgot you are one of those Californians. Don't you people live in cars more than houses?<g>

Thanks for the congratulations.

Hope to see you and Ellen before too long.

Beth

Fred:
Sounds like you had a good time. Congratulations to Beth on that Royal Flush. I'm with you.....anytime I come home even a little ahead....it was a great trip!!!

Susan

Beth-Fred,
Wish I could make the AC meet! I like Bally's and love the Corned beef and Pastrami combo sandwich in the Deli.It's about a foot high!I've got a lot happening that week Party Sat.Apr.1st,Birthday party on the 2nd and Mets opening day on the 3rd.Go Mets!! TTYL.
Bob NY.

Susan,

It is a rare occasion when we come home even or a little ahead. The chance of being ahead is what makes the trip interesting. Beth funded most of the trip so I owe her.
She continues to remind me of who was the big winner. But that's OK.

Fred

Bob,

Sorry you can't make the AC trip. It took us about six years to meet you for the first time. Hope that it doesn't take six more to meet the second time.

Fred

Bob: Sorry you can't make it to AC tomorrow, but we'll catch up with you in Las Vegas in a couple of weeks. See ya then!

Beth,
Yes, I am the one who had such good luck last April. I hit 3 royals in one day and another one during the same trip, for a total of 4. Two of the royals were at the Rio, on the same machine, about 15 minutes apart. I know that will never happen again. An even better case did not involve me, but I did see it first hand. I saw a guy get a royal on a dollar machine and collect $4,000. He then went to a dollar triple play machine and was dealt a royal for $12,000. This was on a riverboat casino and the people that paid him on the triple play commented that it was the first time a royal had been dealt on one of these machines. I've had a couple royals on quarter triple play machines, but only on one hand.

Congratulations on the Royal Flush and WTG on those deuces! Coming home ahead is definitely fun to hear about.

I agree that Sam's needs to improve their shuttle service. I normally use it when I'm headed downtown, but I always try to catch a shuttle an hour earlier than I really need to be on my way since the people in line often outnumber the available shuttle seats. I think a lot of folks take a cab back since there has never been a problem getting a seat on the return trip.

Do you know the cost comparison between LVL and taking a cab from the airport to Sam's? I think I'd rather pay a couple of bucks more to take a direct, uncrowded trip to the hotel with my suitcases.

Beth, congrats on the Royal. I haven't seen one yet, but it has to come sometime.
And good move on the picnic with the food from the Onion Bun. I had the turkey pot pie on my last trip and it was great. To get some carryout and have a nice afternoon picnic is a good idea for a break from the casinos.
Sorry to hear you had so much trouble with the transportation. You guys usually have that well planned.
Hope to see you in Las Vegas this coming year.

------------------
John
Moderator Dining Forum
john@talkvegas.com

Beth-Fred,
I hope it's not 6 yrs. too!I want to go back after the April trip.I hope in May might see you on one of these? Looks like V did the winning in AC! Did you guys and Lee do any winning? TTYL.
Bob NY.

BobG,
I was predisposed in Cleveland, so sadly, I couldn't attend the AC meet.
Lee-PA

Lee, I heard you were hanging out in Cleveland with a Michigan State fan<G> Wonder what she was like AFTER they won the title?<G>

------------------
John
Moderator Dining Forum
john@talkvegas.com

I've flown National twice now, out of JFK, upgrading to First Class both times. The worst thing about flying them out of JFK is that they are in the International Terminal, and the walk to Domestic Baggage Claim is UNBELIEVABLY LONG after the return trip.

As for the upgrades, they were $90 each way when I first went, and on my second trip they had been increased to $150 each way. Still worth it, IMO, especially because the fares are so reasonable to begin with.

As for the first row in First Class, I was in the first row both ways. I sat there by choice, and had no problem with the wall, which was no closer than the seat in front of you would be (and the wall doesn't recline!). Also, the first row on the left side of the plane has some more room, but the first row on the right side has a storage area cut out in the wall in front of you.

------------------
Mark L. in NJ

MarkL,
Thanks for your insight. I always avoid the first row both in coach and 1st. Reason is, if I have a large amount of carry-ons (read...I'm carrying on a large amount of stuff for the wife) I can not always be sure of enough overhead space, so "we" need the space under the seat infront of me...er I mean us. [img]http://www.talkvegas.com/ubb/smile.gif[/img]
Your right 150 ain't bad for the upgrade to 1st. The one advantage I see by them bumping it up a little more is the more likely people won't upgrade, and that means a better chance for me to arrive late and still snag one! [img]http://www.talkvegas.com/ubb/wink.gif[/img]

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

Fred & Beth, It was great seeing you again! And I do hope Beth is feeling better.

Re: the taxi problem, I'm surprised at the Gold Coast not having any taxis around. But then again, I don't go over that way.

Years back when I used to frequent Sam's Town, I almost never had a problem. Even if there were no cabs, they had a couple of phones that you could call for one.

Then when I was frequenting Boulder Station, once in awhile there would be a long wait for a cab. But on more than one occasion, a Boulder Station worker with a limo would drive me home for whatever fee I wanted to give him. I would give him the same as I would a taxi.

Now, if you ever go to the Showboat, most cabs will ONLY take the tourists to the Strip or to the Airport. Most are very arrogant and direct. Before you get into the cab, they will ask you where you are going. If you say Boulder Station or Sam's Town or any place other than the Strip or Airport, they will say -in broken English, "No, the Strip" or "No, the Airport."

I'm hoping with the new Showboat owners, they will figure out this problem. And I'm very confident they will.

------------------
gailsacco@prodigy.net
Moderator, TalkVegas After Hours
Administrator, TalkVegas BB

Gail,

Yes, I'm feeling much better these days. Thanks for asking.

We also enjoyed meeting with you once again. Glad you were able to join us. Also was nice to see Joe as it may be a while before our next trip.

Understand summer has arrived in LV. Sure hope it doesn't get too hot here too fast.

Beth