Okay, this is my first report. Will try to keep it interesting!

Took the 9:10 flight out of Detroit and arrived at 10:30. We were on the same flight that our neighbors were on. No problems on the flight. Took a cab to Flamingo.

At check in decided to take the room already ready on 14th floor. Had a nice view of Caesars Palace (and if you looked down on the roof, you saw the old 'Hilton' sign). Was VERY surprised to see they had remodeled their rooms. Ours was done in shades of royal blue. New, furniture done in a darker colored wood. Very attractive. Peaked in other rooms being cleaned and saw they are also redoing the rooms in a yellow-gold color. I'm not one for those colors so I didn't like it. Also saw the old rooms, so they are still in the process of remodeling. Had plans to move to Caesars in 2 days, but said if we couldn't get the Palace Towers, we weren't going....more on that later!

Played for a couple of hours...not doing much of anything. Went to church...like those early masses...(to pray for a safe and 'bountiful' trip...the latter prayer not always answered and thankful for the prior one).

Met brother-in-law and his girlfriend at TI for dinner. Left there and proceeded to Harrahs to gamble. The "boy's" took off to play poker/craps and left us girls to tend for ourselves. Poor Michelle, she was GREEN when it comes to gambling. I asked her what she wanted to play. She said slots. She watched me put my slot card in and she said she had one too and proceeded to put one in the machine. As we played, she asked what I liked to play. I said VP, slots, and BJ. She said she didn't know how to play, but wanted to learn BJ. I looked for a table that didn't have too many players (knowing not everyone will put up with someone who doesn't have a clue to what they are doing). (Now keep in mind, she is a VERY attractive girl........so suffice to say the men we played with couldn't care less about how she played...they just enjoyed her...) All the 'macho' men were trying to help her and tell her how to play. She didn't listen to any of them! Everyone at the table lost their money (including me) except her. She made about $150! I was cracking up! If the dealer asked for insurance, she would look them up and down and damn if she didn't take it (with bad cards and all) and WIN! It had to be beginner's luck! She was having fun. That's all that counted. At one point she received a BJ of the same suite making her eligible for the car drawing. Somehow it came up about tracking her play and getting her Harrahs card. She then realized she left it in the slot machine. Being new, she didn't know where we were playing. I went over to the bank of machines and low and behold, her card was still in the machine....not her Harrahs card, but her ROOM KEY! Is that green or what!!??

Of course, I had to put my foot in my mouth. I decided to ask one of the dealers about the recent shooting. She started to freak! Come to find out, they tackled the guy at her table! Talk about feeling like a piece of sh_t!

After being up over 24 hrs we decided to call it a night....or should I say we died...

We were up early the next day and spent the morning at the pool. We were VERY disappointed! The area was filled with litter. Beer cans, styrofoam containers, straws, etc. The pool was filthy. Stayed there until about 2, went up showered and went to the Mirage buffet for dinner.

We went back to Harrahs to gamble...Michelle decided to try her hand at blackjack again. This time, both of us lost our money. We decided to go to the Forum Shops and do a little shopping. She was like a kid in a candy store! (I loved watching her (a newbie))

Monday was moving day. My sister and B-in-l came in to town. B-in-l had made previous arrangements at Caesars with someone to get upgrade to Palace Towers (but wasn't set in stone). He wasn't around when we checked in so they went to desk. Used the $10 with Caesars Credit Card and ... get this...were upgraded to a Mini-suite in the Palace Towers! Two separate bathrooms, Tim's was further down the hall since the other one had the boudet (spelling??) with a connecting 2 head shower, jacuzzi tub for 2, safe, refrigerator, hair dryer and make up mirror (but they still don't give you enough dang light to put make up on!)...so we decided to make the move!

Husband was previously trying to impress his brother as 'big gambler' and dipped into his stash for the week. He was quite depressed over his losses and said for $20 he would move the luggage across the street himself! (instead of taking a taxi) .... yes folks, you guessed it! We tromped through the casino floor of Flamingo and walked those babies across Las Vegas Blvd...up that llllooonnnngggg drive to Caesars!!!!!!! Yes we were those A_ _ H O _ E S you saw!

We started playing VP (at the barge). Tim hit 4 queens on the $.50 machine. While I lost my $$, it did let me play for a long time before they took it.

We finally got in our rooms overlooking the pool area. And not just any pool area, but the 'european bathing' pool. Tim brings his binoculars every trip and have to say this was the first time he got to use them!...the pervert!

Went back downstairs to gamble. B-in-law went to show us how to track our 'total points' (since we were on a deal where we had to accumulate 500 or 700 points for free nights) on the same VP machine Tim hit his 4-Q's earlier. Tim put in more $$ and hit for 4 kings on the first try! He was becoming a happy camper....

We were quite happy staying at Caesars. We found that while in the long run they took a lot of our money, they let us play for quite a while on $20 before we either hit 4 of a kind (and we cashed out)or they took our money. We stayed there 5 days and I have to say we hit 4 of a kind at least 2 times a day. (Mostly playing by the barge) and usually, it was just before we went to bed! Talk about sweet dreams!

My sister on the other hand, didn't do too well. Caesar was bored with her and just took her money! The poor thing. (I know how she felt since the same happened to us on our May trip)

My b-in-law introduced me to the "Game Maker" machines. I played blackjack on those for about 2 hrs (on $10). I was up to over $300, but ended up cashing out at $100. I racked up over 400 point on my card just in that session! I figure you don't get rated at the tables unless you play $25/hand, this way, I was rated ... on stretched out play!

Part of our Caesar deal was a $50 fine dining credit. We decided on the Terrazo restaurant. It was not particularly good food for the price. We had Spaghetti w/mtballs, chicken ravioli (won't sicken you with what Tim said it looked like), vegetable stuffed chicken and some other pasta dish. None of us overly enjoyed the meal. Cost us an additonal $40 with tip and no alcohol.

We didn't really do a lot while there since we've had family problems and this was our 'rest and relaxation' vacation.

We headed back to the airport Saturday for a 2:45 pm flight home. They were requesting bumping options. By the time Tim came out of the smoking room and we decided to take them up on their offer, we were WAY down the list. As the plane started boarding, one group of 6 waiting to bump started getting anxious and decided to board the plane. Low and behold, we got the bump option! (What the hey, we had this week off too...what's the rush??).......We now have our May flight paid for!

We had 8 hours to kill so we stuffed the carry-ons in a locker and decided to take a cab to MGM. Figured we would go to the church on that end of town (since we wouldn't be in Detroit until 6 am. and too tired to make it to church on Sunday). (If you haven't been in that one...WOW! talk about comfy!)

After church walked across to Luxor and played for about 1-1/2 hrs on $20 on their $.25 VP (after all, didn't want to loose all our $$ we were saving by bumping in the machines)... Started getting tired so stopped for coffee.

Decided to walk acros to Tropicana. They have a free pull thing so to waste some time, did that. Didn't win, but they had a promotion to go inside and get free deck of cards. Also, if you sign up for slot card and play for 1/2 hr, get a t-shirt. What the heck, we weren't going anywhere too soon. Sat down at a couple $.25 VP and didn't do anything. Moved over to ACES bonus poker machines. Husband played on his $20 for 90 minutes, as did I. However, I hit 4 of a kind, 4 times within about 10 minutes! Had over 500 credits. Played down to 400, cashed in for $100, and collected my prized t-shirt!

Back to the airport we went for our 11:10 pm flight. Made it home in 3-1/2 hrs! Don't remember any of it!

Again, my former prayer answered and the latter ... well, just a little bit answered!

Enjoyed reading your report. Better luck on the gambling next trip.

Good report. Last trip, my brother & I moved ourselves from the Mirage to Harrah's and then a few days later, moved back.

Thanks for the last minute fix! It's really nice to hear from someone that actually made money while earning a free T-shirt. [img]http://www.talkvegas.com/ubb/smile.gif[/img]

Carol,

Thanks for the great trip report. Your report reminded me of several things we have done in the past. One was when we took the shuttle from Sam's Town to the San Remo and then walked to the ExCalibur with our luggage. Another was when we were waiting for the time to board in Philadelphia. I went outside for a smoke and when I came back Beth met me in the hall. "Come on", she said. " I just took a bump for us". Our next trip was a free airplane ride and on the way to LV we were planning our next trip.

Taking first timers is always an experience that provides lots of memories.



[This message has been edited by Fred (edited 02 October 2000).]

Carol,
You did good for a first timer at trip reporting! LOL [img]http://www.talkvegas.com/ubb/smile.gif[/img]
Enjoyed it very much! Newbee's are the best in Vegas, arn't they?
Oh and don't worry about moving your own luggage.....I've done that already! But it's not about money...it's about time! If you would have used the Flamingo bell staff, they would have added about 1/2 hr on your check out time! It was a smart time saving measure....trust me on that one!
Thanks for taking the time to report back to all of us that have to wait for our next trip. This was a nice way to tied us over, till then!


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

Carol,

Thanks for the report. Sounds like a fun trip. I like your husband already. Never packed binoculars but my wife still thinks the big telephoto lens is just for picture taking <G>.

Good job on the bump!

jm

Carol,
We also stayed at Ceasars a couple of weeks ago and discovered the Venus pool. I told my husband that he could peek but had to swim in the other pool. When we did a quick scan of the pool there were two topless women who looked like Russian wrestlers. I had to laugh when my husband thought one was a man.

We also got one of those great packages for 2 free nights and $200 in dining credit. We ate at the Chinese place and it was great. The next night, our last night, we still had $140 in credit and we were getting room service. My husband just wanted a club sandwich, I thought "What am I going to eat for $130?". We ended up getting a few things to take on the Southwest flight.
Glad you had a good time and thanks for your trip report.
Gale

Carol:

Sounds like you had a fun trip. Enjoyed your trip report.

Your luggage story reminds me of a story a friend told years ago. They were staying at the Las Vegas Hilton on Paradise Road. Her husband found out he could save $10 a night by moving down to that hotel also on Paradise Rd. that was cylinder shaped, which has since been torn down, can't remember the name of it. Anyway, you guessed it, he made her hike down Paradise Rd. with the luggage, and that was before the days of rollers!!! That was quite a distance between the two. I doubt that she has ever let him forget about that one. She was irate because he wasn't about to take a cab.