Had a great flight out of Detroit at 6:40 a.m. No searches at the airport. Arrived around 7:30 a.m., and checked into Caesars upon arrival. AGAIN they had my reservation messed up! (Last May they changed the prices mid-stay). I received an offer for 3days comped; next 2 days at $74 and last night was $239 (Sun. thru Sat). This was made through my host. When we checked in, the clerk said 3 days comped and the remainder of the days at $159; checking out on Sunday. I told her that was not the offer made through the host. She called the one on duty who said we could have 3 days comp, 2 @ $74 and the last at $289. Told her no, the last one is $239. The host agreed to this. Unfortunately, this started the trip off on a bad note. At that point, I had made my mind up to find somewhere else to stay in the future!.....I just don't know where yet. Any ideas would be appreciated.

I won't bore you with every detail, but will high-light the better parts of the trip.....

Sunday - Gambled at Caesars and they took all our alotment for the day.

Monday and Tuesday the weather was cool so we decided to take in some shows. Went to the Trop (had offer for free show tickets to Rick Thomas or Follies even if not staying there). Made it in time for the 2pm show (literally)! We just sat down, turned our seats around, and the show started. For a "free" afternoon show, we enjoyed it very much. He didn't seem to get the applause he deserved.

Tuesday AM we played the $.25 progressive VP by Shadows after breakfast. Could not believe when I hit the royal for a little over $1200! Later that day we went across the street to Flamingo to purchase tickets for Second City. Played there a little on the $1 machines while husband went to play the $.25 progressive VP (he wasn't hitting much of anything). After losing lots of $$ in the $1 slots/VP, I decided to join him. We were getting ready to cash out for dinner when Tim got up and said he was going to the restroom and for me to hit the royal by the time he came back. I said "sure". I'll be danged!! I hit the royal again for $1,800! Couldn't believe my luck! It's been about 8 yrs since my last royal, and I hit for 2 in one day!

We went to the Second City. It was a very funny show and we enjoyed that one, too.

Wednesday hung out at the pool. Later that night was playing the $1 VP at the Barge and hit 4 Aces, and 4 jacks. Machine was hitting. Cashed out at $800.

Celine Dion came into town Tuesday. They changed the sign at Caesars to read "Welcome home Celine". For the next THREE DAYS all they played overhead at Caesars was Celine's songs. Now, I love her and her music but by the time 1/2 of the first day was over I was getting to hate her music! At least we could leave....the poor workers had to stay and listen to her for their entire shift!

Thursday went to the VH-1 Diva concert! EXCELLENT! Celine came out first w/Anastacia. Got a pretty loud response. Cher followed them. When she came out the crowd went wild. I have to admit I went to the concert wanting to see Celine, but came out a Cher fan! She has a lot of showmanship! We paid $150 each for tickets and IMHO, they we're not worth it! We were 1/2 way down the side of the arena! When we ordered the tickets, they were not showing any seats on the floor, but when we got there, they had tons!
The remainder of the singers were good. I'm not a fan of the Dixie Chicks/Mary J Blige, but they were still enjoyable.

Stevie Nicks was great! Whitney made a guest appearance. They should have said a "ghost" appearance. She came on stage midway through a song MJ Blige was singing and left after it was finished....never to be seen from again! What a waste!

There was such 'electricity' in the arena! People were dressed anything from cut-offs to tux's and evening gowns! They had a "swat-team" come out to remove a girl from the audience. Rumor was she was 'having sex'.

I've taped the concert (showing replays on VH-1) and will watch it again to see it "close up"....and to see if we made it "on TV"!

Friday, I met my childhood friend (who now lives in Calif). We hung out at the pool most of the day (it was finally warming up). We departed company around 10pm (past my bed-time). Husband was back at the progressive VP still trying to hit something...anything... I played a short time with him then said I was going to try the $1 VP by the Barge, then the nightly $100 in a $5 slot machine and I was going to bed. Didn't do much at the $1 VP so decide to call it a night at the $5 machines. I put my $100 in and started playing like my husband....1 coin at a time (which I will NEVER do again)! I hit a 10x cherry, plus some small pots. I was at 67 credits when all of a sudden.... I hit 10x, 10x, single bar! I figured it out to 1000 credits. I forgot I was at a $5 machine and figured I won $1,000. Imagine my surprise when I found out I won $5,000!...........and had I used 2 COINS, it would have been $10,000. When I was paid, the floor person came out with a host saying he just wanted to "introduce" himself. I proceeded to pay the floor person and the change person and just said hello to the slot man. (First off, I have my own host there, so why would he be coming out other than to get 'paid' )

What a way to end my trip! We packed and had to leave Saturday. I played a little in the airport and came out with $200 (with a $20 buyin) on a $1 VP!

No problems at the airport. Was happy to see they now have e-checkin in LV. No searches or delays at the airport.

I can't believe my luck this trip! My husband, on the other hand, was quite upset he couldn't hit a pot over $150! We have a thing where we split any winnings over $100. So he's still a happy camper!

I decided not to see my host before I left since she really didn't give me anything to start with other than the offer given me through marketing. And, with Caesars upping their $$ through for comps, I doubt I will get as good an offer in the future. So....if any of you have any comments on other facilities, let me know. Lee, I know you like Flamingo (we've stayed there in the past) but if my memory serves me right, you had problems in the short past....or am I dreaming?

We're already making our plans for September. But this time, it WON'T be on 9/11!

Carol,

Thanks for the report and CONGRATS on the gambling wins!!!

I think I would have talked to your host before departing. Many times they'll give additional comps after looking at your play.

You mentioned finding another property. Do you want to be in the strip? I REALLY enjoyed my stay at Green Valley Ranch a few weeks ago.

Carol - Congrats on the wins!!! Wow - two Royals in one day! My mouth is watering! And congrats on the 10X Pay win! --Mike

Jeff, we prefer to stay on the strip. We don't rent a car and 'hoof' it everywhere. Just makes it a lot easier to get around. Where is the Green Valley Ranch? Never even heard of it.

GVR is out Henderson way. It's a beautiful, full service resort/casino. Rooms would compare favorably with the Mirage or Bellagio. Service surpasses these other places IMO. Pool is fantastic.

You could stay there and never have to leave. If you prefer to casino hop and don't have a car, it's probably not a good selection.

Wow - what great luck! Congratulations!

Thanks for posting a trip report, Carol. Did you eat in any interesting restaurants? With wins like that, you could certainly afford a gourmet room or two!

Thanks Kestral. Nothing spectacular. Went to Alta Villa and Peking Market in Flamingo. I had planned on other places for dinner but we just never made it!!?? I'm still trying to figure out where 7 days went!

Forgot to add in report that I had Wager Works 2 for 1 at Buccaneer Bay restaurant in Treasure Island that I was going to use in September of last year. (Didn't make it due to being dropped off in Alburque on 9/11). I e-mailed then when I got home in Sept and they said they would honor it, that all I had to do was call TI and tell them when I will be returning. (Which I never did). I took both my e-mails (the manager of WW at TI never heard of this) and they honored the request. However, we had changed it to a buffet since we didn't feel like dressing up that night. I've heard of a lot of problems with WW lately, so I was pleasantly surprised.

Wow, Carol, what a trip!!! Congratulations on the wins.........it's nice to know that my money went home with a fellow Talk Vegas member....

Congratulations!! A trip that any of us would like to have...........a winning one. Plus, a nice win at the airport. Way to go!!

Enjoyed reading your trip report. Thanks for posting.

Beth

Carol,
What a wonderful time you had on those VP machines!!! Thanks so much for a winning report! I won't be publishing a winning report, so I was glad to see someone got'm! <VBG>

As for my problems at Flamingo, they are pretty much the same as you are incountering at Ceasars. I'm beginning to wonder if the problem is PPE wide. Had a hellish time getting 2 weekend nights removed from my bill in March @ something like $269 a night! Only when we checked in late, there was no host to call and straighten it out, so I had to sign the check-in paperwork stating I'd pay that rate if it wasn't resolved with the host, or they wouldn't issue me a room. I was very unhappy. After my recent non-Flamingo stay trip, things went much smoother, and I seriously question if I will be going back to stay at the Flamingo ever again.

As to where to stay? Good question! My trips have changed so much since the early LV days. I always rent a car, and feel as comfortable on the LV roadways as one can get with all that traffic and such. I find myself leaning to smaller is better type of thinking. I have a host that goes out of her way to make me feel comfortable asking for stuff from the hotel. Pit critters that remember my name from trip to trip, without showing my players card. Cocktial waitresses that remember what I drink as well as my name and who my wife is and let me know where she is and if she's winning. Security people, that are friendly & yet helpful. Valet that IMHO is second to none. Change people that remember my players card number??? My gosh, I can't do that and it's my number! LOL
The short falls of it are it's an older hotel, No pool, it doesn't have the poshness of a Ceasars or a Venetian or Mandalay bay. If your looking for that sort of thing you got to stick with the big boys. Plus if you want to be on the strip, your choices become very limited.
But for my money Main Street Station fits my needs well. Now only if I was about a foot shorter, the shower head would be just at about the right height! LOL

Thanks for sharing your trip with us all here at TalkVegas! Oh and BTW, if your out in early September, out paths might just cross. Let me know your dates and we can meet for lunch or drinks or something.

Carol:
I envy your luck!! Sounds like you had a wonderful trip. Thanks for sharing.

Susan

Lee, we will be out Sept 17-24. Staying away from the 11th!! Had to use FF miles and the only days out and back are on Tuesdays!! Go figure! What are your dates?? Would like to meet.

Sorry to hear your trip was not as profitable, but I'm sure you still had fun. We always seem to do better on our May trip than in Sept....maybe we should skip the Sept and stay longer in May??

Carol,
Dates for September at August 31 to September 8. Looks like we'll miss you again!

This is the first year we are only taking 7 nights or longer trips to Vegas. The problem is, on these longer trips we are exposed to the house edge for too long of a time and have a poorer track record on longer trips.