Will make this short since there really was nothing exciting happening.

This was a first! The flight out was only 1/2 full. People had a row of seats to themselves and stretched out to sleep. We were already in exit row seats so didn't bother to move.

We woke up and went to the spa. Have a gold card at Aladdin which gives us free use of the workout room, sauna, & whirlpool. Have to get that arm ready for those slots! Ate breakfast, went to the pool, showered, then went down to 'lose our money'! This had to be one of the worst trips for winning! I think we only hit 3 times for a couple hundred jackpot.... and most of that went back into the machine, hoping to hit the bigger one! That pretty much sums up our 8 days!

Hightlights:
1) Lost pretty bad one day (ok, every day) and was standing by a 3-line, $10, video poker machine. Somthing kept telling me to play it. I put $100 into it and played $10 each hand or $30 a shot. Kept the machine going then hit for 4-2's. Cashed out with $500.

2) Went to see Rita Rudner. She is a stitch! Tim did not want to see her but came out of the show saying he (and I) really enjoyed it. The only thing I hate is the fact that I walked out and couldn't remember even one joke she told. Man I hate that! Must have been too busy laughing!

3) Ate at Lombardos in the Desert Passage Mall. I would recommend this Italian restaurant. If you go on the Desert Passage website, you can get a coupon for a free order of focacia (sp) bread! YUM! You can also preview the menu. I had the gnocchi (sp), Tim the spagehtti & meatballs. Both dishes where good. They came nice & hot. We split a desert. Don't remember what it's called but the waitress said it was like a chocolate souffle. It was a little chocolate cake filled with like a fudge sauce, served with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. We were both full, hence the sharing, but once we tasted it, it was a battle to the end to see who got more!

3) Went to see Society of Seven at Aladdin. Had heard they are closing show, so thought we would catch it. Bought the tickets and she asked if we were staying at the hotel. We were (had to show room key) and we got tickets 2 for 1. Later in trip when signing up for the slot tournament, he said "and here's two tickets for The Society of Seven"..... This show is obviously not doing well... The show was just ok. Nothing to write home about. However, the leader in the show introduced his wife and son. The son was one of the characters on Third Watch. (I never watched the show so I can't tell you who he was). I believe he may have been killed off because he said he is 'now' playing in a play.

4) Was playing a $1, 3-hand video poker machine and was dealt a royal flush! Unfortunately, I was playing only $1 per hand and it paid $80 per hand. I then went up to $5 per hand and ended up losing it all! What can I say, the machines were so tight that in order to make my play last longer, I could only do 1 coin at a time! Pathetic!

We did get all our nights comped. However, I would like you opinion on this. When going through our host, she sets us up in a larger room with a view (casino rates of $129 w/n; $179 w/e). If we go through marketing, depending on the time of year, we can get regular rooms for anywhere from $29/39/49 w/n; $59/69/79 w/e.

Now...If we are winning, we don't mind playing there and staying there to play and would usually get our rooms comped. However, this trip, because we were loosing we felt like we 'had' to play there to get enough points to get the room comped (I wasn't paying that much for a room), even though we would like to have gone elsewhere to try our luck. Now my question to you....... would you book the room through marketing were you have a set rate and don't have to worry about how much you play or through the host? And if you book through marketing, would you then see the host at the end to see if they could do something or would this be a blow to them? Would like your input on this.

Anyway, took the red-eye home and went from 101 degrees to 42 when we arrived in Detroit. Talk about a shock to the system!

But as usual, had a GREAT TIME!

Carol,

Thanks for the report. Sorry you had such terrible mis-fortune on the slots. YOur experience on the $1 3-line having an RF come up with only one in is almost enough to make a person quit forever . I had that happen to me once many years ago at the Eldorado in Reno. I had three in on a quarter machine and up came the Royal for a prize of about $163. I have never since that day ever pushed the deal button with less than the max coins deposited. I sympathize with you and hope next time you hit the big one.

If you are normally comped by your host I would keep on using her(him?) to book because of the latitude the hosts have in issuing other comps as you go. If I book the room some other way and then go to the host I get "why didn't you talk to me, I could've got you this (or that)?"
We seem to play enough at the place we stay to get it comped and still have enough time to go to other casinos to try our luck. There is an old adage that says Don't play more than you would normally just for the comps. I think Jean Scott, the Frugal Gambling lady said that and she seems to do well. Anyway, Carol, I hope you had a good vacation and have much better luck next time. Thanks for the TR.

Bob

Carol,
Thanks for the report.
I'd call the host and give him/her the promo #. If your host won't book it for you at those rates, it's time to find a new host.

Carol, sorry to hear the play wasn't so great. Can't help you on the comps, I book mostly through MLT vacations (package deal). I assume you fly out of Detroit Metro, have you tried MLT?
There owned by NorthWest Airlines and can have some decent deals.

I'm thinking of staying at either the Aladdin or the Luxor the next trip out. I was expecially impressed with the Desert Passage shopping mall.
Would you stay there again if the rates you got comped were decent?

Oneboater, this was the 3rd time we've stayed at Aladdin. We have always had a great stay there. We've had our rooms comped every time and if we were to book through marketing, we get really good rates. Actually what happened was that the first time we stayed there, we paid $29 for a regular room. When we arrived we were told we could upgrade for $20/night, which we took. After that, the host has been putting us in an upgrade of that upgrade (same size room, but with a better view - and also more expensive.) She would start us at 3 nights comped and base the remainder of the trip on our play, usually comping all our nights. We could probably tell her we would take a lower grade room just in case our play doesn't warrant a comp. Either way we will definitely stay there again. With us not winning there, we felt we were chained there to get the points for the comps.

The staff seems pretty excited to get Planet Hollywood in there. Everyone we asked said they could only make the hotel better.

Carol,
Thanks for the report.
I must say, even reading a report where you where delt the royal without having the full amount in, makes me sick just reading about it. But my advice would be to play a quarter machine at the full load rather then short coin a dollar machine, if things arn't going your way.
Playing for comps is a dangerious way to go. You feel like your on a treadmill, and can't get off if your loosing. I don't enjoy going to the host with my hands out. MSS, I know already going, that my room is comped. If my play doesn't cut it, my next stay will be a charge, and I can live with that. This gives me the fredom to move to another hotel if things are going terribly bad on one trip or another. Even $100 a nite room can be cheap compared to trying to play to get it comped. The Aladdin has some very nice rooms, but I've yet to see a decent VP pay schedule inside the place? I suspect, you are paying a high price for that room without even knowing it. My suggestion would be to call your host next trip and offer him/her the numbers from a marketing offer. She'll probably offer the same rate. Then play, if your doing poorly, walk over to another casino and try your luck. I suggest maybe NY NY or Monte Carlo. This is just a suggestion, I know what it's like to really like a hotel you feel comfortable inside, it's like being home when you get there. I was stuck in this rut for a long time at the Flamingo. While I still like the place, the VP was all less then good there.
Thanks again for the great report.....I hope your next trip ends on a winning note!

Carol - Thanks for the TR - it was exciting to read! I'd echo what the others have said about where to book your room. Since you've been comped your rooms the last 3 times at the Aladdin, I would think your host would comp you automatically, no? If not, as the others said, find out what marketing offers you as far as a room goes and tell your host what you can get there. I'd bet the host will match it. And as Lee said, if you're comped going in, relax and enjoy it. If you're losing and you want to play elsewhere, the charges will occur on your next trip (maybe).

I'd also recommend finding out exactly how many points you need per day to get your room comped. You can do this either by asking your host or someone at the slot club booth. It will give you an idea of what you need to average per day. Keep in mind that if you're a regular player at the casino, your rating will be averaged over your last three to six visits so since you've been comped already, you're already on good standing with them.

And as the others said, you shouldn't "chase a comp," meaning, if you're losing, stop gambling and pay whatever you have to for the room if you have to. You should NOT feel "chained" to a casino just for a comp. Have a good time and feel free to explore other casinos. However, if you like the casino (and it sounds like they like you), you should stick with them! --Mike

Carol,

Thanks for the report. Sorry the gamblings gods weren't smiling more on you.

You've gotten some good opinions on room deals. One thing I'll add, I've had trips like your and quit playing at the casino I'm staying at. At the end of my trip I'll meet with my host and tell them I'm sorry I didn't give them more play but I was getting beat up and had to change. I've gotten taken care of more often than not. If the Host know you're a player, they don't want to lose you.

Thanks for your advice. I'm going to try some of it on my next booking.....hopefully for December.

come on out a couple weeks early and make the November meet!

Would love to. Reason for Dec trip is to cash in my Bizarre Dollars at Aladdin. Have lots of them and if we don't buy stuff in this bizarre, will lose them.

Do you guys work? or are you retired. I don't get enough time off to make all these trips like you!

Carol....I'm self employed.....my boss is a real easy touch when I need some R & R! LOL

Lee, can I come work for you?

Carol...LOL
Looks like your commute would be a killer!

Lee,
You could open a branch here in the Detroit suburbs, and Carol & I could run it, after all I was in your line of busness way back in the 60's in Cleveland.
P.S. we could hold board meetings at the Casino's.

So that's what happened to Cleveland!

Na Cleveland was that way when I got there.
I got my 1st devorce & moved back to Detroit, couldn't stand Cleveland. :p
Actually I lived on Sowinski street by Sowinski School near Sowinski park, and my first wife had atteneded Sowinski school when she was a kid.

We can communicate by computer and work from home! Everyone's doing it these days. By the way, what business are we in? I've heard all the corners on 8 Mile have been taken.

Larry, I'm for meeting at the casinos.

Carol, did you notice that Lee didn't respond to any of this

Larry, maybe he's at one of those "business" meetings...

Maybe we didn't interview very well....