you decide

[Tedlark]

DaBurglar thanks for the travel tips but don't you think I may have made this drive before? Um, the California badlands???

[notes1]

when I go to my 'local' casino, I am there to play. rarely go outside, other than coming/going home.

when I go to vegas, I go to play, but I also go as a tourist. I only get there every other year or so, don't like long plane rides and cannot put 10 year old dogs in the kennel for more than a day or two. I want to stay on the strip or downtown. I want to see the action, the crowds, the light show, I want to see all I can, while still getting my VP fix.

so, considering the short duration of the trip, 3 days, the fact I get to stay where the action is, the plane/room/ground transportation is all comped, I will gladly give up a few percent on the paytables.

[DaBurglar]

DaBurglar thanks for the travel tips but don't you think I may have made this drive before? Um, the California badlands???How would I know if you have driven from Southern California to Vegas?   Seriously, how would I know that?The badlands is simply a term some of us who have actually lived in SO Cal  apply to the vast barren stretches of hot desert that lie on I-15 between Barstow and Nevada's Border.....it really is not  a place you want anything bad to happen, especially at night.

[Tedlark]

DaBurglar you're right; you wouldn't know. But then again, I wasn't seeking unsolicited travel advice either. Now if I had posed a question in my post asking for driving instructions then I would have expected someone to post back with help. Now so you know: I'm obviously not a professional truck driver (nor do I play one on tv, hello Greg Evigan) but I have driven in 48 of the 50 states plus a few foreign countries. I bet you can figure out which 2 states I haven't driven in?

[Carcounter]

Illinois and Michigan?

[DaBurglar]

DaBurglar you're right; you wouldn't know. But then again, I wasn't seeking unsolicited travel advice either. Now if I had posed a question in my post asking for driving instructions then I would have expected someone to post back with help. Now so you know: I'm obviously not a professional truck driver (nor do I play one on tv, hello Greg Evigan) but I have driven in 48 of the 50 states plus a few foreign countries. I bet you can figure out which 2 states I haven't driven in?The "unsolicited advice" (it really was simply more of a non specific sharing of experience by me) was for ANYONE and EVERYONE making that drive who has not made it before.....I just quoted your post for the hell of it......I would bet you have driven in THESE STATES, which would explain a lot......State of Confusion....State of Chaos....State of Intoxication....You are far more likely to play Greg Evigan's partner, the one with all the hair who ate Bananas on every episode.....

[Tedlark]

Car - there have been times when I wished I hadn't driven in Michigan.

DaBurglar - poor attempt to unpaint yourself from that corner...plus, I rarely eat bananas.

[notes1]

vegas trip report.

air/ground transportation/hotel was comped. ate at diamond lounge for free, spent less than $50 out of accumulated comp credits, chose to upgrade return flight for better seat placement. well worth the $40 spent to get best seat with most leg room on the plane.

when I departed the casino for the return trip, had a little over $100 more than what I started with. got to airport, flight delayed, lost $150 playing there.

total out of pocket cost of trip....90 dollars.


arrived wed afternoon, left Saturday noon. put a lot of money thru the machines. 90/10%, vp/slots. played only quarter single line, 5 coin, TDB/DDB and 5 coin slots. never deviated my bet, the same every time. split my play at paris, Cromwell, flamingo and harrahs. did stop in at casino royale for no more than 30 minutes, got a RF and never got back there.

had another RF at paris and 5 other premium hands ($500/e). but, there were lots of dead periods, big swings between being up and down financially. over royaled, but felt the normal quads were lacking. similar experience to what I saw at harrahs AC a couple of months ago.

had another reason to take this trip. best friends' oldest son was getting married there exact time of trip. we were not going for various reasons, including not being able to put 10 year old dogs in kennel for that long a time period. when I got the offer, wife said it was karma, twisted my arm and I went. surprised the heck out of everyone when I just showed up at carnival court bar, the day before, unannounced. wedding was officiated by groom's buddy, an ex male porn star 'little person'. great guy, wish I had spent more time with him, to hear about his past 'work' life.

if I went to vegas more often, I might feel different, but when I do go, it is not just to get best VP games. I want to experience the strip. did not make it downtown, too much else to do. as trapper john said, more 'bouncing betty's', less material used in gal's clothing, than anyplace I ever go. each one is trying to out do the other. the guys are hammered and loud and all trying to get lucky. the crowds steadily grew each night. seemed like every millennial was there.

sure, there are a couple of folks sleeping on the sidewalk (likely drug induced), but with the sheer number of people, the amount of booze being consumed, a bunch of horny young/old people, it is amazingly well controlled and most are well behaved.

there is no place like it, just wish it was not so far away.

[Tedlark]

notes it sounds like you had a blast on your trip. I also enjoy Las Vegas not only for the gaming but also the "big picture."

As for the person who officiated the wedding I'll just say this:

[doris13]

congrats notes,sounds like you had a great time.where did you stay?i'm passing on vegas this year,the walk thru the united terminal is just a killer and i'm getting too old for it.heading to AC in a few weeks to finish up making my tier credits for diamond next year.