Vegas in Sept.

[bigsteve5273@yahoo.c]

Thank you, all.  

[scorpio2]

good luck,don't forget the bailbondsmans' number.

[EDC1977]

good luck,don't forget the bailbondsmans' number. Thats some pretty bad intentions if you need to remember his number! I hope BigSteve has some good stuff to report. "M" resort at I-15 and St. Rose Parkway is coming along well and may  open sooner than expected. The weird angled roof on the East Cannery hotel is eye catching and may be to enhance natural lighting so not to use too much electricity. Aliante Station (I think) appears to be on schedule for opening end of the year.

[scorpio2]

big steve is probably cashing in those pay slips now!

[EDC1977]

big steve is probably cashing in those pay slips now! Hopefully, he's sitting a hot tub filled with champagne and the VP.com jiggly girls! Now explain that to Mom Steve! What happens in Vegas. . . . . .

[bigsteve5273@yahoo.c]

What happened at the Palms ......never happened.  Great trip.  First of all my Mother won as usual and I didn't end up in jail. So it was an outstanding trip.  Lovely room at Bally's quite commodious.  Plenty of room in the room.  Beautiful view from the south tower of the Paris Eiffel Tower and the Bellagio fountains. Couldn't have been more scenic.  Unfortunately no VP paytables to match and as a result they didn't receive any of my play and little of my Mom's.  Very good service though I didn't appreciate the 45 minute wait at check in  or the $3 soft drinks at the nearby cofffee bar.  Note to travelers:  ABC stores, one of which is located in the Miracle Mile Mall behind the Planet Hollywood has whatever sundries you may require and bargain prices.  How refreshing for the innocent wayfarer not to be gouged by unscrupulous casino executives.  Anyhoo, Thanks to shadowman and Marie for referring me to the Palms.  Mr. Maloof does a fine job of attracting VP players who desire a fair gamble.  Kudos to him and his employees for providing a most pleasant gaming experience. I played primarily at the 25 cent Deuces Wild Progressive until the jackpot $1872 was hit by a  NY Jewish grandmother at about 5 A.M. who retired in Vegas and has played that bank of machines for the last few years.  If I couldn't win it at least it went to a lovely and deserving person.  Also, I realized I was not playing the best strategy until too late i.e. hold the suited 10 with the Ace otherwise I have no doubt I would have won it.  The FPDW 25 cent older style slant top machines were kinder to me and I won a little.  All total at the Palms I hit 2 sets of quad deuces at Deuces Wild and plowed the winnings right back into a Full Pay DDB which immediately murdered me.  I better confirm that my DDB strategy is the best before I return. If anyone is interested the $21million Megabucks was won at the Palms the first night I played there.  I'm hoping that my play generated sufficient points to receive an invitation to return and play again. The McDonalds didn't disappoint as the coffee was hot and fresh if just a bit pricey at $1.61 a cup tax included with one refill and occasionally more than one entirely dependent upon how personable one is but the price is a minor quibble as they don't have a Dollar menu. The buffet didn't suit my Mother but I considered it at least average or better for the gambler on the go.     Be that as it may, I trained my sister and Mother in the fine art of JOB and paytables and as a team we assaulted the 25 cent Multigame Progressive at the Four Queens.  A jackpot of about $1861.  We played the gamut from accurate ( my sister)  to lucky (my Mother)  and everything in between (fast, me).  The newest slot team in existence then broke for lunch at the Paradise buffet at the Fremont for which my Mother had a comp.  Don't you love the Pacific Islander theme?  Such a lovely hostess and service.  Then back to the grind of playing to win at the 4 Queens Progressive.  Though I bankrolled the team mutiny resulted from my heavy handed Capt. Qweeg like approach to coaching and exhorting the team.     So with that jackpot stymied by my poor interpersonal skills we retired to take in the Mac King Comedy Magic Show at Harrah's.  Wonderful, Excellent. A family show that everyone will enjoy. It's so good that I hope to see it again as soon as possible.    The next day and I get them confused,  we took the free shuttle to Sam's Town and after much apologising,  amends making and purchasing them drinks as restitution for my previous days behaviour, I returned to the bosom of my family and as soon as they were good and soused I abandoned them at a table at the Firelight buffet by the simple ruse of mentioning that I needed to go to the little boy's room and sneaked over to the Cannery for a quick sign up at the Players Club and a free t-shirt.    What gorgeous machines.  Beautiful brand new flat screen slant tops for your gaming pleasure.  Oh, my! What great paytables! Ahhh! the locals have it so good.  But no time to play because the family will be sobering up and possibly wondering where I am.  Rats! Forced to return when I've found gaming Nirvana.  Well, maybe next trip I'll get to play the Cannery.  I certainly like what I see.  I hope EDC kills them when he plays.     Back to the Firelight Buffet and sure enough they're still sitting at that table in satisfied drunken stupors none the worse for wear and totally oblivious to my leave taking.  Aaarghhh! and I just left the greatest casino ever out of concern for my beloved sister and Mother.   I must attempt to be a dutiful son and brother take them to their rooms where they can sleep it off.    That done I finally return to the Palms and play some more FPDW and due to the grace of a loving God am able to stay out of the High Limit Slot area if only because the paytables weren't as good as some found on the floor.  The Full Pay machines are well marked whether DDB or Deuces Wild.      Bill's still has a before 7A.M. breakfast special that is now $6.99 plus tax not quite so special with the price increase since some buffets are comparably priced.     I hope each of you have as great a time as I do whenever I go.  Be safe out there, kids,  and don't do as I do.  You're better than that.  Great luck to each of you until next time.

[marie meijer]

Steve, Tks for the fun read about your action packed trip! You covered a lot of territory in a short time! Time for vacation, I'd say. You are right about Mac King. He is just as much fun to see again on another trip! Collectively, we were probably all hoping you would find trouble again for another intrigue-filled story!

[bigsteve5273@yahoo.c]

In the interest of sanity it might be best if one does not pre-pay the  roundtrip shuttle fare and get return transportation from the casino to the airport for the following reasons.  1. I'ts  cheaper for 2 or more people to taxi and depending on the driver the service is probably better  2. It's difficult to make the required proir reservation without being put on hold and the corresponding long phone wait   3. When the shuttle is late and phone calls are placed from the reserved line located at the pick up zone erroneous information is the rule.  I was told the shuttle had been filled and another one would arrive in 45 minutes,  far too late to do us any good, when lo and behold one parked outside while I was still on the phone with Mr. Information.    Aaaarrrghhh!  This was the single incident of the  trip that might have resulted in mayhem had I been face to face with Mr. Info.  Thankfully for all of us I was able to politely hang up on one more of life's little incompetentcies. 

[ginxxxx]

Big Steve, Loved your trip report, will try to check out the Cannery when we go to LV First week of October.  How do you get there from Sam's Town?Soooo glad you liked the Palms.New motto: Stay at Harrahs - play at Palms.

[bigsteve5273@yahoo.c]

Dear Ginxxxx,  My new motto is , "Stay where I Play".  My legs are still shot from all the walking.  Loved the Palms, thank you for the tip.    The Cannery is the next casino on the same side of the street perhaps 1/2 mile down from Sam's. Getting transportation was difficult. No shuttle. I had to wait an hour for a taxi.  The excuse was shift change.   After getting the lay of the land by taxi I returned to Sam's Town by side walk rather than wait.  Nice suburban walk but avoid the heat of the day because there's nothing to see except the 2 casinos and Walmart across the Boulder Highway which is very busy and dangerous to cross as I never saw a pedestrian crosswalk.   There is a valet at the Cannery but other than that it is as bare bones a casino I've ever seen.  Imagine if Costco was a casino versus the strip casino Nieman Marcus. Money was not wasted on architecture or interior design but invested in over 2100 exquisite  new top of the line comfortable flat screen slant tops.  You must see the machines. Gorgeous.   This casino is a fine example of what is possible in gaming if money is spent on equipment rather than volcanoes, dancing girls and other attractions.  Kudos to management.   Should the service be as good as the machines they definitely have a big winner.      Minor frustration:   The line for player registration one week after grand opening was nearly longer than I was willing to endure for a free T-shirt and sign up and took so long that I didn't have time to play.  In the days before it was far worse according to the nice local lady with whom I spoke who  came to register and left in dismay at the prior time.   As a rule Vegas does not do people moving well.  At anything you want to see or do there will be a queue and it will not be moving to your satisfaction.               Perhaps some of the fine folks at Disney or other world class attractions could help a Vegas casino improve it's people moving skills and that casino could be an example for the others.     I taxied a lot during this vacation and can confirm, that if you don't mind driving, a rental car is far less expensive.  I easily spent more in 4 days of taxiing as a week's rental would cost.  OTOH, I met some very personable drivers and one lady driver who must be an off duty showgirl.  Spectacular personality and looks. She sparkled without the need of rhinestones.  She was from S. Carolina and I hope you meet her.    To recap the essential info:  1.  Stay, eat, game where I intend to play the most,  i.e. save legs, save taxi fare and spend savings on lavish lifestyle  2. Get a room nearest the elevator  3. After playing at first casino to my fill have reserved room at next casino following rules 1 and 2.  Start over.     Ginxxxx, I am looking forward to your next trip report and great luck to you.