Please ADD your own Las Vegas Trip Report. Date of Trip: January 23, 2005 to January 26, 2005 Hotel Stayed At: Flamingo Las Vegas Report by: Richard <mstr_wonderful@yahoo.com> From: Lubbock Texas

This is my first Trip Report and it reflects my tastes and preferences and opinions it is Longggg. I booked my flight in November when Southwest had reduced fares for $99.00 from Lubbock to Las Vegas one way. Round trip was $216.70 instead of the typical $258.00. I stayed at the Flamingo on the strip as they sent me an offer for 3 nights free, $50.00 food and beverage comp plus $50.00 in free slot play. In the past I have stayed at the Mirage Paris and the Flamingo. The Flamingo has consistently rewarded my play on slots and these offers are usually 2 night’s free period. My better half and I each have separate players’ cards but use mine just for slots thereby receiving more play on one card. Request two cards when you sign up or each time you visit as they are easy to leave in the machines when distracted. I also make use of a host to make my reservations normally by e-mail so I can print a copy in case Murphy’s Law interferes with my plans. I am not a “High Roller “by any means since I usually bring about $500.00 to gamble with.
Sunday
Arrived Las Vegas about 9:15 a.m. flight was good. Retrieved luggage, boarded BellTrans, arrived Flamingo 9:35 a.m. Checked in luggage with Bellman after removing “fanny pack” containing cigarettes, players cards and coupons for all the casino’s I could find. I started playing Blackjack last visit in September 2004 and prefer $5.00 8 deck shoe with hand shuffled with a 3:2 payout (bet $5.00 receive a blackjack, get paid $7.50). Walked around the casino floor and could only find 6:5 (bet $5.00 receive a blackjack, get paid $6.00) or $10.00, $25.00 and up tables. Also 6:5 blackjack is normally dealt from a single or double deck of cards and the rules are more restrictive or limiting. I prefer hand shuffled decks because during the shuffle I can step away from the table to smoke and stretch my legs. I do not torture my fellow players or the Dealer by blowing smoke in their face while playing. At this time of the morning there are usually two or more tables that would meet my needs, but not today. It is like shopping, when your favorite store does not have what you want you go to another store that might have the item you want. The Flamingo is part of Caesars Entertainment Group along with Bally’s, Paris, O’shas’s and Caesars Palace which all accept the Flamingo Connection card. So your play at any of these properties count towards your comps. Being a little hungry I walked over to O’shas’s as they have a small food court consisting of Burger King, Sub-Way, Baskin Robbins a Pizza place ,Chinese food and a doughnut shop and I wanted fast and cheap. O’shas’s only had 6:5 tables so I moved on. I had match play blackjack coupons for Imperial Palace next door so I went there only to find shuffling machines at every table. Moving on, I walked to Harrah’s to find 6:5 at all of their tables and shuffling machines. There seems to be an epidemic of bad blackjack games in Las Vegas. Determined to find a good game I decided to walk to the Frontier as I had three match play coupons for them and I wanted to sign up for their players card. Well they had shuffling machines too but I was a little warm and tired and needed a drink, so I played a little here to get a free coke and rest up. Since realizing I was a little tired and late in the afternoon, I thought it was best to head back towards the Flamingo in case I got pooped. Felt better after I got moving so I headed to Bally’s to check on playing conditions there and Paris next door. No luck as table rates had already gone up at both places. Went to the Boardwalk casino next only to find shuffling machines and bad karmas. They are going to tear down the Boardwalk later this year, maybe it is time. The Monte Carlo is next door and I do not have a players card for them. No bonus or fun book for signing up but they are part of The Mandalay Group (consisting of Mandalay bay, Luxor, Excalibur, Circus Circus and Slots a Fun). Played a little here in spite of their shuffling machines that I do not care for. Lost more than the price of the free coke and decided to move on. Walked over to the Aladdin and was handed a coupon for a free coffee mug. Checked out the tables, price too high and shuffling machines, moved on to pick up my free mug then leave for the Flamingo. Checked the tables one more time and decided to retire for the evening. Went to bed at 11:00p.m.
Monday
Awoke around 8:00 a.m. I showered, dressed and headed for the Java Coast coffee shop. Ordered two chocolate doughnuts and a small coffee, then proceeded outside. There are umbrella covered tables out front, so that you can people watch while eating breakfast and feeding the sparrows that are hopping around looking for crumbs. Breakfast now out of the way it’s time to check out the table conditions. I am in luck, conditions are favorable and I play here all day and half the night. The Lindy’s café was remodeled and renamed in November and now called Tropical Breeze. Seating was increased while the smoking section was cut down to 25% of what it was before. The colors are lighter and brighter and the staff has new uniforms that remind you of U.P.S. workers. Prices are up a couple of dollars higher than they were in September my last visit. Buggsy’s Deli was closed for the opening of Margaritaville and now has totally disappeared by walling off the serving line. I miss the deli they had good hamburgers and service.
Tuesday
Started out the same as the day before, with the exception of gaming conditions stated above. There was a smll convention of some sort in the hotel causing the table games to go up earlier than usual. Decided to go to Bally’s, in search of better conditions and it worked out this time. I found a table and played for 45 minutes before they raised the table minimum to $10.00. As I was playing before the rates went up they let me continue to play at the $5.00 rate for as long as I was playing, all new comers had to play at the higher rate. Now I can hear some one say what difference does $5.00 make? Here is an example of the difference at $5.00 I can play two spots (or two hands at a time) on the table for $10.00 each amounting to $20.00. When the price increases to $10.00, two spots now cost $40.00 not counting doubling down or splitting costs. A young man claiming to be a collage graduate in town for a convention tried to double down on a blackjack. I thought the Dealer showed great restraint by not asking him to leave or asking him where his sign was (Foxworthy). For the next ten hands this guy kept asking everyone for advice on how to play his hands and most of the time his hands and the dealers up card were the same as the hand before. I was relieved when he decided to go get something to eat. I continued to play two spots for another hour until the cards went bad. I went back to the Flamingo had lunch and against better judgment played at a $10.00 table and lost.
Wednesday
This is the last day of my trip. Ate the usual breakfast outside in a light sprinkle, the birds still needed to eat. Checked playing conditions in the casino and they were still at $10.00 minimums. Decided to go back up to the room and pack my bags. Since my flight out did not leave until 7:00p.m. I checked the luggage in with the Bellman and back to the main desk to check out of the Flamingo. The Monorail ran only one day on my last visit, so now is the time to go to Las Vegas Hilton. Bought an all day pass for $10.00 as I planned to visit several casinos today. I have not been to the Hilton since it was under new ownership and I wanted to sign up for a players card for future use. Got he card and hey they have $5.00 blackjack. Played a little and really enjoyed the game. Received a two for one coupon for the buffet when I signed up, but it expires in March and I was not hungry. Spotted a couple trying to figure out how to get a buffet comp out of the kiosk machine, so I gave them my two for one buffet coupon. Feels good to help others from time to time. On to the Monorail, next destination the Sahara casino. Upon entering the Sahara from the monorail station there is a booth with coupons for blackjack match play and a sign up bonus for new player club signups. Played here and liked it, had my first drink of the trip her and they have a great screwdriver. Won a little here but had more exploring to do. On the Monorail once again heading for the MGM Grand that is the end of the line for the monorail and would leave me in walking distance to the Tropicana. I signed up for a players card at the Tropicana received a free deck of cards and played and lost a little a here. On foot now walking back towards the Flamingo I decide to eat at McDonalds. It is 4:45 p.m. and I am walking up to the Aladdin and a guy at the door hands me yet another coupon for a coffee mug, I was in search of a restroom, so I multi tasked and left with my second mug for the trip. Arriving at the Flamingo, I give the bellman my receipt for my luggage and tip him $2.00 for luggage sitting. I walk 30 feet away and have the Doorman hail me a cab, $2.00 tip to him. Cab to the airport $12.75, I gave him $15.00 and he was happy. Stored all my no no’s in my checked bag (pocket knife and ball point pen) and proceeded to check in. Was fast and easy for a change. Took out and off all metal objects, placed in plastic bag to put in basket on top of shoes for security screeners, I remembered to take off my glasses this time so all went well. Drew gate c-24 this time but stayed around gate 18 which is closer to the smoking room. I had two hours to kill so I thought I would play the slots a little while. After running $20.00 through a slot machine I was thinking about moving to another machine when I lit a smoke without thinking where I was. I tucked my lit cigarette up my sleeve grabbed my carry on bag and briskly walked to the smoking room without incident. To prevent a repeat performance I did not play any more slots at the airport. My plane was delayed 30 minutes because of weather, the good news is after take off and achieved altitude as usual they took drink orders and I ordered a screwdriver for the vitamin c of course. Tried to pay for it but it was free this time for the delay.
Final Thoughts
Overall a good trip
I still have a lot to learn at blackjack
Vegas is still fun
On the Monorail platform there are free books with a coupon good for $5.00 at the Flamingo just turn in your expired monorail ticket and present players card to redeem.
Found this after I returned home.
I am keeping my monorail ticket for my next trip.
Luck to All

Richard <mstr_wonderful@yahoo.com> - Lubbock Texas    2278

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