Please ADD your own Las Vegas Trip Report. Date of Trip: January 17, 2006 to January 20, 2006 Hotel Stayed At: The Venetian Report by: DIP <dipyourwick@hotmail.com> From: Indianapolis

I'm one of those Vegas FREAKS you read about...

F.Y.I., this trip really doesn't have anything to do with saving money (although I don't like getting ripped-off,) but when I go to Vegas, clipping coupons is the last thing on my mind. Also, this is my first Trip Report, and I want to thank everyone who's posted reports in the past. They keep me fired-up for my next Vegas Trip while I suffer through the mid-west blues (Jan-March) each year.

Profile: Married guy with a GREAT wife and 2 kids (3, 7 years). Been going to Vegas 2 to 5 times a year since 1991. (Remember when Excalibur and MGM were NEW???) Low to Medium roller (bank usually 3 to 5+k, normally win or lose 3 to 10k.)

Most of this report is about my first night, with only a couple things about the rest of the trip...

First of all, this trip was a short one. We've gotten into the habit of going to Hawaii every year at Christmas, and have been stopping in Vegas for a few days prior to the 5+ hour flight to Oahu/Maui. We've found that there are often some really great slot tournaments during the mid to late December period, so it works out great.

For a long time, we were loyal to MGM, but in the last two years have been frustrated with their service and overall experience, which caused us to venture out to Bellagio, Caesars, and for this trip, Venetian. The last three years, we've stayed a couple times at Bellagio, and once at Caesars. EXCELLENT experience at both!!
But this time, no tournaments going on at either, and although I could've called our host at B or C, we decided to try Venetian- they sent us a 2 night free deal, and I didn't really know how much I felt like gambling this trip.

We really like Bellagio and Caesars, but I have to admit, this was probably one of our best trips in a long time. Obviously, (as you probably will guess,) I hit some really decent jackpots and winning streaks, so that automatically puts this trip at the top.

Normally, we go to Vegas in May, September, and December. This year we missed September, but with our business being really busy, I didn't even have time to do the customary daily countdown, or get psyched-up like I usually do. We've been to Vegas many times, and have brought many friends, family members, and employees to the oasis. I've had some of the most INCREDIBLE times, and it's funny, but our kids have been to Vegas more times than most people go during their life-time!! It's funny to hear our 3-year-old talk about going to Circus Circus to ride the rides (not Disney World...:), and we figured our 7 year-old has already been there about 20 times!

OK, for this trip...

DAY ONE:

We normally take ATA, but this time SW. (ATA's scheduling is getting confusing to us, too bad. We normally ALWAYS flew ATA.)

I have a pretty bad fear of flying, so our trips always start with me getting up early, finishing packing, and having my first cocktail. (Maybe I use the fear of flying thing as an excuse?) Wife's Dad took us to the airport, and we had a good flight to Vegas. I've heard how SW is a great airline, and I believe the reputation is accurate. The employees were (in general) very friendly and service-minded. Good Job Herb...

Cab to Venetian. For everyone who wants to know how to avoid the tunnel deal with the cabs, just simply tell them when you get in, "No tunnel please, I come here all the time and know my way around." I've never gotten burned this way. But, I've been here alot. Just act confident. If they think you know what you're talking about, they won't try to rip you off.

Into Venetian fast. Although I've been here alot, and have enjoyed the casino, I've never stayed here. We found it very easy to find our way around, but more on that later.

Here's a tip: I usually get decent VIP treatment at the MGM, Bellagio, and Caesars. Since I never stayed at Venetian, I figured I'd go to the VIP/Invited guest line anyway. Well, as I expected, they didn't even flinch, and I avoided a long line at the main check-in. I did have a 2-night free coupon, but as I've read in the Trip Reports, it seems like everyone gets these. No $20 trick, because, quite frankly, we don't care what our view is from the room.

In the check-in line, we met an incredible guy who was in Vegas for a Holocaust convention. He was one of the most positive people I've ever met. He showed my 7 year-old daughter his numbers on his arm. He made it through the Holocaust with his family and even met his future wife during this time. It's sick to think that some people are trying to say this stuff never happened.

We went to our room and, as usual, I quickly gathered a $grand, got "good-luck hugs" from my wife and daughters, and sprinted all the way down the hall, down the elevator, and into the casino to play progressive $1 VP 3-up. The jackpot was at $64,000. I've seen it higher, but this would still have been a GREAT hit on our way to Hawaii..

I hadn't smoked since August (I'm a "social smoker anyway, which means I usually smoke like a chimney in Vegas, at Riverboats, and when I'm REALLY stressed,) but found myself in front of the Davidoff's counter before unloading my first $300 into the VP machine.

Well, as I usually prefer to happen, I hit my first good hand within 5 minutes: 4 Aces on Double-Double Bonus poker for $800. (In May, I managed to hit a Royal in the first 20 minutes for 4 grand, but that's another story.) So now, having $1800, the pressure was off... HOWEVER, within about 45 minutes, THE PRESSURE WAS ON.. I was down to my last few bucks, and mentally prepared myself to do the gambler's walk of shame back to the room to justify why I needed more bank already. GREAT START, CRAPPY end of first quarter. (Do I even tell her "I had $1800, but now I need $500 more?" Or just put my hat in hand? Actually, about M, she's probably the greatest wife I could ever hope for (not only hot,) but she puts up with my bad habits. As I'm sure all of you know (who are married,) being single is great, but being married to a great woman is unreal. It's just not as easy to go to Crazy Horse or blow 10 grand without at least talking about it...hahah.

OK, so I get another round of "good-luck" hugs, and head back down to the casino. This time, I stop at the first bank of VP machines I see. Meet a really nice lady who's made Venetian her home casino. She intro'd me to her host, which was cool, because I usually end-up with a host, but everyone likes the best ones.

I start with 50 cent 5-play VP, triple-double bonus. I get carried away talking to my new friend, but quickly hit 4 aces plus kicker for 4000 credits ($2 GRAND since I was playing 50 cent.) Now I have my bank back, so I jump to $1 5-play VP, and I'm off to the races. I hit a couple $1250+ WG2's, and then my best hand shows up: 4 deuces + a kicker for $2000!!! Now you're saying, "Wait- you hit $2000 earlier with your 4 aces plus kicker," and you're right! But, as I had jumped to the machine next door to play while waiting my payout, I was brought back into focus by the attendant saying: "Mr Dip, congratulations on your $4000 win." To which I replied, "$4000? What?" Duh. I had hit a SECOND 4 deuces plus kicker for the second $2000 in the top left of the five-play. Don't look a gift-horse in the mouth, as Dad always said. It didn't take long for the attendant and supervisor to show-up (which is probably one of the best service oriented things I remember after hitting the most wg2's I'd ever hit in Vegas- they got their fast!!)

Now, I've hit some 6 and 7 thousand dollar jackpots, but this $4000 one was a really nice win (two surprises for 1/2 the money.)

Now, I had about five or six grand in my pocket (it's such a nice feeling having the extra bulge in your pants. haha.) Anyone who's ever had a 4 to 10k pile of hundreds in your right or left pants pocket knows what I mean.

Well, as everyone knows what's coming up next, the machine got cool (one or two more small wg2's,) and finally ice-cold.

I ended-up in the room with 5 grand more than I started with, and was really happy, cause it had been a while since I've been ahead after my first night. Proceeded to eat some tasty cold frech fries left over from my 3 year-olds' cheeseburger plate, and off to bed.

DAY TWO:

Up early, lost about $500 on Mega Bucks and some other crappy slot (slots are crappy, but that's only because I've never won at them...)

Did our customary trip to Circus Circus to let the kids go wild. Got side-tracked at the Fashion Mall. Wife and 3 year-old went there, while 7 year-old and I make our way to CC. I was starting to feel ill, so we only stayed for about one hour. By this time, we found a token machine that I figured out and we won about 500 or 1000 tickets really fast. Although, since I was sick, we had to leave before claiming the prize. Luckily, my 7 year-old understood. A) Either leave now or B) Get your token prize while the custodians come to pick up the mess left by your father. OK, choice A) (My daughter catches-on quickly.)

QUICKLY (thank God!!!) got a cab and back to V within 10 or 15 minutes. Hung-out in room until wife returned with a few new goods purchased. Sidebar: I'm lucky my wife is a frugal shopper. But we started with 3 almost-popping suitcases and returned with 7, plus 2 new carry-ons. Holy cow. You know you're in trouble when you have to rent TWO of the carts to get your luggage and carry-ons to the counter at the airport.

After wife returned, I started feeling better (Vegas does that to me,) and I proceeded to play the new video wheel of fortune machine. I've never played a penny machine, but this one had you up to $2.5 or $5 or whatever when you hit max spin. Not really sure what I was betting, but I dropped a couple hundred bucks in a VERY short time. It's a fun game anyway.

Back to room (I really wasn't feeling that good...)

DAY THREE:

Woke up early, feeling better. Ordered room service. Room service is almost an event by itself in Vegas. For those of you who don't like to order room service, give it a try. OK, so it costs $100, who cares? We GO ALL OUT! But it's worth it!! And if you play decently, you get this comped back anyway.

Wife didn't get enough of Fashion Mall yesterday, so, you guessed it, we're off to the Fashion Mall again today. It's Christmas season, so I don't mind shopping as much as usual. Actually, I enjoy it, as long as I know I can go to the Forum Shoppes, but I'd never been to the Fashion Mall. From what I saw, it's OK, but not nearly as good as Forum. But don't take my word on it, because I got sick again, so had to leave early! This time, I took our 3 year-old back to V, and we watched movies and ordered room service again.!

Well, by the time my wife got back again, (you guessed it,) I was feeling better and was ready to play. I still had a great bank, and this was my last night. Although my wife likes to play Carribean Stud and Roulette, she pretty-much let me play this trip, since it was short, and since she spent her time shopping.

I went downstairs and started back on my 3-play progressive. Up $1200 within 1/2 hour, and back down to even-bank in the second 1/2 hour. On to 50-play, triple-double VP. You know you're in trouble when you can't find A MACHINE to take your money. There were only 3 50-play machines in site, and none of them would take more than 1 Ben. Even the attendant (who insisted I try to feed 15 $20 dollar bills in) couldn't get more than 1 or 2 to work!) Well, the one machine I played at for a while drained me of about $500, so I finally gave-in and left.

Now it's around 8pm. I have to get up at like 6 AM for our flight to Oahu. So, in my semi-sober-sick mode, I'm saying to myself, "Self, you can REALLY only play for an hour or two, be happy you WON this trip, GO TO BED, and get up FEELING GOOD on your flight to Hawaii."

Well, this is Vegas, and they give you free drinks for a reason.
And, as I've learned in the past: sick gets better in direct porportion to the number of Chivas and Waters you drink... oh no....

....AND THEN I FOUND STAR WARS.

I'd read about the Star Wars slot machine earlier on the trip report. And for anyone in my demo range, let me tell you, THIS SLOT IS A BLAST! And I don't even like slots! I think it's a penny machine, but you play like $12 or $15 a hand MAX BET, and I played this machine until 2:30 AM!! (and it doesn't end there...:)

I went up, went down, and went sideways as I tried to line-up Luke, Leah, and Hans. Wow- I got the biggest thrill of my life when I'd win a $100 to $125 jackpot (in pennies or whatever.) And getting the Deathstar dual deal was a blast. Anyway, at around 2:30 am or closer to 3:00 am, I finally dragged myself off the machine and started toward the slot club to cash-in my points..... but...
they were closed.

The slot attendant directed me to high-limits to cash in, which I did. At this point, I'm REALLY tired, REALLY drunk, and REALLY nicotine buzzing on Player's Lights. But, OK, I'll go to high limits to get my money.

Cashed-out for around $100 in bonus money, and as I'm walking out of the high-limits area, you guessed it, a row of $5 VP machines were stalking me. I tried to resist, but those machines grabbed me by the seat, pulled me over, and demanded that I put in $25 just for "a last bang." This, after all, is my last 5 minutes of gambling in Vegas for several months. (Don't forget, every extra minute up at this point virtually guaranteed the hang-over of my life tomorrow morning, and would make waking-up more difficult than hitting the Mega Bucks.)

Well, I played that $25 for about 20 minutes! And at $25 per hand, that was quite an accomplishment of itself.!!.!!. Seriously! On a $25 bank roll, I kept hitting flushes, trips, and one or two full-houses! But finally, I HIT 4 SEVENS!! And at this point, I got my 8th and final WG2!! I played $200 more, and the machine went cold, so I FINALLY made the trek back to the room to catch a couple hours of sleep. It was 3:30am or close to 4:00 am by now.

As all of you Vegas junkies know, if you're drunk, saturated with nicotine, and just hit a WG2 jackpot, YOU CAN'T SIMPLY CLOSE YOUR EYES AND GO TO SLEEP....

But I still managed to get up in time for the plane. The awesome part was (unlike the MGM Grand,) Venetian liked my play and sent us on our way in one of their really nice limos. There's nothing better than seeing your 3 and 7 year-old having a blast in a limo.

Now I know this isn't supposed to be about the rest of our trip, but FYI, GO TO HAWAII. This is my 5th trip, and hope I can go about 100 times more.. Awesome!

I won $250 in VP at the airport leaving for Oahu, and won another $300 coming back!

That's pretty-much it.

Summaries:

Venetian: AWESOME! GREAT ROOM, awesome room service, and of course, winning over $9000 in wg2's (not counting the other jackpots in lower amounts,) was the highlight. Incredible room-service, friendly staff.
OK locale (I still miss the MGM end of the strip). EASY to navigate around (I sound like a web browser ad,) and VERY clean and "new." Our room ended-up overlooking the craines (didn't spell that right I'm sure,) that were building the new 3000 room wing that will make Venetian bigger than the MGM Grand. Hope they can manage! (Secretly, I still wish to buy one of the suites in the new MGM towers. Though my wife would probably shoot me for wanting to live within walking distance of the largest casino floor in the world..)

Fashion-Mall: My wife loved it. I only spent about an hour here. Seems OK. She wants me to add that it "has alot of anchor stores..."
Maybe I can get her to add a trip "shopping" report in the future.!!!hahah

WYNN: Wife stopped here. Her summary: "Very beautiful, looked like the Bellagio, that's all!"

Circus Circus: Fun for the kids, as usual. Reminds me of a small-town circus. Maybe that's the fun of it. You could literally wear a 4 day-old t-shirt with holes, stains, and smelly and you'd still fit right in. I can only say this because I'm FROM a small town with a 4 day-old, t-shirt with holes, stains, and smelly wearing demographics! DON'T LET YOUR KIDS OUT OF SITE. Not that this place is unsafe, but I'm EXTRA careful, especially in places where there are a zillion people and lots of chaos.

Missed events: WE ALWAYS go to Monte Carlo brew pub, The Grand Wok at MGM (incredible sushi), FAT TUESDAYS at MGM or Caesars, and the Bellagio buffet. We'd also planned on going to Ellis Island (I'm opening a brew pub next year with partners) but missed it, and we like to go to the Stratosphere for dinner. Not this time. In fact, all I'll remember from this trip two years from now will be a) room service, and b) many small and medium jackpots on VP. OK WITH ME!

Although we didn't have any friends accompany us on this trip, it was still excellent!!!!


Hope you enjoyed this report, keep'em coming. While I sit in my home office in Indiana in the middle of February, with 3 inches of sloshy gray snow outside, wondering what sunlight looks like, hoping to not have to put rock-salt out tomorrow, I'LL BE READING YOUR REPORTS AND ENVYING YOU FOR BEING ABLE TO VISIT THE MOST EXCITING PLACE ON EARTH!

Take CARE!

DIP

ps. In case no one's thought of this, why don't the "die-hard" Vegas Freaks unite, get organized, and charter a private jet for our excursions? What would a plane-full of Vegas Freaks be like?
JUST DON'T PUT US ON THE SAME PLANE HOME? Or maybe the winners could take one plane, and the losers could take all the various bank-rupted airlines on their own? Just a thought!!!!!! Good Luck!!



















DIP <dipyourwick@hotmail.com> - Indianapolis    2809

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