I am (still) a graduate student (now for Ph.D. candidacy) so I pretty much low-roll the whole way through. But I intend keeping it that way long after the smoke that is academia clears. To me, gambling is a losing proposition so I won't try to offer it much more than it plans to offer me.
Just keeping that edge as I'd like to think. 
Anywho, I am writing this "trip report" sequel as a reflections piece, not so much as a narrative. I have finally taken enough trips and done enough adventures in my opinion to settle on some kernels I can take with me for the future.
This piece is in no way recommendations; just the things I see, I like, I feel, I know, I believe, etc. And it all culminates with this last trip from May 14-May 25.
A total of 11 nights spent in approximately 6 different hotels (mainly to determine which I liked best), costing $200 total
, utilizing only one Saturday comp (and the rest casino rates) with a gambling budget of about $2000 (saved over several months). In this trip I got a glimpse of of all the Strip casinos, downtown casinos, Boulder Highway casinos, Off strip casinos (west and east), Henderson casinos, Summerlin casinos, and Laughlin casinos.
Now I do stress glimpse. In many cases, I literally only glimpsed by walk by, walk-through, or drive-by. Many of the places were re-glimpsed such as downtown, Strip, and Boulder casinos which were more thoroughly walked-through in August of last year. This past trips adds to the foundations of my explorations. However, the combination of all my adventures were enough for me to make judgment of what I would revisit, redo, rethink.
This reflections piece is primarily about my last trip, yes, but it incorporates aspects of several other experiences.
The Joys of Casino Rates
1. As you all may know, I have finally made peace with casino rates.http://www.vegasmessageboard.com/for...t=finally+comp Yay me!
But this totally changed the dynamic of my trip. Feeling less obligated to play with anyone, I played less and only when, how, as long as I wanted to. Liberating indeed.
It also mightily protected my bankroll.Future Focused Play
2. However, knowing, after long last, that I like to play downtown and off-strip helps me to adjust and focus my play for once instead of spreading it everywhere (maybe comps will be in the cards after this settlement
). Some places are just not worth playing if it constantly is bad luck. Strictly Off-Striply
3. Remind me to play pretty much exclusively off-strip and downtown PLEASE.
If there is one thing I want to ingrain in my mind by simply writing this part is to stick to this goal. I simply do not feel the urge to pull out hundreds of dollars to play off-strip or downtown like I do on the Strip.
I never win $100 off-strip or downtown and leave without it (like I do on the Strip), no matter how much more I play. I am pretty disciplined about keeping the majority of a win ($100 is always a good win to me)....at least for the session. 
Zero-play "Comps"
4. I think I am going to use this website every time http://slotplaycoupons.com/ for Tropicana and Palms. Having $80 extra bucks in the beginning of the trip that felt like "free money" felt like a "comp" (though it costed $50 lol) as it was not apart of the bankroll. Must be a psychological thing. I won with them, so that's always nice!
I adore comps that I get with hotel deals, casino coupon books, and discount websites....*sigh* a zero-play comp. Something for "nothing".
Weather
5. My trip in May was drastically different from my trips in March and December not only because I stopped concerning myself with comps (freedom!) but also because it was super sunny every day. Sun is very therapeutic. Could you call me a sun worshipper?
My December trip particularly was rather cold. Staying off-strip during times like that just did not make sense. Just walking from IP to Harrahs was a blast of cold wind, balled hands, and squinting eyes. Freezing.
I stayed in December for about 7 days and in march for about 8 days and I was beginning to think that it was the length of time that was bad. No, it was the weather. I do not exactly want to take a long vacation in a cold-weather area. It defeats the purpose of vacation. I do not want to move around when it's cold
. When it's burning up, I like to be outside every second.And during my May trip, I did not miss a beat with the sun, getting up as early as 6am on several occasions--this made for extremely fruitful and fun-filled days. I especially love Vegas mornings...so sweet and delicate
lol. So if ever I take another Dec trip, which I hope to in the future, remind me to make it a shorty. Let the spring, summer, and early fall months be my long vacays.
I have to do at least one New Years Eve before I give up on December
...remember, adventure. 
New Home
6. Like I said in my trip report, Gold Coast looks like it will be the main contender to replace IP as my home casino. Beautiful rooms (that I have problems uploading
) and nice low limit tables with interesting side bets. Good enough food (half-off appetizers at TGIF in the evening, scrumptious desserts esp the pound cake at the buffet for an exceedingly low price, etc) and surrounded by 2 other beloved properties Palms and Rio (though each of them have a vibe I do not particularly enjoy and thus would be less interested in staying there).Stay and Play
7. Learning that staying and playing are two very distinct actions that each hotel fits into different categories for each. I.e., circus circus--would play but would not stay. And by the way, "play" just means visit in this case and explore amenities whether that be the casino or not. Actually playing in CC casino has not been good to me over 3 trips so I am pretty much done with that. IP-stay and play. Strat-stay (only comped) and not play.
Pool Off-Stripped
8. My favorite pool used to be Caesars pool until a bad experience last trip.
It still is a gorgeous pool but I like my pools quiet. So Rio officially replaced Caesars as my fav pool. I would go out of my way to use Rio pool.World Buffet
9. Rio, hands down, best buffet.
I have reiterated this on numerous occasions, posts, reports, etc. It can not be overemphasized. Well worth the expensive (for a buffet) prices. This last trip was a mini-tour of buffets.Rio will officially be my dining "experience"...for now.STEAK for Goodness Sake
10. With the mishap with Hooters and the good surprise at El Cortez Steakhouse, I am ready to take a tour of some steakhouses and other fine dining restaurants in future-future trips. Now that I am pretty settled with my dining choices--cheap eats and Rio buffet--I think I will be settled for awhile before fine dining becomes terrain I dare to explore.
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