Tues
Apr 29
Classed ended. Like
forever.
After 22 years of
monotony, I am finally liberated.
In celebration of
entering the dissertation phase of my doctoral adventure, I embarked on a
journey to end all journeys.
Hard Rock
Walked in screaming
(in my mind), I wanna rock and roll all niiiiggghhht and party every day, I!
The rock
paraphernalia surrounding the inside of this place impressed even a non-rocker
like me.
And I got to see a
lot of it because the room was not ready until 4pm.
The 24/7 diner Mr.
Luckys blasted my senses with the corn-flakes encrusted French toast! Sent me
floating in (yes, I said in, not on) a cloud.
I would later try the steak special and it was just meh.
I would later try the steak special and it was just meh.
I threw $2 at the slots
in the casino, playing 1 or 10 cent bets and lasted for 30 minutes. THIS WAS
THE LIFE. I LOVE lasting for a long time on a little bit of money. Then the
casino REALLY becomes an arcade! I left there up $12 bucks.
Checked a nearby
7-eleven to grab a 15-day bus pass for $34 in order to save money and toured
the Alexis lofts (quite alright) and Rumor boutique (not my taste).
First Alexis..
Then Rumor....
Then came back to Hard Rock and took a tour of the classic casino, the fantastical pool and the phenomenal spa. Must come back to Hard Rock spa!!
First Alexis..
Then Rumor....
Then came back to Hard Rock and took a tour of the classic casino, the fantastical pool and the phenomenal spa. Must come back to Hard Rock spa!!
But nothing beat
the EPIC room. Whole freaking schmoly! It was hands down, the most
mind-blowing, pimpin room of life ever for the value. I paid $20 bucks (plus
$20 resort fee) for this!
Yes the universe
had blessings raining out of its ears.
It was HUMONGOUS
for a basic room. The beds were comfy and you could get lost in the covers like
a baby sleeping in a bed of pillows. The wall-art--radically good and musically
relevant.
Everything in the
room including the entertainment center, dining table, carpet and armchair…like
a BOSS. In fact, not just a BOSS, but like a BAWSE. As traditionally ladylike
as I am, I couldn’t resist feeling like a pimp.
Too bad the
bathroom was nothing to write home about, resembling a barebones Quad bathroom.
I would definitely come back to Hard Rock to stay if the price was right. If it
were not off the strip (which makes it difficult to go back and forth to the
strip at night), it would be a favorite.
Planet Hollywood
Had a show at
Planet Hollywood so I made the walk up Harmon to the strip. It was an alright
walk—not pleasant but not horrendous. Definitely tolerable…in the daytime,
precisely as I was instructed.
Two things I loved
about the walk though: (1) walking up to see the large Citycenter come into
view is awesome and surges my Vegas electricity after being off-strip and (2)
the entrance to Planet Hollywood theaters are right on that block, which makes
going to multiple shows easy from Hard Rock. Win.
Hitzville was an
awesome show with Motown hits and a vivacious, charming leading lady. Got it
through Groupon for $25.99. Certainly worth it.
Paris
Planned to catch up
with an old friend vegasnut. On the way to meeting with vegasnut, I was
accosted…I mean approached, by a TV preview rep. Not knowing anything about it,
I listened to the pitch…out of curiousity. They were to offer me $20 for
watching a 1-hour pilot. I thought, hey, I will be in Vegas for 3 weeks so an
extra $20 is helpful for a little play. Easy money. Easier than a slot. With no
risk.
I watched a boring
pilot inside Twin Peaks, rated it and got my MONEY!! Cha-ching. I did not know
I would set myself up for an addiction.
Running late to
meet vegasnut, I was so apologetic and flustered. We met at Paris Diamond
Lounge and began to chat and catch up. Like me, Vegas is paradise and
second-home to vegasnut. We laughed, chatted and had a great time.
But vegasnut was
not feeling well, having caught a cold (or something that makes you feel weak
and sick) on the final leg of the trip. Thus, vegasnut offered me a well-earned
MYVEGAS Cirque du Soleil KA ticket. Mixed emotions ensued.
OMG. I had dreamed
of this day for a long time. I wanted to go see KA for forever but I never got
around to it. But not only would I have to leave vegasnut, I would also leave
my friend with a cold…to use a hard-earned premium ticket to a high-end show. In
fact, the show had already started as we spoke, thus, I would have to cut the
meeting short. It was a tough decision.
But I would not
ever want that ticket to go to waste. We said warm goodbyes and made plans to
meet again the next day. KA, HERE I COME!!! Get better soon, vegasnut!
I walked so fast to
MGM like I was trying to keep up with a car. I made it 30 minutes late but I
got middle seats in the second most-expensive area. AHHHH!!
OMG, while it was
utterly confusing like most CDS, it was spell-binding and beautiful like others
as well. The music was also very haunting and soul-stirring, even more eerie
knowing someone had recently died performing the show. You could tell that the ending
was changed because they seemed to incorporate graphics instead of the actors
to do the final scene (but I am not sure of this).
Typically I am not
crazy about CDS, but I now have officially watched them all except Zumanity
(not too into the theme) and Zarkana. This is the first CDS I did not fall
asleep in except for MJONE. I was so
happy to have gotten the chance to attend! I so value and cherish that
experience.
Coming out of the
event, I saw another TV preview box from another company at MGM in the back
near the food court. They were offering $20 bucks as well. I jumped at the
chance! And within an hour, I had another $20, making a total $40 WIN for the
day! Without risk!! It was shaping up to be a fantastic trip!
While walking the
strip that evening, I ran into more TV preview reps from yet another company in
front of New York-New York that runs previews at Hard Rock café, they said
there were no spots for the night for my age group but more would open up
tomorrow morning at 9am….I nodded my head, and silently made plans for 9am.
Ventured into
Caesars Pure that night because I was on the guestlist (and was required to if
I was going to get onto any other guestlists) and simply strolled out after
lame song after lame old song.
Wed
Apr 30
New York New York
At 9am, I was
ready. On the strip. In front of NYNY. And no TV preview rep to be found.
Waited about 10
minutes and moved on.
Paris
I had a meeting
with vegasnut again—hooray!
On my way over to
Paris, I ran into a timeshare sales rep outside of Planet Hollywood. She
offered the world: $100 restaurant.com gift card, $50 VISA and 3 comped nights
for a future stay. And I thought, hey, why not?! I am here for 3 weeks. Good
money. And like that, I signed up for a future date for my first timeshare
presentation…in Vegas.
Mandalay Bay
Treated Vegasnut to
a quick meal and then off to Mandalay Bay.
Vegasnut had 2
shark reef tickets through MYVEGAS to use. I had been to the shark reef at
Mandalay before but I would visit again to hang out. Unfortunately, Vegasnut
was unimpressed with both the exhibits and the size of the whole thing.
Vegasnut expected WAYYYYY bigger sharks. I loved the Southeast Asian themed
environment—magical.
Excalibur
Off to Buca di
Beppo Italian restaurant. I adore this place and the portion sizes are huge. We
sat. But only I ate. Vegasnut had Cheesecake factory on the brain for later. I
had a complimentary ziti from a Buca di Beppo coupon. Fabulous!
Hard Rock
Took a stroll on
the strip to walk off the ziti, said goodbyes and I was back in my palace.
Threw another $10
bucks at the machines and it was gone in 5 minutes. Hey, no money lost. It was
only the winnings from the day prior, having put in two spare dollar bills
which is hardly considered going into my wallet. Went to the room to get
dressed for the pool.
The Hard Rock pool
really makes you feel like you are on an island resort vacation. It’s gorgeous.
It’s lovely. It’s large. It has a sand beach, an indoor section, a little
bridge, large pools, nice lounge chairs, nice landscaping, spas, a heated pool,
etc. It’s just….fabulous!
I relaxed. Yep, at
the pool, I just relaxed. And did it feel good.
Thurs
May 1
MGM Grand
Woke up early, hit
the gym at Hard Rock (which was small and cramped) and then left my pimpin’
room to go check into MGM Grand. 1 night earned through MYVEGAS (plus $28
resort fee). The taxi driver who had tried flirting with me left a smile on my
face (though I turned down his advances, he went about it in such a sweet way)
as I entered this expansive resort.
They also would not
allow me to check in until later. But those music videos behind the check in
desk were like…everything.
Jockey Club
Off to my first
Vegas timeshare presentation. It was about 2 hours. Excellent presenter. And I
learned that they have all the amenities of Cosmopolitan available to them,
which was a great perk. Gorgeous room. I already knew someone who had the
timeshare though, and I told them I already get comps in Vegas so there was
nothing better than free.
They kicked me out
with mega money to dine and shop with!
MGM Grand
I toured the
property and learned all its little crevices. I went to the pool to get a good
look at a pool I would not otherwise be able to see without staying at the
property.
The pool is
expansive like the resort. But like the resort, large and pretty boring. I
could not see myself lounging and really getting into the vibe of the pool area
for some reason. But for all intents and purposes, it had all the qualities of
a great pool including bridges, landscaping, nicely arranged, multiple
pools…even a lazy river.
Why is MGM such a nondescript
dud? The answer fails me.
I walked up to the
Wet Republic but they would not allow me in with much any contents in my purse
(other people in front of me had willingly dumped everything to be
confiscated), so even though I was on the guestlist, I decided not to go in. I
wanted my stuff. It would start a whole lot of failed attempts to get into dayclubs
this trip.
But there is no
bigger dud at MGM than its fitness center which is a ridiculously tiny sweatbox with low ceilings….in some hole somewhere in a
random section of a random floor. MGM, you have got to do better for a massive resort of your size.
So I went where I
could be saved.
TV previews.
They were running
everyday at this point it seemed from 9am-11pm. Since pilots were different
everyday, you could sign up for different pilots. That’s what I did. Another
$20 in the bag. UP $60 for the trip without feeding those critters. Victory.
Met another Vegas
solo who also happened to be addicted to TV previews (and she had also done
them last May as well) and we would meet up later.
Tried biegnets at
Emerils and I forced those burnt bad-boys down my throat because I didn’t
intend to throw away $9 for 3 tiny donut-like pastries. Would never return.
I might have thrown
about $10 at MGM slots here and there because MGM is not my winningest casino.
$10, all gone.
I didn’t get into
my room until later in the day and by then I was pooped, missing my guestlist
night at Hakassan. The room itself? An old west wing room. Nothing to right
home about. Bed was fairly comfortable but the space was just two small and the
window over the bed just a tad creepy. Cute little bathroom area though.
Fri
May 2
MGM Grand
More TV previews
anyone??! I was a drunken bastard of TV previews. I would check out this day so
I wanted one last hit at 9am. Annnnnnndddd…….$20 AGAIN. Wooot! I had not played
a single cent yet but this newly-discovered habit was hitting the spot. $80?
Yesssssss!
What else was MGM
good for?
Golden Gate
Headed off to 3
comped nights at Golden Gate, hoping off the deuce and walking down the downtown strip.
Used my $15 dining credit for a short stack of pancakes and to try the French toast (and save for late). The pancake mix seems to have been changed a bit so I am not as excited about it. But the French toast? Fantastic.
Used my $15 dining credit for a short stack of pancakes and to try the French toast (and save for late). The pancake mix seems to have been changed a bit so I am not as excited about it. But the French toast? Fantastic.
The waitress for my
area completely ignored me like I was not there for like 20 minutes before I
was served by a pregnant waitress who clearly was doing another section. The
place wasn’t even that busy! So I ended up tipping the preggie waitress $10
bucks, and the nice sweet Australian woman who sat near me (and had even told
ME if I had seen how the original waitress ignored me) refused to tip her
because of her bad service to me. Aww. Touching.
I took $20 bucks
and hit a blackjack table, won blackjack on my first hand with this really nice
dealer and I left! And she said “leaving already?” And I said “yes, I have
already got the best!” Smile! I was the happiest.
I proceeded to game
on slots for 4 hours. I used my $80 (from the TV previews) and GG’s $20 in
freeplay and came up with $400!!! I went to the Michael Jackson machine is just
kept hitting and hitting before it went cold (suit included). I would put in $5 bucks and hit $70 bucks in no
time flat from bonuses, betting 6
By the end, I had
cycled through $400 over 4 hours. That’s a fair player’s card rating
particularly because the time shows, however deceivingly, that I am an actual
“player”.
I was now up $400
dollars, having risked no money except Vegas’ own—YES! Victory was mine!
Las Vegas Club
Another BJ table.
$20 buy-in. While the dealer did not talk much, she smiled a lot. And I am all
for positive energy. Hit two blackjacks fairly quickly, got greedy and started
to bet $10 and $15 at a time. Then the money was gone and I started with
another $20, and that went away very quickly. The pit boss said “leaving
already?” And I replied “well, I have had my fun!”
Mermaids
A hot dog and fried
oreos! $2 bucks!
Onyx Theatre
Theatre, how I love
thee. Unfortunately the play The Telephone ($10.50 on goldstar) was quite
depressing of a sinister woman who talked through a phone as though she were
talking to an ex-lover that she wanted to seduce. Could not follow the plot,
having blanked out quite a bit. SNORE.
Sat
May 3
Golden Gate
I eat free pancakes
(hey, it’s free) at DuPars with a CG coupon.
Plaza
I start the day
winning $40 at plaza on a few low 10/15cent bet penny machines, using the $5
freeplay ACG coupon. Yay!
El Cortez
Using the $5 ACG
freeplay coupon, I proceed to lose all of my $5…as usual. Fun though.
Flamingo
Finding it for a
discounted $25 bucks, Legends in Concert was amazing, combining awesome stars
like Madonna, Tina Turner, Lady Gaga and Michael Jackson! I especially loved
the Tina Turner actress—what energy!
The Linq
WOW. All I can say
is wow. This place can transport you. It was tranquil, relaxing. It’s very
clean, well-organized, and everything catches my attention even though I did
not necessarily think I would like it based on the vendors. A Ghiradelli chocolate-covered
strawberry made my afternoon, so fresh, so sweet…at $10, it had to move heaven
and earth. It would be my last time, so I had to enjoy it. A very moist red
velvet cupcake for about $5 across the way at Sprinkles made me aware that Linq
would definitely receive a repeat visit in the future.
Honestly, I will
not lie: the High Roller is stunning up-close. But the price is just as
stunning…in not quite as good a way. I’ll pass.
MGM Grand
The itch needed to
be scratched. What did you expect? Previews! Another $20. All I did was win.
And I met up with
the Vegas solo, who also participated and received another bonus herself.
We hung out in the
casino and near the arena, talking and people-watching during the Mayweather
fight. Well-dressed folks. What crowds. She would meet up with a cousin to go
clubbing that night but I would go home and enjoy a nice rest in the cozy 1920s
apartment-like rooms of Golden Gate.
Sun
May 4
Planet Hollywood
After checking out
souvenoir shops for mini-calendars near Golden Gate, I headed to Planet
Hollywood, where the other Vegas solo told me there was more….guess what??!
Previews!!
This one included
TV previews, deodorant smell-testers, soap samples, etc. However, each paid a
lot less like $5-10 and they did not pay cash but check. The TV previews were
also a lot shorter. So I reviewed a deodorant for a $5 check! And I watched a
30-minute pilot preview for a $10 check and I left.
That felt like a
lot of work $15 bucks in 2 different checks. Sheesh. Well-earned though.
Well-earned.
I was having a
freaking blast. It was WAYYY BETTER than playing slots. Guaranteed win. I was
in Vegas…working for my money.
Ballys
I checked out
Ballys in the Avenue Shoppes for yet another set of previews that the other
Vegas solo had said was being advertised. But I found no sales rep around so I
left.
M&M Soul Food
To meet up with my
fellow Vegas Solo, I took the bus to M&M Soul food restaurant, reportedly
the best soul food in Vegas. OMG. I loved the oxtails, mac and cheese,
cornbread pancakes (complimentary appetizers), candied yams, chicken and
waffles, mashed potatoes, bbq chicken leg, etc! I would return here 3 times
during this trip to try all these things, utilizing my $100 dining gift card!!
We sampled the food
and were in heaven, with leftovers. If it weren’t so far out, it would be my
new favorite.
(formerly)LVH
Currently, the
number one show in town, Raiding the Rock Vault earns its honor. Though I am
not a rock fan, the visuals, creativity, thought-provoking themes, energy,
performance quality, singing talent, engagement and pure magic make a really
great show. It is certainly NOT the best show I have ever seen in Vegas but it
was without a doubt well-done and far more engaging and original than many other
Vegas shows. I paid $27 bucks for it on Groupon.
Mon
May 5
Cosmopolitan
I soaked up every
moment. Every inch. Every step I took in this big crystal of a resort would be
inhaled deeply. Because I. Yes I. Yes me. The me that is I. Received 2 comped
nights (no resort fees but $30 per night upgrade fees) at the Cosmopolitan.
It only takes a
cursory glance at the rates for the night to know what value this little itty
bitty minion of a roller was receiving in the way of $400 per night.
I had left Golden
Gate by now. Onto, literally, bigger and better things.
What a switch it
was. But you know me, I value you things for the “feel” and for the “deal”, not
necessarily for what typically makes others squeal….like features and gadgets,
gourmet dining, rich bedding, etc….the bottom line is the bottom line and whether I feel fine. Considering it was
free, it was a GREAT deal! But I would never pay $400 per night for this. Not
ever. Maybe compared to other hotels in its class, it’s reasonably priced but
for the value I look for, it’s not there. It doesn’t feel superiorly fine and
magical. If I had it, I would pay $400 for Wynn. But I wouldn’t do the same for
Cosmo even if I had it in abundance.
Nevertheless, it IS
a nice room. A very nice one. I received a terrace queen with a huge bathroom
and a magical tub (for which to soak in), a kitchenette, nice soft beds, a HUGE
balcony with a LARGE comfy chair and EPIC views of the Bellagio fountains. It
makes me feel alright though. Maybe I am just not a fan of the color scheme.
Different colors can provide different moods.
First things first.
I toured the length and breadth of Cosmo, looking through the buffet, pools,
spa, bars, casino, etc. The buffet must
have been $50 that night. It seemed about the same fare as Bacchanal when
looking at the food but a much smaller place.
All the pools,
except the dayclub, on my side of the resort was closed due to wind but there
did not seem like there was much to see. After staying in Cosmo, I realized how
truly small the Cosmo casino felt compared to other casinos. The expansion of
Bond was VERY nice touch and it surely enlivened the feel of the casino.
I used $200 of my
winnings to play, moving throughout the casino and just losing and losing. What
a losing casino. I played for about 1.5 hours before I decided to abort
mission. Nothing was even fun.
Not enough play for
another comp but there was no way I could play to the level they probably
require even if it weren’t such a losing casino. Worth a shot.
Aria
I used a MYVEGAS
lunch buffet reward and the buffet was cool but I wouldn’t pay.
I have never been
too fond of Aria but it is basically alright. I only generally look forward to
their SPA one day! I had no intention of playing although I wanted to get rated
here to see how much they would offer.
I went downstairs
and played slots for a bit. I put in $20 bucks in this dragon-looking slot in
the front. I wanted to be a bad girl. So I play $2.75 bet, which is high for
me. My money dwindled until it was almost gone, before I hit a bonus. The
Chinese music with loud drums that it played with the dragon moving about
really made me happy. And it was all worth it because I hit $137 right there.
Then I played the
haunted house new slots (the one that looks like the 70s party) as well as that
bug slot machine and I was doing very good at recycling the money. I would put
in $5 bucks at a time and come up with $10. Put in another $5 and come up with
$10. I moved on when the recycling slowed. Nothing to see here.
Then I moved
through the middle of the slot floor. I sat down at a 2 cents machine that said it
could give like 420 free spins or something. It was also a dragon-like
machine. And do you know what?
I HIT for 111 free
spins. Then, I HIT for 13 more free spins while the other spins were taking
place. I hit so many more free spins. For a total of about 200 free spins!! Having only bet $0.80 cents, I came out of there with $400 bucks.
This was turning
out to be one my very best slot performances in the history of my play. I
played a few more slots to keep me busy and it steadily dwindled. I was still
up from before. But given my ups and downs thus far, I was only up $500 total
for the trip.
But THAT was given
that I had YET to dip into my own pocket for money!!! What a rush. For a
frugalista like me, THIS was heaven.
I had only
initially used $80 for this slot session. By the end of my session, I had put
through $1000 in 3 hours. Let’s see if Aria registers that at all as something.
Cosmopolitan
I enjoyed lazing in
the room. Using the HUGE tub with JETS. Watching the Bellagio fountains through
the evening from on high.
Mirage
While I would treat
the other Vegas solo to my winnings from my timeshare presentation by dining on
my restaurant.com gift card, she also shared her winnings from her timeshare
presentation with me! She received 2 free tickets to Mystere!! This was her
last night…I had many more!!!
I had watched
Mystere before and had fallen asleep several times during the show. This time,
upon entry, we were directed to the FRONT ROW.
Especially with
regard to Cirque du Soleil, I couldn’t have been luckier this trip!!! I really gained a better appreciation for the
show sitting in the front. The visuals were more forceful especially the HUGE
thingy that comes out in the end. The baby antics, more touching. So happy.
Tues
May 6
Cosmopolitan
Started off in the
gym today. 3 miler. It was a fair gym, nice size, fairly dark colors.
Soaking tub! Pool
still closed. I mentally wanted to try the Marquee Dayclub since I was on the
guestlist but it was all the way on the other side of the resort and I just
wanted to make use of lounging in the room. Relaxing. Doing nothing. I watch
the Wolf on Wall Street for the first time and that was a great movie—worth the
$15.
Went to Marquee
nightclub in the evening, got checked in through the guestlist. The club was
just alright. I LOVED the pool area of the nightclub. Awesome touch. But the
actual nightclub was too dungeon feeling with blacks and reds reminiscent of
LAX at Luxor.
The music was also
putting me to sleep. Worse yet, typically I can fade into the background at a
club but this club made me stick out like a sore thumb, like a solo that
everyone had to take pity on and look onto incredulously like why? Whyyy?
I shrugged and
moved on back to lounging in the room for the night.
Wed
May 7
Riviera
After another
unsuccessful mental attempt to go to marquee dayclub, and rather a morning of
pure soaking (pure heaven) until check out from Cosmopolitan, I checked into
Riviera.
Yeah, another awkward…and may I say downward switch. The line was rudely long. I was blessed to have found Riviera for $19 bucks a night (plus $15 resort fee) for the next 4 days including a weekend. But I really wanted to love Riviera. Somehow I just didn't.
So I asked for a purple classic room, but they gave me an orange classic room and I had to endure moody colors (i.e., colors I don’t like but the tannish green carpet made it better) for another few days. But I was too tired from the back and forth to protest. The room reminded me of palace station. It’s not a room I would choose again, but if I was ever in a bind because of high rates but I just absolutely needed to go to Vegas, I would stay at Riviera if the price was right.
Stratosphere
I shopped for
souvenirs at the nearby Bonanza store but found nothing of interest.
Circus Circus
I walked through
the high-energy arcade and found my way to the awesome free circus acts.
I shopped around
the nearby Ross but found nothing of interest.
Nigerian Cuisine
I went off-strip to
a Nigerian restaurant to use my restaurant.com gift card (needed to use $50 for $25 off). Sampled some dishes
and had leftovers. Mmmmm yummy.
Redemption.
MGM Grand
I came back! For
more…previews! But I had learned that they were no longer giving out cash for
the previews but small gift cards for things I didn’t need…eventually during
the trip, the previews would warrant neither cash nor a gift card.
But, rather, a
participant in the review would simply be GLAD to participate in an EXPERIENCE
of getting the CHANCE to see a pilot before it is aired and be the exclusive
lucky ones to review it before the entire world gets access! Well, I was glad I
arrived early for the train before it took off! This successfully ended my
addiction.
Riviera
I played $100
through the machines and at first I was hitting big with a Willy Wonka machine
in the back, which I was loving because the music lulled me like a little baby!
I would put in $20, play 60 cents and win $60-80 bucks. This happened twice.
Nice bonuses. I moved over to the Walking Dead machine. Put in $20 and got out
$50. I was doing fine until I decided to
stay and put in some hours for some comps. Before an hour was up, I finished my
initial investment. I had also missed going to the comedy show for the night in
order to play for comps, so I was a little annoyed. I did not want to play
further.
I used the $1
massage chairs near the pinball machines and arcade to calm me down. This chair
does a SERIOUS massage.
I went to the
Riviera gym to burn off the annoyance only to walk directly into the 1980s.
Wow, that fitness center is a time machine.
Thurs
May 8
Riviera
I woke up and hit
the pool. My window faced the pool and the music coming from the pool got me
excited and pumped about being in Vegas!
And while it is a
simple single pool, almost the size and shape of a lap pool, it was just fun to
lounge out there. Not sure why I really liked this pool even though it had an
uninteresting resume relative to other Vegas pools. But I do. I spent several
hours just reading pooling, lounging and reading my book Eat, Pray, love.
That evening I
watched the Riv comedy show for free through the ACG coupon. There were
recycled comedians for the second time in the history of me watching these
numerous comedy shows. The comedians were still funny butt I prefer to not
watch a rerun.
Cosmopolitan
Back to Cosmo this
evening for a rendezvous with Rose.Rabbit.Lie, the mysterious nightclub with
shows called “cantos”. The entrance did feel like a little virtual reality I had to admit.
The prices in the bar section of RRL were alarming. I believe I paid $15 for a Shirley Temple. I am not sure what real drinkers were paying.
The little intermittent skits were just wacky, a lil lame, very quirky, overly sexual for no reason at all (sexuality just for sex sake) and yet charming in its lameness.
The prices in the bar section of RRL were alarming. I believe I paid $15 for a Shirley Temple. I am not sure what real drinkers were paying.
The little intermittent skits were just wacky, a lil lame, very quirky, overly sexual for no reason at all (sexuality just for sex sake) and yet charming in its lameness.
Nevertheless the
cantos were standout shows. I was on the guestlist that night. However there
was no seating except for people who pay premium rates. That was lame.
The beatboxing
host, tap dancers and contortionist were PHENOMENAL, and because of them, I
intended to visit RRL again. However, I learned that they have closed now,
which sucks because I ADORED the speakeasy vibe. I sooooo felt 2014 meets 1940s
in a very GOOD way.
The transition from
the show to the club was awkward though, with people not knowing what to do.
But once people got on the dance floor, it was just a wonderful energy and the
music was not so bad. It’s too bad.
Fri
May 9
Riviera
More pooling.
Ordered Pizza hut to the room. Missed going to Encore Beach Club because the
promoter suddenly wanted to be a Grade-A douche.
I text him, “So I
am on the guestlist for today?” And he responds “who is this?” and when I don’t
respond for 2 seconds, he calls and asks “who is this?” with a really gruffy,
scary voice. And I respond, “no one don’t worry about it” and I hang up.
Then he proceeds to
call me twenty more times and I respond gently but I do not reveal my identity
because he gets really aggressive.
Mind you, this is
the same promotor who was a SWEET gentleman during my horrible Surrender
nightclub experience last December, who made that night so much better by being
nice and kind to me.
This behavior was
totally unexpected, and I was not willing to give up my identity or SHOW UP at
Encore Beach Club and even accidentally run into this new character. After all
the aggression, he then texts me to come to his BBQ at his house this evening.
Whoa. So not going.
The dangerous
situations of being a female solo.
Another failed
attempt to go to a dayclub this trip. It just did not happen for me. This was
supposed to be my first trip to go to a dayclub, and I had signed up to all the
hot guestlists inclusing Light, Wet Republic, EBC, and Marquee and had not gone
to any for one reason or another.
Mirage
I went to see Boyz
II men for the 4th time (but this time I paid regular price of $60
bucks instead of getting it for free…that’s how important it was to me) and it
was just as magical now as it was the first time!
Palazzo
Grabbed some
nighttime gelato! This is how I get drunk! I strolled around Palazzo and
Venetian to soak it all in because these two properties provide me a different
quality of life.
Paris
Being on the
Chateau guestlist, I found a new nightclub to love. Partying under the (fake)
Eiffel is epic especially because the music is soooooo good (Now I would be
partying under the fake Eiffel but in just a few weeks I would be under the
real Eiffel. I soaked up every moment).
What great ambiance
with a Parisian garden theme. Very classy setting.
Apart from lounges
like heart bar and cleopatra’s barge, as well as XS nightclub, this is a major
nightclub with music that fits my needs. It is difficult to hide in a club like
this because the LIGHTS are always on, and I was definitely NOTED for being by
myself.
One guy who came up
to me asked me why I am by myself! But I was enjoying the music so much in my
little space that it didn’t bother me at all.
For the first time
in my history with Vegas nightclubs, I stayed from the beginning (10pm) to the
end (3am). I ended up dancing with that guy who asked me why I was by myself,
we chatted and he generally just kinda “protected” me on the dance floor that
night. Cool guy, a gentleman, from Atlanta. Well greetings to one another and
parted. It was a nice, classy evening under the eiffel.
Planet Hollywood
I strolled through
and lounged out at the Heart Bar for a few minutes to hear some music and soak
in the energy (Heart Bar closes at 5am) but the music was eh, so I took it down
for the night.
Sat
May 10
Las Vegas Little Theatre
I watched Desert
Cities ($21) and the winning play of the New Works competition ($14). Desert
cities had poor acting except the glamorous mother. The New Works winner was
particularly original of a mother who unknowingly invites all of the gay lovers
of her late son and his girlfriend.
Of course, craziness and hilarity ensues.
Caesars
Split between
Cleopatra’s barge and Heart Bar tonight but the music was uninteresting.
Sun
May 11
Quad
Check out of
Riviera and check in of Quad was uneventful. Except I learned that Quad now has
an incidental deposit, which surely ends the no deposit hotels I used to love.
I also learned that for the first time ever, I would have access to the “great”
Flamingo pool during the summer because the Quad pool was closed for
renovations. Yay!
But being at Quad
like always gave me a feeling of home. Of lightness. Joy. And magic. It would
never be Imperial palace again but there is something about the energy of the
property that takes my soul in its hands and lifts it up to the heavens.
I received a
2-queen deluxe room with a view by choice and was awakened to the noisy but
vegas-energy-filled Carnaval Court down below every day. Beyond blessed to stay
in this cozy, perfect-mix-of-soothing-colors room for 5 days (a friend of mine
got me a diamond rate of $10 per night (plus $20 resort fee)! Yes, yes, yes!) .
My soul stirred.
Contrary to popular
opinion, the room means exactly everything to me. In fact, the room itself is
both an adventure and a vacation all on its own. The experience of the room has
the capacity to affect my entire trip at that moment, clouding my vision with
distaste for my nighttime retreat.
I went downstairs
to the events desk and picked up some strip coupon, as my usual routine.
Flamingo
I would spend 3
hours at this pool. It was very pretty but I would not see it was beautiful
because the tropical landscaping here looks just a tad tacky, no offense. I am
not against tacky at all but it doesn’t give me the aaahhhh! I am in paradise
feeling. It gives me the wow, I am a rather enlarged Quad pool.
It was packed.
Seats were hard to find. But I got lucky. I lounged in the sun and read my Eat,
Pray, Love book, which by was blessing my socks off. It was about a woman’s
journey to find herself after a marital breakup by traveling to different
countries all over the world including Italy, which I would be in in only a few
weeks. I shuddered at how lucky I was.
The very best
section of the Flamingo pools for me are the little spa areas secluded in the
back. The secluded spa areas is something that Caesars does right. Here, I
could feel the feeling of ahhhhh yessss. I left myself feel that for 3 hours.
Cockroach Theatre
I discovered a new
theatre! I had a 2 o’clock show to watch Lyons ($18), which is a dark drama
about a sick father and neurotic children. Besides the fact that I just love
plays the most out of any other form of entertainment, I love the fact that
Vegas plays are reasonably priced unlike many shows in Vegas these days.
I had walked from
Stratosphere to just before downtown area, which feels very unsafe and yet so
isolated that it feels safe, to get here. The street of Stratosphere feels like
you are strolling down the 1970s. I almost feel like an extra long, shiny,
brand-new Cadillac is going to come riding by. I was super excited to find the
theater but the show really went over my head.
Ellis Island
BBQ at EI, using my
50% off LVA coupon, wasn’t as good as it typically is, with the meat not being
tender but rather tasting like tough meat that was soaked in water just to “seem”
juicy. I am very sensitive to taste, and no matter how much I like a product, I
do notice when it changes.
This is now the
second time that both of my favs, EI and DuPars, have changed the quality of
their product. I will give each of them another shot on a future trip. But if
it happens again (a third time), that makes it a trend.
Wynn
On the guestlist
for XS, I entered into a jam-packed surreal reality. BEAUTIFUL people. I mean
BEAUTIFUL people. And well-dressed if I might add. The people-watching only
matched the superb music for the night.
Of course the ambiance
and setting is unmatched by any—it feels like a French Polynesian/Hawaiian/Southeast
Asian atmosphere with class and with style, but with an epic party energy.
I could easily
blend in as a solo because it was so packed. I squeezed into the dance floor
and pranced around, living life and absorbing all that energy! AHHHHHH, it was
epic.
Mon
May 12
Gold Coast
Ate a $6 breakfast
buffet. I used points to cover it. It was just as yummy as always with the
pound cake, french toast and bacon. The strawberry cheesecake soft-serve ice
cream was gone though. Pout.
Palms
I toured Palms pool
just to check out one my fav pools and then I watched the movie Haunted House 2
(very funny but not hilarious like the first one, and increasingly too sexual) because
it was $5 Mondays!
Planet Hollywood
I watched Marc
Savard for the umpteenth time with my $5 coupon, and it is the best comedy
hypnosis in my opinion. Every show is different and it still makes me laugh
uproariously. After the show, I got nearby frozen yogurt to get drunk as per
usual.
Quad
Back to Quad, I
low-rolled the night away with $100. I put in $5 into a few machines, getting
nothing back. Then I headed to the elevator section of slots and had a good run
on Michael Jackson as well as Cheers machines.
I hopped the bank
of MJ machines. I would put in $5 bucks and bet $1.20 and I ran up to $200 with
2 different bonuses. I LOVED this machine this trip! There is always one kind
of machine that’s just hot for you any given trip.
Then I would hop to
another slot in the bank and I would put in $5 bucks and BAM another $100 bonus!!
I walked away for the machines up $300 bucks.
Then I hopped over
to the Cheers machines and I LOVED the bonuses on this machine. There were so
many levels to them. I would put in $5, bet 30 cents, and get out $40. I did
this twice. Before I hopped the bank of slots and put in $5 and got $20 in a
bonus. Fair game.
I used this game to
get the most bang for my buck out of this place, recycling as much money
through these machines as possible to get a good rating. I cycled through $1000
in 4 hours by the end of the night. And I left up $300. That is extremely good
for having started with only $100.
Tues
May 13
Tropicana Cinemas
$1 Tuesdays for
movies! I finally got to see Frozen and it made my heart smile.
Planet Hollywood
I used my $10 off
LVA coupon and some points to make my Spice Market buffet lunch price $6 bucks
(down from $24.99)!! Yes, score!! It was a lovely, filling meal as always.
This reminds me of
how many times I have used points and coupons to eat at Bellagio buffet for
free, Bacchanal buffet for $10, Rio buffet for $8, Aria buffet for free and
Wynn buffet for free. This low-roller was on a rollllllllll.
Quad
I had a relaxing
evening at Quad, using the $1 massage chairs near the monorail (there are also
some near the Divas theatre).
Harrahs
I stood and watched
some music at Carnaval Court while taking in the energy of the night on the
strip. Perfect.
Quad
I wanted to
solidify my ratings for another night. I used the free $10 reel reward in the
booklet given at check in and used their $10. I also added $80 of my own
dollars.
The MJ slots were
not hitting anymore but the elevator section still allowed me to stay in the
game and get a rating for $1000 cycled through AGAIN in 4 hours.
Though I completely
lost my initial investment in this session, I was soooo happy to have done it
again with so little!
The Buffalo
machines near Fat Tuesday really killed me. They FEEL like such fun games
because each second they are always screaming BUFFALO!!! With a huge stampede
of buffalo running down the screen which peaks your heart rate (they are
banking on this psychological experience).
But I won TWO major
bonues with $1.20 bets and won
absolutely nothing the first time and won $10 the second time. YIKES! Money
(for the session) gone.
Wed
May 14
Quad
Here’s a curve
ball. I spent the day relaxing in the room. What is a vacation for if you can’t
relax right? It was purely heavenly.
I would need these
relaxing hours to rejuvenate after a hairy semester and pump up my energy to take
over the world in Europe in just days to come.
Gold Coast
Left the room to go
to Gold Coast around midnight. I was rearing to go after a day of complete
relaxation.
I used $40 bucks to
play Blackjack with the sweetest dealer. I used my $5 matchplay ACG coupon.
After $20 were gone in the first 5 minutes, I still played with her because she
was so nice. You see, I am also a fan of positive energy not only from a place
but also from my dealers. As long as I attract positive energy, it
does not matter as much how the tides flowed.
So I dropped down
another $20 bucks and BAM! Another loss. Well it was nice laughing and joking
with her. I was losing but I was HAVING FUN. Not sure of you, but THIS is part
of the “entertainment” that is the casino, and I will take it to the bank. And
cash it.
I cycled through
$400 in 3 hours, because I wanted to use my 200 points for 1 buffet ACG coupon.
I used $60 and played $0.15 cents per spin on this older panda slot machine
near the buffet for several hours. It cycled through for several hours before
it dwindled because of several bonuses.
Thurs
May 15
Rio
Checked out the Rio
pool and used my $10 reel rewards (and expectedly lost in a few minutes as
usual) for the coupon booklet at check in.
Gold Coast
Got my free buffet
and it was tasty!
Riviera
Saw another free
comedy show through ACG coupon. Different acts, good laughs.
Quad
Stopped by to watch
dealertainers! The energy walking through Harrahs to get there was electric.
Fri
May 16
Quad
After having seen
Quad’s old-school gym, I decided to take a walk up and down the strip for
exercise before I checked out.
OMG. I adore Vegas
mornings. Taking in the joggers, the
rising sun, the beautiful emptiness and simultaneously splendor of the Bellagio
fountains, the majesty of Caesars, the ongoing construction of the lovely
Cromwell, ahhhhhh.
Vegas mornings have
a completely different energy: awe-inspiring serenity…anticipating coming exhilaration.
What a way to start your day.
Tropicana
Checked in; got it
for $59/night (plus $20 resort fee) on hotwire secret rates—it is well-worth
what I paid especially for a weekend, even though it’s so much more than I like
to pay.
Trop is a beautiful
property, head to foot—very Miami beach. But I just was not “feeling” it. The
casino is alive (despite many people…so I am talking about energy of the room,
not the people) and enlivening (beautiful autumn-colored carpets with white
walls).
But the bedroom was
cold and hollow despite excellent attempts for warmth and a tropical vacation
feel.
It had a nice,
large faux palm-like plant with a long lounge chair, firm beds, with soothing
white, dark orange and tan colors. The wall-art—fabulous. The bathroom—well-appointed.
Why then couldn’t I
get into what should be my favorite room…ever (I love tropical settings)? I found myself preferring the look and feel of
a Hooters room (also tropical) over Tropicana. My taste is so specific even I
can’t describe it….what matters is the energy but energy is amorphous.
The Tropicana pool
is PERFECT for solos or groups of females who may enter. It continues the Miami
beach feel. It’s surrounded by wedding photo op settings. Everything “feels”
white and tranquil but the music is GREAT. There are large boulders with
waterfalls and just a chill vibe.
With white grounds
and white furniture it adds to the peaceful and fun energy. Unlike other pools,
this one has an indoor section with a green lawn with multiple large
comfortable couches available for people to lounge, large TV screens for sports
and other things, and a large hot tub with indoor entry to indoor sections of
the outdoor pool. There are also multiple spa areas in the outdoor pool and table games. It’s
not jam-packed so you can have a few options for seating.
I would use the
beautiful, though reasonably sized, new-equipment gym later and it overlooks
this gorgeous pool.
Though Hard Rock
feels more like an island and Rio has a heated pool and secluded spa areas, Tropicana
is in the running for my favorite pool.
As you can tell, I
love pools the way I love rooms. It’s as much a part of the experience as it is
THE experience.
I spent several
hours hopping between the couches, the indoor hot tub and the indoor section of
the pool!!
Mandalay Bay
That night I
entered what would be 1 of seemingly 4 lines that it takes just to make it to
the actual Light club door.
I really had to
force myself. It just becomes a drag when clubs don’t play the music that used
to make you REALLY dance like early 2000s hip hop. But I HAD to see Light to
check the hype!
But, after
guestlist lines, entering Light was an experience. This felt like the quintessential
electronic music experience. The light lasers showed in different colors and in
different directions at different times and seemed to pulse with the music in a
jet black canvass of a room.
Even though I am
not a huge fan of the music, I felt like, here, I could appreciate it better. I
didn’t dance; I pulsated with the music. You could feel the music rock your
soul, penetrate your body. The Cirque du Soleil pole dancers do a fine job of
threading the line between art and sex.
Tropicana
I came back and
played $50 on the slots near the ticket booth. My favorite bank of lucky
machines near the food court had all but disappeared so I tried this other
section.
I hit for $80 on a
china-mystery-like machine and proceeded to lose it having a little too much
fun on Michael Jackson and Munsters machines. By the time I was done, the money
was all gone.
It sucked. But I
looked on the bright side: I more or less did not have to dip into my own
pocket yet. I was still about $300 up. And even better, I had used Vegas money
to hit up every single casino I had hoped to play and get rated on including
Aria, Gold Coast, Cosmopolitan, Golden Gate, Quad, now Tropicana, and Riviera.
Sat
May 17
Tropicana
Hit the pool and
gym again. Lovely.
Watched Mamma Mia,
which costed me $65….so not worth it. It was the worst musical---worst plot,
worst acting, worst singing, worst wardrobe, worst setting, worst execution—ever.
I have never ever
seen a musical so bad in my entire life, not even close. Ok….I lied. Fantastiks
might have been worse.
Very few people
stood up at the end. It was the first musical I had paid full price for that I
walked out of early…in fact, the solo guy sitting next to me left before the
second act. There is no wonder it’s leaving.
Sun
May 18
Luxor
Check in. Paid $60
per night (plus $20 resort fees) for Luxor accidentally through hotwire secret
rates. I thought they had been additional nights at Tropicana. At first, I was
down in the dumps, but Luxor ended up being a best-kept secret.
I entered through
the “other” door on the Tower room side and with the $20 trick that I seldom use,
I was able to upgrade from a basic room to a Tower room (they even let me check
in early…as early as 9am). Excellent upgrade because they have a rather large
soaking tub, which mimicked my relaxing spa-like experience at Cosmo not too
many days ago.
The room’s blue,
mahogany brown and golden colors were grounding colors in the sense that once I
get into a room like this, I don’t want to leave….and not in a good way. It
slows me down and I do not have much energy. The color scheme and arrangement
of things does not necessarily zap my energy, but it absorbs my energy it
seems.
And so I stay
connected to it. In the sense that I spend a lot of time in the room, not out
of enjoying it but out of failed resistance. At least, it’s cozy! It feels more
like a cabin than a hotel room, which probably explains the effects. Probably
due to the rather large, mahogany brown entertainment unit (grounding), which
colors the blue and tannish golden colors that would otherwise be more
uplifting. Without the brownish colors, this room looks more classy than a
basic room in Caesars or Planet Hollywood.
And I guess it was
a good thing. Because I was rearing to go for an upcoming European tour and I
needed all the relaxing I could take. It forced to lay down and be quiet.
MGM Grand
Billboards, that
evening. Was a great waste of my time and money($92). It was the third
consecutive Billboards I had attended. I don’t remember anything being
memorable except the fact that they had a new hologrammed Michael Jackson
performance that I could not see because there was a stage in the back of the
arena that had its back literally facing a large section of the audience. What
nerve.
Moreover, where the
heck is Rihanna, Nikki and Beyonce? Why have I gone to 3 Billboards without
Beyonce?? Can they not afford her? Wth? Is she boycotting them? The legitimacy
of your organization should severely be questioned if a top artist like Beyonce
fails to show up year after year, and yet shows up to all the other awards like
MTV and the Grammys.
(Luckily I finally
got my dream of going to a Beyonce concert made true this summer when I went to
Beyonce’s On the Run Tour--$75 nosebleed seats, second to last row, but I still
felt her grace. My life is officially made).
The lack of folks
like Eminem and Justin Timberlake in the 3 years that I’ve been there should
also be significantly questioned.
I even waited for
the celebs to come out after the show and I saw no real celebrities. So much
anticipation for nothing.
The lines for
Hakassan were so long that night it went outside the building and wrapped around
the area behind ABC stores. Not going to happen.
I was on the
guestlist for XS but I just didn’t feel up to it after that needlessness of the
Billboard awards and its aftermath.
Ate a cheeseburger
and an apple pie ala mode at Dennys mear MGM, and called it a night.
Luxor
Luxor is typically
a non-winning casino for me, but I just had a “feeling” to play.
I used $40 and put
it into a buffalo machine near an atm machine. And on my first spin at about
$1.20, I hit!! I left with $120 and THEN I was done for the night.
Mon
May 19
Luxor
The gym at Luxor is
purely legit (and as I have stated in the past, so is Excalibur’s gym). It has
one of the best gyms I have seen in Vegas. The only gym that beats thus far in
my experience is Caesars and Wynn gym.
While the pool at
Luxor has majestic Egyptian sculptures, there is no real life there.
I used $20 and
played a few more slots, including coming back to my lucky buffalo machines and
just lost it all.
Excalibur
Used my MYVEGAS reward for Excalibur buffet and
blehhhh (it made me sick) especially this chocolately smores-like concoction
that I loved. It had not made me sick before but never again. It figures why there was no one in the line.
I used the free games hotel coupon at the arcade which was fun.
I used the free games hotel coupon at the arcade which was fun.
Luxor
Jabbawockeez ($61),
a dancing experience. The storyline was yin and yang, the balance of life, the
good and the bad.
Very hilarious
though it relies HEAVILY on homoerotic comedy, meaning guys tapping guys on the
butt in a suggestive way that is funny. Remember the guys do not talk, so it
really feels like cartoon characters (if that lowers any cis, hetero-anxiety). There
is also heteroerotic comedy involving a pretty lady in the audience, but you
can find this typically in most shows in Vegas. It was well-executed and is a
must-watch….at least once. I would watch it again only if it was significantly
cheaper.
Tues
May 20
Luxor
Today may as well
been called soaking day. I must have spent all day in a simulated hot tub. I
had to get ready to conquer the world. And what better setting.
Excalibur
Enjoyed a nice meal
at Mandalay Bay buffet with a MYVEGAS reward to carefully and sweetly seal the
envelope that is this trip.
Wed
May 21
I left the next day
at 6am, marinating in the loveliness that was this trip. I even brought home as souvenirs for my loved ones...a dozen seasonal Birthday Cake Batter Krispy Kreme donuts that were selling out like crazy in Excalibur's food court because it's like the best donut!! Cheers!
Though the rates
have sky-rocketed, offers and deals have dried up, and resort fees have
trampled all the savings I receive from the room cost, I was able to stay for 3
weeks for $800 for accommodations including room and resort fees (UP from the
$300 I spent for a 3-week May trip in 2013—approximately 2.5 times up) even
with all the deals I could muster.
I knew then that
this was the end of the line.
I had to retract or
scale back, and I anticipate a combination of the two in the next phase.
Shorter trips, comps above value, etc.
Moreover, rising
transportation costs are making the trip unfeasible (although, after my Europe
trip, I still determined that Vegas was the only real paradise for me). I used
to make cheaper flights to Los Angeles via Las Vegas and get off in Vegas,
because direct flights to Vegas were too expensive, but now trips to LA are the
same price as LAS.
I was able to use
my method for the May trip but for future trips it’s undoable. I used the
combination of points and $166 bucks to pay for a one-way flight, which makes
my total for the flights for this trip $166. This is a great deal and it still
about matches my trip from last year. Current rates look like $230 one-way.
When I first started traveling to Vegas, my flights were $250 roundtrip!
Add that with $166 accommodations,
that’s $966 total for flight and accommodations…almost $1000 upfront. No one
pays that kind of money for Vegas…period. Unless they are staying in real
suites out-of-pocket.
You have to wonder,
why so long in Vegas? I wanted to make my flight from the east coast worth it,
plus it used to be financially feasible when there were no resort fees and the
room costs equaled what resort fees cost now (in addition to making time now to
take lifetime vacations before entering the workforce). $7 on a Saturday night
with no resort fees anyone? I have been there. No longer.
$1000 upfront costs
for an individual STUDENT is unfathomable. And I must regress rather than
progress.
BUT!! At least, I
can always say I DID THAT! I can forever hold these memories with me. And I
have records (in the form of trip reports and photos) with me.
On the bright side,
I also only spent $1200 for entertainment, food and gaming over 3 weeks.
The previews saved
me!!!
That is fantastic
for Vegas and so made my budget for Europe quite padded.
And to think! This
all happened in a matter of 3 months.
