Vegas Vacation

Well, I am back at work today after having had a nice, long relaxing vacation. We spent Christmas in Vegas. Las Vegas might be the best place in the world to people watch. You defiantly see some strange and interesting things in that town. Overall, I had a pretty good time even though I didn’t win any money. I hit a number of casinos while I was there with mostly bad luck. Here is a rundown of how I did at each place.

Monday 12/25

Bally’s – Since we were staying there, this would be the place I would do most of my gambling. We checked in and were meeting everyone for dinner later that night so, before we meet them I played a little Video Poker. I played for about a half hour and would up winning like ten bucks after it was all said and done. Sadly, this would be the best I would do at Bally’s in my three days there. (+ $10 for the trip)

The Flamingo – We wound up eating at the buffet at the Flamingo. After eating I hit another Video Poker machine. I didn’t play on it long and would up losing like ten bucks. (Even for the trip)

New York New York – My Mom was staying here and I wanted to hit the roller coaster. I did just that and after riding, I settled into the casino. I found a blackjack table and wound up playing there for awhile. I was winning some hands and losing some others. I was having a pretty good time at the table talking to some Jets fans from New York who were playing the Dolphins that night. After awhile I got up to meet my wife and Mom in the bar. I cashed out my chips and after sitting at the table for a nice period of time wound up with ten bucks more then when I started. (+ $10 for the trip)

Tuesday 12/26

The Tropicana – We were meeting my family for breakfast at the Trop, so I got there a little early to gamble a little. My Step-Dad and I sat at roulette table and played for a half hour. I did really well and was up about $30 bucks as I left to eat breakfast. Sadly, after breakfast I stayed there and hit a blackjack table and gave away all of my earlier winnings as I left the place even. (+ $10 for the trip)

Mandalay Bay – After hitting the Trop, we took the tram over to the Mandalay Bay. This has never been one of my favorite casinos. I know a lot of people who love the place but I have never had any luck there. I wound up putting a twenty in a video poker machine and losing it all. (-$10 for the trip)

Luxor – I have always liked the Luxor and would really like to stay there one time to see what it is like. Sadly, I didn’t have a whole lot of luck there this time. I hit a blackjack table for awhile and left 40 dollars poorer. (-$50 for the trip)

Excalibur – I had never been a fan of this place before. But since the tram takes you here, I figured what the hell. I found a blackjack table and played for like a half hour. It was a great table with a really friendly dealer. When it was all said and done I was up 40 bucks and should have gone back there, as I was having a good old time. (-$10 for the trip)

Bellagio – After a re-boot in my room and having a nice dinner with the family we headed over to The Bellagio to see their indoor conservatory. I put five bucks in a video poker machine, just to say I gambled there and wound up losing it. (-$15 for the trip)

The Imperial Palace – Ah, the good old IP. A Vegas trip isn’t complete without a trip to the place. As my wife was in bed for the night I went out and stopped at the IP. I wound up sitting at a roulette table. I sat there for awhile and when I cashed out I was up ten bucks. (-$5 for the trip)

The Barbary Coast – I have ever been a fan of this place and I don’t know why I go there. They have the unfriendliest staff of any place I have been to in Vegas. But, it was right next door to Bally’s so I decided to try my luck there. I got in on a blackjack table and had the worst dealer on earth. She was a complete bitch. So, after playing for a bit, I cashed out and got the hell out of there down ten bucks. (-$15 for the trip)

Bally’s – I ended the night at my home base Bally’s. I played a little Video Poker and lost ten on that. I then ventured over to a roulette table. I started out on a hot streak there but eventually lost my initial twenty dollar investment. (-$45 for the trip)

Wednesday 12/27

The Rio – Joyce and I ate there for lunch and I figured since I was there, I might as well play a little. I was on a video poker machine and was doing well for awhile before losing my ten dollar investment. (-$55 for the trip)

Gold Coast – After the Rio we decided to walk over the Palm’s. However, in between both places is Gold Coast. So, we decided to stop in and play awhile. I was glad we did. I hit a blackjack table and played for a bit. I was doing really well at one point but eventually my luck turned south. Still after I left the table I was still up $60 bucks. (+$5 for the trip)

The Palms – I had heard a lot about this place and had never been there so, I really wanted to check it out. Man, is this place nice. Another place I would love to stay at in the future. I wound up sitting on a Video Poker machine for awhile and eventually cashing out down ten bucks (-$5 for the trip)

Wynn – Wynn is somewhat new so I wanted to see it. It is also, very nice and way out of my league. I wanted to say I gambled there so I put a five in a nickel slot and lost it all rather quickly. (-$10 for the trip)

Treasure Island – We wound up eating dinner at a nice Mexican restaurant in this place. I wound up having a pretty good time there. I didn’t gamble much there, putting in a ten in a poker machine and quickly losing it. (-$20 for the trip)

The Mirage – We took the tram from TI to the Mirage. Earlier in the day my Mom won two grand on a video poker machine there, so I figured maybe the place would be lucky. It was not. I was in a blackjack mood, but the tables were packed so, I just hit a video poker machine. I put in a twenty and it was gone after a little bit. (-$40 for the trip)

Harrah’s – My Mom and Lou had to take the Monorail back to MGM so we decided to cross the street and pick it up at Harrah’s. While we were there, my step-dad and I hit a roulette table. We played for awhile and when it was all said and done I was up 15 bucks. (-$25 for the trip)

Casino Royale – Ah, the dirty and dungy Casino Royale. I have never liked this place but it was on the way home so we stopped in. Joyce wound up winning some money on a Wheel of Fortune slot. I played for awhile on a Video Poker machine, breaking even. (-$25 for the trip)

Paris – One of the great things about staying at Bally’s is that it is connected to Paris. Paris is one of my favorite casinos in town. I usually have good luck there. Sadly, this trip I would not be as fortunate. While Joyce found a nickel slot, I sat at a blackjack table. I wound up sitting there for a pretty good amount of time. I was at a good table with some fun people and I was drinking and having a good time. However, when it was all said and done, I had lost about fifty bucks. (-$75 for the trip)

Bally’s – As I always wind up doing I gamble the most at the casino I am staying at. Before I went up for the evening, I sat in on a roulette table. I played for awhile but I wound up losing another twenty there before I went up to bed. (-$95 for the trip)

Thursday 12/28

The Las Vegas Airport – Whenever I leave town I always swear I won’t gamble at the airport and I always wind up doing so anyway. I had a twenty burning a hole in my pocket so, I sat at a Wheel of Fortune machine and lost it in record time. (-$115 for the trip)

All in all for all the gambling that I did to only lose a little more then a C note isn’t bad. I have had much better trips and much worse. When you figure I have a $200 dollar a day gambling budget and I came home with most of it I can’t complain.