Hi All,

I've read some fantastic trip reports over the last few weeks, they have both excited me and inspired me to do one of my own. I hope that my attempt will do the others on this board justice.


The Background I was fortunate enough to have been to Vegas three times already during the past 12 months. The first time was with the (Now!) wife last November, The second was for work last January, the third was in April for my stag do and now my fourth will be starting tomorrow again with the wife.


This trip whilst be different to my stag is something I'm really looking forward too. We have the pleasure of flying First with BA tomorrow, even though when we connect at Houston we fly Spirit to Vegas with their Big Front Seats. It will be the first time I've split my hotel stay between two, 6 nights at PH combed and 4 nights at the Cosmo paid. It will be my longest trip to Vegas ever, the thought excites and terrifies me as I'm a degen that could blow through my bank roll in one night if the mood strikes!


I'm typically a slots , Carrnie and recently a craps player but my intention is to widen my gambling horizons and perhaps take in some VP and a poker tournament or two.

We're starting the trip with an overnight stay at the Heathrow Sofitel tonight, it's only 10 miles from where I live but it feels like your holiday starts a day early by doing it.

I will try to update as much as possible but as its my first one don't expect too much!


Attached are a few pics to set the scene!

Last November w/ the wife - best hit! 5 Card Royal for $5k

You must be a registered user with confirmed email address to view this content.
Register or Login

Work Trip Best Hit! - slots hand pay

You must be a registered user with confirmed email address to view this content.
Register or Login

This trip cash bank roll (got more available but don't want the be cash heavy)

You must be a registered user with confirmed email address to view this content.
Register or Login

Me and the wife (in case your in town and want to say hi)

You must be a registered user with confirmed email address to view this content.
Register or Login

Any feedback please feel free to share!

Thanks guys! Just got to the first hotel at Heathrow. For our stateside friends who may visit Europe, I generally find Sofitel's to be both premium and consistent in terms of the rooms and the Sevice.


It's fantastic if your travelling early out of T5 at Heathrow as its attached via a tunnel and about a 4 minute walk from departures.


Attached are a few room pics, I've got a runway view, just!

You must be a registered user with confirmed email address to view this content.
Register or Login

You must be a registered user with confirmed email address to view this content.
Register or Login

You must be a registered user with confirmed email address to view this content.
Register or Login

You must be a registered user with confirmed email address to view this content.
Register or Login

You must be a registered user with confirmed email address to view this content.
Register or Login

Thanks for all your support guys! A brief update for now, the journey has started of sorts!


We're in BA's First Class Lounge called Concorde Room , a nice lounge, very quiet, great alcohol choices, currently on the champagne despite it being 8:20am! They offer private on demand dining too which was good, we both had eggs benedict.

It also overlooks the runway so you get a nice view.


A few pics attached to bring you with us!

You must be a registered user with confirmed email address to view this content.
Register or Login

You must be a registered user with confirmed email address to view this content.
Register or Login

You must be a registered user with confirmed email address to view this content.
Register or Login

Onboard now! Got my BA Sleeper Suit on and raring to go! Next update from Houston as we don't get wifi on BA planes!


These seats are so big , I'm 5'10" and barely touch the foot rest when sat up!

You must be a registered user with confirmed email address to view this content.
Register or Login

You must be a registered user with confirmed email address to view this content.
Register or Login

Hi All,

Apologies for not posting this sooner , we arrived at IAH a couple of hours ago but have been distracted by the events in Paris.

Back to the TR!

We had a blissfully uneventful flight from LHR to IAH, exceptional food and service in BA First, a considerable step up from their Business offering and the time flew by if you excuse the pun!

Our layover for the leg to Vegas is 4 hrs in with 2 more to go before we're back in the skies. After the horror stories of Spirit I'm tentative but with the Big Front Seats hopefully it will be smooth sailing .

Attached are a few pics from the BA First experience, we will probably crash when we get to Vegas with it being 24 hrs of constant travelling for us so first updates tomorrow!

You must be a registered user with confirmed email address to view this content.
Register or Login

You must be a registered user with confirmed email address to view this content.
Register or Login

You must be a registered user with confirmed email address to view this content.
Register or Login

You must be a registered user with confirmed email address to view this content.
Register or Login

First and last time I fly Spirit, a minimum 45 min delay. When you've been travelling for 21 hrs this is torture! Anyone know if Presidential monitor arrivals or do I have to call with an updated time?

So its 12:40am, we've been up for 26 hours! We managed to haul our degenerate asses down to the casino floor for a brief flirtation with slots.


First slot of the trip I hit the following for a measly $2.50 bet.

You must be a registered user with confirmed email address to view this content.
Register or Login

Before losing it and another $100 on a combination of Zeus and Cleopatra!


Just hit Earl of Sandwich for a late night snack , the brilliant holiday special !

Proper report will start in earnest tomorrow!

Good night from us!

You must be a registered user with confirmed email address to view this content.
Register or Login

So the jet lag has kicked in good and proper! Been awake since 5:30am local time but feeling good!


Went and got a couple of Soy Chai Latte's and Pain Au Chocolats for a light breakfast and planning our agenda for today. Being a Platinum guest really paid off today as a conference is taking place that meant the queue was 40 deep but we could walk right to the front!

For those of you who like room pics , below are a few pics of the Planet Hollywood Hip Room with a Strip View.


The Room

You must be a registered user with confirmed email address to view this content.
Register or Login

The View

You must be a registered user with confirmed email address to view this content.
Register or Login

PH Floor at 7am this morning!

You must be a registered user with confirmed email address to view this content.
Register or Login

My amazing Earl of Sandwich Holiday special late night snack! Tasted incredible!

You must be a registered user with confirmed email address to view this content.
Register or Login

Slowly degen'ing our way down the strip ! Enjoyed the delights of the Luxor for the first time , were doing $20 challenges this morning where we both put $20 in a different machine and the winner has to give their money to the other!

Low rolling but makes it fun before we up the stakes later.

You must be a registered user with confirmed email address to view this content.
Register or Login

You must be a registered user with confirmed email address to view this content.
Register or Login

You must be a registered user with confirmed email address to view this content.
Register or Login

You must be a registered user with confirmed email address to view this content.
Register or Login

So just taking a midday break, played 3 card , $300 in , not one flush , straight or anything worth mentioning despite playing $10 per circle and two hands at a time! Current total -$550 on day one.


Time for a jet lag induced nap before going out for round two later today.

Did have two small wins on Wizard of Oz (no pic sorry it happened too quick) and Mustang Money feature. Both went back to the casinos coffers!

You must be a registered user with confirmed email address to view this content.
Register or Login

You must be a registered user with confirmed email address to view this content.
Register or Login

So last night ended in our first serious video poker session which was fun but didn't stop the haemorrhage of cash so far !


Woken up today with renewed spirit but alas the gambling gods aren't with us !

The only thing to do? Head to the Linq and eat ourselves into a coma at Has House a Go Go!

We're now on a strip crawl trying to find some mojo! No chip porn or big wins to share but the wife hit her first 4OAK yesterday! Excited wasn't the word!

This

You must be a registered user with confirmed email address to view this content.
Register or Login

Turned into this

You must be a registered user with confirmed email address to view this content.
Register or Login

This Happened!

You must be a registered user with confirmed email address to view this content.
Register or Login

As did this!

You must be a registered user with confirmed email address to view this content.
Register or Login

And I had a small iron man win

You must be a registered user with confirmed email address to view this content.
Register or Login

Breakfast was awesome

You must be a registered user with confirmed email address to view this content.
Register or Login

As was the Bloody Mary!

You must be a registered user with confirmed email address to view this content.
Register or Login

Just played a poker tournament (my first ever in Vegas) , $80 buy in at PH , PFR of 4x BB with pocket JJ's to show strength and got 4 callers. Flop comes Q84 heart heart club, raised by someone to 1200 (pot of 12) I shove all in for 5k and get two callers turn comes 6 hearts and the other two go all in against each other and one guys got 5 3 hearts so the flush. I have a jack of hearts but the final heart didn't come on the river.

Now watching a bit of the RockN Roll Marathon whilst my wife is still in the tournament!

You must be a registered user with confirmed email address to view this content.
Register or Login

This TR is a bit like the age old question if you make a noise in the forest but no one is there to hear it does it still make a sound!

However , I will persevere in the hope some of you are enjoying following along!

So a brief update from last night, the wife did indeed do better than me in the poker tournament but alas didn't make the final table. With that said she did make a new friend in James Costanzo who happened to be sat next to her and was apparently a lovely guy, both friendly and helpful ! Our first and only celeb spot so far!

We then decided to hit the aria for some low play as I've been burning through my BR at a terrible rate!


Managed a hit which looked like it should have paid well

You must be a registered user with confirmed email address to view this content.
Register or Login

But was only $100 , quickly managed to burn through that and more on $1 denom Cleopatra 2 which ate my cash faster than I eat a hash house breakfast!

Today's plan is a simple one, head down to the Venetian end of the strip to grab some breakfast before playing a bit and then we have KA booked for tonight. Need to find a decent dinner before the show so suggestions welcome!

Will try to be more up to date with play updates today.

Hope your all enjoying my sporadic posts!

Just had a great light brunch at Lobster Me! A toastie called the Frenchy. Butter poached lobster, melted Brie and shallot creme cheese. $10 and simply delicious! Who says you need to spend big to eat well in this city?

You must be a registered user with confirmed email address to view this content.
Register or Login

All washed down with a shandy made with fresh lemonade!

Now on to the gambling!

So we've gambled our way through the palazzo and Venetian on slots with not much to show for $300 invested!


Just bought in for another $300 so we will see where that takes me! Apologies for having no chip or slot porn to share so far but it's been drier than a Nevada summer!


There's pretty stormy weather here too!

You must be a registered user with confirmed email address to view this content.
Register or Login

Hey Guys,

Thanks for all your comments! It's nice to know some people are following along !

We're trying to decide where to go for dinner tonight in a very blustery LV before going to Cirque Du Soleil - KA at 9:30pm.

Considering going to Craftsteak, I've been there before and loved it but would also love to try somewhere new. Other options would be Lemongrass at Aria or China Poblano at Cosmo. Not feeling anything too heavy and indulgent but any other suggestion welcome before we head out shortly.

Finally, I've been told off by the wife, apparently it wasn't James Costanzo it was Robert Costanzo she played Poker with.

So apologies for the lack of updates last night but MGM Wifi would not work for me in the slightest!


Managed to hit a Walking Dead bonus at last!

You must be a registered user with confirmed email address to view this content.
Register or Login

But Max Bet only paid this!

You must be a registered user with confirmed email address to view this content.
Register or Login

Then had a nice little retrigger feature on a slot I've not played before for $100

You must be a registered user with confirmed email address to view this content.
Register or Login

Then we played on a machine with 8 games playing at a time, hard to keep up with but lots of fun and lots of ways to win and hit this!

You must be a registered user with confirmed email address to view this content.
Register or Login

Before finally settling into the KA theatre and enjoying the show.

You must be a registered user with confirmed email address to view this content.
Register or Login

I must admit it wasn't my favourite Cirque, seemed a bit too arty and not enough entertainment but each to their own.

The plan for today is to get a Wicked Spoon brunch, head to watch the England v France game somewhere and then to downtown to explore for the first time.

Any downtown recommendations for casinos with a bit of atmosphere would be welcome!

Thanks King!

Settled in at Caesars Sports Book to watch the game.


Put a bet on and got a great view

You must be a registered user with confirmed email address to view this content.
Register or Login

You must be a registered user with confirmed email address to view this content.
Register or Login

So we just spent some enjoyable downtown at "The D" , not a euphemism!


Really liked the vibe in the Casino, good music, excellent drink service super fast, and cheap tables.


Bought in to 3 Card for 65$ and after tipping dealers circa $70 I cashed out this!

You must be a registered user with confirmed email address to view this content.
Register or Login

So after 50$ in taxis and $40 in food I'm $150 up on the day. Not huge but I will take it!

You must be a registered user with confirmed email address to view this content.
Register or Login

Decided we will go back to Freemont to try Andiamo at some point this week.

Now at Anchor bar at the Venetian to grab a light bite of wings before continuing the adventures!

So the sun is up and the gambling has started! After an early morning breakfast fling with Earl of Sandwich at 9am we sat at a 3 Card table and burnt $150 , slowly but surely!

From there we decided we would book afternoon tea at the Mandarin Oriental (Brits love their tea!)

On the way out to a 12:30 booking we hit our new favourite slot "Gremlins" (not just because we won, it's features are really well though through and enjoyable) and picked up a 2nd Highest progressive

You must be a registered user with confirmed email address to view this content.
Register or Login

450$ helped boost the spirits and however walking through Aria was a costly mistake where I dropped a further $200 in minutes (iron man being a major factor in that loss!)

Afternoon tea was delightful, especially the peach blossoming tea and the views were incredible with good service as you would expect.

View from tea (genuinely taken from our table , no zoom or enhancements from my iPhone)

You must be a registered user with confirmed email address to view this content.
Register or Login

Me and the tea!

You must be a registered user with confirmed email address to view this content.
Register or Login

We're going to play a little in a minute , maybe some VP at Cosmo as per one of the earlier suggestions before getting drunk and getting ready for Britney tonight!

I forgot to show what anchor bar wings looked like last night, we went boneless and the meat was lovely but the sauces were good but not fantastic!

You must be a registered user with confirmed email address to view this content.
Register or Login

Almost time to pickup our group on frozen cocktails like typical tourists!

CET has just lost a platinum customer

So after a brief drunken rant last night (you can tell by my spelling!) lets get back to the business at hand.

Decided to try my hand at Cosmo craps last night, $300 in on a $10 table, nothing great happening chipping up then down playing 3x odds and placing 5/9 before a massive cooler of 7's lost me my cash. With that said we had a great set of dealers and even the pit boss was fun, plus we had drunkenly made friends with all of the people up our end so I bought in for a final hundred before the table hit a massive streak taking us with it. We went from $100 to $750 at which point we had to cash to go see that terrible Britney show, what a bad decision!

We must have spent a good 4 hours playing Craps in total it's just a shame Cosmo don't give you and props for table games! After the show (we left early) we walked back to our hotel and at some point I lost my passport!


Luckily 20 minutes of searching later and getting quite frantic we called security and it had been found! Panic over and time to call it a night!

Time to get an Earls, check out of PH and head to Cosmo to check in hoping they have early check in rooms available.

I'm in the Bellagio and just dropped $40 into this

You must be a registered user with confirmed email address to view this content.
Register or Login

It ate my money!

First spin on this slot won me over $100

You must be a registered user with confirmed email address to view this content.
Register or Login

So guys!


Giada is just finished , we had planned on doing the tasting menu but we weren't hungry enough when we arrived.

We started with some drinks, a Heineken for me and a glass of Reisling for the wife.


We then had some antipasti, which for me was the highlight of the visit.

We had the Burrata

You must be a registered user with confirmed email address to view this content.
Register or Login

Some Pork salami

You must be a registered user with confirmed email address to view this content.
Register or Login

Lemon and crab Arancini

You must be a registered user with confirmed email address to view this content.
Register or Login

With some complimentary breads

You must be a registered user with confirmed email address to view this content.
Register or Login

For me all three starters were fantastic, really enjoyable and moorish, 3 for 2 people is good if not slightly filling but well worth it. Personal favourite was the salami, really tasty.

Moving onto mains, the wife had Parpadelle with Pork Ragu and Parmesan

You must be a registered user with confirmed email address to view this content.
Register or Login

Her main was very under seasoned and whilst nice it wasn't blow you away fantastic. A good plate of pasta but nothing more.

I went for the Crab and Scallop risotto that I really enjoyed, scallops were almost perfect a little under but better than over.

You must be a registered user with confirmed email address to view this content.
Register or Login

All in all we were at 175 inc tip of 25, service was pretty good from all involved and I think you guys tip around 17%?

Anyway that was my experience, would go back for a tapas style of antipasti plates but mains were more by and miss from our brief experience.

So myself and the wife have really got into VP this trip. Found a great one with "levels" where you win at the low bet level 1x your bet and can then go up levels to win 8x your stake.


Any suggestions for good VP to try? Anything with a Carnie bonus bet is fun

A brief update after a low gambling day. Just had dinner at "The Pantry" at the Mirage. I had Pork Sliders which were awesome, the lady had a grilled cheese (the lady wanted an American grilled cheese!) we shared a cookie skillet dessert, had unlimited cokes and all for 54$ including 20% tip and excellent service.


Highly recommended for a casual dinner and wish we found it sooner!

You must be a registered user with confirmed email address to view this content.
Register or Login

You must be a registered user with confirmed email address to view this content.
Register or Login

You must be a registered user with confirmed email address to view this content.
Register or Login

Just sat down at the Cosmo, 10C max bet with$100 in lets see how we go. I've chosen double double bonus, good call?

You must be a registered user with confirmed email address to view this content.
Register or Login

Just started.

And again!

You must be a registered user with confirmed email address to view this content.
Register or Login

Cashed out 450 for 100 in

At the Mandalay and didn't realise mlife members (all of us) get discount on the MJ show. Just scored 2 category B tickets for $300 including taxes and fees. Can't wait to see it!

You must be a registered user with confirmed email address to view this content.
Register or Login

Just turned 100 into 650 at Aria!

You must be a registered user with confirmed email address to view this content.
Register or Login

I love video poker!

You must be a registered user with confirmed email address to view this content.
Register or Login

MJ was Superb!!!

Just ate at "Citizens" in Mandalay Bay, really enjoyed their short rib sandwich with onion gravy dip! Incredible! It lasted mere seconds!

Very good , fast service, excellent post show quick bite!

You must be a registered user with confirmed email address to view this content.
Register or Login

 

nice report!

 

Very enjoyable read.

 

Good read and a helluva report!