All pictures are clickable for a higher quality shot if you want. I posted lower quality thumbnails to make the page load faster.

Lets start with a a bit about the trip. We had to plan this trip so that grandma and grandpa could come watch our son but also had to be able to get time off work. Well Easter ended up being the perfect weekend for that. I had an offer from The Mirage for a standard resort tower king room for 2 nights. I am by no means a high roller, I play $50 blackjack and my wife plays $25, a free room is all I usually hope for. I used miles to book my flight on Southwest, and the companion pass to book my wifes ticket, total cost was $22.40 for both tickets, flying direct. With the flight and hotel taken care of we are ready to go. My budget for the trip is $4k for gambling, I will bring $2k cash, and I have $2k available from my bank. My wife brought $1k (we have separate banking)

Day 0

We live 2.5 hours from the Kansas City airport so driving there can be a pain in the ass. Luckily I had an offer from the Ameristar in KC for a free night, $100 dining credit, and a $425 free bet. We drove up Friday night after our son was in bed and got our room, and had a quick dinner. I have never gotten a free bet coupon from Ameristar before and was unsure how it worked. I was hoping I would get $425 in promotional chips, I was wrong. I was told that it was exactly what it said a $425 free bet. It had to all be bet at once, and was only good for one bet. I went to the high limit room to an empty double deck table and sat down to play the ticket. Dealer shuffles for me and I cut, deals the cards and I have a 16 to the dealers 10. Well so much for the free money, I take a hit, and amazingly I draw the 5. Dealer flips another 10 for 20 and I get paid $425. I was ready to walk away as the table min was $100 and honestly I just wanted some extra cash for Vegas. The pit boss said he would drop the min to $50 if I wanted to play. I figured I would risk $100 of the $425 and walk up $325 if needed. I finished out the shoe and had $1015, at that point I walked away and went up to the room and went to bed a very happy man.

Click any pic to enlarge

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

Day 1 04/04/2015

Our flight was set to leave KC at 12:20pm and we had boarding spots A47 and A48, and I was told the flight was full. I went up to the desk and was able to secure spots A2 and A3 for the wife and I.

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

Once on the plane we had plenty of leg room, and enjoyed several drinks with our drink coupons.

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

A short 3 hour flight later and we landed in the greatest place in the world.

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

I had booked transportation to The Mirage using the Bell-Trans VIP shuttle. For $28 per person you get a ride to and from the hotel in either a town car or limo. We were given a nice Cadillac with a friendly driver (forgot the pics). He offered to make any stops we needed or to hit the sign, we said no thanks just head to the hotel.

Once at the Mirage there was about 8 people in line, but since I am a gold member I was able to skip the line. Gave the nice lady at the desk my info and asked about any suite upgrades available. She informed me that there was no free options but if I wanted to pay she could make something work. I asked what she had, she said she could give me the top floor corner penthouse strip view suite for $100 a night, I said sure lets do it. Check in went quick and we were in the room. Below is a video walk through and several pics for you of the room.

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

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

After properly checking out the room and getting situated my wife wants to head to the Palazzo so she can buy some damn shoes she has been saving up for. I wont bore you with details but she spent way to much on a pair of shoes.

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

We gambled around the Venetian and Palazzo with no real plan just relaxing. I tried out a few slots just for fun, and didn't win anything but the wife hit a few small winners, nothing picture worthy. I was getting close to 5 and we had dinner plans at Gordon Ramsay steak at 7. The wife wanted to shower so we headed back and got ready for dinner. This will make our second visit to GR Steak and it was just as good as last time. I had the beer pub soup, bone in strip, and we shared fingerling potatoes and potato puree as well as dessert. The wife had the curry cauliflower soup and the filet.

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

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

After dinner we returned to the Mirage and played a bit of blackjack, I had a losing session of $700 and the wife was up about $50. Around 11 we were both toast and actually went to bed rather early. We caught a volcano show from the bedroom and then passed out till the next morning. I have to say the beds are amazing and we loved the pillows.

I am taking a break and will post the rest either tonight or tomorrow so stay tuned.

Day 2 04/05/2015

The plan for today was to head downtown and eat breakfast at DuPars, gamble for a bit, then the wife wanted to go shopping at the Premium Outlet Malls.

We were out the door before 8 and headed downtown.


I had pancakes and bacon, the wife had french toast and bacon

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

I wanted to play around and see some of the casinos downtown. First we stopped in the D and played a bit of FreeBet but couldn't get anything going. We moved to video poker at the bar and had a good time but still couldn't hit anything. I dumped $400 in dollars with one full house and nothing bigger.

Next we headed over to the Fremont and played a bit of blackjack. They have a $25 double deck table that pays 3:2. We had some good luck here and I cashed out up $300 and the wife was up $100. Finally we headed back to the Golden Gate for a bit more FreeBet. Again we couldn't get anything going and after about 30 minutes we were both even. As we went to leave we noticed the "high limit" room at the Gate. They had double deck, 3:2, DAS, DAT, H17 for $15 a hand. We ended up playing for a long time, I cashed out up $700 and the wife was up $200. I totally neglected to get pics I am sorry. I emailed the host when I got home and he said we played for 3 hours and 18 minutes with an average bet of $61. The one nice thing about the high limit room is the drinks from the cocktail waitress are larger, and you can get redbull in the can.

It was past lunch time now and we were both starving so we headed down to pizza rock for a bite to eat. The wife and I both went with a classic slice of pepperoni and it was amazing.

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

After the pizza we went into the downtown grand, while it is a nice looking place we didn't play a single game, all the blackjack is 6:5 even at the $25 minimum table. We did get a free T-Shirt for joining the players club though

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

Ok I am much busier today than I thought I would be, look for another update tonight I hope.

Rest of Day 2

Ok after a quick lunch the wife was ready to head to the premium outlet malls, but I remembered I had wanted to grab a silver strike from 4 Queens. Went in and put a $20 in, hit a strike almost immediatly and we were able to head out and do so.

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

We tried to grab a cab by binions but the first 4 refused to take us when we said we were going to Premium Outlet, I took out a $20 and said whoever takes me can have it, suddenly they were willing to drive us. I got back in the first cab, when we go there the fare was at $6.80. I handed him a 5 and 2 1's and walked away. I would have given him the $20 from the get go had they not refused to drive me.

I got a pair of shoes and the wife got a new coach purse then we headed back to gamble a bit more.

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

At the Mirage on the main floor they have one $25 double deck table with S17. This was my home for most of the trip. The wife and I sat and played here and very quickly my $200 buy in was at $1000. The wife was up about $100 so we took it as a sign and left the table. I then decided I needed to get a silver strike from the Mirage. After finally finding the machine I sat down and spent most of a $20 getting the one strike.

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

Next of course we needed to head to the Venetian to get a silver strike. Prior to doing so I wanted to play one of the older Lord of the Rings slots and I had found a group of 3 in the Mirage near the entrance. I sat down and was playing max bet $3.50, I blew through $100 lickity split, then a second $100, on the third $100 with about $15 left I finally hit the bonus. I was excited I thought I would probably hit a nice little pay day. I hit the bonus that is a spin multiplier and got 30x. The reels spun and I won exactly nothing, not a fucking penny. I was livid, how do you people play these things all day long.

We headed over to Venetian and finally found the 1 silver strike machine they have. This thing was a loose goose. My $10 won me 3 strikes, I traded 2 in and kept the blue cap.

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

While at the Venetian the wife and I played a bit of freebet, it is the only blackjack on the main floor that pays 3:2. Nothing amazing here I think we both lost our buy in and headed out.

We headed over to The Linq to ride the high roller. I will say this, it is fun to ride once, but I don't think I will ever go in it again, below are links pics I took.

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

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

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

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

At this point I was getting a bit tipsy but I know we went back to the Venetian to eat Lobster ME

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

We returned to The Mirage where we gambled until 4am. I know we were way down at one point as I had blown through all my cash, and I had brought all my gambling money with me. I hit the ATM and grabbed $500 more figuring if I lost it I was done, and I still had $1500 of my budget I hadn't touched. Hit a nice little hot streak at the table and was able to color up +$2000, the wife was +$100. At this point we went to bed, I know we ordered room service but I didn't get a pic but it was a pizza. Crashed out and set the alarm for 10am.

Day 3, final day, 04/06/2015

Alarm went off at 10am and we were both hungover and still very tired. Plane was set to leave at 2:30 with the car picking us up at 1. We both got cleaned up and showered and headed down to speak with the host on duty. My total bill at this point was around $260 for the upgraded room charge and the room service. Speaking with the host she said I had 6:16 of table games at an average bet of $126, we also had 424 slot points. As we only played the specialty machines of $10 per point that means $4240 in the slots. The host took care of all of our charges and gave me the late check out we needed.

Wife and I hit BLT Burger for a small snack of some nachos

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

Didn't do anymore gambling just a small nap until the car came and we sadly had to fly home. No exit row this time, and no drinks, just a nap.

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

Final numbers for the trip. I paid cash for everything this trip,normally I have gambling cash and put everything else on a card to help track what I spent. I left the house with $2000 exactly, I hit the ATM for $500 once and incurred a $8 fee for doing so (refunded by my bank). I came home with $2540 in my pocket. So after all the tips, food, and shopping I made $40. I was up over $1000 very early in the trip but as is gambling easy come easy go. I did pay for every meal the wife and I ate including the $250 or so for GR Steak and I paid $50 for the shoes. Probably another $150 in cabs around town and tips to the limo driver. My wife left the house with $1800, $1000 for gambling, and $800 for shoes and shopping. She purchased a $730 pair of shoes, a $300 purse, and a few other odds and ends. She came home with $1300 cash. So she had a good trip gambling wise, she just blew her cash in the shops. All in all it was a great trip and a nice short get away. We both missed our son (18 months) and don't think we could go much longer than we did. Not sure when the wife and I will take our next trip, but I have my annual guys trip already planned for December.

 

Awesome report! Love it when the trip pays for itself!

 

Hmm...you want me to add the thumbnail thing as an option to the TR mover?

 

Yeah might be a good idea.

 

Does your wife have buyer remorse about her shoes? I have a pair of Louboutins and they are the most uncomfortable shoes I have ever owned. I have worn them once. Every time I see them in my closet I get angry.

 

She wears them all the time. She said you have to put on a pair of socks then put the shoes on and heat them up with a hair dryer and wear them till they cool off.

 

Oh my! I will try that tonight. Thank you!