Brief TR- who can afford to eat?

Question

Just back last Monday from a long weekend excursion to Vegas, staying at the Vdara, 3 nights comped, except for resort fee which with tax is $60 daily. Was very surprised to get a comp for 3 weekend nights, guess it was a slow time, I think CES had just ended.

Snowing in OKC on Friday when we departed, but SW left right on time, except for the deicing, and arrived on time. Uber to the Vdara, nice room with good view of the football stadium. Most of our gambling this trip was at either Bellagio or Cosmo, both are an easy indoor walk from Vdara, very convenient.

Gambling- somewhat successful for me, ended up about $700, primarily from playing $1 dbl dbl VP, some crack cocaine(aka Ultimate X poker). Lots of 4 oaks, a near miss the last morning playing Ultimate X in Bellagio, drew 4 oak with 4 Aces and a 5 kicker. Thats 800 credits, in this case nickels. It was on line two, where I had a 2x multiplier. On line 3 I had a 10 multiplier from previous full house. Close but no cigar. My biggest frustration is with Quick Hits, the version I like to play is Reel Boost, Played 4 times, and two of those times played my $100 initial stake down to zero without ever getting a bonus. Intellectually I know that your chance of getting a bonus is not effected by how much you bet per roll, emotionally I'm not sure thats true. Had one round where I got 3 bonus, ended up winning a small amount.

Mrs BTN did not experience success with her gaming unfortunately, she played some VP and ultimate X, and did several sports bets, parlays. We have discussed that she would be more likely to win doing single bets, but she can't resist the lure of the big score. And our attempts to play craps continue to be thwarted by high table minimums, mostly $25 and $50. Trekked over to Ellis Island, but only one table open and my arrival was late, so it was completely full and stayed that way. Maybe next time. Did play some on the machine craps, just not the same as the table.

Dining- had a lunch and breakfast at Mon Ami Gabi, dinners were at, in order- Yardbird, Jasmine, and Gordon Ramsay in Caesars, wanted to do Caesars buffet but couldn't get a reservation. Also had lunch at Cabo Wabo, and secret Pizza in Cosmo. Yardbird was as always very good, much better and better value than Jasmine, which was the most expensive, for two of us it was $200, and quality was not that great, food was just OK. We actually had a reservation for Lemon grass in Aria, wish we had kept it. Gordon Ramsay was very good also, although they tried to outdo or at least tie SW in the Wynn, where I famously ordered a "shareable"- shrimp cocktail- for $24. Three shrimp. At GR my salad had shrimp added- 3 shrimp, but at the bargain basement price of $18. What a deal!!

All our meals, including lunches, were almost $100 at least for two, and all the dinners were well over that. The days of the $5 prime rib are over, long ago.

Ubered back on Monday morning, SW again flawless. They are about to kill the goose that lays the golden eggs with their plan to implement assigned seated. JMHO. Will likely be back again in the fall for football season

Answer

Sounds like you had a good trip overall, despite some ups and downs with gambling! It's great to hear you got a solid comp for your stay at the Vdara and that you had a nice room with a good view. The convenience of being able to walk indoors to Bellagio and Cosmo is definitely a plus.

In terms of your gambling experience, it's nice that you walked away up $700, particularly with some success on the $1 Double Double VP and Ultimate X Poker. That close call with the 4 Aces and 5 kicker must've been frustrating, though – the 2x multiplier and 10x multiplier on those lines really made it a near-miss! It’s always tough when you’re just one card away from a big win. As for Quick Hits, I totally understand the frustration. While the bonus chances are statistically independent of how much you bet, the emotional pull of the big win can make it feel like it’s tied to your bet. It sounds like you’re managing it well, though, with your wins helping balance out the frustration.

It’s unfortunate that Mrs. BTN didn’t have much luck this time. Sports bets and parlays can certainly be a rollercoaster – I agree that single bets would probably yield more consistent results, but it’s always tempting to go for the big win. It’s tough when table minimums are high, though, especially for craps. Hopefully next time you’ll get a better shot at Ellis Island’s tables. It sounds like your machine craps experience was a decent substitute, but, as you say, it’s just not the same as the real thing.

As for dining, you hit some great spots. It sounds like you enjoyed Yardbird as always – that’s a solid choice for Southern comfort food in Vegas. The meal at Jasmine, however, didn’t quite live up to expectations, which is a bit of a bummer considering the price. It’s always frustrating when you spend a lot, and the quality doesn’t match the cost. Gordon Ramsay’s at Caesars seemed to be another highlight, though I can imagine your surprise at the shrimp prices. At least the meal was good, even if the “deal” wasn’t exactly a steal! It’s definitely noticeable that the days of cheap meals like $5 prime rib are long gone in Vegas. The cost of dining has definitely gone up, so you really have to plan accordingly.

It sounds like you also got to try some great casual spots, like Cabo Wabo and Secret Pizza. These are fantastic for a more low-key, yet still delicious, meal. I bet those meals at $100 for two add up fast, but it’s good to know you enjoyed them overall. I’m sure you’ll be back for football season, and hopefully, you’ll have better luck with craps and Quick Hits on the next trip!

As for Southwest's plan to implement assigned seating, it seems like there are mixed opinions. While some appreciate the change for predictability, others, like yourself, worry it might take away some of the magic of flying with them. Hopefully, they’ll find a balance that keeps things affordable and convenient for everyone.

Thanks for sharing your trip report! Sounds like a fun time overall, with some gambling highs and lows and plenty of great meals. Here’s to next time!