For you frugal minded folks staying downtown, the $1.25 bus ride
downtown (and back to the airport of course) is hard to beat. It's
about as fast as the shuttles and saves you around $6 each way. I
like to call it "a free lunch for taking the bus".
The prime-rib special at Binions wasn't bad, but the steak special
was very tough. It was a struggle to cut through it.
I've found a new favorite brew in Vegas and it's served up right
downtown a safe WALKING distance from my hotel. The Ultimate Weiss
served up by Chicago Brewing Company inside the Four Queens is
EXCELLENT. It's definitely on par with my other favorite Hefeweizen
served out at Barley's (and not having to arrange for a driver/ride
makes it that much better.) I also liked the stout and the light was
actually not bad (I don't care much for light beer but this actually
had some flavor). The amber was ok, the rest I didn't care for. I
wonder if they serve this brew on the floor? I never checked.
Otherwise the CBC itself is a small "cigar bar" tucked up in a corner
where you can sit in comfy chairs/couches and watch the gaming
action. Nobody was ever smoking when I was there. The VP is
horrible and no bathroom. You have to walk down into the casino to
find a restroom.
I finally got to try the Black Cherry Stout (Gold Medal Winner) at
Main Street Station and liked it very much. It's a seasonal brew and
they've never had it when I've been there before. Check it out while
you can!
I got my first $5 scratcher at MSS, and actually saw someone get a
$10 !!
Larry G. Jones at the Plaza is very good, especially for $8 (with a
drink).
Sunset Station is a cool looking casino on the inside and the
cocktail waitress uniforms are some of the sexiest I've ever seen.
They pull off sexy without having to resort to thongs or super high
cuts, etc.. The buffet is good too (especially with 1/2 off coupon!)
The Monte Lago is a really nice, quiet place to gamble. You can just
feel the money walking around in this place. Everyone is dressed
resort casual and everyone is so polite. I think I was the only guy
in the place with a t-shirt on. The Ethel M free candy promo was
great. About a $8 - $10 box of chocolates for $20 thru. Nice.
Same goes for the Westin. Classy looking casino. Quiet. Lots of 30
somethings on up. Nice polite group of gamblers. The $60 for $30
promo is great. Windmer Hefeweizen at the bar too! I wonder what
kind of action it takes to get comped room here or at least a cheaper
casino rate? This would be a nice place to stay and be near the
action of center strip. You can escape the noise and activity of the
strip in here and go to it when you want. Good VP.
If you're downtown and looking for gifts to take home, check out the
gift shop next to the "Golden Girls of Glitter Gulch". It had most
of the same stuff as the other shops downtown and everything I
checked was cheaper in there by at least a buck.
The Plaza was pitching a pretty good double deck bj game. Dealer
stands on soft 17, double any first 2 cards, resplit aces 4 times,
double after split, $5 table. And BJ paid 3:2...none of that 6:5
crap!
Used the CTI code when booking my intermediate car with Dollar, then
used an upgrade coupon when I picked up my car. Lady said I couldn't
use both but she'd let me anyway. Got a Taurus for $20/day! (picked
up and returned at Golden Nugget)
Hofbrauhaus is a heck of a lot more fun at night than during the
day. Last year I had lunch out there and it was just dead. This
year I had dinner and the place was crazy with the polka band and
everyone singing and raising beers, etc.. Fun place to go for dinner
with friends.
The worlds loudest video poker machine has to be a 9/6 JOB at
Fremont.
Highlight of the trip: 4 10's at Pick'Em at the Fremont!
Lowlight of the trip: Got sick on the first day. I was going to bed
at 8 or 9pm! sheesh! Still trying to recover from a NASTY cold.
Finished +$152, 4 nights comped room, lotsa free food. Pretty good
vacation overall other than getting sick.
TAPPER