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Arrived at 9:30 am. and proceeded to Alamo via bus and picked up a cute red compact car, a great deal from www.travelnow.com that was $200 for the 11 days. We proceeded to Vacation Village for the spin and as usual $1 for me and Harv $5. Oh well, the chance is there to win half of your airfare and so we will continue to try. We proceeded to Main Street Station for the first 3 nights of our visit. We had been comped up front for the room based on alot of play on the 10/7 Double Bonus machines on a one night stay in December '99. After the first evening's meals, I started asking at the slot booth for comps for meals. They always called a slot host into the decision and all our requests for Buffet or 777 Brew Pub were granted. After three days of play there, I will request 3 nights and a silver card in December when we plan to return. On Saturday night, our last at MSS, or should I say early Sunday morning(like 2:00am.) our son Bryan arrived from NC. We walked from MSS over to Fremont Street and did a little touristy photography with his digital camera. Soon the pictures of the trip will be featured on his site.

Sunday we moved to Caesar's Palace for the next two nights. The guys dropped me off as it takes longer to get a car from Valet there than it does to go park in self park. So they went to the garage and I proceeded to check in. At 3:30 in the afternoon the line was horrendous and there were many people working. I finally found out what had delayed the check-ins. They were offering all reservations requesting two beds a "free on them" transfer to the Tropicana! Whoopee, but no thanks, I will stick with my $59 for the first night and free the second and a $50 gourmet comp and 2 free buffets. Right before leaving home I received another 2 buffets free so now we are talking Lox and Bagels two nights! It turns out that the assistant manager was the person I was talking to and he said, "would I mind a rollaway bed in a very nice large room with a king bed"? "Sure," I say with a half smile that was the acknowledgement of his 'look'. Off I go to meet the guys standing patiently on the steps. I said, "follow me" and we were off. They wanted to go for luggage first, but I had to see if my intuition was as fine tuned as I thought. Up we go to the room and Voila what a suite! Not their fanciest I am sure, but the modern decor, large area, table and chairs, bar, etc. etc. etc. and black bathroom with double Jacuzzi was more than they expected. It was sure fun to see their surprise! We proceeded to the garage to retrieve the luggage. As we reached the Forum Tower elevators one opened immediately, we and another couple jumped in. Five floors before ours the elevator stopped and then dropped a few feet and the power went out and we were stuck! After a 40 minute wait and just when we(the three of us and the couple from Egypt)were all getting more than anxious, we heard voices outside the elevator door and they pulled the outside door open and we got the inside one open and we had to "jump down one at a time and get out of their fast" Oh, oh, I am getting nervous now...I started to push the luggage toward the door and the men said, "leave that and jump, now!" Okay guys now you got me scared and I jump and it is about 3 feet a little more than I expected and I pull my back, but we are all out and they are giving us cold water and now we are all sweating like the guy from Egypt. Once we finally get the courage to proceed to the room with the luggage, that also made it off, we are not so excited about the room or anything. It was not fun!! We played and lost, also not fun. I doubt that we will get anymore offers from there. Our level of play was way down as the VP gods must have been on vacation. Almost forgot to mention that since Sunday and Monday nights were part of their 4th Holiday we could not use the buffet comps!

On 4th of July morning Bryan and I went over to the Buffet at Flamingo to use some comps that I knew would be dropping off before my Dec. visit. I love to sit in the smoking section at the buffet as it is the best view of the waterfalls, fish, ducks and swans. It cannot compare with MSS for food, but the view is my favorite. We then walked to Bally's to check-in. I was amazed that they gave us the keys although they said the room would not be ready for a few hours. We went back to Caesar's where I checked out and Bryan went to the room to tell Harv we had already checked into Bally's. I was rather surprised we had not been comped more due to the elevator incident and was told that it was a common occurance and they did not comp for it ever! Hmmm?

Our move to Bally's was postponed Monday by a drive to Henderson, NV to the Reserve. It was an extra point day and I had a small gift for someone that recently had started to work there. We played a couple of hours and I hit the dueces twice on the machine I was on!!! Harv played Bonus Poker his new choice, as he hates to give up the 2 for 2 pairs on Double Bonus. We finally return to Bally's and take the luggage to the room. It is not my favorite casino, but we had a okay offer from them and it allowed us to access other places we enjoy. It also gave us easy access to the South Strip as we had decided to play at NYNY with the hopes of a Christmas offer. On the 4th I made the guys a little angry when I spent 4 hours at the outlet mall. I cannot understand the problem; all they did was sit on the benches and enjoy the summer attire of the women shoppers. Bryan left on Wednesday morning way too early. How can I forget what we did all day Wednesday? Wed evening we went to Caeaar's to use the Buffet comps. Harv loves the shrimp cocktail as much as I love the Lox. Thursday I had a buffet at Bally's and then we did the south strip visit to NYNY. I think that we will get an offer for a few days comped in December. They will be looking to get some of the money back we took from there. FINALLY, Royal #2 for Deb. A dollar one to boot! I got a little teary-eyed when it popped up, not the way I thought I would respond. Harv was to my back and playing strong...he only took a moment to come see the Royal as his machine was up to 400 credits and purging on every hit!!! I thought he was on quarters and here it was $, too. What a fun visit we had at the "Big Apple". Got a T-shirt for the Royal and now I will have to lose weight to get into it! We took a drive to Jean casinos in the afternoon. Jean, NV is South of the Strip about 15 miles and it is a delightful drive through the desert. We were not impressed by the Casinos and returned to Vegas in short time via I-15 not the slower scenic route. We decided to play awhile at Stratosphere. I guess we should have saved our money. Neither of us could get going enough to generate the points we had hoped for.

Friday was the final moving day for this trip. We were off to Sam's Town out on Boulder Highway. It is only a 20 minute trip east on Flamingo from Bally's so we were there and checked-in in no time. I had talked to my host earlier and had asked for Silver Card instead of Gold as the restaurants we favored were all covered on the silver and we then did not have to feel we had to play as heavy as with the gold. The next surprise for Harv was we got a better room and that was a "B" suite which is top of the line. Although Harv does not favor cowgirls, southwest decor or country music he had to admit it was wonderful. We played way above silver level nevertheless!

Saturday the 8th was the SHG at Sam's Town. The Casino Hosts did a great job of welcoming the "group" and I enjoyed my role as greeter and giver of the gift that ST gave to all the attendees. Met more from the list and I promised that Harv would make an appearance there as he was ill for the New Years' Eve party. I was wrong...no Harv! Seems that just about the time he was to go get ready for the event, the VP gods smiled on him and he never left the machine he was on for more hours than you would believe! Mid-party I did go looking for him and there he was in VP heaven so I wished him extended luck and returned to the party. We pretty much enjoyed ST machines and did not venture anywhere during our stay there. As Sam's Town is changing how they comp their customers, we will be watchful as to whether we will continue to play there. We will know more in December.

On the 10th, we left ST and Vegas behind and drove to Alamo to return the car we did not use enough, but surly enjoy having. We arrived at the airport way ahead of schedule and then were told that there would be at least a 2 hour delay on our flight to Cleveland. We arrived in Chicago after our connecting flight was to have left. Somehow, we were lucky enough to find they had held the flight a few minutes for us. We were sardines on that flight. It was lucky it is only about an hour to Cleveland from Midway in Chicago. We arrived, but of course the luggage did not get there with us. We waited for the next flight, in hopes, and sure enought Southwest had it on that flight. We arrived at home at 1 am. the 11th. wide awake, it was only 10 o'clock to our bodies!! It was all fun and we cannot wait until we return!

WATCH FOR NEW TRIP REPORT FOR SUMMER 1999...JULY 8 - 20!!!!!

I cannot believe that it is has been this long since I have updated this page...boring!! SORRY I cannot remember the details of the Summer '99 trip except that Harv had his first Royal and I did not get my second yet!!! Also I met my friend from the SH list and had the opportunity to attend the "Get Together" for SHL at the Venetian!! Classy affair and neat to put faces on email addresses.

To give you an idea of just how bad my memory is getting, I cannot put much detail into the December '99 trip. It was our first New Years Eve in Vegas and we were so excited about the party we were invited to at Sam's Town...and then Harv got sick and I went with Lolly and others from SHL and it was a great meal and beautifully decorated but I returned to our room for us to be together to usher in 2000. Neither of us got a Royal and we had a great time as usual except Harv was still ill for the trip home. December 22 - 30 1998 Only eight short days, not nearly enough.

Arrived Midnight on the 22nd and as we entered the airport a man quickly walked up to us and said, "Welcome to Las Vegas!"; it was my cousin Jerry on his way from his home in Sacramento to PA with a plane change in Vegas. Nice surprise.

From the airport we took the Alamo shuttle to rent a car. This was a first and we are glad we finally decided to rent the car. We had been shuttle specialists but with fewer days than normal we did not want to do the all day shuttle runs we were use to. I was navigater. It paid off that I always watched Street signs and remembered directions from taxi and shuttle trips.

From the Alamo office it was a few miles to the Flamingo for our first "free" nights. We were there for two free from staying in the summer. Love the free nights. We had a nice Strip view and we always enjoy their floor to ceiling windows. We did alot of losing there. The one .25 Full Pay Jacks or Better machine that I have found there is located mid-casino near the doors. It sits alone and is often busy. I played quite awhile. It has always paid me but, not in big ones. Look for it to be gone or replaced by an 8/5 by our next trip. As usual at the Flamingo, I win on the Poker machine and then throw it away in a dumb "Flaming 7". They use to pay me nicely, but now they rob me. No more, though!!

Only slept a couple of hours. Went to bed at 4:30 (that is 7:30 in PA) and by 10:00a on the 23rd we were headed to Reserve. On our way we were stopping for the Air Ticket Spin at Vacation Village. When we went to the window the girl was on break so we sat down to get a coffee while we played and waited. I picked out a not full pay bonus dueces machine and put a $20 in and on the fifth hand it dealt me 3 dueces and sure enough the fourth came up and it started playing Harv's fav. song "I'm In the Money". They paid me $500 and my confidence swelled as I then went over to spin for the plane trip. Sure enough I won my usual $1. Harv hit for $10 and we tried to do something more but no luck. Besides we were off to the Reserve where I had thought that I would repeat with a Royal there.... but no such luck. Played a long time on a few dollars and when I asked if I had played long enough to go to the buffet for lunch, it was a quick okay! I feel funny with their system as you go to the restaurant without a paper in hand and then only give your name and there is the comp. Their buffet if a good one. We played a short time after lunch, but our luck had not returned so we were gone. There were no lines waiting to cash out money so I think it was a slow day at the Reserve for others, too. We stopped at a liquor store and got some beer and snacks and headed back to the Flamingo. We had talked of a nap, but then the old "stand by" poker machine was empty so I gave it a few dollars and it gave me a few more back. I forgot to mention that when we picked up the car at valet parking at the Flamingo there was a slushy ice build up in the fountain. It was neat to see, but attested to the fact that it was very cold the first few days we were there. Went to bed early as we were not winning and we were tired.

The 24th was a move day. We packed and at noon we checked out of Flamingo. A short time later we checked into Imperial Palace. Although we had a room there for the rest of our stay, we also slept around. Upon unpacking at the Imperial we packed a few essentials and drove out to Sams Town for the Las Vegas Advisor Free Night. Had to wait for a long time for the room to be cleaned and I insisted on being in a location where I could see the Wolf Show and then I was having such a good time gambling I never did see the show that day!! We wondered around as I looked for a machine with my name on it. It was actually a long time finding the right one! I spent a few twenties and then decided to use my buffet coupon but Harv had other ideas....he hates buffets. He ended up going to the food court for a hamburger and I went to the buffet. I really did not expect them to give me the buffet for half price as it was a buy one get one coupon, but I asked and sure enough they were kind enough to say okay! It is not a super buffet but it was just fine for me. I eyeballed the candy apples but resisted. After dinner I started looking for Harv and also sniffing out that perfect machine. On my walk around who do I see but great friends Vic and Nancy; I sit down beside them and drop a $20 in and start hitting some decent pays on the Duece machine. I then remember that I have a gift for them in our room as I was hoping to see them when we were out their way. When I got to the room Harv was asleep, he was suffering from a cold. He said he would be down later and off I go with the gift for Vic and Nancy. When I put it on my machine it hit the collect button and it started to empty. After they opened the gift, I put another 20 in and started playing again. In minutes, it dealt me the 4 dueces and again it was a bonus machine and again I won $500. As it was Christmas eve, I was feeling like Santa had arrived! Ended up putting about 11,000 points on my card in the two days we were there. We eventually moved to Triple Play machines and they sure add points up fast. Our friends left, Harv went to bed and I played until 3am. On Christmas day, I hit for $250 on an Elvis machine (had to try them). We had a great lunch at Smokey Joes Cafe and headed back to our room at the Imperial.

Saturday 26th. Once we were organized we decided to take a trip to Caesars, stop at the "Forum" and just dummy around. I spyed a Roaring Twenties Machine right before we headed into the Forum. I had lost quite a lot on Video Poker so forgot about getting enough points to hear from Caesars for awhile. We had not seen the Roaring Twenties before so the sounds intriqued us and we got started. I won a few dollars and decided that was enough before I was in to Caesars for even more $$$$ Harv was up and was looking for an excuse not to go shopping. He decided to stay at the machines and I would check back in an hour and a half. Sure enough while I was gone Harv hit his first ever Jackpot for 4000 quarters. He was so cool when he showed me his winnings. We smiled the whole way back to our room. We had to get ready for a trip to the Orleans as Harv had a ringside ticket for the Boxing Matches. That is what makes the difference between a good trip and a great trip to Vegas for Harv...BOXING. I decided that I would play VP the whole time and sure enough I could not get so much as a full house so I shuttled to Gold Coast certain that my luck would change there. Couldn't even get three of a kind there so back I shuttled. At least the time on the shuttle I was not losing money! The Dollar Tip both ways was little compared to the 20"s I would have been feeding to the machines. Most of the matches went the distance so it was a late night and I was sitting at a table that must have been set up for programs or something for the match. I looked like I belonged there evidently as many people came by to ask directions etc.

We had eaten in the Buffet and they had those crayfish that I swore I was trying this time. I covered the poor critters eyes and yanked his tail off. Fortunately I was not that fond of the taste so now I don't need to worry about that anymore. The buffet is not the greatest, but adequate and I like the cajun flavors so I rather enjoyed it. The Key Lime pie is worth the stop! When we got back to the Imperial I was done for the night, but Harv ventured down to listen to the music at the Barbary and play a little poker at the bar.

Sunday we headed to the Northwest looking for Arizona Charlies that we read about in the Advisor, but have never seen in our shuttle trips or taxi rides. It was not that hard to find and after losing there we continued on to the Fiesta. I continued my losing ways. I played at several crowded areas and would not do enough to play very long then I would try elsewhere. It wasn't working for me. I decided to get Harv and see if he wanted to go to Santa Fe or Texas. I walked the Casino for so long I began to worry. I checked out every bar twice and then finally I spotted him behind a pole at a bar I had passed two times before; he had been there forever. He started hitting on a machine and had not left that bar. Sounds like Harv is the one that is winning on this trip ....RIGHT! I sat down and played a few minutes while he went to the boy's room and sure enough I did nothing but lose. By the time he cashed out, we just headed back to the strip.

December 28th. We are going to meet Nancy and Vic again today and decided to put the money where the points are(Sams). We did add about 5000 more points to our account. I had talked to a Slot host and I will contact her before our next trip to see if we can stay there for free a few nights. We were getting tired and hungry and Vic wanted to take us to the Italian Restaurant at Sams. They have a few comps more than us!!!!! so they took us. Wow, was it a fun meal. We really enjoyed ourselves! A special thanks to them for all the nice things they do for us! We gambled for a short time after dinner...they were hitting and we were not so we headed for Imperial.

Today is another move day as we have a free night and a buy one get one for "Enter the Night" at Stardust from the Advisor. We got checked in after a short visit to the Hilton. (Wanted to give them a little of our money just so they knew we were in town!) We got our room, 14th floor with a nice view, and the tickets for the show. They were neat seats on the extreme right of the stage and very close. Harv loved the view and I picked out all the bruises from the workout the girls get! They are hard workers and cute and FIRM! The Show did not impress me as much as Jubilee but it was good for the price. We put a few points on our card but nothing great in the win category. I did play a long time at a Roaring Twenties machine.

December 30th. This is leave day and it always makes me sad to leave. I really love this place. Finally I get Harv to go to the Beltz Outlet Mall. It is indeed large but we only spend an hour and a half and I bought nothing so it will be a place to visit again for a longer time. In the evening we eat on comps at Flamingo buffet. The crowds are getting younger as New Years is near. We return our car early as we were not sure of the amount of time to get to location and to airport. Our trip back was to be at 12:30 am on the 31st and it was 1:30 when we departed. The pilot must have been speeding as we got back into Pittsburgh in plenty of time for our departure for DuBois Airport. We arrived home to snow and more bad weather and I am ready to leave for Vegas as soon as possible.
July 2 -13, 1998

Met our son Bryan at Las Vegas airport. He flew in from Raleigh to spend July 2 - 5 with us. We stayed at Flamingo the first three nights. We love the view from Flamingo. We got a high Strip view directly across from Caesars Palace fountains! When Bryan left for the airport on Sunday, we left Flamingo for the next 3 nights at Treasure Island. There was a $49 dollar/night special and that way we could order Mystere` tickets 30 days in advance. If you are not staying at TI, you can only book Mystere` tickets 7 days in advance. We had wanted to see the show for years and it was the best spent money on this trip (well except the 5 quarters that won me a Royal at the Reserve!!!)

I am going to back up and say a little about the Flamingo. It is were I feel the most at home in Vegas because we have stayed there so many times. The pool area is by far the best, in my opinion. The outside area behind the casino is well worth the walk through to see the flamingos (real ones), the penguins, and the beauty. The only negative thing that I have to say about a visit to the Flamingo is the marketing people trying to get you to view the Time Shares. There has got to be a sign or something so that a couple is not repeatedly approached. It is a bother to the patron and a waste of the Sales staff time when you have already been there done that. Harv and I have devised a method to help us avoid the Sales people. We stay far enough apart when walking in the areas of the Hotel where they are, so we are not identified as a couple. It works! Since converting to a Video Poker player from a Slots player, I found it less fun to gamble at Flamingo. I found only one full pay $.25 Jacks or Better machine. It was near the doors at the front center of the Casino and it was a wait your turn kind of a thing. Since I love Deuces and there are no full pay ones there it looks like we will be looking for a different home base casino.

The Treasure Island rooms were less than I had expected and I was not impressed. We did have an angle view of the Pirate Fight which Harv never tires of, so that was a plus. It was close to the Mall and in the July heat it was not too far to the "Shuttle Heaven" area on the North side of the Mall. Another plus. Would I chose to stay there again?? NO. Unless it was a free room I would not consider staying there again.

From TI we moved to the Golden Nugget ( trying to help boost Mirage stock ), again I was not at all impressed. I asked for a view and said I would trade close to the elevator for the view. I guess I should have known what I wanted to view and been more specific! The view they gave me was of the entrance where I could view cars pulling in and taxis too... Live and learn. I will ask for a south view or close to the elevators. I prefer a room with windows to the floor and the windows were small and high. The shower smelled moldy. I am still looking for a Downtown Casino where I can gamble and see something from the window and spend half of my trip there. Think it is time I try the Fremont or Main Street Station.

From the GN we moved back to Flamingo. This time we did not want to wait for a Strip view room to be cleaned so we opted for a view of the gardens and pool. This view lacks the excitement of the Strip view, but wow is it lovely. We were orginally planning to stay two more nights there and then move on to the Stratosphere for the final two nights (the last night we were getting the Redeye home so the Strat's two nights free offer seemed to fill the need). We bused down to the Strat earlier and with all those wonderful Video Poker Machines I could not play longer than my own money....I lost way too much and decided that not even for free nights could I afford to play another $ there. Thus we spent the remaining four days at Flamingo

I am in the process of learning Video poker. I bought the Panamint Tutor program and realized that I also needed books on the strategy as nearly all I did on the Tutor was make it buzz! I wrote to Jean $cott and she helped me with selecting the books. I am still making mistakes, but at least I understand what I should have done and why. I am at the reading stage for the professional level now and still learning and still practicing and still making mistakes.

Well the next thing I must do is at least give you a glimpse of what I did do with the practice and study. I learned how to select a machine worth playing. I learned to recognize mistakes that I made. I was not playing perfect play, but I was trying to. I hit Deuces twice at Gold Coast and had good returns at Orleans, Fremont, Flamingo (Jacks or Better), Sunset and Main Street Station. I hit a Royal on a Deuces Machine at Reserve and my husband took pictures and I loved it! Now for the confessions part....I threw away alot of the winnings on some of my favorite $ Slots, but not as many. I am weaning myself away dramatically. Hopefully in December, I will be more proficient on the VP and able to walk by a music playing Flaming 7's without a need to play them!

Speaking of December....guess it is about time to start making some reservations....I think it is time we spent New Years Eve in Vegas!!!! This summer we spent 4th of July in Vegas; it seems fitting then to do New Years Too!

Next report in January hopefully...

December 19 - 30, 1997

No, we cannot retire; and yes, we lost a few. That pretty much answers the two most asked questions. For those who frequent Las Vegas, there are any number of other questions and those are the ones I will attempt to answer.

First, where did we stay and what kind of deals did we get?

We stayed at Flamingo the first four nights. The deal was a special that I got through the Hotel and not through Casino Marketing. It was two free nights with the following two at $29 per night. It had to be within a certain date and we could have stayed one more night at the $29, but there was another deal that I wanted to use, also, within the same dates. The 23rd we moved to Bally's for $65 per night, but it included two Jubilee tickets. The free tickets were in the back most section. We were in the last row U and the seats were fine. I doubt that there are any really bad seats. The price was right and the show was everything the advertising says! We really enjoyed every minute and would see it again. Christmas Eve we moved to Caesar's Palace. The deal here was $50 a night and $50 in slot play we could only stay two nights here to be within the dates alloted. We had always wanted to stay at Caesar's but never could afford it. Now we know why we wanted to stay there! Our room was in the new Palace Tower and it was a room to kill for! Fifty feet from door to windows. WOW. The window faced Bellagio and will be a more pleasant view when it and Caesar's Pool area are completed. (did not detract from the room though) On the 26th it was back to Flamingo for $68 for two nights and since we could not get our stand-by - High Facing the Strip. We settled for High Facing the Gardens, pleasant and a restful view. The final two nights were at the Stardust. The Las Vegas Advisor free night offer is great and the following night was at $29. An average $14.50 a night for one of the best views of the Strip anywhere. The room was high and in the West Tower facing the strip.

Second, how did we handle the moves?

We packed a little lighter than usual, but for eleven days one needs alot. We have luggage with wheels and they got a work-out. We may have looked like vagabonds; but, if you are on the Strip at Noon most days, you will see a parade of other "dealshoppers" pulling suitcases on to the next hotel. For the move to the Stardust we did use a cab. We were going to try a CAT bus for the move, but with the Holiday masses on the bus even I opted for the taxi.

Third, where did we eat?

To look at me you will realize that this is my favorite question. Armed with the Advisor's coupon book we eat at the best and save money, too. The Buffet at Main Street Station is all that The Advisor has talked about. We had to eat there twice. We also did a shuttle ride to Boulder Station on Christmas Day and ate at their buffet. I wrote an email to Boulder Station complaining about the seating in the booths. You sink down until you are about chin to table. Also, there is a leg that is a knee breaker when you try to get out. Come to think of it, we did buffets only this trip. The exception was a very late night snack at Stardust's coffee shop. Learned to walk to the back and sit at the counter. NO Waiting! (Loved the Onion Rings). Just read today that Stardust had upped the price on their buffet. That did not upset me, as I do not favor their buffet so it is just another reason for me to avoid it. Enjoyed Bally's Kitchen for breakfast one morning. I would not make a special effort to eat there, but when we stayed there it was worth trying. I do believe that my favorite buffet for view is the Flamingo. I prefer the window section in smoking the best. I always ask for the window tables and almost always they have been able to accommodate me. Friends who live in Vegas part of the year took us to the Sunday brunch at the Santa Fe. It is a must if you have a car. My friend hit dueses and her husband made a little on $$ so it was a fun brunch.

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