bcmike2342's Spring Fling Report with apology...

I've left out names to protect the innocent and in some cases, I just didn't get them or don't know peoples board names...

Some background, I was in Disneyland California with my family for 8 days until Wednesday April 26th. I flew back to Austin and had to work the Thursday/Friday before flying back to Vegas Friday night after work.

Friday April 28th
Up at 5am to go work. Won't bore you with the details of that but got out around 5pm and had a few hours to kill at my apartment until my flight. Decided to fly Allegiant for the 2nd time this year and roll the dice again. Here in Austin, they just opened a new 'South' terminal at the airport for the low cost carriers because of the growth.

Took me about 35 minutes to drive to the airport; this new South terminal his about 6 miles further from the main terminal and also offers $7/day parking within walking distance to it. I didn't see any covered parking, which was a bit of a concern but I figured I was only going for 2 nights so wasn't too concerned.

The new terminal was interesting...2 TSA lines right when you walk in and basically Allegiant check in, which is the only airline there now. Once you're through the TSA, there's one largish room with a small coffee/snack kiosk on the right and then just seating and a gate. It really reminded me of a small town airport..anyone that's familiar with Bellingham for example. The mens washroom had 2 stalls and 2 urinals, which clearly wasn't enough; especially when plans came in and everyone headed for it. Didn't check out the ladies washroom . I will say the water in the mens was 'burn your hands' hot so I actually had to go tell the maintenance about that and they ended up disconnecting the hot water.

There's an outdoor sitting around with a food truck selling brisket sliders, beer and some other snacks. Was really nice to sit outside and just enjoy the sunny weather and watch the planes.

When the time came to board at about 9:30pm, you scanned your boarding pass and just walked out to the plane on the tarmac. I'd reserved a giant seat (basically just economy but a 25" seat instead of the usual 17". As usual, they'd done an equipment swap and this plane had no giant seats. Luckily I've lost weight over the last year or so and the normal bulkhead bucket seat actually wasn't too uncomfortable. Once we got in the air, I ordered 2 jacks and a diet coke which came to $12 I want to say.. The guy next to me was drinking crown royal that he'd brought on the plane himself.

Landed in Vegas about 10:30 or 11pm and got to the hotel (Planet Hollywood) around 11:30. Got checked into my renovate Resort Vista suite on the 14th floor. The newly renovated rooms are really nice; think I have a video I'll try uploading after. Went down to the casino and grabbed some dinner..i may have gambled for an hour but think I was sleeping by 1 or 2am.

Saturday, April 29th
Ah, one of those days of accumulation where next thing you know, you're passed out and missing everything. I woke up at 5am and stalled in the room drinking coffee until 6am when the Caesars new gambling day starts Went downstairs and played some slots at Planet Hollywood. Gambled a bit along the way at Paris. I always have to play the Rock Around the Clock machines. I had some decent luck on them again.

Walked through Paris to Bally's and messed around there a few minutes. I went into that gift shop thing they have on the side of the casino where you'd pass to go to the Cromwell. They had 24 ounce Miller Highlifes for $2.50 each so I bought a couple. I'd never had Miller Highlife before...; then over to Cromwell. Cromwell was the only place that I had been in up to now where I'd been able to get a comp drink. Had a corona with no lime.

By now, it was getting close to the buffet lunch with everyone at Cosmopolitan, Wicked Spoon. I remember we had to wait a while to get seat and I was already feeling pretty buzzed..I think it was the Miller Highlife.. Well, next thing you know, some of us at the table are ordering the all you can drink for $15. I remember clearly doing the math in my head about how many beers I had to have to get my money's worth out of it. I ended up having 1 plate of food, 4 or 5 beers...a glass of champagne..and then a traveller beer.

We left the Cosmo around 1pm to head to Planet Hollywood where there was a craps shoot going on. Corey (aka 'the Carebear' from halloween') and I headed up to help Aaron with the prep for his Suite.

. I remember making drinks for people, which were probably terrible. I think I had a good chat with WOFKing (maybe?) and definitely know I was talking to Beejay...don't remember what it was though but probably something that made no sense. Was also nice to meet my fellow Canadians and everyone else. Great times from what I remember... I remember a sport coat which I kept calling a suit...but don't remember who was wearing it; just that I liked it.

I think the party wrapped up (?) and some of us went downstairs to gamble. I believe I was with Corey and Jen...then around 6pm, I ghosted on them both. I don't recall if I said I was going to the washroom or just got up and darted. I went back to my room and fell asleep/passed out.

Sunday April 30th
Woke up at 7am...yes, I slept from 6pm to 7am. Apparently I needed it. It turns out that I went to Pin Up pizza and ordered a slice... Woke up and it was uneaten and all over the bed. Apologies to the housekeepers. My flight wasn't until 3pm so I decided I'd make a gambling day of it because I hadn't done that much up until this point.

Went to the Total Rewards desk to get my free play and they needed to call Events. Do some gambling while I wait the hour for them to sort it out. All of the Caesars properties event services are based at the Rio apparently and they only have the option to call them to get support. I wandered over to a 100 red ladies slot or something that I see Aaron play and decided to give it a go. Started with $100 and turn it into $500 before going back to the desk to get my $400 in free play. I put the $500 back into the same slot and continuously hit decent paybacks. As my credits go up, I increase my bets from 200 pennies up to 400 2 cents. When all is said and done, I'd turned it into $1600, erasing any loses I had on the trip.

I used the free play on some slots including the new Bierhaus, which was awesome! I hit the bonus round for 10 spins and retriggered almost right away for another 45 spins. When that was done after about 30 minutes, the bonus round was over $800. I had some other decent hits on the Walking Dead 2 and a couple of other slots but then it was time to go.

Grabbed a cab from Planet Hollywood to the airport and checked into the flight with no problems. Flight was uneventful as well back to Austin and landed around 9pm on the Sunday..then it was back to work Monday morning.

FINDINGS
The pressure of such a short trip and the 8 days in Disneyland previously took their toll on me. I was in Vegas for about 40 hours and think I slept at least 60% of it.
Don't drink Miller Highlife in the morning (or ever) and then follow it up by crown and ice and whatever else I was drinking. The all you could drink at the Cosmo was definitely a bad idea as well.

Having said that, I had an awesome time and hopefully didn't negatively impact anyones trip with my antics. I will keep it more in check next time and there will be less Vegasing! Thanks to VC, VM and Aaron for their organizing and hospitality.

 

Thanks, I think I was mostly coherent at that point. It's Aaron's suite party that I'm hearing things about...

 

Thanks for filling in one of the blanks. I'm sure it was nice meeting you! Just wish I had more of a memory of it..

 

The new terminal is nice but just not that nice. It really was inconvenient to get there compared to the main terminal. Southwest still flies from the main terminal.

The new terminal is about 6 miles further (maybe a bit of an exaggeration but at least 4 I think) because you have to basically drive around to the back of the airport. It used to be a national guard building or something? I usually park at the FastPark and they only shuttle you to the main terminal; then there is a shuttle that picks up at the main terminal and takes you and your baggage to the South Terminal every 20 minutes 'during peak hours'. There's no direct connection between the 2 terminals for walking.

I have no idea what that 'peak hours' meant so I decided just to park at the South Terminal. I'd actually gone in through a gate that was out of parking tickets, so then I had to wait at the terminal for them to bring me one. This was only about 2 weeks after it opened so maybe just a new opening hiccup. It's weird as well because they have shuttles at the south terminal that will pick you up at your car and take you to the lot but its maybe a few hundred feet walking?

I will say it was great deplaning when we came back. I was one of the first off the plane and I was able to get to my car before the people at the back of the plane were even off...and I could see them from my car .

 

Haha, that's definitely something I would encourage someone to do. It's all about the effort though!

 

Hmm... Was I forcing alcohol on you? I don't remember anything too embarrassing but then I don't remember much. I'm usually a pleasant drunk but I haven't gotten that wasted in years... And hopefully won't for years. Still found my room so guess I can take that as a win.

 

How dare I leave out @ctslotters. You're both awesome. Again, don't recall what we talked about but I remember having a conversation with Mr. Slotter, who I didn't recognize... Then someone said that's mr @ctslotters, and I remember saying I didn't recognize him with his shirt on. This goes back to one of the slot tournaments they did on YouTube.. Anyways, i enjoyed speaking with you both. Hopefully it wasn't all gibberish.