7* retreat with my 89 year old (non-gambling) Aunt

So, I took my 2015 7* retreat trip to Las Vegas during the last weekend possible.

My Aunt, who has been to LV before, but never with a "real" gambler, asked if she could go on a trip with me sometime, and I invited her on this trip.

She's not a gambler (She plays, but a minimum bet level), but said that she'd be fine just staying in the room. She just wanted to "get away". I told her that I would be glad to show her a good time.

We got to Caesars at about 1PM and March Madness weekend had all of the rooms unavailable. I asked if we could check out bags and go to lunch, and hope that the rooms would be ready, so we went to Beijing Noodle No. 9, the old standby.

https://www.caesars.com/content/dam/...nu_1-31-14.pdf

I had Ngau Nam Mien (beef brisket noodle soup) my aunt had char sieu won ton (BBQ pork won ton). A satisfying meal, but pricey compared to what we are used to, but I reminded mu Aunt, this is Las Vegas.

After lunch, we were able to get to our room, a nice room facing the Bellagio fountains and close to the elevators.

I left my Aunt in the room (at her request) and went over to Rio to try to get Penn & Teller tickets, but they were sold out for both Saturday and Sunday. Probably due to the March Madness crowd. Boo hiss . . . .

So I went over to the High Limit pit In Rio and played for awhile. A lady 5 machines down from me hit an $80,000 jackpot on a $10 machine.

I was hanging in there and left $200 up after 1200TC.

Came back to Caesars and went into the High Limit lounge, and did "OK", hanging in there until the last 500TC of a 2500TC day, which cost me about $800.

So, I stayed alive by hitting several $500-$600 jackpots, nothing truly big, but enough to keep me hanging around. Here's an example.




I eventually made another 1300TC at Caesars, but I was down about $1000. Within budget, and I hadn't reached into my "stash", or the $200 in FP I was getting or the $400 in RC that was going to cash in..

Went up to the room and had a chat with my Aunt, got caught up on a lot of "family" things.

Decided to go to dinner at Harrahs Oyster bar since we were going to the High Roller that night.

https://www.caesars.com/content/dam/...umarch2016.pdf

I had a half dozen oyster Royale and bouillabase and she had cioppino.

Oysters Royale




Since Penn and Teller (and most of the attractions) were sold out I used my monthly Diamond certificates for the High Roller.

My Aunt enjoyed the High Roller.

Here's a few pictures.






After the High Roller it was still kind of early, and I suggested that we go to a movie. Batman vs. Superman opened this weekend and we deicded to see it at the theater at the Orleans.

A good movie, but long. We got out of the movie at 11:45PM and decided that it was time to go back to the hotel.

She's asleep as I finish writing my first days report.

Done playing. made my 2500TC day.

 

Day two.

Day two. We both woke up at 6AM and decided to start the day downstairs. Not good luck, but not bad luck. Sort of "middling". Finished downstairs with about 1600TC and down about $1200.

Suggested to my Aunt that we go down to Venetian/Palazzo. My original plan was to put in play down there and take a comp for Bouchon Monday night. Something completely different happened.

We ate at the Gold lounge. There was still food there, but I heard that they will be taking out the food on 4/3. It ended up being brunch. Cheese and croissants.

I was in about 3 markers when I hit on a Double Buffalo Spirit

:

So, March W2-G is made. My goal is to get at least one W2-G every month In each of the last two years, I missed a month.

However, I was still down about one and a half markers even after the Jackpot.

So, I suggested that we go over to Wynn.

We went over and I ended up playing (losing) a little too much. They still have the promotion where a new Red card members gets 2 buffets after making 750 points, so I had my aunt get a Red card and play.

After 2 hours, she had a grand total of 46 points. At that point we traded cards and I went off to put 750 points On her card. We ended up with lunch and dinner at Wynn for Monday.

Lunch would be at Red 8 on my play and dinner at the Buffet on my Aunt's "play". I told her that she might get a teaser offer out of it.

So, we came back to the room. My aunt stayed in the room to watch TV while I went downstairs to finish off my 2500TC day. I played "even" for the last 900TC.

Went upstairs and watched "The Danish Girl" before dinner.

Dinner was at Giada's. We walked over from Caesars. We got there a little early.

We got a very nice table near the window (I guess I should let my host book all of my reservations).

The tasting menu is $120 per person, and a minimum of two people at the table must order it. You also get a copy of the tasting menu with 3 recipes and a signed picture of Giada.

Giada_0198 by dailun posted Mar 31, 2016 at 8:41 PM

Bread Platter




Antipasti




On the next two pictures, I turned off the flash then realized that the pictures might be too dark.

Lemon Crema Spaghetti with Shrimp




Fregolotto




My Aunt had the lamb chops




I had the beef Tenderloin




Smashed potatoes (excellent)




Herb Soft Polenta (also excellent)




For dessert, each person gets 3 choices from the dessert tray

My Aunt had:

(unknown) truffle and hazelnut tiramisu.




I had (L-R) marscapone cheesecake, (I can't remember what the middle One was, but it was good, and Hazelnut tiramisu




Here are the recipes in case you don't get to eat there.

Pan Roasted Salmon




Rigatoni with Vegetable Bolognese





Lemon Ricotta Cookies




Went back to the hotel, we were both full. Shouldn't have snacked on the Cheetos.

Went to sleep at about 10:30PM

 

Day three
Woke up at about 6:30AM, and decided to take my Aunt downtown.

We got downtown before the promotion booth opened and sat to eat at Magnolia's. I had comps there

Afer that,, took my Aunt to all of my 2013-2014 regular haunts, QQQQ, the Four Queens, Golden Nugget, Golden Gate, Binions, Fremont to kill some time befire

Introduced my Aunt to Silver Strike machines, and notices that the still had red/blue caps in the machines. I played all of the free play that I had at each of the casinos. Got another set of red/blue caps from QQQQ. Made money off of each of the free play, but not enough to offset yesterday's losses.






By then, it was 8AM and the promo booth at QQQQ was open I had my Aunt sign up for the players club at QQQQ. For 70 points you get a promotional T-shirt. I wanted to make sure that she got a souvenir from the trip, so I put 70 points on her card and got her a black woman's shirt and kept the T-shirt. She played her free play and we played both the "Bet $10 and get a free Ace" My aunt hit Blackjack on that one, but failed on the second $10 match play.

Went to the post office so I could mail my dirty clothes and 11 Silver Strikes home. For $20 it made less to carry. I now have 129 clear. Good enough to take me out through the end of the year for $300 strikes.

Decided to take her over to show her Aria and made back about $700 playing on $160 of saved FP. Slowly making a comeback, but still down. My Aunt said that all of the casinos were starting to "run together", so I decided to skip going to Cosmopolitan. By now it was 11AM, and time to go to the Wynn for lunch

Had lunch at Red 8.

http://www.visitwynn.com/documents/R...409.1459390561

They gave me $100 comp for lunch for two. How am I gonna spend $100 for two people at a Chinese restaurant? Well, eat at Red 8 and you'll find out. The bill ended up $96 and change. Not bad.

My aunt ordered oxtail Soup, and I ordered Hot and Sour soup.

Minced Chicken and pork lettuce wraps




Singapore rice noodles




Sauteed Green beans.




On the way out, played at $1 Top Dollar machine that had a $5 maximum bet, got the bonus on the first spin, and earned $300.

After lunch I took my Aunt to play in (her first) the slot tournament at Harrahs. She didn't finish in the top 5 of her squad, so I told her that she shouldn't have to check the standings later.

I played a little at Harrahs, made about 216 TC and went back to Caesars to finish my third day.

Played long and hard, but no luck. Finished the first session about 700TC short of 2500, yeah, I decided to "up" my ADT by doing three 2500TC days. That in an of itself wouldn't have been so bad, except for my play at Wynn and Venetian.

Played to make 2500TC and made the last 800TC ahead $4.00 for the session. The best round of play yet.

Went to dinner at the Wynn buffet and miscalculated the line. There was no way that we could've gotten seated, eaten, and still made it to see Terry Fator, so plan B was that we'd use the Wynn buffet for breakfast tomorrow before we went to the airport.

So, we went to the Carnegie deli at Mirage to eat. My Aunt had a 1/2 turkey sandwich, and I had a pastrami Reuben. Used mLife Express Comps to pay for the meal.

Saw Terry Fator. The show was excellent. Would I see him again, probably not. But I do appreciate his talent and would recommend that anyone go see him. A very good singer, and he allows photography and donated 100% of the proceeds of his items for sale out front to disabled veterans/first responders and their families.

Left the Mirage at 9:15PM and went to meet my friend that had my $300 strikes.




Went back to the hotel. Stick a fork in me, I'm done.

 

Day Four - go home morning
Day four - go home day

Woke up at about 6:30AM and ready to go by 7AM. Since it was an hour until the buffet at Wynn opened, I suggested that we go up to Cosmpolitan to look at the "last" of the things I anted my Aunt to see on this trip.

Made a quick walk through of Cosmopolitan and went down to the Wynn. At 10 minutes to 8 (they open at 8), the line was "30 minutes" long. I timed it and when they opened the line, it took us 30 minutes to be seated. I reminded my Aunt that I don't normally go to buffets unless I had a line pass.

The Wynn buffet, as always, was good. Dinner would've been better, but breakfast was just as "nice". I had smoked salmon, cheese, capers, jook (chinese rice porridge), more smoked salmon, a duck potsticker, lobster quiche, OJ and coffee.

It was way too early to go to the airport, so I took my Aunt to a shopping center at 945 E. Sahara where Lotus of Siam, Arawan, and JinMee were located. I have eaten at Arawan (Thai) and highly recommend it. Lotus of Siam is a reknown restaurant for Northern Thai cuisine, and JinMee is a Korean restaurant that Jin Caldwell (owner and chocolatiere of JinJu chocolates, her retail store if in Container Park) recommended to me.

After that, it was time to get gas an drop my Aunt off at the airport. I dropped her off and "started" to continue my winning strak at the airport, where I hit this:





However, I was at the airport too early and succumbed to "the dark side".

Got on the plan and returned home, only to have a 5 hour drive to take my ex-wife and son back to her house for visitation this week. My ex-wife came down to take care of my Dad so I could make the trip.

So, all in all, it was an enjoyable trip. My losses weren't enjoyable, but as I always say, "That's why they call it gambling". My Aunt had a good time and told me that if we never went again, she thoroughly enjoyed that trip. I was glad to do it for my Aunt. Used up the $500 TR food credit, and had meals at Wynn and mLife, so about $650-$750 in food, and superb treatment by all CET staff.

I have a Month to recover for my next trip in April for a GGWU bonus weekend. I am now over 50% of the way to retaining 7* and the year is only 25% over. I am + or - 10% of my allotted entertainment budget for the year, so I'm doing OK. Wish I could've saved the three 2500TC days for Q2. But I'm only six 2500TC days in Q2 away from renewing 7*.

 

Well, the Q2 bonus puts me six 2500TC credits away from 7*. I think I'll go for one 2500TC day. I still have trips scheduled to Reno in Q2. Right now I'm on the phone to get the Signature trip to AC scheduled this morning.

 

No we're close, but not THAT close. She followed me, and periodically I would turn around to make sure that I wasn't walking too fast for her.

She plays golf and bowls once a week, so she's in pretty good shape.