Bday trip to Vegas

Going to recap my Vegas trip -- my first vacation with my boyfriend. We left the Friday of Memorial Day weekend and were supposed to stay a week. My birthday was Saturday. We stayed at Aria in a corner suite for three nights then moved to Cosmo to a terrace one-bedroom with a fountain view.

I had gotten a very nice bonus this year and it was the first year that I did not need to use most of it to pay off law school loans. So I had approached my bf in February about treating us to a vacation this spring, he picked Vegas and I began my planning. Got reasonable prices on first class tickets, booked comped rooms and started research as to things he'd like to do in Vegas. He's not much of a gambler so I wanted to make sure I didn't spend too much time gambling (I primarily slot).

We flew out of Newark on the Friday of MDW at 7pm. He was very worried about the TSA lines so we got there at 3:30. We checked our bags and were through security by 4:10. We got something to eat, walked around and boarded easily. Flight took off relatively on time and we landed early.

This was my first non-basic room offer from Aria. It included transportation. The driver met us at baggage claim and it was a full limo! The tower suite-check in was nice, the free beverages were key for us over our stay and I loved the corner suite!

 

Bf was blown away by the room. He said he wanted to unpack some and said I should go downstairs to gamble while he took care of it.

Bc I was going to spend a or less time gambling this trip than normal, I decided to play at levels higher than I usually play.

Put $300 into my favorite Cleo II and this happened.









Got that paid out and went over to a $1 Kitty Glitter. Put $400 in, betting $30 a spin. Got a couple good line hits and bonused with a few spins left. Had $600 in the bonus until the last spin (which I forgot to snap).



BF was supposed to meet me downstairs to head to Cabo Wabo (he loves 80s rock; well visit several more spots) but I didn't want to walk around with all this cash so I headed upstairs.

Turns out my bf decorated our room for my birthday while I was downstairs. Very sweet of him.





We headed to Cabo Wabo for a bit but were pretty beat. Stayed for a drink but came back to Aria.


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We got about 5 hours of sleep and I gambled for an hour before brunch.











We had brunch outside at herringbone. It was pretty good but the atmosphere and drinks were better than the food. I loved my passion fruit cocktail.





We got two chairs together at the pool and spent a couple hours there. I can't do too much time in the sun but we spent a lot of time in the pool so that was much more bearable!

I gambled for another hour before dinner.





And got my third hand pay!








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We headed over to MB. Had dinner at Border Grill. Had good drinks and food - really liked my enchiladas. Forgot pics though. They did give us milk and cookies for my birthday.



We then headed outside to the Beach to my bday concert - the I Love the 90s tour. Which bf grudgingly came to but ended up loving. I had a blast - I love salt n pepa and the other acts played their few songs for which they were famous. I have some short videos if you want me to post

We went home after as we had had a long day and wanted to celebrate my bday more. We had some champagne and BF had purchased a pastry from Jean Philippe and brought candles with him.



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Got a better night sleep and woke up Sunday refreshed

As would become our schedule, I went downstairs and gambled for an hour in the morning. Amazingly my bf takes much longer to get moving and to get ready than I do so those periods provided good times for me to gamble













We went to arias brunch which BF enjoyed. Then back to the pool. With some finagling, we got two chairs together again.

Showered and went downstairs for my afternoon gambling hour. Sit down at buffalo grand as the guy next to me hits this. He asked me to take a photo and text it to him as he left his phone upstairs.



Karma for cheering him on BF found me as I was waiting for the HP. He was surprised - both by the jackpot and by the bet size. He also picked the free spins bonus on Cleo II and picked the highest #.












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Sunday night was our fancy dinner out.

We dressed up and headed to Sinatra's.

BF got the clams (which he loved) and lasagna. I got the veal parm and spaghetti.





We then headed to the Eastside lounge for Michael Monge. Who was great but we caught him a couple songs before a break. We had a couple drinks, waited through the break and stayed for a few more songs. But wanted to dance.

So we headed to carnaval court. We caught the end of the band there and then a ridiculous dj. There was also a super drunk exhibitionist girl who grinded on many men and women and flashed her bare ass. She was quite entertaining.

 

Woke up Monday to tens of texts among my family.

My dear 99 year old grandma had been getting progressively more ill the week before I left. I visited with her the night before our trip and I knew there was a good chance it was the last time I'd see her.

She was taken to the hospital Monday morning. I started to feel very selfish as I didn't want my wonderful vacation to end but of course I would leave as soon as my dad said I needed to leave. By later that morning my dad didn't think I would need to leave and that the doctors would take the next few days to assess the issue.

We checked out of Aria with my express comps and my resort credit taking care of the bill. We checked into Cosmo and got a fountain view one bedroom terrace room right away!

 

We grabbed lunch at the overlook grill and quickly went to the boulevard pool. Cosmo kicked my butt on Monday in terms of gambling. Only two decent hits.





We headed to Fremont for the night. Heard a good Elvis band (Tyler James) and just walked around the various casinos. Sat outside at the GN pool with some beers and watched the Sharks.

We had dinner at Carson Kitchen. It was very rich but good. We got the bacon jam and Brie, the cheesesteak pierogies and tempura green beans.






We walked through Fremont east and came across the container park. I loved the neon and the praying mantis sculpture outside the park was very cool.









There was a punk rock festival downtown too. Some of the hairstyles were impressive.

We headed back to one of my favorite views in Vegas.




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On Tuesday we spent some time at the bamboo pool. Gambling was a bit better that day.

First time with a good bonus on the river bonus on Wonka.





I did terribly on buffalo gold at Cosmo.







A zero bonus on Cleo II.



A redeeming bonus on Cats.



Continuing the 80s Rock theme, We headed first to Rio to see Kiss's mini golf course. My first time at Rio. We saw some memorabilia but didn't play. We then headed to Circus Circus to Vince Neil's bar. My first (and only) time at CC. BF was a little disappointed by the bar. We played some coin slots which was fun. We walked down the strip and came across the new fountain at Wynn.



We had dinner at Yardbird. I think I like th brunch menu more. We shared the fried green tomato BLT, BF got the fried chicken and waffles and I got the BBQ chicken. Mainly for the sides, which were disappointing.







We headed upstairs to the Rockhouse bar. They have live bands Mon-Wed. Band was good and had a viola player. After about a half hour there, BF turns to me and says "I think that's Flava Flav." And it was - fully outfitted with the huge clock. We chatted with him for a couple minutes and BF congratulated him on the hall of fame induction.







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Gambled some on Wednesday morning.


















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I had started getting more serious texts that morning from my dad.

And received word while we were having breakfast at the Henry that we should come home that day. So I changed our flight to the redeye that night and received word an hour later that my grandma had passed away.

It was the second time in 14 months that a close family member has passed away while I was in Vegas. It's an eerie feeling.

We went to the pool in the afternoon for a bit, watched some fountain shows from the balcony and packed. We did some last minute souvenir shopping and headed over to Flamingo so that bf could go to Margaritaville. We saw one more fountain show from ground level.

Headed home on a redeye and was able to get a three-seater for the two of us. Got a bit of sleep, slept a bit more at bf's apartment and then we drove to my apartment where I changed and we headed to the funeral.

Don't want to end this on a morbid note.

Was a bit nervous for my first real vacation with my boyfriend but it turned out wonderfully, apart from the terribly sad ending. We didn't get to do some of the fun events we had planned (Raiding the Rock Vault, Absinthe, Beauty & Essex) so we'll have to plan another trip!

Ended up around $1k for the trip. Left Aria up $3k but didn't do very well at Cosmo. Even though my trip at Cosmo was cut in half, my host comped the charges, which was appreciated.

 

It looked cute. I was surprised my bf didn't want to play as we had trekked out there. They just moved to rio so were still setting up. And it was very quiet at golf and at rio generally. But should be a fun diversion!


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