Trip Report: Blonde4ever’s Perfect Halloween 2016 Trip – Part 1
Blonde4ever shares her Las Vegas Trip Report from October of 2016…
I am less than two months away from my next Vegas Vacation. As always during this time period, I start to run out of new Vegas topics, and I long for my trip to give me fresh material to write about. I realized, however, that I have not done a full-fledged trip report of my 2016 Halloween trip, so I have decided to do it serial style, right here on Vegas Bright. Every week there will be a new installment. So let’s begin, shall we?
Monday, October 24, 2016 – Day One
My family is the proud owners of four old, black suitcases, 3 of which have broken zippers. Because of this situation, I was forced into using a larger suitcase for my Fall trip than I normally like to travel with. As I packed, I marveled at how much space there was and kept on adding things to the suitcase. “Oh look! There is tons of room! I can bring a laptop AND an Ipad!” Normally I am very careful/anal about trip preparations, but this time I slipped up. I did not weigh my suitcase until the moment I was to leave the house.
Keep in mind that I was flying Spirit out of Detroit, so the weight limit is 40 pounds. I weighed my case and was panicked to see that it was 46 pounds. My husband was outside waiting in the driveway, so I began tossing things willy-nilly out of the case; out went the nuts and the hand cream and the shampoo, etc. I weighed it again, and it was at 43; even more things went flying including the laptop. I didn’t have time to give it much thought, so I was fervently hoping I wasn’t tossing anything too precious. I finally managed to get it down to 39 pounds, and we were off to Detroit Metro airport.
I detest the drive from Windsor to Detroit Metro. Actually, I detest driving period. I love to go places; I just hate the “getting there” part. I would rather be 30,000 feet in the air on a plane than drive anywhere. We also have the added “pleasure” of having to cross a border. You never know what kind of delays you will encounter there. I leave ridiculously early for everything which comes in handy if the border agents decide to get out the bomb sniffing dogs. We made it to Metro with hours to spare, yay!
My flight was somewhat delayed when the flight attendants had a difficult time getting a disabled man arranged in his seat. He appeared to have contractures, and they took great pains to try to get him situated as comfortably as possible. Kudos to them for their kindness. Finally, we were off, and I had the usual collection of “different” passengers next to me in my row. The woman beside me donned a surgical mask as soon as she sat down. I did not think that was odd since more and more people seem to wear those nowadays. However, when she decided to open a family sized bag of Doritos and lift the mask every time she ate a chip I changed my opinion. She proceeded to eat the entire bag and at the end of her chip-fest everyone in the row was covered with a fine layer of orange dust. The smell was also making me faintly nauseous. I plugged in my earbuds and began to watch a movie on my IPAD in the hopes of shutting out everyone and everything.
We landed about an hour later than we were supposed to, so by the time I picked up my baggage and caught a shuttle to my first hotel, Bally’s, I was causing my roommate some worry. My frequent traveling partner is Kodidog (her screen name), and she was already at Bally’s waiting for me. She was starting to think she would not have anywhere to sleep that night because the reservation was in my name. She heaved a big sigh of relief when she saw me charging down the hallway towards check in.
After getting settled in our lovely room in the Jubilee Tower, we went down to BLT Steak in Bally’s to enjoy their Happy Hour from 4 to 6. Yippee for half priced cocktails! We had some excellent beverages. I drank one perfect Rusty Nail and got another to bring into the dining room with me when we moved over there for dinner. We had a simply scrumptious meal of their signature popovers, Lobster Cobb Salad, Porterhouse Steak, creamed spinach and roasted Brussel sprouts. It was all described in my article here on Vegas Bright. It was so good I am trying to figure out a way eat there again next trip.
Click one image to open the gallery, then, click through each image using the arrows.
Kodi and I played the slots at Bally’s for awhile after dinner with no exciting wins to report. I have developed a certain mindset towards gambling on the Strip in recent years; to do it as little as possible. I reserve most of my gambling bankroll for downtown. This decision is based on my own personal experiences. The last time I had a winning trip on the Strip was 2012. Since that time all of my favorite machines have been replaced with machines that look similar, but pay out next to nothing, at least for me. My favorite Video Poker machine that I played on for years at Bally’s? Gone. My favorite Buffalo machine at Bally’s? Gone. I have wandered up and down both sides of the Strip visiting almost all the properties, and I have come to one clear conclusion; my money lasts longer downtown.
I approach gambling with the same attitude of many casual gamblers; it is entertainment. I am not an advantage player plotting and planning the best way to beat the house. I want to sit down in a comfortable chair with a nice alcoholic beverage, forget my troubles, and have fun for a few hours. If I lose my stake, so be it. I am ok with that as long as I got in a few hours of fun. If I stay even I am thrilled, because it means I will gamble on the same money tomorrow. And if I come out ahead by a few hundred I am ecstatic. I have never, ever bought anything sensible with gambling winnings. If I have something to bring home at the end of my trip, it is clutched in my hot little hand until I reach my abode where it is tucked away safely to await the next Vegas trip. I am the perfect gambler from the casino’s perspective. Even if you allow me to leave with a little of your money, you can be darn sure it is coming back in a few months.
I always find “travel day” pretty exhausting, so I went upstairs fairly early. No 3 am gambling sessions for me anymore.
To Be Continued next week…
[Photos: Blonde4ever]
Bonnie, aka Blonde4ever, is the admin of one of our favorite Vegas forums: LasVegas4ever. She covers a large spectrum of topics from her personal experiences in Las Vegas.
35 thoughts on “Trip Report: Blonde4ever’s Perfect Halloween 2016 Trip – Part 1”
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Good read!
Thanks!
I always enjoy your reviews. And yes, you (and I) are Vegas’ favorite kind of player….our winnings are just saved up until they return to Vegas to be played again. :) Viva!
Exactly!
Ooh I like this serial approach! This will help fill in the long days until my August trip.
I am glad you like the idea!
I’m right there with you on where I gamble. Even though I’m predominantly a craps player, my money just goes further downtown with better odds and no $15-$20 minimums.
Looking forward to hearing about the rest of your trip!
Yup…downtown is the BEST!
I couldn’t stop laughing after reading about the Doritos lady. A whole bag? Wow!
I know, right? I mean, could she not remove the surgical mask while she ate the bag of chips? So weird.
I will only fly Southwest out of Detro Metro to Vegas these days and get the nonstop flight. There is usually an early morning nonstop flight which is always on time.
I get so frustrated with SW! They only have that ONE non stop a day…at 7 am!!! I have to be at the airport at least by 5 am, which means I have to leave Windsor by 4 am, which means I get up at 2 am, which means I don’t sleep AT ALL! I wish they had a later flight!
I always fly Spirit because they have several non stops a day.
Wonderful pictures! Thanks.
Thank you Cathryn!
Yeah is that last one from your room? Nice view if so.
Can’t wait to read more.
BLT Steak looks like a place I should consider for my next trip. You have a healthy attitude about gambling as entertainment with modest expectations.
Thanks for your comments Tony!
Argh….leaving us hanging!
Muahahaha! (She laughed evilly!)
You are a heartbreaker, and no mistaking it! :(
So glad you liked BLT Steak. It is now a must on my Vegas trips too. And I find Bally’s to be an underrated property.
I agree totally. I love Bally’s…and BLT.
I just love your writing style and perspective. I didn’t know you hailed from Ontario as well. Looking forward to the next post!
Thanks FancyPants…I sure do.
A Canadian obsessed with all things Vegas!
My determined mom figured out how to beat the slots, and it nearly always works for both of us. The trick is not to play your winnings back: every time you get a nice bonus win, keep the ticket separate as a trophy. Only play your gambling money and collect those trophies. Don’t cash them in until you have to. Intuitive gambling makes us Play Until The $ Runs Out but gloating over your trophy wins psychs you into keeping them. And they really add up!
Yeah..I have tried to do that. Sometimes I am successful and sometimes not. It is hard!
Oh, and I’m enjoying your trip story. I will watch for the rest of it. I spent a Halloween on the Strip some years back and want to do next Halloween on Fremont Street. I think it will be much more fun.
I will be downtown for Halloween again hopefully too.
It is a blast!
Enjoyed this trip report, as all the others you’ve shared. Your comment about a perfect Rusty Nail hit home with me. My husband and I use to drink this drink….when we were much younger….and always in Vegas. It was a special drink to me! We live just outside of Detroit and make the tunnel trip to Windsor often to go to Caesars. 20 minutes to Windsor or 4 hours to Vegas…hmm, that’s what I enjoy most about the trip through the tunnel :-) Vegas is calling us back at the end of April…. Look forward to the rest of your report!
Hi CeeZee…didn’t I run into you at Caesars Windsor once?
I LOVE Rusty nails!
Have a great trip in April!
I always love reading your articles. Staying at Mandalay Bay next week (in town to see my favorite band, Steely Dan at THE VENETIAN), but I think I have to stop by BLT Steak. Great pictures!
Thank you Brendon…enjoy your trip!
I always love your articles and perspectives. You have a great attitude about Vegas….it’s entertainment. Looking forward to your next article!!
Thanks for the kind words Donna!
Hey Roomie! Can’t wait to relive this last trip we took together. :-) My mouth is watering, remembering that Porterhouse!