I did a quickie trip to Caesars Palace arriving Sunday afternoon and leaving Monday night (Labor Day) after the traffic rush back to LA.
We left late enough Monday night to miss the traffic snarl and except for a short delay at the Agricultural Inspection station in California it was "speed limit" all the way. Driving to Vegas -- departing LA Sunday morning -- was easy with the roads wide open.
This was a promotional trip with $900 free play plus High Roller tickets. For the second time I never made it to the High Roller.
Sunday night dinner was at 7 at Gordon Ramsay at Paris and it was superb in an unusual way. My date's Rib Eye was slightly overcooked. But slightly was too much for the staff there and they brought her a new Rib Eye even though she had already devoured half of the first one -- and she didn't ask for a replacement. Yes, the service was outstanding, and the Alaskan King Crab legs which were meant as a "side" were really enough for a whole meal. My date was not a coffee drinker but when I ordered coffee with the chocolate spoons filled with Amaretto and Baileys and some other goody she couldn't help but ordering coffee as well to enjoy this fantastic treat. This continues to be my favorite Vegas restaurant and this was my fourth dinner there. The only problem with the place is that the music is too loud, too much rock 'n roll, and makes you shout to have a conversation. Even the wait staff complains about the high volume.
We had tickets for Absinthe at Caesars but dinner took longer than we thought -- because we enjoyed everything so much and lingered -- and never made the show. No charge for the tickets.
We played a little craps and a little video poker. I finished the night down about $800. My date was up about $200.
Monday is when I could claim the $900 free play on my offer. We played video poker with it since the free play could only be converted into $100 promo chips.
I will give you the final tally on our play in a moment.
We had lunch at Mesa Grill which was terrific, and at 6pm we had dinner at Nobu which was amazing.
Gaming on Sunday: my date finished the trip with video poker and craps up $681. I finished the trip with craps and video poker up $1200.
The big winnings for both of us came at the craps table. It was a $10 table and one shooter who used the "hardways set" made 8 passes and four different points. My $10 Fire Bet paid $250. I played conservatively and didn't press much at all. But the player immediately to my left who was negative $2,000 before this shooter got the dice paid back his $2,000 in markers and cashed out a profit of $7,135. I knew exactly what he cashed out because I was watching the chips being colored up and then saw him give the dealers the $135 as a tip.
While walking over to the Mesa Grill we took a look at the new "Poker Room" at Caesars. See the photos below. It's not a "room" any more but a sectioned-off part of the main Forum Casino floor and unfortunately poker players will be hearing noise from the casino floor and the sports book. Too bad. Caesars used to have a great poker room but that room will be part of the new nightclub. The tables aren't in yet but there is room for plenty of them.
I did hit quad aces playing 7/5 $1 Bonus, and my date hit quad 8s twice in less than ten hands playing 7/5 $1 Bonus. Not even one 4-to-the-royal hand to moan about. I was dealt a full house with three aces and I held the full house.
At check out I discovered that I was accidentally charged for movies and WiFi but one phone call fixed that. I used my Total Rewards Gift Cards to pay for all non-comped charges and restaurant tips leaving my reward credits intact and available to be converted to free play in the future.
I also used a Total Rewards Gift Card for some gift shop shopping. The Total Rewards Desk again told me that around the holidays they expect various stores in the Forum Shops to accept the gift cards.
We did not intend to leave Monday night -- actually we should still be there -- but we both got calls that forced us to cut the trip short.
Now the highlight of the trip.
In the rush to pack and leave, my date left one of two handbags in the room at Caesars. All the men I know have only one wallet. Why must women have two handbags to carry their important stuff including their money? Yes... the handbag she left behind had all her money in it. Winnings plus her cash.
We discovered the "OMG Moment" during a pit stop in Barstow -- and I immediately called Security. Luckily, and I mean luckily, they made it to the room before anyone else did and the handbag with the cash intact was taken into "protective custody." What a relief.