Emily Trott
Legend
Loyaler
To paraphrase the late Don Imus, it can't be cool enough.
SPANKYSN
Legend
Platinum Level
My wife and I just got back from Vegas; ate at Hell's Kitchen. The food was very good, the service was excellent and it was great seeing it in person after watching the show a few times...I prefer Ramsey in Masterchef Junior...no F bombs at the 8 year olds. Yes, it is pricy, but worth the unique experience.
Amanda A
Legend
Bronze Level
The Cosmo is fabulous, I've stayed there before, and no doubt the balcony rooms with views of the Bellagio fountains are amazing. It can be a little pricey though, and if I'm mostly playing poker I don't mind going a little more budget friendly and staying at Planet Hollywood. Rooms are decent and they used to have a good poker room, but I'm not sure if they do anymore.
Shells
Here for the snacks
Moderator
Don't forget to give us your review when you do get to Lou's and Vickie's.
Emily Trott
Legend
Loyaler
Thank you! and You're very welcome!
Shells
Here for the snacks
Moderator
I have passed on the issue. Thanks!
O
Ortwin1989
Enthusiast
Silver Level
The link still does not work. Will the guide ever come back?
Poker Orifice
And Still...
Platinum Level
I hope that I haven't bored you with this essay but I tend to drone on and on sometimes.
Are you kidding? I enjoyed this immensely! I wish we could get a review from you for all of the places in Vegas! Maybe we'll see you there one day.
Emily Trott
Legend
Loyaler
You are so right about Flamingo and Priceline...they are both fantastic! I stayed there this year, and it was really nice to be on the corner with Caesar's just across the street to the west, and the Horseshoe right across the street to the south.I stay at the Flamingo, because it is predictable and awesome, 50 dollar deposit, which they pay back after 1 business day, cheap room rates through priceline (VIP), great service (I always leave a $10 tip) Flamingo is perfect, you walk out and are ready to navigate to all the poker rooms, Caesars is just across the street, everything is within walking distance, the CVS for cheap food is just a walkbridge away. Flamingo is the only place I care to stay at
Very convenient!
Emily Trott
Legend
Loyaler
I am a world class procrastinator who believes in not putting something off until tomorrow, that can be put off until the day after tomorrow. I guess I’ve put off this report for way too long as I’ll be taking my 2025 trip in three months. I’m just going to cover what was new this year and have linked my two posts from the 2023 trip (one on eating and drinking, and one on tournaments) at the bottom of this post.
After a flight that took nearly nine hours I checked in at the Flamingo (3555 Las Vegas Blvd S, Las Vegas, NV). I am very happy that I chose to stay there this time because not only were the décor and service excellent, it is also very convenient to some of the tournaments I’d planned to play. It’s on a corner and across the street on one side is Caesar’s Palace, and on the other side stands the Horseshoe.
There were also two things that made my stay at the Flamingo extra enjoyable. The food court had an Auntie Anne’s pretzels, so I got to take some mini pretzel hot dogs to snack on in my room. Their nature preserve was so beautifully relaxing to visit. In my younger days I was very outdoors oriented but I hadn’t seen a wood duck in years, let alone so close, and here they were staying at the Flamingo same as me. 😊
I’m not sure what those big pink birds are, but they appear to have some sort of a connection to the hotel.
After a good night’s sleep, I took a look out my window to see the beautiful day. That is the Horseshoe and the reddish glow in the distance on the left is the sign for the Ellis Island casino (4178 Koval Ln, Las Vegas, NV 89109), my destination for breakfast. It was an easy walk down the hill from the Flamingo, and I bought a paper to read from the convenience story kitty cornered from the casino.
They have a cozy little dining area with both tables and booths just off of the casino floor. I like booths because even in a crowded room they give me a feeling of privacy. 😊 I especially liked how they brought my coffee in a carafe and, without my asking for it, placed a glass of water on the table. The homefries were delicious, they didn’t skimp on the onions, the poached eggs were cooked perfectly, and the prices were very reasonable. The sausages were excellent too, but I forgot to move their plate into the picture. 😊
You’ll notice that they have a sign for “$5 blackjack”, and I saw in the casino that they had craps at that price too. Haven't seen that in ages. I really wanted to shoot some craps for a little while but I didn’t have time before the tourney at Ceasar’s Palace was going to start. I’m going to make sure that I have time next year. 😊
I had originally planned to walk back up E Flamingo to Caesar’s after eating, but I took an Uber instead. The reason was a group of men who had been sitting on the edge of the sidewalk about 100 or so feet from me while I was waiting for the light to cross Koval to the casino. Suddenly a couple of them started saying something very loudly and, not sure of whether it had something to do with me, so I said the heck with the light, and at the first break in the traffic I speedily walked across the street and into the casino. I was probably just being over cautious but you never know.
Black Bear Diner (7680 S Las Vegas Blvd, Las Vegas, NV) is a large chain in the west with at least three locations in Vegas. I chose this one because it was on the way to South Point casino where I was going to play a tourney. The décor is very nice, and the servers are attentive. They have their story on the menu, which gave me something to do other than stare at the smartphone while I waited for my meal. 😊
If you’ve read my other reviews you’ll know that homefries are what I judge a breakfast by. At least for most places, but not Black Bear Diner. Here the spicy Italian sausage patties are the stars of the show. 😊 They more than made up for the lackluster potatoes, though the eggs were perfectly cooked and delicious. 😊
On my last full day in town I slept in a bit, got dressed, went downstairs to catch the monorail, and headed for the Sahara (2535 S Las Vegas Blvd)to play a late morning tourney. The walls of the hallway leading to the lobby were a photo gallery of celebrities who had visited and/or performed at the Sahara. It was wonderful seeing pictures of people who I could remember as far back as long long before I was old enough to walk through the doors of a casino
When I arrived in the lobby I asked a nice young man, I think that his name was Manny, where I could find the poker room. He was born to do customer service because instead of just giving me the directions to it, he escorted me all the way there. That impressed my so much that I decided then and there to stay at the Sahara on my 2025 birthday trip. I can’t wait to explore the hotel. 😊
Their poker room is very comfortable and cozy due to it’s small size. It reminded me of the casino in Concord, New Hampshire where I loved to play before the owner found himself having some legal problems. It will be nice being able to play an hour or so in the evening before heading upstairs to my room for the night. 😊
Joe Louis had been a greeter at Caesar’s Palace, and it was nice to see he was still on the job. He was a great fighter, and also a very nice and generous man. When he was in the Army he fought a number of fights and donated his winnings to military charities. Sadly he got a raw deal from the IRS, but that's for another time.
After the Sahara I returned to my room at the Flamingo. I freshened up a bit, then walked across the street to Caesar’s in order to cash in a voucher I had for my winnings at the slots during breaks in a tournament a few days before. After leaving the cage I decided to have a drink at the Lobby Bar, and play a little video poker.
So I pulled out a chair and sat down at the end of the bar. The bartender was a good looking man who reminded me of Delroy Lindo the actor. He asked me if I was playing, meaning the machines, so I said yes and he asked me what I’d like to drink. I asked for scotch and soda, so he brought a glass of Glenlivet and said it was on the house because I was playing the machine. 😊 I ended up with a ticket for the same ten dollars I’d come in with so I left it as a tip and wished him a great day.
That wraps up my new experiences on my 2024 birthday trip to Vegas. Links to the 2023 trip are below.
Diners and Restaurants: https://www.cardschat.com/forum/liv...play-eat-in-vegas-264725/page-25#post-6632427
Poker Tournaments: https://www.cardschat.com/forum/liv...play-eat-in-vegas-264725/page-25#post-6647470
After a flight that took nearly nine hours I checked in at the Flamingo (3555 Las Vegas Blvd S, Las Vegas, NV). I am very happy that I chose to stay there this time because not only were the décor and service excellent, it is also very convenient to some of the tournaments I’d planned to play. It’s on a corner and across the street on one side is Caesar’s Palace, and on the other side stands the Horseshoe.
There were also two things that made my stay at the Flamingo extra enjoyable. The food court had an Auntie Anne’s pretzels, so I got to take some mini pretzel hot dogs to snack on in my room. Their nature preserve was so beautifully relaxing to visit. In my younger days I was very outdoors oriented but I hadn’t seen a wood duck in years, let alone so close, and here they were staying at the Flamingo same as me. 😊
I’m not sure what those big pink birds are, but they appear to have some sort of a connection to the hotel.
They have a cozy little dining area with both tables and booths just off of the casino floor. I like booths because even in a crowded room they give me a feeling of privacy. 😊 I especially liked how they brought my coffee in a carafe and, without my asking for it, placed a glass of water on the table. The homefries were delicious, they didn’t skimp on the onions, the poached eggs were cooked perfectly, and the prices were very reasonable. The sausages were excellent too, but I forgot to move their plate into the picture. 😊
You’ll notice that they have a sign for “$5 blackjack”, and I saw in the casino that they had craps at that price too. Haven't seen that in ages. I really wanted to shoot some craps for a little while but I didn’t have time before the tourney at Ceasar’s Palace was going to start. I’m going to make sure that I have time next year. 😊
I had originally planned to walk back up E Flamingo to Caesar’s after eating, but I took an Uber instead. The reason was a group of men who had been sitting on the edge of the sidewalk about 100 or so feet from me while I was waiting for the light to cross Koval to the casino. Suddenly a couple of them started saying something very loudly and, not sure of whether it had something to do with me, so I said the heck with the light, and at the first break in the traffic I speedily walked across the street and into the casino. I was probably just being over cautious but you never know.
If you’ve read my other reviews you’ll know that homefries are what I judge a breakfast by. At least for most places, but not Black Bear Diner. Here the spicy Italian sausage patties are the stars of the show. 😊 They more than made up for the lackluster potatoes, though the eggs were perfectly cooked and delicious. 😊
Joe Louis had been a greeter at Caesar’s Palace, and it was nice to see he was still on the job. He was a great fighter, and also a very nice and generous man. When he was in the Army he fought a number of fights and donated his winnings to military charities. Sadly he got a raw deal from the IRS, but that's for another time.
After the Sahara I returned to my room at the Flamingo. I freshened up a bit, then walked across the street to Caesar’s in order to cash in a voucher I had for my winnings at the slots during breaks in a tournament a few days before. After leaving the cage I decided to have a drink at the Lobby Bar, and play a little video poker.
So I pulled out a chair and sat down at the end of the bar. The bartender was a good looking man who reminded me of Delroy Lindo the actor. He asked me if I was playing, meaning the machines, so I said yes and he asked me what I’d like to drink. I asked for scotch and soda, so he brought a glass of Glenlivet and said it was on the house because I was playing the machine. 😊 I ended up with a ticket for the same ten dollars I’d come in with so I left it as a tip and wished him a great day.
That wraps up my new experiences on my 2024 birthday trip to Vegas. Links to the 2023 trip are below.
Good Cards!
Diners and Restaurants: https://www.cardschat.com/forum/liv...play-eat-in-vegas-264725/page-25#post-6632427
Poker Tournaments: https://www.cardschat.com/forum/liv...play-eat-in-vegas-264725/page-25#post-6647470
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dreamer13
Legend
Loyaler
The pearl of the desert and the cradle of excitement.Almost all the city's establishments are resorts. That is, complexes of hotels, entertainment, SPA services, restaurants.Las Vegas is, first and foremost, a casino city.Bellagio. The most hyped, the most recognizable, the most luxurious. In general, the most-most gambling and hotel complex in Las Vegas.Bellagio is known for its ultra-expensive shows. For example, the Cirque du Soleil show took place on an artificial lake and cost its creators $10 million, becoming the most expensive in the history of Las Vegas.
Debi
Forum Admin
Administrator
Sounds like a great trip!
Emily Trott
Legend
Loyaler
It was definitely a great one Debi!
Next year's is going to be even better. My best friend and her still new husband are going to be there too for a few days. On my birthday we're going to have dinner at Herbs & Rye and then the Cirque du Soleil show. I'll also finally get a chance to wear the long sleeved blue lace dress I bought four years ago. These are pretty much what it looks like, with the length matching the one on the right.
A few weeks ago a client who is in Vegas told me I should try the Golden Steer Steakhouse for it's excellent food. I wish that I'd talked to her a couple of months ago because they're booked through the middle of April.
Maybe I'll try to get there early and eat at the bar. This year I'm also going to find another diner to try, as well as hopefully play a tourney at a new location as well. So far I've played them at Caesar's, Horseshoe, Sahara, and South Point. If you or anyone else has any suggestions for other places with sub-$100 to no more than $200 tourneys that are fun places to play, I'd love to hear about them.
Attachments
Debi
Forum Admin
Administrator
It was definitely a great one Debi!
A few weeks ago a client who is in Vegas told me I should try the Golden Steer Steakhouse for it's excellent food. I wish that I'd talked to her a couple of months ago because they're booked through the middle of April.
This year I'm also going to find another diner to try, as well as hopefully play a tourney at a new location as well. So far I've played them at Caesar's, Horseshoe, Sahara, and South Point. If you or anyone else has any suggestions for other places with sub-$100 to no more than $200 tourneys that are fun places to play, I'd love to hear about them.
Definitely try the Wynn Poker Room at the Encore and the Aria has pretty good tournaments too.