A couple notes first, for any poker that is 1/2 NL I buy in for $200. MB = Mandalay Bay.

We arrived from Bellingham at approximately 12:30 in the afternoon on Sunday April 20th. Everything on the flight went smoothly and we got our bags rather quickly from the hectic baggage claim at the airport and were on our way. After getting ripped off by the taxi to our hotel we checked in. Rather than try the $20 trick, I simply asked for a high floor with a strip view, and got what I wanted. The room seemed spacious enough, the bathroom was enormous!

We were hungry and explored the hotel for a bite to eat, eventually deciding on the Border Grill. We both like this restaurant, big portions and good food, quick service too, would recommend if you're at MB. After lunch we checked out the pool/beach and the poolside casino. The pool was so crowded, I guess we shouldn't be too surprised as it's arguably the best pool on the strip. I'm sure to some travellers the pool is a major interest point and that's why it was so busy all the time. On the way out from there my girlfriend booked her spa appointment for the next morning. While I looked at the prices for the spa, nothing seemed necessary, no bargains in there.

My girlfriend wanted to see the Bodies Exhibition at the Tropicana last trip but we ran out of time for it so that was first on our agenda for this time. Seemed a little steep at About $30 a piece. I thought I was going to be the one not enjoying it, as I have a bit of a weak stomach for that sort of thing: I was fine, my gf on the other hand had had enough rather quickly. Wouldn't recommend this attraction, it was interesting, but overpriced.

We took the tram from the Excalibur back to MB and we were ready for some drinking and gambling. I got immediately seated at a 1/2 NL game, and my gf went to play some slots. I decide to enjoy some rum and cokes for my first poker session. Not 15 minutes in and my gf is back and up $120, nice! I make her sit and wait for me a while. I get my stack up to about $270 when my only really cold deck of the trip happens. I get pocket queens in early position and make it $12. A player two to my left reraises it to $30, it's folded back to me and I make the call hoping to either hit a set on the flop or be done with it. The flop comes K,Q,6, all hearts. I am first to act, and plan on getting the money in. I think for a moment and figure the check raise is the best option, as if he has AA with A of hearts he may put me on the made hand already. I check, he bets out $70, I move in. He doesn't think long and calls. Turn is the 4 of hearts. I pray that the board pairs on the river. To no avail as it's the J of diamonds. He has pocket kings for the bigger flopped set. Ouch! Not much I could have done.

After the gambling we decide that since it's our first night we should walk around the strip. We take a cab up to Margaritaville and get some drinks. They were great, and not as overpriced as I was expecting, $9 for a good size margarita. We walk up to the Venetian to check out the new Palazzo resort. The building itself is a monster, wow! Inside it's nice and all, but the interior of the Venetian itself was more impressive imo. We stopped at the Grand Lux Cafe for a bite. We shared a chicken dish and it was good, nothing special, but a good sized portion. Next we moved on to the Wynn. Again, my gf hit and ran at the slots for another $80. I on the other hand wanted to play Let it Ride. I had a good session at the Wynn my last trip so thought I'd give it another try. Not so lucky this time and I lost $150 rather quickly. Cabbed it back to MB for a little more gambling. Gf lost $100 playing slots and went to bed. I was drunk so thought limit was my best option for poker. Played 3/6 'til about 4am, good times.

The next morning my gf woke me up as it was time for her spa appointment and we agreed to meet at the pool afterwards. I went to the poker room while she was there and had a great session. Made a nice bluff for a $100 pot when the scare card came on the river. Then my most profitable single hand of the trip. Someone in early position raised it to $20, one caller to me, and with pocket aces I make it $100. Original raiser thinks for a bit, then calls, we're heads up to the flop of 10,7,A. 10 and 7 are clubs, I have A of clubs. He checks and I bet $100, he calls. Turn is a rag and I'm all in for about $100 more, again he thinks and calls. River is an offsuit J. I show, he shows AK with no club and I rake the pot. I win a few more pots and cash out +$545 and go to meet the gf at the pool.

Man the pool is ridiculously crowded. We eventually find somewhere to sit and go get some food from the pool cafe. I shouldn't be surprised, but it was terrible and a rip off. The pool is nice though, and riding the waves was fun.

Had another session of 1/2 before we went for dinner and won $35. Only one hand of note in this session. After slowly losing my first $100, I topped up to $200. I was card dead for so long and getting bored. So my starting hand requirement started to relax, lol. So from middle position I come in with Q,7 of clubs. I hit the flop hard. Q,7,5. 5 of clubs. I bet out $20 into the pot and am called in two places. Turn is the 9 of clubs, can my hand get any better? Checked to me and I bet out $40, one caller, and then the next player goes all in for $130ish, to me and I shove for my the rest of my stack. The caller folds. River is a club and I know I'm good. The guy that went all in had 8,6 for the turned straight. Haha, semisuckout by me. Even if I knew he had it I think I still would have called as I have all the clubs, and the two remaining Qs and 7s as outs.

We went to the other side of the strip this night. Starting at TI where my gf lost $20 in slots, we then headed to the Mirage for their buffet. It was ok, nothing special, I was expecting more from some reviews I had read online. We left and watched a fountain show in front of the Bellagio before heading inside. We played some slots together there, I won $42 and she lost $20. I wanted to check out the poker room to see if we could see any pros. Saw a few: Jennifer Harmon, Huck Seed, Jon Juanda, David Benyamine, and Eli Elezra. On our walk out of the Bellagio we saw Johnny Chan and he was nice enough to take a couple pictures with us, sweet! We cabbed back to MB and my gf quickly won $195 in the slots. We then decided to check out the Luxor. Walked over and played poker for a couple hours there. The poker here was a much easier game than MBs. I should have won more if not for one bad play costing me $150 on a certain hand, but was still up $41 on the session. Unfortunately my gf lost $200 in the slots here.

We slept in the next day. Eventually we got up and headed down for some food, we went to the Raffles Cafe at MB. Had some breakfast, it was ok, wouldn't recommend. Then went to the pool for a bit to relax. Chilled out most of the early afternoon there before going to the Noodle Shop for a late lunch. Again nothing special there. Played some cards at MB again. I won $150 this session and my gf won $150 in slots while I played.

That night we went to the Folies Bergere show at the Tropicana. We had a two-for-one coupon and had never seen a show in Vegas so decided to go for it. We met a nice couple there and talked with them before the show, our seat weren't looking to be good as we were all the way in the rear. About 3 minutes in to the show though, one of the maitre dees had a spot for a group of 4 right near the front. With the couple we had just met we headed down and enjoyed the show from there! It was a good show, at full price probably not worth it, but there were coupons for it everywhere. And if you are going I would suggest a seat at the front on the sides is better than a seat at the back in the middle.

When we got back to MB we played some more, not too late into the night though. I lost $100 on a series of uneventful hands and my gf lost $60 in the slots.

The next morning we went to the Premium outlet mall. There was some great stuff there. Normally I don't really like shopping, but this I could deal with. We both bought more than I expected we would, all good stuff though. Significantly cheaper than back home for the same items.

Had lunch at the Burger Bar and it was good, though I was expecting better. Still I'd go again. On the way back upstairs my gf lost $10 in the slots. We then got ready as were going to the Mix lounge at THE Hotel that night. The view of The Strip from the Mix was amazing, totally worth the trip up there (and if you go before 10 pm there is no cover). We had a couple drinks and appys there; not cheap, however the quality was great.

We cabbed up to TI for some gambling. For the second time in the last two trips to Vegas I wanted to play in the TI poker room as it gets great reviews here at AVP... and for the second time I was disappointed. Not by the staff or quality of the room itslef, but the lack of action. This was at about 9:30 at night and all they had going was one 1/3 NL table and one 2/4 limit table. I lost $300 playing here on a series of uneventful hands and one suckout. At least my gf won $175 in the slots. We cabbed it back to MB and had a rough night in the casino. My gf lost $250 and I did even worse. First getting crushed for $300 in poker and then tilting off $200 at Black Jack.

Our last day in Vegas started with an early morning at the pool. We got there before 10am and it was much easier finding a spot. Relaxed there for a couple hours, then had lunch at Red, White, and Blue. The portions here were huge, and good. If I was really hungry, I'd go here again some time. After lunch my gf went back to the pool and I played poker, dropping $85. On her way back to the room she dropped $70 into the machines. For our last meal we decided on the buffet at Planet Hollywood. It was great, much better than the one at the Mirage. I will go here again. Definitely recommend this one, if you haven't tried it and are nearby, go for it.

I had time for one last poker session. The MB room didn't have any open seats in the 1/2 NL so I walked over to the Luxor. Got seated and was enjoying my table, lots of people just having a good time. Won a few pots and was up to about $350. Caught a flush on the river when the better made it cheap the whole way and was up to about $500. A new player came to the table and bought in for $200. His first hand in the BB I am in the SB. I have AQ off, it's limped to me, and I limp in (knowing that if an A or Q hits I almost certainly am best). The BB limps as well and the flop comes QQK, non suited. I check, and to my dismay it checks around. Turn is an ace, and again I check. The BB bets out $20, and it's folded to me. I smooth call. River is a brick. He makes some comment about me calling his bet probably already having a full house, lol. I bet $20. He thinks for about two seconds before making it $50. His chips arrive at the table now, and the dealer gets his bets all in order. I let this all happen and when it's finally settled, I go all in. He thinks, and then calls with J,10 for the turned straight and my boat takes it down. I'm now up to $700, and I'm on the list for Luxor's high hand of the hour. It doesn't hold up as with 10 minutes to go someone at another table hits a J-high straight flush. I leave shortly thereafter with a $485 profit. Good way to end the trip.

Altough I didn't win as much as I would have liked it was still a great trip. All told I was up $220 from poker, but down $310 from table games and slots. My gf was down just $10 from all her gambling. So altogher for all our entertainment gambling it cost us only $100. 5 nights seemed a little much, our previous trip we've stayed for 4 nights and for us that is better.

I know this was long, hope you enjoyed it.