Having read this site everyday, always hoping for new trip reports and room reviews, it is only right that I should contribute as well.

Arrived 6/29 around 6pm, had reservations at the California Hotel (downtown), rooms are clean and avg price per night $45 (lease $ spent on lodging, more to gamble with, decided to try the redisigned Mirage Buffet for dinner. Got what I was looking for King Crab legs, lg peeled shrimp and always med rare prime rib and great table service. After dinner checked out the Mirage room, had a prety good crowd and $230 butin tourney taking place, top finisher to take home $6500, walked over to TI room, only 1 table playing. Started to feel the 11 hr drive was catching up w/ me decided to played my other favorite table game Pai Gow Poker for a couple of hours than hit the pillow for the next morning.

6/30 With reviews and prev reports went to enter the 9am tournament at the Monte Carlo, structure slightly diff from older report. $40 buyin $1000 chips w/ $10 add on gets $1000 more and 15 min level changes. 36 players, before beginmning to play dealer went over some basic rules, floor person came to get the add on money, welcomed everybody and said to have fun, took about 1 1/2 hrs made the final table. Down to eight players, first to act & lowest stack went AI w/ QJo, I had 2nd lowest stack and went AI w/ KK, third player called w/ A8o, flop came 10 8 8o, turn & river didn't help. Stayed to watch the end, down to four normal payout is top three, table decided to pay fourth place $100, third person went out last two chopped the pot took home about $500 ea.

Played some more Pai Gow poker at MC left even, spontaneous decision to play 7pm tourney at TI,
60 players, totally different from MC, much more serious players, 20 min level changes, I busted out halfwat thru 2nd level, could have rebuyed as an alternate (within 1st hr) decided no too.

7/1 Met up w/ a friend that I play with on the wknds, staying at TI, both entered the 11am tourney, this busted out before the second level, rebuyed as an alternate, enough alternates so started another table & went in during 2nd level, went out 5 mins into the third level, that was it. Friend busted out 10 min after 1st break into the 4th level. We decided to try our luck at a Sit n Go, he went out by the 2nd level (change every 10 min), by the 4th level I was down to 3 $100 chips went AI, doubled up w/ a pair, next hand went AI tripled up, next hand dealt 66o went AI, was high hand before flop, didn't improve w/ the board so knocked out. My friend was asked by one of the floor managers to go in on another Sit n Go and would be given a TI poker room hat & T-shirt no matter the outcome. Went out early got to items each, gave me one each.

Had a late lunch at TI Dishes buffet, good quality but not a really great selection. About 4:30pm decided to go our seperate ways, headed over to The Venetian, from prev reports wanted to experience the room for myself. Got to the desk about 5pm, room was half filled, asked to put name down for 3/6 limit, said it would be about 5-10 min, went to get a players card, got back about 15 mins and seated right away, dealer called for a floor person who came and asked how much I wanted to buyin took the money and players card, came back within 5 mins with 200 $1 chips, during the time I was there a lot of players were coming and going trying to get there playing hours racked up to qualify for the upcoming $500,000 freeroll tournament, it 3am, down about $110 time to call it a night, before leaving was told to have my card swiped at the front desk, earned $20 comp for 10 hrs of play (current comp promo was paying $2 @ hr.)

7/2 Had brunch and did some shopping before heading back to the Venetian, got there about 2:30pm asked for 3/6 table got seated fight away bought in for $100, played for about 15mins, a 3/6 Crazy Pineapple table was about to open wanted to try it out. Game is crazy and fast along with my dwindling stack, down $60 in ten minutes, 3 hands played, went back to 3/6 limit, played until 8pm total lose for the 5 1/2 hrs. $120. Went back to the Cal after dinner about 10pm played some more Pai Gow Poker til about 2am dropped another $100.

7/3 Checked out about 11:15am went to Wanted to get in some last minute play in before heading home, wanted to try Harrah's. This place is a F%^&ing joke, first thing got to the parking structure entrance at 12 noon was told only for guest, Diamond and Platinum card holders was told to park at IP next, got to the room at 12:40, one floor person w/ tourney in progress, one 3/6 limit and one 1/2 NL table playing, asked for 3/6 waited until 1:40 called 8 name for new table 4 w/ I sat down, reduced the rake ten minutes we decided this was BS and we all got up. Took the monorail over to Bally's, 2:00pm put name down down for 2/4 limit room was half filled, sat at an empty table watched tennis on one fo the flat screens, name was called at 2:20pm decided it was too late got up and left. Took the monrail back to Harrah's stop, walked back to IP self parking structure another S***hole (furthest back of the hotel), got in the car, gassed up and headed home.

So first morning wasn't bad, all players at MC were easy going and were there probably for some fun, TI tourney players were much more intense and with only $2000 in chips it's more luck than experience trying to build up your chip stack early. The best part of the trip was The Venetian, nice room, a variety of players. Of course, the last part of the trip was totally craps. All in all, my first experiences playing in poker rooms and in actual cash games, I can't wait for my next trip, where I'll be better prepared and try out some other casino's rooms.