July 16
Arrived at the Venetian around 2:00pm after an easy 5 hour drive from Phoenix. Checked in tipping the front desk $20 and was upgraded from a Bella Suite (no view) to a strip view on the 28th floor (usually an additional $45/night). Was able to see all of the Venetian Pools and Tao Beach as well as Mirage, TI, and Trump in the distance. Our person was also nice enough to give us a couple extra room keys.

After walking down to PH and back, the girls that I went up with were tired and went back to the hotel room for a nap, so I headed to TI for some limit poker. First session was positive with very very loose players, frequently 6-7 players to the flop. No hands here were too interesting, only played a couple hours and really enjoyed this room. Dealers were very good and the $2 comps were excellent. After I stopped playing I picked up a friend at the airport and we got a quick dinner. Went to Casino Royal for some craps and lost $50 very quickly, then quit, calling it a semi-early night at 2:00am. More friends were scheduled to arrive tomorrow so we wanted to be ready for their first night.

July 17
Woke up earlier than everyone around 9:30, but just stayed in the room until everyone got ready. We got breakfast and then I headed over to TI again for poker and left down about $40 with a severe lack of help on the flop. Later that night we went to Blush at Wynn, a small lounge/night club. I actually had a lot of fun although it wasn't the busiest/biggest club ever. It was great to frequently see my group and not being crushed by other bodies. Got to the club around 1:30am leaving around 4:00am then back to the hotel calling it a night.

July 18
Again, first to wake up around 9:00am and headed over to TI for some poker. They were closed until 10:30. Booo! Took the tram over to Mirage, and I couldn't really figure out what they were spreading. There was two tables, a man right before me was seated and then management walked away as I stood at the front desk. I couldn't see any 3/6 on the wait screens so I just left after about 5 minutes of not being noticed.

Walked across the street to IP and played some 1/2 NL. Again, no hands for me here, I didnt' win a single pot here, but then again I didn't stay that long. The smoke from the casino was getting to me and a very very loud and obnoxious player sat down to my left. He was clearly drunk but seemed to know what he was doing at the table at the same time, very unpredictable and not fun to play with. I did notice management being VERY strict with a person at another table, telling him not to criticize any other players plays. The manager seemed to be almost yelling at the patron..very strange. Cocktail service here was very very fast, but the Orange Juice was HORRIBLE. Ugh.

Around 5:00pm or so, I decided to try my luck at 4/8 at Venetian. This table was aggressive, but very fun to play at. I was down early with my top pair after re-raising the flop and the turn, I had realized that I was beat. I looked over to the guy and he said your Ace Ace is no good my friend. (I only had top pair and played far to aggressively I think). Then the bad beat of the night: my KK made it 3 bets preflop with two callers, I am 2nd to act. Flop has Jxx wtih two clubs. P1 Bets, I raise, P3 calls, P1 Calls. Turn was blank. P1 checks, I bet, P3 Calls, P1 Calls. River, Ace of hearts. P1 bets, (I think you have got to be kidding me) I call, P3 calls. P1 Shows AJ for two pair, I show KK for the lose, P3 shows Ace 5 suited (had club nut flush draw). Lost a pretty big pot here, definitely the largest one I have ever been in. Left down $20.

Later that night, the girlfriend and I watched Phantom at 7:00pm, incredible show if your into that sort of thing. The stage was so over the top and filled with surprises that make it unique from the original production. It could have used an intermission, it ran 1hr and 45 min straight. After that we took a quick cab to Del Frisco's based on recommendations in this forum. Hands down best meal I have ever had. We paid $200 after a generous tip for the both of us. My prime strip was incredible, the best crusting on a steak I have ever had, and the Lobster tail was enormous at 17oz. Lobster was very very pricey $90 but worth it once in a blue moon. My steak was very much worth it at $45 and I wouldn't hesitate to spend that much again on it. We had the potatoes Au Gratin as a side and it was also very good, but heavy.

Took a cab back to the hotel room and met up with friends to have some late night poker. A friend and I got to TI around 2:00am to see 3 tables going, only 2/4 limit and 1/3 limit. Sat quickly and just didn't get much in terms of cards. One lady sat down who took the notice of many male players at the table. She was very aggressive but soon revealed that she was also attempting to bluff people out of pots. This was of course, after I had folded my Top Pair hand to her, but that was my mistake. Later on, I took a huge pot from her with only top pair, king kicker. I raised and reraised and she showed her 62 off suit hand, playing the board.... After 3 hours of play I left +$4 getting to the room around 5:00am.

July 19
Woke up around 9:30 grabbed some breakfast downstairs and headed to Ceasar's Palace and the cards continued to play against me. This room was incredible, probably my favorite of the rooms I visited with their tournament section, fast cocktail service, and my good experience with management. Here was my bad beat which I also explained in my review. QQ preflop I made it 3 bets, SB calls for 11. Flop was T24 or something like that, I bet and he called. Turn was 3, he goes all in for 3 more and I call. I show QQ he shows A2 off suit and hits a 5 on the river for a wheel. WOW. A ton of bad beats happened here, including my friends sucking out on my with 6 high flush draws, and inside straight draws for Broadway. That was fun...down $72

Then I went on tilt...here's the bad part, I wasn't in the poker room anymore, it was at table games. I told myself I really wouldn't play them because I always end up losing money faster than I would playing hold'em. Dropped $100 fast in 3 card poker and $40 again in craps later that night.

All of this while my friends are all up, two of my friends up over $1k playing hold'em bonus of all games, getting dealt AA three times in one night for 30:1 on bonus bet of $10. Then I realized I haven't ever gotten AA in a casino, granted i've only played about 25-30 hours total, but seriously? Not once? I left the trip down $250 of the $300 that I set aside to lose, but I had a great time.

Late that night we went to Tao at Venetian. That place is just insane. The line was forever long for general admission, luckily as hotel guests you get to speed on through. We also were on a guest list so we had comped $30 admission. Place was waaayyy too busy, not enough room to even dance, until we went upstairs to Tao Beach which was awesome. Much more of a social environment but very different vibe than downstairs. Apparently Kim Kardashian and Jamie Foxx were both there that night, but I didn't notice lol.

We sadly left July 20 after fried chicken and waffles at Grand Lux Cafe. Next time I go to Vegas, I hope I learn not to play those damn table games. * sigh * Thanks AVP for all your info about poker rooms and I'll definitely be going back to Vegas someone and posting here often.