Please ADD your own Las Vegas Trip Report. Date of Trip: July 31, 2005 to August 03, 2005 Hotel Stayed At: Wynn, Wife's Birthday Trip II Report by: ktinca <> From: Bay Area, Ca

Tuesday:
Wife’s birthday, this is her day to be pampered, either with me or by herself (insert your own joke here).

Breakfast was at the Country Club Grill. This is now our 2nd favorite place for breakfast in LV (Veranda still holds the top spot). Terrific view of the Wynn golf course, very nice and quiet atmosphere, great service, and very good food. Did I make my opinion clear enough?
Breakfast was $32, about the same as the buffet or café, and worth every penny!

Walked over to registration, so my wife could check out of our room, and pay her bill of $77 for our 2 breakfasts. Then I checked us back into the same room, using the free offer I had received. Thanks, Steve!

Wife wanted to stop by her machines again, and got a wonderful surprise. Put her Red Card in a machine and got a message that said “Welcome Eileen, Happy Birthday”. All day in every machine she was reminded it was her birthday.

Wife’s day was spent at the Wynn Spa, with a 1pm appointment for a massage. She was very impressed with both the spa facilities, and the service she received.

This meant I could spend the day in the Wynn poker room. Called down to the poker room requesting a seat at a $4-$8 table. According to the poker channel (channel 29 on the Wynn cable system) there were 2 tables going and I was #3 on the waiting list. After 15 minutes I went downstairs, they had opened a new table but were saving a seat for me.

Was not overly impressed with the Wynn poker room. Seems like they cram in as many tables and players as possible.

As you know, my luck had turned the day before. But I am a fairly decent poker player and consider myself capable of playing even during a bad streak. Sat down and bought in for $200.

Poker players will understand the next statement. My cards were SO BAD that I couldn’t get into much trouble. After about 40 minutes I was dealt pocket Aces, lost that hand to a good player who had flopped 2 pairs (as had I) and caught her full house on the river. No complaints, both of us played correctly, she just got lucky. No more cards or trouble for the next hour.

Then I played KQ, flopped 2 pair when board came KQ7. This time I lost a large pot to a bad player who was betting 7A. The pot was large because 3 other players knew this guy was betting with nothing. Of course, the Ace came on the river.

Time to buy chips again. The very next hand I am dealt pocket Aces. Acted like I was on tilt, and got plenty of action. This time the Aces held up and I won my first pot. Two hours into the game and I finally won a hand!
Stayed at the same table for almost 4 hours, playing very few hands past the flop, and winning a few more hands. Ended up cashing in $364 from my $400 buy in,
When your luck is going bad, you are always better off playing a game where you have control.

Met up with wife who was ready for some more nickel WOF. Tried some myself, lost $20 quickly. Went back to my $1 9/6 JOB, but nothing changed dropped $100 (it’s only full pay when your luck is normal), and went crawling back to my wife and her nickel machine. Another quick $20 and it was time to become a spectator.
Oh well, at least she was having a good time.

Finally, it was time to get ready for dinner (stay out of the casino, dummy).
Took a cab to 4 Queens, dinner reservations at Hugo’s Cellar.
BTW: The Wynn cab lines were much improved from our May trip.

Checked out 4 Queens. Was surprised that pai gow poker was $10 minimum. So we headed down to Hugo’s.

Asked for a booth, away from a party of 25 women from a convention. After a short wait we were seated in a booth at the very rear in a very private alcove with just one other table.

Dinner at Hugo’s once again was exceptional. Wife had a drink with dinner, Ice tea for me. Salad made to your specifications at your table, followed by a tiny cone of raspberry sherbet. She had prime rib and I had rack of lamb, both are very large portions, which is not always the case with lamb.
After dinner they bring fruit dipped in chocolate, along with whipped cream.
My wife always orders coffee with the dessert, because she loves the chocolate chips, cinnamon sticks, and whipped cream that they bring on the side. I usually have Baileys & coffee with my dessert. Total for dinner $101.
And, of course, my wife gets to leave with her rose.

We finished dinner around 9:15 and wanted to catch the 10pm FSE. So we dropped a few dollars in her WOF machines and walked around downtown for a while. Listened to a sax player, but no band downtown that night. The Fremont experience is always fun, music playing and people enjoying the night. But seeing it once every couple of years is enough for me.

As we took a cab back to Wynn a lightning storm was starting to the southwest, which made for an interesting ride. Got back around 11.

Wife just had to see her happy birthday message one more time, so we spent another 20 minutes at her machines before heading up (I’m sure I don’t have to mention how I did).

Upon entering the room, my wife saw the surprise I had arranged with the concierge. While we were out to dinner they had delivered, a Wynn teddy bear, chocolate truffles, and my card. Along with her birthday present, Neil Diamond concert tickets (remember she missed out on Le Ann Rimes).

The lightning storm was now in full bloom, and we had a perfect view. Floor to ceiling windows on the 57th floor of Wynn facing east and south.
Remember, we’re from California and don’t get to see weather very often.
So we turned out the lights and watched the magnificent show.

A very nice way to end her special day.

ktinca <> - Bay Area, Ca    2620

---