First this month – a traffic tip. No matter how far out of your way you have to drive, avoid crossing the Strip at Flamingo. You will thank me for this advice. With new lane closures on Las Vegas Boulevard between Flamingo and Tropicana due to construction – and drivers who seem to never have heard that you must not enter an intersection unless you know you can clear it – you might find it can take “forever” to proceed east across the Strip on Flamingo because of north/south traffic blocking the intersection. Don’t say I didn’t warn you!
This is just one new reason we avoid Flamingo (which is only 2 short blocks from our condo). Metro Police, in their collision report for the first six months of this year, says that Flamingo contains four of the ten most dangerous intersections in Las Vegas. Where it crosses the Strip there were 21 collisions, with 15 involving injuries. I read that a driver in Vegas will be involved in an accident about every 8 years. Oops, we are about “due.” No wonder our auto insurance is so high!
Useful Resources
1. Openings and Closings in Las Vegas
2. A new specialized vpFREE forum for discussion of video poker on cruise ships
PALMS
Club Palms has been revised. September’s mailer contained new players club cards which reflect a change of dates for their “year,” expiring August 31, 2014. Since mailers have to be planned in advance, card tiers may not take into consideration more recent play, so you can go to the club desk and check that you were issued the proper tier card. Brad and I were immediately re-issued higher tier cards when we inquired.
While we were getting our new cards, I asked if there was a brochure outlining the new club details. There was – and it is something everyone should get. I applaud the Palms for the transparency there, one of the most detailed explanations of the rules and benefits of a club that I have ever seen. I liked the chart that clearly lists the requirements and benefits of each tier. Some of them are the same as before but now in writing and all in one place so anyone can be informed. However, I was glad to see many new benefits for some of the tiers, including free car washes – that softens the blow of my pitching all my old tokens when I thought that facility had permanently closed!
Now for the promotions. “Play, Earn, and Win” continues on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays in September, and again has the feature that allows you to combine your points over those 3 days within one week. That is a good deal for low rollers who want to earn the bigger items but it is still generating very very long lines at the Promotion Center on Friday late afternoons and evenings. By the pictures in our mailer this month, it looks like you can earn gift cards for Famiglia Pizzeria (in the food court) and Nove as well as “stuff” during the first part of the month (Sept 2-13). But I see only pictures of “stuff” for the latter part (Sept. 16-27).
The Tuesday/Thursday Wheel of Fortune free pulls no longer appeared on our September mailer, but on those same days there is a new promotion, “playing your way to end of summer travel by redeeming points for gas cards.”
The usual drawings continue on Friday and Saturday nights at 8 p.m. Again you can earn 5x drawing entries from 8 p.m. until midnight on Fridays and Saturdays.
TUSCANY
Drawing promotion on Tuesdays.
Mystery Free Play days on the 4th and 18th this month. “Regular” Gift Giveaways on the 12th and 26th plus we got postcards that said “it’s time to give away our most precious gift items, Sept 7 and 21.” Hummmmm….I wonder if that’s worth a special trip. They say “while supplies last” and “based on qualified play.” Will people who get there at noon have a better choice of goodies than those who get there just before 11 p.m.? Do you need to have received a postcard invitation? So many questions!
ELLIS ISLAND
Drawing promotions on Mondays and Wednesdays.
Coffin-nail promotion every day. (This is in addition to the death smoke 24/7.) Free Pack when you earn 1,000 base points or only $4 per pack when you earn 100 base points. Plus tax. Points must be earned same day. Limit 2 packs per day per player. Print your voucher at any Passport Central kiosk. (Hey, I’m just reporting the promotions, not recommending you do them.)
HARD ROCK
They are continuing their blast of promotions, with some sort of dining or gambling special offer every day of the week. Be aware that you must “opt in” at a kiosk to earn point multipliers – they are not put on your account automatically as is the case in most other casinos.
FOUR QUEENS
The Chicago Brewing Company located in this casino provides a frugal eating/drinking option Monday through Friday during their Happy Hour from 3-6 p.m. All appetizers are half-price and most 14 oz draft beers are $3. We like their Trio of Filet Mignon Sliders, a real bargain for $4.63 during this weekday Happy Hour.
SOUTHPOINT
See September promos here.
HOOTERS
A new tiered slot club has been introduced, with some interesting details.
SUNCOAST
The hot dog cart is no longer at the Sports book. However, you can still get that 75-cent hot dog at the Bagel + Deli food outlet nearby, but only from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m.
GOLD COAST
Multipliers are back, on Sundays this month. Check Scot’s Players Club Bonus Points list for the multiplier you can get – it depends on your tier.
On Mondays you can earn a buffet (without giving up your points): 100 for breaky, 200 for lunch, or 300 for dinner.
Drawings on Saturdays at 6 and 8 p.m. 5x entries on Fridays.
ORLEANS
Now here’s an unusual casino activity:
“The most fun you will have in a night! Drink and paint the night away! An upbeat and entertaining creative experience for both the artistic and not so artistic. Learn the basics of acrylic painting while enjoying music, beverages, entertainment and the company of BeeBuddies. Come experience this innovative entertainment venue with friends and family alike!
“Stop by and check us out! Our Buzz’n Team can’t wait to schedule you for a class or answer any questions you may have. Located across from The French Market Buffet, our doors are open daily 10AM – 10PM. For more information please call the Orleans at 702-365-7333. View the BeeCalendar and register for classes at www.buzznbrushes.com.”
I go to Vegas several times a month and ,unless it is early in the a.m.,I try to avoid this intersection.It is particularly bad if going from East to West on Flamingo as one lane is blocked of on Flamingo due to construction.
I have seen backups go beyond Paradise Rd.
George
We were just in Vegas Sep. 8-10 and stayed at Rio. We crossed the strip at Flamingo about 4 different times in a car or shuttle and it was no worse than any other time we’ve been there (always able to make it through the light on green and didn’t have to wait for multiple cycles, etc.). We did not experience the back-up that you described at all…so maybe you’ve just hit it on a bad day, but I definitely wouldn’t go out of my way to avoid it, as I saw no problems in that area. So, just wanted to pass that along!
In the past, when South Point has run this promo, a spin was worth between $12-15 on average; the higher prizes come in fairly often, and the worst prizes are still worth $8 or so (breakfast/lunch buffet; 2,500 points). The prize without a quantifiable value is 2X points, but it does add 0.3% to your return, so it could be worth a lot (I’m sure there’s an upper limit, well before you get into Bob Dancer territory). The best part is that you can qualify for the spin by playing NSUD (breakeven with the slot points factored in; the spin is extra and doesn’t cost any points) for about fifteen minutes, and you can drop by three days a week. I’ve gone there with the goal of seeing a movie and/or eating there no matter what, played enough for the spin, and made a little money in the process. It’s one of the best promos in town as far as value for action/your trouble.