caroleehs
10-11-2005, 03:09 PM
trip report for 9/26-10/1
I made arrangements with Bob Cohen in advance although I had gotten a summer blast invitation from the Imperial Palace. I needed a second room for my new son in law's parents, Mike and Suki who had never been to Vegas.They live in Maine and would meet us there. Bob gave them the room nextdoor to us. Of course Bob offered them the same package-deluxe rooms for$59 weekdays,$79weekends,VIP check-in, match play certificates, entries for a drawing, free slot play on special machines, 2 t-shirts, 2 free buffets,2 for 1 entree in Fireside Restaurant,tickets for auto show, 2 for 1 tickets to Legends,and a $75 comp.
Our flight was good but crowded. We checked in early and since our room wasn't ready, Dennis and I hit the poker room. We made our donation until our room was ready. We got a refurnished room that was very nice and by the front elevators with no wait. Mike and Suki got the room next to ours.
Overall gambling left us down for the trip about $400. Dennis and I had fun playing poker in the IP where everyone knew us and were very friendly. I got a straight flush one night which entitled me to a bonus of a $50 gift certificate to Embers restaurant. The comps in the IP are the best for poker- $3 an hour. I played some slots and table games but only had one good day of gambling. Dennis had one good day too.
Comps- Our comps more than covered room charges. In fact we still have $150 left there. Since my birthday was Sept 29, Bob Cohen gave me 2 nights free (which included the more expensive Friday night).He also gave me a birthday booklet for a free t shirt, 2 buffets,desert in Embers. Then he gave us an additional 4 buffet coupons.
Food-We used our buffets for breakfast a couple of days and lunch the last day. Ate at Fireside the third night there and the food was very good. Suki and I had lamb chops that were cooked to perfection and Mike and Dennis had wonderful steaks.Mike and Suki treated us for my birthday. We ate at Embers on my birthday and this was truly a great meal. We had chatebrian (spelling is terrible) for 2 that came with potatoes, sauted mushrooms,and broccoli and the guys shared my free dessert of cheesecake with fruit.
We ate breakfast at Harrah's one day and they are remodelling the buffet room so the food was fair. Ate at Mirage a couple of days-Cravings. It was a terrific buffet for $12. The room is huge and they have everything including an omelet station, lox and so much more. One day we ate a later breakfast and they brought out lunch so of course we had to 'taste' it all. It was wonderful-well worth the money.Basically we snacked the other days in the poker room where they have sandwiches every night.
We rented a car for 2 days from US rental and with a coupon in the phone book, we paid $84 total. Took a ride to Valley of Fire which is 45 minutes north of Vegas and an awesome place to see.Stopped at IN and Out burgers for lunch which is really good. We also went downtown 2 nights. I found out online that Lady Luck gives 2 show tickets on your birthday so we went there. They gave me4 free tickets with 2 free drinks each for their show Ovations. Not many people at the show but it was very good, with a comedian, magician, balancing acts,etc. Then someone gave our friends free tickets to a Hypnotist show so they went to that while I gambled in Binions and hit for $70 on a slot machine. I also got a free t shirt from New York,New York, for my birthday and one from the Tropicana also and 2 decks of cards too.
We picked up free tickets at Harrah's Carnival Court for Ron Lucas, a great ventriloquist at the Rio for Mike and Suki to see since we saw him in April.They also went to the car show in the Imperial Palace.
I have now been labeled the queen of freebies!!!!
I took a picture of Bob Cohen to show to an aunt of his that lives in my hometown ,and I ran into her 2 days before our trip. I hadn't seen her in 20 years.Small world.
All in all our trip was a lot of fun and will now be an annual trip with Mike and Suki who we had only met twice before this trip-once for my daughter's shower and once for the wedding in July.
Although the Imperial Palace is going to be bought by Harrah's, Bob expects things to continue as they are for at least a year to 3 years. I am glad because the IP is a fun place and very good with comps. If we had stayed at Harrah's they would not have been so generous and we would have had to pay for our room.
Looking forward to our next trip to Vegas which can be anytime since we are happily retired.
I made arrangements with Bob Cohen in advance although I had gotten a summer blast invitation from the Imperial Palace. I needed a second room for my new son in law's parents, Mike and Suki who had never been to Vegas.They live in Maine and would meet us there. Bob gave them the room nextdoor to us. Of course Bob offered them the same package-deluxe rooms for$59 weekdays,$79weekends,VIP check-in, match play certificates, entries for a drawing, free slot play on special machines, 2 t-shirts, 2 free buffets,2 for 1 entree in Fireside Restaurant,tickets for auto show, 2 for 1 tickets to Legends,and a $75 comp.
Our flight was good but crowded. We checked in early and since our room wasn't ready, Dennis and I hit the poker room. We made our donation until our room was ready. We got a refurnished room that was very nice and by the front elevators with no wait. Mike and Suki got the room next to ours.
Overall gambling left us down for the trip about $400. Dennis and I had fun playing poker in the IP where everyone knew us and were very friendly. I got a straight flush one night which entitled me to a bonus of a $50 gift certificate to Embers restaurant. The comps in the IP are the best for poker- $3 an hour. I played some slots and table games but only had one good day of gambling. Dennis had one good day too.
Comps- Our comps more than covered room charges. In fact we still have $150 left there. Since my birthday was Sept 29, Bob Cohen gave me 2 nights free (which included the more expensive Friday night).He also gave me a birthday booklet for a free t shirt, 2 buffets,desert in Embers. Then he gave us an additional 4 buffet coupons.
Food-We used our buffets for breakfast a couple of days and lunch the last day. Ate at Fireside the third night there and the food was very good. Suki and I had lamb chops that were cooked to perfection and Mike and Dennis had wonderful steaks.Mike and Suki treated us for my birthday. We ate at Embers on my birthday and this was truly a great meal. We had chatebrian (spelling is terrible) for 2 that came with potatoes, sauted mushrooms,and broccoli and the guys shared my free dessert of cheesecake with fruit.
We ate breakfast at Harrah's one day and they are remodelling the buffet room so the food was fair. Ate at Mirage a couple of days-Cravings. It was a terrific buffet for $12. The room is huge and they have everything including an omelet station, lox and so much more. One day we ate a later breakfast and they brought out lunch so of course we had to 'taste' it all. It was wonderful-well worth the money.Basically we snacked the other days in the poker room where they have sandwiches every night.
We rented a car for 2 days from US rental and with a coupon in the phone book, we paid $84 total. Took a ride to Valley of Fire which is 45 minutes north of Vegas and an awesome place to see.Stopped at IN and Out burgers for lunch which is really good. We also went downtown 2 nights. I found out online that Lady Luck gives 2 show tickets on your birthday so we went there. They gave me4 free tickets with 2 free drinks each for their show Ovations. Not many people at the show but it was very good, with a comedian, magician, balancing acts,etc. Then someone gave our friends free tickets to a Hypnotist show so they went to that while I gambled in Binions and hit for $70 on a slot machine. I also got a free t shirt from New York,New York, for my birthday and one from the Tropicana also and 2 decks of cards too.
We picked up free tickets at Harrah's Carnival Court for Ron Lucas, a great ventriloquist at the Rio for Mike and Suki to see since we saw him in April.They also went to the car show in the Imperial Palace.
I have now been labeled the queen of freebies!!!!
I took a picture of Bob Cohen to show to an aunt of his that lives in my hometown ,and I ran into her 2 days before our trip. I hadn't seen her in 20 years.Small world.
All in all our trip was a lot of fun and will now be an annual trip with Mike and Suki who we had only met twice before this trip-once for my daughter's shower and once for the wedding in July.
Although the Imperial Palace is going to be bought by Harrah's, Bob expects things to continue as they are for at least a year to 3 years. I am glad because the IP is a fun place and very good with comps. If we had stayed at Harrah's they would not have been so generous and we would have had to pay for our room.
Looking forward to our next trip to Vegas which can be anytime since we are happily retired.