Strip Side Junior Suite, Flamingo Las Vegas, March 2016

Our Second Stay at the Flamingo, We decided to check out the Junior Suite instead of a regular room. Typically, it doesn't matter if we don't have a huge room or a suite at hotels because we are the type who are only going to be in the room long enough to sleep and shower before we are back out again.

We had a deal, playing at the casino does that, and we ended up getting the Junior Suite at Flamingo for free.  The best part about out suite was that it was right on the front side facing the strip, with HUGE windows looking out on the strip. This would definitely be a good spot for fireworks, or one of the 5ks. 

The only slightly negative thing with the Junior Suite, is with one bed, and a glass wall separating the bathroom, it would have been a little weird with 2 people who were not together or used to seeing each other naked or "on the throne". 

That is the only slightly negative thing I could say. Since my husband and I rarely travel with anyone else, it is always just he and I, the glass wall in the bathroom was not a problem. 

'The Flamingo is probably one of the most well known hotels on the strip for those who know ANYTHING about the history of Las Vegas. We love walking through the hotel and feeling like history is everywhere. The last original section of the hotel has been gone for a long time, but the history remains. 

Have a drink at Bugsy's bar, some say his spirit will have a drink with you. Or maybe those who said that, hit Margaritaville and the Its 5oclock Somewhere Bar first. 

Carnival Miracle - Mexican Riviera Cruise - February 2016

We started cruising Carnival in January of 2015. We took our first cruise to the Bahamas, followed by a 2nd cruise to the Bahamas, and then a 3rd cruise to the Western Caribbean all in 2015.

In the process of finalizing the check in procedures for our Western Caribbean cruise, I noticed that due to my husband's regular casino playing, he had several free cruise offers that were what Carnival Classifies as a Premier Cruise. We decided to book the Mexican Riviera Cruise out of Long Beach Premier Event since we would have moved to the west coast by then.

So our cruise in February 2016 was many firsts. It was our first Premier Casino Cruise, Our first cruise out of the West Coast, Our First Cruise on Carnival Miracle and Our First Mexican Riviera Cruise.
Needless to say, we knew before we even boarded that Carnival Miracle was going to be a trip we would never forget.

Mirage Las Vegas, November 7, 2015

While waiting on our furniture to be delivered to our house in Oceanside, we decided to take 2 days and use a casino promo offer for rooms at the Mirage in Las Vegas. It was our first stay at The Mirage Las Vegas. 

We had stayed at other properties in the MGM Family, but just not Mirage. 

When we visited Mirage, they were doing some construction, updating rooms. Our direct room had not been updated yet.

We had a great trip. It was my birthday, we saw two shows, we ate great food and solidified our love for Las Vegas.

This was our first trip to Vegas since moving to the West Coast, technically we hadn't even moved in to the West Coast. We had a 2 night stay at Mirage that was a promo deal from MGM Family. We took advantage of that deal since we really did not have anything to do or anywhere to go while we were waiting on our furniture.  What a great birthday!  

We ended up not getting our furniture as scheduled, and we ended up staying in Vegas two more nights at Bally's with another casino promo deal.

Atlantic City

As we prepare to leave the East Coast and move to the West Coast, we are trying to "say goodbye" to as many of the things and places we will miss as possible. 
So we decided to have one last weekend in Atlantic City. Atlantic City has gotten a very mixed reputation over the past few years. Casinos closing down, time shares moving in, certain parts of town going downhill and so much competition for the casinos opening up. 
Atlantic City used to be a great place. Great casinos, packed with people, so much to do. But now it is a prime example of not staying relevant. Casinos have failed because they could not keep with what the modern consumer wants in a hotel, casino and resort. 

We love having multiple casinos in one place, and having it on the East Coast. But we don't love how too many places a block over from a grand casino look terrible, and run down. Or how the boardwalk looks like a mix of escaped mental patients and jersey shore girls. 

Of all the things on the East Coast that I am going to miss when we move, Atlantic City will not be one. I can say "I've been there and done that." I've been here about 25 times. 
I think moving 4 hours from Vegas has made me a little jaded. 

Bruch for Two

The best brunch I have ever eaten is the brunch at Michelle's in Dover Downs.
The choices are amazing.  Lamb, prime rib,  shrimp, oysters, omelettes. I could go on and on.
Our new favorite discovered this trip was the Rum Raisin Cake.

Monster Trip - Dover Downs

A very good friend of our had never been to a casino at all. She knew that we frequently go to Dover Downs and Atlantic City. We planned a trip to spend one night at Dover Downs and then drove on to Atlantic City.

 

 

For dinner at Dover Downs, we decided to go to Frankie's for Italian Food.

We spent the evening gambling, and then headed to Atlantic City the next day after checking out the monster first.

 

 



Baltimore May 2015

My husband and I are gamblers, him more than me. I just kinda like being there and playing penny slots. 
We normally go to Dover Downs in Delaware, it is about 4 hours from our home in Virginia. 
We noticed that there were less and less people at Dover Downs and were told that since Maryland Live and Horseshoe Baltimore had opened that many Maryland residents were going there and not coming to Dover Downs. 

We decided to check it out and see what the fuss was all about. For Maryland Live, we decided we would never go back. It was fine entertainment wise, but it was the tightest casino and had the absolute worst food. 

Skeptically, I agreed with my husband to try Horseshoe Baltimore, only if we could combine it with a trip to visit Baltimore's Inner Harbor. At one time many years ago, I had visited Baltimore's Inner Harbor Area on a work trip, and I thought this was a great opportunity to go back and check it out. 

We totally picked a wrong hotel, it was too far away from where we were going, and the staff lost our reservation and did nothing to help us. But besides the hotel, we spent time in the Inner Harbor area and then went to Horseshoe.

We had a great time at both. We picked a great day for the weather at Inner Harbor. We were able to check out the whole area and walk and enjoy ourselves. Then at night we went to Horseshoe and were definitely pleased. Horseshoe has a great environment and it was tons of fun. They entertainment was great and I was amazed by the food choices.

We started our day at Lexington Market. It is a historic place that has been on the food channel. Seafood was on the agenda. The crab cakes and the fresh oysters were definitely not to be missed. 

There was live music entertainment at Lexington Market and plenty of places to shop and dine. It was fun for us to walk around and see a couple of the places that have been on the food channel and try it ourselves.

At Inner Harbor, My husband found Chessie. The legaendary Chesapeake Bay Sea Monster, Cousin to Loch Ness Monster. My husband finds him.

Of course what we saw were just the paddle boats that look like Chessie. 

Now, only if we could have found the real thing.

Horseshoe was fun. Horseshoe is named after the infamous Binion's Horseshoe in downtown Las Vegas. It is where the world series of poker actually started. Caesar's Entertainment has now built several of these Horseshoe Casinos and they are great. A great way to add to your Total Rewards points when you are not in Vegas or Atlantic City.