Vegas Advantage had a staycation at Plaza in downtown Las Vegas for two nights. The dates were July 27 and 28.
We have played at Plaza and its former sister property, Las Vegas Club, for over 20 years. Being locals, we don’t ask for much and save up comps. That allows us to get top rooms and an Oscar’s meal every year or two. This trip, we stayed in the Jonny Suite, named after Plaza CEO Jonathan Jossel. It is on the penthouse level of the South Tower. Here is a tour:
We checked in on Sunday and headed to Four Queens to finish the July points chase. Every 400 points is worth $40 in free slot play, up to $160. Players earn 400 points on $3200 in video poker or $2000 in slot coin-in. This is in addition to the great All Access players club. Players can double-dip by hitting the same promotion at Binion’s. This video explains the best plays for this deal:
We earned almost enough food comps to cover dinner for two at Top of Binion’s Steakhouse. We had not been there in over 10 years. It was as great as we remembered.
The next night, our daughter joined us at Oscar’s. It was as great as always. Here are some pictures. Notice how IGT has trouble spelling “deuce.”
After dinner, we walked Fremont Street Experience. Our daughter is in college and plays a little poker with friends. We showed her where the World Series of Poker was once played. After that, we did the usual people watching on the street. It was the perfect level of busy without being crowded. Our daughter went home, and we headed back to Sand Dollar for drinks and video poker.
After giving up there, we went back to the floor. I played full-pay Joker Poker, while Kristina played her usual Deuces Wild. We both caught some dirty royals, but nothing more. It was good enough to break even.
Hit my first Plaza royal flush in two years
Kristina and I played at Sand Dollar on Sunday night after dinner. It did not go well. I have still not hit a royal flush at Sand Dollar or one at Plaza since it opened, until Monday, when I hit one on the floor playing full-pay Bonus Poker Deluxe. I was about to order a drink, so I did not immediately see the royal flush until the waitress walked up, as you hear in the video:
The Monday before, Kristina hit a progressive royal flush on Deuces Wild at Binion’s. This was while we earned points for the summer promotion. It was her first single-line royal flush ever.
Birthday craps at Rio
Kristina wanted to throw dice for her birthday. She had not done that in 15 years. She stopped because a Las Vegas Club dealer got nasty with her for not hitting the back wall twice.
When we filmed at Rio last month, one of the dealers almost got her to try it again. Rio was kind enough to open the Roll to Win Craps table for her birthday, and that dealer was in the rotation.
We stayed even for a while, going between the Pass Line on Kristina’s rolls and the Don’t Pass on mine. Kristina’s birthday numbers are a 9 and a hard 8. She bet these two numbers on every roll, even on the come-out. Friends joined us later, and the luck turned a little in the wrong direction. The odds caught up with us, and we left down a little.
After craps, we ate at Luckley Tavern & Grill. We had comps for part of it. We found out locals get a 20% discount this summer. That made it a good deal. The food and service were also great.
After dinner, we said goodbye to our friends. It was time to call it a night after a long birthday weekend.
