This was our celebration for our 30th. anniversary and we 'of course' chose a gambling trip! 
BTW, this is my 2nd attempt to get a TR to post....if it doesn't go this time I give up.
Hotels
We stayed one night at the Hollywood and four nights at Harrahs.
Both rooms were very spacious/clean/ and well appointed.
Check-in was very quick at Hollywood and we were on the floor playing in a matter of minutes. We played about 5 hours Thursday night and then decided to get some rest after the long drive. Went to bed up a couple of hundred with several small hits of $2-$300 which I managed to give most of it back.
Friday morning we had pastries and coffee and then DH hit the links for a 7am tee time.
Well, I was all alone and had to do something, right? So, I headed over to Resorts and amused myself quite well until DH joined me for breakfast. I guess it just got too hot on the course to stay any longer.
We had coupons for their breakfast buffet and decided to do that. More on this in the 'food' paragraph.
We..... well rather DH loaded up the car and we headed to Harrahs for our next 4 nights.
Our room was ready and we had a really nice view of the pool and pond with all of the ducks.
Grabbed the shuttle and headed to the casino. BTW, do you all know that they've stopped running the shuttles to the casinos that are non-Harrahs. We didn't plan to use it as we had our car but I over-heard a guest asking and that is what she was told. It then dawned on me that I had only seen Harrah's shuttles in the time we had been there. This just has to hurt the other casinos.
We really liked the decor changes at Harrah's but miss many of my favorite machines that are no longer there at all or the number has been dramatically decreased. DH played VP at the center bar (in fact that was his home away from home almost the entire trip) and I flitted from one machine to another for most of the afternoon. We had planned to eat dinner at Paula Deen's early due to not wanting to stand in long lines. As it happened there was no line whatsoever (5:30p) and we were seated immediatedly. See our opinions under the food paragraph.
Friday evening found me at an OZ machine that I played for hours on end pretty much staying the same. Around 10:30 though the machine went bonkers and gave me over $800 in 2 spins. I played to an even number and for once hit the cash out button. Found DH at the center bar of course and we decided to call it a night.
Saturday morning DH was grumbling about the one cup coffee pots in the room and I found an easy solution. I just requested that he go downstairs and bring us back those big cups of coffee and of course some of those gigantic/still warm out of the oven pecan rolls. This made him smile! I know......my bad.
(no rascal icon, have to use the devil.)
We headed to the Sheraton so I could use my $250 of freeplay. They also happened to be doubling any freeplay coupons from Ballys. We both ended up with an additional hundred dollars from this.
DH headed to the closest VP bar and to look up an old favorite bartender. I played a huge assortment of slots here (probably 20) and ended up the afternoon on a monopoly machine where I hit for a little over $600. Hubby was up about a hundred from his VP session. Now, this is almost a miracle for him folks. What you don't know is that he does a lot of talking to all of the staff and other people playing while enjoying a "few" Ultras and maybe a little TV watching. The gambling is almost just an excuse to be there but he so enjoys it and each to our own, right?
Our lunch/snack this day came from the little pastry/sandwich shop at Sheraton. See food.
We head back to the casino and play for several hours before calling it a night with no significant wins or losses.......just a hella of a good time!
Dinner tonight was room service while we watched a movie.
Saturday we are both awake by 6:30 a (old habits are hard to break in "old dogs" you know). We decided to do breakfast at Paula Deens and again it was not at all crowded. (9am)
We leave Harrah's and hit Ballys and Sam's Town for several hours.
Since neither of us were hungry we just skipped lunch today.
Back to the room to rest and 'freshen' and we were off to 37. This is the new restaurant that has replaced the old LB's steakhouse. More in the food section on this.
Sunday am we are awake and ready to go. But not before DH makes a return trip for coffee and those just sinful pecan rolls.
He heads to the links at Harrah's for his 8 am tee time and I of course tackle the machines. His golf session went well and I knew it would be short as they only have 9 holes at this time due to reconstruction of some sort. Again, I did a hit and run on about a bazillion different machines with multiple $100-$200 hits and managed to stay fairly even all day. We decided to go back to the Terrace and had sandwiches from the snack bar and Hubby spent a little time at the pool getting re-hydrated after his golf. NO....he didn't get re-hydrated from swimming guys....guess again!
Sunday evening dinner was room service again and a good movie.
Monday dawns and it is our last day and our anniversary. We spend most of the day at Harrah's and then clean up for our anniversary dinner. We chose Fairbanks at the Hollywood and had a 7 pm reservation.
After dinner we play a bit at the Hollywood and hubby hits $50 on VP....he is thrilled! Back to the hotel and a fairly early night as we have to travel tomorrow.
Restaurants:
Paula Deen's: We had 3 meals here, 2 dinners and breakfast. We enjoyed many of the offerings and found a few not up to standard. Likes: the fried shrimp and oysters were to die for (just like we ate in Charleston for decades.) The creamed corn and steamed cabbage were wonderful and DH said the fried green tomatoes were almost as good as mine. Fried pork chops the likes of which I haven't had since
my grandmother cooked them.....just superb. Another favorite was the cranberry relish on the salad bar. Dislikes: the cornbread was NOT southern cornbread, however, the hoe cakes were very good. We thought the dessert offerings were the weakest. We tried the gooey gooey butter cake but it is too rich to eat more than a bite or two. All in all very very good and we would defintely go again.
37: the restaurant only had about 5 occupied tables at 8pm and this concerned us some. We both had filets and they were fine...not wonderful but okay. We did have some of their seared scallops though and they were excellent. A nice restaurant with nice ambience but I wouldn't go out of our way to go very often.
Pastry and Sandwich Shop at Sheraton: pizza here was sooooo good.....fresh/hot/ and lots of cheese.
Fairbanks: We had a lovely dinner here with great service. While sharing a bottle of Merlot we enjoyed stuffed mushrooms as our appetizer. We both chose blue cheese salads and they were cold and fresh and hit the spot. DH had maple glazed salmon and I had lobster risotto for our entrees. Each was excellent and we finished with creme brulee and chocolate ganache for dessert.
Room Service at Harrah's: It was just great. Everything came exactly when they said it would and they couldn't have been more pleasant. Their room service hasn't always been this way and I was pleased to see the changes they have made. If you haven't tried their burger and fries, do yourself a favor and do so. They are wonderful and cooked to order....the beef is just an outstanding flavor. Oh, did I mention that one is large enough for two people? Yes......we ate both!
It was a great trip and we came home pretty close to even too. We haven't made many gambling trips this year due to health concerns and this was particularly enjoyable.
On check out we had a couple of hundred dollars on the room and Harrah's graciously comped everything.....thanks Harrah's. This is why we will remain Diamonds with them as they have also treated us royally.
Well, if you're still with me here you must REALLY need a gambling trip....LOL
Our best to all....
June
BTW, this is my 2nd attempt to get a TR to post....if it doesn't go this time I give up.
Hotels
We stayed one night at the Hollywood and four nights at Harrahs.
Both rooms were very spacious/clean/ and well appointed.
Check-in was very quick at Hollywood and we were on the floor playing in a matter of minutes. We played about 5 hours Thursday night and then decided to get some rest after the long drive. Went to bed up a couple of hundred with several small hits of $2-$300 which I managed to give most of it back.
Friday morning we had pastries and coffee and then DH hit the links for a 7am tee time.
Well, I was all alone and had to do something, right? So, I headed over to Resorts and amused myself quite well until DH joined me for breakfast. I guess it just got too hot on the course to stay any longer.
We had coupons for their breakfast buffet and decided to do that. More on this in the 'food' paragraph.
We..... well rather DH loaded up the car and we headed to Harrahs for our next 4 nights.
Our room was ready and we had a really nice view of the pool and pond with all of the ducks.
Grabbed the shuttle and headed to the casino. BTW, do you all know that they've stopped running the shuttles to the casinos that are non-Harrahs. We didn't plan to use it as we had our car but I over-heard a guest asking and that is what she was told. It then dawned on me that I had only seen Harrah's shuttles in the time we had been there. This just has to hurt the other casinos.
We really liked the decor changes at Harrah's but miss many of my favorite machines that are no longer there at all or the number has been dramatically decreased. DH played VP at the center bar (in fact that was his home away from home almost the entire trip) and I flitted from one machine to another for most of the afternoon. We had planned to eat dinner at Paula Deen's early due to not wanting to stand in long lines. As it happened there was no line whatsoever (5:30p) and we were seated immediatedly. See our opinions under the food paragraph.
Friday evening found me at an OZ machine that I played for hours on end pretty much staying the same. Around 10:30 though the machine went bonkers and gave me over $800 in 2 spins. I played to an even number and for once hit the cash out button. Found DH at the center bar of course and we decided to call it a night.
Saturday morning DH was grumbling about the one cup coffee pots in the room and I found an easy solution. I just requested that he go downstairs and bring us back those big cups of coffee and of course some of those gigantic/still warm out of the oven pecan rolls. This made him smile! I know......my bad.
(no rascal icon, have to use the devil.)
We headed to the Sheraton so I could use my $250 of freeplay. They also happened to be doubling any freeplay coupons from Ballys. We both ended up with an additional hundred dollars from this.
DH headed to the closest VP bar and to look up an old favorite bartender. I played a huge assortment of slots here (probably 20) and ended up the afternoon on a monopoly machine where I hit for a little over $600. Hubby was up about a hundred from his VP session. Now, this is almost a miracle for him folks. What you don't know is that he does a lot of talking to all of the staff and other people playing while enjoying a "few" Ultras and maybe a little TV watching. The gambling is almost just an excuse to be there but he so enjoys it and each to our own, right?
Our lunch/snack this day came from the little pastry/sandwich shop at Sheraton. See food.
We head back to the casino and play for several hours before calling it a night with no significant wins or losses.......just a hella of a good time!
Dinner tonight was room service while we watched a movie.
Saturday we are both awake by 6:30 a (old habits are hard to break in "old dogs" you know). We decided to do breakfast at Paula Deens and again it was not at all crowded. (9am)
We leave Harrah's and hit Ballys and Sam's Town for several hours.
Since neither of us were hungry we just skipped lunch today.
Back to the room to rest and 'freshen' and we were off to 37. This is the new restaurant that has replaced the old LB's steakhouse. More in the food section on this.
Sunday am we are awake and ready to go. But not before DH makes a return trip for coffee and those just sinful pecan rolls.
He heads to the links at Harrah's for his 8 am tee time and I of course tackle the machines. His golf session went well and I knew it would be short as they only have 9 holes at this time due to reconstruction of some sort. Again, I did a hit and run on about a bazillion different machines with multiple $100-$200 hits and managed to stay fairly even all day. We decided to go back to the Terrace and had sandwiches from the snack bar and Hubby spent a little time at the pool getting re-hydrated after his golf. NO....he didn't get re-hydrated from swimming guys....guess again!
Sunday evening dinner was room service again and a good movie.
Monday dawns and it is our last day and our anniversary. We spend most of the day at Harrah's and then clean up for our anniversary dinner. We chose Fairbanks at the Hollywood and had a 7 pm reservation.
After dinner we play a bit at the Hollywood and hubby hits $50 on VP....he is thrilled! Back to the hotel and a fairly early night as we have to travel tomorrow.
Restaurants:
Paula Deen's: We had 3 meals here, 2 dinners and breakfast. We enjoyed many of the offerings and found a few not up to standard. Likes: the fried shrimp and oysters were to die for (just like we ate in Charleston for decades.) The creamed corn and steamed cabbage were wonderful and DH said the fried green tomatoes were almost as good as mine. Fried pork chops the likes of which I haven't had since
my grandmother cooked them.....just superb. Another favorite was the cranberry relish on the salad bar. Dislikes: the cornbread was NOT southern cornbread, however, the hoe cakes were very good. We thought the dessert offerings were the weakest. We tried the gooey gooey butter cake but it is too rich to eat more than a bite or two. All in all very very good and we would defintely go again.
37: the restaurant only had about 5 occupied tables at 8pm and this concerned us some. We both had filets and they were fine...not wonderful but okay. We did have some of their seared scallops though and they were excellent. A nice restaurant with nice ambience but I wouldn't go out of our way to go very often.
Pastry and Sandwich Shop at Sheraton: pizza here was sooooo good.....fresh/hot/ and lots of cheese.
Fairbanks: We had a lovely dinner here with great service. While sharing a bottle of Merlot we enjoyed stuffed mushrooms as our appetizer. We both chose blue cheese salads and they were cold and fresh and hit the spot. DH had maple glazed salmon and I had lobster risotto for our entrees. Each was excellent and we finished with creme brulee and chocolate ganache for dessert.
Room Service at Harrah's: It was just great. Everything came exactly when they said it would and they couldn't have been more pleasant. Their room service hasn't always been this way and I was pleased to see the changes they have made. If you haven't tried their burger and fries, do yourself a favor and do so. They are wonderful and cooked to order....the beef is just an outstanding flavor. Oh, did I mention that one is large enough for two people? Yes......we ate both!
It was a great trip and we came home pretty close to even too. We haven't made many gambling trips this year due to health concerns and this was particularly enjoyable.
On check out we had a couple of hundred dollars on the room and Harrah's graciously comped everything.....thanks Harrah's. This is why we will remain Diamonds with them as they have also treated us royally.
Well, if you're still with me here you must REALLY need a gambling trip....LOL
Our best to all....
June
