The "new" California.... impressive!

Joe the outside booth across the street is gone as well. Pic loading..........

 

Thank you for that info. More part-time jobs eliminated.

 

For you Joe.

 

Oh ok, i think there was a misunderstanding Makikiboy... Yes, the Mahalo coupons that I get are good only when I book through Vacations Hawaii. I apologize if there was any confusion on my part. My intent was to let my fellow VMB that to get the 200.00 coupon vice the 100.00 coupon was to ask. That's all I did to get mine... was ask. Because I was originally offered the 100.00 and I was like... "hey, I want the 200.00 coupon." There was a little bit of an exchange that went something like this: 'well, your play is a little bit below the amount to where we give the 200.00 coupon, but I'll go ahead and give it to you this time.' From that point on, this person (host) received kona coffee, chocolates, etc. every time that I've been to the Cal since.... and iI've always received that 200.00 coupon since.

So to be clear... lol, I usually fly on Vacations Hawaii 4x a year. (I may do a trip on Hawaiian Airlines here and there as well... depending on the price.) I usually wait until the packages go on sale; say from 799.00 down to 699.00. Once I see that, I email my host and she will set me up with the 5 days that correspond with the package. From there, I select the "Casino/Air" package which is 599.00. As I go through the booking process on the website, I input the offer code for the 200.00 off and my final cost is 399.00 for the 5 nights, air, transportation, and food.

I used to get the food coupons given to me by my host. But recently, I have been getting them in my monthly mailers with the 4 days comped. I usually use that and just call to have the one day added to make the 5 night trip I book on VH.

I hope this clears the air and alleviates any confusion my original post may have caused.

Aloha

 

Ah, yes, that clears it up a little more. And it helps that you use Vacations Hawaii regularly. I remember that you also get discounts if you fly so many legs on Vacations Hawaii packages. I remember on the VH website that you could use the discount on your VH package.

Lately the prices for VH are a little higher (between $769 and $899 except for the shorter stay days) than in previous years and since I go as a single I have to pay more for the single room. Hawaiian usually brings out lower prices every quarter so many times I can get flights to vegas in the $500 to $550 range. I usually take the redeyes so I am able to book 4 nights but actually stay closer to 5 full days (or 5 night/6 full days) so flying ala carte is the better deal for me, especially since I usually stay during the week days when the room rates are lower.

I don't gamble enough to get the comps so I hardly qualify for the $100 mahalo coupon so I never contacted a host to see if I can get rack room rate or any comps. In fact a few years ago I asked the pit boss (female) at MSS crap table for a comped buffet and she laughed at me, saying that I didn't put in enough play or bet enough to qualify for the comp. Lately they've been nicer to me and when I ask I regularly can get a comped meal but I doubt it would be enough to get lower rates or comped nights but you never know and it doesn't hurt to ask, although I only go to vegas once or at most twice a year.

But thanks for clearing everything up. Who is your host? Maybe next time I consider flying on VH I can give him/her a call to at least get the $100 mahalo coupon discount or see if they will give me the food coupon book when I stay at the Cal or MSS.

Wow, 4x a year. If I may ask, what do you play and how much do you usually gamble on your trips? For me I usually allocate $1k for the air/room/rental car and some meals and another $2k for gambling/fun money so about $3k per trip. I want to retire soon (this year or next year) so I am conserving my money and throwing as much of my salary in to my deferred comp to get ready for retirement.

I think they regularly give you the $200 mahalo coupon because you travel and stay with them so often and because of your play you also get the comped rooms and meals. Maybe in 7 years when I start collecting social security I can use that money for my trips and gamble a little more but for now I fly and gamble on the cheap.

 

Currently at the Cal.

 

Had lunch today at the Cal's Noodle House, $8 breaded fried chicken katsu (very crispy and fresh) served with rice, mac salad & dipping sauce, covered 100% by the meal coupon and included a beverage (tea). Noodle House is open early for lunch Fridays thru Sundays. Only 2 tables occupied at noon today, I hope they can remain in business. BTW the name of the front desk person who checked us in 2 days ago according to her name tag was Erlinda (I think the posters here know her).

 

Ah, yes... Erlinda. The emotionless droid that checked me both into and out of the Cal during our April trip.

 

I use Vacations Hawaii for my solo trips. Convenient and hassle-free. I do have some complaints though, one main one is that they bunch the Downtown patrons with those who are going to the Orleans on the same bus when we arrive in Vegas. When they do this, it takes CLOSE TO AN HOUR for the Downtown people to arrive at their hotels because they drop off the Orleans people first. And most times there are less than 5 people that need to go to the Orleans! If your charter arrives at 10:30 pm it's after MIDNIGHT before you can even check in.

Fifty plus people waiting an hour to arrive Downtown just because 5 people need to go to the Orleans? That's gross mismanagement on the part of Vacations Hawaii.

I remember they had a special bus that went to the Orleans and they would direct the few that go there to those shuttle busses.

Maybe they are trying to cut costs but I think it's ridiculous.

 

My last night at the Cal, casino & restaurant seems busy (upcoming Memorial day weekend). The progress on the automated parking booths at both the 6 floor covered parking structure and across the street open lot are moving at a rapid pace. The parking is free for the time being but looks like soon it will be fully automated. I fly back to Los Angeles on Sunday morning early. My overall tally is positive about $1000 (for 4 nights). But with 1 more night things could fluctuate another plus or minus $500 (you know how that goes). Got this $300 Buffalo. This might be my last post until next time (unless I get another hit which I'll post)

 

Does the $20 trick work at Cal or MSS??

 

I try to get on one of the first shuttles, they usually go straight to downtown. I agree, they should probably have one shuttle that waits for the Orleans people while the rest go downtown.

Actually what I don't like is the times they arrive and leave. Some flights get in around 10 or 11 pm so you basically lost the day. You just gamble a few hours while waiting for your luggage to be delivered and turn in for the night. Some flights leave first thing in the morning so I usually will stay up all night.

For me I like the Hawaiian airline schedule, they have redeyes that get in first thing in the morning so I have the full day to do things. They also have a redeye going home (1 am!) so I don't have to pay for a room for the night. My 4 nighter I actually stay longer than taking the 5 nighter on Vacations Hawaii.

 

According to my family members that I met at the Cal last week the Vacations Hawaii shuttle bus they caught from McCarran to the Cal didn't have any passengers going to Orleans (they were on the last bus out of about 4 or 5 buses). They said the shuttle first dropped off passengers at Fremont, then MSS, then the Cal last. I'm guessing that only a few people go to Orleans (or Sam's Town) so it might be too costly for Vacations Hawaii to dedicate a shuttle bus that only goes to Orleans (or Sam's) for just a few couple of people. And I'm guessing that only people that want to go bowling go to Orleans or Sam's Town.

 

Had the poke and spring rolls two weeks ago and found both dishes outstanding...ive never had a bad meal there. They were packed fot lunch and dinner when I was there. We usually hit Redwood for happy hour once a trip and this time had seared ahi on a bed of greens.. very good would eat again..and of course the escargot were spot on as always.

 

I've had the escargot too at Redwood many years ago. It was prepared with butter, garlic, and some herbs which was very good. I think it came with 12 escargots in a tray dish ($11 appetizer) where we would scoop out an escargot drenched in the herb butter garlic sauce, so good.

 

Yes, the escargot is $11 and very good, but it is only 6 pieces with some garlic bread. We have it every trip, so maybe 5 times a year.

 

Ah yes I stand corrected. And now I remember the garlic bread too after you mentioned it.

 

Anyone have an update on the room remodels? Are both West and East tower updated or are they still working on it?

 

Only the west as of 2 weeks ago, we paid $11 a night to upgrade to the west from a casino rate room in the East, worth it IMO