Vivaaaa Las Vegas!

My Monday post for next week will probably NOT include a spending summary of the weekend, as I'm going to Vegas, and the expenditures will be too absurd. I'm not sure where I got my gambling bone, as I don't think it was inherited (neither of my parents gamble, that I know of), but the thrill of risk/reward is just so much fun. Don't worry about this blogger- I don't gamble more than I can afford to lose, and I'm perfectly happy to walk away from the table when I'm done and not feel the urge to go to the ATM. (Walking away while I'm ahead is slightly more difficult!!)

I first learned how to play poker when I was interning in California as an engineer. I was the only female intern staying in a particular apartment complex, so to stay entertained, I had to hang with the guys, and that included Thursday poker night! I had never played, as I was a little bit intimidated by the rules and didn't want to look stupid in front of my new friends, but one patient teacher turned me into a poker machine. That summer also included some trips to Reno, Tahoe, and my first ever trip to Las Vegas, where I learned how to play roulette and craps. I don't play blackjack because I want to play it "right" and I've never taken the time to learn the proper rules, and I don't play roulette anymore b/c I think the odds are just TOO low (yes, I know they're ALWAYS against you, but...). Craps is my favorite casino game because it's very social, and there are some clever ways that you can hedge your bets. There are ways to stack the odds in your favor, but then you become very unpopular at the table because you're betting against everyone else, and that's just not fun. I taught a bunch of my sorority sisters how to play craps at a recent trip to Foxwoods, and now they're hooked ;) (They'll also be with me in Vegas-- so watch out!!)

NYC is about two hours from Atlantic City and about two and a half hours from Foxwoods/Mohegan Sun and now MGM in Connecticut, but there's nothing like Vegas! The reason for the trip is a college reunion (yes, we're so cool we go to VEGAS! hahaha), and so I bought these tickets back in March for $359, and while that's quite a bit, it's been the average as of late for direct flights to LAS from NYC. Airlines have been reducing the number of flights for this itinerary, which has contributed to the price increase. I bought tickets on Jet Blue/Virgin America to go back to Vegas in December and we paid about $350 direct RT, and that was the cheapest weekend this winter. I guess I won't be frequenting sin city as much as I'd like.

My flight is on Continental, which makes me a little bit sad because I don't think I'll be able to sleep on a 3:30pm flight, yet there will be no in-flight entertainment for me to enjoy, a la Jet Blue or Virgin America :( Continental had undercut them both enough to make a difference, thus I'll be visiting the bookstore before my flight.

Some prelim stats for the weekend:
Flight: $359
My share of hotel at MGM Grand: $103 for weekend
Event registration (includes dinner, a show, and who knows what else): $150

Yet to be determined:
Food, drinks (free on the gambling floor :P ), gambling losses

So, this weekend has already cost me $612 and that's only including one meal! Boy I hope breakfast is offered somewhere.

As for gambling, I think I am willing to lose up to $500. My last trip to Vegas cost me only $200 in losses (my tax refund arrived the day I went to Vegas!!! then I promply lost half of it :) ), and I actually won $100 at the craps table in San Juan this June. If I lose $500, oh well... and chances are that I'll probably be too busy at the pool/ in the club to actually gamble, so the actual loss could be a lot less. It is a reunion, after all, and I'd rather catch up with my homies.

I think it's interesting for me to be discussing my gambling habit on a PF blog, because I try to be super savvy when it comes to making the most out of my money, and then I'll go participate in an activity that is almost guaranteed to destroy my entire 'investment.' And speaking of investments, three of my colleagues gave me a little bit of cash for me to throw on the roulette table for them. I did warn them that they are not likely to ever see that money again :)


Wish me luck!!