I was up at the absurd hour of around 2:30am. I had to be up this early so I could leave and be down to Newark by around 4:30-5:00am. Yesterday after work I picked up a rental car at the local airport, Stewart – Newburgh, from Avis. I got a one way, one day rate of $60 all in for $80 using a discount code through my job. I booked an intermediate SUV for the simple reason it was actually cheaper than anything else. When I picked it up the agent said she had me in a Jeep Compass but needed to get a Dodge Ram down to Newark and asked if I'd take it. Yeah, why not. It was in new condition with only 3500 miles on it. I would have rather flown right out of Newburgh but the fares were unacceptable.

The ride to Newark was smooth sailing considering the hour of the morning it was. I made the standard stop to gas up the car just north of the Meadowlands and made the rest of the drive into Newark airport.

Returning the car at Avis was easy and everything was in order. I made my way to the air train and was on my way to terminal C.

Today's flight is on United and I'm flying first class. Because this is my Seven Stars trip it comes with up to $1200 in airfare. Being alone this allows me to go first class. It's always a zoo checking in with United in Newark.

After I was checked in I was on my way to security. I was expecting this to be a bit of a drag because I was traveling with a bunch of casino chips from my collection. I've decided to give up some of my collection and will be redeeming the chips when I get to Vegas. From past experience, the x-ray machines don't like casino chips and I was planning on having to get a body cavity search along with my carry on being hand searched. I was right. The search was quick and I was on my way. Everyone behaved for the most part in line except the one clown that didn't empty his pockets even though the TSA agent announced to do so 10-15 times while we were in line. Then there was the dummy that tried to leave her shoes on.

They started the pre board and I was one of the first on and took my seat 1A. It's been many years since I flew first class and I was looking forward to not being sandwiched in coach for a change.

This is flight 1753, non-stop right into Las Vegas. It's scheduled to take 5 hours and 40 minutes. The announcement over the PA said it would only take 5 hours and 10 minutes. We are scheduled to leave at 6:30am and arrive in Las Vegas at 9:10am.

We pushed back on time and the morning traffic was light for Newark. Once we were up in the air the meal service began. The choices were ham and egg croissant with yogurt, fruit and a pastry or oatmeal. I opted for the ham and cheese. The ham was so thin you could almost see through it. Other than that it was tasty.

I passed the time during the flight watching TV and playing games on my phone and sleeping.

I felt us starting to slow down and come down and we were on our final approach into Las Vegas. Looking out the window I saw all of the usual sites out in the Henderson area and a few minutes later we were on the ground.

We landed at 8:55 and taxied to the gate for a while. It's unusual for me to be one of the first ones off the plane because I'm usually sitting in the back and/or had to wait for Dee's wheelchair to come up.

As always the first stop was to the can and then on to baggage claim. While I was on my way I got a call from a Flamingo limo driver telling me he was there. I found him in the baggage claim area and wondered why he was there. I clearly told my host I'd be renting a car and didn't need that service.

The luggage too a while to come out but once it did mine was one of the first to come out.

Next up was the rental car center shuttle. Standard ride over to the rental center. Over the past few months I've had a number of reservations. Initially the rates were sky high. So high that I didn't even book anything just to lock something in. Eventually I got a discount code for Dollar but it still didn't do much good. I eventually booked a car in August picking up from the Swenson location and planned on using the limo ride portion of my Seven Stars trip to get to the hotel and Jimbo (Jimbo & Katy arrived a few days ago) was going to take me to Swenson the next day. This was a full size for $114/week base and all in for $277. That's a pretty good rate but includes a huge PITA factor of getting the car and returning to Swenson and having to get back to the airport at the end of the trip. It would either be that or pay the $50 one way fee that scumbag Dollar charges out in Las Vegas.

I check rates pretty much every day and nothing changed until mid-November. I changed the reservation to include arrival day and an additional day at the end (due to a flight change) and picking up and returning to the airport. This reservation is with Budget. This reservation is for a mid sized SUV for the full 16 days and picks up and drops off that the airport. For this reservation I got a base rate of $247 and all in for $425. While it's $150 more than the Dollar reservation it includes 2 additional days and removes the PITA factor. It also got me a larger car (which was cheaper than everything else). I got this rate using the Costco discount code combined with a coupon on Budget's website for $25 off any rental of $175 or more.

I was happy with this rate but as always continued to check daily until Dollar came out with a Black Friday / Cyber Monday code that gave 25% off. So on Black Friday I re-booked with Dollar for the 16 days with a base rate of $289.50 and all in for $389.50 after the discount for Black Friday.

Still checking daily and getting a tip from Jimbo on December 6th, there was another rate drop with Budget. While the mid sized SUV spiked to over $1200 the full size car dropped to an all in price of $347, so I rebooked at the lower rate for the smaller car to save another $40.

I have Fast Break with Budget so my car and paperwork are supposed to be ready and today they were in spot F18.

They had me set up with a bright red Hyundai Sonata with 18,000 miles on it. I gave it a once over and everything looked good and I was off to the security check point. Everything was good and I was on my way. This trip has now begun!

I ran a few errands stopping at 99¢ Only and CVS for a few items to get through the next few days.

It was getting about that time of the day to head to the first hotel of the trip to check in. That would be the Flamingo. I'm starting off the trip with the Seven Stars portion of the trip. I booked this through my host and she set me up with a GO Mini suite. I checked in at the diamond/7* area and things went quickly here. I was assigned room 23041. This room has a king bed and nightstands TV and a couch in the bedroom area. In the living room area there is a chaise lounge, coffee table and chair. There is also a long room length desk with a DVD player and sound system. It has a view of the pool area and in the distance the Linq, Harrah's Venetian and Westgate. The bathroom is small with a tub, shower stall, toilet and vanity.

With this being my 7* trip I also have a $500 folio credit as part of the room. On top of that I have a $100 diamond celebration dinner I haven't used yet and five $100 7* celebration dinners.

I got my things settled in and relaxed for a while. I have no major plans to gamble at Caesars properties this trip but I will shoot some craps and play a little blackjack just to not be a total stiff. Between their awful video poker and not needing anymore tier credits for the year there's no reason to play.

For dinner I walked over to Paris. I have dinner reservations with my friends Anne and Steve at Gordon Ramsay Steak. Based on the recommendation of Yahtzee Mike my plan is to order the rib cap. If you don't know, the rib cap is the top of the prime rib/rib eye. I also ordered a side of potato puree (mashed potatoes).

This was probably one of the best meals I've had out here in Las Vegas.

After dinner we went our own ways and I stopped by the tables to see if Ned the dealer was around. It was a bit early for swing shift so I went to the Sportsbook and watched the 3rd period of the Vegas Golden Knights vs. the Dallas Stars. VGK won it in overtime.

I walked through Paris again and didn't see Ned so came back to the Flamingo. I played a little blackjack. It wasn't a bad table but it was a struggle to get ahead. I was never up more than $200 and never down more than $100. A few drunks came to the table and things got decent. After they left it went to shit again so I colored up with a $100 win. Not bad for 60 minutes of work.

I came back to the room afterwards and wrapped up a busy and long first day in town with this report and some TV.

Total Coin - In for the day $0
Total win/loss for the day $100
Total Comps for the day $454
Room $175
Food $279