Freedom.

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I've decided to let my salt with MGM go and embrace freedom. Vegas freedom.

Mlife did what they did, policies are policies, whatever. I'm over it. I'm looking forward now to staying somewhere different, and in fact, staying for FREE (ish) at a place I've always wanted to stay, The Cosmopolitan.

I've managed to get into something of a south Strip rut by always taking advantage of Mlife comp offers and staying at NYNY or MC or Mandalay. Comped nights are great, but I've not really seen much else of the Strip but my usual NYNY-Cosmo run. Sure, I've been IN other resorts but MGM ones, but my loyalty to Mlife kept me from spending much time there. On this trip I'll have no real ties to any one resort or group of resorts, so the freedom of that is something I'm going to try to take advantage of.

I've always loved the Cosmo, it was the first resort I ever stepped foot in and will always be one of my go-tos in Vegas, at least until it's bought by Motel 6 or something. It's always been a "must do" on my trips and I've probably been in the resort at least for a bit on damn near every single day I've spent in Vegas. Now I finally get to lay my head there, and for nothing more than the resort fee. Two nights there digging deeper into my favorite spots (The Henry, Bond, Vesper), checking out new ones (Clique in the old Book & Stage space should be open by the time I get there), and spending a little on the slots should get me enough Identity points to keep me in the fold for future comped nights.

Then the last two days it's on to Palms, where I've spent just a bare few minutes outside of the Pearl venue. It's only a little over a mile and a half off Strip, so a half hour walk or a 5 minute cab ride; no problem. The room looks flash, and if I get off my (fat) ass and lose some weight maybe I'll get up to Ghost Bar to check out one of the best views in Vegas.

Then in the future...who knows? I'd love to stay at some of the other resorts on Strip. Venetian/Palazzo look beautiful, as do the Wynn/Encore. Why NOT stay at one of them next time? I've been so locked into the south Strip, it'd be nice to be right in the center of things. I'm in Total Rewards, no reason why a stay at Cromwell or Nobu isn't doable next time, even if they aren't comped.

MGM and I parting ways a bit is probably a really good thing to break up the rut. And I'm not writing MGM out of the question. I'm still getting regular, if not inspiring, offers to stay at NYNY and Monte Carlo (2 nights, minimal Comps). There may still be trips where that would make sense to take advantage of. I'm just not locked into it anymore like I felt like I was, and that's great. I can spend, play, and frolic anywhere I want on this and future trips, and that's a good thing.

So, positive vibes. Less than 2 months now and I'm getting a hype on.

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