Oh, Hi.

Just checking in, as I do.

Jonesing for the Vegas, already. The last trip wasn't so great for the wallet but it was an overall good time so I'm already obsessing, 2 1/2 months out. So far only the flight is really locked in, which means the dates are locked in, but other than that no real plans.

The week between Xmas and NYE is pretty dead in terms of shows. The normal Vegas shows like Cirque and such will mostly be running but there's really nothing I'm interested in seeing that I haven't already seen. Which means the only attractions I'll likely see for that week will be bars. I may try to schedule a few dinner reservations for the week to keep me somewhat honest, but will hold off on that for the most part until I'm sure where I'll be staying.

That decision is very much pending. I have an Elite King at MB booked now, which would be more than fine if that's what I end up with. It's close to the airport for the JSX terminal, it's one of my favorite resorts and it's a great suite for a pretty good rate. Again as with last trip at Aria, I'd be in a better-than-standard room for less than $100/night all in. With MGM, no resort fees and possible upgrade. It's a heavy incentive to stay there. My only reservations with staying at MB though are that the resort shuts half its venues down that week, and it's way down the strip from the rest of my haunts. It would be a lot of taxi time.

I'm also seeing some good rates at V/P though. I could get 4 nights there for about the same all in as MB, but then obviously I'd be on the hook for the last 2 nights and would not be getting any MGM points out of it. WynnCore is still high, but they have a tendency to drop right before a trip if they have open rooms, so I'll be monitoring them. Cosmo looks to be out of the picture unless a good offer drops in. Would love to close out the year in a Terrace suite there but not at $300/nt.

Being that I'm rolling into town on a chartered flight, I'd like to match that with a baller room, but also can't put myself in a shit financial position to start next year by doing so. As always with me, it's trying to find the perfect combo of 5-star room with 2-star price. Need to keep things at no more than $100/night and preferably with no resort fees, meaning MGM. I'll keep browsing the outlets daily looking for that killer rate/resort.

The money save is already underway and should be no problem. I'll be at $2K on the next check on the way to $6K. Cutting the one night helps, it was going to be a struggle to slap together another $500 or so for that night. 6 nights is about the perfect full trip now, the 7 or 8-nighters I did over the Xmas holiday in the past were just too long. Paid off every dime on the CC from the last trip so if I just don't go crazy on it it should be no issue to squirrel away $1K per check.

MGM points-wise this trip should be a laugher. After the accumulation in September I'm at 66K out of a needed 75K, with at least another 3-4K points coming in before the trip from the MGM CC spend. I will roll into town with around 70K racked up and that remaining 5K may only be a day or two of play to pick up. So, I won't be tied to playing ONLY MGM resorts this time, I should be free to roam a bit by Monday or Tuesday. The points I get after 75K won't roll over into 2023 so no reason to even play there after I've got it. So I can spread some play around that last few days, Cosmo or V/P would be logical as I'll be there anyway, but maybe RW or even Wynn if I find myself up there. Maybe get a teaser offer somewhere for 2023.

I will be slightly more FASH on the Xmas trip thanks to Amazon. I bought a pair of designer wingtips, listed online at up to $210, got them for $38, then found a pair of Levi's 559's at only $27. Added in a 4-pack of the good Hanes undies and came out at less than $100, all paid for with a gift card so flash fash for gratis. May look at getting some more fashionable shirts between now and the trip so I'm not just rocking the boring golf pullovers like I normally do. It'd be nice to look a little more like a player on the late night Vesper visits.

So yeah. It's all coming together, with more work to do but with the fly flight in I've started the hype in a good and early way. Less than 80 days to Vegas.