Buffy and I just got back from a short trip to Las Vegas after spending a few days visiting family. The main reason for the visit? Our youngest granddaughter’s 10th birthday! Between school, work, and shared custody schedules, it wasn’t easy to coordinate, but we were grateful for the chance to celebrate with her and enjoy some quality time.
Along the way, we picked up a few new travel tips—and had a lot of fun (and food!) in the process.
Lounge Lesson Learned
Even though we hold the Platinum American Express card, which normally grants access to Delta Sky Clubs, we were denied entry at the Austin (AUS) airport. Turns out, booking a *Basic Economy* award ticket on Delta strips you of lounge access—regardless of your credit card status.
To make things worse, the Chase Sapphire Patio Lounge at AUS had just closed, leaving us lounge-less before our flight. Just something to keep in mind if you’re flying on points with Delta.
Caesars Diamond Status Win
Back in August, we earned **Diamond status** with Caesars Entertainment. That’s opened some amazing doors: comped rooms, waived resort fees, and even better service overall. I had assumed we’d still have to pay taxes on our three-night stay at Harrah’s Las Vegas—but to our surprise, the stay was *completely free*… aside from a splurge on Bobby Flay’s Burgers.
Video Poker Changes
Buffy and I enjoy playing video poker at the casino bars—not because it’s the best odds (it’s not), but because it used to be a fun way to pass an hour and score a few free drinks.
This time, we noticed a big change.
You still get your first drink fairly easily, but after that, the machines now track your play. You need to bet at least $1 per spin and put in a decent amount of play before the bartender’s system lights up green again for another comped drink. It’s all automated now.
The silver lining? Most bartenders are still flexible, especially if you’re tipping well. But be aware: the old “cheap drinks while slow-playing” method isn’t as easy as it used to be.
Soccer Nights & Spicy Chicken
During our stay, both granddaughters had soccer games each night. It’s a city rec league—no one officially keeps score (except *those* competitive parents!). The games were fun, and it was special to be there in person to cheer them on.
On the second night, it was Adam’s custody time, so we took the girls out for dinner after the game. We ended up at **Houston TX Hot Chicken** in Henderson, NV—a favorite of ours from a previous trip. Ironically, we’ve been to Houston multiple times and never eaten there, but their Vegas-area spot is legit. Great chicken, y’all.
Strip Walks & Souvenir Chips
With the girls in school and Adam at work during the day, Buffy and I spent our free time exploring the Las Vegas Strip. We averaged about five miles a day on foot, and Buffy had fun collecting $1 chips from various casinos.
We also made good use of our **Platinum Amex offers**—using credits at Five Guys and Saks Fifth Avenue to offset the card’s annual fee. Plus, we received $100 back on dining and $75 on Lululemon purchases.
SLOT MACHINE STRATEGY
With the money saved on flights, hotels, and meals, we decided to try out a couple of **slot machine strategies** we’d seen on YouTube.
One simple technique: Start with $20. If you hit a win that brings your balance to $30 or more, cash out. We actually had a few small wins where this worked out. It’s not groundbreaking, but it made for some light, low-risk entertainment.
DELAYED FLIGHTS & LOUNGE REDEMPTION
We had a 1:00 PM late checkout from Harrah’s, then grabbed lunch at In-N-Out Burger at the LINQ Promenade before heading to the airport. We used a **$10 Lyft credit** (thanks, Chase Sapphire Reserve) to get there.
Unfortunately, our flight got delayed several times due to a thunderstorm, and we spent a few hours at **The Club LAS** lounge (courtesy of our Priority Pass, another Amex Platinum perk). After seeing our plane stuck at LAX, I called Delta and got us rebooked for the next day.
So, back we went to Harrah’s via **Uber** (another $15 discount with Amex), and picked up a room for $65 for the night.
Saturday felt like a repeat of Friday, except we skipped lunch since we knew The Club LAS had plenty of food and drinks waiting for us.
At **2:00 AM on Sunday**, we were finally back home in our own beds—thankful for the memories and already looking forward to our next adventure at the end of October. MTF!
TRIP STATS
Here’s the full breakdown of what this quick getaway cost us:
* **Flights:** Delta Airlines, roundtrip on points
💰 **Total (for 2): $22.40**
* **Lodging:** Harrah’s Las Vegas (3 nights comped + 1 night paid)
💰 **Total (for 2): $65.00**
* **Transfers:** Airport/hotel x3 trips (tips included)
💰 **Total (for 2): $54.01**
* **Meals:** Including airport dining and family dinner at Hot Chicken
💰 **Total (for 2): $370.49**
*(We’ll also receive $17 in credits + 4x Amex points on restaurant spend)*
* **Entertainment:** Gambling, shows, and fun
💰 **Total (for 2): $200.00**
Have any Vegas tips or credit card hacks of your own? Drop them in the comments—I’m always looking for new ways to stretch a dollar while still living large.
Until the next trip!
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