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Fitz TR - Apr.18 - 20
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PEB



Joined: 26 Dec 2005
Posts: 97
Location: California

PostPosted: Apr Tue 22, 2008 6:41 pm    Post subject: Fitz TR - Apr.18 - 20 Reply with quote

Hi All,

Headed out for Reno early Friday monring. Traffic wasn't too bad at all going up SR88. Didn't hit big traffic until just before Carson City. Made good time, even after making a few pit stops along the way.

The scenery was beautiful, still lots of snow at the top, but it was windy and a little cold. Forgot my camera on this trip, but sure glad we remembered our warm jackets! Pulled into the Fitz parking garage about 11:30 am, had to go up to the 4th level as it was full below. Even though check-in isn't until 3 pm, our room was ready and they checked us in right away. Dropped our luggage in our room, put on our VIP badges
and headed for the bar for a cold one (or two, or three...lol ).

Fitz elevators, one new one now installed, one old one still in use and one closed as it is being replaced. Notice said the 2nd new one was expected to be up and running on May 1 and the third by June 1. We lucked out and never had to wait more than a minute to catch an elevator (we were on the 8th floor) the whole time we were there.

Some of the changes we noticed were positive, like more space to move around the casino without bumping into people. They moved machines around and freed up some walking space (even provided more room for those in wheelchairs, saw 3 using them this trip with no problems getting around). They placed some tables & chairs near the stage bar, now people have a place to sit for the live entertainment when the bar is
full (was full most of the time we were there). They had two bands, the first one was a guy & girl (forgot the name of their group) and they were ok, just wasn't my type of music. The other band, I think was better, they played some older Motown,70's & 80's, etc. George wasn't there (missed hearing him sing) but at least he still performs there. He has cut back (simi-retired) and comes in to play once per month for a few nights.

The Lucky Forest is still there on the 2nd floor and was open. They no longer have the nightly free drawings but they still have the Birthday thing for a chance to win up to $500. Was weird to see the Rainbow skywalk all gone. They renamed their players card club to "Club Fitz" and they have a new look (we're still using our old ones). Also, I asked about the 2x points, it's new and you can earn 2x points when playing Tue.,
Wed. & Thur. Using your comps has been made easier, you can use your players card like an ATM card. You want a meal, give cashier your Club Fitz card to pay, etc.

I noticed when we first started playing that we were racking up O'Lucky points pretty fast, and it was only Friday. Then we learned somemore good news, they have raised the % of points you earn on your players card, and your O'Lucky Bucks are now good for 18 months instead of 13 ! We hit the third (top) level on our players card while there this trip, that is....if they haven't changed the levels.

Cocktail waitresses were very prompt, bartenders too, never had to wait long for our drinks. And another nice surprise, they had a guy going around to the slot players offering free them hot dogs! Never saw that there before, was kinda nice to see. I also noticed the casino is cleaner, they kept things picked up and nice and shiney, same for the restrooms.

We were happy to see that they have added poker tables, Texas hold'em, one on the 2nd floor and one on the main floor casino. Buy-in was only $30. Hubby and I played for a few hours and had a blast. The dealers were friendlly as were most of the players at the table. First time we've played poker in Reno, we plan to do it again on our next trip.

The casino was busy, lots of people, the only time we saw it slow down was early Sun. morning. Saw people winning at the slots (especially in Lucky Lane), one lady I saw hit a $6400 jackpot, table games were packed with players as well. I hit some small jackpots, $125 on a quarter machine and $75 on another, won a little at poker but no luck with Keno this trip.

Had dinner at Molly's Garden, food was good. They still have the egg cook station at the buffet, had good breakfasts there and very good coffee. Limerick's was pretty full both nights. Met some fun people in the elevator, had some good laughs Smile

The slot tourney has changed a little, the max players used to be 150, its around 170 now. It isn't held in Lord Fitzgeralds anymore although that is where the registration was. They moved the machines to the 2nd floor near the sports bar (penny slot area), and the awards part of the tourney was held on the main floor at the stage bar area. Players still play 3 rounds but only 20 min. each instead of 30. Meal vouchers are given and can be used at the buffet or Molly's Garden, in the past you only needed to show your slot tourney VIP badge and sign the tag for your meals. The machines seemed a little tight on the blue 7's, didn't see any huge scores as in the past. I didn't place this time but had fun trying, I won two of the
raffles, an autographed baseball in a case and $25.

It sure was windy in Reno, especially on Sat., a cold wind. When I got back to our room just about midnight hubby was at the window and said it was snowing! Snow! I couldn't believe it, weatherman said nothing about snow. Thank goodness it didn't last long, fast moving little system and only left a dusting behind. Good thing because hubby hadn't packed the snow chains.

Even though this was a short trip for us (only 2 nights) we had a great time and even came home with a little money Smile Looking forward to our next one, hopefully in June or July.
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jerry



Joined: 11 Jan 2006
Posts: 759

PostPosted: Apr Tue 22, 2008 10:09 pm    Post subject: Yea for PEB. Lucky you... Reply with quote

8 viewings and no response. A travesty. I tried several times and computer wouldn't let me reply. Maybe others had the same problem.

So here goes. Glad you made the trip. Sounds like fun, as always.
Ain't the weather somethin'? We had snow this week and more snow showers predicted. It almost NEVER snows here. Weird..

OK, more comments:
"headed for the bar for a cold one (or two, or three...lol ). "
Attaway, my kind of gal!

"more space to move around the casino without bumping into people."
Last 2-3 times I was there it was NO PROBLEMO as there was no one to bump into. Glad to hear that business has picked up a bit.

"Was weird to see the Rainbow skywalk all gone. "
I thought so too. Strange to walk across the tracks and just see a few extra holes in the ground, like where the elevator used to be.
Makes me wonder if they moved that elevator to the casino and that is the "One you described as NEW". Very Happy


"going around to the slot players offering free them hot dogs"
That should keep us at the slots longer. Now all they need to offer is portable johns on-site. Just hit the change button and "here comes John".

"Met some fun people in the elevator"
After viewing some recent pics I got in the PMs, I am hoping to get stuck in one of those Fitz elevators with a certain very-photogenic nameless board member.

"we had a great time and even came home with a little money"
Now that there pretty much says it all.


Thanks for yet another great, and positive, trip report.
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john
Site Admin


Joined: 17 Dec 2005
Posts: 1181

PostPosted: Apr Wed 23, 2008 5:44 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Great report, PEB. Sounds like the Fitz is starting to get its act together. Your report offsets some of the negative posts we've been getting about the place lately. Glad you had fun and won a few bucks, too.
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alison



Joined: 09 Jan 2006
Posts: 1150

PostPosted: Apr Wed 23, 2008 6:36 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

PEB,
Thank for posting. Especially thanks for getting the in and outs on the new things happening there. Sounds like you had a good time.

Ali
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BrokenAlice



Joined: 22 Apr 2008
Posts: 16

PostPosted: Apr Wed 23, 2008 7:18 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Fun TR - thanks for writing it all up. I'll be sure to check out "Lucky Lane" on my trip next month!

Alice
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RenoLady



Joined: 23 Feb 2006
Posts: 316

PostPosted: Apr Wed 23, 2008 8:55 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thanks for the trip report!

It's nice hearing positive things about the changes. I'm a little nervous about the point system. A few years ago we hit the Emerald level, which not only gave us an extra free trip every year, it also 2X our points all the time.

To maintain this, we had to keep our points over the 75 o'lucky dollar thingy. So we did. Our host, Mike, told us it's different now. You don't have to maintain the points, apparently, they just note your spending. However, he started to explain the new point system, and how it's different now, more fair for all, still some doubling, but mumbled when he described when, so not sure if the 2X is still there for us. I think I'll nail him down on the next trip.

How was the food in the buffet? Didn't someone write that it was 7 o'lucky dollars instead of 4 now?
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stan_allen



Joined: 19 Dec 2005
Posts: 1129

PostPosted: Apr Wed 23, 2008 10:13 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thanks for your report, Peb, and echoing John, I'll concur that it's nice to hear some positive observations. I'm guessing that it helps to actually spend some time in there, rather than walking in, looking around, and leaving, which is more or less what I did.

I couldn't agree more about the strangeness of the walkway being gone - it was such a fixture, and I saw it every single time I came to Reno - but now, you'd never know it had been there - I still want to know what happened to all that cool stuff that was on display in the walkway; I hope it went to a museum of some sort.

Sorry you missed George - try again next time!
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PEB



Joined: 26 Dec 2005
Posts: 97
Location: California

PostPosted: Apr Thu 24, 2008 5:45 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

RenoLady,

The food in the buffet was quite good, they had more items to choose from for dinner, steak, prime rib, chicken, BBQ pork ribs, teriyaki pork chops, mexican dishes,plus the carving station, etc. Soups, my fav is the potato leek soup.

Hubby really likes the breakfasts there, always gets an omlette with everything. Their coffee is really good too.
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Barb



Joined: 17 Dec 2005
Posts: 82
Location: Portland, Or.

PostPosted: Apr Thu 24, 2008 7:50 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Hi Peb, I always enjoy your trip report especially all about the Fitz.
It is good to know they are going in the right direction now. I didnt know they changed the point system so will have to check on that next trip. Rolling Eyes Glad you had a fun trip and came home with money Laughing Barb
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hawk



Joined: 17 Dec 2005
Posts: 508

PostPosted: Apr Thu 24, 2008 11:44 pm    Post subject: I DISLIKE BEING FORCED TO DO ANYTHING Reply with quote

OOPS, I nearly typed "anythong" in my subject line again. I must have been thinking about those pics floating around the site.

Anyway, you guys have intrigued me just enough that I will do another "Stanley walk-thru" at the Fitz next time in town. It was just recently that I felt they needed some positive changes sooner rather than later.

I really enjoy the first person reports. And, we all see things differentlly. So keep those delightful TRs coming, friends.

I haven't found any decent VP pays last 2-3 years. They even have cut the pay table on the Royals to 1500 coins. Even though I rarely get a Royal, I absolutely REFUSE to put a single coin in a rip-off like that.

The high limit slots at Siena now pay only 1500 for a 5 coin Royal. I want to play in there buy will never do so.
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seattlerocks



Joined: 01 Nov 2007
Posts: 10

PostPosted: Apr Fri 25, 2008 9:43 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thanks for the fantastic trip report. I've been watching posts about Fitzgerald's since our unpleasant stay there in December. It's nice to hear some positive reviews! Very Happy
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jerry



Joined: 11 Jan 2006
Posts: 759

PostPosted: Apr Fri 25, 2008 1:55 pm    Post subject: NATURE DOES NOT NECESSARILY RULE Reply with quote

fORGET THE EARTHQUAKES. Reno is supposed to be hitting close to 80 degrees. Even the Fitz and Atlantis will look good with sunshine and 75 to 80 degrees. Now, the Sands -- well, the weather may have to get a bit nicer before it looks good. OTOH, JD loves the pool area there and the milder weather is conducifying (look it up, Stan) the pool idea.
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jerry



Joined: 11 Jan 2006
Posts: 759

PostPosted: Apr Fri 25, 2008 2:00 pm    Post subject: MOONLIGHTING ENTERTAINERS Reply with quote

Man, I can't wait for those free hot dogs at the Fitz, PEB. I may eat all my meals there.
I heard that George Pickard was now the hot dog man. He'd be good at it.
Did he sing while serving your dog?

Now, if I can just catch a little ol lady on the elevator and "liberate her from her drink badge", I'll be all set.
At least, for this, I won't need Guido's help.
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PEB



Joined: 26 Dec 2005
Posts: 97
Location: California

PostPosted: Apr Fri 25, 2008 6:19 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

hawk,
I haven't played VP in a very long time. What would a decent VP machine payout? And, which casino has the best ones?

jerry,
Your armor may be a little too tight for you to consume hot dogs so it doesn't matter who's serving em Laughing
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jerry



Joined: 11 Jan 2006
Posts: 759

PostPosted: Apr Fri 25, 2008 6:37 pm    Post subject: THERE'S A REASON FOR EVERYTHING Reply with quote

peb, I always go "heavily armored" to Reno for a reason.
John and I always get together for an evening at the Farside. Inevitably it evolves into people throwing things at us -- from rotten tomatoes to beer bottles. Forewarned is forearmed.

John, don't forget!! Next trip you promised to throw a "Vanessa" at me.
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