Don't know how to recognize the locals yet...but here's my trip.

Sunday: Very crowded. Checked out the Wynn, very nice hotel, especially the waterfall, but it's really the Bellagio redone. Tried 3/6 at Paris, so many callers, could only win with flush or straight. Lost there, not patient enough. AA would have gotten cracked anyways. Checked into hotel. Napped.

Driving back to Paris to play, but changed mind since so crowded. Decided to try Hooters. Awesome idea. Found 2/5NL headsup. 1/2NL had 8 players. Old shark with glasses and a fun guy. Tried to play aggressive, but shark forced some tough decisions. Hadn't adjusted to NL and was still betting like I was at the 3/6 table at Paris. Down until young kid walks in. Sat down and lost 500 first hand to shark (2pair vs straight). Shark leaves and I double up on fun guy and kid to end up even for the day.

Met friends at Bellagio then Palms for them to play blackjack. Won a little there.

Monday: Couldn't sleep so went early at 8am to signup me and 2 friends for $25+2 NL tourney at Hooters. No need, could have showed up at 10am or even after and bought in. Only 12 players with lots of rebuys. Played like a drunk guy and lost early.

After that, played 1/2NL and double up right away.

Really tired, so we went to check in at the Rio (friend had comp there for rest of the week). Napped and ate, then went to Venetian and TI to walk the strip. Wow, crowded.

Tuesday: Fiancee and sis went to Madame Toussaud House of Wax while I tried playing at the Venetian. Beautiful room, although the staff isn't all that nice. Played 2/5NL with 200, definitely small stack and at a disadvantage. Really patient for a good hand but it never came so lost some blinds. Tried to play Pair 3s but shark raised me out of the pot.

Tried playing at Rio 2/5NL with super aggressive dude to my left. Raised me everytime I tried to limp in with anything decent. Finally lost the 200 there. Overall a bad day for poker.

Wednesday: Was going to try the Hooters tourney again, but figured the Paris paid better since had more players. Actually a great idea, since Paris doesn't allow rebuys. With 40 players, could win huge amount (1400+).

65+5, 20 players (since only 20 players 70% to first, and 30% to second). So I definitely played at least to get to second and hope for some luck. Played supertight aggressive and got lucky when I was short stacked a couple of times. Final 4 was me and Navy guy, with 2 canadians--who kept trying to get a split. I wouldn't go for it, since I thought I could win. I knocked out his buddy and let Navy guy knock out the dealmaker. 8 hands headsup with Navy guy rivering me 3 times to stay alive, and he ended up winning. He actually walked away, but he rivered a flush to beat me and stay alive. He beat me on the next hand. $347 for second. We agreed to give 35 each to 3rd for buyin back.

Felt confident so went back to Rio and won $300 against some tough competition. Guys bluffing and forcing you to make some tough decisions.

Thurs: woke up and left. Do your research here it'll pay off.