For the third year in a row, my wife, son (age 9 1/2) and I came to Vegas for our spring vacation. My wife is a high diamond slot player with Harrahs. We always stay at the Rio, where our host sets us up with a luxury suite, and covers all food and shows. I recomend the Rio to all. Its a fun hotel and casino with great pools and alot to do and see. My wife must give Rio most of her action, but I get to play where I choose.

On the first night, I took my son and went to the Orleans. They have a camp at the Orleans which my son loves. It's open to children ages 4 to 10. While my son was in camp, I played 4/8 in the Orleans Poker room. Nobody will ever confuse this room with some of the fancier ones on the strip. However, it is a large, clean, well run room, where you do not have to wait long for a table. Both management and the dealers are good. The competition is almost all locals, and everybody at the table knows how to play. There are other poker rooms in town that I enjoy more, but because of the camp, I am happy to play here.

We spent most mornings at the pool. My wife and I took turns using the health club. The one at Rio is small, but very good.

On Thursday after dinner, we went to see Mystere at TI. While waiting to go in, my wife hit her first big jackpot playing a machine called Cleopatra II. After the show my wife took our son back to hotel and I started to wander. Checked out TIs new poker room. The room was small and quiet. It also featured several types of poker games I did not know how to play. I have only been playing holdem for 2 years, and I am not yet ready to branch out.

I decided to play at the Wynn. The Wynn reminds me alot of the Borgata in AC. Both the hotel and Poker room were very nice. The Poker room is large and even though it was filed, you did not get that packed in feeling that you get at Bellagio. I played 4/8 and did not have to wait more than 10 minutes to get seated. Almost all the players at the table were good, but there were 2 who played way to many hands . I recommend checking this room out. By the way, at least 5 different people told me that if I go to the Wynn, I must check out the $10,000,000 bathroom near the poker room. I did, and was not impressed. Does not rate with the fountains of Bellagio as a can't miss experience.

On Friday while my wife and son went to the Shark reef at Mandalay Bay, I got a shave at The "Art of Shaving". For $35 it is worth doing. However, if you want to do it, you better make your reservation at least 3 weeks in advance. After the shave my son and I walked over to the new Hooters Hotel to have lunch. Unlike the Hooters in Atlantic City, the one in Vegas is not very children friendly. There is only a very limited space in which kid are permitted to sit. Before leaving, I checked out Hooters Poke rRoom. This room is a joke. It only has 3 tables. Other then using it for a private party, I could not see playing there.

On Saturday, I played in the Orleans noon holdem tournament. It cost $50 plus a $20 rebuy. Over 90 people played. The blinds changed every 20 minutes. Though I enjoy no limit tournaments more, I do find this limit tournament fun. It includes a $5 bounty when you take another player out. I made it to the 30s before the blinds wiped me out. However, I did collect 2 bounties for knocking out 2 players.

On Sunday, my mother and father joined us. My father had only played poker in a casino on one other occassion. That night they did not run a 2/4 game at the Rio. On advice of one of the managers at the Rio, I took my father across the street to the Gold Coast. A very no thrills room, but it was still nice. The dealers were good and we got seated right away. The other players at the table were a mix of locals and hotel guests. I couldn't catch a hand all night, but I watched my dad catch several. He loved the room.

On my last full day, I played the Rio noon tournament. It was $40 with one rebuy. The blinds change ever 20 minutes. Over 70 people entered. I made it to my first final table in this tournament. I won a large pot early with pocket 9s, when I hit my 3rd 9 on the flop. After that, I did not see another good hand for well over an hour. We are down to 3 tables and I have been watching these 2 players going after each other and everyone else at the table for atleast 10 hands. I am 2 in front of the BB and I am dealt pocket Queens. When the player to my right calls, I do to. With out fail, player number one, to seats to my left and holding A J doubles the blind. Player 2 who is on the button and has A 10 calls, as does the BB, the player to my right and I. The flop is Q 10 6 . The player to my right checks as do I. Player 1 who has about $12,000 in front of him raises $3,000. Player 2, who has about $10,000 goes all in. The player to my right folds and I go all in. Player 1 calls and we show our cards. The turn and river do not help them and I triple up. At the final table I am 1 of 4 players remaining. three of us have even stacks. I'm on the BB and dealt 9 9. Player with about $1,000 more than me goes all in and I call. He shows A 9. The flop is A J 3 and the turn and river do not help me. I come in 4th and make just under $350. It is a great way to end the vacation.