CoalCracker

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Our last CoalCracker Adventure to the Trop came to an abrupt end. We had booked the South Tower 1-bedroom suite for a 5-day stay during a 10x tier credit event at the end of August. Upon our arrival, we were assigned to the Havana Tower. When we protested that this wasn’t our booked room, the response was blunt: we could either accept the change or leave. They proposed a compromise, suggesting we stay in the room for Sunday night and revisit the lobby by noon on Monday to check the availability of our desired suite. Determined to make the best of the situation, we enjoyed a delightful dinner at Golden Dynasty and then retired early.

Issues with the cleanliness and condition of the Havana Tower room aside, I faced a personal challenge. Due to my sleep apnea, coupled with back and nerve issues, an upright sleeping position is ideal for me. As I prepared for bed, I realized the bedroom bench I had intended to use as a footrest was too high. Despite my better judgment, I tried it out, only to spend much of the night plagued by calf cramps.

After 3 hours of sleep in an 8-hour span, we were concerned about the remaining days. We decided if we couldn’t get the room we initially booked, we’d cut our CoalCracker Travels short.

However, the room issue paled in comparison to what followed. When we were checking out the next morning, we collected our car from the valet. I opted to load the bags myself to ensure easy access to some items. Lifting the van’s tailgate, I was hit by a revolting odor. When I eventually closed the tailgate, the source became clear: the rear of our 3-year-old van was coated in what appeared to be fecal matter.

The first image is right outside the trop. The other three are after getting home after 3 attempts to wash and scrub it off at the carwash.

Confused and disgusted, we took photographs before rushing to a car wash. To my bewilderment, the stain persisted despite multiple washing attempts. It wasn’t until I arrived home and closely examined the photos that I realized the scale of the issue. The splatter pattern indicated our van had been parked beneath a dripping sewer pipe for likely 18 hours.

In hindsight, our dissatisfaction with the room might’ve been a blessing. Had we stayed the entire 5 days, we’d have remained oblivious to the ongoing contamination of our vehicle. In essence, we were unwitting participants in a losing game of craps.

When we contacted Tropicana’s customer service, they were dismissive, pointing out that the self-parking garage displayed signs indicating parking was at one’s own risk. Our mention of using their valet service was met with silence.

It took a combination of warm water, baking soda, and Barkeeper’s Friend ceramic cooktop cleaner to rid my van of the stains. Regrettably, a faint streak remains on the paint, which I doubt will ever come off.

Only a few months ago, we had considered the Trop as our primary AC destination during our CoalCracker Adventures, gradually increasing our budget as our comfort and trust grew. We had even planned trips up until December. Now, it’s safe to say that not only is Trop off the table for future CoalCracker Travels, but so are all Caesar’s properties. The overwhelming takeaway is their blatant indifference towards their patrons. As a result, my journey now leads me to explore other establishments in AC and beyond. We’ve already scheduled two visits to Hard Rock, and likely, Ocean will be our choice in December. Join us on our future adventures, and I promise to share stories that are, hopefully, less distasteful.