blonde poker forum

ok i'm finally 21 this friday which means i can finally go to vegas so i am planning to go out for the venetians at the end of this month... What is the best place to stay and how affordable is it... I am going for a month so need something cheap but adequate and don't know where to start...

what's your budget?

1500-2000 something round there... Doubt i could get anything cheaper for a month...

I think you could get something reasonable for that amount particularly if thats £ not $. Some further details of what you are looking for may help. Are you thinking hotel or apartment?

I have been 5 times and always stayed in hotels but if I was there for a month I would be looking into renting somewhere if possible. Not sure how feasible this is though.

That just for hotels?

Imperial Palace does what it says on the tin and its within walking distance of the Venetian for approx $300 per week

Not entirely, as it's not a palace

If you're just after a room to sleep shower etc its ok. If you do choose IP don't eat there its a dive and had awful stomach problems after eating there.

wow that sounds great... I will definately look into this... Cheers...

+1 for IP being the worst ever

I just looked on www.hotelscombined.com  (http://www.hotelscombined.com) and it's like $2200-2400 from 1st Feb - 1st Mar at Ballys and Harrahs.

It was coming out on Harrahs website as $815 for a week so it's not too bad a deal. Also Harrahs is right next door to Venetian too.

I would recommend booking the cheapest room then throwing the check in person a $100 if you are staying for a month and asking for the Deluxe rooms as from what I've read they are very decent.

what's the best place to eat then???

For snacks Earl Of Sandwich at Planet Hollywood. PM Simon Galloway re: steaks etc as he's the expert :)

Got back from Vegas in early December after staying 10 nights, so feel qualified to offer some advice! 

If the price is right, go for the Mirage.  Great location for Venetian and Caesars and decent refurbished rooms.  Also, THE most comfortable bed I've ever slept in (and I've slept in a few  ;ashamed;).
You can only book for 14 nights on their website, so give their reservations team a call instead and negotiate with them!

In terms of places to eat, would highly recommend Hugo's Cellar at the Four Queens (downtown), Grand Lux at Venetian and Palazzo and Cheesecake Factory in Caesars shopping forum.

Hope you have a fab time!

Right next to Harrahs there is a food court with Panda Express, Chipotle, Pizza, McDonalds for cheap bites their. Right next to the poker room in Venetian is Noodles Asia which does some nice stuff too.

Eat??? Food??? ffs I knew there was something.

In Nov when i went out for the Venetians 21 nights at Ballys which is about a 10 min walk to the Venetian cost me c.£1200 back in November, if you can get Harrahs for a similar rate do it as it's probably a better hotel and is closer.

Majority of my meals in Vegas were at the Grand Lux, really great place! Food is good, quite a bit of variety, and price is pretty decent!

This place is incred - possible the best seafood ive had anywhere in the World and the steaks were pretty good too.

Will add that to my list for next time. I wish I went elsewhere, but because I was playing everyday at the Venetian, I just stuck to Noodle Asia and Grand Lux.

Glad you enjoyed it Blatch ;)

It is a nice little time warp for downtown, unfortunately slowly but surely it is slipping a bit.  It is still a great place to take Vegas virgins, it is relatively inexpensive (apart from when you dine with Blatch and Thewy ldo) and is still a very popular haunt amongst poker players.

The Grand Lux was mentioned, particularly if you are playing the tournys make sure you get your comp $$ for it and it is even better.  Great menu, such a better deal for a few $$ more than standard food court fare.

As for accomodations, difficult to recommend without knowing the main driver.  When someone says "IP for $300 but its a dump"  do you think "great, $300" or "oh noes, it's a dump"

You could take the poker rate at the Venetian for about $1k a week.  Over a month, assuming you split the room with someone, that's just about in budget, is a pretty nice room and of course you don't have travel costs.  If you really want to do it cheap, then a site like www.smartervegas.com (http://www.smartervegas.com) will give you a decent idea of the best prices and you can choose whichever one you fancy.  If you can afford it, I wouldn't look any further than the Venetian.  Once you have been to Vegas for a few times, staying in an off-strip apartment will be much better value, but for your first trip, paiiiii up and stay in a nice hotel imo.

Agree it all depends what you're looking for. I've stayed at the IP, Harrahs, Ballys, and the Paris and while there is no dispute that the Paris is a plusher hotel, my personal preference is to stay at the IP as I only want a room to crash out in and can use what I save on accommodation to gamble with. And I dont see whats wrong with the IP, OK it's not as new as some but personally I prefer the laid back atmosphere of the place.

I'll miss it when they blow it up, it must be on the cards at some stage!

Buffalo Rolls ftw

I think Monte Carlo was pretty cheap when we were lookin after Bev screwed us out of our first house, it looks alright from the outside.

Damn we forgot to do a poo in Beverly's pool.

I ve stayed at the Orleans a few times during WSOP for around 6 weeks at a time. The rooms are decent and there  plenty of places to eat, plus a cinema and bowling alley. The card room is ok with smaller buy in tournys and plenty of cash tables. For the money it is hard to beat.
Downside it is about a $10 cab fare to the strip.

 I don't think you can beat Imp Palace for it's price compared to location.When i was out in Vegas during the Wsop i met a Brit lad who was stopping there for 6 weeks and he said it was adequate if a bit run down his main complaint was that it didnt have a safe in the room.
 Woodsey our Vegas guru once recommend Bills gambling hall to me and i just checked for the whole of Feb will cost around $2k through the website,i'am sure if you ring them direct they will shave a few hundred of that.Bills is right opposite Caesars and a short walk to the Venetian.

Stay at IP imo,stayed there last summer you get what you pay for i.e clean room, adequate facilities and is a perfect location for the venetian,have a good trip

Pretty sure woodsey said don't stay at bill's coz it's a hole but i could be wrong

Nah he recommended it

http://blondepoker.com/forum/index.php?topic=40234.0

half way down first page

Got to say Bills casino is a dump but does have Big Elvis a must see free show and the rooms are not to bad and have always been clean when I've stayed, one thing that i have had a look at is price line they give you an option to "name your own price" for hotels not tried it myself and it seems that the Northen end of the strip tends to come up with the Trump and some times the Wynn.

I don't know how good priceline is with Vegas, but it was absoutley golden in the North east of the USA and Canada. The name your own price option is the one to go for and you can get some complete steals with it, normally between a 1/3 and 1/2 of the advertised price on the hotel website.

The bidding process is quite an art and takes a while to perfect, http://biddingfortravel.yuku.com/ is the place to learn if you are interested. A slightly easier but similar option is hotwire.

It depends how many of you are going.

We have a plush 3 bed penthouse in the signature next month, rented direct off the owner but we get to use all the MGM's facilities $2000/week but between 3/4 people its fook all !!

Vegas deals....

http://www.fatwallet.com/forums/travel-discussion/704925/?start=2500

This.

If you're not fussed about being on the strip, the Orleans is definitely the place to stay. Good poker room, lots of restaurants, big bedrooms and for a bargain price. It's not top of the range and there is better food elsewhere but it is probably the best value in Vegas for what you get. Seem to remember rooms are about $45 a night except at weekends.

This or www.smartervegas.com.

Heard good things about orleans, I believe a shuttle runs every 15 mins to the strip that is free.

Is your budget $2k or £2k?

I've stayed in most of the mentioned places and def think bill's is a reasonable place to stay, the rooms are nice. IP has the nutz as far as location but really is a dive, i found it really dirty tbh, for a week just to kip in id just about risk it again, but 4 a month neverrrr. Bally's is nice but pricey and bit of a walk to the venetian, esp from some of the rooms. Wherever u stay def do the trick of booking the cheapest room b4 tipping the check in guy a few bucks for an upgrade, def worth it for a month, and $50-100 should get u a wicked upgrade. http://www.frontdesktip.com/ (http://www.frontdesktip.com/)

What a legend!

Did you have a very bad cold or something? When i walk through the front door the smell of damp carpet (guessing from all the old birds pissing themselves) makes me feel sick.

I have stayed in a lot of nice places and a lot of horrible places around the world, i would say IP is about the worst place i have stayed.

The Golden Nugget in downtown Las Vegas is my favourite place to stay, a quality hotel and even the cheaper rooms are far better furnished and considerably less money than second tier strip properties such as Bally's.

It's a ten minute($15) cab-ride or you can take the "deuce" bus to and from the strip.

This, it is a shit hole.

I've stayed at most of the budget places on the strip, as well as many good ones. The best of the worst and the only one I'd stay at again is Bill's Gambling Hall. Prices do vary quite considerably though, some weeks very cheap, but on others if a conference is in town not so, but at least consider it IMO. Also personally, I get bored staying in the same place the whole time, stay maybe to 2-3 places to keep the trip fresh? You won't get any extra discount by staying in a single place a bit longer.

I've stayed in 11 different hotels in Vegas during my 3 trips there, as I like moving around.

I'd say Orleans was great value for money as one of the cheapest hotels it was a really nice room with a decent casino/amenities and a little bit quieter than the rammed ones in the middle of the strip.
Shuttle bus every 15 mins and taxi was only $10 to the Venetian.

Not too impressed with the standard rooms in the Venetian but my wife complained about the noise and they gave us an awesome suite for just a little bit extra.

Mirage would be decent as just been done up and straight across the Road.

My order of preference so far.

1) MGM Signiture - Junior Suite was great.
2) Venetian - Nice rooms but doors slam shut and can be very noisy, once upgraded suite was very nice.
3) Caesars Palace.
4) Orleans. Very nice rooms for one of the cheapest hotels.
5) MGM Grande
6) Luxor
7) Las Vegas Hilton
8 ) Palms
9) Plaza - Redic cheap in the Winter but a dive.
10) Saharra - The carpets will send you mad.
11) Excaliber - Where the Trailer park goes on their summer hols.

LOL reminds me of the Plaza downtown. I stayed there in 2004 and hated every single minute in that hotel.

Cheers for all the advice guys... decided to book into the imperial for my stay,,, great value for 28 days,,, with flights and everything it is only setting me back 1628...

Do you know the split flights/hotel?

explain...

How much are flights/how much is hotel?

oh right... 383 are the prices for the flights only so i guess the rest is for the hotel and other shit like insurance...

Assuming that's £s... nearly £1300 seems like a lot of money to stay somewhere like the IP for a month??

They'd have to pay me, to stay there that long!

Seems pricey for the IP unless it's premium ec flights lo

Yeah thats what I meant. Thanks.
Who is the flight with?

delta or something like that... Not at home atm so can't look but flying from gatwick...

I guess most of these will be above budget for OP but as I a taking my wife this year I am looking to upgrade.
Was thinking Caesars. What was your experience there like?

Augustus Tower rooms at Caesar's Palace are lovely, and they have the best mini bar items I've ever seen

I was at Caesars this year and threw the girl $100 at check in and asked if they had any upgrades. She moved us into Augustus Tower from the classic rooms. They were great rooms with Separate Jacuzzi tub and Shower, living area etc

Minibar items were good and expensive,  as I found out when my room-mate removed everyone and racked up about $200 of charges 'looking' at them lol

Delta means you are going indirect.  This might be a minor inconvenience - or a major ballache.  As you are going for a month, a few hours laid up in Chicago won't really matter I suppose, possibly worth saving a little bit of money over not going direct.  Those that do this for < 1week are mad imo, a false economy.  Then, when you are led in Chicago departure lounge and realise you could already be ion your third beer Vegas if you'd gone direct, it doesn't feel so great.

Guessing if you have paid for insurance or not is a bit daft!  You want to make sure you are insured one way or another.  Falling ill in US is BR-bustingly expensive.

Paying £1300 for a month in IP.  Is this for a room to yourself or is it based on 2 sharing and a friend has been striped up for £1300 too?  £1300 for the IP is bad enough, £2600 is ripping your face off.

somewhere without a Roullette wheel imo.

My God! how much would it be to actually buy them!!!!

Ye obv I paid for looking

lol... SirPerceval, apparently hotels know when you've moved things around in the Minibar. When I stayed in the Hilton Metropole, my mate decided to go touching everything in the minibar. When we went to check out, the receptionist told us our bill is a lot more than it should be. We told her we only touched the mini bar items, not consume them, and it was all good. But I suppose if you said this, when you really consumed them, you could get away with it!* This is assuming they don't have your credit card details.

*Lol, yes this is illegal.

Lol

I dont think its when you touch them, I think they are tagged so they know when they leave the fridge.

Like Bolt when he leaves his house after dusk.

they're placed on sensors, so when something is lifted clear, it's registered as being taken and used.

Yep, that's it.

Always a good idea to check your bill, Bellagio tried to charge us for 17 days worth of internet charges. Was only there for a week.

Yeah I just went down and explained I had a small child staying with me that had to pick everything up and inspect it, they just wiped it all same as with Free Rollin

I dunno wtf this means but I just got a pm (why I got the pm I'm not sure - maybe the sender thinks I know you) but it said.

"Hi, if you know Marcin please could you tell him to give Shaun, Keith and Dee a ring before he books Vegas? Thankyou."

"Hi, if you know Marcin please could you tell him to give Shaun, Keith and Dee a ring before he books Vegas? Thankyou."

^^^^^^^

anonymous  rub down brilliant

Bellagio have tried to do me up a few times.  Facials and manicures, (yeah right) dinner for 6 in an MGM property I hadn't even stepped in, champagne cocktails (didn't have anything to celebrate that trip :( )  Doesn't hurt to just pull the bill up on the TV every couple of days, which gives you a sporting chance of resolving it before you check out. 

Most of the time they are good enough about it, apologise and move on.  Last time, I got to speak to vinegar-tits herself who pretty much flat-out accused me of lying and would only say "we are going to hold on to your CC details and may decide to charge you later."  Given that I'd done my cobblers that trip, I took it fairly well.

I know this maybe a little bit off topic, but is it true foreign tourists with a criminal record can not enter the USA? Does it vary from state to state? Or am i just really gullible and its all aload of bull?

When i say criminal record, i mean judge, jury and time spent behind bars, not cautions etc etc

Get the person that's done bird to apply for an ESTA now - and they will soon find out!

LOL why sent the PM

Shaun, Keith and Dee are local players who look after Marcin when he has money and they keep him off the roulette tables, And now he banked $14k  the other night who knows whats going to happen in vegas, Shame he has it booked and paid

gogogoogogogo Marchin

Odds on Marchin going broke in vegas  and odds on Marcin never coming home

Yeah this

I think it very much depends on what the crime is, but apparently flying into Vegas also counts against you.

lol at this... Sure would give something to shaun to look after for me...

what odds on me going broke please...

^^^^this

Have seen it many times in UK hotels but they usually have a sign explaining it.

are they all on the nip?

When you in Vegas AfGirgyStan?

Dunno

How close are you to going Girgy? (Weight wise)

Dunno

That reply is a little worrying.
You not on it like a mad man for your new years resolution bud?