advise for extended stay in las vegas

[vegas2011]

Hi all, new to the forum but would like to pick some of the forum guys brains. I am planning to go to vegas in mid june for just under a month, the first week will be spent on a stag party but the remaining time will mainly be spent grinding various cash and tournament games available. Once my friends leave after the first week I will be on my own so was wondering which hotels you would recommend that are reasonable affordable but in a good location for late night poker games. I would also like to know if it is cheaper to switch hotels or if any hotels offer deals for longer stays.I stayed at the rio during my only previous trip to vegas and found it a great hotel with lots of available cash games however it was a little away from the strip.

Would anyone recommend a casino where the games a little softer. I thought they were pretty soft in the Rio during the wsop but any other recommendations would be nice. Also could someone recommend some good mtts to play. I have a pretty flexible bankroll so would be willing to play any mtt up to the value of $700 and plan to play atleast one wsop side event. I would also be keen to find out the best places to buy packages for the side events at a reasonable prize.I havent booked my flight yet so happy whether the flight is included or not.

I would also like to know from people who have stayed for a longer period of time in vegas what they did about clothes etc, are the laundrettes in the casino to get your stuff washed or did you just take alot of clothes.

All help appreciated.

[Simon Galloway]

Couple of points to start with, before some options.

1) You don;t have to play where you stay, but it is handy to be able to bounce back to your room quickly, particularly when on a longish wait list.

2) It's an extended stay for you, but not by Vegas standards.  However some of the extended stay places will probably be happy to do something.

3) Advise is a verb - (I am just about to advise you) and Advice is a noun - (as in you are asking for advice).  Gotta clear that up, Tikay coolers people for less.

4) Laundry in a hotel will bankrupt you.  Either take an afternoon off and take it off strip for a service wash, stay at apartments with a laundrette on site, or just buy more clothes out there.  Some amazing bargains, decent designer jeans $20, outlet stores 70% off etc.  $12 in a good hotel to launder a pair of socks?  Buy 5 pairs of Ralph Lauren socks for the same cost.  Go out with a canvas bag  folded up in your case and come back with the extra baggage, about £30 baggage charge paid in advance.

cheap

"Extended stay suites" offer some budget options close to the strip.  I am led to believe they are pretty shitty though I haven't stayed in them.  Google that phrase and you will get a selection for $200/week and up.  Could think about getting a car with the change from a hotel, which can allow you to shop for clothes/launder them and eat offstrip for a lot less.


Moderate:

Stay at the Gold Coast (adjacent to Rio) and play the Rio - including late night tournys there and juicy cash action.  You can still play elsewhere ofc, festivals at Venetian, Nugget, Binions and Caesars.  If Nugget/Binions festivals look ok, consider staying downtown.

Little bit more

Look at Signature/Platinum/Trump suites.  The costs add up for 3 weeks sure, but if you are playing $700 mtts all over town, it shouldn't hurt too much.  The extra quality of room will be worth it, including full fridge/cooker/toaster etc in your room which saves the cost of breakfast every day.  They will have laundrettes on site.  Haven't stayed at Platinum, heard it's pretty good.  Trump and Signature both very nice, the latter an easy stroll to target the MGM cash action.

[vegas2011]

Thanks for taking the time to reply simon,

1) Yes i am aware that you dont have to play where you stay but its more a convenience factor, also is it safe to be walking the strip on your own in the early hours between casino's.

2) Regarding hotels which one's offer extended stays, alot that i have looked at online only let you enter dates for up to 14 nights. Regarding price I am happy to average $80 a night but dont want to be paying $200 a night etc. Do you know which online site is usually best to book my hotel with and if any of them do poker rates. Id prefer a hotel than an apartment as i am quite lazy when on holiday.

3) Thanks for the English lession lol

4) Where are the laundrettes, are they walkable from the strip as I dont drive. Also where are the shopping outlets located as I didnt see any on my last trip.

Regarding poker tournaments available i would be looking for $100 freezeouts and above or smaller rebuys, is there a website where i can find all the casino's tournament listings for that period. Lastly is it worth playing the wsop side events or is it better value playing the venetian deepstacks.


thanks

[Simon Galloway]

1) About a safe a city to walk at night as there is.  I have no concerns about carrying money on me.  If you go off strip though, watch out.  Assuming you are playing 1/2 - 2/5 like everyone else, the game might suck in your hotel (that night/that week) and you should look elsewhere - somewhere in town there will be a great game, but it will never be predictable as to exactly where.

2)  Most of them will if you call them.  Put some credit on skype and call them for free on their 1-800 number.  Or book subsequent reservations.  I averaged $80 a night @ Trump last time and it was a very very good room for the money, would have no problems being there for a month, short stroll to strip.

4) Dunno!  I buy clothes out there.  Usual outlets are Premium Outlet Malls (West Charleston and I15) for Nautica/Calvin Klein/Ralph Lauren/Nike type stores.  Then the Fashion Show mall (on strip next to TI) for Macys/A&F/Apple type stores.  For higher end, Caesars Forum shops, but most of it full price.  For lower end, Primm outlets (about 45 mins on I15 towards California and if you don't drive, there are coach trips for ~ $10) where they have some ok stores with crazy prices, bit hit and miss on stock.  Also Town Square (on strip, up towards airport) where there are some decent stores and restaurants, no massive bargains, but a nice stroll around.

When you get to Vegas, pick up a Cardplayer in the poker room and rip out the back page with a schedule of each day on it.  Then whenever you bust out/feel like playing, refer to it and decide where to go.  Most schedules in advance never happen.  For a $1500 comp, you will get a deep slow structure  @ Venetian or you can play a WSOP where you have to start rowing for home in level 2.  If you aren't going to blink at dropping $1500, play a WSOP.  Most people probably do, even though I would have thought playing 5x $350 deepstacks makes more sense.

[vegas2011]

Thanks again for the advise, yes il be playing 1/2 mainly, regarding the cardplayer does that include the schedule for every casino or just the one i pick up the card player from. Is it cheaper to book my stay directly through the hotel or online through various third party sites. Where are best deepstacks usually held?

[Simon Galloway]

No probs with the advice.  Cardplayer covers all the cardrooms, so if you bust out of a tourny at 11:30 and wonder where the best midnight tourny starts, that sheet will have the answer.

As for 1/2 - this is something that you are just going to have to do for yourself.  I can tell you that MGM is the best 1/2 action, then during your stay it may be reg infested whereas 5 rich pissed up kids are sitting in the Flamingo going all in blind every hand.  You are simply going to have to get off your arse and go through some shoe leather to find it.

I usually use discount codes from www.fatwallet.com and book direct, although sometimes Orbitz/Expedia/wherever have better deals, so half an hour for a Google run would be time well spent for you.

The best deepstacks are Venetian.  If you are a holdem only player, look no further.  If you can actually play poker (rather than just holdem) Caesars may have a different format of event on of interest.  Binions/Nugget generally host all the formats, but they aren't deepstack and the buyins are usually modest.

[vegas2011]

Thanks again, i am a nl holdem player so the venetian sounds good.

Regarding packages for wsop side events is this a good place to buy one or is it worth contacting the poker companies directly.

thanks

[doubleup]

Have a browse through this forum, there might be some topics that cover your questions

http://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/108/las-vegas-lifestyle/

[vegas2011]

ive been on , very helpful.

thanks