Vegas Trip Information for anyone looking to go this year.

[bobAlike]

Planning on making my first visit in October 2016 with a group of non poker friends, when is the best time to start looking at flights and accommodation?

[vegaslover]

Anyone flown BA from Gatwick to Vegas and know what they are like/comparable to Virgin. Talking economy of course

Flew to Vegas from Heathrow with BA in 2011, and it was comparable to Virgin.

Got bumpedon the way out, and it wasn't much diff from Virgin PE.

Just got back. Food much better on the BA flight imo. Flight was also noticeably quieter than Virgin flights.

[Simon Galloway]

Planning on making my first visit in October 2016 with a group of non poker friends, when is the best time to start looking at flights and accommodation?

Now.

Start looking for hotels you might like and get an idea of what prices are like, so you are ballpark in the right area.
Obviously the dates need to dovetail bewteen flight and hotel, so once you see an air fare you like, you will already be familiar with what hotel prices are like, now you can really hammer the exact dates and dig up a decent deal.  If you book a hotel+flight deal with a 3rd party, that's fine, but make sure you are ok with the (non)cancellation terms.  If you book your flight separately, now you can book a hotel directly (using offer codes or promo deals) with full cancellation rights.  Which means if a better deal comes along you can switch, and if prices get hiked, you are already locked in.  No lose.

[Marky147]

Haha, timing

Planning on making my first visit in October 2016 with a group of non poker friends, when is the best time to start looking at flights and accommodation?

No harm in having a look at some hotels now, so you can maybe pick a couple options out that fit for the group. No need to book anything, unless something pops up which is very good.

Booking direct usually means you only have to pay the first night, and you can cancel up until 72hours before. Also, expedia/ebookers offer free cancellation now, but you have to pay the full whack up front.

Always worth having a look for any conferences that are on, so you can avoid those, and the increase in prices that accompany them. I haven't got the link, but I believe someone posted it previously.

[Marky147]

Anyone flown BA from Gatwick to Vegas and know what they are like/comparable to Virgin. Talking economy of course

Flew to Vegas from Heathrow with BA in 2011, and it was comparable to Virgin.

Got bumpedon the way out, and it wasn't much diff from Virgin PE.

Just got back. Food much better on the BA flight imo. Flight was also noticeably quieter than Virgin flights.

Nice.

Think I might be going Westjet, unless Virgin/BA has a sale

[tikay]

Haha, timing

Planning on making my first visit in October 2016 with a group of non poker friends, when is the best time to start looking at flights and accommodation?

No harm in having a look at some hotels now, so you can maybe pick a couple options out that fit for the group. No need to book anything, unless something pops up which is very good.

Booking direct usually means you only have to pay the first night, and you can cancel up until 72hours before. Also, expedia/ebookers offer free cancellation now, but you have to pay the full whack up front.

Always worth having a look for any conferences that are on, so you can avoid those, and the increase in prices that accompany them. I haven't got the link, but I believe someone posted it previously.

There you go.  You can dial in any specific month at the top.

http://www.lasvegastourism.com/conventions_oct.htm



Make sure you avoid this one, as the delegates might not be fearfully interesting sorts.

Pacific Association of Collegiate Registrars & Admissions Officers - Annual Meeting

[bergeroo]

For anyone planning on going in late Jan/Early Feb, you could do the double.

1/20/2016   1/23/2016   Adult Entertainment Expo - AVN Adult Expo 2016

2/2/2016   2/5/2016   World of Concrete 2016

[bobAlike]

Cheers guys appreciate the advice.

[vegaslover]

Haha, timing

Planning on making my first visit in October 2016 with a group of non poker friends, when is the best time to start looking at flights and accommodation?

No harm in having a look at some hotels now, so you can maybe pick a couple options out that fit for the group. No need to book anything, unless something pops up which is very good.

Booking direct usually means you only have to pay the first night, and you can cancel up until 72hours before. Also, expedia/ebookers offer free cancellation now, but you have to pay the full whack up front.

Always worth having a look for any conferences that are on, so you can avoid those, and the increase in prices that accompany them. I haven't got the link, but I believe someone posted it previously.

There you go.  You can dial in any specific month at the top.

http://www.lasvegastourism.com/conventions_oct.htm



Make sure you avoid this one, as the delegates might not be fearfully interesting sorts.

Pacific Association of Collegiate Registrars & Admissions Officers - Annual Meeting

http://www.lasvegasadvisor.com/vacationplanner-keydates.cfm

Above is one of the links I use for checking conferences.
As others have stated, get a good idea of the dates/flexibility you have in terms of when you want to go and start looking now. Flight sales will start after xmas for Virgin.
Play around with the dates of when you want to go, sometimes it's cheaper to go for an extra day or two.

[RickBFA]

Used to go to Vegas every year but not been for 6/7 years so out of touch.

Going on 19th Nov for a week with a group of lads who don't play poker.

Will be looking to play some 1/2 or 2/5 cash games.

Where would you choose to play cash at these levels?

[bergeroo]

You can basically play anywhere at 1/2. Try a table and after 30 minutes you don't think it is soft then you can get a table change or go up the street to another casino to find a better game. I always thought Planet Hollywood and MGM were fun places to play, but really it depends day by day who is there. Some casinos charge some kind of bad beat or high hand drop, so be aware what the promotion is. There are a few that just have a straight rake no extra drop but I'm out of date to what they are.

1/3 runs in a few places. I'm not sure Caesars has much action these days. 1/3 at Wynn plays very deep if you like that kind of thing. For 2/5 you are probably looking at the bigger poker rooms, Aria, Venetian, Wynn, Bellagio

Your friend is the Bravo App, download it for your phone and it can tell you what games are running and waiting lists.
https://www.bravopokerlive.com

Hope you have a great time!

[Simon Galloway]

^^ agreed no reason to sit in a bad game, 1/2 is as ubiquitous as it gets.

As an extension of the above advice, if you see on Bravo a 2/5 game breaking out outside of the main 4 rooms, I'd seriously consider getting in it pretty quick, it is very likely to be a very good game.  Not as soft as 5/10 at the V ofc, but well worth checking out all the same.

[RickBFA]

Thanks for the advice guys.

[ForthThistle]

When do the Venetian Deep Stacks for Sept/Oct 2016 get announced.

Also when do the 2016 NFL Fixtures get announced.

Trying to plan the Mrs 40th. 

[Marky147]

When do the Venetian Deep Stacks for Sept/Oct 2016 get announced.

Also when do the 2016 NFL Fixtures get announced.

Trying to plan the Mrs 40th.  

Don't think they release the WSOP ones until around Jan/Feb, so not sure about the autumn festival.

I seem to remember the end of year Venetian festival being in November?

Just had one through September, too.

http://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/venues/the-venetian-resort-hotel-casino-549