Vegas Trip Information for anyone looking to go this year.

[Marky147]

Just had a look at the ESPN website for the NCAA schedule, and it looks like the finals run from 16th - 7th, so not sure what's on during the first week of March to inflate the prices.

[Woodsey]

I've never gone for less than 2 weeks myself,

20 nights at the D with booking.com for £560 + 13% tax and $400 in resort fees.

20 nights at El Cortez for £558 or £650 for a room with 2 large doubles + 13% tax

Cheers Mark, is El Cortez deal with booking.com as well?

Think they will probably comp you loads (your room at least) there if you gamble even a little bit. I was there last year gambling reasonable amounts but nothing daft and they were offering everything free basically.

[redsimon]

Eaten and gambled at Cortez a few times, probably give it a spin (we will have a car so distance doesn't matter). D right on top of FSE so guess it is noisy!

Thanks, probably saving about £400 each on other options we had!

[redsimon]

Just had a look at the ESPN website for the NCAA schedule, and it looks like the finals run from 16th - 7th, so not sure what's on during the first week of March to inflate the prices.

Spring break possibly?

[Marky147]

Just had a look at the ESPN website for the NCAA schedule, and it looks like the finals run from 16th - 7th, so not sure what's on during the first week of March to inflate the prices.

Spring break possibly?

Looks like a fair few of them have spring break during that time

https://www.ststravel.com/2014-college-spring-break-dates

[Kmac84]

How does a double room @ MGM sound for £460 10 nights 10 - 20th Nov?  Can get that on AlphaRooms with just a £10 deposit. 

[tikay]

Just had a look at the ESPN website for the NCAA schedule, and it looks like the finals run from 16th - 7th, so not sure what's on during the first week of March to inflate the prices.

Spring break possibly?

No, more likely this - the National Ready Mixed Concrete Association Annual Convention.



http://www.vegasmeansbusiness.com/event/national-ready-mixed-concrete-association---ncrma-annual-convention-2014/82188/

[leethefish]

Hi all

daft questions from a Vegas virgin again !!

MONEY:

best way to take money ?

my thinking was to put a thread up ...nearer time and try and exchange £ for $ as per xe which i was looking for £2.5k about $4100

OR

is it best to take on a card
or take over in £

advice please

SHOWS:
best way to get tickets ....

ask concierge @ hotel or buy direct ? or online before we go
same for booking grand canyon?

POKER

how do i find out best poker rooms for cash games and tourneys
thinking my poker budget is going to be about $1500-$2k with the Mrs poker budget @ $500

that brings me to........ is $1.5k- $2k enough to see a show go on a trip to  the grand canyon   eat well etc.


thanks ....Marky & Simon in advance !

[leethefish]

ALMOST FORGOT !

best places to eat ?

[Marky147]

Just having lunch, but will try and have a look before racing starts, Kmac.

@ Lee

Money

Cash for me, or a Fairfx card if you don't like carrying chunks about.


Shows 

I always just bought them at the desk, but I think you can save a bit if you go hunting about for the booths along the strip


Poker

http://www.allvegaspoker.com/


Food is a long one, I'll do it later

[redsimon]

Poker:

Aria Daily MTT $125 total buy in ($97 goes into prize pool). 1pm and 7 pm

Cash (NLHE) I like Venetian. Plenty of games, you earn comps if you get a Grazie card and can use these for food etc.

If you like non holdem games, PLO at Aria $1/$3 blinds and up. PLO  at Venetian. 5 Card Omaha hi Lo at Venetian and limit O8 at Venetian or Orleans are good games.

Money:

I've always taken cash. Never had any problems. A prepaid cards probably OK though.

[Marky147]

Food: Just work your way through the Earl of Sandwich menu.

Yeah, I'm sure Mrs Fish would love that

[Marky147]

How does a double room @ MGM sound for £460 10 nights 10 - 20th Nov?  Can get that on AlphaRooms with just a £10 deposit. 

Not bad at all, but I would probably prefer Planet Hollywood at about the same price, and PHo is also available at about the same price in a few other spots

£497 ebookers (includes free breakfast credit)

£504 expedia   (includes free breakfast credit)


Both ebookers/expedia offer free cancellation until a couple days before you're due to stay, and you pay the first night upfront (refundable if cancelled)

[Woodsey]

Just never change money that the airport, they have the worst rates.

[Simon Galloway]

OK, we haven't done a food review for a while.... so I'll throw some ideas out.

First of all, those wanting advice on food, pls actually give a little bit of a steer on budget, preferred cuisine, occasion, etc etc.  Recommending EoS to someone looking to propose... prolly not the best.  Nor is it any good recommending Picasso to someone that is a really plain eater on a tight budget.

Next up, even if you really really like EoS, you prolly should try out the competition at some point.. Capriottis and popscheesesteaks (24 hrs..) are at least very good alternatives.. and arguably better.

Finally, whilst taking a few tips from people on this board, each and every person going to Vegas for the first time should explore, check out the hotels during the day, make a note of which menus/restuarants look great and come back and try them out that evening.  If you keep finding yourself eating in buffets/cafes/food courts, you aren't really doing Vegas right.

Inexpensive food

Even if you are on a tight budget, you can afford these.  Some are available with poker comps, so really no need to swerve.

Burgers:  Holsteins @ Cosmo
Pizza/Salad: CPK (various) Otto Enoteca @ Venetian
General cafe:  Grand Luxe @ V/P
Noodles: Noodles (Bellagio) NN9 (Caesars)  Noodle Asia (Venetian, I don;t rate it much, but on a poker comp....sure)
Chinese: P.F. Changs (PH + numerous offstrip)
Subs: Eos (PH) Capriottis (various) popscheesesteaks (offstrip, but 24 hr hankering solved)
Buffet: Any 5* really, but Bacchanal (Caesars) Wicked SPoon (Cosmo) then Bellagio/Wynn.  If you find yourself lining up to go to the Tropicana buffet to save $1.99... shoot yourself now.
"Posh" Lunch: Milos (Cosmo) do a crazy $23 offer at lunchtime.  Palm steakhouse (Forum shops) do a $20 business lunch.  Both very very good value, but less inclined to pay full price there...

Nits look away now...

Picasso (Bellagio) more reasonably priced tasting menus, fountain view etc, table for 2 stuff.
Steak+seafood: loads of choices, any of the better hotels will have a good steakhouse.  Jean-Georges (Aria) STK (Cosmo) SW (Wynn) Botero (Encore) Strip Steak (MB) Strip House (PH) Prime (Bellagio) Delmonico, Cut & Carnevino (V/P)  They are all high quality steaks, the only difference is how young/hip/loud they are relative to each other, don't eat seafood so can't help there, but they all have plenty of options.
L'Atelier / Joel Roubouchon (MGM) if you need to ask... you don't want to go.
Tapas: E / Jaleo @ Cosmo Julain Serano (Aria)
Old Fashioned Vegas: Hugos (4Queens)
Mexican: (as in Mexican, not Tex-Mex) Mundos (world market centre)
Thai: Chada (offstrip)

OK, I could go on for pages... but others will have some suggestions too ofc ~ and one man's meat and all that.  I think if you picked off several from that list, you'd be having some very good food and not really breaking the bank.