Vegas Trip Information for anyone looking to go this year.

[Marky147]

Finally got a question for this excellent thread

On behalf of my old man who is going to Vegas for the first time as a kind of stopover on the way to La with his wife.

He has booked the venetian for 4 nights in August. Question is will the upgrade trick work for such a short stay?

Have already put together some info for him from the thread which he really appreciates.

The upgrades are a lot easier to obtain when you are staying for a short period of time, on the basis that the staff don't have to block the rooms out for very long.

That said, the Venetian rooms are pretty large anyway, and the cost gaps between rooms are bigger than most properties.

Still, it can't hurt to mention that they're in town for XX wedding anniversary, anything they could do to make the stay memorable would be much appreciated etc.

If you let me know the dates, I'll have a look to see what the pricing is like over those 4 days, and it might be worth shooting to get one of the bigger suites if it's over a quiet period.

[horseplayer]

Cheers Marky will do when my old man  replies to my text

estimated 8pm this evening

[horseplayer]

Text reply !

Suites, they only do suites

And then

20th September (Sorry i thought August earlier) for 4 nights

Thanks Marky

[Simon Galloway]

it's an all-suite hotel.....

However, some suites are much better than others.  There is quite a big jump, entry level is about 650 sq ft and very nice.  Next one up is a "Rialto" which basically gets you more unusable floor space around the entry, not worth paying for, but ok if its a free upgrade.

Then you jump up to Piazza and Prima suites, these are about 1500 sq ft and a proper upgrade.  I'd be very happy to pay a small premium for those, or a decent tip, or both.  I have been in a Prima suite that someone scored for free by asking nicely, so it can be done, but it is such an upgrade that it is a long shot. 

The whole point is it never hurts to ask.  Worst they can do is say "no upgrades available"

[Marky147]

Text reply !

Suites, they only do suites

And then

20th September (Sorry i thought August earlier) for 4 nights

Thanks Marky

The next room up from the entry level suite, is a larger room that is almost double in price, so if you're gonna go, go big!

I would suggest taking a minute whilst waiting to check in, and look for a cheerful young clerk. When he goes to check in, hold $100 in his hand, and suggest that whilst the price is a bit heavy for the upgrade, he would be happy to pay him/her if there were any 'Prima Suites' available for the weekend.

They might end up with one of these



If not they still get a decent room

[horseplayer]

cheers gents much appreciated

[Nilawina]

I'm staying at Treasure Island for 2 weeks from the 15th June.

Looking at the schedules out so far I think I'll probably be heading to the Golden Nugget for the mixed game tourneys most days.

Question is what's my best bet for transport there and back? Taxi's, buses (I'm quite fit but I'm guessing the heat and distance will be a killer to walk).

Is it worth hiring a car?

I'm heading out on my own so I have no wish to see the major sights as I'm going just to unwind and play poker away from the interruptions of work/family. 

Thanks in advance.

[Marky147]

You definitely don't want to be walking to the Nugget from there, so I'd say you'll be best off with a car, or alternatively catching the 'deuce'.

Unfortunately I don't know too much myself, but I think that this is the bus schedule http://www.rtcsnv.com/wp-content/uploads/routes/2013/SDX%2807-07-13%29.pdf

I stay at the Nugget so the only driving I have to do is from my room to the poker room

[Nilawina]

Great.Thanks for that.

Added to my dropbox folder for great info already from this thread.

If you're there during my dates I'll buy you a drink, hence why I don't really want to hire a car if I can help it.

[arbboy]

I'm staying at Treasure Island for 2 weeks from the 15th June.

Looking at the schedules out so far I think I'll probably be heading to the Golden Nugget for the mixed game tourneys most days.

Question is what's my best bet for transport there and back? Taxi's, buses (I'm quite fit but I'm guessing the heat and distance will be a killer to walk).

Is it worth hiring a car?

I'm heading out on my own so I have no wish to see the major sights as I'm going just to unwind and play poker away from the interruptions of work/family.  

Thanks in advance.

depending on how many nugget games you are playing in 2 weeks i would suggest staying there if you can cancel your current accommodation.  The nugget events have very deep structures for 1 day low buy in/relatively low runner events.  I won one in 2011 (thin i know) and it didn't finish until 4am after a pretty early start.  Taxi to the strip going to set you back $25 minimum.  Also as has been said before make sure you get the NI number sorted for tax reasons as the nugget dont help you in this like the rio and will tax u 30% withholding tax without even thinking about it.  One of the downsides of playing at the nugget.

[Marky147]

No worries, mine is a pint... of Vodka

I should be there from the 21st onwards, so will likely be donating some money in the hilo comps.

I don't like driving myself, or rather the Nugget don't like me driving, especially after last year, when I lost the keys to one vehicle and crashed another...

[Simon Galloway]

Walking is completely out of the question, even if mega fit.  Vegas is pretty mean in the summer and things are a lot further away than they seem.  It also would be a very bad idea to walk it after dark.

The buses - I'd say are also out of the question.  I think there are some fast buses... and lots of slow buses... Maybe if you are super nitty and don't mind taking over an hour to get there you can do it, chances are all the extra time it will use up over the course of the trip will mount up to more than you realise.

Cabs - $25ish one way.  As per ^^ arbboy, if you are playing a lot of tournies, consider moving to GN, they prolly have a poker rate too.  Playing a $150 tourny each day with $50 cab juice (+pro rated trip cost) is a hard vig to overcome.  Or if the tournies are in quick succession, maybe a 2-hotel stay, GN for the poker and then TI to do strip things. 

Rent - I use carhire3000.  You can pick up from the airport or from TI.  Driving for the first time is a little bit unnerving, but it is very straightforward once you become acclimatised.  LV is gridded at the strip end, and with large hotels for orientation, it is impossible to get lost.  Downtown is a little more tricky, but the route is fairly straightforward, either on the freeway or via surface streets.  Expect to pay £100/week for a roller skate and maybe £125 for a full sized car.  With valet parking (downtown is a bit of an artform, but strip is v v easy) and small price differentials, a full size car for comfort and ease is usually an easy decision.  If you do end up bumping into Marky and getting pole-axed, you can leave the car in valet and get the bus/cab back and come back for the car the next day.  The best part about valet is that when that happens, they know where your car is!!  A few years back, I went on a massive drinking session that kept me out of action for a couple of days.  Walking round a monster self-park like MGM trying to find a car that you don't even know what make/model/colour it was isn't a lot of fun.  Somewhere in the third hour of doing that, I was seriously starting to doubt it was even in the MGM and was trying to remember where else it might be...  Also, if you are there for 2 weeks and have a car, you can venture off strip a little bit and see some of Vegas that most poker players never get to see.

[doubleup]

Also as has been said before make sure you get the NI number sorted for tax reasons as the nugget dont help you in this like the rio and will tax u 30% withholding tax without even thinking about it.  One of the downsides of playing at the nugget.

Don't think you can get an ITIN on spec

[Marky147]

Also as has been said before make sure you get the NI number sorted for tax reasons as the nugget dont help you in this like the rio and will tax u 30% withholding tax without even thinking about it.  One of the downsides of playing at the nugget.

Don't think you can get an ITIN on spec

When John Tab and I were playing at the Bellagio everyday, he chucked the guy behind the cash desk $20 and he sorted him one out.

So it's like most things in Vegas

[Nilawina]

I think I'll try to cage a lift of a LV vet I know who'll be there the first week. He likes the hi/lo & if I run deep I'll get a cab back.

I'm hoping to play a few wsop sats and build up to the $1500 8-game the 2nd week at the Rio.

So buses not worth the wait & need to get the tax forms sorted. Cheers