First Vegas Trip Suggestions

[AdamM]

Hi all, been a long time since my last post. Hope everyone's well.

I've been playing 20+ years, but have never made the pilgrimage to Vegas. As I turn the big 50 next year, me and MrsM are planning a trip, probably the last week of April and was looking to get some suggestions, travel tips, booking advice, money/buy-in advice, etc. from the members.

It won't be an entirely poker-based trip, we'll try and get some other stuff in too, but poker-wise I'd like to play a mix of cash and tourneys while I'm there. Entry level 1/3 cash for preference, possibly 2/5 at a push. Tournament wise, $500-$1000 freezeouts I guess.

Considering splitting the holiday between a few nights in Old Vegas and a few nights on the strip, rather than the full week on the strip.

Any recommendations for things to do, places to eat/drink, poker-musts, pro-travel tips greatly appreciated.

[Doobs]

Hi all, been a long time since my last post. Hope everyone's well.

I've been playing 20+ years, but have never made the pilgrimage to Vegas. As I turn the big 50 next year, me and MrsM are planning a trip, probably the last week of April and was looking to get some suggestions, travel tips, booking advice, money/buy-in advice, etc. from the members.

It won't be an entirely poker-based trip, we'll try and get some other stuff in too, but poker-wise I'd like to play a mix of cash and tourneys while I'm there. Entry level 1/3 cash for preference, possibly 2/5 at a push. Tournament wise, $500-$1000 freezeouts I guess.

Considering splitting the holiday between a few nights in Old Vegas and a few nights on the strip, rather than the full week on the strip.

Any recommendations for things to do, places to eat/drink, poker-musts, pro-travel tips greatly appreciated.

There is loads of stuff here
http://blondepoker.com/forum/index.php?topic=56335.6000

It really depends on your budget.  A lot of places on strip are hugely expensive and the prices were much higher than in the past, especially at weekends.  I think you are going to get way better value on strip midweek, and it will be much easier to get reservations at the good places too.   So I'd probably do somewhere like the Wynn Monday to Friday and somewhere downtown at the weekend.

There are some great places to eat.  Just about everything foodwise in the Wynn is top notch.  I did go to an expensive steak house in Bally's this time and didn't see the point.  Ended up North of $100 and didn't think it was that special.   I went to a better one before, but can't remember where. 

[alanc]

I was recommended the barbecue restaurant within Ellis island for my trip this year. It was great and ended up going 3 times. Great value. (Vegas was very expensive) Simple menu of chicken, ribs or a mixture. Sign up for a players card and get a discount.

If you're thinking about a daytrip to the Grand Canyon, i'd advise hiring a car and doing it yourself. Coach trips advertised are very expensive for what you get, the time they take and with limited time at the GC.

[AdamM]

Thanks, I've started having a scan through that thread. I started at most recent, but once I got about 15 pages back, it got very COVID-y. I also started at the beginning, but 2012 info probably a bit out of date. I'll keep skimming theough, but would also be grateful of any highlights here if anyone has anything.

[Kev B]

I'm off there in about 4 weeks. Been many times but finding it more expensive this time so spend time and shop about. I booked a studio suit at the Vdara for 6 nights for £862 (second time there). In comparison Mirage wanted £1000 for a room and Venetian £1,700. Some friends going with us for the first time are staying at Flaming and Linq which are less expensive. Both great locations but the Flamingo especially is dated unless you book a Go room.

The Vegas thread on here is a mine of information with lots of good advice from very seasoned Vegas travellers.

Flights dearer too and no direct flights from Manchester anymore since covid.

Anyway you're going to have a blast, see some shows and do some trips while you're there.

[redsimon]

recommend the D downtown , love to stay there or 4 queens though thats a bit rough and ready. Not one for shows so can't recommend anything there. poker wise Wynn, Aria and if downtown Nuggett favoured.

[Marky147]

Wouldn't stay at the 4Queens, as security there is shocking, and a few people have been robbed there in the last few years.

+1 to The D and you can use comp dollars at a super little thai restaurant down near El Cortez (Le Thai).

Nugget is the only cardroom downtown, and if you're staying there with the partner, I'd take the Rush Tower.

Alternatively, if you stay DT Sun-Thurs, I'd probably book Circa, which has the great pool/sportsbook for NFL games on Sundays and can be had for ~$150 a night all in. They sometimes have a 2 night for $300 deal at various times, which includes $100 RC and a daybed at the pool, too.

Prices have gone up, and we've suffered a double whammy as the £ is a bag of shit nowadays.

Hard to know what hotel to recommend, without any idea of budget.

I'd rank them

Wyncore >>>>>>>>> Cosmo > Nomad > Aria > Palazzo >>>> Bellagio > Vdara >>>>> A.N.Other.

For a short split trip, I'd probably want to be centre strip while I was there, so as to have lots within (semi) reasonably walking distance.


CET is normally cheaper overall, but you can get some good rates at Park MGM  as well.

They are just starting to refurb NYNY as well (long overdue), so they'll have newly refurbished rooms by then as well, and they do look quite nice at first look.

[Chompy]

Choice of two for me on the strip these days, Jockey Club Suites or Bally's. If you're booking in advance I'd go with JCS.Great location, quiet, amazing rooms and no resort fee. Vegas's best kept secret.

[StuartHopkin]

Choice of two for me on the strip these days, Jockey Club Suites or Bally's. If you're booking in advance I'd go with JCS.Great location, quiet, amazing rooms and no resort fee. Vegas's best kept secret.

Stop it!

It's their first trip to Vegas! You cant send them to the Jockey Club!

Without knowing budget and what they are into it's hard to recommend.

I would suggest trying to plan it as downtown first for a couple of nights then move to the strip.
I personally prefer Downtown now but that's because I have been a lot of times, you don't want to feel like your downgrading for the last couple of nights, better to upgrade after the first couple of nights. Freemont definitely isn't for everyone.

Main recommendation would be keep the tournaments to a minimum, fill in blank time with playing cash, but concentrate on exploring and having fun with Mrs M as the poker is no different to anywhere else.

Flights - air miles for the win, depends on your situation but you can rack them up pretty quick with Virgin or BA if you get the credit cards and can funnel any spend through to hit the bonuses.

Hotels - if you have time you might be able to get some free nights via My Vegas or the Wynn Slots app, if not then have a look around, might be best to book direct if you are going to do none poker gambling

Give us an idea of budget, what you are looking for, what you enjoy and we can probably throw out some specific spots to visit.

[Marky147]

Choice of two for me on the strip these days, Jockey Club Suites or Bally's. If you're booking in advance I'd go with JCS.Great location, quiet, amazing rooms and no resort fee. Vegas's best kept secret.

BAN

It's a 50th Birthday with the wife, not nitting up with pot noodles.

Resort Fees are a false economy, and it's stupid to avoid places to save not paying them.

Wynn Slots it's going to cost $200 p/p to get 2 nights on the app now, and weekends are way to expensive. No point getting involved in that anymore.

I'd say myVegas is still a goer, but with occupancy being so high it's only weekdays 99% of the time. Still a goer for a RF only night or two, but not sure how many properties new joiners have available.

[Chompy]

Stewards' enquiry!

JCS is my new favourite haunt. It's basically inside the Cosmo and the rooms are the nuts.

I'd swerve downtown now if it's a poker trip tbh. Only the Nugget now Binion's have given up.

[tonytats]

Downtown a beer is $6
On the strip it’s $15
That’s all you need to know
The strips become more n more expensive
Lot of value downtown
Plenty of places to stay at
We are trying the California next time we go ,we was in there recently nice casino ,decent bar ,just away from Fremont st behind binions
Fremont st gets worse every time we go or so it seems but that said there’s some decent not too expensive places to drink n eat at
Mainly pokers up on the strip though

[Marky147]

Stewards' enquiry!

JCS is my new favourite haunt. It's basically inside the Cosmo and the rooms are the nuts.

I'd swerve downtown now if it's a poker trip tbh. Only the Nugget now Binion's have given up.

I know of it, and suggested it to a mate that was looking for something half decent centre strip.

For poker trip, certainly.

A 50th, with the wife? No!

[AdamM]

Thanks for all the suggestions so far.

The spec has evolved a bit, because we're being joined by a couple of friends. We're going to day/evening trip Downtown, but stay on the strip for 7 nights.

We compared booking hotels direct, with third parties and as part of packages. We surprisingly found the cheapest way to to do it was with a package by some distance.

We don't really have the budget for Wynn, Venetian, Ceaser's, Cosmo, etc. We could just about stretch to Bellagio, but having weighed up all the reviews, decided against that in the end too.

We've actually almost settled on Planet Hollywood, based on central location, much more affordable. Holding off booking for a couple of weeks though, just in case I win the Goliath, in which case, we take another look at the five stars

We'll certainly do plenty of non-poker stuff (a show, Grand Canyon/Hoover Dam trip, drinks and dinners), but MrsM is also totally on board with me getting plenty of poker in. I'm going to try and get short sessions in at multiple card rooms, rather than long sessions in one or two.

[KarmaDope]

Thanks for all the suggestions so far.

The spec has evolved a bit, because we're being joined by a couple of friends. We're going to day/evening trip Downtown, but stay on the strip for 7 nights.

We compared booking hotels direct, with third parties and as part of packages. We surprisingly found the cheapest way to to do it was with a package by some distance.

We don't really have the budget for Wynn, Venetian, Ceaser's, Cosmo, etc. We could just about stretch to Bellagio, but having weighed up all the reviews, decided against that in the end too.

We've actually almost settled on Planet Hollywood, based on central location, much more affordable. Holding off booking for a couple of weeks though, just in case I win the Goliath, in which case, we take another look at the five stars

We'll certainly do plenty of non-poker stuff (a show, Grand Canyon/Hoover Dam trip, drinks and dinners), but MrsM is also totally on board with me getting plenty of poker in. I'm going to try and get short sessions in at multiple card rooms, rather than long sessions in one or two.

I wouldn't. PH rooms gone massively downhill over the last couple of years - they're due a refurb.

I had a very quick look for the last week of April (Saturday 22nd to Saturday 29th) at hotels on Expedia.

PH was £1573 for that week.
Vdara was £1731
Cromwell was £1313
Ballys was £1242.
Paris was £1932
Bellagio was £2450
Aria and Cosmo were north of £2750.

That's pretty much everything center-south Strip. With those prices, and what you've said already ITT, I'd rate them as Vdara > Cromwell > Paris > Ballys > PH based on price/rooms. Not sure what others would suggest. Vdara is non-smoking/not a casino hotel if that is an issue though.