2023 WSOP

[alanc]

Download the Uber and Lyft taxi apps as they're the main modes of transport around Vegas.

Next time I'll also have a bank account that doesn't have foreign transaction charges eg. Starling.

[Doobs]

I'll take the easy ones.

Hi
Looking to finally make my first trip after trying to do so for many years now without success...i like the look of the Omaha hi-lo on June 25th as there is a bounty hunter on the Thursday and colossus on the Friday if i get knocked out.
I wondered if any of you experienced travelers could offer any advice on the following.

Looking to go Tuesday to Monday/Tuesday and would rather book a direct flight and accommodation together so i have been looking at British Airways.
Are there any hidden costs when you get there (hotel charges etc.)? Main one is a hotel tax called Resort Fee. Not all hotels charge it, but the main hotels do. Amount ranges roughly in line with quality of hotel, but can be as much as $50 a night. Check to see if Resort Fee is included.

Do i need to fill out any forms other than an ESTA? Unless there's a COVID restriction, no. If you're taking more than $10k (including any British money in your wallet), declare it.

Can you register for the tournaments from the UK online? No, but it's easy to do it at the venue. For WSOP, you can enter at any time, so just go when it's quiet, rather than an hour before the 10,000 person tournament starts

Any hotel recommendations that are close to the tournament or would you stop in the tournament hotel (not looked at these prices yet)? Opinions vary wildly. Anywhere on the strip is fine. If you stay on the same side of the strip as Paris/Bally's, there's a monorail that gets you right to the heart of the action

I will take a read through the WSOP thread for further advice but was hoping to find a few answers before i do.
Is there any basic advice that anyone would offer from their experiences. It's hot outside. Like really hot. But inside, you might need a jacket. Oh and that place you think is going to take 10 minutes to walk to is half an hour away.
thanks for any replies

There is an app to pay now, but you pay a fee and it is in dollars, so guess you get double stung. If I go this time am definitely going to try and stay near Bally's/Horseshoe and pay late at night or early morning.  I had two long queues last year that were pretty unpleasant; I wouldn't want to do that again. 

My tip is early mornings are great in Vegas.  I am not normally a morning person, but coming from the UK, it is pretty easy to wake up way too early.  That means you can get the whole pool to yourself and hit the buffet before the queue gets mad. 

When you get in your first cab, say no freeway. The freeway doubles your cab fare to the strip.

Tal is right on the heat, try and spend as little time as possible outside during the day. Taking the long way through the casinos/shops is the way forward if not getting a taxi/Uber.

[Marky147]

If you get a Clarity card it exchanges at almost spot, and the small fee is worth the time saved.

I got caught in a queue at 2am last year, thinking it would be dead

The cab fees from the airport to the strip are all set now, so the drivers can't act up with the longhaul tricks anymore.

As Doobs said, Tal pretty much covered everything.

Most importantly, don't get hung up on resort fees, or you might end up paying about the same amount to stay at a much worse hotel. Just work out the total for the stay, and if you're happy, pay.

[smurf]

Thanks for the replies - some good pointers there to take on board.
Regarding the clarity card - would you guys recommend buying in to tournaments with a card rather than cash as it would work out better value?
I would be looking at maybe 3k of tournies max (is it worth it for that amount)

[Marky147]

Thanks for the replies - some good pointers there to take on board.
Regarding the clarity card - would you guys recommend buying in to tournaments with a card rather than cash as it would work out better value?
I would be looking at maybe 3k of tournies max (is it worth it for that amount)

I only played the bounty last summer, but drove back to the Bellagio and registered online when I saw the queue at Ballys 

I bought in online to the 3 or 4 I played in 2019, which came to about 3k, and the 3% juice was worth every penny.

From memory I just had to turn up the rewards desk the first time with my ID and card so they could put me in the system, and then you just get your seat from the machines.

[smurf]

Last question - I think I am looking at going on Friday 23rd to play the Omaha hi lo and millionaire maker - from experience if I arrive on the Friday and go to reg for the Saturday last day one millionaire maker is it likely to be a guaranteed seat at the start or do they tend to have alternate lists as there are limited seats at the start.

[Marky147]

Last question - I think I am looking at going on Friday 23rd to play the Omaha hi lo and millionaire maker - from experience if I arrive on the Friday and go to reg for the Saturday last day one millionaire maker is it likely to be a guaranteed seat at the start or do they tend to have alternate lists as there are limited seats at the start.

If you reg on the Friday night, I'd like to think you'd have a guaranteed seat on the Saturday.

You'd hope they'll have ironed out some of the queue problems from last year, but I'd imagine there will still be some chaos around some events.

[Doobs]

Last question - I think I am looking at going on Friday 23rd to play the Omaha hi lo and millionaire maker - from experience if I arrive on the Friday and go to reg for the Saturday last day one millionaire maker is it likely to be a guaranteed seat at the start or do they tend to have alternate lists as there are limited seats at the start.

If you reg on the Friday night, I'd like to think you'd have a guaranteed seat on the Saturday.

You'd hope they'll have ironed out some of the queue problems from last year, but I'd imagine there will still be some chaos around some events.

Yep do this.  If you late reg you end up queuing twice.  From experience, first one to reg is like 2/3 hours for popular events then the alternate line could take an hour.  I'd definitely try and reg as early as possible simply because however bad the queues are on Friday night, they are bound to be worse on Saturday. 

In previous years you could get there an hour and a half early, queue for 10 minutes then get some food after registering. Maybe it will go back to that, but I wouldn't gamble after last year.  I played 3 events last year and they were all like the first paragraph.

[Tal]

When you buy in, you get a table and seat number allocated on the receipt.

[Marky147]

When you buy in, you get a table and seat number allocated on the receipt.

Yeah, was just thinking from the angle that they won't have completely sold out by the time he tries to reg.

I registered online for that comp this year, but think it was sold out from before the time my day started, and there were just queues of alternates snaking around the playing room all day*

*Until I donked my chips off just before dinner

[Tal]

So many people turn up an hour before the day starts and then spend three hours tweeting about how ridiculous it is that they have to queue.

First Vegas tip is don't be one of those guys.

Take your own food if you can. Will save you spending $30 for a sandwich and drink.

[Marky147]

So many people turn up an hour before the day starts and then spend three hours tweeting about how ridiculous it is that they have to queue.

First Vegas tip is don't be one of those guys.

Take your own food if you can. Will save you spending $30 for a sandwich and drink.

It is comedy to see the outrage, and I just thank my lucky stars I'm sat in the scooter if I get caught in them

That's the other good thing about it being at Horseshoe. You can find yourself many cheaper food options within a few minutes walk, and abs no reason to be paying $20 for a microwave burger!

[smurf]

Thanks for all the replies - booked to incorporate the millionaire maker and the Omaha hi lo at the end of June.
Will no doubt be looking for more recommendations of places to go for non WSOP tournaments Incase I need them

[Marky147]

Kenny Hallaert, PLOG, and the other MTT site should all be done once the schedules are released.

Once they are, I'll post all the links to the sheets in here.

[tonytats]

Hi
Looking to finally make my first trip after trying to do so for many years now without success...i like the look of the Omaha hi-lo on June 25th as there is a bounty hunter on the Thursday and colossus on the Friday if i get knocked out.
I wondered if any of you experienced travelers could offer any advice on the following.
Looking to go Tuesday to Monday/Tuesday and would rather book a direct flight and accommodation together so i have been looking at British Airways

.better to book direct with where you plan to stay if you gamble a bit using a players card you may get casino room rate / comped / meal offer
Are there any hidden costs when you get there (hotel charges etc.)?

Do i need to fill out any forms other than an ESTA?
Can you register for the tournaments from the UK online?  - bravo poker app
Any hotel recommendations that are close to the tournament or would you stop in the tournament hotel (not looked at these prices yet)?

The strip is now expensive to stay and play  for example 2 vodka n tonics in encore/Wynn ,Bellagio/ Caesars were  $32 last year
Downtown $12
There’s a lot going on downtown and it’s cheaper to stay ,yes it’s a bit “ rough” but it’s character building and fun to observe
you catch the deuce bus for <$10 for 24 hours use from time purchased that runs along the strip every ten /15 mins

We were introduced to southpoint by a friend yes it’s a bit off strip and you need an Uber but there’s a poker room with Omaha hI lo cash n tourneys plus drinks are like downtown and you don’t get plagued by beggars

I will take a read through the WSOP thread for further advice but was hoping to find a few answers before i do.
Is there any basic advice that anyone would offer from their experiences.
thanks for any replies

ID is required to get players cards / make buy ins so you need to carry n look after your passport once you have a players card for the casino a driving license will be accepted generally
Best not to walk around with passport tucked in back pocket
A man bag is useful
Phone charger
Throat lozenges - the air con really rips mucus membranes
Food
Hoodie