OT: Advice For Vegas Trip?

[FatPitcher]

I've been to Vegas only once, and I stayed at a middling off-strip hotel, gambled just enough to pay for the trip, and went to an afternoon magic show and the little wildlife thing at the Mirage. I also walked around quite a few of the hotels to take in the ridiculous level of opulence (alcoholic slushies at the Venetian were the highlight, I think).

I know a bunch of you have been to Vegas a few times and was hoping to get some advice on how to do the Vegas thing properly.

I'm planning to go again with my (female) roommate in either Sept. or Oct. She wants to see Cirque du Soleil and eat good food, and I want to see Penn and Teller or something along those lines and also eat good food, maybe play some blackjack, preferably in a designated smoke-free section (I think the Mirage had one?). I've heard that the Wynn/Encore is a good place to stay - I definitely want to be in a modern, high-end hotel on the Strip this time around. I'd also like to know what else I should do while I am there. Budget for both of us together is maybe $4-5k (total of $350 or so will be airfare), but I certainly don't mind spending less.

[RallyMonkey]

I've been out there a decent amount so I'll give a couple tidbits. I've stayed in Bellagio, Ceasars, Mirage and TI. Like them all but Caesars is great. It's not "modern" so Wynn and Venetian are better for that. I will suggest a newer hotel, Aria, which is really outstanding.

In terms of food, Rao's in Ceasars is awesome. It's designed just like the one in New York but you can actually get into this one. For breakfast you have to hit Hash House in the Imperial Palace. Fantastic breakfast. I'll also suggest a very reasonable priced Mexican place in Treasure Island called Isla. Outstanding food for a fair price. Buffet-wise, Bellagio and Wynn are great, but pricey. Lastly, hit Pinks if you like hot dogs. It's in (actually just outside) Planet Hollywood.

For shows, I've seen the following Cirque shows. "O", Ka, Mystere, and The Beatles Love. All of them were great but Mystere and Love were my top two. Never seen Penn and Teller but they have always been a "want to see" for me also.

Lastly, for blackjack, DO NOT play at any of the Harrah's properties. They only pay 6-5 on blackjack and while it doesn't seem like a big deal, it is in terms of house edge. Always play 3-2 tables. And if you have any "counting" ability look for double deck blackjack tables. Any count of 5 or 6 running or better is good stuff. Oh, and don't play any tables with a constant shuffler. Massive house edge there too.

Have a great time. I love it out there.

[LAking]

I live in Los Angeles and despite my general dislike of Vegas I still end up there a few times a year. My for sure annual trip is always the first weekend of October for Frozen Fury, a Kings vs. Avs exhibition game at the MGM Grand Anena. If you enjoy hockey you might want to check it out. It's a preseason game with a playoff atmosphere. Buy tickets in advance through letsgokings.com to avoid paying ticketmaster fees.

I was there a couple months ago and we got a decent rate at one of the new City Center hotels called Vdara. I think it was originally designed more as a condo/time share thing but because of the economy they rent the rooms out. I think all the rooms are suits with full kitchens.

The Venetian is nice. Rooms are quite large and I like the central location on the strip. If you pay with an Amex Platinum card i think you get an automatic room upgrade.

I like that Rally recommended Pink's but it's kind of blasphemous to eat at the Vegas location instead of original shack in LA

Vegas is a strange place. It's such a trashy town that masquerades as somewhere classy. I can't take that city if I'm not seriously dunk. Luckily boos are never hard to come by in Vegas.

[RobVarak]

Go to the Hard Rock pool. Pay whatever the hell they want for drinks, because the scenery is worth it...and then some.

[Inuyasha]

Vegas is a strange place. It's such a trashy town that masquerades as somewhere classy. I can't take that city if I'm not seriously dunk. Luckily boos are never hard to come by in Vegas.

That is a perfect description.

I first went to Vegas as an Adult back in the early 90s. I think back then they were trying to make it more of a family type city and it was bearable. maybe I was expecting the worse, but it was fine.

Then I went in the mid/late 2000s and it was total scumbag city.

If you're looking for romance with your girlfriend, maybe you can find it somewhere there. But if you're not into boos, gambling, drugs, whores, strip clubs, or getting hitched, then I'm not sure it's the perfect place for you. Maybe go out to Hoover Dam or other areas outside the city for more romantic places.

It's ironic how many fortune 500 companies keep holding conventions in Vegas. I am sure the reasons are to get away from the wife/husband and do a few one night stands.

[Brando70]

I've been on five trips. Had two stays at the Imperial Palace when I was slumming, two at the Mirage, and one at the MGM. I like the Mirage a lot: good location, great poker room, and the rooms are nice. The last time one of our group had a suite and it was really something else, although I don't know what the price was. I have also had a lot of good times in the Revolution bar there.

My best advice is to take the amount you plan to gamble with in cash. That's always helped me stay within a designated limit without drunken trips to the ATM. Also, Rally's advice on blackjack is spot on. Always make sure you're at a 3-2 table.

Two best buffets I've eaten are the Bellagio's (pricey but really quality food) and the Spice Market Buffet in Planet Hollywood, which has a ton of cuisine choices.

Have a great time, FP. I love Vegas. Would go every year if I could.

[FatPitcher]

Thanks for all the info - keep it coming!

I'm definitely not there for romance! My female roommate has a girlfriend, in fact. Yeah.

Las Vegas does remind me of the stereotypical rich guy with more money than taste. But he throws a hell of a party.

[lexbur]

If played properly, craps has the best odds of any table game. Your odds bet on the pass line or come bet in craps has NO house advantage. That's why you see all those billboards advertising "100X odds", which means for every dollar you put on the pass line you can put up to $100 odds behind it.

If you've never played it's not as complicated as it looks, plus most casinos have seminars for beginners.

Just remember that all the bets in the middle of the table, with all the fancy slang names, are sucker bets.

And one more thing for blackjack, it's better to play in a casino where the house stays on all 17s. In some casinos the house hits a soft 17. Very slight difference odds-wise, but hey, every little bit helps.

[WPatrick]

My wife and I stayed at the Venetian 2 years ago. We loved it. The hotel has multiple resturants, shops, entertainment. The Venetian is like being on a cruise ship, you really never have to leave.

As far as the best gambling, I can't say my wife is the gambler.

I spent much of my time in the sports betting room at The Venetian. It was like sitting in the control room at NASA watching sports........ awesome.

Can't say I liked Vegas though it was sleazy and everything was super expensive.

[JackB1]

My wife and I stayed at the Venetian 2 years ago. We loved it. The hotel has multiple resturants, shops, entertainment. The Venetian is like being on a cruise ship, you really never have to leave.

As far as the best gambling, I can't say my wife is the gambler.

I spent much of my time in the sports betting room at The Venetian. It was like sitting in the control room at NASA watching sports........ awesome.

Can't say I liked Vegas though it was sleazy and everything was super expensive.

^^^^^^^^

Agree! We stayed at the Venetian too and it was probably one of the nicest hotels I have ever stayed at ever. Just beautiful and not too over the top.
The food there was great and you are right....it does feel like being on a cruise ship. You can even take a gondola ride in the canal and make believe
you are in Italy

[Brando70]

If played properly, craps has the best odds of any table game. Your odds bet on the pass line or come bet in craps has NO house advantage. That's why you see all those billboards advertising "100X odds", which means for every dollar you put on the pass line you can put up to $100 odds behind it.

If you've never played it's not as complicated as it looks, plus most casinos have seminars for beginners.

Just remember that all the bets in the middle of the table, with all the fancy slang names, are sucker bets.

Craps is also the most fun you can have at a casino. When someone's on a heater and you have a full table, it's like being on a team. And if you follow Lex's advice and stick with the simple bets while taking odds, you're about even for winning money. I'd start by just betting the pass line and taking the odds -- you risk less money while you learn the game, you can play longer, and you still are getting a good return on your bet. When you get a handle on that, you can add a come bet or two.

[XXXIV]

I like the Mirage a lot: good location, great poker room, and the rooms are nice.
Two best buffets I've eaten are the Bellagio's (pricey but really quality food) and the Spice Market Buffet in Planet Hollywood, which has a ton of cuisine choices.

Have a great time, FP. I love Vegas. Would go every year if I could.

I havent been there in a few years now but I was going once a year for a decade before that. The Mirage was my favorite for its location and became the regular. You had the tram to Treasure Island on your left, the walkway ( do they still have that? Someone told me it was gone) up to Caesars on your right, the Imperial Place and later the Venetian across the Street. The breakfast buffet at Mirage was awesome. The place had fantastic atmosphere. Back in the 90s you could see Sigfried and Roy's white tigers on your way out toward Caesars.

The Bellagio's dinner buffet was my favorite. Was worth every cent. Used to go nuts on the Alaskan King Crab. They still have that?

I played mostly poker to keep myself from going broke. My first trip I lost my ass on the first day playing roulette. Rookie mistake! I was 22 and even dumber than I am now.
Craps are your best odds against the house if like Brando and Lex said you play the odds. As Brando said, it is the place to be. It is where most of the screaming in the casino is coming from... but be careful if the dice are cold. Its been a while since I looked but there are how to videos on youtube.

The hotels look like they are next to each other but they are on giant lots and three hotels down is much farther away than it appears. Its the dessert. I went in june on my first trip. We were going to walk from the Stardust(gone but not forgotten) to Caesars and to check out the then first of the "new hotels", the Mirage. I remember saying "water water".

This thread reminds me of how much I miss going. Have a great time!