The Vegas Guide Thread (tips & tricks)

[Deftones]

Originally posted by MJKTool
I would say the Palms was one of my least favorites.* Its just way to small compared to the rest. After walking not really long each one us had the "thats it?" feeling.

*My hatred towards the Kings does not cloud my judgement on this hotel

I went there and I'd agree. It was crowded and the casino was layed out poorly. There was a ton of eye candy, though.

[MJKTool]

Originally posted by Deftones
I went there and I'd agree. It was crowded and the casino was layed out poorly. There was a ton of eye candy, though.

Yeah, to give them credit a little bit they did have some pretty hot waitresses when I went! But even looking at the tits and ass of a waitress only lasts you so long.

[Sdallnct]

Originally posted by Deftones
how did you get RT from PHX to LV for $58?

My parents just bought tix for the family for a trip at the end of september and they were $130.

I'm going the weekend after also, so if I can find $58 tix, tjat would be great!

Sign up for SWA's net only fares and/or check their net only prices at their web site ever week.

And don't forget when you book on line you get double credit for you frequent travel card.....

[El Scorcho]

These two sites need to be added to the list:

http://www.billhere.com -- Free Las Vegas coupons (match plays, 2-for-1s, attractions, etc.) from most of the major casinos in Las Vegas

http://www.lasvegasadvisor.com/greatdeals-funbooks.cfm -- Funbook Rating Guide -- Ratings of all the Fun Books that you can get from the various casinos

And this damn thread really needs to be a bolded announcement. Flashing perhaps.

[Sdallnct]

Originally posted by El Scorcho
These two sites need to be added to the list:

http://www.billhere.com -- Free Las Vegas coupons (match plays, 2-for-1s, attractions, etc.) from most of the major casinos in Las Vegas

http://www.lasvegasadvisor.com/greatdeals-funbooks.cfm -- Funbook Rating Guide -- Ratings of all the Fun Books that you can get from the various casinos

And this damn thread really needs to be a bolded announcement. Flashing perhaps.

Have used billhere several time. HIGHLY recommended. There is a small handling charge to get the stuff, but very worth while. And while I always get what I order, they also throw in several extras.

[nevermind]

Originally posted by Sdallnct
Sign up for SWA's net only fares and/or check their net only prices at their web site ever week.

No kidding. Last week I scored two non-stop RT tickets (during Thanksgiving week, mind you) from Chicago to Ft. Lauderdale for $252, all taxes & fees included.

That's for both tickets. I can't even fly to St. Louis that cheap!

I'm a happy guy .

[nevermind]

Originally posted by El Scorcho

http://www.billhere.com -- Free Las Vegas coupons (match plays, 2-for-1s, attractions, etc.) from most of the major casinos in Las Vegas

I recommend them as well .

I pay them the $5 for the 5 or so Vegas magazines so I can read up on what's going on before I go.

[spankyj]

So as a cheap bastard, should I order one of the coupons for the Flamingo "Bottoms Up" show, or just try and find a What's On magazine at the airport when I arrive? I hear that mag will have the coupon in it as well.

As an addition to the web links - I suggest www.goingtovegas.com . Its a good comprehensive site aimed at first timers.

[El Scorcho]

I'd order as many coupons as you can in advance. Get some peace of mind before you even step on the plane. You never know if the airport will have them, or if you can find them in the first place. Plus you can enjoy Vegas and spend less time running around to find coupons.

By the way, get as many Match Play coupons as you can -- these are the only bets in the house that are definitely to your advantage (other than the card counting thing). Put down $10 and a match play coupon on a blackjack table, win the hand, and get $20. Or do it on a craps table. Or a roulette wheel... It's always best to bet the maximum amount allowed by the Match Play coupon. I believe some of them go up to $25.

[heimerSWT]

I got back from my Vegas trip on Sunday night. Luxor for 2 nights, then Treasure Island for 3 nights. Since it was also a road trip, we stayed at a few motels on the drive back, including two days at the Grand Canyon.

Luxor was nice and comfortable. I have stayed there before, and I was given the same great service and quality as the first time. Pyramid rooms on each occasion, but this time we didn't get a view of the hotel below because we were so high up--29th floor (I think there were only one or two more floors above us). Outside of our room, there was just a wall with murals painted on it.

Ate at the Luxor buffet on Sunday for lunch, and was extremely disappointed. Poor selection, and poor quality for what was available.

Since we had a car, we made several trips up and down the strip. I visited the far side of the north part of the strip for the first time. Previously, I had only been as far as Treasure Island.

Visited Rio and the Palms. The Rio was really nice, I was very impressed. We had VIP entry into Bikini's. Saved ourselves a crapload in cover--and a wait in line--because we were friends of a friend. The club was okay, I guess, but I am not really into that scene. Every single one of the girls that gave the body shots, and danced on the platforms, were do-able.

The Palms was nothing spectacular. I thought it was laid out kind of weird, and I didn't have any luck with the slots. Of course I didn't play much, but my expectations were severely lowered when I got nowhere with $20. Definitely a small place.

I had the best times at Slots A Fun. I hadn't ever really played a table game before, and I had a blast playing the $1 Blackjack. It was amazing how long a person could play with a $20 bill.

Had dinner at the Flamingo buffet. I hadn't really heard anyone recommend it in the past, but for the price (~$15) it was great.

Went to the Stratosphere, and spent about an hour waiting for sunset to come while walking in around in circles. I was thought it sucked that you coudn't go outside unless you paid for a ride (keep reading). I took about 30 pictures of mountains, downtown, and the strip before we decided to head towards the exit. I must have passed the sign at least 5 times, but it wasn't until it was already dark that I found the stairway to the outside observation deck. Hey...we were tired!

Went to Fremont street, watched the show. Pretty cool, I guess. The dude that paints with spray paint was more impressive--although I am not sure I would want to hang any of his art on my walls.

Fitzgeralds had an outdoor bar right by the entrance that sold several different kinds and sizes of booze. I purchased a "Football" full of Bud Light at 54oz for $7. A refill was only $4. This gimmick actually brought us back a couple of days later for a refill. Unfortunately, I forgot my Football, so I just bought another one and had it filled with Crown and Coke for $10 (he poured about 6 shots worth of Crown in the thing). I was good for the evening.

Ate at the Stratosphere breakfast buffet. We were the first ones there at 6am. It was good, for breakfast.

Treasure Island was really nice. In the past, I had heard that it wasn't that great. But it was fine by me (especially for the $49 rate I was getting!). Easy access to parking, elevators, and the casino was good. The biggest downside was the pool (it was small), and the Pirate show was under construction for the new show that won't open until October.

All in all, I had a great time. I didn't come out a big winner, but I didn't lose too much. I f

Planning on going back near the end of January. Is this a good or bad time to visit?

[DodgingCars]

I just stayed at the Riviera. My uncle works there and I got a suite comped -- It was nice. My suite was on the 25th floor in the Monte Carlo tower. We had a balcony overlooking the pool and looking south towards the strip.

The thing I like about the Riviera is: Not too crowded -- you can find cheaper ($5) tables without a problem, plus its down the street from the Sahara if you want to mess around on $1-3 tables... for practice/fun.

They have a food court! One of the few (only) hotels that does: Burger King, Panda Express, La Salsa, Pizza Hut, etc. all downstairs from your room.

They have an arcade! It's not great, but at least they have one.

The rooms were pretty nice and we had a good experience with dealers, etc. there.

Things that suck: Location -- not only is it at the far north end of the strip with nothing really exciting around it -- but near it (Slots of Fun, Circus Circus) is like the Compton of the Vegas strip. Gangsters and white trash galore.

Entertainment. There is nothing really at the hotel worth going to (IMO).

[heimerSWT]

Originally posted by DodgingCars
Things that suck: Location -- not only is it at the far north end of the strip with nothing really exciting around it -- but near it (Slots of Fun, Circus Circus) is like the Compton of the Vegas strip. Gangsters and white trash galore.

Circus Circus was dirty as hell, and smelled even worse (especially the parking garage).

But Slots A Fun... that is what made it so great! The dealers were the best part--they were either really cool and friendly, or mentally (and sometimes physically) handicapped. You never know what dealer...you would be dealt.

I actually had a lot of fun because there were other young people who were there for the same reason: cheap fun. Plus, you didn't have to worry about pretentious high rollers who would get pissed at you for looking at them funny.

[SpaceBoy]

Just got back from Vegas on Mon. We had a group of like 11 and stayed at Ballys, because we didn't' care where we stayed, and it was cheapest, w the best location (directly across from bellagio, and shares amenities with Paris)

My Notes for what it's worth..

Hotel: Ballys

The rooms were very adequate, and were fairly large. They were very clean, and more then enough in my opinion, since we never were in the room. The location is centrally located and easy to navigate up and down the strip from. The sports book was so-so, and the gaming tables were fairly easily accessible throughout the day and night. (didn't gamble there much really)

I really can' t recommend the Bally's lunch buffet enough. I've eaten all the buffets pretty much Bellegio, MGM etc. and would say this measures up to those pretty nicely and only $12.95. So you can get a pretty nice cheap buffet. It had steak tips, crab legs etc.

Show: Show Girls of Magic

Also, not sure if this has been mentioned but right next to the M&M store is a half price tickets place. They receive all the extra tickets the day of the show, and don't publish or let you know what they have without stopping by. We all went the Showgirls of Magic, which I highly recommend. It was the 1st time I went and didn't see one of the big vegas shows i.e.. Mystere, O and say I was very impressed and entertained.

The Showgirls of Magic it's called, costs 38.95 regular I believe, and comes with 2 free drink coupons, which you can use during the show on mixed drinks, imports whatever.

The show consists of variously scantily clag women doing magic to music. Also throughout the show are comedic sketches with audience participation numerous times. Very great show, and the girls we were with had a great time with it too, so it's not a male only show. We got our tickets at that half price place, so they were like 23 bucks, but we all agreed it would have easily been worth the full cover charge.

High Points:

- Showgirls of Magic
- Old Vegas - I had never been, and must admit I had just as much there as I do on the strip. I wouldn't recommend it for gambling unless you play slots, which I don't. But the entertainment of the canopy, and the super cheap drinks make up for it. It's not to crowded where it's an annoyance to navigate and a great way to spend at least 1 evening off a trip.
- Good luck

Nobody in my party lost it all, and several came back ahead, or with the same as when they left, even after paying for their hotel, show, meals etc. Overall an excellent time and looking forward to my next trip at Super Bowl.

[DodgingCars]

Originally posted by heimerSWT
I actually had a lot of fun because there were other young people who were there for the same reason: cheap fun. Plus, you didn't have to worry about pretentious high rollers who would get pissed at you for looking at them funny.

Might depend on the day. When we were there, it was almost scary... and I've lived in some not-so-nice neighborhoods. I saw a sea of doo-rags and red necks.

[Otto]

Originally posted by El Scorcho
By the way, get as many Match Play coupons as you can -- these are the only bets in the house that are definitely to your advantage (other than the card counting thing). Put down $10 and a match play coupon on a blackjack table, win the hand, and get $20. Or do it on a craps table. Or a roulette wheel... It's always best to bet the maximum amount allowed by the Match Play coupon. I believe some of them go up to $25.

Damn right. Match play coupons are also one of the few ways to get a guaranteed win.

If you happen to have a friend and a couple of equal denomination match play coupons, go by the craps table. One of you uses the coupon and the bet for it on the Pass Line, the other uses his coupon and the bet on the Don't Pass line. Then place a dollar bet on the 12.
-If the 7 or 11 comes up, you win the pass bet at double the money, lose the don't pass and the 12. Say you used a couple of $25 coupons, this puts you up $24.
-If the 2 or the 3 comes up, same deal, reversed bets. Still up $24.
-If it's a point roll, same deal after he craps or makes the point eventually. Still up $24.
-If the 12 comes up, you lose the pass bet, win $30 on the 12, and the don't pass is a push. This puts you up $4 and you still have one of the coupons. This is also the worst case scenario, and getting the 12 isn't likely.

This type of bet means that every match play coupon is worth almost half it's face value, at minimum.


BTW, anyone know the best way to search for airline tickets to Vegas? I can't seem to find any good deals through the usual services. Any easy way to know when the best time to book is?

[El Scorcho]

Originally posted by Otto


BTW, anyone know the best way to search for airline tickets to Vegas? I can't seem to find any good deals through the usual services. Any easy way to know when the best time to book is?

I've always found the best time to book is about 30-45 days before the trip. Prices seem to start out slightly high if it's 45+ days out, then they drop around the 14-45 day range, then go back up as the flight fills up closer to the 0-14 day range.

I would also recommend searching the typical vacation package sites (swavacations.com treated us well). My mother and I got two flights and 3 nights at MGM Grand for $510. Normally, our flights are $200 each. So three nights at MGM grand cost us $110 instead of $69/night.

I like using qixo.com, travelaxe.com, orbitz.com, expedia.com, and hell, any other search engine I can find. It's amazing how many hours I'll spend researching airfare just to save $15.

[Red Dog]

Originally posted by Otto


BTW, anyone know the best way to search for airline tickets to Vegas? I can't seem to find any good deals through the usual services. Any easy way to know when the best time to book is?

I booked about 2 weeks ago for a RT from DC for mid-September. $200 RT.

It is pretty random. Just keep checking everyday and when you see what you think is a good fare, jump on it.

[spankyj]

I'd say sign up for all the email specials. That's how we got our RT from Tampa to LV for $200. As a bonus, it's a non-stop!

I went ahead and spent $9 at Billhere. Thanks for pointing that site out, it'll save me the hassle of trying to find the coupons at the airport.

A pair of dice is worth more than 2 pair in the bush, right? Or something like that.....

[PerpleNerple]

I glad I noticed this thread, I'm going to Mandalay Bay in Sept. for a 5 day Bachelor Party. I'll have to do some reading up on this thread so I'm up to par on things to do there.

[SpaceBoy]

Anybody every been to vegas during superbowl? Just at the looks of things everything is jacked up, but wanted to check to make sure airfare is also higher than normal? Typically costs me around 220 RT american, right now, only seeing about 350 or so.. I'm thinking this is a decent price for then, but wondered if anybody had 1st hand knowledge.

[Red Dog]

Originally posted by SpaceBoy
Anybody every been to vegas during superbowl? Just at the looks of things everything is jacked up, but wanted to check to make sure airfare is also higher than normal? Typically costs me around 220 RT american, right now, only seeing about 350 or so.. I'm thinking this is a decent price for then, but wondered if anybody had 1st hand knowledge.

6 months is too far in advance to find a decent fare. You might as well wait - I can't imagine that it can get any worse than $350.

[SpaceBoy]

Originally posted by Red Dog
6 months is too far in advance to find a decent fare. You might as well wait - I can't imagine that it can get any worse than $350.

I wouldn't think so either, but it's superbowl weekend, so figured it could possibly sell out most flights. Also just got back from vegas and the cheapest fare I could find w direct flights and decent times was 300+ this time, my friends had the same problem in august leaving out of chicago..

Last year I was having no problems finding 220, not sure if it's just me being unlucky this year or what the story is..

[Otto]

Yeah, I'm looking for a flight in mid November, and I can't find much under $380. I'll wait a while and see if it goes down any.

[JACWOOD]

OK GUYS AND GALS GOING TO VEGAS 21ST THROUGH 25TH
dont care much about the pools gamble very little going to see the sites of the strip and few other places between the two (or others if you prefer )paris or TI would you stay we are flying in and not renting a car which brings me to another question best way to get to hotel

thanks for any help and opinion

[El Scorcho]

Here's a good article I came across:

Vegas casinos looking beyond cards and slots
08:13 AM PDT on Monday, September 8, 2003
Associated Press

LAS VEGAS – Brad Stone walks along the shiny marble floors of the Venetian hotel-casino's new $275 million tower smiling. He brags about the spacious rooms that average $200 a night and the planned upscale restaurant that will draw refined palates and thick wallets.

The executive vice president of the Las Vegas Sands, which owns the Venetian, is talking about profit margins, hardly mentioning table games and slot machines.

In fact, visitors to the new hotel tower can commit what was once considered a cardinal sin in Sin City – they can check into the gleaming tower without ever passing through the casino.

This is the retooled Las Vegas, one in which casinos that rely purely on gamblers to generate the majority of their profits are dwindling. The new business paradigm focuses on hotel rooms, food, beverage and entertainment.

"You are seeing a shift," Stone said. "This town has reinvented itself. You can come here and not gamble and have a great time."

During the past decade revenues for major casino companies have been moving slowly from gambling to nongambling sources, evidence that Las Vegas is evolving into a bona fide tourist destination – a sort of Disneyworld with vices.

Major gambling companies compete in trying to open the hottest nightclubs and lure the finest chefs to run upscale eateries. They seek headliners such as Celine Dion or the latest Cirque du Soleil production to fill theaters.

"We have diversified within the travel and tourism business," said Keith Schwer, a professor of economics at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. "We have a portfolio of things to offer people coming here other than gambling."

The revenue evolution has been gradual but definitive, Nevada Gaming Control Board data shows.

In 1992, 61 percent of the revenues generated from casinos in Nevada came from gambling. Last year, that figure was 51.5 percent.

The trend is even more pronounced on the Las Vegas Strip, where last year casinos reported only 43 percent of almost $9 billion in revenue came from gamblers. Ten years ago the figure was 56.7 percent.

The MRC Group Research Institute found in a recent survey that the primary reason for visiting Las Vegas is entertainment. Only 17 percent of the visitors surveyed said they intended to gamble.

The top activities were sightseeing, pool lounging and shopping.

"It's the evolution of gambling," MRC chief executive Jim Medick said. "It now opens up to a much broader market."

The Venetian and other gambling corporations are pouring their money into the lucrative, luxury all-suite rooms that seasoned business travelers demand.

"You now have this incredible new revenue sources and you now have these incredible new rooms," Medick said. "You're able to capture the business traveler and the conventioneers."

Las Vegas is the No. 1 convention city in the country. In 2002, 14.6 percent of the all visitors to Las Vegas were conventioneers.

Casino companies, such as Park Place Entertainment, MGM Mirage and Mandalay Resort Group have diversified their business plans to cater to all types of visitors, not just gamblers.

The three companies control about 75 percent of the hotel rooms on the Strip and intend to extend their dominance without acquiring more properties.

The Venetian, with its 1,013-room, 12-story tower named the Venezia, has helped lead the way in showing competitors that the money is in hotel rooms. Stone said the Venezia's all-suite rooms boast 70 percent profit margins.

The Mandalay Bay hotel-casino is building a $225 million hotel tower with 1,125 rooms that's scheduled to open later this year. The Mandalay Bay hotel's average room rate topped $200 in the first quarter of this year, its highest-ever quarterly mark.

The Bellagio hotel-casino, which is owned by MGM Mirage, also is expanding, adding a $375 million, 925-room, tower slated to open next year.

Caesars Palace is considering a 1,000-room tower that could cost $350 million.

Wally Barr, president and chief executive officer at Park Place Entertainment, said the tower makes sense given the changes in Las Vegas and customer expectations.

Barr said Las Vegas had to offer more in the way of restaurants and shows because of the proliferation of casinos. The city needed a new sales pitch.

"Vegas had to have all the trimmings," Barr said.

Marc Falcone, a gambling analyst with Deutsche Bank in New York City, said charging for rooms carries the highest gross profit and broadens the demographic of visitors.

"The gaming revenue is flat, which parallels visitor volume growth, but spending in the nongaming area continues to grow, which is a good thing," said Frank Streshley, a senior analyst with the Gaming Control Board.

Still, not all the casino giants have embraced the move toward nongambling revenue. Harrah's Entertainment, for one, says it hasn't strayed from its original mission.

Harrah's spokesman Gary Thompson said 89 percent of his company's revenues last year came from gambling. On any given day during the week, Thompson said, more than half of Harrah's rooms are complimentary, attracting visitors who come to gamble with the lure of a free room.

"The great attractions of Las Vegas are the must-see amenities that our competitors have built," Thompson said. "We have opted to build strong relationships with players instead of building billion-dollar edifices."

Harrah's business strategy isn't about to change.

"We are the most profitable casino company in the world," he said. "It does work."