The Vegas Guide Thread (tips & tricks)

[Red Dog]

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

That's true. 2 words: Olympic Garden.


T-minus 11 days.

[El Scorcho]

I'm t-minus 6 days from Reno. Jeaah, kicking it ghetto-style. 3 months, 11 days til Vegas.

[Deftones]

I'll be in vegas from Sept 26-28 and from October 3-5. Beat that bitches!

[innocentfreak]

I apologize if this has been covered but I didn't see it. I am looking for the hotel with the best clubs and bars that also has good if not great food. We have run into a dilemma for our trip this month. We usually stay at MGM because they used to treat us right and they have some good restaurants and we love Studio 54 and we were looking forward to checking out Taboo. Well MGM or any of the other owned properties apparently are no longing counting odds for craps players towards comps so we are looking for a new hotel. We are already staying at the Palms for the first 3 days and we are looking for something for the last 4 days.

I realize you shouldn't play for comps but at the same time the best comparison I can think is if they started comping based off the minimum on a slot machine and not what you are actually betting. The last time one of the hotels counted this way it cut our average calculated bet in half even though we were betting the same.

[Red Dog]

Originally posted by innocentfreak
I apologize if this has been covered but I didn't see it. I am looking for the hotel with the best clubs and bars that also has good if not great food. We have run into a dilemma for our trip this month. We usually stay at MGM because they used to treat us right and they have some good restaurants and we love Studio 54 and we were looking forward to checking out Taboo. Well MGM or any of the other owned properties apparently are no longing counting odds for craps players towards comps so we are looking for a new hotel. We are already staying at the Palms for the first 3 days and we are looking for something for the last 4 days.

Mandalay Bay might be what you're looking for. They have Rum Jungle and House of Blues. I have never eaten at any of the restaurants there, but I figure they must be pretty decent given MB's reputation.

[El Scorcho]

Eh, why not. A Reno trip report.

If you're strictly into gambling and not doing much else, I suggest going to Reno instead of Vegas. A lot less crowded, machines are looser, drinks are stronger, etc. However, it's pretty damn depressing, as there is a ton of white trash in that town. Seriously, a decent looking attractive person is rare.

I went there a couple of weeks ago, stayed at the Circus Circus for free, and gambled the whole time. After blowing my whole bankroll on night 1, I pulled out some emergency money.

So I hopped on a nickel video poker machine and was playing max credits (20 nickels, $1). Fifth hand I get dealt four deuces. $200 score right there. So I said I'd play it down to $200 and cash out. Four hands later I get four deuces again for another $200. $400 in about 10 hands.

An hour later we went to this hole-in-the-wall called The Nugget. This place was ghetto fabulous. Out of sheer boredom I sat at the only $1 slot they had -- a wheel of fortune machine. Second pull of the slot I get the spin icon on the 3rd reel. So I spin the wheel and sure enough it lands on $400. I've never hit one of these stupid machines, as it always lands on $20 or $30.

So yeah, a $800 turnaround in about one hour. I left the city down a couple hundred for the whole vacation.

Reno's a great gambling town but not much else. In fact, there is nothing else. It's great for mini-trips though, as you can fly there for cheap on the west coast, the rooms are cheap, and they're more generous with comps.

[Red Dog]

Originally posted by Red Dog
Mandalay Bay might be what you're looking for. They have Rum Jungle and House of Blues. I have never eaten at any of the restaurants there, but I figure they must be pretty decent given MB's reputation.

Oh let me amend this since I was just there a couple weeks ago. We ate at Charlie Palmer in the Four Seasons (which is inside the Mandalay Bay). Very nice restaurant. A definite recommend, particularly if you are a fan of steak.

[edytwinky]

Nice thread! I was watching the Discover or Learning channel and they mentioned some website that shows the best coupons and deals to get in Vegas, did anybody else catch that?

Other than that, it's OFFICIAL! Heading to Vegas for the second time on December 22nd!

[namja]

Anyone have anything to add to this? Thinking about going sometime in the next 2 weeks. Thanks.

[El Scorcho]

I don't have anything to add. My trip got cancelled and I haven't been since May.

[J-Dubya]

Going in february, will play much poker, drink many long islands and maybe club a bit

[Judge Smails]

Got back a week ago. Lots of single-deck blackjack tables with empty seats, and I couldn't get close to the $10 multi-deck tables, packed 24-7.
When I was there Jaguars (or Cheetahs) lost their liquor license, don't know if they got it back yet. kinda funny that it was the lead story on the local news.
oh yeah, aladdin buffet but i'm sure the new owners will screw it up.

[Red Dog]

Originally posted by Judge Smails

When I was there Jaguars (or Cheetahs) lost their liquor license, don't know if they got it back yet. kinda funny that it was the lead story on the local news.

Actually, I heard they both did.

[Sdallnct]

I've been getting some good deal e-mails lately. Mainly for January/February. I got 3 in about 2 weeks from Treasure Island.

Temping, but with my ski trip coming up at the end of January, going to have to pass for now.

Going to Vegas on a regular basis is going to me one of the things I miss when I move from Phoenix. Not moving till June tho, so hopefully enough time to squeeze in a trip or TWO...

[bfrank]

Goint on 1/5/04 for 8 days. Its the Consumer Electronics Show and I have to work but still its Vegas

[namja]

Originally posted by bfrank
Goint on 1/5/04 for 8 days. Its the Consumer Electronics Show and I have to work but still its Vegas

Hey, I'll be at CES too. I'm "working" for Epson that week.

[El Scorcho]

Two interesting things today:

1) It snowed on the strip last night
2) A No-Fly Zone has been implemented over the strip during the New Years/NYE holiday.

[griz]

Originally posted by El Scorcho


2) A No-Fly Zone has been implemented over the strip during the New Years/NYE holiday.

Wow, that is interesting.
Especially since that's one of the flightpaths into the airport.
Wonder how that's going to affect flights.
My last flight in September was on that flightpath.

[Red Dog]

Originally posted by griz
Wow, that is interesting.
Especially since that's one of the flightpaths into the airport.
Wonder how that's going to affect flights.
My last flight in September was on that flightpath.

Really? I've flown to Vegas 6 times and never flown over the Strip.

[succubiss]

Originally posted by El Scorcho
An hour later we went to this hole-in-the-wall called The Nugget. This place was ghetto fabulous.

during snowboarding season we usually drive up to reno from the bay are every other weekend. The Nugget has the Awful-Awful 1/2 lb burger and a basket of fries that 2 people can't finish for $4. free well drinks if you sit at a nickel machine and gamble a dollar.

I've been playing at circus circus for about a year now, just wondering what it takes to get comped for a room? I don't mind paying $20-30, but it would be nice. Last time, we stayed at golden phoenix on a saturday night for $28 on a manager's special.

[El Scorcho]

Originally posted by succubiss
during snowboarding season we usually drive up to reno from the bay are every other weekend. The Nugget has the Awful-Awful 1/2 lb burger and a basket of fries that 2 people can't finish for $4. free well drinks if you sit at a nickel machine and gamble a dollar.

I've been playing at circus circus for about a year now, just wondering what it takes to get comped for a room? I don't mind paying $20-30, but it would be nice. Last time, we stayed at golden phoenix on a saturday night for $28 on a manager's special.

That crappy little food joint in the back of the casino owns. Those are some seriously badass garlic fries that they got back there. I've been craving them since I left there. Too bad I'm not going to Reno again until Aug/Sept!

I actually cleaned house at that casino. $450 on that dollar machine, $50 on another nickel machine, hell, even $100 on a penny machine. Got me back in the game as far as my bankroll was concerned.

I got comped at Circus Circus mainly because my aunt is buddy-buddy with the guy who runs the keno area. I played enough to get comped $35 worth of food, and that was on a $700 bankroll, of which I only burnt about $300 at Circus Circus.

[ILikeDVD]

Can you guys help me find a room tommorow night? I found some through Travelaxe.com like Texas Station and a La Quinta Inn but its like 10 miles from the strip. Whoa, Riviera just popped up at $156.80. Please can you help me out? I need non smoking, 2 beds. Thanks.

[damn_skippy]

make sure you guys bring your snowchains just to be safe.



When I flew to Vegas in July we never passed directly over the strip. The strip passed us on the left side of the plane then it circled around.

[El Scorcho]

Finding a room on the strip will be next to impossible. If you have the room for the Riviera available, BOOK IT.

[bfrank]

Originally posted by namja
Hey, I'll be at CES too. I'm "working" for Epson that week.

Talking about meeting Geoff. we should try and have a beer!