Vegas '07 Thread

5starpool

Ok, because I made the snap decision that I am going to go to Vegas for the WSOP this year whether I can really afford it or not, I am starting this thread with a few aims.

1. To find out who else is going then.
2. To find out if anyone has any good flight options.
3. To find out where is the best place to stay, and the best way to book it, and does anyone fancy splitting the cost?

I have found a few flights around the ~€670 mark, including Virgin Atlantic but that would involve the extra expense of a ryanair flight, and possibly an overnight stay in or around Gatwick. The cheapest so far seems to be KLM, but that would involve 2 stopovers and a total journey of around 20 hours.

Does anyone have any firm plans yet now that the dates for the events have been released or is it too early for everyone? I know a few people are planning to go to Australia for a few months this year, and others are there already, so I am not sure what the advance response rate will be.

Others are probably waiting to see if they can qualify before they try and plan anything and I would do that as well only for I know that I wouldn't try very hard unless there was a reason to and I would end up not going - again.

So come on, lets be having you.............

Iago

I really want to go this year, but I'm having trouble convincing myself that it's a logical idea (bar qualifying online prior to the event) because I know that if I go over without qualifying I will want to play in the main event anyway and will somehow contrive to pay into it directly which is something I definitely cannot afford to do.

I'm sans internet at the moment and I'm hoping that by the end of the month I'll have a broadband connection sorted at which point I'm going to try to win enough to pay for the trip and with a bit of luck win a ticket online. It'll probably be April before I know for sure if I can go.

Not much help I know, but I'd say there are more in the same boat as me than not...so I haven't looked into flight or accomodation options as of yet.

TrueDub

When I went in December I flew through Newark with Continental. The flights are fine and the stopovers not too bad. Worth checking out along with Delta.

Shortstack

I will be there for the Main Event, probably arrive on the 3rd.

Flying from Dublin to LA direct with Aer Lingus and a short hop on one of the many budget flights to Vegas unless I have a great few months in which case it will be London then MAxxJet business class direct to Vegas

When booking flights note the cheapest flights usually have long waits between connections, if you want max enjoyment when you get there it is worth paying a bit extra for a quicker overalll trip. Avoid Continental like the plague the planes are not much bigger than Ryanair's!

If you want to save money on hotels try the Gold Coast, not the flashiest hotel in the world but cheap and right next to the Rio. The Palms is nice and also very near the Rio. Most strip hotels a $10-$15 cab ride from the Rio.

If it is your first time make sure you schedule in the Helicopter trip to the Canyon. Dont pay the full price for it though, most agents on the strip can knock up to 20$ off. Not cheap but worth it for a once in the lifetime experience. $319 per person with Sundance is what we paid last year.

Norwich Fan Rob

i will be there for about 3 weeks.

sikes

i should be there around 4 days before the ME. will try to qualify before online, if not i will give the mega sats a go.

As for where to stay, I stayed in the Stratosphere last year, the cheapest decent hotel, $33 a night for the room. Its in no mans land between the strip and downtown LV. About a 60 minute walk to the RIO, so avoid it!

Iago

Currently €782 to fly with Aer Lingus to LA, leaving at the end of June/coming back mid-late july, add another €200-€250 max for an internal flight.

Gold Coast is working out at an average of €65 a night for accomodation during that period.


From the lads who have been there before, what's a good amount of money to bring so that you can be involved in games and not feel under pressure for the duration?

kmick

Where abouts do you quailify for this.
What is involved in qualifying?

5starpool

Is it better to stay near the Rio than on the strip locationwise? I'd have assumed it was the other way around. I was only in Vegas for 2 days before my poker days so no real relevant experience in that area.

Marq

This isn't really relevant, but I love this map.

DeadParrot

Yikes!!!

shoutman

lol

cardshark202

I think staying more central around the bellagio/mirage/caesers/flamingo area is best. You're close enough to everywhere, especially the bellagio buffet. Thats where I plan on staying this year anyway.

ocallagh

Have no idea where to stay this year... I'm going for a shorter stay this year (1 month was way too long!) but am going to spend a bit more. Up towards New York New York had a nicer feel to it. Not as many bums and hookers... but it is a bit far away from everything. I don't think I could step inside the Flamingo again after close to 3 weeks there last year. That leaves Caesars/Mirage/Venetian/Bellagio/Paris. I think I'll book a room for 10 days in one of the cheaper of the 4 above.. If I go far in the main event (assuming I play it) I will extend my stay an extra week and book into the Rio which empties out a bit towards the end of the main event and was very good value last year.

Thinking of escaping Vegas for one of the weekends I'm over there. A break is always good, and also the hotels are 5 times the price on the weekend. So maybe a weeend trip to San Fran or something? Would anyone else be interested?

MickL

my plan is almost similiar to yours nial but i plan on renting a car in new york and driving down to vegas!!!!

Tom Hanlon

Definitely going this year. Does anyone know where there is a full schedule of events. I want to play in the big PLO but can only make it to Vegas around
27/6.

Shortstack, have you priced the maxijet flight?

Thanks,

Tom

nicnicnic

Tom Hanlon wrote:

Definitely going this year. Does anyone know where there is a full schedule of events.

Thanks,

Tom

here you go

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055038744&referrerid=&highlight=

robinlacey

i'll be there for the main event and probably a week or two either side of it...

i'm planning on staying in the rio so that i can have a nap on the dinner break from the main event-i'd advise anyone else playing it to do the same,last year i was in the mgm so i had to just hang around exhausted during the break...

hopefully i'll remember the tea this time around

MrPillowTalk

The Rio is the best option really the hotel rooms where the nicest I saw in Vegas and realistically thats where you end up doing most of the boozing, even though it can get to be mind numbing after a while. The Palms is lovely as well and only accross the road.

Dont mind Lacey everyone in the Gold Coast needs to be carbon dated to identify their age.

Aerlingus to LA or Virgin direct are the only flight options Ill be entertaining after experiencing the nightmare that is changing at Chicago OHare.

The Flamingo is a dump and you get harrassed by hookers 24/7, but then again depends what your going for that might be a plus.

bohsman

I played most of my poker in Caesars last year - The Rio was chaos, so will stay somewhere around there on the strip, the shuttlebus from Ballys to the Rio is very handy. Couldnt handle staying in the Flamingo or the Rio for any length of time again.

hf4z6sqo7vjngi

Folks,

Tour America are doing a deal for 1335 inclusive of flights, hotel and satellite ticket to ME although it is only for a week if you win a ticket i am sure it will be cheaper to extend stay and change flights. Good value as sat is 200 i think. I will be over for a week hopefully 2 if i win a seat. Sold my ticket last year due to work commitments no way am i doing it this year!!

ZZR1100

MrPillowTalk wrote:

Aerlingus to LA or Virgin direct are the only flight options Ill be entertaining after experiencing the nightmare that is changing at Chicago OHare.

.

explain the nightmare. I was planning going this route. last time i changed in philly (4hr wait but the bar was nice).
stayed in san fran for 3 days and drove down through the mountains/parks/desert beautiful.
stayed in the MGM first time/Bellagio 2nd.Both top notch but a bit pricey

Ste05

Serena Nervous Scab wrote:

Folks,

Tour America are doing a deal for 1335 inclusive of flights, hotel and satellite ticket to ME although it is only for a week if you win a ticket i am sure it will be cheaper to extend stay and change flights. Good value as sat is 200 i think. I will be over for a week hopefully 2 if i win a seat. Sold my ticket last year due to work commitments no way am i doing it this year!!

Who are the flights with? What hotel is it in? This sounds like a savage offer.

I've decided I'm actually going to try and qualify this year. But will probably head over anyway.

Fatboydim

I'm planning to go this year. My plans will depend on whether or not I have the family with me. But I'd recommend Aer Lingus to LA and then hiring a car. - Might change my LA hotel this time for one without a body outside the window - Regards Car Hire - Think it cost me about 1k for an SUV for three weeks last year. That also means you can stay wherever you like. Henderson's a nice burb not too far away and the Green Valley Ranch area is more European in feel with a nice boulevard of shops and eateries.

insafehands

MickL wrote:

my plan is almost similiar to yours nial but i plan on renting a car in new york and driving down to vegas!!!!

You mean LA, right?

Rb

Ste05 wrote:

Who are the flights with? What hotel is it in? This sounds like a savage offer.

I've decided I'm actually going to try and qualify this year. But will probably head over anyway.

Aye, its a very good deal. Doubt I'll qualify (simply haven't the bankroll to be trying at the moment) but seeing as I'm 21 this year if I can organise a few to go over I might head over if I can get this deal and might play a few of the smaller events or just the side cash games.

MrPillowTalk

ZZR1100 wrote:

explain the nightmare. I was planning going this route. last time i changed in philly (4hr wait but the bar was nice).
stayed in san fran for 3 days and drove down through the mountains/parks/desert beautiful.
stayed in the MGM first time/Bellagio 2nd.Both top notch but a bit pricey

You arrive in Chicago OHare and your outbound flight to Vegas is from Chicago OHare, except you fly into the international terminal at COH and fly out of the domestic terminal which are two completely different buildings a whole train journey away from one another.

Also you are required by American Law when arriving on an international flight to collect your bags, which means when you arrive you have to que for bags then carry them on the journey to the domestic terminal then recheck them then que for security (which was about an hour long que) then run about two miles if your gate is not strategically located. Forget about it, its a nightmare.

5starpool

Circus Circis is cheap but probably too far away from everything. How about Harrahs? $106 average for 17 nights, and seems like a good location?

cooker3

rb_ie wrote:

Aye, its a very good deal. Doubt I'll qualify (simply haven't the bankroll to be trying at the moment) but seeing as I'm 21 this year if I can organise a few to go over I might head over if I can get this deal and might play a few of the smaller events or just the side cash games.

Hmmmmn so very tempting

Rb

cooker3 wrote:

Hmmmmn so very tempting

You know you want to...

phantom_lord

rb_ie wrote:

You know you want to...

I know I want to, 2 years to wait tho

bigslick

i know i will be heading over, soon 21

Imposter

Has anyone got a link to the thread from last year about where and how to book? I'll be over there for about 10 days at some stage this year (hopefully during the WSOP).

robinlacey

5starpool wrote:

Circus Circis is cheap but probably too far away from everything. How about Harrahs? $106 average for 17 nights, and seems like a good location?

i would strongly recommend not staying in circus circus,some friends of mine did and it was a nightmare

TrueDub

5starpool wrote:

Circus Circis is cheap but probably too far away from everything. How about Harrahs? $106 average for 17 nights, and seems like a good location?

Circus Circus is a complete dump - where old people go to die. Avoid like the plague, especially as it's a long way up the strip, at the wrong end.

Harrah's wouldn't be a bad shout at all, opposite the Mirage meaning it's walking distance to Bellagio/Caesars etc. AFAIK they also do a free shuttle to the Rio, as it's also a Harrah's property.

bigslick

yeah am seriously thinking about going to harrahs myself. seems like a good property and not 2 expensive. shuttle to rio is also what is tempting me

kincsem

yes - cash
no - game
yes - flight to LA
no - accomodation
yes - previous visit
yes - free time

hf4z6sqo7vjngi

Not sure of flight and hotel arrangements with tour americas offer but nonetheless it is a steal at that price. will ring them next week and post details on this thread

Rb

Serena Nervous Scab wrote:

Not sure of flight and hotel arrangements with tour americas offer but nonetheless it is a steal at that price. will ring them next week and post details on this thread

Great, cheers.

(Welcome to Boards btw)

carrigeen

i'll be going as well (and i presume a few others from galway) think i'll fly direct from gatwick this time. As for hotel usually stay in MGM but fancy a change this year , Rio was good crack on the beer last year but not sure do I want to be that close to the poker.

Shortstack

Harrahs is a grand hotel. I stayed there for a couple of nights last year thanks to Carrigeen's Texas holdem bonus play on my loyalty card at the Rio!

Location is great, smack bang in middle of strip opposite Mirage. Rooms OK. Usual ridiculous internet charges though. $10 a day I think.

5starpool

I know Virgin Atlantic are the shizzle when it comes to flying to the states, but does anyone think it is worth it if you have to spend overnight in Gatwick Airport or a nearby hotel? I don't think the 8am flight from Dub will get to Gatwick in enough time to allow for correct check in etc to an 11.25 am flight.

I know (think) Niall did this last year. Any comments? Otherwise flights will have to be via LA (don't particularly want to), with KLM (a couple of odd transfers) or via some other big US hub which will involve soul selling to get between terminals.

Hawk Eye

5starpool wrote:

I know Virgin Atlantic are the shizzle when it comes to flying to the states, but does anyone think it is worth it if you have to spend overnight in Gatwick Airport or a nearby hotel? I don't think the 8am flight from Dub will get to Gatwick in enough time to allow for correct check in etc to an 11.25 am flight.

Prices working out at £433~€655 with Virgin from 26Jun-12Jul give or take a week, does anyone know if these prices would change significantly if you say book in late May?

mewso

Hawk Eye wrote:

Prices working out at £433~€655 with Virgin from 26Jun-12Jul give or take a week, does anyone know if these prices would change significantly if you say book in late May?

Everything I checked last year which was probably march/april was costing 1k by then including the virgin flights.

Lazare

If a 22 hour journey that includes 4 missed connections, a dogbox for a plane, crap 8 month old movies on a screen that requires binoculars,and a small oriental lady that doesn't give a flyin fcuk that you've missed said 4 connections is what you're after......

FLY CONTINENTAL VIA NEWARK.

cooker3

Virgin are best airline out there by far imo. I would take them like a light if I had the chance and will if I do go.

Rb

cooker3 wrote:

Virgin are best airline out there by far imo. I would take them like a light if I had the chance and will if I do go.

You know you want to...

PiperT

Fatboydim wrote:

Might change my LA hotel this time for one without a body outside the window.

LMAO....classic

HalfBaked

5starpool wrote:

I know Virgin Atlantic are the shizzle when it comes to flying to the states, but does anyone think it is worth it if you have to spend overnight in Gatwick Airport or a nearby hotel? I don't think the 8am flight from Dub will get to Gatwick in enough time to allow for correct check in etc to an 11.25 am flight.

I'm flying to Vegas with Virgin next week. Heading to London the night before, then straight down to the gutshot where i'll occupy myself until the flight in the am. Problem solved.

Lazare

HalfBaked wrote:

I'm flying to Vegas with Virgin next week. Heading to London the night before, then straight down to the gutshot where i'll occupy myself until the flight in the am. Problem solved.

What a tough depressing life you guys lead.:rolleyes:



Nice one Peter, I've literally just been sick. Enjoy it.

HalfBaked

Lazare wrote:

What a tough depressing life you guys lead.:rolleyes:



Nice one Peter, I've literally just been sick. Enjoy it.

Cheers Conor, I'll try.