Vegas Advice: Where to Stay etc...

Since lots of people ask advice about their Vegas trip here in the poker forum and since the advice given is almost always the same I thought it would be a good idea to compile it into one thread to which a poster could be pointed to if needs be. With that in mind...

(Note: If the mods want to Sticky this and then anyone with a "going to vegas" question can just ask in here below the basic advice at the top I think it might be a good idea. Either way I thought it'd be useful)

Where to stay:
You can check out a general discussion here

Generally speaking Vegas will cater to all budgets. At the higher end of the market is the Wynn Hotel. This is a spectacular hotel and is priced accordingly. In the excellent middle range are the MGM Grand, the Rio and, somewhat closer to the higher end, the Bellagio.

The most important thing to remember is that there is a hotel that is perfectly tailored to your budget and requirements and not to worry too much about being too close to the action as you'll be using cab rides almost everywhere.

When checking in remember to try the $20 trick too.


Where to Play:
Cash Games:
Here's a good post from Tipp86 about what he felt of the various rooms.

Again it really depends what you are looking for. After extensive reading of previous threads it would seem that the Bellagio attracts a lot of fish, as does the Rio while the MGM has a far more comfortable room and the new room in the Golden Nugget is getting good reviews.

Tournaments:
There really is only one stop for tournament info in Vegas and that is www.allvegaspoker.com/tournaments
If you can't find an appropriate tournament for you there then Vegas ain't for you.


NOTE:Here is a decent thread on "Things to Do in Vegas"


Winnings: Bear in mind the taxation issues with any poker winnings you may have in advance of going to Vegas.

Trip Reports:
Here are a couple Vegas trip reports just to get you in the mood.

Bubbleking
Freddie Mays

rag2gar

Wheres the best place to play craps?

hf4z6sqo7vjngi

rag2gar wrote: »

Wheres the best place to play craps?

Not in the Gold Coast obv

KevIRL

Good work Kayroo. I've added this to useful links sticky.

jem

Hi few of us heading to vegas in a few weeks and have a few questions to ask the experianced vegas crew:
1. the 20 dollar trick is it worth trying to ring with a "sob" type story and try and get an upgrade or just try it there?
2.best place for a steak.
3. best place to eat- morning/night?
any other info/tips would be great

bohsman

1. Just try it. See http://www.thetwentydollartrick.com/
2. N9ne in the Palms is great but its not going to be hard to find a good steakhouse.

Depends a lot on where you are staying aswell.

Tough Johnnson!

jem wrote: »

3. best place to eat- morning/night?
any other info/tips would be great

The Lux cafe in the Venetian does good food 24 afaik. Its not expensive either.

mocata

Twenty dollar trick works a treat. Got upgraded 30 floors and a strip view in the encore for a week.

Russh

Anyone got anything on renting a house....?

kakak1

jem wrote: »

Hi few of us heading to vegas in a few weeks and have a few questions to ask the experianced vegas crew:
1. the 20 dollar trick is it worth trying to ring with a "sob" type story and try and get an upgrade or just try it there?
2.best place for a steak.
3. best place to eat- morning/night?
any other info/tips would be great

definitely works

califano

lol a website actually dedicated to the $20 trick!.

karlh

got a suite at MGM Grand and Bellagio for price of a standard room with the $20 trick, no brainer!

connie147

jem wrote: »

Hi few of us heading to vegas in a few weeks and have a few questions to ask the experianced vegas crew:
1. the 20 dollar trick is it worth trying to ring with a "sob" type story and try and get an upgrade or just try it there?
2.best place for a steak.
3. best place to eat- morning/night?
any other info/tips would be great

Hi there,
I've been a few times (but not often enough ), and on my last visit, a gang of us headed up to Smith and Wollenskys, a steak-house about 50-100metres strip-side of the MGM (same side of the strip). It was recommended highly to me by steve davis, the snooker player. I figured he should know a good eatery, so we decided to try it out. And just WOW!! Its not cheap, but it's worth every penny it cost.
We had an absolutely fantastic steak, and the athmosphere there was great. Its really top class and would go down as the best steakhouse I've ever visited.

Connie

Jesus Wept

Didn't think the $20 was succesful often. Hmmm.

Brayruit

Smith & Wollensky's works

$20 trick works

SpencerJames

keith, o shea did a good piece on vegas awhile back. maybe you could find that and add it. dagunman is his name on here

bohsman

jem wrote: »

3. best place to eat- morning/night?

24 hour TGI Fridays in the Gold Coast is the best all night place Ive found.

Jesus Wept

bohsman wrote: »

24 hour TGI Fridays in the Gold Coast is the best all night place Ive found.

Seems to be a new addition, or change moreso since 2007 when they had something similar but non branded.

bohsman

Yea, was a sweet find after $1 a game after midnight bowling in the GC last Summer. Menu gets more basic after 2am but still good.

Tough Johnnson!

bohsman wrote: »

Yea, was a sweet find after $1 a game after midnight bowling in the GC last Summer. Menu gets more basic after 2am but still good.

Whats the orange soda like there?:P

dougee19

this actually sounds so unreal!!
Can't wait to head there after a late night rio session lads. Cheers for above tips

Jesus Wept

Happy hour all day - every day:

1/2 Price Appetizers
$1.50 Cheeseburger Sliders
$2.50 Domestic Drafts

mmm TGI's. I want to live at the Gold Coast.

5starpool

The-Rigger wrote: »

mmm TGI's. I want to live at the Gold Coast.

Could you really bear to look at that carpet the whole time though?

Atlantis Casino

Best steakhouse in my opinion is at the Golden Nugget
called Vic and Anthonys i know its down town but well worth the trip

zuutroy

Here's a weird one question. I was only in Vegas once, long before I played poker and only for a couple of days, but my over-riding memory of the place is getting static shocks everywhere and I mean everywhere. Some of them were so severe that they were actually painful. Does anyone else suffer this when there and wtf did you do to get around it?

smurph

zuutroy wrote: »

Here's a weird one question. I was only in Vegas once, long before I played poker and only for a couple of days, but my over-riding memory of the place is getting static shocks everywhere and I mean everywhere. Some of them were so severe that they were actually painful. Does anyone else suffer this when there and wtf did you do to get around it?

Yep,
I suffered from it aswell.. It's something to do the the lack of moisture in the air, (being in a dessert and all), I kept getting shocks off the slot machines... probably a good thing cause I didn't use them that much....
Seems to be a big problem for Residents in las vegas aswelll....

5starpool

I can't particularly remember getting any electric shocks out there.

Jesus Wept

5starpool wrote: »

Could you really bear to look at that carpet the whole time though?

Sure! Can't remember it really and I was there for weeks.
It probably reminded me of my grannies house.

Norwich Fan Rob

i was there with mates about 12 years ago and the shocks were so bad i wanted gloves to press buttons on elevators, was awful taking coins out of slot machines etc, really sore and almost constant.
have been back for longer visits to play poker each of the last 4 years and havent noticed it at all, so maybe they have sorted it out.

nicnicnic

ping pong pow in the goal coast is a fantastic (Asian) spot to eat, really is top class and super value for the quality of food. I must of tried most of the menu last year but after a couple a week going their I'd generally just have a soup and two or three of the starters. At the breaks in the Rio getting over here rather then queuing for food at the Rio restaurants is a good strategy.

BigCityBanker

so where are people staying this year. I am currently planning on a tip in June/July and despite the obvious common sense continues to tell me to book the Gold Coast. Its cheap, the rooms are clean, there are some good cafes, its v close to the Rio etc etc. Is there a better, common sense, value for money alternative to be had? Like I can have 3 weeks in the gold coast for 1 week in MGM or w/e.

5starpool

If I go this year, I will probably be staying in Bills again. Across from Caesers/Bellagio, less than 10 mins walk to the Venetian, you can get the shuttle to the Rio for free from Paris 3 mins walk away, and less than half the price of the Rio as well. If you are planning on spending a lot of time in the Rio it makes sense to stay at the gold coast, if you want centre strip it is hard to beat Bills. Rooms are clean, big screen TV for watching early world cup matches, and generally good value imo.

corkie123

my friend always stay in the extended stayamerica hotels las vegas valley view one which cost between 45 dollars to 59dollars per night and if your staying there for long stay u get cheaper rate.

when i was there in 2007 i stay with him they had 2 bed rooms and sitting room had couch which turn into bed .

nice apartment in all nothing fancy but comfortable i think john oshea stayed there last year with his crew

__________________________________________________________________________

ps its only across from the rio

smoothcall

I stayed in those extended stay place last year, there good if you don't want to stay in a casino/hotel for the few weeks. It's nice to have a kitchen living room etc. about 5 min walk to rio, 10 to wsop poker room.

Stayed in Gold coast the year before, it's perfect if your plannin on being in the rio alot. It's cheap , clean, few cheaper places to eat, bowling alley, right next to rio.

Stayed in Bill's for new years just gone ( i do love vegas), great spot imo. If I was going for more holiday (like i was for new years . ie. not just poker) i'd advise there. Nice hotel, right in the centre of the action, few mins walk to Oshea's which is great banter. Room's are nice, sort of an old cowboy feel. Solid TV as Dom said. Nightclub what opens at 3am or soemthin crazy, good spot overall.

westlife

lots of advise on wr to stay, but for the games... Caesars Palace have a great $10,000 freeroll EVERY Sunday for anyone who puts in just 15 hours on the cash tables! Venetian has the best rake on the strip with an average of 15 cash tables on the go at any one time.....

if you fly to the UK to go.....Positive: Virgin Atlantic are different class.. Negative: the new security measures entail a 3 HOUR snails walk que through american customs at Gatwick

pistolpeter

smoothcall wrote: »

I stayed in those extended stay place last year, there good if you don't want to stay in a casino/hotel for the few weeks. It's nice to have a kitchen living room etc. about 5 min walk to rio, 10 to wsop poker room.

Stayed in Gold coast the year before, it's perfect if your plannin on being in the rio alot. It's cheap , clean, few cheaper places to eat, bowling alley, right next to rio.

Stayed in Bill's for new years just gone ( i do love vegas), great spot imo. If I was going for more holiday (like i was for new years . ie. not just poker) i'd advise there. Nice hotel, right in the centre of the action, few mins walk to Oshea's which is great banter. Room's are nice, sort of an old cowboy feel. Solid TV as Dom said. Nightclub what opens at 3am or soemthin crazy, good spot overall.

This is essential, 24 hour bowling with a bazillion lanes and $1 a game after midnite and $5 a pitcher of beer, Solid value.