Las Vegas thread and MSE guide 2010

Gav86

June

stoneman wrote: »

Look on the cert. It will either say drinks not included or at the managements discression. But unless you are going there alone I don't think you will have a problem reaching the $35 minimum spend, we didn't.

Cheers Stoneman. Thought so, but just wanted to be safe as it doesnt say on the certificate.

pennylane99

June

Gav86 wrote: »

Great TR! Love reading them when people post them.

Quick question. Ive got a $25 Stripburger Restaurant.com certificate. Its minimum purchase $35. Does Stripburger count alcoholic drinks in this?

menu here

http://lasvegasstripburger.com/menu.pdf

not difficult to spend $35

Froggitt

WestHamDaz wrote: »

Good read Cloudy, nice one. We fly out on Tuesday and really looking forward to it.

Never played poker over in vegas, whats it like? I play a little bit here, just with mates down the pub. Whats the atmosphere like, are there any 'local' rules or quirks that players use that you should be aware of before you play?

Depends.

I dont do cash - only tourneys.

Always take the registration addon - its usually double your chips for ten bucks for the dealers.

Atmosphere at MGM is great - tourneys often 60-100 people twice a day, but noisey especially if the bar next to it is playing loud music.

Mirage SNG till late - usually takes maybe 10 mins or so to fill up a table.

Hard Rock - avoid.

TI - easy cheap game to cash. 3-5 tables.

Caesars - lovely Poker Room away from the ding ding ding ding ding and good standard.

Wynn and Venetian - nice but bigger stakes as you would expect.

Proper v pub rules........main things to watch for are stringing your bets, and single large chip raises. And dont take your cards off the table. Dont spill your drink on the table. Have a dollar or two tip ready for the cocktail waitress. Take or buy a card guard to avoid mucking in error. Dont go too far during the break as youll return to find youve been blinded out.

cloudy_nines

May

stoneman wrote: »

Nice report Cloudy, you packed it in. We just seem to sit around the pool all day now when not shopping. A couple of things though, you will never get asked for the ESTA form, it is an electronic registration and as soon as your pasport gets scanned the immigration guy will see that you have done it. The green form is gradually being phased out and has disapeared form some airport altogether. As for the Saturday afternoon pool adventure, that's Vegas. Saturday is get drunk by the pool day, we always join it. But yes it does get very rowdy at some hotels, you should be at the Flamingo!!!!!

Haha if only we knew about the pool, I just think we picked the worse possible time and place to go. We just wanted to chill and relax. I like a drink but cant handle it in the day as it just makes me want to sleep. All we heard was loud banging music and finding a place to sit amongst the empty crisp packets and bottles was a job in itself.

I didnt realise that about the ESTA, I just thought I would be asked for it. It lasts for 2 years, so does that mean if we go again next year I dont have to do anything different?

I think we packed a lot in as it's out first time and we weren't sure whether we'd be able to go again, at least not for a long time. However, we both enjoyed it so much we are planning Vegas next September. I am pretty sure that trip will be a bit more chilled out and we'll know what hotels to visit and where to go (and where not to go as well).

Cand

September

Brilliant report Cloudy loved it, glad you had a nice time.

cloudy_nines

May

WestHamDaz wrote: »

Good read Cloudy, nice one. We fly out on Tuesday and really looking forward to it.

Never played poker over in vegas, whats it like? I play a little bit here, just with mates down the pub. Whats the atmosphere like, are there any 'local' rules or quirks that players use that you should be aware of before you play?

All I would say is give it a go. There was all sorts playing, those who obviously play a lot, those who have never played and are just testing the water and those in the middle (like OH and I).

We played at TI, Caersers, Mirage and Mandalay Bay. Out of those, Mirage was my favourite and Mandalay Bay my worse. Mirage has sit n go's running all day so if you are not up for a tournament (which can sometimes go on a bit) then that is your best option. I would advise againt playing cash unless you have some serious money you can buy in with. If not, the players who do have the money will just be aggressive and bully you with their mountains of chips.

I personally didn't rate the Caersers room but I know other people do. I just didn't like the feel of it but that's just my opinion.

It may seem obvious but the higher end the hotel, the bigger the buy in for the tournament. I know the Bellagio's buy in's were around the $250 - $300 mark. All tournament buy in's also include an admin type fee which can be steep, but it's just part of the set up there.

Like Froggit mentioned, try not to string bet! I did it once by mistake not even realising and I was not allowed to make the bet. Keep your cards behind the line (you'll know what I mean) and again, keep them on the table. If you finish within a paying place, it's nice to tip the dealer. Ideally say what bet you are going to do before making it. Some people take it seriously and where sunglasses, but I just can't help but laugh.

The atmosphere can be quite serious at poker tourney's, but it just depends on the table. Sometimes people sit in silence studying the game really thinking about it, others are more light hearted. I lover poker though, so whether it's a serious table or not, I love it.

As for spilling drinks - I managed to spill my whole cosmopolitan over the table when playing at The Mirage. I was a little worse for wear and just knocked it accidently and it went everywhere. However, it was no big deal, the CW was soon there mopping it up and AFAIK there was no stain and we just carried on as normal after. Obviously if you keep doing it or do it on purpose they will not be happy.

Hopefully that has helped

cloudy_nines

May

bairn7 wrote: »

Thanks again Luci, another great offer. Using this offer I managed to get a quote of $75 per night for 3 nights in a Bungalow Queen Suite compared to $63, $63 and $71 for three nights previously booked for a grand tower suite. Is this a good deal?

Does anyone know if I either of these rooms have a better chance of having a strip view? I'm going to try the $20 trick to ask for a high floor strip view but can't find a map of the suites relative to the grand tower.

Thanks

It's unlikely that the $20 trick will work so I didn't even bother. When checking in I just politely asked for a higher floor room in the south tower (outh tower is strip facing). The clerk clicked a few buttons and said that was fine. We were on floor 25 (out of 28) and quite close to the elevators. I didn't even show her any money. However, we were just happy with a higher/strip facing room rather than a complete room upgrade to a Celebrity Spa Suite or similar.

cloudy_nines

May

Cand wrote: »

Brilliant report Cloudy loved it, glad you had a nice time.

Thank you Cand. It took a while to write but when I was in full flow I couldn't stop. Still missed quite a bit out but tried to be relatively to the point

cloudy_nines

May

Someone was asking about comfy shoes in an earlier post. We done a LOT of walking (between 2 and 5 miles a day easily) as I am sure everyone does and I alternated between fitflops and sketchers shape ups. Both were incredibly comfortable, the shape ups especially are like walking on air. Still had achey feet but I know if I had worn normal flipflops or trainers my feet would have ached even more. I bought the fitflops before we went and I thought I'd worn them in, but I hadn't and had a sore bit on my toe. The sketchers I bought in Vegas for $110 + tax and they were worth every penny. You can get them over here though. They are quite heavy/clunky but so so so comfy.

PS - I must say that I am not quite so convinced about the toning/shape up 'technology' these two shoes tend to advertise

luci

May

bairn7 wrote: »

Thanks again Luci, another great offer. Using this offer I managed to get a quote of $75 per night for 3 nights in a Bungalow Queen Suite compared to $63, $63 and $71 for three nights previously booked for a grand tower suite. Is this a good deal?

Does anyone know if I either of these rooms have a better chance of having a strip view? I'm going to try the $20 trick to ask for a high floor strip view but can't find a map of the suites relative to the grand tower.

Thanks

You're welcome and yes, the extra space is definitely worth an extra $12 a night.

However, before you jump on that one, check the Twitter offer I posted last night on Page 221.

I got a rate of $75 for 4 nights on the VIP Suites offer which I was happy with, but on the Twitter offer it was only $56!!

Not sure where the Bungalow suites are located. I know the Celebrity Spa Suites are at the end of the hallway.

As for the $20 trick, tried it once at the MGM and failed so haven't wasted my time trying again.

We got a great room last time, 25th floor with a great view of the south strip and right along Tropicana.