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Planning a trip to Vegas. Advice?

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Timan

Developer
When I went in December the only place you can find $5 BJ is now in downtown, none of the places I had played in the year before in July had it. Made me sad.

But Casino Royales 100x odds on craps is Ace!

Pretty much this, went in dec as well.

Tip make sure there is no rodeo championships going on, so many hicks/cowboys everywhere I felt sick.
 
There are better places to play $5 blackjack. Circus Circus is a fucking shithole.

There's a spot downtown on fremont that has $3 blackjack/craps which is even better. I think the odds were pretty good too.


I heard the same thing about circus circus. I stayed at the Plaza downtown which was recently renovated and it was a pretty good spot. Wouldn't mind staying there again, but who knows, I may just stay on the strip next time.
 
Pretty much this, went in dec as well.

Tip make sure there is no rodeo championships going on, so many hicks/cowboys everywhere I felt sick.



I thought the PBR bar was a Pabst Blue Ribbon bar lol..........then I found out it was rodeo and I was very disappointed and glad it wasn't open yet
 
When I went in December the only place you can find $5 BJ is now in downtown, none of the places I had played in the year before in July had it. Made me sad.

But Casino Royales 100x odds on craps is Ace!

Bellagio has it, it's only like one table though. Planet hollywood had $5 tables too I believe.
 

Sumidor

Member
There's a few places that do $5 blackjack on the strip. I remember seeing it at tropicana, Mandalay bay, imperial palace, and I think the rio. You just have to start at like 5-6pm
 

Sofiya

Neo Member
If you have a big budget stay at Cosmopolitan.
If you have a medium budget stay at Mirage.
If you have a lower budget stay at a Go! room at the Flamingo.
If you literally don't care at all what the room looks like because all you will do is sleep there then stay at Imperial Palace.

Check smartervegas.com for deals. It is a reputable site but many people don't know about it.

If you plan to do a lot of pre-trip research then look no further than the Vegas subforum at Tripadvisor. http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowForum-g45963-i10-Las_Vegas_Nevada.html

If you are into the 20-something club scene then check out Jackcolton.com.

If you are going during pool weather then check out a beach club or day club. It is essentially like going to a club during the day except there is a pool and everyone is in their bathing suits. My favorite is Marquee, but Encore Beach Club is really popular as well.

Best games to learn before going if you are not a big gambler but want free drinks are video poker and Texas hold 'em. Otherwise, visit the casino gift shops for cheap booze to walk around with. You can ride in a cab and the monorail with alcohol (but not the buses). It's such a novelty and I love it!!
 

Sofiya

Neo Member
There's a few places that do $5 blackjack on the strip. I remember seeing it at tropicana, Mandalay bay, imperial palace, and I think the rio. You just have to start at like 5-6pm


It's not too hard to find at around noon-ish. I played $5 bj at Excalibur when I was there for Halloween.
 
Your age, budget and how stable the relationship with your girlfriend would help a lot if you want more accurate recommendations.

Cosmopolitan is a great place to stay but I would avoid it if your girlfriend has ever shown any sign of jealousy. Cosmopolitan is the number one place for girls only getaways and bachelorette parties and you would take a man much more virtuous than I to not have wandering eyes in that place. I was playing blackjack there the last time I went and the dealer would stop the game every few minutes in order for us to admire a passerby. During that time I was parked at the table I counted 17 different bachelorette parties walking by.

For clubs the big two are XS at Encore and Marquee at Cosmopolitan.
 
Cosmopolitan is a great place to stay but I would avoid it if your girlfriend has ever shown any sign of jealousy. Cosmopolitan is the number one place for girls only getaways and bachelorette parties and you would take a man much more virtuous than I to not have wandering eyes in that place. I was playing blackjack there the last time I went and the dealer would stop the game every few minutes in order for us to admire a passerby. During that time I was parked at the table I counted 17 different bachelorette parties walking by.
will have to remember this when I go in july.

for friends' sakes, I mean.
 

Magilla

Banned
If you ever want to watch the physical embodiment of the term shit show then go Cosmo's second floor at around midnight and watch people come out(or get thrown out) of Marquee night club. It is so much fun. Perfect people watching and the chicks are hot too, even with some puke in their hair... <.<
 
marquee, cosmopolitan, wicked spoon buffet, GET!

Fixed...might as well keep it all in one place, yo.

This is actually what I want to do the next time I go to Vegas with my wife (and check out other places to eat at the Cosmo as well).

We did 'xs, encore, sw steakhouse' for one of our anniversaries...good times GET =)
 
Is it even worth it to go to the trendy clubs?

I went to Voodoo for the view and the open bar (cost me 80 bucks after gratuity)

Such a chill place with such an epic view of the strip from atop the Rio
 
If you are young and without kids, do not even debate looking into Circus Circus. My friends and I stayed at the Stratosphere and were warned about how gross Circus Circus was - we eventually gave in to our curiousity and went in. There are children everywhere, it's dark, smells terrible and has a random amusement park on the second floor that shakes half the building due to the rides. Plus it has a freaky-ass clown out front. Avoid at all costs.

Strip location is important to an extent, but if you want to save your money the casinos on the ends tend to be much cheaper. We stayed at Stratosphere which is the furthest strip casino actually on the strip and it wasn't too bad since there is an awesome bus called the Deuce that runs every 10 minutes or so, and takes you up and down the strip, as well as to Fremont Street. I definitely recommend spending an evening getting drunk and wandering Fremont Street with a giant Fat Tuesday's daiquiri. It's quite an experience.
 

Big-E

Member
Been to Vegas twice, stayed at the Venetian and the Palazzo. I felt that the Venetian was not organized well in terms of getting to your room. It was like a maze and everyday I was there I saw people in the elevator looking all lost and confused as to where to go. Palazzo, even though it is attached to the Venetian, I felt it was far better. The rooms are pretty much identical though in terms of layout and furnishings.

Spearmint Rhino if you want a strip club. If you are with a big group, best time to go is around 8 o'clock. Most people say that is too early but it is great because the place is not full at all, you can get a huge area and the better quality girls start coming out around 9. My buddies and I were there from 8 to about 2 or 3, can't remember but it was a fun time.

Gun ranges can be fun though I wouldn't go to the gun store unless you like standing around for 2 hours. That was how long our wait was though firing the guns was fun.

Don't go to the Wynn buffet. Most overrated buffet in Vegas. 40 bucks for not that great. Have had better buffets in China for 15 dollars compared to it.
 

Divvy

Canadians burned my passport
Out of curiosity Divvy, where are you from?

Toronto, Canada

Divvy, what is your approximate budget and what features in a hotel are important to you? For example, awesome pool? Great location? Best value? Cheapest?

Don't really have a budget right now. Probably want a hotel for under a thousand for six days five nights. There's five of us by the way. Hoping to keep it down to one suite. I personally don't have much of a preference for the amenities, but a good pool is always nice :) My friends probably don't want to go crazy on the budget though.

Regardless where you go do the $20 trick, and go to the secret pizza place in the cosmopolitan!



Out of these 4 I say Cosmo or Bellagio because they are center strip.

Secret Pizza place eh?


If you have a big budget stay at Cosmopolitan.
If you have a medium budget stay at Mirage.
If you have a lower budget stay at a Go! room at the Flamingo.
If you literally don't care at all what the room looks like because all you will do is sleep there then stay at Imperial Palace.

Check smartervegas.com for deals. It is a reputable site but many people don't know about it.

If you plan to do a lot of pre-trip research then look no further than the Vegas subforum at Tripadvisor. http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowForum-g45963-i10-Las_Vegas_Nevada.html
Cool, will check these out. Thanks!

Testmonkey said:
Your age, budget and how stable the relationship with your girlfriend would help a lot if you want more accurate recommendations.

Cosmopolitan is a great place to stay but I would avoid it if your girlfriend has ever shown any sign of jealousy. Cosmopolitan is the number one place for girls only getaways and bachelorette parties and you would take a man much more virtuous than I to not have wandering eyes in that place. I was playing blackjack there the last time I went and the dealer would stop the game every few minutes in order for us to admire a passerby. During that time I was parked at the table I counted 17 different bachelorette parties walking by.

For clubs the big two are XS at Encore and Marquee at Cosmopolitan.

Hahaha. I think I will be okay.
 

rinse82

Member
Cosmo.

Google 'marriott lnf claim' to learn how to get rooms for cheap.

Going back for my buddy's stag in May and paying 180/night for a Studio Terrace (wouldve been 300/night reguarly)

+1 on Marquee and XS, be prepared to spend on bottles if youve got a group.

Do a pool party - Marquee Day Club, Wet Republic at MGM, or Encore Beach Club.

Gun Store is just off the strip and is always an awesome time.
 

Sofiya

Neo Member
Less than 1000 for 5 in 1 room for 5 nights? That's definitely doable but the bathroom is gonna be an issue. A couple years ago I went in a group of 5 and we managed to snag a Rialto suite at Venetian for $279/ night and 1 bathroom resulted in bathroom musical chairs when we were getting ready to go out of coming in for the night.


Also, I had a good friend stay at Platinum which is right off the strip last summer and she really liked it. Plus, it was cheap.
 

cashman

Banned
I was at the cosmopolitan last week. Top fucking tier, and I agree with whoever said Wicked Spoon buffet. I really want to go back to vegas when I turn 21.
 

rinse82

Member
I was at the cosmopolitan last week. Top fucking tier, and I agree with whoever said Wicked Spoon buffet. I really want to go back to vegas when I turn 21.

I was there couple weeks ago, the Wicked Spoon buffet brunch was fucking god tier.

Cant wait to go back in less than 2 months :)
 
Cosmo.

Google 'marriott lnf claim' to learn how to get rooms for cheap.

Going back for my buddy's stag in May and paying 180/night for a Studio Terrace (wouldve been 300/night reguarly).

This is a great tip. Never stayed at the Cosmo before because all of my players points are with Caesars and MGM. I already booked my next trip but maybe New Years.

Also, if you plan on withdrawing money from an ATM in Vegas, inform your bank before going on the trip or they will lock your card. Which sucks by the way.
 
Go see Zumanity. Its Cirque's, burlesque show. It is way funnier and entertaining than you would ever think. Have great sex afterward with your GF.
 

Vega

Member
I'm going soon for 4 nights. How much fun money should i bring? Yes i plan on gambling, shows, strip club, etc.
 

rinse82

Member
I'm going soon for 4 nights. How much fun money should i bring? Yes i plan on gambling, shows, strip club, etc.

Depends.

For my buddy's bachelor party I'm budgeting $250/night for bottle service at Marquee/XS (Tier 1 clubs) - we did this for my stag last year and it was $2,000-$2,500 minimums. We're a large group of guys so bottle service is pretty much mandatory.

3 nights of that plus a Pool Party where you're looking at the same minimums, that's $1K already just on partying. This isn't taking into account Meals, Gambling, and anything else you'd like to indulge in while you're there.

For shows, go to one of the various Tix4Tonight booth's on the strip and get tickets the day of for 30-50% off the regular price. They have pretty much everything. The Cirque Du Soleil's aren't as discounted but anything is better than paying the regular rate.
 

Magilla

Banned
I'm going soon for 4 nights. How much fun money should i bring? Yes i plan on gambling, shows, strip club, etc.

I didn't initially responded to this because the answer is so subjective.

I usually take a grand for gambling and half that for food for around 3-4 nights. For some people that is way too much and for others that is way too little. Vegas can be an incredibly cheap vacation if you make it. You can get hotel rooms on the strip for 40-50 bucks a night or cheaper. You can find half price show tickets. You can eat at happy hours or fast food.

It can also be the most expensive vacation you take. Strippers, 100 dollar a plate dinners, gambling, bottle service, and more gambling.

My only suggestion is to make a budget for the entire vacation that you are comfortable with and stick to it. Which is harder than sounds in Vegas.
 

Vega

Member
Cool. Thanks for the information. I was going to bring a grand with me but I do want the "full Vegas experience". I guess I'll kick my budget up a few bucks.
 

Dyno

Member
Last time I was there I stayed at the Monte Carlo. It's a nice hotel, a bit older, but the rooms are still nice and the ammenaties are decent. They have a good gambling hall and their steak house, Brand, is excellent.

We walked the strip to check out other areas. The Venetian looked really nice and it's a great place to buy higher end clothes. Take your wife there and buy her a dress. She'll love it, very old-school glamour. The Wynn Hotel was also very impressive looking. They have a Neopolitan pizza parlour that is very authentic.

We also went a couple nights to the Old Strip. It's a neat place to barhop and see what Vegas used to look like. You can visit The Golden Gate Saloon, also called Club 1909. It was the first place in Vegas. The girls there deal cards and when they're done their shift they go-go dance in the club. It's a chauvanist pig's dream! Also you can check out Insert Coins which is just off the old strip. It's a bar with a small dancefloor and a bunch of gaming booths. It was a pretty novel place.

Also, GUNS! Do not miss getting to a gunrange and playing with a few toys. We went to a place called The Machine Gun experience and fired off half a dozen wacky weapons each. It is an amazing adrenaline booster.

The North Vegas shopping outlet is a good stop too. There were so many awesome deals there for chothing and assessories. Everyone who went came back loaded with stuff.

I'd go back in a minute. There is quite a lot to see and do.
 

wondermega

Member
Vegas is absolutely a blast. going with your gf or with a group of friends are both fun for very different reasons (or hell, even both!) Last time our group got rooms in Excalibur, not the fanciest place on the strip but if you're budget-minded it's fine for what it is (not gross!) and as conveniently located as everything else.

Gambling is fun, clubbing is fun, there's already tons if suggestion in this thread what to do/see so i won't reiterate too much. A couple of years ago we went skydiving for a bachelor party and it was pretty awesome, it's actually quite safe/affordable and you will never forget for the rest of your life! Hoover Dam is also close by and worth a look if you are into that sort of thing, pretty cheap helicopter rides in the desert as well. Do something unusual!
 
See the show Zumanity at New York New York, it will make you and your GF all horny. Theres a sequence with two naked asian women kissing and swimming in a giant clear champagne glass. Totally worth the $50.
 

kagete

Member
I'm curious about all the Cosmo recommendations. I stayed at the Aria and it was fantastic. The clientele seems to be more upscale with a lot of couples but not as young as what others have described for Cosmo. The cigarette smoke is noticeably less there too. I don't drink or gamble outside of penny slots but I remember having the best orange juice, creme brulee, and cream puff I have ever had in my life at the Aria. The OJ cost me $30 but it was like drinking nectar from the gods. The cream puff was part of the buffet but I would have gladly paid $20+ for each single piece, it was simply amazing.
 

Sofiya

Neo Member
I'm curious about all the Cosmo recommendations. I stayed at the Aria and it was fantastic.

That's a good point. For me, Aria is more upscale and almost pretentious. The chocolate brown color of the casino, while nice, just puts me to sleep. It is also very sprawling and difficult to navigate, whereas Cosmo is very compact. Cosmo is more hip and glitzy. I have not met friendlier dealers in any other Vegas casino. Plus, the complimentary drink service is on point. I don't doubt at all that staying at Aria would be a great experience. I am waiting to get a good deal on a corner suite.
 
Good timing on this thread. I'm going in April. What are some things to do that are easy to get to from the strip? I'll be staying at the Wynn and don't want to pay outrageous cab fares.

Also, looking for a really good Tattoo shop to touch up an existing tattoo and possibly make some additions (if the shop is good). Any recommendations?
 
Are Penn and Teller still doing their thing? If so, do that. They were actually really nice and humble when I asked them to autograph my ticket.

Of course, try the food out, avoid too much enclosed smokey areas (it made me sick and I was a smoker), and get good and trashed. Just...leave your wallet in your room and limit your cash on that night. Oh, and have fun!
 

Sobriquet

Member
Are Penn and Teller still doing their thing? If so, do that. They were actually really nice and humble when I asked them to autograph my ticket.

Yeah, Penn & Teller is a great show. I also really like Blue Man Group. Two nice alternatives to an ocean of Cirque du Soleil.
 

gimmmick

Member
If your interested, PM me your name / email and I'll send you a link to get mgm corporate discount for friends and family. From there, you can choose the best rates for the 7 ish hotels that are associated / owned within the company. The link only last for 7 days though.
 

dskillzhtown

keep your strippers out of my American football
There are tons of stands around las vegas that you can get tickets to shows for half the price.

I recommend doing all drinking from a hotel room, flask, or just get cheap beers on the strip. Or get free drinks by gambling. Otherwise you will get a crowbar to the wallet pretty fucking fast.

I also recommend waking up early in the morning and walking down the strip. It is really a nice walk without a ton of people in your way. Also, the half price stands are really good. I think there are about 5 of them on the strip. Of course, the earlier you go, the better the selection will be.

We stayed at the Mandalay Bay which was nice, but it is so far away from every place else so it makes walk the strip a real journey. When we go back we probably will stay at Planet Hollywood. I will admit, Mandalay was extremely nice though.
 

Vanillalite

Ask me about the GAF Notebook
I sort of preferred the Aria to actually stay at and then when I wanted to go party you could walk next door to the Cosmo. Both of these places though tend to blow away a lot of the rest of the strip now though because they are basically brand new (well most recent for Vegas anyways). That being said Caesar's was putting a lot of money into redoing stuff when I was there last summer, and as someone else mentioned the Plazzo part of the Venetian was nice since it's also new.
 

TheMan

Member
i've heard that it's not a good idea to stay longer than a 3 days or so, though i don't remember the exact reasoning. i would guess that it just gets old.
 

Raptomex

Member
I went for the first time last July with a friend of mine. One of the greatest vacations I ever took. Porn-is-everywhere.
 
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