Aight Doc,
Really nice on the vegas trip, im going for a month again later this year. If your a gambler of any sort its definately something you gotta see.
First of all places to stay. Probably the first time you go its best to stay on the strip. Its a bit more expensive than downtown but everything is nearby and the hotels are nicer. There are a TON of places to choose from so have a look around at what you fancy. The wynn and the bellagio are probably the two nicest hotels on the strip, but also probably the most expensive. Wherever you pick you can phone them up and get whats called a poker deal (if you fancy it). Just phone the casino and ask to be put through to the
poker room. When you get transferred ask the guy what the poker rate is on hotel rooms. This is basically you getting a discount on the price of a room on the condition you play x hours in the
poker room during your stay. Its up to you if you want to do this, the rates vary but if you fancy saving some money its definately something you could consider.
If you are going to gamble at all in the casino, or even in the
poker rooms then make sure you join the players clubs. This is how you get your comps these days and is well worth while. Again you dont have to but at the end of two weeks I had over 500 dollars worth of comps to use from the hotel I was staying in. Obviously all the drinks are free whilst your gambling (and if you ask nicely you will get a ticket for a free buffet etc as well) so take advantage of this! Dont be silly tho, learn the basic strategy for blackjack before you go (
www.wizardofodds.com/blackjack) and stick to this. You will be playing a practically break even game with the house if this is the case and be enjoying all the free drinks etc as well. If your not going to gamble in the casino and only going to sight see/play poker then just ignore this advice I guess.
Poker across the strip totally varies. Almost every casino has a room and theres always a game running, anything you want usually. Low buy in tournaments and sit n goes have HORRENDOUS rake on the strip. It is so ugly I never even bothered playing 1. The cash games are not quite so bad tho. Generally online
poker rooms have 5% rake capped at 3 dollars whereas most palces in vegas had 10% rake capped at 4 dollars. Tips in cash games are at your discretion. Most of the time I tipped a dollar for every hand over about 15 dollars that I won, If I won a pot of over 200 I tipped a little more. You are getting booze etc for free so it kind of evens itself out, I would definately suggest taking care of the dealer when you win a hand (as its known over there). The games start at 1/2 NL and FL in most places. I found at the 1/2 NL tables a lot of horrendously bad players, a few good ones and quite a lot of rocks. The softest games seemed to be in the cheaper more run down hotels, The Tropicana's 1/2 NL for example was so incredibly bad I won over 2k several times there (the casino is a bit of a dump but defo worth checking out for the action). The bellagios
poker room is ofc the centre of the poker universe really. Definately go and play there, the NL starts at 2/5 tho (I have no idea what the FL starts at) and the play is of a decidedly higher standard than elsewhere - but you have to see it. Check out bobbys room at the back of the
poker room there, youll probably see
doyle and greenstein etc all playing the big game, its pretty cool to watch.
Sightseeing you DEFINATELY have to go to the grand canyon. You can buy a tour from anyone of several outlets on the strip - just look around for the best value one. Make sure you get one where you actually land and get to walk around the edge tho, you wont believe it till you see it. You can take in a show as well in anyone of the casinos. Ive been to see david copperfield and whathisface seinfeild both of which were pretty good. Theres all sorts and just choose one that takes your fancy. 1 Tip for the shows, the MGM where I went to one works on the basis all seats are the same price. Thus a crappy seat at the far back left costs the same as front row middle. Its just first come first served. So book a ticket at the start of your trip for a show towards the end, you can probably pick up a front row seat this way, which we managed.
Watch out for US immigration on the way in, they are a bunch of ****ers lol. Make sure you have a hotel booked for at least your first night as you need an address to give them, and also remember there is a 10,000 limit to cash you can take into the country which I found a little limiting. You can take more but you have to go off and explain yourself which I couldnt be arsed with.
Other stuff ummmm when your going about vegas try to keep some small bills in your back pocket. The whole place is just about money and pretty much everyone who helps you is expecting a tip of some sort. That includeds taxi fetchers, luggage boys, slot machine atendants (if you hit a big win they have to hand pay you) etc etc you know the script. Of course this is entirely up to you and you dont have to, but I pretty much did to everyone that helped me out in some way. If your playing a table game like blackjack then at the start ask for 10 singles with your chips, the dealer will instantly know this means you are going to tip them and start helping you out getting the cocktail waitress over etc
. Occasionally place a single on the top left corner of your box, this is a "tip" in the form of a bet for the dealer. If your hand wins then they win a 2 dollar tip, if it loses they get nothing. You can just chuck them a dollar directly ofc if you want but its more fun as a bet I think. Weirdly 50 dollar bills are considered unlucky in vegas. You will NEVER get paid in a 50 dollar bill from a casino or
poker room cage nor will you see any local/most tourists handing over a 50 dollar bill at the table - weird but thats the way it is.
If you have any more specific questions doc then just ask m8
Jez
P.S. Get a good pair of shades, no not for the
poker room, but for when you go outside - the sun is incredible!
trip to vegas - calling Jez (and anyone else!)
) has a great ride that throws you up to the top of the tower from literally about 500 ft start - Man that was incredible - you feel that you're being flung into space!!).
crossed that it happens..
won some, lost some and at various points, had a massive stack of chips. I felt like a high roller even though they were only worth 25c and I probably had around $40! 
.GIF "Thumb(1)")
