Need some Vegas Advice

Chugs · May 23,2006, 02:00 AM

I'm trying to put together a midweek getaway with some family and friends to vegas. Chances of it happening are only 25% but i'm pushing, so lets see.

Now before you all refer me to the trip reports, my question is a bit more specific.

1. I have narrowed my flight options to either a Sunday-Wednesday (Spirit Airlines $220USD with taxes) or Monday-Thursday on NWA (USD270ish)

So the real question is on the hotel. I have two properties that generally are on the top of my list based on what seems like reasonable rates and what i think are good properties: The Mirage and MGM Grand. Can people tell me if they are good and especially what they're location is like, are you in the middle of the action or a distance off. Any other recommendations are also appreciated. I mainly want a nice place in the heart of the action of vegas, at a reasonable price: in and around $80-150 per room per night.

I also looked at a large penthouse suite for say two of the couples, so we have on large place, and one odd extra room ... not sure if anyone knows if that works well

AirportClub · May 23,2006, 05:05 AM

I have never stayed at either so i can not comment on that but I did just get back and if i had to choose, I would say the Mirage would be your best bet. If you are going for lots of poker action, The Mirage has an ok room, but right next to it is the Caesar Palace and right beside that is the Bellagio. Also just up the road about 2-3 blocks is the Wynn. Those 3 were my personal favorites for NL games ranging from 1/2 2/5 and 5/10.

If you stay at the MGM, although it does have an ok poker room, you are a good walk from any other good poker rooms.

Hope this helps, and more people can put some input.

Cheers

Shane

ScottyZ · May 23,2006, 10:53 AM

It depends on what you mean by "action".

If you mean poker, I think the Mirage is the better choice. The Mirage & Bellagio are two of the best poker rooms on the main part of the strip IMO. The Mirage is quite a bit closer to the Bellagio compared to the MGM Grand.

If you mean nightlife, etc, I don't really know much about that. However, it always struck me that Mirage is generally more central in terms of the main strip, and MGM Grand feels like it's kind of on the outer edge.

ScottyZ

twosnaces · May 23,2006, 11:05 AM

I stayed at Mirage at the beginning of April and the rooms are nice (nothing special). It is a good location with its proximity to Bellagio, Caesars, The Wynn. I think that MGM is a little too far from the action especially from a clubbing standpoint. The Mirage opened its club, Jet, earlier in the year and you can get free admission if you are staying there. And it is closer to the Rio and Palms than MGM is...

So it really depends on your preference. Mine leans towards being closer to the middle of the strip and the clubs. But MGM does have Studio 54... Not sure if you can make a bad choice it's just a matter of how much time you spend walking or in cabs.

Chugs · May 25,2006, 01:29 AM

Okay so i'm done most of my bookings now. It's been a bit hellish

First the air deal i thought i had on Spiritair, i didn't. When i went and tried to actually book the 7 tickets the rate skyrocketed (essentially buying the 6 tickets pushed me past the pricing barrier into a different class and they apply that to all tickets)

So i played around and got 5 seats at a reasonable rate (still higher than USD220 but a lot less than the USD350 it was quoting ... i think roughly USD280 per person).

Booking the last two was coming out expensive so i figured i would wait till the evening and see if some more seats get released etc... bad move since the price moved up furthur. I ended up booking the last two seats on a NWA flight at roughly the same rate and with flights mear minutes apart. I was getting really high fares actually on NWA initially, but seemed to luck out a bit this way, now lets hope both flights leave on time etc...

So for Vegas what are we doing.

Monday is Memorial Day in the US so that means Sunday is essentially like a Saturday when it comes to room rates, and many of the hotels on the strip are totally sold out or even asking for some insane rates (i saw 700 for a 4 star properties deluxe room). So for a combination of that and wanting to be a tourist, ie see the Fairmont Street experience and for me personally see binion's we are spending the night at the Golden Nugget. Three rooms for USD99+tax per night

For the next two nights though we are shifting over to the strip (i don't like the idea of two hotels but considering we get to experience both sides, i guess i'll consider that the silver lining) and staying at the Mirage. At the mirage i've arranged what i think is a decent arrangement, we have 1 regular room with some upgraded view (USD119+tax per night) and one huge 1650 sqft two bedroom suite (USD319+tax). The suite is what i think will make the trip great, since many of the people going are not big casino types, having a huge pad to go back too gives them a bit of nice luxery also.

I personally plan poker wise in a few spots, obviously the two hotels i'm staying at, the Bellagio and maybe one more TBD based on the prior trip reports. I'll also likely do a show, hoover dam etc... i want to get my poker fix in since i haven't played a live game in almost 5 months but need to balance it with the rest of the group who don't play any poker, since the whole family created time for the trip based solely on me being home for this small window.

I'll try to send trip reports. If i can figure out a way to post them using my blackberry, i may even give updates during the trip but i think i may avoid live in game updates ... although that would be fun

GTA Poker · May 25,2006, 05:56 AM

If you want to get outside other than the Hoover Dam, skip Red Rock and check out the Valley of Fire, one of my favourite day hiking areas.

I would have recommended Bally's for a hotel, central and I always find that their pricing beats anything else central -- too late I guess.

Here's the tourney link to plan your trip

http://www.lasvegasvegas.com/poker/tournaments.php

ScoobyD · May 25,2006, 01:48 PM

Quote:

I personally plan poker wise in a few spots, obviously the two hotels i'm staying at, the Bellagio and maybe one more TBD based on the prior trip reports.

Well besides the 2 hotels your staying at, Binion's is an obvious choice (across street from the Nugget). As far as the main strip, if you're playing Bellagio, I assume you're looking somewhat higher stakes/nicer room. If so, I'd check out Wynn. The place is gorgeous, the people are gorgeous, and there's plenty of game selection (especially if you're looking to play higher than 4-8 limit).

BBC Z · May 25,2006, 02:39 PM

What limit do you plan on playing Chugs?

Chugs · May 26,2006, 02:10 AM

Hum good question.

Figured 4/8 or 5/10 or 10/20 on limit. Likely would prefer to stay lower on the list initially as i think my game is extremely rusty of late.

May also try some of those capped NL games, 1/2 likely

would really love to play omaha h/l live, just seems like it would be a great game to play live and i've never gotten the chance.

Last but not least will try to play some tournaments if i can find them with reasonable buyins and a good blind structure. The Mirage has some different nightly tournaments, including one on Monday night which is a 230 buy-in.

GTA Poker · May 26,2006, 08:02 AM

If you're going to play 4 8 or 5 10 then any game you find will be soft in Vegas, I have never found a tough game below 10 20 in vegas. The 6 12 at the Mirage is a good game.

ScoobyD · May 26,2006, 10:13 AM

I liked the $8-16 game at the Wynn. The $2 chips makes for a lot chip movement and ridiculous pot size (in terms of chips) though...

Chugs · May 26,2006, 11:59 AM

Small update.

Just randomly checked and got two more seats on Spirit Air for USD280, so i cancelled my flight on NWA and we are all flying together.

Interesting tip, NWA allows you to cancel your booking up until midnight of the day after you book the ticket without any penalty. So if you're planning a trip and get a good rate they may be a good choice to book the seats and hold them for nearly 48 hours while you finalize with all people. Plus you can get billing done in CDN, so it's not like you get dinged on the exchange rate of the refund.

Chugs · May 26,2006, 11:59 AM

8-16 games are what i think i would be comfortable with, assuming i settle in fine initially with 4/8 and don't feel the rust is excessive.

BBC Z · May 26,2006, 01:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chugs

8-16 games are what i think i would be comfortable with, assuming i settle in fine initially with 4/8 and don't feel the rust is excessive.

I played bellagio 8/16 Wednesday May10th & Thursday may 11th .. I found the game to be good but after midnight a lot of the terrible players leave and my Thursday post midnight table was one full of Tags.. it was also the only 8/16 running which could have something to do with it (and could be an early warning indicator)..

Chugs · May 28,2006, 08:41 AM

Well i'm off to detroit, will try to send updates.

I really wasn't that excited before, but now being the day i'm really getting stoked about this trip.

I'm just hoping vegas lives up to the expectations ... and i live up to vegas's