Booked First Vegas Trip!
Quote: RomesIf it's on the N64 and the original version, my brother and I will be there to collect the winnings. Of course there's probably a 1% chance it's on the original game.. =P
Just looked it up it's called the Evo Championships at Mandalay Bay on June 14-16
Quote: SiegfriedRoyGamerfreak,
I've read through the blog and everybody provided great tips. I think he most AP thing you can do is to rent a car for a week. I don't know when you're going, but Vegas rental costs are dirt cheap! Sometimes I rent a vehicle because it's cheaper than round-trip costs of taxi for a weekend. It also helps that you are a diamond member. Trying to eat "cheap" on the strip will run you dry. If you had a car, you can go to off-strip casinos like Silverton, Red Rock, GVR, and etc to take advantage of their dirt cheap breakfast buffets. I highly recommend the Grand Canyon as well if you're going to be there for a week. Chances are, you may get sick of it. Let me give you some cheap recommendations when it comes to dining.
Yea I was just looking and it's cheaper to rent for a week than I thought, around $200. I wanted to go to off strip casinos like palace station and whatnot. How is the parking situation on/off the strip? Flamingo has a garage, right? I'm hardwired to think city+car=misery from spending time in Philly and NYC, but it seems like vegas might be a little different.
Parking around Fremont St. can be free but you need to work on it.
Having a car will save you a good deal on eating.
Quote: gamerfreakYea I was just looking and it's cheaper to rent for a week than I thought, around $200. I wanted to go to off strip casinos like palace station and whatnot. How is the parking situation on/off the strip? Flamingo has a garage, right? I'm hardwired to think city+car=misery from spending time in Philly and NYC, but it seems like vegas might be a little different.
I love off-strip casinos. They offer the best food deals and gambling in town. Do check out Palms, they were bought by Stations and they have dirt cheap buffets as well. I love that they have 3:2 $5 blackjacks at the Palm. Whenever I come to town with the Mrs., she loves to hit the Palms for the cheap gaming and buffets.
1. When you check in at VIP, make sure you load up on as many free water bottles as possible.
2. If you want a quick snack and a PBR Stage door has a $3 giant hot dog and PBR. It's on Flamingo right next to Cromwell and across Ballys.
https://www.yelp.com/biz/stage-door-las-vegas?osq=cheap+hotdog+bar+flamingo.
3. Check out Ellis Island for their daily 8 oz NY steak, 2 eggs, toast, and potatoes for $6.99 (It's not on the menu, just ask for it...i think the deal ends around 1PM tho).
4. Mr. Lucky's at the Hard Rock. They have a $7.77 special for a steak, shrimp, mashed potato and greens. You need to sign up for their players card and buy a drink tho.
5. Seasons buffet at Silverton. They have a weekday $9.99 lunch buffet with players card. It's not the best, but for 9.99 it's great value
6. Just yelp Chinatown (Spring Mountain Rd) for some asian food. Unless you're coming from a big city like NYC, LA, and etc, LV china town will have better asian food at a fraction of the price of the strip.
Otherwise, good luck and have fun. I hope you and your wife will spend quality time in Las Vegas. Just don't blow your whole BR the first couple of days. It can cause for a miserable rest of the week.
Del Taco has a great $1 menu, as does Arbys from 2pm to 5pm.
Lunch ,alone, every day will save you a good bit. I used to have an energy shake for breakfast, one of the above for lunch and then could splurge a bit for dinner.
A number of places in the ACG offer free buffets for easily obtained point levels. If you spend more than $20 a person on food, you aren't trying.
Quote: billryanCarl Jr's has a fantastic $4 real deal. Double cheeseburger, spicy chicken sandwich, fries and a soda.
Del Taco has a great $1 menu, as does Arbys from 2pm to 5pm.
Lunch ,alone, every day will save you a good bit. I used to have an energy shake for breakfast, one of the above for lunch and then could splurge a bit for dinner.
A number of places in the ACG offer free buffets for easily obtained point levels. If you spend more than $20 a person on food, you aren't trying.
It surely would be fun to see a BARE BONE Vegas trip report where a member attempts to eat and get drunk with 10-dollar-a-day budget and grind on the strip. The catch is...you can use any legal means to get calories in and drink alcoholic beverages. I'm sure a day can be done, but a week would be a huge challenge.
With a car, I'd spend a part of an afternoon checking out Hoover Dam and Boulder City( the historic district) then swing by Emerald Island in old Henderson.
With minimum play( I think its $100 each)on their good paying video poker machines, a new member gets a free E.I. burger special- 8ounce burger,fries and a coke .
With the LVA book, you also get a wheel spin for anywhere from $10- $100.
Another afternoon, head out to Red Rock Canyon( free after 4PM). Get there around dusk and all the creatures that sleep during the day start to stir, and then hit Red Rock Casino for their exceptional buffet at a BOGO price. It will run you less than $20 a couple. You can toss in time at Historic Bonnie Springs for $10 if you want to make it a longer day. Down the road from Bonnie Springs is a great biker bar called the Mountain Springs Saloon. It's motto- "If it happens at the Mountain spring Saloon, it didn't happen" tells you all you need to know. A Mountain Springs- Bonnie Springs- Red Rock Canyon- Red Rock Casino would be a cheap fun day.
Two very inexpensive afternoons that will help stretch your budget. A little research will show you many restaurants around town have BOGO nights or specials. I like Capos for Italian food and Tuesday night their entire menu is 50% off, as an example.
Seven Magic Mountains combined with a cocktail or three at the Pioneer Saloon is a great diversion from the strip. Take a few minutes and drive through the town of Goodsprings. You'll find it hard to believe you are twenty miles from Las vegas.
If you like Rock music, Club Vamp'd , owned by The Kount of Kars, has decent inexpensive bar food and live music almost every night. I think its the Koolest bar in town, although it's not for everyone. Sand Dollar ( behind the Rio) has live blues bands every night and never a cover.
Quote: SiegfriedRoyIt surely would be fun to see a BARE BONE Vegas trip report where a member attempts to eat and get drunk with 10-dollar-a-day budget and grind on the strip. The catch is...you can use any legal means to get calories in and drink alcoholic beverages. I'm sure a day can be done, but a week would be a huge challenge.
I am doing exactly this in aug. Stay tuned
Ellis Island is 1 block east of Bally's (but it's a LONG block).Quote: JoemanYou may want to take a walk (or short Uber ride) over to Ellis Island for a decent gamble and their steak dinner special. They offer $5-$500 freeplay for new members (Mrs. Joeman and I both got $5). Run $5 through a machine and you can get a voucher (actually 2 vouchers) for the $7.99 steak dinner. If you want more info, Mission slipped in a review over on the Hotels page a few months back.
They have a $7 (?) taco salad which is huge & pretty good. I used to do the Steak Special, but now it's a lot of hassle.
I like Penn & Teller show on last visit. One of the free Diamond Lounge shows.
Rare exception to the general rule that cheap shows stink (Stick to the Top 10) - dancers are visibly bored...
If Rio free shows every day are still going, they are pretty good - the dancers looks like they are having fun.
Diamond Lounges vary in time (opening/closing) & food offered.
Some don't even have wings...
Flamingo spa has dual shower jets from 2 directions which can be set to different temperatures.
Most Harrahs spas are free for diamonds - free fruit, tiny cans of juices, water - stock up & take food back to your room (bring a bag).
My favorite is Bally's (compared to Paris & Flamingo) ... but I haven't tried Caesar's or Rio or Linq
In emergency, for cheap food on strip, head to Subway just south of Planet Hollywood. 24 hrs.
Cheapest decent use of Harrahs pts for cheap food is Sub shop in Planet Hollywood (in the back, close to the south mall entrances).
To use Harrahs pts, in Flamingo food court, order a side of fried rice (not very good). Burgers are ok, but pricey.
The steak special is always off menu and I've never before heard of a time limit on it.
I'm told the ribs are good there but I wouldn't know a good rib from Adam. (lol)
Parking at the outer local casinos is going to be free and most drivers there will be sober.
A few years ago a poker player on this forum who retired from Buffalo to Florida's East Coast spent 25 days in Vegas and paid for only one night, virtually no meals and even got a free ride when he did his laundry. I tried to find his blog but couldn't. He was very creative in his cheap meals and huge amounts of condiments. More so than I would want to be. Though I sure do like the free onions, the dealers probably don't like it though.
He auditioned for another act and was hired, only it was six weeks until rehearsals started and he'd get a salary.
Enter Arbys.
At the time they had a dollar menu and a telephone survey that you could do once a day.
Long story short, after paying a dollar for his first sandwich, he would walk a mile to Arbys for a dollar sandwich and use the receipt to get it free. They'd staple a receipt to the bag and he'd use it that night for a second sandwich.
Rinse and repeat
He slept in his car(no money for gas) , worked a convention as the Michelin Man and managed to last six weeks on about $500.
Quote: billryanPretty sure the Rio show has gone the way of free parking.
We aren't talking the show in the sky are we? If so yeah thats been gone for about 8 years.
Quote: FleaStiffEllis Island has its own beer made right there and the plastic lines get a blast of air every 24 hours so its really a fresh and clean brew.
The steak special is always off menu and I've never before heard of a time limit on it.
I'm told the ribs are good there but I wouldn't know a good rib from Adam. (lol)
Parking at the outer local casinos is going to be free and most drivers there will be sober.
A few years ago a poker player on this forum who retired from Buffalo to Florida's East Coast spent 25 days in Vegas and paid for only one night, virtually no meals and even got a free ride when he did his laundry. I tried to find his blog but couldn't. He was very creative in his cheap meals and huge amounts of condiments. More so than I would want to be. Though I sure do like the free onions, the dealers probably don't like it though.
Ellis Island is one of my favorites. Love the root beer. I recommend the casino to budget minded people who enjoy good food.
Quote: BTLWIThis thread also serves as a guideline of how to be miserable in Vegas as possible.
Why is that? Some of us poor people love doing things on the cheap.
Quote: GWAEWhy is that? Some of us poor people love doing things on the cheap.
Yea I agree. I like the thrill of the chase.
We are doing 2 or 3 high end dinners. I just don't want to drop $1200 on bad sandwiches.
PALMS has a very nice buffet for a low price. We used to go to Ellis Island for breakfast, but I think PALMS is better.Quote: gamerfreak
But I did order American casino guide and join LVA, and what I am gathering is that this city has an obsession with buffets. I somehow managed to avoid them the first time I visited.
Piff is pretty cool, but ya gotta go see MAC KING. Afternoons at Harrah's. You'll thank me.Quote: gamerfreak
I saw P&T when I was there and remember it being awesome and want to see them one more time before they retire or die. I also saw one of the circ de variations which was also good. I hear Cris Angel isn't to be missed (joking). But I did want to catch one other magic show, Piff The Magic Dragon.
Romes:
Million Dollar Quartet was excellent, but it's closed now. I like LEGENDS and TENORS OF ROCK, both on the Diamond Show list. But sounds like GF is going to P&T.
Correct !Quote: JoemanAlso, I believe its 2 per calendar month, so if you arrive on June 30, you can get 2 the day you arrive, and then 2 more on July 1.
Quote: JohnnyQPALMS has a very nice buffet for a low price. We used to go to Ellis Island for breakfast, but I think PALMS is better.
Piff is pretty cool, but ya gotta go see MAC KING. Afternoons at Harrah's. You'll thank me.
Romes:
Million Dollar Quartet was excellent, but it's closed now. I like LEGENDS and TENORS OF ROCK, both on the Diamond Show list. But sounds like GF is going to P&T.
I believe there is a cheap mac King groupon.
Also, people sell their diamond free tickets on Craigslist for $50 for 2 tickets. We plan on doing that in aug to see penn and teller.
I have been to Vegas 5 times and have never had a day without a car....but I hardly ever drink
the ride back into Vegas coming from Death Valley at night has an amazing view of the city.... should have a pull out there so folks could stop and snap some pics ( Blue Diamond Rd maybe?? )
Any two of those are a great high end meal.
I also think this is an excellent book for first time visitors as far as providing strategy guides, gaming explanations, etc.Quote: gamerfreakMy copy of American Casino Guide came. This book is really solid, glad I purchased.
Quote: SiegfriedRoyIt surely would be fun to see a BARE BONE Vegas trip report where a member attempts to eat and get drunk with 10-dollar-a-day budget and grind on the strip. The catch is...you can use any legal means to get calories in and drink alcoholic beverages. I'm sure a day can be done, but a week would be a huge challenge.
Drinking would be hard... even if you stuck with the penny slots to get free drinks you'd still have to tip the cocktail waitresses. You might be better off just hitting a liquor store and grabbing a pint of cheap whiskey to slug off of throughout the day.
Quote: billryanYou'd be amazed how many people don't tip, or tip a quarter or fifty cents. After all, what is 20% of free?
I always tip $1. One time I was in the middle of a hand and it slipped my mind, and the waitress got mad and said "UHHHH, CAN I GET YOU CHANGE???" Can't imagine people get away with not tipping for long before being shamed to death.
Quote: FleaStiffSomeone mentioned The Palms. Is there still that nearby watering hole called Money Plays? It used to be an off work joint for dealers, great local music, great Mexican food from the joint next door through a pass-through window and good stiff drinks. If you want some local bands to listen too real cheap, check out whether Money Plays is still in business. Its certainly an archaic phrase at the craps tables nowaday.
Pretty sure there is. I've seen a place called Money Plays, but never gone in. I think it was near the palms.
Quote: gamerfreakI always tip $1. One time I was in the middle of a hand and it slipped my mind, and the waitress got mad and said "UHHHH, CAN I GET YOU CHANGE???" Can't imagine people get away with not tipping for long before being shamed to death.
That seems pretty rude of her to do that, especially if she noticed you were in the middle of a hand. Had you been tipping her previously, or was it the first time? If you're sitting at a table getting drinks (and tipping) for hours on end, you'd think they could let it slide every once in a while.
Quote: TigerWuThat seems pretty rude of her to do that, especially if she noticed you were in the middle of a hand. Had you been tipping her previously, or was it the first time? If you're sitting at a table getting drinks (and tipping) for hours on end, you'd think they could let it slide every once in a while.
It was the first drink I got that night at Bally's AC. None of the cocktail waitresses there are good looking either.
The one time I tipped the girl when she brought our drinks, and my girlfriend didn't have her ID on her, so she wouldn't give us the drinks but still ran off with the tip. I chased her down and got the tip back.
I could do it, but not if Mrs Q was along. I would be having a light dinner at the Diamond Lounge every night. The $ 10 is just for eating and drinking, right ?Quote: siegfriedroyIt surely would be fun to see a BARE BONE Vegas trip report where a member attempts to eat and get drunk with 10-dollar-a-day budget and grind on the strip. The catch is...you can use any legal means to get calories in and drink alcoholic beverages. I'm sure a day can be done, but a week would be a huge challenge.
My advice: enjoy yourself. I stayed in the Flamingo last year and I am confident it doesn't have a fridge. Enjoy the free things to do in Vegas. Rent a car if you want to see things, but the Grand Canyon is a 8+ hour round trip plus the sightseeing., and you don't want to leave less then 5 hours for the sightseeing. I did the drive from Grand Canyon to Vegas last month. Part of the problem with keeping food in your room is that you'll have to go back there to eat keeping you close to home.
Do see shows, not just Penn and Teller, but take in a Cirque show. They are amazing. Take in the fountains, the stupid volcano at TI and the Pinball hall-of-fame. Get yourself moving on MyVegas at Facebook or Mobile for 1/2 price shows (including Cirque) and Buffets on the MGM side. If you want to drink for cheap, buy your own liquor or play and drink.
And yes, I highly recommend Ellis Island for the cheap steak-and-eggs and steak / rib dinners, the $5 3-2 blackjack and the full pay VP. There's a 7-11 next to it -- get your water / gatorade / junk food there. Hit the Stage Door on the way back for liquor. The back door of the Flamingo will get your there fairly quickly. And go to Fremont Street.
Quote: boymimboI'm a bit confused. It seems like there is a budget for expensive meals and a budget for shows but everything else you want to do on the super-cheap? A choice of not taking a dessert or an appetizer at one of these high-ends could mean not worrying for a couple of days about what you eat on the strip.
7 days and 2 people is 28-42 meals. The more money I can save on attractions and in-between higher end meals, the more bankroll I have to gamble. Im not making myself miserable by doing a coupon tour around a bunch of off strip casinos. Sounds like a fun day to me.
Thanks for the tips.
Agreed on EI, but I have been going to PALMS more and more often for their inexpensive Breakfast buffet, and a bit of 0.25 FPDW. The 202 bus is $ 2 per ride of $ 5 for 24 hours. They have a nice feature where you can text the stop # to get updated arrival times. I'm sure there is an "app" as well.Quote: boymimbo
And yes, I highly recommend Ellis Island for the cheap steak-and-eggs and steak / rib dinners, the $5 3-2 blackjack and the full pay VP. There's a 7-11 next to it -- get your water / gatorade / junk food there. Hit the Stage Door on the way back for liquor. The back door of the Flamingo will get your there fairly quickly.
(You can also can walk thru Paris and Bally's coming from the other side for the EI shortcut.)
Meh. Lots of free stuff to see on the Strip.Quote: boymimboAnd go to Fremont Street.
Not sure if you've been reading this thread but it has a lot of good suggestions on free and cheap things to do besides gambling. I also suggest you check the link in my post for vegas.com .
Quote: beachbumbabsGamerfreak,
Not sure if you've been reading this thread but it has a lot of good suggestions on free and cheap things to do besides gambling. I also suggest you check the link in my post for vegas.com .
Haven't read through it all but I plan to, thanks!!
My girlfriend is still dead set on grand canyon, she seems to think there's a rim you can get to in 2hrs from Vegas. Grand Canyon Skywalk maybe is what she heard about?
I realize south/north/west rims are better/worse or more/less touristy, but I am more concerned with the travel time. Not looking to do 8hrs+ of driving in a single day while on vacation.
Seems like a great price from Hertz if that includes the taxes.Quote: gamerfreakRented a Full Size Sedan via hertz with some discounts for $240 for the week.
Then may I suggest (still involves a fair bit of driving if you go up and back in one day).Quote: gamerfreakI realize south/north/west rims are better/worse or more/less touristy, but I am more concerned with the travel time. Not looking to do 8hrs+ of driving in a single day while on vacation.
https://www.nps.gov/zion/planyourvisit/thenarrows.htm
We did this years ago with our kids, but we drove up there and stayed overnight, it wasn't a day trip.
I haven't heard many good reports on the relatively close Indian reservation on the "West rim". You may want to research that a bit first. Anyone been there ?
Take a bus to the South Rim. You'll have a guided tour, and watch a couple of movies on the ride.
Here is the info on the Skywalk. Note that admission on to the Walk is not included in the cheaper packages. I think its a ripoff, but you decide.
https://grandcanyon.com/planning/west-planning/grand-canyon-skywalk-price-tickets/
Quote: billryanThe West Rim is about two and a half-three hours. Unless it has changed recently, the last fifty miles is an unpaved road best suited for SUVs. You might be able to go 25 in a rental car. Meanwhile excursion Hummers will blow by you at 50-60 spitting rocks at your car and windshield. Then you get there you pay a parking fee to look at the SkyWalk, then another fee to actually go on it. When I was there, they had a couple of burly security guards enforcing the no photo taking on the bridge.
Take a bus to the South Rim. You'll have a guided tour, and watch a couple of movies on the ride.
Here is the info on the Skywalk. Note that admission on to the Walk is not included in the cheaper packages. I think its a ripoff, but you decide.
https://grandcanyon.com/planning/west-planning/grand-canyon-skywalk-price-tickets/
This is the site I'm looking at:
https://www.grandcanyonwest.com/tickets.htm
I can live with $83 for the skywalk since it includes food. $120 for a 20min helicopter tour isn't terrible either.
Quote: billryanThe West Rim is about two and a half-three hours. Unless it has changed recently, the last fifty miles is an unpaved road best suited for SUVs. You might be able to go 25 in a rental car. Meanwhile excursion Hummers will blow by you at 50-60 spitting rocks at your car and windshield. Then you get there you pay a parking fee to look at the SkyWalk, then another fee to actually go on it. When I was there, they had a couple of burly security guards enforcing the no photo taking on the bridge.
Take a bus to the South Rim. You'll have a guided tour, and watch a couple of movies on the ride.
Here is the info on the Skywalk. Note that admission on to the Walk is not included in the cheaper packages. I think its a ripoff, but you decide.
https://grandcanyon.com/planning/west-planning/grand-canyon-skywalk-price-tickets/
$83 a person and you cant take pictures. Thst is crwzy talk.
Before getting on the walk, we had to sit through four senior citizens do some sort of ceremonial dance ( with a "suggested" $5 per person tip), and the meal was a stew of dubious origin and cornmeal tortilla type bread.
The security guys warned any cameras used on the walk would be confiscated and tossed over the side.
I've heard it's gotten a bit better but go at your own risk.
My advice is that if you want to tell people "I went to the Grand Canyon" then by all means head to the West Rim and enjoy the tourist trap for what it is. The Skywalk, while charging its own admission fee, is likely pretty cool. If you are awed by nature and want to be a part of it and just want a surreal experience, go to the South Canyon and take couple of hours early in the day for a small hike (whatever you are comfortable with) into it.
All reports of South Rim vs West Rim admit that the true Grand Canyon and the awesomeness is far better at the South Rim in terms of accessibility, views, and experience. Reports of the West Rim are "Tourist Trap", not nearly as spectacular, and regret.
Your choice. I went to the South Rim a month ago and was thoroughly amazed and awestruck. It is a surreal experience, and if you are into that, you won't be disappointed. It is jarring actually. We did a trip starting in Sedona (which is a great place to stay), through the Grand Canyon, and arrived at the MGM at 6:30pm to take in Mystere at 9:30. It was completely weird to take in the awesomeness of nature followed by seeing acrobats perform at the limits of their capabilities and to see architecture, capitalism, and human ingenuity at their limits on the same day.
On another note...I'm a weirdo and not much for strip clubs, but my girlfriend is really interested. Any suggestions on that front?
Quote: gamerfreak
On another note...I'm a weirdo and not much for strip clubs, but my girlfriend is really interested. Any suggestions on that front?
Congratulations on the jackpot! And it's not even taxable. Not really interested either so no help other than I saw a sign from the freeway that said Little Darlings.
