Comments on the Wizard's review

1. I think the best time to go up the tower is at dusk. Then you get to see the sights during daylight and after dark.

2. Wizard: do you think it's possible someone at the Strat recognized you? That does seem like pretty sweet VIP service for that level of play. Did you get the impression you might have been getting special treatment because they realized you were reviewing the place?

It wasn't the Wizard. It was OneAngryDwarf.

Quote: teddys

It wasn't the Wizard. It was OneAngryDwarf.

Quite right. I have too much of a personal history to write about them objectively.

Oops. I guess the picture of you threw me off.

I only wish I could be regularly photographed with attractive young women. :-)

I do have some of my own pictures of the place (mainly my hotel room), but I've been having problems with my digital camera and couldn't make it out to the store today due to a snowstorm...as soon as I can, I'll see about sending them to the Wizard to add to the review.

Enjoyed the review. Glad to see it isn't as bad as everyone who have never stayed there says it is.

My own opinion is that the Strat offers a good value for those on a tight budget. The rooms are cheap and as was noted in the review, they are easily impressed in the casino.

Quote: OneAngryDwarf

I only wish I could be regularly photographed with attractive young women. :-)

Lisa is a paid model, so it isn't like I just meet women like her naturally. Still, she was lots of fun to shoot. I plan to do some gambling videos with her after the Super Bowl.

Quote: Wizard

My own opinion is that the Strat offers a good value for those on a tight budget. The rooms are cheap and as was noted in the review, they are easily impressed in the casino.

I miss Bob Stupak. He brought a unique controlled lunacy to Vegas. And you could actually jump all over his promotions if you knew how to manipulate them.

One of my funniest memories is of being on one of those "Crapless Craps" games. At the time, they offered 100x odds and a minimum Pass Line/Come bet of $1 (or course, there was no Don't bet), so you could actually construct a lower HE line+odds bet than in regular craps. Well, the table got hot--not so much so many points made, but numbers, numbers, numbers, numbers--and when you can have 2, 3, 11 or 12 in the come box, and huge odds, and those numbers are hitting--woo hoo! I was betting $1 flat with $30 odds, and I walked with over $2000--and I probably made the least of anyone at the table. The boxman (who I happened to know) was getting more and more upset--sweating the action, for some reason. I saw his moving his lips several times--"seven, seven". But seven took a holiday that day.

Did the reviewer stay in one of the updated rooms? I've heard that 900 of them or so had gone through some renovations.

Quote: Wizard

Lisa is a paid model, so it isn't like I just meet women like her naturally.

I don't recall a detailed description of the woman who tried to cling to you at Terrible's ;)

Quote: Javi

Did the reviewer stay in one of the updated rooms? I've heard that 900 of them or so had gone through some renovations.

The renovations were minimal at best. The furniture was not new but was brought up from their casino in Laughlin. It was "newer" furniture, mixed with a little paint.

No more $10 dollar roulette single zero? Awww shucks.

Used to be if you were going to the "Top of the World Bar", they escorted you up in the VIP elevator, and there was no charge for the tower admission. Drinks were on the pricey side, but very liberal with the quantities of your choice of alcoholic beverage.

The view is nothing short of amazing on a hot summer night. Talk your camera!

Lunch was the best option, again no tower charge, at least for guests, as we were. I ordered the Ahi Tuna, and it was sushi grade and cooked to perfection. It was one of the best meals I've ever had in Las Vegas, lunch or dinner. The service was bar none!

Used to be a $10 dollar burger special for lunch up there, not on the menu but there is a poster of it along the corridor to the buffet, and in the elevator advertising it.

The old World Tower pool was Topless, and not "Family Oriented" as the review states, unless that's changed. Was a $10 cover for guys, regardless of guest status.

The regular pool facility (7th floor) is and had a DJ in the evening during the summer months, blaring out hip hop. Not my bag, but it wasn't too annoyingly loud at the other end.

The luke warm jacuzzi was packed with little kids, as the age restriction is not enforced. If it's yellow, let it mellow. The pool tasted like salt since they haven't changed the water since Christ was a carpenter.

The Tower is the main draw for me.

The gambling is average, and I'm suspicious that the "Angry Dwarf" might have mentioned to someone his status as a reviewer, and thus received the royal treatment. Or maybe I'm just jealous, as I have played heavy there many times and never been approached by VIP staff or a host.

Check vpFREE2 for VP options. There are a few tolerable options there.

>My own opinion is that the Strat offers a good value for those on a tight budget.
Yes. Many places offer cheap rooms, but at least the Stratosphere also offers good opportunities in the casino, wifi access if its not abused, etc.

>Lisa is a paid model ...
Yeah, and for being 99 years old, she sure looks great. (See her age listing on her modeling profile).

Sorry for the late reply, but I just wanted to clear my name...

Quote: BenJammin

The gambling is average, and I'm suspicious that the "Angry Dwarf" might have mentioned to someone his status as a reviewer, and thus received the royal treatment. Or maybe I'm just jealous, as I have played heavy there many times and never been approached by VIP staff or a host.

Nope, I never mentioned I was reviewing the hotel to anyone there. Did you stay at the hotel as well? It may be that they only approach you if you're also staying there.

Actually I think that a good deal of this Comping situation can be a reflection of newly hired hosts or sheer whims. They might have guessed you were reviewing them or they might simply have had a host who hadn't been doing so well and decided to be very generous so as to mine his recent contacts. I've seen too many gamblers who were playing the same game with just about the same bankroll end up with markedly different cops, to think that there is all that much rhyme or reason to it.

Quote: Nareed

I don't recall a detailed description of the woman who tried to cling to you at Terrible's ;)

I had to go back to catch this, which I had missed.

Quote:

beaten-down, missing teeth, sickly look.

Geez, Wizard, I have to hope that when you first invited her company you had only seen her out of the corner of your eye or something

Quote: BenJammin

No more $10 dollar roulette single zero? Awww shucks.

The evil empire sets the standards for mediocrity and everyone else follows suit eventually.

>The old World Tower pool was Topless ... Was a $10 cover for guys.
Yeah, when the gals are uncovered there is usually a cover for the guys.

> the "Angry Dwarf" might have mentioned to someone his status as a reviewer, and thus received the royal treatment.
Perhaps someone else with the surname Dwarf was expected that week. Or perhaps someone spotted him taking notes and thought he might be writing a review?

>Or maybe I'm just jealous, as I have played heavy there many times and never been approached by VIP staff or a host.
H'mmm. May I suggest that the next time you find yourself at the Stratosphere, you approach a host. It seems you would have nothing to lose since they seem to be ignoring your play as it is.

Quote: odiousgambit

Geez, Wizard, I have to hope that when you first invited her company you had only seen her out of the corner of your eye or something

I had already seen her with my full eye. As I wrote in the review, I was just trying to be polite, and didn't see a hustle coming on.

My eyes got me in trouble in Panama too. I didn't write this part, but once you make eye contact with a prostitute there, she won't leave you alone. They will follow you around the casino and sit down next to you wherever you play. I tried to get rid of them with lines like "You're very pretty, but I'm waiting for someone else," but it never worked.

When it comes to women I'm quite the rube.

In my experience with the Strat I was told that I must maintain a min of $100/hand of blackjack to maintain access to a host. I had been betting much more than that and after a few trips starting betting $25 to $50....which is when they told me that. For the longest time they had signs all over that said "Play $25 for four hours and stay free"...they may still be up which could help explain the treatment received.

I do like the upgraded rooms and I think they just recently finished remodeling all the rooms so it's possible the room wasn't one of the remodeled ones.

My biggest gripe about the Strat is their policy against non-players. I typically have someone with me while playing blackjack and that person often times just wants to watch and have a drink but the Strat will not allow folks who aren't playing to sit at the table. This is the main reason i will no longer play there. They did say that if i was playing $100/min then i could have a private table and invite whoever i want to sit down....i think this is super lame to say the least.

Quote: Wizard

I tried to get rid of them with lines like "You're very pretty, but I'm waiting for someone else," but it never worked.

"I'm a homosexual" works well, but most men aren't willing to say that.

Quote: casinogeek

My biggest gripe about the Strat is their policy against non-players, the Strat will not allow folks who aren't playing to sit at the table.

I guess it depends on how crowded things are too. My companion often sits with me at the MiniBacc table but just wants to relax for awhile and not play. Its rarely a problem at most casinos. Even at my local Indian casino, which I loathe, if we decide to leave BlackJack and to to MiniBacc, as we are sitting down I let the dealer know that he needn't wait for my companion as she won't be playing. This allows him to do his dealing without any delays. The drink service is lousy to start with but I've never noticed any deterioration just because I'm the only one playing but each of us order a drink.

I don't know why the Strat would ever have such a policy, after all one of the indicators of a card counter is the lack of some bimbo being around him.

Quote: EvenBob

"I'm a homosexual" works well, but most men aren't willing to say that.

I wouldn't use that simply because she probably has a friend. Now you will have two people and one will be expecting a referral fee.

Quote: FleaStiff

I guess it depends on how crowded things are too. My companion often sits with me at the MiniBacc table but just wants to relax for awhile and not play. Its rarely a problem at most casinos. Even at my local Indian casino, which I loathe, if we decide to leave BlackJack and to to MiniBacc, as we are sitting down I let the dealer know that he needn't wait for my companion as she won't be playing. This allows him to do his dealing without any delays. The drink service is lousy to start with but I've never noticed any deterioration just because I'm the only one playing but each of us order a drink.

I don't know why the Strat would ever have such a policy, after all one of the indicators of a card counter is the lack of some bimbo being around him.

I agree - I don't have any idea why they have this policy when 99% of other casinos i've visited do not. Usually no one minds if only one person is playing but both ordering drinks as long as the person is willing to get up to allow more players when needed.

Quote: pacomartin

I wouldn't use that simply because she probably has a friend. Now you will have two people and one will be expecting a referral fee.

Yes, quite right. It is best to recall that "working girls" are just that: working! Their time is valuable and they are not there to joke around. If their manner of dress and their initial approach is a bit brusque that is all the more reason to be courteous. If they are at a higher level in the trade and are well dressed, well-spoken but quite obviously marketing themselves they will usually appreciate a courteous and prompt response, but their departure may not be immediate since they may not want to call excess attention to themselves (and also any sales"man" is usually a bit persistent). A firm but polite 'no' and allowing her a courteous "time lag" to depart is best. She may not want to be seen by surveillance or security as "flitting" about making her offers. Its the same way with security cameras and elevators, clothing is often "reversible" so that different colors and styles make her not quite so noticeable to the security guards. It doesn't really fool anyone but it is done to stay "under the radar" as much as possible.

I was at the Strat Sept 30 through Oct 3.

To have access to a host you need to be at the RED playing club level, regardless of what you are betting at the time (Have the red card have a host its that simple.) I was approached at the green level but I have just got done cycling $2800 in a video blackjack machine. To get to the red playing level is not too hard, you just have to put some time in at the $25 BJ table. When you are RED you are treated like roaylty there, ask for just about anything and they will give it to you.

I play mainly at the $25 or $50 BJ table and my wife is ALWAYS allowed to sit with me, she can order anything she likes to drink, no one ever questions it. If they did make a big deal about it I wouldn't go there.

Most of the dealers are awesome. They always recognize my wife or I when we approach. We also tip the very well so that would probably be the main reason.

I have seen 1 working girl since I have been there that was obvious to me.

I will be going back Oct 14-18 and I expect the same level of service.

Any other questions please ask I Love this place and will talk about it anytime!