Now onto my question. My wife told me she would like to go to Tunica for her birthday which is a few months away. I've been thinking about surprising her with a trip to Vegas instead. Here's where I'm at. I'm new so I'm pretty sure where ever I go I'm going to lose whatever I drop on the table. If I could break even I'd be happy. Tickets and a room in Vegas is going to run $1000. I'll have $2000 to put toward this trip. Do I spend a $1000 to get to Vegas and then have $1000 to eat and gamble on while I am there or do I go to Tunica (where I'm certain if I drop 2 grand on the table eats and more than likely rooms will be comped) and have the 2 grand to play on? Tunica is a couple hours drive from me.
Remember this is just about entertainment to me and either way I doubt I come home with any of it lol.
I'd enjoy hearing the opinions of all of you.
But Vegas is Vegas Baby!!! Woo Hoo.
So are you and the GF more interested in nightclubs and fancy restaurants, bascially the whole Vegas experience? Or is this a more serious gambling trip..if so stick to Tunica.
Either way, welcome to the seductive mistress known as blackjack.
First, she already said Tunica.
Second, Vegas is an "experience" but what will the casino hopping and shopping and spas actually give her if you don't spend the money on a more upscale trip to Vegas? Longer walks in Vegas, more glitter, more glamor, more gawking. Will she enjoy that or would she prefer some of the usual entertainment at Tunica that she is used to and be happier there anyway. Vegas can be fun, but airports and airplanes are not much fun these days!
Third, You will get comped in Tunica at your budget so its good for a birthday celebration, just plan on a little extra spa money or something. At your level of play you should be getting comped for your room and your meals in the buffet and deli areas. You might also get comped at the upscale restaurants too. Ofcourse, it will depend on how squeaky a wheel you are since it is Tunica after all.
Fourth: Learn to play the games better and don't be so accepting of "I know I will lose". Its known that the odds are in the casino's favor but people do indeed win from time to time.
My two cents: There's nothing like Vegas.
But... If you go on the weekend you might be hard pressed to get by on only a grand with those inflated prices.
Tunica is an awful place. It's almost as bad as Laughlin Nevada! There's NOTHING to do there! It's purgatory! Go to LV, or you will risk ending your marriage!
There's also tons of stuff to do, other than just gambling in LV!
Regarding your expenses, you can get to LV for less money than you think. Get on Priceline.com and set your own price. Regarding the hotels, you can stay some place cheap like the Riviera or Flamingo for between $25 and $60 a night. You can even stay at the Golden Nugget in the Rush Tower for about $65/75 per night.
Don't make me slap you up side the head man! DO THE RIGHT THING!!!
-Keyser
Thus, Tunica, by default.
TUNICA
LAS VEGAS
You've got plenty of money. I've probably been to LV more times than most of the people that actually live in LV. ;)
I've also been to Tunica. Leaving Tunica was like a scene from the movie, "Constantine", where Kenau Reeves, in one scene, is attempting to escape hell.
Get to LV and enjoy your life.
There aren't very many casinos in Tunica, and they're spread out just enough that you'll need a rental car. However, in LV there are more casinos that you would have time to visit. With some hunting, you'll also find better odds and promotions.
In Tunica, you're going to run out of money and run out of things to do in a short period of time.
In LV, you can find limits as low as Tunica, and there's far more to do if the money runs out. The hotels in LV are also just as cheap, maybe even cheaper.
Also, when's the last time, if ever, that you've heard someone brag about going to Tunica?
Does she like to gamble a lot? Or is she more touristy, relaxed when on vacation? How many times has she been to Tunica? Also how many days will you have? Anything less than 4, I think I go Tunica here.
If she is more touristy (but isn't big on high end shopping or staying in really nice hotels, or eating classy every night because all of those may bankrupt you), I would consider Vegas. My g/f and I are Vegas cheapos though, since that helps us go there more. :) Our biggest expense is always airfare ($450-$600 for both of us). And the first time going, you'll have so much to explore, so you'll likely not gamble as much as you might think.
If she plans to gamble a LOT (~8 hours a day), then Tunica is probably better because the dollar goes further. We go there quarterly (5 hour drive). If you/the wife get "bored" gambling, you can always checkout Memphis (Beale Street, Graceland, etc.).
Quote: IbeatyouracesYeah us professional gamblers have no friggin clue what we're talking about. I musta been a moron cleaning up on the flashing dealer at Mississippi Stud today down south.
If your close to Tunica I'd love to meet you sometime if we could both be there at the same time. Never played Ms Stud before but I'd be willing to give it a try.
Quote: Mikey75If anyone has any other comments feel free to share. Thanks!!
Not sure if you've been to Vegas yourself, but all new people can sign up for promotions (players cards) at almost every casino and get some free play.
This is neither awful or great. But you could easily burn quite a bit of time traveling around doing it. You need a cheap rental car aside from your hotel room.
Quote: KeyserYou've got plenty of money.
His total wad is two grand.
Out of that, at least half goes to fly and house he and the wife, leaving a grand to eat, drink, gamble, sightsee and play with.
Now, I'm not saying it can't be done for that amount of money, but I would never bother going to Las Vegas with just chump change.
Go big, or go to Tunica.
Quote: KeyserIn fact, if you're looking for low limits, then LV might offer even better options.
Not if you plan to stay on the Strip. And considering it would be his first trip there, I mainly would recommend that for the experience. One day downtown, tops.
He could do Vegas on his budget if he wished, but he and his wife needs to be on the cheaper end of vacationing and be alright with that.
I will definitely be adding this to any future trips. Every casino I know of has a spa. Not sure how good they all are.
And, I was able to make myself believe I was saving money by booking the spa. Actually, I probably was saving money! I was running so bad I am sure the $280 spent for that 1.5 hours was well under my loss rate........ plus the casino picked up the $200 anyway, so I just paid the $80 tip.
Yes. Particularly if the wife is not ultra-thrilled with touristy gawking things in Vegas. I'd say Go Big or Go To Tunica is good advice, but a third option would be to study a bit more, learn the bargains in Vegas and make that lower amount of money stretch a bit more in Vegas by knowing which events you want to attend, which bars have a good band but no cover charge, etc.Quote: MrVGo big, or go to Tunica.
Tunica offers gambling or a choice between Cotton and Soybeans. In Vegas, there are a zillion things more but it takes planning and knowing what your choices and energy levels are likely to be. Vegas involves alot of walking and gawking even if you emphasize the gambling. And you always have the Bellagio's Arboretum if miss the Cotton or Soybeans options.
I would try to get a Gulf view room if I was there.
Definitely try Vegas in the future. You can't always do the optimal thing or else you're not really making a choice, but going with the programming. I wouldn't do it this time, but plan it for the next time. Win on this trip and make it easier.
Quote: tringlomaneNot if you plan to stay on the Strip. And considering it would be his first trip there, I mainly would recommend that for the experience. One day downtown, tops.
He could do Vegas on his budget if he wished, but he and his wife needs to be on the cheaper end of vacationing and be alright with that.
Hilton Elara...used to be the PH Westgate....
$115 a night for a fantastic suite with strip views.
Vegas can keep you occupied ALL DAY with stuff to walk around and see...for a birthday trip (with the free sign up play) its a waaaaaay better experience than Tunica.
He's got a couple months...pay for the airfare now and work a little extra to get his BR back to 2000.
VEGAS
VEGAS
VEGAS
Quote: FleaStiffYes. Particularly if the wife is not ultra-thrilled with touristy gawking things in Vegas. I'd say Go Big or Go To Tunica is good advice, but a third option would be to study a bit more, learn the bargains in Vegas and make that lower amount of money stretch a bit more in Vegas by knowing which events you want to attend, which bars have a good band but no cover charge, etc.
Tunica offers gambling or a choice between Cotton and Soybeans. In Vegas, there are a zillion things more but it takes planning and knowing what your choices and energy levels are likely to be. Vegas involves alot of walking and gawking even if you emphasize the gambling. And you always have the Bellagio's Arboretum if miss the Cotton or Soybeans options.
+1
Since our last trip my wife has been playing BJ with me and is really picking up on the strategy. I think we will occupy a couple of seats at the $5 BJ table and see what happens. The first time I set down at the BJ table I had no idea what I was doing. I was in third position and watched the people playing before me and played accordingly. I played for three hours on $20 turning into $150 then losing it all. Went back the next morning and laid another $20 down and walked away with $140. That's how new I am lol. But the hook got in me. Now I want to visit again with a little bit of knowledge about the game and see what happens. I think a Vegas trip is in our near future. Something I'm going to start planning. If I could leave Tunica even or just a little up it sure would help.
Quote: FinsRuleIf you're happy playing $5 BJ, you should really just go to Vegas. $2000 will be plenty for that.
Think again.
As he posted, his TOTAL budget is two grand.
Off the top, half that goes for air fare and un-comped hotel rooms.
That leaves a grand for he and the wife to split to gamble, sight see, eat and see shows, which really is not enough for a typical 4 or 5 day stay in Las Vegas.
Quote: MrVThink again.
As he posted, his TOTAL budget is two grand.
Off the top, half that goes for air fare and un-comped hotel rooms.
That leaves a grand for he and the wife to split to gamble, sight see, eat and see shows, which really is not enough for a typical 4 or 5 day stay in Las Vegas.
I was under the impression it wouldn't be a 4-5 day stay. More like 2-3. And I think he could probably get hotel / airfare for $800. So $1200 is plenty.
Quote: DeMangoAirlines have really priced Vegas out of many folks hands. If Tunica is a few hours away by car, then Vegas is $400@. Add Hotel. Add transportation. Add food. Penny slots anyone?
The cost of the flight and hotel is the last thing I worry about for a Vegas trip as flights are relatively cheap and hotels are dirt cheap in Vegas. Yes, it will cost you like $200-$250 to stay at the Wynn, but you put that hotel in downtown Chicago or Mid-town Manhattan and that place will run you $750 a night. Many 3.5 to 4 star resorts in Vegas you get get a 4 night stay with flight for roughly $1,000.
Actually reading on here that AC is smoke free makes me wonder if we would enjoy a AC trip better than Vegas. I don't really care for the smoke filled air that was at GoldStrike and my wife didn't either.
Quote: DeMangoAirlines have really priced Vegas out of many folks hands. If Tunica is a few hours away by car, then Vegas is $400@. Add Hotel. Add transportation. Add food. Penny slots anyone?
I second this. Other than Spirit, weekend Vegas is $400 unless you want to go from DC to Boston to Vegas. Yes, that was the cheapest flight at one point. It's really depressing.
You're not going to find hotels that cheap in Tunica without bed bugs.
I'm not sure from which state you're flying, but usually can fly to LV from most places in the US for about $250 to $300 using Orbitz or Priceline.
You can get a rental car at Fox Rental Car for another $126 for a week and avoid the rental car facility tax.
By the way, don't check fares during the next two weeks because of Spring break.
Quote: onenickelmiracle
I would try to get a Gulf view room if I was there.
I think Mikey would need to drive a few extra hours for that option...lol Tunica = Memphis, not Gulf.
Generally speaking, $1000 between the two of them would probably be tight to play the disaster that is 6:5 BJ in Vegas. And if I was him, I would try to go to at least one show while they are there, and the good ones are going to cost $100+ for a pair of tickets, even with places like Tix4Tonight. My first trip with my g/f, she went to "O" on her birthday. Even with a cost-cutting move, it was about ~$180 for a pair.
And $1000 is his flight/hotel costs only? That really means his BR is screwed if food in Vegas isn't accounted for yet unless they want to eat fast food for most meals.
I go to vegas frequently...however I drive (So deduct the airfare costs)
But I can usually get the room free or CHEAP.
I never take more than $100 a day per person.
We don't gamble ALL that much in Vegas...just because there's SOOO much other stuff to do/see.
If it's your first time in Vegas, I recommend not wasting time gambling AT ALL.
I would say for you and your wife, $100 a day would be an adequate amount (Although if you DO want to gamble, I'd set aside another $100 per day)
There's LOTS of deals you can find for dining coupons/discounts (Buffets 2:1, 10% off restaraunts, etc)
Unless you want to dine/shop at EXTRAVAGANT places...but shit, you can eat/shop at home! Vegas is for sightseeing and taking it all in!
- On the weekends Vegas is much busier than during the week as there is a large amount of people who make the 4 hour drive from Los Angeles on Frday night. If you take a M-F trip you can use the normal weekend dates to decompress from your trip and you will save money on the hotel room.
-Cheaper rooms are downtown, but there are some very nice strip properties where you can get rates under $100/night during the week. Treasure Island, Monte Carlo, Paris and Luxor are a few off the top of my head. I would recommend staying on the strip if either you or your wife have never been to Vegas before.
-I would not pre-buy tickets to a show. There are Tix4Tonight (or something like that) booths all over the strip and you can buy tickets the day of the show often times for 50% or more of the face value of the tickets.
-If interested in renting a car, there are many excursions one can take from the Vegas strip and you can be back in 4-6 hours. Places like Hoover Dam, Red Rock Canyon, Mt. Charleston and Valley of Fire State Park.
-Depending on the time of year you go be wary of the weather. I personally think April and October are the nicest times weather wise to visit Las Vegas. In the winter, it can get below freezing overnight and you almost certainly will see highs well into the 100s if not 110s in the summer. If you do go during summer though, bring a light jacket for when you are inside. They crank the ever-loving hell out of the AC during the summer months