Las Vegas Poll - Which area do you prefer?

My favorite area of Las Vegas, Nevada is The Strip. I've always found it hard to understand when people tell me that they prefer Downtown Las Vegas to The Strip. To me downtown is just too old. Don't get me wrong, I like going downtown but I definitely prefer The Strip. I'm attracted to all the incredible glitz and newness of the places on The Strip.

So I was wondering what you all prefer. I was going to just put The Strip and Downtown on the list as the only 2 choices to see which you prefer, but being that there is more to Vegas than just The Strip and Downtown I gave more options. I'm curious to see if people are like me in prefering The Strip. Don't let me bias your opinion though.

I guess much of this "preference" stuff depends on time and place and purposes.

If someone says "Vegas" ... I automatically think of the mega resorts on the Las Vegas strip just as if someone says "gambling" I automatically think of Table Games even though I am well aware that for a great many people gambling simply means a slot machine.

Partly of course is the question of companions that might be on the trip. If someone is a gawker and a glitter type then they will want the strip and that means I had darn well better want the strip too.

Then of course there is the buffet situation. Downtown actually has some advantages when it comes to buffets. In keeping with Downtown's general Substance over Hype raison d'etre the buffets tend to be smaller and better with shorter lines. Sort of a Meat and Potatoes type fare instead of the Strip's Pate d' Faux Pretense type stuff with longer lines and higher prices. Sure there are lots of exceptions to all this stuff. Its like "downtown odds" in craps and "strip odds" in craps. Its no longer an absolute rule and it was never really all that significant to begin with. In itself, its a bit of hype too. Everything in this town is hype. Sometimes its casino hype, sometimes its half-naked female hype but its always hype. There just seems to be less of it Downtown where rooms can be functional and adequate rather than fancy and impressive.

So I prefer the swell swank and frilly to the more functional and reasonable simply because my companion does. If I were on my own, I'd be either downtown or on the Boulder Strip. If I wanted to splurge, it would be M Resort. However if I want to have a happy companion, its the Venetian.

Many people casino hop and restaurant hop and meet up with friends or acquaintances in different parts of town at different times. These people are really "doing Vegas" just as much as the guy to whom "doing Vegas" means the same craps table at the same casino all week long. Vegas has different meanings. To some poor souls playing craps with cards in a California casino, Vegas is a state of mind. To others Vegas is a fact, even though the town is actually named Paradise or Winchester or something. And to some Vegas can mean Henderson whereas to others it can mean Hendertucky. Vegas is what you choose it to be. Its just as the hooker says, my name is whatever you want it to be, honey.

I'm amused that North Las Vegas is on the list. No one prefers NLV. Only people who frequent those places like Eureka Casino or Siegel Suites Casino live in that crappy neighborhood and walk there. And people who live there won't be posting on here because they won't have computers or know how to type. They know how to have babies and sling rock, but read WoV? Doubt it.

I agree...well put! What exactly is Hendertucky, I have seen it used many times in the forums and thought I semi-knew what it ment but thought I would just ask!

Hendertucky is a Las Vegas term of derision for the denizens of certain areas of Henderson that have excessive numbers of Trailer Parks or Weekly Motel-Apartments that are in neglectful states of repair.

ALL LODGERS
DOWNTOWN — 6% of all visitors.
STRIP CORRIDOR — 78% of all visitors.
OTHER — 16%

FIRST TIMERS
Strip Corridor lodgers (22%)
Other Areas (11%)
Downtown (6%).

Among those who said they gambled on their current trip to Las Vegas, Downtown lodgers spent significantly more hours per day gambling (4.5 hours) than both Strip Corridor (2.8 hours) and other lodgers (2.7 hours).

Looking only at repeat visitors, the mean (average) number of visits to Las Vegas during the past five years was Strip Corridor lodgers made significantly fewer visits in the past five years (mean of 6.5 visits) Downtown lodgers (9.6 visits) and outside of the Strip or Downtown (8.4 visits)

Downtown lodgers were significantly more likely to say they were visiting Las Vegas primarily to gamble (27%), compared to Strip Corridor lodgers (8%), who in turn were more likely than those lodging elsewhere (3%)

if they participated in or attended a convention or trade show while they were in Las Vegas.
Downtown lodgers (1%) were significantly less likely to have done so than Strip Corridor lodgers (13%), with other lodgers (6%) falling in between.

Downtown lodgers (43%) were significantly more likely than Strip Corridor lodgers (31%), who in turn were more likely than those lodging elsewhere (25%), to say they decided where to gamble before arriving in Las Vegas.

Strip Corridor lodgers (48%) were more likely than Downtown lodgers (29%), who in turn were more likely than other lodgers (9%), to have traveled to Las Vegas by air.

On average, Strip Corridor lodgers (mean of $81.24) and other non-Downtown lodgers ($79.91) paid significantly more for their room than Downtown lodgers ($46.66).

==============
Downtown visitors come more often, less likely to be a first timer, and are more interested in gambling and to know where they want to gamble. They are much less likely to be going to a convention and don't pay much for their hotel rooms.

Quote: zippyboy

I'm amused that North Las Vegas is on the list. No one prefers NLV.

I think our Hot Blonde was merely boxing the compass. NLV is less crime ridden than before but its having financial difficulties. The poverty thread with the food distribution video is North Las Vegas. The small two bedroom homes may have retirees who worked hard all their lives, but they never made much money. The casinos allow truckers and dogs but its close and some residents are even lucky enough to live within walking distance of Dottys which has a locked door for a reason. If you live there, its home. Otherwise very few seem to trek to NLV.

I'll abstain from voting.

I've only visited Vegas 4 times. In those 4 trips, I've stayed at Rio and Flamingo, with the wife - because she ranks high with Harrah's/Caesars and gets free rooms.

I then stayed at Sahara and Imperial Palace by myself - because it was cheap enough, and easy monorail ride to the convention center.

In those 4 trips, I've gone downtown twice - for only a few hours each time.

On this trip, I'll again be alone, and staying at Imperial Palace because it's cheap and a short walk to Sands for G2E.

HOWEVER, for the first time, I'll be getting a car for my first 2 days. I plan on checking out some of the casinos in Henderson and on Boulder Hwy.

I'm even contemplating staying in Henderson that first night.


So, after my trip in October, I may have a different opinion.

Quote: jsantee97

What exactly is Hendertucky, I have seen it used many times in the forums and thought I semi-knew what it ment but thought I would just ask!

Funny. I feel the exact same way, and was going to ask in this thread!

I love walking up and down the strip. I agree that downtown just seems old. As someone who only goes once or twice a year I like to 'feel' the glitter.

Quote: FleaStiff

I think our Hot Blonde was merely boxing the compass. NLV is less crime ridden than before but its having financial difficulties.

The choices of casinos are pretty small in North Las Vegas. If you like Mexican music on Saturday night they have a band from Mexico City playing at Jerry's.
The Cannery is the casino that has the most revenue in NLV. The Aliante was a poor business decision.


27333-01 CANNERY HOTEL CASINO
30442-01 ALIANTE STATION CASINO + HOTEL
17910-02 TEXAS STATION
16666-02 FIESTA CASINO HOTEL

01037-01 JERRY'S NUGGET
03589-12 LUCKY CLUB CASINO & HOTEL
00566-01 POKER PALACE, THE
01211-07 SILVER NUGGET CASINO AND RV PARK
00889-15 OPERA HOUSE CASINO
00761-07 BIGHORN CASINO

Glitz and newness are SO overrated. Someone has to pay for them - through pricey hotel rooms, pricey restaurants, pricey drinks, high table minimums, and/or crummy odds. To me it's just not worth it. Downtown has what I need; the rest is just background scenery.

Quote: fremont4ever

Glitz and newness are SO overrated. Someone has to pay for them - through pricey hotel rooms, pricey restaurants, pricey drinks, high table minimums, and/or crummy odds. To me it's just not worth it. Downtown has what I need; the rest is just background scenery.

I don't mind paying for niceness.

Quote: HotBlonde

I don't mind paying for niceness.

and then some :)

I've stayed at the Sahara, IP and Rio. The Rio was more expensive, but a lot nicer a place to stay, if not to play. Besides it had a coffee maker.

Anyway, I voted for Strip, Downtown and just off-Strip. next trip I plan to stay Downtown because 1) it's cheaper and 2) for a change. I play a lot Downtown anyway. There's better VP, craps and even carnival games than on the Strip.

Other than that, there's not much else to do Downtown. On the Strip you can spend whole days just sight-seeing, plus there are some decent attractions (I kept meaning to check out the CSI ride/show/whatever at MGM and kept forgetting <g>), like the Bellagio Fountains. Good thing I move around easily.

Just off strip. I can easily get to the strip for glitz, food, people watching and the better bars and drinking. I can gamble just off strip for a better bet. And all I do in the room is sleep and shower, as long as it's secure, clean and has hot water coming out the shower head as fast as possible, I'm happy to save a $30-40 a night for the slightly lower convenience. I tend to do give most action of strip anyways.

I could see me spending extra for strip if I was going for a shorter trip, or with a significant other. There's two or three places on the strip I'd stay at again (Monte Carlo and Mandalay Bay spring to mind).

I do spend a lot off my time on the strip at night....going out to dinner...and to clubs. BUT I always stay and get comped at the Golden Nugget....So 80% of my gambling is downtown......but most "other than gambling recreation" is on the strip..

It probably wouldn't surprise you but I when I do stay or play downtown it's at The Golden Nugget. I have only stayed downtown once and it is there. And although I've gambled at a few places downtown I have on most recent trips down there just stuck to only The Golden Nugget. The reason for this is that to me it seems nicer and also I figure if I'm going to gamble I'd rather do it in one place for the purposes of raising my comping opportunity. To me it's better to just play there than at several places and spread out my play which then lowers my comps. When I stay and play on the strip I usually stay and play at the MGM properties for the same reason. The benefit of this compared to just staying and playing at The Golden Nugget downtown is that I can play at several different locations and change things up. Plus the hotels and casinos are nicer too.

I do enjoy the Fremont Experience show that they play up above. Even though there's nothing too spectacular about it I still look forward to watching some of them.

Quote: HotBlonde

To me downtown is just too old.

I think downtown should have tried to stay in the past. Even a faux past.

There's plenty of towns in the U.S.A that decided to keep a lot of historic buildings that are regular draw for tourists. Downtown vegas could've done that, -- even manufacturing that look (somewhat how Disney creates quaint themes)

Downtown should've never tried to keep up with the modernized strip.

edit - the effort they make is always half assed -- one idea instead of an overall plan.

Quote: HotBlonde

It probably wouldn't surprise you but I when I do stay or play downtown it's at The Golden Nugget.

I love the GN, their new rooms are great. But the hotel is just too
fricking far from the casino. Its like a 5min walk, which after eating
in the great buffet they have, I don't feel like making.

Quote: HotBlonde

Don't let me bias your opinion though.

I think the source of any bias is the Player's Club loyalty bonus program. People want comps. Its similar to frequent flyer miles, your a loyal customer because of those miles. Once someone is familiar with a certain area of town and a certain casino, its a question of first checking their room price and then checking other casinos.

I am satisfied with one tv in the room, my companion loves having multiple tvs even though she will probably only watch one of them. My companion wants an impressive view from a high floor. I barely look out the darned window at all.

Those 42 dollar Southpoint rooms that have a view of the air conditioning? Forget it. My companion would nix it for sure.

Once preferences develop they tend to be restrictive. Strip view or a certain buffet or near Fashion Mall become constraints on someone's choices. Room rates seem a primary factor but with one third of Vegas rooms being given away free, I wonder if room price is a valid concept.

Quote: FleaStiff

I think the source of any bias is the Player's Club loyalty bonus program. People want comps. Its similar to frequent flyer miles, your a loyal customer because of those miles. Once someone is familiar with a certain area of town and a certain casino, its a question of first checking their room price and then checking other casinos.

I am satisfied with one tv in the room, my companion loves having multiple tvs even though she will probably only watch one of them. My companion wants an impressive view from a high floor. I barely look out the darned window at all.

Those 42 dollar Southpoint rooms that have a view of the air conditioning? Forget it. My companion would nix it for sure.

Once preferences develop they tend to be restrictive. Strip view or a certain buffet or near Fashion Mall become constraints on someone's choices. Room rates seem a primary factor but with one third of Vegas rooms being given away free, I wonder if room price is a valid concept.

The comps are a big reason why I choose the MGM properties on the Strip. I hear the comping at the Harrah's properties are not as good.

Quote: zippyboy

I'm amused that North Las Vegas is on the list. No one prefers NLV. Only people who frequent those places like Eureka Casino or Siegel Suites Casino live in that crappy neighborhood and walk there. And people who live there won't be posting on here because they won't have computers or know how to type. They know how to have babies and sling rock, but read WoV? Doubt it.

Santa Fe Station is my favorite casino, and it is in NLV, is it not? Glad the poll allowed me to vote! SO keep amusing. I have not encountered a single jerk there on several stays.

I voted downtown because I like the low(er) limits and the fair(er) games.

Quote: Alan

I voted downtown because I like the low(er) limits and the fair(er) games.

I could be wrong but I don't think the table games have better rules than the Strip. At least I know that for Blackjack the tables on the Strip offer better rules and a lower house edge (this info is per the Wizard's blackjack survey).

Quote: HotBlonde

I could be wrong but I don't think the table games have better rules than the Strip. At least I know that for Blackjack the tables on the Strip offer better rules and a lower house edge (this info is per the Wizard's blackjack survey).

I didn't try PGP Downtown. But craps is better and carnival games like 3CP have less sucker bets to take flack for skipping them on :)

As to VP, it is dead to me on the Strip. The Cosmopolitan (when are we going to start calling it The Cosmo?) has good machines, but also higher denominations. Th Palms is off Strip.

I don't know where I can play craps for $3 on the strip, but if you know a place let me know. And if you sort the BJ survey by HE, the first strip casino that appears is Luxor @ $100 a hand; that's too rich for me. The next one is MGM Grand @ $200 a hand; I don't think so.

edited: $2(craps) at slot-a(o)-fun..ugh!!

Quote: Alan

I don't know where I can play craps for $3 on the strip, but if you know a place let me know.

At least in the day at Casino Roayle, with 20X odds. If you play $5, you can bet 100X odds.

If you don't feel like slumming, there's Rapid Craps at Bill's for $3 on line bets, with 3,4,5X odds. Regular craps is at least $5

I slum at El Cortez(for $3@10x). I don't like all the kids at Casino Royale, although the bar is very close to the table(at least it was last time I was in there).

I must say due to my Harah's card, I prefer the strip. I have gotten a free five night stay at Harrah's the last four or five years I have been going and I go about twice a year. I very much like visiting downtown, but the wife and I also like some of the nicer restaurants and lounges on the strip and since we only come about twice a year that is our preference.

Quote: HotBlonde

I could be wrong but I don't think the table games have better rules than the Strip.

Some minor quibbling: At craps some payouts on certain less-common bets are better downtown. The pace of craps is a bit slower downtown than on the strip, generally. The Blackjack is perhaps better on the strip but often the really better games are in the high limit area or have higher minimums than downtown where lower limits make up for a few more wrinkles in the rules. So unless you are a mini-whale and are comfortable at those strip minimums it might be better to be downtown where the edge is not that great but the amount being wagered makes up for it.

MGM comps for table games whereas the Evil Empire focuses heavily on slot play. Of course there is Silverton which gives Table Games players comps there and also slot comps as well. Best of both worlds, if you have a car and don't mind staying put for a while.

Quote: Alan

I don't know where I can play craps for $3 on the strip, but if you know a place let me know. And if you sort the BJ survey by HE, the first strip casino that appears is Luxor @ $100 a hand; that's too rich for me. The next one is MGM Grand @ $200 a hand; I don't think so.

edited: $2(craps) at slot-a(o)-fun..ugh!!

That MGM Grand game at the $200 minimum is the double deck. You can get a 6 deck game at MGM with a slightly higher HE (.28% vs .20%) at $10 minimums.

While house edge is important, it's not the only consideration for choosing a game. MGM's double deck game has poor penetration and can be very sweaty. You can get away with much more at the 6 deck game as long as you don't get ridiculous.

Quote: Alan

I don't know where I can play craps for $3 on the strip, but if you know a place let me know. And if you sort the BJ survey by HE, the first strip casino that appears is Luxor @ $100 a hand; that's too rich for me. The next one is MGM Grand @ $200 a hand; I don't think so.

edited: $2(craps) at slot-a(o)-fun..ugh!!

I actually played a 0.2% game at Luxor for $50 a hand in their high limit room and for sure at The Mirage and Bellagio for only $25 a hand on their floor. I had PM'd the Wizard about the $50/hand table when I first joined this site but noticed he didn't add it. I've been on WOO for years and was excited to join the forum here! (But surprised to find that there are so few women who are into this stuff as much as I am.)

If it's peak hours The Mirage raises their $25 double deck to $50. At the MGM I've played 6-deck 0.28% for only $15 (but again more during peak hours).

Quote: HotBlonde

I actually played a 0.2% game at Luxor for $50 a hand in their high limit room and for sure at The Mirage and Bellagio for only $25 a hand on their floor. I had PM'd the Wizard about the $50/hand table when I first joined this site but noticed he didn't add it. I've been on WOO for years and was excited to join the forum here! (But surprised to find that there are so few women who are into this stuff as much as I am.)

If it's peak hours The Mirage raises their $25 double deck to $50. At the MGM I've played 6-deck 0.28% for only $15 (but again more during peak hours).

I don't remember if you're a card counter, but being a female is good cover. Hardly anyone in this still male dominated business would suspect a female of being an advantage player. For that reason, counting teams are looking for a few good women.

Quote: benbakdoff

I don't remember if you're a card counter, but being a female is good cover. Hardly anyone in this still male dominated business would suspect a female of being an advantage player. For that reason, counting teams are looking for a few good women.

I'm not a card counter. I heard it's somewhat difficult but I love a numbers challenge - math was my favorite subject! (Besides music, of course.) I don't know if I would ever get into card counting cuz I want to play fair and I play just for fun. Plus I like to drink when I play so that would mess up my brain's power to keep track.

Counting cards is one of the best ways to make blackjack into a fair game lol.