Virginal visit...

Okay, ubernoob questions, I'm sure... so if anyone is bored enough to help me out I'd appreciate it.

I'm heading to Arizona in August (maybe November) to visit the gawdawful inlaws, and I'm gonna need a few days break -- so Vegas is the destination of choice.

I'm hoping to stay fairly cheap, and play two or three days of NL hold'em, gambling no more than $300. Am I delusional, or is that a reasonable goal? I read a few threads on here recommending to posters that they bring $600+ per day, but I'm assuming there are some noob gamerooms, maybe?

Any specific recommendations would be great -- where to stay, where to play. Any general recommendation is also appreciated -- where you do start your due diligence when planning your trip?

I've heard Vegas as a family destination was never more than a joke, and that they've abandoned even the pretense of the idea these days. That accurate?

Thanks...

Quote: tingmakpuk

I've heard Vegas as a family destination was never more than a joke, and that they've abandoned even the pretense of the idea these days. That accurate?

Thanks...

They abandoned it pretty quick. But by now there are virtually no amusement parks except Aventuredome which is on it's last legs at Circus Circus. The water park has closed.There are very few family oriented amusements left.

Quote: tingmakpuk

I'm hoping to stay fairly cheap, and play two or three days of NL hold'em, gambling no more than $300. Am I delusional, or is that a reasonable goal? I read a few threads on here recommending to posters that they bring $600+ per day, but I'm assuming there are some noob gamerooms, maybe?

You're only mildly dilusional.

If you're only going to play NLH, $300 isn't a bad daily bankroll. I assume you're planning on playing $1/$2. Typically the buyin is set at $60-$300. Are you going to buy in for the full $300, for the minimum $60, or somewhere in between?

Personally, I buy in for $120. Assuming I don't completely bust out but do poorly, that means I can buy in three times, with the third time at close to my desired $120. Don't ask why I chose $120 other than it being double the minimum and a comfortable number for me.

noob gamerooms? I imagine all poker rooms have a $1/$2 game, but do research.

For example, in A.C. Ballys doesn't have $1/$2. Instead they have $1/$3 NLH with the standard $60-$300 buy in, but they also have $1/$1 NLH with a max $100 buy in. I never played it so I don't know what the minimum is or how the players play, but it's out there. Maybe such a game exists somewhere in Vegas.


There can also be some incredible cheap tournaments.

When I was there last September, I got in a tourney at Sahara. I think it was around $30. 4 or 5 tables. But the incredible thing was, when we had the color-up break, there was a side table with a couple six foot heros and chips and stuff for us. I have no idea if they do that all the time or if other poker rooms do something similar.

Quote: tingmakpuk

I've heard Vegas as a family destination was never more than a joke, and that they've abandoned even the pretense of the idea these days. That accurate?

People who live in Vegas may have always considered it a joke, but it was actually a serious thing to those that were pushing it.

Except...

What they quickly discovered is that once people started coming with kids, the adults, who would otherwise have been gambling, started acting like responsible, budget-minded parents. Can't have that in 'Sin City'...

If you're a really good poker player and don't lose, a starting bankroll of $300 will be just fine! :)

Cash games with $1/$2 blinds are the cheapest you'll find, and almost every poker room offers them. Some have raised the stakes to $1/$3. I recommend buying in with $100, but $200 would be better.

Tournaments start at about $60 buy in. Tournaments are generally structured so that the small buy-in games don't last very long: you may start with 50 big blinds and the blinds go up every 10 minutes. Tournaments with larger buy ins (around $100-150) offer larger starting stacks and slower blind schedules. I also limit myself to tournaments which return at least 75%.

There's lots of good information about Vegas poker rooms here: AllVegasPoker.com

If all you want to do is stay cheap and play poker, I'm sure you'd get the most for your money at a casino away from the strip. I always stay on the strip for the mega-Vegas experience, so I'm not a good source of info. If you wish to stay on the strip, I typically recommend Bally's for low-rollers. It's cheapish, nicish, and provides easy access to many strip properties. You could stay cheaper nearby at Bill's or Imperial Palace, but those seem a bit too seedy for my tastes.

Quote: DJTeddyBear

once people started coming with kids, the adults, who would otherwise have been gambling, started acting like responsible, budget-minded parents.

absolutely agree.

Look into the Tuscany for a close off strip property. Weekday prices should hover around fifty.