Vegas trip mid June. Time to start planning!
Gambling goals:
- I'd like to try out Free Bet Blackjack. What places in Vegas are offering that, and at what min-max and rules?
- Only place I saw cheap (less than $25 min) 3:2 blackjack last time (in 2011) was at the Monte Carlo. Any other places doing it?
- Best places to play Video Poker? Last time I was playing almost every penny video poker machine I could find without paying attention to paytables. I was only playing $5 a buy-in or so, but if I were to sit down and play VP, I'd want to play a good game.
- Last time I was there, Golden Nugget was offering 100x odds on Craps. Are they still doing that, and are any other places doing it? Any 20x and up?
- Poker! Looking to play plenty of cash games and tournaments. Recommendations?
- What casinos have high-roller rooms that don't mind people walking in and watching? Last time I was at the Rio, my friend and I peered in to the high roller room, and the pit boss and a dealer gestured to us to come in, and were very nice to us even though they knew we wouldn't be playing their stakes. They told us some fun stories about high roller action, including the one time that dealer dealt to Kerry Packer.
Non-gambling goals:
- Recommendations on good shows to go see?
- Good restaurants to try?
I'll do my research as well, but I'd love your input.
Quote: Deucekies
- I'd like to try out Free Bet Blackjack. What places in Vegas are offering that, and at what min-max and rules?
NYNY is my favorite place to play it. Always $10 there. It's the only casino I've found that deals it from a shoe. Aria, Mirage, & Venetian/Palazzo have it as well. I'm sure others do now as well.
Quote:- Only place I saw cheap (less than $25 min) 3:2 blackjack last time (in 2011) was at the Monte Carlo. Any other places doing it?
You cannot have been looking very hard then. You can find good $10-$15 3:2 games just about anywhere (stay away from Venetian/Palazzo, NYNY & Mirage though). Bellagio is my favorite place to play. Low minimums, great rules, and even better cocktail service.
Quote:- Best places to play Video Poker? Last time I was playing almost every penny video poker machine I could find without paying attention to paytables. I was only playing $5 a buy-in or so, but if I were to sit down and play VP, I'd want to play a good game.
Don't play on the strip. Downtown is where you'll find lots of good video poker. Palms has lots of good video poker as well.
Quote: DeucekiesNon-gambling goals:
- Good restaurants to try?
What kind of food do you like? Here are some of my default recommendations for anyone going to Vegas.
-There are great options off spring mountain for asian (Raku, Monta, etc.).
-I really like l'atelier (joel robuchon) and Sage
-Also cant forget Mon Ami Gabi
-Mexican: Tacos El Gordo and Donna Maria's Tamales
-Breakfast Buffet: Payard (also great for snacks, I would try to live off their croissants if I lived in LV)
-Upscale General Buffet: Cosmo
-Moderate General Buffet: Main Street Station
-Hash house a gogo for a massive portion delicious food
Quote: ams288Don't play on the strip. Downtown is where you'll find lots of good video poker. Palms has lots of good video poker as well.
Gold Coast has my favorite game, 9/6 Jacks with super times pay. Ellis Island has some good games for quarters too. Only one block from Bally's.
At Mirage: Heritage Steakhouse for the very best steaks. The Carnagie deli has ridiculously large sandwiches; plan to split one and still have too much.
At Harrah's: Ruth's Chris for acceptable steaks and great sides. In the cafe, 11pm to 6am Steak and egg breakfast for 7.99 with a player's card. KGB has terrific sliders and malts, very large portions otherwise, very good quality beef. The Oyster Bar was delicious with a Japanese twist to many dishes, very large menu, not just oysters, though the Oysters Rockefeller was terrific.
Makino with SOOPOO and Mrs. SOOPOO was the outstanding dinner of my 2 weeks; west on flamingo to decatur, then just north of flamingo in a shopping mall, about 1.5 miles off the strip. Ridiculously good sushi/sashimi/tempura buffet, just outstanding.
Shows: Absinthe at Caesar's is hysterically funny if you can stand really bad language and adult jokes, and the acrobats are just superb. Really great. Penn and Teller have improved to a very good show from a good one at the Rio; kept the best of the stuff from 8 years ago and added several good new bits.
I can't recommend the Golden Nugget for anything. Very disappointed in their buffet, which made me sick, and was full of heavy food not well prepared, and their table games are not good; minimums too high, dealers mostly surly and bored, bad rules. Didn't find any slots/VP worth playing. Stayed there 4 days and couldn't wait to leave. A long fall in quality from ten years ago.
Cosmo: Henry's restaurant was delicious bar food, especially the fish and chips. The buffalo wings were very good, too. Really enjoyed their craps with Doc, but it was a 10 dollar table. 10 dollars also at Harrah's and at the California. Was ok with me as it turned out, because they made me bet more than I wanted to in each place, and I won big in each place, so I can't complain.
Quote: beachbumbabsI can't recommend the Golden Nugget for anything. Very disappointed in their buffet, which made me sick, and was full of heavy food not well prepared, and their table games are not good; minimums too high, dealers mostly surly and bored, bad rules. Didn't find any slots/VP worth playing. Stayed there 4 days and couldn't wait to leave. A long fall in quality from ten years ago.
Wow. Times have changed. It's been a number of years since I've been back to Vegas, but I had been there many, many times (somewhere between 70-100) and I can honestly say that I never had a bad meal anywhere in Vegas.
Quote: beachbumbabs
Makino with SOOPOO and Mrs. SOOPOO was the outstanding dinner of my 2 weeks; west on flamingo to decatur, then just north of flamingo in a shopping mall, about 1.5 miles off the strip. Ridiculously good sushi/sashimi/tempura buffet, just outstanding.
Shows: Absinthe at Caesar's is hysterically funny if you can stand really bad language and adult jokes, and the acrobats are just superb.
Zero. That is the number of people I've taken to Makino who didn't love it.
Absinthe- Favorite Cirque 'style' show......
I would also recommend going to Bacchanal Caesar's buffet, but you need the mindset that in addition to eating you are a tourist as well. The mental anguish I had over not being able to eat Everything was tough! I wanted to!
Most of all don't worry about whose, if anyone's, advice you will take! Just have a great time!
Last time I went (Dec 2012) all four Boyd properties I visited (Gold Coast, Sams Town, Cal, and Main Street Station) all had DD, but I recall Cal having the best rules by a smidge. All four have excellent video poker.
We also enjoyed the brew pub at MSS, and if you like beer, I expect you will even more.
'Brian
They and Main Street Station both have games with 20X odds.
Quote: steeldcoWow. Times have changed. It's been a number of years since I've been back to Vegas, but I had been there many, many times (somewhere between 70-100) and I can honestly say that I never had a bad meal anywhere in Vegas.
I felt that way too until about 2 years ago when I sat at the bar in that place in NYNY that was formerly known as ESPN Zone. I ordered a beer and nachos - the nachos had that velveeta cheese sauce crap instead of real cheese... huge disappointment!
Quote: Deucekies- I'd like to try out Free Bet Blackjack. What places in Vegas are offering that, and at what min-max and rules?
The Golden Nugget, last time I was there, had shoe and single deck(?) Freebet. I'm fairly certain they were both 10$min. However, I was told that they removed the shoe game. (However, the same person also insisted that I've been playing at Golden Gate, not Golden Nugget, so I have doubts about their report.)
The D also has it as a... double deck (?) for a pretty low minimum (5/10), but good luck playing there without ear plugs.
Also, a specific note about Freebet-- ask what signals they use if it's your first time playing there. I've seen two-fingers out together, fistpound the table, draw a circle on the felt and verbal call.
Quote: gameshowfanLast time I went (Dec 2012) all four Boyd properties I visited (Gold Coast, Sams Town, Cal, and Main Street Station) all had DD, but I recall Cal having the best rules by a smidge. All four have excellent video poker.
Sam's Town is no surrender or DAS, up to the 25$ tables. I don't think they actually have tables with a higher limit either, so I doubt there are more generous rules elsewhere.
I was there last month and Freebet is at The Golden Nugget, The Golden Gate, and The D for pretty low minimums. However, of the 3 properties, I prefer playing Freebet at The Golden Nugget since they have a 6-deck game. I don't see why anyone would play single or double-deck Freebet.Quote: VenthusThe Golden Nugget, last time I was there, had shoe and single deck(?) Freebet. I'm fairly certain they were both 10$min. However, I was told that they removed the shoe game. (However, the same person also insisted that I've been playing at Golden Gate, not Golden Nugget, so I have doubts about their report.)
The D also has it as a... double deck (?) for a pretty low minimum (5/10), but good luck playing there without ear plugs.
Also, a specific note about Freebet-- ask what signals they use if it's your first time playing there. I've seen two-fingers out together, fistpound the table, draw a circle on the felt and verbal call.
Sam's Town is no surrender or DAS, up to the 25$ tables. I don't think they actually have tables with a higher limit either, so I doubt there are more generous rules elsewhere.
Quote: DeucekiesNon-gambling goals:
- Recommendations on good shows to go see?
BEATLES LOVE at Mirage.
MAC KING afternoon show at Harrah's.
Quote: Deucekies
- Good restaurants to try?
I'll do my research as well, but I'd love your input.
The Sirloin special at Ellis Island is great, but the café is pretty plain jane and the Casino, well have you seen the Wiz's photo contest of wild carpeting styles ? EI has a concrete floor.
