Las Vegas First-Timer

Old Jul 21st, 2008, 01:45 PM
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Las Vegas First-Timer

Hey all,
I'm a LV first-timer who'll be heading up in January for my 30th birthday. I expect to be drunk. Frequently. I need all the advice you have to offer.

What are the best hotels? Here's my "wants":
I want a balcony with a view.
I want a hotel centrally located so that I can casino-hop with ease.

Are there any hotels that are all-encompassing? In other words, I won't need to leave the complex if I want a little of everything (shows, rides, bars, gambling, etc...).

Do any hotels offer deals if it's your birthday?

And last, but not least, the most important question of all:
What casinos are the best for low-limit gambling? I'm thinking 1 or 2 dollar hands here? Are there even poker tables that still cater to that low a level?
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Old Jul 21st, 2008, 01:46 PM
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And oh yeah, obviously, the cheaper the hotel, the better. I just want the world, don't I?
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Old Jul 21st, 2008, 01:49 PM
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Stay at home...it will be a lot cheaper and safer
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Old Jul 21st, 2008, 02:50 PM
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All casinos are designed so you don't have to leave them.

Not all of them have rides: NYNY, Sahara, Stratosphere, maybe more. Oh, and Venetian has gondolas - how's that for a ride?

Look at the map of the strip. Flamingo is cheaper, this is your center.

Don't know about tables, most casinos have 1 and 2 cents slot machines.
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Old Jul 21st, 2008, 02:52 PM
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No place has everything you want. The low limit tables are downtown. You won't have a view there though.

Perhaps the Stratosphere? Its close enough to walk to the low limit tables downtown and has a view. You walk through the worst part of LV to get downtown from there though.

The Stratosphere has rides but no entertainment.

It sounds like a depressing way to spend your birthday, IMHO.
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Old Jul 21st, 2008, 02:54 PM
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Actually Ellis Island may fit your bill. Cheap drinks and centrally located. It is directly behind Bally's which does have good views.
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Old Jul 21st, 2008, 03:17 PM
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blahblah.. I was part of a large party that went this past January to help my daughter celebrate her 30th!

I love Vegas. Now that the Monorail line is running, you can stay pretty much anywhere on the strip and you'll have no problem getting "home". The Monorail is an elevated train that runs behind the casinos on the east side of the strip. Each stop tells you which casinos/hotels are accessible from that stop. Loved it! You can get tickets at any station. I was at the Hilton on the north end off the strip, and the train leaves right from their front door. Very cool. Here is link:

http://www.vegas.com/transportation/...smonorail.html

I traveled alone late at night and early morning and felt perfectly safe. Saw police at lots of stations.

Then, there is also a little tram that runs from Excalibur to Mandalay Bay, back to the Luxor and then back to Excalibur.

The first thing you should do is sign up for all the hotel group/casino "clubs" at their websites. You will get special offers and coupons/discounts through these. (You may want to set yourself up a new email just for these sites. Then you'll know that everything coming to that email box is from Vegas.)

IMHO, the best shows are the Cirque shows, but I believe Bette Midler will be there for an extended run. Depends on what you like. I LOVED Cirque's Beatle show, LOVE. It is at the Mirage.

The older hotels will be less expensive. Search this (Fodor's) website for Vegas and you'll see dozens of recommendations.

We had the birthday dinner at the Voodoo restaurant at the Rio hotel (just a short cab ride from the strip). It was awesome. View was incredible. (It's on the 50th floor.) Food was very good (about 25/entree). Afterwards, the "young'uns" went up and danced til the wee hours at the Voodoo Lounge, which is on the roof. (DD says they had heaters, so it was not chilly at all.) This was her fave place of all, and she has been to Vegas a dozen times (including her honeymoon). They always stay at Treasure Island. I like the Luxor.

Here is good website for cheap stuff:

http://www.cheapovegas.com/index.php

You will have fun, no matter what. But depending on how long you are staying, don't try to do it all! It will be toooo much!

Happy pre-30th!
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Old Jul 21st, 2008, 04:23 PM
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I've never seen anything less than $5 tables at any of the casinos (and not many) - but I've only seen places on the strip. Perhaps the downtown places for the locals have less. (You can get poker machines for a quarter.)

As for being drunk all the time - why bother to play? Just hand them your money and you can go sit by the pool. (Realize that if you are obviously falling down drunk you will be removed - the casinos don;t want you.)
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Old Jul 21st, 2008, 05:33 PM
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None of the casinos have rooms with a balcony---for obvious reasons.
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Old Jul 21st, 2008, 05:51 PM
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Don't get me wrong, I love Las Vegas and am headed there this weekend. However, the free drinks at the casino can and usually end up being very expensive. On the strip it is hard to find $5 tables (pretty much non-existent in the evenings) and the drinks comes around about every 15 minutes or so. One can easily lose $30 or more in that amount of time.
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Old Jul 21st, 2008, 05:55 PM
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Downtown, and off strip on the weekdays, you can find $3.- tables.
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Old Jul 21st, 2008, 06:38 PM
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I've never seen $5.00 table at a strip casino - $10.00 is the minimum. Have played blackjack at Arizona Charlies for $2.00 a hand.

Hard Rock hotel may have "french" balconies.

Not aware of any hotels having special birthday deals but if you join a players club you may get a bonus or small gift (buffet coupon)on your birthday.
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Old Jul 21st, 2008, 06:42 PM
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There are very few hotels in Vegas that have balconies. There's a reason for this. They are afraid they'll have people staying there who came just to get drunk and might throw up off their balconies onto the people below. Obviously they were thinking when they planned it that way.
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Old Jul 22nd, 2008, 06:05 AM
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January can be busy with some real large conventions, so don't expect good deals. Like others say, on the strip, anything lower than a 5 dollar table game is gone. Period. I stayed mid week recently and found a few tables downtown though.

People at the hotels get the "it's my birthday" or "it's our anniversary" all the time, they may or may not ignore you on that matter. You might want to try the 20.00 trick when you check in and see if you can get a nicer room, but balconies are $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ if you can even get one. This can only be done if you book through the hotel itself. If it were me, I would stay midstrip, like at the Flamingo/IP/Harrahs/Ballys, etc so that you can walk to places easier. Be very careful around the area of Harrahs at very late night (after 2 a.m.) , the carnival court area is not a safe place to walk alone if you are a woman. Stay with people, be aware of your surroundings and you will be fine.

I wouldn't try to do everything at one hotel, like shows, dinner, etc. There is so much to see, try to go to as many as you can. You will find plenty, trust me. But don't plant too much for one day, because it takes a while to get places, etc.

If you want cheap transportation, get a 5.00 24 hour bus ticket.

Others offered you excellent advice. Go and have fun, walk through some of the fancy casinos/hotels and enjoy!
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Old Jul 22nd, 2008, 11:11 AM
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Just noticed a bunch of new deals with upgrades, so you can get a pretty amazing suite for very cheap if you book ahead, here's a link:

http://www.smartervegas.com/hotels.aspx

The deals are from the hotels themselves and they usually come out 3 months in advance so you probably have to wait before booking for January. Booking direct is cheaper and better because the hotel prices keep changing and if you see prices have dropped for your dates after you've booked you just call the hotel and they adjust the pricing for you.
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Old Jul 23rd, 2008, 02:00 PM
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We had a hard time finding $5 tables. Some were to be found at NY NY. We were also there on a Tues - Sat, so being there during the week did not mean lower tables. Most were $10 or more.

I also loved the VooDoo Lounge on the 51st floor of the Rio.
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Old Jul 23rd, 2008, 02:41 PM
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Being drunk with a balcony in your room? That's a smart combo. Why do you think you can't open hotel windows???

Also, I don't get the plan to have to be drunk and frequently and in a place you've never been to before. Are you going to be with anyone to make sure you get back to your hotel room with your wallet still in your pocket?

Strange birthday plans. Stay home and save the money.
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Old Jul 23rd, 2008, 02:44 PM
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The Signature has balconies, and is one of the nicest hotels in town, and is connected to all of the amenities of the MGM. Not perfectly centrally located, but not bad either. (But I don't think of it as a party hotel, though)

Because you are turning 30, Palms Place came to mind. It has balconies, and strip view rooms have great views. It's is a very hip and trendy place, great for your age. (I just spent a weekend there, and thought it'd be perfect for the younger crowd. I'm late 40's, and like the Signature better.) It is just off the strip, though. But connected to the Palms Hotel and Casino.
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Old Jul 23rd, 2008, 04:36 PM
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I hear so much about getting coupons for restaurants and events in Las Vegas, but where are the most reliable places online to do so please? Thanks!
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Old Jul 23rd, 2008, 04:41 PM
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smartervegas.com, restaurant.com
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