Trav

I live in the Bay Area and my 80 year old aunt and 90 year old uncle live in Long Beach. They have family from the east coast vacationing in Las Vegas (staying at the Flamingo). They want to go spend two nights visiting with them. Their plans were to take Jet Blue and stay downtown...are you ready? at the El Cortez. My uncle hasn't been to Las VEgas in 10 years but when he was "younger" he stayed downtown (he has the funds to stay elsewhere but..). He wants to play $2.00 blackjack and go to his room periodically during the day to rest.

So my dilemma? I just think the flying, the shuttles, trips to visit the relatives at the Flamingo, etc. will take a big toll on them. So what's a good neice to do? Go to Long Beach, pick them up and DRIVE them to Las Vegas. Now mind you, Las Vegas is NOT my favorite destination and if I do go, staying downtown at the El Cortez will not happen for me. So, I either tuck them into the El Cortez, and stay at the Golden Nugget or I could stay on the strip (much prefer this as I don't drink or gamble).

My uncle is willing to stay on the strip if I can find a hotel with $2.00 tables. I'll pick up the tab on the hotel (he's used to paying $35.00 a night!). Any suggestion here? This would be for a Tuesday and Wednesday night..April 12th and 13th.

My goal is to make this happen for them as comfortably as I can. I just need a pool, a good book and need to keep expenses low. Not to be self-congratulating but I'm taking my vacation days to do this and time could be better spent in Hawaii!! But this is the right thing to do. HELP PLEASE.

So, I guess after all that, I'm asking if anyone knows of a casino on the strip that has $2.00 tables.

By the way, I'd fly into LGB but can't find a flight from SJC. They live five minutes from LGB and I live just 10 minutes from SJC. We could take their (new) car.

placeu2

Hmmmmm....

One time I played at the Boardwalk and they had $3.00 tables. O'Sheas may have some in that range as well. The Sahara talks low limit BJ but I have not played there.

Other than that I might check with the Frontier or Westward Ho or Riveria. Seems to me that the Stardust had $3.00 during the week.

I agree that the Strip would be a better choice. Even downtown I would make a choice other than the Cortez if you can convince him.

It is a very nice and noble thing that you are doing!

chepar

Ok, my information is a few years outdated - I haven't been to Vegas in the last 3-4 years or so, so it might have changed.

However, I did find $1 blackjack tables at the Barbary Coast - which is across the street from the Flamingo. At the time the $1 tables were only during the daytime - around 6p.m. or so they raised the minimum bet amount.

Maybe someone will know if they still have this.

rjw_lgb_ca

Trav, can you easily get to Oakland? JetBlue does have OAK-LGB flights. I don't know how convenient the scheduling is, but.... Otherwise, find a SJC-SNA flight. Orange County is a lot easier to get into and out of than LAX.

I think that flying LGB-LAS would be infinitely easier on everyone than the 4-6 hour drive to Vegas (small airport, short walks to and from the gate). I also think that a little persuasion to make your aunt and uncle stay at the Flamingo would make the trip much more pleasurable for everyone.

Trav

Thanks for all the responses so far. I called the Barbary Coast and their lowest tables at all times are now $5.00. That prompted me to call the El Cortez...$3.00. I'll try O'Sheas. If I'm correst that's the casino between Harrah's and the Flamingo without a hotel...Burger King and Ethel M's??

Yes, I did think of Jet Blue out of Oakland but didn't want the hassle of getting there. But then again, probably better to have the hassle at my end than having them try to get to SNA to pick me up.

Please keep the suggestions coming. Yuk..I dislike Las Vegas. That's why I'm in need of something more than a downtown hotel!

jlm_mi

Yep, that's O'Shea's. I didn't notice any low limits on the strip (below $5) anywhere, including Stardust, New Frontier, etc. except at Slotsa Fun which is a dinky little place just south of Circus Circus. (But I didn't go into O'Shea's either.) Slotsa Fun had a couple of $1 tables and a couple of $3 tables, but they were packed! If your uncle doesn't mind waiting a while for a space to open up, he could play here, but it could be a long wait.

FainaAgain

Sahara is ON the strip, cheap, connected with Flamingo by the monorail ($10 24 hours pass) and by bus ($5 24 hours pass), the pool area is large and not bad. Ask them how much is BlackJack.

cguest88

I just came back from Vegas. I don't think you can get a Black Jack table for less than $3 which was at the Sahara - Slots-of-Fun probably has 3 dollar tables and it is also connected to the Circus Circus (though I don't think your 90 relative would want to stay there.) Unfortantely, $2 is not alot of money to warrant a dealer on the part of the the casino anymore. The cheapest daytime stuff is at least $5 at low end places and more likely $15 at the Mandalay level.

Trav

Just called Sahara and their minimum tables are $5.00 (at least that's what I was told). My uncle probably has more money now than I'll make in my lifetime (well...hopefully not but close) but has it set in his mind this is all he can allow himself to play. I can't change that. So, thank you and keep those suggestions coming.

FainaAgain

Sorry Sahara is out... is there a visitor's beaureau in Vegas where you can call and ask about Black Jack?

There is a website something like CheapoVegas, maybe you can find it there?

Tiff

What a good niece, indeed.
I feel for you, already. Although I cannot offer any cheap blackjack table advice (why does your situation have the makings of a good comedy, or easy beach read) my thoughts are this; if your aunt and uncle were planning on flying anyway, why not forego the "driving their new car" idea and fly with them there. This might lessen the load so to speak. The thought of driving there, I mean that's like four hours at least, isn't it? And like you stated they live so close to the Long Beach Airport.
Sounds mighty painful to me, I'd fly.
I think they are lucky to have you. May good karma come back to you rapidly!
Please post what you decide and after you return, we'll be thinking of you on 4/12 and 4/13! T.

Trav

FainaAgain...thank you. Just went to cheapovegas.com and they have a gaming comparison chart for many of the casinos. I'll spend some time on that later today.

I'd love to just give my uncle a few hundred bucks to play but must let the man have his dignity. Who knows, I just might sit down and gamble with him! Could make enough to pay for a future trip to Hawaii...right?

And, on the flying tip from Oakland...my connection would be Long Beach for both legs. Now how's that for good luck?

Sandra_E

Hi,

It's not on the strip, but the Las Vegas Hilton (the one with the Star Trek Experience), had $2 blackjack tables during the day last time I was there. It's just off the strip and is near the Riviera, Sahara, etc. A good site that may help is www.lasvegas.com, lots of vegas info, including a nice map here: http://www.lasvegas.com/maps/strip_map.htm.

-Sandra

Trav

Update: Talked my aunt and uncle into flying LGB-LAS and I'll meet them at the airport. Got a reasonable Southwest flight out of SJC. And, the best part is NO downtown hotel. I booked two rooms at the Orleans with a 50% off promotion ($30.00 per night per room) AND they have $3.00 tables. Also, a free shuttle to the strip right next to the Flamingo where my aunt's relatives are staying. I'll be able cab us all to and from the airport. Yeah! Now to find a few good books. Thanks for all of your suggestions. Who knows, I may fly directly to Paris. It only takes one winning roll on the crap table. Right?

MelissaHI

...or a good pull on a slot!

I just read this post and was wondering about giving your uncle some money. You could separate yourself from them for a bit, then come back with a few bills and claim you won it on a slot machine, and that you want to ensure the luck will grow by sharing it with him.

Does he only play blackjack? There are lots of penny slots on the strip. Anyway, it does look like you've got it all resolved and $3 tables are not a bad deal, not at all!

Trav

What a nice suggestion! And yes, he will sit at the slots too. But I think he'll be looking for the nickle ones. My aunt told me tonight that he is very much aware that this will probably be his last trip. I hope to make it memorable.

Trav

MelissaH...just reread your post. Penny slots? I'll scout out a seat for him.

Trav

Update:

I just received a call from my aunt. My uncle is in the hospital and obviously will not be traveling to Las Vegas. I'm so sad that I was unable to do this for him. He's 90 years old and says he's ready to meet his Maker. Wish he could do it with fond memories of his last fling on the tables. He wants my aunt and I to still make the trip. We'll see. By the way...this aunt and uncle are not married to each other. Their deceased spouses are brother and sister.

buzzer

Well, as the old saying goes, Life is what happens while you're busy making other plans.

TripleSecDelay

TTT