Imperial Palace vs. Venetian

[rafiki]

If your goal is to play small stakes poker and get very drunk doing it, then IP all the way.

If that's not your goal, don't step anywhere near it.

[bodie]

I've been at the Venetian a couple of times lately and they have a guard who checks to make sure you have a room key before they let you near the elevators up to the rooms. So all of you would have to have one - or at least most of you.

[wakanohana]

Logistically, it becomes to accommodate every one. You at most will be given thee or four room keys and you need a room key to get past the guard below the elevator. IP is where it's at. Wait until you guys are doctors or lawyers and stuff.

[that_pope]

I would recommend IP just for the shower/bathroom situation alone. You are broke college students, live like it. Also, IP is slightly better located than Venetian. I always choose to stay at IP, cause even though I am no longer broke nor in college, spending $200+ a night on a room just doesn't seem worth it for those 5 hours of passed out sleep I get a night.

[pig4bill]

[ QUOTE ]
I've been at the Venetian a couple of times lately and they have a guard who checks to make sure you have a room key before they let you near the elevators up to the rooms. So all of you would have to have one - or at least most of you.

[/ QUOTE ]

Yup, and everyone in the group has to have one. They'll let a hooker through with you though, so maybe he'll think some of them are boy hookers.

The scam wouldn't last long though. It's impossible for 8 college kids not to make a ridiculous racket, and the neighbors will have security up there in a flash.

[rafiki]

big upsides to IP (as some have said):

location: Absolutely money.
price: tough to beat.
having a place that sells booze 24/7 right in front of elevators: essential
low limit poker that gets more booze then any other room in vegas: amazing

drawbacks:

the elevators (as bad or worse as everyone says)
rooms, sort of meh
food, very meh
smokie compared to a lot of places

I found the pros were better then the cons. But I would never stay there if it wasn't with a large group of guys trying to save $. I think I'd do Bally's next time for a poker trip. Same great location, decent price, much nicer.

[dukemagic]

Hmmm, still some differing opinions here.

"a huge WTF here--imperial palace is a dump while venetian is a world class resort--if you can get the venetian for the same price as ip whytf wouldn't you?"

"no question. IP is a pit and smells like ass.
Venetian is fantastic and the poker room is the nuts."

those are reasons why we want to stay in the venetian.

But, issues like the bathroom/shower (apparently there are two showers in the venetian suites?) and getting all 8 people into the room make me wonder about venetian.

We were going to try the $20 trick to try and get a larger room with 2 queens and a sofa bed or two in the venetian, and also to get extra keys (perhaps we should try and get extra keys after we move all our stuff in?). But yeah, I am concerned about sneaking 8 people in. If it matters, the last of 3 nights, we'll only have 6.

Re: the guard who checks for room keys. Could we "lose" our keys and get 4 more, and then have 6-7 total - the 3-4 we got at check in that won't work anymore, and the 3-4 replacement keys that do work, and then everybody has a card to flash at the guard? Or do they actually scan the keys at the elevator?

[dukemagic]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
I've been at the Venetian a couple of times lately and they have a guard who checks to make sure you have a room key before they let you near the elevators up to the rooms. So all of you would have to have one - or at least most of you.

[/ QUOTE ]

Yup, and everyone in the group has to have one. They'll let a hooker through with you though, so maybe he'll think some of them are boy hookers.

The scam wouldn't last long though. It's impossible for 8 college kids not to make a ridiculous racket, and the neighbors will have security up there in a flash.

[/ QUOTE ]
Hmm, this makes me lean towards keeping IP, because it's true - we get ridiculously retarded when we're drunk, and so would be making a racket for sure.

[Berge20]

Venetian sweets have a bath and a shower separate, but right next to each other. Not two showers.

You just flash your keys at the security guy, they don't scan it.

[uclaben]

[ QUOTE ]
Eight in a room, good luck.Security wise , you're treading on thin ice. People sneak in an extra 1 and occasional 2 for a total of 4 but 8? You're better off at the IP for the rules do allow 4/room and so if caught on a 2/room payment it will just cost some small amt of extra dollars. I can see you being caught at the Venetian and having to pay for another room at prime price. Don't see how you can hide 8.

[/ QUOTE ]

I want to offer a dissenting opinion here.

I've had as many as 15 people in a room at the Mirage, and, while I wouldn't necessarily recommend it, it shouldn't be a problem security-wise if you don't make a lot of noise. Just get extra keys after you check in - that's basically it. They're not going to bother you about it at the front desk,

And no one at the Venetian actually cares you have eight people in the room. They're not going to "find out" and charge you; this isn't Europe and you can bring whoever you want to your suite. Just don't annoy the neighbors and get kicked out.