Please help me choose a solid mid-priced hotel

[AnyAce]

Hey all,
A good friend and I are meeting in LV in early August this year and I am having trouble choosing where to stay (he's left it up to me). I am looking for suggestions for good centrally located hotels on the strip.

By way of background we are both in our mid-30s, married, kids etc. We both like to play poker (he likes low-limit holdem and i prefer omaha 8. we both like NL tourneys under $100).

In the past I've stayed at:

Mandalay Bay and TheHotel with my wife (probably too expensive and too far south)

Orleans with poker buddies(looking maybe a little nicer and on the mid-strip)

I have narrowed it down to:

Paris
Treasure Island
Monte Carlo
Planet Hollywood

All are about roughly the same price ($160-$170 night for 4 nights incl Sat/Sun) and generally in a good location for us. Tripadvisor.com likes Paris the best as far as I can tell.

Can anyone recommend one over the others or are there others I am missing?

Thanks
AA

[fishyak]

Of your list I would go with Paris because....

1) If you are travelling with kids, Paris has good food choices without having to get the full meal all the time. The pastry shop has really good sandwiches and things to split for smaller appetites and when you want to go big, the buffet is really good.
2) It is centrally located and puts you in genuine walking range cover from Ceasar's to Mandalay (usinge the Excal to Mandalay tram of course).

YMMV if....

a) your family LIVES at the pool. Then maybe TI is winner. TI used to have a great arcade area, but I am not up to date on that.
b) How often do you come to LV? And do you or your group play other games? If you come even once a year AND play other games, learning to play the comp game becomes important. Because of my wife's penchant for small slots, we get comp'ed all the time at MGM. So where you stay and pay "full price" this time is likely to be where you earn your comps for your next trip. So look ahead to you next trip when you are picking hotels for this trip.

[mingorama]

I'd stay away from Paris and T.I. --- their poker rooms are small and lack action. Haven't stayed at MC or PH, but would choose one of them by default.

[AnyAce]

Thanks for the replies. I'd like to clarify that it will just be me and my buddy visiting (the family stuff was just to give a sense that we are not 22 year old internet whiz kids who order bottle service at the hip clubs) but are just looking for a solid hotel. Sorry for the confusion.

That being said, a nice pool would be a plus. TI appeals to me because the Wynn is across the street and they seem to have regular omaha8 games I hear...

AA

[Poshua]

[ QUOTE ]
i prefer omaha 8.

[/ QUOTE ]

I think the key question here is what rooms have regular action at Omaha 8. Both Paris and TI are convenient to good rooms: Paris to Bellagio and Caesar's; TI to Mirage, Venetian and Wynn. Either way you'll find small tournaments, and small limit and NL hold 'em. My guess is Bellagio (and therefore Paris) will serve you best for O/8, but I would defer to those who actually play O/8 in Vegas.

[uclaben]

I'd do Mirage. If you want to commit to their poker room, you can get their excellent poker rate. If not, it's still (usually) reasonably priced, great location, and a nice pool.

[sternroolz]

[ QUOTE ]
Hey all,
A good friend and I are meeting in LV in early August this year and I am having trouble choosing where to stay (he's left it up to me). I am looking for suggestions for good centrally located hotels on the strip.

By way of background we are both in our mid-30s, married, kids etc. We both like to play poker (he likes low-limit holdem and i prefer omaha 8. we both like NL tourneys under $100).

In the past I've stayed at:

Mandalay Bay and TheHotel with my wife (probably too expensive and too far south)

Orleans with poker buddies(looking maybe a little nicer and on the mid-strip)

I have narrowed it down to:

Paris
Treasure Island
Monte Carlo
Planet Hollywood

All are about roughly the same price ($160-$170 night for 4 nights incl Sat/Sun) and generally in a good location for us. Tripadvisor.com likes Paris the best as far as I can tell.

Can anyone recommend one over the others or are there others I am missing?

Thanks
AA

[/ QUOTE ]

Probably I would stay at TI. Esp if pool is not a consideration(if it is, then stay at Mirage). TI's rooms are pretty nice. More importantly, I think Mirage($5-10) and Wynn($10-20 and $20-40) run the only Omaha 8 on the strip on a consistent basis. As far as low limit HE, there is $3-6 at Mirage and $4-8 at Wynn, along with low limit holdem at many other places. Also, you are right next to Mirage and a short walk from Wynn and right across the street from Venetian. There are also lots of food options in the area. Also, if you decide to gamble on degenerate games, Casino Royale is also across the street and is a better option for craps and BJ than any other mid strip place.

The downside of TI is that Bellagio is a bit of a walk in the summer heat, and MGM is completely unwalkable due to distance.

For < $100 tournaments, try Planet Hollywood or Sahara. You may want to cab or take the monorail to either though.

[AnyAce]

Thanks. This is very helpful.

AA

[bakergolf]

AA,

When you stayed at the Hotel and M. Bay did you get a players card? If you did, you might call VIP services and see if they can offer you a special rake rate. I believe they can check all of the MGM owned properites.

BTW, based on need/wants. I would choose TI.

What ever property you choose sign up for a players card. Be sure to give them your email addy, and play a small amount of VP or slots (throw a twenty in and play it thru).

You will receive reduced rates for upcoming trips, and sometimes even free rooms during slow periods.

Mark in Kansas City

[AnyAce]

Great advice. A friend who goes often also recommended TI so I think that's we'll do.
I'll definitely sign up for players card too.

Thanks again.
AA