Imperial Palace vs. Venetian

[kioshk]

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Just got back from IP and I've stayed at the Venetian.

I'd choose IP
NL is super soft.
Room to strip much faster
Proximity to other casinos much better.
Balcony is great for smokers
Obnioux drunks will be more acceptable
Lower limit table games
O'Shays (steps away) has super cheap food court.
Venetians Grand Lux is tasty but relatively expensive
Carnival Court(steps away) is also full of drunks.

It's so hot now that all you'll need are shorts and short sleeve shirts (pack light).

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Ah, didn't see this before I made my last post. This is great information - thanks! I have heard that the players at IP are terrible. I did not know about the cheaper food options - seeing how we're doing n9ne one night, we're certainly going to want to eat cheap the rest of the time. The rest of the stuff looks relevant to our group as well.

Anyone want to offer a counter-argument to these points in favor of the Venetian? Besides the obvious "It's nicer" and "WTF would you ever choose the IP over Venetian?"

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re poker, I just came back from Vegas. 10 o'clock on the same Friday night, IP had literally 2 games going. The Venetian had at least 12 going, and it was a freaking palace.

[Eder]

Greasing the security guard $10 will be easier than anything other ideas

[Eldon]

re: "10 o'clock on the same Friday night, IP had literally 2 games going."

Poster is absolutely correct. My table went to 7:15AM and I can only play one table at a time live.

TF said "But the dang casinos are colder than heck. I dang near froze wearing shorts sitting in the Venetian for several hours." I agree. I was cold all night but afraid the game would break up if I went to the room for more clothes. From 3AM on I was shivering so hard that the players thought I always had monster hands.

[Topset72]

Right next door to IP is Harrah's. They have an outdoor court which has bands (no cover) late night. Cheap drinks for Vegas. The band I saw there was really good and the atmosphere was like a large college bar. Lots of college age women.

Inside Harrah's they also have one of those dueling piano bars where everyone sings along with the songs--Packed with chicks.

[davidlong14]

The "$20 trick" at the Venetian is better known as the "$100 trick" if you're lookin' for a suite upgrade

[dukemagic]

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Right next door to IP is Harrah's. They have an outdoor court which has bands (no cover) late night. Cheap drinks for Vegas. The band I saw there was really good and the atmosphere was like a large college bar. Lots of college age women.

Inside Harrah's they also have one of those dueling piano bars where everyone sings along with the songs--Packed with chicks.

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haha, this is perfect information. we'll definitely be checking this out.

edit: any one else know of stuff like this? we'll be there fri-mon, fyi.

[dukemagic]

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re poker, I just came back from Vegas. 10 o'clock on the same Friday night, IP had literally 2 games going. The Venetian had at least 12 going, and it was a freaking palace.

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i mean, just because i'm staying in IP doesn't mean i can't go elsewhere. for sure we're checking out the venetian's room. i've heard so much good stuff about it.

we're planning on playing at several of the casinos around the strip.

[PMarlowe]

Where you stay should have little influence on where you play, and 1-2 NL games are soft everywhere, so I thought I'd make a few non-poker related suggestions

Imperial Palace is certainly much worse than Venetian, and even with 2 rooms for the price of one at V you might be over paying. That being said the cheaper rooms attract a younger crowd and I have always had an easier time meeting girls at IP and the IP pool. The Venetian pool won't have as many girls your age, and the few who are there are much more likely to be with their rich parents than parting with friends.

Something else no one has mentioned is the potential for comps and bonus dollars. As a serious poker player i'm sure you would never consider table games or slots, but if any of your 7 friends will be playing those games get a players card first thing, and be sure to hand it in every time you play. Also, at $20 a hand or so your play will be worth much more at IP than at Venetian (where it would be worth nothing). Just messing around at 1-2 NL games and $20 a hand blackjack (cause the girls wanted to play) I earned over $300 in comp dollars in one trip to IP (comp dollars can be used for food and towards your room and other crap). It doesn't take much play at IP to rated, and your next trip will be alot cheaper or free.

Ignore what anyone else has said about security (security doesn't even check for room keys at IP)and don't worry at all about the 4 or 8 to a room. I've over packed rooms at IP, Mirage, Bellagio, and the Wynn (where we got an extra rollaway bed brought up to the room even after they said it was against their policy). Just don't be a moron in the hallways and don't advertise what your doing and you'll be fine.

[dukemagic]

"Imperial Palace is certainly much worse than Venetian, and even with 2 rooms for the price of one at V you might be over paying"

we're paying about $110/room/night. i figure this is a great rate when we have 4 people in each room. i'd be curious if anyone thinks this is too much (i know nothing about vegas hotel prices). it's a fight weekend when we're going, so all the hotels seemed to be charging more than usual.

"That being said the cheaper rooms attract a younger crowd and I have always had an easier time meeting girls at IP and the IP pool."

haha, good.

"As a serious poker player i'm sure you would never consider table games or slots"

lol, so true. i hate playing table games, although i will if all my friends want to.

"Something else no one has mentioned is the potential for comps and bonus dollars."

could you explain how this works in more detail? do all of my friends and i each have to get one? or can we get all of our cards linked to the same account? i guess i can just ask when i go to get my/our cards.

thanks for registering for that response - awesome stuff.

[PMarlowe]

Haha, I've been lurking for a few months trying to figure out what will happen with poker laws in Florida, but i just had to comment on a post regarding the hotel I most love to hate, Imperial Palace.

I didn't realize it was a fight weekend so that may be the best rate available, but I have often stayed at Imperial Palace for $49-69 a night, sometimes for $29 and a few times for free. With IP you definitely want to book directly through them, and ask for the 'Casino Rate'. The only requirement for the casino rate is to have a players card; I'm not sure if there is a work around for your first trip.

The players card is simple, any floor in the pit should be able to get you one (all they need is your drivers license), and you hand it in every time you play. I would say everyone who is going to gamble should get their own, but your question reminded me that I did once have a 2nd copy of my card made so my friend could use it too, so that is a possibility.

With 8 people splitting the costs you will be fine as is. But they do comp for poker and if your going to play in the pit its worth 3 mins to get a players card so your next trip will be cheaper, and if one of your friends does happen to go off for $2000 at a BJ table, make sure the pitboss knows who he is and hands in his rating card, cause that can easily get your weekend comped. If your only bringing $80 each for the trip just be happy with a free buffet.

Sounds like you've already looked into this a bit and done a good job setting it up for your friends. You might have a better idea of where to stay and how things work on your next trip, but for now just go and know you will have a great time.