help! First time to vegas

snapfc01 · #1 11-01-2007, 10:48 PM

I just found out my girlfriend is taking me to vegas for my bday. It's going to be my first trip and I'm looking for help from people who have been there. Here are the following questions I have however any general suggestions are welcome.

1. Best poker rooms for 1/2 NL and also low stakes tourneys.

2. Best place to get good food. Both cheap food and really good more pricey food.

3. Any thoughts on shows or other things that are a must do while in vegas?

4. Best bars/clubs to hit up while there?

5. Places to get food/alchol for cheap when hanging out/drinking outside the bars?

I'm gonna be staying at the Excilabur for a week. If location means anything. Any other advise for the trip is more than welcome as we are trying to make the trip the best we can for the money we have at the moment.

Photoc · #2 11-01-2007, 10:51 PM

A simple search of this forum will get you a butload of answers too all your questions. These are pretty much the most common questions in the recent history of this forum. Also check out the stickys.

Poshua · #3 11-01-2007, 11:20 PM

[ QUOTE ]
I'm gonna be staying at the Excilabur for a week.

[/ QUOTE ]

Well, you've already made your first mistake.

StevieG · #4 11-01-2007, 11:26 PM

snap,

I'll help you out with a couple useful links, but seriously, check the sticky "Class B&M Forum Threads," and then use search. These topics are covered a lot.

Anyway, here goes:

LasVegasMichael's list of Regularly Spread Tournaments in Vegas

The gigantic Vegas restaurant thread

This show thread was in specific response to someone who did not want to go see Cirque du Soleil or Magic: Las Vegas Shows.. Anything worth going to???

This thread hits those shows a little more: Vegas shows...Recommendations and Suggestions?

I'm proud of my post in this thread so here you go: 7 Iconic Experiences LV poker players should experience at least once.

chekraze · #5 11-01-2007, 11:32 PM

gotta love some of the sarcastic/useless replies on this forum.

but poshua is kind of right re: the Ex. i played a tourney there and it was a joke. u start with 300 chips and i just didn't like the vibe of the room.

if u want to play close by to ur hotel go to MGM and mandalay. there's a great monorail from Ex to MB adn to get to MGM just take the skybridge across the strip. i really enjoyed cash games at MGM and MB. it sounds like u are young also so u will like the scene/vibe at MGM poker room. very large, near studio 54 and centrfuge bar so u get good tunes while playing. and less locals i think over there which makes for easier game.

i can tell you how to eat at what's prob the best buffet in vegas...the Wynn for less than face value if u can halfway decently play video blackjack. i have a real long trip report/blog and if ur interested PM me. i just got back 3 weeks ago.

i also played cash at wynn and tourneys at PH and TI.

food has gotten expensive in vegas - i paid $13 for a reuben sandwich at TI!. i would recommend a food court for late b-fast and heavy dinner to keep things reasonable.

Poshua · #6 11-01-2007, 11:40 PM

[ QUOTE ]
gotta love some of the sarcastic/useless replies on this forum.

[/ QUOTE ]

In an attempt to be less sarcastic/useless, I'll elaborate. I actually don't mean that staying at the Ex is a mistake because the poker room is bad. Of course, the room is bad, but you can always play somewhere you're not staying.

I mean staying at the Ex is a mistake because it's an infuriating "family-friendly" dump. See, for example, the Cheapo Vegas review, which opens as follows:

"From the folks who brought you Circus Circus, this is another run-down joint that appeals to the family set, with arcades, shows and restaurants designed to keep the kiddies busy while their parents blow a wad in the casino. It's as noisy and overrun with tots as its circus cousin, so if you're looking for an adult vacation, you might want to check elsewhere."

chekraze · #7 11-02-2007, 12:15 AM

agree again. if it's u and the GF pls stay elsewhere. i'll find u a deal that's comparable. i stayed at MGM for $69/night with $25 fodd/bev credit and 2 free drinks at west wing bar.

pig4bill · #8 11-02-2007, 12:33 AM

[ QUOTE ]
"From the folks who brought you Circus Circus, this is another run-down joint that appeals to the family set,

[/ QUOTE ]

These days, it's more the trailer park set.

llleisure · #9 11-02-2007, 12:35 AM

Excalibur is a bit dumpy but the poker there isn't too bad. I stayed there in December of last year and it was not a bad game - lots of people sort of just randomly trying poker that are absolutely awful and spew money. For decent poker rooms, Venetian and Caesars are both really nice - and both tend to have better players I think.

If you wind up looking for another place to stay, Flamingo is nice and just across the street from Caesars.

SoCal11053 · #10 11-02-2007, 02:27 AM

Maybe you don't have a lot of say in the matter because your GF is taking you and is paying for most or all of it. I'm sure you don't want to seem like an ingrate but the other comments about the EX being a kid infested dump with no vibe and bad food are correct.

Excalibur is in a good location for staying cheap and going elsewhere except to sleep and that's about it. If you can, knock 2-3 days off the trip and upgrade to another place for a better Vegas experience. I love going to Vegas, and do so about 6-8x a year, but win or lose, I'm ready to go home after 3 or 4 nights.

Or, do some hotel hopping after 2 or 3 nights. I can't imagine a week at that place even if its only to use the room to sleep and shower.