Best way to prepare mentally and physically for a Vegas trip

mike4 · #1 06-15-2006, 11:55 AM

I am headed to Vegas in two weeks as you all know. The advice on this forum has been great and I hope some of you can add a little to this.

I am leaving after work on a Thursday night from NYC on an 8pm flight. I am flying with 3 friends and meeting a few others out there. My friends want to drink on the entire flight but I think I need to take it easy and maybe drink towards the end to save energy for the night. The bright lights and action will definitely increase my adrenaline but I have been swamped at the office and on little sleep of late.

My plan is to get some seriously good sleep the day's before the trip. I want to be in bed my 9 and hopefully asleep by 930. This cuts into Mets time but I will make the sacrifice.

I eat pretty well and try to stay fit besides the drinking on the weekends. I want to have a lot of energy for this week in order to get in major poker hours as well as go out late. Do any of you recommend anything to sustain this energy? I plan on eating fruit and having red bulls (not too many as I enjoy my heart and do not want it to explode).

As for poker, I have not had much time to play lately. I have read some of the new NL book on the train to work and think about poker a lot. Unfortunately I cannot get to AC often. I figure the play at the 1/2 games is nothing too tough. I like a tight aggressive style but sometimes I mix in lag play to adjust to table style.

Any thoughts are welcome here. Even if you have a funny story or something about a good bar/club I would love to hear it.

Brian707 · #2 06-15-2006, 12:02 PM

Dont plan on sleeping too much out there. For whatever reason I dont get more than 4-5 hours a night, perhaps they pump oxygen in the rooms? Or perhaps I hear the tables calling me. Those friendly girls at the casino bars are 99% of the time hookers, and usually smoking hot.

soh538 · #3 06-15-2006, 12:17 PM

I like that your are thinking ahead, as some of us do not when we see the Vegas lights from the airplane. The first thing is what are you poker goals, tourney's or cash games?

If you play cash games, anytime is okay to play, but if you plan to play tourney's, hang out with your friends the first night and play a noon tourney the next day. Take note of the heat as well, so not too much drinking.The fact that you like the Mets is an added plus, so Good Luck on your trip.

mike4 · #4 06-15-2006, 12:21 PM

Strictly cash games. I really do not like tourneys. However, I may play the Caesars one because my friends seem up to it. I plan on taking about 1500 strictly for poker. One friend owes me $400 and if I get that before the trip then I will add that to the 1500. I want to play a lot at the MGM but also want to try the Venetian, Bellagio, and Wynn. The wynn I heard was tougher so I might head there to pre-game before the bar at low stakes with the top shelf drinks.

Vuron00 · #5 06-15-2006, 12:29 PM

I'd try to stay up a little later than 9pm the night before. 9pm is 6pm Vegas time and sleeping then might give you jet lag. I'd try to stay up a little later and get some sleep on the plane, if possible.

TurdFerguson · #6 06-15-2006, 12:49 PM

Good idea to stock up on sleep before you go -- you want to be well-rested when you first arrive. Taking a nap on the flight (from NYC that's one long-ass flight if it's w/ no stops) is a very good idea.

When you're there, drink LOTS of water. You'll be amazed how quickly the heat can dehydrate you, and the "free" soda/alcohol at the tables doesn't help replenish your H2O deficit. Also, I'm not sure how many days you're out there, but pace yourself (e.g. don't go crazy the first couple nights), and have a plan for each day, like "today I'm going to play at Bellagio, and if the wait is too long, I'll go across to Caesar's, then tomorrow I'll take a shot at the Wynn NL game."

Hope this helps.

Eder · #7 06-15-2006, 12:55 PM

Getting in shape to holiday in Vegas is an oxymoran

LittleOldLady · #8 06-15-2006, 01:03 PM

[ QUOTE ]
Good idea to stock up on sleep before you go -- you want to be well-rested when you first arrive. Taking a nap on the flight (from NYC that's one long-ass flight if it's w/ no stops) is a very good idea.

When you're there, drink LOTS of water. You'll be amazed how quickly the heat can dehydrate you, and the "free" soda/alcohol at the tables doesn't help replenish your H2O deficit. Also, I'm not sure how many days you're out there, but pace yourself (e.g. don't go crazy the first couple nights), and have a plan for each day, like "today I'm going to play at Bellagio, and if the wait is too long, I'll go across to Caesar's, then tomorrow I'll take a shot at the Wynn NL game."

Hope this helps.

[/ QUOTE ]

I second the advice about hydration. Basically drink WATER constantly. Otherwise you will be dehydrated before you know it--and you will feel inexplicably lousy. Yesterday was a decent day--high 80s-low 90s, but most days this time of year the heat is extreme. There is often a fairly brisk wind, so essentially you are moving around outside in a blast furnace. If you plan to do much walking (life from casino to casino on the strip), take that water bottle with you. The air cools off a little at night, but not that much.

mike4 · #9 06-15-2006, 01:05 PM

eder,

why bother to post that?

Eder · #10 06-15-2006, 01:17 PM

It was a feeble attempt at humor, but after numerous Vegas trips over the last 30+ years I have found adrenalin alone is all that is required, and found it amusing that anyone would worry about advance preparation of any kind.

But since you seem serious I will give you the best advice I know...

1. Bring 10x less clothes/luggage
2. Bring 10x more money