One of my co-workers was scheduled to attend a conference in Las Vegas, arriving in Vegas on August 28th (leaving on Sept 2) Turns out he can not attend afterall, so my company is last minute sending me in his place.
Main conference hotel casino is the Venetian ( I think… it’s for VMWorld, if that makes a diff ) but the hotel reservations are supposedly booked next door at Harrah’s. They tell me it is next door to the Venetian, but I haven’t checked yet.
So, what things do I need to know relatively quickly about Vegas? Does Harrah’s etc have an airport shuttle? Does it cost $$ ? Are there free alternatives? Several nights the conference will be having after conference parties, but if I want to escape that for something a bit calmer, where is a good place to get a reasonable non-buffet meal? Vegas has lots of buffet’s, I am sure…are there one or two nearby Harrah’s that are generally regarded as a cut above?
If I am not gambling, where is a good place to get a reasonably priced drink?
I do not know squat about gambling. If I park myself in front of some, I dunno, quarter slot machines ( anything less than that seems too cheap, more than that too expensive. ) what can I expect? Yes, I’ll feed the machine, just at a rather leisurely pace.
And wi-fi access? Any free wi-fi?
I know casino’s have their member reward programs or whatever they call them. What can I and should I do with them?
Hey, I am really only going for the conference…stop laughing, really. But I do want to have some fun while there without breaking my personal bank limits.
I went there for a seminar. If you have money to waste, casinos are fine. It’s really a phony place full of phony people, but you don’t have to live there, so have at it. My only advice is: if you go out for a walk, make sure you take bottled water with you. It’s hotter than the nine steaming hells.
Don’t stress - it will all be easy, and call and check with Harrah’s regarding a shuttle from and to the airport.
There are tons of non-buffet restaurants, all prices, all kinds of food. There are also some pretty spectacular buffets (Wynn, Bellagio, Paris come to mind - pricy, but excellent!), but if you don’t like buffets you don’t have to go to any.
If you sit at pretty much any bar and drop a five dollar bill into a machine and just play a quarter a game playing slots or video poker, you will get your drink free (just leave a tip). Same as if you were playing at a regular slot or video poker machine. You don’t have to be a big spender to get free drinks.
Just people watching and roaming around will be ample entertainment - I don’t think being bored is high on the list of Vegas complaints.
Those three days will fly by…just relax and go with the flow.
Yeah, it is a tad warm (111 degrees tomorrow), so you might not want to make a huge trek on The Strip in the afternoon…but mornings and evenings are quite pleasant.
Howdy! I’ll be working that show, programming lights for one of the breakout rooms; it is indeed at the Venetian, which is right next door to Harrah’s. The two aren’t connected, but it’s only a 5 minute walk outside from one to the other.
They do not have an airport shuttle but there are several shuttle services that operate out of the airport; they usually cost about $8 per person. Just ask someone at the baggage claim area and they can point you in the right direction.
We’ve had lots of threads about dining in Las Vegas in the past; I’m sure an old thread could answer that better than I can. The restaurants in the Venetian and in the Palazzo are all terrific; I can’t vouch for anything in Harrah’s as I’ve never eaten there.
On the Strip, drinks are all going to be pretty much the same cost. If you want to go away from the Strip, I’d suggest Crown & Anchor on Tropicana. It’s a pub, and is generally a pretty mellow, fun place. If you want something with a little more character (read: “seedy, but safe”), the Double Down Saloon is a great place.
Machines don’t take coins any more, sadly. They use cards, like pre-paid debit cards. Expect to lose any money you gamble with; we don’t build these places because people win.
VMWorld usually has free wi-fi set up in the hotel (for attendees); they should give you access codes when you check in for the show, I believe.
Ignore them and don’t sign up for them unless you like getting stuff in the mail and lots of emails about “deals” they will be having in the future.
Great! We love conventions and the people who attend! Y’all help pay for our roads and schools, so we don’t have to institute a state income tax. Thanks in advance for your contribution!
When we were there last August, there were a lot of people on the strip with coolers selling “Ice cold water one dollar!” and telling us “Don’t let dehydration ruin your vacation!”
We were there a week, and just walking around people watching was plenty entertaining. We usually spent the hottest part of each day lounging in the pool.
Recently, we had company in town and in a pinch we ate at just the normal cafe inside of Treasure Island (which is near the Venetian). Prices were reasonable and the food was excellent. I believe they sell Pho noodles in the same shop but it was busy and we couldn’t order from that menu, but the rest of it was just basic diner fare like burgers, french dips, salads, etc. There’s also a PF Changs down by the Paris, I think, and you’ll find lots of food variety like La Salsa, Panda Express, etc.
For gambling as entertainment, I would check out the penny games. There’s all sorts of fun ones like Star Wars, Monopoly, Texas Tea, etc. In fact, much of TVland series re-runs has some sort of penny game associated with it and there’s some real bizarre ones out there involving cats or fish or something. The key to fun with penny games is that you bet 1 penny per line (or more if you’re) flush and go 10-20 lines. Then you wait for your bonus rounds… I don’t know why, but it’s just a lot of fun if you don’t have much to gamble. My favorite is the Bruce Lee game.
I haven’t played any machines that take cards, most take bills and will print out tickets that you can take to another machine or cash out at a kiosk.
Some member cards are worth getting if you get a meal deal or some extra cash to gamble with but I agree, most are just marketing ploys.
Harrah’s is indeed next door to Venetian. On the Vegas strip “next door” means a ten minute walk, though. Bring comfortable shoes!
Venetian has an airport shuttle free for hotel guests. I assume Harrah’s has the same, but I don’t know for sure. Harrah’s is about a 15 dollar taxi ride from the airport, though, and takes about 8 minutes. The shuttles typically run once an hour, and park further from the airport building. Taxis will take you directly to the door in front of your airline’s ticket counter, as the taxi line in McCarran airport in Vegas drops directly in front of ticketing and check in. To me, it’s worth it to take a taxi.
There are no buffets at Venetian. Harrah’s almost certainly has one, but it’s not even on my radar. If you want the Vegas cheap food experience, I’d suggest walking the 3/4 of a mile to a little place off the strip very near Harrah’s called “Ellis Island” for breakfast. It’s the casino equivalent of a dive bar. They have the only 4.99 steak and eggs special left in town, and a microbrewery. If you like beer at all, order the stout, as it’s quite famous and has been featured on Food Network. If you are certain you want to have a buffet, the Carnival World Buffet at Rio has a reputation for being quite excellent, but it’s not within comfortable (or safe!) walking distance from Harrah’s.
Nowhere on the strip. See above! If you ARE gambling, your drinks will be free. Finding a cocktail server might be a challenge though.
You can lose money at an alarming rate at a quarter machine. Easily 100 an hour. The way slot machines trick you is to advertise their “credit” value, not the actual value of their bets. They’ll say a machine is 25 cents, but that’s for 1 credit. A max bet might be 5 credits or more, and the maximum jackpots are only available on a max bet. Penny slot players fall into this trap often, since a max bet can frequently be 30 credits or more. Sometimes it can be confusing to calculate exactly what you’re paying every time you push the spin button.
Venetian has free wifi access in the casino area, and in the conference/convention rooms where I assume your meetings will be.
Venetian’s member rewards thing is called “Grazie”. It’s a program specifically designed to encourage repeat visits. If you don’t plan to return to Venetian or Palazzo you won’t see much benefit from becoming a member. Becoming a member is free, though.
For the next week, Vegas will be at or above the record temperature highs. It will literally be hotter outside on the Vegas strip than in the center of the sahara desert. You will burn to a crisp if you spend any time outside without sunscreen. You will get sick if you don’t drink about four times more water than you’re used to. Take the heat seriously! The heat actually kills people here. It’s not a comfort issue, it’s a health one.
Confirming: Harrah’s is indeed next door to the Venetian but in The Strip that can mean that in between there’s what in a normal city would be a whole block’s walk. Also depending on the room assigned you may end up in one that’s set back WAY back from the street entrance, adding time.
No free WiFi in Harrah properties, IIRC it’s $14/day, better use the conference’s.
As mentioned, many fine eateries within easy range (none operated by Opal AFAIK).
IIRC Harrah’s does *not *provide a free airport shuttle, the most economical option going from Airport TO Hotel would be the airport share-ride shuttles, followed by cabs. Shuttles do a route dropping people off at various properties for a flat rate. However in some properties they will drop you off at the tour/bus loading spot which may be quite far from the regular drive-up entrance.
Harrah/Caesar’s loyalty program (Total Rewards) works in a number of casinos of their chain in Vegas, Reno,the Gulf Coast and Atlantic City, but for a very casual visitor/low roller it doesn’t seem it would make a worthwhile difference until a lot of points accrue.
Reiterate: Watch the heat. Force down the water if walking outdoor in the daytime, and even indoor keep hydration in mind (dry air).
Harrah’s has a first-rate steakhouse, so make sure you eat at least one dinner there (Ask for Jeff.) There is also Toby Keith’s I Love This Bar and Grill at Harrah’s, which is fun and tasty. Or you can walk across the street to the Mirage and eat deli at Cantor’s.
Two corrections - one nit picky, but one important - It’s Canter’s, and it’s in Treasure Island, not Mirage. Total agreement about the steakhouse at Harrah’s, though!
I never thought I’d say this about a buffet, but for great food try the Wynn buffet. I thoroughly enjoyed every selection I tried there. Also I can’t remember the name but The Mirage had a great little burger joint with a variety of cool milkshake flavors.
A little far away for you but I always have to recommend Nine Fine Irishmen at the NYNY.
I haven’t eaten at Wynn, but if the OP is looking for a buffet close to Harrah’s then Wynn should be considered. Going north from Harrah’s, you’ll hit in order Venetian, Palazzo, then Wynn. The walk is probably 15 minutes or so.
If you’re like me and are used to a very humid environment, and you spend any time outside, don’t be alarmed if you blow your nose and see blood. :eek:
If they charge for wifi at the hotel, many places do offer it for free. McDonalds comes to mind, and Starbucks. At TAM last year, McDonalds basically saved my life: the combination of $1 summer drinks with free wifi really made me happy in that insane summer heat.
When I go to Vegas, I take the shuttle bus (Executive Las Vegas) from the airport instead of a cab. It’s $8 and you can pre-pay for your return trip. They will give you a chip (of course) to give the driver to prove you paid. You call them 24 hours ahead of your pickup time to schedule your return trip to the airport. I learned on my first trip that taxis are really expensive and not available when you need one to get to the airport in a hurry because you decided to play in the casino just a little while longer. First trip I spent $30 from the airport to the hotel and $30 back. With the shuttle it’s $16 round trip.
Wear comfortable shoes, drink lots of water, set a limit on how much you can lose each day, and sleep when you are dead.
There are some smaller casinos in the opposite direction from the Venetian, they have cheap drink specials and lower stakes if you want to try any table games. Across the street is the Pirate show in front of Treasure Island. People watching is fun, either in the casinos (keno or roulette tables are good spots) or on the Strip at night (the pedestrian bridges offer good views).
The last couple of trips we’ve never bothered to leave Wynncore.