# Vegas Stay: Advice? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 3, 2018, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vegas-stay-advice/805818 "2018-01-03T21:06:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2018, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vegas-stay-advice/805818/1 "2018-01-03T21:06:29Z")
I’d like to take my wife on a poker trip to Vegas. We both love lower stakes poker. I find the choices dizzying, though, and would like some advice. This trip will probably happenin the summer, which I realize is ridiculously hot but 1. My wife loves the heat 2. Its cheaper then Here are my proposed wants: 1. Relatively non-stupid-expensive. It doesn’t have to be cheap, like The Flamingo, which apparently has bedbugs, but stupid expensive like the Wynn is out. Average nightly stay of $200 or less is the rough target. 2. On the strip, since that allows for walking to other hotels and poker rooms. I don’t mind a 20 minute walk in heat and we would rather a short walk than a cab ride. 3. Have a outdoor pool. 4. Have a good poker room. Not all Vegas casinos have poker, and some are kinda lousy. Caesar’s Palace is currently under consideration - but I have not been in Vegas for 12 years and would appreciate anyone who knows Vegas giving me advice! ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2018, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vegas-stay-advice/805818/2 "2018-01-03T21:44:03Z")
I don’t actually know anything about poker, but I’m told the Aria has a fairly good poker room. It’s a bit pricey (but nowhere near Wynn level) and has nice amenities. You should be able to get a very reasonable summer rate if you book now. It also has the advantage of being centrally-located on the Strip, so you’re not too far from anything. ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2018, 6:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vegas-stay-advice/805818/3 "2018-01-04T06:35:26Z")
I wouldn’t say that I “know Vegas,” but I’ve been there twice within the last year. Both times, I stayed at the Mirage. On the Strip, clean rooms, beautiful outdoor pool, and a poker room that always seems busy. If the Mirage’s poker room is not up to your standards, Harrah’s is a short walk across the street, Caesar’s is next door to the south, and Treasure Island is next door to the north. Across the street from Treasure Island is the Venetian. Between all of these, which are an easy walk from the Mirage, you should be able to find some good poker. I cannot speak to cost, as I usually get an air and hotel package; but it seems to me that you could get a good rate in the middle of summer. Have fun and good luck! ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2018, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vegas-stay-advice/805818/4 "2018-01-04T16:57:09Z")
Don’t discount Downtown for walkability. It’s not the old Downtown - Derek Stevens has been and is continuing to put his mark on it. Great bars, great restaurants in a much more confined space than the Strip, and at much more reasonable price points. As for the Strip, Center Strip is the way to go. For a cheaper alternative to Caesars think Paris or even the Linq. Good call in staying away from Flamingo. Not only are the rooms lousy, but if you get one facing the Cromwell you will be kept up all night from the din of Drai’s. A source I trust rates the Top 10 poker rooms in town as: Bellagio, Venetian, Mirage, MGM, Caesars, Wynn, Binions, Rio, Orleans, Palms. Toss the last 3 as being off-Strip and in the case of Palms undergoing a major refit. So **Spoons** may have a viable idea. Staying at Mirage won’t break you on room rates, and you are within easy walking distance of 3 of the Top 10 poker rooms, and Caesars isn’t _that_ far away. Especially if you take the tram to TI and then sneak into Caesars through the Forum Shoppes. Remember that summer in Vegas will kill Canucks in less than 20 seconds. Stupid hot. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2018, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vegas-stay-advice/805818/5 "2018-01-04T17:24:20Z")
Update: If you go in July, when it’s stupid hot, it’s quite affordable. I can get into the Venetian at $160 a night plus resort fees. It’s the frontrunner now. TI or Mirage are also possibilities, but the Venetian suite might be too good to turn down. I have felt a Phoenix summer, so I know how to deal with desert heat. That part really doesn’t bother me, and my wife finds it appealing. She’d vacation in our oven if it had drink service. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2018, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vegas-stay-advice/805818/6 "2018-01-04T17:35:47Z")
On Venetian: good choice. Personally we prefer the Palazzo side as far as rooms go. The poker room is at Venetian, though. Great restaurant selection there as well. I highly recommend Delmonico, Cut, Chica, Sushisamba and Grimaldis. The new bars are also nice, like The Dorsey. The resident show (Human Nature) is one of the best in town. ---
**Author:** ![MeanJoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanjoe/32/5693_2.png) [@MeanJoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanJoe)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2018, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vegas-stay-advice/805818/7 "2018-01-04T19:43:45Z")
Another recommendation for Venetian or Palazzo if you can get the room in your budget. I’ve probably spent 50+ nights in the Venetian over the last 4 years. Location is centrally located on the strip so it is an easy to walk to many other casinos. If you need a cab, again you’re central so reaching either end is reasonable fare. The casino floor is nice, it seems the Palazzo casino is a little more “grown-up” to me whereas the Venetian side can be a bit more brash and loud. I’m not a poker player so can’t comment on the poker room(s). The dining there is phenomenal, by far my favorite place to stay based upon number and quality of restaurants. I do miss the Bourbon Room and it’s Rock of Ages tie-in. The new cocktail bar just isn’t as much fun. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2018, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vegas-stay-advice/805818/8 "2018-01-04T19:49:26Z")
Not to mention that even more great restaurants are right over the bridge at Wynncore: Sinatra, SW Steak, Lakeside, Red 8, Andrea’s, Costa di Mare, Mizumi… ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2018, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vegas-stay-advice/805818/9 "2018-01-04T20:40:38Z")
My brother played a lot of poker in Vegas (enough to get comped) and almost always played downtown. He liked tournaments. He never entered them, but he loved playing the people who went bust early. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2018, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vegas-stay-advice/805818/10 "2018-01-04T20:55:14Z")
I actually just realized that the week we’re aiming at, July 1, is during the World Series of Poker at the Rio; in fact, that is when the Main Event begins. How might this affect the poker rooms? You’d think they’d charge more for hotel rooms, but I suppose Vegas has more than enough capacity. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2018, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vegas-stay-advice/805818/11 "2018-01-04T21:45:40Z")
I just asked your question on a Vegas message board I frequent that is filled with poker players. We’ll see what they say. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2018, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vegas-stay-advice/805818/12 "2018-01-04T23:11:11Z")
Early responses indicate that the poker rooms are jumping that week. Logical, of course. Plenty of tournaments going on and plenty of games at whatever level you are comfortable at. So go for it! ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2018, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vegas-stay-advice/805818/13 "2018-01-05T21:35:03Z")
Sweet. We love poker. I love it more than many of my blood relatives. ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2018, 5:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vegas-stay-advice/805818/14 "2018-01-07T05:00:36Z")
I’m not a big fan of Vegas, but after travelling everywhere else I went to a conference there and decided to spend nine days there. I can’t tell you much about poker, but I don’t recommend seeing more than 2 Cirque de Soleil shows on a single visit. There is a website, free membership, called [lasvegasadvisor.com](http://lasvegasadvisor.com) which has some good deals. In July, the Wynn would be about 200 US during the week. I like the Venetian/Palazzo for its great location — a 20 minute walk on the strip doesn’t get you very far. Signature Suites behind (and owned by) MGM are nice rooms which might be under 100 a night and include kitchen facilities. A great deal, but the Venetian is better. Daniel Boulud has a great and reasonably priced bistro there, it is close to great shopping (and Sushisamba and Grimaldi’s are great) and the casino and amenities are classy. Most shows still offer half price tickets and the Tix 4 Tonight stand is almost across the street. Still worth seeing the Grand Canyon, possibly Red Rock or the Hoover Dam. Vegas folks love the show Absinthe, which is pretty quirky. ---
**Author:** ![Turble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8dc957/32.png) [@Turble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Turble)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2018, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vegas-stay-advice/805818/15 "2018-01-07T15:47:49Z")
I’ve been away from Vegas for too long to have much to say but I can tell you that [lasvegasadvisor.com](http://lasvegasadvisor.com) is the real thing; not a scam or an advertising come-on. Tony Curtis has been putting it out for many years and is very well known by Vegas insiders. Much of it may not be to your taste or style, having lots of info on where to get a free hot dog and beer, where to get and play Match Play coupons for a profit, how to maximize comps, etc., but he takes a lot of the legwork out of finding good deals and places offering the best odds and payouts. I see on his website that he is associating with Bob Dancer. Dancer is also the real thing; check his website to see if he is giving video poker lessons somewhere in town while you are there. They are free and I have a hunch you would enjoy it (you are teachable) – only takes a couple of hours and can open up a whole new world of ‘advantage play’.