Hi there, Vegas newbie

Hello everyone,

I'm going to be brief, but I know that will likely turn into a ramble. I have never been to Vegas, but my gf and I are thinking about going there for our honeymoon in May. I am a bit nervous about the flight as I've also never flown before, but hopefully I can find some good info on this site.

Thanks!

 

Just read up. Keep an open mind. Remember there is alot of great information here but most are from different peoples perspectives. What some wont like, others will love. So keep that in mind.

Each persons viewpoint on how they do Vegas is very different. Many different budgets and reasons for visiting Vegas.

 

Our first flight was to Vegas. Lots of excitement that trip (1994) and we still get excited about going back.

 

Steve... for most airlines & pilots, Vegas is a very regular route. Weather is almost never an issue flying in or out of there, so - really - no need to worry about flying.

As for Vegas? Well, I'll offer up just a few notes for you to consider:

1. Don't be intimidated by table games. Everyone has a "first time" at a blackjack table. Just don't play a 6:5 table. (Plenty to read about that subject here at VMB).

2. Get a 'player's card' at every casino you gamble at. The wife needs to get one too. This is how many of us get our free rooms - once on their mailing lists, the offers will come.

3. Getting dehydrated is easier than you may think. Be sure to drink water while you're gambling...it can be easy to forget. I try to get at least 1 bottled water along with my cocktail every hour or so. (PS - standard tip for each 'free' cocktail is $1).

4. There are tons of people there that want your money and/or your time. Be street smart, and just ignore the porn-slappers & time-share vultures. If a stranger asks you "Is that your wife?", a suggested answer might be "Are you kidding? We just met!" and keep on walking. (PS - Don't buy bottled water on the street!)

5. If you or the wife smoke, bring your own. It's $10/pack out there ($9 + the $1 aforementioned tip to the CW).

6. If you're staying on the Strip - the casinos are WAY farther apart than they look from the street. If you're staying downtown, your only cab-fares will be to/from the downtown area, as all of the casinos are quite close to each other. (If you're a $25+/hand gambler, the Strip is what you want. If you're a $5 or $10 a hand gambler, you want downtown or off-strip).

7. If you gamble quite bit, and you're a $25+ bettor (and you've been using your player's card), charge your meals that you have at your home-casino to your room. On the day you're leaving, ask to see a host before you check-out. Ask him or her if they can take care of any charges to your room.

8. If you & the wife both drink, I advise against renting a car. Let the cabbies get you around. Nothing would ruin a Vegas trip faster than a DUI. That said, if one of you is NOT a drinker, and you rent a car, take advantage of Valet parking when you go to various casinos. It'll cost you some tip money, but it's well worth it.

9. Even if you're only a $5 player, budget at least $300/day for each of you for gambling. If you bet more than that per hand, increase the budget appropriately.

10. Once you get in and get to your room on that first day - take a deep breath and relax. You're there to have fun! Don't let "stress" have even a shred of your time there!

 

Start playing myVegas on Facebook.

 

Wow thanks for the quick replies everyone!

I will be searching this board for any tips I can find, like booking airline through expedia but booking hotel directly because they won't comp you any if you pay in advance (is that right?)

Topcard, thanks for the tips! I have a few questions from that...

- Why say 'Are you kidding me, we just met?' to a stranger?

- I'm a little confused about strip vs downtown. So I can check out a map, what casinos are considered 'on strip'? We'll likely be the $5 hand gambler for now as I plan on budgeting $200-300/day for throw around cash. Based on that, what would be a good hotel to look into? I'd like to be in the heart of it instead of walking a mile between casinos, but I also don't want a shady area.

- Am I going to be destroyed if I play Hold-em? I know how to play and will probably play a lot online between now and May, but am I guaranteed to sit at a table with sharks who will easily read the body language I'm not used to hiding online?

Ty - We have been doing that. I'm already up to 15k loyalty points!

Thanks again guys

 

That would be the big ones you have probably heard of on this board, to name a few: Mandalay Bay, Luxor, Excalibur, NY NY, Monte Carlo, Aria, Bellagio, Caesars, Mirage, TI, MGM, Paris, Planet Hollywood, Flamingo, Ballys, Venetian, Wynn etc...

I personally would highly recommend staying center strip (and the hotel you pick should be based on budget). Center strip would be: Bellagio/Caesars/Mirage on one side and Paris, Bally, Flamingo on the other!

If it's your honeymoon, splurge for at least one night and stay in a fountain view room at the Bellagio!

As far as the $5 per bet goes, if this is your first time, there is so much to see and do, you are better off staying on the strip in the action and if you are firm on your $5 bet you can prolly find a $5 table at the Quad or some place like that!

Most importantly, have fun...it's VEGAS!!!! woooohooo!!!

 

Thanks Honestly this is going to sound dumb, but I'm not even 100% sure what a $5 bet vs $25 bet is. I tried to sound smart but have no clue. Is that for blackjack?

 

Yes that would be your starting bet at BJ and also the table minimum. Although there is way more $10 tables than $5 on the "strip", I really do not recall seeing $5 tables.

On the Hold 'em question... unfortunately chances are you will run into good players, but it may be your lucky day, good players still pay from time to time.

 

Blackjack tables in Vegas can vary wildly.
Table minimum bets can range from as low as $3 to $100...even higher in the 'high-limit' salons.

Every blackjack table will have their rules and betting limits (minimum & maximum) listed on the table.

If you're going to play blackjack, I strongly urge you to learn the 'simplified basic strategy' posted right here on VMB in the 'casino gaming' section.
It's really pretty simple to learn.
Once you understand how to play each hand properly, you will want to play at tables with the most favorable rules with a 'minimum' that fits with your gambling budget.
You want a table that pays 3 to 2 for any blackjack. You will see MANY $5 & $10 tables on the Strip that only pay 6 to 5 for a blackjack.

If you play downtown, almost every table there (except for single-deck) pays 3 to 2. Downtown is where you will find plenty of tables (blackjack & otherwise) that have $5 & $10 minimums with playable rules.

Downtown, especially under the Fremont Street canopy, is not shady at all. It is quite different than the Strip, but many of us think that's a good thing!

As a first-timer, you will want to see the sights on the Strip... but that doesn't mean you have to gamble there.
The beauty of downtown is that you can take a cab there in the morning, gamble there all day, and cab right back to your more-plush Strip hotel when you're done, or want to see a show or something.

Bellagio. Yes, it's nice. Yes, it would be a great place to have a night with your new bride. Yes, you will pay 3 or 4 times the room rate than you'd pay at many other places.
"Reasonably priced" mid-strip hotels (that are decent) are certainly available. Browse the threads here. Obviously, there are many differing opinions, but you'll figure out soon enough what types of places suit your tastes.

Downtown, you also have some very nice options. The rooms at Golden Nugget, 'theD' and even the Plaza are quite nice (for downtown). A new, upscale hotel/casino is also avialable downtown for your May trip - 'the Grand'.

Food, shows, shopping, nightclubs and a 'more-plush' environment? You want the Strip.
Better and more numerous gambling opportunities at lower limits? You want downtown.

Whatever you end up deciding, you should see the sights on the Strip & you should at least visit downtown.
Good luck & have fun exploring the site - tons of great info here.

PS - to your question: Why say 'Are you kidding me, we just met?' to a stranger? - if you're being asked, it is almost certainly by a time-share vulture attempting to sucker you in to attending a time-share sales presentation. They love married couples! They will offer you all sorts of incentives to attend.
RESIST!

 

Wow, fantastic replies I am going to read up on blackjack. I'm pretty good with numbers, but not the card counting type unfortunately. I think I can pick up the game fairly quickly which will increase my odds. I will probably sit in a few hands at holdem and see if i'm giving away obvious tells. If I am, I'll work on that for the next visit. I know I can do well in poker, I just know I'll probably be an open book to experienced players (I miss online poker for money)

I am probably thinking too much on the gambling aspect because like you guys said, there are plenty of things to do. I know my gf wants to hit up a few shows, and I want to drag her into a strip club (though I probably won't.. clubs up here are expensive, can only imagine down there).

So I should basically get a hotel on the strip but if I want to do safer gambling, go downtown? $25/hand... wow. I will rip through my $200-$300 limit in about 10 minutes

 

People come to Vegas and have this grand idea they are going to win at all table games, or they play slots all night. Slots have no where near the pay out as table games. Start playing online craps, poker, those games. im not a big fan of blackjack, its to slow and you break even more than you win. Roulette can be a goo fun game for cpls. Downtown typically has lower minimums with better odds. Places off strip are great to, Sante Fe is a great spot, plus they actually comp people still. Palace Station is good to, but its an older hotel so maybe not the nest place to stay.
You have to look at your budget. I would rather stay at a cheaper place like the Quad or Excalibur, but Flamingo and Ballys puts good deal out there to. Almost all the properties on the strip belong to Caesars harrahs entertainment or Mgm Mirage resorts. Sign up and get players cards right away.

Plan your day, and I mean it, really plan your day. People have better luck early morning hours gambling.
figure your daily budget, gambling, food,shows and attraction, taxis.. you be amazed at how many people end up walking to airport.

 

You'll be fine in the poker room. Just be cautious of waiting your turn and putting chips across the line etc if it's your first live play. I was a little disappointed in the poker I played in September. The players at cash games all seemed really tight moreso than i remembered a few years ago. The majority if the cheaper daily tournaments seemed to just end a shove fest bc of the fast levels. I got the better end of that, thankfully.