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First solo trip - suggestions/advice?

Discussion in 'Misc. Vegas Chat' started by DBC74, Jan 13, 2016.

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  1. DBC74

    DBC74 Tourist

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    Hey everyone. So, I'm starting to get that "Vegas itch" and I'm contemplating a trip in March when I have a week booked off from work. I am a retail manager and my store had a great Christmas season so I will be getting a rather nice bonus cheque at the end of this month, so I thought why not scratch that itch?

    I've been to Vegas 4 times previously (last time was March last year) but always with family. As nice as the trips were, as you guys know when you go with others you have to juggle everyone else's desires and agendas and don't always get to do what you want, so a solo trip has some appeal in that area.

    Always stayed on the strip previously (MGM Grand and Bally's) but I happen to like DT so I was thinking of staying there - the Plaza or MSS or 4 Queens.

    I'm looking for suggestions/advice on the above hotels or other DT hotels that people can recommend, and on dining suggestions and things to do. When it comes to dining I am perfectly content doing fast food or other cheap fixings but I believe it would be perfectly acceptable to eat at the bar in a nicer restaurant for one or two splurge meals?

    I'm not a HUGE gambler - I'll throw some $$$ into a slot here or there - but I'm certainly no High Roller like some on VMB.

    I know there are many on VMB who have done, or frequently do, solo trips so I guess I'm just looking for any tips, tricks, pearls of wisdom you've picked up along the way.

    Thanks everybody!
     
  2. smerrian

    smerrian View from Bally's

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    Be aware that rooms and beds DT are way below the standard of the Strip. Older rooms, cheaper beds, cheap bathrooms in general. Every hotel will shine a little better somewhere, but for the most part think about a 1990's Motel 6. For a solo trip it will do. The Golden Gate has the beds and furniture that was supposed to be used at the Fountain Bleu. When the project was canceled they auctioned off the furniture. The beds are wonderful, furniture and TVs nice but the rooms are very small with tiny tiny bathrooms. The 4Qs are just old all the way around. I found nothing of noteworthiness to their rooms in any way...low beds, tube TVs. I can't comment on the other hotels but the only one with rooms that I've heard are comparable to a Strip room is the Golden Nugget.
     
  3. RockyBalboa

    RockyBalboa Front Line Winner

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    I love solo trips and go quite frequently as such

    I was worried if I'd like it but I have to say the freedom to do what you want when you want is intoxicating. Want to gamble until the sun comes up and tie on a nice buzz? Have at it. Want to go to bed early one night? Do it.

    The social atmosphere is so great in Vegas that you'll find people to talk with. Want to hit up a restaurant then you can find a spot at the bar and enjoy it there without feeling lonely buried at a corner table. Bartenders are sociable too.

    I've spent days in sports books talking about the games and bets with new found friends. I've enjoyed long craps sessions with people whom I'd never met.

    And then you have that quiet time afterwards.

    Maybe split your trip between the strip and DT?

    I wholly endorse solo trips.
     
  4. IM ALL IN

    IM ALL IN High-Roller

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    I am down about 10 times a year and 8 are solo. But cause I've been gambling at the same casino since 03, and attend slot tournaments, I have such a tourney family built up I am never lonely. However, I ADORE being able to do what I want, sleep when I want, eat when I want, not attend the dinner, attend the dinner, don't shop, and sometimes If I'm down for more than 3 nights, like my usual 4 nights, I just like to cocoon in my room and order room service, catch up on movies I don't get a chance to watch at home...totally just enjoy. (well I might on days like that book a facial or pedi, and THEN COCOON)..Love solo trips.
     
  5. Franken Dean

    Franken Dean Newbie

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    I prefer the Golden Gate when solo, and the D with buddies. If you want a tad more quiet then the Plaza or Main street station is good.

    As for food. A like the Zaba's Mexican joint in the Plaza's food court for a quick meal..

    I also like the 777 inside the Mainstreet for bar eating during happy hour from 4-6pm. If you are a craft beer guy, the Boars head lounge in MSS is a good vibe when solo.


    If you need a buffet at a bargain then the MSS and or Fremont will do the trick for basic buffet food o'plenty.


    For entertainment, you can hang out and enjoy the free concerts at the Fremont Street Experience, and or harrassing the freak shows.

    Since you do not gamble much then go to the Fremont east and checkout the Container park, and bars just east of the Fremont Experience.



    For hookers I like the long bar at the D.


    Have fun.
     
  6. johnvic

    johnvic VIP Whale

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    I stayed DT 3 times but don't think I will again, maybe I'd do a night or two. I like visiting on my trips but prefer staying on the strip. That's just me. Anyway, here are some thoughts.

    I love visiting MSS, the vibe is relaxed, the beer is pretty good, 777 and the Buffet are great, VP is great. In general I just love it there. But I stayed there once and the rooms are dated, as smerrian said, 90's Motel 6.

    I stayed at GN's Rush and thought the rooms were very nice. I stayed at DTG and thought the rooms were okay.

    If you like beer then go to Banger Brewing.

    If you like to get a good walk in then it is safe to walk to the outlets during the day. I never got bothered, hardly saw anyone. I actually like how far strip casinos are from each other, built in exercise, but DT they are right next to each other.

    Late at night, there are some sketchy people if you walk between Fremont and MSS. But no one ever made me feel uncomfortable, they were easy to avoid.

    Pizza Rock rocks, best pizza DT. The deep fried Twinkie at Mermaids is not that sweet. DuPar's pancakes are great!
     
  7. Hobofrank

    Hobofrank Prime Minister of Idiocracy

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    I mostly do solo trips..if there is one single piece of advice?
    PLAN NOTHING zero zip nada
    Just do whatever you feel like that moment or do nothing at all
    You'd be surprised how freeing that feeling is, but because with nothing planned? Very little can go wrong
    Yet every fun thing you experience is a bonus
     
  8. Electroguy563

    Electroguy563 Vegas Joker

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    I couldn't have described the benefits of going solo any better. Aside of going with my wife, I also endorse solo trips when one needs to wind down and needs some "me" time.
     
  9. Breeze147

    Breeze147 Button Man

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    I'll toss in my $.02 USD.

    Hotel - Golden Nugget is head and shoulders above the rest. There are quality restaurants like Charthouse and Vic & Anthony's and surprisingly good fill-em-ups like The Grotto. Lots of good gambling action, although table limits may be a wee bit higher than other casinos downtown.

    Ambience - I love the funkiness of downtown. The ability to just walk to several casinos very easily. It's a good experience watching and being part of the kaleidiscope of humanity.

    Music - Fremont St. has outdoor stages where you can see and hear live bands. For head pounding and dancing girls you have the Golden Gate and Downtown Grand. BTW, just a stone's throw from the Downtown Grand is the world famous Hogs and Heifers bar.

    I never have much trouble having fun with other people at the tables. Just relax and forget the outside world. This is YOUR world and you own it for the time that you are in it.
     
  10. aaisack

    aaisack VIP Whale

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    Solo trips are awesome. Just do what you want to do, when you want to do it. That's my definition of a vacation. Where better to do that than in Vegas?
     
  11. Guy_

    Guy_ VIP Whale

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    Doing my first Solo trip in February for my Birthday. (Normally I go with friends but with the shitty Canadian Dollar I could not convince anyone to go)
    I am staying 2 nights at The D and 3 nights at Planet Hollywood.

    I am a gambler tho and will spend a good amount of time playing slots, BJ, Let it Ride and going to try playing VP to slow down the losses. likely toss in 1 Poker tournament somewhere as well.
    I don't really have any new plans other then I want to venture to Elis island at some point to get a chip from there (and any near by casinos) for my collection.

    I am a bit nervous (mostly because when you are with people you can easily get away from gambling if it starts going south) but also excited because there have been many times when I wanted to gamble but could not, wanted to stay up late but knew "the group" had early morning plans or really did not want to eat somewhere but had to for the group etc.

    I will probably bring about 8k US for the trip as I am sure that should be enough to entertain me for 5 days unless I absolutely win nothing everytime I gamble :p
     
  12. Hobofrank

    Hobofrank Prime Minister of Idiocracy

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    Water's World..."I'm Waters and This is my world...", lol
     
  13. RockyBalboa

    RockyBalboa Front Line Winner

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    Good advice. I'm normally a rigorous planner and on my first couple solos I tried to do the same. I ended up not sticking to my itinerary.

    So now I'll create a loose outline on things to do. I keep them on a notepad in my phone and when I find myself looking for something to do while in Vegas I look it up and start going through my list.

    I've wanted to hit the Mob Museum for the last couple times and never did. Maybe in March!


    Amen to both here. It's ine thing to book a solo trip to a tropical beach or a European vacation - I think that would not be as fun for me. Certain places are made for family trips and groups.

    Vegas is also good for family trips and groups but it is great for solo travelers because of the vibe and the party atmosphere. People are there having fun and in a festive mood.
     
  14. swimjim10

    swimjim10 Low-Roller

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    Go to LaBayou (spelling) at night when it's not crowded, tip the girl on the back right $5 bucks, buy a yard of slushy drink from the girl in the back left, play max bet on unicorn slots and let the magic happen!
     
  15. ItsVegasTime

    ItsVegasTime Vegas Addict

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    I've only stayed DT once, and swore never again. Maybe the weekend we were there had some crazy thing going on, I'm not sure. Previous years we would go for a few hours downtown and I loved it. I was excited when we stayed there, but was quickly disappointed. Our room at the 4 Queen was awful. So old, run down, dirty feeling and LOUD. We are in our 30's so not the young crowd but sure not old... and the atmosphere this night downtown was overwhelming and too much for us. The street was SO PACKED that it was like shoulder to shoulder. I was uncomfortable and on edge the whole time. Maybe it was just something going on that night, who knows. But we haven't gone downtown since and this visit was in 2013.
     
  16. ruralhipster

    ruralhipster High-Roller

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    I like to spend a day or two off strip at a place like Sam's Town, Orleans or Red Rock to add some cheap bowling and movies into the mix. If you are staying downtown you can always grab a shuttle from MSS or the Cal to Sam's Town for a change of pace.

    A day trip away from the casinos can be fun, if you don't have a rental car already some hotels have rental car places.
     
  17. MikeOPensacola

    MikeOPensacola El Jefe

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    Rush Tower rooms at the GN are by far the best downtown and reasonably priced, especially when you consider what that same room would cost on the strip.

    Solo trips are great. Too many reasons to numerate. Just go with the flow, do what you want when you want to do it and don't make any concrete plans ahead of time.

    Lots to do downtown with plenty of great dining options from the deep fried Oreos at Mermaids to some very good steakhouses. The only thing I don't like about downtown is the lack of a big sports book. Plaza is probably the biggest.

    Have fun on your trip, if you can do a live TR. :peace: :beer:
     
    Annual CCA (Casino Collectibles Association) Show at South Point
    Long Overdue Stay At The Golden Nugget
  18. stackinchips

    stackinchips VIP Whale

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    I'm a strip guy myself, but I've spent a couple of nights downtown on different occasions, always at the Nugget. As others pointed out the Rush Tower rooms are as nice as pretty much any strip room. Prior to staying overnight DT, I typically visited downtown for a few hours one night each trip. It was a fun change of pace, I'd grab a cheap bite to eat somewhere like Magnolia, and had fun. I have to say though that staying DT is much different than visiting DT at night. Depending on what you like to do, and how much you're willing to travel, DT may or may not be a good option. DT during the day is a whole different animal than at night. There are no performers, no light shows, and it's a completely different vibe. Like to hang out by the pool? Better stay at the Nugget because every other property either has a crappy pool or none at all from what I've seen. If you don't like to gamble, it's not like the strip where you can wander from casino to casino for hours just taking in the sights. It can still be a good option if you have a rental car or are open to traveling to the strip during the day, or if you're fine with the other activities DT has during the day. The only reason I'm posting is to point out that many of the things that make DT fun at night don't exist during the day.

    Would also add that I'd try to find restaurants with bar seating for your meals. Usually you can strike up a convo with other single diners or the bartender, or you can just watch a TV or the bartender mixing cocktails. Plus you don't look like you got stood up by your date sitting by yourself at a table.
     
    Last edited: Jan 14, 2016
  19. MikeOPensacola

    MikeOPensacola El Jefe

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    Excellent points. I've stayed exclusively downtown the past few years and the above post is spot on. I spend my days traveling to the strip, seeing the sights and enjoying the world class shopping. I'll also visit some off strip properties from time to time. Theres not a whole lot to do/see downtown after two or three days except gamble or drink and people watch. Downtown comes alive at night, that is when Fremont Street is at its best.

    I like to pick a fun place to have lunch each day on the strip and hang out until the sun has gone down for about an hour to see the strip in all her neon glory and then head back to Fremont Street.

    :peace: :beer:
     
    Annual CCA (Casino Collectibles Association) Show at South Point
    Long Overdue Stay At The Golden Nugget
  20. topcard

    topcard Here's to $10 3:2 two-deck, $5 Craps, and $5 UTH!

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    One more here - 80% of my play these days is downtown.
    Not much I can add to the advice already posted, but I will offer up a few warnings:
    1. Don't have breakfast (or any other meal) at Hash-House...portions are HUGE... do the counter at DuPars! Good breakfast there, but arrive early if you can... as in by 8AM or so...otherwise, expect a line.
    2. On Friday & Saturday nights - be aware of, and avoid, the 'roving' groups of guys...clearly not gamblers or tourists...clearly there just to party & be rambunctious. This may have gotten better since the new public-drinking rules, but they used to be easy to spot because of the coolers of bud-light & coors-light in-tow as they roamed.
    3. Pace your drinking...carefully. When solo, you have no wing-man...if you get too drunk, you could find yourself waking up in a bath-tub of ice & short one kidney!(Just kidding...sort-of. Seriously though - don't get hammered when you're solo...or, if you do, make sure it's in your room!
    4. Ignore the appeals of street-people & buskers trying to part you from your money...just keep walking.

    Have fun & good luck!
    :beer:
     
    Annual Spring Trip!
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