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Advice for a Super Duper Low Roller?

Discussion in 'Las Vegas for the Frugal (not Cheap)' started by Reindeerz, Jun 10, 2012.

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  1. Reindeerz

    Reindeerz Guest

    Hi! I'm going to Vegas! While I've been 5 times before, my circumstances are WAY different this time, so I'd love some advice.

    In the past when I traveled I went with my husband, and we stayed with his parents at a timeshare part of the time and spent the rest of the trip at The Orleans, Bally's or The Rio (Places we could get comped based on our relatively low budget slot play.)

    Well, in the past year I have gone through a divorce, and honestly didn't expect to go back to Vegas for QUITE awhile.

    But, I play pool.. and BOTH of my teams made the national tourney in August. Meaning, I'm going to be in Vegas for 11 days.

    I'll be staying at the Riviera. I know its older, but is it decent? I read such mixed reviews on Trip Adviser. As long as I don't have to worry about bedbugs and nastiness I'll live. I can't exercise comps for a room anywhere else since my ex and I always shared accounts before. :(

    Are there any good but cheap places to eat at the Riv or within fairly close walking distance? 11 days of eating in Vegas means I'll be on a strict food budget.


    Finally, what's the best way to get to the main strip and/or downtown from Riviera? I've never really been down on that end of the strip before.

    This will be a fun (but long) trip. Maybe I'll get brave and do a trip report this time. :)

    - Tracy
     
  2. technolight

    technolight Low-Roller

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  3. HoyaHeel

    HoyaHeel Grammar Police & Admin

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    Honestly, for 11 days on a strict budget, I'd try to find a place I could stay that has a kitchenette so I could do some meals on my own. Maybe an extended stay hotel or a timeshare nearby or condo rental from owner.

    Using the bus (get a weekly or monthly pass?) you can easily access off-Strip food options (groceries or restaurants) A rental car might be worth it - esp if you could share the cost with someone else on your team who'll be there with you?
     
  4. thenuke1

    thenuke1 High-Roller

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    do yourself a favor.... go to vegas4locals.com and print out those awesome buy 1 item get 1 item free coupon. You can even use them to buy 1 meal get 1 meal free.

    Nathans, bella panini, NY Pretzel, Haggen Dauz ( for smoothies)

    http://vegas4locals.com/coupon5thavenue.html

    these will go a long way.

    Planet Hollywood restaurant at Caesars $10 of $20

    http://planethollywoodintl.com/partners/Visa/

    whatever you do stay away from the peppermil... that place is overpriced and highly overrated... my guess is they charge so much for the food to pay for the electric bill
     
  5. Reindeerz

    Reindeerz Guest

    Thanks for the coupons! Are there many coupons for things on "my" end of the strip in the coupon books that are for sale? I know I'll get out and about a couple of times on the trip, but mainly I'll be "stuck" spending some time here and there at or near the Riv between matches.

    I'd love a kitchenette, but my room is paid for at The Riviera, so I suppose I'm sticking with it and I'll be just cutting corners where I can. I do enjoy a bit of gambling (slots and poker) and will do a bit, but that's my biggest goal, setting a strict bankroll and not breaking it.

    - Tracy
     
  6. tatterdema

    tatterdema VIP Whale

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    My suggestion is to buy a bus pass, and go downtown for meals.
     
  7. travelfiend

    travelfiend High-Roller

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  8. FoolsGold

    FoolsGold Tourist

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    If you have a free room of ANY sort ... use it.
    Mini fridge? If not, get a cooler.
    Coffee maker? A walmart or walgreens coffeemaker can be cheaper than those morning lattes or certainly cheaper than going to the casino to get "free" coffee in the mornings.
    Coupons??? Check some VegasSolo sources but I think most of those are useless if you are on your own.
    The Riv is now 1,000 odds at Craps... its a great deal and decent comps. So do your table games there.
    If you travel to get to Buffets, choose wisely and avoid the long lines or overly priced ones.
     
  9. LolaDoggie

    LolaDoggie VIP Whale

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    I'm sorry about your divorce and change in circumstances. Congrats on making it to Nationals on 2 teams.

    I like the idea of the grocery delivery for snack and quick/easy meal items. A coffee maker will get water hot enough for soup and instant oatmeal. A soft sided cooler packs flat in luggage.
     
    Last edited: Jun 11, 2012
  10. user3657

    user3657 VIP Whale

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    Id like to add that Rivera is next to the LVH which has a monarail stop.

    Rivera is also not too bad if you are a walker. My buddy and myself made the walk from Planet hollywood. My co-worker which is 50ish and is extremely slow made it from rivera to Wynn.

    Im guessing they are paying for the room, if not you might want to keep checking LVH deals on like hotwire, etc. You can often find LVH at the same price or even cheaper then rivera.
     
  11. Sam D

    Sam D Low-Roller

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    The Riviera has a food court with some low cost options, including a Quiznos and 7 other food places. If you like Indian food, India Masala is one spot there that gets consistently good reviews on Yelp.

    Nearby, Tacos El Gordo at 3049 S Las Vegas Blvd. has $2 tacos which are small but excellent. Their adobabo is highly recommended.

    I haven't been to Slots A Fun, next door to Circus Circus, in a long time but they used to have some cheap food specials and low priced beer.
     
  12. jasonargo

    jasonargo High-Roller

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    You will get 10% off (or more depending on your level) with your Riviera players club card at Queen Victorias pub. Very good burgers.

    There's a Mickey D's across LVB (not that I am recommending, just saying).

    Downtown is your best bet for good inexpensive dining - 777 in MSS, Market Street in Cal, Magnolias in 4Q, Cafe in El Cortez all have good values and food quality. Get a bus pass & head down on the Deuce.

    Have fun & good luck!

    -
     
  13. numeno

    numeno VIP Whale

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    My guess is that you are not going to be interested in walking much on the strip. It is going to be 105+ during the day. I'm sure you will do the walk to the Encore/Wynn one day and then never again. :)


    I would also suggest the bus and heading downtown for a lot of your free time. Plenty of places down there for cheaper eating, and better/cheaper gaming. Riviera does have a food court as well.
     
  14. Jerseyguy

    Jerseyguy MIA

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    Use your female charms

    Hook up with guys that will buy you dinner and take you places.
     
  15. HoyaHeel

    HoyaHeel Grammar Police & Admin

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    There's also a shopping center just south of Riviera, on the Strip - has a drugstore, liquor store, korean bbq (I think). Maybe a couple other food places. But a nice convenient walgreens for water/soda/beer/snacks etc.
     
  16. MrSandsman

    MrSandsman Low-Roller

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    My last trip this past fortnight I did the walk from the Venetian to the Riviera a few times. Not a bad walk, particularly in the cool of the morning or evening. There are lots of cheap fast food places and grocery/souvenir shops selling snacks along the way.

    Other than walking, the Ace or Deuce bus is the way to go to get downtown or downstrip.

    On my trip I had a $70 a day budget for a week (not counting a night out at a strip club:wink2: and a fancy room at the Cosmopolitan), which included a $20 a day gambling budget. I found it easy to stay within budget if i avoided taxis. A couple of ok VP and slot wins ($35, $55, $70 and $150) meant I even got to splurge at an expensive restaurant now and again.
     
  17. searchin

    searchin Low-Roller

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    I would definately use McDonalds across the street for a light breakfast if I didnt bring a coffee pot. I would also eat a downtown lunch buffet on the weekdays ( less expensive.). I could live on one buffet a day.
    When I stayed at Circus Circus I would play the penny slots and order pina coladas for dessert. They top them with whip cream. Yum. Filling.
    I've stayed at Riviera and thought it was nice and updated. Although this was about 4 years ago.
     
  18. Reindeerz

    Reindeerz Guest

    LMAO@the advice to use my female charms. I'm bunking with another single girl part of the trip and she seems to think that high rollers will fall out of thin air ready to turn us into Las Vegas Princesses.

    I will have to check out the monorail, that sounds like an easy way to travel. It's amazing how many times I've been to Vegas how few casinos I've set foot in. Pretty much everything down on that end of the strip.

    Yes, my room is paid for at Riviera as part of my "prize package," since I'm getting that free and free plane tickets it really will be a cheap affair, I'm just trying to have as much gambling and entertainment funds as possible. I want to have one "nice" meal out there and then will take advantage of snack bars/late nite specials/food courts and energy bars from walgreens.

    I love downtown and want to hit the area at least once. My biggest problem is having much of my time dictated by the tournaments (I'll have plenty of free time, but it will likely be 3 hours here, 4 hours there with matches in between.)

    I'm scared of walking too much during the day. I'm very pale and the sun makes me weak. (I swear I must be part vampire!)

    Thanks again for all the advice. I think I've had this site open in at least one tab for the last week. I'm actually more excited about this trip than any in memory. I have a good combination of people to spend time with, but also many of the perks of a solo trip (which I've never taken ANYWHERE.)

    - Tracy
     
  19. Iamrice

    Iamrice High-Roller

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    There are $1 or $2 hotdogs at Slots-O-Fun.

    Hop the Boyd shuttle at Bills and head to the Gold coast for a decent/cheap buffet. Or to the Orleans for the same. The Palms is OK too. If you get the LVA or ACG you can get 241's for both.

    Other than those (and the above) options, all I can add is it's Vegas. The deals can come left and right, just keep your eyes open and you should do fine.

    Have a great trip and good luck!
     
  20. LucyR.

    LucyR. VIP Whale

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    Las Vegas on the cheap....

    Hi Tracy, everybody has given you some great advise.

    There is no such thing as being picked up by a High Roller and become Las Vegas Princesses because Vegas is filled with beautiful young 'escort gals".
    They can buy any pretty woman they want.

    But... you could meet some regular lonely guys that are hanging around by themselves who will appreciate your company if you make it clear you both are not ESCORTS. A nice way of saying the ladies of the night and day.lol.

    I think they will just buy you a drink for the time you spend with them.
    You most likely will get bored with them real fast.
    Forget the "Princess Fantasy" because a high roller may have a wife somewhere in the casino and the Casino security will throw you out for trying to pick up on a high roller.
     
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