OK for those of you that have already read some of my post, I apologize. I am just having a hard time determining where I want to stay for my upcoming trip over Thanksgiving. I currently have a few things booked and at some point need to determine where I am going to stay. A little background on me. I have not been to Vegas for 5 years now and had been 10 times prior to this layoff so I am familiar with most everything except anything at city center. I will be traveling alone so switching hotels does not bother me in the least. I am a 40 year old male and want both somewhat an upbeat casino and a decent room. Sometimes during the evenings I still think I am in my twenties so I like lots of things going on. I also am only coomfortable playing lower limit blackjack and some occassional craps. Nothing more than $15. I also will get out and venture quite often during the day and don't mind walking from one end of the strip to the other however during the evening hours I like to gamble and drink at what will be my home base.I am arriving on Monday and departing on Friday 11/19 to 11/23 I receieved an offer to stay at Encore or wynn for a minimum of three nights with one comped and $200 of "free play"..I currrently have a reservation to arrive here on Tuesday. Total for three nights with taxes and resort fees is $350 I am concerned that Encore will not give the vibe I am after from the casino especially during the beginning of the week.. I also have a reservation at Planet Hollyood to stay all four nights. The total here is right around $375 for all four nights. I have never stayed in this hotel One last reservation I have made is for Aria and it is for the final two nights of my trip. These two nights total $300 and I would get a $100 dining credit. From what they told me there are no restrictions on the dining credit and I can use wherever. You will notice that only Planet Hollywood covers all four nights which I am aware of. I can always stay one or two nights at Planet Hollywood as it is only like $53 per night on Monday and Tuesday or if Encore is my best bet, may even just stay at Harrah's the first night to help keep cost down. With all of my options above so far where should I stay? I seem to have some other options too right around the same budget but have tried to narrow it down
If you want vibe...then Planet Hollywood is the way to go. The music gets loud, it is a more upbeat casino and the price sounds about right $375 for the four days. Plus your in an excellent location to venture out during the day and allot going on in this part of the strip. Easy access to City Center with great choices for food nearby (Earl of Sandwhich, in PH, try it), other great food options as well. With Encore you are at the very far north end of the strip, PH is more centered on the strip.
My main concern would be that you want to spend evenings at your home casino, but if your maximum bet per hand in BJ is $15 (indicating that lower limits might be preferred) it might be difficult to find tables at that time at a higher end casino like Wynncore or Aria - if they have some, there would likely be few and they might be crowded. PH or Harrah's would be more likely to have open spaces at tables with limits you'd be more comfortable with in the evenings.
At Encore, even the casino's around you are more high end, and you gambling budget will make you more of a day player. At PH, you have several within easy walking distance, that match your play limits, at any time.
Based on this info, I say go for PHo and Aria. PHo will have the vibe you want as well as the gambling limits. You may want to stay a night at aria (or just walk to it from PHo across the street) to check out the new stuff you haven't seen before (as well as Cosmo). But Wynncore and Aria may not have the gambling limits you are looking for. During the week (and probably the weekend), you will have no problem finding $10 and $15 craps games at Aria. Not sure what their BJ limits are these days. But I know you will have no problem, even on Friday, finding those limits at PHo
Staying at PH and Aria would make the most sense. Also, NYNY seems to always have a 5 dollar BJ table if you're looking to do some low-rolling or have busted your bankroll by the end of the trip. It's a pretty easy walk from Aria/Monte Carlo. I've even seen that table on the weekends.
From Aria if you want to play low, you can walk indoors to Monte Carlo where you'll find $10 and $15 minimums, regardless of the time. Even on Friday night of labor day it was $10 craps and $10 BJ. Edit: NYNY is very unlikely to have $5 BJ on a weekend night.
Thank you for all the information. sounds like I might need to change my plans. I am suprised that nobody has mentioned the free play factoring into the conversation...
How much can or should three extra hands of BJ a day mean to you? Would you change your entire stay built around that?
Admittedly You will struggle to find $15 minimums at any of these resorts in the evening--there are few tables less than $25 anymore. There may be a couple w/ $10-15 minimums, but they are usually full. PH has the best vibe for sure; Encore is pretty sedate any time of day. I like Aria a lot, but minimums are definitely higher. One thing to consider, you can stay at PH, but gamble at Ballys or Bills with lower minimums.
Thanks for the information. I have been there before over Thanksgiving and it is usually a pretty slow time which is fine with me and hoping the table limits might be lower this week. I am sure that Thanksgiving night will be a little bit high but hopefully my bankroll will allow me to play at $25 per hand by then
The freeplay will be gone before you know it. Nice to have, but don't let that alone steer your decision. If you're looking for exciting vibe, wynncore wouldn't be it. If you're looking for the elegant, classy, enjoyable hotel experience and willing to play $25 / hand then wynncore would be a good choice. All things considered, PH seems like the choice.