First trip to Vegas next month, got a few questions

Hi, new guy here. First post. Hope this is in the right forum.

Finally making it to Vegas for the first time ever at age 39 in about a month from now. Friend of mine is able to get me a press pass to AEE at Hard Rock so I'm looking forward to that a lot. I have four comp nights at Ballys in a Jubilee premium room. I was booked at Harrah's but cancelled it when someone told me about the new Jubilee tower at Bally's. I don't drink alcohol, maybe a gin and tonic here and there.

I'm renting a car. I think I got a good deal on it from Enterprise. ($21/day for a full size). I've read differing opinions on here about renting a car but my personal preference is if I have never been someplace before, I always rent a car. I'm also a night owl as I work graveyard and love the freedom of having a car and not worrying about when shuttles or whatever stop running.

I play slots. Rarely play anything else. Mostly play at Foxwoods. Just started going to AC more often as it seems Foxwoods has gotten tighter. Have so many players cards to sign up for. So here are my questions:

1. From reading these boards, valet parking is free in most places is that correct? I rarely use valet parking anyplace. Is there any reason I should be nervous trusting valet with a rental car?

2. Besides my gambling bankroll, I plan on bring a stack of singles for tips for valet, housekeeping, CW's, etc I'm wondering if anybody else does this? Thinking about getting 100 singles from the bank before I go. Maybe some $2 bills also. Dumb idea?

3. Are there in-room safes in Bally's rooms? I've read different things online. If there are, are they safe? haha. Am I wrong to assume if the Jubilee tower is fairly new then it has wifi also?

4. Is it difficult to drive around Las Vegas?

5. If I order room service at Bally's can I ask if those charges can be comped when I check out? And who do I ask about that, the front desk clerk or someone else? I'm just a lowly Gold CET member. But I just started going to Borgata in AC and put through $7900 coin in my last trip during roughly 8-10 hours of slot play.

6. Is the $20 sandwich necessary when I check into Bally's if I ask for a view of the Bellagio fountains or a nice view in general?

Thanks for the advice and tips! So much great info on here.

 

First of all... WELCOME to the board!!!

I'll just speak to the car-rental, as I visit Vegas once or twice a month on business, have for a long time and rent a vehicle almost every single time.

I ALWAYS valet and have NEVER had an issue.

Vegas is a very easy city to navigate as the major streets are wide, straight and run for a long ways. The Stratosphere is an easy landmark to locate for anywhere. It goes without saying, but I'll do it anyways... don't drink and drive

I too travel with a lot of ones and fives for tipping purposes. Other posters have reported using the $2 with varied responses.

I'll leave the Bally's responses to folks with more knowledge of that property.

 

Have fun!

1. If you don't drink, then having a rental car may be a great idea. For myself and others, I would have to drive to the hotel and then cab home As for Valet, yes, free except the tip. No worries with the valet and rentals.

2. Singles in your wallet make for a wide easy to spot wallet. You will get plenty of singles along the way. They also have the change machines EVERYWHERE. Getting singles is easy. Also, there will be times you have a few $1 chips at the end of the night that are uncashed. Give those and avoid the long line at the cashier. There is a whole thread on the $2 bills. I think the consensus (50/50) was some service people like them, some thought they were getting stiffed.

3. My room at Bally's last Oct had one. I did not use it, but there may have been a charge.

4. Nope. Just check out Koval, Paradise, and Industrial Rds before you go for easy shortcuts during heavy traffic times in LV

5. Yes, room charge can be comped. At that level, you will find it unlikely. But, you will also earn Reward Credits which can be applied to room charges...and resort fees that you will pay as a Gold card holder. You may want to consider signing up for the CET Visa card which will get you $100 in free RC's (food) and automatic platinum status (no resort fees of $18/nt) https://www.totalrewards.com/e-totalrewards/content/pages/visa.html

6. On weekend and during large conventions like AAE, most likely YES. Smiling and being nice might work too. But, smiling and being nice with $20 sounds even better.

 

Dumb idea? Not to me, because I do this exact same thing.

Every trip I bring exactly 100 singles. At the end of the trip, there are usually a few left, but not many.

During my stay, I keep all loose chance in a cup, and leave that for housekeeping. Probably adds up to $10 to $20?

Enjoy your first trip.

 

yes foxwoods has tightened up, but still looser than las vegas STRIP casinos

 

1. Yes, no reason to worry, though I wouldn't leave large quantities of cash or dope in the car

2. Normal, though I hate $2 bills

3. Yes on safes (n/c). Yes on wifi, with a fee (resort fee)

4. Yes and no. Depends on time of day, where you're going and if you know your way around. If you plan to never leave strip other than say a trip to Fremont street, don't bother on rental car, IMO

5. Can always ask

6. Necessary? No. You may or may not get it, $20 0r not...depends on availability.

 

Last year I took about 75$ in ones and by the end of my 4 day trip I still had about 40 of them. I would grabe 10-15 a day for tips and things before walking out of the room and come back sometimes with more from change I had gotten from cashing out, beers, food etc. I remember being at the airport paying for things in large single denoms so I could get rid of them! This coming year I will probably ask fro like 25-30 in singles from the bank before leaving, I think that will be just fine to start out with for sky caps, cabs, luggage etc.

 

One tidbit to add as it pertains to driving. I think vegas is pretty easy to navigate because of the landmarks. But keep in mind that it is illegal to use your mobile phone while driving. Even if you are sitting at a red light. The popo are pretty serious about enforcing this law, so keep it in mind

 

popo - Thankfully there is always Urban Dictionary, so I know what the hell you people are talking about sometimes.

Just anecdotal, but on our last trip in the limo to McCarren, I counted 5 people on cells on the 15.

 

You can save a bit of Vegas time by signing up for the players cards online and picking them up from the casino (you'll need ID) when you get there.

RE: The $20 sandwich - I'd ask for an upgrade first and see what you get offered and then go in with the sandwich if you don't think you are getting enough.

Couple of things to bear in mind....this information comes from a close friend of mine who is a front desk manager at a CET strip hotel and she has said it is fine to pass on...

1) Check-in agents at a big hotel easily clear 100k a year and this is quite heavily based on their commission - they get a percentage of each up-sell they make so you're never going to get a top suite with 20 bucks. They will offer you something that is available and earns them more in tip than commission or a next tier upgrade if they can see you won't purchase a suite.
2) The official CET rule on front desk tipping is that the agents can't solicit you but they are allowed to take a tip for services after the act so try and be a bit discreet with flashing the sandwich until after you have a solid offer or they may have to say no to an upgrade so as not to have seen to have been enticed.

 

Just wanted to say thanks for everybody who gave me advice. Great stuff here.

A couple more random thoughts and questions:

-I know I'm going to give CET a bunch of play since I got the free rooms at Ballys through them. Does it matter which CET property I play at most? Should I give a little extra play at Ballys or as long as they see I play a lot at different CET places, does it matter?

-Concerning the $20 sandwich, I'm perfectly happy with my comped Jubilee room and this may sound crazy, but I really don't want or need an upgrade to a suite. Probably just going to check in normally and ask for a high floor away from the elevators. Do you guys think this request requires a $20 sandwich or something like a $10 half sandwich? I'm not cheap by any means I just don't know the proper protocol.

-Are there any places besides Venetian that you can order drinks from your slot machine instead of flagging down a CW?

Thanks again for your help!

 

Don't half the sandwich.. that's really, realy, low..

 

I would only put down a sandwich for a room upgrade, not a location in the hotel of the same room upgrade. Just my opinion though.

 

Some good answers above. To add...

You can get all the $1 bills you want in Vegas. No need to have a stash.

Sure you can drive. You can also walk the strip and go hotel to hotel to check things out. We have walked from M-Bay to Mirage many times. Valet parking and self parking can become a burden.

As said, welcome to these boards. Take some time and scan down through the postings for tons more information.

 

Don't miss out on some gambling at Margaritaville (connected to Flamingo). Awesome cocktail waitresses, cheap craps, and good $15 shoe-game blackjack. (The $10 blackjack is all 6:5, like pretty much all CET places, nowadays.)