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How do you prepare for Vegas?

Discussion in 'Misc. Vegas Chat' started by Backagain1, Feb 15, 2014.

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  1. Backagain1

    Backagain1 High-Roller

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    Just purchased tickets for a vacation to Vegas this summer and I wonder how everyone prepares.
    I have booked the limo
    the hotel
    monorail tickets
    checking Groupon
    looking at shows
    budgeting funds so I will have money on the trip

    Other thoughts and must haves?
     
  2. FordDlr

    FordDlr Low-Roller

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    Location:
    Woodward Oklahoma
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    Liver conditioning. :beer:
     
  3. joart75

    joart75 Tourist

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    I build a reminder list of specific things that we might like to do each day there.
     
  4. Wolfman619

    Wolfman619 Low-Roller

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    i dont usually...living within driving distance, we will decide a day or 2 before the weekend, book a cheap room and shoot out.
     
  5. sybgal

    sybgal VIP Whale

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    When we decide on the exact date, go online to book my comp'd rooms at either Paris or Ballys for 5 nites. Then start watching for the lowest airline fares....our trip next month....I fly free with Delta and moved SW points over to hubby's account so he is flying for $240.....this a big WIN....2 fares for under $300. Will decide on our free show tickets (Diamond with CET) when we get there. Got several rest.com certificates we can use plus the BOGO at HHAGG. We also have about $2000 in TR comps to cover our food. Drat---- can't book a cheap limo thru CET since there are 5 of us this trip which is something we enjoy doing.... We are ready to go NOW....the waiting is killing us!! So glad I have this board to get me thru..... lol
     
  6. RiddickBull

    RiddickBull VIP Whale

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    Milk it at work...
     
  7. OhioStateAlum

    OhioStateAlum High-Roller

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    Since you're going in summer, my first step would be to start hydrating now. I'm about half-serious.
     
  8. Backagain1

    Backagain1 High-Roller

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    My downfall, I never drink enough water. I will follow this advice.


    Thank you everyone.
     
  9. Buddha

    Buddha VIP Whale

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    Location:
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    ** First of all, we always plan our Vegas dates far in advance, and immediately book our Southwest flights on the first morning that the SWA reservation window opens up for our dates.
    ** Secondly, as soon as our room offers hit our mailbox, we get those booked.
    ** Third, I start my weekly searches on Alamo for a good rental car deal, and often cancel and rebook 4 or 5 times for a lower price.
    ** Along the way, I trade and organize my dozens & dozens of ACG and LVA coupons, for meals, entertainment, and gambling.
    ** Next comes the daily itinerary of all of our expected activity, from flying to Vegas, picking up the rental car, getting to the hotel, daily meals, gambling, promos, coupon runs all around town, and entertainment ... all repeated for each day ... and then flying back home. This itinerary will often have many changes & corrections. :rolleyes2:
     
  10. Electroguy563

    Electroguy563 Vegas Joker

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    Well, I try to lose a little weight because it's guaranteed I'll put on some extra pounds while there.

    Most times I'm unsuccessful in losing weight before the trip and end up trying to lose it after I get back.

    I also play craps so I'll practice tossing the dice to keep my throw consistent, though I admit it's more for form than for any advantage.
     
  11. Busyman

    Busyman VIP Whale

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    I have Vegas trip for the end of May.

    1. Lose weight. I'd be doing this anyway for spring/summer. Must look trim and cut up for the pool parties.

    2. Book flights. I have 11 people going. I have booked their flights personally or gave them everything they need to book. I'm at $306 rt/nonstop and so is everyone else (with credits). We are all on the same flight.
    I check everyday for drops. Some people were late booking and I got them all credits when prices dropped.

    3. Book rooms. I get everyone on board to book early. Prices at my hotel are now over double what they were before. Ridiculous. I still check everyday.

    4. Book car. I don't mess around with a limo. I got 2 premiums for $108. We will go where we want at any time.

    5. Plan some activities. I check Groupon, Living Social, Travelzoo, Galavantier, etc.
    I book a club crawl, check pool cabana/daybed prices, check shows, and see what events are there at the time.

    Ya never over plan.

    Other stuff:
    Figure what liquor we'll buy and where. I don't like wasting too much time on "setting up". The plan is get off the plane, get car, pickup liquor on route to room and bam and sit pretty.
    We arrive at 9:30am so we will be good to go. Probably will hit Total Wine

    Also, I think about drinks to bring on the plane which double has hotel room "shots". 9 of us will have baggies full of liquor on the plane. That's actually a lot of liquor. No way all of it will get drank on the way. Plus, I have 4 SW drink tickets that must be used.

    I don't drink on the way back.

    Figure what club clothes I'm wearing and club we are hitting for one night.
     
  12. TrueblueAl

    TrueblueAl Tourist

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    I have been on a soup and fish diet since new year to lose weight for my trip and also plan to go back on the same diet when i come home as i expect the stone ive lost will be put back on.
     
  13. JosieCat

    JosieCat VIP Whale

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    Lose weight. I say this before every trip - rarely successful :)

    After each trip, I start a new piggy bank where I save all my coins. I turn that in right before I go and I have my tip money.

    Our June trip will be a little different as me and my boyfriend will be staying at different hotels. Long story - Bellagio still loves him, but no longer loves me. I will be at the Vdara. So I need to do an itinerary for when we will meet up for dinners and stuff.

    Also, saving for myVegas rewards. Between us we have over 500,000 so we will be able to get some buffets and stuff.
     
  14. jdvegas

    jdvegas VIP Whale

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    I obsessively read VMB to get in the mood!
     
  15. MikeOPensacola

    MikeOPensacola El Jefe

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    1. Return from previous trip and book room when rates are good or when I get a good mailer offer.

    2. Look at airline rates almost on a daily basis and book when I find an acceptable rate.

    3. Keep a running list of non-gaming activities I want to do.

    4. Read VMB and add to list in item #3.

    5. Add about $XXXX per month to my LV bank account.

    6. Right before I go I check the VMB Roll Call to see who else is going to be in LV the same time as me.

    7. The night before I go I watch "Let it Ride", it puts me in the perfect state of mind for a trip to LV.

    8. On the plane to LV I delete all the non necessary photos from my smart phone to make room for the plethora of new ones I will take.

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

    jackincols Guest

    Been going out so long, not much preparation anymore except the obvious....book rooms and flight.

    When I used to play 21, I'd pull out a deck of cards about a month in advance and brush up on Basic Strategy daily. Now that I play VP I practice that ahead of the trip.

    The only "must do" is make a list of what to pack and bring so I don't forget anything.
     
  17. Pancakes

    Pancakes Low-Roller

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    I mainly keep checking all the blogs and boards, looking out for different restaurants or places to visit.

    I keep adding anything that looks interesting to a Google map, so we have a list of stuff and know where they are.

    Also keep an eye on the sterling/dollar exchange rate - with the amount we change it can make a fair difference.

    At T-minus 60 days we can select our airplane seats - not long now!

    Make sure everything is booked, airplane, car, hotel. Overnight stay at the Hilton in London before our flight. Train tickets to the airport.

    And also not to forget our ESTA!

    Cheers,

    Justin
     
  18. Turtleman

    Turtleman VIP Whale

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    With a trip looming this week, we mainly just double check reservations on-line, make sure we've clipped whatever coupons we might use, see if anything special is going on while we'll be there, and start checking weather forecasts. We might even practice some of the games we could conceivably end up playing, but aren't quite as familiar with as BJ, such as Pai Gow, Three-Card Poker, Texas Hold'em, etc. (Hey, even Itzhak Perlman practices every day and is quoted as having said, "If you learn something slowly you forget it slowly. If you learn something very quickly you forget it immediately.")

    The main thing we do, however, is start looking over our checklist. Prepared over many years, it contains everything from making sure we've packed our player cards, watered the plants, arranged to have the mail held, have copies of all travel and hotel documents, etc.

    Closing in on 100 Vegas trips (and several other destinations), it's easy to become complacent and overlook something. The list keeps that from happening. Even experienced pilots go over a checklist before taking off.
     
  19. nystocktrader

    nystocktrader Tourist

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    Just check the weather. PRAY there's no snow on departure day.
    Also practice some VP and check out the where the best machines are at the hotel I'm staying.
     
  20. VPDana

    VPDana High-Roller

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    I live in the Midwest, St. Louis, MO to be exact.
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    Where is the VMB Roll Call?
     
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