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Newbie seeks advice

Discussion in 'Misc. Vegas Chat' started by VegasNewb007, Mar 3, 2016.

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  1. VegasNewb007

    VegasNewb007 Tourist

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    Hi

    Newbie here, just wondering if some people could please help me with some questions....

    - I am travelling from abroad so would prefer just to take $100 bills, rather than loads of small notes. Could I use casinos to change my money into small notes? I am thinking of paying $200 at the cage for chips, having a look around and then cashing them back in for smaller notes 20minutes later. I appreciate some people would think I am just wasting time (fair point), im not really looking for opinions on that, just wondering if the casino would give me small notes back if I asked?

    - What is the best place to observe the vegas lights of an evening? im thinking either the High Roller big wheel, Stratosphere or Eiffel Tower observation zone.

    - How much do drinks cost at swimming pools such as Flamingo or Ceasars?

    - How strict is the dress code in bars? Do I need to wear a shirt or will a polo shirt be okay?

    Thanks for any feedback

    :licklips:
     
  2. makikiboy

    makikiboy VIP Whale

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    No problem with $100 bills, vegas has tons of them so the casino cage will easily change them to $20's or smaller bills.

    Depends on what you want to see at night. The stratosphere gives you the best 360 degree view of all of las vegas but from afar. Eiffel tower is nice if you want to see the general area (paris, Bellagio and fountains, caesars palace, etc.). The Eiffel tower is awesome if you want to get a look at the Bellagio fountains at night, you can look down and see the shapes and the whole show. The high roller is good but it isn't a long ride so you only have a short time to look at the vegas lights. the roller is also limited to the general mid strip area also, view of many of the other hotels are blocked by the nearby hotels but you may still be able to see parts of the hotels or the tops of those hotels.

    drinks at the pools are normally expensive, I would expect to pay $15 or more for a drink.

    as for bars, if they are the general hotel bars just about any dress type will do, polo shirts would be acceptable but some will even allow t shirts and shorts (best to check with the bar first). For the club's and bars in the clubs then the dress code might be a little more "formal" (like no t shirts or maybe no shorts, etc.).
     
  3. steelcity5044

    steelcity5044 Low-Roller

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    You can use the ticket machines to break down your $100 bills
     
  4. NotFromConcentrate

    NotFromConcentrate It’s a Cassowary :)

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    Welcome to the forum - and soon, welcome to Vegas!

    To answer your questions in order...

    - It is very common to carry mostly (if not only) $100 bills with you. To be clear - when you buy chips, you don't buy them at the cage, you buy them at the table. That is, you lay the money on the table, the dealer will exchange it for chips, and you play with the chips. Any chips you come away with, you can exchange for cash at the cage in any denomination you'd like. So yes, you will be able to get small notes back. It just concerns me that you mentioned you're going to buy some chips and then cash them out 20 minutes later but you never mention you're going to play. If you are constantly seen buying chips, and then cashing them out you may be flagged as a money launderer, as this is a common tactic of drug dealers to "get rid of" dirty money (e.g. the money they got from a deal, they'll use it to buy chips, then exchange the chips for cash, and it won't have the same serial numbers as the original notes). So be careful. But yes, the general idea of buying chips for $100 bills and then exchanging the chips for smaller bills is by all means a common one. Just be sure to always have some small notes on your person. If you're seen busting out a wad of $100 bills to pay for a cup of coffee, it may make you a target for a robbery.

    - You've named some of the big ones. I haven't been to Eiffel or High Roller, but I have been to the lounge and the patio in Stratosphere and can tell you that's 100% worth it. Just phenomenal. You may also want to check out the Voodoo lounge at the Rio.

    - They're not cheap. About $10-$15 baseline from what I understand.

    - It depends on the bar. I've been to pretty nice bars with guys dressed like total goof-offs with no one raising any eyebrows. Polo shirt will be okay most anywhere you go. I can't think of anywhere I've ever been in Las Vegas that would have a "dress shirt no polo shirt" rule.
     
    [TENTATIVE Late Jul/Early Aug] Vegas by way of Chicago/Elko/Reno!
  5. h0und10

    h0und10 VIP Whale

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    You do not even need to "buy chips" ..the cage will just make change for you like at a bank.. just slap down your money and tell them what you want.
    15 dollars sounds accurate for a pool drink.. I usually just bring/sneak in my own booze though..
     
  6. VegasNewb007

    VegasNewb007 Tourist

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    Firstly, thanks for the detailed and very quick replies!

    A very good point about looking like a dealer, I didnt consider that. Will not be trying that plan. Im not really sure what a ticket machine is though, If I can just ask for change chat sounds cool.

    I have just thought of a couple of additional questions....

    Are the cd sellers still a problem on the strip? There will be times I am walking on my own and want to avoid any hassle.

    Also is it safe off strip? specifically walking to the grocery store just a block to the east of the Flamingo? My buddy and I plan to head there on the first day to buy some alcohol.
     
  7. VegasNewb007

    VegasNewb007 Tourist

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    Sorry one more.

    Do you need to book for the stratosphere bars? Or can you just turn up?
     
  8. Snidely

    Snidely VIP Whale

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    Just don't take the CD or talk to any street people. Keep walking. Eye forward. You can buy alcohol on the strip now, at the ABC stores or a the drug stores like Walgreens or CVS. They sell snacks, too.

    No need to book The STRAT bar. It's very nice up there but it is a couple miles from the real lights. Go over to Voodoo at the Rio for the best view. It's very nice over there, too. The pic below is from Voodoo. Foundation Room at Mandalay Bay is a great view, too.

    5347.jpg
     
  9. steelcity5044

    steelcity5044 Low-Roller

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    When you play slots and you cash out you get a ticket, the same machine that you cash your ticket in will break down larger bills
     
  10. bjpcyclone

    bjpcyclone High-Roller

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    Welcome!

    Others have answered some of your questions but I'll add:

    1. As others have said, no need to go to the cage to get chips. They will do that at the tables for you. Or almost all of the ticket machines are bill breakers, so you can slide in your $100 and it will break it down for you.
    2. I'd go high roller or Strat. Eiffel Tower isn't as good IMO.
    3. Closer to $20-$22 per drink at the Flamingo (stayed there last fall). Haven't stay at Ceasars recently.
    4. A polo and dress pants or very nice jeans is typically ok. But wouldn't hurt to have a button down shirt just in case.
     
  11. NotFromConcentrate

    NotFromConcentrate It’s a Cassowary :)

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    Happy to help out! :)

    There are machines stationed throughout the casino floor that do one of two things (or both). One function is to take a "ticket" from a slot machine/video poker machine (if you put $100 into a machine and play it up to $120, to cash it out, you print out a ticket and redeem it at a machine for cash). The other function is to take a bill and break it down into a smaller denomination. So if you have a $100 bill and want it in $20 bills, you put a $100 bill into a machine that does bill breaking, and you'll have whatever denomination you want. This way if you wanted to start playing roulette with $40 as opposed to putting down the whole $100, you can do that and keep the rest of the money in your pocket.

    CD sellers - absolutely. As everyone says... keep walking. My personal advice is to learn how to say a few sentences in a foreign language and pretend to stutter "I... no... speak... a.... English". How can they talk to you if they can't speak your language?

    Off strip - depends on how far off strip. Be really cautious at night as that part is very poorly lit. If you want to buy alcohol, I'd personally suggest buying some at duty free at the airport - a lot cheaper that way. Many airlines even allow you to pre-buy duty free online and have it delivered to you on the plane. Look into that, as I've seen 1L bottles of Bacardi for as cheap as $10 USD on on-board duty free. You'd also be surprised at how cheap you can find it in the likes of ABC stores, Walgreens and CVS.

    Stratosphere - you do need to pay admission to go up, it's about $10 or $15 I think. Unless it's really busy, I doubt you'll need to book.
     
    [TENTATIVE Late Jul/Early Aug] Vegas by way of Chicago/Elko/Reno!
  12. Gaggles

    Gaggles VIP Whale

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    Bucket of Miller Lite at Flamingo pool is only $20 or $25 before noon. After I think it goes to $35. That's WAY better than paying $20+ for squishy drinks!
     
    I Like to Drink and Gamble
  13. Sonya

    Sonya Queen of VMB

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    I believe you only have to pay to go to the Observation Deck. If you have a reservation at the restaurant or want to go to the bar, you can just let the ticket taker at the elevators know and they should let you up. For the bar, no reservation needed, IMX.
     
  14. VegasNewb007

    VegasNewb007 Tourist

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    Good shout about the Rio, thanks

    How easy is it to get a cab back to the strip at 3am? Doesnt look like a route we would want to walk at night.
     
  15. smerrian

    smerrian View from Bally's

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    Cabs are available 24 hours/day. Just go over to valet/port cochere and let them know that you need a cab. The cabs are lined up and waiting.
    Distances are deceiving. Nothing in Las Vegas is only a block away. :)
     
  16. irishdave

    irishdave VIP Whale

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    I think the high roller would be a good choice for you. It's a half hour ride and it's right in the middle of the strip, so you dot burn a lot of time or effort getting there. Definitely don't pay full price...there are always discount tickets/groupon/etc. There are a couple of pics from a ride I did on it about a year ago here: https://www.vegasmessageboard.com/forums/showthread.php?126798-Resurrecting-a-Dead-Trip-St-Paddy-s-Day-2015 I enjoyed the first trip I did on it, but it's really only worth doing once or with someone who hasn't seen Vegas before. The second trip I was more into maxing out my drinks/dollar ratio on the happy half hour since I was kinda been there done that on the lights.
     
  17. Snidely

    Snidely VIP Whale

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    I've been up to the bar at the top of the Strat twice and never paid to go up.
     
  18. Electroguy563

    Electroguy563 Vegas Joker

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    When in the casino look for machines called "Bill breakers" Put in a hundred it gives you twentys. Put in a twenty it gives you $5 bills (no 10's). Put in a $5 bill it gives you ones.

    Some machines are also ATM/ TITO/ Bill breakers. All in one.
     
  19. twimmd

    twimmd Tourist

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    Just an answer to one of the questions:

    My wife and I love having a drink at the 107 lounge at Stratosphere. There isn't a charge to go up and it's first come / first served. Just be sure to use the entrance to the right of the regular tower elevator entrance (i.e., right of the long cue line and picture taking green screen.) Happy hour is from 4 to 7, with half price drinks. $15 will get you two (they have to be the same.) From there, you can catch an elevator to either indoor (108) or outdoor (109) observation deck.

    Be sure to get there early enough, grab a seat, watch sunset and the lights on the strip come alive. Been several times. Never get tired of the view.
     
  20. pd54

    pd54 High-Roller

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    For a view we had an amazing view from the Mandarin Oriental bar. The drinks are pricey, but for one or two on a special occasion, with the sun going down and the strip lighting up it was pretty special!
     
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