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Downtown Guy Thinking About Staying on the Strip

Discussion in 'LV Strip Hotels' started by Huddler, Jun 14, 2013.

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  1. Huddler

    Huddler VIP Whale

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    Heading to Vegas 4th of July weekend. I used to stay on the strip exclusively until a couple years ago, when I started staying downtown. Now, most trips I never even go to the strip at all. But, I am seriously thinking about getting a room on the strip this trip. I would like to hit up a nice pool, check out some good black chip blackjack tables, and just to do it different. I also want to put a few hours in at some MGM properties so I can get on their radar, again, after not giving them any play for the past few years.

    I still get comp offers from V/P, TI, and low end CET properties(because of my local casino play at Tunica/Cherokee). I know I will wander downtown at least a night or two because I like that environment. Chances are I wind up getting a room downtown at some point too. I guess I could just stay downtown but FORCE myself to go gamble on the strip at least one night. I cant decide. It is weird how what I like about Vegas changes over time.
     
  2. aliasyoshi

    aliasyoshi Low-Roller

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    The first time we went to Vegas, we stayed on the Strip. Ever since then, downtown or local places. For our upcoming trip in July, we are staying 4 nights downtown then 2 nights on the Strip. Maybe consider something like that?
     
  3. gerry53

    gerry53 VIP Whale

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    same here,wife and I used to stay on the strip and visit downtown and then

    the last few trips we stayed downtown and went to the strip.

    my wife passed recently so in july I booked a weekend at the d and 4 nights

    at bally`s as I got a good price.

    bally`s has a decent pool and I can visit the riviera pool if I`m at that end or

    hooter`s pool at the other end.
     
  4. Konzul

    Konzul Tourist

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    Funny enough thanks to this board I only ever stayed downtown or offstrip when I visited Vegas at an gambling age and thoroughly enjoyed it.

    As my action has steadily increased I feel I want to try Bellagio for a weekend as they made a decent offer (Room + 200 fp or so) and this after playing at MGM for only a couple of hours one night. Lions Share, also due to you guys!!

    I feel having a second or third place with comp offers will provide some insight into whats on offer. Even though Bellagio likely will not comp me much.
     
  5. PSM

    PSM High-Roller

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    If I were you, I'd book my trip on the Strip since you're feeling it this time around, but also try to book a backup hotel downtown for the second half in case you arrive and feel like it was a mistake after a night or two. Just make sure both hotels have a 24-hour cancellation policy on your booking so you can make the decision after you arrive and get a feel for your mood and the scene.

    I often book more than one option when I first plan the trip just to lock in good rates/offers, then give myself the time before the trip to keep browsing, see if my mood or budget changes, etc. Then right before the trip I make the final decision and cancel the other. As long as you get a full refund of your deposit (if there even is one), I don't see why you wouldn't.
     
  6. Joe

    Joe VIP Whale

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    We are downtown people but occasionally get offers for Strip properties.

    Double booked our trip in December. Harrahs and of course MSS.

    We were back downtown before it was dark out and never used the Harrahs' room.

    To each his own, but we no longer see any attraction to go the Strip.
     
  7. gambler

    gambler VIP Whale

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    After enjoying numerous trips downtown, we got in a bit of a rut and wanted to change things up a bit. Now, after 2 trips where we split our time between the strip and downtown, we will go back to downtown and appreciate it that much more.

    It's good to have a change once in a while, just to remind yourself about the things you really enjoy. I would just worry about the heat if you like to casino hop. It's pretty easy to move around casinos downtown without getting scorched. But since you said you wanted to try out the pools, there's no better time than summer to give it a try.

    I'm sure you'll have fun wherever you stay!
     
  8. Huddler

    Huddler VIP Whale

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    Well, I am doing the strip thing for the first time in a while. I am booked at Treasure Island. I havent been in that joint in years, but its comped and I am looking forward to it. I "plan" to gamble there, Mirage, Bellagio, Aria, and MGM. I also "plan" to go to South Point and Palms. And I know I will spend some time downtown too. I would like to hit up a pool and get a cabana. A strip club or two may also be on the menu. :wink2: What I actually wind up doing is anyone's guess. :eek:
     
  9. Julie888

    Julie888 VIP Whale

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    Split the difference on the time. Stay a couple of days DT and a couple on the Strip. It only costs $25 or so to move mid trip. The difference for the final trip from DT to the airport isn't much more than from the strip.

    See what kind of offers you get after your stays and you get to experience both areas.
     
  10. bardolator

    bardolator Lifelong Low Roller

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    V/P for free is hard to pass up. Rooms there are like mini-suites elsewhere. I used to have luck at BJ there, playing short sessions, and see that both casinos still appear to offer a fair game for black. I would not play anything else.

    If you want to visit MGM anyway, and you want to play black BJ, combine the two and you may find yourself on MGM's radar for the next trip, if that is what you want.
     
  11. Huddler

    Huddler VIP Whale

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    I woke up a dozen times last night, thinking of Vegas. Either shooting straight up in bed panicked I missed my flight, or wondering where the flock am I going to put that f'n Lions Share slot machine :thumbsup:... Finally got up at 4:30 am so I could spend an hour or two on work emails. It is raining so hard I swear I didnt know whether to build an ark or just wear a wet suit to the airport. (No speedo). Thats where us inbred southerners with our web toes have an advantage over the rest of you mere mortals. Ducks are us! The weather shows nothing but rain for the next 4 days in Nashville. The only precipitation expected in Vegas is me making it rain at the Rhino. (No monger).

    Time got away from me so I rushed to get ready, packed at the last second, threw my bag in the car, and cruised through the torrential rain the 40 minutes to BNA. The curbside check wasnt bad, got some coffee and a paper, looked down and noticed I have 2 different sandals on. WTF? Yeah, they are the same color but look nothing alike. And yeah, in my haste to get out of this god foresaken swap, I packed my business shoes instead of dress/club/casino/strip club type shows. WTF? I am no clothes horse and I hate to shop, but I need some dam footwear asap. First order of business after getting to the hotel, checking in, gambling, getting drunk, talking shit, and basically being a complete jackass, is to go find a store where I can buy some shoes...
     
  12. Huddler

    Huddler VIP Whale

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    On the plane. SWA early bird boarding. Flight is completely full as usual. 3 and 1/2 hours to Mecca. More later...if I don't get to hammered!
    Peace!
     
  13. Joe

    Joe VIP Whale

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    Let the games begin!:thumbsup:
     
  14. gerry53

    gerry53 VIP Whale

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    Isn`t it amazing that no matter how many trips in the excitement never wanes.
     
  15. Huddler

    Huddler VIP Whale

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    So, not going to do a trip report but a few highlights and observations. I checked in to Treasure Island and it was ok. Packed with people, but not really my crowd. They have a progressive $1 DDB at one of the bars that I played at A LOT. It grew very fast, was over $10k when it hit the day before I got there and was over $8k when I left. Bartenders here great, especially Tommy. I will post pics of all the quads I hit, but never got the progressive royal. Drink service out on the floor was mixed depending on your cw but overall pretty good.

    I played some blackjack in the TI high limit room, dd $50. The first round I got felted for $1.5k in about 20 minutes. Next round I took $2500 off of them. The rest was usually about even. They werent overly friendly in there and very few people played in their high limit room while I was there. I also played some 3 card poker at a fun table there one night. Got felted after a few hours. The have sort of a Cowgirl Pit over by Gilleys but its all 6-5. I like Cowgirls but not that much. Passed.

    Walked over to the Mirage one night to seed them for some offers. Sat down at at $50 DD blackjack game. Played heads up for 2 or 3 hours and nobody ever joined me. Lots of hot chicks walking past. I like the Mirage. A LOT! Ive never stayed here and havent even walked in the place in at least 5 years. This place seemed to be my peeps, my style, to my liking. Dealers and pitboss were incredibly nice, immediately upon sitting down. Pitboss kept asking if I wanted to move to the Mirage, and they would move me over from TI. He had a host come down and introduce himself without me asking for one. I took a stack of yellow chips off them. I was up about $10k when the dealer, old dude with shaky hands originally from Charlotte, said, "brother, you are a nice guy so I am going to tell you something. You are up a bunch of money, you are drunk, and its 3:00 am. You will lose that stack of chips if you stay here. If I were you, I would go get some sleep". I said, "really?" He said "absolutely". Never had a dealer ever look out for me like that. So, I colored up and left.

    I went over to the Palms for a couple hours one afternoon. I REALLY wanted to like this place. But if you look up "Fish Out of Water" in the dictionary, it would show me at The Palms. I only played VP and didnt even check out any blackjack tables so cant speak to that at all. They did have some hot CW's but the cocktail service sucked. And I tip a minimum of $5 every drink. Played some with some rich old dude in the high limit slot room who was betting on several machines at once. Walked around some before I said, "I am may a d bag, but I dont fit in with this group of d bags here". Cabbed my ass back to TI. Wont go back.

    Went downtown one night. Walked in the Plaza and was recognized by a couple of CW's before I could even take a seat. They know me by name there. Hung out there for awhile. I went and saw my host and played vp with him for a couple hours. Played their $25 DD blackjack game and got felted for $1500 in about 20 minutes. Ouch. Watched their dancers a little. The place was NOT crowded at all. Walked down to the D, and it was packed. But it was f'n hot in there. Vegas heat is brutal, I just forgot how brutal. Now I know why I avoid that town in July and August. Its too hot to walk outside even at night.
    [​IMG]
     
  16. Huddler

    Huddler VIP Whale

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  17. Huddler

    Huddler VIP Whale

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  18. Huddler

    Huddler VIP Whale

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  19. Huddler

    Huddler VIP Whale

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    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    I hit 4 A's with a kicker as my first quads but didnt take a pic of it.
     
  20. Huddler

    Huddler VIP Whale

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    I may have a trip in August and I am definitely going September 19th weekend. I think I will call the Mirage host and stay there on my next trip. I will also probably keep a room downtown too. Overall, I had a good time but learned TI and Palms are probably not for me. Mirage seems more about my speed on the strip. And i miss downtown when I am on the strip. Next trip I want to get out and visit a few other off strip places.
     
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