Tvon- thanks for sharing. The diatribe that follows in not personal to you, but rather, my opinion on the article itself....
This is the second Vegas article in the past month from the Globe that deals with Vegas- and it isn't any more impressive than the first (which stunk). I'm disappointed that one of my favorite papers (I subscribe to the Sunday edition) is spreading such misinformation about one of our favorite destinations. I take this brazen display of inaccuracy as a personal affront to my long hours of Vegas Research. Let's look at some suggested "Vegas Strategy":
Hotel Strategy:
1.
"For starters, you must stay at the Hard Rock Hotel. There is no substitute, I will not argue this point."
2.
"A bunch of my friends and I were staying at the Hard Rock which is the only hotel with swim up blackjack. (I highly recommend staying there for the pool and swim up blackjack alone)."
3.
"Book rooms last minute for the best rates, call or even show up at the front desk, you can usually get bargain rates."
1. I'm pretty thankful that there's no substitute for the Hard Rock. If all the hotel casinos were like this one, I'd never go back.
2. Uhhmmm, I think the Tropicana has swim-up blackjack. I'm guessing it's been offered at the Trop since before ground broke on the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino.
3. If you've been on the T2V board for any length of time, you know the best way to get a cheap rate is to book while the price is reasonable through the hotel website. Then continue to look for deals on Travelaxe, other discount websites and the hotel website itself for lower rates. If you find a lower rate, book it, because that rez you made through the hotel can be cancelled without penalty. Keep this in mind when booking through Priceline, Travelaxe sites, etc, as there is often a cancellation charge or non-refundable policies associated with reservations on these sites.
Gambling Strategy:
1.
"Harrah's/Rio are good places to gamble as they have a generous rewards program. Two times after both winning and losing I have been offered numerous free room opportunities for a return trip"
2.
"For gambling, nothing beats the casino at the Hard Rock Cafe. All the other casinos look the same, but the Hard Rock has a unique energy and attitude. Great music, cool dealers, and beautiful women. And you might get lucky and spot a celebrity."
3.
"If you gamble a $5 dollar table and start with $50 bucks: Take all 10 spins / hands / rolls, because IF and WHEN you get greedy, and put more then one bet down at a moment, then you are bound to lose that bet. And when you are broke after nine spins / hands / rolls, and can’t bet that tenth, you'll be there with no money out of the game watching other people take the winnings you should have had."
1. Harrah's may have some decent comps, but at what price? 6:5 blackjack? Even money blackjack dealt by bikini-clad women? What's the EV on those games?? How much are you really paying for those comps??? I can think of several other clubs who are more generous with comps: Caesars Entertainment, Boyd Gaming, and Coast, to name a few.
2. What IS it with the Hard Rock???
3. Say what?????
Food/Drink Strategy:
1.
A little tip if you’re in or around the Hard Rock Casino. Go directly to the convenience store inside the casino Lobby near the Pink Taco. No point fighting the crowds at the center bar when you can go right to the beer cooler and grab a frosty one. No fuss, no muss. They have nips, butts and beer. What else can a man ask for?
2.
The Flamingo buffet is amazing. Actually amazing doesn't do it justice. The plates piled high with king crab legs are a sight to see and, yes, they taste as good as they look. They offer pretty much anything you could possibly want, prime rib, fish, desserts, etc.
3.
The tastiest food in Sin City can be found at the Slots-Of-Fun. This off-the-beaten path quaint joint has fantastic hotdogs, and nickel slots to boot!
1. Has the Globe hired a PR person from the Hard Rock to write this article? This is a highly amusing suggestion, considereing there is a full-scale liquor store directly across the street on the corner of Harmon and Paradise!
2. I'm not saying the Flamiongo offers the worst buffet, but AMAZING? C'mon people, we know better!
3. I denounce this statement vehemently. Slots-A-Fun DOES NOT offer "the tastiest food in Sin City". I think there's a little competition out there for Subway, don't you?
There were some good suggestions as well, but I've never seen such laughable Las Vegas advice. Reminds me of how great and useful this site is. Thanks, everyone!