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First trip tips

Discussion in 'Misc. Vegas Chat' started by andrew5587, Jan 21, 2015.

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  1. tringlomane

    tringlomane STP Addicted Beer Snob

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    I don't think he meant that it was unsafe. I thought he meant he doesn't like the taste of the hotels' tap water. I'll drink either, but I'd prefer bottled water if I have it available. Same with Tunica, fwiw.

    An addendum to this for the OP: Stop holding hands with your fiancee when approaching said timeshare people if you want to avoid them talking to you. Two spots I have seen them a lot...near Ballys Flamingo Road entrance. In Harrah's near the exit leading to Casino Royale.
     
  2. FullBoat

    FullBoat VIP Whale

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    If they won't leave you alone, just tell them you're flying out that night late. Always got me out of them.

    Big thing is have fun. I also suggest just planning 1 show, and 1 nicer dinner somewhere. Other than that, just go with the flow. You are on vacation after all. And, just about everything is open 24/7. So, there's no rush.

    If you want lower limits on table games, downtown is the place. Just about every place is $5 tables. And, go at night for the Freemont Experience.

    As for getting a car or not. I've never rented a car when I've been there. I've taken the bus, or a cab. If you take a cab from the airport, the "magic" words are "No tunnel". Just tell the driver that after you tell them where you're going. And, to get downtown, I'd take the SDX bus. Look in the getting around section for tips.
     
  3. nostresshere

    nostresshere Mr. Anti Debit Card

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    Lots of ideas, some conflict with others.

    Walk - walk alot. Plan to walk all the way up the strip if you are good walkers. We are over 60 and do it. Stopping for drinks along the way of course.

    Food - You can easily spend $10 to $100 for a meal. Check out places along the way. By the way, the new CITIZENS place at Mandalay Bay is pretty decent.

    Gambling - You can get by with under $100 (my wife does $20), or you can blow through thousands.

    Scams - they are out there, but most people are never bothered. There are no free shows, free meals. Just remember that.

    Safety - Vegas really is safe.

    Shoes - yes, good shoes. Casual comfortable clothes are a must.
     
  4. topcard

    topcard Here's to $10 3:2 two-deck, $5 Craps, and $5 UTH!

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    :pirate:
    Not a surprise, given the wide array of degenerates that populate this board!

    We all have what we think is the best advice for a 'newbie couple'... and the reality is, 'newbie couples' are probably just as diverse as the general population of VMB!
    They will find, and be drawn to follow, the recommendations that already fit their 'couple-personality'.

    But when they get to Vegas, they'll end up following the 'topcard' recommendations! :poke:
     
    Annual Spring Trip!
  5. Breeze147

    Breeze147 Button Man

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    I got rid of a timeshare person at the Venetian.

    She asked me if I was married. I said I was, but my wife just suddenly dropped dead and I was in Vegas to celebrate.

    She gave me a crazy look and then walked away.
     
  6. TrixieM

    TrixieM Low-Roller

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    Probably a repeat of what others have said, but...:

    Take at least a couple pairs of shoes and alternate wearing them---one pair one day and one pair the next day. (I won't admit how many pairs of shoes I take.)

    Learn where the time share pouncers are and avoid them. They prey on couples, so if you're alone they generally won't bother, so we go into "stealth mode," and one of us will either go out an alternate door or linger a couple of minutes while the other goes on out past them. If we end up getting pounced on, we just tell them we LIVE in vegas and are just on a staycation. Or that we're headed back to our hotel to pack and go home. They are inside Harrah's entrance on the Casino Royal side; and at the top of the stairs at Venetian. There's also a coven of them in front of Sephora at Planet Hollywood mall.

    Mall sharks - those pesky people in all the malls (Planet Hollywood Miracle Mile shops; Fashion Show Mall, Venetian, Forum Shoppes---Good Grief they're everywhere now!) They are basically overly-aggressive telemarketers who are now in-your-face, literally, so you can't hang up on them, so just avoid them. Do NOT make eye contact, do NOT acknowledge them. If you feel like that's rude, just say something like, (no matter what they ask you,) "Fine, thanks, doin' great!" and just keep on walking like you didn't hear what they actually asked. (BTW--pretending you're on your cell phone doesn't stop them. Totally ignoring does, though.) And no matter how tempting it is to break down sobbing with grief when they ask, "Ma'm, have you heard of the Dead Sea?" just pretend you don't speak their language.

    Hydrate with water. Refreshing adult beverages are fine inside while you're playing or wandering around the casino, but on the street, drink water, and lots of it.

    Remember, although it is VEGAS, there are still rules and laws, and they ARE enforced. And even though that commercial says, "What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas," there are a lot of things that come right back home with you or "go viral" (in more ways than one.)

    My biggest tip for friends and relative going out there for the first time---You're out there to have fun, NOT become a millionaire. So don't take any money you don't intend to leave out there. If you win, great. But if not, you won't be disappointed. And it gives you a reason to go back: to recoup whatever you left out there.
     
  7. billduhcat

    billduhcat Low-Roller

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    Try spend your days in 1 general area, rather than bounce around randomly, you'll save a lot of time and effort walking around. For example, I like to have a north strip day, south strip afternoon, etc.

    Spending some time by the pool is a great way to relax, weather permitting.

    Hit some of the easy to get to off strip casinos such as palms and hard rock. They're a 5-10 min cab ride from center strip.

    Mandalay is a bit far from other places you might be spending time at during the day, so plan ahead a bit to carry what you need so you don't have to head back to your room early.

    If you have a car, fairly easy center strip parking can be had at Cosmo during the day. North strip I like using the valet at Venetian.
     
  8. Mrs. K.

    Mrs. K. Low-Roller

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    Do not buy water (or anything) from the people selling on the pedestrian bridges.

    Do listen to the buskers on the pedestrian bridges. Some of them are quite talented. But don't get pickpocketed while doing so.
     
  9. Aces and Eights

    Aces and Eights VIP Whale

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    I typically ignore street vendors and not say one word. They usually try to talk to couples. When I am by myself, they don't even come up to me. The people that try to get you to take one of their CDs are looking for a tip after you grab it so don't even touch it.

    Here is what I usually tip although I see that many tip more:
    Cab driver: 20% of fare
    Housekeeping (daily): $3 to $5 depending on the room (I keep the room neat with all of my clothes and toiletry put away. All housekeeping has to do is make the bed and pick up and replace the one or two towels that I use. Since there are two of you, maybe $5); sometimes they have an envelope on the desk
    Cab door opener in cab line: $1
    Cocktail waitress: $1 per drink; $2 if she brings me my second drink that I want but didn't have to ask; $5 if she is cute, and I'm too drunk to realize I have no shot with her (last part shouldn't even apply to you)
    Bathroom attendant: zero (I don't use what they have to offer)
    Shuttle driver to hotel or to airport: $2 per bag (I usually only have one bag, so I might increase to $3 next time for that one bag)
    Free shuttle driver to other properties like Bally's to Rio: $1 to $2 although I see many on those shuttles don't give anything

    There is usually a Walgreen's or CVS close by to many hotels, and I get a couple of gallons of water for myself for a four-night stay. They also have the 24-pack of 16.9 oz bottles. Since I stay at Planet Hollywood most of the times, I go to the Walgreen's next door to the south of the casino.
     
  10. FullBoat

    FullBoat VIP Whale

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    Also, don't get sucked into all of the lights and sounds of Vegas. Enjoy them, but don't lose your head. Like someone else said, it's Vegas, but there's still laws. Plus, you can go down to gamble some, and them realize you've done a Grizwald. You've gambled away your kids collage funds. :nono: I do what a lot of people on here do, and just get a few envelopes, and divide up the money for how many days I'll be there. Once it's empty... just sight see, and people watch. Nothing's worse than being in Vegas for another day, and having no cash.
     
  11. Ruark

    Ruark Low-Roller

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    One good way to push the "off" button on time sharers, mall sharks, etc. is to memorize some bizarre-sounding foreign phrase. Just say "koowabi zoowalla" and keep walking...:rolleyes2:

    The mall sharks are real scams. Like there's one guy at a kiosk selling jewelry polish. He offers to clean your watch or ring for free as a demonstration. So he cleans it and it just sparkles like fireworks! Assuming you don't notice that the REASON it sparkles is because his kiosk has 88 little lights shining down on it, he then tries to sell you the polish at $25 for a 2-oz. jar. Heck, it's probably peanut butter and mayonnaise.
     
  12. Ruark

    Ruark Low-Roller

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    Good Lord, yes. The Grizwald thing is so easy to do, it takes your breath away. MANY a time a couple has checked into their motel room, and while she's freshening up, he "runs downstairs for a few minutes." 30 minutes later he plods back into the room having lost the entire vacation's bankroll, and they spend the rest of the trip eating at McDonald's and watching TV.

    As I mentioned earlier: 2 rules for gaming survival in Vegas: 1. Understand that if you play long enough, you WILL lose your money. The statistical odds in EVERY game are in the house's favor. And the longer you play, the MORE you will lose. 2. The killer for many people is trying to "win back their losses." You walk up to a table or machine thinking you'll just play $50. A few minutes later, after you've lost $800, you say "jeez, man, I'll play another hundred, so I can win back a LITTLE bit" .....and then you lose that, too. Then you go over to the ATM and withdraw a cash advance on your credit card. Then you lose THAT, and it's "ohmigod, I've lost $1,400!!!!" It happens every day, and it is happening right this minute, as you read this. Do the envelope thing. Trust me. Pack those envelopes while you're packing your suitcases at home.

    My mom (RIP) was an incredible spendthrift from the Depression era. She'd sit at a slot machine and stick a $20 in it. That's 2,000 1-cent spins! Or maybe 1,000 2-cent spins! Every now and then she'd hit a little jackpot and be ahead $10-$15, so she'd cash out. She was always thrilled to death, walking out of there $15 richer than when she walked in. You don't have to do a Grizwald to have fun gambling in Vegas. She knew that, and she had more fun than anybody. She LOVED Vegas.
     
  13. dmr

    dmr Registered Abuser

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    A few years ago my brother and I (the two of us pass easily for a couple) :) started playing games with them. We tried to get them to break out of their pre-programmed mode. :) There were a couple of exchanges that were absolutely hilarious ... such as ...

    Timeshare dweeb: Merry Christmas!
    Me: Happy Hanukkah.
    Dweeb: Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't know.
    Me: I know, we don't look it.
    Dweeb: TILT!

    Dweeb: Hi folks, where are you from?
    Me: Omaha
    Bro: Santa Monica.
    Dweeb: Uh, {tilt!} I thought you were together.
    Me: We are, we just met last night!

    We quit doing things like that when one of them finally broke character and exclaimed "Hey, I'm just doing my job, ok!"
     
  14. MikeOPensacola

    MikeOPensacola El Jefe

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    1. Go with the flow, don't plan out everything.
    2. Treat yourself to a nice dinner and show.
    3. Take lots of pics of the strip at night
    4. If you go downtown to check out the Fremont Street light show, at night, take the bus (deuce) it will save you money over a cab.
    5. Don't let the taxi driver at the airport long haul you. Tell them NOT to take the tunnel.
    6. Shopping at Caesars Forum shops is a must. Good dining too. Lots of photo ops too.
    7. Gondola ride at the Venetian.
    8. Check ou the top of the Stratosphere . There is a fee to go up there though. Awesome view at night.
    9. Bring Chapstick and drink plenty of water.
    10. Make a little list of things you want to do, stay, eat etc. for your next visit.
    11. Have a great time!!!
     
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  15. lmm

    lmm Tourist

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    Make sure when crossing the streets, you use the crosswalks and only go with the pedestrian signal. Quoting the movie Elf "The yellow ones don't stop".
     
  16. tvon

    tvon VIP Whale

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    Great advice right there!!!!!
     
  17. klawrey

    klawrey High-Roller

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    I'll leave it to the simplest advice I can think of... JUST HAVE FUN!

    You've found your way to a forum where thousands of people gravitate to on nearly a daily basis because we all love Vegas. We each have our own ways of enjoying it and no two are probably identical but I would be willing to bet (see what I did there?) that we can all agree that's what makes Vegas beautiful! You can go to gamble, people watch, party, golf, sightsee, eat fine meals, watch great shows, whatever makes you happy.

    So enjoy yourself and don't try to overbook your days as many have already said there is too much to do and you'll never see it all so enjoy what you can then start planning trip number 2!

    Welcome to the board!
     
  18. mikeinctown

    mikeinctown High-Roller

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    OMG I did that my first night there a couple trips back. I was all over the strip playing craps, drinking long islands, BJ, etc before winding up at a strip club, then back at the hotel bar where I picked up some woman 30 years older than I was. By the time I got back to the room I had been up 30 something hours and just passed out. Woke up a couple hours later, counted my money and realized I had about a hundred bucks to spend each day until we left. It quickly became a sightseeing trip.
     
  19. andrew5587

    andrew5587 Newbie

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    Thanks for everything guys. So our plans are to Wednesday night just sight see. Eat a nice dinner. Thursday see two shows. Got free tickets to see the paranormal show. And I want to get tickets to love cirque. Friday night will be our night to go out party. Hit up a night club and the Spearmint. Saturday before we leave will be our major gambling day
     
  20. FullBoat

    FullBoat VIP Whale

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    From what other people have said on here Love is a really good choice. I've never seen it, but would like to one day.

    Have fun, and good luck.
     
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