*** OFFICIAL GUIDE TO VEGAS FOR UNLV 9/18 ***

[ISUCyclones2015]

-- LAST UPDATE July 19th --
CHECK OUT THE LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL AND I HEART MUSIC FESTIVAL IMPACT ON POST #2!

Vegas baby! Sin city, the City of Lost Wages, The Entertainment Capital of the World. However you slice it, Vegas is a tremendous American city with a lot to offer. And Iowa State is playing UNLV for the first time in almost 20 years in Las Vegas. With the events of 2020 behind us, it's shaping up for Cyclone fans to treat this as a mini bowl game at the beginning of the high expectation 2021.

I wanted to make a big guide based on my knowledge and experiences going there. I first went to Vegas in 2015 just after college with some buddies, I spent 18 weeks for work on the Strip during 2016 and 2017, as well as a few conferences a year every year and a couple personal trips a year ever since. I estimate I've been in Vegas about 200 days the last 5 1/2 years. The first time I was there, I thought it was a touch overrated but now that I've learned the ropes, it's one of my favorite American cities.

If anyone wants to add anything based on their experience just reply and tag me where you want it added and I will add it.

I will also try to update this as more info comes out as we get close. This is incomplete as of now but I wanted to get the info out there as much as I could before we got to March.

Table of Contents
Vegas General

• Game information
• Life is Beautiful Festival and Impact
• Airport and Flights
• Getting from the Airport to the Strip
• Weather

The Strip Hotels

• Hotels
  • MGM
  • Caesars
  • Others
    • Cosmopolitan
    • Venetian/Palazzo
    • Wynn Resorts
    • Resorts World
    • Hyatt
    • Marriott
    • Hilton

Getting Around The Strip

• Walking
• Taxi
• Uber/Lyft
• The Deuce
• The Monorail
• Free Trams
• Parking

Fremont Street

• COMING SOON

Eating

• Cheap Eats
• Average Eats
• Expensive Eats
• Buffets

Drinking and Smoking

• Drinking - COMING SOON
• Smoking
  • Cannabis

Gambling & Sports Betting

• Sports Betting
• Poker
• Table Games
• Slots
• Video Poker

Comps & getting free stuff

• General
• Players Card
• Express Comps
• Getting Free Drinks
• ADT, Coin in, How much to Play
• Hosts
• Ask for it!
• $20 Trick
• MyVegas Mobile/Facebook App

Activities - Non Gambling

• Pools
  • Kid Friendly
  • Spa Pools
  • Pool clubs
  • Topless Pools
• Shopping
• Clubs
• Shows
• Spa
• Day Trips
• Outdoors
• Museums
• Free

Activities - Adults Only

• COMING SOON

Links

 

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Vegas General

Game information
Iowa State @ UNLV
Date: September 18th 2021
Time: TBD
Location: Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas NV
Tickets: Only UNLV season tickets available as of 2/28

Suites seat up to 16 and cost roughly $2500
Group Tickets are on sale for groups of 20 or more

Single Game Tickets go on sale July 19th at 12pm CT

Link to buy tickets

Life is Beautiful Festival and Impact
Life Is Beautiful Music & Art Festival is an annual music, culinary, art, and learning festival held in Downtown Las Vegas every year. The currently scheduled weekend for Life Is Beautiful 2021 is September 17th-19th. The same weekend as our football game.

Life is Beautiful is Vegas's second largest festival but it is the one that encompasses the majority of Downtown. They generally will have 100-120 THOUSAND people flooding the streets of Downtown. That means Fremont street will be PACKED with festival goers and the like and the area around downtown will be very difficult to get into and out of. Generally downtown is the cheaper more laid back version of the Strip but the weekend of our game you can throw all that out of the window.

What does this mean for hotel prices? Well as some of you might have noticed, it's about 3-4x the hotel costs the weekend of our game as the weekend before or after. We'll see if that holds true as many properties are half open with many floors or towers completely empty.

I recommend booking hotels as soon as you can and then monitoring the prices since most Vegas properties have implemented a much more no deposit and fee free cancellation policy in the last year due to the pandemic.

The positive news? Life is Beautiful is a fun festival if that's your thing. It's like a mix of Lollapalooza and SXSW in a weird and interesting part of Vegas. The concerts every night are pretty incredible with headliners in years past like Kanye, Katy Perry to the Black Keys, The Lumineers, and Chance the Rapper. During the day there's lots of art exhibits and learning pop ups teaching you cool things about the environment and science. Then there's the chefs and food portion of the festival where you can meet some celebrity chefs and try their food. Think a boujee state fair! Tickets are about $250 for the whole weekend or $100 a day in years past. Not sure what the 2020 situation did to the prices but it may be a fun activity to break up Vegas for you.

I Heart Music Festival - EDIT May 15th
The I Heart Musical Festival just annoucned their dates and it's the SAME WEEKEND as our game and the previously mentioned Life is Beautiful.

That means an extra 20-40k people that will be in this Vegas for this Festival. Though I anticipate overlap between the two.

BOOK YOUR HOTELS!

Airport and Flights
McCarran International Airport is extremely close to the Strip and the runways even butt up against some of the resorts. They offer TSA Pre Check and Clear security checkpoints if you are a frequent traveler. It is a fairly modern airport with huge windows for plane watching, especially Concourse D.
Not all airlines have submitted their September plans yet. Once I find out those, I will update this section.

Non Stop Flights from Iowa
• Des Moines (DSM)
○ Allegiant
○ Frontier
○ Southwest
(None currently bookable in September)

• East Iowa Airport (CID)
○ Allegiant
(Not currently bookable)

Airlines Served (and a small list of major connecting cities from Iowa Airports)
• American
○ Connecting through Chicago, Dallas, Charlotte, Phoenix
• Delta
○ Connecting through Minneapolis, Salt Lake City,
• United
○ Connecting through Denver, Houston, Chicago
• Other airlines include Spirit, Sun Country, Alaska, and JetBlue if you're not based in Iowa

Prices are currently around the $300-$400 range a person (Feb 6th) which I think will remain that way unless there's a big schedule opening later in the year pending vaccine performance. Many airlines are offering good cancellation protection

An app I like to use is Hopper. You enter in your flight details and they will let you know via their machine learning whether to wait to purchase or purchase now.

Lounges
McCarren offers 3 lounges all in concourse D. In general McCarren isn't a stuffy airport from my experience or particularly crowded and the dining options in McCarren are pretty varied so lounges aren't a huge concern in Vegas but wanted to quickly touch on them in case they matter to you.

American Express Centurion Lounge
Exclusive lounge for American Express Platinum members (and Centurion Card members). One of the best Centurion Lounges in North America. Has free wifi, alcohol, gourmet food and several types of workspaces

The Club at LAS
$45 a person or free if you have Priority Pass (comes with several higher end credit cards). Wifi, Showers, alcohol, food, plenty of seating. It's not a popular place so it's fairly quiet most of the time.

United Club
Requires Untied Club membership. I never fly United so I haven't been in this one but this is a fairly typical United Club with light snacks and free alcohol.

Gambling
Ever wanted to gamble in an airport as you waited for you flight? Well you can do it here by playing slot machines and some video poker machines. It truly is a sight to behold but be warned, these are some of if not the worst paying slots in all of Nevada but throw in $20 and spin a few times to say you did it.

Smoking
Smoking is allowed in the airport in certain areas. Some restaurants or bars allow smoking. They are CLEARLY marked so you're not going to accidentally get in. As well as gaming lounges which are little clear boxes with slot machines and room for people to mill around and smoke. You won't smell it unless you stand immediately next to the entrance.

Terminals 1 and 3
Really the only warning I want to give is make sure BEFORE YOU LEAVE YOUR HOTEL which Terminal you are in. There's a fork as you're entering the airport based on terminal and if you pick the wrong one it's not exactly easy or quick to get around to the correct one. There is some movement between the terminals but it's not easy or intuitive.
• T1 Airlines
○ Allegiant
○ American
○ Delta
○ Southwest
○ Spirit
• T3 Airlines
○ Alaska
○ Frontier
○ Jetblue
○ Sun Country
○ United
○ All other International

Dining in the airport
This is an above average airport in my opinion when it comes to dining options. There's plenty of restaurnts for your varied tastes and usually plenty of seating. My favorite is probably Sammys Pizza or Rubys Bar but I tend to stick to the lounges when I can.

Getting from the airport to the strip

Rental Cars
The rental car center is not attached to the airport in any way so if you do rent a car, make sure to put in the McCarren Rent-A-Car Center and not the airport when returning. It's a quick shuttle to the center to/from the airport and serves all the major rental companies.

Taxi
Taxis are easy to get and you can just get it right from the Taxi stand once you leave the airport.

Airport rides are now a FLAT fee (+ potential credit card fee and 3% tax) to the Strip!

Airport to zone 1 = $19
Airport to zone 2 = $23
Airport to zone 3 = $27



They had to implement these flat fees because one of the biggest scams in Vegas was the taxi drivers taking you on the interstate to "go around the traffic" of Las Vegas Blvd. The prices were about 2x the cost of just going along the Blvd.

Uber/Lyft
The ridesharing pickup zone is within the parking garages of either terminal. Be sure to follow the signs and you shouldn't have a problem since there are usually dozens of people heading that way.

Weather
Vegas is a desert. It gets hot. In September the average temperature high/low is quite broad as it cools down at night. Your night time temps will be in the mid to low 70s but your day time temps will be in the mid to low 90s. Wear sunscreen and drink plenty of water!

 

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Hotels
Many of the largest hotel, casino, and resort properties in the world are on the Strip, known for its contemporary architecture, lights, and wide variety of attractions. Its hotels, casinos, restaurants, residential high-rises, entertainment offerings, and skyline have established the Strip as one of the most popular and iconic tourist destinations in the world and is one of the driving forces for Las Vegas' economy

In general I like to stay at MGM properties but I like the gambling atmosphere at Caesars properties. See the comp section of this guide as to why that sucks but in general the MGM properties are better in my opinion.

Here's a (not to scale) map of the major hotels on/near the Strip.



MGM Hotel Properties
This is my personal ranking of MGM Properties and it loosely correlates to cost but prices vary so much, just look and see what you're comfortable with and also because of the Life Is Beautiful impact, expect them all to be similar.

• Aria (and Vdara) - It's by far the best MGM property unless you're huge into theming. It's the newest property by a lot so that might give it a slightly unfair advantage but it truly is the nicest. Also one of the priciest so be warned. Has outstanding dining, a great location, great pools, every amenity you want on the strip. It's just the best simply put of all the MGM properties. Vdara is the hotel away from Aria but basically attached and you get access to all the amenities. It's a bigger room for a similar cost and away from all the chaos.

• Bellagio - Most famous resort in the world? Maybe second only to Caesar's Palace? The fountains, the theming, the cleanliness, the location, the dining. Bellagio has it all and is is usually considered one of the gold standard properties. The italian theme isn't quite as over the top as Venetian but the luxuriousness of Bellagio is definitely up there.

• Mirage - Great location on the Strip, walking distance to everything. Has it's own zoo and aquarium. Not suffocatingly huge and has excellent pools. Plus the theming is spot on and doesn't seem too outdated immediately. The smell of the casino is the best on the strip with it's own unique scent being pumped throughout. Has amazing little nooks and crannies of bars and restaurants at all price points. It's a fantastic property.

• Mandalay Bay (and Delano) - By far the closest resort to the stadium and by far the best 4 star property on the strip. The built in aquarium and wide range of pool activities make it a really fun place. The best kids pool and probably one of the best adults only topless pool as well. Mandalay Bay has it all and the sister tower of Delano is a minor walk away for a bigger room. The location though? Awful compared to the rest of the strip. It is a HAUL to get to night life or the main drag of the strip. So it's a trade off of closeness to the stadium and an amazing property while being very far away from "the action"

• MGM Grand - This is a mega mega mega property. It was the largest hotel in the world for like 2 decades. It is still in the top 5. It's just huuugge. You can take 20min just walking from your room to certain areas. The pool is probably the best on the strip (if you don't have kids) and it just has everything you need. But it's so big it can become intimidating and annoying. The nightlife options are also pretty stellar. Fantastic property but the rooms themselves are kinda meh.

• Park MGM - This is the refresh of the Monte Carlo. I think this is a polarizing property. It is the only smoke free property on the strip but there isn't really a theme which again makes Vegas kinda unique. I love Eataly out front and the rooms are well equipped. This is a good average to above average place to make your claim.

• NY NY - I have a soft spot for New York New York. I feel like it's the people's casino/hotel. It's the best budget option of all the budget options on the strip and it's got such a fun and cool theme inside. It does cater to a younger crowd so take that in mind when choosing this property. The average age is certainly in the low 30s. Plus the rollercoaster inside the hotel and an arcade for youngins makes it just different than most casinos on the strip. It's not a spectacular hotel but it doesn't pretend to be either so it's just a cool place to be.

• Luxor - Again just dated and the rooms are kinda small. The renovations got rid of the Egyptian theming which I thought made it unique and cool so it's just kinda bland besides it being a giant pyramid.

• Excalibur - Dated, in need of a deep clean, but reminds you of "old" Vegas. Awesome activities especially for kids. Plus it is very cheap. Location is at the very south end which can be good or bad depending on your tastes but it is close to the stadium.

Caesars Hotel Properties
This is my personal ranking of Caesars Properties and it loosely correlates to cost but prices vary so much, just look and see what you're comfortable with and also because of the Life Is Beautiful impact, expect them all to be similar.

• Caesar's Palace - Not a huge surprise right? Their most famous property is also their best property with fantasic gaming, dining, pools, entertainment, nightlife etc. It's just an ever increasing way to experience Vegas in the purest and costliest sense. Arguably the best hotel on the Strip and they continue to update it accordingly. Amazing Property

• Paris - Rooms are pretty big compared to most. The French theming is pretty stellar but getting close to outdated. Budget wise it's actually incredibly cheap compared to similar properties. Dining is ******* amazing and includes one of my favorite restaurants in the world, Mon Ami Gabi. The pool is better than most of the Caesars properties. Plus the Eifell Tower Replica. It's all around prowess makes it one of Caesars best properties to visit and stay

• Planet Hollywood - One of the most underrated hotels and casinos in my opinion. It's just got a good feel throughout. Entertainment options are stellar compared to most properties. Rooms are pretty great with mostly awesome views of the Strip plus modern ameneties like USB outlets and such. Dining is varied and elequently done from cheap eats like chipotlet up to expensive $100+ plates. The casino is well varied and has awesome promotions. The pool can be considered average as well.

• The Cromwell - I have a love hate relationship with this hotel. I love the amenities and the pool area and the restaurants and the night life. The rooms are fairly average and walls are thin. Lots of rooms have a mini balcony though I think they botled those shut recently. I go there to party personally and not much else.

• The Flamingo - You know, they've tried their damn hardest to keep this brand alive. The rooms are slightly dated but recently updated so it's a weird mish mash but it's a Vegas classic and you should visit at least before they tear it down. Pool is pretty decent, restaurants are above average, location is fantastic. It's just a pretty good hotel.

• Bally's - Honestly to me it's so similar to Harrah's it's hard to put one over the other. It's just an average place with average dining with average amenities. I can't say anything necassarily wrong about Bally's but I can't say anything great about it either. It just exists.

• Harrah's - So this is a pretty polarizing Caesars property. The hotel itself is outdated but most of the rooms have been updated in the last couple of years making it feel disjointed at times. It's location is perfect and it is a budget minded hotel, there's not a whole lot to hate about it in my opinion. It doesn't have a theme I suppose but hey, you're not paying for it either. I think the polarizing nature was due to the lengthy renovations to the rooms and never knowing what you were gonna get. That's behind us now. The pool is pretty small and terrible and sometimes room service isn't that great so... yea.

• The Linq - This is the closest thing you'll get to a hostel if you're on the Strip. Don't come here if you are over 30 or else you'll hate your life and just shake your head at these damn kids. One of the cheapest properties on the strip but the amenities you get are a huge reason why. The pool is awful and small. The rooms are kinda terrible. The Linq is AWESOME to visit. It has this whole promenade of bars and restaurants on the average to cheap end that's awesome fun. Staying there though? I'd spend the few extra bucks and go somewhere else.

• Rio - It has an initial cool theme but the location is so far off the strip that it can be annoying to get to and from depending on what you're trying to accomplish. The all-suite nature of the hotel is actually really nice to have since sometimes hotels will give you a mini-fridge filled with nonsense and charge you as soon as you remove something. Pool is decent but with the removal of the shuttle to and from the strip... it's just a pain in the ass hotel.

--CONTINUED HERE--

 

[ISUCyclones2015]

Getting Around The Strip

Walking
Walking is a fun way to see all the different parts of the Las Vegas Strip. But be sure to take precautions and go into casinos to cool down if you're feeling too hot, if you get cold easily it may be worth it to bring a light jacket, since casinos keep the Aircon at a breezy 65. I allow about 10 min when going door to door from casino to casino. Some entrances are closer than others but it's a good rule of thumb.

The entire strip is over 4 miles and will take you an hour and a half to walk the whole thing. Also be warned that sidewalks may become elevated walkways and vice versa. There are several pharmacies and little shops to grab a quick beverage while you are walking as well. A further warning is that there are very few street level crossings of the strip and jaywalking is a $200 fine. The easiest ways to cross the street is to use the elevated walkways! Also the safest! One of the number one causes of death in Vegas are people walking out onto the Strip.

Taxi
Taxis in Vegas are still extremely popular but their popularity is dwindling. They have premier space outside of the casinos and they charge you for it. I haven't been a fan of any Taxi service since the invention of Uber/Lyft but just know that they are way faster and easier to hail than a Uber.

Costs:

Drop for initial activation of taximeter	$3.50
Each additional 1/12th mile ($2.76 per mile)	$0.23
Waiting time per hour	$32.40
McCarran Airport Property pick up fee per pick-up	$2.00
Credit / Debit Card Fee	$3.00
Excise Tax will be added to all rates and fees	3%

A couple of things to remember, they MUST allow you to pay with credit card or debit card. If they try to force you to pay in cash, get their permit number and taxi number. Taxis CANNOT pick you up directly from the street along the strip. It is illegal to and they could lose their taxi license by doing so. That includes dropping off as well. Go to the entrance of a casino if you want to hail a cab.

Uber/Lyft
This is my preferred method besides walking when traveling along the Strip. Nearly every casino has a designated Uber/Lyft are and it is NOT the front entrance 99% of the time. There will be signs directing you where to go near the entrances and sometimes in the casino floors themselves. Most of the time they converted a level of their parking garage to serve are the pickup/drop off zone.

I find the ridesharing services to be about 25% slower but about 33% cheaper than taking a taxi. But they are 100% nicer and cleaner. I usually pull up both apps and pick the one that says they will pick me up sooner.

The Deuce
The Deuce runs up and down the Vegas strip, 24 hours a day from Fremont Street in Downtown Las Vegas all the way to the Mandalay Bay, while stopping at virtually every hotel and casino along the Las Vegas strip. It is by far the cheapest way to travel along the strip but also frustratingly slow sometimes.

$6 for a 2 hour pass, $8 for a 24-hour pass, and $20 for a 3 day pass. Also includes access to any of the other busses provided by the county like the Strip to Fremont Express and other local bus routes.

Look for the gold bus!

The Las Vegas Monorail
The Monorail is a pretty decent option of traversing the strip especially if one of your hotels has a station or is very close to one. It runs behind the strip on the east side of the hotels with 7 stops and nine trains. Very quick, clean but kinda pricey in my opinion. I think it's worth it when you're staying at a Convention Center hotel

$5 - single ride
$13 - 24hours
$23 - 48 hours
$29 - 72 hours
$56 - 7 days



The unknown but FREE trams!
Lots of people don't know about this but there are 3 free trams on the west side of the strip between a few sets of the casinos. These are all FREE and one of my favorite ways to travel when I am just relaxing.

1.) Treasure Island - Mirage
Every 8min from 9am to 3am

2.) Bellagio - Crystals Shopping/Aria - Park MGM/T-Mobile Arena
Every 3min from 8am to 4am

3.) Mandalay Bay - Luxor - Excalibur
Every 3-7min from 9am to 2:30am



Parking
This section has recently become easy because every casino on the strip now allows free self parking due to the pandemic and very little but paid valet parking. Remember not to keep valuables in there and remember it's a good labyrinth to get from the Parking Garage to the Hotels.

 

[ISUCyclones2015]

Fremont Street/Downtown

Coming soon! Lots to discuss.

But in general I would avoid downtown during the weekend of the game due to the Life is Beautiful Festival

 

[ISUCyclones2015]

Eating in Vegas
If you have a recommendation for a category, let me know and it can be added! This list only scratches the surface of the hundreds and hundreds of dining spots on the strip. I will continue to add more!

Cheap Eats
Less than $20. I am defining cheap eats as under $20 here because lets face it, Vegas is kinda pricey compared to Iowa. I will try to give an idea of prices as I list out restaurants.

Ellis Island Casino - This is an amazing outpost just a couple blocks east of the strip. They brew their own beer inside ($1 each for a tall glass if you're not gambling) and home to the $7.99 steak dinner. This is not pretentious. This is the furthest thing from a pretentious place in Vegas. The smoke is so thick it goes down to your eyeballs but the drinks flow freely and the minimums are cheap. This is a great casino just to hang out if you don't mind the smoke. Plus the steak dinner. You know for $8 keep your expectations low and you will be rewarded with one of the best deals still remaining in Vegas

Secret Pizza - This is a hidden pizza shop in the Cosmo. I think it's the best Pizza on the strip and it's not too crowded because it's hidden! Won't be on a map and there is no signage. Nice big NY style slices for about $5.

Tacos El Gordo - This is a taco place from Tijuana and San Diego that has made the migration to Vegas. They are about $2-$4 a taco and are some of the best tacos in the country.

Dirt Dog - LA food stand that has a spot on the Strip. Huge wieners for about $8-10 with tons of different toppings. Multiple fries options as well. Churros are pretty bomb as well

Hash House A Go Go - Diner style spot with pretty good brunch and drinks at the Linq and other locations in and around Vegas. Brunch served all day and almost everything is under $20! My favorite is the mexican style hash with chroizo and jalepenos.

Crack Shack - A fried chicken joint out of San Diego and won best fried chicken in San Diego multiple times .Really new to Vegas but I went there many times for lunch when I had a project in San Diego as I a couple blocks away. Pretty good food for about $10-15.

Ramen-Ya - A low key noodle spot in kind of a weird location of the Strip near Ballys. Not the best Ramen in the world but it's also less than $10 most of the time .

There's also tons of fast food and chain restaurants that fit this category like Taco Bell and McDonalds but I wanted to shy away from those. But they are there if that's your fancy.

Average Eats
$20-$50 a plate/person without alcohol. This is by far the biggest category with tons of places in the $30 a plate range. I'll try to keep this light and let others chime in on their preferences

Mon Ami Gabi - This might be my favorite restaurant in the world. It's not overly expensive with most places in the $25-30 range. The food is excellent. The bread is delightful. The most popular dish is the Steak Frites clocking in right at $30. And then you get the view. The view from the patio overlooking the fountains of Bellagio and the strip is just amazing. Some of the best people watching you'll get anywhere on earth plus the food and wine and drinks are awesome! High recommend and I definitely recommend waiting for a spot on the patio.

Costa Di Mare - Inside the Wynn. A great Italian place that's actually on the cheaper end of the Wynn's price points. Incredible Pastas here and very filling that I normally just stick with that.

Gordan Ramsey Burgr - Pricey burgers in the $20 range but they are incredible. Also try the Truffle fries.

Hatsumi - A fantastic Japanese grill that averages out just over the $20 range when you get all the items to fill up a plate (you order ala carte). Big fan of the chicken hearts!

Expensive Eats
Over $50 (and the best ones go much much higher) a plate/person without alcohol

Carbone - An elegant italian place inside the Aria. Beautifully decorated and the food is outstanding and includes a nice selection of Mediterranean seafood dishes instead of just the classic pasta entrees. $50-60 a plate

Momofuko - The Vegas outpost of the World famous noodle and Japanese restaurant. I think the Vegas one is less popular than the one in NYC so much easier to get into and the quality is just the same! $40-90 a plate

Gordon Ramsey Steak - Maybe the best restaurant Gordon Ramsey has? The steaks are incredible, used to be one of the only places in America to get authentic Japanese A5 Wagyu. The Pork Belly appetizer is mindblowing! $60-80 plates

é by José Andrés - There's only 8 seats in this restaurant and I think only 4 seating times a day. This is an incredible gastronomic experience that is worth the $300+ starting price.

Joël Robuchon - Alright if you're fancy as hell and want to experience 3 star Michelin dining. This is it. There are about 15 -20 courses depending on what the tasting menu is that day and of course wine pairings throughout. This is $500+ a person. A once in a lifetime experience that is worth it.

Buffets
I need to see which buffets are even open due to the pandemic. I think all of them are closed. Once I get a better idea then I will update this section.

My favorite pre-pandemic was the Bacchanal in Caesars Palace or Wicked Spoon in the Cosmo

 

[CloneinWDSM]

TLDR

 

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Drinking And Smoking

Drinking
COMING SOON AS MORE BARS OPEN ANS RESTRICTIONS ARE LIFTED

Smoking
Smoking indoors is still legal in Las Vegas so expect a shock if you haven't been used to it since the 90s/00s. Most restaurants only allow it at the bars but most of the casinos have pretty amazing ventilation so it's not too crazy like some of those crazy seedy bars you used to deal with back then.

Cannabis
Marijuana is totally legal in Nevada and Las Vegas for the 21 and older crowd. Expect to smell it throughout your trip. Generally speaking you're not allowed to smoke in public places but you'll still smell it up and down the strip because most people and the police care very little as long as you're not being a nuisance. Smoking cannabis in your rooms is usually not allowed even in smoking rooms. Be sure to prepare yourself for a $100-$200 cleaning fee or smoke tobacco enough to cover the smell.

There's 3 big dispensaries close to the strip, all three are fairly good quality and have a wide selection to whatever you're feeling. Emerald Essence probably has the most positive reviews and I believe all 3 of these deliver to your hotel lobby as well. Check WeedMaps for the most up to date information on that.

1.) Planet 13
2.) Emerald Essence
3.) Reef Dispensary

 

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Gambling & Sports Betting

Sports Betting
Sportsbooks are a dime a dozen all over the strip. You can't really go totally wrong but if you're wanting to sit around and watch games, honestly just find a seat because a ton of times they're packed during peak times. Just don't bet at William Hill. They have the worst odds in Vegas and limit your winnings, especially parlays.

Quick Ranking:
1.) Westgate - The Gold Standard of Sportsbooks anywhere in the world and includes 5000 feet of video space!
2.) Caesars Palace - Huge screen, recently renovated and gives out free drinks!
3.) MGM Grand - Not huge which is surprising compared to the rest of the hotel. But the people inside are usually the rowdiest!
4.) Venetian - Nice book with plenty of seating. They have another area with stadium style seating inside a bar next door in the Palazzo that I might like more though.
5.) The Linq - Just a cool experience an a different take on the sportsbook
Wild card - Circa in downtown. This is the largest sportsbook in the world but it just opened in December 2020. So not sure how it is personally but the early reviews are stellar. This is a must see on my list when I go back.

Poker
Poker in Vegas is at cut throat as it gets. Most poker rooms are filled with pros that circling the waters waiting on the tourist to stumble in. It's the least fun place in any casino in my opinion because it's full of SERIOUS BUSINESS people. So play poker at your own risk. This isn't Meskwaki or Prairie Meadows, the skill is far higher. $1/2 is the most popular but this is the city if you're a higher roller and want 5/10 games or more.

Top Poker Rooms based on number of players at any one time and the skill level of the players.
1.) Aria - My favorite room in Vegas by far. The seats are fantastic and the cocktail waitresses come by the most often.
2.) Venetian - One of the biggest rooms in Vegas and always has action going any time of the day
3.) Bellagio - Another big Poker room and will generally have higher limit actions if that's your jam

If you want a not so serious game I recommend the 3 following casinos. These are mostly tourists and there's just not enough action for the pros to circle the waters so much.
1.) Excalibur
2.) Planet Hollywood
3.) Ballys

Table games
There are currently 22 different table games on The Strip with several different variations of each.

• Asia Poker
• Baccarat
• Big Wheel
• Cajun Stud
• Caribbean Stud
• Casino War
• Chase The Flush
• Craps
• Crazy4Poker
• DJ Wild
• Deuces Wild
• Double Ball Roulette
• High Card Flush
• Let it Ride
• Mississippi Stud
• Pai Gow Poker
• Pai Gow Tiles
• Roulette
• River Hold'em
• Texas Hold'em Bonus
• Three Card Poker
• Ultimate Texas Hold'em

Minimums on the strip probably average around $10 with it being $15 on the weekends. Of course there are exceptions but just mentally prepare for double or triple your typical action compared to Iowa Casinos.

The casinos with the most variety of table games are the MGM Grand, Flamingo, Harrah's, Paris, and NYNY.

My personal favorites are the "Carnival" games like 3 card, Ultimate Texas Holdem, Mississippi Stud, Pai Gow and others. If you don't know how to play a game, just ask! Most dealers are willing to work with you and have you understand the game (and take you money!)

Slots
The best slots in Vegas can be found at many of the top hotels and casinos in Las Vegas. Even the best slot machines in Vegas still give the house a significant edge but some offer a better return than others. Rarely do Las Vegas casinos advertise their slots odds.

While the best slot machines will vary within each casino, some hotel-casinos in Las Vegas are known for being slightly more loose than others. The Rivera, Harrah's, the Luxor, and Mandalay Bay are among the hotels on or near the Las Vegas Strip with the best slots, while off-strip locations like Main Street Station, Binion's, Four Queens, and the Golden Nugget are also reportedly top destinations for hot slots.

However, it's no secret that some of the worst slots in Vegas are the first ones you see. McCarran Airport, the main airport for Las Vegas, is notorious for having the worst slots in Las Vegas. The airport makes big bucks on slots from anxious travelers and those looking to burn time waiting at the terminal.

I think Caesars Properties have much better slots than any of the MGM properties outside of Mandalay bay.

 

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Comps and Getting Free Stuff

First things First
First off, Vegas does NOT just hand out free rooms for showing up. Room comps are given out to players that they know will play, and thus cover the expense of the room, with their gaming. This isn’t like the movies. You're not gonna get a steak dinner by betting $100 with $10 hands at Black Jack. I'm sorry. You're gonna have to get over the mental image of anyone coming up to you to offer anything that the movies (especially 80s movies) portray.

If you have never played anywhere before, you most likely will have to suck it up and pay for the first round. Much like a 1st date, you pay for that fancy dinner and a nice show and HOPE you get a free pass the next time. Always get a players club card when you get there. Play that bad boy up at that casino and see what they will offer you as a bounce back. Depending on the damage you did, it might be some free eats, show tickets, free play or even a room for the next time you visit.

If you just play for fun, odds and returns in comps be damned, have at it! But sometimes stretching your bankroll, playing for longer and ringing up comps for future trips might be even more fun!

Another thing….
Tip. Tip. Tip. Then Tip some more. Vegas is a tipping town. If you don't tip the dealer or waitress or take care of the people who are doing their job for you then they are not going to give you any "extra" benefits. For example lets say you were betting $25 hands and maybe 50% of the time you bumped it to $50. If you were tipping the dealer throughout, then he might say you had an average bet of $50 when asked by the floor. This is not to try and get into an argument about how tipping shouldn't be a thing but in Vegas tipping is a thing and you must do it. Period. End of discussion. You will have a much better time giving $5 here or there.

Players Cards
Whether you like it or not, you have to sign up for a players card at the casino you gamble at or you have absolutely zero percent chance of getting anything for free outside of drinks while playing. I have a separate email just for my players cards so all the offers and spam you get can be corralled into one spot.

Always give your players card to the dealer or stick it in the slot machine. Even if it's one hand or one spin. All play counts when you're scrapping for free stuff. The one caveat to that is if you're checking out and just using up your betting slips to use them up. We'll get into it in the ADT/THEO section but if you're just putting in $20 on your way out, don't ruin your average.

Dance with the girl that you brought to prom. In a city like Vegas is tempting to gamble everywhere every day. But this can kill your ADT (more on that later). I like to hop from casino to casino and I still get great offers but do it wisely. Pick a girl and play at her, or her sister’s places. If Mandalay Bay throws me a free room for 2 nights I will ONLY play at Mlife casinos since they share the same card as Mandalay Bay does. That way all of my gambling money for that day goes into fattening up the same club card. Sure it’s easy if you are staying at Mirage to play at Caesars to your right and Treasure Island to your left. But all you are going to do is make your play look smaller. Instead of gambling $300.00 a day at one club, you are now viewed as a $100.00 a day player in 3 clubs. And you won’t see many comps playing that way.

Player card matching. Some hotel chains will match you to certain levels of players card from the big casinos. Hyatt will match you up to MGM Gold and Wyndam can match you up to Caesars Diamond. You can even get fancy as well to match Marriott to Wyndam to Caesars if you think about it in advance. If anyone has questions on this let me know.

Express Comps
Don't use them unless you just aren't betting that much. You'll get much better comps from a human doing the math than the minimal express ones. I just stay away from them unless it's at the end of a trip and you're trying to get rid of them or they are expiring.

Getting free drinks while playing
Almost every casino in Vegas offers free drinks while playing. The only one I can think of is the Hooters/OYO hotel and the $1 blackjack tables. Sorry, you're not getting free drinks there.

Playing at a bar. This used to be a "trick". Playing a video poker or slot machine attached to one of the numerous bars in a casino. You'd play every once in a while and grab a free drink. Well the casinos caught on to you greedy *****. They have a light on the back or on top of the machines nowadays that light up green if you're eligible. Some will even print out a drink coupon every time you qualify for one.

But besides the two instances above, you'll generally be able to get free drinks while playing. You can ask the floor sometimes if it's been a while since you've started playing but I find them frequent enough. The way to get good service and have them come back very frequently is TIPPING. If you don't tip your waitress when she comes around, she WILL mark you down as a cheap **** and will not come back around that often, if at all.

ADT, THEO, Coin In - how much to play

All players are assigned a value. That is why you have that little players club card. They know what you play, for how long, what your average bet is and how much they plan to squeeze out of you in a day. Lets start here with your ADT, Average Daily Theoretical Loss or ADT.

Let's say you play a slot machine with an average hold of 10%, meaning on average, the machine takes 10% from the player. So every $100 you cycle through the machine, they "should" be collecting $10 from you. Your coin in (how much you cycle through a machin, not how much came out of your pocket) is $5,000 by the end of your typical day. The casino then summarizes they "should" be able to rake you for $500 in actual losses. IE 10% of that $5000 run.

Now take that $500 they should be taking from you and take a 1/3 from it. That's the value of comps you'll receive. So in this case of $5000 coin in with an ADT of $500, your value to the casino is $166. Regardless of how much you actually won or lost, your value in that scenario is $166. That's probably enough to get you a free room at a lower end hotel with a little bit of dining credit.

Take everything I said above, and look at what you play. If you are a dollar slot player, and those holds are 5% instead of 10% you will have to play twice as long, or accept half as much back in comps. Why? Your average loss is expected to be lower. And if you play tables, $5,000 total in bets, playing on a decent 3:2 blackjack game, that has a house hold of 0.5%. IE: for every $100 played, they take in, on average, $0.50 as a win. You play through $5000 in bets at that table, the casino "should" take you for $25 (.50 lost per $100 X 50). You might get a $10 slip to the cafe if you ask really nice.

Hosts
If you play enough, chances are a host has reached out to you at one time or another. And by enough, I mean playing $10,000 coin in a day with an ADT of $1000 a day or put another way $1000 that you are willing to lose MINIMUM (at Strip casinos). This might change in this post-covid era but if you're not willing to lose $1000 a day, don't worry about this section.

A host is great! They are a free perk that came with your historically rated play. A host did not pick your name at random, you did something well enough to garner their attention. But if you do book through a host, and you gamed bigger than normal, they could probably use your offers as a base, and then say double the Free Play on there if your corporate offers haven't caught up to your recent level of play. If you out kicked your coverage, and played more than what you historically have, they might be able to pull some additional comps for you. So charge stuff to your room just in case. But don't go on an eating spree assuming it will get cleared.

Playing at "local" casinos - ie non Vegas MGM/Caesars casinos
There's a ton of debate about playing at local casinos and how they impact your offers. For me, I think they've helped me tremendously. By local casinos I mean non Vegas or Macau casinos that are still attached to the same players cards you'll play in Vegas. Think MGM National Harbor near DC or Harrah's New Olreans for Caesars. Many of the companies even partner with super local casinos like the Isle Casinos in Eastern Iowa, they partner with Caesars.

A below average player in Vegas can be a massive player in a local casino but they also don't have all the competition for comps at the locals. So you may not get great comps at say Harrahs SoCal but that play is tied to your overall ADT at their properties and can turn into great comps elsewhere.

Like mentioned above. Use your comps if you're actually going to gamble. Not just a fun couple hours after a show or racetrack. It could hurt you long term if you aren't gambling. Even at these local casinos.

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Activities Non-Gambling

Pools
It's time to get wet! Here's a discussion and some listings of the different types of pools in Vegas

Best Pool Areas
• The Beach at Mandalay Bay
○ This has it all. 11 acres of pool bliss. Whether you're looking for chill vibes, party pads, an exclusive hideout, or family-friendly fun, you’ll find it among the eight pools, three-story mini casino, lazy river, and white-sand beach.
• Garden of the Gods at Caesars
○ This complex has 7 pools of all different varieties including some of the best swim up gambling pools in Vegas. Plus a multitude of swim up bars. No real kiddie pool here but when you think of Vegas pool experience you're probably thinking of the Garden of the Gods.
• Grand Pool Complex at MGM Grand
○ This is one of the largest and most popular pool complexes in Las Vegas. Here you’ll find 4 pools, 3 whirlpools, and a legendary lazy river that stretches forever. The lazy river isn't that lazy on the weekends just as a warning. It's usually bursting with 20-somethings just wading the waters and drinking.
• The Pooldeck at Venetian/Palazzo
○ These two behemoths offer 11 different pools to choose from. The Venetian pool deck is newly renovated with wonderfully playful elements to help enjoy the sun and the water, like a splash pad, in pool ledge loungers, and daybeds in the center of the pools.
• Pool District at The Cosmo
○ An adults only pool area that can really crank up the adult-ness. With drinks flowing and the trendy nature that is Cosmo, it's one of my favorite pool areas. Not nearly as large as any others on the Strip but still a great time.

Honorable mentions (both Downtown)
• Circa Pool Deck
○ This is still brand new and catching it's legs. Tons of pool space and a TV larger than the jumbo screen at Jack Trice. This is where you should spend a day watching sports and chilling out. I haven't tried it yet since it opened late 2020 but it will be on my bucket list when I go.
• The Tank at Golden Nugget
○ This is a VERY unique hotel pool with sharks swimming up right next to you (behind glass). There's even a water slide that goes THROUGH the shark tank if you're so inclined. A bunch of waterfalls and relaxation areas to boot. If you're downtown, this is probably most likely to be named the best.

Kid Friendly Pools
There are two pool areas with specific kid friendly sections.

Mandalay Bay - This expansive pool area includes many different sections for all types of visitors but it is one of the most kid friendly pools in all of Vegas. There is a literal beach, a wave pool, a lazy river that isn't quite so filled with adults, and a shallow pool for very young kids.

Circus Circus - Surprise, the most kid friendly casino and hotel has one of the most kid friendly pools. They have a whole amusement park style water park within their pool area so it is perfect for families. Several playgrounds, different slides, and shallow pools for young kids.

Honorable mention:
MGM Grand - There is a family friendly pool that has some stuff but not nearly as much as the other two mentioned above. I would classify this as a younger crowd pool area as well which is not typically friendly towards kids.

Most other pools allow kids but they are fairly generic and don't cater to kids like the two above.

Day Clubs
This is something fairly unique to Vegas though there are obviously some in places like Miami or in the Mediterranean. What’s a day club? Well, picture a nightclub… then picture it during the day, in a pool, with much less clothing on. I don't expect many on here to frequent these but any of the 20-30 somethings, this is a good ass time if you're into it and they're open. Here's a ranking of my Top 5 but there's a clear separation of the top 2. One thing to keep in mind is pay for admission in advance and if you can, have an equal number of males/females. If you're an all male group paying at the door, it might be $100+ a person to get in. I warned you now!

• Encore Beach Club at Encore - I believe this Day Club has won best Day Club in the world 5 years in a row. It is a beautiful giant **** show full of cabanas, scantily clad bachelorette parties, and like 19 bars. The one downside is they usually pack people in to these relatively tight quarters.
• Wet Republic ULTRA at MGM Grand - Probably the most visually appealing club on the Strip with a huge amount of LED screens and the openness of it all. One GIANT bar behind the DJ booth completes it. It's the "longest running pool party in the country" and it lives up to the hype.
• Sapphire Pool - This one is a little different since it's a gentleman's club but it can be pretty wild. Most of the women there are from the Strip Club next door and DEFINITELY adults only. The drink specials kick anyone's ass and they can occasionally get some really good DJ talent.
• Drai's Beach Club at the Cromwell - This is a wild ROOFTOP day club (the only one in Vegas) that gives you the views in more than one place. A pool runs the length of the roof with a multitude of private cabanas on multiple stories and it is a one of a kind club. Also the cheap price of the club, Cromwell, and the Linq nearby makes this a very young crowd if that's your thing.
• Daylight at Mandalay Bay - As you can see Mandalay Bay continues to crank out the hits and it doesn't stop with their day club. Supposedly this has the best sound system in all of Vegas but when you're 4 Mai Tai's deep and rocking out in the pool, you won't know.

Topless Pools
When compared to massive dayclubs , topless pools are on the smaller side and aren't really a party scene, making them perfect for people who just want to relax poolside, sunbathe, or hang out inside the pool. Vegas has plenty of them and of course they are Adults only! I won’t go into much detail but just know it's women-clothing optional. Generally frowned upon for men to be bottomless.

• Bare Pool Lounge at The Mirage - The OG of topless pools in Vegas.
• European Pools at Encore and Wynn - Exclusive to guests staying at either one
• Moorea Beach Club at Mandalay Bay - Have I emphasized that Mandalay Bay has it all when it comes to pools?
• Venus at Caesars Palace - Probably the most popular for Swingers if that's your jam
• TAO Beach - Topless during the week when it's not a raging day club on the weekends.

Shopping
There's really 5 big malls on the Vegas strip with 2 being the most popular. The two biggest ones are the Forum Shops at Caesars Palace and the Fashion Show Mall nearby. A close third would be the Shops at Crystals.

I wouldn't expect to find any deals at these malls or honestly anywhere in Vegas. The deals to be had are most likely scams in my experience. But… if you're looking for high end shopping this is definitely a place to look.

• Forum Shops - Per square foot, the highest grossing mall in the United States. Has shops like Gucci, Cartier, Chanel, Dior, Rolex, Versace and much much more. Definitely fun to walk around and see all the high end shopping in one place and if you're one to shop at these places, almost nowhere else will you find this concentration.
• Fashion Show Mall - The longtime popular and busy indoor/outdoor shopping complex located right on the Las Vegas Strip. Each year, it receives between 12 to 13 million visitors. It’s easy recognizable on the Strip due to its 480 foot long silver UFO-looking disc that rises high above the mall to provide shade. The Fashion Show Mall has over 250 stores and kiosks, along with 25 restaurants. Basically the most typical MEGA mall you can think of. Rivals Mall of America in just sheer amount of different places you can shop at.
• Shops at Crystal - If you thought the Forums at Caesars was luxury, this is the ULTRA luxury to the extreme. 100% upscale. 100% luxury as ****. This is literally a Billion Dollar mall for Billionaires. Fun to walk around in though.
• Miracle Mile Shops - Shopping for the people! The Miracle Mile Shops at Planet Hollywood in Las Vegas offer lots of shopping and dining opportunities for those of us without unlimited funds at our disposable. About 180 stores without any of them being super luxury like the ones mentioned above. This is your typical mall but just expanded. I love the food court here.
• Las Vegas Outlets (North and South) - These are your typical outlet stores with about 150+ stores each but include outdoor air conditioning! I haven't shopped at these much but if you're looking to shop on the medium to cheap end, I would recommend both of these.

 

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Clubs
Lets start with some basics….

Dress code
For women, you want to go with a cute dress with heels. If you want to be a little more comfortable, a pair of dressy flats is also fine.

For men, clubs are way stricter with their dress code. You should wear a nicely fitting pair of pants or jeans, dress shoes (repeat, DRESS shoes), and a button up shirt or sport coat.

Clothing to avoid is shorts, sandals, baggy jeans, athletic shoes, hats, sports jerseys, athletic attire, and work boots.

The Line
A lot of these nightclubs have huge waiting lines that you should be aware of. Sometimes it can take hours to get inside. That’s why it is very important to arrive by 10.30pm at the latest in order to avoid missing out completely. One way to skip the line (at some clubs) is to reserve a VIP table with bottle service.

VIP Tables
If you don’t want to be standing for the entire night, you and your friends will definitely want to reserve a VIP table. These give you a plush place to sit down, as well as bottle service with free mixers all night long. Tables range from around $500 to $8,000 in cost.

Guest Lists
If you don’t want to pay the cover charge, you’ll want to find a VIP host for the club you are going to. They’re easy to look up on Google. These hosts can work wonders for you and put you on a guest list which will enable your whole group to get in for free. Normally this requires that there is an equal ratio of women to men in your group. VIP hosts can also assist in reserving VIP tables for you.

Ranking of Clubs:

1.) Hakkasan at MGM Grand - Epic, huge, extravagant. This is the club you think about when you think of clubs in Vegas. 5 levels of insanity including the main dance floor that includes the biggest DJs in the world. This isn't a club to miss if this is your jam.

2.) Omnia at Caesars Palace - My personal favorite…. It’s guaranteed to blow your mind from the moment you walk in, because the first thing you’ll see is the 22,000 pound kinetic chandelier hanging above the dance floor. When you need to get some air, Omnia has a rooftop garden where you can relax and enjoy an awesome view of the Las Vegas Strip.

3.) Jewell at Aria - A much smaller club than the rest on this list but don't let that fool you. It's an intimate affair packed to the brim of partiers ready to dance. Lots of LED lights add to the experience and the music is always on point.

4.) Marquee at Cosmopolitan - 3 rooms with different atmospheres in each one. Main dance floor where you can dance to world-famous DJs. The Boom Box, a separate dance floor where it's more of a mult-format DJ. Then the chillness of The Library.

5.) Tao at Venetian - Huge Asian inspired club and one of the oldest, most popular clubs in Vegas history. Big range of music beyond just EDM and the most diverse crowd of any of the clubs in my opinion. Definitely a must see if you have the time.

Shows
This section could change dramatically with the events of 2021 so research a little more than this list.

Getting cheap tickets - Honestly buying tickets in advance is the way to go if you must see a particular show. Other things you could do is stay at the hotel the show is located at or a sister property. Otherwise you could miss out while trying to score a super deal. Tix4Tonight is your second best bet if you're okay with waiting until the day of. You may not get the exact show you want but these are typically half the price of buying directly from the casino

Best shows

• Cirque du Soleil's "O" - The most popular show in Vegas. In, around and above the water, world-class acrobats, divers, synchronized swimmers and whimsical characters come together to create a world you’ve never seen before. If you had to describe “O” in one word, it would be “magical”. I recommend ANY Cirque show but this one is also my favorite.
• Blue Man Group - If you haven't experienced them before then it's highly recommended to check them out at the Luxor. Part rock concert, part comedy, Blue Man Group gets you involved and grinning non-stop.
• Tournament of Kings - While you feast on a yummy 3 course meal the medieval way (with your hands), knights in shining armor battle it out in a quest for honor and glory. They joust on horses in an arena theater while the crowd gets rough and rowdy.
• Absinthe - One of the most fun, wild and craziest shows you'll experience on earth. It's naughty, it's hilarious, it's magical and filled with circus acts to wow you left and right. Definitely the recommendation if you're a group looking for a good time without any kids.
• Thunder from Down Under - Probably the most hilarious way to spend a girls night out in Vegas. Imagine Magic Mike on steroids. Every single woman I've met that has gone has had a good time. Not many men showing up to these shows.

There's hundreds of other amazing and thrilling shows all across Vegas. Do not take this list as the end all be all. Research a little and ask myself or anyone else and we can provide some guidance. I've been to probably 30 shows on the Strip.

Spas
The Spas in Vegas are WORLD CLASS. This has to be the best concentration of spas in the world. In general the higher end hotels will give you a much better experience for not that much more in cost. Expect to pay $200+ for a massage at one of these hotels but also includes access to their relaxation areas which I think separates Vegas from the rest of the world.

Quick ranking of spas:
1.) Canyon Ranch Spa at the Venetian- By far my favorite Spa on the Strip and it's not even close from what I've been to. The largest Spa on the Strip has a little bit of everything from classes, rock climbing, amazing massages, and the relaxation areas are incredible. My favorite are the experiential rains and artic igloo rooms.
2.) The Spa at Encore - Probably the most beautiful spa ever created. Absolutely stunning and has an unfathomable range of spa services.
3.) Qua Baths at Caesars - If you're looking for official Nobu treatments, the is the place to go. Along with all the roman baths inside and different saunas, fountains, and pools. Definitely a place not to miss.
4.) The Spa at Bellagio - The OG of super luxury spas in the world and still is amazing today. Hot tubs, plunge pools, it's not just a massage, it's an experience. I believe also the second largest spa on the Strip.
5.) Waldorf Astoria Spa - This is most intimate spa on the Strip. I highly recommend it for couples (or up to 8 if you float that way). Plus has an expansive outdoor area if you're looking to relax with some views.

 

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Activities - ADULTS ONLY

COMING SOON!

 

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Reserved for Links

 

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Will there be a test at the end?

 

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OTHER HOTELS
• Cosmopolitan
○ This is my favorite hotel on the strip for basically one reason alone… BALCONIES. It's one of the only hotels in all of Vegas that has balconies in pretty much every room. It has fantastic dining throughout the property with easy access to shopping and other activities. The location is premier. Plus it is very modern, one of the newest hotels, attracts a younger crowd, and last but not least: it is a Marriott partner property. So you can use your points. The only things I find lacking are number of lower end budget games and the pool is just OK in my opinion.

• Venetian/Palazzo
○ This is an all "suite" hotel on the Strip made up of two mega towers that have it all. The rooms are pretty amazing along with the old feel italian décor is a huge hit. If you're a foodie, it has over 40 restaurants on property! Truly a food lovers dream. The casino suffers a little bit of the drag that higher limits take on the atmosphere but that can be a positive to some. 2nd best poker room in Vegas to boot!

• Wynn Resorts
○ Wynn and Encore are the most elegant resorts on the Strip. They took the Bellagio, Caesars, and Venetian elegance and turned it up to 11. Doing so made it a little more stuffy but it is certainly the most relaxing and serene of all the resorts. I've never actually stayed at either but expect very well appointed rooms for an upper tier cost. The restaurants and gaming are second to none but also again have some of the highest limits in Vegas. This is not the location to do Vegas on the cheap. The buffet is the most beautiful by far!

• Resorts World
○ This is a brand new resort opening up in Spring 2021 (delayed from 2020 due to Pandemic). Obviously not a whole lot to mention on it since it's not open. This was originally slated to have a very Chinese theme with even a Forbidden City Palace replica. That got scrapped and they went with a kinda generic "luxury" theme. But you can still see some of the Chinese designs in some of the architecture. Interesting to see how it will turn out. It will feature a Hilton tower so another opportunity to use points.

• Hyatt
○ Of all the major hotel chains, Hyatt has the best opportunities on the Strip. Why? Because EVERY MGM property is available to book on Hyatt and with Hyatt points. MGM and Hyatt have a fantastic partnership and if you are a Hyatt member, stay at an MGM but book it on Hyatt to get those sweet points! (If you don't care about the MGM points)

• Marriott
○ I'll keep this simple since Marriott has several properties all over Vegas. The two to really consider if you're living the Strip life are the Grand Chateau and the Cosmo. There's a collection of Marriott hotels off the Strip near the convention centers like a JW, a Westin, A Renaissance, and Courtyard but none offer a casino and you'll have to walk a ways to get to the action. If you want a quieter time then look for those properties.

• Hilton
○ You have slightly better options than the Marriott though generally at a lower price point/luxury. You have the Tropicana which is a DoubleTree, you have the Flamingo which has a Hilton tower, and then on the upper end you have the Elara and the previously mentioned Resorts World Hilton tower. Then several off strip in both East and West if that suits your fancy as well

 

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You won't get it if you don’t ask for it - Back End Comps
Let's say you gambled hard. Had a big ADT and you feel like you earned something. If you go to the normal checkout area or check out via mobile you missed out. Thanks for coming to Vegas, see you later. You may have some more offers down the road but if you're not a Vegas person, you're likely not gonna care about those future offers.

Introducing back end comps. Back end comps are exactly what they sound like. The casino comping you based on your play that you have completed. If you feel like you gambled above your britches or feel like you gotta be comped for that 8 hour night of $100 hands in three card, this is your best bet. You will not be comped if you don't ask. If this is your first time coming to the casino/hotel, it may be fairly light but I would expect a little something.

First things first, charge everything to the room. They can't comp anything that isn't attached to your account/room/players card. Yes it makes it seem like your hotel cost way more once you check out but they're not going to give you cash on the spot.

BEFORE YOU CHECK OUT find the players club desk and ask to be rated for your play that trip. They may seem stand offish but if you don't ask you definitely won't get it. They may have to call someone over or send you to a different room but it's typically straight forward. Also, usually you'll get more comps the more you played at that particular hotel but some of the sister properties also factor into it, though slightly less. Don't be offended if they say no, just wave and say thank you. Just asking got you ahead of someone who didn't 99% of the time.

Asking while playing. Sometimes if you've been playing a while, you might be able to ask the floor while you're playing. Typically I will ask for a buffet ticket while playing to see if they'll give it to me on the spot. This DOES eat into the total comps you've earned into your trip but I find it feels better to be comped on the spot than to wait till the back end. Again, the floor ain't giving this up freely so if you aren't asking, you aren't getting.

One caveat… If you are easily embarrassed by someone telling you hell no, don't ask unless you have at least 10k coin-in per day. Remember coin in is the amount cycled through a machine or game, not your actual money laid down.

$20 trick
The twenty dollar trick is basically a bribe to your hotel front desk clerk used to help you acquire a free hotel room upgrade. I realize the term, “bribe” has negative connotations, however the $20 trick is completely legal and does not violate any Nevada laws. It’s similar to slipping a dinner front of house some money in order to get a nice table, or a front row seat.

There is no secret handshake, sign or password. When you go to the front desk to check into a hotel, they will ask for a credit card, driver’s license or passport. Slip a $20 bill between your ID and credit card and ask the clerk if there are any complimentary upgrades available. That's it. It might work or not. This is your first gamble in Vegas and it's a thrilling way to start.

I've had probably a 60% success doing this trick myself. I know others have a much higher success rate. I always do it unless I am staying somewhere on points and it doesn't really matter. They'll make it sound like it's some amazing room regardless but just know it will most likely get a nicer room which for me is worth the $20 gamble.

In general, the lower end casinos will have this work more than the higher end casinos. Think Flamingo vs Bellagio. Also I've tried $100 twice and I didn't see any extra benefits out of the extra $80. So stick with $20 if you want to go for it. Worst comes to worst, I've had the clerk give me my $20 back and say they offer upgrades for X amount per night. This has only happened once but it was also March Madness weekend so I guess I should've known better.

MyVegas Slots Mobile/Facebook game
MyVegas Slots is a mobile game and Facebook game that allows you to get free stuff at MGM casinos and hotels. If you're bored and like playing the same slots you might find in the Casino, it might be worth it to you. They offer free nights, free gameplay, free show tickets, free buffets, plus half off on all of those categories. If you start now, you might be able to get a free dinner or $50 dinner credit somewhere. I play irregularly and typically use the dining credits I get since I am already staying for free.

You may Google it and see some amazing benefits like 4 free nights and stuff like that. That hasn't been available for almost 5+ years on the MyVegas app. So if you're bored and can get some free stuff out of it, great! If you don't get much, don't feel bad. But it is a fun way to get SOME free stuff out of the MGM properties.

 

[cstrunk]

 

[ISUCyclones2015]

Reserved for Spillover #3

 

[SolarGarlic]

I haven't worked that hard at my job, maybe ever, and they pay me.