steve: October visit

[steve]

I want to go in October to LV. Can I expect good games there, good climate, cheap hotels and good amusement? Or is the city empty?

[Parker]

> I want to go in October to LV. Can I expect
> good games there, good climate, cheap hotels
> and good amusement? Or is the city empty?

Good Games: With over 100 casinos offering blackjack, it is nearly always possible to find good games in Las Vegas. However, it may take a bit of digging, and they may not always be in the big strip casinos.

Good Climate: Almost certainly. October is one of the best months in which to visit Sin City. The summer heat is gone, but the cold winter winds haven't set in yet. It may be a little cool for swimming, though.

Cheap Hotels: Possibly. Again, it may take some digging. The cheapest times are summer and just before Christmas, but it is possible to find a good rate any time (except perhaps during major conventions) with proper diligence. Try Travelaxe (www.travelaxe.com).

Good amusement: Absolutely. Las Vegas has something to please just about any taste. It is, after all, "The Entertainment Capital of the World."

Or is the city empty? Not a chance.

[steve]

> Good Games: With over 100 casinos offering
> blackjack, it is nearly always possible to
> find good games in Las Vegas. However, it
> may take a bit of digging, and they may not
> always be in the big strip casinos.

> Good Climate: Almost certainly. October is
> one of the best months in which to visit Sin
> City. The summer heat is gone, but the cold
> winter winds haven't set in yet. It may be a
> little cool for swimming, though.

> Cheap Hotels: Possibly. Again, it may take
> some digging. The cheapest times are summer
> and just before Christmas, but it is
> possible to find a good rate any time
> (except perhaps during major conventions)
> with proper diligence. Try Travelaxe
> (www.travelaxe.com).

> Good amusement: Absolutely. Las Vegas has
> something to please just about any taste. It
> is, after all, "The Entertainment
> Capital of the World."

> Or is the city empty? Not a chance.

Thanks so much, I am happy to hear positive things. I bought the air ticket between posting my question and receiving your answer.
What about NOT booking a hotel in advance, and waiting for a room comp? I play $20 -$200 and want to stay at least a week?

steve

[Wildcard]

The link below may assist you in selecting a hotel for your visit. The strip and downtown maps are very handy if you are not familiar with the Vegas area.

Cheapovegas

[Parker]

> Thanks so much, I am happy to hear positive
> things. I bought the air ticket between
> posting my question and receiving your
> answer.
> What about NOT booking a hotel in advance,
> and waiting for a room comp? I play $20
> -$200 and want to stay at least a week?

I would not dream of heading to Las Vegas without having made some sort of advance room reservations.

In order to earn on-the-spot room comps at that betting level, most of the casinos like to see at least 4 hours per day of action. That's a lot of time for them to be looking at you.

At the very least, call ahead and ask to speak to a table games host. Describe your action (although it is a good idea to mention an average bet, rather than a spread), and ask what the host can do for you. Usually they will offer a "casino rate" that is often a healthy discount, and offer to review your play for comp at the end of your stay.

Most casinos do not like to comp more that three or four nights at a time. People who stay longer usually string stays at several hotels together.

[SOTSOG]

Your level of play is going to get you a comp to the coffee shop and some free dinners. You aren't going to be able to camp out in a free room for a week.

Don't know what Parker is talking about needing a reservation, I go without reservations all the time. Of course, I stay downtown.

El Cortez/Ogden House/Gold Spike and other various assorted dumps are $30/$40 per night, year round. If things are *REALLY* desperate, plenty of rent-by-the-hour type seedy motels down on Freemont where you can grab a few winks.

[Dancer]

> I play $20 - $200 and want to stay at least a week?

If you're planning to "play for comps", you might want to consider moving your minimum bet up to $25.

At a $20 minimum bet, you're forced to play the $5 - $15 minimum tables, and a healthy percentage of your bets will be "red". There's a noticable shift in the pit's willingness to open the coffers when you move up to the quarter table. At that level, comps are a normal part of the business. I've noticed that pit bosses tend to avoid giving otherwise justifiable comps on the low-limit tables -- probably to keep other players at the table from feeling slighted.

It'll cut your spread to 1:8, but if you pick up additional comps in the process, it can easily pay for the difference. You'll also find the quarter tables to be significantly less crowded. You'll get more one-on-one games, you can almost always play multiple hands if the count dictates (thereby getting closer to a 1:12 spread with no additional risk), and you breathe far less smoke from your fellow players.

All good things...

[Sonny]

> Don't know what Parker is talking about
> needing a reservation, I go without
> reservations all the time. Of course, I stay
> downtown.

> El Cortez/Ogden House/Gold Spike and other
> various assorted dumps are $30/$40 per
> night, year round. If things are *REALLY*
> desperate, plenty of rent-by-the-hour type
> seedy motels down on Freemont where you can
> grab a few winks.

You can always get better deals on the internet than if you just walk in the door. I just booked a suite at the Plaza for $48 a night from their website (didn't even need an agency or Travelaxe). Of course, if you'd rather pay the same for the golden spike, be my guest.

Once you have a reservation you can always get free upgrades and discounts on your bill as comps. It's better to be safe than sorry.

-Sonny-

[SOTSOG]

> I just booked a suite at the Plaza for $48 a
> night from their website (didn't even need
> an agency or Travelaxe). Of course, if you'd
> rather pay the same for the golden spike, be
> my guest.

The top of the line "Suites" at the Gold Spike are $42, and that includes free Breakfast. (Yum-Yum). El Cortez suites are $44, prices are constant year round, they don't jack them up for special events.

I've never stayed at a fancy-schmancy place like the Plaza, but $48 sounds like a real good deal.