Las Vegas Trip

Just got back last night from Vegas and play, like yourself, poker / sports & horse book.

1) Wouldn't count on getting comped in Vegas.  Best you'll do is a "poker rate" most likely.  Also check Priceline right now.  Spoke with a guy who got Aria for $60 / night (plus $20 hotel fee) and that place is awesome!  I played BJ for at least 1 hr per day trying to accumulate points towards comps.  Hand average was $50 +.  No shit, we couldn't even buy a water at the market inside Paris afterwards.  Comps are not what they used to be.

2) Already answered. I think Venetian poker rate was $140 / night for 6 hrs poker.

3) Poker Rooms:

Venetian was good.  Great dealers and all the games you are looking for with a well run $150 tourney at noon everyday.  There were 140 players in the tourney I played in on a Friday.  What sucked to me about the tourney was that it was an all-in fest when we got down to the final 40 players.

ARIA was great.  We played two days straight at Aria and loved it.  The one problem with Aria is, the sharks come out of no where.  Games were loose and lots of action.  A bunch of sharks walked in and shut a couple of 2/5 NLs right down.  I consider myself a "good" poker player.  If you are not a "great" poker player I would stay away from there. 

Bellagio was best.  It was the best because the players were ok for the most part and there are plenty of games and action.  If I were going back tomorrow, i would go here first.

I heard the Wynn was great too, but we didn't play there, because there was only a 1/3 NL when we showed up at 10 a.m.  I did not like Caesars because it was seperated from the sportsbook and I like to beable to see my games and the sportsbook.  To be fair the Aria was a short walk to the SB too, but had very good TVs.  IMO to Venetian TVs in poker room were terrible.

I will continue on next post

4) Best Race Sports Books.

IMO the Bellagio is hands down the best.  Aria had a weak one. Caesars was fine.  Ventian isn't bad.  I did not see the Wynn's but heard great things about Emerald Lagasse's place in Pallazzo.

Bellagio sportsbook is sick!  Reclining chairs and ENORMOUS TVs.

5) Playing at Racebook.  I am a big horse player.  It doesn't hurt, but don't go in with high expectations.

Golpher, from what I saw, all the comp stuff is very different than when I last ventured to Vegas five years ago.  Everything is points based.  You wager $50 on a horse race, you might make a $1 or so back in points on your card.  Lower your expectations on comps, because if you don't I truly believe you will be disappointed.

Aria gives $2 an hour for poker.  I had lunch on them both days.

Get cards for where ever you play and be ready to present your card at every poker table and with every wager (sports or races).  At Venetian and Aria you need drink tickets from the clerks.  O when you place a bet, make sure you get a ticket or two or three.  Those came in handy, instead of paying $8 for a fu**in' Bud Light.

The time change was a killer for me.

Got there on a Thursday at 11 Vegas time, went to bed at 2.  Was up looking at the walls at 4:30 a.m.  I was exhausted every night by 11.  Lookin at walls again at 4.

If you're interested at all in food.

The Paris breakfast buffet ($17.99)  is "off the hook."  We ate like we were going to the electric chair at 7 a.m. or so.  I couldn't eat again until 9 p.m.

The Wynn buffet for dinner ($40) was pretty sick too.  I would recommend that as well.  King crab, rack of lamb, prime rib, sushi and much much much more.

Those two buffets on day 1 were a big mistake.  We ate light meals the rest of the way.

Other tidbits:

There is a tram that will take you from Bellagio to Aria and vice versa.

IMO no need to go to the Rio unless you are interested in their seafood buffet.  I heard that is unreal.  A guy at the Venetian said he ate 12 lobster tails. The Voo Doo is pretty cool two, but personally I cringe at paying $8 for Bud Light.

The Palms is cool, but not sure why you would go there unless it was for one of the clubs.

Player cards cross over at many of the casinos.  Look at the back of the cards and you'll figure out real quick where you can use them.

Poker Rooms really don't start rolling until about noon.  We were on east coast time and struggled to find games at 9 /10 in the morning.  Take your time getting over there.

Good Luck, Have Fun and if you think two pair is a good hand you should play a lot of poker before you go out there.  It's an important lesson they'll be glad to teach you on the strip.

HB