When a load of the UK boys go over, I always hear them say they all stay in a villa or something, just off the strip. Is that the kind of thing you were thinking? Anyone who has been out there a lot (Ryan/Tikay/Julian etc etc) have any idea what this would cost. If you're thinking of going for a week or 2 then that's an option that should definitely be looked at. Would deffo be something I am interested in if we got a few of us. Posted by FlashFlush
Staying in a villa?
It's a matter of personal taste, Charles.
Generally, when lads go together, they like doing the villa thing, as they are all together, & there is a sort of fun atmo in the house.
But it is not to everyone's taste.
I did the villa thing one year, with Jon Kalmar (the year he finalled the WSOP Main), Paul Jackson, Marc Goodwin, Dave Colclough, & that crowd. The villa was lovely - swimming pool, the whole lot - but I did not enjoy cooking my meals, as I don't go to Vegas to cook food. Usually, the shops are a goodly way from the Villa, too.
Worse still, by definition, the Villas are a goodly way off-strip, usually a 10 or 15 minute drive. That means either you all travel to & fro to the Strip together, which is a bind, as we want to come & go as & when we please. Busting out of a Tourney & then waiting 5 hours for the geezer with the car keys sucks. And if we want to go play a Tourney earlier, or later, than the others, it all gets awkward.
Taxis then? No way! We often had to wait 2 hours for a cab to arrive, it was horrendous, we all got tetchy because we were missing the start of play, that sort of thing.
For me, it's a Hotel every time, not even close, but yes, others enjoy renting a sick villa. Note, all Vegas villas HAVE to be described as sick, apparently. I also like the fact that I can get fast food - or a sit-down meal - in the Casino, on my way back to the room at night.
Ryan & Co often rent a Villa, & I think they love it.
this could be a sick yr lol will sky supply us all with hoddies and jumpers ahaha i know a few goin but later on and i have a stag do to go to... so was looking around end of may start of june so would be good to get a few sky bods there- plus theres the millionaire maker touney at the start of series which i wanna play 'this time nxt year rodney'
so, interested in coming with us so far are (let me know if i missed you):
Lnarin
Div
DTM
Flashy
1267
gazza
Timmy
Sikas
ChicknMelt
so, I think the first crucial decision to make is whether we want a villa, or a hotel. If I get time over the weekend I'll have a look at some villas and pick out a few good ones so you can get an idea of cost etc. Feel free to make your own suggestions too.
as far as I can tell...
villa: Everyone is together, more of a party/friendly atmosphere. no one cooks for you (but presumably there will be the option of delivery??). no one cleans for you. travel can be a pain, but if we rent enough cars, or get one close enough to the strip, maybe its not a problem.
hotel: convenient.
For me it kinda depends on price. If we can have a swish villa for similar to a hotel, which is close to the strip, and has some food delivery options, then I think i might prefer that. Anyone else got an opinion??
Would like to get on board but i'm supposed to be going to tomorrowland the month after and don't think i can afford both Haven't booked anything yet though so just posting an interest.
Sounds like it would be a belter if we could get a lil poker firm together. I'm in the same boat regarding mates, there's a few that like to play a home game or an occasional trip to the casino but organising a holiday revolving around poker just isn't going to happen.
im interested, never done vegas b4, similar situation, depends on dates/misses/kids nursery etc... tho so im a 'maybe' mayb create an FB group Posted by sikas
+1. Pesky kids. Tempted to put mine on eBay to boost the roll.
I will be going, dunno how long yet as I think I'd like to do LAPT/WC but if not then I will be in Vegas for the whole 6 weeks.
Rented a villa one year and it was a great experience. Really worked well however there were only 4 of us. It was a nice place to chill. Only issue was having 1 car and people wanting to do different things but the local cab company was decent. All Vegas places have pool/table tennis tables as well as hot tub/swimming pools plus tonnes of space. The one main downside was that once you were home you kinda didn't wanna grind and we all did miss valuable time making money.
Hotels is just so much easier for everyone I think, especially if its your first time.
Renting a car, even if just getting a hotel, is a really good option I think. I did that during most of my time in Vegas last year, and the cost isn't that much more than 2/3 cabs a day plus the mates I was with always were happy to chip in for fuel etc. Very easy to drive there. Going to casinos off strip are so much more enjoyable plus just going to places like Red Rock and local restaurants is a lot of fun.
If you really wanna grind poker, then I'd say that Rio/Gold Coast/Palms are probably the best options. All fairly cheap and all walking distance from the WSOP rooms. Gold Coast will be the cheapest so expect what you pay for but its perfectly fine. I stayed there last year for a couple of weeks and bumped into a lot of UK regs doing the same.
My favourite mid range hotel on the strip is the Mirage tho, but tbh as long as you don't book into a Motel 66 or the Travelodge, you really can't go wrong. I would avoid the Quad tho, despite a recent refurb, one of the towers is very very dodgy.
Twin rooms there are usually all both double beds so comfort isn't an issue...in fact if you wanna chop the rooms even more you can ask for a rollout bed to be put in the room for a third person...just give the receptionist/porter a little drink to say thanks.
Rio - Daily deepstacks (deepstacks only in name, turbo in nature) that run 3/4 times a day. Very, very soft SnG tables thar run round the clock from $125-$525. Cash games galore. I'd advise anyone who is rollled and feels comfortable at $1/2 to take a shot at the $2/5 games as the standard is actually worse. There are so many young kid grinders who go to Vegas with a dream/piles of makeup who are really good but can only afford $1/2 so often you'll find the next level up has more recreational players. I'd say a really good choice is grinding the SnGs and using the lammers for the WSOP events.
Venetian - The deepstack series has taken a hit for many reasons, one of them being the Casinos owners attitute to online poker. Again they aren't actually that good strutures and attract more 'reg' players. Neil Channing summed it upto me last year that a farmer from Nebraska doesn't head to Vegas to take down a Venetian Deepstack - he goes for a bracelet. Good options to have as a backup, but IMO I'd focus mainly on Rio events if you are an MTT player. Cash games are good and a decent reward scheme. Think I've got a few hundred in comp dollars to use now.
Wynn - IMO the best place for poker in town. The Wynn Classic series is excellent and would now be my preferred choice to the Venetian. The average customer of the Wynn is mainly more European/has more money than anywhere else in town. Best cash games on the strip, and they spread 1/3 rather than 1/2 so plays a bit bigger.
Caesars - Excellent room but never been a place I've enjoyed. Their tournies have a strange structure and antes come in quite late and are really small compared to the blinds, so they play quite fun and have a more 'Sky MTT' feel about them. The BIs for their series is also on the smaller side so a decent choice for those on a tight budget.
But every casino has a poker room. I always try a few different ones out every time I go, as I have a little hobby of collecting different $1 poker chips. Most casinos also run daily/nightly super turbo tournies that can be a decent laugh.
The big nightclubs can get very expensive and for a table expect a minimum spend of at least $1/2k at places like Hakkasan.
There are plenty of bars on the strip that are fine, many of which have a line dancing theme
Outside the strip, a really hidden gem is called Stoneys. Very cheap drinks, mainly locals and the ratio of girls to guys is very high. A real favourite of UK regs too.
For food, just endless choice. I would advice you to budget for a least one really expensive meal tho as the quality is unreal and well worth the money.
Remember to tip. If you are staying in a hotel for a few days, a $20 dollar tip can get you a room upgrade. Even if its for a couple of weeks then the receptionist will do the best they can to get you a better view/corner room/in a nice tower/recently refurbed room.
When I check in, I've started tipping the head maid and shes made sure that theres bottles of water (usually $5 from the mini bar) and fruit in my room. Even if you can't find the head maid then just a few bucks and a request on a note will usually see you get what you want, within reason.
Sometimes the taxi lines are rammed after a big show ends. If you don't wanna wait around, find the taxi guy, hand him $10, say you need to go now, and you will avoid the queue. Of course you may feel embarrased but its just how vegas works. The taxi guy will even tell you to wait a few yards away so you won't feel the death stares.
Would like to get on board but i'm supposed to be going to tomorrowland the month after and don't think i can afford both Haven't booked anything yet though so just posting an interest. Sounds like it would be a belter if we could get a lil poker firm together. I'm in the same boat regarding mates, there's a few that like to play a home game or an occasional trip to the casino but organising a holiday revolving around poker just isn't going to happen. Posted by foldUfairy
TOMORROW LAND LOOOOOKS SICK..!!! im actually jealous..!!!
Rio - Daily deepstacks (deepstacks only in name, turbo in nature) that run 3/4 times a day. Very, very soft SnG tables thar run round the clock from $125-$525. Cash games galore. I'd advise anyone who is rollled and feels comfortable at $1/2 to take a shot at the $2/5 games as the standard is actually worse. There are so many young kid grinders who go to Vegas with a dream/piles of makeup who are really good but can only afford $1/2 so often you'll find the next level up has more recreational players. I'd say a really good choice is grinding the SnGs and using the lammers for the WSOP events. Venetian - The deepstack series has taken a hit for many reasons, one of them being the Casinos owners attitute to online poker. Again they aren't actually that good strutures and attract more 'reg' players. Neil Channing summed it upto me last year that a farmer from Nebraska doesn't head to Vegas to take down a Venetian Deepstack - he goes for a bracelet. Good options to have as a backup, but IMO I'd focus mainly on Rio events if you are an MTT player. Cash games are good and a decent reward scheme. Think I've got a few hundred in comp dollars to use now. Wynn - IMO the best place for poker in town. The Wynn Classic series is excellent and would now be my preferred choice to the Venetian. The average customer of the Wynn is mainly more European/has more money than anywhere else in town. Best cash games on the strip, and they spread 1/3 rather than 1/2 so plays a bit bigger. Caesars - Excellent room but never been a place I've enjoyed. Their tournies have a strange structure and antes come in quite late and are really small compared to the blinds, so they play quite fun and have a more 'Sky MTT' feel about them. The BIs for their series is also on the smaller side so a decent choice for those on a tight budget. But every casino has a poker room. I always try a few different ones out every time I go, as I have a little hobby of collecting different $1 poker chips. Most casinos also run daily/nightly super turbo tournies that can be a decent laugh. Posted by scotty77
what a legend...everything we were wondering about is right here in these posts...thanks Ryan!
maybe a hotel is best then - both you and Teeks (i hear he likes that name more than teacake ) recommend it.
those SNGs sound really good, I think I will grind a misture of those and MTTs in the ROI, and then head over to the wynn when I fancy grinding a bit of cash. hopefully I am rolled for the 2/5 games!
Haven't checked out the prices yet, but staying at the Rio is tempting, just for convenience. Has anyone else had a look at rooms, or have any other opinions??
I plan to book around the start of April - need to make sure my BR is still in tact after having a baby and moving house.
Comments
It's a matter of personal taste, Charles.
Generally, when lads go together, they like doing the villa thing, as they are all together, & there is a sort of fun atmo in the house.
But it is not to everyone's taste.
I did the villa thing one year, with Jon Kalmar (the year he finalled the WSOP Main), Paul Jackson, Marc Goodwin, Dave Colclough, & that crowd. The villa was lovely - swimming pool, the whole lot - but I did not enjoy cooking my meals, as I don't go to Vegas to cook food. Usually, the shops are a goodly way from the Villa, too.
Worse still, by definition, the Villas are a goodly way off-strip, usually a 10 or 15 minute drive. That means either you all travel to & fro to the Strip together, which is a bind, as we want to come & go as & when we please. Busting out of a Tourney & then waiting 5 hours for the geezer with the car keys sucks. And if we want to go play a Tourney earlier, or later, than the others, it all gets awkward.
Taxis then? No way! We often had to wait 2 hours for a cab to arrive, it was horrendous, we all got tetchy because we were missing the start of play, that sort of thing.
For me, it's a Hotel every time, not even close, but yes, others enjoy renting a sick villa. Note, all Vegas villas HAVE to be described as sick, apparently. I also like the fact that I can get fast food - or a sit-down meal - in the Casino, on my way back to the room at night.
Ryan & Co often rent a Villa, & I think they love it.
Each to their own personal taste, really.
Fancy swapping with me?
will sky supply us all with hoddies and jumpers ahaha
i know a few goin but later on and i have a stag do to go to... so was looking around
end of may start of june so would be good to get a few sky bods there-
plus theres the millionaire maker touney at the start of series which i wanna play
'this time nxt year rodney'
Sounds like it would be a belter if we could get a lil poker firm together. I'm in the same boat regarding mates, there's a few that like to play a home game or an occasional trip to the casino but organising a holiday revolving around poker just isn't going to happen.