Dos and donts around Vegas

[jsglow]

most of the main, big name casinos are really raising the minimums on all the tables, even earlier in the day.  one used to be able to find $5 min from 5-6 a.m. until 2-3-4 pm depending on the time of the year and what's going on(super bowl, march madness, big conventions, spring break, etc.  some of the smaller casinos along the strip and downtown will have $2-3 tables. 

have they started to charge for valet parking yet?  i was last there in march and that was the talk

Not only valet brother!  Hearing that Strip parking is going to $20 at all MGM Corp. properties.  Town is in a total uproar.  Has to do with the new arena right down by NyNY and MGM.  Supposedly locals are exempt.  We'll see if my Summerlin town ID works.

[warriorchick]

most of the main, big name casinos are really raising the minimums on all the tables, even earlier in the day.  one used to be able to find $5 min from 5-6 a.m. until 2-3-4 pm depending on the time of the year and what's going on(super bowl, march madness, big conventions, spring break, etc.  some of the smaller casinos along the strip and downtown will have $2-3 tables. 

have they started to charge for valet parking yet?  i was last there in march and that was the talk

http://www.latimes.com/travel/lasvegas/la-tr-las-vegas-parking-fees-begin-20160516-snap-story.html

[martyconlonontherun]

Thinking about getting a rental car for 2 days. Is there free parking near the strip? I don't mind a walk.

[rocket surgeon]

Thinking about getting a rental car for 2 days. Is there free parking near the strip? I don't mind a walk.

free?  well that depends on how well you do at the tables   i doubt there is any municipal parking there.  never took notice of the side streets.  haven't been downtown in a few years.  i do love that city though, well not the city proper, but anywhere from the airport to the strip

[warriorchick]

Thinking about getting a rental car for 2 days. Is there free parking near the strip? I don't mind a walk.

Where are you staying?

[4everwarriors]

Sounds like an offer, hey?

[mu03eng]

Haven't been to Vegas in a year or two....one thing I've always decried is there isn't a good sports pub within walking distance of the strip or downtown that isn't gambling centric. Sometimes I just want to go to a good pub, have a moderately priced beer or two, watch some sports and not have a bunch of noise going on around me. Haven't found a good place like that yet...ideas?

[warriorchick]

Haven't been to Vegas in a year or two....one thing I've always decried is there isn't a good sports pub within walking distance of the strip or downtown that isn't gambling centric. Sometimes I just want to go to a good pub, have a moderately priced beer or two, watch some sports and not have a bunch of noise going on around me. Haven't found a good place like that yet...ideas?

Of course all of the sports bars on the strip are gambling centric.  Someone has to pay for that volcano.

We have always rented a car when we went to Vegas, even before we were homeowners.  Lots of cool stuff off the strip, including an honest-to-god Packer Bar full of memorabilia. 

http://www.bigdogsbrews.com/packers16/

[DegenerateDish]

Taking my wife to Vegas for her first ever trip there at end of July. Last November I was there for work, got upgraded to a wrap around terrace suite with fountain view at Cosmo (my favorite hotel there).

Vegas has turned into a restaurant destination more than anything else.

FWIW, I've always loved gambling at Hard Rock. Great dealers, friendly, I like it there.

[JWags85]

Taking my wife to Vegas for her first ever trip there at end of July. Last November I was there for work, got upgraded to a wrap around terrace suite with fountain view at Cosmo (my favorite hotel there).

My favorite as well.  Unfortunately I've yet to stay there, but I love their casino, the Chandelier bar is very cool, and Ive spent time at Marquee both during the day and night.  Its a great spot that does everything right.  Night and day compared to somewhere like Caesars that still trades on its name and brand equity despite being dated.

[DegenerateDish]

My favorite as well.  Unfortunately I've yet to stay there, but I love their casino, the Chandelier bar is very cool, and Ive spent time at Marquee both during the day and night.  Its a great spot that does everything right.  Night and day compared to somewhere like Caesars that still trades on its name and brand equity despite being dated.

I will say Secret Pizza is way overrated to me. Their new sports book feels like it doesn't fit the feel of the rest of the casino, but the old sports book at Cosmo was horrendous.

[jsglow]

Getting a car enables one to get off the Strip for a road trip or two as well.  My first two recommendations would be a hike out at Red Rock National Rec Center (about 15 miles west of the north end of the Strip) as well as a trip to Hoover Dam and the new bridge.  Both are easy half day excursions.  I have seem moke excursions out to Red Rock so that's an option too.

[spartan3186]

Haven't been to Vegas in a year or two....one thing I've always decried is there isn't a good sports pub within walking distance of the strip or downtown that isn't gambling centric. Sometimes I just want to go to a good pub, have a moderately priced beer or two, watch some sports and not have a bunch of noise going on around me. Haven't found a good place like that yet...ideas?

There is a yard house near the Linq. Pretty good option for reasonable craft brew.

[rocket surgeon]

Not only valet brother!  Hearing that Strip parking is going to $20 at all MGM Corp. properties.  Town is in a total uproar.  Has to do with the new arena right down by NyNY and MGM.  Supposedly locals are exempt.  We'll see if my Summerlin town ID works.

T-mobile is right outside monte carlo which is my ole standby if i can't get into mirage or bellagio. this is similar to when they all started levying the "resort fee"(read-another TAX because we can)  they said that was for towels and stuff...what next, pay toilets?  hey if i roll boxcars, do i get an extra square?   

   when mrs rocket and i moved our son from chattanooga to nashville last summer, she's all into the country thing and insisted we stay at the hermitage, the iconic, historic, right downtown off of broadway, gotta stay here if you go hotel, right?  $400 per night(weekday) with no special events or anything and we had to pay $30 per night for parking.  i mean, come on man!!  i didn't even question it because i'm sure i would have looked like i was from arkansas with a full set of choppers...hey look cooter, dude with all his teeth complainin bout parking fees...?? 

[rocket surgeon]

http://www.latimes.com/travel/lasvegas/la-tr-las-vegas-parking-fees-begin-20160516-snap-story.html

that's interesting-thanks!    i'm usually in the gold tier on M-life card, but all that means is that i've lost enough to get "free parking".  mrs rocket did hit the 3 card royal flush playing the progressive($16,000) at treasure island just before MGM sold them off(5 years ago?) to pay for city center-i'd like to think we haven't lost that yet! 
  most times we don't have our car up there. but we found a place about a mile from the airport where we can park for $5 per day, free shuttle to and from the airport.  we'll leave it there for a 2-3 weeks when we know we are returning sooner rather than getting a rental for the 2 way trip down to havasu. when i do rent,  i  use avis exclusively( select program) and get cars for one-way trips(150 miles) for $40-50 all included.  many times, the avis dude in havasu gives me a free upgrade to a camaro or something fun just to get it back up to vegas for him
  but the parking fees-it will be interesting to see how that flies?  it seems they are $10 and $20'ing people to death on the strip like it's nothing.  that's money they would be spending in resturants and entertainment for sure.  people are going to be gravitating back to to the 2nd and 3rd tier hotels off the beaten path.  i don't know, but they are the experts, right?  look at all the extra revenue some of the airlines(except swa) are bringing in charging for luggage? 

    note the $10-15-25 tables are empty to half empty but a waiting line to get on to a $5 table, IF they have one-never understood the math there.  the other place they miss out on is during the heavy sports betting times-march madness, NFL sundays, super bowl, etc, they should provide people with an app to log in to or kiosks set up for betting. have people open an acount when they check in.  the long lines have to kill them-many times i wouldn't be able to get my bet in on time-probably saved me some money?  i don't wanna know

anyone know how to create an app??  you heard it here-i get a cut-proprietary knowledge 'ey

[warriorchick]

There is a yard house near the Linq. Pretty good option for reasonable craft brew.

Going to any chain restaurant in LV is a huge mistake unless it's a particularly good one that they don't have in your hometown. I am in disbelief of the people who spend the money to come to one of the best food cities in the world and eat at McCormick and Schmick or California Pizza Kitchen.

[Dr. Blackheart]

Going to any chain restaurant in LV is a huge mistake unless it's a particularly good one that they don't have in your hometown. I am in disbelief of the people who spend the money to come to one of the best food cities in the world and eat at McCormick and Schmick or California Pizza Kitchen.

Battista's is a one of a kind.

[mu03eng]

Battista's is a one of a kind.

Love that hole in the wall

[Benny B]

Going to any chain restaurant in LV is a huge mistake unless it's a particularly good one that they don't have in your hometown. I am in disbelief of the people who spend the money to come to one of the best food cities in the world and eat at McCormick and Schmick or California Pizza Kitchen.

Huge mistake?!?  Where the hell do you expect people from Indiana to eat while in Vegas?

[warriorchick]

Huge mistake?!?  Where the hell do you expect people from Indiana to eat while in Vegas?

Relax.  They are the ones at Planet Hollywood. 

[DegenerateDish]

Going to any chain restaurant in LV is a huge mistake unless it's a particularly good one that they don't have in your hometown. I am in disbelief of the people who spend the money to come to one of the best food cities in the world and eat at McCormick and Schmick or California Pizza Kitchen.

I'm conflicted on Mastro's. There's one in Chicago, and when I take my wife to Vegas at the end of this month, was contemplating going there (knowing there are a ton of other steakhouse options). I've been to SW and Mastro's in Vegas for work dinners, conflicted on where to take her.

[rocket surgeon]

Relax.  They are the ones at Planet Hollywood.

gotta do "PINKS"-right outside at planet hollywood

[warriorchick]

I'm conflicted on Mastro's. There's one in Chicago, and when I take my wife to Vegas at the end of this month, was contemplating going there (knowing there are a ton of other steakhouse options). I've been to SW and Mastro's in Vegas for work dinners, conflicted on where to take her.

There are so many amazing steak places in Las Vegas, you can't go wrong by going to a recommended one. Might as well do something different.

[Jay Bee]

Might book or 7/20-22 today.

chick and glow, I will house watch. Deal?
Otherwise, it's another seedy $45 affair for me.

[ChitownSpaceForRent]

There are so many amazing steak places in Las Vegas, you can't go wrong by going to a recommended one. Might as well do something different.

Delmonico's is probably my favorite steakhouse in Vegas.