[Buzz123]

Originally Posted by jfkIII

Bonnie Springs?

No, I think the OP has something else in mind. Maybe "downtown"?

[Chicken Wing]

Originally Posted by Buzz123

No, I think the OP has something else in mind. Maybe "downtown"?

Maybe downtown is what they call. I think it's the area where a bunch of casinos are that were popular before the strip got big. I think they are now known for their lower limit games and for not being crazy packed.

A little more detail, I will be turning 30 that weekend and my g/f (actually fiancee) is 28. We will be eating and gambling. I will play mostly poker but mix in some slots and blackjack. She'll do a little bit of spa treatment and we might see a show or two. We'd like to keep the whole weekend sort of cheap, if possible (no $100 tickets to shows, for example).

ETA: Are there any good multi table poker tournaments under $100 that you recommend? Where and what days of the week?

[MadManofBethesda]

Originally Posted by Chicken Wing

ETA: Are there any good multi table poker tournaments under $100 that you recommend? Where and what days of the week?

I'm a cash game player so I can't help you as to the quality of the tourneys, but here is a comprehensive list of tourneys around Vegas, including days, times, buy-in, and return percentage:

Las Vegas Poker Tournament Schedule Daily Tournaments List Listing

[rentmax]

Originally Posted by Chicken Wing
ETA: Are there any good multi table poker tournaments under $100 that you recommend? Where and what days of the week?


I know that the Orleans, which is not far at all from where you'll be staying, has a good nightly tourney (7:00 PM) for about 70$.

It's usually filled with a lot of locals and gets to be around 5-6 tables full sometimes.

[Chicken Wing]

Originally Posted by rentmax

Originally Posted by Chicken Wing
ETA: Are there any good multi table poker tournaments under $100 that you recommend? Where and what days of the week?


I know that the Orleans, which is not far at all from where you'll be staying, has a good nightly tourney (7:00 PM) for about 70$.

It's usually filled with a lot of locals and gets to be around 5-6 tables full sometimes.

I would think that "filled with a lot of locals" would mean that it would filled with a bunch of decent or "nitty" players. I guess I'm looking for a easily beatable tourney with many bad playing tourists.

Thanks, though.

[Buzz123]

Originally Posted by Chicken Wing

I would think that "filled with a lot of locals" would mean that it would filled with a bunch of decent or "nitty" players. I guess I'm looking for a easily beatable tourney with many bad playing tourists.

Thanks, though.

This is not criticism, but you have ideas about Las Vegas that are based on unfamiliarity, and you'll see when you get here. About half of the hotels downtown are maybe a little older than the Strip hotels, but even the Strip "got big" way back in the 40's and 50's.

You have probably heard that the hotels downtown are better to play at than the ones on the Strip. We've all been under that impression forever; that machine odds are better downtown, and in the locals' casinos around town, than on the Strip. But I'm not sure anyone has ever proved that. MMoB probably knows.

And don't worry about the players you'll play against at that level, or where they're from. Locals lose to tourists all the time.

It may fees more comfortable to some of us to play in some casinos over others. I've noticed it's even more comfortable to play in one part of the same casino than another sometimes. It's just a personal thing. But the odds are always in the house's favor, otherwise you wouldn't have this opportunity to see the greatest resort city in the country.

[lyra33]

Originally Posted by wuttuptae

I'd recommend taking a day to walk the strip and do the free sight-seeing thing. Since you're at MGM, check out the lion habitat, the Bellagio fountains and botanical garden (should be festively decorated for Thanksgiving), take in a show (maybe Ka since it's really good and at MGM) by visiting one of the Tix4Tonight box offices (closest one to MGM is north a couple of blocks in the Hawaiian Marketplace), check out what $8.7 billion gets you by strolling through City Center, cross over to Planet Hollywood and grab lunch at Earl of Sandwich (excellent sandwiches and very reasonably priced), see the pirate show at T.I., yawn at the Mirage Volcano eruption, take a stroll through the Venetian (especially Piazza San Marco replica), and from there take a cab over to Fremont street. Don't walk it; it is quite far and in-between isn't all-that safe. That should keep you entertained for the rest of the evening.

Depending on what you and your lady like (you weren't very specific), there's everything else you could do -- rent a car and go hiking, 4-wheeling, shoot guns, see the Pawn Stars shop, clubs, strip clubs, hang out with some locals at Town Square, etc.

Most of the restaurants have Thanksgiving specials. All depends on how much you want to spend. If you want a decent meal at a fair price, Grand Lux Cafe at Venetian was good and with no wait (owned by Cheesecake Factory).

Oh, and make sure to drink lots of water.

Instead of Ka, I recommend Mystere
Mystère | Cirque du Soleil show at Treasure Island Hotel & Casino
or Beatles Love.
The Beatles LOVE | Cirque du Soleil show at The Mirage, Las Vegas

[bmw335xi]

Originally Posted by Chicken Wing

Looks like I'll be staying at the MGM with my woman from late Wednesday night (Nov. 24th) to Sunday (Nov. 28th).

Besides the regular eating and gambling, anything specific that I should do or check that's not too far from MGM. I was told that the "old Vegas" was cool and that they have low limits on their blackjack, which is always good. How far is that from MGM?

Any and all suggestions are appreciated.

Anything going on for Thanksgiving?

I'd definitely watch some shows...

My favorite:

Le Reve @ Wynn
KA @ MGM Grand
Phantom of the Opera @ Venetian

Sahara has the cheapest black jack tables in town (starting @ $1 min)

[Buzz123]

If you are coming from back east you should drive around a little and see places like Red Rock Canyon, Hoover Dam, and/or Mt. Charleston. If from the west it won't be too different than what you're used to probably.

[delgadobb]

Originally Posted by MadManofBethesda

I'm a cash game player so I can't help you as to the quality of the tourneys, but here is a comprehensive list of tourneys around Vegas, including days, times, buy-in, and return percentage:

Las Vegas Poker Tournament Schedule Daily Tournaments List Listing

+1

AllVegasPoker (web site linked by MMoB) is the best source for general poker information in Vegas, especially from a tourist perspective. Pay close attention to the payout % relative to the buy-ins - a lot of them are pretty poor. The Venetian has daily tourneys at noon & 7 PM which get good traffic & payout percentages. In general, I'd avoid a lot of the 'local' places like Orleans as the play is too nitty & sometimes traffic is slow. (My grandma loves it cuz it's close to her condo, but I think that's about the nittiest place in town.) You may want to check out the nightly $45 tourney at Sahara (twice at 7 PM & 11 PM); while the payout % is poor, the play is generally pretty bad (usually about 60 people). They offer an add-on after an hour ($20) which I generally decline. I've cashed 4 of the 5 times I've tried it; generally when it gets to the final table (around 6-8 people), the players chop it up.

For poker outside of tournaments, Venetian's the nicest room in town. Lots of room, comfortable, staff treats you well; the downside is it's sometimes a tougher room in which to win, with a number of 'grinders' or local pros. 1/2 NL & 4/8 limit are beatable just about any time. Wynn is another nice room yet gets less traffic (Venetian & maybe Bellagio are the only places that have had consistent traffic the last few months.) You might want to try MGM, Excalibur, IP, Ballys, PH & stuff like that for softer games.

If you want to keep the trip cheap & enjoy yourself, here's a few suggestions:
* The fountains at Bellagio (Free) - From 8PM - Midnight, shows run every 15 minutes, before that every 30 minutes. Still enjoyable when I take my girlfriend. Suggestion: Go into the casino & then out the front door; there's an area across the driveway where cars arrive that you can watch the fountains, I think the view's better there.
* Bellagio Botanical Gardens (Free) - near the front desk, always impressive & they tend to change it around every so often.
* Mandalay Bay Aquarium ($17) - if aquarium's aren't your thing, no biggie. If you DO enjoy aquariums, you'll love seeing the sharks & other fish. They let you pet small rays & sharks at one step of the tour.
* Mirage Volcano (Free) - every hour on the hour from 6 PM to 11 PM. After seeing the volcano, go inside & check out the aquarium behind the front desk
* Fremont St. Experience (Free) - well, sort of free, as you need to get downtown to see some of the 'old' Vegas. The light show above runs every hour. In addition, there's plenty of touristy shops offering cheap souvenirs if you want to bring something home. If your gf's up for it, you can get a decent 16" pizza & pitcher of beer for $10 at Benny's Bullpen inside Binions.
* Ellis Island ($6.95) - definitely the best meal you'll find for the price. Soup/salad, a 10 oz filet-cut sirloin (I like medium rare), your choice of potato (mashed are great), garlic buttered green beans & a 23 oz microbrew beer. Fantastic meal. It's a kitschy local casino but the restaurant feels like old Las Vegas for me. On Koval just south of Flamingo - from Bally's/Bills go east past the Westin Casaurina, right on Koval, Ellis Island's on your left. From MGM you could go east to Koval & then go north to Ellis Island.

I'm sure others will have good suggestions, that should be enough to accentuate what others suggest. Have a good time!