I’ve stayed at Bally’s a number of times this summer. It’s my favorite spot. Most of the dealers are really cool and tables are $5 minimum. They’ve hired some new people recently who are learning on the job so don’t say anything if they make a mistake in your favor! I like playing ultimate texas holdem though. Can’t imagine making a mistake in a game like blackjack. (If you’ve never played ultimate, I suggest you try it. It’s similar to blackjack in that everybody is playing versus the dealer but you dictate how much you want to bet AFTER you see your cards. Plus, it’s totally fine to show your cards to others which helps determine what the community cards will be. I’ve heard this isn’t allowed at many casinos outside of Vegas.)

Don’t listen to anyone but me: The Wynn has the best buffet in Vegas. Go for brunch. Most of the same stuff they have at dinner and it’s much cheaper. About $35.

The Bally’s sportsbook is weird because you have to go down the escalator near Buca di Beppo and go past all the knick knack shops to get there. It’s big and nice enough compared to the sportsbook in Paris.

In n Out is near the Linq. Gordon Ramsey has burger places in Paris and Planet Hollywood that are excellent and decently priced.

I like the Bellagio sports book and playing at Planet Hollywood.

Walk-through the the Bellagio, Venetian, & Caesars for sure.

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@audioidkid

If you do gamble at a Bally's table and run into a dealer named Ron, ask him to tell you about his stories being an amateur hockey player in the 70s and how much Vegas has changed/sucks now.

Someone mentioned the outdoor knick knack mall up the escalator (near front desk) outside Bally's. Avoid the gyro stand and the pizza slice place. Giordono's is right there for an evening meal! Or take a short walk to In n Out.

I like to talk with someone when I'm checking in but if the line's too long use one of the electronic kiosks. It takes 60 seconds tops. After you're done, you'll think everyone still waiting in line are scared and stupid.

Try to go to one of the locals casinos if you have a rental car. Green Valley Ranch is very nice, South Point is small and functional but has a 24/7 sports book and their blackjack during the week is cheap and not 6/5 bullshit - but the food is crap. I like Red Rock a lot but it is a long drive for a first timer.

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"When people want their version of the truth, they go find it, no matter how baseless their beliefs." -- Ken Rosenthal

The Mexican place on the 2nd floor at South Point isn't terrible...the Italian place was pretty not good. That is where the USBC tournament is held...bowling there next year, glad we're not staying there.

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I stayed at South Point in July when I was there for work, because it way cheaper than the business hotels, was dead empty Mon-Wed nights, had free valet parking, and I could spend my evenings in the sports book watching baseball. The rooms were a little dated but spacious, but I was pissed that they wanted 15 a night for a minifridge.

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"When people want their version of the truth, they go find it, no matter how baseless their beliefs." -- Ken Rosenthal

The Red Rock is really nice but if I was staying on the strip I wouldn't go any further than The Orleans if you are looking for cheaper gambling options.

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You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!

Haven't Uber and Lyft made renting a car in Vegas a negative cash/time proposition? By the time you valet a car you could have already been to your destination in a Lyft for less money and not have to worry about parking once you get there.

Walking from place to place on the strip in Vegas with a head-full of psilocybin is fucking amazing. Watching people gamble away their souls, checking out the art exhibits that places like the Bellagio have in their lobbies and Circus-Circus--fun and endlessly entertaining. If you're on enough drugs. Locals all seem to do meth, and it's very high quality, crystal-clear glass-meth out in the Nevada desert. But I'd avoid mixing meth and mushrooms.

Also, take a Hefty steel sack or empty backpack or grocery store reusable bag everywhere you go in Vegas. Otherwise you end up having to either throw the flyers for sex workers on the ground or carry them around like you're collecting them.

I'd check out Penn & Teller's Vegas show. Tickets are reasonable for Vegas.

Non-Vegas Shows in Vegas 9/28-9/30

The Breeders - Brooklyn Bowl (isn't there a Knitting Factory in Vegas too now? Or maybe that's Reno)
Boyz II Men - Fator Theatre
The Crystal Method - Poolside @ Hard Rock
Daniel Tosh - Fator
Kenny G - Smith Center
Boy George Culture Club & B-52's - Vegas Events Center
Nick Cannon - T-Mobile Arena
Ratt & Sebastian Bach, free outdoor shows at night around Fremont street
Alanis Morissette - Pearl Theater
NHL Preseason: Golden Knights vs San Jose - T-Mobile

2012 was the last time I was there, so I'd say my opinion on Vegas should still be somewhat valid, unlike yours.

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Flew too close to the sun on wings of pastrami

Mrs. Spiracy and I are heading to Vegas this weekend for the Nascar races. Thursday-Monday. Three cars races and we have tickets for one of the Cirque show and Penn & Teller.

I went last year and was there for literally 24 hours. Going to be better being able to stay a couple of days. Staying at the South Point.

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CSFMB: Home of the small minded

Dont play at this guy's table

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Lots of good ideas and advice here so I'll keep it simple:

1. If it's your first time, don't spend time at all the places that are the same or similar. Point being if you go to the Wynn, you can probably skip the Encore. It's worth checking out some of the older places also, they don't build em like the Tropicana anymore. Same with Circus Circus, and the added benefit to going to Circus Circus is there is a 95% chance you'll get stabbed.

2. If you are playing a table game for the first time and need help, just ask the dealers. Nearly all of them are patient and helpful, they are usually happy to help someone who is genuinely interested in learning the game.

3. I haven't stayed at Bally's in a while, but each year I go out there my friends and I usually congregate at the Indigo Bar at Ballys at some point during the weekend. They usually have some type of cover band, they don't charge you to get in, it gets a surprising crowd, and it's literally right in the middle of the casino floor. IIRC the drink prices aren't terrible by Vegas standards, which means a beer is probably only $7.50.

Ratt N Roll & Youth gone Wild!!! Free!!! Thats awesome. Grab a few silo cans of Camo High Gravity Lager for the walk to the show and you will have yourself a night.

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That's my purse! I don't know you!

Hussra gets it.

1. You don't need a rental car in Vegas unless you're planning a day trip to the Grand Canyon (it's beautiful there this time of year). Bally's charges $12 a day to park in their garage (even if you're a guest at the hotel). Used to be free but they changed it late last year. Vegas needs the money I guess!

2. Weed's legal in Nevada now. Some great dispensaries close to the Strip.

3. Always wanted to see Penn & Teller. Will have to do that sometime soon. Wayne Newton's at Bally's. A dealer there told me he doesn't sing many tunes anymore. Tells a lot of old Vegas stories though.

Do not EVER do the bus trip to the Grand Canyon.

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You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!

I stay out of Caesars and MGM, they are way too big, and you get trapped in those places. Mirage is easy in and out to the strip. The Bellagio is big, but it has easy pathing in and out.

Venetian is likewise crazy big, but you can’t stop looking at the faux blue sky.

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Hawaii (fuck) You

Can't provide advice for Vegas without a key piece of information:

You traveling with the Mrs.? Guys weekend? Going alone for work?
Meeting your special high school friend that now lives in Palm Springs?

Your itinerary will probably vary depending on who you are with. Lots of good advice above, but skip going to to Grand Canyon or something like that. Take a separate vacation for that, don't waste a day of a quick trip to Vegas. Bally's is fairly central on the strip - that's a good thing. Like others have said, I'd take a day and go to see as many of the big resorts as you can. They're almost unbelievable if you've never been. Wear comfortable shoes for walking.....they're farther apart than they seem, especially to newbies.

If you want to see how the other half of Vegas lives, go downtown on a night trip. It's like walking into a real life circus. Small, old time casinos, lots of street entertainers, a roof light show that covers the street, and a zip line down the middle. Completely different from what you will see on the strip. It's as cheesy and trashy as it sounds, and it's wonderful....for 3 hours or so. That's enough.
Not sure if the zip line over the promenade outside the LinQ is done yet.

Wynn and Cosmopolitan have the best buffets. Legit upscale food, not bad shrimp and jello salads. Hit In-n-out outside of the LinQ as much as possible. I've seen a show at the Brooklyn Bowl there also - good venue.

If you are with the Mrs. (or even if not):
-stop in at the Chandelier bar at the Cosmopolitan. Order a "Verbena" - it's not on the drink menu, but it is their most popular drink. I swear to you, it is the MOST unique drink you will ever have. Make sure the bartender explains the proper way to drink it.....that's all I'll say. It's not crazy/hokie, but it is a cool experience.
-definitely walk through the Atrium at Bellagio and all of Wynn. Those are beautiful spaces.


I second the deli at Mirage. It's really, really good if that's your thing. There's also a really good burger/sports bar across the hall from it.

I can DM you more info on other places if you want....have fun!

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Not a fan of Vegas. Haven't been there in many years.

I don't gamble or do drugs or bang hookers so probably why i don't like it.

The thing I did like was the hotel buffets that were cheaply priced. But not sure if they're around. There use to be a hotel called Alladin back in the day that had a great cheap buffet.

No Grand Canyon. Going with a buddy.

I thought you liked crack whores?

Buffets aren't cheap anymore. Many are $50 per person for dinner. Cheaper ones are mid-$30's these days.

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Hawaii (fuck) You

Don’t forget that many of them, especially during peak dining hours, have lines you have to wait in before you can get in the buffet. A few years ago my brother actually paid for the express buffet, he said it was pretty demoralizing to do so.

The Bellagio was always bad with their line. I like the PH buffet. The food is ok, and they have ethnic stations that make it easier to find what you want. But frankly, the buffet is a tired concept. We tried Cosmo's, and it was fine, but not really worth the $50.

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Hawaii (fuck) You

$50 for a buffet is ridiculous. You can go to a great restaurant and get a fantastic entree in the $40-$50 range. Why bother waiting in line and eating slop?

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The buffets are part of a Vegas trip though. You kind of have to eat at one, especially if it's your first time out there. Bellagio, Wynn, and Caesar's are all great. Even the one in Bally's is pretty good. I usually go between breakfast and lunch, smaller crowd, and you get breakfast items and then they switch over.

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Don't take it personally.

I'm anti-buffet, anyway...but for the prices...I'd rather go sit down somewhere.

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I'm not a big breakfast guy. I've tried their $20 breakfast one and it's okay. I'd rather have a banana and a bloody mary and save the money for the Wynn in the afternoon.

They make you stand and eat at the buffets??!?!

The crazy buffet prices and the lack of free stuff in general is a pretty big change from just 25 years ago even. Do many of you guys even get comps anymore. What level you generally gambling to do so?

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If you choose not to decide, you still have made a choice.

It's not slop. This isn't Golden Corral.

Seriously tho, craps was the way to go unless I was feeling lazy, then it was Blackjack.

Put on your big boy pants and BET. FULL. ODDS.

If you just want to kill time in a casino, one can have a reasonable expectation of not moving much one way or the other dinking around with Pai Gow. If you want the table version of a slot machine (i.e., zero skill, zero effort), sit at a Caribbean Stud table. You push chips in, you pull chips out, and you always make your $1 paranoid bet.

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Power is always in the hands of the masses of men. What oppresses the masses is their own ignorance, their own short-sighted selfishness.
- Henry George