i'm getting in tuesday night, leaving on red-eye saturday morning looking like our group is doing the watch party at Cosmo on Friday. Will be floating around on Thursday since it is St. Patrick's Day
This guy gets it. Wouldn't worry about being that far south since there is the free monorail going north that runs 24/7
We need a list of veteran LV rules for first time TMBers to refer to: not must do's but suggestions and experience 1. Stock your room with a case or two of hydration - generally stop by the store on the way to hotel before check in - this will save your life 2. Eye drops, chapstick, and nose spray - between the lack of humidity, air conditioning, flight, and drinking your eyes, lips, and nose will get real dry 3. Private car - most times take a cab from the hotel but at certain times there will be a line that takes way too long. Depends on where you stay also. Either get a referral from your hotel or ask around and get a driver you like that will pick you up if you need it 4. Pool cabanas - these are very negotiable and the mistake is to book through the hotel early. Go out to the pool after check in and tip one of the attendants to hook you up. I've been quoted $800-1200 minimum at most if you book through the hotel. We've tipped the pool guy $100 and suddenly it's $300-400 and you get real good service. 5. If you have anyone in your group that is a doctor or nurse bring IV bags. Only had this on one trip and it trumped every other rule. One bag and 30 min later you feel like you just got off the plane. 6. Strip clubs - get the driver (see rule 3) to hook you up - they call ahead, get your cover waived, usually get you a great table, still need to tip the door guy but he'll hook you up. Rhino has been the best in my experience but there are a lot of good ones. 7. Old Vegas - good for change of pace and some decent food if you know some good places 8. Sports bet - make them early to avoid the crowd unless you think the lines are going to move. Went for March madness and it was great day one but we made all our next day bets and spent the day at twin peaks by the Linq and watched the second day games. Great move and helped mix it up. 9. Golf - I like golf but this always takes more time and eats a half a day or more so I only play when I have to for work. For the price the courses aren't that great. Playing a good course with rental clubs sucks and if you bring your clubs it's a pain in the ass. I'd rather do a pool day for the same money for a big group of guys. 10. Get outside - I got to mix up my days and spend some time outside so go to a rooftop bar or outside bar once you feel like you're in the twilight zone after sitting at a BJ table for 8 hours - poolside gambling is fun too but the odds are usually worse and minimums are high 11. Food - this changes so much for the new trendy places but there are some long time places that you should try once - I'd be interested to hear TMB's favorite places also - mine is Hugo's cellar in the 4 queens old vegas. It's not the best for a group of guys but kind of cool and nostalgic with really good food. The Hofbrau House across from the Hard Rock is fun for a group of guys to drink and be loud. 12. Clubs - been to a few but not my scene so I'll leave this for some others to recommend. Dre's, baby's, Tao, ghost bar, etc seem to always have something going on. 13. Music/Shows - there are always some good options if you look for it. I've seen some great concerts in LV and the shows all depend on what you like. 14. Players cards - get a card 1st wherever you stay to get some points. Almost every hotel has some rewards program - even if it is free breakfast it's worth the 2 minutes to sign up. Mlife and couple others share multiple hotels and are worth signing up for to get future specials 15. Keep the group small - anything over 6 and you'll be split up in less than an hour. Sucks that it happens but between table size, reservations, transportation, and general things people want to do it is almost impossible to keep a larger group together. Don't try and be the coordinator because it will suck and you will ruin your own time. 16. Group parlay - we all chip in $5 or something small and pick individual bets that we all parlay together for a big win if it hits. Our rule is if you win your bet you don't have to pay your $5. Whoever loses has to pay - so if there are 6 guys and you go 4-2 the 2 losers have to pay $15 each to cover the bet. We've won a couple times and it pays for a really good meal or cuts the cost of the hotel. I know TL;DR but I wish I'd know all this stuff my first trip to LV to have the options to do some of it. Heading back out in May for 5 days and would like any suggestions on the best shows currently - I have to take a few clients out for dinner and a show.
been to both - can't go wrong with either but i prefer rhino as they aren't as pushy. at sapphire i never had a chance to just be
great list - a few observations 3. time is at a premium in LV so having transportation pre-arranged is the way to go. FYI Uber/Lyft is now available at the airport 9. I can golf anywhere else in the world, I’ve never saw the need to go golfing. Once the TopGolf opens that could be a fun 1-2 hour break from gambling 11. I love Hofbrauhaus – most trips we stop there to have dinner and always leave 3 hours later, hammered 15. have gone with both big groups and small groups – when you have a large group, the biggest thing is to make it clear that the whole group doesn’t always have to do stuff together. In college it is hard enough agreeing on the next bar to go to – imagine that on a much larger scale in vegas. Let people do their own thing if they wish 16. never done the parlay but I may try to get our group to do this, could be a lot fun
tjosu planet Hollywood May have some stuff with a lot of beds for a decent price. Or Elara, it is connected to PH and you can usually get a big ass place for a good price.
Lyft is the way to go here, but they still make you walk to some weird places at some hotels. I don't get the parlay thing. You know you have to win every bet to hit a parlay, right?
- go with small groups, up to 6, with cool ppl like me, AggieVillain, EMAW FC, etc. If you have a friend who is cheap leave them at home - if a big group it'll split up, usually by cheapasses, gamblers, non gamblers, etc - I hate clubs but if you bottle service is the way to avoid the human crush - rhino is best strip club - wizardofodds.com to learn games - casino royale to learn craps from old crusty dealers at cheap tables and buy $1.99 foot long hot dogs
So I have only been to Vegas one time and my boss paid for everything and I was more just there for the ride. Now I am planning a trip for the first weekend of June with a group of about 8-10. My buddies Aunt is a pretty high up in Marriott so we're getting a good discount at Cosmo and are going to get 2 suites. We definitely want to do a big pool party one day and probably a club one night as well. Is the best plan of action to get a host/promotor to help us with these things? What's the best way to go about this? Only 2 of us in our group have been so we're all inexperienced.
Well, my first Vegas trip with a group of friends and idk what to say. At one point I was running on 3.5 hours of sleep in a 53 hour period. Awful. Surprised how much time I spent in the casinos. Cosmo was the best hotel I went to. Definitely a younger crowd. Holsteins was probably the cheapest place I found for cheap craft beers. There's so much/so little to say. Disappointed we didn't make a strop club. All the people on the strip trying to get you to a club/strip club are ripping you off right?
In my experience, no. Girlfriend got us and the other couple we were with on the guest list for Hakassan one night when Tiesto was there which doesn't really mean a whole lot, but it still means a much shorter line than just showing up. We also got free passes to Omnia walking outside Caesar's before, although that was on a Monday or Tuesday night so that may not mean a whole lot
Best pool party for young group of guys? When getting a cabana do you need to book in advance, or figure it out once you're there?
However....yes, however... You should go to the Octane Bar on a late weekend night just to observe the line of ladies for the show. My wife and I exited an "Australian Bee Gees" show ( which was excellent) and I saw the line of young ladies in various states of dress for the thunder show and said, "Wait, Wait I've gotta see this". She rolled her eyes and said Ok. With drinks, We spent the next 45 minutes joyfully remarking on the various states of undress.
I've also heard that Marequee is the best, but I really don't think you can go wrong if you go to any of the 5-6 'top tier' ones. If you pay for a cabana, they're all going to have scantily clad women at your service and you're going to rage.
you guys have a list of restaurant recommendations for under $50? looking to fill out a weekend itinerary and want to put together restaurant options outside of the fancier/more expensive dinners.
Border Grill in the Forum Shops Burger Bar in Mandalay is my favorite in that genre, but others prefer Holstein's Mon Ami Gabi Julian Serrano
Update on Memorial Day Bach Party- we are now up to 23 confirmed and paid guys including 3 Special Forces buddies (Tentative if they are in the country)- its all guys who were in my fraternity at Miami. Ages range from 26-30 We booked the Linq and all of us are signed up in their rewards program. We also have a handler working on all the goodies for us, he set this up for us which we all signed up for: On Saturday we will be at Daylight Beachclub @ Mandalay Bay ( $3500 spending minimum towards food and alcohol ) and Sunday will be Wet Republic @ MGM Grand ( $5000 spending minimum towards food and alcohol ). Its all prepaid with couches/cabana reserved when we get there. We wont be in any line and we have a limo picking us up at the hotel and taking us to and from the pool parties. It was $630 a person and that includes some party favors for everyone I'll be curious as to what we will be booking for the evenings- I know they are working on getting us the IV van for Sunday morning before Wet Republic. We also are going to do what we are calling "the big bet". Everyone throws in $200 and the bachelor picks an obscure sporting event to bet it all on and we are going to watch it as a group. I'll update as we get more info- havent even gotten to Vegas yet and I've already spent $1400
Don't do any of that. 23 meatheads that are just past their frat days and into their 'prove to the world I'm successful' days running around Vegas. What could possibly go awry there?
Yusho in Monte Carlo - they have the same restaurant in Chicago that is on Michelin's Bib Gourmand list
I think you'll have a blast but just know going in that the group will split early and often. Not a big deal but some people think they can keep all that on an itinerary and it won't happen. Biggest headache will be transportation for 23 to anywhere. Get a good private service early to be on call.
Close by you've got Bellagio, PLanet Hollywood, Aria. Monte Carlo, Paris, and Caesars are close-ish, but only really if you're planning on heading out for a while. A little far for a quick out-and-back lunch run type of thing. Inside Cosmo there's the pizza place on the 3rd floor-slices or whole pies. Not much seating, but there are some areas near there. Henry is a diner type place right by the North casino doors (exit to Bellagio). Great for breakfast, it's 24h I believe. I've heard really good things about China Pablano but haven't been. Aria is a little more expensive overall. The cafe is decent, Javier's Mexican, and Todd English P.U.B. will get you away for an alright price. Bellagio is almost all dining, but a few places could possibly do you under $50 with no frills (drinks, apps, etc). PH has a bunch of stuff from earl of sandwich to twin peaks to a bunch of $15-30 chilis type places in the miracle mile. Of course there are buffets. At last check I like Cosmo for buffets amongst those. On the further edges There is a food court that has McDs, subway, pizza, Chinese, etc and pub 1842. It's technically in Monte Carlo but sits on a walkway between Aria and MC. Caesars has a good food court and lots of dining type places. Under $50 total is kind of tough with those, but can be done. Paris has a pretty meh selection outside of Mon Ami Gabi. Not sure if you've been before or very often, but trust me on the walking thing. It doesn't seem far, but if you're just looking to eat and then chill out or get back to the room then stay within the adjacent buildings to your hotel for these quick meals. Nothing in that price range is worth a special 2-3 hour trip.
Thanks, I'll look into all of this. I'm basically trying to organize two dinners: one steakhouse dinner, one nicer one that is still relatively cheap, and then be able to list out a bunch of options nearby for every other meal depending on everyone else's budgets and priorities (as i'll personally pay more for better food and would skip a food court/mcdonalds, for example). This will be helfpful. Want to weigh in on a steakhouse recommendation? I was thinking STK.
Couple quick tidbits from my recent trip. 1. quick story- was playing craps before dinner with my brother in law. Getting crushed. It's about 4:50 with dinner at 6. I roll a couple rolls, crap out, next guy rolls for about 15 minutes, good roll, I color up and go get ready for dinner. I come back 45 min later and my brother in law is still there, turns to me and says "you left at the wrong time." Very next shooter rolls for an hour and hits the 6 point fire bet. FML. 2. Carbone is awesome 3. Carnevino is terrible
The triumvirate! Those are my top 3 Carbone choices. The "croutons" in the Caesar Salad are a must have. They also do a very, very good Old Fashioned.