I'm no lawyer, so I don't attempt to translate laws.

OK how about maximizing your experience in Vegas. My trips are about once a year if I'm lucky, and typically 2 nights, sometimes 3, yet I find myself "wasting" time. Maybe it's waiting in line at a restaurant. Maybe it's walking from the Bellagio to the Wynn. Sitting in a cab in traffic on the Strip. Maybe it's getting in a long discussion about where to go. These discussions are longer depending on the size of the group. Maybe it's losing track of time at the pool. Maybe it's sleeping too much!

I don't want to plan my trip down to the minute, but I also want to make the most of what can be a very limited number of hours in Vegas.

So, to "Do Vegas Right", what's the best strategy? Avoid going to too many places? Go to a bunch of places all close by? Have a plan? Improvise relentlessly? If you are solo it is easier, but I'm rarely there alone. Next trip is with my wife, staying at Caesers. She plays limit hold 'em and likes to spend time in the spa. Let me know what you think.

1. I would avoid going in a large group unless the group can splinter rather easily without drama. Decisions about where to go should be done during another activity (i.e. at pool or over a meal) or take less than a minute. I've got little to no patience for standing on the sidewalk discussing the pros and cons of Bally's vs Harrah's.

2. I used to try to go to tons of different places on every trip. I'd probably gamble/eat/watch a show/whatever in like 8-10 different properties on every 2-4 day trip. It was fun getting a feel for the lay of the land, but as I've gotten older, I've discovered that picking an area and not going too far makes for a much better trip. My sweet spot is staying at Aria and playing there, Cosmo, Bellagio and PHo. Easy walk no matter where you're going, tons of dining choices and no cabs.

3. Be assertive if no one is taking the lead. Often times, groups just wander around aimlessly and burn time because no one will say what they really want.

This is good advice and if you stick to these guidelines you will be alright.

Went to vegas one time and did not follow these guidelines and it becomes a mess really ****ing fast. Pops ended up by himself a few times (which I felt bad about) and at the end of every night the "Where the **** did you go, you left me behind ****er" argument started.

In terms of managing a large group, I like to get everyone on a group texting app (Group Me is what we use, but I think whatsapp is the popular one). It's great because it allows for easy, quick communication between the different sub-groups when people are off doing their own thing, and it's easier to coordinate meet-ups and also just keep people up to date on the crazy happenings. Plus since you're texting the whole group at once, the odds of someone in the other group responding go way up, rather than depending on the one person you texted to notice their phone buzzing.

I suppose if everyone in your group has an iPhone, you can just use iMessages, but when you start throwing other phones into the mix, a dedicated group texting app becomes very useful since I've found that group texting doesn't work well across platforms. It does take some pre-trip setting up (getting people to install the app and adding them to the group) but it's been well worth it.

Yah doing Vegas solo end of October/beginning November. Staying at treasure island to be close to the Venetian deep stacks. Im thinking playing cash at mirage/TI a bit and also the Wynn/Venetian. I don't see any need to go much further.

Poker wise I don't think I'm going to to bother with anywhere. Am I right in that thinking?

Your plan sounds good. There isn't really a right or wrong to judge it by. If those are the rooms you want to play in, stay close to them. Easy game.

Hey guys im going to be in Vegas 9/12-16 staying at TI, was wondering where to find soft 1-2 NL games and looking to make a few sports bets so also some good sports books to bet and watch the games at. Thanks

et all!

I believe this is in the FAQ and has been discussed frequently. Probably you should check out TI, Ballys, Mirage, or Flamingo, but in general there's not a place with dedicated "soft" games, though each place might have a soft table or two. The general advice is to start someplace, and if you don't like it, switch tables or casinos.

yah it seems like those are pretty close together and I can move around quickly between them.

Aria, Bellagio, MGM etc all seem pretty far away. no need to spend time walking around then waiting.

for guy staying at TI, the Venetian is a great room. Also seems like 1/2 PLO doesn't spread many places. I'm only seeing Aria, venetian on all vegas poker.

I would check in the casinos. The hotel portions of the properties don't have these kinds of offerings.

Can you also ask us which casinos serve free drinks? Or where you can find an ATM?

Which casinos serve free drinks? I dont use casino ATMS. Thanks

TI doesnt have a casino?

Nope. Funny thing, that.

But you're so close to Trump from TI, just go there to gamble.

All vegas casinos serve free drinks. Most have ATMs except for the downtown casinos. Enjoy!

I didnt really like the vibe at the Trump poker room. I dont even know why they gave me a TI players card when i had to go to Venetian to play. Funny thing that.

Trump poker room is ok, but the picture of a crowned and enrobed Donald on the kings in the game decks is a bit much, IMO.

Gonna be in Vegas for the first time tonight. Staying 11 nights. No amount of advice can save me, but ill think of something.

Any recommendations on staying physically active outside of using the hotel gym? I know this is likely at the bottom of everyone's concerns when traveling to Vegas, but the length I'm stayin definitely needs to be balanced with some good physical activity.

Is there any kind of running path, or just somewhere off strip I can run (staying at Excalibur)?

Possible to use a nicer hotels gym? I'm assuming Excalibur doesn't have the best facilities.

Sorry for derailing such a great thread about hookers and blow asking for workout advice.

I'm not sure what exactly you're looking for, but if you just go down Tropicana past Hooters/Motel 6 towards Paradise (Paradise is the road to the airport if that helps), it is pretty wide open going down Tropicana for at least a mile for jogging. The UNLV Campus is down there across the street at Tropicana & Paradise so you could jog around there too.

There are lots of other hiking/running paths around the city but they are well away from the Strip so you'd need a car to get there.

bangin hoes is considered cardio no?

Early morning run on the strip. We were out there at about 5am last trip and we saw multiple people getting their daily runs in..

^^There's a lot of this. IIRC, Vegas actually has a pretty strong running community.