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Originally Posted by fluffysheap
Thinking about heading down in a week or two for three or four days during the week (avoiding the V-day rush). I haven't been to Vegas since 2000, so any firsthand knowledge is perhaps slightly outdated.
Mostly going to play 2/5NL poker, maybe some table games. Budget isn't critical but I hate to spew money (do enough of that at the tables) so trying to be frugal. Going solo. I'm picky about cleanliness and smells, but not much else. I'm trying to avoid having a car, and I don't mind walking.
I'm having a hard time coming up with a better option than the Venetian, which is a little pricier than I'd like and plusher than I need. With resort fee & tax it comes to $170 a night for the poker rate.
I was looking at TI, but seems that a lot of people complain about smoke, and I hate smoke.
Vdara/Aria seem a little too hoity-toity, there's no water pressure in the shower and the food looks pretentious and expensive. Aria's got stuff on their cafe menu that I don't even know what it is. Lola Rosa, is that food, I thought it was a stripper and the maid?
Trump is far, but it's only $77 for a secret rate (net of about $115) on Hotwire. Walk during the day, but maybe a cab at night. I guess I could try Mirage ($135 net, Hotwire standard rate). Wynn is more expensive and doesn't seem better for me.
It all depends on what your priorities are. It is tough to beat Flamingo or Bally's for the location and value, or even Harrah's. They are definitely not fancy digs, but definitely are serviceable. Affordable food options are everywhere near or at all three properties.
Saving $35 per night at Mirage vs Venetian is significant perhaps because you aren't locked into having to play 6 hours per day at the V. Eating at Mirage isn't cheap, bit there are cheap options across the street.
Venetian's poker room is nice and all, but there are other rooms on the strip that you may also want to give action to.
For $170 out the door, the Venetian/Palazzo rooms are very hard to beat--they are big, nice, and luxurious for standard rooms. As far as Wynn goes, more of the same and it is tough to compare them with any other standard rooms but the V/P.
Trump is a great value, but it is a haul to get anywhere south of Mirage or Venetian. Bring good shoes if you chose this option.
Aria/Vdara is just across the street from affordable food options. Vdara rooms have kitchen spaces if that is something you would use, and it also straddles Bellagio and Aria's poker room locations--two of the three best rooms on the strip.
Good luck on your trip!