Visiting Vegas: Accommodation and Advice
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Las Vegas is regarded as the heart of the gambling world and nearly every poker player harbours a desire to visit this unique city at some point.
The first visit to this world-famous location can bedazzle newcomers, with glitzy lights, confusing offers and so many choices on what to do.
This is a short guide to some of the interesting aspects of Las Vegas with tips on how to survive this crazy, but exciting place.
General Advice
Remember that Las Vegas is a city built in the middle of a desert so it is very hot, especially during the summer months. Temperatures can rise to 40 degrees Celsius so choose appropriate clothing when you are packing.
Having said that, most casinos operate very efficient air conditioning systems and you might find it much cooler, even cold inside the casino, so it’s worth having a second layer handy for long stints in the casino.
If this is your first trip to America, it’s also important to be aware their tipping culture may be quite different to your country. Many staff rely heavily on tips and it is customary to tip for most services provided.
Prices are generally relatively cheap so it shouldn’t be too taxing on your wallet to be generous with your tipping policy.
Where to Stay
Before leaving you need to have some accommodation worked out. Hotel rates vary from place to place and different hotels will offer different deals depending on the time of year.
Poker players can usually benefit from a reduced poker rate at many hotels so this is worth looking into, although these rates will generally require you to play a certain number of hours in the local poker room, so bear this in mind.
Hotels near the strip will usually be more expensive than hotels in the downtown area of Vegas though it is relatively easy to travel around Vegas as taxis are fairly cheap and plentiful. There are cheaper options closer to the strip as well, such as The Orleans or The Gold Coast, both just a stone’s throw away from The Rio, which hosts the WSOP.
If you are in Vegas with several friends, you might consider renting a house for the duration of your stay. This can work out cheaper than living out of hotels and you will have the additional benefits of being able to get away from the hustle and bustle of Vegas life when you want to.
You will also be able to store and cook food more easily, which can be very useful as eating out at restaurants all the time can quickly consume your budget.
In part two of our guide to playing poker in Las Vegas we discuss food and entertainment in Sin City.