Travel / Vacation thread

[pumpdog20]

Are you thinking The Strip or Fremont Street? Seems like there are some good deals going right now. I like to play poker and like to be middle of the strip somewhere for easy walk to a few good poker rooms.

not sure... I'd assume the strip. Is Fremont better?

 

[calvegas04]

not sure... I'd assume the strip. Is Fremont better?

Fremont is good for a night away from the Strip. Cheaper drinks and table game minimums.

 

[RDU Irish]

Fremont is good for a night away from the Strip. Cheaper drinks and table game minimums.

Totally different feel - money definitely spreads further. Often free concerts outside - Survivor cranking out Eye of the Tiger one time I was there.

On the strip - pick somewhere in the middle, not one end or the other. You can branch out in different directions more easily. You are going to walk a lot to get anywhere but that helps reduce the volume of miles you put on your walking boots. You might be able to get some deal signing up for Harrahs or MGM "players club" before you go - both have tons of hotels on the strip. Value is in the hotel deal, comped anything will be minimal. They all also soak you with their dumb "resort fee" which can add up fast. Some of the pools are pretty sweet - I would have to defer to someone else on that but definitely look in to the pool amenities if you think you will use it since you are paying for it either way.

 

[Irish#1]

Fremont is good for a night away from the Strip. Cheaper drinks and table game minimums.

Fremont is loaded with the crazies. The topless nun was my favorite. It's worth the trip just to see them.

 

[ACamp1900]

Growing up we’d only stay at the Californian,… prob where I got my love of Asian chicks has we were always like the only non Asians in the place every time we’d go lol,… Ten year old me would be in the arcade slanging game at all the Korean grand daughters,….

but since the old town redo yeah,… it’s crazy town in there. If you want the old school keno machines that pay 1600 on 1 dollar five number bets you have to go to Fremont tho,… all the other places phased them out

 

[Irish#1]

So being my wife and I are stuck waiting til friday to see if she has jury duty, we are planning on taking a Vegas trip next week if she doesn't. Any advice for a Vegas newb?

Don't gamble! lol

 

[ACamp1900]

Don't gamble! lol

And have tons of spending cushion bc Vegas is EXPENSIVE,… lol

 

[calvegas04]

Don't gamble! lol

Worst advise ever... just have a set amount of money you are comfortable losing.

 

[ab2cmiller]

Worst advise ever... just have a set amount of money you are comfortable losing.

This is the approach most people take. Also guarantees Vegas Casinos a healthy bottom line. No matter how far up a person gets, they keep gambling till there losses hit that set amount of money.

 

[arndtjc]

So being my wife and I are stuck waiting til friday to see if she has jury duty, we are planning on taking a Vegas trip next week if she doesn't. Any advice for a Vegas newb?

If you need a drink, put a buck in a penny slot and get a free one from the attendant. If you throw them a couple bucks each time, they’ll be around often and you’ll drink for the price of tips all night. Probably my biggest tip to anyone new to Vegas. Fremont is way more chill, the strip can get pretty chaotic especially on the weekends. It’s adult Disneyland, have an absolute blast

 

[RDU Irish]

This is the approach most people take. Also guarantees Vegas Casinos a healthy bottom line. No matter how far up a person gets, they keep gambling till there losses hit that set amount of money.

Just have some discipline with your money. I break it up by the day or activity and pocket some chips when the going is good. Just being smart about finding lower stakes tables will help your money go that much further. When playing blackjack you have to think about how comfortable you will be doubling or splitting, not just the cost per hand. You can have $100 at play in a $25 blackjack table pretty quick with splits and double downs. Don't be pressured by the action because you think you have to hang at the Bellagio. Downtown is good for the lower limits gambling but can be crazy. Hitting the floor during slow times morning/afternoon can be good for lower limits and dealers happy to help you learn a game if you are a bit inexperienced.

I like poker b/c you can play a long time at 1/2 NL with $100 buy-in. You can pick your spots and never HAVE to play and can leave the table at any time if you don't like the crowd or feel like a complete fish. Also have low stakes tourneys which changes the dynamic a bit too. Craps can evaporate $100 in a millisecond.

 

[Irish#1]

Craps can evaporate $100 in a millisecond or triple it. Stay away from roulette.

 

[ACamp1900]

If you need a drink, put a buck in a penny slot and get a free one from the attendant. If you throw them a couple bucks each time, they’ll be around often and you’ll drink for the price of tips all night. Probably my biggest tip to anyone new to Vegas. Fremont is way more chill, the strip can get pretty chaotic especially on the weekends. It’s adult Disneyland, have an absolute blast

Better know what you’re doing on the penny slots,… many are intentionally confusing so you bet five bucks with ‘Pennys’

 

[SonofOahu]

Growing up we’d only stay at the Californian,… prob where I got my love of Asian chicks has we were always like the only non Asians in the place every time we’d go lol,… Ten year old me would be in the arcade slanging game at all the Korean grand daughters,….

You're basically a Hawaii native.

 

[ACamp1900]

Vegas,… off the strip donkey show,… tell them LAX sent you

 

[notredomer23]

Any Aruba recos for restaurants? Will be there Wednesday-Monday.

 

[T Town Tommy]

Alright ChiTown crew. In Chicago with the wife on a little business/vacation. We caught A Christmas Carol at Goodman last night. Got two more shows on the schedule for tonight and Sunday night. That leaves Sat night. Would like to take the wife to a nice restaurant and then hit a low key bar for a nightcap. Staying at the Embassy Suites in River North and using the subways for transportation so that needs to be considered. The wife isn’t picky (she married me after all). Any rec’s would be great. Thanks in advance.

 

[NorthDakota]

Alright ChiTown crew. In Chicago with the wife on a little business/vacation. We caught A Christmas Carol at Goodman last night. Got two more shows on the schedule for tonight and Sunday night. That leaves Sat night. Would like to take the wife to a nice restaurant and then hit a low key bar for a nightcap. Staying at the Embassy Suites in River North and using the subways for transportation so that needs to be considered. The wife isn’t picky (she married me after all). Any rec’s would be great. Thanks in advance.

I thought Alabama folks only vacation in the Redneck Riviera?

 

[T Town Tommy]

I thought Alabama folks only vacation in the Redneck Riviera?

Ha. The wife loves the city so we hit up NYC once a year or so. Loves the theatre, boutiques, etc. Third time in Chicago with her.

 

[Irish#1]

Jiggafini should be able to help you out.

 

[CANONIZEFATHERSORIN]

Alright ChiTown crew. In Chicago with the wife on a little business/vacation. We caught A Christmas Carol at Goodman last night. Got two more shows on the schedule for tonight and Sunday night. That leaves Sat night. Would like to take the wife to a nice restaurant and then hit a low key bar for a nightcap. Staying at the Embassy Suites in River North and using the subways for transportation so that needs to be considered. The wife isn’t picky (she married me after all). Any rec’s would be great. Thanks in advance.

Purple Pig is my favorite restaurant in the city and is right there in river north. Broken Shaker is one of the cooler bars in the city but isn't super loud/young so could be nice and is also in River North.

 

[ACamp1900]

Going back to Cali later today,… looking forward to some Korean BBQ and a mission style Carne asada burrito

 

[calvegas04]

Going back to Cali later today,… looking forward to some Korean BBQ and a mission style Carne asada burrito

Can mods please move this post to a recruits page?

 

[Plankton]

Alright ChiTown crew. In Chicago with the wife on a little business/vacation. We caught A Christmas Carol at Goodman last night. Got two more shows on the schedule for tonight and Sunday night. That leaves Sat night. Would like to take the wife to a nice restaurant and then hit a low key bar for a nightcap. Staying at the Embassy Suites in River North and using the subways for transportation so that needs to be considered. The wife isn’t picky (she married me after all). Any rec’s would be great. Thanks in advance.

What kind of cuisine are you interested in? It isn't hard to find a great restaurant here.

Hub 51 is a good restaurant - they have a good variety of choices, is relatively casual, and isn't cost prohibitive. It's in River North.

 

[T Town Tommy]

What kind of cuisine are you interested in? It isn't hard to find a great restaurant here.

Hub 51 is a good restaurant - they have a good variety of choices, is relatively casual, and isn't cost prohibitive. It's in River North.

Thanks for the suggestion. Cuisine doesn’t really matter. Hub 51 looks great. I can run that by the Mrs. She would be fine with that.
Ate at The Purple Pig last trip and it was great.
May hit up Jake Melnicks for a couple of afternoon drinks and a little of the Army/Navy game. A little shopping for the wife then may take your advice on Hub 51. Thanks

 

[NDdomer2]

Goddess and the Baker for bbreakfast/brunch

 

[notredomer23]

Going back to Cali later today,… looking forward to some Korean BBQ and a mission style Carne asada burrito

Not Korean BBQ but had Bon Chon the other day. Would happily have again on a day I don’t have to do anything

 

[Some Irish Bloke]

Heading to Minneapolis for a bachelor party in May; checking out round-trip direct flights and came across a flight via Sun County Airlines that was about half the price of the next cheapest for a round trip via Delta.

Has anyone ever flown Sun County? I can only imagine it's not a pleasant experience knowing that I've opted to fly Spirit and Frontier plenty of times to save a buck. How bad is it? Bad enough to splurge an extra $200 for Delta?

It's less than a 2 hour flight. When I'm making a quick flight like that I typically just worry about price. Anything 3+ hours I usually just default to Delta for the comfort and amenities. Any feedback you can provide on Sun County would be greatly appreciated.

 

[NDLS_USMC]

Goddess and the Baker for bbreakfast/brunch

Take it you are in Chicago? If yes, Meli on Wells is highly recommended.

 

[ACamp1900]

I’m in Denver,… maybe it’s just randomly where we stayed (just outside downtown),… but holy, neck beard, hipster, passive aggressive, pretentious d bag, hell hole. Most of San Fran would blush at this shit