Las Vegas Trip

No it is not a mistake. You won't be missing anything except overpriced drinks and jaded, tourist-dependant LM strippers.

Visiting a Vegas strip club beats the hell out of playing a round of golf. :)

It seems like many TUSCLers aren't fond of Vegas clubs. But there's no denying how beautiful the dancers are in that city. Obviously the prices are going to be high, everything in Vegas is expensive, but the hotness of the dancers makes it worth visiting a club or two

I wouldn't consider it a mistake, like SC said, maybe more fun than a round of golf but I'd rather get mixed up in a game of poker or blackjack while in Vegas than hit up a strip club. For the sake of comparison, I think you're familiar with the Mississauga & Toronto clubs, I find them substantially more enjoyable than Vegas. Although, the Vegas clubs are probably better suited to group visits.

"Golf is a long walk spoiled." -- Mark Twain

Vegas is usually pretty nice in November so I would expect most courses to be open. Mid-High 60's is usually the norm but low 70's isn't outside the realm of possibility, can be a tad windy.

I'm in the minority on here, I like the Vegas strip clubs. You will find a lot of gorgeous dancers and decent to high mileage, extras are expensive or non-existent.

To me it's a fun town. I never fail to have a good time and have had several great times. Hope your trip goes well.

There is probably nobody on this board that (at my age) has been to Vegas more than me.

If you're really really bored then go to a strip club but considering what you've seen before in Canada, you're going to be really disappointed and shocked at the prices.

Sapphires is something to see just because of the sheer size. But I've paid a $60 cover to get in before. I actually got a stripper OTC for free there on my first trip, that never happened again after repeated visits! Lol

My favorite Vegas club happens to be treasures. Not too big and I've always liked the selection of girls. Usually no cover and the VIP rates are reasonable for Vegas standards. Drinks are very expensive though which off sets the no cover charge.

If you're going to eat somewhere, eat at "the steak house," in circus circus. Yes circus circus is a dump but this restaurant is amazing!!! Everyone I have ever taken there is bitching the whole way walking from the parking garage through the dingy interior of circus circus but once you get inside the restaurant you'll understand. This restaurant even was listed at one of the best in the "Robb report magazine." Just bring your own wine ($20 cork fee) because their wine list sucks.

mobile.circuscircus.com

I should have added that this will be my first trip to Las Vegas. We will be staying at Bellagio and the only gambling that I would be interested in would be the horses or poker. I like poker but I am not a good player. I know my way around a horse track. Any recommendations for a good race book? How about a poker room for a bad player, but a bad player with a bankroll big enough to be the table bully?

I don't spend much time in the books Art, occasionally go to make a bet or watch games if I'm in a group.

Bellagio has a nice book, plush but small. Aria's is also very nice. Westgate near the convention center (formally Las Vegas Hilton and International before that) has the biggest book in Vegas, and I've heard many serious sports betters say it's the best place to watch from.

The poker rooms are tough nuts to crack these days. Most of them are filled with locals who visit frequently to try and fleece the tourists. The mixture of serious players and fools with dumb luck make it hard for a mediocre player like myself to have much of a chance. That said I've seen my brother, who is a pretty good player, take large sums off some real idiots so anything is possible.

@Art-The Breeders Cup starts this Saturday, November 1st. From my Vegas experience, it's better to hook up with the hot, casino hookers than the strip clubs. And I'm with you, golf is a waste of water.

I too only play poker and play a lot when I'm out there.

Here's something fun I do in the mornings that would work well for you. Exit the bellagio to the right and catch the tram (between bellagio and vdara) which will take you to Monte Carlo casino. You'll have to walk through the casino or you can walk out on the street. Walk past New York New York casino and then Excalibur will be right across the street. Walk up the main entrance and the poker room is not too far away. I usually stay at aria or vdara which is right next to bellagio. Allow 30 minutes to make this trip.

Where this trip take you is to the Excalibur poker room. They have a 9am poker tournament that I play in every morning when I'm out there. If you get knocked out you can walk through a hallway to Luxor and play in their 1030 tournament. These are great rooms to play low level poker as most the people playing really don't know what they are doing. These tournaments also don't last long so you're not wasting your whole day, and a tournament can be finished by 11am. You're not going to become rich winning one of these tournaments - but last time I was there I won one, and it paid for all my tournament buyins that week and a nice dinner one night.

Other recommendation - go see old Vegas - it's fun to see, once, after that there isn't a point to go back. Don't play poker down there, IMO most the players down there are very good compared to ones on the strip.

If you're going to be there on a Saturday or Sunday and like football go hang out in a sportbook, that's fun, also may want to go to lagasses stadium to watch some games which is in the palazzo/Venetian. They have a sports book inside so you can bet on games. Be sure you make reservations though.

emerilsrestaurants.com

Also if you have an iphone download these apps - they have helped me tremendously:

Vegasindoormaps - I can't tell you how many times this app helped me find a poker room or restaurant when walking in to a casino for the first time.

Allvegaspoker - gives you the times and buy-in info of all casino tournaments in Vegas. Nice app, so if it's 7pm and I have nothing to do, it will show me which casinos have tournaments that start at 7pm and how much the buyins are.

@Shailynn-Great advice. I've hiked out around Red Rock. Cool thing to do around Vegas.

Something a bit different than the gambling, strip joints, and all of the shows along the Strip is the Atomic Testing Museum -- the history of the atomic bomb. I got to see it last time I was in Vegas (2009), and it was a cool change of pace. Relatively inexpensive, too; ten bucks for a self-guided tour, if I remember right.

nationalatomictestingmuseum.org

Gee, art, I can't believe that you don't like chasing a silly little ball all over a gigantic farm field. Lol

I played one game of goal in my life and shot a 57. Yup. 57 on a 9-hole par three course :(

Many interesting suggestions and much good advice. Thank you all.

I really like that idea of visiting that Atomic Testing Museum. Who knew?

Atomic Museum is cool.

I also really enjoy the Mob Museum. It's located in an old courthouse a block off of Fremont Street (what shailynn referred to as "old vegas"). It's 4 stories of Mafia history with a heavy emphasis on their relationship with Las Vegas. I can kill 5 hours there easily but I really enjoy the history of the town AND organized crime.

Art - if you need a SC fix, hit the OG between 1 and 6 pm. I've left happy for less than a round of golf. The booths around the main room can be loads of fun. Pun intended.

I lived in Vegas for a whole three months -- and I can't think of one good place to eat there. I can tell you a place to avoid though -- Sammy's Wood-Fired Pizza. Hands down, one of the worst pizzas I've ever had. After just one piece, my stomach threatened me with a very violent rebellion if I even thought about a second piece.