Hi Vegas fans,
If you are travelling to Sin City this week, good luck! Not only at the tables and machines, but also getting through the crowds. New Year's is typically the most crowded the city ever gets, so much so that you usually have to show or swipe your key card just to get in to your hotel. Whew.
I don't mind crowds, but I don't think I'd like the density of the Strip during New Year's. I am, happily, travelling to Vegas later in January, however, so I feel very fortunate!
... and speaking of feeling fortunate, I guess it would be nice to count my blessings in this last Simplifying blog of 2008 and reflect on all the great things that have happened this year:
- In January 2008, my best buddy Steve and I painted the town red. We stayed at the Strat and really had a blast. Steve came out way ahead, and I broke even. Great trip.
- I've appeared a few times on Las Vegas Advisor's Question of the Day as a Contributor/Expert. This has been a really amazing experience, and I look forward to answering more questions in 2009!
- In May 2008, I finally published my travel guide through Amazon's Kindle device and as a PDF on my website. I followed up with a new, 2009 version both on Kindle and on the website.
- I revised the website. Completely! It suits my purposes for now, but I'm sure I'll be tweaking it again soon... never really satisfied.
- I am really amazed that over 40 people have submitted almost 450 pictures on my Simplifying Las Vegas Flickr group! If you have cool pictures of Las Vegas, please submit them.
- I have a guest blogger, Andrew Yoelin, whose 50 years of Vegas memories and tidbits will continue to appear on this blog in 2009. Thanks, Andrew, for sharing your great stories!
- I have had some great responses from my survey... and, by the way, today is the last day to fill out a survey for your chance to win December's Las Vegas luggage tag.
Well, that's all I can think of for now. It's time to rest up for New Year's Eve festivities. I wish everyone a very happy, healthy New Year.
Viva,
Mike
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Happy Holidays!
Hi all,
First, I know it's a little early, but I want to wish everyone happy holidays and good luck for the New Year. I may not get a chance to do so next week because it's Santa Eve, and I may be busy buying my wife last minute gifts. As I am going to Vegas in January with friends, it's a good idea to keep her happy. Anyway, may all your double-downs pay off, and may all your come-out rolls be seven in 2009.
Ok, now on to some more Vegas-specific stuff:
Thanks all and again, Happy Holidays!
Viva,
Mike
First, I know it's a little early, but I want to wish everyone happy holidays and good luck for the New Year. I may not get a chance to do so next week because it's Santa Eve, and I may be busy buying my wife last minute gifts. As I am going to Vegas in January with friends, it's a good idea to keep her happy. Anyway, may all your double-downs pay off, and may all your come-out rolls be seven in 2009.
Ok, now on to some more Vegas-specific stuff:
- TI has been sold from MGM to the dude who used to own the Frontier (Phil Ruffin) for a cool $775 million. Don't know what this means in terms of the property yet, but MGM still has a lot of properties, and it does not sound like it's one of those deals where the place will be imploded and built anew. However, that's just my guess and is pure speculation as there are no details about what will happen to TI as of yet.
- Not to say "I told ya so" but I told ya so. For years now, I've been predicting that the Strip would soon start to price itself out of the average joe market, which would leave lots of opportunities for downtown. A December 2 news item from the Las Vegas Advisor reports that cab drivers are frequently driving tourists off Strip to places like In-n-Out burger because Strip prices are too high. It looks like downtown is starting to benefit from budget-conscious travelers due to recent economic conditions. I think that downtown has a unique (but probably limited) window here to really capture some of the Strip visitors. If they can provide top-notch entertainment, spiff up the streets and casinos a bit, and offer a great bargain, they'll make converts out of some Strip-only folks. It could happen. Will it? Stay tuned...
- Finally, please don't forget that you still have two weeks to fill out a survey to win a free, cool luggage tag. Good luck!
Thanks all and again, Happy Holidays!
Viva,
Mike
Friday, December 12, 2008
Guest Blogger
Hi Vegas fans,
This week, we are treated to another excerpt from Andrew Yoelin's 50 years of Vegas memories. Here's Andrew's take on some of the hotels that have graced the Strip over the years...
MGM Grand
The original MGM Grand (now Bally’s) was a lot of fun. I went there in 1974, spring-break and one night we went to Jai Lai. Jai Lai is a very popular game in south America and is played with a bent wooden racket, which is more “catcher” than racket and the players play on a court called a “fronton”. My friends were busy betting unknown players in a relatively unknown game, losing $5 bet after $5 bet. I, on the other hand, had discovered that they served Hebrew National Hot Dogs at the concession stand. I ate three, called my Dad to tell him about the hot dogs, ate one more and we left. Best hot dog I ever ate.
At some point, my family was in Vegas, around 1970, and we were recommended Battista’s Hole in the Wall, across the street from the original MGM. It’s still there but either my tastes have changed or the recipes have. Back then it was honest, delicious Italian food and Battista would sing. Beautiful voice.
In 1990, I made friends with a relative of Bernie Rothkopf. Mr. Bernie Rothkopf was president of the MGM Grand, hand-picked by Kirk Kirkorian to run the joint. Bernie had been in the casino business in Vegas since the forties and he knew his stuff. We stayed there about two weeks before the MGM Grand fire, which devastated Bernie.
My friend, Bernie’s relative, got drunk one night and played blackjack. The next day a man approached my friend, a man he’d never seen before and the man said, “I’m Bernie’s head of security. Don’t take a hit card on a hard 18. It’s stupid”. My friend had been spotted by security and identified without knowing it was Bernie’s relative and without Bernie ever knowing. You think that’s good security, that was 30 years ago; imagine how tight it is now.
Here’s the best Bernie Rothkopf story: back in those days, before celebrity chefs, the major hotels in Vegas each had five or six restaurants, different themes, all owned by the hotel. So, the MGM Grand had, for example, a deli, a Japanese/ Chinese restaurant, a Victorian Steak House, etc.
So, one night, Mr. Rothkopf took all of us to the steak house. I remember it being very loud. Lot’s of people, dish-noise, just loud restaurant noise. But when Bernie said anything, even in his low speaking voice, it was as if it got quiet because...I don’t know why...because he was such a big-shot? His voice was like the Red Sea parting...
The food comes out, I’m eating, talking to one of my friends, and out of the corner of my eye, I see Bernie nod to the restaurant’s Captain, and say, “Who’s cooking tonight”? The Captain responded, “Tony”, and Bernie requested Tony’s presence immediately.
Tony came out of the kitchen, sweating from the crush of business but soon sweating because, after all, this was ‘the man’. Bernie said, “Tony. What did I tell you about the potatoes the last time I was here”? Tony responded, “You told me not to burn them”. They were twice-backed or something. Bernie said, “Do these look burned to you”? Tony responded they did. When Tony left the table I swear to you I thought he would be buried in the desert. All because he burnt Bernie’s potatoes.
Did Tony die over potatoes? I don’t know for sure. But it felt like he was going someplace not good.
Landmark
On that same Spring Break trip of 1974 I’ve talked about, the first night in Vegas, we went crazy. Drank to excess, lost all my money, lost track of my friends, so I had to walk from the MGM Grand to an off-strip hotel by the International, now the Hilton International. I was so blitzed that when the Landmark Hotel stood in my way, I decided the best shortcut was to go through the hotel. Which is silly because at no time in the history of Vegas can/could you ever get out of the back of a hotel.
I proceeded through the casino, through a coffee shop, and through the kitchen—some chef was making a Chef Salad with Julianne of ham, turkey, cheese and I, acting as though I was management, tasted the turkey and cheese and instructed this poor kitchen worker to “slice them smaller” as I champed on my stolen samples.
I walked out a back kitchen door, in a suit and tie, and climbed a 20 foot tall cinder block fence. What sense did this make? None. I was a drunk college kid and it wasn’t a short cut, it was dangerous and stupid and the view was of trash cans, not of a neon-lit Vegas skyline.
This week, we are treated to another excerpt from Andrew Yoelin's 50 years of Vegas memories. Here's Andrew's take on some of the hotels that have graced the Strip over the years...
MGM Grand
The original MGM Grand (now Bally’s) was a lot of fun. I went there in 1974, spring-break and one night we went to Jai Lai. Jai Lai is a very popular game in south America and is played with a bent wooden racket, which is more “catcher” than racket and the players play on a court called a “fronton”. My friends were busy betting unknown players in a relatively unknown game, losing $5 bet after $5 bet. I, on the other hand, had discovered that they served Hebrew National Hot Dogs at the concession stand. I ate three, called my Dad to tell him about the hot dogs, ate one more and we left. Best hot dog I ever ate.
At some point, my family was in Vegas, around 1970, and we were recommended Battista’s Hole in the Wall, across the street from the original MGM. It’s still there but either my tastes have changed or the recipes have. Back then it was honest, delicious Italian food and Battista would sing. Beautiful voice.
In 1990, I made friends with a relative of Bernie Rothkopf. Mr. Bernie Rothkopf was president of the MGM Grand, hand-picked by Kirk Kirkorian to run the joint. Bernie had been in the casino business in Vegas since the forties and he knew his stuff. We stayed there about two weeks before the MGM Grand fire, which devastated Bernie.
My friend, Bernie’s relative, got drunk one night and played blackjack. The next day a man approached my friend, a man he’d never seen before and the man said, “I’m Bernie’s head of security. Don’t take a hit card on a hard 18. It’s stupid”. My friend had been spotted by security and identified without knowing it was Bernie’s relative and without Bernie ever knowing. You think that’s good security, that was 30 years ago; imagine how tight it is now.
Here’s the best Bernie Rothkopf story: back in those days, before celebrity chefs, the major hotels in Vegas each had five or six restaurants, different themes, all owned by the hotel. So, the MGM Grand had, for example, a deli, a Japanese/ Chinese restaurant, a Victorian Steak House, etc.
So, one night, Mr. Rothkopf took all of us to the steak house. I remember it being very loud. Lot’s of people, dish-noise, just loud restaurant noise. But when Bernie said anything, even in his low speaking voice, it was as if it got quiet because...I don’t know why...because he was such a big-shot? His voice was like the Red Sea parting...
The food comes out, I’m eating, talking to one of my friends, and out of the corner of my eye, I see Bernie nod to the restaurant’s Captain, and say, “Who’s cooking tonight”? The Captain responded, “Tony”, and Bernie requested Tony’s presence immediately.
Tony came out of the kitchen, sweating from the crush of business but soon sweating because, after all, this was ‘the man’. Bernie said, “Tony. What did I tell you about the potatoes the last time I was here”? Tony responded, “You told me not to burn them”. They were twice-backed or something. Bernie said, “Do these look burned to you”? Tony responded they did. When Tony left the table I swear to you I thought he would be buried in the desert. All because he burnt Bernie’s potatoes.
Did Tony die over potatoes? I don’t know for sure. But it felt like he was going someplace not good.
Landmark
On that same Spring Break trip of 1974 I’ve talked about, the first night in Vegas, we went crazy. Drank to excess, lost all my money, lost track of my friends, so I had to walk from the MGM Grand to an off-strip hotel by the International, now the Hilton International. I was so blitzed that when the Landmark Hotel stood in my way, I decided the best shortcut was to go through the hotel. Which is silly because at no time in the history of Vegas can/could you ever get out of the back of a hotel.
I proceeded through the casino, through a coffee shop, and through the kitchen—some chef was making a Chef Salad with Julianne of ham, turkey, cheese and I, acting as though I was management, tasted the turkey and cheese and instructed this poor kitchen worker to “slice them smaller” as I champed on my stolen samples.
I walked out a back kitchen door, in a suit and tie, and climbed a 20 foot tall cinder block fence. What sense did this make? None. I was a drunk college kid and it wasn’t a short cut, it was dangerous and stupid and the view was of trash cans, not of a neon-lit Vegas skyline.
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Guest Blogger: Andrew Yoelin's 50 Years of Vegas Memories
This week I'm proud to introduce a Vegas Veteran as a guest blogger. Andrew Yoelin has been going to Las Vegas for 50 years and has provided me with some fantastic stories and memories. I wanted to share them with you all, and he has graciously agreed to let me do so. Here's Andrew's first installment; I hope you enjoy it!
My earliest Vegas memory would be having my fifth (5th) birthday at the Dome of the Sea Restaurant, free-standing really, at the base of the Dunes Hotel. I remember my mother ordering me Chicken Kiev and when it arrived, she said, “Watch this” and she cut into it and it spurt butter and cheese. Come on! It doesn’t get any better than that. Well, yes it does. We left dinner and went to The Sands and saw Sammy Davis, Jr.
Let me tell you how talented Sammy Davis, Jr. was: many people don’t even know he played the drums but by the time I graduated high school, I’d seen all the great drummers of the day: Gene Krupa, Buddy Rich, Joe Morello, Jon Bonham, Ringo, who am I leaving out? Sammy was better than all of them. All of them. No, I never heard Sammy Davis Jr. play “Stairway to Heaven” but judging drummers for drumming, Sammy was better than all of them....
One night, if it wasn’t my 5th birthday trip, it was soon after, the whole family walked out of a Judy Garland show. I think this was at The Sands. If I knew who she was at the time, I might have recalled more, but I was a little kid, unimpressed; she didn’t look a lot like Dorothy in Oz, but she was so blitzed, slurring her words, so out of her mind that my Dad said, “Let’s get the hell outta here. She’s a mess.” And she was. Bad night for Judy.
I remember lounge shows. Back in the sixties, the major hotels had “the big room” and “lounge shows.” Younger readers shouldn’t confuse these lounge shows with today’s definition of “lounge singer=bad.” Back then, you could catch rising stars in the lounge. I saw Don Rickles in a lounge show. Later, of course, I saw Rickles in the big room; he made a big deal about the “move.” I saw Rich Little, the best impressionist in a lounge show. I saw Lou Rawls in a lounge show with about 10 other people. And instead of being bitter or taking it out on the audience, he was a real pro. He sang for over an hour and at the end of the show, since he hadn’t sung my favorite, “Dead-End Street” and yelled, “Oh! Mr. Rawls. Pleased don’t leave with singing Dead-End Street! He stopped, I mean he could hear me even with all ten people clapping, turned around, the band automatically followed him and by God, they sang the song. Then he came over with a huge smile and shook my hand. What a gentleman!
I saw “Fat” Jack Leonard, an Ed Sullivan regular in a lounge show. He was funny. As a matter of fact, I saw Ed Sullivan playing blackjack; I never know how small he was, like five feet tall.
From the Lou Rawls lounge show, the same night, we grabbed a cab to see Tony Bennett. What was Frank Sinatra’s quote about Tony Bennett? Something like, “For my money, he’s the best in the business” and he certainly was for 50 years.
After the show, that same night, I was on the house phones making reservations at The Bacchanal, a great restaurant in Caesar’s Palace. “An orgy of food and wine” they would say. Walking alone, I would suppose on his way to his room was Tony Bennett. I was vastly over-served, threw down the phone, scared the hell out of Mr. Bennett just trying to say a drunken “hello.” He was glad to get out of there.
And I saw Shecky Green, a brilliant stand-up comic, in a lounge show, about 50 or 75 times. Sometimes we’d go to the early show and the midnight show. Every show with Shecky was different. He may well have begun a “bit” the same but he would switch-up and start talking about a whole different subject, ergo: a whole new bit. Shecky was sort of like Don Rickles except most of the fun being poked was at himself. A little of the audience but far more self-deprecating.
One summer, must have been 1969 or 1970, we saw two shows a night for three straight nights. Laughed our asses off! I remember in between shows ordering an “Irish Sanka”, laughing myself silly because of the lack of caffeine. Who cares?
I’ve met people through the years that didn’t “get” him, didn’t find him funny. Probably the same guy who booed Santa in Phili. He was a great comic that never made the move to movies.
Next week: more on Andrew's take on entertainers and hotels in Vegas. Stay tuned!
Viva,
Mike
My earliest Vegas memory would be having my fifth (5th) birthday at the Dome of the Sea Restaurant, free-standing really, at the base of the Dunes Hotel. I remember my mother ordering me Chicken Kiev and when it arrived, she said, “Watch this” and she cut into it and it spurt butter and cheese. Come on! It doesn’t get any better than that. Well, yes it does. We left dinner and went to The Sands and saw Sammy Davis, Jr.
Let me tell you how talented Sammy Davis, Jr. was: many people don’t even know he played the drums but by the time I graduated high school, I’d seen all the great drummers of the day: Gene Krupa, Buddy Rich, Joe Morello, Jon Bonham, Ringo, who am I leaving out? Sammy was better than all of them. All of them. No, I never heard Sammy Davis Jr. play “Stairway to Heaven” but judging drummers for drumming, Sammy was better than all of them....
One night, if it wasn’t my 5th birthday trip, it was soon after, the whole family walked out of a Judy Garland show. I think this was at The Sands. If I knew who she was at the time, I might have recalled more, but I was a little kid, unimpressed; she didn’t look a lot like Dorothy in Oz, but she was so blitzed, slurring her words, so out of her mind that my Dad said, “Let’s get the hell outta here. She’s a mess.” And she was. Bad night for Judy.
I remember lounge shows. Back in the sixties, the major hotels had “the big room” and “lounge shows.” Younger readers shouldn’t confuse these lounge shows with today’s definition of “lounge singer=bad.” Back then, you could catch rising stars in the lounge. I saw Don Rickles in a lounge show. Later, of course, I saw Rickles in the big room; he made a big deal about the “move.” I saw Rich Little, the best impressionist in a lounge show. I saw Lou Rawls in a lounge show with about 10 other people. And instead of being bitter or taking it out on the audience, he was a real pro. He sang for over an hour and at the end of the show, since he hadn’t sung my favorite, “Dead-End Street” and yelled, “Oh! Mr. Rawls. Pleased don’t leave with singing Dead-End Street! He stopped, I mean he could hear me even with all ten people clapping, turned around, the band automatically followed him and by God, they sang the song. Then he came over with a huge smile and shook my hand. What a gentleman!
I saw “Fat” Jack Leonard, an Ed Sullivan regular in a lounge show. He was funny. As a matter of fact, I saw Ed Sullivan playing blackjack; I never know how small he was, like five feet tall.
From the Lou Rawls lounge show, the same night, we grabbed a cab to see Tony Bennett. What was Frank Sinatra’s quote about Tony Bennett? Something like, “For my money, he’s the best in the business” and he certainly was for 50 years.
After the show, that same night, I was on the house phones making reservations at The Bacchanal, a great restaurant in Caesar’s Palace. “An orgy of food and wine” they would say. Walking alone, I would suppose on his way to his room was Tony Bennett. I was vastly over-served, threw down the phone, scared the hell out of Mr. Bennett just trying to say a drunken “hello.” He was glad to get out of there.
And I saw Shecky Green, a brilliant stand-up comic, in a lounge show, about 50 or 75 times. Sometimes we’d go to the early show and the midnight show. Every show with Shecky was different. He may well have begun a “bit” the same but he would switch-up and start talking about a whole different subject, ergo: a whole new bit. Shecky was sort of like Don Rickles except most of the fun being poked was at himself. A little of the audience but far more self-deprecating.
One summer, must have been 1969 or 1970, we saw two shows a night for three straight nights. Laughed our asses off! I remember in between shows ordering an “Irish Sanka”, laughing myself silly because of the lack of caffeine. Who cares?
I’ve met people through the years that didn’t “get” him, didn’t find him funny. Probably the same guy who booed Santa in Phili. He was a great comic that never made the move to movies.
Next week: more on Andrew's take on entertainers and hotels in Vegas. Stay tuned!
Viva,
Mike
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Viva Thanksgiving!
First, Happy Thanksgiving to everyone! I know it's a few days early, but I'm going to be busy as a beaver (or a turkey, I guess) these next few days, so you're getting your weekly dose of Vegas stuff and a holiday wish today.
For those of you who are planning to be in Sin City for Turkey Day, check out the Las Vegas Review-Journal's 2008 article on places to eat (including restaurants, buffets, and take outs):
http://www.reviewjournal.com/entertainment/events/thanksgiving/
Yum, yum!
I have a lot to be thankful for this year! I published my book this year and redesigned my Vegas website a bunch of times. I've been a Las Vegas Advisor Question of the Day expert a few times. I've had a lot of people fill out my surveys, form for a free itinerary, take my quizes, and over 25 people have submitted pictures to my Flickr group. Fun, fun, fun! And still, I have a lot of work to do, so I'll have even more to be thankful for soon enough.
I've got a great job, a nice house, an awesome car, and I'm safe. I'm thankful for that.
But most importantly, I'm thankful for my family and friends. My wife, Martha, has been very patient with me as I stare at a computer screen all day and all night. My parents celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary this year (and Martha and I celebrated #5!). I've reconneced with some old friends, who will be joining me in Vegas in January, and I've stayed in touch with many others through the years.
This year, I'll be celebrating Thanksgiving with my in-laws, who I love dearly and can't wait to see. I'm thankful for so much, and I have a lot to be thankful for. I'm a lucky person, even when I lose in Vegas. I wish you the same.
Viva,
Mike
For those of you who are planning to be in Sin City for Turkey Day, check out the Las Vegas Review-Journal's 2008 article on places to eat (including restaurants, buffets, and take outs):
http://www.reviewjournal.com/entertainment/events/thanksgiving/
Yum, yum!
I have a lot to be thankful for this year! I published my book this year and redesigned my Vegas website a bunch of times. I've been a Las Vegas Advisor Question of the Day expert a few times. I've had a lot of people fill out my surveys, form for a free itinerary, take my quizes, and over 25 people have submitted pictures to my Flickr group. Fun, fun, fun! And still, I have a lot of work to do, so I'll have even more to be thankful for soon enough.
I've got a great job, a nice house, an awesome car, and I'm safe. I'm thankful for that.
But most importantly, I'm thankful for my family and friends. My wife, Martha, has been very patient with me as I stare at a computer screen all day and all night. My parents celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary this year (and Martha and I celebrated #5!). I've reconneced with some old friends, who will be joining me in Vegas in January, and I've stayed in touch with many others through the years.
This year, I'll be celebrating Thanksgiving with my in-laws, who I love dearly and can't wait to see. I'm thankful for so much, and I have a lot to be thankful for. I'm a lucky person, even when I lose in Vegas. I wish you the same.
Viva,
Mike
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Upcoming QoD
Tomorrow I answer another Question of the Day for the Las Vegas Advisor (http://www.lasvegasadvisor.com). This one is about the old "Free Aspirin & Tender Sympathy" sign that used to live on the Strip. Tune in to the Las Vegas Advisor and click on the Question of the Day to see how I tackle this one...
Also, I'm posting a new trivia quiz today. Did you take last week's quiz? How did you do? Answers are posted on the Community tab.
There's still a few tabs I want to add to the website, but for now I think it's in good shape. I will be addressing, no doubt, a bunch of free itinerary requests after the QoD appears on the LVA, so that will keep me busy for a while.
There's a few new shows and some closings in Vegas, as always, so I'll need to update the tables soon. But for now, I'm going to see how many hits I get to the site after the QoD. I'm also thinking a lot about my next trip, scheduled for January. Can't wait!
Until next time...
Viva,
Mike
Also, I'm posting a new trivia quiz today. Did you take last week's quiz? How did you do? Answers are posted on the Community tab.
There's still a few tabs I want to add to the website, but for now I think it's in good shape. I will be addressing, no doubt, a bunch of free itinerary requests after the QoD appears on the LVA, so that will keep me busy for a while.
There's a few new shows and some closings in Vegas, as always, so I'll need to update the tables soon. But for now, I'm going to see how many hits I get to the site after the QoD. I'm also thinking a lot about my next trip, scheduled for January. Can't wait!
Until next time...
Viva,
Mike
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
New look to the Simplifying Las Vegas website
It took a lot of work, but I restyled the website. Whew! I have some new features, such as a trivia quiz, new reader poll, etc. and I've moved some stuff around for easier access. Please check it out (http://www.simplifyinglasvegas.com/) and let me know what you think...
I also updated the books for 2009. The Kindle version took a while, what with the html code and all. The PDF version was a bit easier, especially after I updated the tables on the website. Still, I'm glad it's behind me and now I can monitor how the site is doing, what people think of it, etc.
I am pleased that folks are joining my Flickr group and adding pics and commenting on them. I wish this would result in more people visiting the site and taking advantage of the free stuff, fun stuff, and so on. But it just ain't happenin' yet. It's a little discouraging... I'm spending a lot of time and effort to update information, redesign the site, etc., and I'm having a very difficult time driving people there. I know I need a more aggressive marketing campaign, but I don't really have time or money right now to do that. This is still officially a hobby, and my full time job and life keep me pretty busy. Alas, I am going to press on...
So, enjoy the site, the pictures, the trivia quiz, the poll, the survey for your chance to win a free luggage tag, the blog, the tables, and while you're at it buy a book! 8)
Viva,
Mike
I also updated the books for 2009. The Kindle version took a while, what with the html code and all. The PDF version was a bit easier, especially after I updated the tables on the website. Still, I'm glad it's behind me and now I can monitor how the site is doing, what people think of it, etc.
I am pleased that folks are joining my Flickr group and adding pics and commenting on them. I wish this would result in more people visiting the site and taking advantage of the free stuff, fun stuff, and so on. But it just ain't happenin' yet. It's a little discouraging... I'm spending a lot of time and effort to update information, redesign the site, etc., and I'm having a very difficult time driving people there. I know I need a more aggressive marketing campaign, but I don't really have time or money right now to do that. This is still officially a hobby, and my full time job and life keep me pretty busy. Alas, I am going to press on...
So, enjoy the site, the pictures, the trivia quiz, the poll, the survey for your chance to win a free luggage tag, the blog, the tables, and while you're at it buy a book! 8)
Viva,
Mike
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
More Do's and Don'ts
Hi all,
Continuing on last week's theme...
DON'T: Drive slow in the left lane. This applies to all cities, but especially in Vegas. For the love of God, please help me keep my blood pressure down and just get outta the way if you're gonna drive slow. While I'm at it, this goes for walking, too. Thanks in advance.
DO: Tip cocktail waitresses. Sometimes I pre-tip them $1 to let them know I'm a good George. Sometimes they bring my drinks faster, sometimes they go behind the bar and point/laugh at me. Either way, I'm no stiff. I always tip $1 per round (at least), and these gals work hard for their money, and remember sometimes it's not their fault if your drink is wrong or takes a while to get there. Like mom always says, "Be nice. Or I'll slap you silly." I have a tough mom.
DON'T: Play roulette with a double-zero wheel. You're just throwing your money away. Try a single-zero wheel if you must play because the odds are better, and only use a little of your gambling money to do so. While you're at it, stay away from keno and those big wheels that they spin where you try to guess which dollar it will stop on. What is our fascination with shiny, spinny things?
DO: Tip your dealer. See DO above. Unless you've had a bad experience (and getting stiffs doesn't count, I mean they've gotta sing outta tune loudly, throw cards or dice at you, etc), you should tip them either while you are playing, before they go on break, or both. They don't expect it if you're losing horribly, but it's still nice to give them something for the effort.
DON'T: Be afraid to give craps a try. While it may look complicated and intimidating, in terms of excitement and a low house edge it's one of the best values in the casino. If you can learn the basic rules and how to make a few simple bets, and get just a little lucky, you might find that the craps table is one of the highlights of your trip.
DO: Be aware of where your drink is. Spilling a drink on the table is a waste of booze and a pain in the butt for everyone around you.
DON'T: Get ill humored with the dealer. While kidding around with them about how they are cruel and horrible to beat your 20 with their 21 is fun, it's just plain lame and obnoxious to act as if they are truly trying to make you lose. They don't control the cards, they just turn them over. Keep it all in good fun.
DO: Visit my website where you'll get lots of great information about Vegas. Plus, you can win a cool luggage tag, see lots of great pictures from my Flickr group, buy my book for more tips about Vegas, and much, much more!
Viva,
Mike
Continuing on last week's theme...
DON'T: Drive slow in the left lane. This applies to all cities, but especially in Vegas. For the love of God, please help me keep my blood pressure down and just get outta the way if you're gonna drive slow. While I'm at it, this goes for walking, too. Thanks in advance.
DO: Tip cocktail waitresses. Sometimes I pre-tip them $1 to let them know I'm a good George. Sometimes they bring my drinks faster, sometimes they go behind the bar and point/laugh at me. Either way, I'm no stiff. I always tip $1 per round (at least), and these gals work hard for their money, and remember sometimes it's not their fault if your drink is wrong or takes a while to get there. Like mom always says, "Be nice. Or I'll slap you silly." I have a tough mom.
DON'T: Play roulette with a double-zero wheel. You're just throwing your money away. Try a single-zero wheel if you must play because the odds are better, and only use a little of your gambling money to do so. While you're at it, stay away from keno and those big wheels that they spin where you try to guess which dollar it will stop on. What is our fascination with shiny, spinny things?
DO: Tip your dealer. See DO above. Unless you've had a bad experience (and getting stiffs doesn't count, I mean they've gotta sing outta tune loudly, throw cards or dice at you, etc), you should tip them either while you are playing, before they go on break, or both. They don't expect it if you're losing horribly, but it's still nice to give them something for the effort.
DON'T: Be afraid to give craps a try. While it may look complicated and intimidating, in terms of excitement and a low house edge it's one of the best values in the casino. If you can learn the basic rules and how to make a few simple bets, and get just a little lucky, you might find that the craps table is one of the highlights of your trip.
DO: Be aware of where your drink is. Spilling a drink on the table is a waste of booze and a pain in the butt for everyone around you.
DON'T: Get ill humored with the dealer. While kidding around with them about how they are cruel and horrible to beat your 20 with their 21 is fun, it's just plain lame and obnoxious to act as if they are truly trying to make you lose. They don't control the cards, they just turn them over. Keep it all in good fun.
DO: Visit my website where you'll get lots of great information about Vegas. Plus, you can win a cool luggage tag, see lots of great pictures from my Flickr group, buy my book for more tips about Vegas, and much, much more!
Viva,
Mike
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Vegas Do's and Don'ts
The Travel Chanel has specials on Vegas all the time. One of their traditional shows is a "what to do and what not to do in Vegas" episode. I have my own take on this:
DO: Prepare yourself for your trip by remembering ibuprofen, antacids, and band-aids (for those blisters you'll get on your feet). You may be inclined to walk a lot, eat/drink a lot, and fall down a lot while cruising the Strip. Be prepared.
DON'T: Be in a hurry. Depending on when you go to Vegas and what you want to do, you may be stuck in lines (for buffets, for clubs, waiting for a $5 table, etc.) and stuck in traffic, especially on the Strip. Be patient; it's well worth the wait.
DO: Study the games you want to play (beginning gamblers) and practice the games before you go to Vegas (beginners through advanced):
DO: Prepare yourself for your trip by remembering ibuprofen, antacids, and band-aids (for those blisters you'll get on your feet). You may be inclined to walk a lot, eat/drink a lot, and fall down a lot while cruising the Strip. Be prepared.
DON'T: Be in a hurry. Depending on when you go to Vegas and what you want to do, you may be stuck in lines (for buffets, for clubs, waiting for a $5 table, etc.) and stuck in traffic, especially on the Strip. Be patient; it's well worth the wait.
DO: Study the games you want to play (beginning gamblers) and practice the games before you go to Vegas (beginners through advanced):
- Take out a deck of cards and deal yourself some blackjack; study a basic strategy chart (available in my book, by the way) so that you're not making bad moves/bets at the tables.
- If you play video poker, there are a lot of great sites where you can practice and buy software to simulate the machines in Vegas. Bob Dancer is an expert - try his website.
- For many games, you can take lessons at the casino.
- If you play slots, well, practice pushing a button or pulling a lever.
DON'T: Sit at the table for a year, trying to decide what to do. Hit or stand? Back up your Come bet with odds? If you don't know the answer to the question pretty quickly, you're in trouble. You should practice (see DO above) before you get to Vegas. Taking a long time to make a decision is bad for you because it usually means you're going on luck or hunches, and it's annoying to everyone else at the table who is in a hurry to lose their money.
DO: Take a break and see the sights, regardless of whether you are winning or losing. Walk outside, watch the fountain show at Bellagio, talk to crazy people on the street, whatever. A break in the action will do your weary degenerate gambling soul some good.
More next week!
Viva,
Mike
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Where are the discounts?
With the economy in not-so-great shape and Las Vegas tourism struggling, I'm surprised that there are not more discount offers from hotels, airlines, and travel sites. I did a quick search, picking sites at random and found that there's not a ton of interest in getting the average, thrifty visitors to Las Vegas.
The airlines and travel sites have their usual discounts listed, but nothing to suggest that there's a reduction in bookings. I'm expecting more widespread promitions like I found on Vegas.com, which has a big banner announcing savings of up to $200. Or the giant HOT DEALS button on the Riviera's site.
I also haven't received any offers via mail or e-mail. Now my action is not such that I'll get a ton of offers, but I usually receive something once or twice per year, at least. I would expect that during this crunch, casinos would start reaching out a little farther to entice folks.
Without a little more aggressive marketing and promotions for discount offers, the Las Vegas tourism industry is going to continue to see declining numbers until the economy picks up, which, from all indications, could be 6 months to 1 year.
I guess I'm surprised - mostly because they hit their target markets pretty heavily during the good times. Why not extend that to travelers when they don't have as many dollars in their pockets???
Viva,
Mike
The airlines and travel sites have their usual discounts listed, but nothing to suggest that there's a reduction in bookings. I'm expecting more widespread promitions like I found on Vegas.com, which has a big banner announcing savings of up to $200. Or the giant HOT DEALS button on the Riviera's site.
I also haven't received any offers via mail or e-mail. Now my action is not such that I'll get a ton of offers, but I usually receive something once or twice per year, at least. I would expect that during this crunch, casinos would start reaching out a little farther to entice folks.
Without a little more aggressive marketing and promotions for discount offers, the Las Vegas tourism industry is going to continue to see declining numbers until the economy picks up, which, from all indications, could be 6 months to 1 year.
I guess I'm surprised - mostly because they hit their target markets pretty heavily during the good times. Why not extend that to travelers when they don't have as many dollars in their pockets???
Viva,
Mike
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
News & Coming Attractions
Hi all,
Vegas News:
According to the Las Vegas Advisor and the Las Vegas Sun, Cher has cancelled all of shows at Caesars Palace through the end of the year due to a health issue. If you have purchased tickets, you can get a refund for tickets if you've purchased them.
Simplifying Las Vegas News:
I'm very excited about what's coming up for Simplifying Las Vegas. It's going to take a little time, but it'll be really cool when it's done.
Website:
New tabs, new design, new reader poll, and a trivia quiz for fun.
Book:
The 2009 version of SLV is in the works, and it'll be even more packed with goodies than the first version.
In the meantime, if you have suggestions or requests for the website or book, please send me an email. I'm always happy to hear from you!
Viva,
Mike
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
New Survey Winner, New Reader Poll
Hi Vegas fans,
First, contrats go out to Bess from New York, who was this month's winner of the cool luggage tag. Didn't win this month? Fill out the survey to try to win for October. Good luck!
Second, I've decided to start a poll. No, not a stripper poll - there's already plenty of those in Vegas. This is a reader poll. At first I was going to start with a lame topic, like "what's your favorite free show in Vegas?" But then I thought I'd save the lame ones for later, when I run out of ideas. Instead, I started with one that anyone could answer, regardless of whether you've never been to Sin City or have visited there a million times: "What's the best part of planning a trip to Vegas?" Answer it and see others' answers on my site.
With the economic crisis, it's actually a good time to plan a trip to Vegas. You'll get good rates right now, and if you plan far enough ahead, you may even be able to withdraw money from your bank so you can gamble while you're there!
Viva,
Mike
First, contrats go out to Bess from New York, who was this month's winner of the cool luggage tag. Didn't win this month? Fill out the survey to try to win for October. Good luck!
Second, I've decided to start a poll. No, not a stripper poll - there's already plenty of those in Vegas. This is a reader poll. At first I was going to start with a lame topic, like "what's your favorite free show in Vegas?" But then I thought I'd save the lame ones for later, when I run out of ideas. Instead, I started with one that anyone could answer, regardless of whether you've never been to Sin City or have visited there a million times: "What's the best part of planning a trip to Vegas?" Answer it and see others' answers on my site.
With the economic crisis, it's actually a good time to plan a trip to Vegas. You'll get good rates right now, and if you plan far enough ahead, you may even be able to withdraw money from your bank so you can gamble while you're there!
Viva,
Mike
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Another Successful Question of the Day
I was again fortunate to answer a Question of the Day for the Las Vegas Advisor this past Monday. The question was about booking your trip to Vegas, and I answered it by detailing the joys of looking for the best flight, room, and rental car prices online.
There was some great response - I had a lot of hits to my website, people filled out the form for a free itinerary, and some folks filled out the survey for a chance to win a luggage tag. A few Vegas lovers also purchased my book! Thanks to all - it's been quite a lot of fun, and I'm excited about the future of Simplifying Las Vegas.
There's only 1 week left to win the September luggage tag, so if you haven't filled out the survey yet, check out the site and do it now! Someone's gotta win it, why not you???
Four months from now, I'll be in Sin City... woo-hoo!
Viva,
Mike
There was some great response - I had a lot of hits to my website, people filled out the form for a free itinerary, and some folks filled out the survey for a chance to win a luggage tag. A few Vegas lovers also purchased my book! Thanks to all - it's been quite a lot of fun, and I'm excited about the future of Simplifying Las Vegas.
This weekend I'll be working on the site and on the 2009 version of the book. It's a lot of hard work (updates, research, etc.) but I enjoy it. I hope you enjoy the end result.
Four months from now, I'll be in Sin City... woo-hoo!
Viva,
Mike
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Vegas Myths and Facts
Today's topic discusses perception vs. reality in Sin City. Here's five myths and facts:
Myth: It's a bad idea to drive the Strip because it's always so dang crowded.
Fact: Yes, the Strip is frequently gridlocked. However, if you plan ahead, you can enjoy the sites and lights. Try driving early in the morning (before 11am) and later at night (after 11pm) to really enjoy the Strip. Stay in the left lane because most drivers are looking to turn off the Strip or into a casino parking lot in the right lane.
Myth: Taxis are cheap and you can pick them up anywhere on the Strip.
Fact: Taxis can be a good source of transportation if you are going to Vegas with a bunch of people who will be sharing the cost of the cab. However, if you are just going with one or two people, it may make more sense to rent a car. You can actually save money because taxis are expensive. I rented a car for $68 for a 4-day weekend trip in January. Considering that it would cost about $30~40 just for a trip to and from the airport in a cab, I think I got a good deal.
Also, by renting a car you can come and go as you please. You cannot pick up taxis on any street on the Strip; you have to pick them up at the taxi stand located at the hotel's portico. And you often have to wait to get one.
Myth: Anything goes in Vegas.
Fact: Well, almost anything. Heck, you can drink alcohol on the street, as long as you are not being a bozo and, of course, as long as you don't drive. However, you may be surprised to find that prostitution is illegal in Clarke County (that includes Vegas), so don't try it! There are houses of ill repute north of the city, but not in Vegas.
Myth: Shows are expensive, and tickets are very hard to get.
Fact: Some shows are priced at over $100 per ticket. But, you can often get tickets for great shows at great prices. A good friend of mine recently visited Vegas and recommends V-the Ultimate Variety Show at Planet Hollywood, ICE at the Riviera, and the Fab Four Beatles show at Planet Hollywood. I haven't seen these myself, but I've seen reviews and these shows look pretty great. Also, try Tix-4-tonight and Tickets2nite for 1/2 price tickets. They have tickets for specific shows, and you can get the tickets the same day as the show only. But they are worth checking out.
Tickets are not always hard to get. I have gone to Vegas without tickets for any shows and seen some great ones just by seeing what strikes my fancy once I get there. There are a lot of shows to see, so I'm sure you won't be disappointed!
Myth: Jump on a slot machine as soon as someone quits playing it, because chances are good that you'll hit a jackpot.
Fact: Um, no. These things are very, very random and will take your money regardless of whether someone else just lost or won $1000. There's no such thing as a lucky machine, a lucky spot in the casino (sorry, mom, I don't think the ones near the door are better than any others), and so on. If you must play slots, and I suggest you don't, your best bet is to play a progressive machine and play the maximum amount every time because you will only get bonuses and jackpots with "full coin in."
Well, that's it for this week. Maybe I'll include more next week. Send me your thoughts and questions about fact vs. fiction in Vegas.
Viva,
Mike
Myth: It's a bad idea to drive the Strip because it's always so dang crowded.
Fact: Yes, the Strip is frequently gridlocked. However, if you plan ahead, you can enjoy the sites and lights. Try driving early in the morning (before 11am) and later at night (after 11pm) to really enjoy the Strip. Stay in the left lane because most drivers are looking to turn off the Strip or into a casino parking lot in the right lane.
Myth: Taxis are cheap and you can pick them up anywhere on the Strip.
Fact: Taxis can be a good source of transportation if you are going to Vegas with a bunch of people who will be sharing the cost of the cab. However, if you are just going with one or two people, it may make more sense to rent a car. You can actually save money because taxis are expensive. I rented a car for $68 for a 4-day weekend trip in January. Considering that it would cost about $30~40 just for a trip to and from the airport in a cab, I think I got a good deal.
Also, by renting a car you can come and go as you please. You cannot pick up taxis on any street on the Strip; you have to pick them up at the taxi stand located at the hotel's portico. And you often have to wait to get one.
Myth: Anything goes in Vegas.
Fact: Well, almost anything. Heck, you can drink alcohol on the street, as long as you are not being a bozo and, of course, as long as you don't drive. However, you may be surprised to find that prostitution is illegal in Clarke County (that includes Vegas), so don't try it! There are houses of ill repute north of the city, but not in Vegas.
Myth: Shows are expensive, and tickets are very hard to get.
Fact: Some shows are priced at over $100 per ticket. But, you can often get tickets for great shows at great prices. A good friend of mine recently visited Vegas and recommends V-the Ultimate Variety Show at Planet Hollywood, ICE at the Riviera, and the Fab Four Beatles show at Planet Hollywood. I haven't seen these myself, but I've seen reviews and these shows look pretty great. Also, try Tix-4-tonight and Tickets2nite for 1/2 price tickets. They have tickets for specific shows, and you can get the tickets the same day as the show only. But they are worth checking out.
Tickets are not always hard to get. I have gone to Vegas without tickets for any shows and seen some great ones just by seeing what strikes my fancy once I get there. There are a lot of shows to see, so I'm sure you won't be disappointed!
Myth: Jump on a slot machine as soon as someone quits playing it, because chances are good that you'll hit a jackpot.
Fact: Um, no. These things are very, very random and will take your money regardless of whether someone else just lost or won $1000. There's no such thing as a lucky machine, a lucky spot in the casino (sorry, mom, I don't think the ones near the door are better than any others), and so on. If you must play slots, and I suggest you don't, your best bet is to play a progressive machine and play the maximum amount every time because you will only get bonuses and jackpots with "full coin in."
Well, that's it for this week. Maybe I'll include more next week. Send me your thoughts and questions about fact vs. fiction in Vegas.
Viva,
Mike
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
When's the Best Time To Go?
I'm often asked, "When is the best time to visit Las Vegas?" My response? Any time! But, all kidding aside, there are some times that may suit your type of vacation better than others.
Here are some thoughts:
Spring/Fall - the weather is best during these seasons. It's usually cool during the day, although you may get some rain. The crowds are a little bigger, but I found that they were not as bad as I had feared. Just make sure there are no major conventions or huge events going on when you are making your reservations. If you plan ahead, you can get good rates, too.
Winter - Many pools are closed (some heated ones are open year-round), and it can get a little cool. I avoid holidays, especially New Year's, when they close off the Strip to traffic and everyone goes nuts. Again, careful planning will allow you to enjoy less-crowded times and better rates.
Summer - Ok, yes, it's hot. Dang hot. But, I don't do much outside walking because I rent a car, and the casinos are often quite cold. So, it doesn't bother me. Rates are usually better during the summer, and the crowds are not as thick.
I've enjoyed Vegas every time I've ventured out there, and I just can't help but have the time of my life. Whether I'm gambling, seeing a show, or just people-watching, I enjoy Las Vegas year-round, and I hope you do, too!
Viva,
Mike
Spring
Here are some thoughts:
Spring/Fall - the weather is best during these seasons. It's usually cool during the day, although you may get some rain. The crowds are a little bigger, but I found that they were not as bad as I had feared. Just make sure there are no major conventions or huge events going on when you are making your reservations. If you plan ahead, you can get good rates, too.
Winter - Many pools are closed (some heated ones are open year-round), and it can get a little cool. I avoid holidays, especially New Year's, when they close off the Strip to traffic and everyone goes nuts. Again, careful planning will allow you to enjoy less-crowded times and better rates.
Summer - Ok, yes, it's hot. Dang hot. But, I don't do much outside walking because I rent a car, and the casinos are often quite cold. So, it doesn't bother me. Rates are usually better during the summer, and the crowds are not as thick.
I've enjoyed Vegas every time I've ventured out there, and I just can't help but have the time of my life. Whether I'm gambling, seeing a show, or just people-watching, I enjoy Las Vegas year-round, and I hope you do, too!
Viva,
Mike
Spring
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
Luggage Tag Giveaway!
Congrats to Roger from Bay City, MI for winning the August Las Vegas luggage tag! Thanks to everyone who filled out a survey. For your chance to win September's luggage tag, just go to the website and fill out the survey. I'll be updating the site yet again very soon, so stay tuned for new, cool stuff!
I have one of these on my laptop bag (which I keep my Kindle and lunch in, but not a laptop). It's a cool tag and has held up really great over a few months. When I go to Vegas in January, I'll put one on my suitcase so that I can recognize it when I pick it up at McCarran Airport.
Also new on the website - my Vegas pictures. Just go to the website and look in the top, left corner to link to my Flickr photos. I would love it if you have some Sin City snapshots to share, comments to post, etc. So log in and start Flickr-ing!
My January trip to Vegas is way too far away... but I'm still thinking about it. Sigh.
Viva,
Mike
I have one of these on my laptop bag (which I keep my Kindle and lunch in, but not a laptop). It's a cool tag and has held up really great over a few months. When I go to Vegas in January, I'll put one on my suitcase so that I can recognize it when I pick it up at McCarran Airport.
Also new on the website - my Vegas pictures. Just go to the website and look in the top, left corner to link to my Flickr photos. I would love it if you have some Sin City snapshots to share, comments to post, etc. So log in and start Flickr-ing!
My January trip to Vegas is way too far away... but I'm still thinking about it. Sigh.
Viva,
Mike
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
4 Days Left to win August luggage tag
Hi all,
Just wanted to remind you that there are still 4 days left to enter yourself in the drawing for a free, very cool Las Vegas luggage tag! Just visit my site (http://www.simplifyinglasvegas.com/) for details. A new drawing will be held at the end of September, so if you don't win this time, don't fret.
Also, new on the site is a place where you can view my favorite Vegas pictures and post your own in my Flickr group. Let's see some of your favorite pics of Vegas!
I so appreciate everyone's input and suggestions about the site, and I am currently thinking about ways that I can make it even better. It's a lot of work to keep up a site like this, but it's a labor of love. Thanks, Vegas fans, for your support. I look forward to future conversations about my home away from home, and I hope you are encouraged to simplify your trip to Las Vegas!
Viva,
Mike
Just wanted to remind you that there are still 4 days left to enter yourself in the drawing for a free, very cool Las Vegas luggage tag! Just visit my site (http://www.simplifyinglasvegas.com/) for details. A new drawing will be held at the end of September, so if you don't win this time, don't fret.
Also, new on the site is a place where you can view my favorite Vegas pictures and post your own in my Flickr group. Let's see some of your favorite pics of Vegas!
I so appreciate everyone's input and suggestions about the site, and I am currently thinking about ways that I can make it even better. It's a lot of work to keep up a site like this, but it's a labor of love. Thanks, Vegas fans, for your support. I look forward to future conversations about my home away from home, and I hope you are encouraged to simplify your trip to Las Vegas!
Viva,
Mike
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Exciting Stuff!
Hi all,
I was fortunate enough to answer yesterday's Question of the Day for the Las Vegas Advisor, a superb Las Vegas website. It was a follow-up for an earlier sports question I answered on July 3rd. I subsequently received a lot of hits to my site, lots of people filled out a form for a free itinerary, some filled out my survey to be in the running for a free Las Vegas luggage tag, and a few even purchased my book. I am so thankful!
I want to keep this momentum going, so please spread the word and tell everyone about Simplifying Las Vegas. I already have ideas for updating the website and book. Mostly, there are some categories I need to add, and I need to fine-tune some tips & tricks for making the most of your money. Now all I need is another few hours in the day. Oh well, sleep is overrated!
The good news is that I'll have another Question of the Day on the Las Vegas Advisor later this year. It'll be about booking your trip to Vegas, which surprisingly nobody really covers in any detail. It's something that I spend a lot of time researching, so I have a lot of advice on the topic. I'll let you know when that question will be coming out, so stay tuned.
In the mean time, I'm thinking a lot about my January trip to my favorite city. I can't wait to stay at the Flamingo, play some blackjack and craps, hang out with friends, eat at Battista's Hole in the Wall, and just have a good time. If any of you thinking about your next trip, please chime in and let me know what you'll be doing, where you'll be staying, etc.
Viva,
Mike
I was fortunate enough to answer yesterday's Question of the Day for the Las Vegas Advisor, a superb Las Vegas website. It was a follow-up for an earlier sports question I answered on July 3rd. I subsequently received a lot of hits to my site, lots of people filled out a form for a free itinerary, some filled out my survey to be in the running for a free Las Vegas luggage tag, and a few even purchased my book. I am so thankful!
I want to keep this momentum going, so please spread the word and tell everyone about Simplifying Las Vegas. I already have ideas for updating the website and book. Mostly, there are some categories I need to add, and I need to fine-tune some tips & tricks for making the most of your money. Now all I need is another few hours in the day. Oh well, sleep is overrated!
The good news is that I'll have another Question of the Day on the Las Vegas Advisor later this year. It'll be about booking your trip to Vegas, which surprisingly nobody really covers in any detail. It's something that I spend a lot of time researching, so I have a lot of advice on the topic. I'll let you know when that question will be coming out, so stay tuned.
In the mean time, I'm thinking a lot about my January trip to my favorite city. I can't wait to stay at the Flamingo, play some blackjack and craps, hang out with friends, eat at Battista's Hole in the Wall, and just have a good time. If any of you thinking about your next trip, please chime in and let me know what you'll be doing, where you'll be staying, etc.
Viva,
Mike
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Goin' to Vegas!
Have you been shopping for a Vegas vacation lately? Prices keep going up and down and up and down. They're making me seasick! The good news is that you can still find an affordable trip to Sin City. The bad news is that it may take you a little longer than it used to because you'll need to search more websites. I have found (this week, anyway) that Orbitz and Expedia have been offering the best prices for flights and hotel + flight options. It seems odd to me that these sites have lower airfare than even the airline sites, but I've seen stranger things in the travel biz.
More good news... at least for me, anyway! I've booked my January trip to Las Vegas, and I'm so very excited. I've even convinced some of my friends, who I've recently re-connected with at my high school reunion (won't say which one), to join me. I can't tell you how amped I am for this trip. I don't know how I'm gonna hold out for 5 months, but I'll just have to try.
We looked to the Imperial Palace, the Riveria, and the Flamingo for good deals on rooms. We finally decided to book rooms at the Flamingo, which I've never stayed at before, so if any of you have 'mingoed it up, please let me know what you think of this joint. I have gambled there before, with disastrous results. That pink bird likes to take my money! And I don't think I'll be eating any Cheeseburgers in Paradise, but there are some good restaurants in there.
I was also happy to learn that there is at least one heated pool open year-round, and they have a hot tub down there in the pool area. Pretty cool! And I'll take pics of their bird sanctuary area (I've never been) and post them... yes, 5 months from now, but if I can wait that long, I hope you can, too.
Don't forget to peruse my website and fill out the survey for a chance to win a cool luggage tag!
Viva,
Mike
More good news... at least for me, anyway! I've booked my January trip to Las Vegas, and I'm so very excited. I've even convinced some of my friends, who I've recently re-connected with at my high school reunion (won't say which one), to join me. I can't tell you how amped I am for this trip. I don't know how I'm gonna hold out for 5 months, but I'll just have to try.
We looked to the Imperial Palace, the Riveria, and the Flamingo for good deals on rooms. We finally decided to book rooms at the Flamingo, which I've never stayed at before, so if any of you have 'mingoed it up, please let me know what you think of this joint. I have gambled there before, with disastrous results. That pink bird likes to take my money! And I don't think I'll be eating any Cheeseburgers in Paradise, but there are some good restaurants in there.
I was also happy to learn that there is at least one heated pool open year-round, and they have a hot tub down there in the pool area. Pretty cool! And I'll take pics of their bird sanctuary area (I've never been) and post them... yes, 5 months from now, but if I can wait that long, I hope you can, too.
Don't forget to peruse my website and fill out the survey for a chance to win a cool luggage tag!
Viva,
Mike
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
Win a Free Luggage Tag!
That's right... you can win a free luggage tag, and all you have to do is fill out my survey. First, log in (or create a new account) at http://www.simplifyinglasvegas.com/. Then, after you peruse the website for a minute, click the survey link on the Members page. Fill out your info and submit the survey to be considered in the monthly drawing for the cool luggage tag! It comes complete with a tie, so you can easily attach it to your favorite bag. One entry per month per person. In other news... I'm planning my next trip to Vegas for late January. Prices are varying pretty wildly right now because gas prices are high (resulting in higher airfare) but hotels are lowering prices to lure people in. Still, the best way to book a trip is through a package deal. Check out some of the travel links on the Members page when you log into my site. It takes a few clicks, but you'll soon discover the best price for your next trip to Sin City.
I'm really looking forward to my trip in January... so much is changing (of course!) and will change between now and then. It will all seem new again, and I love that about Vegas. That's why I keep updating the website, this blog, and the book. Whew! It's a labor of love.
Until next time...
Viva,
Mike
Mike
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Great time to go to Vegas
Have plans for a summer vacation yet? Why not Las Vegas?!? You're probably thinking, "it's too expensive, and I can't afford to lose money gambling." Well, consider this: Las Vegas is a lot more than gambling, and a trip to Sin City can offer you free entertainment, great restaurants at great prices, and lots of other ways to save you money while you enjoy your time away from "the real world."
And, to make matters even better, room rates are very reasonable. Check out the Las Vegas Advisor's Room Rate Survey. Also, be sure to stay tuned to their Question of the Day. I am currently working on a new one about booking a trip to Las Vegas, including a lot of money-saving ideas.
You'll probably find some great bargains for the rest of this year, but particularly between now and Labor Day. Think about it. You’ve probably been working hard all year. When was the last time you got away from it all?
Don’t you deserve it?
I’m already planning my next trip. It won’t be this year (I’ve already been), but it won’t be long after we ring in 2009. That’s right, I like to plan ahead. Saves me $$, too, planning in advance. I know what I like when I go to Vegas, so planning my trip simply means checking out a few travel and airline websites to see who can give me the best price.
How do I know what to look for? I’ve been to Las Vegas enough to know what kind of vacation I want when I get there. Before I book my trip, I ask myself a few essential questions, and then once I have the answers I can easily start hunting for the best prices. I discuss these essential questions in great detail in my book, and in fact I refer to my book and my website a lot when I’m getting ready to plan a trip to my favorite city.
The great thing about Vegas is I never have the same experience twice. So even if I plan ahead, I’m going to have a different kind of fun each time I go. When the plane makes its final decent into Vegas, I see the Strip, downtown, and the outskirts from the little window. Then I step off the plane and hear all that noise in the airport. Somehow, I know I’m where I’m supposed to be even if I don't know what lies ahead. There’s nothing like it!
Viva,
Mike
And, to make matters even better, room rates are very reasonable. Check out the Las Vegas Advisor's Room Rate Survey. Also, be sure to stay tuned to their Question of the Day. I am currently working on a new one about booking a trip to Las Vegas, including a lot of money-saving ideas.
You'll probably find some great bargains for the rest of this year, but particularly between now and Labor Day. Think about it. You’ve probably been working hard all year. When was the last time you got away from it all?
Don’t you deserve it?
I’m already planning my next trip. It won’t be this year (I’ve already been), but it won’t be long after we ring in 2009. That’s right, I like to plan ahead. Saves me $$, too, planning in advance. I know what I like when I go to Vegas, so planning my trip simply means checking out a few travel and airline websites to see who can give me the best price.
How do I know what to look for? I’ve been to Las Vegas enough to know what kind of vacation I want when I get there. Before I book my trip, I ask myself a few essential questions, and then once I have the answers I can easily start hunting for the best prices. I discuss these essential questions in great detail in my book, and in fact I refer to my book and my website a lot when I’m getting ready to plan a trip to my favorite city.
The great thing about Vegas is I never have the same experience twice. So even if I plan ahead, I’m going to have a different kind of fun each time I go. When the plane makes its final decent into Vegas, I see the Strip, downtown, and the outskirts from the little window. Then I step off the plane and hear all that noise in the airport. Somehow, I know I’m where I’m supposed to be even if I don't know what lies ahead. There’s nothing like it!
Viva,
Mike
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Coming Attractions
Before I get into the exciting news, I wanted to mention that I read where Spamalot had its last performance at the Wynn this week. I never got a chance to see it there, unfortunately, because I heard it was a good show. So, the Wynn's only show right now is La Reve ("The Dream"), which is a cirque-like aquatics production.
Ok now for the exciting news. Coming soon, I'll be giving away one cool Las Vegas-themed luggage tag every month to a lucky winner! "What will I have to do to win one" you ask? Simple. Go to my site and log in as a member. Fill out the survey on the Members page, and you will be able to enter your name for the free drawing. I will be putting the picture of the luggage tag up on the site soon, and once I have the luggage tags in hand, I'll set up the survey so that you can enter your name to win. But until I have that done, please poke around on the website and feel free to take the survey now (you can take it again later to win the luggage tag) and comment on the site/book/blog.
Thanks and good luck!
Viva,
Mike
Viva,
Mike
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
News n' Notes
Hi Vegas fans,
After a brief respite (well, not respite, really, as I was feverishly responding to questions about my book/website as a result of answering the Las Vegas Advisor Question of the Day on July 3rd... more on that in a minute), I'm back.
In the "News" department, look for the Bodies and Titanic exhibits to move from the Tropicana to the Luxor in early August. The Luxor has a press release about the Bodies exhibit, and I'm sure they'll have one soon about Titanic, too.
Ticket prices at the Tropicana are currently $31 for Bodies and $27 for Titanic. Both shows are open 10 am to 10 pm.
Ticket prices at the Tropicana are currently $31 for Bodies and $27 for Titanic. Both shows are open 10 am to 10 pm.
In the "Notes" department, I was really proud and honored to answer a Question of the Day on the Las Vegas Advisor. For those of you who don't know, the QoD is a great, free feature of the LVA, which is an awesome website that has everything from soup to nuts about Vegas. The QoD changes every day, and every week they also have a new reader poll. The July 3rd QoD was about sports and sporting venues, and I provided some links and info regarding the city's best bets and the most popular events.
The response was terrific. First, a lot of people wrote to the LVA and commented, and some mentioned that I left out a few things. As a result, I updated my response, and it will be posted as another QoD later this month. Stay tuned.
Second, I had a lot more traffic on the website that day, of course, and a bunch of folks filled out the Questionnaire for a Free Itinerary. I personalize these itineraries, and so this took me a little while. Of course, I was happy to do it and will continue to do it for anyone who submits the form on the website. I was also fortunate enough to sell a few books (PDFs from the website), which was cool. And more Kindle owners are looking at SLV on Amazon.com, too. Very cool!
I'm so excited about the website, the blog, the book(s), and all things Vegas. I'm definitely getting more interest... but still not as much feedback as I'd like. Here's where you come in!! Please comment on the blog, fill out the survey regarding the website, or talk about anything regarding Las Vegas. If you don't want to do it in a public forum, feel free to email me. I encourage all comments, criticisms, complaints, etc., so please send me your thoughts. I'm all ears.
Thanks and have a great week!
Viva,
Mike
Mike
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
On The Horizon
Hi Vegas fans,
As I continue to update the website, the book, and this blog, I'm encouraged by possibilities and ideas that will really launch this idea and get people talking about Vegas, how to make traveling to Vegas easier, etc.
The result of all this will probably include a re-design of the website soon. Probably more back-end stuff than look/feel, but maybe a fresh coat of paint would be nice. Still toying with that idea. One thing you should note is that you may need to register your username and password again. You'll see a new Home page with instructions when this happens, and it will be a very simple process. I just want to ensure that new users can easily log in and find the information they are looking for, and as always the registration to become a member will be free with no obligation, no emails or spam sent to you, and your privacy is protected.
Another idea I've been toying with for a while is adding new tables to the website/book. They are already pretty labor-intensive, but it's a labor of love, so I don't mind doing it. My initial thought is to cover stuff that's hard to find elsewhere. For example, how about a "Spa" table that details the wonderful treatments you can get in many casinos and other areas around town? How does that sound?
I'm also thinking about beer... well, beer and Las Vegas specifically (I'm usually thinking about beer in some capacity). It would be fun to cover beer/drinks in Vegas, though I have not thought too much about in what detail. Sounds like it would be a good experiment the next time I visit, no?
For me, Vegas is all about fun, escapism, and keeping up with the fast-paced life. What better way to discover it than through the Simplified! view.
For me, Vegas is all about fun, escapism, and keeping up with the fast-paced life. What better way to discover it than through the Simplified! view.
Viva,
Mike
Mike
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Website Revisions
Hi Vegas Fans,
As you have probably noticed, the website has undergone some changes. You can now buy the Simplifying Las Vegas travel guide directly from the site in two ways. First, if you own a Kindle, you can purchase the guide from Amazon.com. No Kindle? No problem. You can also buy Simplifying Las Vegas as a full-color PDF directly from the site using PayPal.
I'm also in the process of updating the tables. I've completed Entertainment, Free Shows, and Attractions. As we speak, I'm in the middle of setting the Dining table (excuse the pun). I hope to have the the Dining table and the rest of them (Shopping, Weddings, Clubs) done by this weekend.
Then I'll collapse from exhaustion.
And when I awake, I'll start looking at them again! Note that some changes have already been announced since I revised some of the tables. For example, the Bodies and Titanic shows are moving from the Trop to Luxor. But it hasn't happened yet, so I'm not going to change the table just yet. And, I just read where Harrah's Hats! show and the Flamingo's Second City will be closing this summer.
So, be on the lookout for more changes, more updates, and more blog entries. As Dorothy noted in the Wizard of Oz, "Things happen so quickly around here!" It's a fast-paced Vegas world out there, which is why it's so much fun! And, it's why I try to keep it Simplified!
Viva,
Mike
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Simplifying Las Vegas - Now a Kindle Book!
Well, I did it. After several days of formatting, I made my book available on Kindle!! The hard work was well worth it. Although Kindle doesn't support tables, I was still able to show all the Simplifying Las Vegas concepts near to my heart in the guide.
And now that the guide is available, I am going to dedicate more time and energy to the site and to this blog. Look for frequent updates about all things Vegas. I've now decided to start putting the date on pages so that you know how "fresh" it is. It takes a while to update the tables, in particular, because a lot of thought, formatting, and text go into them. I want to ensure that they are useful and correct. Las Vegas changes so fast, it can be difficult to keep up. But please know I'm going to continue doing it!!
And you can help. I'd love to hear your ideas, comments, questions, complaints, suggestions... well, you get the picture. Your feedback is vital to making this the best and simplest site about Vegas. Please share your opinions and questions with me. I promise I'm the only one who looks at them, and your information is confidential and never shared (unless you want me to post your question to the blog or something like that).
I enjoy discussing all things Vegas with friends, family, and anyone who will listen. Join me - what could be more fun than to chat about the greatest city in the world?
Viva,
Mike
Monday, February 18, 2008
Weathering the Storm
My recent 4-day trip (1/25-1/28) to Vegas was quite eventful. I thought it might be a bad omen when my plane was making the final approach to McCarran Airport and I saw smoke coming from the Strip. It wasn't the Mirage volcano - as I later learned, it was the Monte Carlo. Fortunately, it didn't result in tragedy as the Clark County Fire Department really stepped up and took care of the blaze quickly.
After I managed to avoid the Strip traffic and navigate to the Strat, I quickly checked in and hit the blackjack tables. Well, my session didn't get off to a hot start, but I did almost get burned. There I was, sitting at the table, drinking my rum & Coke and minding my own business, and all of a sudden, a recessed light fell out of the ceiling and missed hitting me by about 2 feet! That should've been a sign - but I kept playing until I lost about $30.
I was hoping my luck would turn after I picked up my faithful friend, Steve, from the airport. But it turned out that it only got worse. I lost another $60 before dragging my tired, sorry butt to bed.
Saturday turned out to be a much better day, but we had to work hard for it considering the elements we had to battle. We like to gamble here and there when we go to Vegas, so we took the rental car and hit mid Strip. We tried to find a $5 blackjack table. Here's what we found:
- The Red Hat Society was trying to break a World's Record for most amount of women wearing red standing around and acting goofy. I think they broke it in a line stretching from Bill's Gamblin' Hall to God knows where. It was over 17,000 people, but as Steve pointed out, it seemed like 17 million. Plus, everyone on the Strip beeped at them... just what the Strip needed, more noise. My head hurt, and I found a new definition of Hell.
- Bill's Gamblin' Hall, usually a site for low-limit blackjack and craps, had few tables and very little fanfare. Thanks, Harrah's, for turning the fantastic Barbary Coast into a bland, uninteresting casino. I hope you plan to rebrand it and make it something fun soon!
- Imperial Palace also had no $5 tables, which was quite surprising. If this place didn't have low-limit blackjack, who would? We tried Casino Royale, only to find that they had 6:5 payout on blackack. No way!!! Don't ever play at a table with these horrible odds. The dealer told us, "No one on the Strip has 3:2 blackjack." That's a flat out lie. There are plenty of places that have 3:2 blackjack, you just have to ask!
Well, we gave up on finding low limits on the Strip and headed downtown. We stopped at the Fremont and found what we were looking for. As a bonus, we found a drunk dude who tried to tell stories about puppies and also attempted to serenade us at the table. When we had about enough of that, we decided to take a break and eat lunch. Or at least tried to. Steve and I had the worst lunch we'd ever attempted to eat at Lanai Express. After a few bites, Steve gave up. I was much more adventurous; I ate about 1/2 of my plate, and decided that I could take no more of my sweet & sour chicken. Yuk.
Did I mention Saturday was a good day? I guess it doesn't seem like it so far. But our luck was about to change. We saddled down to the Golden Nugget and cleaned up at blackjack. What a blast! Then we headed back to the Strat and won at blackjack and craps. It was quite a day. We topped it off with a nice dinner at my favorite Italian restaurant - Battista's Hole in the Wall (behind the Flamingo on Audrie Street). Great place.
By this time, Steve and I were both in the black for the trip. This trend continued for Steve, but it stopped for me on Sunday. By Monday morning, I lost the last little bit of my profit, but it was fun and breaking even in Vegas isn't such a bad thing. Especially considering we got some meals comped, our room was comped (from action on a previous trip), and I had some good stories to tell. Among the other notable strange things I saw/heard/said:
- More than one blackjack dealer told me 2 is the most dangerous card the dealer can have. Really? 2? I mean, it's no 6, but it's no ace or 10, either.
- One dealer sang "That's Life" (not well, either) while we were getting crummy cards at blackjack. We switched tables.
- Another dealer, the strangest dealer I'd ever met, made monkey-calling noises, dealt poorly, and generally made no sense while dealing. In Vegas, the bizarre is commonplace, and she was no exception.
- When asked at Battista's if we had any questions, I replied with my usual corny "about the menu or life in general?" response. The waitress did not find me charming and very, very quickly said "the menu" in a deadpan tone while she rolled her eyes. This amused Steve to no end, who repeated the story to his friends and loved the idea that she wanted no part of my tomfoolery.
- A few of the boxmen at the Strat were ornery fellows. Lord knows their job ain't easy, and they seemed to take pleasure in giving the craps dealers quite a hard time. "We're not keeping you from anything, are we?" one of them asked a new dealer. Apparently his pace wasn't quite up to snuff. It was amusing, but I'm glad I'm not a dealer at the Strat.
- One fellow who played blackjack, according to Steve, "had to tell a joke every six seconds or he'd explode." He kept telling the same ones over and over, too. The old "where are the 22 tables?" came up more than once when he hit and busted just enough to lose.
So, this short Vegas trip turned out ok, even though it looked like I might have to borrow money for vending machine crackers after that first night. Hey, it's Vegas, and as long as you know your limits, you can always have fun if you remember that you can weather any storm. Until next time...Mike
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