Not-So-Super Sunday Entry

Since I find myself in the best place in the world to watch the Super Bowl, this entry by all right should have been about where I decided to take in the game: Caesars? South Point? The free viewing parties at the Gold Coast or The Orleans? The Bronco Bar on Boulder Highway? Larry Flynt's Hustler Club's "Super Pole Day"? A friend's house like when we watched the Saints win here a couple of years back? Instead I came down with a cold and was confined to my bed, not that watching the Broncos go down in ignominy would have given this Colorado transplant reasons to celebrate.

Before that, though, we went about town collecting on various match plays and free play we wanted to use up before the end of this trip. Rather than shell out a buck at McDonald's, we decided to see how much comp we had at one of our favorite off-strip joints. It turned out we had enough between us to get one order of chicken fried steak and eggs and split it. Our waitress was so disheartened to see that we could only afford one meal between us that, obviously assuming the worst about our financial straits, she offered first to let us use whatever points she had on our card, and then to let us have the last three-dollar tip she had picked up. (Don't worry, she got a nice tip instead.)

This town is famous for separating visitors from their money, but you can also encounter remarkable acts of generosity, kindness and selflessness, not to mention the many people in the gaming and hospitality industries here that have gone out of their way to give us their absolute best.

Laugh if you will, but I would make a case that Las Vegas has become one of the great international cities. Visitors flock here from every corner of the globe; all the world-class chefs want to open restaurants here (although they all want to eat at a Thai restaurant in a little strip mall on Sahara); world-class entertainers all want to perform here. There are world-class museums here. Some of the facades may be fake reproductions of other cities, but there's nothing phony about this city's credentials.

All this may help explain why I've accepted a job offer in Las Vegas and plan to move here shortly, although I'm sure the real reason is so I can continue to gather material for my blog.

My New Favorite Street

So, here I was staying at the Rio on my last visit, and after picking up my car from the valet and exiting the parking lot, instead of turning left or right on Flamingo decided to go straight and see where Hotel Rio Drive took me. Turns out it takes you straight to Dean Martin Drive/Industrial Drive (the street fades from one name to the other at about this point). And it's my new favorite way to travel from one end of the Strip to the other, bypassing  the frequently jammed Las Vegas Boulevard entirely. Head South on Dean Martin and you'll get all the way to the South end of the Strip, home of South Pointe and the glorious Silverton. Turn North on Industrial and after passing what seems like most of the strip clubs in Vegas (not to mention the Erotic Heritage Museum), you'll get as far as Wyoming; turning left will take you to Little Darlings, while turning right will get you to Las Vegas Boulevard across the street from the OG. It's a nifty shortcut towards Downtown (to the North) or the Stratosphere and points South without having to deal with the hassle that is frequently the Strip itself. Even I-15 traffic can sometimes get crazy, with a line of cars backed up waiting at the on-ramp; ain't no waiting to get onto Industrial. And many of the streets that intersect the Strip will continue on to Industrial. There's easy access to parking for many of the Strip casinos, especially Circus Circus, and other Strip locales like Fashion Show Mall. As a bonus, the views of the Strip casinos can be just as spectacular from the back side (twilight falling over City Center and the Cosmopolitan was a sight to behold).

Vegas regulars are no doubt familiar with the similar function streets like Koval and Paradise serve on the West side of Las Vegas Boulevard, but I found Industrial especially zippy. Staying at the Rio as I was, Hotel Rio Drive not only gave me direct access  to Industrial but led me directly back to the Hotel on my return.

"Welcome Back, New Member!"

Hi! This is my new blog with tips for visitors to Las Vegas that I've picked up on my many trips there, written as a frequent visitor for new or frequent visitors. I learn something new every time I go, so hopefully sharing some of my discoveries will help some of my friends, old and new, who decide to take the plunge and head out for Sin City. I'll include some of my thoughts on game strategy as well.

We'll start by pretending you're new to visiting casino towns and ask this question, which will serve you as well if you're visiting any casino, near your home or far away:

Q: What is the first thing you should do when you visit a new casino for the first time!

A: Find their Players Club and get yourself a player's card! Players clubs may go by many names in different casinos but if you ask the first casino employee you see for directions to the player's club, they'll let you know where it is. When you sign up for a player's card, be sure to give them your e-mail and mailing addresses as well.

Then, be sure to insert the card into a machine every time you play slots or video poker, or to the dealer every time you sit down at a table game and buy in. Why?

Well, first, because the casino will track all of your play and reward you with points and comps. And second, because many casinos will reward first-time signups with such goodies as free slot play, match play for table games, gifts, free or discounted buffets and shows, and the like.

If you've never tried this, you'd be amazed how well it can work. On one of my first visits to downtown Vegas, I signed up for the player's card at Binion's. I'm not even sure I played any games or machines there, just signed up for the card. The next thing you know (well, the next January, to be precise), they're mailing me an offer for three free nights at their hotel.

On my first visit to the Wynn after it opened, I found the table limits a little too high for my taste, so I put a few bucks in a penny. To my delight and surprise, I hit a $30 jackpot. I was so excited I tipped the cocktail waitress five bucks for bringing me an orange juice. That was the extent of my interaction with the Wynn. A year or two later, I get an e-mail from the Wynn offering me a free hotel night and $100 in slot play! I went there with a friend for our joint birthdays, and not only was the room, overlooking the waterfall on the Wynn golf course, to-die-for fancy and comfy, but we made $478 cash back on the free slot play, so they basically paid us to stay there.

I visited the Cosmopolitan once, played one session of blackjack for a $100 buy-in and left a little ahead. A couple of years later, I'm checking my e-mail in my hotel while visiting Vegas, and danged if the Cosmo isn't offering me two free nights there. So hello to two extra nights before we leave town. And if you thought the rooms at the Wynn were nice...Wow. If you can get one of the rooms with a private terrace overlooking the Bellagio fountain show...I'm just sayin'.

So, always get the player's card, and use it every time you play. Or elsewhere in the casino and the accompanying hotel: It may get you discounts in the restaurants and shops. It may even turn out you've earned enough points to get your meal for free or pick up a little item at the shops for nothing or next to it.

In fact, if you've sat at a table game for at least an hour, before you leave, ask your dealer if you can speak to the pit boss, and ask if you can get a comp. They'll often give you a voucher for a free meal at the buffet or restaurant, especially if you're a cute young couple or a great tipper. If you consider yourself a high roller you can press your luck and ask for show tickets or even a room.

Another thing about player's cards: Many casinos now have kiosks where you can scan your card and find out what promotions and drawings you're eligible for. Always remember to scan your card when you visit. You may have earned a free meal, free promotional chips (you can't cash them in but you can put them down on a table and keep the money you win), match play, gifts, drawing entries, and what have you.

Case in point: My buddy Brian and I visited Jerry's Nugget in North Las Vegas in November. In December, we dropped by again, and Brian decided to scan his card in their kiosk to see what kind of points he had. This greeting suddenly popped up on the screen: "Welcome Back, New Member! Here's $20 cash for coming back to see us!"

There's a lesson for all of us. Always use your card, because the casinos want good customers like you to keep coming back.