Las Vegas --- any expertise? - Horse Racing Forum - PaceAdvantage.Com

Track Phantom · 02-29-2012, 10:37 PM

Wondering if anyone here is a Las Vegas guru and can offer some advice. I'm planning on being in Vegas early to mid May and may stay on the strip or may try somewhere off the strip (which I've never done).

Main question: What are the best race/sports books on and off the strip? Are there any good ones off the strip? Are there any decent hotels off the strip?

Any advice would be really appreciated. I've only stayed on the strip before and maybe I'm missing something elsewhere.

olddaddy · 02-29-2012, 10:41 PM

The nicest race/sports books off the strip are the hilton and red rock.

Track Phantom · 02-29-2012, 10:44 PM

Can you tell me a bit about both and what you liked? Have you stayed there? Is the hotel decent?

olddaddy · 02-29-2012, 10:55 PM

Hilton is not far from the strip, The Red Rock is far. Hilton has seen better days but is reasonably priced, Red Rock is not cheap and you'll need a car. Orleans and Gold Coast are cheap and the book is ok, South Point also. I cant stand the strip, am cheap, so one of the 3 is where I usually stay but I also rent a car. You could get away with not renting a car staying at Hilton. Race books are basically otbs with some perks: free drinks, cheap or free forms. I am not fussy regarding them.

Striker · 02-29-2012, 11:09 PM

My favorite race/sportsbook is at Mandalay Bay, but that is way off the strip.

David-LV · 02-29-2012, 11:12 PM

Living in Las Vegas since 1972, I would say that the best place to stay right now on the strip that has very reasonable room rates with a nice quiet race & sports book would be Treasure Island that is right next door to the Mirage.

The Red Rock although nice is at least a $25+ cab ride from the strip.
The LVH is getting very old and run down.

Treasure Island also has a lot of great eateries including the world famous Canter's Deli right off the race book.

This is where I would stay as it's location is central with the Fashion Show Mall right across the street and all the major new casino's within walking distance.

Although Steve Wynn does not own Treasure Island any more, you can see the quality of the property that he built every where you look.

Enjoy.

BTW: I just checked the room rates for May and they are very reasonable for a Triple A Four Diamond award Hotel.

http://www.treasureisland.com/

________
David-LV

Track Phantom · 03-01-2012, 12:03 AM

Thanks a lot guys. I knew I could count on people out here to be experts --- helps a ton!!!

Very much appreciated.

Striker · 03-01-2012, 01:03 AM

Might not be a bad idea to call up some of the racebook/sportsbook managers of some of the hotels you are considering and tell them that you are a horse player/sportsgambler and asked them what they can possibly do for you. Drfs are all free in any hotel that I have stayed at, you just show them your room key when asked. Sometimes they say that they can only give out the East section or 1 one the drfs but then you just tell them that you are pretty serious and play most of the tracks and would appreciate having multiple drfs to look at and they usually will give them to you.

NJ Stinks · 03-01-2012, 02:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by David-LV

Living in Las Vegas since 1972, I would say that the best place to stay right now on the strip that has very reasonable room rates with a nice quiet race & sports book would be Treasure Island that is right next door to the Mirage.

The Red Rock although nice is at least a $25+ cab ride from the strip.
The LVH is getting very old and run down.

David, I like staying downtown at the Golden Nugget because I like having a bunch of casinos less than 5 minutes away. Plus I like their race and sports book although it's kind of small. The Red Rock has a huge book but it is far from most casinos as you said. Anyway, I have a few questions for you:

1. What are your thoughts on the Golden Nugget's race and sports book?

2. Are there many (any?) casinos out there that still require the dealer to stand with Soft 17?

OverlayHunter · 03-01-2012, 07:15 AM

I agree with all the comments regarding lodging and location and the TI. One more perspective may be helpful to some. Some books like the Bellagio have low seating that's uncomfortable for some if you're going to stay for hours (my wife and I love the hotel and the buffet but, except for a few quick wagers, can't comfortably use the book). Oddly enough, more or less center strip is Bill's Gamblin' Hall (formerly Barbary Coast) with a well-lit book (like the Gold Coast) and, for us, higher and more comfortable seating and you get Fat Elvis for free

. I wouldn't stay there and the book ain't much but the lighting and seating was especially helpful for my wife. The Gold Coast has similar seating and lighting and is nicer than Bill's (but you miss out on FE) and has a free shuttle between it, the Orleans and Bill's (which is to say the Strip) but by the time you wait for it and it stops at the Orleans you can lose a lot of time getting to the strip. The cab ride is usually more practical especially if you're going to end up north or south of Flamingo (where Caesar's, Bellagio, Bill's, Flamingo, Bally's, Paris, and a few others are located).

lamboguy · 03-01-2012, 07:26 AM

if you are a runner, it might be tough for you to get used to the desert climate, because there is no humidity. i was there years ago and it took me about a week before i could handle the change. i used to run back and forth all day from next door to the alladin down to the startdust, about 4 times a day. i don't think those places are even in existence today, but i don't know because i haven't been there this century yet

Valuist · 03-01-2012, 09:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lamboguy

if you are a runner, it might be tough for you to get used to the desert climate, because there is no humidity. i was there years ago and it took me about a week before i could handle the change. i used to run back and forth all day from next door to the alladin down to the startdust, about 4 times a day. i don't think those places are even in existence today, but i don't know because i haven't been there this century yet

Its funny how places "next" to each other in LV appear so much closer than they are. I was going to take a run from Caesar's to In and Out Burger, which is something like 2.5 miles. It was 110 degrees and I made it to Rio, which looks like a quarter mile away but is really about a mile. At that point I said forget it, no hamburger is worth that much work.

NTamm1215 · 03-01-2012, 12:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Striker

My favorite race/sportsbook is at Mandalay Bay, but that is way off the strip.

Mandalay Bay is on Las Vegas Blvd. It might be a little bit south of the center of the Strip, but it is always considered a Strip hotel.

Striker · 03-01-2012, 01:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lamboguy

if you are a runner, it might be tough for you to get used to the desert climate, because there is no humidity. i was there years ago and it took me about a week before i could handle the change. i used to run back and forth all day from next door to the alladin down to the startdust, about 4 times a day. i don't think those places are even in existence today, but i don't know because i haven't been there this century yet

Yep, Stardust is gone and Aladdin I believe was either torn down, or remodeled and is now Planet Hollywood. If you used to go to Stardust then maybe you used to venture into Westward Ho which is also gone.

Striker · 03-01-2012, 01:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NTamm1215

Mandalay Bay is on Las Vegas Blvd. It might be a little bit south of the center of the Strip, but it is always considered a Strip hotel.

I know, but it was my assumption that the OP was looking to stay in the heart of the strip(Mirage, TI, Paris, Harrahs, Venetian) and if you don't rent a car, taxi fares will add up quite quickly if you venture to Mandalay Bay, Luxor or MGM from those in the center of the strip.