Vegas Planning - fund management!!

Hi All,

This is more of a pre-trip blog of my efforts to arrange my upcoming trip to Sin City.

I’ll post as a reply as it’s a bit long!

Vegas Planning - fund management!!

The story is...my mate works for an airline and is flying over with a colleague for business staying at the Bellagio.

They will be working 4 days and partying for 3 days, not to mention the evenings of the days they are working!

Can I sit in my 2 bedroom flat in Downtown Rochdale in the North West of England in the drizzle, sleet, hail, rain etc while all this is going on.

No I most certainly cannot. They fly out at the end of March so it gives me two months to save up airfare and gambling funds!

Managed to talk a friend round to joining me so let battle commence!

So the planning begins.... got an eye on the flight, current price £400 return. Not bad but funds to tight to mention at the moment so waiting till the middle of feb to book.

Hotel wise I%26#39;ve scoped out the 1st 2 nights at Hooters for $78, this includes a free room upgrade, 2 breakfast buffets and a $300 dollar fun book that offers $100 slot play and $20 match bet(anyone heard of this book in particular???)

Next 2 (Fri,Sat) I have a choice of MGM for $224 or T:I for a bit more, think it was $280, both come with small amount of slot credit and nightclub VIP passes.

Final 3 i%26#39;m thinking back to Hooters for $97, not sure if I get the fun book again but I%26#39;m sure the breakfast and room upgrade are included.

The plan is to book flights in about 3 weeks which is easily affordable for me, HOWEVER, i am looking at taking $1400, $200 a day for entertainment. This might be harder to come by!! I have $16 left from a recent trip to Cancun so this is my starting point!!

This will be my 3rd trip to Vegas so I’m hoping 3rd time lucky as gambling wise I had a pretty grim time the first 2!!

This trip my plans are as follows:-

Play more Pai Gow Poker at Hooters (Low Stakes) and take advantage of the drinks service

Get bottle service in a club

Visit Hard Rock

Visit Palms

Go to the firing range.

Get a free buffet at the Wynn

Play some tournament poker at Venetian, Hard Rock and Planet Hollywood.

Stick to a daily gambling budget!!

And much more!!

So basically I’m just letting you know my plans pre-trip and to keep you updated with the planning/booking process!

Also any handy money saving tips will be very gratefully received!!

I know Hooters is a not luxurious in any shape or manor but we stayed there in July 07 and it was more than comfortable and you cant really complain with the rates!! I’m not really concerned about location as I do like to walk up and down the strip.

1st question – Do you think $200 a day is a decent enough budget? I’m planning on $100 a day gambling (Pai Gow Poker or tournament) with $100 for meals and drinks. I’m hoping a couple of days I will be a winner…! For days when we want bottle service or going to a decent restaurant I’m planning on not gambling that day, or using my winnings should I have any!!

I am seriously bad at budgeting so would appreaciate any help to help me make the most of Vegas on the meager funds I do have !!

By the way, I’m 28. My buddy staying with me is 29. And the 2 guys that work for the airline are mid 30’s.

Vegas Planning - fund management!!

Well, the good thing is you have a $16 head start.

Somehow, bottle service and budget don%26#39;t seem to belong in the same sentence.

I think you better secure that airfare asap as the fares go up as your departure date gets closer.

Good luck.

Vegas is a great place to go on Budget.

You have to look around but there are very cheap meals that are really good too if you go downtown.

You just need to plan ahead if on a budget so you know where the %26#39;deals%26#39; are.

You can walk the mall for free and while there, check out Blondies Sports Bar for a $10 happy hour open bar - Beer and Wll Drinks only.

Search this forum for toher free/cheap stuff you can do a lot on a small budget if you are willing to paln and sacrifice the Big Stuff.

I think the bottle service will just be one night. Just thought it would actually work out cheaper and less hastle than queuing to get in, paying the cover and then the drinks tab.

Maybe pencil it in for later in the week that way I can gauge how the funds are holding up!!

Cheers for the advice Super Bowl dude.

Another quickie - are there any big events between 25th March and 1st April that anyone knows about?

gormondo, you didn%26#39;t mention any pool side time. It%26#39;d be a terrible waste to not take advantage of an opportunity to show off your swimsuit.

$200 per day is not going to be enough for what you want to do.

To give you a bit of perspective, I usually plan on $150 per day for myself.

With this money I basiaclly just drink, eat and take taxis. Maybe nuy some junky items to take home. Maybe $20 in a slot a couple times per day. Pretty low end stuff.

If you are considereing bottle service at a club you are looking at $500 easily. That will ruin your budget right there.

Dont get me wrong, I have a great time in Las Vegas within my budget. You dont have to do all the fancy stuff to have fun.

I will pack the mankini just incase!! I was in Vegas early April 07 and the weather gods werent smilling on me but fingers crossed there is some pool weather!!

Does anyone have any advice between MGM and T:I?

MGM $224 for 2 nights

T:I $280

MGM Offer

• $35 Activity Credit

• 2 free passes to Studio 54 or Tabu

• 15% off spa services

TI OFFER

Winter Solstice Room Offer:

• $10 Starbucks or Ben %26amp; Jerry%26#39;%26#39;s Ice Cream

• 20% discount at the new Pizzeria Francesco%26#39;%26#39;s, The Steak House or The Coffee Shop

• FREE lunch when you purchase one at The Buffet at TI

• FREE admission to the new Christian Audigier The Nightclub

• FREE one day pass to WET - The Spa %26amp; Salon at TI

• FREE Premier Passport for savings while shopping at Fashion Show mall (Nordstrom, Macy%26#39;%26#39;s %26amp; More!)

• BONUS: $50 VIP Pool Cabana discount for the first 100 reservations.

I was going to say... by all means, pack that mankini. Looks like it would take no room at all.

I am absolutely BOOKED!

Managed to get a flight on 25.03 Direct from Manchester to LAS for £330!

Got my first 2 and last 2 nights booked at Hooters for $80!!

Looking at booking the Hard Rock for Sunday 29th for $119 as it comes with free passes to Body English and $100 food credit.

This leaves me with the Friday and Saturday night 27/28 to decide on, I was going to book Hooters for $140 but its up to $180 now so i%26#39;m looking around for deals. Dont want to pay over $100 a night, thinking about Friday and Saturday downtown?! Any suggestions??