Going to Vegas, any suggestions for a first-timer?

[BillyJoe]

Hi Everyone,

First I want to say that I really appreciate everyone's feedback. My wife and I are very excited to leave in 3 weeks and I'm making my final arrangements for the trip.

Second, how are the comps at the Palms? Can anyone tell me how the comps are at Wynn or Bellagio (from your experiences)? Do you think it would be worthwhile contacting a host at Wynn even though I'm no "high-roller"?

Keep those suggestions coming....

Thanks Again,

yankees4ever31
First - restaurants. I am from Chicago originally, so Bally's steakhouse is my fav in Vegas. For Italian, I like Sirio's @ Aria. If they have the ingredients, they will make any dish that you want.
 
Second - comps. Both Palms and Wynn/Encore are 'standalone' properties, so any play there is only going to be rewarded there. Bellagio, however, is part of MGM Int'l, so your play can will be reflected in other MGM properties that you may choose to visit. Their MLife Card allows FreePlay for earned points right at the machine. 
 
Third - host. I always recommend introducing yourself to a casino host when you visit a property for the first time. You never know what may be going on, and the worse that can happen is receiving a 'sorry,no' response on a request. But you need to be reasonable. If you are staying at their hotel, charge food/beverage/ spas/shows to your room, and then have that 'new friend' host review your play BEFORE you check out. Asking for a couple of buffets to be comped after a few days staying at a property is not unreasonable at ANY level of play. They want you to come back on your next trip.        

[cook1947]

Just returned from our 8 day trip to Vegas. Rio was our hotel, comped for the entire time which was great, and FINALLY a royal dealt at the Rio. I was going to take a picture, but the phone was somehow taken out of my purse and left in the room. Oh well, it was really a special surprise. Came home $1500 ahead for the 8 days. We ate at the Rio (OK, but not great), Gilley's on the strip (YUK..horrible baby-backs) and Delmonico's (Emeril's). Very nice. We went to visit relative's over the weekend and drove right into a major snow storm (for California) through Banning. We had to go the back way instead of right down the I-15 as a big rig had decided he did not want to continue driving north on the 15, so he made a U-turn right on the freeway to go south. He didn't make it..blocked the southbound lanes. Anyway, great, great trip and realized how much fun Vegas really was.

[Tedlark]

  Way to go cook, I have always wished for a dealt royal in Las Vegas but no luck so far. Its not because I haven't been trying either. I've always prefered the buffet at Rio but if you miss out on the prime rib then the bill of faire can br pretty standard. I can't stand the seafood buffet at Rio, I've tried it twice and twice I've been disappointed.
 
  I'm glad you had a nice time.
 
Ted

[cook1947]

Ted, we were in the line for the seafood buffett, but as the people were coming out, not one of them said anything positive, so we just went to the buffett. OK, but nothing to speak of. $9.99 for the buffet if you had a players card. That was good because it wasn't worth much more than that. Best buffet we have ever been to is Harrah's in Biloxi. WOW. Huge shrimp, crawfish, crab legs, thick prime rib, etc. Yummy. I am now looking every day for another $91 flight to Las Vegas. I do miss it. Machines at the Rio were hit or miss, mostly miss, until it just dealt everything out, 1,2,3. Thats how it happens. I was dealt another royal up at St. Louis Harrah's before Hollywood took over, and the machine had really been tough up to that point. It dealt it rather quickly and then locked up, as it was progressive. I gambled almost the full 8 days, and it wasn't until the last night that I finally got Aces. They were tougher than the royal. Someday, it will happen for you and it is nice.

[Vman96]

I am now looking every day for another $91 flight to Las Vegas.

From where? St. Louis? and which airline if so?

And congrats on the dealt royal! I was stunned for like 10 minutes after I got mine at the Flamingo last year.