Vegas in Sept.

[bigsteve5273@yahoo.c]

Dear Forum Contributors,   I'm  accompanying my mother to downtown Vegas the  second week of Sept.  Thanks to this forum I'll attempt to play only PE video poker.   Thanks to Shadowman and Mike A. and many, many  others the games will be limited to  FPDW and 10/7 {maybe 9/6}DDB when I can locate them and a smattering of JOB.   Mostly playing downtown at casinos whose banks of machines have been located by another Video Poker site with a one day each foray to Sam's Town and the strip and possibly GVR.       My vacation consists of the following: 1.  Not working  2. Drinking plenty of fresh hot coffee  3. Eating too much  4. Reading the local newspapers  5.  Ogling the other tourists  6. Watching my Mother win playing slots  6. And this year I shall attempt to astutely play VP.   Questions: 1. Eduardo, how did you get to GVR from the airport?   How might I get to GVR from downtown?  I prefer not to drive.  Any suggestions, gang?  2. I'm non-plussed by winning { I've never won much}  but viscerally despise losing and because of this I play the lower denominations until the last day of the trip when I go all out win or lose by playing what's left of the bankroll @  $1  or up denominations.  Your thoughts , comments, suggestions and war stories, please.       Thanks to all for this great website and great luck to each of you.

[EDC1977]

Steve, McCarran to the GVR is all of 15 mins drive so don't let that cabbie hose you! Downtown to GVR? probably 25-35 mins depending on traffic and where Downtown you are staying. You might want to log on to the Las Vegas advisor home page and look up shuttle service. Most hotels have some form of shuttle service and serve several areas of LV. Downtown to Sams town is all of 15-20 mins drive also depending on Boulder Hwy traffic and US95 traffic. Hope both your Mother and yourself hit some big ones but most of all, enjoy the LV experience!

[Eduardo]

I think my cab ride to the GVR was about $25.

[bigsteve5273@yahoo.c]

Thanks for the info, EDC and Eduardo.  There's  a private bus that goes to Sam's and even to the strip from 2 motels downtown.  So apparently Henderson where GVR is located is immediately south of Vegas.  Maybe a shuttle to the airport and then a cab or shuttle  to the GVR?  Overall did Eduardo have a great time at the GVR an does he recommend?  Thanks for your first and second  trip reports, Eduardo.  I always have a great time in Vegas and one of these trips I'm actually gonna win.    Great luck to all.

[Eduardo]

Yes, Big Steve... overall I had a great time at GVR and highly recommend. Of course, I'm relatively new to Vegas so I don't have a ton of places to compare to, but the whole experience was top notch. I'm still waiting to find out what comps I might get in the mail though. Their best paying machines have really poor point returns (1 every $4).
 
If all I get is a buffet, then I will likely try somewhere else out next time because if I'm paying I might as well experience something new. If a free room, I'll be back sometime for sure.
 
Their point system probably hurts them a bit with players like me because I don't get to Vegas as much as I'd like. If I'm not staying at the GVR, odds are I'm not playing at the GVR, or eating, etc etc etc.  I play where I stay almost exclusively.  I'm sure for the locals it's a whole different ballgame.

[shadowman]

Note the free shuttle to GVR from the airport:
 
http://off2vegas.com/transit.html

[Eduardo]

Yes, unfortunately I was in a hurry on my last trip and didn't want to wait for a shuttle. I did the shuttle thing outside the airport on my previous trip and it took a while just sitting in the shuttle at the airport waiting for... I don't know what. Maybe they have set departure times or were waiting to see if more people would show up but I was probably sitting there 20 minutes.

[Lizzy15]

You can take a city bus from the downtown bus station to within 0.4 mile of Green Valley Ranch.
 
The bus station is about 2-3 blocks north of Fremont St.
 
Take the 107 and get off at St. Louis Ave.
Then get on the 111 and take it all the way to Paseo Verde Pkwy-Green Valley Pkwy and get off there and walk to the casino.
 
It'll be an inexpensive and nice sightseeing 45 minute ride.
 
 

[bigsteve5273@yahoo.c]

Thanks again for the input,  Lizzy and Shadowman.  This is the best  site for good inside info. Now for one more question.  If I had to make a choice for a one day excursion between the Palms and GVR from downtown which might it be?  According to Lizzy we have a nice 45 minute sight seeing trip each way which saves money because we wouldn't be gambling and gives us a break.  Plus the mandatory rehashing of the wins and losses on the return trip.   OTOH, the Palms could be fitted into our usual strip trip to see the Bellagio fountains etc.  It's all good.  What's suggested?

[marie meijer]

The PALMS, hands down! I am itching to try GVR after reading this site. However, four royals in two days at the palms on May Vegas trip provided  incentive to return ASAP! Two DDB and two DW/LDW. Two single line, two multi line, one on $ machine. Also aces w k on $ machine. That set personal records for the most royals in two days and returning with most $ from Vegas. I loved touring the amazing Native American Smithsonian museum in DC yesterday. Bats circled overhead as we were swimming in our son's pool in VA last night! Perfect hot vacation so far in spite of the fact there are NO casinos!