After using these forums and asking for advice I thought I’d write up my own trip report from week in Vegas with my girl.

We traveled from Copenhagen and arrived at the Stratosphere. Not a great place, but fine for our first time, although after 9 days our cab bill was nearly $500 due to spending most of our time at the other end of the Strip.

After 24 hours of traveling (is Delta the worst airline ever, 4 flights, 3 delayed and no apology or explanation) we went straight to bed to wake up at 4am for poker and cocktails. The table talk and American accents took some getting used to. London poker games tend to be silent affairs. The constant supply of Whiskey Sours didn’t. The Stratosphere’s card room is small and dingy, but the dealers were entertaining and good. $100 win.

Next day after an IHOP breakfast, well half of one, we felt guilty for wasting so much food we went down to the Riviera for the $47 comp. I busted with AK, Jane chopped the final table, we made $150 playing 2/4 limit in a couple of hours. She had never played limit before but good cards and basic strategy made it easy. We also found it hilarious that 6 of the players on our table had moustaches.

Over the next few days we played all over town and out of 12 tournaments between us, we had 6 final tables but no wins. It was great to play on the Binion’s one, with the big raised table and card camera windows. The best result was Jane’s final tabling in the slow $200 buy-in tourney at Caesar’s. Another final table and she turned down a chop for $1800 5 handed. She was strong to the protests of the others who wanted to go for dinner. She paid the price though, having to watch them eat at the table.

We found Caesars to be our favourite room, it’s surprising how much of a difference there is in atmosphere and attitude across the rooms. Golden Nugget as well we liked.

I played a lot at the MGM in the 1/2 game, excellent room and good action. I got it all in pre-flop for $350 with AA v KK v T4s, the pot was over $900 and we turned out cards face up. Didn’t really understand why T4s called, but he was happy with the 367J5 board, $900 in $5 chips looks awful big when someone is raking it in next to you. I didn’t mind too much, we wanted to come and see what the games were like for ourselves before we planned a longer trip after Christmas. This sort of play confirmed the weakness of the games, everything is taken so seriously back home. The Mirage $115 SNG was great as well, they really didn’t have a clue about SNG strategy and out of 4 players left, we were both left, and I was chip leader until AK v AJ, KK v AT and JJ v 88 knocked me out on the bubble. Again, no result but came away feeling good about the game.

As well as the poker we hired a convertible and drove out to the Canyon and the Dam. I went to a firing range which was more fun to me than my girl thought it should have been. Also we went to Spearmint and Sin with our poker winnings. Thing is everything is so cheap in America, it reminded me of trips to Asia and South Africa where you have the pleasure of feeling rich for not much money. And in such a great town, Miss it already.