Hey, I’ve never posted but enjoy this site, used it exclusively to set up my two day trip. I came in for just one night, arrived at 7:30 am on Sunday and leave out at 9:00 pm the next night. The tournament schedule on AVP is very useful. I printed it up by TIME so when I was done with a tourney, I would make the next available one that fit my budget. Wanted to play at TI because of the comments here, more on that later. Stayed at the Orleans in one of the best rooms I’ve ever had in Vegas for only $33, very nice. Started at Ceasars in the 9:00 am, very nice room. During breaks I enjoyed walking through the main tournament area looking at the pro portraits. Took 4th in fairly easy competition, mostly tourist like me. Dealers and management was fine, no complaints, I’ll be back. Headed to Binions to play in the 10k guaranteed at 2:00 Sunday, this is the one I made the trip for. I’m not sure why but I really like playing at Binions. I think it is the “old school” feel you get there. This was a decent size tourney with a lot of tourist like me but peppered with Vegas pros and locals to give it the Vegas feel I am looking for. Some real characters in that crowd, I like that. (I stayed at Binions this spring, cheap room, nothing fancy but good poker and great tourneys.) Knocked out in the 3rd hour, I pushed with no one in the pot from Big Blind with 10 10, small blind had AA. Then went to Stratosphere to try some cheap no limit cash games which I have never played. There adds in some magazines stated $40 min-max buy in, thought I’d try it. Well it was 1-2 with a $100 to $300 buy in, tried it since I was there. Lost half of my buy in then quit. Felt ok as I should have gone broke with some great second best hands and some good lay downs. The room was very small, tourney was about to start with just 20 or so people, not impressed.
Started at the MGM. On Monday am. I played their this spring and I was so-so on the room. This time it seemed much better. The management was great, very well run tourney. The thing I didn’t like last time was the “marble” edge around the poker table where I generally would be looking at my cards. Silly huh. Well I just looked at them a little further out from the edge of the table this time, and just felt more comfortable. I like the openness of the “room” since it really isn’t a room but on the main floor of the casino. People walking by stop at the rail and watch, and it just doesn’t feel cramped like some rooms do. Took 4th again for $475, unlucky not to get third. I will definitely go back. It is now 3:00 so I try and squeeze in a 3:30 at Harrahs. The room is ok, by far some of the worst competition I’ve seen. The dealers did make a few mistakes and management kept forgetting to announce the end of a level, but I don’t care much about that kind of stuff, who am I, Phil Hell Mouth. Took sixth, 10 10 again to AK. Never did get to TI, I missed a start by 10 minutes and went by to look at the room. It looks a little tight as it was very full with a tourney just starting. I’ll hit it next time. Thanks AVP and everyone posting their trips, it sure made my quick trip better.