5/28-6/2 Vegas TR: Search for Serenity

5/28-6/2 Vegas TR: Search for Serenity

I’ve been to Vegas 25-30 times, with all of them focused on fun (bachelor parties, March madness, trips with my wife, tr

18 May 2025 at 11:38 PM
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I'm impressed with your goals. a few thoughts:
it looks like you are in Vegas for less than a week. your "goals" seem pretty jam packed. especially if you want to see some shows, go visit the bookstore, play in tourneys, do other games, eat at nice place.

having a goal of 40 hours of cash is nice but from my recent experience if you hit a rut the worst thing to can do is keep beating yourself up to reach a quota. don't be afraid to take a break, end the day early, do something else. playing at 10 different rooms can also be draining (and time consuming). if you find a place you like then stay, or go back

I'm interested in your $1000 budget for table games. how does that work? be willing to lose $1000? total bets $1000, or total buy-ins? that's something I need to incorporate next time myself. I planned to play a few times but didn't know how to budget for that. feels like the min goal of table games is to have fun and finish even (not get buried) so I'd like to hear what you mean


by Langdon

I'm impressed with your goals. a few thoughts:it looks like you are in Vegas for less than a week. your "goals" seem pretty jam packed. especially if you want to see some shows, go visit the bookstore, play in tourneys, do other games, eat at nice place.having a goal of 40 hours of cash is nice but from my recent experience if you hit a rut the worst thing to can do is keep bea

Thanks bro-the goals I laid out are definitely more ones that I’ll aim for vs ones that I have to achieve. So to your point, if I’m getting crushed in the cash games or tournaments, I’ll cut short trying to hit those goals.

The $1000 budget for table games is more aimed at capping my losses at that amount. I love craps, but recognize that I’m a big lifetime loser st that game and overall in table games. I’m planning to take $5k for my poker/gambling bankroll, so with $1600-$1800 allocated for tournaments and $1000 for table games, that would leave me with about $2200-$2400 for cash games (5-8 buy ins at 1-3 depending on the room’s max buy in).


Had a bit of a traffic snafu and almost didn’t make the flight. But had some early run good and I just boarded-LFG! Casino chip collection, shoes, bankroll, and chip porn from recent trips.









LFG!


Color up needed!

Let’s GO


Dominate!


Not many better successive visuals and feelings than seeing the glittering lights of the Strip as your plane descends into Vegas, soon followed by the sharp hit of Vegas heat as you walk to get your Uber. Heading to the hotel, I love looking at the Vegas skyline and imagining all the fun possibilities for the next few days! Obligatory airport slots picture.



No issues at Luxor at all-was able to avoid a long check in line by checking in on the app and utilizing the digital key. Room was very clean and nicer than I was expecting.

Heading down to Ri Ra to grab some food before it closes.





by oriole-lion

No issues at Luxor at all-was able to avoid a long check in line by checking in on the app and utilizing the digital key. Room was very clean and nicer than I was expecting. Heading down to Ri Ra to grab some food before it closes.

Looks like a Tower Room, which are way nicer than the standard Pyramid rooms. Enjoy Vegas 😀


Had the wings and a Sullivans. I know that I’m on the just arrived in Vegas high, but the wings were real good. Would give them an 8.2 rating.

Now walking over to MGM to get in my 1st cash game session.



by BigWhale

Looks like a Tower Room, which are way nicer than the standard Pyramid rooms. Enjoy Vegas 😀

Thanks bro! I may have lucked out as my reservation was for a Pyramid Premier room. Hopefully it’s the start of run good!


In for $500 in a 1-2 game. LFG!!!



good luck

will be interested in your thoughts on Luxor - have never been there/considered it but the room does look pretty good


Was into the game for $700. Was swinging around as a result of playing too many hands. Was down $400 at one point but ultimately got up almost $190 before leaving up $166.

Walking back to Luxor now and walking outside this time of day. Not super hot or crowded, but great views.

Here is where the Tropicana used to be. It was one of the first places I stayed at with my college buddies in the mid-2000s.




by oriole-lion

Here is where the Tropicana used to be. It was one of the first places I stayed at with my college buddies in the mid-2000s.

Who needs Tropicana when you can look at a top notch resort like OYO


How were the stacks at MGM grand? That will be my backup place if Aria and Bellagio is full. Were there many big stacks and people matching stacks?


by feel wrath

good luck

will be interested in your thoughts on Luxor - have never been there/considered it but the room does look pretty good

I've stayed at Luxor many times. the Tower rooms are nice. Pyramid rooms are very basic and the elevators are the slowest in all of Vegas so definitely Tower is better for the extra ten bucks or whatever the difference is. mobile check-in with th MGM app is very nice and convenient and gives you free early check-in.
there are a few reasonable and good places to eat, Diablos Cantina sticks out along with RiRas and Slice of Vegas. Luxor is also the home for a bunch of daily shows. it's not a bad Vegas home base.


by oriole-lion

Here is where the Tropicana used to be. It was one of the first places I stayed at with my college buddies in the mid-2000s.

RIP Tropicana :(

I have good memories of staying there in 1994, for Grateful Dead concerts out at Sam Boyd Silver Stadium.


Bed was comfortable and I slept great for a few hours. Am now relaxing at the pool for a bit.

Leaning towards heading downtown today for food and to maybe play in a tournament at the Golden Nugget.



Is the pool men-only? LOL.


by BigWhale

Who needs Tropicana when you can look at a top notch resort like OYO

Hahaha! Although I do wonder if someone will buy OYO once the A’s stadium gets off the ground given that location.


by MuckPls

How were the stacks at MGM grand? That will be my backup place if Aria and Bellagio is full. Were there many big stacks and people matching stacks?

They were okay-1 guy had a $1K+ stack, a few guys had $700+ stacks. I didn’t see anyone come in and match stacks. Action was okay (at least for a Wednesday night), but I probably forced it too much.

Have definitely seen wilder games in previous years, so likely try to play there again this trip.


by Langdon

I've stayed at Luxor many times. the Tower rooms are nice. Pyramid rooms are very basic and the elevators are the slowest in all of Vegas so definitely Tower is better for the extra ten bucks or whatever the difference is. mobile check-in with th MGM app is very nice and convenient and gives you free early check-in. there are a few reasonable and good places to eat, Diablos Can

Am in full agreement-Tower room has been real nice and a pleasant surprise. And no issues so far with the digital key. Would definitely stay here again.

Thanks for the food recs!


by AzOther1

RIP Tropicana :(

I have good memories of staying there in 1994, for Grateful Dead concerts out at Sam Boyd Silver Stadium.

Agreed bro-will always associate that with my earliest Vegas memories.


by Javanewt

Is the pool men-only LOL.

Hahahaha-there were lots of women there too. I just didn’t want to be seen as trying to snipe a picture of any women in bikinis.

Pool was nice-they had a heated one and regular one. Minimal shade though and it was baking, so only stayed less than an hour.

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