Las Vegas Vacation Blog Blog

“Top Chef” fans, you are in for a treat. Bravo was kind enough to sneak me an advance look at tonight’s Restaurant Wars episode, and you can expect shakeups galore. All of them for the better. Please note: What follows has minor spoilers. Proceed at your discretion.

Rick Moonen (you watched him implode and then make one of the greatest comebacks ever on “Top Chef Masters”) is in to guest judge the series’ first-ever tag-team cook-off. The remaining eight contestants will split into two teams, each which will be responsible for creating a single dish relay-race style — only without communication and with blindfolds.

Each chef will get 10-minute chunks of time to cook. While the first chef is cooking, the other three must wait blindfolded — the blindfold doesn’t come off until it is that person’s turn. No talking about the dish beforehand or otherwise.

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Las Vegas’ UFL team has repriced tickets at its home games to $10 dollars for all but the most prime seats.

The Locomotives previously priced tickets from $7 to $42, and sold 12,000 tickets for their home opener last week.

The Locos play at Sam Boyd Stadium, which is also the site for the UFL championship Nov. 27.

The Tropicana Las Vegas presents American Funk, Rock and R&B Legends - WAR - Tuesday, Dec. 30 at 8 p.m. in the Tiffany Theater. Tickets are priced at $50 and $60 (all inclusive) and are available at the Tropicana Box Office.
WAR has entertained audiences for more than three decades with favorites: “Low Rider,” “Why Can’t We Be Friends,” “Cisco Kid,” “Spill the Wine” and many more. Spreading a message of unity and understanding, their repertoire of music proves ever timeless with continual success; WAR was recently nominated for induction into the 2009 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
In addition to an evening of classic music the Tropicana Las Vegas is also offering incredible room rates for the New Year’s Eve holiday starting as low as $143 per night for three nights and $189 per night for Dec. 30 and Dec. 31.
“We are very excited to kick-off our New Year’s Eve festivities with such an accomplished group of performers,” said Tropicana Las Vegas Vice President of Marketing Randy Sears. “We’re providing our guests with fine entertainment, affordable prices and the ideal Las Vegas Strip location to ring-in the New Year.”

Tickets for WAR are available at the Tropicana Box Office or by calling 702-739-2411. For additional information on WAR as well as Tropicana Las Vegas New Year’s Eve holiday pricing visit tropicanalv.com.

I think one of the coolest sites to see in Las Vegas is the Fountains at the Bellagio. It truly is mesorizing to see at night time.

These fountains, also generally called musical fountains, appear to respond to music but have been programmed beforehand. The earliest of these were played manually by a live operator, who usually controlled pumps or valves and sometimes lights by way of switches on a control panel. Music was almost always live. Later, choreography could be prerecorded on a punched paper card which was scanned by a computer; and even later, it could be recorded on magnetic tape or, in the most modern shows, on a CD along with the music. Even so, the choreography must still be painstakingly programmed by hand, some types of shows being played live from a control console and connected to a computer that records the operator’s actions for later automatic playback.
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See the White tigers at Siegfried & Roy’s Secret Garden: The Mirage

“Long ago, Roy and I realized that everything that happens to this planet is man’s responsibility. Our responsibility,” says Siegfried. “After living and working with some of the world’s most magnificent creatures, we have felt the threat of their loss. So we felt compelled to create a safe environment – an environment in which these animals could live in serenity,” says Roy.

An exotic, enchanting and wondrous world full of adventure lies before you. The rare and exquisite animals enjoy relaxing in their tropical environment, painstakingly modeled after their natural habitats.

“Comps” is just a short way of saying “complimentaries”. They are the freebies given away by casinos to entice you to spend money in their casinos. A comp can be anything from a free keychain to a luxury weekend hotel stay including 3,000 square foot suite with butler service, limo transportation and free airfare to Las Vegas. Granted, the amount you gamble has to be pretty high to get the suite and airfare, but most casinos will provide comps to even the lowest of lowroller. It’s all in how you play the game.

The key to comps is to always be sure that you are rated when you play. This means that the casino keeps track of your average bet and the time you play. Almost all casinos in Las Vegas have a slot club card to do this. You find the slot club booth in the casino, fill out a card with your name, address, phone and social security number and they issue you a plastic, credit card sized card with an ID number on it. When you sit down at a table game, you hand that card to the pit boss who logs you in and notes your average bet. When you leave, they make a note of that too. Same goes for slot machines or video poker. When you sit at a machine, there is a slot where you insert your card. That will track the amount of money you put through that machine. Never ever ever play a machine without a slot club card in it. You are losing money if you do. Most casinos offer cashback or comps based on the denomination you bet and your length of play. You earn “points” based on the number of coins you put into the machine and those points can be redeemed for various comps from t-shirts to free rooms.

Here are some of the types of things you can get comped:

The most obvious, yet often overlooked comp in town are the free drinks you are provided with while you play. Typically, when you’re sitting at a machine or table game, cocktail waitresses will walk by saying “cocktail”. Give them your order for your drink of choice and they’ll go get it. Some casinos are limited on the drinks they provide. Some only provide the “cheap stuff” while others will give you anything you ask for. Our favorite is Main Street Station downtown as they will bring you beer from their microbrewery at the machines and tables.

The free drinks are the easiest comp to get. All you have to do is sit down and start playing and eventually a cocktail waitress will stroll by and take your order. (Remember, it’s always a good idea to tip the waitresses - see my tipping guide here). Some casinos will also comp cigarettes at the tables, but those casinos are getting few and far between. Billhere (http://www.billhere.com) has a list of casinos that still comp cigarettes for play if you’re interested. Send him an email asking for his “coupons+lists” lists. I believe the article is #546.

The next easiest comp to get would be a line pass to the buffet. Basically this just gets you past all the other people in line. It gets you into the casino guest line, but does not pay for your food. It is just a little bit more difficult to get the buffet pass and it’s always best to ask for that. Just go up to any pit boss or slot host and ask for a comp to the buffet for how ever many people are in your party. If they’ve seen you gambling at all, most will give you a comp for two to the buffet which includes a line pass. Just go straight to the casino guest line with the paper they hand you and eat up.

The same method is used to get comps to coffee shops, restuarants, shows, etc. You find your slot host or the pit boss in the area you’re playing and ask if you’ve played enough for a comp to …. whatever. You can also go back to the slot club booth and see how many points you have available to redeem for a buffet or restaurant. However, I have found better success by establishing a relationship with a host and asking them directly. More often than not, the points will not be taken out of your account for the meal, or you may be given a comp when you don’t yet have enough points to cover it.

The same goes for getting casino rate or free rooms, etc. When you are ready to check out of the hotel where you’ve been staying and playing, go downstairs and ask to speak to a host. Tell them how much you have enjoyed playing at their hotel, etc. Then ask if they can take any charges off your bill. I always charge everything to my room from buffets to restaurants to specialty drinks in the bar. I am not much of a high roller ($0.25 video poker a few hours a day) but I usually get something by asking. Usually a few free meals, or my room rate reduced. It never hurts to ask and you won’t get anything if you don’t try at all.

Never be embarrassed or intimidated. Always be nice. The casino host is there to make sure that you have a good time and that you return to their casino in the future. Many times a casino host will not be able to give you much at that time (when you’re checking out) but they will give you their card and will say “Please let me know when you’d like to visit us next time.” Calling them before your next trip will almost always result in a discounted room rate (casino rate) at a minimum. Establishing a relationship with a casino host at a particular hotel you enjoy will get you more and more comps each visit if you consistently gamble in their casino.

The trick is to be nice, and not to abuse the host. Many hosts have told me that first time visitors will contact them and expect the world for $100 of gaming. You can’t get RFB (Room, food and beverages comped) if you’re playing nickle slots. The hosts have to account for the things they comp. Comps are generally computed based on expected loss. If you played $1000 at blackjack with a 3% expected house edge, they would presume that you lost $30. They would comp you a percentage of that, usually 20-40%, or $6-12. Now, that doesn’t mean that you have to lose that $30. In fact, if you play an hour of a positive expectation video poker game (like deuces wild) statistically you will break even or come out slightly ahead, but the casino will still assume that you have lost that $30 or so and will base your comps on that figure.

There are a number of excellent resources out there about what slot clubs are best and how best to work them. The Queen of Comps is Jean Scott, the author of the Frugal Gambler. Her book is an excellent resource in learning how to work the comp system to your advantage. Here are some other great books that will help you.
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High above the casino floor, the acts of the World’s Largest Permanent Circus delight patrons by performing death-defying stunts every half-hour between 11 a.m. and midnight.

Acts include jugglers, unicyclists, trapeze artists and acrobats, to name a few.. Each lasts about 10 minutes.

The attraction is a popular one, as guests fill the stands a good 15 minutes beforehand; there are only about 60 seats to be had. Don’t worry, however, there’s room to stand on the other side of the stage, as well as near the fishing game that juts out from the midway.

While walking through the main casino, you’ll see signs that point you toward the midway — you can either walk up the ramp or take the escalators and then circle around to the center stage.

The midway features more than 200 games of skill and chance; it’s one of the best in town. In the evening, the rotating “Horse-A-Round” bar featured in the movie “Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas” is a must.
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Craving a taste of adrenaline on your vacation? If you want a bit of excitement and adventure, Pole Position Raceway will send your heart racing. Novice and experienced racers alike can enjoy this state-of-the-art facility, which features indoor race karts zooming faster than any of their kind in the country.

In fact, three weeks after its opening in December 2007, Pole Position already had approximately 5,000 visitors. In addition to celebrities like Jamie Little, Paul Tracy, Kyle Busch, novice drivers from ages 10 to 70 also come out to the track.

“The response has been unbelievable,” said Bryan Kroten, director of sales and marketing.

NASCAR Champion Kurt Busch and seven-time AMA Supercross Champion Jeremy McGrath are both part of the team that brought Pole Position Raceway to Las Vegas.

Pole Position Raceway’s 60,000-square-foot facility features a unique quarter-mile European-style track. The track can be compared to the real thing because it is actually designed by professional race car drivers.

But the karts are what surprise most guests.

“People are most impressed with our karts,” said Kroten. “A lot of people think they’re going to be kiddie karts or bumper karts.”

These racing karts are approximately 18-horsepower and capable of going up to 45 miles per hour, which is quite impressive for being indoors. In addition, these electric-powered karts are environmentally friendly — they emit no exhaust.

Before heading out on the track, drivers get to choose a racing name — this name shows up on the big screen above the track. Here, racers can see exactly where they stand against the other participants during the race.

Once the adventure begins, drivers find themselves racing through long straightaways, hairpin turns and other unique elements. Your arms will get quite a workout — you’ll need to use your muscles to maneuver the sharp turns. And while you may hear all sorts of screeching, crashing and bumping cars behind you, don’t let those factors psych you out. These should be your motivation to pick up the pace!

At the end of each race, each driver will receive a scorecard, which includes details like lap time and position in race along with overall race stats. Compare your results with other racers to see where you stand.

Even if you’re not into racing, you’ll have fun simply being here. Guests can stroll through the facility and see helmets and racing suits on display worn by professionals, including the late Dale Earnhardt, Sr.

The upstairs game room features two pool tables, a pinball machine, plasma TVs and not to mention, a great aerial view of the track. Catch the excitement below and pay attention to how the experts execute the tricky turns. And who knows? After watching for a while, you may be able muster up the courage to try the track yourself. The helpful staff makes you feel comfortable and will also address any concerns you might have.

Pole Position also offers an arcade, which includes a variety of racing games. If you want to take a piece of your experience with you, Pole Position Raceway also sells memorabilia, including T-shirts and hats.

A variety of private parties, catered events, as well as group racing packages are available. With Pole Position’s custom racing, you can either race head-to-head with friends, against the clock or eliminate drivers through multiple rounds of racing. For more information about hosting your special event, please call (702) 227-7223.

Whether you’re the careful cruiser or the super speedster, Pole Position is fun for all.

“This place is built for the masses,” said Kroten. “It’s an entertainment experience, yet it also provides competitive karting. It’s a good combination of both.”

Complimentary shuttle service is also available from the Las Vegas Strip. Please inquire for details on participating hotels.

Although the “ship of dreams” met its demise nearly a century ago, the spirit of the Titanic and its passengers live on through “Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition.”

Described as a floating palace, the incomparable Titanic was deemed “practically unsinkable” by the White Star Line and its builders. But on a calm April night in 1912, the massive luxury liner struck an iceberg and slowly sank into the North Atlantic.

Since then, many items from the wreckage have been recovered and added to “Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition.” The 25,000-square-foot exhibit features numerous items from the Titanic, including luggage, the ship’s whistles, floor tiles from the first-class smoking room, a window frame from the Verandah Café and an unopened bottle of champagne with a 1900 vintage.

In addition, the exhibit features a full-scale re-creation of the Grand Staircase as well as a newly expanded outer Promenade Deck, complete with the frigid temperatures felt on that fateful April night.

The personal artifacts on display offer haunting, emotional connections to the forever-altered lives of those on board the Titanic. Visitors even have a chance to walk through authentically re-created first- and third-class rooms, with furnishings by original manufacturers.

The passenger list for the Titanic’s maiden voyage read like a social register for the time, including names such as John Jacob Astor IV, who built the Astoria Hotel in New York; women’s rights advocate Molly Brown; businessman Benjamin Guggenheim; Isidor Straus, of the L. Straus & Son fame, and his wife; and many others. There also were a number of immigrants on board, pursuing the dream of a better life in America.

Of the 2,228 passengers on board; more than 1,500 of them died. The exhibit concludes with a memorial wall honoring all those who lost their lives that fateful night.

The subject matter is somber, but “Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition” details an important chapter in maritime history that will leave a lasting impression.

Don’t let the numbers at the sports books confuse you. Learn all the basics to sports betting.

It would be a shame to visit Vegas and spend all your gaming time and money sitting helplessly behind a video poker or slot machine. It’s time to get involved in those table games everyone keeps talking about. It may be intimidating to step up to the table, but with our helpful hints and basic rules (not to mention gambling lessons at some casinos), you will have a much more exciting time in Vegas and have more stories to tell the folks back home.

A Bit of Advice

• Most casinos offer free lessons on a variety of games — craps, pokers, roulette and more. Check out this schedule  for free lessons at your casino.

• Watch the game you’re interested in prior to playing. This will help you gain important insights such as where and when to place bets and which hand to use when picking up your cards (or if you even touch your cards at all). You also will determine whether conferring with other players is frowned upon. For example, in games such as Craps it’s not, but in Caribbean Stud Poker, it is.

• Ask the dealers questions. They have certain rules they must abide by and they’re not playing with their own money, so they have nothing to hide.

• Watch for table limits. It seems obvious to check for the minimum bet, but don’t forget to check for the table maximum. If the table maximum is $3,000, don’t expect to be paid $10,000 if you bet $100 playing Caribbean Stud poker and were dealt a Royal Flush with 100:1 odds. You will receive only the maximum $3,000.

• Don’t be intimidated by the pit bosses. They are paid to look at everyone as a cheater. Since you’re not cheating, you have nothing to worry about. This doesn’t mean you should get cocky, either. Pit bosses also have the right to throw out anyone they choose.

• Payout odds vary from casino to casino. Check with the dealer or tabletop to confirm your odds prior to playing.