smokiness of Vegas

Ok, strange question....But anyway,

Not planning on going into the casinos while in vegas but wondering about the overall smoking rules there. Im a second hand smoke-aphobe and used to being out in the smoke free country....smoking in restaurants? public spaces? whats the deal?

smokiness of Vegas

Vegas is a smokers heaven. Well, except for the price of cigarettes. There%26#39;s really no way to avoid the second hand smoke while in Vegas. Non-smoking floors have ash trays next to the elevators, restaruants all have smoking sections that drift into the non-smoking sections, and smoking is permitted in public areas.

smokiness of Vegas

Vegas is the exact opposite of California.

the deal is.........if your a true ';second hand smoke aphobe';, change your plans and go somewhere else. Smoking is everywhere. And how are you going to do anything without stepping into a casino? Even walking to the elevators in your hotel will prove to irritate you. Poolside will bother you, walking the strip, going through a casino to get to a show, smoking is everywhere. Not trying to be difficult but consider yourself forewarned that it truly is a smokers heaven and don%26#39;t plan on being a rude non-smoker by yelling at folks around you as you go places. Honestly, I think the casinos do an amazing job of keeping the air as smoke free as possible but a true smoke aphobe will be much too irritated to enjoy oneself.

As I said, just consider yourself forewarned.

If you can%26#39;t stand smoke you are going to have a tough time in Vegas. It is almost impossible to avoid casinos(with their smoke) in Vegas. You have to walk through them to get just about anywhere. They did have one small non-smoking casino on the strip but it closed. People smoke everywhere in Vegas. I do have to say that as an ex-smoker the smoke really doesn%26#39;t bother me that much.

Stay in Califonie if smoke offends you. Once you get out of the airport or taxi, welcome to smoke. Only hotel you cannot smoke in is the cross-bar motel.

Maybe it was just my imagination but it seems like the higher end hotels have a better ventilation system in their casinos. I am really bothered by smoke but it didn%26#39;t seem to bother me in places like Balligo, MGM, Mandalay Bay even New York New York. Places like Circus Circus, and Star Dust are actually blue with smoke. Same goes for the higher end restaurants. I have asthma but I did OK in Vegas with a non smoking room.

Smoke was one thing I was concerned with on our first trip out there too. I was pregnant and didn%26#39;t want to be in too much smoke, but the ventilation REALLY is great in the bigger places! Places like Boardwalk were BAD for smoke, just avoid the rinky dink places and you%26#39;ll probably be ok.

***Dissenting Opinion Alert***

I am VERY aware of and despise cigarette smoke, but for some reason don%26#39;t have a big problem with it in most areas of Las Vegas, including casinos.

Granted, I never wander thru the real ';low-end'; casinos, but for instance Golden Nugget and Mirage casinos don%26#39;t bother me at all. I%26#39;m even fine at an old joint like the Golden Gate.

Generally, if you are not going into casinos, you should probably be fine at your hotel (assuming it%26#39;s somewhat upscale and you%26#39;re on a non-smoking FLOOR), shops, nice restaurants and especially outside.

My eyes are very dry and sensitive to smoke, but I really never have a real problem in Vegas. I tend to spend more time in the larger properties, play poker in no smoking rooms %26amp; avoid sitting near smokers when I hit the video poker or slot machines.

It seems to me that if you really have a phobia, the great air handling in the nicer casinos may not be enough to make your trip pleasant. It may bother you to simply see all of those people smoking away, whether you can really smell the smoke or not. Think seriously about your feelings about being around smokers and change your plans if you believe that seeing tons of lit cigarettes, butts, ash trays, etc. will make it hard for you to enjoy yourself.

If the smoke in the casinos dont get you, the exhaust pollution outside in Vegas will really get you.

A view from the 20th floor shows a layer of golden brown air from about 500 feet down.

a surgical mask and bottle of o2 will be your only out for a visit to the city of Vegas.

how does the playersclub work at MGM???

hello, im staying in MGM in 2 weeks and am interested in this players club thing... i went to the website and they said that for every point on my card i will recieved 1 penny comp... my question is how long does it take to rack up points??? i am going to play mostly slots... should i charge all services to my room?? any info on this is appreciated. thanks!

how does the playersclub work at MGM???

A quick way to estimate points from slot play is that for every $150 you lose, you%26#39;ll get about 1000 points. This is based on the math that if you keep playing at a machine with a 90% payback, then you%26#39;ll get about $1500 of ';coin in'; before you lose the whole $150. The MGM club gives you 1 point for each $1.50 of coin in, so that%26#39;s 1000 points. You will get cash back at the rate of one penny per point, so you%26#39;ll get $10 in cash back. Comps are separate from the cash back. Stop by the players club and see what you can get. If you%26#39;re staying at an MGM-Mirage property, charge everything to your room and then stop by just before you leave and see how much they%26#39;ll take off your bill. My wife and I always averaged about 1500 points per day, and we usually got back an average of about $50 per day in comps, either free nights or food comps. Hope this helps.

what are the top hard disk brands

Driving times to Hoover Dam and other questions...

Can anyone answer these questions?:

How long does it take to drive to Hoover Dam from the strip?

Is it on the way to Grand Canyon?

Can you still do the tour which goes into the dam?

Driving times to Hoover Dam and other questions...

When I mapquested this drive, it said 36 minutes, but I%26#39;ve heard traffic can be a problem and it can take half an hour to go the last 2 miles, so I%26#39;d allow for an hour.

We are going here soon, as well!

Driving times to Hoover Dam and other questions...

Oh, and it is sort of on the way to the Grand Canyon--not much added onto the trip if you go this route, maybe 5 or 10 minutes. They still have 2 tours, but going down to see the workings of the dam is off limits since 9/11.

Drove it last Aug directly from the airport in the morning. Took about 35 minutes. You CAN go inside the dam. We were finished walking around by about noon, and, driving back, we noticed the traffic going to the dam was very heavy.

It is about 35 miles from the strip to the Grand Canyon . So about 45 minutes .( depending on traffic and which end you are on ) It cost $10.00 USD for the tour . There are many wonderful tours available going to Lake Meade , Hoover Dam and the Grand Canyon all rolled in one , in which you can ride the bus , fly etc... and that serve lunch and go to botanical gardens etc. as well also to the Hualapai Indian reservation at the west rim of the Canyon . ( Most are VERY affordable ) . The Hoover Dam is on the way to the Canyon . Since you are already on this website i am surprised you have not looked at them . be ware of not being able to take large knap sacks , purses atc. to the dam .

It is about 35 miles from the strip to the Grand Canyon . So about 45 minutes .( depending on traffic and which end you are on ) It cost $10.00 USD for the tour . There are many wonderful tours available going to Lake Meade , Hoover Dam and the Grand Canyon all rolled in one , in which you can ride the bus , fly etc... and that serve lunch and go to botanical gardens etc. as well also to the Hualapai Indian reservation at the west rim of the Canyon . ( Most are VERY affordable ) . The Hoover Dam is on the way to the Canyon . Since you are already on this website i am surprised you have not looked at them . be ware of not being able to take large knap sacks , purses atc. to the dam .

The trip to the dam is less than 40 miles I believe. The problems getting there are- Road construction of the highway near the dam and the security checkpoint before the dam. Be prepared for a few slowdowns and having your car searched.

The tour inside the dam includes a short film, an elevator ride, a long tunnel, and a view of one of the generator rooms. It is interesting the first time but not enough for repeat visiting. If you haven%26#39;t seen it, by all means check it out. It is definitely cooler inside the dam than outside this time of the year.

You can route your trip to go over the dam and on to the Grand Canyon.

The Hoover Dam is free to visit (unless you take the tour inside.)

The Grand Canyon has a fee.

Both places are a ';must see.';

Thanks everyone. We%26#39;ll probably go early then to avoid the traffic.

We are going to drive rather than take a tour from Vegas. Are going down into the dam and seeing the workings the same thing? (Sorry if that sounds like a stupid question!)

Don%26#39;t worry - Buckethead just answered the question already!

cosmetic products

Lake Cruise

We will be staying at Caesars for a few days and would like to do a dinner cruise one evening on the lake. Can someone suggest a good cruise with good food that would be easy to find from Caesars. We will have a car, but don%26#39;t want to spend a lot of time driving around trying to find the cruise.

Thanks.

Lake Cruise

The MS Dixie has a dinner cruise and leaves from Zypher Cove which is about 4 miles north of the casino area..

The Hornblower Tahoe Queen which is an authentic paddle whell boat has a dinner cruise and leaves from the Marina at the foot of Ski Run Blvd on the CA side.

The Tahoe Gal leaves form Tahoe City Marina and is not convenient to your Caesars location.

free rooms at the Stardust? Or pay for The Orleans?

We are taking my father in law and our 2 children to Vegas this month. Our intent is to see the Grand Canyon, Hoover Dam, and Sedona, (we are going by way of LV because we have free flights for all of us).

I got rooms for our first night in LV at the Rio, for $49--I was very happy about that, and I planned on another night at The Orleans--for $40--the night before we return home. But, just to throw a wrench into things, my father in law called our local riverboat and was given comped rooms at the Stardust for 3 nights. They will comp our room, as well, if I agree to give up our other hotels. I%26#39;m not willing to give up the Rio, but maybe it would be worth it to switch to the Stardust for the last two nights.

I%26#39;m not really thrilled with the reviews on the Stardust, so somebody talk me into (or out of) this decision, please!

Thanks!

free rooms at the Stardust? Or pay for The Orleans?

My friend had an Air Force Reunion at Stardust and we moved from the Golden Nugget over the weekend to the Stardust on Monday. It was clean, comfortable and I would have no problem staying there again. The drink service at the slot machines was better than any where else that we went. I didn%26#39;t use the pool but from what I could see from my window it looked nice. We easily walked to the Wynn from there and to the Fashion Mall. There is a Starbucks right across the street. I%26#39;d say go for it. You have a lot planned and really won%26#39;t be in your room that much anyway. P.S. I like the Rio too. :)

free rooms at the Stardust? Or pay for The Orleans?

It may be worth the extra cash in hand to suck it up and stay at the Stardust. It could mean a nicer car rental or a special family dinner. I haven%26#39;t stayed at the Stardust but I thought the casino was pretty nice when I visited there.

I have stayed at the Rio and hopefully your kids will have a chance to visit the pool while you are there. They%26#39;ll get a kick out of the waterfall.

BTW, what casino is comping the rooms?

I always like the ring to the word ';free.'; Since you won%26#39;t be in the room that much there is no reason not to go to the Stardust. It is on the north end of the strip but within walking distance to the TI. From there you can take the free tram to the Mirage which would put you more towards the center of the strip. Use the money to go to a better restaurant for dinner.

Thank you both for your advice!

FIL is getting the rooms comped through the Para-dice Riverboat in Peoria--apparently they are owned by the same parent company that owns the Stardust. He got a coupon in the mail for the Stardust and thought he may as well call up the riverboat and ask what they could do for him in Vegas. He%26#39;s never been to LV before, but he does frequent the riverboat regularly.

Just goes to show you, it never hurts to ask!

Thanks again!

First of all, MAKE SURE the free rooms at Stardust are not in the two story motel buildings out back (if they are still standing). This is where a LOT of the FREE rooms used to be.

We stayed in one about ten years ago for about ten minutes and then bailed. Ask Vegasman about this. If your rooms are going to be in these buildings, DO NOT stay at Stardust.

It also depends on how old the kids are and what they will be doing while at the hotel/casino. If they are very young (under 4) and will just be in the rooms, I would take the free rooms at Stardust.

If they are old enough to go to the pool, arcade, bowling and movies, stay at Orleans. It has all of the above and Stardust does not cater to kids. It generally caters to mid and upper age ';Old Vegas'; types.

A few last questions

Will be at the Nugget for a week this month. My first stay downtown after many years of staying on the strip.

1. What are the best places for a quick meal?

2. Is there any special request about rooms at the Nugget I should make?

3. What are the best casinos for video poker, craps, blackjack?

4. Anything else I should know about downtown?

A few last questions

All of the hotels have coffee shops...since you will be downtown you can walk to many properties...Four Queens..I like their coffee shop...Plaza..not so nice...Fremont..California club..etc...also the Venetian%26#39;s coffee shop is not bad...enjoy

A few last questions

Thanks

The Nugget has a snack shop for quick bites to eat-right by the poker room and also Carson St cafe-just dont go there at peak breakfast time-there is a line. Binions has a decent coffee shop with alot of different food choices, as well as a snack bar for Hog dogs, burgers, greasy food. Four Q has a subway %26amp; Burger King.

I%26#39;d say request a north tower room close to the elevator for the easiest access to the casino.

GN isnt very good for VP in my experience. I like Binions %26amp; 4Q for both VP %26amp; Blackjack-dont play craps. GN for blackjack early early morning like 3 or 4 is good-they have tables open and lower minimums.

Hit the oxygen bar in front of Starbucks for a refresher and good hangover cure, deep fried twinkie at Mermaids if you can stomach it, and make sure you dont run out of smokes since its a b--tch to get them comped!! Drink lots, gamble lots and have a blast!

vegasman ? please

HI VM.

you replied to a question of mine a few week%26#39;s ago, about the instant replay and sport%26#39;s bar accross the street from the westgate flamingo bay resort. you said at the time it had change name, i have been searching the net to find it or a name like it. could you go one step further for me and try and find out it%26#39;s current name. t/y UKTRIPPER.

vegasman ? please

Can%26#39;t find the name for you, but it really won%26#39;t matter. You won%26#39;t eat there that often!

It%26#39;s a big unit, we found it noisy (sports bar bit) a bit dark and really short on customers so we never quite relaxed.

Having said that, the food was good, friendly service and they will give you a take away menu too.

Once you get to the Westgate and find your bearings you will notice that there are plenty of places to eat between the site and the strip by most road junctions. We never bought breakfast as Supermarket is 10 mins away (turn left at complex gates. walk to the traffic lights and supermarket is next to Wendy%26#39;s) and we got juice, cereal, fruit and doughnuts. Coffee for coffee maker is dead cheap - don%26#39;t forget filters though - we had none in the apartment but a pack of 100 cost 99 cents. We got through quite a big tin of coffee in 11 days (cost about $8 for the tin)

Only other tip - if you like tea take a travel kettle and tea bags, but try the Liptons tea it%26#39;s quite nice.

Buy the better quality bread too - it will last well.

Jam - the grape stuff was awful!! Marmalade OK and a brand of Jam called schmuckers(?) was OK too.

If your going to use the bus get a $5 day ticket. If you want to buy toiletries the Walgreens on the strip were more expensive the off strip branches for some things - to be fair, not by too much.

The next main junction to the right of the Westgate (2nd set of lights) is Decataur. The bus going along that Road ,north (or towards the Stratosphere end!) will take you past many shops including a Walmart, a massive 99cent shop (it was OK, but no great shakes) and eventually to the Maryland shopping centre, which is worth going to.

Last thing - pop a couple of travel packs of washing powder in your suitcase - there is one little box of ';Tide'; in the washer area - they aren%26#39;t used to us Brits who stay there for weeks. MOre than happy to bring you whatever you need if you call reception if you run out of dishwasher powder etc.

It%26#39;s getting close now for you to go isn%26#39;t it?

Looking forward to reading your thoughts when you get back.

Have a great time

Andrew

vegasman ? please

ANDREWR, thank%26#39;s for all that great info, hope your posting a review of your stay in vegas, looking foreward to reading it. arriving late in the day at westgate andrew, just thought it would be handy to pop accross the road to eat, we will be shattered after 19hour%26#39;s door to door travel. andrew we leave 7 week%26#39;s this comming friday. ANDREW WOULD YOU EMAIL ME SO I CAN ASK YOU SOME OTHER QUESTION%26#39;S. andyp@sitemaster.karoo.co.uk look foreward to hearing from you. UKTRIPPER.

server