Las Vegas Update - Late September 2020

3,330 Views | 18 Replies | Last: 3 yr ago by lazuras_dc
Aggiemike96
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AG
I'm spending 4 days, 4 nights in Vegas (9/23-9/27), and thought I'd update what's going on. I see the other thread but figured to start a new one since things have changed since June.

Background - I've been to Vegas 30ish times, so I know my way around. I'm a blackjack player, and cheap (I know the odds are always against me) and value "fun" over "fancy hotels." A hotel is just a place to lay my head for a few hours and shower.

Wednesday, 9/23 - Arrived at McCarran about 7 PM. Southwest flight was about 50% full. No beverage service of any kind (only a cup of water). I chatted with the flight attendant before we took off about can we please, for the love of everything, have alcohol on the flight to Vegas. No dice. The airport was somewhat busy, busier than other airports I've flown through lately (HOU, IAH-relatively, DAL, and ABQ). Luggage took forever to get the carousel, about par for LAS.

Lyft was $17 from LAS to Gold Coast hotel, and that price is consistent with previous trips. Drove past the new "Roomba" football stadium; it's beautiful! Rio is closed and looks to be closed for good.

Gold Coast Casino - The first thing that shocked me was the table minimums. The $5 blackjack tables were all $15. No $5 or $10 minimums to be found...on a Wednesday evening. The BJ tables have plasti-glass partitions that allow 4 players, and there's a partition between the players and dealer. The roulette table and craps were pretty much as before (not sure about the minimums). These tables were PACKED, perhaps because you weren't in a plastic cage. Roulette - free to place your bets all of the table, as before. Same for craps. If you've been to GC, you know PaiGow is big here. I don't play that, but those tables looked pretty full too. All in all, I'd say the only drastic change was, unfortunately, to blackjack.

Masks - Ridiculous. You can "sip" but have to immediately re-mask. It's sip, re-mask, sip, re-mask, and so on. You can't just have a beer in your hand, and that qualifies you to remove your mask. Perhaps the plan is to sip non-stop for 4 days! The casino security lady was cool about it, not rude.

I am headed to the Strip today and downtown for Friday and Saturday nights. Pool cabana on Saturday. Feel free to ask questions below, and I'll answer as best I can. Otherwise, I'll update today's experience in a post here tomorrow.
PPAag06
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AG
Thanks for this, looking to go soon! FYI, my family in Vegas advised the RIO is closed and will be reopened under another name in the future. "RIO" is gone forever.
Aggiemike96
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AG
The Lyft driver last night said something about turning the Rio property into a sports complex. Evidently it's changed ownership several times and the World Series of Poker has a contract with a $50 million buyout provision?

Sad to see it go, if so. The tower is iconic.
WoMD
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Aggiemike96 said:

The Lyft driver last night said something about turning the Rio property into a sports complex. Evidently it's changed ownership several times and the World Series of Poker has a contract with a $50 million buyout provision?

Sad to see it go, if so. The tower is iconic.

Will miss their seafood buffet.
Baba Ganoush
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AG
I'm heading out there tomorrow through Monday. Heard they've loosened restrictions on bars, so we'll see how "open" it is.
mazzag
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AG
Know friends with their own cabana. Had to wear mask in cabana. F that.
FbgTxAg
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AG
Headed there Oct 1.

Appreciate the updates! Keep em coming!
The greatest argument ever made against democracy is a 5 minute conversation with the average voter.
Panama Red
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AG
Was there this past weekend. Encore/Wynn.

United flight was full, with complete drink service.

Strict on masks at the tables. None required in pool or seated at restaurants or bar.

Some $15 tables on Thursday, didn't see any over the weekend.

Mask makes for not-ideal situation, but still had a blast.

Didn't check a bag because I don't have ovaries.

Aggiemike96
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AG
Thursday we spent cruising the Strip from PH to OYO and everything in between. PH is closed, but we stumbled upon OceanOne in the Miracle Mile mall and that was nice.

Now, don't get me wrong, OYO is definitely not nice and classy. However, there were zero plastic barricades to be found, so we settled in on blackjack table and actually had a pretty good time.

Friday we moved downtown to the Grand Downtown. Nice hotel. Everyone entering the property had to have their temperature taken. Didn't gamble here at all so can't really say much.

The Golden Gate was where it was happening Saturday night. Every table was PACKED and the dealers were all on the attractive-to-highly attractive scale. I remember this hotel being a dump, but that was years ago. Evidently they have done a complete remodel and guests are enjoying it. Main Street is closed, but the rest of the Boyd properties seem to be open and operating. El Cortez didn't care at all about who entered and played. No temperature checks, no barricades, just walk in like it's 2019.

We did the cabana at the Grand Saturday and it was nice. Overly priced crap beverages, but that's expected. Scenery wasn't good, so if you're looking for eye candy, look elsewhere. No DJ, just music played over speakers. Absolutely zero social distancing going on. The only folks with masks were the waitstaff and the pool was pretty crowded.

I'd say it's manageable right now. Disappointed that table minimums are high, but is what it is. Don't go to Vegas and gamble if you're scared of losing money!

Oh, and didn't watch one second of college football Saturday. I was standing in the Grand's book about noon and tempted to put a Benjamin on the Commodores to cover. Oh well.
Thinice
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Any problems with crime while you were there?

Was wanting to meet up with a local and he said he's avoiding the strip due to shootings and assaults.
HollywoodBQ
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AG
I've been to Vegas about 4-5 times in the past 2-3 months. Let's just say that the clientele walking down the strip isn't your normal bachelorette party Becky's from Iowa and obviously there aren't any foreigners or Canadians there right now. Who is there aren't folks you're going to want to associate with.

Nevada did open up bars a week ago so it was nice to finally be able to sit at a bar again.

The only game I played was video poker. I won $2.
gindaloon
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AG
Poolside gaming at Wynn/Encore had no plexiglass dividers. Good option to gamble with buddies. Mask still required
RebelE91
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AG
Quote:

Some $15 tables on Thursday, didn't see any over the weekend.
So does this mean the typical table minimum is $25 on the weekends?
Aggiemike96
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AG
We didn't witness anything first hand related to crime. However, Saturday evening as we were cruising Fremont Street, security abruptly closed the street and told everyone to get into a casino. A block away we noticed some chanting and BLM signs.

We didn't spend enough time on the Strip to make any determination...except it was dead.
FbgTxAg
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AG
Spent a couple of weekends in Vegas bookending a trip to Zion. Stayed dirty downtown at Golden Gate first weekend then Cosmo second weekend.

Busy both places and strip is starting to get busy again. Still a lesser class of clientele, but it is what it is.

Masks required at all table games (which really curtailed my table gaming) but pretty lenient at bars w/Video Poker. So played much more video poker.

The greatest argument ever made against democracy is a 5 minute conversation with the average voter.
Aggie
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AG
Are shows running?
FbgTxAg
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AG
Aggie said:

Are shows running?


Not that I know of, unless you call walking down Freemont or by Belagio on Saturday night a "show."

Lots of masks a and body-paint.
Wahoo82
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AG
We were in Vegas in July and September. July we stayed at Aliante and Orleans and BJ mins were $10 and plentiful tables. We just got back recently and stayed at Suncoast. BJ tables were $10 mins and plentiful. Bars were open with plexiglass dividers between every bartop VP. Had a great time both trips.
Cowman1
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Going in December, anyone been lately?
lazuras_dc
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Going in feb. as long as the Michelin star restaurants are open and we can go drive race cars we'll be happy.
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