The Vegas visitor spectrum and their likes / dislikes/ expectations obviously varies all over the map. Every individual or group plans their trips at least partially based on those categorical choices. There's also a segment of the visiting population that prefers to just spontaneously wing it ( little to no planning intentionally). Some have been to Vegas so frequently that they plan some aspects as if it's second nature / like ..going to the mailbox. Here's how we do it, FWIW.
LIKES - Most of our trip decisions center around minimizing cash outlay outside gambling costs. Eur-friggin-reka! Those decisions are based on multiple best total comp dollar package offers from the evil conglomerates (MGM, CET, Stations, TI, and a couple others). Historically, we're Strip - goers..but that's evolving with good reason. My SO likes the Strip, but I'm luring her elsewhere these days based on trip gambling outcomes. Trip dates are chosen based on workload breaks at home, SW airfare sales/ promos, total comp dollar offer packages from multiple conglomerates, and specific gambling promo window dates such as the CET 5X / 10X TC events.
We routinely rent a car for control and spontaneity reasons and bludgeon ourselves with finding the best deals via cancelation / rebooking and price drop alerts right up until departure days. Autoslash, Priceline, and Costco (and occasionally AAA Travel) have generally provided the best rates after all the trail - of -tears processes are endured; it's often a crapshoot. We're loyalty club members at all the major car rental companies; sometimes that helps with Budget and a couple others. We try and avoid the double shuttle car rental agencies unless the deals are especially good. I've even rented a U-Haul van as an act of rebellion against exorbitant rental costs in the past ( this saved a few bucks but the Queen didn't like the process; I aquiesced for intimacy concerns ?). Maybe we'd save some money by using taxis, Uber/Lyft, or bicycle peds, skateboards..who knows. But one gives up some degree of control and spontaneity imo with any of those. Besides I don't own a smart phone on purpose and I like to make illegal U-turns at odd hours on the Vegas roadways.
Most of our trips are 6+ days so we have to overlap/ alternate different company comps for rooms to avoid the standard restrictions for successive comped room stays. We double book rooms on almost every trip among those alternate groups to secure the free play, room, and dining values from individual properties. We make sure to gamble at all of them to some degree to limit the stiff factor. It's generally worked thus far. We don't require fancy rooms..just maintained, clean, and a tad dose of comfort suits us. Yet, we're older now so of the Strip rooms, the Nomad Salon Suite is becoming more and more appealing. Great service there..above the norm by a mile.
Gambling; It's the main reason we go. Traditional 3:2 blackjack w/ $15 - 25 max minimums (outside any max bets), 25 cent multiline progressives including MHB's where applicable ( average bet = $2.25/spin), and the SO plays penny slots (50 cents - $1 per spin). I play strategy card VP when I can locate decent paytables off-Strip (South Point and Gold Coast) where there might also be some players club bumps.
Comps : Who doesn't chase comps to some degree? Tell the truth and define that as you choose but most are always looking for a better 'deal'. There are more efficient ways to acquire room, free play, and dining comps via reduced spend (LVA coupons , ACG coupons, locals coupon sources, comped rooms and dining credits from historical loyalty spending at players clubs, short term promos of multiple origin such as the CET 5x / 10x tier multiplier events and boarding pass match plays at El Cortez and the D, as examples). Limited spend can still solicit some teaser room / FP / dining offers from some properties ( primarily off-Strip)..a few remain. Everybody knows that all the loyalty club perks ..everywhere..have been whacked relative to the recent past. Squeeze em back..milk them..double book and get another couple hundred worth of perks for the trip..guiltlessly. In the end, comps will cost you..generally. Yet, it can be done with better efficiency.
Granted, overall opportunities for point-of-purchase discounts / savings have practically evaporated, particularly on the Strip ( there are a few left if one can stand the excavation pain; this particularly applies to dining costs / options). Add in the ubiquitous escalating costs for everything and you wind up at enhanced reasons to find those better deals if you enjoy Vegas trips as we still do.
Progressive and slot machine hold percentages are atrocious ( 8-15%), but they represent the main fuel for future comp offers for us. It's difficult to earn future similar value comp offers at $15-25 minimums at the blackjack tables because of the lower house edge factors vs the aforementioned. Unfortunately I maintain a love / hate relationship with the described BJ with reasonable rule sets..it's like having a bad girlfriend..sorta. I spend enough hours (20 - 25 hours per trip) at it to gain some future comp value but it's very limited relative to the other gambling options mentioned. It costs less, but you get back less ( you all know this).The only place I play BJ on the Strip is at TI. We routinely redeem the LVA BJ matchplays downtown . We go off-Strip more and more these days to play and eat because it's just less expensive and the gambling odds/ minimums and results are just a wee bit better. I think what we've read about all these years is at least somewhat true (Strip vs off-Strip). As stated in this forum multiple times by multiple participants, properties such as South Point, Downtown Grand, and Ellis Island still provide some reasonable gaming, dining, and overall decent casino environments for average Joe visitors. There are others as well that we have and will dip our toes in over time. I became very appreciative of the Downtown Grand during our most recent trip.
CC's : We play the credit card game to a limited degree, but restricted to SW Visa perks ( for SW tickets and points purchases..it's a double whammy perk), Wyndham Business Earners card, MGM Mastercard (MGM tier credit earnings), and Caesars Rewards Visa (tier credit earnings) perks, though this latter card is the least appealing for us ; the axiom to gaining any value out of these cc's are to pay off the total monthly balances without fail. Particularly, the Wyndham card ($95 annual fee/ $1K spend requirements) has a very good gas perk (8X per $1 spent) and it provides automatic Diamond status with CET at initial sign up. I buy a lot of gas for business purposes and this accommodates the tier status thing. We also get free / discounted Wyndham rooms all over the country including Vegas ( comes in handy for grandkid vists) as a cardholder and can transfer reward credits between Wyndham and CET if we choose to. It's no panacea, but it works for our situation in a couple ways.
People have touted the Founders Card for CET Diamond Match in the past. I looked into it and thought better of the Wyndham option. Recently the CET Diamond perk via Founders membership was removed but is now back on again (through 1/31/2025). Membership fees vary from $295 - $600 for whatever reasons. The Wyndham card just provides more practical application for us currently.
Loyalty club tier matching: We've done this among multiple Strip properties and , generally speaking, the main value perks at most are free parking priveleges( important for us with the rental cars), waived resort fees, and preferred line/s access depending on property. You still have to spend at these places to gain huge perks, but it's been worth it for us for parking fees purposes alone. We visited Fontainebleau last Feb..matched tiers there. The highlight of that visit was the literally immaculate bathroom just off the parking garage. Prettiest bathroom I've ever seen in Vegas, FWIW. Alas, the BJ minimums were way outside our bankroll so I'll just have to visit the common hooligan bathrooms where few if any of the stalls actually lock anymore but I've come to enjoy elsewhere. They're hunting an upper crust clientele, looks like. It is 'purty', though and the drink service was timely FWIW.
...Dining planning: I put a lot of effort into planning out less expensive dining options and the timing thereof. We generally have roughly $450 - $600 dining credit comps between MGM ( most of it) , CET, and individual LVA coupons and/or off-Strip dining perk offers. We like the buffets (especially the SO) and utilize the grand majority of our MGM dining perks at their trove of troughs. We typically elect to visit during the breakfast brunch hours ( early AM) because they're less expensive ( roughly $30 pp + gratuity / tax). Most know that, comparatively, the South Point buffet is a good bargain with the players card. Further, it's difficult to screw up eggs, bacon, and toast (our typical fare). Over a week's time, $600 bucks doesn't represent a windfall when you eat one buffet per day and maybe include a food court/ inexpensive snack in the evenings after all the accounting and include one steakhouse meal. The LVA coupons help (the two-fers) along with assorted other seeked out bargains. We're generally able to spend very little out of pocket for food. In-N-Out is a routine out-of-pocket expense..the double - double animal in our evolution demands it; well worth the expense.
Special events : We avoid them unless they coincide with a particularly good comp or promotion offer. When crowd demand is less, most things cost less (sometimes, recent history not withstanding) .We haven't attended a Vegas show for about three years ( that was to see John Fogerty..can't put a price on a good time in that case). We avoid New Years, Super Bowl, the major conventions (CES,etc.) March Madness, and other exhibitions of human insanity ( for our concerns). For those who enjoy those times, more power to ya. We also really attempt to avoid the summer oven in Vegas , too..again if we don't have an appealing gambling promo to get to.
Flight times : If applicable and available, I'd recommend early morning departure times and further include non-stops if available. We've had less hassle with early AM nonstop departures on SW to Vegas from our home airport (ELP). Not everyone has those options depending on departure location and timing options..understandable.
So, how do you plan Vegas trips..if you'd care to share. or maybe even if you don't?
