Page 1 of Going to Vegas

I`m off to Las Vegas in a few weeks and was wondering the following

Do I take cash ? Credit Card ? Travellers Cheques ? or a combination ?
Anyone been and got some advice ?

I would take about $150 cash, and then take your DEBIT card and get out more cash when you need it. As you would expect, all the casinos are loaded with cashpoints, so you won`t struggle to get money out! You will have to pay a fee, but it will be like 1.50 or 1% so i simply got out $150 every couple of days to maximise the amount i get for my 1.50 fee (mainly for gambling and eating) and then put anything bought in shops on the CREDIT card.

And if you keep winning at the tables, you may never need to get any more cash out once you arrive!

Food is dirt cheap - nearly all the casinos have buffets, for between $10-15 and you can really fill up on them, we tended to go there for `brunch` and that would last us through till a proper evening meal.



The Bigman Cometh

don`t forget to tell your debit/credit card issuer that you are going away. otherwise they might think that the overseas activity is unusual and, after your first couple of buys, could nix any more purchases.
always eat at the big hotel buffets, some are a little ropey, but all you can eat for not much money. Bellagio is pretty swish.

Oh, and make sure you visit an IHOP - International House of Pancakes - there are about 10 of them in vegas, and they are the BEST place to have breakfast.... A stack of pancakes and a t-bone steak to top them off :D



The Bigman Cometh

This item was edited on Sunday, 25th September 2005, 14:54

Quote:
I would take about $150 cash, and then take your DEBIT card

It may be a bit late, but if you can get a Nationwide CC & Debit card, do so.

With the CC you get no currency conversion surcharges on transactions & with their debit card you don`t get stung for overseas ATM charges, with either\both you get the banks actual rate of exchange.

Enjoy.



I quite like the Helpdesk people in a benevolent (as opposed to malevolent) way as they do some valuable work in preventing us being inundated by every halfwit who can work a phone.

This item was edited on Sunday, 25th September 2005, 14:53

Also be sure to carry a photo ID if you`re gonna be using the card for purchases - they nearly always ask to see ID to check it`s actually your card.

Make sure you have a pocket full of single dollar bills to tip everyone! Cash for snacks and drinks etc is all you really need. You can use your card for everything else and as already suggested you can get cash in all the casino`s. There are ATM`s everywhere!

Have fun. I love Vegas - it my favourite place on Earth :D

I`m also going to Vegas next year, can anyone recommend a good hotel on the strip??

I have been a few times, and stayed at Luxor twice, MGM grand once and Circus Circus once. Have also stayed at the Fitzgeralds Casino which is not on the strip, but overlooks Freemont Street, which is downtown vegas (and a must see, wherever you stay! Its a spectacular free light show). I have to say of all of these, I found Luxor the best all round value, as it is (relatively) cheap, and has lots of on-site facilities. You also get to go in the inclinators, the elevators that run at 45 degrees up the side of the pyramid :D The hard rock is meant to be good (recommended by friends) but it is off strip, which is a bit of a downer.



The Bigman Cometh

Bidmaninc I`v read a few reports that circus circus wasn`t very clean what did you think?

Quote:
Bidmaninc I`v read a few reports that circus circus wasn`t very clean what did you think?

Thought it was awful.. the worst of the 3 strip hotels by far, and not much cheaper than Luxor (worth booking online, you can cancel and get full refund up to 24hrs before you are due to arrive - and they have excellent rates with offers)



The Bigman Cometh