Las Vegas Tips, Entertainment and News

In March 2008, the Trump International Hotel & Tower Las Vegas became the newest addition to the Las Vegas skyline. Located where the Strip meets Fashion Show Drive, the 64-story Trump International Hotel houses over 1,000 suites and 50 penthouse suites each complete with floor-to-ceiling windows offering panoramic views of the city. Guest amenities include a fully equipped fitness center, an outdoor heated pool, and The Spa at Trump. Restaurant dining can be found in either DJT, which offers modern American cuisine and signature cocktails, or H2(EAU), offering Mediterranean and Neo-Japanese cuisine.

Reviews reflect mixed feelings about the Trump. Many reported positively about the guest services, room size, and luxurious atmosphere of the hotel. However, others reported negatively about frequent noise from nearby trains, mall, and interstate as well as the windy 7th floor pool area. While the hotel is in fact located off of the Strip and there is no casino, the entire hotel is nonsmoking. Hotel prices range from around $200-$400 a night for suites and $2500-$5000 a night for a penthouse suite.

In any given Las Vegas casino, there are hundreds of different types of bets that you can make. Although you may love your slots, step outside your comfort zone and take a chance at a new game! It is all too easy to sit down at a one-armed bandit and pull (push, these days) away until your funds are depleted.

While it may be an incredibly simple “game” to play, it comes at a hefty price. Slot machines have some of the worst odds in the house, and can eat you away faster than you may think. Even if a machine pays out over 90%, you should never expect to only lose 10% of your bets in any given session. Keep in mind that the payout percentage includes jackpots, and you’ll have to sit there for awhile before your volatility settles into that 90% figure.

Are you ready to get away from the slots? Great! Here’s your first game to try: mini-baccarat. Mini-baccarat is just a slot machine played with a deck of cards. There is absolutely no strategy involved. None. Zip. Nada. The dealer deals out the cards, and you win or lose. Sure there is a methodology behind it, but the only decision you’ll need to make is choosing your bet.

Ready for something a little more involved? Try blackjack. One popular reason people shy away from blackjack is intimidation. This is nonsense. There is absolutely no need to ever feel intimidated at a table game. Read a quick rundown of the basic strategy, sit on the dealer’s right side (this gives you the maximum time to think about your hand before it’s your turn to play), and enjoy yourself! You’ll pick up on it faster than you think.

If you think table games are too complicated, you’re fooling yourself. Most games are incredibly easy to play. Take craps for example. If you’re not in the know, the game looks daunting! From the betting lingo, to the confusing table layout, to the dice, it seems like a foreign language. But, this game is way too much fun to pass up. Spend five minutes reading up on craps rules, and you’ll be good to go. Jump onto the rail and start with a simple pass bet. From there, slowly expand your arsenal of bets as you watch and learn from others. All in all, craps is extremely social. Not only will your bankroll rise and fall with those around you, 90% of them will be more than willing to teach you a few things as you play the game.

The final step is to go out and explore all the other games that a casino has to offer. Believe it or not, casinos have much more to offer than slots, blackjack, craps, and roulette. Here is an extensive list of Las Vegas casino games. Try something new. You might just find your new favorite game!

Hopefully by now you’re over your fear of table games. If you still don’t feel comfortable, attend a free gambling lesson offered by the casinos. Ask your hotel’s front desk for daily schedules when you check in (they’re usually offered mid-day). In the end, just make sure you don’t miss out on the fun because you were too afraid to give table games shot. Not only are they often a better bet than slot machines, they’re social, and that will only add to your gambling entertainment!

**For a quick rundown on gambling etiquette, lingo, and game rules, check out VegasClick.com’s Crash Course in Gambling.

Once you’ve successfully landed in Las Vegas and retrieved your luggage, the last thing you want to do is wait in line to reach your hotel destination and start winning big. While the most common and obvious way to get from the airport to your hotel is via cab, your excitement may come to a halt once you see the outrageously long line you’ll need to wait in just to get one. This Disney World-sized line seems to endlessly wrap up and down the sidewalks outside of the airport and may not seem like the best way to start an exciting vacation. Not to worry, there are other (and cheaper) options!

The money-savvy experienced travelers will always explore the Las Vegas shuttle option before any other mode of transportation to and from the airport as it is undoubtedly cheap and convenient. Showtime, Gray Line, and Bell Transportation, just to name a few, offer shuttle buses between the airport and various Strip and downtown hotels seven days a week. You can purchase tickets and catch one of these shuttles just outside the north and west sides of baggage claim (specifically outside door exits 8-14 in case you’re lost). You might have to wait for the bus to fill up before leaving the airport and may make a couple stops at other hotels to drop off other passengers before reaching your destination, but for the cost, it’s worth it! Prices range anywhere between $8-$15 round-trip or $5-$7 one-way. This beats paying $15-$20 for a cab and waiting 25 minutes in line any day–not to mention avoiding the risk of having the cabby take the “scenic route” to your hotel!

If you buy a round-trip shuttle bus ticket at the airport, be sure to hang on to it for your return trip to the airport. Ask your driver how far ahead of time you should call for pick-up at your hotel.  At the end of your Las Vegas stay, just pick up the hotel house phone and ask to be connected to your shuttle-bus company and arrange for pick-up!  No matter how much you gambled away during your stay, this pre-paid option is a guarantee to getting you back home!