Please help a Vegas newbie

I'm going to Vegas for the first time next month, and I've got a couple questions. I'm a pretty good basic strategy player (not perfect yet), I don't even try to count, and I play just for the fun. Can you help with these questions:

(1) I'm used to Atlantic City rules. Are Vegas rules any different? Do I need to modify the basic strategy I'm used to?

(2) Where's a decent but cheap place to stay? The Day's Inn behind Bally's seems cheap and convenient - anybody know anything about it?

(3) Do I need a car to get around? I'm driving in with a rental car, and flying out. Do I need to keep the car while I'm there, or can I turn it in and take busses, taxis, or something (I heard something about a shuttle up and down the strip, is there such a thing?).

(4) Got any advice? Or pointers to websites that could help me navigate my first Vegas trip?

I guess that's more than a couple questions. Anyway, I would certainly appreciate any advice you might have for a newbie.

Thanks

Al

you can subscribe LVAdvisory and get its coupon book. There are manu coupons that you can use and make money playing Basic Strategy. There are also some coupons for hotels.

For entertainment, www.lvol.com/lvoleg/lvshows.html

For a place to stay, www.cheapovegas.com
You may find if very helpful to print the maps offered.

Haven't been to Vegas in over a year, rules have surely changed somewhat. Avoid single deck, 6-5 payoffs on BJs.

For room rates, download the program at www.travelaxe.com and compare prices. Also check out hotels on-line reservations directly. The cheapovegas.com site has links to each hotel. Expedia sometimes has good rates as well. Another site is www.quikbook.com.

Don't stay at Days Inns, Best Westerns, etc. when the big hotels offer similar or better rates.

Keep your rental car. It's much cheaper than cabs, and you also get transportation to the airport just by leaving the car there when you leave.

Good cards to you.

Al -

You don't give us much info to go on. Are you solo or with a SO? That in itself will change what you want to do while in town. Is your main goal to gamble or see the sights?

If you are going to be in town more than a couple days, I recommend CBJN to give you BJ conditions. In Vegas games differ from casino to casino. You should find many more playable games in Vegas versus AC. As a BS player it is to your advantage to find crowded games with lower number of decks, however avoid the 6:5 single deck games.

If you are just here to play BJ I would recommend staying and playing downtown. The rates you can get at the "better" downtown joints (Fitzgeralds, Lady Luck, Fremont/California/Main Street, Las Vegas Club) are usually comparable to chain motels during the week. Golden Nugget is a step above the other places supposedly, but I have never stayed there. The bottom rung Gold Spike, El Cortez, and (desperate only) the Western also have good room rates.

On the other hand, if you are here to experience Vegas in its full blown mega hype, the strip is there for you. The free shows include Treasure Island pirates, Mirage volcano, Bellagio fountains, Caesars animatronics show, Dragons at Excalibur, etc. You don't have to stay on the strip to visit it.

The rental car is the best way to get around unless you drink a lot. Then I would recommend buses or taxis.

A great site to look at is Vegas Trip Reports, see link below. It's real people who take the time to post their experiences.

Have a great time.

Jay

Thanks to all of you who responded. I've gotten some good advice.

I've downloaded travelaxe, and am using it to help find where I want to stay. Somewhat to my surprise you folks think that I should keep my rental car for the whole time I'm there, and I guess I'll follow your advice (you know more than I do, that's why I'm asking).

I will look into (and probably get a copy of) CBJN and LVAdvisor, especially if I can buy a single copy instead of a subscription. I also appreciate the other pointers and tips you've given me.

To sort-of answer jd21234's comments - I'm traveling solo, and I guess I'm going to Vegas as much for the tourist/crowds/peoplewatching as I am for the blackjack. I plan on seeing Hoover Dam, and probably a couple shows (I like magic shows, and this looks like the place to see them). I will, of course, go visit the upscale hotel/casinos on the strip just to see them.

On the other hand, I plan to spend a whole lot of time at low-limit BJ tables, in several (or a whole bunch) of casinos. I suspect it will be a very different experience than Atlantic City, which is all I really know about. I expect I'll try places both downtown and on the strip, and I'm not sure which I'll prefer.

I think I'm giving myself enough time for all this, but maybe I'm too optimistic. I'll be arriving on a Saturday afternoon or early evening. I'll probably be leaving on Thursday afternoon, or possibly even staying until Friday afternoon (I have to decide soon, though, to get a flight reservation out).

Thanks again for your comments.

I'd be glad to hear anything else you (or anyone) has to suggest.

// Alan

It's probably not good to try to arrive on a Saturday. Many hotels in Vegas won't allow you to start your stay on that day - they want you to book the Friday as well. You can get around that with some of the third-party sites (Travelaxe is a big help here). But it's best to reserve if possible directly through the hotel's site. That way, you can usually cancel up to the day of arrival with no penalty.