I don’t get to travel often, so when I do, I try to make it count. Never in my wildest dreams did I think my stay in Las Vegas at the famous NY NY would go so well. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve been going to Vegas for 20 years, and I always enjoy myself.
My husband and I live near the strip, so it’s a regular destination for us. This time around, we decided to stay at New York-New York hotel and casino. This particular trip involves excellent times, lots of gambling, and a little bit of luck.
New York-New York Hotel & Casino
There’s no shortage of places to stay or casinos to gamble at in the entertainment capital of the world. Honestly, you can’t make a wrong choice. We chose NY-NY, because it’s a bit older, a bit cheaper, and it reminds us of our trips to Vegas 20 years back. It was great to be right in the action and see the people, rides, and lady liberty out the window.
The Room and Service
You can see the age of the architecture in this casino right away. That said, the rooms have plenty of space and are super clean. If that weren’t enough, the staff is some of the friendliest around. Requests for even silly things like pillows and toothpaste are taken care of immediately. The bellhops took care of everything on departure, and it let us sneak in some last-minute gambling.
Location, Location, Location
Las Vegas is an amazing place. A modern city smack in the middle of the desert makes for some beautiful scenery. At NY-NY, you’re right in the center of it all. That means walking to other casinos or catching a bus is simple. We didn’t need to worry about any of that though since the monorail runs right by NY-NY, so we just took that everywhere.
Gambling & The Casino
We come to Las Vegas for the sake of gambling. The strip offers the biggest, grandest, and most popular casinos around, and NY-NY is no exception. Far more exciting than downtown, though they all have their pros and cons. Older resorts have lower minimums, but if you know and love your game, you should probably just sit at a higher limit table. You’ll have a great time interacting with the players and should experience better odds of winning.
I have a pretty simple gambling strategy. Sit down and buy-in with an amount you’re willing to lose. After all, this is just entertainment, and you can’t expect to win anything. Just enjoy yourself and be nice to the other players at the table.
I also like to know which casinos have the tables I love at the limits I can afford, so I always visit this Vegas casino games guide. It’s very complete and has all the info that I need about the table games I play. We enjoy the classics like craps and blackjack typically, but little did I know that a slot machine would be where lady luck helped me win big on this trip.
4 Tips To Live By When Visiting Las Vegas
Before we get into my slot machine win, I’d like to share a few things I’ve learned from all my visits to this fantastic city. Here are four things anyone should know and hold dear when traveling to Las Vegas.
- Be Discrete: Just like with any tourist destination, you need to be aware of your surroundings. Don’t flash your cash around, or put your wallet in your back pocket. One last thing I always do,
- Transportation: Renting a car is a mistake I only made once. The traffic in vegas is rough, to say the least, and trying to find and pay for parking is a headache. Uber and Lyft are quick solutions to get to and from the airport and tend to be less expensive than cabs. The buses are free, but you can get casino to casino with ease and escape the heat using just the monorail. In addition, if you’re looking for a fun experience, Strip Club Concierge provides free transportation to strip clubs in Las Vegas.
- Get A Casino VIP Card: Casinos use these cards to reward their players. It’s easy to get one, and if you plan to gamble a lot, or in my case, win big, then they always pay off. Sometimes you get a cash bonus or a free meal, but I’ve even had a full night stay comped before.
- Tip Everyone: Tip your dealers, your servers, your bellhops, everyone. When you take care of these people, they take care of you. If you want to ensure you always have a drink at a table or your room service arrives quickly, then live by this rule. Tipping your dealer is also a nice gesture and can afford you some good conversation.
Winning A Big Prize At A Slot Machine Of All Things
Ok, so as I mentioned, I usually enjoy table games, but sometimes when I need a break, I’ll head over to a cheap slot machine. It’s a great way to pass the time and get a couple free drinks without having to think about strategy or count cards. The last thing I expected was to win almost $1,600 on a penny slot.
When you win over $1,200, the casino has to report it to the US government for the sake of taxes. The staff came out and congratulated me before getting my personal info so they could process the paperwork. The experience was amazing! I had played and won smaller amounts before but nothing like this.
Take a Trip To NY-NY in Las Vegas
Las Vegas is a unique location. If you’ve never been, it’s worth the pilgrimage. If you have been, I hope my story and my win are an encouragement for you to go back and stay at NY-NY. I know I’ll stay there again on my next visit.
There is food, entertainment, and people-watching abound, but make sure when you visit Vegas, you take time for what it’s known for and gamble. Read up a little bit on some games you want to play, so you feel confident and comfortable. Even if you play only penny slot machines, you clearly have a chance to win just like I did. Most of all, have fun with it. I mean, you are on vacation!
About the Author
Barbara Winters is a contributing editor at OnlineUnitedStatesCasinos.com. She likes investigating and finding great casino deals. Her favorite games are bingo, slots, and keno.
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