Nothing wrong with poker for 18 hours a day.
Clubs – downtown is a bit sparse in that area. They have a club called golddiggers that worth a look. Also head down toward El Cortez – there are some lively places down there. Pubs like hennesseys and Mickey Finz are ok. Further on you have the beauty bar and the griffin that get busy at night. Also near by (third street?) is Hogs and heifers..
The Bullpen at the back of Binions does a late night deal on a pitcher of beer and a pizza for 10 bucks.
Other food and drink – check out Main Street Station for its brew pub – good deals there – especially late night and good food. The breakfast buffet for about $8 sets you up for the day too.
Also the Chicago brewing co at four queens – good beer and food – place part of their bar upstairs overlooks the lightshow – worth a look at night.
Gambling wise check out El Cortez – and event he gold spike (evenings). Low table limits. Worth doing your gambling downtown to stretch the dollar.
Poker – nice room at the nugget but a bit tight on space. I refer Binions – more space. Both do some good tourneys. The evening binions one is verygood as is the 2pm weekend one.
El cortez has a space for poker – normally it’s a 1-3-6 spread limit game filled with people who only bet with pairs and above. Its not fast but good drink service and you can beat the rake. You might also get to Play with Jackie Gaughan – who bought the El Cortez from Bugsy Segal and still lives there! Legend!
La Bayou and mermaids absolutely rock for drink service and yard long margaritas. Never the classiest of places but very easy to get drunk there. Plus the bonus of a deep fried oreo at Mermaids!! Don’t go into the glitter gulch unless you like paying $10 for a bottle of bud and being hassled for private dances by skanks.
Safety. Anywhere from Main street station to el Cortez is pretty safe with plenty of security. Go beyond that on foot and the security isn’t there… just be aware.
Transport. Cabs to and from the strip will kill you. But they do have a decent bus service.
Check out
http://www.rtcsouthernnevada.com/ for details. You can pick up a 5 or 30 days pass and use it unlimited. They have a new express service from downtown to new york new york (the WAX) . 15 to 20 minutes service – almost as quick as a cab but wayyyy cheaper. It uses the interstate. If you want elsewhere on the strip then go from downtown in the deuce – its not as quick but stops all up and down the strip. Afternoons and evenings it gets slow though. might be better getting the wax to NYNY and the deuce back down the strip – or walk!! Don’t recommend walking between the strip and downtown. Its sketchy – especially after dark and theres nothing to see. Sightsee that bit on the top deck of the deuce.
There is one further bus service – the SDX (strip downtown express). It uses pretty much the same route as the deuce but has limited stops. You can get the schedules from the above website as pdf’s. I’ve downloaded them onto my phone to use. You could print them or go to the Bonneville transportation center (behind the nugget) for a copy of the routes.
Nothing wrong with using cabs if you pile out of a club on the strip late at night but you can stretch your budget by using the busses to get around most of the time.
I’m not the one to talk to about clubs… I’m gambling 18 hours a day!!
Finally if you like bbq get yourself to Ellis Island for 4pm (Ellis is a little casino that is on the corner of Koval and Flamingo – easily walkable from the strip – flamingo is between Bills and Ballys). You’ll have to wait if you get there for opening hour but you can pass the time at the bar drink their microbrew – some very good stuff. If you can’t wait for the bbq try the 24 hour place and get the steak special -$8 including a salad, sides and a beer!
10 days is a long time… just don’t try to do everything in day 1!! Have fun.
