First off, CONGRATULATIONS! You’re going to EVO! This is going to be one of the best vacations of your life! Vegas can be overwhelming, especially if you’ve never been there before. Without doing some research, you might miss something fun! If only someone who frequents Vegas could help you out…

Food

Rule #1. If you can get it at home, don’t get it here! (I’m looking at Prog and Hugo on this one 😛 )

(The title of each restaurant is a link with more info)

Hash House a Go Go

If you’ve watched the clip from Man vs. Food, you should already be excited. Not located 5 minutes off the strip, as Adam says in this older clip, these are strewn all over Vegas:

The LINQ (Just a few blocks from Paris/Ballys)

The Plaza Hotel and Casino

The Rio

Le Creperie

Located INSIDE paris, if you want a delicious crepe and/or a fruit pastry before your matches, come check it out!

Tacos El Gordo

You’re out west, which means you want REAL Mexcian food. Tacos El Gordo is here for you. They do not speak english here, but you can just walk up to the counter and tell them what kind of meat you want on your taco. They’ll do the rest for you. PLUS each one is only about $2.50 each, so it’s light on your wallet.

Gordon Ramsay BurGR

Located inside Planet Hollywood (one casino down from Paris) Gordon Ramsay has placed his answer to the typical BRGR/Burgatory, and it’s priced about the same ($14/16 per meal). Fries are extra, but they give you enough to share with 3-4 people. Their burgers and shakes are easily twice as good as BRGR/Burgatory. The line to get seated may look long, but it only takes about 10-20 minutes to get in.

Pink’s Hot Dog

Also located in Planet Hollywood, if you want a delicious and massive hot dog, check go here!

Todd English Pub

Famous for delicious English pub food and GIANT Bloody Marys! All of the bartenders are nice, they’ll let you try a drink before you actually buy one. They also have the “7 second challenge”. If you can drink a pint of beer in 7 seconds, it’s FREE! (limit two attempts/day)

That’s all for food around Evo from me. If you want any other food tips, ask a local!

Gambling

There’s no good guide to gambling I can give you quickly, but here are some tips:

1. Wherever you go, get a rewards card. They’ll send you free rooms and other perks. If you get a “Total Rewards” card, that will cover Bally’s, Caesars, Harrah’s, The Cromwell, LINQ, Paris, Planet Hollywood, and Flamingo. The rest of the casinos have their own card.
2. The money wheel (giant wheel, usually has a hot girl working it) seems simple, but has the worst odds at an 11% house edge (thus the hot girl working it).
3. If you don’t know what you’re doing, ask your dealer! Most of them are friendly, considering they’re working for tips!
4. You will get free drinks while you’re gambling. Just wait for a cocktail waitress to come around to you. (Tip her $1, please) Speaking of alcohol…

Alcohol Tips

Contrary to a lot of cities, you can carry an open container of alcohol all over Las Vegas. Even if a cocktail waitress has given you a mixed drink in a glass, you can carry the glass right out the door. Any store will have a 24 oz. can of beer if you’d like to buy one of those. Just remember, it is HOT. You are likely dehydrated. Alcohol will hit you a little harder than you’re used to. Don’t give the Smash community a bad name. 🙂

If you want to drink on a budget, get a strong frozen drink from Fat Tuesday. After you buy the container, you can get it refilled for cheap! Plus, it’s frozen, so it will stay cold! Plus, you get a free container! They have 9 locations in Vegas where you can refill it, and the list of locations is on the cup!

Shows

Vegas has some great shows. You can find reviews all over the internet, so I’ll just give you my list:

1. Absinthe (pictured above) – If you only get to go to one show, see this one. It is the best show in vegas. Not. Close. You can find clips online, I’m sure, but the acts are always changing. I can’t accurately describe the show, other than incredible.
2. O – Located at Bellagio. My favorite of the Cirque du Soleil productions
3. Mystere – the original Cirque show
4. The Beatles Love – great Cirque show, features remastered Beatles music, if you’re a fan
5. Penn and Teller
6. Anthony Cools – Hypnotist. You’ll probably see someone have sex with a chair. You should search for a clip 😛
7. Mac King – Cheaper show, corny jokes, but a great sleight of hand magician
8. Blue Man Group – Classic, but still an entertaining show!

Also, if you want to check out the fountains at Bellagio, they run every 15 minutes from 8:00 AM until Midnight.

Clubs

Click here for the DJ calendar!

At the non beach clubs, expect cover to be $40 for men, $20 for women. Male dress code is typically button down shirt, dress pants, shoes, no hats/chains. For women, umm…I’ve honestly never asked…

In you didn’t not know, you’re going to spend an arm and a leg for drinks once you’re inside.

Poker

Plan on playing poker? Here’s the list of Casinos with a decent poker room! 

In my opinion, The Aria has the nicest poker room, but it’s hard to get on a table after 1 PM. The Venetian is HUGE, as well as Bellagio. If you want to experience the poker mecca of America, go to one of those three.

Tipping

Vegas employees, like most of the service industry, work for the tips. If you’re unsure if you should tip him/her, the general rule is, “did he/she handle something I consumed/used?”

Waiter/Waitress – ~20%

Cab Driver – ~15%

Bartender – $1/beer bottle opened, $1/drink poured, $2 if it’s more than 1 complicated drink.

Cocktail Waitress – $1 per drink

Bell hop – $2 – $5

Dealer – $1 here or there, $5 if you win $100, keep incrementing at your discretion

Valet – $5 when you drop it off, $2-5 when you pick it up

Housekeeping – Leave a note for them with $5 your first night. They keep track of generosity. Just don’t leave other money out in the open or they could think it’s theirs too 🙂

Final Quick Tips

1. Shower daily. Wear deodorant.
2. See #1
3. Drink water. It is HOT.
4. Don’t stop on the street for anyone holding a sign.
5. If anyone asks you if you’re going to be coming back in the next two years, tell them “no”. They’re going to solicit a timeshare to you.
6. If you’re losing, STOP GAMBLING.
7. Don’t be a dick.
8. Have fun!

If you have any other questions, just hit me up on Twitter!

Thanks for reading and have fun!

-Casual Friday

@CdotFriday