Poker Trips 2024 / 2025

Glad it moved, I didn't see it over there. I'm in. Always enjoy your writing. Best of luck in Wynn Millions.

Im a big fan of hand histories and thought processes.

All your reports have been great, can’t wait to follow along!

Also, it appears the subscription moved with the thread, so that's a plus. You won't lose followers from the other forum.

I find your trip reports to be pretty perfect the way you are doing them already, so no notes from me.

A few more tournament wins would be good.

But maybe that’s just me?

Spin it up, T.

I love Wynn Millions. Probably not making it out this year though.

I will live vicariously through you.

It's the perfect amount of pictures and text in your posts, makes it easy and interesting to follow.

Nothing to complicated and straight on, I love it so just keep going.

Even if you post less pics or less text, I would still read and follow.

I wish you all the best!

Late to catching up on this thread so congrats on the Tourney win.

As others have said, I think your TR's are an ideal mix of words and pics so keep it up (and perhaps consider becoming a pro sports bettor )

I think he’s a bookie, which is much better

I’m both, more so a bettor than bookie lately but that might be about to change.
Looks like Colombia is going to implement a 19% sales tax for the customer on sports bets. Would send everyone looking for locals and illegal books. Good for me.

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On all bets or on wins?

It was in fact implemented this last Saturday. 19% tax on all deposits to gambling sites.

So deposit $100 and you only have $81 to bet with. Pretty hard to overcome.

Seems the people have spoken. If it aint broke, don't fix it.

Wynn Millions 2025
Pre-Game

I really like the Wynncore and it will be good to spend some time at the property on this trip. I did stay at the Wynn once, a long time ago, before I started writing trip reports sadly, but we won’t be staying there this time as we’re trying to keep expenses down.

I rang them up to enquire about the poker rate but at $139 Sun to Thurs and $199 Fri and Sat with $50 resort fee on top it was still too expensive.

No problem I thought, I’ll slum it across the street at Treasure Island, that’s gotta be budget friendly right? Wrong. Almost as expensive as the Wynn. WTF ???

Fontainebleau ? Nope
Pallazo? Nope
Venetian? Nope

Everywhere is crazy expensive. Some big convention or something?

Caesars Rewards. They have to give me some love for staying 23 nights with them in the summer? Nope

What about the roaring lion?
What's that? I have some comp nights?
Not sure how. Maybe I got some credit for my Borgata stay and sports bets there?

The best looking deal with them is at Vdara, with 3 comp nights and $50 resort credit it works out at $100 per night average including resort fees so we snap call.

Only one problem, it's not really close to the Wynn, in fact according to google maps the walk is 42 minutes. No problem, we walk fast. Give me the Under for the max. I don't mind the walk and as I’m not sure if the pool will be open or not yet, it will suffice as our daily exercise.

Tournament schedule looks like this:

Thur 27: $400 Deuce to Seven Triple Draw
Fri 28: $400 TORSE
Sat 1: $600 Big O
Sun 2: $1,100 HORSE (2-day)
Tue 4: $600 Omaha Eight or Better

There are a couple of options for Mon 3 if we don’t make day two of the HORSE but don’t want to think about those as we are going to be in day two of the HORSE. Think Positive.

Our flight leaves in the morning at 11:30

good luck! I've never stayed at Vdara but I've always wanted to. at least it's one place you don't have to feel pressured to play at when you stay there.

I can't wait to go back and play again at Wynn.

Run (walk) good!

I stayed at Vdara for 10 days there at 2023 wsop. Really easy and enjoyable hotel to stay at. Quiet and the rooms are great.

Limited food options but only 2 mins to Aria. And great to have the option to make food in your room - I did scrambled eggs at home most day which saved a lot of $$

Pool is only ok and gym is very small and meh if you want weights.

$20 trick works there

Sometimes when Wynn quotes poker rates that rate includes the resort fee. Tournaments count towards the poker rate.

Unfortunately not. I asked and they were clear the resort fees were on top.

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Wynn Millions 2025
Day One - Wednesday February 26th

Travel day, and a long one at that. Easy part first, a short one hour hop from Medellin to Panama. Then a five and a half hour layover before the six and a half hour flight to Vegas.

We pass the time in Panama watching Ivey’s win in the $10k 2-7 from last summer on PokerGO. I’ve only recently purchased a subscription and am finding it useful. The plan is to watch all the mixed games content on there between now and June.

On the plane we can’t sleep (we never can) so we make serious headway into a Reacher novel (The Secret) We feel a bit like him this trip because in line with trying to keep costs to a minimum we got the very basic fare which didn’t include a checked bag. So it’s just a passport, a toothbrush and the clothes on our back, Reacher style. Well okay, maybe not that bad, we do have a carry-on.

We eventually reach our destination. Not much of a line at passport control and with no bag to wait for we’re in a taxi and arrive at Vdara in no time.

I checked in on the app before I left but it still says preparing room so I have to go to the front desk.

Problem. They’re sold out and don’t have any of the room I booked (studio parlour suite) available so I have to settle for this 2 king room for tonight and they’ll change me tomorrow. Not happy as it’s not as nice as the room I booked.

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Re: hotel discussion,

I know staying in a glitzy strip resort is part of the allure for lots of people going to Vegas, but I really enjoy going the Airbnb route.

I can usually find something in the Arts District or downtown for $85-$125 a night. No resort fees, usually a full kitchen, and laundry facilities.

It’s a bit of a drag commuting with Uber everywhere, but I’ve never had a problem with it.

Still, room looks nice. Run well!!

Sold out? Yes, you sold out and I paid for one of them. That's nuts, seriously. I hope they offered something or give you a fabulous room.

Glad the trip was smooth otherwise.

FWIW, I can't imagine staying somewhere that I'd have to Uber to the strip. I like being able to go back to my room easily, even if it is a bit of a walk, depending -- I get my exercise. It would cost a fortune if I had to Uber each time. I admit I'm glad we bought the Hilton timeshare through a second party in 2009. Totally worth it for the rooms we get, especially at Elara.

Good Luck in Vegas. We wish the bad beats end with the hotel room.

Not to derail the thread too much, but if you are staying Downtown we are probably talking probably an extra $40 a day (minimum) in Uber costs for going back and forth to The Strip. So it probably doesn't end up being that much cheaper than just finding a (somewhat) reasonably prized hotel room on The Strip, and being able to walk most places.

On March 10, 2025, I'm planning a 3-day trip to Las Vegas from Chicago with a friend. We have already bought tickets and booked a hotel. I'm currently actively interested in poker and would like to play some Texas Hold'em tournaments with a $100 buy-in. Please tell me which tournaments are better to play and are there any satellite tournaments these days, where can I find information? I am originally from Ukraine, I would not mind if someone from Russian-speaking (or Ukrainian-speaking) joined me during this trip. You can write to me in direct (@Mako_Kostik - telegram)