WSOP: Best Travel Tips for the Poker Circuit Grinder

 WSOP: Best Travel Tips for the Poker Circuit Grinder

My Nerdthusiast Poker podcast co-host Anthony "@eatahoagie" Cicali and I have been traveling to Las Vegas on an annual basis since we were in our mid-twenties and boy we made some financial mistakes. But now that we are much older, and somewhat wiser, we have learned how to effectively "ball on a budget" in the city that never sleeps (...or is that New York?). Highlighted below are tips on saving money, travel secrets and how to stretch that poker bankroll. 

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Let's Start with the Obvious...

First and foremost, pre-planning is key for any trip you plan on taking, especially one to Las Vegas. If you are reading this and have never had to book a hotel room, AirB&B or flight for the WSOP, then you're in luck, but if you have - there are still several tips below that can help alleviate some of the costs and stress associated with your trip. 

Flights!

When it comes to flights, never book your flight on a weekend. Anthony and I have found booking a flight mid-week is the best time (e.g. Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday). Also, book your flights with a reputable airline that has a solid cancelled-flight policy and great customer service regarding rebooking. Without naming names (*ahem*...Spirit), avoiding those budget airlines and paying a little bit more for a better carrier that works with you when this unfortunate situation occurs is worth its weight in gold. Another tip is to wait until you are approximately 45-days out from your trip to book the flight; however, with Covid-19 currently impacting travel and air fare rates, staying on top of flight prices a few months in advance is probably a smart move.

Pack Smartly and Efficiently:

I cannot stress this enough but one thing you must try and not do is over pack for a trip to the WSOP. Most degenerates I see will literally wear the same jeans, hoodie and pair of sneakers every day. All jokes aside...try and fit everything you will need for the trip into a carry-on so that you are cutting down on costs for checked bags and the time it takes to get them from baggage claim. Traveling with a military buddy? Almost all airline carriers give service members two free checked bags so if this is something you absolutely have to do, try and turn to your Army buddy and see if they can help you reap the benefits of their sacrifice to our country.

Travel with a fellow poker degenerate (or two): 

This is a no-brainer tip that can often be overlooked. If you have never traveled to Las Vegas for the WSOP and do not have a close companion who likes to play poker, then find one.  We are fortunate in that we have a large circle of friends who play poker and play it somewhat frequently. We have the advantage in which we can usually find someone to tag along with on the trip. We are able to split the cost of a room and transportation costs. 

The costs for taxis, Ubers/Lyfts and lodging can add up fast. Especially if you are staying on the strip and traveling to and from the Rio every day. In 2019, for example, a one way trip to the Rio from Caesar's, which is centrally located on the strip, was approximately $21.00 via Uber/Lyft. If you can't travel with a friend, try finding a fellow grinder who is staying at or near your casino/hotel and coordinate transportation plans to help cut down on those unanticipated costs.

Plan out your Poker Schedule Ahead of Time

One good thing about the World Series of Poker coming to town is that almost every reputable poker room in Vegas will usually piggy back off the series with one of their own tournament series. This is ideal for those players who like to mix-it up a bit by visiting other casinos or for those who are playing on a limited poker budget/bank roll.  Most of these other properties offer very affordable tournaments in comparison to those at the WSOP, so it is good to identity a few different options based on the total buy-in for each day of your trip.  

Google Sheets or an Excel spreadsheets help to map out what is available on each day of my trip and I try to include all of the particulars for each event (e.g. Buy-in, Number of Days, Starting Stacks, etc.).  I will usually print out the structure sheet of each tournament I am considering playing so I have them on-hand for easy reference.  Most of these can be obtained directly from the venue's website or from poker related websites, like Cardplayer.com or USPoker.com.  This may sound somewhat obsessive, time consuming and overwhelming, but it pays dividends on the back-end when you're looking for another poker option outside of the WSOP.

Go Food Shopping and Pack your own lunch

If you are reading this saying...Seriously? The answer is YES! Seriously! The prices of things on the strip and inside the casinos is literally 5-10 times the cost in a grocery store. Let me put it into perspective for you...In 2019, a banana cost $3.00 at the WSOP Snack stand...Which is the average cost for three pounds of bananas! So do yourselves a favor and visit a grocery store off the main drag as soon as you arrive, spend $50 in groceries and brown bag it every day. Love PB&J, grab some peanut butter, jelly and a loaf of bread...shit, grab yourself some Fluffer Nutter if you're feeling frisky. Some of our must have "brown bag" essentials: Protein bars, mixed nuts, fruit, water, Aspirin/Excedrin, Pepto Bismol or similar antacid, and gum/mints.

Plan a "Poker-free" Day to be a Tourist!

This is easier said than done for some of us but try and set aside a day, a night (or for you absolute poker junkies...a few hours!) to do something that is not related to poker. You are in Las Vegas...there is a lot to see and do other than the inside of casinos. Take the time to check out the city. Go to a place you have always wanted to see. Check out the Grand Canyon or Hoover Dam.  Go see a Cirque De Soleil show or the Blue Man Group. Do something other than gamble so when you come back home, most likely broke, you have something to show for your trip.

By Brian " NotTheManKeane" Keane - Podcast host and content writer

Twitter: BrianKeane0513