September 26, 2021
Jon Weichen
The 2021 World Series of Poker is less than a week away. If you’re still planning your trip, this article will make your life easier (promise!). We’ll help you find an inexpensive place to crash at night (that isn’t full of cockroaches), transportation, and of course, a way to actually get to Las Vegas.
First things first, first things first: The WSOP begins September 30th and runs through November 23rd. Yes, it is still held at the Rio, although speculation is that it will move to the Strip next summer.
Due to COVID-19, there are a few rules to keep in mind at the upcoming WSOP. First of all, all players have to prove they have been vaccinated against the coronavirus. You only need to present proof of this when you register for a tournament for the first time, and you can do this with the CLEAR PASS app within five minutes. And while face masks aren’t required when you’re at a poker table in the Rio (they are found in other poker rooms in Las Vegas), they are when you’re walking around.
Leading up to the series, we covered some quirky Las Vegas restaurants, the differences between the 2021 WSOP and previous years, and even explained the local weed laws. In this article, we will focus on how to get here, how to get around, and where to stay.
Disclaimer: Unfortunately, this year there is no way around an at least moderately expensive trip. Unlike summer, you can’t just roll into town, book an Airbnb across from the Rio for $ 40 and rent a car for $ 25 a day. The world is changing, the city is changing, but it is possible to grow up on a reasonable budget.
Getting to Las Vegas
You won’t be able to hit the first WSOP cash of the summer until you arrive in Las Vegas (unless you’re playing in one of the 11 recently added online bracelet events). So how do you get to town
If you have a car and the means to drive to southern Nevada, fabulous. You will save money this way and also have the presence of mind that you will have a vehicle to use to get around the city. For those who don’t have this luxury, you have to take a flight or take a bus. Depending on where you live, Southwest Airlines is always a good place to start as they have no baggage fees and are often reasonably priced.
That being said, Southwest is usually quite expensive if you don’t book at least a month in advance. So if you’re only going to the main event (November 4th start date) you should still be able to find a cheap flight. We checked Chicago to Las Vegas on Southwest Nov 3rd through Nov 24th and found a price of just $ 242 for a round trip including taxes and fees as of Saturday.
* Image courtesy of Southwest.com
McCarran International Airport is a priority city for a number of low-cost airlines, including Allegiant, Frontier, JetBlue, JSX, Southwest, Spirit, and Sun Country Airlines. If you want to keep your airfare as low as possible, it is best to check these airlines first before you go to Travelocity, Priceline, or Hotwire to find major airline prices.
If you’re hoping for something even cheaper than a flight but don’t have a car to get to Las Vegas, you can always stop by FlixBus. Well we can’t guarantee you will have a comfortable time riding the bus, but the one day trip (depending on where you live) won’t kill you. For example, you can take FlixBus from San Francisco to Las Vegas for around $ 80 round-trip. FlixBus operates from most of the major cities in the United States, so the chances are pretty good you won’t be too far from a pick-up point.
Airbnb vs. Hotels
Now that you have a way to make it to Las Vegas, you need a place where you can comfortably rest each night so you are mentally prepared for the challenges of a grueling WSOP. The two obvious options are hotels and Airbnb. Which one is better? Well that depends on your situation.
If you’re in town for more than a week or two – or even the entire series – an Airbnb has some great advantages. A fully equipped kitchenette, in-unit laundry, and often a covered garage provide the long-term traveler with some valuable perks that you don’t get at most hotels.
Airbnb gives customers a choice of what type of room or location they want. You can choose a single room and share the entire house or apartment with other guests, the whole house to yourself, a hotel room or a room that is shared with another traveler.
* Image courtesy of Airbnb.com
Before booking any location, there are a few things to consider. While money will be a factor for most, it’s usually best to avoid the cheapest places. There’s one or more reasons why an Airbnb is dirt cheap, and that’s usually because the house is in disrepair and is in a sketchy neighborhood.
The best options, at least for the budget-conscious traveler who also wants safe and comfortable accommodation, are mid-range Airbnb prices.
Unfortunately, most Airbnb offers near the Rio are already fully booked during the series. So it’s best to find yourself somewhere further west on Flamingo Road (Rainbow Boulevard and west), south of the Strip near I-15 (easy access to the Rio) or in Summerlin (20-25 minutes drive to the Rio). . Of course, if you don’t have your own car or rental car this will be a problem (more on that later).
As for hotels, let’s not sound like peeing on the idea of staying in one. That is far from the case. If your only in town for a week or so definitely stay at a casino, especially if you don’t feel like crashing into a random person’s house.
Hotel casinos also offer some valuable amenities for poker travelers, such as easy access to sports betting, restaurants, bars, and a poker room. They also have housekeeping services that are extremely beneficial for those who want to spend 15 hours a day playing card games.
For hotel reservations, it’s always best to go through a travel booking site (unless you have comps) versus booking directly through the hotel. Hotels.com (free room for every 10 nights), HotelsCombined, or enter Google.com/travel/hotels and see the results from various websites (see image below).
* Image courtesy of Google
Get to know the city
Las Vegas is a major city with over 2 million people and more than 40 million visitors a year. But unfortunately this city is simply not conducive to the car-free traveler or resident.
The good news is that the Rio is only about a mile from the heart of the Las Vegas Strip, which is where many poker players stay during the WSOP. The bad news is that it’s a tough road to go. That being said, there is a direct walk from the Rio to the Caesars Palace side, and it will be a much more pleasant walk in the fall than the WSOP’s usual summer time slot due to the weather. But it’s still a hike for those who are not in good physical shape.
If you don’t bring a car and don’t stay at the Rio, you can take Uber / Lyft, but be aware that prices have increased since COVID-19. The city bus runs for $ 6 a day ($ 8 on the strip) and there is a stop right across the street from the Rio. But taking the bus, especially if you have a plug, is time consuming and a real pain in the ass.
Your last option, outside of car pooling of course, is to rent a car. Similar to everywhere else in the country, car rental prices in Las Vegas have skyrocketed over the past year due to the car shortage in the US. Here’s a look at the currently cheapest weekly prices for the first week of the World Series of Poker 2021.
* Image courtesy of Travelocity
Regardless of your method of transportation, where you are staying, and how you get to Las Vegas, the most important thing is to have a good time and hopefully make some money. And if you win a gold bracelet, don’t forget to choose PokerNews for your first post-game interview.
