Make use of the food place in the sports book, it's still on the pricey side, but better than
the Edge, Benihanna or the other places. Unless it's changed, the practice tables (all Valleys at this event) are located
in the casino going back toward the sports book, first one there gets the table, very late at night is probably the easiest time.
I know some folks like to ship their cues and have them waiting when they get there. This is something I would never do. Some folks swear by it
but I have seen things go wrong, cues and cases lost, addressed wrong, put with someone else's luggage, accidentally picked up b y the wrong
group or person. I'll check them through with me, for me that's the easiest way to keep a watchful eye on them. It's what works best for me.
Maybe if it's possible to have one person fly South West or Delta (or United, or something else) and check everyone's cues in a couple of 4X8 cases in an army duffel or something like that.
In the past couple of years, there have been a few practice tables located to the extreme left of the first tournament room you come to,
the one across from the APA shirt vendor. You have to walk through the doors that look like you're not supposed to go through them to
your left and they have been in the room kind of behind the tournament room, or there's always Griffs, excellent place, but for some reason busy (I can't imagine why....).
You'll want to eat well, and why shouldn't you? After all you're in Las Vegas. There is no shortage of A-1, 5 star food establishments and all very available
and just a short monorail ride away. Let me just tell you that I have visited a number of fine establishments there and two of the best steakhouses I've ever been
to are in Las Vegas. The SLS has one of the very best you'll ever find, however, at the Westgate you are on the edge of the strip and just a stones throw
away from Starbucks, McDonalds, and couple of decent Taco places and some passable Mexican food about a 15 or 20 minute walk away (toward downtown)
and I'm sure more that I don't know about. In the morning breakfast is fairly easy to come by even if you don't head to the buffet, but the buffet is the simplest or the APA food area.
One of my favorite places there is called The Stage Door, it's by the Flamingo. It a local's bar and I believe for like $3 you can get something like a PBR and quarter lb Hot dog.
I never cared much for PBR until we happened upon that place. Find a seat at the bar, play Keno, or Black Jack, Video Poker, have some dogs and brews and make some new friends.
I loved it, this place is the shit.
The thing is, there is never as much free time as you think there might be. Enjoy it and treat yourself right. Tell you what, if you find the right foot massage spa, then a cold
beer or a good dinner (even if it's brews and dogs) and you have a chance to laugh out loud because just about everyone that would call or text is right there with you, there's
a good chance you'll play some of the best pool you've ever played, and if not you'll get 'em next time. Don't forget to spend some time in the pool, if you don't you'll wish you did.
