Hello, I'm going to travel to Las Vegas for the 2016 BCAPL National Championships for the first time and I was looking for advice / Tips for a rookie ? Also how do u guys travel with your cues? Thanks ahead for your time.
Need tips / Advice about traveling to vegas and traveling with my cue 4 the 1st time.
- Thread starter DirtyDawg69
- Start date
Assuming you're flying. Pretty much any hotel at which you are going to stay will have a business office to which you can ship the cue, and that's your best bet. If you ship it ground, you'll be without it a few days having to ship it early, and on the return till it makes it back to you, but it's very economical and you don't have to deal with the worries of it being damaged, lost, or stolen among your checked bags (since TSA prohibits cues from being taken as carry-on).
If you do decide to check it, don't just check your case as a bag - there's TONS of people bringing cues in, and you don't want it to be obvious that that's what's in the bag. You can get a large duffel (just make sure it doesn't exceed your airline's max overall dimensions) or even a catcher's gear bag, and just pack clothes, etc. around the case. Worth noting that airlines are notoriously bad about paying out claims, and if your cue is expensive... you'll be SOL.
Seriously though, just ship it. Ground service FedEx shouldn't run you more than about $20 each way (before insurance, which will run about $1 per $100 insured).
Have a great time out there - fun tournament, and great opportunity to watch some of the pro's in action!
A little research will provide you with all the answers, as this subject has been covered extensively many, many times on this forum!.. Bottom line is, you cannot 'carry on' a cue stick on any commercial airline..You may check your cue in your luggage, at the ticket counter..All you need is a suitcase large enough to accommodate a 2 piece cue diagonally!..There are plenty available..I do not recommend checking your cue, in just a locked cue case..It may not get there at all!
PS..Second choice would be as previous poster suggested..Shipping..But this would incur a lot more expense and bother!
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I bought a Porper cue case carrier...Looks like a big gun case..Soft , padded material...Slip my case inside,,Zipper it up and check it with luggage.....Never had a problem...
Or if you know someone from your area driving, ask then to take it for you and give them few bucks...
Or if you know someone from your area driving, ask then to take it for you and give them few bucks...
Been to Vegas 10 times and have used all the options: ship to casino, pack in large case sideways and bring empty case on as carry-on (no danger to other people on flight), but my fave way to go is now using my baseball bat case with cue and case inside surrounded by mucho things and have that case as one of my check-ins. The casino shipping may sound like a good idea but comes with this possibility: ship WAY early, wait on bended knees for the return of your baby......bottom line is I envy folks who can simply drive to Vegas. So, unless you have a Black Boar or similar value item, try to keep the costs down. One more thing is congrats on your first trip and since you'll be staying (I assume) at the Rio, here's a great tip: get up early and walk across the street to the Gold Coast for their breakfast buffet (you can even join the player's club at customer service and get even lower prices.....insane as it's already so cheap and it's a real good place to eat). Have a wonderful time in Vegas and try to go to Fremont street at least once.
Dawg,
Congratulations on your trip. Vegas is a fun place to visit. If you decide to walk from the Rio to "The Strip", bring plenty of water to drink. It looks close but it's over a mile. During late July and early August, the daily temperatures should be around 110 degrees. Most importantly, be aware of your surroundings at all times. If you leave the Rio, try to be with other people. Even on "The Strip". The Fremont Street Experience is exciting. Stay on Fremont Street. Don't walk down the side streets if you can help it.
Happy to say welcome to Vegas. Sorry to say welcome to the new Vegas.
Lyn
I have a roller-duffel that is just long enough to take my case length-wise. It is from Eagle Creek and similar to http://shop.eaglecreek.com/no-matter-what-rolling-duffel-xl/d/1276_cl_-1
This both protects and hides the case and gets me down to 1 checked bag. The duffel is big enough that it also holds a large backpack.
This both protects and hides the case and gets me down to 1 checked bag. The duffel is big enough that it also holds a large backpack.
This may be a great option, but check your airline's guidelines for what incurs an 'oversized' fee - as an example, Delta's site references a $200 fee for oversized bags whose total dimensions (L + W + H) is 63-80 linear inches (the linked bag is 65 linear inches).
It's a crapshoot as to whether the gate agent will be a stickler on bags that are just over, and at $200 - each way - it's not worth it. Find one just a little smaller (again, catcher's bags like this one (60" linear) can be a great option).
There was a guy that posted about a year ago that on a flight they let him carry his cue on and put it in the overhead bin. But on the return trip (same airline) they made him check it at the last minute. He wasn't happy, but had no choice. It worked out ok; but just goes to show there is no set rule.
JC
Coos Cues
I second the baseball bat bag. Your case just slips in the top made for bats and you can carry the rest of your belongings in the other compartmentw. Went to Reno and Vegas with this and it's the bee's knees. The wheels makes it very easy to manage.
I have something like this one. http://www.baseballsavings.com/loui...-TTiOK_NcVpNBaxWOoy5aOFXcdZqDVXvCsaAhIR8P8HAQ
JC
I have something like this one. http://www.baseballsavings.com/loui...-TTiOK_NcVpNBaxWOoy5aOFXcdZqDVXvCsaAhIR8P8HAQ
JC
It took me quite a search to find a duffle/wheels that was 33 inches in length as most are 34 + the height and width made it oversize and an upcharge was probable. The brand is Olympic. In the 33' length your case will fit perfectly diagonally....with your cloths around it. I also purchased TSA locks if they wanted to peek inside. It's nothing fancy, but it's not going to get you a Baggage upcharge.
Hope this helps, I think my bag was around 50 bucks.
As far as other advice goes....
The food prices seem a lot higher over just the last year or two. You will have to look carefully to find a good breakfast for under $12. Some like to get the 24-hour buffet pass which lets you into all of the MGM-related casino buffets for a single price, but I don't eat enough to get my money's worth with that.
Any good+cheap food suggestions?
The food prices seem a lot higher over just the last year or two. You will have to look carefully to find a good breakfast for under $12. Some like to get the 24-hour buffet pass which lets you into all of the MGM-related casino buffets for a single price, but I don't eat enough to get my money's worth with that.
Any good+cheap food suggestions?
I've flown with my cues a several times over the years. I use a hard case and zip it up in a sterling travel bag (I've used the porper several times before). I just make sure that I'm at the baggage carousel before they come out. Never had an issue except for the time I flew into New Jersey. I waited at the carousel but my cues didn't come through. I found a room that housed "oversized" bags. It was just sitting there. I grabbed it and out the door I went.
I take an old camping tent case and wrap mine and 2 other teammates cases in some foam padding and place it in the tent case. Nobody knows they are cues and nobody wants to steal an old camping tent.
I second the idea of walking to the gold coast for Breakfast and dinner buffet. The food choices at the Rio (IMHO) suck. I have specific tastes in food and the only 2 places I like to eat at the Rio are the pizza place and Burger King (which by the way, is the only place to get Coke-cola, Pepsi gives me headaches).
Are you going out for Singles or Team?
Also, be prepared for having to walk a long distance. Elevator to conference rooms (pool table) area is a long walk!
I second the idea of walking to the gold coast for Breakfast and dinner buffet. The food choices at the Rio (IMHO) suck. I have specific tastes in food and the only 2 places I like to eat at the Rio are the pizza place and Burger King (which by the way, is the only place to get Coke-cola, Pepsi gives me headaches).
Are you going out for Singles or Team?
Also, be prepared for having to walk a long distance. Elevator to conference rooms (pool table) area is a long walk!
Singles, I've wanted to go for yrs and beat my self up on whether all the money was worth going and getting my ass kicked? lol I pulled the plug at 11:45 on the 28th.
Sounds good, BUT when I was in Houston, during the floods last month, allot of luggage at the airport got Wet.
Once you go, you'll be hooked and want to go back year after year! :wink:
A few more "newbie" pointers; (things I hear first timers say, a lot)
1. comfortable shoes - you will do a lot of walking
2. get snacks or beer before your match - sometimes it works out you may not get a break from match to match for hours
3. Save the CTS Ondemand weblink in your phone - the tournament brackets are online ( * see note at bottom)
4. Fremont Street! - experience it at least once.
Others may have some more pointers.
* CTS On Demand - CSI online Tournament brackets
Here is an example from last year singles 9 ball;
http://www.ctsondemand.com/DivisionHome.aspx?DivisionID=ec0ae15a-ca0b-4f40-98e0-027bb7911a4d
learn how it works and how to find someone (yourself) quickly using the search function. It will make knowing where and when you need to be easy, and a lot less stressful.
The 2016 BCAPL National Championships doesn't have brackets yet so it is not accessible.