Ellis Island Casino Questions - Vegas

[dmoore268]

I've never been to Ellis Island, but there always seems to be good coupons every year in the ACG. Hopefully next year is no exception when I'm in Vegas in January. They seem to be known for they're steak and egg special it seems and good full pay JOB poker.

Basically my question is, if walking what's the best way to get over there?

It seems like if you take the Monorail down to Bally's you could go out the back of Balley's walk down the block and get there pretty easily?

[lee]

Re: Ellis Island Casino Questions - Vegas

Warren, MI here. Yep, out of Bally's, east on Flamingo to Koval Lane street.
One you hit Koval Lane, you'll spot Ellis to the right, in between a gas sation on the corner and then the Super 8 Motel.

Their claim to fame is the STEAK SPECIAL, NOT ON THE MENU, NO COUPON REQUIRED, NOR NONE ACCEPTED.

[Ben Jammin]

Re: Ellis Island Casino Questions - Vegas

The best way to get there is catch a cab behind the Flamingo or IP. Have the cabbie go out the back way and turn right on Koval. It's $5 bucks.

The walk is always farther than it seems.

If you can't find a cab for the return trip, just go next door to the 7-11 and there are usually half a dozen cabs on break. Just tag one and when he's done he'll take you back up to the Strip. He can let you off on the side of Bill's Casino on Flamingo. That ride is $3 busk, and the cabbie is usually going that way anyway.

[RenoPlayer]

Re: Ellis Island Casino Questions - Vegas

I'm surprised Dewey hasn't stepped in and told you to take the 208 (right number???) bus.

RP

[dmoore268]

Re: Ellis Island Casino Questions - Vegas

The cab think might be a solid idea. $5 is a small fee to pay.

They have full pay JOB over there? For some reason that has become my game of choice. Simple- yes, but with my strategy chart my wife and I have done decent especially at the Hilton last time out.

BTW- The Hilton is very underrated. Is it old, yes. But there's a nice array of full pay VP over by the sportsbook. The cocktail service is surprisingly decent over that way too. We hit 4 of a kind 6 times within 20 minutes. Came back the next night and had 3 or 4 more 4 of a kind in an hour.

[RenoPlayer]

Re: Ellis Island Casino Questions - Vegas

I never was able to locate the FP video poker at Ellis Island.

There are two other areas for eating. There's the rib place (which if you time it right is easier to get seated) and there's the snack bar. They're both across the island bar from the restaurant. A bunch of us couldn't get timely seating in the restaurant so we pigged out on french fries at the snack bar.

RP

[dewey089]

Re: Ellis Island Casino Questions - Vegas

Okay, RP, let's get the bus out there.
The 208 might be great if you were downtown and wanted to go to the Sunrise Library and read a book.
It won't help much getting to Ellis Island from anywhere.

The 202 Flamingo bus hits all the action on Flamingo. It is uncrowded and can get you all the way to Eastside Cannery if you want and all day long for the price of a cab tip.
Late at night when you have been playing poker too long and you are drunk, and it is too dark to walk Flamingo Ave, the bus will drop you in safe places in front of Tuscany, or Terribles, or Sam's Town (their free shuttle won't run late) or Eastside Cannery, or in the other directions at the Gold Coast (again no free Boyd shuttle after 12:30) or Palms.
So the bus makes it easy to save money by staying off strip and still get home without a cab fare.
It will drop you in front of the Rio, only they built that casino so that there is no logical front door, so it is a little walk from the stop to get inside. I did not mind it, but it is not like the other stops. At all these other places, the stop is so close to the casino that it is just like driving and parking in the lot. Only, you can ride the bus drunk and napping.
Folks who price the cost of a rental car forget to figure in the lost value of the drinks they had to forego to drive safely. The car might be $14 a day, but the lost value in Myer's rum might be $40 a day.

One note of caution. If you are staying at the Rio and want to go by bus down Flamingo, walk away from the strip to catch the bus. There is no stop between the Rio and the strip so you will walk the entire distance.


I think of the 202 and Flamingo as my "strip." Lots to see and do along that route.
Old guys like me pay $1 a ride or $2 for unlimited 24 hour rides.

And you know those shoulder to shoulder, too crowded Deuce rides up and down Las Vegas Blvd?
Well, this bus is never crowded. I take it from casino to casino with luggage and generally can even find a seat that accommodates me and my largest possible, 85 pound luggage.
Hit and run coupon run? Try this. Sam's Town matchplay, Terribles for a $2 breakfast buffet(use coupon for half off) and matchplays, Hard Rock, Tuscany for the live poker chip deal and matchplay, Ellis Island for food and freeplay, $25 matchplay at the Westin, Gold Coast matchplay and buffet with 200 points, Palms matchplay, ----all on the same bus route.
It is good, however, to keep a schedule in your pocket when traveling the 202 in the early morning hours as the buses are not just fifteen minutes apart as they might be during other daytime hours. You don't want to wait forty five minutes at the bus stop when you could play 45 more minutes of Flamingo 2-4 poker and then just saunter out on time for your ride.

But I would not take a bus from the strip to Ellis Island. If you can't walk that short stretch, you might want to skip buses all together and get one of those little electric scooters that so many folks my age manage to buy on late night TV ads.

Where the 202 is very useful in getting to Ellis Island, or back after a late night meal, is from the Gold Coast. The stop is right in front of the Palms, and you can get off very close to Ellis Island on Koval. On the way back you are dropped directly in front of the Gold Coast.

The coupons in the American Casino Guide for Ellis Island alone will pay for the entire book. it is one of the most generous coupon places, and certainly the best anywhere near the strip. This year you can get $10 in free play if you play $10, sort of like a matchplay for slot and VP machines.
Unlike many other food coupon deals, you can go solo to the Ellis Island restaurant and get half off any menu item. I recommend the prime rib. Menu price is $11. Coupon gives you half off or if you take a date, you get the second prime rib free.
As mentioned the famous steak special at $8 is a great treat. The cut of meat is not that thin and grisley stuff in most steak specials. It is thick and above any other cheap cuts of steak common in deal meals other places, and cooked to order. It helps if you like green beans laced with fresh garlic. You get enough of them to eat for three meals. And a little salad. Also included is a huge glass of one of their micro brews or home made root beer. You don't need a coupon for this deal.
The steak and eggs $5 special is fine, but the meat is more like those other steak and egg deals around town.

If you want to drink with a menu item, first stop at the bar and use the 4 free drink coupon for drinks with dinner, say some red wine with the prime rib, and carry those to your table. They are cool with that.
I also think that the best time to get the steak special is as a graveyard meal. At regular times of the day for food, especially supper, there can be lines. They give you a number either at the restaurant or at the barbecue and you wait for a seat.
Off hours there is no line at the restaurant.
9/6 JOB is there, even (I read) in nickels. I always play the same quarter machine. Let's see, it is located not too far from the Player's Club as you there from the restaurant side of the casino. It is on the left end of a row of machines, and I sit with my back to the restaurant. That is as close as I can remember. It could be that the old guy's free pull machine for promotions is just to the left of that seat. It is not far at least.

There are senior promos on certain days.I got a hand sanitizer with my pull of the promo slot. Some days there are senior food deals.
At 10 am weekdays anyone with his own marker (no sharing) can play free bingo for about an hour and win small money prizes.
My buddy Wild Bill and I started our day there three mornings when we stayed at the Super 8, and had a side bet between us with the winner buying breakfast. Each of us missed $50 by one number that came next (some games are built on others so we knew what might have been)
If you pay for rooms and don't mind small and basic, the Super 8 right next door is often a great deal and an easy place to access the free bingo as well as rich in amenities not found in casino hotels.
No resort fee, but all the amenities: free ride to and from the airport, free wifi everywhere including the coin laundry, so that you can be on computer and wash clothes, heated 24 hour pool which is very basic if you just want to swim for a while and want to do it when you want to do it and in April or November, coffee maker, free coffee in the lobby as well(I like the vanilla flavored choice,) television that includes Turner Classic Movies and some HBO stations so you can be stuck in the room sick and avoid those commercials that make sick people even sicker.

My average trip to Vegas is about 16 days, so being able to do laundry in the middle of my trip is a real benefit.

And while we are talking buses, the 119 that goes North on Koval can pick you up near Ellis Island or the Super 8 and in 14 minutes have you at the Fashion Show Mall or Wynn with no change of bus and no crowds. Nice way to access the North strip and save a walk.

[dewey089]

Re: Ellis Island Casino Questions - Vegas

Correction on the free bingo. Weekdays at 9am seems to be the true time. Check before going. I may not be remembering this right.

[RenoPlayer]

Re: Ellis Island Casino Questions - Vegas

Dewey:

"Old guys like you" ......

You look like my younger brother.

RP

[dewey089]

Re: Ellis Island Casino Questions - Vegas

Well, thanks, Reno, nice to be in the family. Medicare starts for me in October.
Over 60 folks should take ten minutes to get a photo ID at the BTC which for 5 years will cut bus expenses in half.
Young folks gotta pay full fare.