$200 dollar bottle service in Vegas

[Fiasco]

Which clubs offer prices like or close to this number per bottle? $625 and upwards per bottle seems hilarious to me that people would pay that even if you do get the real estate along with it (you tip for the service so that isn't included). So JC I ask where can a guy get some affordable bottle service in Vegas?

[OmarLittle]

Spearmint Rhinos...before 8pm

[MikeK32]

Umm.....Strip clubs before 8pm offer $100 bottles?

For all the main/traditional clubs on the strip, the lowest prices you are going to get are things like 2 Goose for $550 at Tryst or 2 Goose for $600 at Drai's - so that works out to $300 a bottle before tax/tip.
I guess I don't really know what bottle prices are like at places like LAX (is that still open???) or lounges like Voodoo Lounge but that's not really the same thing as a club.

As far as that price seeming hilarious.....there's a couple ways to look at it. There is the real estate element and the convenience element (don't have to fight crowds to get to the bar, immediate entry to the club with no line, etc). There's also a certain element that appeals to some people of feeling "big time" or "like a boss". Finally - if you are going to be have a number of drinks while you are at the club, once you add up the costs of a pre-sale ticket or cover price, plus the costs of all the drinks, it's not that much more expensive to grab a bottle and table split amongst a couple friends.

[ponch62]

As far as that price seeming hilarious.....there's a couple ways to look at it. There is the real estate element and the convenience element (don't have to fight crowds to get to the bar, immediate entry to the club with no line, etc). There's also a certain element that appeals to some people of feeling "big time" or "like a boss". Finally - if you are going to be have a number of drinks while you are at the club, once you add up the costs of a pre-sale ticket or cover price, plus the costs of all the drinks, it's not that much more expensive to grab a bottle and table split amongst a couple friends.

This, especially the last line, do the math and it ends up being a small premium for the real estate if you plan to drink a lot. Look, there are plenty of places to go if you just want to get get a cheap bottle of liquor. You get what you pay for, CVS is a great option, buy a bottle and find a lobby table to sit at and you have $30 bottle service. Most of the folks on these boards either like the DJ, the girls, the light shows, or the service that comes with the higher price tag. You have options, but they aren't selling bottles at $600+ without there being some value attached.

[DanielC]

Which clubs offer prices like or close to this number per bottle? $625 and upwards per bottle seems hilarious to me that people would pay that even if you do get the real estate along with it (you tip for the service so that isn't included). So JC I ask where can a guy get some affordable bottle service in Vegas?

I don't know where you live, but in any major city (i.e. NY, Chicago, LA, Miami, etc) you're not going to get a bottle anywhere decent for less than $500. So paying 15% more in Vegas doesn't seem crazy to me.

If paying $600 seems crazy to you, then why pay $8 for a domestic beer in a Vegas club when you can buy a whole 6 pack for that? Or why pay $13 for a mixed drink that only gives you 1.5 oz of alcohol?

It doesn't make financial sense to me if you're ok with clubs charging 900% more than retail for a beer, but only want them to charge 400% more than retail for a bottle (plus the real estate and free entry for multiple people that comes along with said bottle).

[maxutilsperusd]

If paying $600 seems crazy to you, then why pay $8 for a domestic beer in a Vegas club when you can buy a whole 6 pack for that? Or why pay $13 for a mixed drink that only gives you 1.5 oz of alcohol?

Well for one thing beers are now over $10 at most clubs and for another that's why pregaming is such a big deal as it is in American culture. Why should you pay around $9 per unit of alcohol when quality vodka (even Grey Goose) or bourbon or almost any other spirit maxes out around $1.25 per unit when bought in bulk and with mixer never being more than $1 for a drink worth? At 5 drinks to a person, drinking inside your hotel room saves $40+ per person compared to drinking beer inside the club. If you don't care for beer at the club and would have been ordering cocktails, the comparison gets even worse with a savings of $75+ per person. Lets say you also want 2 Red Bulls in a night, clubs are charging $10 for the standard 8oz can while you can typically get those for $2 or less. So that's another $16+ that can be avoided right there. So that's $50-$100 of savings by drinking in your hotel room vs. in a club depending on your alcohol preferences.

I'm a big fan of using reentry to drink since if they allow you to leave and come back in and you aren't doing bottle service it's ridiculous to fight to the bar, wait to get served, and pay 1400-1800% markup when you can just go outside the club, drink, and come back inside in practically the same amount of time.

This really undermines the "cover + drinks = same price bottle service" argument, since if you already figured out how to not pay 15x the price for alcohol then it doesn't hold up anymore. I still can recommend bottle service though, just for very different reasons. If you can't dance, if having girls brought literally right to you is appealing (I'd say this is appealing to most single people), if you are lazy (no one actually wants to have to walk to the bar, much less outside the club), and if it boosts your confidence then it can be money well spent regardless of how much of a markup that bottle might have on it.

[DanielC]

I'm a big fan of using reentry to drink since if they allow you to leave and come back in and you aren't doing bottle service it's ridiculous to fight to the bar, wait to get served, and pay 1400-1800% markup when you can just go outside the club, drink, and come back inside in practically the same amount of time

This is true and makes sense if you're staying at the hotel where the club is at. What if I'm staying at Cosmo and going to XS? Would it make sense to leave XS, get in a cab, go back to Cosmo and drink more in my room, then take a cab back to XS? Or would it even make sense to leave XS and go to the hotel bar at Wynn where drinks may be a tad bit cheaper than at XS? Obviously not.

Sure there are ways to get drunk or buzzed without spending money at all in the club. You could run to the nearest Walgreens and chug a half bottle of vodka and be good all night. But what OP is saying is he still wants to drink bottles at the club, just not for the going rate, and anybody that does pay that is "hilarious".

[ponch62]

Well for one thing beers are now over $10 at most clubs and for another that's why pregaming is such a big deal as it is in American culture. Why should you pay around $9 per unit of alcohol when quality vodka (even Grey Goose) or bourbon or almost any other spirit maxes out around $1.25 per unit when bought in bulk and with mixer never being more than $1 for a drink worth? At 5 drinks to a person, drinking inside your hotel room saves $40+ per person compared to drinking beer inside the club. If you don't care for beer at the club and would have been ordering cocktails, the comparison gets even worse with a savings of $75+ per person. Lets say you also want 2 Red Bulls in a night, clubs are charging $10 for the standard 8oz can while you can typically get those for $2 or less. So that's another $16+ that can be avoided right there. So that's $50-$100 of savings by drinking in your hotel room vs. in a club depending on your alcohol preferences.

I'm a big fan of using reentry to drink since if they allow you to leave and come back in and you aren't doing bottle service it's ridiculous to fight to the bar, wait to get served, and pay 1400-1800% markup when you can just go outside the club, drink, and come back inside in practically the same amount of time.

This really undermines the "cover + drinks = same price bottle service" argument, since if you already figured out how to not pay 15x the price for alcohol then it doesn't hold up anymore. I still can recommend bottle service though, just for very different reasons. If you can't dance, if having girls brought literally right to you is appealing (I'd say this is appealing to most single people), if you are lazy (no one actually wants to have to walk to the bar, much less outside the club), and if it boosts your confidence then it can be money well spent regardless of how much of a markup that bottle might have on it.

No argument with pregaming. But re-entry assumes you will only go to clubs either at or very near where you are staying, which probably accounts for a very small percentage of people. And frankly, for the cost to stay at some of the hotels that have the tier 1 spots, you could stay much cheaper and use the money you saved on a table!

[maxutilsperusd]

But re-entry assumes you will only go to clubs either at or very near where you are staying, which probably accounts for a very small percentage of people. And frankly, for the cost to stay at some of the hotels that have the tier 1 spots, you could stay much cheaper and use the money you saved on a table!

I agree that most people do not stay where they are clubbing, but probably more people should. If you look at the savings of not needing a cab to the club and a cab from the club, and the money spent on alcohol for 2 people, I'd say if that money were applied to their room many people could upgrade from a mid-range strip property to wherever they are clubbing. The big difference is you are also getting a nicer room, less time wasted on travel, and an overall more convenient night, so I really can't recommend it enough. It's especially true Sunday - Thursday when the markup for the high end hotels are less ridiculous.

That said I've solved the problem for when you aren't partying where you are staying. You just check a shopping bag full of drinks at the bell desk of whatever hotel the club is at. I always make sure to tip on the drop off and then when I exit the club I head right to the bell desk, ask for my bag, and with a $5 tip I've never waited more than a minute for the bag.

[Dean of Selection]

No argument with pregaming. But re-entry assumes you will only go to clubs either at or very near where you are staying, which probably accounts for a very small percentage of people. And frankly, for the cost to stay at some of the hotels that have the tier 1 spots, you could stay much cheaper and use the money you saved on a table!

A helpful party hint I have in Vegas is I bring a jug of vodka with me -have to check it in though; thanks a lot Bin Laden-and maybe a case of mini Gatorades. Then I make a couple stiff ones and walk to casino, around etc where I will be for the night.

[dnix]

These arguments are ridiculous. Justifying bottle service is no different then trying to justify gambling. Its fun, exciting, entertaining, and has social value, but its not for everyone. Some people play games with high house odds and dont even drink, while others play penny slots just for the free drinks. Theres really no reason to try and convince someone there not doing it right. Some people save up for years, and happily pay $XXXX for bottle service. They consider it money well spent, and no different than wasting money on a cruise, ect.

To the OP: for $200 or less, your looking at smaller less popular venue. Probably a lounge or bar with a DJ. Something like Golds Lounge at Aria. Most major hotels have lounges, but they wont be anything like a major nightclub. Maybe Chateau or Vodoo would be in your price range.

[maxutilsperusd]

Justifying bottle service is no different then trying to justify gambling.

You are right that justifying bottle service is no different than justifying gambling. People have strong opinions on which games people should play depending on if they are looking at minimizing or maximizing free drinks, comps, losses/hour, risk of ruin, or potential gains. They have whole blogs dedicated to recommendations of different games and betting strategies based on all those various factors. Just like we have this blog dedicated to how and why people decide to club in different ways.

[ponch62]

You are right that justifying bottle service is no different than justifying gambling. People have strong opinions on which games people should play depending on if they are looking at minimizing or maximizing free drinks, comps, losses/hour, risk of ruin, or potential gains. They have whole blogs dedicated to recommendations of different games and betting strategies based on all those various factors. Just like we have this blog dedicated to how and why people decide to club in different ways.

I look at it as VIP seating for a show. If I want good seats to go see any of the Cirque shows out there, its gonna cost me a large chunk of cash. I choose to see DJ'S over acrobats, and in order to get good seats, it's gonna cost me. Just so happens, a seat at the club includes alcohol, the Cirque show does not.

[maxutilsperusd]

I look at it as VIP seating for a show. If I want good seats to go see any of the Cirque shows out there, its gonna cost me a large chunk of cash. I choose to see DJ'S over acrobats, and in order to get good seats, it's gonna cost me. Just so happens, a seat at the club includes alcohol, the Cirque show does not.

That's absolutely a great way to look at it. Space is inherently limited, so the best seat in the house goes for a premium. A well designed club gives you tables with great views of the crowd and the DJ, so it makes sense that some people are willing to pay a premium for that. I personally am usually toward the center front of the dance floor, so I end up with a fantastic view of the DJ, LED screens and go-go dancers, but I miss out on seeing the whole crowd, don't get to sit, and have to spend a decent amount of effort to get a drink. I also usually guest list to get in, pregame on the way to the club, and then use reentry once a night to drink some more, so I don't have to spend much of anything, but I get that other people would rather have more of a relaxing experience and are willing to pay for that.

Again some people seem to think I'm running some crusade against bottle service or thinking people choosing bottle service are making a mistake, that is not my intention, my intention is to show on threads where people bring up value for money that there are other ways to go out and see DJs without spending as much money, but perhaps spending more effort, patience, and time.

[EastCoast]

I like to buy a few extra bottles from the club on the way out at night. Then I either give them to homeless people or save them to pre-game the next night. Being a baller is a 24/7 job.