>>214489513 (OP)
Went once as "security" for a musician friend. He made a few bucks finally and wanted to take some of the core crew on a vacation.
When we checked into the hotel, he had the concierge hand us some leather briefcases and told us not to open them til we were showered, settled, and ready for dinner...5000 euro in each (about $8500ish cdn) with an American Psycho-esque business card saying "Don't spend it all at once." That did not help me feel any less poor.
I got dressed up in what's now my "non funeral" pants and blazer, and we all met at the Americaine before our dinner res at Le Louis. The negronis, wine, and veal did not make me feel any less poor.
I spent most of my time on the waterfront, hopping back to the bar for a bit, maybe chat with the bossman. This was pretty much the only way I didn't feel like some shoeshine boy, or cheap "rentacop". I was surprised to see a minimum 5eur bet at the poker tables. I was expecting a lot more. I wound up bringing 2000 eur to a 50eur table our second night there and left with just shy of 7k. That made me feel about as rich as I wanted to feel there. I wired most of my now 12-or-so-thousand euros to my own account and my girlfriend's. Hit the bar again with the bassist. Spent the rest of my time near the water.
It's fucking warm, and definitely full of extortionists, the newly wealthy, and the upper-middle / lower-top who want to seem more important than they are. Most of the ugly women were wives of some somewhat wealthy gamblin' man. Had a few conversations with / got hit on by a few of them - some interesting semi-tragic tales.
I'd never go there on my own. It's definitely a place to flaunt your silver at a bunch of other people who also have fat wallets.
