People who dislike Las Vegas

{onionz - mod note: Split from "Vegas Forum" topic in VS General Discussion}

I go now twice a year at least for business. I cant stand the place. I just dont get it at all. It sucks all my money away and theres nothing real there. I see how a lot of people love it. What am I missing?

Originally posted by mysteryflyer
It sucks all my money away and theres nothing real there.

Your gambling losses sound real enough!

I see how a lot of people love it. What am I missing?

You're not doing the following bits right :

1. Gambling heavily - stakes high enough so that you care about the outcome
2. Drinking heavily - to help when the above doesn't turn out the way you want.
3. Forgetting about the clock/calendar.
4. Doing the above in a group of friends makes even better

and there's plenty more Vegas offers than that.

Valid question though, as there are other people on this board who don't particularly like the place and it's interesting to know why. That's why I thought it deserved its own thread in the Vegas forum.

[Scrooge]

The only thing I don't like about Vegas now is the traffic.

First time I went to Vegas in 97 I hated the place.
The place was expensive, food in the Luxor buffet was awful, its was too noisy, the rollercoaster at the NYNY had just closed and we were in too big a group so never got anything done.
That said I was there for only hours and had been on a Green Tortoise bus for the previous two weeks. It was good fun but after two weeks you just want some personal space.

Still went back last year and enjoyed it much much more. Think it helps when your in a nice hotel and have time to chill as well as party.

Must like it now as I'm taking my Brother back next week..

Dean

[Bazz]

I am embarrassed to say our first visit to LV was in 1984, which was before a lot of you here were born [:I]

It has changed beyond recognition since then but for Birkin and I it has always retained it's magic [y] With LV people become very polarised, they either love it or hate it, I am sure you can work out which group we belong to [8D];)

I bet you'll love it even more Bazz when they open the Mandarin Oriental there in 2009 [^][^]

Dean

Vegas is a marmite place - I love it but I love to gamble (small amounts, but imagine im that John Gage bloke in indecent proposal!)

The roller coasters etc are great too - vegas has certainly grown from a seedy gambling joint to the entertainment capital of the west coast IMHO

[Bazz]

Originally posted by Wolves27
I bet you'll love it even more Bazz when they open the Mandarin Oriental there in 2009 [^][^]

Dean

Yep, just hope Centurion are still doing the two for one offer with the guaranteed upgrade [^]

[HighFlyer]

The first time i went to Vegas i absolutely loved the place, mainly because it was just so unlike anywhere i had ever been before. Now i have been to Vegas a few times and i can see past all the facade, and i am more than happy to pop back for a few days of fun but i wouldnt choose to spend more than a week there now.

Vegas really does have something for everyone, from the amazing hotels and top notch dining to all of the fantastic shows.

Many people comment on the falseness of Vegas, but I think that is part of the attraction. It doesnt matter what is going on anywhere else in the world if you are in Vegas on vacation, its in its own little bubble.

For me, the best thing about Vegas is (and always will be) the Bellagio fountains. I defy anyone to watch a performance and not be completely in awe!

Thanks,
Sarah

Interestingly Sarah the people that did the Bellagio fountains also did the waterfeatures in the Burj the company is called wetdesign

I'm with you Sarah on the fountains [y][y]

Dean

[Bazz]

That's not JetWetDesign is it?

I used to really like the Pirate ships at Treasure Island - but Dave told me they had changed.

First went to Vegas when the only big hotel was Excalibur - look at it now!!!!

Agree that a few days every now and then is good - havent had a few days there for a while so I guess a trip looks on the cards!!!

First visit back in 1989......

No MGM / NY NY / Bellagio / Wynn / Paris / Venetian / Luxor or Mandalay Bay open then. Been back 4 times since then and going back once more in August. Only downside is that it seems busier each time we go. Guess that shows that they must be doing something right to appeal to all the visitors.

What's good.....
Hot weather / Good Pools / Good food if you know where to look / Endless entertainment options / Cheap shopping but most of all.... the most surreal environment on earth. Oh and the L.V 51's when they are in town - always a good place to chill with a few beers and a hotdog - sure it's not major league but on a warm night it's still fun!

What's bad.....
All the gambling [:w]

Sure there's very little history beyond the 1950's, but as a place to unwind and have a bit of fun for a few days - it gets my vote - then go on and explore Nevada & California from there - Ahh can't wait! [8D]:D

Jon B

I'm with Sarah & Dean....Bellegio fountains are simply fab [y]

This Oct will be our ninth year to Vegas, like Sarah I agree that Vegas is not a place for more than a week - indeed we generally stay 4-5 nights. For us, we just love that whole SW part of of USA and Vegas is an base for driving to many wonderful places incl. Palm Springs, Sedona, Scottsdale & San Diego

Dean, hope you & bro have a fantastic trip!!

I've been to Vegas 4 times now, and have never seen the fountains!! DOH!!

Maybe this year (assuming I can find the time to get out there!!).

My take on Vegas is that its nice for 3-4 nights, and either fly out for a long weekend, or mix it with a city break such as San Francisco.

But then I speak from a gambling perspective, where the longer you stay, the more you lose!

[buns]

I can understand both points of view.

Like Bazz I have seen the place develop and whilst some of those developments are welcome additions (the fine dining for example) the urban sprawl and sheer numbers of people there have taken away some of the old magic.

However, the place does have unique magnetism

buns

Originally posted by Vegascrazy
to many wonderful places incl. Palm Springs, Sedona, Scottsdale & San Diego

James you must go to Slide Rock. Its a great little park in Sedona with natural waterslides carved out of the rock (just like that scene in the Goonies ). Really good fun, although the water is pretty cold!

Dean

[Scrooge]

Originally posted by Wolves27

Originally posted by Vegascrazy
to many wonderful places incl. Palm Springs, Sedona, Scottsdale & San Diego

James you must go to Slide Rock. Its a great little park in Sedona with natural waterslides carved out of the rock (just like that scene in the Goonies ). Really good fun, although the water is pretty cold!

Dean

Agrees,wonderful place once you get away from main street and all the touristy junk.

Only been the once in 1989,stayed at a rather grotty Sahara.I really enjoyed the place, mate and I slept all day and gambled and boozed all night:DWould love to go back but think we will wait until junior is no longer in tow(it will not be long now[}:)])

Originally posted by jetwet1

Originally posted by Wolves27

Originally posted by Vegascrazy
to many wonderful places incl. Palm Springs, Sedona, Scottsdale & San Diego

James you must go to Slide Rock. Its a great little park in Sedona with natural waterslides carved out of the rock (just like that scene in the Goonies ). Really good fun, although the water is pretty cold!

Dean

Agrees,wonderful place once you get away from main street and all the touristy junk.

I was in Sedona last October - don't remember Slide Rock...[:I]

Originally posted by Bazz
I am embarrassed to say our first visit to LV was in 1984, which was before a lot of you here were born [:I]

Sadly, not before I was born Bazz!

I have a love/hate relationship with the place. I think it's great to wander about and absorb a bit of the frenetic gambling - but only for a brief spell. I find we do a lot of people watching - it staggers me, how people can just spend hours, feeding vast amounts of dosh into slots.

On the other hand, a great base for doing stuff outside Vegas - wuad biking, Death Valley - shopping [y]

One thing I have found really disappointing though - if you win at a slot machine, I've noticed many places now issue one of those bar coded slips of paper. It really isn't the same as having some coins winging their way out of the machine....[:0]

If you really dislike Las Vegas reading the excellent "The Money and the Power: The Making of Las Vegas and its Hold on America 1947 - 2000" by Sally Denton and Roger Morris will help to confirm your opinion.
If you like Las Vegas, the book's still a great historical background.

Originally posted by catsilversword
[I have a love/hate relationship with the place. I think it's great to wander about and absorb a bit of the frenetic gambling - but only for a brief spell. I find we do a lot of people watching - it staggers me, how people can just spend hours, feeding vast amounts of dosh into slots.

One thing I have found really disappointing though - if you win at a slot machine, I've noticed many places now issue one of those bar coded slips of paper. It really isn't the same as having some coins winging their way out of the machine....[:0]

There are still a few machines that deal with coin payouts that I saw but pretty much anything with a jackpot worth winning is a paper payout. Plenty of those large casino cups around for the coins you can't win as well for some reason......

I suppose they do this to stop you taking the cash away to another casino as the paper is only useful in that casino and one or two others in the chain (assuming you don't cash it in of course) - or they just expect most people to put $100 notes in as standard nowadays considering a lot of the machine require you to put 3 x 25c coins in to actually win anything above a few dollars.

Some the casinos I went into had people sitting there all day at machines, especially those 25c Wheel Of Fortune ones. People were actually sort of queuing to get on certain ones in the MGM and Caesars from what I saw. Easier to get on one in the Luxor as slightly further down (or up?) the strip.

[Bazz]

Originally posted by xenole
...People were actually sort of queuing to get on certain ones in the MGM and Caesars from what I saw...

Those would probably what they call the "Loose Slots" machines which have a higher than average payback - locals and staff get to know where they are and they become very popular