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I think I'm "over" Vegas

Discussion in 'Misc. Vegas Chat' started by Timbuck, Mar 28, 2016.

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  1. Timbuck

    Timbuck Low-Roller

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    I haven't posted here much, but lurk quite a bit. Thanks for everyone for sharing so much.
    I'm a 42 year old guy with a wife and 3 kids. I live in Southern California and have done several Vegas trips a year for at least 15 years.
    Every trip has been a different kind of fun (Single guy with buddies, bachelor parties, weddings, just me and the wife, a few other couples, even brought the kids a few times).
    I have had classy trips and down right filthy trips. I've stayed in nearly every hotel on the strip and quite a few downtown (Wynn, Treasure Island, Frontier, Cosmopolitan, Mandalay Bay, Harrahs, Ballys, MGM Grand, Four Seasons, The Hotel (when it was still called that), Aria, Vdara, Paris, Bellagio, Luxor, NYNY, Mirage, Palms, Hard Rock, Flamingo, Planet Hollywood, The Plaza, Fitzgerald's, Caesars, Venetian, Rio, Silverton- I think that's it). I've been inside most of the casinos that weren't named above.

    Maybe it's my age and realizing the value of a dollar spent, but I think I'm officially done with Vegas.

    Let me explain. When I came to Vegas 10-15 years ago, we'd get a decent room, we'd get a decent meal, we'd gamble, we'd go out to a nightclub. It was fun and wasn't crazy expensive. You could do all of the above without having to stress your budget too much. I'm not a High Roller, but I have a decent income. I'd bring $1,000 for the weekend and that would cover 2 nights of all of the above without worrying if I got killed at the tables or not. And the service was pretty decent. Now it costs 3-5x that amount.

    Now I feel like whenever I go to Vegas the only way to get good service and have a nice time is to pay exorbitant amounts of money for things AND slip someone a little "something for the effort" at every turn. Meals are overpriced. Rooms are in the $300 range on a weekend. Cab lines are crazy long. Night clubs have gotten ridiculous. Table minimums are too high (I like Blackjack and like to play for hours on end. I've had some good nights and some nights where I've gone back to the ATM several times).

    The prices aren't really what bugs me the most though. I like a good meal and a nice room and don't mind paying for nice things.

    What really gets me is the level of service that you get these days. Waitstaff seem to be annoyed that you ask for a napkin. Valets take forever to bring up a car. Front desk people are the least friendly and least accommodating of anywhere I've been. I tried to check in early on my last visit. Rooms where ready, but they wanted to charge me $40 to check in early. I also called for a late check out (check out time was 11:00 am. Most places are noon or 1pm) and they wanted to charge for this too.

    This past weekend we stayed at La Quina Resort in Palm Springs (A Waldord Astoria resort). Every single person that worked there was accommodating and helpful. Nobody expected a tip for holding open a door for you. Rooms were about the same price as a busy weekend in Vegas. Food prices at the resort were reasonable. They extended our check out until 2pm for free. They waived fees for our friends room that needed a roll away bed. The adults went to dinner at their fine dining restaurant on Saturday night. We got the kids a pizza to eat "picnic" style on the lawn in front of the restaurant. The restaurant waitstaff brought the kids (free) soft drinks without us asking them. The restaurant closed at 11pm but we wanted to hang out and drink a bit more. They left the lights on outside for us and let us bring in our own drinks (for no corkage fee on the wine). If we forgot something in our car, the valet refused a tip for grabbing it out for us. It was 5 star treatment in every way and the cost of that treatment was built into the room fees. There was no "minimum food and beverage spend" for a party of 12.

    Maybe I'm just too old and cranky these days. I think I'm breaking up with Vegas. It was fun for a while.
     
  2. wigwam_salesman

    wigwam_salesman VIP Whale

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    I kind of agree with you about the service, but everything cost 3-5x what it did 15 years ago now.
     
  3. LV_Bound

    LV_Bound VIP Whale

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    Vegas does seeming to be giving away lots of free stuff like rooms but then creating new types of costs like Resort Fees, Parking Fees, CNF and others.
    Soon you will have to pay to use the bathroom in the casino.
    With that said, for us it is still one of the cheaper vacations available.
     
  4. smartone

    smartone VIP Whale

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    Sorry to hear that... but you've articulated your thoughts well. When somethin' ceases to be fun or enjoyable, quit doin' it.
     
  5. ken2v

    ken2v This Space For Rent

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    :clap:

    That was very well articulated. It doesn't matter where it is, you have to get the needed bang and fun and thrill out of the vacation buck or why bother? It is sad to lose something that worked well over time, but by the same token, it's a big bold vacation world out there.

    As for your choice, La Quinta Resort just nails it. One of our fave regional resorts. Hell, we used to go down there for getaways when we lived just an hour away. Love the original casitas, love the Starlight rooms, I was back in the spa accomms in January when I was down playing in the pro-am, and who doesn't like the pool adobes?! Beautiful grounds, great food options. 60 bazillion pools, service ... as you aptly noted. Tennis center is the real deal. Spa. Evenings in the plaza are so lovely. Oh, and all that citrus and bougainvillea ...
     
  6. irishdave

    irishdave VIP Whale

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    Also we just went through a run where Vegas was desperate to get folks in the door, but with the improving economy that desperation is ending.
     
  7. MrBBonz

    MrBBonz Low-Roller

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    I expected a different type of story in this thread, but its no good that this stuff has dog piled up on you. Usually when I or others say they are done with vegas its after a losing trip and that feeling fades after a few months. Maybe give vegas a break for a year or two? Im sure you know where the cheaper blackjack is, but on the strip it has been getting tougher lately.
     
  8. tringlomane

    tringlomane STP Addicted Beer Snob

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    Yeah, the value on the Strip is mostly non-existent now. And if you want to play low-limit blackjack for extended periods of time, you'll definitely have better luck downtown and off-strip. I can't speak for their service quality though. The couple times I've stayed off-strip, I never noticed a major increase in good, friendly service. Maybe a little less snobbiness at the front desk at best.
     
  9. BreakEven

    BreakEven High-Roller

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    "Over Macho Grande?"

    "I don't think I'll ever get over Macho Grande."
     
  10. marcianofan

    marcianofan High-Roller

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    I think this reply was well said. If you've been going to LV for that long maybe a break would be a good idea. THEN you might have the feel/rush again. That said, there were some good points made about how Vegas is changing, and not necessarily for the better. I'm a bj player also and the rules and odds are moving, slowly mind you, but moving in the wrong direction where it's getting tougher and tougher to find a good table, even DT. Never played for comps, but getting tougher and tougher also. Never paid to park, but this is coming slowly and surely also. Im starting to like the local casinos more and more and just want to visit the strip to sight see, eat a small meal or two, people watch, check out a little shopping,sights etc...
     
  11. irishdave

    irishdave VIP Whale

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    Those wounds run pretty deep
     
  12. jrinct1

    jrinct1 VIP Whale

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    I have been "over" Vegas for years ..Because of not being able to do it " my way" (meaning..LACK of MONEY) LOL!!!
     
  13. kathynew

    kathynew Tourist

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    I usually experience that feeling after a losing trip. LOL!!

    I typically travel to vegas with a group of friends so that helps keep things fresh for me.

    I haven't been nearly as many times as others here, but I can see it losing luster after that many trips.
     
  14. leo21

    leo21 VIP Whale

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    I get it. Service is no where close to what it used to be. Now you are lucky to have a good experience here or there when before practically every encounter was great. Everyone seems crabby. And what they don't seem to get is that people will still pay more for that good service encounter. I know people are scared away from Hawaii because of the cost but it was worth it in part because of the high level of service and civic pride you experience. It was nice to be somewhere where everyone knew you had other choices and appreciated the time and effort it took to come see them. I had a similar experience in New Orleans. Visiting those two places makes me look even more critically at Vegas. I haven't quit yet but spending even less time there.
     
  15. jimmyj126

    jimmyj126 Tourist

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    Vegas is no where near the fun for me as it once was. I started going in the early 80's-when the mob was being pushed out and the corporations were taking over. The value started leaving then. Penny pinching accounting has taken over.
    Vegas also used to me more reserved, an older customer base. Now kids in there 20's with more money to spend than I ever had at their age. The clubs are built around them. Gambling itself is a thing of the past. The corporations have so many revenue streams that gambling isn't that big of a thing anymore.
     
  16. Ruark

    Ruark Low-Roller

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    Same here. We live in Texas and went to Vegas (usually the strip) at least twice a year starting back in the late 70s. It didn't matter who you were: a minimum wage clerk or a jet setter in a penthouse, but you got a good room to stay in, plenty of good food, and had a good time. I remember always bringing a couple of silver dollars (remember THOSE?) home in my pocket for souvenirs.

    Gambling was FUN, and with a little common sense you could usually walk away with some extra money. I'll never forget staying up all night drinking, listening to music and play $1-a-hand single-deck Blackjack, or putting $20 in a quarter machine and playing for an hour with REAL coins. What a blast. Don't snicker. Vegas was BUILT on that model; they paid for those casinos CASH, not with loans from middle eastern oil shieks or investment bankers.

    Now it's just potty mouthed little punks. Hip hop, rap, $1,000-a-bottle clubs, $25 table minimums. People getting shot all the time. $40 for a decent buffet (where you don't have to scrape the crust off the mashed potatoes). Justin Bieber at MGM. Justin Bieber? Are you freaking serious?

    It's not just us; we know a bunch of people who used to love to go to Vegas several times a year and quit going several years ago and wouldn't go there now if you paid them. Sometimes when we're together we speak wistfully of the "good times we used to have in Vegas."

    Sorry for the negativity. Watching Vegas the last few decades has been like watching the slow death of an old friend.
     
  17. msadrakula

    msadrakula Tourist

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    I agree stuff costs more, but then again what doesn't cost more from 15 years ago. We try and go once a year, sometimes we miss a year sometimes like last year we went 3 times. I'm 41 and have 4 kids and don't make a ton of money, but we are okay with going on the cheap. We use MyVegas rewards optimally and get free rooms sometimes, free shoes, free buffets. We have gone sometimes and only spent money on tips, snacks, car rental and gambling. We use the social rewards thing thru Total Rewards and usually have $50 each to spend on food at Caesar's resorts. We use the Las Vegas Advisor coupon book, entertainment book and the American Casino Guide coupon book. We almost always have a bunch left over that we never get around to use so we plan another trip. We gamble downtown mostly, we love the $5 blackjack tables, play some cheap video poker. We don't get a ton a comps but sometimes enough for a free meal here and there, but we just like the time gambling, walking around, laying out at the pool and just relaxing. We usually take $2,000 for a 5 day trip and most of the times we come back with $1000-$1500.

    Maybe a year or two break is what you need; we did that when most of kids were very young and it was harder to get away. Now, we start thinking about our next trip almost as soon as we get back. Good luck going forward, I think you'll get the itch to go back and when you do just remember there's always a cheaper route to go if you plan ahead a little.
     
  18. NickPapageorgio

    NickPapageorgio OG of the Sal Sagev Hotel

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    Bieber is kinda big....that's understandable. The potty mouthed punks are paying $1000 a bottle at clubs. Not quite sure what your complaint is?
     
  19. ovojake

    ovojake Low-Roller

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    Just here to remind you guys that all hope isn't lost. I am a 22 year old (already been 3 times) micro-roller, bring $800 to gamble for a 3 day trip. I spent a grand total of $350 last trip, that was including $60 for a GA admission to Omnia, and 7 lyft rides. I use Myvegas rewards on the expensive buffets, and take advantage of bogo offers for shows like Love and Ka. I gambled for almost 20 hours, and my father in law and I received 86 free drinks over the course of our trip. Apparently, I did okay because I have 2 nights at the cosmo, and 3 nights at the Mirage upcoming in June all comped through hosts, and didn't win during my last trip.

    Sure you can go and blow $1,000 a day and not have fun, but for me, Vegas has ultimate value. I can't get a room on the Oregon Coast for the price that it is to go to Vegas for 3 nights, and obviously Vegas is much better than a 3 hour drive from my house. Take a step back, look for the deals, and go back to the root of what Vegas was for you the first trip you ever took. Go do something you've never done, eat something you haven't eaten, see a show you've never seen. Go to a club that has a DJ you've never heard of (My father in law who is 50 enjoyed Calvin Harris at Omnia more than anything on our trip) I think you'll be surprised.
     
  20. ken2v

    ken2v This Space For Rent

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    No need to apologize. Slow deaths are hard to take.
     
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