How have your trips changed over the years?

So you've been going to Vegas for many years - have your trips changed over the years? Was a trip 20 years ago all gambling and drinking and today it's a little gambling and lots of shows and fine dining? I was thinking about this the other day, feeling that aside from the fact my budget has increased I've been pretty consistent. But upon further review there have been some major changes.

1 - a trip in the first 10 years (I've been going to Vegas since '97) would involve getting blind drunk about every day - the last few years I might drink heavily maybe one day, but not so bad that I ruin the next day.
2 - Gambling - up until 2014 I was primarily a blackjack player... maybe 75% blackjack, 20% bar top VP and 5% misc. slots... today blackjack and craps share my table gambling equally and slots make up most of my play, I'd say 60% slots, 30% table games and 10% bar top VP.

I got into slots more when I discovered some slot videos on YouTube before my August 2014 trip - I enjoy playing them even though I know the overall long term payout are not good compared to table top games...

So how about you all? what's different about a trip 5, 10, 20 years ago compared to a trip today?

 

Size of the bankroll is probably the most of a change. With that changes everything.

I've always done craps, don't like machines or blackjack unless alone. Blackjack isn't a good social experience and I enjoy the table energy in craps.

 

Same thing happened to me. Been coming across slot videos online and been seeing how successful some people have been that I've decided to do A LOT more slots. I used to avoid them like the plague for the last couple of years but on my more recent Vegas (and AC) trips, I've put at least a third of my BR into slots. In terms of trips, I think I stayed the same in terms of food, BR, and overall intent of the trip (eat well, do at least one fun show or activity, and go to a club or two).

oh, and another new thing I tend to do is to take advantage of the bar tops. I play a lot on the bar tops and enjoy making conversation with random people. Love getting the free drinks!

 

Length of stay has changed for me. Back in the 90s I'd do 3-4 day trips. Now it is 7-8 days per visit. I really like the longer trips better as I can relax more and not feel like I have to rush to do a lot in a condensed period of time.

 

In the beginning I played slots only because I didn't know how to play table games, and also because they were intimidating. After a while I learned Blackjack and Craps.

Then I started to get interested in Video Poker.

And all of a sudden I started liking slots again, the new ones are very entertaining.

So my play evolved over the years like this:

From 100% slots to:

70% slots and 30% blackjack, craps, and roulette to:

30% slots, 50% craps, and 20% VP to:

50% slots, vp and 50% craps.

I'm beginning to enjoy slots again. No thinking, just enjoying the entertainment it provides and hopefully winning enough to keep playing.

 

Wow, what hasn't changed?! For one, I try to avoid the strip. I've come to prefer downtown. When my wife would go, we would stay at what is now the Delano and I would drive downtown to play. That's how I met my favorite bartender and so much has changed because of her. I spend has much time hanging out with friends I've made through her (or hanging out with her) as I do playing. I've come to really enjoy the friendliness of DT, the people that work there and play there. Even though my BR has increased I usually barely touch it. I play more bar tops for the reasons mentioned above and play less and less blackjack. I use to play $25 tables and get squat for comps, now I play .25 & .50 VP and get a little better than squat (not much) comps.

 

2006 & 2008 I was playing poker for a living, so that was the primary reason for the trips, however, I had caught the bug, and that was a backdrop to my future trips.

2009/10/11 was just 3 weeks of carnage with a few poker tournaments thrown in.

2012/13/14 I migrated downtown, mainly not wanting to go up and down the strip on a scooter, and finding that I actually enjoyed everything about the Nugget.

 

My first few trips - mid to late 90's - were on the strip and involved a lot of sightseeing. Now my trips are generally off strip or downtown and involve much more gambling. Game of choice has switched from BJ to UTH.

 

Back in the day we thought Luxor was nice. Even stayed at San Remo a couple times.

Next week I'm in a comped Corner Suite at Aria.

We used to eat at McDonalds and Little Caesars.

Now it's Julian Serrano, etc. also comped.

 

I am no longer on the CET hamsterwheel. It was great as I've had some nice stays at CP and the like. But now it's offstrip with a rental car. If anything, spend even more time gaming. We used to try and see a least one show and now I can't care less if I book one. I used to try and see and play in as many casinos as possible and now I pick a handful to give my attention. I do spend more time just watching TV or driving around because I don't feel the need to be doing something touristy at all times. I now make it a priority to try new restaurants the way I used to try new casinos and I've had a lot of fun doing that.

 

Less gambling, better food, fewer trips. We still move our stays around, some on the Strip, some off. Still love the JW Marriott and Wynn, miss what Lake Las Vegas and Treasure Island were.

 

When I first started going in 2000 or so, it was as much as a learning experience as anything. Trying to understand what was where, how to play games, how to get free drinks. The information available then was a fraction what it is today.

It was also a time for sharing rooms and low rolling. 3 to a room at the Rio, or bunking up with my buddy at Harrah's...and it was a blast.

Now, it's mainly green and black chip blackjack and video poker while being comped at Cosmo or V/P while my buddy is comped at his casino of choice. Instead of food courts we're hitting Tao and Jaleo and the finer places. Either way, it's a blast, and a testament to hard work over the years to be where we are. That's not knocking the old way of doing things, but sharing a room at 30 years of age is one thing...having to do it at 45 is another. Would gladly do it if need be, just glad we don't have to!

 

I also would like to add that my trips nowadays are either solo or with my Wife. I've gone with other people and it sucks.

 

I stay at two different properties during my Vegas Week --- ( as always )
but nowadays ---
sometimes I haven't left the property ( esp. off strip ) during my stay.
That wouldn't happen yrs ago !
*
Downtown, is nice to walk around......so I do leave the hotel, if downtown.
*
I think my bankroll is the same ? -- but I know how to spread it longer, these days.

 

My budget has gone up considerably from my first few trips, when it was a measly few hundred dollars. Gambling was strictly penny slots (1 credit, 1 line only) and video Blackjack, but now it's a good mixture of the former (all lines now) and table games. I also ate at buffets only, but now I only eat at restaurants. My first time there I noted I'd never stay at Ballys because the God-awful pedestrian conveyor belt annoyed me that much, but it's become my stomping ground the last couple of years.

 

More gambling, better food and more trips. Hitting it hard before my wife's possible retirement in a few years.

 

First trip in 1998 was for 2 nights, I took $150 and shared a room with my MIL and 2 SIL we stayed at TI and played $1 blackjack at Circus Circus and .25 WOF at Casino Royale. Now my husband and I go with minimum of $5k, stay in suites and do a spa or a getaway day and stay for 5 nights and relax by the pool and day drink until dinner time then gamble all night long! So much better now!

 

10 years ago at age 26 I would spend 1 or 2 nights at a club. Never would go to a show. Food was just quick eats. Gambling was on half the budget I bring now. Today I am more about catching a comedy or music act while I'm out there. My taste in food has changed a bit. Now I plan on at least 1 night of a great meal. I was usually at the excalibur or luxor 10 years ago. Now it's MGM, Mandalay, and this past trip Cosmo. I haven't set foot in a club the past several years as I'm married and most of the crew I come with are too. Not that you need to be single to go clubbing by any means, but its just not our thing anymore. Gaming has become a bigger priortiy. I now pretty much exclusively play green for bj where 10 years ago that wouldn't happen. The amount of time I spend poolside I'd have to say is about the same though. I still spend almost the entire time on or just off the strip, perhaps spending a bit of time downtown. That has stayed constant too.

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First trip 1973. Stayed on the Strip 3-4 times per year since then. Sands, Frontier, Flamingo and Stardust. Around 1996 gave up on Stardust and the Strip and moved downtown. Never looked back and no desire for the Strip.

Two other changes; Strictly a craps player back then, now mostly bartop VP and a much bigger bankroll. Occasionally I'll go on the carps table when VP is killing me, but not very often.

 

I've noticed that a bigger bankroll now than then is pretty common among those who posted so far, myself included!

Isn't Vegas the bomb?