The free rooms are my main reason for going, then the food selection you can get within walking distances
My bottom line reason for visiting Vegas is because my best friend lives there. I mostly spend my time hanging out with her. When she first moved out we spent a lot more time together hanging out on the strip. Sometimes she would stay with my in my hotel room the whole trip and we would go out and do things from there, but my hotel vs her house was "home". Over time we do more things around town and beyond with maybe one meal on the strip and she'll come up to my room once to enjoy the balcony. If I visit with friends from outside of Vegas I play tourist with them the majority of the time though, with my local friend usually meeting up with us once or twice to do an activity or have a meal. I was always a Disney kid growing up in Central Florida. Had Disney passes from age 7 until I worked there when I was 19, then right back to having passes until maybe 5ish years ago. Once I stopped enjoying Disney it was just easy to switch to taking multiple Vegas vacations a year rather than just one and now Vegas is basically my adult Disney. I guess I'm a Disney kid that grew up into Vegas adult rather than a Disney adult. I think it's because of going to Disney so often as a kid though that makes the sticker shock of Vegas that is often such a turn off to most people isn't so bad to me. I've been paying $3 for a bottle of water since I was a kid, ain't no thang for an $8 one now, it's just par for the course in a vacation destination. Would I come to Vegas as often if my friend didn't live here? Would I have ever come to Vegas at all? I'm sure I would have been here at least once by now but I don't know about twice a year minimum like I do now.
I would have to say its the gambling, but I could drive 90 minutes to Hard Rock in Tampa instead of a 5 hour flight to Vegas so it must be something more than a single thing. It is probably more of a combination of it being "Vegas" and the gambling.
I must admit, sorry, I have 4 casinos within a 20 minute drive (soon to be 5) and I enjoy playing at Ameristar and (local) Horseshoe more than at the majority of the Strip casinos. Far more of the machines I like, no-hassle free parking, some free and much cheaper beverages, usually not as zooey. Live bands will be coming back to our local Horseshoe Real Soon.
Tampa is a longer drive for me than you, but both it and Biloxi are less time to drive to for me, than it takes me to fly to Vegas. And in the case of Tampa, I like their game selection more than any casino in Vegas, except for the lack of real craps tables (did they ever get those going? I havent been in a year and a half). But they dont have umpteen dozen fancy restaurants or the ability to impulse buy a same day ticket for your pick of half a dozen A-list shows etc. I'm surprised to see the answer about offers being better in Vegas. I get better offers from Tampa Hard Rock, and sometimes Biloxi, than I do from anywhere in Vegas, usually (actually I guess this makes perfect sense for people whose locals are more "local." Tampa is my closest, and it's way too far for me to swing through for an hour of drop in play. I'm sure my offers would be far worse if I dropped in more often for days of lower play).
The main thing for me is that it provides a nice getaway from my rather humdrum life. I enjoy wagering on sports, and playing blackjack and video poker. There are numerous excellent dining choices. And I may be the only nerd here who enjoys birding (aka birdwatching, which sounds even more nerdy lol); the Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve is a nice place for a walk, and last trip I discovered that Vegas has a burrowing owl preserve, where I saw a burrowing owl to add to my life list. As others have noted, Vegas is great for solo travelers, and the older I get, the more I travel solo.
Break from reality. Drink and do gummies and walk around all day. Always see LOVE again. Eat when we want. (Days of fancy meals are going away due to pricing.) Splendor of it all. See some shows. Just being part of a non stop party with no worries or plans required. Stock up on gummies Stay up late with no concerns about getting "home". Sphere. (NEW!)
I have an affinity for Vegas mainly because my family lived here for a couple of years a long time ago, but additionally: Cheaper stays than many, many hotels in the US The food Certain conventions/video game tournaments NFL sunday during football season When the Astros play the A's (SOON) A quick getaway
For me, it's my addiction, especially to Dragon Link/Dragon Cash slot machines. It is also a nice getaway with short, cheap flights on Southwest.
Errr... it is Vegas? Seriously, whatever the mental state you are in, for me it is work, money, work, finance, work....just get out of that... Free rooms with nice bathtubs also don't really hurt. Just a getaway from nomal life, clean the brain
Poker Great food Keep my own schedule See friends who live there Always find something new Pinball Hall of Fame Amazing cocktails Sunny weather McMullan's, Moondoggies, Mr D's and ten dozen other bars People meeting People watching
I return, now only 4-6 times per year (down from monthly), because I have a fantastic home property (Virgin, formerly Hard Rock) that treats me wonderfully. So many of the great staff, held-over from the Hard Rock days, I’ve come to know well. Concentrating my stay/play at this property was good for me. You don’t hear me complaining like half the board constantly does about stuff… I come down to have fun, drink, play and visit with some friends. Great time… every time! If I like it so much, how come I visit half as much as I used to? Noooo… not cause of resort fees, poor service, high food costs, blah, blah, blah… but rather I retired a few years back, so my life is one extended vacation now and I have the opportunity to do a lot more stuff than during my working days. Cheers
Like many have said, to get away from the everyday grind and be able to blow off some steam. Be it playing hours of blackjack, betting sports, video poker, eating at all the places not in my town, and just soaking in the glitz and craziness of Vegas! A comp’d room doesn’t hurt either.
*raises hand* Me too, me too. My local doesn’t have these games, so I find myself wanting to play with those balls for hours everyday in Vegas
It used to be the desert itself. I used to love the heat, the hotter the better, and Vegas was a safe place to enjoy the climate. Now I’m older and the heat is harder to endure, so I’m less crazy about the Summer visits. I still get to see palm trees and cacti in the off months. I like the walkable nature of downtown, and with ride-share, the rest of the city is easy to explore if you’re willing to pay. I guess what brings me back is maximum weird experiences all in one town that welcomes me because it wants my money!
Among the reasons: A chance to escape “the usual” for a weekend or two a year. Feel like a High Roller considering I’m nowhere near one. Try foods I’d never have usually. Had caviar at Petrossian Bar in June because I could. It was awesome. The amount of free/relatively cheap stuff to do, be it the Conservatory/Fountains combo at Bellagio, just getting a drink and hopping from resort to resort or people watch on the Strip or Fremont.
On this last trip I was greeted in baggage claim by a limo driver who swept me away to a multi billion dollar hotel casino. I was put up in a room that I think is technically larger than my house, with a jetted whirlpool tub against a window looking down a street full of multi-billion dollar casinos, while from my bedroom I could see a beautiful mountain vista. I had waitresses bringing me free drinks right to my chair, and sat at a bar and order drinks "just" for a tip. I won and lost money as I saw fit. I ate in incredible restaurants with all types of cuisine. I ate a $26 tomato, that is rumored to take 3 days to prepare, and it was still one of the top 5 bites I've ever eaten. I sat playing a card game with one grumpy old man, 2 quiet guys from Norway, 2 Canadians being railed by their 3 friends talking about their first experience at a white castle, another random European, and a guy from my extended family's hometown who actually knew their fairly obscure shop that sold fur coats. I got to make bartenders and strangers laugh and got to laugh along with them when they cracked jokes. I got to live a few days of excess and opulence that contrasts with my fairly modest day to day living. All of this and so much more is why I come back to Vegas Edit: Oh yeah! And steam showers... how could I forget the steam showers???
My trips have decreased since the early 90's. Back then as a stressed middle manager, I escaped to Vegas 4-6 times/year. I am now down to 2-3 and much shorter trips. I have several locals nearby (and they're not too depressing), so I am happy with overnights there. i am drawn back to Vegas for the weather, shows and food. But the last trip (just pre F1) was so difficult to get around that I was able to do little of what I enjoy. The January one is locked in (taking son and his wife) or I think it would be awhile before I head back.
Gambling with no state income tax to complicate my life. Only two hands taking my money. The casino and the IRS. Both manageable.
