Trip Report 6/7-6/12 - What a disaster :(

Got to the airport Friday morning with plenty of time to spare after getting through security. I was randomly pulled aside trying to board the plane for an inspection, and bag check. No problem here. Layover for about 30 minutes in Chicago, and finally arrived in Las Vegas (first time for the wife and I) at 10:15am, Vegas time. Took one of those buses to Bally’s and checked in. I originally did not want to go on this trip, but it was for a wedding, so I kind of had to go. After I booked the trip I was plenty excited. While waiting to check in, I had my wife wait in line and I tried a triple play VP machine, hit a 4 of a kind and cashed out $40 after putting in $20. Good start!

Checked in an asked for a room over looking the strip, they said not until 3, I said, could you check again, they said yes, and got me a room facing the fountains at Bellagio. Huh? We go upstairs, and unpack, and get ready to go downstairs to play a little and try the buffet.

We both play $20 on the way to eat and both double our money. Buffet was good. For me, if you had one buffet, you had them all.....none seems better or worse than any others to me, so Bally’s was fine.

In the evening we decide to leave Bally’s and walk. We go through Paris.......hated it. We go through Aladdin.....nothing special. I lead us out the wrong way and we end up behind all the casinos, and have to walk for 15 minutes to get back to the strip. So now we decide to go the other way, back past Paris, and Bally’s, across the street to Barbary Coast. This one I liked. It had an old-time, saloon/riverboat feel to it, and we won about $40. We continue on to Flamigo, Harrah’s, Venetian (maybe one other in between there?) and win and lose back and forth. None of these casinos did much for me, although Venetian was quite elaborate. Gondolas were pretty cool, but nothing special.

We cross the street somewhere around treasure island, but the show was cancelled due to high winds (reaccuring theme for this trip). We never made it inside TI. We go down to the Mirage, and only the wife played. I was instantly turned off by the place. She hit for $40, and we wondered around, lost, for a little while, fighting crowds of people, and generally dampining my mood.

It was at this point, I think, that I began to be very disappointed in Vegas.

We trudged on, not knowing what anything led to since they could spend millions of dollars on buildings and attractions, but not $5.00 on signs for anything. Sigh

We get to Bellagio, but I am no longer in the mood to sightsee, so we head back to Bally’s, the wife calls it a night, I decide to play some craps.....up and down, up and down, finally the table goes cold and 8 straight points are not made, and I lose $100. We were about even the first day.

Day 2 was the wedding. It was at Candlelight chapel right across from Circus circus. CC was a day care center, so we checked out the Riv, and it was nice......didn’t get to stay too long. The wedding was nice, and so was the reception. It was at the Celebrity Ranch, about 20-25 minutes outside of Vegas, in the middle of the desert. We met a nice couple at the wedding and hung out with them when we got back to the strip. We checked out MGM, NYNY, Excaliber, et al. With them, and had fun, though didn’t gamble at all. We saw Junior Seau at MGM, and when he asked his buddy where they were going next, my friend turned around, pointed right at Junior and yelled, “WE’RE GOING TO THE SUPERBOWL BABY!†Junior looked shocked, then laughed and said, “follow these guys!â€

Sunday-Monday --- wife lounged at the pool mostly during the day, I gambled, won on Sunday, put it back on Monday. Completely hating Las Vegas. I could have done the same thing in Foxwoods/Mohegan Sun in Connecticut, where I live. The big buildings remind me of Times Square or New York City, and are not all that impressive. We did finally get to the see fountains at Bellagio, which I heard so much of. They were nice, but why such a build up on how great they are? sigh again

Tuesday, our last day there, well, it is time to visit downtown. In short, this is everything I hoped and thought Vegas would be. Had an absolute blast down there, and wished I knew about it from day 1, I wouldn’t have been as miserable.

We met up with the bride and groom that night to say goodbye and ended up at the piano bar at NY NY. Very cool bar. We stayed much too late and drank much too much........in fact, we missed our flight out in the morning because we were still intoxicated (we NEVER drink either). But I didn’t mind, I found something I enjoyed in Vegas, and I was going to milk it for all it was worth. We just caught the next flight at no extra charge.

Overall: A total disappointment. It was nothing that I hoped it would be. I would/will never, ever go back, even though I tried so hard to enjoy myself (and I was up when I decided I didn't like it, so it was not the gambling losses that killed me.....although I ended up down a couple hundred by the end) I could sit here and rant and rave about all the things that perturbed me on the trip, but I won’t waste your time, as I know that all of you guys (and girls) love it out there. I truly am sorry that I didn’t like it. I thought I would love it, and want to go back and back and back.

Maybe years from now, I would visit again, but I wouldn’t step foot on the strip. I would stay downtown.

Thanks to everybody here for their advice pre-trip.

 

Don't be sorry that you didn't like Vegas. It's definitely not for everyone.

I will say a couple things about your experience that I notice. You seem to not be interested in any glitz or glamour...I quote, "We go through Paris.......hated it. We go through Aladdin.....nothing special...[we go]across the street to Barbary Coast. This one I liked..." Wow! Usually people who do not like Aladdin or Paris say so because of places like Venetian or Bellagio...but Barbary Coast? This is also proven by the fact that you loved the old strip so much. Why not go back and stay at one of those casinos, like Golden Nugget? The Nugget is much better than Foxwoods, unless you are a big poker player. But if you are really into poker, then go during the WSOP, and you can watch the best play at the Horseshoe . I went to watch as a fan and it was a great time. You can go to Vegas, stay at the old strip for a few days, and NEVER even see the new hotels that you didn't like.

Just a suggestion.

 

I did go to Binions and got goosebumps just standing in the poker area. I took pictures of the Wall of Fame they have there. I love to play poker, and I am an even bigger fan of the game itself, so that was a thrill.

But for me, if I want to gamble, I can't see the point in paying for airfare and hotel rooms and meals, etc... when I can just do it right here.

I knew that Barbary Coast comment would catch somebody's eye.

You are exactly right though, I have never been interested in glamour or glitz.....just mot my style.

Thanks for reading!

 

It's kinda Funny,
I went to LV the first time not expecting much.....just a trade show and a vacation that was long overdue. That was 7 trips ago. I don't drink and don't gamble much but love the place.

On the other hand I hated Foxwoods, overcrowded, smoky and smelly. I grew up and lived in Connecticut which I find too crowded too. I moved. I guess that makes us philosophical opposites! That's ok, it would be boring if we all liked the same things. As was stated Las Vegas isn't for everyone, but on this one, I think lyou are definitely in the minority.

Jimbo

 

Las Vegas definitely isn't for everyone. And although I love it, I agree with a lot of your negative comments - I hate the lack of/poor signage in the casinos, and I hate the crowds. All my recent trips have been during the week for that reason (that, and it's cheaper).

 

My wife felt exactly the same as our first trip had consisted of gambling and more gambling. I coaxed her to try again, but we'll make it more than a gambling trip. We would site see during the day, take in some time by the pool and gamble at night. Have'nt missed a year the last 5 times since. So you never say never. We like it for the weather, the food, the drinks, the shows and last but not least a little gambling. Still the best value around for your dollar.
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Joe I am Canadian