Doing Vegas with a Non-Gambling Couple

Taking a quick trip to Vegas next month & staying at CP. Looking forward to a fun weekend - a couple that we're friends with is joining us for their 1st time in Vegas! They're not big gamblers though & I hope we can balance our gambling addictions with some non-gaming activities that they might enjoy. Have others traveled to Vegas with friends who aren't big on gambling? What was your experience? (Any suggestions/tips?) I want to be sure we can still get our gambling fix but also show our friends a good time.

 

I'll be very interested in the responses, because we are doing the same thing in 2 weeks. We normally go alone, this trip going with 3 other couples (Lord help me), and I don't think any of them gamble nearly as much as we like to.

One thing we've already done is get everyone to agree that we don't have to do every single thing together. For example, 2 couples really want to go to that pawn shop that apparently has a show, we could care less about that so will skip it and use that time to gamble rather than tag along and be annoyed. One couple wants to do bottle service at a nightclub, we are not interested in that so told them to go ahead and make plans and we'll do something else that evening.

 

Something I've found with non-gambling friends...or low gambling friends...is that while they don't do it, they may like to be part of it.

I had a friend with me last year who gambled maybe $50 at a time, and not often. But he liked watching me do it. So we found a $5 craps table, he played $5 on the pass line, no odds, and just traded nickels with the house and drank free drinks while I played my normal game.

So I wouldn't immediately rule out gambling unless I was sure that was something that wouldn't interest them. For a vegas first timer, even if you're not comfortable gambling, watching someone do it 'right' might be part of the experience you're looking for.

For example, who wouldn't want to spend half an hour watching a High Roller play? Even if you don't gamble, I think most people would find that interesting.

 

I haven't traveled with complete non gamblers, but I have with friends who play less and/or play different games.

The important thing is to remember you aren't responsible for their good time, nor they for yours.

Make sure they know a bunch about things to see and do, plan out your meals and some shows/activities (sights, pool time, etc) that ALL of you want to do, and make the rest of it freestyle time. Just set the times to meet up and the rest they can figure out.

I'd also discuss this plan with them in advance so they aren't expecting a 24 hour tour guide, and do some of their own research about things they want to see and do.

 

Yep, I've found the same thing. While there are people who don't want to go gamble hundreds of dollars in Vegas, that does not necessarily mean that they wound't have fun gambling. Low stakes on the craps table is one way or playing even penny slots can be fun. Everyone loves winning, but my friends and I have almost as much fun if we get "knocked out" early in a night just pulling up to some penny slots, lighting up a cigar, and shooting the shit for a couple hours.

And yes, do not do everything together - it's a recipe for disaster.

 

Nail on the head...............

 

My wife and I went with a group of people from my wifes work a few years back. At the time I had no idea but they were going to Vegas to drink, dance, and lay at the pool. I didnt see them more than a couple hours the whole trip.

My wife was pretty upset because we all went downtown, by cab one night, and they left us there without even telling us. I didnt care because I was having fun on my own gambling but I think the wife had an idea of how the trip was going to be and it wasn't that way at all. She got over it pretty quick, but it just goes to show that talking the plans out with whoever you are going with is always a smart thing to do.

I could easily see a group of people going home there or four days later pissed off at each other because they didnt communicate about how much sight seeing or how much gambling each group wanted to do. I have just gotten to the point that I dont go to Vegas with non gamblers any longer, I just dont want to feel like I have to hold anyones hand the whole time I am there.

 

Love the idea of making our gambling a sort of spectator sport for them. I'm sure they'll enjoy that for a bit. It will be a good time. Although I may be ready for a solo trip after this one...

 

I went with a friend a couple of years ago who doesn;t like gambling. luckily he is in the hotel business so would wonder off and check out the hotels everywhere. We'd just have pre agreeded meeting points and times and even then he'd text and change it - no sweat off my nose..

he also likes drinking so the parties and real beer places worked fine - and I did get him to do some gambling - he'd play penny slots - a cent at a time - to get drinks from the cocktail waitress.


worked out fine as there was no pressure on.. he's been to vegas, enjoyed it but isn;t in a rush to go back..

of course this was someone who is capable of entertaining themselves and there was no baby sitting expectation (apart from the standard make sure the drunks get back to the hotel type).

 

The first day show them around and by the second day they should have an idea of what they want to go off and do. If they want to watch you play they will, and if they want to just go off on their own, then there are no expectations.

 

As with any trip with people other than your normal travel companion/s, lay out some ground rules before the trip. Hopefully these people have done a bit of research on possible activities? Make it clear that there will be time together and time for individual pursuits. Finding compatible people to travel with can be trying. Hope you have a great trip!

 

I went with a large group a couple of years back and some of them were of the mindset that they "don't gamble". They did however like getting free drinks while I was playing vp at a bar though. This was after they freaked out at the drink prices. I tried teaching them some basic vp and that if they sat at the bar and threw a twenty into a machine, they could drink for free. Sounded like a great idea until one of them seriously got mad that there weren't any instructions on the machine on how to play. Big sigh. Then his wife found a slot machine she kept winning at, til he stood next to her yelling at her to cash it out. Oh that was fun. Then to top it off, I told them I was taking care of the room and the day of checkout they totally freaked on the room balance and practically threw the invoice at me. I'd go with the wife again, but not the hubbie

One of the other wives in the group HATES cigarette smoke and would literally stand outside a casino pouting until everyone got bored and uncomfortable and move on to the next casino where she would do the same thing. At one point there were ten people standing outside of harrahs by the carnival court behind one of the kiosks there impatiently waiting for four of us that went inside and were gambling and listening to the dueling pianos. We'd look back and they would be tapping their toes and giving us dirty looks. We would tell them to go on, we would catch up later, and oh no, they didnt want to split up. I could go on and on with stories from that trip, lol

Hubbie and I are also best friends with a couple where the wife gambles a lot but the hubbie does not and we still have a great time. He lets her do her own thing and will sometimes just sit at the pool reading a paper, go to a movie etc. we will meet for dinner and activities and have a blast.

It's all about attitude and just wanting to have fun.

Good luck

 

The first thing I would do, is ask them why they want to go to Vegas. This will give you an idea which direction to point them toward or which way to go with them. Tell them, with a smile on your face, that you will be gambling hours at a time. And sleeping in because you gambled late into the night before. Talking about everyone's expectations before you go will help things stay smooth.

When you're down there, cell phones have made things great for going with a group. You text in the morning where you're going to breakfast, and if they're not awake yet, it doesn't matter. They'll get the message and catch up later. If you're gambling and they are Strip walking, you can still point them to an inexpensive place to eat.

The best thing is that you're going with first timers. The first day, send them out to the sidewalk and turn left. The second day, turn right. They will go sightseeing for HOURS and be just fine. (Remind them to wear comfortable shoes. It's your duty.) I think what brings people back to Vegas for a second trip is the architecture and creativity of the hotels. They'll be fine.

An option for gambling I like for low rollers and non gamblers is the Fifty Play Poker. Play it on pennies, look at each others' games to slow play, tip the waitress well, and hang out with your friends in Vegas. Good times.

 

Give them the coupon book and the Vegas 24/7 book and tell them have a nice day and see ya in a few hours.

Ok joking aside, figure out what they want to do/see and what you are willing to do/see besides gamble. Set the expectation that you are not the 24/7 tour guide give them their own time to explore Vegas while you play, offer to show them the ropes of your favorite game at a low limit table (if you play those games instead of slots) or penny/nickel slots by the slots you prefer.

Hope you have a great time!

 

This is dead on...don't avoid setting expectations upfront, thinking that it will take care of itself. It won't take care of itself...believe me been there done that. EXCELLENT recommendation Sonya!

My partner and I no longer ask anyone to go to Vegas with us, after the last trip with friends...it was ok but just ok. We have determined that Vegas is our spot and we are not willing to share anymore.... LOL