Vegas Veteran?

After 10+ trips to Vegas, I would consider myself a Vegas veteran. I know the in and outs of most of the casinos, particularly Mlife, and know many of the Vegas "hidden secrets". More importantly, I also know what I want to do in Vegas. About a month out, we will book tickets to the one show we want to see and make reservations at 1 or 2 restaurants that are typically busy so reservations are warranted. This constitutes all of our planning, as we know what awaits us. Plus, our jobs are regimented so that last thing we want to schedule our whole trip. Maybe this approach is anathema to some on this board but it works for us. We will make a spa appointment, if we want one, when we get to Vegas. Most nights we will won't decide where to eat dinner until late in the afternoon. Basically, we use fall back on our residual knowledge of Vegas when needed.

Maybe I'm smoking crack but it seems that some people who have taken multiple trips still seem uncomfortable when going to Vegas and would not consider themselves Vegas veterans.

 

Ummm, ok. Not really sure what point you are trying to make or discussion you're trying to generate, but if you're happy with how you plan your trips, then very good

 

Thanks UKFanatic. I hit the submit button too early.

The question I had is at what time do other contributors consider themselves Vegas veterans?

 

I think being a Vegas "veteran" is more a state of mind than a function on number of trips... I know some folks who've been to Vegas plenty and still seem a bit taken aback by the whole scene and known others who've been there only a couple times, yet have done so much research, they're incredibly comfortable with it all. Even after 20 years of monthly visits, I still learn new things, particularly here, and have new places to visit (High-Roller, Linq area, Cromwell and coming soon SLS).

 

I agree 100%. After over 20 trips to Vegas there are still new things I learn every time and so many changes. It's almost like going for the first time - every time!

 

Since Las Vegas is always in a state of change there is bound to be something new to explore just around the corner. Even for the seasoned pro.
I guess the real test for a Vegas Vet would be to see if you can show some Vegas Newbies a good time and how long they talk about it afterwards.

 

Got it! Clearly I did not understand the OP. Good question, though.

Personally, I considered myself a vegas veteran once I felt comfortable kind of knowing where most things are along the Strip. Now, even when things change, I still feel comfortable getting around and knowing where things are at

 

I'm a veteran at Vegas vacation planning and going frugally. I like the planning part almost as much as going. I am not a veteran at fine dinning or shows ~ which leaves a lot to learn. Yay!

 

After having lived in Las Vegas for 5+ years and 20+ trips outside of living there, I still wouldn't consider myself a vet. I know downtown and Green Valley like the back of my hand, but when placed on the strip, I'm like a fish out of water. I guess I'm a creature of habit, and my trips are quite predictable. That being said, I'm more than comfortable offering any advice I think I might be able to contribute.

 

Well, I'm always learning things... I've been 8 times in the past 14 months alone, but I still don't know everything!! But I feel I'm at the point I can give solid advice. If a friend asks where to stay.. or advice on dining or a show I can generally help them. Or point them somewhere they can get their answer.

But there are still hundreds of restaurants I haven't eaten at, and half the strip hotels I haven't stayed at, and many shows I haven't seen. So I can't speak on everything. But if someone asks me why the Quad is so cheap... I know the answer to that LOL!

Also to what you said at the beginning. I used to not plan my trips. I do now, and I find them more successful. Before I was spending a lot of time wandering, not knowing what to do, since clearly I'm past the "tourist stage". I find it helpful to at least plan my shows and one meal a day. I fire up Vegasmate on my phone and start putting in ideas of stuff I wanna do (from reading here, listening to Five Hundy, reading facebook groups or Vital Vegas). I never get to them all, but then I have a bunch of "go to stuff"

 

I would consider myself a Vegas veteran only in # of trips taken and then only when I was at home. So many people on this board have been to LV sooo much more than I that on here I feel like a rookie! That is why I read this so often, just to try to be informed of the changes that Vegas seems to make weekly, (if not daily, LOL). Also to get advice on any upcoming trip, so that I can see the changes.

 

I've been over 60 times and consider myself a veteran when it comes to the things I like. In many ways (clubs (I don't go), the airport and cabs (don't use them) for instance), I'm not a veteran at all.

 

My upcoming trip will mark 29 years to the day of my first Vegas visit and first casino - Caesars Palace. Since then, I've stayed in over 30 different Vegas hotels and played in well over twice as many casinos. I know a lot of things that aren't in the guidebooks; and closing in on 100 trips this year, I'd say I qualify as a Vegas vet. Nonetheless, I still learn something new on every visit and almost every day on VMB!

I care mainly about gambling and improving my play, so I'm about as ignorant as a first time visitor when it comes to clubs and many non-gambling activities. On the plus side, there will always be plenty of new things to see and do should I ever get the urge.

 

To paraphrase Indiana Jones, it isn't the trips, it's the mileage. Vegas changes too fast for anybody to know everything. But the vets know that and know who to ask if they need info. Vets are adept at handling the change and don't expect everything to be the way it was last trip, or the way it is back home. Vets know that Vegas is business and TANSTAAFL. Vets know the little tricks that can make a big difference. Vets know math. Vets know to hydrate. Vets tip. Vets know that a smile and a good attitude will get you a hell of a lot more than demands and self-importance.

 

I consider myself a verteran when it comes to an understanding of the MLife comp system.

I know the drive from AZ like my drive to work

I know alot about the different games and strategies

I know my way around several casinos like I do my own house.

I know very little about restaurants and shows

I know very little about downtown


I wouldnt consider myself a n00b but I wouldnt consider myself an expert either

 

I am by no means a veteran but i did a lot of research, i mean A LOT before we went. I had more than one person tell me it sounded like i had already been to vegas by how much i knew already. I was also telling people stuff when we were there, some people from california who had been many times were asking me questions and i knew the answers. I went a total of 1 time, and that was in april.

 

I am a slow learner. It took me around 8 years or 16 trips to call myself a veteran.

I would say 2003 or 2004 I knew what I wanted, when I wanted it, and how to do it with the least amount of hassle.

 

As my profile shows, we have made 51 trips to Vegas, and we certainly know our way around town. But a complete veteran, knowing all there is to know about Vegas ... certainly not. We are not Strip people, as we spend most all of our time downtown, and several other off-strip properties. Other people might be Strip experts, but never go downtown. There's always something that we all never fully learn about.

We do spend a lot of pre-trip preparation time, planning our daily itineraries and various activities for each day. And, as many of you know, I am a "coupon whore", and I really work at using those coupons for both savings and profits.

To each, their own ... and learn all there is to know about your particular Vegas zones ....

 

Anyone else realize they know more about the history of Vegas than some that live there? I know that city pretty well.

 

I think most people here aren't looking at this correctly.

Simply by going to these boards and other online resources means they are most likely much more educated than the average Vegas consumer. Sure it seems like there is alot of Vegas stuff online and alot of people checking it out, but in all honestly that number pales in comparison to the number of visitors.

Face it, we're pretty much the 1%ers when it comes to Vegas experience/knowledge. Even someone like SC who just went once - look at her post, she knew alot before setting foot. Most people are not like that.