It's booked!! New Years Eve in Las Vegas!!

Well folks, I'm going to do something that I've wanted to do for years and years...I finally booked a trip to be in Las Vegas for New Years Eve!! Beyond excited for this!

I just got back from a most incredible solo trip a few weeks back... You can read about that here... and now, continuing on with the whole "yolo" theme, I am booked to do Vegas for NYE

I always had it in mind as something I wanted to do and the stars are finally aligning...I found a decently priced flight out of Toronto leaving December 30, returning on January 4... but the real kicker was the comp room at the Mirage! I just couldn't pass up a comp room for NYE! Comes with some freeplay and resort credit as well, so bonus!

Last trip was my first ever all solo trip and it was a blast! This time however, I will have a beautiful travel partner! She has never been to the Holy Land so I am really looking forward to showing her all the great things about my favoritist place on planet Earth! She is pretty excited to check it all out too!

If you read my last trip report you know that I like to stay busy in Vegas with shows and entertainment. So far we have Maroon 5 booked for their Dec 31 concert at Mandalay Bay... that will be pretty awesome! Outside of that we are looking at other options for entertainment while we are there... but I will also leave some time for general sightseeing etc. You can't take a first timer without visiting all the great resorts on the Strip! We may also visit the place where it all started... downtown Las Vegas

Those of you with experience or knowledge about being on the Strip for New Years Eve festivities I'd really appreciate any tips you might have!

This is gonna be good!!

 

You will enjoy the craziness but there are some negatives.
Only concern I would have is getting back to Mirage after the concert on NYE.
I'm sure you already know the Strip is closed to vehicles from around 6pm+or -.
Cabs and Uber/Lyft will be scarce at best from late afternoon on .
Walking will take hours as the Strip turns into Times Square and a solid mass of drunken humanity.
If it were me,I would try to see them on 12/30 and do something close to the Mirage on 12/31.......OrStay at MBay.

 

Nittany-1 is right. We will be @ P.Ho. over New Year and will be mostly in the casino on NYE and will enjoy the fireworks from our room. We have tix to see L. Richie (@ PH) on the 30th and really wont be out much on the 31st after the strip is shut down. We will be out prior to 6 enjoying the sites. We were there 2 years ago and enjoyed the heck out of it.............Rick

 

Nice!

 

Thanks for the advice...I've heard about the Strip closing to traffic...we get in late on the 30th so the 31st is the only option for the show. Our plan right now is to just slowly make our way back down the Strip toward our hotel on foot after the show. Hopefully we will make it to mid-Strip by midnight...but as long as we are anywhere North of MGM I think we'll be happy

 

Sounds like it will be quite the experience! Looking forward to it!

 

Wow, that's nice you are ahead out there...I also have 3 nights comped at mirage NYE and I was able to get two tix for Bruno Mars on NYE but looks like I'm not going....wife can't go....she said I can go "solo" yeah right...like I'm dumb enough to fall into that trap lol(she's testing me) she trust me but I don't trust myself lol.... never done a solo trip before I saw you did....that's awesome!!!

 

3 nights comp and tickets for Bruno and you're not going?! The green light from the wife on top of that?! That sounds like the perfect opportunity to try out a solo trip to me! Haha I had a blast on my solo trip and recommend to try it out!

 

I'll be out there too, 12/29 - Jan 1. Wife doesn't know it yet, her Christmas gift, she'll find out next Friday when "santa" sends an email at 6am. Staying at PHo but doing NYE at Margaritaville (which she told me a few years ago if we ever did it, that is what she wanted). So I'm also looking for any advice anyone may have... We are eating at N9NE Steakhouse at the Palms on Thursday, probably Wicked Spoon @ Cosmo on Friday, Saturday I'd assume we'd do a big brunch at Mirage???? Still a lo to decide.

 

We learned our lesson last year. Strip alcohol sales at retailers are cutoff early on the 30th so if you want to buy that bottle of champagne to ring in the new year with, make sure you get it early enough.

 

I think my main tip for going to Vegas on New Years Eve is not to! Did it once - never again.

Having said that, I hope you have a great time!

 

Friend, I really appreciate your input and you ar probably right I should take advantage lol but as I get older in 40s almost being married for 20 years...I just feel bad not going with her I feel as it's wrong!!!! Wait shit I been trained by my wife!!!! Lol

 

That's a pretty awesome surprise for your wife! Planning is all part of the fun of heading to Vegas Enjoy!

 

This is a a good point.
Just adding some additional info for the OP.
Some people say avoid Vegas on NYE but I love it.
Spent 10+ NYE in Las Vegas.first couple were on the Strip .
If there is a way to avoid walking the Strip, do it.Try catching an Uber at MBay that could go down Frank Sinatra Drive to Indusrial and drop you a block from the Mirage.

Just be aware that you will not be able to work your way down the Strip and stop in various casinos.
Most casinos block all entrances but one and only let guests with room keys in the door.
This starts early evening and goes until about 2am or later.
All the bars start serving drinks in plastic cups early in the afternoon and do it until the morning.

The crowds South of Tropicana won't be too bad but approaching center Strip it turns into a mob.
Literally a mob.
Picture your chest pushing against someone's back and someone's chest pushing into your back.

All your other plans should be fine.Make sure you check out Downtown and all the properties up and down the Strip.
Everything returns to normal,or almost on January 1.

 

Thanks for the tip! I'll definitely make sure we're stocked up early

 

That sucks that you didn't have a good time. I'm sure it is quite the experience either way

 

You mentioned that casino only let hotel guest in? Really why would they do that? I would think people would be going all over to gamble?

 

Haha sounds like she's got you trained quite well! I can understand your feeling wrong about not going with her...I guess you'll just have to convince her to go! Or go on your own and face the wrath when you return lol

 

See you single guys are very lucky lol as married men w two teenage kids I/we can't do shit and having a teenage daughter doesn't help because now she stands w her mom lol my daughter would be like "really dad, you gonna leave mom and us so you can go have fun in vegas also going to Bruno Mars concert?" If you can give me a right answer then I will see you on NYE lmfao. I don't care if my wife her ass gets bigger "knocking lamps down while vacuuming" I'm like "oh honey you are looking hot" LMFAO That's what happens after 20 years marriage

 

Thanks so much for the info!! I was planning on just making our way back toward the Mirage on foot after the show at Mandalay Bay, but I hadn't thought of taking a cab or Uber on the back road. That could very well be a good option. All depends on time for me as I don't want to be stuck in the back of a cab on the back road at midnight haha. For those who have done the Maroon 5 concert on Dec 31 in years past...do you know what time the concert will let out?
I understand it will be crazy packed with people and we're mentally preparing for that so I don't think it will be an issue as it won't be a 'surprise'. I think it will be part of the fun and experience But, it would be nice to be able to get back down in the Mirage area prior to midnight.
This is gonna be awesome! Can't wait!