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Best Time Of Day To Arrive in Vegas?

Discussion in 'Getting There & Getting Around' started by georgewalskin, Jul 13, 2012.

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  1. georgewalskin

    georgewalskin Tourist

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    My previous trips to Las vegas has always been the afternoon. This is great. The problem though for me is i need to wake up very early in the morning to take the flight though. The last time i was there, I didn't even sleep the night before because I was worried about oversleeping.

    What time do you guys prefer to get to Las Vegas? At the moment, I booked my flight already to arrive in the afternoon but deciding whether to cancel it or not and just arrive at around midnight. The reason for this is because then I would be 100% sure I wake up on time. I wake up very late and when i have a flight very early... well I probably won't even sleep.
     
  2. Nevyn

    Nevyn VIP Whale

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    For me it depends how long my trip is.

    I used to do 2-3 nights and like arriving first thing to have another full day of fun, but that can be pretty exhausting.

    With a longer stay and comped/discounted rooms I prefer to arrive in the late afternoon/early evening as it makes the travel easier and more relaxed.
     
  3. Shot Clock

    Shot Clock Tourist

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    Late morning/midday. Cab line at the airport isn't bad. Can usually check in early (but if not, it's not too long of a wait). Have the whole day ahead of me. Plus I prefer flying early from the east coast in case there are any delays or anything.
     
  4. shiny

    shiny Low-Roller

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    Agree! I like to take the early morning flight and arrive at Vegas before 11:00 am.
     
  5. Patripman

    Patripman High-Roller

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    The earlier the better for us in fact this September our flight leaves Pittsburgh at 6:20 a.m. We have had great success getting checked in at the hotels. We value our time when we travel so the earlier we get to our location the better. Now the return trip is another matter.

    p
     
  6. tapakip

    tapakip Low-Roller

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    We did this once from Boston. Never again. Room wasn't ready, had to gamble, friend lost his whole bankroll at roulette before we even checked in. 3pm would be ideal for me, but 95% of the nonstop flights from here are either morning or night. Fortunately, my trip on Monday leaves at 230pm EST and gets there at 530pm PST.....pretty good in my book.

    I used to go crazy when I was younger, leave at 6pm on a Friday after work, get there at 9pm, stay out all night without a hotel room, then try to check in early the next morning. Works well if you're 21....not so much when you're older.
     
  7. rdunc311

    rdunc311 Low-Roller

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    I've arrived twice at 830 am and twice at 930 pm. I would say that I much prefer arriving late at night because I'm ready to party and also because I don't sleep much when in Vegas do going to be at 5 am isn't a problem and it won't disrupt my trip. I felt like I lost some time when arriving early in the am because I ended up taking naps in the late afternoon. Plus it takes a bit to get the energy back when waking up later at night. I know only one of my scenarios even pertains to your question, but just wanted to give my experience.
     
  8. nostresshere

    nostresshere Mr. Anti Debit Card

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    The good about arriving early is we have a good long day to enjoy Vegas.

    The bad about going late is you spend the day wishing you had already left and/or were already there.
     
  9. Auggie

    Auggie Dovahkiin

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    Lately we've been almost always taking the 10:05AM flight from Vancouver and arriving at 12:30PM in Las Vegas.

    I get up around 4AM on the days we are going, usually after only 3-4 hours sleep at the most, and we head for the airport at 7:45AM by taxi.

    Once we arrive we head to the hotel, check in and then roll our luggage in to the casino. We'll gamble for 30 minutes to "get it out of our system" and then grab something quick to eat from the food court and take it up to the hotel room.

    In the room we'll kick off some clothes, lay on the bed and eat and then grab a one hour nap (hence the getting it out of our system part - if we didn't do that we probably couldn't nap).

    And thats pretty much been our arrival schedule for 10 of the last 12 trips.
     
  10. zamboni

    zamboni VIP Whale

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    First trip I flew in at night and left to go home early morning. I basically screwed myself out of 2 days there.

    Since then I arrive around 8-8:30, and leave to go home around noon

    I might have screwed myself out of time in Vegas that first trip, but flying in at night is something everyone should do at least once, the lights of the city are awesome
     
  11. Thor

    Thor Beer Drinker

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    we leave dfw on the 7 am flight, get to vegas around 730 am local time...love getting there early and enjoy the whole day!!!

    we leave on the 630 pm flight and get back to dew around 11pm local time. that way we get a whole day again on our day leaving.

    the prices for these to flights are generally about 20 bucks more per person, but well worth it to get extra days in vegas!!! :beer::beer::beer:
     
  12. ardee

    ardee It's only money.

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    Luckily we drive. I like to hit town right around noon. That lets us hit M Resort buffet for lunch, then cruise into Wynncore around 2pm. The room is usually ready and the lines at check-in aren't too bad. If the room isn't ready, then the bell desk gets the bags and we hie ourselves off to Parasol Up for somethings to cut the dust of the trail. We generally don't gamble when the sun's up, so we just kick back and enjoy ourselves.
     
  13. allustoms

    allustoms Tourist

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    I prefer arriving early. We could fly direct, but that would get us in late afternoon. So we are leaving here 6 am on a connection flight with a 1 hour layover, but we get in by 10 am.

    We rent a car so we will have lunch at In and Out (double double, animal style, grilled onions, toasted bun with animal style fries - I'm pracitcing my order so I get it right :licklips:) After lunch, we head off to start shopping for a couple of hours before checking in to the hotel. A short nap and we are good to go for the night.

    I just hate waiting around home to get my vacation started, it feels like a wasted day.

    Coming home, the later the better but flights don't work out that way for us usually.
     
  14. djegators

    djegators Low-Roller

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    I do not consider any other flights from Tampa than the non-stop early AM one, unless left with no other choice. Yes, it sucks to get up so early, but I strongly prefer the non-stop, and even more so, getting to Vegas in the am, leaving the entire free.
     
  15. crussader

    crussader Low-Roller

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    This is what happened to me on my first ever trip, and I decided I wasn't doing that again.

    Ever since, I get flights that arrive between 8 and 10 pm. For me, sunset is the time Vegas comes alive. I like my first view of the city to be with the lights on.
     
  16. smartone

    smartone VIP Whale

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    I'm a fan of hitting' town right around noon. I'm fortunate that my flight is just an hour... land at noon and I'm easily in a rental car, driven' by 1 p.m. Gives me time to drop by Von's and pick up a few things and head over to Hard Rock. Almost always, my room is ready and available... on the rare occasions it's not, I hit up Mr. Lucky's for some lunch.
     
  17. DotHaze

    DotHaze Tourist

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    I'm arriving 6:30! Good time imo. Last time I arrived late in the night.
     
  18. Steelers7

    Steelers7 Low-Roller

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    Yep, I use to always try to take the early non-stop flight on a short nights sleep(get up at 4 AM). Didn't want to "waste" a day of my vacation in the airport wishing I was already there. Now, since the rooms are free anyway for me, I try to leave the night before. The plane ticket is the same, I'm not rushed, I've gotten a normal nights sleep and I get the whole day there when I wake up the next morning! ...Leaving? The last non-stop flight I can get! For me, leaving Vegas in the morning is the worse...
     
  19. burdog

    burdog Low-Roller

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    ANYTIME!!! Seriously we usually stay 7-10 days so we prefer a later departure non-stop from CMH that usually puts in Vegas around 6-7pm. Not usually long lines @ car rental or hotel and traffic seems to have lightened up just a tad.
     
  20. bedaniels

    bedaniels High-Roller

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    I have learned that coming from the eastern time zone flights in the afternoon or early evening work best for me. If I take a 6,7,8 am flight I arrive I'm Vegas tired and cranky, my room is not ready, and Vegas is still serving breakfast when I arrive.

    I arrive excited and ready to go with afternoon or evening flights and the tables are just starting to warm up.

    That's been my experience. Party on!
     
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