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Short story about how we spend our time in Vegas. How about you?

Discussion in 'Misc. Vegas Chat' started by Mattwall, Sep 29, 2014.

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  1. Mattwall

    Mattwall Tourist

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    It's been to long since I've gone

    My wife and I (28/29yo) generally go multiple times a year. My Mother in-law was diagnosed with a brain tumor a year ago so my wife is uneasy right now with the prospect of being away. I totally understand but I would be fibbing if i told you i wasn't longing for a trip to Sin City.

    We usually drive down from the Central Coast of CA. Takes about 9 hours but we both really enjoy the drive have have it down.

    Sometimes we head to LA first to pick up a friend sometimes the friends fly out that night.

    We get up in Vegas about 8 or 9am. The first person up generally gets bored and will venture downstairs and mess around for a few minutes and bring up coffee for the rest of the gang.

    Once we're all up and showered we head out for Breakfast/Lunch. We are partial of the Champagne brunch at Tropicana. After that we just wonder all day. Gamble here and there, sightsee, just walk and enjoy Vegas in the day.

    We get back to the room around 4. Everyone lays down with a drink and watches tv or a movie to let our feet rest. Sleep is in short supply in Vegas so generally we fall asleep. When we we start waking up from our nap...this is my favorite time in vegas. The sun is sinking and Vegas is waking up. The strips' lights have come on, the shadows are disappearing & replaced with the flickering lights of Vegas.

    As we wake up people will pop a beer or make a cocktail in the room. I am a sucker for a view so invariably I am in the window watching all that is Vegas before me. I love watching the people walking, the helicopters circling, the roller coaster at NYNY, everything.

    Honestly if you told me I couldn't gamble I would be fine as long as I have a view on the strip.

    The ladies shower and put on their evening clothes, the guys...drink. We head downstairs for dinner then we gamble, drink, laugh, and never once look at our watches.

    How do you spend your time?
     
  2. Bluskies

    Bluskies Low-Roller

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    My trips to Vegas are usually planned around which shows I will see (usually two a night), with one of them always being Cirque du Soleil's The Beatles' Love.

    Last trip (Labor Day weekend), I drove to Vegas and planned almost everything down to the second regarding what sights I would see, when I would check into the hotel, when I would eat and where, etc. I'd say I was able to keep 60% of my schedule.

    But, usually, the night before I am to do something major, I make plans to get up early, head down to the buffet or something, and be on my way. Unfortunately, the reality is the next morning I will laze in bed til about around 11am and toss my plans out the window, and say, "Next time."

    I'll play the slots...sometimes too much... and often will go in search of a cheap place to get a slice of pizza or something.

    But, as mentioned, the night is spent at the shows. #1 priority.
     
  3. smartone

    smartone VIP Whale

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    I like your line about " if I couldn't gamble I'd be fine, as long as I have a view of the strip." I'm a Nevada resident, so the gamblin' "thing" is no big deal to me either, BUT I'm very appreciative of those who sit at a table or slot for hours and hours. Gaming revenue is Nevada's chief source of income, so we LOVE gamblers!!!! We love the winners too... makes the whole place come alive when the craps table are lively and the slots are plinking' (even though it's an electronic sound now).

    My travel to Las Vegas is a 55 minute flight outta Reno. It's a 7 1/2 hour drive of nothin', so no thanks! I go primarily for business once or twice a month, but always try to build in plenty of fun time too. I'm generally a solo traveler, as my wife hates to fly. I enjoy getting up early for exercise and breakfast... but mostly to view the "walk of shamers" comin' in! I head-out and do my meetings, but try my best to have the last one end no later than 2 or 3 p.m., so I can get back and sit by the pool and act like I'm checking e-mails on my IPad, when I'm really watching' the pretty girls go by behind my sunglasses.

    I like to be at bar playin' some VP around 5 or so for a couple hours enjoin' some cocktails and then have dinner and I'm usually back in the room by 8 or 9 and yes, I too enjoy checkin'-out Vegas from my window as it lights up. Occasionally, I'll set a dinner appointment or head out alone to walk around the strip or downtown. Even though I made the Hard Rock my "home-base" about 6 years ago, I enjoy most all properties and like checkin' 'em out.

    I usually try to build in a "fun" day or two when I can. Lately, I've been staying over Friday and Saturday nights
    and coming home on Sunday's. It gives me a night to stay up too late and act like an idiot, then the next day to lounge at the sports book, watch college football and recoup before heading home. The Vegas "vibe" is so much more lively on a Friday and Saturday night.
     
  4. ButterflyMtn

    ButterflyMtn High-Roller

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    Wake up after a couple...maybe few hours of sleep
    Get some breakfast
    Go to the pool
    Drink at the pool
    Socialize at the pool
    Go get ready for dinner and clubbing all night
    Eat dinner
    Find a club and dance until close
    Rinse and repeat

    There is some gambling in there between pool, dinner, clubbing but not much. It'll I go with my husband it is usually shows after dinner instead of going to the clubs.
     
  5. Aces and Eights

    Aces and Eights VIP Whale

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    What I do in Vegas depends on who I'm with. There's one group I go with that likes to go for breakfast at a diner, hang by the pool (sometimes in a cabana), go have drinks at a lounge, and go to a club and dance.

    There's another group I go with that likes to workout once they get up, go to a nice brunch or coffee house, visit the pool, have drinks at a piano bar (maybe Champagne with a Charcuterie plate and caviar), have a nice 3-hour dinner (one night being at a steakhouse like SW; friend brings wine from his wine cellar), and go to one of the premier shows.

    When I go by myself, my trip is centered around gambling. I usually take out food from a deli or the casino 24-hour diner. In the morning I always get coffee from a nice coffee house like Palio at Bellagio. But I love it in the evening at PH at the Pleasure Pit playing almost any of the table games drinking my vodka on the rocks with a twist. I try to find a table with fun people.
     
  6. GottaLuvCruising

    GottaLuvCruising High-Roller

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    Wow Bluskies! Shows are my priority, too! I use a spreadsheet to organize my plans to fit in as many as possible.

    I have a routine in Las Vegas, too. I am up early, walk from Harrah's to McD for coffee, then breakfast. I wander back to Harrah's and camp out at my slot machine for a few hours. If warm enough, I then go do laps in the pool; when cold I go walking on the strip. I catch lunch someplace. In the afternoon, I often catch a show, but sometimes nap. Then a shower & dress for evening. I try to do an early show like 7pm and a late one like 9:30 or 10. The 8pm or 8:30 shows mess with me. My husband likes to go sight-seeing so we do plan some outings together, but he loves the shows, too.
     
  7. tringlomane

    tringlomane STP Addicted Beer Snob

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    There is one slot you consistently go back to? :eek: What's the plan if Harrah's gets rid of it?


    As for myself, early part of the day is usually some Strip walking or if we have a car, some kind of off-strip adventure. Some pool time if the season is right. Often a frozen drink with the strip walk (the only alcohol we typically pay for). Always one show minimum per trip, but lately it's been closer to two. G/f often gets an extra show in an attempt to do something else while I play live poker (usually once a trip). Around 8 or so or after whatever kind of show gets out, we do the bulk of our playing for 3-5 hours but a lot of that time is still casino hopping (we're fleas), and I hit bartop VP for some "free" drinks. Given I'm a craft beer snob, my casino of choice for this is currently TAG Lounge at the Linq Casino. I still really want to call it the Quad; that name grew on me way more than I thought.
     
  8. LV_Bound

    LV_Bound VIP Whale

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    Eat, drink and gamble.
    In the morning walk the strip and hit up a number of other casinos while checking out the new sites.
    At night bounce between PH, Paris and Ballys while gambling and drinking.
     
  9. Lewis Roberts

    Lewis Roberts Tourist

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    try to plan around a big event or a least big for me , pga tour, ufc, red bull air race, sushi at least once off the strip. one day watching nfl and playing poker, time goes buy very fast in las vegas I find, I wish I could make my time go buy in vegas like it does in the airport , than a week would fell like 12 days.
     
  10. bshowell

    bshowell VIP Whale

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    We travel "easy". It's usually me and my two sisters and a family friend. Our trips are laid back. We play some slots, we wander casinos, and we sample different drinks. We always do at least one Thunder From Down Under show and we try new things (this time going to O). We do one downtown day usually - we really liked the Mob Museum last year. And we always like to stay in at least one hotel we haven't stayed in before (last year Mirage this year Vdara).
     
  11. raraavis

    raraavis VIP Whale

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    my trips to vegas are usually split in half. half of our stay (me and my DH) is on the strip by ourselves, the other half is staying with my dad. while we're with my dad, we tend to do off strip things like valley of fire, hoover dam, etc. this year, we're going to the grand canyon! :banana: it will be DH's first time seeing the grand canyon. when my DH and i are on the strip, what we do totally depends on the time of year we're there. 1 thing we do every trip is walk up and down the strip, booze in hand, just enjoying the scenery and people watching. :drunk: we duck in various hotels and pop back out. we typically do one or two shows (if my dad can score good resident deals on tickets), and i always require seeing tournament of kings (yes, i am actually a woman in my 30s and not a 10 year old girl :eek:). i am big on touristy things, so we'll hit up museums (did erotic heritage museum last time and atomic testing museum and neon boneyard a couple of years ago) and touristy attractions within the hotels. if it's summer, we do try to spend some time at the pool just lounging, but my pool time is limited as it only takes 0.5 seconds for me to burn :thumbsdown:. everyday (even mornings) start out with "to go" cup from our room. :beer: even though my DH doesn't gamble (actually hates it), i will always spend some time on the slots (not just any slot, i have my favorites). oh and we do at least 1 buffet. buffets at home just can't compare.

    but i'm with the OP, give me a drink and let me watch vegas, and i'll be a happy camper:thumbsup:.
     
  12. stickmoney

    stickmoney Tourist

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    my trips usually are the same... drink, drink, drink. If its summer we will usually do a party pool one day. im not much of a gambler but my wife enjoys her slot machines so ill just find a good bar and people watch, watch sports, socialize. One thing i ALWAYS do is on the last night me and the wife have a nice steak dinner and see a show, kinda like our winding down period before leaving
     
  13. ruralhipster

    ruralhipster High-Roller

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    I spend my time in Vegas doing what I want when I want (at the limit of what society deems acceptable) Come to think of it the 10 commandments might be in jeopardy:

    1. (Safe) I am the Lord your God I appreciate when things are well signed

    2. (Iffy) You shall have no other gods before me pray to the gambling gods, rub Buddhas belly

    2B.(Iffy) You shall not make for yourself an idol Lucky tokens, Tchotchke, Kennedy Half-dollars, etc

    3.(fail) You shall not make wrongful use of the name of your God Craps!

    4.(fail) Remember the Sabbath and keep it holy Vegas'es 3 busiest days correspond to the sabbath of 3 major religions

    5 (Iffy) Honor your Father and Mother Does calling out for new clothing items for mommies and daddies count?

    6 (pass) You shall not murder Nailed it!

    7 (fail) You shall not commit adultery Nailed it!

    8 (iffy) You shall not steal I've never corrected a dealer error in my favor

    9 (fail) You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor Bluffing in Poker among other lies told

    10 (fail) You shall not covet your neighbor's house I covet better suites and better hotels all the time.

    10B (fail) You shall not covet your neighbor's wife Impossible
     
  14. PSM

    PSM High-Roller

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    My last three trips have been with my wife and we prefer Mirage, so here's our most common Strip day:

    Wake up, shower, and get ready for pool time sometime between 8am and 10am depending on how far into the trip we are. Grab a bite to eat and/or coffee when we get downstairs. Head to the pool and try to locate two chairs next to each other. Lay in the sun for a bit to heat up and then take a quick dip to cool off. Head to the pool bar and purchase two large, fruity, overpriced drinks. Nothing like spending way more than you should on a giant fruity adult beverage to make you feel like you're on vacation. Drink three quarters of them while they melt to the watered down point that you don't want to finish them. Alternate between swimming and laying in the sun for a while, perhaps with another beverage. Have a little buzz going.

    Head back to the room to shower when we get hungry. Go downstairs and start eyeing the games while finding something to eat. Throw $20 in VP or a slot, maybe play a few rounds of whatever at a table on the way. Perhaps even try to do a quick "double or nothing" session at a $5 or $10 Casino War table because it's fun and might pay for our late lunch. Eat late lunch.

    Head out to the Strip to start wandering if we haven't already left the casino to find food. Pick a direction and walk through each casino looking for preferred games/mins/pay tables. Play $20-$50 at each one we find while downing as many free drinks as I can (the wife is a little more conservative than I am with the drinks...or maybe a lot more conservative). Stop for any live entertainment we see. Stay for a while if it's good, move on to the next place if it's not. Play more games. Drink more drinks. Sometimes make new friends, sometimes keep to ourselves.

    On a smart night, we make the decision to turn around early enough to walk back. On a fun night, we keep going, keep playing, and keep drinking, eventually taking a taxi back. Play a few more dollars on our way to the elevators or even stop at one last bar to end the night. Up to the room to go to sleep. Make sure to down a ton of water over the last few hours and especially before going to sleep. I usually wake up with a minimal hangover or none at all while the wife is always hungover if she's had a few.

    Wake up the next morning and either have a relaxing day (if she's hungover) or an off-Strip day if we're both feeling well, probably to somewhere like Red Rock Canyon or an off-Strip casino.

    NOTE - We do a lot in Las Vegas but one thing that is never on the schedule is "shopping".
     
  15. GottaLuvCruising

    GottaLuvCruising High-Roller

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    November trip planned - busy show schedule!

    Disappointed that I won't see Human Nature (for the 12th time) this trip, but lots of new shows lined up!
     

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  16. jackincols

    jackincols Guest

    My story is real short...

    1. Gamble
    2. Eat
    3. Loop back to #1
     
  17. MikeOPensacola

    MikeOPensacola El Jefe

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    My stays are usual 7-10 days, about three times a year. I like longer visits because I don't feel like I have to cram everything in over three or four days.

    I always get a Rush Tower room at the Golden Nugget. These are among the nicest standard rooms in all of Las Vegas. Period.

    Start my day off with a light buffet breakfast, lots of fruit.

    Then I take the deuce bus to the strip and hang out on the strip during the day. Shop, indulgent lunch, a drink or two and check out all the new stuff on the strip.

    Once each visit I'll walk one side of the strip and get a $1 chip from each casino. One side of the strip each day. The Mandalay Bay - Stratosphere trek is a bear. As a 52 year old I'm proud that I can still do this, especially in the sweltering July heat.

    Late afternoon I'll catch the deuce back downtown and go for a swim at the very nice Golden Nugget pool. Then it's usually dinner at MSS brewery or Triple George, which is one helluva steakhouse.

    Nights spent playing BJ at the places downtown that have good rules. I love the Golden Gate, great music, dealers, vibe and BJ games. Craps at MSS and The Cal is also a for sure thing.

    The Rush Lounge at the Golden Nugget is a nightly thing. Great bands playing cover music with a really cool bar and great drinks.

    I love the music on Fremont Street at the 1st and 3rd street stages. Usually very good music, especially on Thursdays when a rockin' good classic rock cover band called "Yellow Brick Road" plays on the 1st street stage.

    I'll usually catch a show or two and try to hit the strip for a few nights to see all the neon and take some cool pics.

    I go solo, so I have lots of flexibility but I usually meet up with some fellow VMBers and have a few drinks and an awesome time.

    Last full day there I do not gamble. I just do a little souvenir shopping and pick up some gifts for friends back home.

    The only time I take a cab is from the airport to downtown, via Paradise. I take the deuce to the strip and literally save hundreds of dollars each trip taking the bus vs. cabs. Shuttle from the GN to the airport on the way home.

    Longer trips give me the room to do all I want to do and not have to overplan.
     
    Annual CCA (Casino Collectibles Association) Show at South Point
    Long Overdue Stay At The Golden Nugget
  18. Buddha

    Buddha VIP Whale

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    Our 3 trips a year, each a week long, staying at Main Street Station (comped), are somewhat similar to Jack's.
    >>> We typically play video poker at MSS and the Cal about 7 to 8 hours per day.
    >>> During breaks from the VP, we do several Matchplay coupon runs, either downtown, or in the rental car around town.
    >>> We eat most of our meals (comped) at the MSS buffet, or their 777-Brewpub, or at the Cal's Market Street Cafe.
    >>> On Sundays, we usually do a road-trip out to the Rampart, for more VP, and a buffet dinner ... and maybe an evening show on the Strip.
    >>> Tuesday is our last night in town, and regularly hit the Riviera Comedy Club (free tickets with ACG coupon).
     
  19. sco5123

    sco5123 VIP Whale

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    I love night Vegas and day Vegas.

    But I tend to stay solo for 3 weeks, so at least one whole day is spent relaxing, because I plan activities and shows down to the minute. I am super busy in Vegas.

    I will wake up in the lovely city and just take a leisurely walk on the strip in the morning, soaking up the beautiful sights in all its splendor. The air is rich in the morning, filled with late-night secrets, masked by a glowing sun and clear sidewalks, so that you can take it all in. I go to the gym and take a jog. What with all the rich foods I eat in Vegas and for as many days that I spend there, I need to do something to erase the guilt.

    Back in the room, if I have a deep tub, I will soak a bit, relax. If not, I will hit up the hot tub at the pool or spa to relax the mind, body and soul.

    A few hours at the pool is in order, dancing to the hits while lounging and reading a book or taking time enjoying the pool itself and the epic pool environments. Of course, I am always taking pictures non-stop!

    It is then time for micro-rolling. I take $10 or $20 bucks and find a good slot machine by slot-hopping, sitting down to enjoy the one that has the highest hit frequency. Of course I always use my player's card! Gosh, I have received comps from the most randomest places as a micro-roller just because I used these things. When I find a good slot, I will pull out just a little more money. I will proceed to go as far as my money will take me. The house always wins, so I try to keep my little edge. You might find me sitting down at a $5 BJ tables with a $10 buy-in. It's because I "test" the tables. :)

    This is followed by a dinner favorite like Ellis Island BBQ or a nice, reasonably priced buffet.

    A show is a definite at this point. I first fell in love with Vegas because of the sights and shows. I will have groupon, goldstar, MyVegas and ACG coupons for shows.

    Then, the strip lights up in all it's glory. And I step into the sanctuary. I hit up the clubs, bars and ultralounges around the city--sometimes I go to as many as 4 in a night. Like slots, I find the hottest spot for my tastes that night. I can be up until 5 am. And then wake back up at 8am to do it all again.
     
  20. Bluskies

    Bluskies Low-Roller

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    GottaLuvCruising...your spreadsheet looks like mine last trip. So far, for my trip next month, I am just making a few niotes. Last time was a four-night stay...this time it is for 2 nights and I will spend both at the Aria. I loved Aria so much that I making a special trip back to explore the hotel more this time, so am playing it very lowkey to any outside activities. I am going to go see Zumanity again (2nd time) because I have the MyVegas rewards, and likely The Beatles Love...but that's it. Intend to spend more time in restuarants at the Aria this time. I have a $140 resort credit, and I am working out to distribute that around the hotel.
     
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