Is it worth it to check out Laughlin?

I've been to Vegas more times than I can count (between 25 and 30 times) but I keep wondering if I should either take a bus trip or rent a car and go out to Laughlin. Been to the dam and Red Rock a few times and done most of what you can do in Clark County...except that. Looks like an interesting place but is it worth going out of your way to cross it off your bucket list?

 

We like it ,it's a change of pace from Vegas,laid back affordable. The walkway along the river is very relaxing,nice place to chill out. Food and drink is very reasonable and there are day trips and boat rides if you stay 2 nights. Keep in mind we're seniors who play 25 cent vp and have seen all we can see around LV for the most part.
I'd love to go back and take the jet-boat ride down to Lake Havasu.( if anybodys taken that I'd love to hear if it's worthwhile,we've driven to Lake Havasu so we know whats there)

 

I'd hesitate to recommend either Laughlin (or Lake Havasu) over Las Vegas. However, if you're in the area, I think both are something to see at least once.

Bill

 

I think a good reason to go out to to Laughlin might be if you've had a bad day or two of gaming (i.e. blew the budget) and are looking for something to do to burn some time...

 

If you've never been there , sure, why not. It's pretty, there's gambling, it's cheaper, the ride down is interesting. I would rent a car though, that way you can stay or go as you please.

 

I wondered myself once. My son was living in Las Vegas at the time so we made the trek. Two hour drive to arrive at a... shithole. Dumpy casinos filled with even dumpier patrons being served by depressed, elderly cocktail waitresses. We walked through a couple casinos ate at a buffet that was incredibly filthy and left.

What a wasted trip.

But I spent the day with my son, which is always a good thing and we had some good laughs at the characters there.

I'm sure others have a positive impression but like a few other places in the world (Senegal, Greece, Saudi Arabia, Nigeria, Iraq and a few I cannot mention), I have no plans to return.

 

It's worth it to check it out once, just to say you've done it. There's really nothing there that you can't get in Las Vegas, although I have a hunch the machines are a wee bit looser in Laughlin.

The only place down there where I remember winning anything substantial was the Avi, which is actually south of Laughlin proper. There's a "secret" bridge behind the Avi that will get you over to the Arizona side.

Yes, the river walk can be relaxing, assuming it's not too hot. There used to be a colony of feral cats along the rocks there. I used to sneak stuff out of the buffet for them.

 

Not worth the trip, unless you have time and money to waste

 

That's my philosophy on travel as well. Even if others say a place is awful, that's their opinion and I may find out I have a very different one. Heck, you never know until you experience it yourself.

Bill

 

My sister calls Laughlin Hell, Nevada. It is about 10 degrees warmer there than Vegas. I kind of like it and am interested in the Mojave Indian Culture (reservation to the South of Laughlin. The Avi casino is run by the tribe.

 

"Worth it" is so relative. And while I don't know a lot of folks who have Laughlin on the bucket list, for many Laughlin is certainly worth it. And as others have pointed out, you'll never know what you haven't seen.

Drive. Control your destiny. It's not exactly the most scenic of desert drives going that way -- until you drop down into the river valley -- but I'm a big believer in controlling one's own transportation destiny. What you'll find there is a string of mostly aged casinos stretched out along a clear-water stretch of the Colorado as it emerges through Davis Dam. The casinos are populated by mostly seniors -- and a lot of younger river rats in season -- and they have the look and feel of some of the middling locals joint scattered about Vegas. Food is nominal. The outlet center is, umm, nominal, at best. The casinos have tables and machines and smoke, and free booze.

If you fancy a drive, why not? Your life won't be lessened by missing several hours in Vegas.

 

The only thing I like about Laughlin is, at 53, I feel like a youngster in comparison.

 

I've been before, but wife and I went last week,as a final stop on a cross country road trip..
Had a free room at Harrahs, so we used it..we got upgraded to a top floor suite (for free; Diamond has its perks, lol)
We used our $100 dining voucher at their steakhouse, and the bill was exactly $100...
Overall, dumpy casinos (sans Golden Nugget and Aquarius), but the river walk is nice (in the early summer, I can see water activities being fun...
Something different than Vegas, for sure...worth more than a day trip once in a lifetime?? Doubtful

 

I liked it. Not alot of tourists, quiet, good props. I kept winning at the slots. It seems to be for locals, retirees, those who dont want to be around college kids, drunks, kids, bums,etc.
Also, the area was nice and clean.

 

I agree with Ken. You won't ruin your trip visiting Laughlin. It's about three hours round trip so you can leave about 8 or 9, spend some time there and be back for Happy Hour if you want. When we did a summer golf trip to LV, we'd always do a side trip for a couple of days to Laughlin or Mesquite and no one ever complained. Rooms are cheap. food is decent most places and once you're in front of a machine or at a table, it's about the same as LV. As long as you're in LV for more than a few nights I'd go.

Good Luck!
Ric at Joes

 

Hey Now!
I'm planning on a chip run thru there and Primm next week.