Is Vegas Getting Better for Anyone?

While I still love Vegas, the bean counters are making it slightly less enjoyable. Just when I was starting to accept resort fees they start charging for parking. What's next, a fee the enter the casino? Back in the 00's I would get a room for 7 nights almost free. Now I'll get 5 nights comped and with resort fees and taxes it's over $500. Not bad compared to other cites but when you accustomed to something it's hard to get used to a new reality. Plus the airfares from NJ have gone way up, unless I fly Spirit which I've done the last 5 trips. Not to bad if you can get the big front seat. But you need to book at least a couple of months in advance. I do enjoy the changes Vegas has gone through over the years.

Now if they would just make it illegal for the time share people. They're the worst.

 

Not for me and that why my last trip was in 2014, ( i went in 2010-11-12 twice in 2014) im going back next week hoping to get the bug back but the resort fee are just killing in for me, i miss the days when CET were advertising all over town against them

 

Lack of funds and a child have kept us away for a few years now. So by the time we manage to make it back i am sure that there will be a ton of things that are new to us and will be fun to take in and by then i will have 2.000000 in MyVegas points, if they are still doing it by the time we get back that is...LOL

 

Very good my friend. Salt Lake City has replaced Vegas as my go-to spot.

 

For me yes, Vegas has gotten better mainly because I'm been playing lot more....I think Vegas has been losing their gambling revenue thus they are trying anyway they can bring more $$$ hence parking fees, higher resort fees, no more $9.99 bufffet (it's been gone long time) etc. They are gearing more towards to higher end gamblers and slot players.
Thank goodness to mlife complimentary rooms and it's xpress comps; Michigan MGM still offers xpress comps for table players. So most my trips to Vegas it's free; not on gambling aspect tho lol

 

I still like it like the first time. Maybe even more. There is always something new to see and do and even just walking around on the Strip is always an adventure.
Yes, sure it used to be cheaper ten or more years ago but everything else has gotten more expensive so it is normal. Cost of living has gone up, food prices have gone up so it is normal that everything get's more expensive.
We are not rich and we don't like the resort fee and taxes any more than the next guy but we live with it.
If you want to save money there are many options. Get a cheaper hotel, take a less fancy restaurant, cut the gambling budget a few dollars, and there are other options.
I still believe one can have a great time in Vegas without spending a ton of money.
So on that note, see you in Vegas

 

I've only been going for about 5 years, so my "good old days" isn't that old. I actually embrace the change in Vegas for the most part. It keeps the experience fresh, there's always something new to try. Sure I might miss places like The Sporting House bar at NYNY or the Pub at MC that were like home bases for me in town, but other cool places open up to fill the void.

I have noticed that the slots seem to be tighter everywhere, and that has diminished the "fun" factor for me a bit (who likes throwing away money?), but my habits change to compensate and there's still more than enough to keep me busy on a 5 day trip aside from gambling.

 

Absolutely better for me, it's grown from a distant fascination to a love affair. I love the stellar food, the fancy hotels I'd never pay out of pocket for in another city, the no schedule, the lights, the sounds, the scents, the people watching---you name it.

Ironically though, the thing I love most is something one would probably never expect: I absolutely LOVE how kindness/consideration goes so far with the people that WORK in Vegas. I know it sounds dumb, but we really see more of an appreciation of the little things in Vegas, more than anywhere else. We are always stunned how, just a little (genuine) niceness, interest in how an employee is doing, etc. makes such an amazing mark on people in Vegas. Our bartenders remember us when we go back, the Mlife staff hunts me down to say "hi" when we are back in town.

In a day and age where consideration and thoughtfulness are slowing becoming passe, and where entitlement is running rampant, I found it incredibly ironic that, the city that seems to recognize and appreciate thoughtfulness the most, is ironically the one people see as one of the grittiest/coldest cities. For me, not only is Vegas decadent fun, it recharges me when I start to get a little jaded.

I know that is dumb, but this is one of the biggies that makes me love Vegas more and more.

Vegas is always changing, and who knows if I will like it more or less in the future, but for now, we love it more and more each trip, and the staff is a huge part of what we love!

 

For my wife and I, Vegas is getting better, not necessarily because of what's changing, but because of our traditions and the fact that we're still discovering things about Vegas.

Certainly, I miss not paying resort fees and I don't particularly like that the price of a limo and rooms in general are going up. I'm not thrilled that I just about can't find full-pay VP on the strip (extremely low-roller that I am). But the fact is that we go there to have a good time, and we're not going to let stuff like that stand in the way. Some of our favorite hangouts have closed or changed, so we find new ones.

There are still "new" things for us to do on the strip. Last year, we finally made it all the way down to MB and to SLS. There are still shows we haven't seen, so we'll hit one or two new ones each trip.

Like many folks on here, there are bartenders, waiters, managers, chefs and drivers that we consider friends. We look forward to getting to stop in and visit with them. Every trip we seem to make friends with other people from God-knows-where and we have emails and numbers from people we'll likely never see again. They are part of our memories of Vegas.

And that, for me, is the really awesome thing about Vegas. It's bigger than life and I have memories of it. Every trip we add to the memories, making the whole experience richer.

 

It's still good but you really need to know the various ins and outs to have an enjoyable and affordable Las Vegas trip these days.

 

these are very interesting points of view to read, and appreciated. I have been to vegas more than 50 times over about 20 years. I am a budget-minded vegas traveler. that to me and many others I suppose, has always been a BIG part of the appeal. it can be many different things to different people .perhaps making you feel spoiled, glamorous, privileged, and so on, without breaking the bank. we have understood that you would get "perks" for giving them some play, and for a long time that seemed to be a great relationship for most of us. yes, we know the drinks are not really 'free" but is it part of the vegas system if you will. I still find ways to enjoy vegas 3-4 times a year, almost exclusively downtown. other than my gambling bankroll, I really don't spend too much. I don't know how much longer this will last, but I hope it does last for many more years. of course the message boards are a great source for sharing money saving tips.

 

It's the best part of a 24 hour trip for me from Australia and I can only do it every 2nd year.

Yet, there's no better place in the world to visit for the excitement and the energy that I feel every time I visit. Whether it's when I stroll up the Strip, or play my low limit Pai Gow Poker or Hold em, or simply watch the crowd walk past. It's well worth the marathon flight to enjoy.

 

Thank you for this.
After 25 years, it's still my happy place and we are visiting more than ever (mainly because we moved to Southern California and can drive or fly cheaply).

We are no longer amateurs so we don't waste time doing things that don't interest us. In the 90s we would stay at the Luxor, back when that was the place to be for a 20 something year old (it really was!)
Nowadays we stay exclusively off the strip and only venture there when absolutely necessary, usually for a buffet or a show. We love hanging out at the pool, going to the spa, eating in restaurants with table service, and even things we could do at home but don't, like go to the movies or happy hour at a bar.


We like gambling but it was never central to our time in Las Vegas; rather, it's one of many things we do. As minima have increased, we drive an extra 15 min out to where it is still cheap. Now my wife gambles exclusively at Jokers Wild in Henderson, where she can play her $1 craps. No big deal to us.
I also appreciate being able to bet on a football game for $11 or more wherever I am and then watch it wherever I am later.

Hotel rates have increased everywhere, because the economy has improved. We will be staying near the Grand Canyon in a basic motel room for 3x the cost of our stay at the Orleans a day later. Vegas hotel rooms offer value that is hard to beat in the developed world, provided you plan in advance and have some flexibility and avoid peak periods.

On the subject of resort fees, I am a contrarian. Booking directly with the hotel, I add the fee and subtract the value of the promo credit, and it's usually about a wash, give or take $10. Sure, I have to do a little extra arithmetic when planning my visit but I can handle arithmetic and wouldn't go to a place like Las Vegas if I couldn't.

The only thing I really miss from the old days is the live music almost everywhere, often 24-7. Cost cutting caused musicians to have been replaced by canned soundtracks, both in the lounges and in most shows. Steve Wynn tried to keep them but apparently we would not pay for it. That's on us, not him.

Also coming to Vegas still offers an allure for us finaglers and bottom feeders. Groupons have mostly dried up at home as businesses realized that they cost too much, but the acg and lva books have more deals and coupons than I have time to use.

 

You have 5 nights comped other than resort fees and the taxes on those fees and it's $500? Where are you staying with a resort fee close to $100 per night. The tax should only be on the resort fees, they can't tax you on something they aren't collecting.

 

all gone downhill since the Boardwalk Casino and their all you can eat $2.99 prime rib buffet closed

 

I never tried that, but I once had their $1.49 turkey dinner. It was served on styrofoam and was about as delicious as a tv dinner. I don't think any casino could get away with that nowadays.

 

I absolutely agree with this!!! I tend toward being very polite/kind with service people as a general rule - tip well, say please and thank you, ask how they are doing etc - and in a place like Vegas where they apparently encounter a lot of rudeness, it really does seem appreciated. Like you, we have bartenders etc who remember us now. One of my major pet peeves in life is when a server asks "How are you today" and a customer answers "I'll have an iced tea". I have smacked down friends/family members for this. "She didn't ask you what you want, she asked you how you are!"

To answer the question, Vegas has gotten better for us mainly because we've learned how to work the (relatively meager) comps we receive, we have more money to enjoy nice meals and gambling, and we've found the places that we like to visit and no longer feel the need to run around trying to visit all the properties.

 

I'm guilty of nostalgia... I loved the Vegas of the 80s & 90s... I won't re-hash all of the reasons... those who have read some of my earlier posts already know them.
That said, it is still - by FAR - the only place I look forward to visiting every single time I go.
That's not because it's gotten "better". It's because it still has a quality about it that no other city offers.
It is my escape from "responsibilities", "maturity", deadlines & output expectations.
I can smoke...actually indoors!
I can drink without having to keep track of how many & in what time period.
I can gamble with abandon, if I want to.
I can sleep when I want, but when I don't, it doesn't matter what time it is - everything is still going strong!
Hotels still give me comped rooms. Pits still (occasionally) give me meal comps at the tables. CWs keep bringing me 'free' drinks!
I stay away from the strip (for the most part), but that's OK... they don't really want me there anymore anyway... (too old & I won't play 6:5).
I only rarely patronize the so-called "fine-dining" establishments...not because I don't enjoy good food, but because I see eating as a physical necessity that will take me away from the tables... the nicer places require more time, and certainly more money.
I mean - is that $80 steak really 6 bets better than the one I get at the Cal or Magnolia's? Perhaps, but I'll be taking that saved $60 and playing UTH with it!

Bottom line is this: I still love Vegas. The changes are certainly fascinating, even when I disapprove of them... and it changes there every year. It's really become a part of the allure. Let's face it - sooner or later, the FSE canopy & zip-line eye-sore will vanish as a part of that change!
I can't wait!

 

LOL, that sounds like something "creative" that HHAGG might think of! {MEOW!}

 

I wish I was old enough to see "old vegas" I think it would have been really a sight to see. But I'm 37 and haven't made a ton of Vegas trips in my life. However, I did get married there (MB was awesome) and we had 71 people come for it. It's changed since I went in 2004 and I've had a blast each time I've gone. It doesn't hurt that my Father In Law has been there 59 times in 25 years either.

Now with two kids and a bigger house, the wife and I don't get to Vegas as much as we would like. But when we do go, we make it memorable. The last time we were there it was for a friends 40th birthday party. We are going again for New Years and we will go again this June as a retirement party for a few of my wife's co-workers (she's a teacher). Each time we try to do something different and skip the things we didn't like (as others have mentioned). The resort fee's suck and we won't have a car this trip or the next the parking fees kind of suck too, but I get it. There's no other place like it and it will always be special to my wife and we got married there and for our first anniversary (even after she broke her ankle when we were in Park City and had to have emergency surgery).

Any trip is what YOU make of it, even when we drove across country from Cleveland to Vegas we did fun things along the way. Sure it was a huge pain in the ass when I had to push my wife around in a wheelchair after she had the emergency surgery, but at least we could rent a nice one. We still had a blast and we have pictures from Palazzo where there was a puppeteer in the main lobby and the "puppet" was trying to eat my wife's broken leg. Vegas was her "Happy Place" and when she was out of surgery doc said "No, go to Vegas, it will help her recovery". I'm glad we did... Even if I drove the 5,276.1 miles all myself over 24 days.