Question for the seasoned Vegas visitor... strategies for keeping it fun?

Vegas can be enjoyed so many ways...and we see lots of threads asking about info for the Vegas newbie.
Just wondering about the Vegas regular...you know--those who have been there, done that...and still go back.

Knowing that not everyone arrives at the crack of dawn for a Vegas stay, what is it that
you do after your first sleep in Vegas and a full day of fun ahead of you?
Do you have a "start the day" ritual? (No obvious TMI necessary. )

How do you keep your trips fun for you after visiting so often?

Has your approach to the way you stay and play changed over the years?

*Guess I should have said "questions" on the the thread title.

 

Walk from downtown to the Stratosphere . It's currently the new hot trend.

 

Every trip is its own beast. These days I generally have enough stuff going on that I'll have a rough itinerary for that first day, so there really aren't any rituals, per se.

The last couple of trips have been longer and have started downtown, so early couponing and drunken $5 BJ at GG has been the early agenda.

In terms of how to keep it fun visiting so often, I choose when I visit around things to do. Headliner shows (and limited residencies) and events help me pick the dates. And then from there a lot of time is still filled out with exploration. What's new in vegas? What resorts have I not been to? What steakhouses have I not tried? What golf courses have I not played?

And yes, the approach has changed often. So much can affect it (travelling companions, agenda, what's new, season, etc)

 

The only thing I really need to do after waking up that first morning is try something new for breakfast. I'm always looking for a new breakfast joint to hit. Usually I find something then head out to the strip to begin the trek to whatever I've decided on. If it is close I will walk the strip some first and then circle back.

 

A few years ago, I had a massage on my first morning in Vegas. I liked it so much, I plan on repeating it on my Vegas stay in October. It's a great start to the trip, and not something I pamper myself with at home.

Beyond that my ritual is getting up well before the crack of dawn and heading downstairs. I have long since given up trying to change my normal wake-up time to be later when in Vegas. I've learned to love that time of the day. I can have any machine I want, and the people watching is awesome!

Keeping it fun. Well for me, since being single again and paying far more for rent, I can't afford to visit my locals too much anymore - so Vegas is my main opportunity for gambling. Plus, Vegas is always changing. There is always something new to see.

Staying and playing. Hasn't really changed except for the bankroll going up and staying at nicer properties. I probably eat better, but still not a foodie, nor will I ever be. Our first trips were to properties with fast food restaurants and that's where we ate a lot. Now the majority of properties I stay at don't have fast food, and even if they do, you can't use your resort credit there - so now I eat in the deli/sandwich shops a lot.

 

Part of keeping it fun, for me anyway, is knowing what isn't fun - namely, dealing with health matters. Injury from walking too much in bad shoes, dehydration, sunburns, drinking too much booze, drinking booze of poor quality, eating food of poor quality, etc. - this can all derail a trip. My girlfriend injured her knee badly one year. I felt so bad for her, and I felt like I should have known not to do so much walking. She's since recovered, and so now I really try and bake in "the aging process" into the equation.

With that preamble out of the way, I like to try at least one, new-to-me, specific cocktail each trip. I never got my Cherry Bomb Manhattan from Scarpetta last trip, and it's still bugging me. It's a goal that is achievable, and not too pricey.

In the Summer, the morning ritual usually includes the pool, and the Aria breakfast buffet if I'm staying there. I don't usually go head first into the gambling (generally). A bath with bath salts in the Cosmo soaking tub was pretty awesome at night, so that might become a new evening ritual, for the nights I'm feeling achy and old, at least.

 

Great questions, @ardee !

I start the day the same way I do at home, thinking positive and seeing the world through a prism of humor, however hazy that may be!
I never, ever, ever wake up ornery in Vegas!
I let her sleep. She gets up about 11:00 on her own.

I like to get out early in the morning and walk the quiet Strip (or DT when staying there) and experience the mixture of leftover folks from yesterday and people just starting their day.

My bride and I try to attend/do/visit something new each visit.
People-watching is always a lot of the fun.

I spend less time chasing the bargains and more time "letting loose" and enjoying my precious time in Vegas!
Vegas is ever-evolving so I view each trip as a learning experience.

Stuck at 9 trips for now, so I'm lightly seasoned!

RICHARD

 

I highlighted some of your points in agreement, Nevyn. Whether a show, a good meal, an activity or some place we haven't tried yet...it's nice to
change it up and find different ways to enjoy the city.

 

Great post! I feel like every trip for me is different then one another- if I want to repeat something, I really can't because plans always change!
Although, I am a big pool person, so I usually sleep in and go to the pool during the day, and save the evening for shows and gambling..
Also, I do have my preferred places where I like to stay, but for my longer stays in the summertime, it can be fun to try a new hotel for a night to switch things up a bit and explore something new!

 

I like to check out new places for breakfast too. A place with a nice Bloody Mary and a good cup of coffee can help start the day right.

 

I dont like to pay for what I call forced fun. Thats say a zipline or something like that, sure, its fun but I bet I can have way more fun by just drinking and talking to people. Alot of us are into that thing where we need to pay for our excitement and its just not needed. I like shows and such as much as the next person and maybe will do one per trip or every couple of trips but they arent a main focus. i also dont spend money of fancy restaurants. Nor do I spend alot on gambling, i find gambling boring. The reason I do it is for the drinks.

So a bit of strategy. I will make a loose plan for the day. Say i want to go to venetian and see the gondolas. Ok so first thing i will start my morning drinking, right after cheap breakfast of course, sit around the room and goof off until I have a bunch of beers in the nelly. This way i can check my phone, get caught up on correspondence and such. never hurts to keep in touch. After this I am ready to go. Also having beers in you will lessen the blow of beers prices one may encounter.

So I will start my journey, let say I am at mgm. Have to wander through there for a while, of course the beer will have started running low so the key is to grab one at the gift shop. they have jumbos so it will last a while, at least until the next place. Seeing as I am right at mgm, might as well hit up nyny. I like the giant slts and they have a couple so will put a few buck through these. usually win on the one by the valet. just sayin, bet $2 at a time though. Grab another beer and onward, I usually go down the mgm side as the aria side is confusing. so i will cross back over. no onward i will hit up all the crummy tee shirt shops and such along the way for more jumbo beers.

So you can see where this is going. i am 10 beers in and have basically gone about 2 blocks. Now you can really have some fun, will be loosed up and having fun. I will eventually make it to my destination but the journey was the actual fun part.

 

My favorite time in Vegas is at night... I enjoy the energy and vibe and like to stay up until 3, 4, 5am. Coming from the East with a 3 hour time difference it usually takes until my 3rd night to be able to go to bed that late and be able to sleep in the morning. Those of you who are in the Eastern time zone know what I'm talking about. My strategy is to stay up as late as possible on the first night, no matter when I arrive. I always end up waking up early the next morning, but try to sleep in as much as possible. 2nd night is a repeat. The 3rd night I'm usually good to go for the rest of the trip. My trips last from 5-7 nights.

Outside of the time zone adjustment strategy I don't like to have any plans for my first day in Vegas as I know the excitement of being in Vegas will carry me through the day, which usually consists of lots of drinks and casino hopping. Summer months I go to the pool as soon as I wake up pretty much every morning. A couple hours enjoying a few frozen drinks gets a fun buzz going. Then I get the day started with some food, which a lot of times is my only meal of the day.

Over the years my trips have been pretty similar in nature. Lots of gambling and drinks always, checking out the changes, some new places or doing new things I haven't done before (getting harder and harder to do), and seeing a couple shows are always on the list. I've made some adjustments when it comes to gambling based on some of the advice I've read on this board. I try to keep in mind ADT etc in order to try to maximize any comp value. Normally I try to start out slow and build to a big finish in regards to gambling risk. I play lower limit tables and slots over the first 3-4 days and take whatever I have left on my last day or two and go big before going home. It's been a pretty successful strategy so far. I've had a few winning trips coming home with more than I went with (a lot of time big wins on the last day), but have had only a trip or two where I blew it all. I usually end up coming home with some of my bankroll still in tact.

I've lost count how many trips I've been to Vegas, but somewhere around 30 would be pretty accurate. Why do I keep going back? The 24/7 energy, vibe, excitement, entertainment, gambling, and the lack of any type of responsibility requirement on my part. No matter where I am... hotel room, casino, pool, restaurant, even shopping mall... I always have a drink in my hand. It's a vacation!

A week and a half and I'm back baby!

 

I know what you mean by being up early when the casino isn't crowded, JosieCat. I can play the machines I want without a crowd and it always feels like a nice
way to ease into the day.
The massage idea sounds great.
Some of the hotel deli/sandwich shops have the tastiest food. I miss the good ol' Imperial Palace Paradise Café(?). I think that was the name.
Had a really great turkey club sandwich. And always good service.

 

My hub introduced me to Vegas waaay back in 2003. I had to learn the hard way (but I'm a quick learner) not to overdo it in Vegas too.
Finding out the mistakes I made and what doesn't work, sure has helped make follow-up trips much more fun.
I like to set little goals, like trying out new places or a different show...or trying out a different cocktail at a lounge too, carolineno.
Looking forward to trying out new things can be part of planning a Vegas trip.
Thanks for your insights.

 

Dude! You and my hub seem to be cut from the same cloth.
(Funny guys. Most of the time )
He's an early riser and I'm pretty much a night owl but it works for us.
I totally agree with you about thinking positively and maintaining a healthy sense of humor.
It's what helps us get through pretty much anything.

9 trips? Lightweight.
I kid. I kid.

 

We have taken to doing something new every trip. Sometimes big sometimes small. New places to eat. New shows. New outings. Last year we did a day trip to the Grand Canyon (courtesy of MyVegas). This year we're doing Red Rocks. We also like to do a "fancy" meal somewhere we haven't been. We're considering Charlie Palmer this year and last year we did Aureole (I think that was last year). We've done things like go to the Mob Museum or do the Big Bus tour, as well. Vegas changes so quickly and we only go once a year, so it's always something "new".

 

And if you really want to play for higher stakes do it after dark.

 

I think switching it up a bit with hotels can be nice too, amk121.
And sleeping in is one of my favorite things to do when we're in Vegas.
Either that or a nap. Re-energizing is underrated.

 

Ha! I like your approach, C0usineddie!
I completely agree...in Vegas the journey toward the day's loose plans is the actual fun part.
Why stress over a tight schedule?

 

I try to add something new each trip. I have been to vegas so many times that the usual gamble, eat, drink, and party long ago got stale. On trips earlier this year I visited the seven magic mountains, drove to the ash meadows, took a day trip to Zion NP, and I am planning to check out some hiking and star watching at the desert NWP during my trip next month