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Thoughts on the next visit?

Discussion in 'Misc. Vegas Chat' started by blkshirt, Sep 7, 2020.

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  1. blkshirt

    blkshirt High-Roller

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    Hi all! I hope this finds you all healthy and safe.

    it’s been over a year since my wife and I visited Vegas. We had planned a trip for Easter Monday - Thursday. That obviously didn’t happen as Vegas was closed. We rescheduled to August 1-5 but with the uptick in COVID cases we didn’t go. We have since rebooked again for Thanksgiving. Wednesday AM to Saturday.

    2020 has been a crazy year. I had changed jobs moving from the Collegiate Athletics world back to IT Business Systems Analyst role. I was traveling so much and missing out on my kids things that I needed to make a change. My mom had been battling leukemia as well for 6 years and her health was also starting to fail. We lost her in February and between that and COVID the wife and I need a vacation.

    my question is more along the lines of is Vegas, Vegas? I know that places aren’t open, shows are dark, limits at tables and slots, pools aren’t the same. Is it worth going? As I told my wife I’m not sure if Vegas will be the Vegas as we know it pre-pandemic.

    We are also planning a group trip for Summer 2021. With Circa opening I want to check that out and got us a cabana for the Friday after Thanksgiving, but want to see the casino and amenities as we may stay there for the group trip. We are booked in a King Fountain View Room at Bellagio, which is awesome as we have never stayed there before.

    Would love to get your feedback. Thanks in advance!
     
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  2. DaiLun

    DaiLun R.C., L.C., and A.A.N.G.

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    Personally, having stayed at Aria, Bellagio, and Four Queens within the past two months I would recommend reading many of the TRs and really judge whether or not you would be happy/satisfied with a trip to Las Vegas under the existing conditions.

    Don't just take my word for it. Find a reviewer that fits your demographic and tastes (may be more than one) and see what they say about x, y, and/or z.

    My demographic:

    I'm 60+, 99% slot player, non-sociable (not unfriendly, just don't go out of my way to make new friends in Las Vegas), non-alcohol drinker, doesn't like to walk, and eats at a wide variety of restaurants both solo and with company.

    IMHO, I don't expect it to get any better by Thanksgiving. Shows and bars will still be closed, many restaurants closed, most (if not all) strip buffets closed.

    After you and your wife have read the trip reports, sit down and discuss whether or not you think is a wise "spend".

    Yeah, I will have gone three times since the COVID-19 reopening, but I normally go 8-12 times a year, I don't pay for rooms/meals, travel costs are <$200 and I'm pretty much a loner and non-drinker, so many of the "inconveniences" don't affect me. I rent a car, so if worse comes to worst, I can get in the car and take off my mask for an hour or two.

    But, if you are a "social" person who enjoys sitting at a bar and making friends, you may find it less than a pleasurable experience.

    Also, If you plan on fine dining with your wife, make sure that your favorite restaurants and/or restaurants that you'd like to visit will be open.

    As always, not trying to be a "Debbie Downer", but that's the advice I'd give anyone who's not a Las Vegas "regular".
     
    Last edited: Sep 7, 2020
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  3. smerrian

    smerrian View from Bally's

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    @DaiLun gave very good advice. Think about what's there and decide if you think it's worth the spend. Realize what you're getting yourself into so that you're not disappointed. If you're happy with what's not available and accept what's there before you go, you should have a fine time. Personally, I'm not fine with that long of a trip under current conditions and so I'm waiting. But, I make day trips to my local so it's not the gambling I miss, it's the Vegas experience in all it's glory. I'll wait.
     
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  4. LGood1

    LGood1 Tourist

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    Leaving Saturday on my 4th trip this year, 3rd post plague...
    Vegas is NOT the same. But being in our late 40s (I have one more year...) we enjoy the low key. I recommend it if your not into rubbing elbows with strangers as a priority. I mean we met new people on both trips since Covid, so it’s not like it’s a deserted island. But that’s definitely NOT why we go. We work hard and want an escape for a few days.
    We have seen all the shows, bells and whistles, so we don’t miss that. We have rented a car each time during Covid and got off the strip and seen new things we enjoy.
    Definitely call and make sure if you have your heart set on something to be sure it’s open like pp pointed out. I recommended a quick get away for a coworker and her husband and her just got back and loved it.
    It’s really up to you and your comfort zone. Enjoy!
     
  5. blkshirt

    blkshirt High-Roller

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    Thanks @DaiLun and @smerrian for the advice. Our local Casinos in Cleveland suck. No tie in to Vegas other than a racino that doesn’t have VP and is slots only. That at least tied me into MLife properties. I know shows and restaurants will be closed for some time, but I also think that’s what makes it fun for trying out new places. As for wearing a mask it doesn’t bother me. If we can wear a mask for 3 days at Cedar Point while riding roller coasters and walking 10 miles a day then we can wear them in Vegas.

    We do like buffets so that does suck that some places like Wynn are closing theirs again but again we can find new places. I love Jaburrito at the Linq promenade so we could do stuff like that.
     
  6. Zacharius

    Zacharius Low-Roller

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    I was supposed to have gone this weekend. I ended up getting “stationed” by my job in Europe for three months so that killed it, but I probably would have cancelled anyways. Especially on a holiday weekend. Vegas for me is about eating and drinking too much, and throwing some money on sports. Nothing more as far as gambling goes, it bores me and is a waste of money to me. But I looked at the lack of food options, the lack of drink options, and what I considered to be just an unsafe vibe during a pandemic, and made the decision that I wasn’t going to touch Vegas even if I were in the country and able to physically go. I’ll try again next year.
     
  7. smerrian

    smerrian View from Bally's

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    SouthPoint still has their buffet open. They also have some of the best vp in LV.
     
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  8. Sparky4

    Sparky4 VIP Whale

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    Cedar Point!!! I love Cedar Point, I was born in Ohio and moved to Texas when I was little, have had a chance to go to
    Cedar Point in 29 years! My family still owns a farm about an hour away, I need to make a trip.

    Vegas isn’t Vegas, but I agree with @DaiLun, keep reading trip reports. Hubby and I had planned our first July 4 weekend this year but changed dates because we knew there wouldn’t be fireworks and celebrations. We bumped it to the 24th. Then we noted that the Covid rates all over seemed to jump up a bunch within 2-3 weeks after a holiday, so days before, we canceled again. I had a trip planned with a group from high school from August 20-24 so hubby says let’s you and I go from the 13-17. When I do Vegas with hubby it’s more about the gambling, with my friends it’s more about socializing. Hubby and I arrived around 9 Thursday night and we were hungry but there wasn’t much open at Paris. If you go and there are certain places you want to eat, check their new hours and make a reservation if you can. I had 2 breakfast ressies and a dinner one. The only one that was truly necessary was dinner, but better safe than sorry. Hubs and I had a good time, but he’s a smoker and the mask thing was a pain for him, for me it’s just an annoying necessity. The crowds were different, I’m guessing cheap fares and cheap hotels drew people that had never been, or never stayed on the strip. Many were in large groups. Needless to say, I contacted the group going form high school and said let’s not waste our money. Bars not being open and not being able to stand around and watch the others gamble would have really affected us as a group. Hubby said he’s good to not go back til February, we usually go in September or October for college football. I’m going in December for GGWU with my sister.
     
    Happy birthday to me!
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  9. Sonya

    Sonya Queen of VMB

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    I agree with what others are saying. Lots of information here in the Trip Reports about what Vegas is like right now. Most people should be able to read them and see if their version of Vegas is even possible right now. Then you need to decide if the risk/reward balance is there for you.

    Southern Nevada still remains high risk. They are one of about 12 states that have over 10% positivity rate. That's not great. Add to that the primary thing to do in Vegas right now is sit with strangers indoors over long periods of time and it just doesn't make sense to me personally to go to Vegas right now. But that decision is only made for myself and each person has to decide for themselves.

    I wish I could be taking my planned trips to Vegas, but that's not the right thing for me right now. That doesn't mean I can't travel at all. I just took a trip to Hood River, OR and it was wonderful to get away. Being at home all the time was making us both a little nutty. We needed a break. But we chose a different kind of vacation where we could be mostly outdoors and mostly away from gathering in groups of strangers. Getting out is great, but you have to do what will work out best for you, and maybe Vegas isn't it right now.
     
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  10. birdman925

    birdman925 Low-Roller

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    I live 5 minutes from the Cedar Point.
     
  11. rhinoman7

    rhinoman7 A Diamond in the Ruff

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    Our last trip to Vegas had been the first week of March, just as things were starting to heat up. After spending five months working from home and not being able to go anywhere, as well as there being many non-covid related tragedies for us during that time, we were itching to go somewhere to get away for a while. We contemplated many places, but ultimately chose Vegas for the week of August 24th. In the weeks leading up to our trip, I spent lots of time reading people’s trip reports, postings of people that live or were visiting Vegas, as well as watching some of the news reports, ready to cancel our trip if necessary. When it was time to leave, I felt confident enough to take the trip, knowing things were going to be very different. I think it helped a lot knowing how different things were going to be from reading people’s reports and reviews. We love seeing shows, and also love so many of the buffets, but we knew those were out this trip. We stayed at the Luxor, and ended up mainly just staying at home base, doing most of our dining and gambling between Luxor, MB, and Excalibur. We rented a car, but only put about 10 miles on it. Still glad we had it, though. We ended up having one of the best, most relaxing visits we have ever had! We spent more time in our room than ever, and I ended up sleeping way more than normal when in Vegas, but to be away from home/work, it was so worth it!
     
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  12. mrem3200

    mrem3200 VIP Whale

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    Very interesting question. In theory, I am the perfect person to go to the Vegas of today. I don't generally go to shows, I don't go to bars/nightclubs, I don't go to strip clubs, I don't go to buffets. I like to play craps and/or BJ at night, hang out at the pool during the day or go to Red Rock, Valley of Fire, etc. and have a nice dinner. So sure, I CAN go to Vegas and do pretty much what I always do. But for me anyway, it wouldn't be the same having to wear a mask, having the plexiglass/social distancing at the tables...The thing is I don't WANT to go to the Vegas of today. I was lucky, I suppose, my last trip was in early March. Vegas shut down around a week after I got back home.
     
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