I think I'm done with the Strip

Almost 30 years ago, three of us were coming down for golf. A friend mentioned Sam's Town for easy in and out along with decent rooms and good food options. We loved it. From room to driving the car was less than ten minutes. Back then the food options were much better than now and much cheaper. That was it for me. I'd say my favorite part is the lack of crowds.

 

This! So much this!

But still, even having lost mermaids, i still like to stay downtown for 2-3 nights. I mostly mix nights at Downtown AND the Strip on a trip.
So, i'm not done with the Strip. Might be due to the very long travel to Las Vegas from Europe meaning only one or two trips a year.

 

Circa is nice for a semi-strip like ambience downtown,
Cosmo still pulls me to the strip, love those terrace rooms and Chandelier Bar,
SouthPoint is pretty awesome, I’ve found saving it for the end of the trip helps me save some/more BR, knowing I’ll get the most play for the $ there.

I get what I get from each of them, it all works out nice.

 

Many years ago (pre-canopy) we loved staying downtown. We haven't been there in years and have no intention of ever going back. Over the years we've stayed at many strip hotels and many off-strip like Boulder Station, AZ Charlies, what used to be the Reserve, Stations, etc. Now we've pretty much settled on several nights on the strip, mostly MB and Aria and, on occasion, Paris; the rest of the time is spent at either GVR or RR. We no longer walk the strip and have no desire to walk through all the skunk smells and drunken revellers, kids in strollers, etc. We're content staying put. To each their own.

 

I'm not tired of the strip but, understand the sentiment. Like a lot of people here, we seem to break trips up to two hotels on trips more than a few days but, I can't see myself staying downtown. I enjoy a bit of time there but, usually a only half day or so. I can see us splitting a trip between the strip and say GVR or RR in the near future to get a couple days of more peaceful relaxation time. I have a couple more hotels to knock off the strip bucket list then I think that might be the play. Southpoint seems to get a lot of love so I need to do a little recon there on a future trip - never been.

 

On my last trip (Memorial Day of this year), I basically just used the Strip for a free room. Other than that, I was out in various neighborhoods. I see where you're coming from.

 

I have to agree. In my early years of Vegas fandom, particularly the late 90s - early 00s, seemed like there were a ton of locals casinos that opened up in the Vegas area (and LVA touted them for their value). I frequented several of them (like Fiesta Rancho, Texas Station, and Sunset Station) a good amount, and really liked the Reserve (now Fiesta Henderson). However, even then, I never found myself staying in one particular casino for a long amount of time, and always found I would still make time for the Strip and downtown on a given trip.

I can see someone staying at a local and devoting their mornings and evenings at the place. However, I can't see flying all the way out to Vegas solely for the purpose of a multi-day trip where I'm spending the majority of my waking time at one local.

 

I like playing at the Rampart, South Point, and Ellis island. All are customer friendly. I seldom visit the strip anymore and have no desire to. When I do, it's usually to see a show. I don't really get the need to be on the strip but to each one's own.

 

I like to mix it up. South Strip, Mid Strip, North Strip, Off Strip and Downtown. They all have their unique “flavor”.

I’ll usually start my trips at the lower-end places and end my trips at the higher end but it doesn’t always work out that way. Sometimes I book comp rooms to cover the more expensive weekends.

Each section of Vegas has its own merits and drawbacks.Vegas can be luxurious, tacky, corporate bland or downright seedy. I appreciate it all! It’s Vegas! Truly, it has everything for everyone.

My favorite part of Vegas is wherever I win!

I miss La Bayou and Mermaids!

 

Still a strip guy here though I do like to Uber down town every other trip for a quick visit.

We have Cherokee within driving distance so I kind of consider that my off strip property. It’s really nice and you’re right next to the Smoky Mountains.

We do have Tunica within driving distance as well but that place has really gone downhill, more like off a cliff I guess, in the past 10-15 years. But then again that Memphis bbq…

 

To me it's not a Vegas trip without staying at least a few days on the Strip. Drinking (wandering around drunk), playing craps (something they haven't ruined...yet) and free rooms are fine. I rent a car to get out to the locals and Downtown where I play and get offers for more free rooms. I can only handle Downtown away from the noise so I stay at California/MSS.
I usually end up with 3 weeks of free rooms for my 2-week stay. I usually end up saving enough playing better vp schedules away from the Strip to cover the price of my rental car. Really, I get a taste of all of Vegas and love it all.

 

OP - I get it. If you want a self-contained getaway, GVR, Red Rock, Palms, South Point, etc. offer plenty. The locals casinos often have more "normal stuff" to do like bowling, movie theaters, etc. that is a distraction from gambling. The food is cheaper, the rules are better, the hotels are pretty new and fine, and some of these places are plenty big enough to give you your Vegas fix.

The Strip offers a number of different experiences, and it sounds like they aren't what you are looking for. Can't imagine downtown fits the bill, either, based upon your complaits.

 

I too have decided to abandon the strip properties in search of off-strip offerings. I usually stay 3 nights on the strip and 3 nights off but I am changing that for my September trip.

Due to high resort fees, parking fees, poor gambling odds, lack of cheap late night / early morning dining options and long lines at check-in, I will have all 6 nights off strip.

My first 3 nights are at the Gold Coast. I like this place for the easy comped room, Coblestone, one of the best steak houses in Las Vegas at half the price of strip restaurants. Good VP pay tables and they still have 3:2 blackjack.

There are several good dining options within walking distance too. 1 block away there is a strip mall with Pasta Mia West and a Thai restaurant that are very good. 3 blocks is one of my favorite Vegas breakfast places, Blueberry Hill Diner. The Palms buffet is across the street as it Chick-Fil-A.

The last 3 nights are at Virgin hotel. As with the Gold Coast, there is no parking fees and no resort fees on comped nights. I haven’t stayed here yet but I am looking forward as they sent me an offer for 3 free nights after I gambled a few hours during my last visit.

I enjoy the more laid back atmosphere and as I often do solo trips and they seem to have better restaurant offerings that don’t charge $23 for bacon, eggs and coffee for breakfast.

 

I stay on the strip at CET properties and game at CET properties largely for one reason...

Comped rooms all over the country. I've stayed free in Joliet, Windsor, Laughlin, and Lake Tahoe. I just can't see gaming at someplace that only has comps at one or just a few local casinos. CET has no downtown or off strip properties in Vegas. If anyone knows of a more extensive network of properties than CET please enlighten me.

We have a local casino here called the Jack and I don't go there for the same reason. At least at my local MGM the comps are good at more than one place.

 

I wouldn't mind staying on Freemont one time, but my problem is I'm more high end restaurants and poker, so every time I book I think "Well, next time I'll try downtown" and it's been like 20 trips and I still haven't done it.

I'll really need someone I'm going with to book downtown like for a bachelor party and just tell me "This is where we're staying".

 

Maybe not high end, but there are enough decent restaurants downtown to get you through a couple of nights and of course GN is the only poker room.
Just do it!
You might even win.