1. Welcome to VegasMessageBoard
    It appears you are visiting our community as a guest.
    In order to view full-size images, participate in discussions, vote in polls, etc, you will need to Log in or Register.

Vegas Planning, How do you flow?

Discussion in 'Misc. Vegas Chat' started by Epeebes, Mar 23, 2013.

Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.
  1. Epeebes

    Epeebes Tourist

    Joined:
    Mar 4, 2012
    Messages:
    76
    Location:
    NYC
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    1
    So last year was my first time in Vegas and we actually had an itinerary with a general idea of what we had planned. Most of it was flexible minus the shows and excursions we planned.

    Now this trip, my 2nd and 5 days away, :beer: I'm sitting here planning using Excel. Everything is kinda down to the hour and strategically planned to be near each other so it's not us going all over the place.

    As a background this is a trip heavy on sightseeing the strip and eating at places we want to try. It includes a lot to pack in 4 full days (I have a 5th solo relaxing day).

    So how many of you plan this meticulously or simply just wing it?
     
  2. shifter

    shifter Degenerate Gambler

    Joined:
    Sep 15, 2010
    Messages:
    10,096
    Location:
    At the tables
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    30
    plan golf, dinners and shows in a Word doc about 2-3 weeks out so i don't forget stuff. but then we proceed to change the plan at the last minute almost always.
     
  3. dfalk

    dfalk VIP Whale

    Joined:
    Mar 7, 2011
    Messages:
    2,510
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    20
    To me that just sounds brutal and would seem more like a job than a vacation.

    I usually just have 1 thing planned per day and then just wing it the rest of the time.
     
  4. smartone

    smartone VIP Whale

    Joined:
    Jul 17, 2011
    Messages:
    9,889
    Location:
    Northern Nevada
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    248
    I couldn't ever "plan" like that, but then I've had plenty of time and lots of years to do most things the town has to offer. If it works for you folks, more power to ya... just don't let following the plan become more important than enjoying it and above all HAVE FUN!!!
     
  5. Smo

    Smo Mr. Las Vegas

    Joined:
    Jan 11, 2012
    Messages:
    1,069
    Location:
    6 Hours from Vegas
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    42
    I wing it!

    I plan to use the 3 myVEGAS rewards this trip for lots of free food.
    I plan on transferring lots of money from MLife properties over to CET owned casinos to keep my player card status for the next year.
    I also plan on having many Crown 'n Cokes in my room when the days bank roll runs out.

    The other 15 hours or so of the day I just wing it!


    I've found out that planning too many things makes it NOT feel like a very relaxing Vegas vacation.
     
  6. garrman

    garrman Low-Roller

    Joined:
    May 17, 2008
    Messages:
    295
    Location:
    Ontario, Canada
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    16
    Like Shifter, I plan out shows, reservation based dinners. The rest is mostly winging it.
     
  7. Epeebes

    Epeebes Tourist

    Joined:
    Mar 4, 2012
    Messages:
    76
    Location:
    NYC
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    1
    It's actually not that bad. Downtown was easier to plan since we knew exactly what we want to do there.
    For example here's my first day:

    11:00am
    In n Out Burger
    12:00pm
    Pool Time
    2:30/3:00pm
    Freshen Up
    4:00pm
    Cab it to Downtown
    5:00pm
    Neon Museum Tour
    7:00pm
    Dinner at MSS
    8:30pm
    Zipline for friends/Gambling for me
    10:00pm
    Drinking......Light Show.....Gambling....


    There's obviously an element of some things maybe longer or shorter and others might be cut out but I like the general idea of knowing what I planned to do other than hey guys what do YOU wanna do?

    Nor will I be looking at my watch keeping time of activities except for shows/tickets we got. Trust me there's a lot of drinking and fun planned along with rest and relaxation. We even have "Hooker Stakeout" thrown in there :evillaugh:ssst:
     
  8. Drambler

    Drambler High-Roller

    Joined:
    Aug 24, 2011
    Messages:
    787
    Location:
    Columbus OH
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    21
    Wow we say we want to do maybe X thing and make a brief list. Then it gets thrown out the window after arrival we wing the whole trip. Usually one of the planned things get done.
     
  9. sco5123

    sco5123 VIP Whale

    Joined:
    Jul 29, 2011
    Messages:
    2,711
    Location:
    East
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    11
    I am super detailed down to the hour. I plan for months ahead of time. But then i usually only have to worry about myself. Planning is art of the fun. the plan helps me to not forget any deals.
     
  10. S'AllGoodMan

    S'AllGoodMan High-Roller

    Joined:
    Mar 13, 2010
    Messages:
    667
    Location:
    CT
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    50
    We talk about what we want to do each trip, but that's it for planning. We wake up each morning/afternoon and say what do you feel like doing? I don't like to feel "booked". I could never do what you're doing and be happy.

    B
     
  11. CinnamintStick

    CinnamintStick High-Roller

    Joined:
    May 23, 2007
    Messages:
    759
    Location:
    CA High Desert
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    50
    Last trip I did not have anything planned and my husband freaked. I like to plan meals and shows at the minimum. I make reservation when I can, and buy tickets. Some plans do not work out. Pool time never seems to work out for us, even when we plan. I am not good at going with the flow. I also hate going with those that do.
     
  12. Rumdranker

    Rumdranker Grateful Lurker

    Joined:
    Nov 18, 2012
    Messages:
    276
    Location:
    In route to Las Vegas....
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    11
    More research than planning.

    I'm coming up on my 2nd trip as well. :beer:

    The first trip was totally on the fly. We mostly took in the strip, ate a lot, drank a lot and saw plenty of shows. Barely slept and had an amazing time.

    This time I did more research. Just to find out what's available, like the Mob Museum.

    Also got an ACG and looked for deals on the net. Got lots of good info from here; thanks to the entire VMB fam.

    We'll just wing it, with unlimited options. Only a few things on the must do list.

    Two wake ups and I'm gone....:drunk:
     
  13. billduhcat

    billduhcat Low-Roller

    Joined:
    Apr 13, 2012
    Messages:
    387
    Location:
    Chicagoland
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    32
    I enjoy planning ahead; researching hotels, listing out choices for meals, and narrowing down some choices of things to do during the daytime and nighttime hours.

    I don't think I plan too much, but I definitely invest a bit too much in wanting everything to be "perfect," which has made for some stressful vacation moments. It's tough to not use the traits that make you successful in your career also on vacation, but I'm working on it :nono:
     
  14. Ezzy711

    Ezzy711 VIP Whale

    Joined:
    Jul 29, 2012
    Messages:
    2,372
    Location:
    Florida
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    21
    About 8-4weeks out I have show tickets, show night dinner and my salon/spa appts booked. I have a general plan beyond that but have learned after 20+ years of gambling that what happens in my first few days change the last two. If I'm up, more play, if I'm down, more relaxation

    I am an over planner in the respect that I start a trip folder and print out everything. Even if I know where everything is I will have a map. I once went with some non gamblers and created a map that divided the casinos in sections so when they texted me I could say "I'm at a BJ table in section 2." Okay, I may have mild OCD.
     
  15. Epeebes

    Epeebes Tourist

    Joined:
    Mar 4, 2012
    Messages:
    76
    Location:
    NYC
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    1
    Cheers to your second trip :beer:

    I agree I did a lot more research than planning but putting it all together today on paper made the trip seem more real.

    I also wanted to make sure my one friend had input on things she wanted to do. My other friend is like I'll do whatever I don't care just tell me when and where.
     
  16. LadyShaye

    LadyShaye Low-Roller

    Joined:
    Feb 24, 2010
    Messages:
    193
    Location:
    Manitowoc, WI
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    7
    I make an "outline" - just jot down what I think we should do each day - one day is downtown, one day is east side of strip, the next west etc. Then I have various points of interest/shows/eating places listed so I remember where it is that we talked about going! We never stick to this....but it does give us a general direction to start with each day :)
     
  17. engicedave

    engicedave VIP Whale

    Joined:
    Aug 27, 2005
    Messages:
    1,154
    A few years back, we were invited to a friends wedding, so it was wife, three kids, myself and my parents (to watch them and give us free time), but since kids had never been and parents had only seen the strip, I planned the few days out in detail.
    This was a HUGE mistake and by the end of the trip, everyone was worn out and I was frazzled trying to get everyone up, out and going on time each day. My wife made me swear to never do that again.
    Now I am a travel planner, I like to have some plan, and when I travel alone on business, I have a plan.

    But what I learned with the LV trip is this, when you do it with others, what you need to do is set one or two things out for the day, then wing it for the rest.
    Plan breakfast and dinner times, make reservations, everything in between, wing it
    Plan a show one night, fine, but the rest of the day, do whatever.

    Point is, in a place like LV, planning every minute is so difficult because there is so much to do, or not do, and so many distractions, you really need to leave a lot of open free time to adjust, divert or relax...hell, even to just take a nap. Nothing wrong with an hour nap in LV

    It's a vacation, not a sprint race
    That's what I learned
     
  18. jmn3

    jmn3 Low-Roller

    Joined:
    Jan 3, 2009
    Messages:
    275
    Location:
    Pittsburgh, PA
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    20
    I usually try to make as few set plans as possible and just let the cards fall where they may. If I am seeing a show or meeting up with friends that live out there for dinner, that would be the only "set" things that would be in my schedule. Usually I have a list of places I want to get to off-strip (Red Rock Casino, Sunset Station, Downtown, In-n-Out) and I tend to rent a car for the entire stay so with that option we just play it by ear and do those things when we feel like it. Some days I find myself sitting at the pool for many more hours than I originally planned, and some days I find myself wide awake at 7AM and ready to go.
     
  19. Busyman

    Busyman VIP Whale

    Joined:
    Jan 31, 2013
    Messages:
    1,312
    Location:
    Washington DC
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    5
    I plan everything but leave stuff in quadrants so I'm not rushed.

    I have an idea where I want to eat and spots I want to hit but don't need to plan to the hour.

    I plan enough also that I can grab discounts beforehand.

    Some things don't need a particular day.

    Example: I wanted to go in Minus 5 Bar and the Goretorium. Well those didn't have to be "planned" well ahead of time. Just go there whenever.

    I tend to plan stuff like that on my way to somewhere else. I like to hit things along a beeline.

    Example: We hit a show in Miracle Mile, ate at Pampas Grille, then clubbed across the street in Cosmo. That was Valentines Day and planned that a couple days before not before the trip itself.

    Another time I got the Buffet of Buffets pass. Ate an early buffet dinner, hit a club crawl tour, the next day slept late, ate brunch buffet, went to Red Rock Canyon, ate late dinner buffet.
     
  20. Countessa

    Countessa Low-Roller

    Joined:
    May 8, 2008
    Messages:
    475
    Location:
    Bay Area, CA
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    12
    I am a huge planner but when it comes to Vegas I have learned the hard way it all goes to hell in a hand-basket about 1 hour in. The only things I know for sure will happen are drinking, gambling, dancing, pool time and maybe a little eating. Oh and Shopping is about 92% likelihood. Even sleeping & other normal tasks are not a given on my trips. So my advice is not to hold yourself too tight on the plans. That's the beauty of Vegas, anything can happen so just go with it.They usually end up being the best memories of the trip!
     
Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.