Solo Over Christmas

First, don't feel sorry for me, I chose this life.

I always spend Christmas at the old homestead, which is now occupied since 2002 when my Mom died, by my sister.

She claims she has no money for repairs. I have loaned her a considerable amount of money ($40K) over the years for various things and have never seen any of it back. Believe it or not, I even bought her a car. She is 51 and still working as a shoe clerk. In fairness, she does buy some nice gifts and is thoughtful.

My old room was taken over by her 4 cats who use it as a piss and spray arena. I can no longer stay there because of the stench. She removed the beds from all of the other rooms, forcing me to sleep on the sofa in the living room.

Now, look, I'm a tough guy who served in Vietnam and know about hard times of not having a job. I got my foot in the door with DOD because of my Veteran status and used every opportunity to make myself into the senior Planner and Estimator at a very large Naval Air Station.

I'm now retired. I decided to stay in the Southern Maryland area, where I have lived for over 20 years now. I'm doing okay. Sleeping on the sofa for 4 or 5 days is no big deal, mostly because I am back in Philly and can walk to D'Alessandro's for the best cheesesteak in the world.

Now, she has taken up with an Italian immigrant boyfriend who is 31 years old! I will say that the guy is very handy around the house and may fix a few things that need fixing. However, the guy is, shall we say, horny. My sister finds it necessary to fill in the details until I tell her to shut up.

I am not spending my Christmas sleeping on the sofa while those two are playing Hide The Salami 25 feet away and then smirking at me and playing grab ass all day.

Which all leads up to going to Vegas over Christmas solo. The rates that I have looked at seem too good to be true. I know this is a slow week for them. I'm thinking about doing this.

Has anyone else made this sort of trip?

 

Yeah, under the circumstances.... go to Vegas. That's what I'd do.

 

We try and go to Vegas every year at Christmas. Simple way to avoid all the family drama bullsh*t. No stress. This year we'll be flying home on Christmas Day.

 

Stop in Philly for a night to visit with your sister and get the cheesesteak, and then go to LV.

 

Find out where the best cheesesteak is in LV,even if it's not the same,hey you're in Vegas!
Or on the other hand,Say hello to your sis for a few minutes,hit your cheesesteak place then stay in AC.
AC has a good vibe on Xmas eve..

I have a very similar sister (older)...There is no "homestead" left thanks to her..

Is this D'ellasanndros the one that uses cheese sauce on top of the grilled beef? I may have seen it featured one tv once or twice,Oprah once flew her audience to Philly just for cheesesteaks..

 

Vegas Solo at Christmas

The last few years my son has taken me to Las Vegas, leaving for Vegas Christmas Night and going home on New Year's Eve... it's the only week he can close his business without losing a lot of money. We love it... it is less crowded and we get wonderful comps at that time of year because most people are not interested in Vegas until New Year's Eve. If you don't already have a destination, try contacting The D downtown, they will probably be very helpful to you and they are generous with comps... don't be shy to ask for what you would like!
---
The restaurants are not as crowded, the table games are more available ...usually $5 tables are open... and you can have almost any slot you want to play... being able to choose your machine and not having to wait until someone gets up from a machine in order to play is important to me.
---
Usually you will find solo diners are not out of place... I've even eaten solo at Hugo's in the 4 Queens and got royal treatment. If I am at a quick snack type of place, I usually have a book to read... but found that other solo travelers seem to want to talk to me... so I'm not lonely.
---
Before I got so old... I'm 80... and my kids don't want me to fly alone... I had gone to Vegas solo a couple of times in other weeks in December and they were nice also. Good luck to you... have lots of fun!

 

Just from what you described, Xmas in Vegas would be a no brainer for me.

Let's compare.....

A. Your sis and her boyfriend banging the night away verses Vegas and the couple in the next room doing the same thing. A tie

B. At best, Christmas dinner at home with your sis and her boyfriend verses Christmas dinner in Vegas with a huge choice of restaurants and dining. Vegas

C. Christmas day at your sisters, opening gifts with 4 cats crawling all over you verses Christmas day in Vegas doing whatever you want. Vegas.

D. The pungent aroma of cat piss at you sister's house verses the sweet smell of cologne from a passing hottie in Vegas. Are you kidding me? Vegas by a landslide.

I rest my case.:evillaugh

 

Breeze,
My husband & I went to Vegas last year for the week that included Christmas and we are going this year from the 23rd-30th. We are not big believers in the greediness that is Christmas so we go where we like to be. This year we are staying at the Vdara in a City corner Suite and when we booked the MLife rates we got were pretty decent. You know the deal, if the rates are great then book it, Dano! You can always cancel later if your plans change.

I am not sure why people say the place is deserted around the holidays because it is not. In fact, we noticed a huge influx of multiple generation families coming into town on Christmas and for the next few days. I would imagine that it really ramps up as NYE approaches. We made reservations for every night that we planned to have a nice dinner and are glad that we did. For this year we are currently in the process of making reservations for most nights. It may be easier for you, as a soloist, to get a table for one, and I know from reading your TRs that you are quite willing to eat at a bar which will open up more options for you.

Last year the weather was really quite nice for December. It was chilly at night but nothing a light-weight winter coat didn't handle and during the day we were comfortable in sweaters. We are from the Baltimore area so you should have a good idea of what we are used to weather wise.

If you are looking for opinions on your choice to go to Vegas for the Holidays then mine would be to go! If you think you might want some company while you are there I am sure you will find plenty of VMBers who are going at the same time. Give us a holler!

P.S. Make the reservations!!

 

I am also single. Last year I decided, for various reasons, to not go to my brother's for Christmas and hang out and feel disappointed. I went to Vegas on the 21st and flew back on the 26th for work. Overall I had a good time and felt at peace. I do have a friend who lives there so I had dinner with him at Rao's on Christmas Eve. I also went to a VMB GTG on Christmas morning and that was very nice. I ended up having Christmas dinner with a guy from the GTG and then we played drunk poker. That was a great too.

I say go. Based on your posts you have no trouble being alone in Vegas. Try to create or join a VMB GTG if you don't want to be alone on Christmas day. DT may be deader than the Strip but the Strip was not truly dead, just a little quiet. If you're at all religious then go to church. I did on Christmas day and it was sweet. Rent a car and visit some of the off strip. I went to Sam's Town and saw their show, cheesy and wonderful. People speak highly of the Ethel M(?) chocolate place and also the lights at the speedway.

 

Breeze, go to Vegas.

Spend the holidays like YOU want. Enjoy the good times like YOU want.

Vegas is it. Plain and simple.

(your sister's house situation sounds awful - cat piss and human spunk all over the place - blecchh!!)

 

Hey Now!!!!

We will be at Orleans Dec. 24- Jan. 3. We have never been there during the Holidaze either, we would be up for a get together.

 

when you said Old Homestead I thought you meant the restaurant in Circus Circus

it took me a few times to figure it all out

perhaps the Italian guy has a sister that needs a visa as well :evillaugh

 

Was in Vegas last year for 8 days leading up to Christmas day and in my opinion the casinos were dead. Now I was told by the Ballys front desk person they were expecting very large crowds for the period between Christmas and New Years. The one thing I did noticed 2 days before Christmas was an increase of people with very young children, I am talking strollers everywhere. The nice thing that I really enjoyed was the use of Paris's pool area since the weather was in the 70's during the day, although a light jacket was needed at night.

p

 

i would say go also.

Not one person here thinks you should go to your sisters lol.

 

ditto
go to the Wynn Casino, the best smelling casino IMHO and think to yourself this beats cat piss !

 

Another vote for Vegas! Good on your sister for enjoying her boy toy!

 

To avoid the inevitable drama and general family squabbling over Christmas on both sides DW and I have spent the last 5 Christmas in Vegas, it has become our favorite visit of the year. The mood is very relaxed with a noticeable lack of D baggery, easy to get tables at the restaurants, many shows run special prices that are running, got 2 for 1 at Zumanity year before last ie:, and possibly best of all very few kids . In other words do it I doubt you will regret it and it may become your Christmas tradition as it has ours.

 

I'm also going solo, but not until the day after Christmas. DH and I have stopped going to see family at the holidays because we truly don't have much in common with our families anymore. We don't have kids, so it's not like we're depriving anyone from seeing grandkids or anything.

That week is my last chance at a Vegas trip until after DH finishes his busy travel season in the spring, so he told me I should go and enjoy myself.

If it will make you happier to go to Vegas than to be uncomfortable around all the family drama, I say go for it! You'll probably be thanking your lucky stars the whole time you're there that you're not at your sister's house!

 

Go to Vegas. I know that Christmas is supposed to be about happiness and family, but do what makes you happy. I have the only grandchild and great grandchild on either side, my side and the fathers side, so we are obligated to attend all holiday festivities because that is the only time they get to see their great grandchild. the grandparents are fortunate enough to live with their grandchild.. :evillaugh

 

Vegas mang!
We did Vegas last year from 12/21-12/25, and it was nice...
Kris and I are doing it from 12/26-12/30 this year, to see how it compares...
Believe me, its hard to "be alone" in vegas...