This is a random one... Meeting up with some friends from across Canada, but I arrive about two hours before the next person (and too early to check in). Is there a place I can go for a beer or two after I pick up my luggage in a non-secured area while I wait?
There's a least one small bar area with tables in the main terminal where you can get a beer. Be advised, however, that airport beers aren't exactly what I'd call cheap. A 23 oz. tall with tip will run around $10!
Where are you staying? I would rather head to the hotel and wait for them there, you can check your bag with the bell desk and go have a beer or walk around the strip a bit and get your bearings.
Absolutely agree; no way I'd wait around in the airport for a couple of hours....meet them at the hotel.
Useful Airport App If you have a smartphone, download a free app called "GateGuru." It will tell you what concessions are in any U.S. airport, which terminal, and when you are there, how far you are from them. It also has details and reviews for restaurants and bars. We travel quite a bit and I use it frequently in unfamiliar airports.
I would cab it to the hotel, see if you can get an early check in, if not drop bags off and belly up to a bar.
Hey – I was just trying to answer your question, but I have to agree with the later posters. Meet your friends at the hotel. Whatever you spend getting there by yourself will be more than compensated by the cheaper drinks and … well, just being there and out of the airport!
I agree with everyone else, head to the property and hang out there. Have some fun even while by yourself. Plus, if you wait around the airport and then their flight is further delayed, it's a double whammy of lost time. Only so much time available while you are in Vegas right?
There is a cold beer store in the baggage area that you could just grab beer at. I'd just head to the hotel as well and meet up with friends later. There's always the pool, casino or sportsbook to waste time at.
Do not get hung up on the checkin time. You will find many folks that have checked in early, even at 8am. Not always, but often. I will bet you 6:5 that if you wait for them, their plane will be late. Or, somebodies phone will be dead and you will not connect up. Go to hotel, tell them to call AFTER they are in their room, or at least checked in.
I agree with the others, don't waste time at the airport when you can be on the Strip. If you can't check-in to the hotel, you can check your bags until you can. And since you're Canadian (me too ), you and your friends probably don't want to use your phones so just arrange to meet at a certain time. Or there's always free wifi somewhere so you can email each other.
OP, I expect you will be coming into T3. If you all will have pre-cleared customs and if you really want to meet at the airport, head down to the bar by gate 15. They serve Ellis Island beer. The best advice has been to go straight to your hotel. If you don't want to cab it, take the shuttle. If you can't check in, leave your bags with the bellman.
So I guess it is decided you will be at the Hotel. So tell us what you plan on doing at the Hotel while you wait? The Bar (Playing VP :evillaugh), walking around the resort/shops, a quick walk on the strip? Sooooooooooooooooo much better than the airport. My guess is you will be doing ..........all of the above, good choice!
I'll take a different approach to this, and bear in mind, this is coming from an airport geek of sorts. It might be kinda fun to hang out at an airport bar for a couple hours while waiting for friends. The exictement of having arrived in Vegas will have kicked in by then and even being at McCarran might be enough to satisfy one's anticipation level, especially if alcohol is involved. The public esplanade (level 2 between the security entrances at Terminal 1) has a couple places that serve booze. There's Bud29 Track Lounge and Don Alejandro's Mexican Grill. Waiting for yoru buddies and traveling together to the hotel might be mroe rewarding than making it a solo experience.
Thanks everyone. Sounds like the best bet is to head right to the Strip. I'm a big craft beer fan, so I'll probably walk down to Venetian and hit their bar/pub there and overpay for a couple good beer while I wait.
I have found airport bars to be quite entertaining on the flight from the home city, but not so much when everybody is headed home after a Vegas vacation.