New Years Eve in Vegas

Whats up guys. I'm pretty new around here since my fist trip to Vegas was just 2 weeks ago and let me tell you I AM HOOKED!! lol It was just my girlfriend and I and we had an amazing time.

We can't wait to go back. We are thinking about New years in Vegas?? How is the Party scene for New Years eve to welcome in the new year? Any particular Countdown Event? Share some personal past experiences about New Years in Vegas.

I would most probably be staying at the MC or Aria es we loved how central that area was for our liking.

Thanks

 

Now you done it. Be prepared for a gazillion posts about NYE. I even think there's a half dozen threads lingering about the board about it.

It's very Crazy there on NYE. Busiest time of the year. Most expensive time of the year for anything.

Did it once, said I'd never do it again. Went back 2 years later and did it again.

I also recommend going to youtube. There are many NYE videos there.

 

I was there on NYE 2001 and it was wild! Fireworks going off at each casino at midnight, the strip was closed off to allow only foot traffic and the whole place was a shoulder to shoulder party. Right after midnight, I made my way into NYNY to stand in a 50 person line for the bathroom. While waiting, I decided to put a $20 in a slot machine called Shockwave and hit $1600.00. Other than that, my memory of the rest of the night is limited. Definitely something to experience if you are looking for one hell of a party! Have fun!

 

Definitely something you should do atleast once.

But it is nuts!! They close down the strip and turn it into a giant sidewalk cause there are so many people the regular sidewalks cant support it. Table mins are $15 even at Excal. At every exit of every casino there is security with 1000s of solo cups and they make everyone pour their drinks into cups...no glass or cans outside of the building. About a dozen casinos set off fireworks...we stood right at the middle of tropicana and Las blvd and watched them.

The crowds are just ridiculous, which is why I will never do it again.

 

Been there - Done that

Did it last NYE, and it's a catch-22....on one hand, it's cool as hell and just as crowded.....on the other hand, it's as crowded as hell

Now I got lucky and was invited to a cool CET party, so I didn't have to deal with clubs and all that.

All of the strip is turned into a giant party, so you can get drinks anywhere.
If you want to go into a real club, prepare to shell out big money at the door and per drink.

This is what it's like on the strip at Midnight

[YOUTUBE]4MNeDWJGWQE[/YOUTUBE]

Then after that, chaos

Everyone starts crushing each other to get wherever it is they want to go, and that mostly results in a logjam and no one going anywhere....just a big crush of people going nowhere.

For me, I don't think I'd do every year unless invited to some cool party and I doubt I will go out onto the strip at midnight again.

If you're cool with inflated pricing on everything and a massive crush of people, you'll enjoy it, but I am too old for that crap

 

First time we went, we stood outside Harrahs as part of the worlds largest Mosh Pit. We got smart'er' the 2nd time and enjoyed the fireworks from our GO-room with a view at the Flamingo.

 

Went a few years ago. The previous posts are pretty spot on. I would advise to find a party you like, and book one. Many, if not most, include some sort of included open bar, etc. When I went, stayed at NYNY and did the Bridge Party. I think tickets were around $100 to $150 a piece, but included an open bar from 9pm to 1am. They had plenty areas set up to get your drinks and even at the busiest time (11:00 to 12:30) it didn't take long to get what you wanted. The music was good, the dancing was good, the people watching overlooking the strip was terrific and you had a great view of the fireworks shot off across the strip at the MGM. Now, with the changes out front of NYNY, I am not positive they are still doing the Bridge Bash, but I am sure you could find something similar. Two other things to note:

- Finding a bathroom with no line after all that liquor can be tricky. I just found it was easier to head up to my room instead of staying in long lines.

- Getting around on NYE after 6:00 pm is tricky. People often think they will casino hop. I didn't try to do that, but I would think that you will be extremely frustrated if that was a goal.

I think everyone should do it once. Under the right circumstance I would do it again.

 

I would say New Years Eve in Las Vegas is different than any other time of the year in Las Vegas... which can be good, or it can be a word of warning.

The big thing is that unless you have been there you have no idea how busy it gets... some people find the extra people adds to the thrill and excitement that is Las Vegas, to others its a major pain in the ass because you have to wait in line for everything from restaurants, buffets, bars, stores to even trying to find a game or slot to play in the casino to using the bathroom to waiting in line to use the elevator just to get back to your room.

One tip I would put out there for right now would be: check airfare and if you are going and can find a decent fare now you should seriously consider booking it. By about early to mid August rates will start to creep up and depending on flight availability in your area they can start to rise fast for all arrivals in the days just before New Years Eve.

 

Did the Fremont thing for NYE two years ago. Crowds arrayed around the stages, sadly the flow of people moving around made cutting through the spectators the most direct route, so there was a lot of jostling, and some harsh words/ fighting because of that. Who needs that on NYE?

If I went back, I wouldn't do the crowd scene, for sure.

 

I haven't been, and I'm sure I will one day... but, I mean it's hard knowing I can have an infinitely better trip for half as much money, with an 1/8th as many people, 2 days later or 5 days before.. haha. I couldn't justify paying triple the price for everything.

But if I did do it, I'd plan it all out, and probably stick to one centrally located property, and attend a dinner and a party at that property. I imagine it would be hard roaming around.

Besides Vegas is almost always a party! I don't think you need a party day to have a party in Vegas.

 

Yeah, you definitely can't casino hop and go visit a bunch of different places on the night of New Years Eve... its almost like whatever property you are at around 7-8PM is probably going to be where you are at midnight.

And with The Strip being closed means you can't ride the buses to other properties unless you work your way a block or two off strip to catch them, taxis can't access most properties (most have their driveways on Las Vegas Blvd) and most hotels close their parking structures in the afternoon... and for walking once you hit the main throng of people (Planet Hollywood to Venetian) its pretty much shoulder to shoulder people.

 

It's the kind of thing you do once. I did it NYE 2004/2005. It was crazy. You're best to put some time into planning and researching because you can't casually casino hop up and down the strip as usual. So, you're smart to start asking about it early.

 

Probably the coolest thing to do on NYE after they closed the strip is to walk the strip on the streets. My wife and I walked from Excal to Harrahs about 7PM, snapping pictures from vantage points we normally couldn't get.