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Anyone else purposely avoiding Vegas?

Discussion in 'Misc. Vegas Chat' started by chef, Jul 7, 2021.

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  1. chef

    chef Resident Buffetologist

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    Between labor shortages, crowded flights (including mask-wearing), jacked-up prices, rowdier clientele, less buffet options, etc, I've opted out of travel to Vegas, at least for the summer.
     
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  2. BigDubbs

    BigDubbs Tourist

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    I respect everyone's right to use their time and money as they please. But, I was in town last weekend and didn't experience anything abnormal save for a few minor inconveniences from short staffing (e.g., long wait while calling operator, slightly less speedy service in HL rooms).

    Had I been shut off from the world since my last trip in Jan 2020, im not sure I'd know there was a pandemic based on my LV trip.

    FYI: I stayed and played at Aria and Cosmo.
     
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  3. jgates8

    jgates8 VIP Whale

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    It was ok in April (I made dining reservations because of my diabetes, so I was ok on food options). I can live with masks. However right now I am hearing it is just way TOO crowded. I always like it a bit quieter.

    I actually did want to go for my birthday next week, however our conversion/merger has basically cancelled any vacation for a few of us for the next 8 weeks or so.

    I'm hoping once fall comes around it will settle down a bit after we've been through a couple of major holidays. Maybe the rowdier clientele will have run out of money lol!!!
     
  4. BigDubbs

    BigDubbs Tourist

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    Edit: I would say, table mins were significantly higher. Examples from peak weekend times:

    Aria
    • Craps: 50-100 Friday and Sat nights
    • Pai gow: 50-100 " "
    • HL baccarat: 300 - 1000 in bacc room. 100 mini outside of HL room
    Cosmo
    • Craps: 50+
    • Pai gow: 25
    • Main Floor HL room
      • Bacc: 100 mini, no touchy!
      • Bacc: 200+, dragon 6 midi
      • Roulette: 100
     
  5. Valgal

    Valgal VIP Whale

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    Not by choice. I had a trip planned for my Birthday in September. My husband refuses to go. I don't do solo trips. We kind of argued about it. But I have made peace with our decision. #1 Southwest and other airlines are struggling to keep up with demand. Too many TRs on here with airlines cancelling, delaying, or changing flights. #2 very few shows available, #3 food options -- restaurants struggling to get back to normal. I know everything will get back to normal. I am willing to wait until next year for all the kinks to be ironed out.

    For my Birthday we are going to Winstar in Oklahoma. It is about a 5 hour drive. So by the time we factor in drive and 3 hour flight it is the same amount of time. I've been once and really had no desire to go back. It is a compromise. All I really need is some VP and they do have some good pay tables. All my husband requires is a bar and a place to smoke a cigar. All their restaurants are open. One of my friends just got back and she really enjoyed it.
     
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  6. SMG

    SMG VIP Whale

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    I'm waiting to see how the travel industry recovers this summer before I plan a Vegas trip this Fall. I'm not that desperate to get back to Vegas yet. LOL Travel costs are too high right now, especially car rentals and the service industry isn't up to speed to handle the surge in travelers.

    I was planning a trip to Reno/Tahoe this month to meet up with some friends, but the rental car alone will run close to $1500/wk. I was originally planning a 2 week trip, but I can't justify spending that much, after adding up the cost of airfare, lodging, food, etc. I think I would rather save those funds for Vegas later this year. I'm probably going to stay home and visit my local casinos until things start to stabilize.
     
  7. Electroguy563

    Electroguy563 Vegas Joker

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    I am purposely avoiding Vegas. Not only because of the pandemic and short-staffing and less dining options.

    I actually started to get less and less enthusiastic about Vegas before the pandemic. Game odds started to get worse and player perks and comps started to fall. I still entertain the thought of visiting Vegas but that burning desire to go is gone.

    Having losing trips one after another would be a big reason being less enthusiastic about returning but that's not the case for me. I actually had pretty good trips winning wise the last couple of trips so losing is not the reason.

    If or when I do return I plan to play and stay at various other properties, not only the ones I used to be loyal to. The properties I was loyal to has cut the perks in half while according to my estimates my play has tripled. I actually had better perks when I started out as a newbie.

    I'll probably wait till next year. Or the next, lol!
     
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  8. midliferetired

    midliferetired VIP Whale

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    THE HEAT, OMG, THE HEAT.

    You'd think you can hang out at a pool but noooooo. Even if I can find shade and be in the water, there's only much I can handle.

    Don't you dare say but it's a dry heat.

    Probably not a big deal for some people but I would not want to do Vegas in summer again.
     
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  9. AyDee

    AyDee is getting too old for this

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    at least the rowdier clientele issue, AFAICT, was IMO several months back.
    IIRC Aug/Oct 2020 may have been the high point.
    (mods: if that's too offensive or poliical? please delete, I'm not trying to be a jerk)

    the rest of your concerns seem quite valid, as well as higher minimum table limits and rideshare not being back up to snuff quite yet.
    We've gone to every other month from every, think we'll survive the heat.. inside.

    also not so shocking that a Jul 4 weekend might stress test understaffing.

    prob would feel same about airtravel, we're lucky enough to have a drive option.
     
    Last edited: Jul 8, 2021
  10. cjcjcj

    cjcjcj VIP Whale

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    This is why my play has largely gravitated towards slots and electronic table games (bubble craps)
     
  11. LV_Bound

    LV_Bound VIP Whale

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    Purposely avoid Vegas????
    Probably only once the apocalypse and zombies arrive.
    Other than that, BRING ON VEGAS!!!!!
     
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  12. AyDee

    AyDee is getting too old for this

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    :eek:it kind of did? :cool:
    and we back!
     
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  13. hammie

    hammie VIP Whale

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    Check out Atlantic City in September, great weather, less crowds, 9 casinos (3 CET), plenty of local eats. Plus the length of Absecon Island is about 8 miles, you can run on the hard sand without shoes if you choose.
     
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  14. VegasBJ

    VegasBJ VIP Whale

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    only because we usually skip the summer months as I go to golf, Shadow Creek is closed during the summer months, and it is just too dang hot outside. this weekend supposed to be up to 118 degrees. yikes! too hot for golf. was supposed to go to Wynn and golf there, but just canceled
     
  15. alexm

    alexm VIP Whale

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    We went in May and while it was fantastic, we are not quite rushing back. The thing for us is without shows and relatively affordable limits 10-15 dollar Black Jack and 25 dollar Pai Gow, the trip isn't quite as great.
    Personally I love the crowds for the people watching, but it seemed to us that Vegas was still trying to recover it's identity when we were last there. It was severely understaffed at nearly every property we went to, and while most people were happy to be back and working, there were also quite a few who were miserable about it. Between the absurdly high demand and lack of staff to meet it, we are planning to stay away until December 2022. We are committing to going for the NFR and have decided we will give it until next year to do that.

    Until then @chef I think that @hammie is absolutely spot on. We already have trips to Atlantic City booked for July, September, and February. I'm sure there will be one more in there as well. Atlantic City to us, is nearly everything we want out of Vegas, but usually better. The only thing it's lacking is the variety of shows, but plenty of free live music and comedy clubs and such. The dining both on and off property is as good or better than anything we eat in Vegas at a price point about 30% lower. The local dining scene in Atlantic City is truly phenomenal. Outside of 3 months of the year, the crowds are fairly manageable and the weather is generally comfortable March April May some of June September October and even early November. It can be very hot and humid in July and August. The buffets are very good and returning at Hard Rock, Borgata and I would think eventually Harrah's. Like Hammie said running on the beach or boardwalk is easy in the early morning.
     
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  16. ronc

    ronc VIP Whale

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    The “crowd” has changed for the better each visit as we progressed through three trips. In November, it was a strange crowd at Luxor and Aria…and, yes, I know that they are not exactly the same at any point, but this was the only time I felt a little nervous in either place.

    In March, it had improved a bit and our May trip seemed much closer to normal. I expect that part of the deal will keep improving.

    Slow re-openings of some places, shorter hours for food options, lack of service personnel, and higher limits on the craps tables have more of an impact now. I learned in May that being there on a holiday weekend is not my thing…but it was a good trip.

    We will limit our trips to weekdays and non-event weekends for the next year or two. That fits our plans, budget, and level of comfort. I do understand why others will do different things…but I have been to many gambling locations and only Vegas is Vegas.

    Our locals are okay but I would never spend more than two nights at one. We like Biloxi, but getting to Vegas is just as easy and we like it more. AC is just as far and I am not a fan.

    Everyone has to do what feels right for them!
     
    Last edited: Jul 9, 2021
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  17. bobby jones

    bobby jones VIP Whale

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    Between March and June, too busy at work to go normally. July and August in Vegas doesn't really do it for me anyway. So I feel like I am not missing out on anything different than usual. Usually fall or late winter/early spring under normal conditions. I have our December placeholder trip booked but, cancellable. Still several months to see how comfortable I feel and which new variant is rearing its ugly head. Post NFR in a normal year and pre Christmas which is normally the slow period so we will see....
     
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  18. VegasGroove

    VegasGroove VIP Whale

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    As has been my Vegas rule for years, I avoid Vegas during "peak" times: summer, weekends, and holidays - mainly because of the crowds.

    I am scheduled for a "comeback" trip in October - hopeful the hullabaloo is minimal and the variants are not an issue.
     
    Last edited: Jul 8, 2021
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  19. ken2v

    ken2v This Space For Rent

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    Not necessarily. We've always gone to Vegas whenever we felt like it, but that feeling has been ebbing at a steady rate for a very long time so we're good going once or twice a year and also not going for a year or two. We don't vegas like most do so whatever is going on there wouldn't necessarily put us off. We're traveling a good amount so the travel "annoyances" that are out there regardless destination, from staffing and other perspectives, are a known quantity for us. When we next get the itch, over we'll drive. (We almost did a spontaneous one-night detour while recently in AZ but couldn't add it on as it turns out.)
     
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  20. Rookies11

    Rookies11 High-Roller

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    As stated before, I NEVER go to any place with ridiculously high heat! So, Vegas is always an Auto out in the summer! I wish to do other things in addition to the gambling and you cannot.

    Also, I want as close as possible, a 2019 normalcy. As it happens, I deliberately go to Vegas for the Breeder’s Cup and NFL in November. So, I’m hoping that most major airline & travel industry issues have been resolved in the next 4 months, Covid is tamed and the weather is perfect!
     
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