Vegas v. Orleans v. Miami v. NYC

I know, it all depends on what you want to do and see. But I live near NYC and rather fly across the states to go "home" to Vegas lol. Nevertheless I think NYC has so much more to offer except in a completely different package. At this point, NYC has all that Vegas has except not in the same amount or concentration. For example, NYC may have more bars/clubs spread out over the city and more diversity in this as well, but Vegas has more concentrated in one area, in the confines of some lux hotels, and some of the hottest nightlife in the nation. Nevertheless, NYC is not so hot yet in the gambling arena. And indeed, Vegas may be lacking in "culture". So, it may not be the best place for a "cultural experience". While Vegas has "something" for everyone, in NYC the possibilities are truly endless.

New Orleans is like a little hub of mass culture, great food, and wild times. But I find their "main" street (Bourbon) a bit seedy. Fun, nevertheless. I would not consider traveling their solo. Believe it or not, Vegas feels safer. I actually think New Orleans is more raw and raunchy than Vegas. With multiple strip clubs on their main street mixed in among their clubs and restaurants, festivals with probable nudity, of course massive amounts of drinking, haunts and voodoo, perhaps NO could be more SIN city than Vegas itself. Unlike New Orleans, Vegas is 24/7 with more entertainment, way more gambling (NO only has one big casino and 2 small ones spread out in no where), way more and better nightlife, etc. But there is a lot to do in NO from antique shops, historical landmarks, river cruises, park, garden district, french quarter, museums, FOOD, architecture, swamp tours, cemetery tours, plantation tours, streetcar rides, etc. New Orleans reminded me of Amsterdam a little except less clean, more quaint, more historic (or maybe just more old-feeling, not necessarily older). While Vegas does not have the level of food in most respects and has neither a river nor culture to speak of, Vegas very much hold its own in comparison to NO.

So finally Miami. I think Vegas has a most direct comparison to Miami versus NO or NYC, only because both are associated with great nightlife and atmosphere in a semi-luxury or in some cases faux lux environment. Of course, Vegas has no beach. Both have great weather, depending on the level/type of heat you can stand. No gaming in Miami and far less shows in Miami than in Vegas. Miami is quite pretentious as some pockets of Vegas.

Depending on what you want to do, these cities may vary much in ranking order. But overall I would take 1. Vegas, 2. NYC, 3. Miami and New Orleans (tie). Any other opinions?

 

well ive lived in NYC all my life and cant fathom why anyone would want to 'vacation' here. its a concrete jungle, sure, its the cultural capital of the USA (if not the world), but i guess growing up here, i take it for granted...except when i leave here, then i miss it...A LOT

miami is nice, and if i want beaches and nightlife, i might choose it...though i would very much prefer puerto rico. PR is just an amazing place. plus PR also has casinos

never been to NO, and honestly, have no intention of ever going. to me its just booze and a 'girls gone wild' commercial (which i can find in lots of places LOL)

vegas is nice and fun....for a few days (my liver would explode if i went there more often). but funny enough, i feel much safer at 3am walking around NYC than i do in vegas. strange, but vegas people scare me. :confused2:

if i would choose ONE place to do a little bit of everything...in the USA at least..it would be Puerto Rico. hands down my fav place.

 

I agree with you that New Orleans is more raw and raunchy than Las Vegas... I LOVE NEW ORLEANS!!! But... Las Vegas remains my playground when it's time for fun. New York is intimidating to me and I've only been there twice for short stays. Miami was too humid (only been there once). I'm a west-coast guy and also love San Francisco and Seattle's nightlife. Just had a week long "blast" in the Gaslamp Dist. in San Diego too!

 

Just gonna rank em according to where I want to go back to. Vegas, everything I want to do in one package along with a great group of friends there we consider to be family. NOLA, great dining, fun dive joints, history I really love and Gulf fishing. Miami beaches, boobs, good off shore fishing, ripple wave riding and some really cool old art deco architecture. NYC is the only one I have zero desire to go back to.

 

I would go to the track, in Miami -
to get my gambling fix.
Never been to NO or Miami.
Been to Amsterdam + live north of NYC.

 

I must disagree....

NOLA's main street really is NOT Bourbon Street. I lived there for years, and I only went on Bourbon if someone from out of town was visiting and demanded it. To limit the scope of your understanding of that city to "girls gone wild" means you are missing out on the overwhelming majority of the city. While the mainstream media pushes that aspect of the city, there is much more. It is much like when tell us that they went to Las Vegas once, stay on the strip and have "seen everything Vegas has to offer".

ps- Locals don't flash. Only tourists.

 

Travel destinations are never either/or for me. We decide where we want to visit next based on the time we can get away, our budget for the trip, anything special we feel like doing. I love NYC, love Vegas (though less than I used to), enjoy New Orleans, have no desire to explore more in Miami. I don't like sun and beaches much (to make them a big vacation destination, at least) We almost went to NYC for Thanksgiving week but decided to go to Paris instead. We'll be in Vegas in Feb but that's a business trip. Our next vacation -sometime in the summer probably - will be a sailboat charter in the british virgin islands. Possibly with a 3 days stopover in Puerto Rico on the return. I really want to go to Vietnam, hubby says we need a long time so it hasn't worked out with work/vacation time yet to travel to Asia. We'd like to go to Alaska again (I've been 3X, hubby once, we love, but we don't have family there anymore) I do have family in Australia now who are bugging us to visit.

Actually, next time away - mountain cabin, western NC, for New Years eve weekend - I have Mon & Tues as holidays from work. Doing the snow dance!!!!

So many places. So little time

 

Have many friends back east who swear by the beauty of Western Carolina!

 

We can go to Vegas anytime - 5 hrs by car. I'd take New Orleans. Has great nightlife, history, architecture, character. And you can gamble there if you're so inclined.

 

Asheville has held the lead in the "where do we want to retire" game for the past few years My mom's cabin is further north, at Beech Mtn, and it is gorgeous!

 

NYC is a much more romantic winter wonderland type of experience. Vegas is just one big party oasis in the desert. Personally I love Vegas for NYE, but it depends on your personality.

 

Out of the 4 I've only been to Vegas.

NYC just looks like pure hell, you could offer me an all expense paid trip with $10K in spending money and I'd say no way!

N.O. looks like a shit hole full of every disease known to man, would never visit there either.

Miami looks amazing and would love to visit there someday.

 

Ranking

#1 NYC
#2 Vegas
#3 Miami
#4 New Orleans (but only cause I've never been)

NYC

I spend 5-6 months per year living in NYC area and spend significant time exploring NYC and I absolutely love it. There is an almost infinite amount to see and do and even though its far more spread out than Vegas (strip-wise Vegas anyway), it is easy enough to traverse via foot or subway. I enjoy walking Central Park, walking the Brooklyn Bridge, and exploring the infinite number of cool bars and pizza and burger joints in the various Manhattan neighborhoods. I haven't even delved into the other boroughs yet. The only downer to NYC for me is the taxi situation is horrible compared to Vegas or Chicago. I am glad New York City does not have gambling. It is for something different. It's for work, and culture.

Vegas

Far more concentrated fun, and I like that I know it almost better than any city I haven't lived in. I love the ability to walk or inexpensively cab to anywhere I want to go. I love the extreme luxury for incredible value, especially in comparison to New York. I do have to say I really prefer Vegas in the summer, when regardless of no beach, you have the pool scene to mellow out the overall experience. I like the "free" drinks.

Miami

I'm down with the whole art deco thing on South Beach, especially some of the boutique hotels which offer an at least reasonable value and a little non-corporate charm. Obviously you need to be a sun worshipper, pool person, beach person to obtain maximum value from a Miami trip. I actually find Miami seedier and more dangerous feeling than NYC or Vegas, but that could just be my lack of relative familiarity, I've probably only spent maybe 3 weeks in Miami in the past 10 years.

New Orleans

Although many say this place is great, it really combines the qualities of the others which are least important to me. I'm not all that enticed, although I can't say I wouldn't love it if I tried it. Gaggles recently went to N.O. and seemed to have a great time, I may have to pick his brain a little more about that.

I think if I won the lottery tomorrow I might very well split my time between Chicago, Vegas, New York, and Miami. OK who am I kidding, i would split it between Cosmo, Aria, Bellagio, Wynn, and Palazzo.

 

1a: Vegas
1b: New Orleans. Was there for the BCS title game. Had an absolute blast. I'll agree with the sentiment that NO night be more of a "Sin" City than Vegas.

2: NYC: enjoyable, but I almost feel overwhelmed by all the stuff to take in. Never felt like I got a "feel" for the city, whereas in Vegas and NO I can just pop my overserved ass in and out of bars as I please










3: Miami. No desire to return to Miami at all.

 

Have been to all four; my rankings:

1) Tie between Vegas and Miami (loooove the beach and tropical vibe of Miami!)
2) New Orleans
3) New York

I'd throw San Francisco into the mix, too, and it would be #2 on my list.

 

New Orleans is just an awesome, amazing place. It's a shame that people see the debauchery that is Bourbon Street and think that the entire city is like that. It would be like walking into the Western and using that experience as a blanket statement on Vegas. (Loved the Western by the way.)

Even if you just stay in the French Quarter, New Orleans is so much more than Bourbon Street. The whole quarter is filled with amazing restaurants, bars, fantastic music both in the bars and on the streets, street performers of all kinds, beautiful architecture, history, etc, etc.

Bourbon Street is everything people say it is, and I loved it in my 20's, but now that I've hit 40, I prefer walking down Royal or Decatur, walking over to the Marigny (steps away from the Quarter but a well kept secret to most tourists), taking a stroll through Congo Square and Armstrong Park.

And I have to mention the food again. It is unbelievable good. They can blindfold you, drop you off in a random spot in the Quarter, push you in any direction and within half a block you'll walk into a place that sells amazing food.

TFK

 

1. Vegas
2. NYC.
3. New Orleans.
4. Miami.

 

NYC is awesome.
Miami I need to explore more.
same for NO - wasn;t impressed but I was only there for 24 hours with family.
Vegas I keep going back to.


but 4 cities is just too restrictive.
I've travelled to nearly 30 countries, lived in over 20 different houses, done about 30 states in the USA and whilst I've been lucky to see so much there is so much more I want to see. I need to explore the heartland of the usa - spend time travelling the rockies from one end to the other, do more pacific island hopping, go around Oz and New Zealand and thats without even touching asia!!!!

theres places I would love to return to - egypt, turkey, italy, denmark, paris, Aruba, Mexico....
and then there big cities that change so much each year that every trip could be different.

I'm slowly coming to realise that it doesn;t matter how much I scratch this travel itch - it isn't ever going away...

theres too much out there to see and do...

Vegas is an easy one though because I have a lot of friends who like to meet there. fun and convenient!

 

Out of that group, I'd take NYC over the rest combined, multiple times. Food, shopping, vibe, art, history, sports, culture; it is the Big Apple for a reason.

Turista NOLA you can keep. Hate it. Disneyland with drunks. Other parts of town, the environs; you betcha.

Miami is worse. South Beach is cool from an architectural perspective.

My top 4 domestic cities: NYC, Seattle, SF, Austin.