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Vegas with non gamblers


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weluvvegas

weluvvegas

Casino Countess
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Dec 31, 2003
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Northern CA
Trips to Las Vegas
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So...going to Vegas for my birthday in a few weeks and invited my brother and his wife to meet us there. Quick trip, only about 2.5 days if you subtract travel time. Normally it's just my husband and I although we've taken our teens a few times, we've always hard the grandparents with us so there were plenty of opportunities to sneak away to play. My brother does not gamble, like at all. My sis in law does a bit but nothing like we do. A normal trip for the husband and I is to casino crawl, slotting all day and night. Now we will play only at night this trip.

It's getting close to 30 Vegas trips now for us and I am stumped as of what to do with a non gamblers in Vegas! I invited them because we never do anything together and I want to spend a few quality days with them. Any ideas on what we should do to max out our time? Maybe things we normally miss because we have our faces stuck in the slots all day? It's been at least 10 years since they've been there. It's been 9 mths since we've been there :) oh yeah and did I mention he hates shows too? Although I'm buying Love tickets and forcing him to go since he's a huge Beatles fan. He can thank me afterwards. Lol
 
Lol....wow, doesn't like gambling and shows at all......um and you decided to invite them to Vegas! You did it to your self!!!! Lol. Let's see, how about outskirts of Vegas??? Red rock, grand canon, Hoover dam etc? Also high roller during night time? Have him see the all the lights during night time and he may understand why people like Vegas! Sorry not much of help. It's obvious but take them to buffet? And some serious quality Resturant's or simple five50 pizza place in Aria and Secret Pizza in cosmo. There's some sports activities at new T mobile center and Top Golf at MGM.
Good luck!!! Hopefully you still like him after Vegas trip lol !!!
 
I would (delicately) feel them out about what they want to do..including how much time as a group. Sometimes people play the polite game, and spend more time together than either party really wants.

I would say get a feel for what they enjoy most, food, relaxing, exploring, etc. (On food, make sure to get a feel for budgets/cuisine preferences, as you don't want a meal that is over their budget, which is easy to do in Vegas for newer visitors.)

Often, meeting up for a couple of meals/walk-abouts, plus your show, is more than enough for all parties, and it'd be a shame to find out afterwards you totally tweaked your birthday trip for something they didn't want in the first place.

Now, if it was a solo person, that would be different..but as a couple, they might want to explore on their own a bit as well!

Heck, if all else fails, take them to the spots that made YOU fall in love with Vegas. They decided to come, which means they probably are a bit curious on what started your love affair with Vegas, and this could be fun for all!

Either way, it's still Vegas, have a blast!
 
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What kinds of things WOULD they like? You could show them around the spectacle of Vegas - Bellagio Conservatory & Fountain show for sure. Would they like any of the museums like the Mob Museum? Or Shark Reef at Mandalay Bay? Shopping? Secret Garden? Drive a race car? Shoot a gun? Look for aliens on the ET Highway? Red Rock? Hoover Dam? Or pool time or spa day?

Vegas is full of options, even for a non-gambler. I like to just wander and look at things and people, but I've heard it said that I'm a weirdo. ;)

Good for you on the Love tickets. Sometimes you just have to make some people have fun.
 
Sonya said:
...Good for you on the Love tickets. Sometimes you just have to make some people have fun.
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Well said. No gambling. No shows. I would really be concerned how he will deal with high prices for food and drink.

You really need to set "private time" aside so they can go do things on their own.
 
nostresshere said:
......I would really be concerned how he will deal with high prices for food and drink.

You really need to set "private time" aside so they can go do things on their own.
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Two words: Ellis Island. Cheap food, cheap drinks, bad karaoke lol.
You're obviously a Vegas veteran so you orobably know about lasvegasadvisor. Pick up a couple books and share the discounts
 
weluvvegas said:
S. . . . I invited them because we never do anything together and I want to spend a few quality days with them.
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Picking Vegas as a place to start "doing anything together" is quite the risk, considering your description of them. I would have settled for dinner and a move back home AFTER the Vegas trip! LOL!!!

Seek out a nice band in a lounge after dinner or after Love.
Take a helicopter ride.
Do the Neon Boneyard.
But most of all - enjoy your birthday! You don't want to come home feeling empty like you didn't do "your" Vegas.
 
I admire your guts, taking someone who doesn't gamble or like shows to a place that is nothing but gambling and shows. Once you get past that we're down to dining and drinkin' , which is in the general proximity of gaming, so that might come off the list as well. It's been ten years since they were there, soooooo it's not like they don't know what they're in for. You can fill up a whole lot of time just ambling up and down the strip and if they haven't done the Grand Canyon / Hoover Dam type stuff, that's the direction in which I'd lean.
 
Beatles Love is perfect for the type that doesn't like shows. Just enough pop culture and music. Of course the only non Love cirque show I've seen was Zarkana. That was a huge wtf. Didn't know what was going on. The individual acts and performers were very talented but I had no idea what was supposed to be going on.
 
Wow, I would not want to be the tour guide in Vegas. I would not like to spend my time trying to make sure somebody else has a good time.
You have got to feel them out. Find out something that might enjoy doing. Tell them to do some basic research. I would let them know that this trip will be what they make it, so do not depend on you to take them by the hand and babysit.
Good luck!!!!!!
 
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One of the best vegas trips I ever had was with a group of non-gamblers(or if they did gamble, it was the occasional $20 on roulette). I realized that even though I have been to LV plenty of times, im usually posted up at a blackjack/craps/poker table for hours upon hours and miss out on so much this city has to offer. The group of non-gamblers I was with have never been to Vegas so we did alot of hotel/bar/pool hopping as well as people watched on the strip and I had such a great time, I even went a full 3 days without gambling. I think if you spend time with your brother and his wife and make the effort to stay away from gambling and just see the sights, do the shows, hit up the bars, and eat the great food, you guys will have an awesome time
 
weluvvegas said:
I invited them because we never do anything together and I want to spend a few quality days with them
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Choose a couple of places for a half/day trip like Grand Canyon, Hoover Dam, Red Rock - send them the websites and ask them to choose the one that interests them the most.
That sidetrip plus a place to eat along the way should cover one of your days - go separate ways for the evening.
You already have tickets to LOVE (who wouldn't love that?) including dinner takes care of another evening.
One day of fun strip sightseeing and drinks or food covers the rest.
The time will fly and your brother and wife will appreciate being able to share your birthday with you plus some old fashioned family together time. You can always gamble on your own in the wee hours.

Happy birthday and have fun!
 
Thanks ya'll. Money is no issue for my bro - he just doesn't believe in gambling it away. He doesn't find it fun. But yes, he enjoys nice things...good food/drinks but also loves FREE...so I have free buffets from MyVegas at Mirage and Aria and some food credit etc... so we will be doing those things. I thought about High Roller...probably we will do that and I haven't been to the Park area yet - this summer we just didn't get down there. I think I better make a list so we aren't walking around aimlessly going "what do you want to do?"

Normally wouldn't want to play tour guide but it's family :)

Edit to say that I don't want to mess with a rental car this trip so we'll stick with local places even though I hear Mt. Charleston is beautiful this time of year.
 
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weluvvegas said:
Thanks ya'll. Money is no issue for my bro - he just doesn't believe in gambling it away. He doesn't find it fun. But yes, he enjoys nice things...good food/drinks but also loves FREE......
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Ahhh... things are looking hopeful.

Where are you staying? Depending on location, you might draft up a few "walking tours" that they can take on their own to fully enjoy the sites as a newbie - then meet up for drinks/dinner at a certain time.
 
nostresshere said:
Ahhh... things are looking hopeful.

Where are you staying? Depending on location, you might draft up a few "walking tours" that they can take on their own to fully enjoy the sites as a newbie - then meet up for drinks/dinner at a certain time.
Click to expand...

We are staying at the Cosmo, so perfect location!
 
When I go to Vegas with family, I myself become a non-gambler!
I have done it 3 times, most recently last month before Christmas.
Well, not literally non-gambler, I just cycle though the free plays on the machines and cash out, no more, no less.
Because all the rooms are always comped with resort credits, and it surely is registered as a no-play trip.
But I care nothing about that. As long as I have good time with the family, f**k the casinos.

I think having a car is very important with family. I can't imagine doing it without.
For my solo trips I never rent a car, but always with family.
 
If you want to head downtown, Fremont Street is cool. At least 3 live bands outdoors, and great food.
 
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