I had the same thought the last time I went there, but I thought it was because I'm getting old. Now if you'll excuse me, I have some kids to shoo off my lawn.
The OP and the rest feel it sucks cuz it's lost whatever it had. I never thought LV was such a great place from multiple visits I've taken. It's chaotic, it's depressing, people are rude, it reeks of smoke, it overloads on the senses. I'm not a gambler so that's probably part of the reason for my dislike of LV. I'm not a show person. "Oh, but there are those nightclubs!" Yeah, if you feel like paying overpriced cover. I can go to LA for that shit. "But you can bring your drinks outside on the Strip." BFD. Yeah, not really my type of town to party in. I really don't see what the big deal is.
Eh... everyone I know who's been to Vegas multiple times has thought it's 'not as good as it used to be'. Maybe it's because the novelty value wears off after a few trips? I know a lot of the stuff I did was sort of one-off (like seeing the pyramid at the Luxor). I've only been once, but it seems to me that it's pretty straightforward. The food is overpriced, the Strip is awful value for gambling, there's not a whole lot else to do once you've seen the sights, dined and danced. But that doesn't matter - you're there for the experience. The pricey restaurants, the opulent hotels, the people-watching. The big shows, depending on what's on. I don't know. I've never really taken to Vegas, but the accounts I've heard it seems to be pretty consistent - are you sure it's not just you that's changed?
Uh, no. I've been a dozen times, and one of the things that attracted me about the strip was that you could always find a $5 blackjack table where people knew what they were doing. So it usually presented a good value in gambling, at least in comparison to Foxwoods/Mohegan Sun (more expensive tables) and Atlantic City (gamblers who don't have a clue). That was distinctly not the case, however, on my most recent trip. For 72 hours I couldn't, for the life of me, find a table where folks weren't splitting sixes or hitting against a break card. And maybe it's just that I'm older, but there seemed to be waaay more fratboy hubris than there used to be. If I were to put a point on it, I'd say Vegas's - or at least the Strip's - fall really began with NBA all-star weekend back in 2006 (or 07 was it?). Up until that point, it was at least a little bit about gambling. From that point forward, it's been all about the scene.
Bill Simmons has a two part column over at ESPN on him and his boys rolling in Vegas. Apparently, Vegas is what you make it.
That's why I stay downtown. For me, it's all about the gambling and meeting people from all over the country, and the world. I still get some buzz playing craps at Binion's, even if it's not the same as when the Binion's ran it.
I went there a few years back. Got drunk in the middle of the strip off of the infamous $1 michelobs, defiantly played on the slots, bought some kicks, ate some good food, was offered both hookers, ecstacy, cocaine, and marijuana and oh yeah my cousin got married in one of those little white chapels, Vegas style. And I was the best man. I was only 17 years old at the time. So Vegas IS what you make of it. You guys are boring.
I was there for a batchelor party last fall. We usually stay at the Nugget when we're there. First night playing craps I threw 5 hard fours in a row with my buddy Drew starting with a buck bet on it and pressing it each time. So ********ing awesome. Gambling downtown is the way to go. One buddy paid for bottle service section at a strip club the 2nd night. We almost got in a fight with an actor by the first name of Ryan. We had an awesome golf day while all massively hungover. Spent a full day in a soccer bar (7:00 AM to 6:00 PM) drinking, throwing darts and meeting a bunch of Brits. It was a great trip and I'm 32.
I was there back in '03 and it seemed to me to be a lot about the scene then. I'm not a serious gambler by any means, but I really couldn't find anywhere with good value. Maybe it's because I didn't know where to look, being inexperienced and foreign. Still had a great time though.
Not sure about Vegas but you could almost sense the same thing happening to Dubai right now. Its a real shame...
See, no offense intended, but you sound like exactly the kind of person who makes Vegas suck. I don't go there to be around mobs of drunken 17-year-olds drinking $1 Michelobs. Okay, maybe I need to stay downtown next time. I don't think the problem is that the novelty is wearing off, since I've been visiting Vegas since as long as I can remember and I've always LOVED it. I even lived there for a summer and never came close to getting tired of it. OTOH I am older. Nevertheless I think I can say pretty objectively that the flavor and tenor of the Strip have changed. I don't really hate it, but it's disappointing now.
No offense taken. Believe me. However if I'm the type of person who makes Vegas suck (whatever 'sucks' may encompass), than so be it, I'll take it. In the end I had a blast, and here you are lamenting yourself. Besides, I was the youngest person I saw while I was there, so no there weren't any drunk 17 year olds (besides me). It really isn't a town for those under 21. Just sayin'.
I think it all depends on the type of the trip. I went to Vegas the first time with my girlfriend and stayed at Aladdin. It was great. The window on the 24th floor was looking straight at the Bellagio fountains. We walked the strip every day, gambled a bit and saw a bunch of shows, which rocked. Last May I went to a bachelors party, stayed about 3 miles off the strip in this huge rented house. Got drunk most of the time, went to a bunch of overpriced, overhyped strip clubs, lost some money playing poker in old city to a friend, but at the same time, went to a shooting range..............which was ********ING awesome. So, all depends what you do and who you are with. Overall, it's a money sucking place, but what do you expect. Going there for another bachelors party in December.
Aladdin is now Planet Hollywood, right? I don't think it's Aladdin any more, which is too bad, because I liked it when it was Aladdin. That sounds like my last trip, a couple of years ago, except we stayed in New York New York instead of a rented house. If you search this forum for posts that talk about screaming young people in Vegas, you'll probably find my trip report -- in fact, I just did and found it here -- Farfan confirmed I was getting old in the very next post too . The shooting range was awesome on my trip too.
I believe you are right. Wow, that post was almost identical to my experience. I thought I was reading like my own blog or something. I also won a t-shirt at the shooting range for being the best shooter with the Desert Eagle. It says Infidel on it in English and Arabic. I think there are way too many people in Vegas who should be staying at frat parties at UNLV than cruising the strip and the casinos. Still, the shows are great.
I'm guessing this is the kind of stuff that the Las Vegas Tourism Bureau would like to see stay in Vegas.
I've been to Vegas twice; once with my then girlfriend (now wife) during Spring Break 2006 and last summer for a Bachelor Party. First time we had a fun time, but were actively avoiding the spring break crowds, as that wasn't our thing. Had a beautiful room at the Flamingo, and ended up winning $1,000 at a quarter slot at the Frontier. Last summer was more of a drunken fest. Had an amazing time at the Tournament of Champions Show at the Excalibur. Was amazed at how many bartenders would not serve us any liquor at all, instead opting to serve the beautiful people. Downtown Vegas was a lot of fun, especially with $1 Coronas. Highlight of the trip was a bartender at the Excalibur telling us that if we put $1 in the video poker machine, then no matter how long we are there for the drinks are on the house. We got smashed, and he walked away with a fat tip. A college friend of mine works for the Feds in Vegas. She says that if you don't know a group of friends who like to camp or hike the mountains, then the social scene sucks. Also, residential real estate is in the middle of a fire sale right now.
Yup, Vegas is as fun or boring as you make it. Hookers, machine guns, gambling and fireworks, it's all out there folks, you just have to know where to look. Add in some world class food and a couple of kick ass Sushi places(in the desert, of all places) and Vegas has it going on! I haven't had a bad experience there yet.
I don't know what "old" Vegas was like but it's probably comparable to what the "old" & better Times Square was like. Peep shows on every corner, people getting bottles bashed over their heads, Huggy Bear like pimps lurking about, coked out whores and trannies. In other words - LOTSA FUN! When I went to Vegas several years ago it was like the current Times Square - populated by fat Midwesterners and gawking Asians. I'll try Reno next time