I'm taking the first of 2016.

 

I'm interested in this perspective. My perception of it all being a façade is the main reason I was never really excited about going. At least you've experienced it to know firsthand - better than always wanting to go and never doing it.

 

I'm noting that Vegas at NYE is a huge letdown. For one, it's cold, and for two, it's a big family trip time. Trips to Vegas and NYE are also both "amateur night" for partying. While Vegas has some cool clubs, a lot of the people that go, especially around NYE, are people that go out once or twice a year and let loose.

That said, LV is what you make of it. I'm not sure what you thought it'd be, but yeah, the external view of the strip is marketing for what amounts to being a mostly identical experience inside. Part of that is that the insides are more or less managed by 2 companies (MGM, Harrahs-Caesars) with a handful of one offs (Wynn owns Wynn/Encore, Sheldon Adelson owns Venetian/Palazzo, Riviera is a standalone, etc). Most of the strip restaurants are so-so (steak houses aside), the gambling is the same as it is everywhere else in the world at this point except they bring you "free" drinks, and the casino staff move around so much that it's nearly impossible to have a unique dealer group. Lots of the dealers are lousy at their job and some are terrible people.

Not sure if you (kryptonite) are big into sports, but the better times to go are NFL playoff weekends, Super Bowl weekend, first weekend of March Madness (NCAA basketball), and any time there is a major fight. The city actually has energy then. The other time to go is summer and go to the pool parties. Vegas has really upped their game there (although they're admittedly very douchey and very expensive).

 

I'm pretty sure that should have been more than one post.

 

I'm a bit depressed hearing about how one of my family members is doing

 

I'm saying Vegas was just one of those bucket list things to do. Figured NYE would be a cool time to do it. Ended up spending New Years at a super cool bar downtown LV which was an amazing time. Made for a great night since these places are open later than you'd want to be there.

While I can totally see the appeal for the sites of Vegas to me it just felt a little plastic, not to mention the incessant creepy dudes on the road offering my buddies and I a free ride to a strip club.

Either way I don't regret the trip one bit, think I was just bitter after that night. NYE made up for it

 

I'm smelling a potential initiation Convention opportunity. . .

 

I'm wondering what bar you went to?


Downtown LV, once you get out from under the Fremont Street thing, is pretty cool in places.

 

I'm saying we first went to the Park on Freemont which has a cool little vibe to it but a little on the dull side.
Around 11 we went to the Griffin across the street. Super cool brick interior with a bunch of fireplaces, good amount of open seating and for my friends who were into the dancing thing there was a back room with a dancefloor.
We then went to a club a few doors down, can't recall the name for reasons most can assume Good night cap to the new year.

 

I'm noting that Park on Fremont is a good place, though not the most lively.