Las Vegas visit - maybe.

[pezzy84]

So one side benefit of pandemic is that vacation packages have been very well priced and with having saved a lot of $$$ not traveling for many months its easy to just say yup lets do it. Travel shame me if you must but this is a risk I am willing to take - I get my PCR test done so results are in my inbox ~1 day before I travel, then I get PCR test once I get home.

So Vegas has always been on my radar but I am not a big gambler, its a ~4.5 hour flight from here so has never really been high on the list of a trip to take versus going to a beach in Florida or Caribbean. I have looked at packages here and there but could never justify it when it was $300-$400/per person for a 3 night stay with airfare.

I don't remember what made me look today but it was $238 per person for 3 nights at Flamingo and that price included round trip airfare on Delta for non-stop flight (yeah it is less than desirable morning flight on the return). $479 for 2 of us + $111 in resort fees for 3 night stay for a mid-May trip from Wed-Sat. Seems great right?
So looking at a smattering of restaurant menus it seems even a basic breakfast is going to run $15 per person, lunch and dinner $20+. With cocktails this is going to probably be a $250-300 day expense for 2 based on a few hours of perusing restaurant menus. No I am not the type to go visit Taco Bell or McDonalds while on vacation - I didn't fly 4+ hours to eat crap fast food. Based on a past Florida trip I am thinking restaurant/bar bill is gonna be $800-$900 for 3 nights.

Anyone who has been there that can advise? Are there budget easing restaurants? Should I just anticipate $300/day for food if I am averse to fast food while one vaca?

 

[Vegoose]

The days of cheap food in Vegas casinos are long gone. You might even be a bit low at $20 for dinner depending on where you eat. There are still some deals out there, however, if you are willing to look around a bit. Check out Barry's Downtown Prime in the Circa if you feel like venturing downtown. It's the newest (and coolest) restaurant in Vegas. Figure $50 per person for dinner w/o drinks.

Other than many of the shows still being dark, this is a great time to visit Vegas. The weather is good, the crowds are reasonable, and the rooms are cheap. Plus, our local economy could REALLY use your money...

 

[Wolf359]

What the latest you can fly on that kind of package? May isn't too bad, probably have more than a 50% chance get vaccinated by then. The buffets probably won't be back by then though.

 

[Snagglefoot]

You can avoid breakfast and lunch and instead do a smorg brunch. The food is great. I assume they are going to have servers dishing out the food. I really don't know what they are doing for prep; can it be there are no more smorgs? (buffets)

 

[GON]

Pezzy,

I am in Newport News tonight, Tampa tomorrow night, and Little Rock the following night. I travel for work and stay in a different state typically four nights a week.

Last Friday I was in Seattle, talking with a peer who regularly goes to Las Vegas. He has stopped going. His observation is Las Vegas has become a very troubled place, attracting people because of super low costs. The results is threat of harm and more everywhere per his observations. He last stayed at the Bellagio, one of the better hotels. Even in the Bellagio fights were breaking out. Walking down the strip seemed very unsafe.

Maybe a trip to Charleston SC might me more fun and relaxing AND SAFE...

 

[Quattro Pete]

Have you planned what you are going to do/see while there?

I am not into casinos, so for me the main attraction of Vegas is all the shows/performances. Because of pandemic, most of them are closed, so no point going.

 

[Vegoose]

Pezzy,

I am in Newport News tonight, Tampa tomorrow night, and Little Rock the following night. I travel for work and stay in a different state typically four nights a week.

Last Friday I was in Seattle, talking with a peer who regularly goes to Las Vegas. He has stopped going. His observation is Las Vegas has become a very troubled place, attracting people because of super low costs. The results is threat of harm and more everywhere per his observations. He last stayed at the Bellagio, one of the better hotels. Even in the Bellagio fights were breaking out. Walking down the strip seemed very unsafe.

Maybe a trip to Charleston SC might me more fun and relaxing AND SAFE...

I hate to admit it, but this was true a few months back. We had some issues with less-than-desirable tourists causing some trouble at the resorts. I can tell you that casino security and Metro PD have it largely under control. You'll notice an unusually high police presence anywhere you go on the resort corridor.

 

[Leo99]

I had heard about some safety concerns on the Strip in regards to Raiders fans. We usually spend 3 x 9 nights in Vegas each year for vacation. We eat two meals a day in Vegas. Breakfast and dinner. No time for lunch. We often eat breakfast at Off The Strip or the Mexican place on the Linq Promenade. They serve breakfast until like 2pm which works for our schedule in Vegas. Some of the budget restaurants we like near Flamingo are the Guy Fieri place at Flamingo, the Mexican place at Linq Promenade, Yardhouse, the Thai place at Ballys, the noodle place in front of Ballys. Whalburgers is ok and a lot of people like Hash House a Go Go at the Linq. Harrah's has a country themed casual restaurant if you like that sort of thing. We rarely pay for any booze in Vegas as it's comped when you gamble and the bartenders know us from visiting over the years. The mudslides at O'Shea's bar are fantastic. The frozen slushie drinks that you see for sale on the Strip and huge and stronger than you'd think. The only buffets we do are the champagne buffets.

The restaurants/bars at Planet Hollywood seem popular with budget minded folks. The Flamingo adult pool is beautiful with very nice scenery. Take a few minutes to walk around there and see the animals. Don't talk to any time share people.

I wouldn't rent a car for 3 nights unless there are some specific places you want to visit.

 

[pezzy84]

The days of cheap food in Vegas casinos are long gone. You might even be a bit low at $20 for dinner depending on where you eat. There are still some deals out there, however, if you are willing to look around a bit. Check out Barry's Downtown Prime in the Circa if you feel like venturing downtown. It's the newest (and coolest) restaurant in Vegas. Figure $50 per person for dinner w/o drinks.

Other than many of the shows still being dark, this is a great time to visit Vegas. The weather is good, the crowds are reasonable, and the rooms are cheap. Plus, our local economy could REALLY use your money...

This is excellent info. Even all the closed buffets still seem pretty $$$ at $16-17 per person - food just seems to be where they get you once you land and check into the hotel. Feels like a trap - get you here for cheap then jack your wallet eating and drinking.

We are looking at 2nd week of May right now. Looks like 60's at night and high 80's during the day - completely acceptable in our mindset.

 

[Chris142]

Wait till the plandemic is over and everything is opened back up.

 

[Chris142]

Make sure to check out red rock canyon too.

 

[B1974]

Was in Vegas in August of 2018.

Budget for a visit to exotics racing. Did 7 laps in a Porsche Cayman GTS. Totally worth it.

Stayed at Excalibur, they have good parking rates if you plan on renting a car.

 

[mbacfp]

Make sure to check out red rock canyon too.

Definitely recommend Red Rock and Valley of Fire.

 

[RhondaHonda]

You can eat at McDonalds or Subway if you are looking to save some money. I feel like most sit down strip restaurants are going to be $20-$25/person minimum plus drinks for dinner. What’s it cost to go out to eat in your town, $10-20? So for a short trip you are talking a few hundred dollars difference depending on how much you guys drink. Book that trip!

Edit- I like Secret Pizza on the 2nd (I think) floor of the Cosmopolitan. Cheap slices for a late night drunken snack or quick meal.

 

[CarLuver]

i just got back on the 11th after 5 days in Vegas. i went to visit some friends that just moved there last summer. i went alone. even though i don't drink, gamble or go to tt bars i always have a good time there. but i have been there probably 30 times. my friends love it there . the weather the food and they live in summerlin . they both work for high tech A company work from home .

the packages for sun to thursday are very cheap now. weekends always cost more i suggest you pay a little more and avoid the lower cost hotels. i stayed at the Sahara. while the hotel was nice and clean, the cliental , because of the low cost of the rooms left much to be desired. if this is your first time there, stay at somewhere in the middle of the strip. Aria is a nice place that is centrally located. if you want less expensive , the linq will be good also.

when it comes to dining in Vegas, the sky is the limit. its got food for every budget. lots of great places on the strip and off the strip. the steak house at circus circus always draws great reviews. the french mom ami gabi at the paris has great outside seating for people watching and is right across from the bellegio fountains . gotta go try in and out burgers if you have not. There is a huge Chinatown in Vegas that is close to the strip that has chinese japanese thai viet food. you will pay a premium to dine on the strip though.

if you have a car you can go visit the red rock park , hoover dam , and if you wanna race cars there are 2 tracks there. also lot of firearms places if you are interested. vegas is also very close to St george which is the entrance to some great parks.

if your plan is to go for 3 days, and its your first time , you will just be overwelmed by the strip and all there is to see. when i was there most people wore a mask but social distancing was hit or miss. at fremont street when its busy, people are packed like sardines there . i have never felt unsafe in Vegas even though i am licensed to carry a pistol there , i rarely do . on the strip there are police everywhere that have no issue cracking the heads of trouble makers . get off the strip in the seedier parts of town then it a little different . the average tourist won't be there anyways unless they are looking for something.

the prices have actually been going up now that the numbers are down in Nevada and they will be going to 50% soon. if you go in march or april the weather should be nice and sunny in the 70- 80 range and the pools open.

some people love Vegas and some hate it. some of my freinds that go say it boring after 3 day . yeah it is when all you do is gamble and drink all day long. myself i am never bored there.

 

[CarLuver]

This is excellent info. Even all the closed buffets still seem pretty $$$ at $16-17 per person - food just seems to be where they get you once you land and check into the hotel. Feels like a trap - get you here for cheap then jack your wallet eating and drinking.

We are looking at 2nd week of May right now. Looks like 60's at night and high 80's during the day - completely acceptable in our mindset.

even when its a 100 degrees it is way better than summer in Atl and humidity. you will love it in May. humidity will be low

 

[JHZR2]

Eating in Vegas?

Golden Steer Steakhouse
Forte European Tapas Bar (get the Bulgarian mixed grill)
Planet Hollywood buffet

Then get out of town and drive to the Hoover Dam. See the old neon at the north end of the strip at night.

 

[Anon9283]

Wait till the plandemic is over and everything is opened back up.

Did you really just say plandemic? We’re basically a year into this with half a million deaths in the US. Please keep your BS out of this.

To the OP: my wife and I don’t gamble but love vegas. Got engaged there in fact on vacation. Expect to spend more than you think, but that usually happens on any vacation. We go for people watching, weather, and shows but I don’t know their current situation on live shows

 

[OZHSV]

Las Vegas has become a very troubled place, attracting people because of super low costs. The results is threat of harm and more everywhere per his observations. He last stayed at the Bellagio, one of the better hotels. Even in the Bellagio fights were breaking out. Walking down the strip seemed very unsafe.

That’s very sad. I was there in 2013 and had a great time. Walked the strip many times and did not feel unsafe for a second. Everyone was in a jovial mood and not threatening at all....the card snappers on the other hand almost got punched a few times...by me...

We stayed at the Monte Carlo which I now believe has changed names.

 

[pezzy84]

Thank you everyone for the excellent info!

We are not big on gambling - at most we will earmark maybe $150/each to blow at the casinos and once that is gone no more gaming, its kind of take it or leave it for us. It's fun but the razzle dazzle of the casinos doesn't really rope me in like they want.

Our thought was to take a day and rent a car (Dollar or Alamo right in the hotel) and drive to the closest overlook to Grand Canyon that is ~3 hours away and hit Hoover Dam as well. 2nd night maybe a magic show and/or a burlesque show - seems there is quite a bit to offer on this front even if it is still quite scaled back from previous. Seems pretty easy to fill up an itinerary for a 3 night visit.

Our plan is 3 nights because neither of us have been so seems a good point where if we end up not enjoying its a short enough visit to be bearable, if we end up loving it and feel our time is too short we can always go back at a later date.