Should every body visit Las Vegas at least once in their lives?

SHOVELLER · 27-03-2013 12:30PM

Shenshen wrote: »

I've not commented negatively once about it.
All I've said is that I'm not interested in it... but for some reason, that seems to be enough to get people's feathers ruffled.

There are lots of places I'd be interested in seeing, but equally there are lots of places I've little to no interest in.
Paris, for example, doesn't really interest me. I've never been, but I wouldn't really want to, either. The same would go for, oh, I don't know, Australia. I'm sure it has lots to offer and many people adore it, but I'm simply not interested.

I never claimed that I've been to Las Vegas, I never claimed I don't like Las Vegas. I simply said I wasn't interested, so for me the answer to the OP would have to be "no".

Then one comment would have sufficed.

Thanks for coming!

Cienciano · 27-03-2013 12:42PM

Interesting to see so many people say it "sounds" horrible but they've never been!
I was there for 3 days. I'd rather pour acid on my ball bag than gamble I just don't see the point of sitting there handing over your money, and I hate the heat, despise nightclubs. Still a great place and I'd advise anyone to go there.
I wouldn't go back, purely because it's expensive to get to and if I was heading back to that part of the world I'd go to san francisco.
I drove from LA through death valley to get there. Did a sunset helicopter ride to the grand canyon, takes in the strip at night too. Rented a harley and went out to the hoover dam. Stayed in a suite in the Venetian for $130 a night. Same room here would cost you closer to €700 a night.
Heading up the "eiffel tower" to watch the Bellagio fountains is great. Every casino is worth a visit for whatever gimmick they have.
I know a lot of people that went and no one came back saying they hated it. A few hated the idea of going, but came back loving it.
My only advise is if you're going to go all the way over there, stay about 10 days and only stay 2-3 nights in vegas. Go to san diego, san francisco and a day in LA too if you can.

aoraki · 27-03-2013 12:44PM

Merkin wrote: »

I spent three nights there last August as part of a USA road trip along Route 66. It was HOT then by the way, it reached 111 degrees one afternoon. It's somewhere I'd wanted to visit and I'm glad I did but would I go back? No way in hell.

It's a funny place insofar as everything is just excessive and extravagant beyond belief so that's entertaining in itself but I actually found it quite a sad and soulless place. It's like a very shiny, lit up tin man but with no beating heart. The amount of lonesome and geriatric compulsive gamblers there was sad. There were also a lot of families there with kids which I found shocking to say the least, it's definitely not a place for tots and is very much an adult location I reckon. Fair enough, it doesn't sell itself as anything other than that. Hedonism is where it's at after all.

I saw so many brides there walking through the chaotic and smokey casinos and they looked miserable. I mean really miserable and unhappy and bewildered and I'm so glad it wasn't on my list of wedding venues. People who think it quirky or different I fear would be desperately disappointed as it's just the definition of tacky and crass to be honest.

We had a Deluxe suite in the Venetian which in itself is a sight to behold but it was wildly expensive. Great eateries but as with everything in Vegas, the idea is to extract as much money as possible out of you in as short a time as possible. We did have great fun there, gambled and got pissed as farts but were also glad to leave.

So in answer to your question, should everyone visit Las Vegas at least once in their lives? I'd say only if you're in the area or driving along the West Coast. Laying eyes on the breathtaking Grand Canyon or sitting and having lunch while people-watching along the crazy Venice Beach or driving along Route 66 at sunset would take precedence for me anytime, simply because they've got some substance to them where as LV doesn't really.

This times 100. Was there for a few days myself and I thought it was a sad souless cheap tacky sleazy kip of a place myself. Having said that, I was there on business and not pleasure, but I still was able to go out on the town in the evenings after I was finished work. I'd say if you decided to get married there, you would seriously seriously regret it. My only regret (and it's a big one) about that Vegas trip was not visiting the Grand Canyon. That may have changed my opinion of the place.

Each to their own though, but I wouldn't go back there in a fit. Even if you were set on going to the US, there are far better places there to visit IMO.

Kold · 27-03-2013 12:52PM

There is a lot of beauty in America. The great con is that they get people to believe a gambling town in the desert is better..

grarf · 27-03-2013 12:53PM

Hmm I can think of LOTS of places I'd visit before I'd go to Vegas, to be honest. No interest in seeing it whatsoever.

Cienciano · 27-03-2013 01:01PM

If a mate, even a best mate said they were having a stag night there I wouldn't go. Not a hope I'd spend that much money going back, especially when there's so many european cities that are way closer, cheaper and have better nightlife.

Shenshen wrote: »

There are lots of places I'd be interested in seeing, but equally there are lots of places I've little to no interest in.
Paris, for example, doesn't really interest me. I've never been, but I wouldn't really want to, either. The same would go for, oh, I don't know, Australia. I'm sure it has lots to offer and many people adore it, but I'm simply not interested.

Never been to australia, but you're missing out big style on Paris. Fair enough not going to australia, it costs a lot to get there, takes a lot of time too. But paris is a €50 hour long flight. The idea of not going there because of a preconceived notion that you won't like it is mental imho! It's an amazing city.

krudler · 27-03-2013 01:08PM

Kold wrote: »

There is a lot of beauty in America. The great con is that they get people to believe a gambling town in the desert is better..

Sure is, I don't get this attitude of people who don't like America even though they've never been there, it's a staggeringly beautiful country, Canada too. Its full of crap places as well like any other country of course, including this little island of ours, which has some amazing sights to see.

Shenshen · 27-03-2013 01:12PM

Cienciano wrote: »

Never been to australia, but you're missing out big style on Paris. Fair enough not going to australia, it costs a lot to get there, takes a lot of time too. But paris is a €50 hour long flight. The idea of not going there because of a preconceived notion that you won't like it is mental imho! It's an amazing city.

Very few people have the money and the time to see every little bit of this planet, so everyone makes choices as to what they will want to go and see and what they'll give a miss. And all of those are based on preconceived notions.

I generally prefer cities that aren't quite as big, and I've been to a lot of smaller Northern French towns and cities which I really really liked (Strasbourg, Metz, Nantes, Reims, etc.)
It's just a matter of preference.

As I said, I wouldn't dream of suggesting to people that there is any place at all on earth that literally everybody should visit at least once, the notion just brushes me the wrong way.

Kinski · 27-03-2013 01:20PM

krudler wrote: »

Why you getting so uppity and defensive about a place you've never been to? so have zero experience of for yourself? I went to Paris a few years ago, expected to love it, most overrated place I've ever been, its filthy, the people are horrible, its maddeningly expensive unless you spend ages wasting time looking for smaller cheaper places to go, but I'd still tell people to go and make their own trip of it, purely for the museums and the buildings.

Apart from a couple of pure Francophiles, I've never met anyone who likes Paris.

Also, Athens seems to be another popular spot that everybody hates (not been myself though.)

martinn123 · 27-03-2013 01:24PM

I have been to Vegas twice, and as soon as this feckin recession is over I will be back.
A lot depends on where you stay, personally the MGM Grand is the best hotel avb.

Twice I came away with more cash than I had on arrival, and that included spending cash on Food, Drink, excursions etc,

It's not for everyone, and you have to be very disciplined gambling, don't carry the Credit Card, and limit yourself to what you can afford to loose.

Sitting in the Bar's you can watch the underbelly of the place, hookers, punters, scam artists, just don't get involved. on the strip you have the usual, Time Share scams, people selling excursions at inflated prices, etc.

Definitely worth a 3/4 day visit, but as part of a bigger holiday.

First time we went, Chicago, Vegas, New York, home

Second, L.A, drove to San Fran, drove to Vegas, back to L.A and home

Cienciano · 27-03-2013 01:25PM

Shenshen wrote: »

Very few people have the money and the time to see every little bit of this planet, so everyone makes choices as to what they will want to go and see and what they'll give a miss. And all of those are based on preconceived notions.

I generally prefer cities that aren't quite as big, and I've been to a lot of smaller Northern French towns and cities which I really really liked (Strasbourg, Metz, Nantes, Reims, etc.)
It's just a matter of preference.

As I said, I wouldn't dream of suggesting to people that there is any place at all on earth that literally everybody should visit at least once, the notion just brushes me the wrong way.

So you liked france, but you're not going to paris because people say you should, and it's too big? Each to their own, but strange reasoning imho!
Your idea of hell must be the Paris casino in Vegas

Kinski wrote: »

Apart from a couple of pure Francophiles, I've never met anyone who likes Paris.

Me. I'm not a Francophile, but I loved Paris.

Shenshen · 27-03-2013 01:28PM

Cienciano wrote: »

So you liked france, but you're not going to paris because people say you should, and it's too big? Each to their own, but strange reasoning imho!
Your idea of hell must be the Paris casino in Vegas

I'm not going to Paris because I've a limited amount of time and money, and other places interest me more.

I've never been to Russia, for example, and would really like to go some time.

krudler · 27-03-2013 01:32PM

When we went to Vegas the tour guide on our bus told us how to budget for it, you look at your bank account and take out exactly how much money you'd set on fire and not worry about, that's your budget :pac:

Ray Palmer · 27-03-2013 02:00PM

Vegas is a lot more than casinos. Lots of great shops high end to discount. The shows they have there are similar to the ones on Broadway but some are better due to the custom stages built. They are cheap to go see too. You could go to a different show every night for 2 weeks easily.

Most touring bands do gigs there

There are very good restraunts.

You wouldn't need to gamble a minute to have fun there.

It is not always hot either, they have a winter.

Hotels are really cheap.

Going back again this year.

The idea of hating the place and never having been there is crazy. I don't get that, there are only places I have more desire to see than others.

FTA69 · 27-03-2013 02:05PM

I went there two months ago and I stayed for a week. Unfortunately I went with my girlfriend and her family so the shenanigans weren't too extreme. They're also complete and utter North Cork mucksavages (think round neck jumpers with collared shirts and monobrows). They had no interest in attending the Grand Canyon - "sure tis only a f*ckin' hole in the ground" - and as such I missed out on going. I regret it now and probably always will. Still, thank God they're a conservative bunch because with different company I'd have drowned in the Belagio fountains by the second day.

I did however:
-Skydive three miles up in the air
-Spent a few hours firing assault rifles along with a load of Hillbillies
-Visited the Shoshone Indian Reservation in California's Death Valley
-Won nearly a grand on Blackjack and bought a sh*tload of tracksuits
-Did a few Man vs Food challenges
-Got ballbagged drunk every day
-Jumped off the Stratosphere
-Went to a Hell's Angels bike show and sampled their chilli cookoff
-See a load of shows

As others have said, it's an adult Disneyland, an almost fictional place like. The Eiffel Tower is within viewing distance of the Pyramids etc. Yes, it's tacky and extreme and a monument to excess but often that's something worth experiencing in itself. Would I go back though? Probably not, there's an element of 'been there done that' and America's far too interesting a place to return to the likes of Vegas regularly.

Kinski · 27-03-2013 02:06PM

Ray Palmer wrote: »

The idea of hating the place and never having been there is crazy. I don't get that, there are only places I have more desire to see than others.

Somalia? Downtown Baghdad? Athlone?:pac:

gambithh · 27-03-2013 02:06PM

Drakares wrote: »

I can drink it my own house. Why should I want to go somewhere else to do it?

.

yes why indeed :rolleyes:

was there last September stayed in the Excalibur not a great hotel tbh ,package holiday room usually crap,but i loved the luxor beside it .

did the super car drive with the 458 Ferrari,lambo and a supercharged jag.
no place in the world like it,cant wait to go back possibly in a more unmarked hotel

ratracer · 27-03-2013 02:08PM

This thread has been fun. I've never been to Vegas but have always wanted too. I reckon I'll go next year. As with any of my hols I'll have it well researched beforehand. Some great advice in here, thanks. I don't think I could hate anyplace I've not been too, reading many travel reviews shows the different perceptions people have of the same place. I reckon I'll just trust my own judgement and go with the flow. When in Rome etc...

FTA69 · 27-03-2013 02:10PM

It's also worth mentioning that the place is devoid of any culture. The only food you'll get is either high-end dining á la Gordon Ramsey etc or else In'N'Out Burger; there's very little independent restaurants. The only coffee you'll get will be Starbucks and the like and the only shows you see will be brash and celebrity-orientated. The pubs there are sh*te, with video poker being embedded onto the actual bar and crap fruit machines banging in your ear. There's little or no local music scene or anything of that nature; the place is lacking in anything resembling art or literature. I don't think I saw one gallery or library in my time there and I was driving all over the city. Apparently 5,000 people a month odd move to Vegas and 3,000 odd leave it. I imagine living there would be a boring and depressing place after the novelty wears off.

krudler · 27-03-2013 02:12PM

FTA69 wrote: »

I went there two months ago and I stayed for a week. Unfortunately I went with my girlfriend and her family so the shenanigans weren't too extreme. They're also complete and utter North Cork mucksavages (think round neck jumpers with collared shirts and monobrows). They had no interest in attending the Grand Canyon - "sure tis only a f*ckin' hole in the ground" - and as such I missed out on going. I regret it now and probably always will. Still, thank God they're a conservative bunch because with different company I'd have drowned in the Belagio fountains by the second day.

.

Gah thats maddening, its far, farrr from a "hole in the ground", its genuinely the most spectacular thing I've ever seen.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=to4Tz748s4U

COYVB · 27-03-2013 02:15PM

never had any desire to go there until i had to go for work in january. it's actually an incredible place. i did no boozing and still had a phenomenal time. did some good shopping, ate like a king for next to nothing and caught some shows. it's worth going even just to walk around checking out the hotels

FTA69 · 27-03-2013 02:18PM

I know mate, it was maddening like. They were over there for a concrete convention and had little interest in anything else bar eating in Denny's and drinking Bud Light. They're not stupid people like, just ignorant as sh*t if that makes any sense. They were the same at the Indian reservation, just condescending whingebags. I'd never been to America in my life and am sickened I didn't get to see the Canyon. I'd go back there myself with the sole view of seeing it to be honest.

krudler · 27-03-2013 02:24PM

FTA69 wrote: »

I know mate, it was maddening like. They were over there for a concrete convention and had little interest in anything else bar eating in Denny's and drinking Bud Light. They're not stupid people like, just ignorant as sh*t if that makes any sense. They were the same at the Indian reservation, just condescending whingebags. I'd never been to America in my life and am sickened I didn't get to see the Canyon. I'd go back there myself with the sole view of seeing it to be honest.

Do, its definitely worth it, you can stay at the canyon in chalets in the natural park, wildlife everywhere, I went out to get ice at one stage as we were having drinks in the room and there was a load of deer just wandering around. The canyon itself is strange to look at first, its so far across your depth perception is strange, it actually looks like a flat painting past a certain point. I never made it to the glass walkway as it was way over on the other side of it, the towns nearby are nice too, loads of Indian heritage sites and reserves

Cienciano · 27-03-2013 02:26PM

Vegas also has a Monorail. And it sure put them on the map.

FTA69 · 27-03-2013 02:28PM

krudler wrote: »

Do, its definitely worth it, you can stay at the canyon in chalets in the natural park, wildlife everywhere, I went out to get ice at one stage as we were having drinks in the room and there was a load of deer just wandering around. The canyon itself is strange to look at first, its so far across your depth perception is strange, it actually looks like a flat painting past a certain point. I never made it to the glass walkway as it was way over on the other side of it, the towns nearby are nice too, loads of Indian heritage sites and reserves

The Tualapi Indians own the Skywalk I read, to be honest the place seemed like a bit of a sh*thole and I never heard anyone say anything good about the place. Apparently they're very "unfriendly", although considering recent history I wouldn't blame them.

krudler · 27-03-2013 02:31PM

Cienciano wrote: »

Vegas also has a Monorail. And it sure put them on the map.

along with Brockway, Ogdenville and North Haverbrook!

homemadecider · 27-03-2013 02:32PM

Las Vegas would never be on my go-to list for a holiday, wouldn't be my scene at all. I like to visit places that have a completely different culture in terms of language, food, traditions etc., and certainly when I travel long-haul I would rather visit Africa or Asia. For shopping on holidays, I like small ramshackle markets with local crafts. I like getting lost in strange places. I like trying new and interesting foods; goat curry or cassava leaf soup being two of my favourites last year.

I think I'd prefer a week in Zanibar or a potter around the Andaman Islands to a week in Vegas. Just my personal preference.

krudler · 27-03-2013 02:32PM

FTA69 wrote: »

The Tualapi Indians own the Skywalk I read, to be honest the place seemed like a bit of a sh*thole and I never heard anyone say anything good about the place. Apparently they're very "unfriendly", although considering recent history I wouldn't blame them.

Yeah I wasn't that pushed about making the trek over to it, the helicopter ride is well worth doing, you fly low over foresty land then it just disappears under you as you cross over the canyon.

krudler · 27-03-2013 02:33PM

homemadecider wrote: »

Las Vegas would never be on my go-to list for a holiday, wouldn't be my scene at all. I like to visit places that have a completely different culture in terms of language, food, traditions etc., and certainly when I travel long-haul I would rather visit Africa or Asia. For shopping on holidays, I like small ramshackle markets with local crafts. I like getting lost in strange places. I like trying new and interesting foods; goat curry or cassava leaf soup being two of my favourites last year.

I think I'd prefer a week in Zanibar or a potter around the Andaman Islands to a week in Vegas. Just my personal preference.

Vegas does have M&M world though, you can buy M&Ms by the bucket, the BUCKET!

homemadecider · 27-03-2013 02:42PM

krudler wrote: »

Vegas does have M&M world though, you can buy M&Ms by the bucket, the BUCKET!

At the risk of being excommunicated from AH... I don't like M&Ms! Also I only have a minimal love of buckets.

Should every body visit Las Vegas at least once in their lives?

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