vegas

[nicname]

Yeah the inside sportsbook is just about as impressive. The outside is kinda annoying you have to pay to even step foot outside but i get it.

I can't get down with the downtown vibe. The old days with the cheap minimums I could overlook it but those days are largely gone based on the last time I went down there. The people downtown are a considerable step down from the strip.

Vegas Casinos in general are incredible people watching from that standpoint. The sheer difference in folks from casino to casino is so stark. I usually play a lot of poker and enjoy walking from my room at like Paris or something thru all the casinos on that side of the strip until I get to Wynn or Venituon.

The greatest contrast is probably leaving the Wynn or V after a poker session and immediately walking into probably the worst casino/hotel on the strip Casino Royale.

The guests at the Wynn make me feel like I belong in Casino Royale

[michigancat]

Yeah the inside sportsbook is just about as impressive. The outside is kinda annoying you have to pay to even step foot outside but i get it.

I can't get down with the downtown vibe. The old days with the cheap minimums I could overlook it but those days are largely gone based on the last time I went down there. The people downtown are a considerable step down from the strip.

Lol, no

I have never spent much time downtown but I can't see how that is even possible unless they are like constantly committing crimes downtown

[Institutional Control]

Stayed at the Aria back in January for work.  It was pretty incredible. 

[pissclams]

Stayed at the Aria back in January for work.  It was pretty incredible.

what was incredible about it?

[michigancat]

I prefer vdara for work because no casino to walk through

[Phil Titola]

Yeah the inside sportsbook is just about as impressive. The outside is kinda annoying you have to pay to even step foot outside but i get it.

I can't get down with the downtown vibe. The old days with the cheap minimums I could overlook it but those days are largely gone based on the last time I went down there. The people downtown are a considerable step down from the strip.

Lol, no

I find most if not all the public downtown to be pretty gross.

[michigancat]

Yeah the inside sportsbook is just about as impressive. The outside is kinda annoying you have to pay to even step foot outside but i get it.

I can't get down with the downtown vibe. The old days with the cheap minimums I could overlook it but those days are largely gone based on the last time I went down there. The people downtown are a considerable step down from the strip.

Lol, no

I find most if not all the public downtown to be pretty gross.

I mean the strip isn't exactly full of society's finest

[ben ji]

I've only stayed on the strip but usually go downtown for a day/evening just to change it up.

[cfbandyman]

Circa “Stadium pool” really great newer downtown property overall

https://x.com/FastbreakHoops5/status/1898414707159003401

Circa's book would 100% be my March Madness watching place. It's gigantic

Yeah the inside sportsbook is just about as impressive. The outside is kinda annoying you have to pay to even step foot outside but i get it.

I can't get down with the downtown vibe. The old days with the cheap minimums I could overlook it but those days are largely gone based on the last time I went down there. The people downtown are a considerable step down from the strip.

IDK, my GF and I really enjoyed downtown Vegas. The strip is so overpriced and over the top (and I get it's vegas) but downtown felt more genuine. I do understand the people comment as it is a little less savory buuuuuut, as mich said the strip has that too. The strip just has a higher ceiling, places like Bellagio and Aria are fancy AF. But places like MGM, luxor, Excalibur,  are just as seedy/unsavory as anything on Fremont.

[Institutional Control]

Stayed at the Aria back in January for work.  It was pretty incredible.

what was incredible about it?

Incredible might have been a stretch.  I had one of the nicest rooms I've ever had in Vegas. View of the giant roomba that the Raiders play at and really really food at each of the restaurants I ate at.

[nicname]

I prefer vdara for work because no casino to walk through

Vdara is great for the reasons you mentioned.

[pissclams]

Stayed at the Aria back in January for work.  It was pretty incredible.

what was incredible about it?

Incredible might have been a stretch.  I had one of the nicest rooms I've ever had in Vegas. View of the giant roomba that the Raiders play at and really really food at each of the restaurants I ate at.

i was just curious.  i’ve never been impressed with any of the properties in vegas.  i have stayed in suites but not like the high roller stuff.

vegas is so dirty and gross that i have a hard time appreciating any of it but thought maybe I missed something.

[catastrophe]

I’ve had the same experience with Vegas. The biggest redeeming quality for me is the proximity to some really great shows in walking distance on the strip, although Wynn to Luxor the strip is a helluva walk.

Other than that, every casino seems basically the exact same: filled with smoke and overpriced.

If I ever went back, I’d focus a lot more off strip and do some national park stuff.

[star seed 7]

I think some of you may be going to Vegas for the wrong reasons

[nicname]

I think some of you may be going to Vegas for the wrong reasons

indeed.

I've stayed at luxor, monte carlo RIP, Park MGM, Vdara, Flamingo, Rio (woof), Horseshoe/Bally's and Paris. I liked all of them for various reasons. The only one I wouldn't stay at again is Luxor. It's just too far away from the poker rooms and casinos I like the most. I'd like to do a midweek trip some time, so I can afford a real high end place like Aria, Venetian or Wynn some time. Though tbh, I feel like a fish out of water at the Wynn (outside of the poker room).

Some of the places downtown are really terrible quality like Casino Royale or Harrah's are on The Strip, but Circa and the Golden Nugget are nice properties. I've heard The D is a blast as well. I just never stay downtown cuz the nugget is the only place w poker. I do enjoy my time there tho. It's fun.

This last trip was the first one where I really "Vegas'd" in any real way, and I enjoyed it a lot and wasn't pining for home even after 5 days.

Three off-strip recommendos:

Bootleggers Italian, longtime local joint that used to be in the old El Rancho, but is not south of the airport on LV BLVD. Great food and drinks and normal prices. live music often in the evening for dinner.

McMullen's Irish Pub: another local place that has been around awhile. really good irish pub food and great beer and drinks. cool crowd and staff.

Texas de Brazil: like Fogo De Ciao or however it is spelled. forget exactly where it is.

I've heard Herbs n Rye is good.

[IPA4Me]

Are there any $10 or $15 minimum craps tables anymore? Harder and harder to find. Heck even New Orleans was $25 and $50 last trip.

[pissclams]

I’ve had the same experience with Vegas. The biggest redeeming quality for me is the proximity to some really great shows in walking distance on the strip, although Wynn to Luxor the strip is a helluva walk.

Other than that, every casino seems basically the exact same: filled with smoke and overpriced.

If I ever went back, I’d focus a lot more off strip and do some national park stuff.

seems like we just need to go to vegas for the right reasons

[Phil Titola]

Cosmo is my favorite property but one of my stays they had a whole plumbing vertical where the cold water didn't work so showers were minimum 252 degrees. Tried to fix it, couldn't, shrugged at the front desk. Ended up giving me credits to go to the spa where there were showers and that's it. No new room, "sold out". I'm sure some poor sucker was in that room very next day. Vegas hotels DGAF.

I typically stay at Flamingo (not great) due to location.

[cfbandyman]

We stayed at Linq cause of the location. It was plenty fine. Not super amazing but also not bad.

[8manpick]

Seeing Backstreet Boys at The Sphere in July for SIL’s birthday. Should be fun.  Staying at the Venetian which is basically a foreign part of the strip to me.

[Phil Titola]

Seeing Backstreet Boys at The Sphere in July for SIL’s birthday. Should be fun.  Staying at the Venetian which is basically a foreign part of the strip to me.

Gotten better with the new Resorts World and Fountainbleau to the north but still gotta get around WynnVille to get there. White Castle out your door though! 

[waks]

Seeing Backstreet Boys at The Sphere in July for SIL’s birthday. Should be fun.  Staying at the Venetian which is basically a foreign part of the strip to me.

Stayed at the Venetian once. It was super nice.

[tdaver]

I stayed one night in Wendover a year ago.  Walked into a casino, was assaulted by smoke and slot noise, immediately left thankful I was staying at a crappy Best Western on the Utah side.  I haven’t been to Vegas in nearly a decade, but it’s probably the same.  Signs of getting old thread.

[star seed 7]

I stayed one night in Wendover a year ago.  Walked into a casino, was assaulted by smoke and slot noise, immediately left thankful I was staying at a crappy Best Western on the Utah side.  I haven’t been to Vegas in nearly a decade, but it’s probably the same.  Signs of getting old thread.

Also stayed at that bw one time. But no, Wendover is like the casinos north of Topeka, not like Vegas.

[waks]

I stayed one night in Wendover a year ago.  Walked into a casino, was assaulted by smoke and slot noise, immediately left thankful I was staying at a crappy Best Western on the Utah side.  I haven’t been to Vegas in nearly a decade, but it’s probably the same.  Signs of getting old thread.

Also stayed at that bw one time. But no, Wendover is like the casinos north of Topeka, not like Vegas.

Prairie Band is a treasure and I will not stand for you besmirching it!