02 From Hangover Dreams to Sin City Love: Why I Keep Coming Back to Las Vegas
My first trip to Las Vegas was in the spring of 2010. I was in my fourth year of college, some people would call that a senior, and I went with a group of friends for spring break. All of us had just seen the movie the Hangover and wanted to experience that in real life. Being a college student, I had little to no money. I brought along my life savings at the time, somewhere around $300. I’ve come a long way since then and enjoy the city far differently than I did in my 20’s but have truly come to love the city known as Sin City and here is why:
1. The Hotels/Resorts/Casinos
No where in the world can you find the number of hotels and resorts in such proximity. One of the best ways to experience Vegas is just by walking from one casino to the next. Each place will have something different to offer whether it be theme, casino games or restaurant options. You can keep walking until you find the place that suites whatever you are after. Whether you are a high roller or low roller, there are options to meet most budgets.
The architecture in most of the casinos is something to behold. I’ve been to Vegas so many times that I often take for granted the buildings themselves. I must remind myself stop and take in the sights. If you have never been to Vegas and have only seen images on TV or movies, its hard to comprehend how impressive the casinos really are. From the porte cochere to the hotel registration desk, the casinos are designed with the most intricate details. Everyone knows the Bellagio for the fountains, but on the inside at hotel check in they have a glass sculpture than hangs from the ceiling known as “Fiori di Como.” Its not just the high-end casinos either. Standing in the middle of the Luxor and looking up at how high the ceiling goes is quite amazing.
2. The History
The City of Las Vegas has a history unlike any other city in America. Believe it or not, but gambling was once illegal in the state of Nevada. It wasn’t until they started building the Hoover Dam that gambling became legal. It didn’t take long after for organized crime to take over the gambling industry. One of the very first casinos on the strip, the Flamingo, was financed by the mob in the 1940’s. It wasn’t until the 1980s that mob would cede control of the casinos over to corporations. Now I’m not pro-organized crime, but the I find the history behind it fascinating. If you are a fan of the movie Casino, there are still spots that exist today that were featured in the movie. Oscars steakhouse at the Plaza is a great example.
Some of the greatest entertainers in American history had stops in Las Vegas. The Rat pack might be the most famous. One of my favorite things to do while in Vegas is find places where members of the Rat Pack went. The Golden Steer steak house has a booth that was reportedly Frank Sinatra’s. Stepping foot inside the Golden Steer is like stepping back in time. I love being in places where you can feel the history, and its one of the reasons I keep coming back.
3. People Watching
I can guarantee you that if you go to Vegas, you will see something you’ve never seen before. It has the be the best city in the world to people watch. One of the best spots is the Petrosian bar at the Bellagio. I guess it’s more of a lounge than a bar. It sits on what has to be the busiest corner of foot traffic in all of Vegas. Its located right in the lobby at the intersection of the main walkway through the casino, the front entrance, the hotel check in, and the front of the Conservatory. If there is no seating available out by the piano in the lounge, I would recommend waiting for a spot to open. Give the hostess your number and they will text you when there is availability. I have sat here for hours just watching the world go by.
4. The Gambling
This one is obvious. The gambling in Las Vegas is second to none. I currently live in a state where not all gambling is legal (no craps and no-limit poker). This really isn’t that a big of a deal to me as I don’t know how often I would be at a local casino if it did have craps. Instead, I just save my money for my trips to Vegas. Gambling isn’t the most important thing to me, but I do enjoy it. The best thing about gambling in Vegas is the variety of games and places to the gamble. Not feeling the vibe? Just move on down the road and find something that suites you style and budget.
5. The Value
I saved the most controversial one for last. Is Vegas still affordable? It can be. Number one tip here is if you are going to gamble get a player’s card and use it every time you play whether at a slot machine or table games. It doesn’t take much to get at least some percentage off your room rate. Even just by being a member you will get a better rate. Not all my trips to Vegas are completely comped. My trips have gotten a bit longer so I usually end up paying for some nights in the hotels. Weekends are going to be more expensive, but usually during the week the room rate is $100 or less. I can’t get a hotel in my hometown for under $100. I consider that a steal considering what you get (this will vary property to property).
There are plenty of food options to fit any budget. My first trip to Vegas I don’t think I ate anything other than McDonald’s because I was a poor college student. The past trip we just took we had Inn n Out for dinner. For two people the total was $15 and delicious. If Inn n Out isn’t your thing there are numerous food courts with other options. If you do a little research, you’ll find plenty of ways to stretch your dollar ranging from happy hours to the El Cortez boarding pass deal (includes free play, $25 match play, and 1 free drink).
