I have been to Vegas several times and every time I am overhwlemed by the smoke infested over hyped overpriced scam of it all. Don't go!

So why do you keep going back?

That was a perfect reply to "Don't go to Vegas", with all the great places to go on this earth, why would you go back to someplace you didn't care for?
We especially loved all the free exhibits that the casinos have and we all really enjoyed the Freemont experience. There is so much to see for free in that town!
We are a traveling family of 4 and we are planning our second trip to Vegas for this summer. We trade our timeshare for a place in Vegas and then rent a car and do side trips. Last time we went out to The Grand Canyon and took the Grand Canyon Railroad to tour the canyon. I now would advise any family that wants to really see the canyon in a unhurried way to stay over night at the canyon. We didn't feel we spent enough time there. We loved the experience of the train and the package deal from the hotel that runs it.
This time we will be driving up to Zion National park and Bryce Canyon, so if anyone has taken that side trip esp if they booked the horse tours I would love to hear from you!

First off, I think everyone should see Vegas at least once. Yes it IS overrated but it's a perfect example of corperate america, so there will be a certain amount of "money grabbing". The casinos are nice to visit and take pictures of, but to me it got old kind of fast.

If you are going to Zion you should plan a WHOLE trip there because it is one of the most amazing places on earth. I worked in Zion for about a year and I still didn't get to do all of the things I wanted to do. DON"T try to do it all in a day or two because you will NOT enjoy it. The mule rides in both parks are good. If you are good hikers the best advice I could give is to get up as EARLY as you can and head on the Observation Point trail. It is about a 5 hour/ 8 mile round trip with about 2,100 feet of elevation gain. It's a long and difficult hike if you are out of shape but it is ONE of the best views in the park. just try to get to the top before it gets real hot and remember to bring LOTS of water.

Good luck and have a good trip to Zion.

Most people assume you're only going to enjoy Vegas if you're into gambling and drinking, but that's completely untrue. We have vacationed in Vegas every year since I was around 16 and for the past four years have taken an extended-family vacation. There is so much to do there - if you can't find something you enjoy, you're just not trying.

Sometimes walking around the hotels is enough to keep you entertained for a few hours. Some of them are marvels. There are the fountains at Bellagio, the overhead Mardi Gras parade at Rio, a volcano at The Mirage, a pirate show at Treasure Island, an unbelievable view from the top of the Eiffel Tower at Paris...and all of that is free, nevermind the wonderful things you can see and do by spending a little money.

Vegas is the ideal location for people who enjoy having fun, whether that entails gambling or just seeing some fascinating sights.

Have to agree with Bulldog. I was practically dragged there kicking and screaming the first time (can't drink, don't gamble, no money to shop: what's the point?). I ended up having a great time just walking around and exploring the whole goofy surreal place.

oh my God Vegas is my second home are you crazy talking about smoking and drinking, Vegas is much more than that, its about man and woman rekindling thier love finding out how the romance got lost in ther first place, its about friends coming together and getting to really know one another and sharing some intimate moments that only stay in Vegas or when they get back to work they smile at each other knowing what happen in Vegas, its about the young and the old really having fun besides Disney World thats a little childish for me and nothing wrong with getting that inner child out but in Vegas you can have all the children come out to play and YES YES Vegas do have SO much to SEE and DO for FREE that its amazing anyone is gambling. I wish people would look at the beauty of Vegas and not about the gambling and drink, well I do get my drink on but in a fun and nice way Vegas will never get old baby its too marvelous my eyes never get tired of the lights and excitement of going there and I THANK GOD that I can SEE, HEAR, TASTE, SMELL, TOUCH everything VEGAS have to offer I always cry when I go because so many can't see the beauty that I see. Let your 5 Senses take you away to ecstacy and enjoy it while you can.

We (my husband & I)love love love Vegas, we refer to this as our adult disney experience and try to go 2-3 times a year (we game and drink but only a small bit believe me they do not make any money off of us in this area, if you are playing penny slots you are drinking free). Always rent a car and make time for seeing all the area has to offer. Go to the winery in Pahrump (appr. 1 hr.)award winnig wine and the resturant (also award winning)Symphony was phenominal. Many resturants can be found on resturants.com and they let you access the menu's as well. Check out Hoover Dam and the Grand Canyon (nothing compares)and yes stay over night in the canyon itself. The Great Basin National Park (3 Hr.)spectacular. Red Rock (15-25 Min). Mt Charleston (see snow year round)so much close at hand I can't even write it all here. You were able to write a post here so you have access to a computer so research Nevada, Arizona (largest meteor site in North America and what about the famous Route 66) and LA is only a couple of hours drive. If its Christmas season drive by Palm Springs and see the light displays. Can anyone tell me any attraction stateside that has not gone corporate?

Hello my Travel friends I just got back from Vegas again for my 14 time and I must say that I was very disappointed this time. It was so much construction going on that it took away from the beauty of what I was seeing in the past I still had a nice time because this trip I wasnt going to sightsee only too relax by the pool not so much walking cause boy I can walk I would walk the whole strip from Mandalay Bay to Stratosphere and back those of you who been there knows thats a walk, but this time I just hang around the hotel and the hotel area. My disappointment was also the garbage around especially where ever they was doing construction and it smell. I seen wine/ liquor glasses everywhere in the street, I didnt understand why if you having a drink just tell the bartender your taking it to go and not bring their nice glasses from the bar outside and dont return it. Plus one of my favorite hotel the Aladdin is no longer there after all that work and beauty they took it down well the outside has change I didnt even bother to go inside because they still had a casino inside, now its going to be Planet Hollywood like they needed another PH they have one already in another location and they built more malls like they need another mall my goodness they are taking away the reason I went there for the beauty and the archeitecture and the different themes of each hotel. The hotel I stayed in was the Tropicana and that has changed, the hotel up keep has drop. A place like this such as Vegas should keep a high standard. I know they should be making enough money to keep the employees happy. The same thing on my job if you dont give a damn about the employees and their needs they wont give a damn about the customers and you know what I dont blame them but this will cause companies too loose money and loose customers. I am going to take a break from Vegas next year and give them a chance to finish all that constuction it didnt make since to take the Aladdin away that hotel was beautiful on the strip it fitted in with the Belligio and Venetian it gave the strip something different and nice to look at now they put a Planet Hollywood what the heck is that give me a break. I do travel to other places I get a month of vacation and take a week to visit different places but Vegas will not be on my list next year, maybe my heart will change by next year but for now I cant even tell my friends to go because it has change its not the same anymore, thank God the Belligio and Paris and some of the others are still intac but I really look forward to seeing Aladdin also. There is at least 4 different construction sites going on on the strip some hotels are rebuilding or adding on but it just dont look the same. Maybe when its done it will look beautiful again but for now I dont know and hopefully they move my Aladdin to another location, it was like having Disney but no Castle you understand Aladdin was a fixture on that corner that couldnt be replace not to me, especially not no Planet Hollywood and they took away my Denny's that was there as well, my fiance and I walk back and forth saying it was here no honey its further down and no honey it was here until one of the time sharing lady said what are you looking for and we told her and she said oh yeah they tore that down months ago we was shock that Denny's was a fixture also now we had to take the bus down to Harrahs just to get breakfast well we didnt want to go to a buffet breakfast just wanted some pancakes and coffee or whatever just to keep us going for most of the day. I still had a nice time I was with my fiance but the strip just wasnt the same anymore.

Was reading some of the forums for information on Vegas. My husband and I are leaving Sunday for our 25th anniv. and we are going there. We are staying at the Excaliber and can't wait. Some of what I read makes me scared and others have made me so excited I can't wait to go. Any advice anyone can give me will help. First timer.

This reply is for: "synnamonstorm". I agree with you ( somewhat ) about the construction almost ruining my Vegas getaway. Especially if you're hosting a first time guest of Vegas (which was my case scenario). I NEVER thought ANYONE or GROUP OF PEOPLE could out number the Porno / Sex flier Bandits! Those time share people were OUT OF CONTROL!!!! This caused me to not visit Vegs for a year. It was a no brainer that their presence was a direct result of the construction. With my not wanting to ruin my friend's and my Vegas getway, I ended up seeing many sites that I would normally by pass on any givne day. It ended up being a good safice!!! And for the first time since my initial visit to Vegas, I felt like a Tourist again. Imagine that.... I'm returning to Vegas soon and will post my findings / experiences. Sorry about your Denny's. There's no replacement for an "Old Faithful" spot when you're ready to grub down and begin your day.

I agree, I think Las Vegas should be a destination that everyone ventures off to atleast once in their life. There is so much to experience than just a smokey filled casino. there are shows and pools and more pools.

http://www.explorerpass.com/lasvegas

I live 100 miles from Vegas so it's no big deal for us to go there; been there done that. Was first there in 1952 as a kid and actually ran into a snapshot of the original Flamingo that my mother took.
It all depends on what you want to do. Sightsee (the Grand Canyon is 250 miles from Vegas, hardly a "sight to see" from there unless you have more than a couple of days there. The food is excellent in many hotels but in the larger, "name" ones, it's also very expensive.
There are some shows that are worth seeing but again, expensive. As someone said, there are many free things to see and do there. Nobody mentioned going down to see Hoover Dam, about a 20 mile one way trip; a huge tourist area.
Traffic on the strip is terrible and if you are a female alone or with a girlfriend, don't walk anywhere at night. Vegas has the highest crime rate in the country.
Also, if you are flying in, don't believe the pilot when he gives you the local temperature. We were coming from Salt Lake City on a connecting flight from Seattle. The pilot gave 104 at the temp in Vegas and the whole plane, coming from cold weather country, cheered. It was 114! Those high temps scare the tourists off so they aren't given out to Nevadans or Californians. Living in the southwest since 1947 we're used to high temperatures, as the residents of Phoenix and along the Colorado River (116 today) are but it gets HOT in Vegas. We were there on a Thursday a couple of years ago and it was 125; the following Tuesday, in Bullhead City, AZ, along the Colorado River, it was 128. You never hear about these temperatures. So while everything is air condidtioned up there, you still have to go out in it at some time. Those temps were in July and "deals" are usually found during the hot summer months, both there, in Phoenix and in Laughin, NV, across the river from Bullhead. Laughlin is a mini Vegas with about a dozen or so hotel/casinos right on the river. So, if you can handle the heat (no humidity) go in the summer months, it's more expensive during the winter.
The "name" hotels are worth walking through just because you don't see anything like them anywhere else. Fremont St. downtown "old" Vegas is also enclosed now with a dome "hallway" over the street. Wear walking shoes if you plan to walk the strip, or take the shuttle from hotel to hotel.
Don't miss the water show at the Bellagio. The newer, larger hotels are something else, but you don't have to spend money there if you don't want to. Regular restaurants on the east/west streets are much cheaper. Friends from Canada invited us to lunch, their treat, but in the "hallway" between (I believe, it's been a couple of years) the Venetian and Wynn's, a simple sandwich was $12, coleslaw or potato salad a dollar extra, plus soft drinks. That bill had to have been over sixty bucks! It was their treat but we'd never do it on our own.
So, if you go, go at least once, see all there is to see. If you like it, go back. If you don't at least you can say you've been there.

Hi, I go to vegas twice a year and adore it every time! Though I can say that it's not for everyone, I enjoying the gambling myself, I get comped rooms and meals, so they get me coming back that way, I've stayed at: The Flamingo, The Mirage, Treasure Island, Mandalay Bay, and The Venetian. My bit of advice is to always sign up for the club cards they offer for FREE at the hotels, so when you do gamble, they can moniter your play and then send you great offers afterward. I'll be going back this September(business conference) and I fly in a few days early to enjoy myself before going to work. If anyone needs suggestions, let me know.

HAGD all!

Tatta

The strip is not much fun anymore, but the local casinos are friendly and the food is good, gambling reasonable.
We always have a great time. If you don't gamble, see it once, don't go back.
I have been going to Vegas since 1983 and miss the smaller casinos, most are not demolished.
Learn how to play craps, black jack, and video poker-you have a chance to win.