HONK if you HATE Las Vegas!!!
 

Would be my bumper sticker. I've pretty much traveled the world except for Asia, I can't understand why people go back to Las Vegas year after year! I hated it for the most part. All the loud smoky casinos, people sitting at slots with their cigs and buckets of quarters and blank stares. Noise, traffic, hookers...oh right that's Reno, you don't see any in Vegas, lol. Hey, you can see great hotels anywhere. You can eat good food and see great shows in other more desirable places. I like the analogy "Gilded Turd" to describe the city. Tacky wedding chapels, funky people...I don't know..you'd have to pay me to go there again, honestly. What gives?

Sorry, no honk here. :-)

I agree with a lot of your points, especially the smoke--UGH!! But Vegas does have some of the best live entertainment to be found in one city. Every time we go we can enjoy a unique show that can't be found anywhere else in the world. Even the fountains at the Bellagio are a great example of unique entertainment in Vegas. I like the fact that I can go there every year and there's always something new to see. And I do love a good game of cards!! My faves are blackjack and Caribbean stud poker.

I've always believed that Vegas is something people either love or hate. I've known a lot of people who hate it, and there's nothing wrong with that. But hey, to each to his/her own. There are so many nice places to visit in this world, so thank God for the freedom to either go to Vegas or go somewhere else. ((Y))

I thought I was the only person who tried to talk friends out of going to Las Vegas! I was eager for my first trip, then dreaded (but couldn't get out of) the second trip, then I absolutely refused to make another trip there, ever!

Yet many, many people love it. To each his own, I guess.

Yes, P__M, thank God we do! My neighbors are in Iran on a peacekeeping mission. It's amazing what we take for granted in this country! Well, good luck at your card games. I'm not a gambler at all, I guess that, too, changes my perspective! Okay, I occasionally bet on the Ky Derby, lol.

My husband would honk, although I wouldn't, LOL.

HONK !!!!!!

Honk Honk!

Vegas is one of those places you seem to either love or hate - very little "middle ground" here!

My husband I are still trying to figuring out the marketing strategy with Vegas lately. With all these ads totally promoting lying and sleaze - just who are their target tourists?!

Actually, I used to feel very like the OP, but have been mellowing (old age?) Was just out there last month to visit my brother - who lives there and LOVES it. Now, this is not for me, as a place to live. I can't imagine anywhere that would do less for my soul. (Or even a place to visit more often than every few years.)

But as a vacation destination of complete relaxation and reality escape - well, does anyplace do it better than Vegas? It really is a great big Disneyland for adults - and what's so wrong with that?

Yes - I abhor the waste of water and energy - but it exists and, taken for what it is, it's kind of totally American - I mean, can we think of anyplace else that's anything like Vegas?

(And the penny poker machines aren't bad either!!)

It's pretty simple: don't like 'Vegas ? don't go back. enjoyed 'Vegas? return.

Pretty basic.

For me "hate" is not too strong a word for Las Vegas. I detest it. Thought I would never return. I was cajoled into taking a friend from Scotland there a couple of weeks ago. Fortunately he wasn't too crazy about it either so we passed on through and went to San Diego.

I agree, though. It's great to live in a country where we can go pretty much where we choose.

I must say, I put off going to Las Vegas for many years as I KNEW I would hate it. Finally we went because I happened upon a super cheap fare when American was giving a special bonus (triple miles if you flew in the next month and then all your flights for the year would be tripled). So we decided that was a good place to go to get a ton of miles cheap. Guess what, I loved it. Of course it didn't hurt that I did well at the slots and ended up paying cash for everything we did and coming home with more money than we went with. But I just gave into it as being "divine decadence" as Liza said in Cabaret."

But then I also admit to loving Disney World too.

I love it!!!!

But, I don't blame others for hating it.

Yes, Neo, that is exactly how DH and I were too ;-). We KNEW we would dislike it intensely ... BUT were pleasantly surprised! I love Disney World also. Hey differant strokes LlindaC, yes? HATE is tooooo strong a word IMO.

I HATE nothing. But I dislike Disney world and would NEVER go there.
Go to Vegas once a year to gamble but can only take 3 days and MUST leave.
Hate is a nasty 4 letter word!

I went once in March and DH was shocked that I wasn't crazy about it. He LOVES Vegas.

BUT I think it had more to do with the situation than the place. Vegas is a walking town, and I was nursing a screwed up knee and tendonitis in my foot, so walking around made me miserable. And his friend had us just walking into and out of casinos all night and doing nothing. All the casinos look the same on the inside after a while.

I went in with an open mind expecting to love it, and I walked out hating it. So now even though we are newlyweds, we have already decided that some trips he will take alone and some I will take alone. Vegas is one of them.

HONK!

Okay, I admit I've never been there, but I hate casinos, gambling,crowds, neon, buffets, lounge acts, smoke, concrete, magic shows, strippers, malls, and Elvis impersonators. I don't think I'd like Vegas...

Okay okay I'm SO sorry that I used the politically incorrect word "hate" and called derelicts and streetwalkers tacky. But thanks to you who are levelheaded this is just the thing I wanted to hear! I really am interested in why people come back. There are casinos the world over. There are Hermes shops, etc. Didn't want to start a nasty fest, but if I have a few days off it's at the bottom of my list. And yes, I've been offered several lucrative jobs there since I am a singer and keyboardist. I have many friends who work there, but I couldn't do it. I suppose it's different for gamblers.

Honk! The town uses way too much energy and way too much water.

Honk! Honk! and a toot or two for Reno. I used to fly charters to Reno and Las Vegas, and was more or less forced to hang around until my pax had had their fill. I love to compare the happy, smiling faces on casino TV ads with the grim silence of real-life gamblers. I was snarled at more than once for standing behind someone at a blackjack or craps table...gave off bad vibes, I guess.

HONK, HONK, HONK, HONK, HONK, HONK, HONK, HONK, HONK, HONK, HONK, HONK.

<b><font color="red"><i><u>HONK, HONK, HONK!!!</u></i></font></b>

Another who has never been (by choice) and would really like to avoid it. I think it's another one of those places where so many people say that they love it that others feel that if they don't that something is wrong with them.

Honk!

Well, I have traveled the world as well (except Africa, high on my list) and fly maybe 4-6 times a year (because I can't take more vacation time than that!). Yet, I make it a point to go to Vegas at least once a year. The shopping is great--especially the day after Christmas!--the free show features at the various hotels are wonderful, and the dining options are fantastic for every range you're seeking. And, I like to gamble. Not just for the game, but for the fun socializing that goes on while playing. I never play with grouchy people!

As Vegas has developed into a vision of decadence, another thing I like about it is, it makes you feel like you've been propelled into a cartoon. Everything is surreal! I enjoy myself on vacation wherever I go, but for some reason, in Vegas you KNOW you're not home anymore!

Finally....I also go for sentimental reasons. My parents loved Vegas before it became the super-duper adult Disneyland it now is, back when the mafia owned the town. They would take me with them and believe it or not, I have fond childhood memories of the place! Even in my first experiences as a gambling adult, my mom would stand behind me at the tables and coach me for success.

I dunno! I just don't get the same warm fuzzies in European or cruise ship casinos.

So, Linda....that's what gives for me!

Having no particular interest in Vegas one way or another, I hadn't opened this thread until now. Boredom and insomnia finally prevailed! I have to say that I was quite surprised to read Neopolitan's response. Having read many of his posts (in this incarnation and the last), he's not someone I would have suspected of liking either Vegas or Disney World. Just goes to show that one should never make assumptions about people! Or places, for that matter!

I never wanted to go to LV. I was sure I was going to detest it. We are small boutiqe hotel, upscale vacation people (hotel snob - LOL) My DH took me for my birthday 3 years ago and we stayed at the Bellagio. I have to say we just loved it. We go often about 3-4 times per year now. I do agree that many of the hotels on the strip fit the OP's description to a T. We have found a nice balance at the Bellagio, to us it's a beautiful grand hotel that has a casino. We have visited other casinos/hotels and we were completely turned off. Vegas has been pretty good to us too. We have not paid for a room, have meals comped and we have come home woth lots of money. So far this year in 2 trips we are up almost 20K...not bad!

I have to add that I definately could not make it my only vacation destination. There is a big beautiful world out there and fake is fake - LV is like vacationing in a cartoon. It does make for a nice mix and a lot of fun for 4 days. So I would start HONKING at day 5!

I thought I'd hate it, but after the first visit, couldn't stay away. We've been back maybe 7 times, last time in '04. We plan to visit again in July for a few days.

I think you need the right balance there - not a steady diet of casinos &amp; buffets. If you rent a car &amp; leave the city, and stay for no more than 4 days total, it's a lot of fun. Also has some very good restaurants &amp; entertainment.

I think I must be one of the few people who can take LV and have fun, or leave it and have more fun in Northern AZ. It's just another place with too much growth and transplanted people now. And the water is horrible.

Actually, I liked the OLD Las Vegas of the pre, maybe 1975, era more than the mega glitz LV of today. It was one of those places that was on much more of a human scale then, although it still had the same anything goes type of atmosphere. But people were more &quot;equal&quot; for some reason. For instance I sat down at a seedy old pool and Robert Wager and Natalie Wood were there to share a table and swim with their girls. It wasn't all that &quot;fancy&quot;. Now it's all about more is more. Comps aren't even there for the non-gamblers anymore as they once were. Then it was more of a state of mind and IMHO the gambling, girls, booze etc. were more secondary proceeds from that state of mind.. There seemed to me to be a much bigger difference between LV and the rest of the USA then. Now it is just one big resort casino atmosphere after another really- and mostly high end, and the smoke is truly horrible. And the rest of the USA is so permissive for the most part anyway, that LV is not that BAD in comparison anymore. Casinos are nearly in every state as well. Shows are priced too high for the average person to be viewing a number of them on any trip. I remember when you could go to LV and see 5 shows in 3 days and TOP entertainment for next to nothing. Sometimes free.

But I have had fun, and would go with the girls if they felt like it. I do gamble- but have seen too many people I really like get addicted to it, so I enjoy it much less than I did. I used to play cards and blackjack, and slots too- but find it is now too much $$ to do cards and Blackjack for the most part. You can still bet lower stakes for both at Laughlin.

But overall I think the number of losers that abound always makes the overall gambling atmosphere a great negative. Great profitability of slots and lesser value options (nickel, penny) slots have been so good to the house that I find many isolated sad tourists roaming around. Doesn't add to a gay holiday, IMHO.

But I must say that I haven't been to either LV or Laughlin now in over 5 years. I went about 8 times in the 4 years before that (late '90's) as I had an elderly aunt I cared for in Bull Head City AZ. That's another story.

I don't feel like I hate anyplace.

I love the fancy hotels in Vegas (Venetian, Bellagio, looking forward to seeing Wynn). I disliked it when I was there with my kids, but when my husband and I were there alone, it was kinda fun, even though we don't gamble.

I've really enjoyed this discussion! I enjoy hearing the positive things people enjoy. I, too, felt like I was in a cartoon there, lol. Now MelissaH, you really need to go to Africa. Funny, people tried to get us to Sun City, LOL!
http://www.suninternational.com/resorts/suncity/
That's not my cup of tea, as you can imagine! We stayed in a posh resort in the mountains of Cape Town and in some quiet areas in wine country. But I like Disney in moderation! We've been several times to the Food and Wine Fest at EPCOT. Very adult, takes the Disney edge off the experience!

More importantly, what is going to happen to Las Vegas one hundred years from now when the West runs out of water (ie. the Aquifer)?

LOL, I answered this thread when it was first posted but I got deleted ( I did not honk ) :D
I have gone to LV now for many years, when I lived in LA, I went with friends on weekends. My friend worked for Ike &amp; Tina Turner and we &quot;lived&quot; in the old Ceasars Palace for months..it was all great fun, going to parties thrown by movie stars, etc.
It was years later that I went with my husband. He is one of those lucky men who does not gamble seriously, but whenever he does , he is almost always a winner. So for my birthday one March, we went to Las Vegas. It was great fun to see the change in the town and it did not hurt that the Yankee turned out to be a Winner that trip :D
So we have gone often over the years, staying at the Bellagio, shopping, eating in very nice restaurants and laughing a lot.
That might be the tip I can give some of those who &quot;hate&quot; Las Vegas. You can not take it seriously, I mean really, look at the place! You should laugh more and have fun.
And regarding &quot;funky&quot; people, every town in American has them, I lived in NYC and now in Portland Or..( they are everywhere!)
:)
Scarlett, not honking

Most of the people honking have never even BEEN to Vegas.

Based on reading the posts here, It looks like most of the honkers here have been to Vegas.

I've been to Vegas 3 times (business trips) and am still honking.

The best tour I've taken was out of Vegas. Visited the Grand Canyon, Bryce, Zion, Monument Valley, lake Powell, Glenn dam and what not!

And the Valley of Fire, what a beauty!

I don't really care for Vegas, but why not to visit the Bellagio conservatory, 3-D movies at Luxor, fountains and volcano, Guggenheim and penguins, pools and lots of free enterntainment.

I, too, like going to Vegas b/c I know I'm going to get outta Dodge and see some of the most amazing scenery in the country: Grand Canyon, Zion, Sedona, etc. etc.

I hate Vegas but love using it as a starting place for visits to the Southwest. Next spring we're taking our boys to see Zion, Lake Powell, etc. for the first time. To make them happy, we'll stay in Vegas a day to let them ride the roller coasters and go to M&amp;M World, etc. We're going at a super popular time. I got FF seats to leave the Friday before Good Friday, no problem. When I called to book our return seats (on Good Friday), at 8am every single FF seat on every single flight that day was gone! We'll be flying home through Phoenix instead.

P.S. Please don't be offended that I &quot;hate&quot; Vegas. I am an optimistic, glass is half full kinda person, but I do hate a lot of things. I hate anchovies, smallmindedness, prejudice and being stuck in long traffic jams, too. I do not hate people who like to go to Vegas. (Some of my best friends like Vegas...)

I'm one who enjoys it, but I go there as a reunion place for the Eternally Young Runaway Moms convention!
We like dressing up and acting silly. Gambling is not really a serious issue, though I did win 800 in poker slots after a laughable Chippendale's show.. that paid for more than my trip, since I went on mileage. Plus, I had a spa experience which was so good, it felt like cheating,lol.

I've been twice and had a blast both times. It's definitely a Disney World for adults. I wouldn't want to take it in big doses, but every couple of years....definitely!

I had been to Vegas years ago and thought I would like it again when I planned a trip there last August. WRONG!All of my friends said I wouldn't like it and they were right.

We stayed at Bellagio, went to the Mandalay Bay Spa, ate at great restaurants, saw several fun shows &quot;O&quot;, Tom Jones etc. It isn't somewhere we'll go back. Vegas isn't human scale, it's not good to walk, take cabs or take public transport.

We enjoyed the meals especially FIX, Sea Blue and Rosemary's. We loved Commander's Palace Jazz brunch and the shows but it didn't make up for the overall feeling of crass commercialism. What was I thinking...this is Vegas after all.

EVERYTHING is about consumption, it's just overbearing. If you win they'll still make sure you go home with nothing! It was SO expensive and to me not worth it.

The hotel room with a view of the fountains was fabulous but the hotel was a zoo...it was like walking around Disneyland. Even the pool area was 5 people deep. There seemed to be no private/quieter areas though you could pay $500 plus for a cabana!

HOOK,HOOK,HOOK!

I have never been to Vegas. Most people I know that go do love it. Would I go? Sure. Is it high on my list of places to visit. NO. I love nature and scenery. Vegas is something of a different vacation in my eyes. I think I would like to people watch there. (I know my husband would). I'm not a gambler either but the shows would be fun.
No honking here. I will try anything once.
This is a fun discussion.
Annika