Las Vegas and saftey for college girls
 

My daughter and her girlfriend are both 19 and have come up with a plan to go to Las Vegas. They found a "groupon" at the Las Vegas Hotel and Casino. I am a bit uncomfortable with just the two of them going. They are mature and smart girls yet a bit naive and innocent. I am not worried about what they will do there, are am more worried with their safety because they are beautiful girls and the innocence and naivety is like a neon sign on them. This will be their first time going on a trip by them selves and I am not sure if my concerns are in my head or valid concerns. What are your thoughts, would you want your 19 yr old daughter and her friend going to Las Vegas on their own?
Thank you!!

I think if they stay in the touristy areas they'll be fine.

That being said, what to the girls expect to be able to do there? My impression (from 4 visits) is that the town is pretty strict about not allowing under-21's in the casinos and bars.

Are they going to just walk around and look at the buildings? Pay top price to see some shows? There are some nice shopping places, but it all costs money.

That hotel is set off from all the others and they'll have to spend money on a monorail pass or some taxicabs. They shouldn't walk to the hotel after dark.

I wouldn't worry about them any more in this particular large city than in any other, except to warn them that Vegas is full of scammers and opportunists who prey on young naive things from small towns. I've heard them in bars, seen them in restaurants, going into their song and dance. Don't go back to anyone's apt or hotel room no matter how nice they seem or how true-to-life their story is...blah blah blah. They don't have a couple of other friends who want to come along?

Tell them to have fun, but only out in the open, in restaurants, etc. Don't open your hotel room door at the same moment that some stranger is walking right behind you, don't open the door to "hotel security" if you haven't phoned for hotel security, all the normal warnings should suffice.

I love vegas and have two teenage girls (19 & 14) but would not want her to go without an adult. Vegas is really meant for adults (21 +)

There's really not a lot for them to do in Vegas. Casinos are incredibly strict about allowing those under 21 in - and no bars are going to risk liquor licenses selling booze to minors. Nor do they want them hanging around clubs when they can;t make money selling them drinks.

I would strongly suggest they pick another place - where there is much more for them to do.

The Las Vegas Hotel & Casino is not a bad place. It's the former Las Vegas Hilton. I think they have to be 21 to make reservations.
http://www.lasvegas-how-to.com/lasvegas-facts.php

However, it's way out of the way from other casinos. The monorail does go through the hotel, so they can catch it to see the rest of the strip.

Nytraveler is correct on the strictness of casinos. Unless they have an agenda of non-21 places to go, it's really going to be a bore.

Here's a map of the strip (old one). Look for the Hilton on the top right.
http://www.cheapovegas.com/cheapo-ve...egas-strip-map

If they're set on going, here's a link to some other casinos more centrally located, that are on sale.

http://www.totalrewards.com/sale/?ed...d_mid=10926667

The Quad is a fairly new, moderately priced casino mid-strip near Harrah's.

My daughter is 19 and no way would I want her going to Las Vegas. Too many creeps hanging around.

I would suggest they pick another place.Las Vegas is not safe with out an adult.

In this situation, naive and innocent trumps smart and mature. Having never been in the kind of situations they may find themselves in, they simply lack street smarts and as a parent, I would not want my daughter to go to Vegas.

The point may be moot, because in all likelihood, they aren't going to be able to check in. And yes, they will ask for drivers licenses, especially if they look young, when checking on.

No. And they may not realize how they will not be allowed into casinos or to buy alcohol - and that it is not like college where under-age drinking is easy. What do they plan to do while they are there - guessing that shows may be out of their budget.

"The Las Vegas Hotel & Casino is not a bad place. It's the former Las Vegas Hilton. I think they have to be 21 to make reservations"

Please notice this. There are very few [respectable]hotels that will make reservations for people under 21, groupon or no groupon, in resort areas.

I agree that 19 is too young for Vegas. Our DD went with three other girlfriends when they were 24.

She said they were ushered directly into high-end clubs, because they are four beautiful young women without dates. The women in line with their boyfriends were left to stand in line. Inside the clubs, the girls were shown into the private rooms, where she said it was all free for them and also full of older men. DD and her friends are smart cookies, and they stayed together to look after each other. I will admit to feeling frightened about everything that could go wrong in that setting.

They were even invited to a private showing of JLo swimwear at one of the hotel pools. They were given a couple of swimsuits to keep, and to 'model' while there, and also lots of food and drink was free.

This was all great fun for DD and her friends, and they stayed safe. But I am sure there were men who would have been happy to take advantage of them, if they were naive. Also, they watched their drinks and did not accept any except from the bartendar directly.

Sorry - IMHO 19 is certainly an adult. And two grown women would certainly be safe in Vegas. (My DD and 2 friends spend almost 6 weeks in europe summer before last - and none of us were concerned about safety).

The problem with Vegas is that is you are under 21 there is practically nothing to do. Suggest they visit a city where they will have a lot more activity and save Vegas until they are legal.

18 is the age minimum for the LVH.

I am sure they will meet some nice gentlemen who will provide them with booze.

As far as I am aware the gambling age of 21 is a Nevada state law. Is that incorrect?

And I suppose no one can stop someone from sharing a drink with a minor (although it seems to be incredibly foolhardy given the prevalence of roofies) - but no place wants to lose their liquor license that way.

Can 19 year olds book a hotel room? Is it allowed? shouldn't they be at least 21 for that?

They would not be able to party - the drinking age is 21, and yes, they will check their IDs.

They will not be allowed to gamble, and if you look a day under 30, they will check your ID. Maybe more than once.

What's left? Shopping. Lounging by the pool. Eating.

You know, legally you can't stop them, like I couldn't stop my 19 y. o. to go to Europe by himself. Maybe you can make some agreement with them to go to another place?

What's left?
hooking up with drunk guys

This is a VERY BAD IDEA.

Hard to really fathom that two 19yo girls would become inspired to go to Vegas (alone together) <b>unless they each possess 'fake' ID's suggesting that they are 21</b>. If they don't possess them, then they are basically wasting their time and money.

Second, what somebody up above said is true about <b>young, single and attractive women being courted off the streets by bar managers</b> and given complimentary admission/drinks, so as to entice paying (preying??) male customers at full rates. This happened for a 21yo family member and her friends very recently.

The streets themselves, ON the main Vegas strip, and gen-er-al-ly safe and of limited concern. (the problem arises when one of your girls is <I>naturally friendly</i> and <b>gets lured into seemingly harmless conversation with any of zillions of scammers and potential predators not far from any crosswalk in town</b>).

I would <b>not</b> want any (young, female) relative of mine to be visiting Vegas and staying <I>off-strip</i>, because that nightlife just inspires everybody to go out, and <b>stay out reeeeeeeally late</b>.

I can't say for certain that your daughter and her friend <I>couldn't handle it all</i>... I'm just agreeing with most that there are <b>social risks involved</b> beyond those which you and your daughter are likely <i>ready</i> to take. And at what real benefit???

My guess is that they have fake ID and plan to use it in Vegas!

Bingo NorwestMale and lcuy. As I was reading this thread - was also thinking - most likely they already have fake ID.

When my wife was working for a University here in San Diego - they used to put on seminars/receptions along the West Coast for the incoming freshmen and their parents.

Part way through the reception - they would break into separate groups for the parents and then students.

Some college seniors would be provided for the high school seniors to answer their questions while the administrator would answer the parents' questions.

The first questions the students invariably asked where how do you get fake ID's - and also - how to get across the border to Tijuana where there is no drinking age. Mind you - these were "kids" from very good homes.

And the first Q the parents would ask is - how do you keep them from going to Tijuana or partying too much?

Now - we partied hearty while in college days (waay back when the drinking age for beer in Colorado was only 18) but even so - I think letting two 19 year old girls go to Vegas is not the best idea. Maybe send them there (with a couple more friends) after graduation when they have a couple more years of experience in the world.

I'd wonder too a bit about the motivation for going to Vegas. I know when I was under 21, I looked forward to visiting once I could have a drink legally. That was part of the fun of the trip. If they're thinking it's going to be a party and they want to dress up and go clubbing, then they shouldn't even consider Vegas. But for two mature young women not planning or wanting to drink, I'd actually say in some ways a Vegas trip with time spent on the Strip avoiding the seedier areas is probably less concerning than the thousands of college-age women who go on Spring Break trips with the intent of getting wasted, hooking up with random guys, and finding themselves in compromising situations.

Because the fact is it IS possible to have fun in Vegas without drinking or gambling. My girlfriends and I do so regularly. We go to lay out at the pool, shop, dine, walk around, and go to a show or rock concert in town. Having said that, one difference is that we are older, and have money to spend on nicer hotels, restaurants, and shows (we don't actually spend much shopping as we go to places like Sephora, not Hermes.) And we're also not naive. Obviously we can also choose to drink or gamble, but that's never the goal of the trip.

So if they truly don't plan or want to drink, and just want to wander and check out the famous hotel sights (because while they can't go on the casino floors, they can still see the free attractions and shops, and get in bikini time if it's warm), they should be fine. It's often when alcohol gets involved that situations become riskier. Because I made some potentially dumb alcohol-related decisions at 19 that had nothing to do with being in a town like Vegas (although it's also happened as a 21+ year old in Vegas :) ) And I was a mature 19 yr old. If anything, I was probably less careful at home and college because it felt safer, and more careful in other situations when I traveled.

If they do go, I'd definitely recommend they spend all their time on the Strip. And absolutely they should not go to any of the 18 and over clubs off-strip. Those to me are more risky than hanging out on the Strip.

If there's any concern, it's not that they're 19, but more the fact you say they're naive and innocent. But then you also say they're mature and smart. They're not going to get snatched off the Strip just walking along, so as long as they're smart and not planning to drink, they can use good judgment. They'll either enjoy the trip because it was still fun for them hanging out together and seeing the neon and attractions of the Strip, or be bored silly because there wasn't enough for them to do once dinner and shows were done. If you think they'd be the type to drink from guys' cups and innocently go off with them, then yes, I'd be concerned too. But that would also be the case anywhere, whether it be Vegas, NY, San Francisco, etc. There may be more sleazy guys in Vegas, but ultimately it's still about whether they're mature enough to keep themselves in good situations and avoid possible dangerous ones.

Twenty one responses and no one highly recommends it~including me. My daughter is 18, and I wouldn't be thrilled about her going with a girlfriend. As stated before, using common sense they'd use anywhere else would probably keep them relatively safe,but other than lounging by the pool,shopping and seeing some of the shows, there's not much to do for anyone under 21.

Uno Mas Q: Have these two 19 year old lasses done a lot of traveling? Even if they have - this is their first trip unaccompanied right?

Not a good formula in my book.

Ok here goes. I know this thread is a little old. As long as your daughter is smart and sensible there is nothing wrong with it. There is plenty to do and see in Las Vegas without drinking and gambling. Yes, they need to be "street smart". Dont go anywhere with anyone for any reason. They can go into casinos as long as they are walking from point A to point B without loiterring. Many casinos have many things to do for minors. There are many young adults who live here and go on the stip every night without incident. My daughters have gone to the strip, including New Years eve with a group of friends many times and they came home safe & sound. As Most do. And every hotel has many security guards that the girls could go to if anything happened or if they feel uncomfortable about anyone. If they rent a car then that opens another whole opportunity for them. Such as Red Rock, Mt Charleston, Lake Mead, Death Valley, Hoover Dam and Grand Canyon to name a few. Millions of people came to Vegas every year without incident. But like any major tourist city, they have to be smart. But I do agree with the walking at night time. Only on the main parts of the strip. Otherwise taxi or monorail.

shaizme: The OP only posted this one time, never returned to this thread or any others. Doubt she is still reading.