For thinking about doing this, not in general, which is an entirely seperate issue. My sister and I theoretically like to do stuff together, but both work a million hours, do not have the same days off, and have jobs that are not flexible about letting us take time. I have a Sunday and Monday off in June, since I took it for plans that have subsequently fallen through, and she is off on Sundays and should be able to get the Monday. We were kind of thinking of taking a red-eye (from PHL) on Saturday night to Las Vegas, and flying back Monday night. Are we nuts?
I know gamblers do this, but it kind of seems different if you are planning to spend 48 hours at a blackjack table. Our plans probably involve walking the entire length of the strip, eating strange things, and swimming in the hotel pool (we were figuring to choose something cheap with a decent pool area, like Circus-Circus or Hooters). I may play a little video poker, but that's probably the extent of our gambling. I went for three days in 2000 with about an $80 bankroll and was perfectly happy, and my sister would think that was an awful lot of money to gamble with.

No, I would not call this insane at all. We spent 2.5 days in Vegas last year and never once went into any of the casinos for the purpose of gambling (except for a couple of hours that my husband gambled while the rest of us slept). There is enough along the strip to keep one entertained without having to gamble. So go ahead and have a great trip.

If you're going to blitz into any US city for 2-days/1-night, Las Vegas may be once of the best --it's so "used" to people doing just that.

But be forewarned: hotel check-in is probably not until 3PM or 4PM, and check-out is apt to be 11AM or noon. So you're going to have a lot of time on your hands with your bags packed and no room at the inn. If you can handle that and the potential lack of sleep from 2 red-eye flights, then Hey Baby! It's Vegas!

I'm right here in Las Vegas as we speak, and this is one of the best seasons (weather-wize) to visit. Catch us while you can before the temps rise to 115 F. We'll be expecting to see you at the video poker machines. It sounds as if you and your sister deserve a holiday.

I wouldn't do it.

The pace of traffic and density there, IMHO, are totally different than say, 10 years ago, or even 2 years ago.

Now everything takes longer and to me it would not be worth it. I wouldn't have said the same thing 10 years ago at all.

I don't see how anyone can do all you want to do in Vegas and do it in just 2 days, after a long night flight at that. There is so much to see and do. First time I went, we spent the day walking the strip... popped into each casino just to look and collect a book of matches from each. After a full day of walking, we had not been south of the MGM or NYNY and didn't make it as far as the Sahara and there's lots more casinos along the strip now than in 2000. This past Jan. I took the tram from Mandalay Bay to Excalibur, then walked to Treas. Island. Took me a long time & I was tired, so I took a Dueces bus back to MB. Later googled it and found it was a 3.2 mile walk from Excal. to TI, no wonder my feet hurt!!

You could have a great time in 2 days, but just don't plan to see everything, but if you eat as much as you'd like, you will have to do walking to take off some of the calories!

Your hotel will store your luggage b/4 & after check in-out, but you have to allow enough time at the AP, typically McCarran AP is very slow to get thru security -- at least that's been my experience the last few times we've been there.

I would do that! Check out Tropicana, they have a great pool, and the price is not really offensive Or Flamingo.

Go to Luxor to see a 3-D movie, get pastries at Paris, watch the fountain and the volcano, go to Flamingo's arboretum, Bellagio's conservatory to see the flowers.

And get a couple of Margaritas at the Margaritaville (next to Flamingo)

We were figuring that the hotel would be worth it for two nights. We're too old and lazy to stay up that much, and that way even if we get in too late to really want to go to bed, we can at least shower, change into bathing suits, etc.

Steer clear of Circus2, can't speak to Hooters. Go to www.cheapovegas.com & scope out the best pool for your $$. (Don't forget to hit the M & M store either.)

Two days of vegging by a pool and eating in Las Vegas is worth it I figure.

I think The Flamingo would be best ... very central .. you can visit The Bellagio, Planet Hollywood (Miracle Mile shopping), Caesar's Palace (Forum shops shopping) very easily and there's tons to see and not to far to walk. The Flamingo pools are great .. can be a little "frat house like" depending on the time of year, but still fun.

If you try The Flamingo see if you can get what they call a "GO Room" ... newly updated ... kinda makes you think "Austin Powers" but still ... new.

Because of the time difference, is it even POSSIBLE to do a red eye flight westbound from PHL to LAS?

What time does your sister finish work on Saturday. The last flight I see is 8pm - 10:40 pm.

My sister doesn't work on Saturday. I do, but when I said red-eye, I really meant eveningish, for the trip out. Back is really a red-eye. I did check packages on travelocity, and there was one at six and on at 8 o'clockish. I might be a bit afraid of the six, as I would have to be out of my job by two, but eight is much more doable. I figure the transfer to the hotel is going to be poky on a Saturday night, but what are you going to do?

I've done the two or three day Vegas trip twice in the last year to meet my friend. She comes from Oregon, and I come from Hawaii, so its a long way to go, but well worth it.

I think two days in Vegas is just perfect, and we don't even stay up all night like some people do there. We wander a bit, eat fairly often, and do some gambling on the penny slot machines.

it is really just an excuse for some time to catch up with my friend, and oddly enough, all the stuff going on seems to make for good conversations!

I agree with the suggestion for the Flamingo. Lovely pool area with lots of greenery. Check in may be at 3 pm but we have OFTEN arrived at 10 or 11 am and been checked in right away. If that is not possible, have your bathing suit handy, and let the hotel check your bags while you go to the pool, have a drink, relax etc.