Thinking of going to Vegas for New Year’s Eve ... I searched past/old posts and read that hotels/casinos won’t let you in unless you’re staying there. Is this still the case, and if so, how soon before midnight do they do this (would we still be able to get into hotels to get to restaurants around dinner time)?

I don't know, but I'm headed to Vegas for the New Year myself. It's seems that the casinos would want your money so they'd try to keep you there as long as possible and maybe even try to convince you to stay, the best bet would probably be to call the hotel/casino(s) you are planning on visiting.

Good idea, too late.

You may be able to find a room in Vegas but you are about to pay big bucks.

If you have alternate accomodations, be prepared to deal with huge crowds and big $$$

Why do people insist on paying double and triple rates for hotel rooms, for the privelege of spending many extra hours arriving to and departing from the city, only to be pushed and shoved by throngs of drunks on New Year's Eve? Are the fireworks really that good?

Smart people are in town this week, the deadest week of the year, staying at Bellagio for $119, eating and gambling wherever they like at a moment's notice, and strolling the Strip without even being vomited on. Imagine that!

Don't get me wrong, I love Las Vegas. I live here. But the people who come for New Year's are morons. Oh, and thanks in advance to all you morons who are perfectly willing to overpay for everything just to be here for New Year's Eve. We really appreciate it.

For the rest of you, wait another week to come to town. You'll have a much better time.

I think people are "willing" to go on New Years because that's when they have days off from work. You can take a longer vacation and use up less vacation days. Just a thought.

Traveler, when I was in Vegas for New Years, we had no problem going into or out of other hotel casinos. We were priced out of the tables -- the minimums go WAY up on New Years Eve -- but we didn't mind. DO KEEP IN MIND -- when we were there, they didn't let anyone into or out of the casinos after 11:45 -- if you were inside at 11:45, you were staying inside until the fireworks were over. So if you're planning to watch the show, make sure you get outside before the doors close.

ut we did think it was fun and "worth it."

Jeez, vegaslocal don't you think calling people morons because they come to Las Vegas is a little harsh? First of all, there are many people in town that weekend who are paying zero dollars for their room - the casinos reserve a good number of their rooms for their comped players.And while, it is definitely crowded, it certainly didn't take me hours longer to arrive and depart the city the one time that I was in Las Vegas for NYE. For those folks who do have to pay for a room - yes, the room prices shoot up a lot - but just about anywhere you would travel that weekend is going to be exorbitantly priced. And like the previous poster said - not everyone has the luxury of unlimited vacation time so they like to take advantage of long weekends and some people may not be able to take a week off this week to take advantage of the low rates. So give us morons a break!

Traveler - you will be able to get into hotels to get to restaurants around dinner time. When I was there I stayed at Caesars but had to walk to Bally's for dinner. This was around 8:00 pm. I had no problems. I must say, though, that the walk back to Caesar's at around 10 pm was interesting as the strip was getting pretty crowded with lots of already young drunk people.

You're absolutely right. I apologize. Boy, I must have been in a bad mood yesterday!

The point I was trying to make is that everything that Las Vegas has to offer is available year round.

On New Year's Eve, the rooms are outrageously priced, you can't get a restaurant reservation, the table minimums shoot way up, Califonians will spend 9 hours driving home, and air travelers will face unbearable security lines and packed flights upon departing.

And for what? Some fireworks and the opportunity to get drunk in the street?

I just don't get it. I think most people would have a much better time spending much less money to come during another time.

I'm aware of how comps work. I'm also aware that the vast majority of people who are here that weekend are not being comped.

But, I take it back. They're not morons...they're lemmings.

Wow, now that I'm a lemming instead, I feel SO much better.

I went to Vegas over New Years a few years ago because the airfare was cheap, the hotels (though high for Vegas) were cheap compared to almost every other destination I looked into, and the fireworks sounded cool. I don't like gambling, so the high table minimums didn't affect me. And frankly, I like crowds.

Vegas may be fun year-round, but we were traveling over New Years because of the vacation day issue. I'd used mine up, but had some floating holiday days around the 1st. So, it worked out.

Hello,
I was trying to find a restaurant that we can make a reservation and not pay over $75 per person (for 12/31 evening)...any ideas around the strip? Seems like most of the buffets that i talked to estimate around 2.5 -3 hour wait. Also are there any fun places (does not have to be bars) to go to after fireworks and not pay $150 to get in.
What do you know about Red Rock casino dining and their Feast Buffet...since we are staying in that area.
Thank you

We liked the brewery at Monte Carlo -- cheap, good food, low-key atmosphere.

When I was there a few years ago for NYE, I went to Al Dente, and Italian restaurant in Bally's. It was good and I think you could probably do it for about $100 for two.

"an Italian restaurant" not "and." sorry