If you’ve been to Vegas would you share your thoughts and opinions please?

[TeapotCollection]

We’re thinking about going in 2 or 3 years but I can’t decide whether I actually want to go or not. I realise of course that I have to make my own mind up but I’d really appreciate some input from people who have been

I’ve been twice. Love it.

Best if combined with some sightseeing too.

It is a very handy place to fly to and pick up a car to see the 'Grand Circle' of National Parks.

I was quite bemused by it but it was exactly as I expected it to be - it is a hot blackpool with better restaurants. I was expecting more old school glamour - a bit like South Beach in Miami but didnt really find it.

I didnt find it especially expensive either - certainly not compared to LA, SF or NY. I would see it as much more of a budget option as you get so much hotel room for your money.

I feel like everyone who can should go to Vegas at least once in their life

That’s what I was told when I said I wasn’t keen to go. I think it’s a bit of a generalisation though. After spending two days there I didn’t feel that I had gained anything by having seen the place. It felt like a theme park to me but based around gambling . I felt exactly like I thought I might - too hot, irritated, bored and looking forward to leaving to see things I wanted to see like the Grand Canyon, The Hoover Dam, Yosemite, San Francisco, Monterey and LA.

I felt exactly like I thought I might - too hot, irritated, bored and looking forward to leaving to see things I wanted to see like the Grand Canyon, The Hoover Dam, Yosemite, San Francisco, Monterey and LA
Started our road trip to all those places but enjoyed the couple of days we spent in Vegas first. .

We were there for one night and I was glad we went for the experience, but tbh I found it a disturbing and depressing place. I felt sorry for the people playing slot machines g do or hours on end and the artificial feel of the place (enforced fun with a dark undertone) unsettling. I wouldn’t go again.

It was trashy, vulgar, loud. I expected a larger than life glossy Disney version of Blackpool, but it was more like a very big Blackpool than I expected.

Some of the hotels have the wow factor and are fun to drive past, but it's mainly about betting, over-priced shows, and it's very grimy and seedy feeling. Lots of people stationed at the slot machines who looked like they couldn't afford to lose so much money. I wouldn't go back.

I went for three days and loved it. It all depends on what you enjoy doing. It’s essentially a playground for grownups. Free booze in all the casinos , great shows and general madness. It’s the complete opposite of the kind of holiday I normally go for, but it was a blast. Three days is enough.

I spent 2 weeks there about 2 years ago and stayed at the Cosmopolitan hotel

Loved it
There was loads to do
Took my adult son who was 25 and we had a ball
We did both sides of the Grand Canyon including a 2 night stay and a train trip

River rafting which was amazing
Lake mead cruise
Hover Dam tour
Old town Vegas which is crazy
Shopping
Went to several top clubs
So much to do and I didn’t gamble once
Saw Celine Dion & Paul Mcartney show which was amazing
Went to a big boxing match
I think because we had 2 weeks there was no rush to fit everything in we took our time and had a great holiday

Not my sort of place at all. Couldn't move without tripping over a slot machine. I have no interest in slot machines or casinos and manufactured environments leave me cold.

The only parts of the holiday I enjoyed were: 1. a flight over the Grand Canyon, which was spectacular 2. The food, which was excellent - amazing variety and good value.

In hindsight it was an interesting experience and I'm not sorry I went, but I wouldn't go there again.

Seedy, hideous, exploitative.

@TeapotCollection

We wouldn’t really do clubs, can’t stand shopping! Absolutely love people watching and lazing by a nice pool, would definitely do a show or 2, would definitely have a gamble albeit a small one

I wouldn’t go on a helicopter unfortunately, way too scared. Really don’t like the smell of cigarette smoke either

This isn’t sounding like a good idea is it. My husband really wants to go though

We do fully accept that if we go it’ll cost us a lot of money, hence the forward planning. It’d probably be early 2024 or even 5

I never really wanted to go & didn't think that I or the kids would enjoy it but it was one (of many) compromises made on a trip with the inlaws & SIL/DH/their kids. Which will NEVER be happening again!

It was only a few days out of a much longer holiday. The kids enjoyed it far more than I thought they would. There's quite a lot to see & do other than gambling!

We stayed in a hotel with a couple of pools & enjoyed cirque de solie my 8 year old nephew the most out of all of us I think.

The food wasn't any better/worse than anywhere else on the trip.

I think I'd like to go again without kids and enjoy the night life a bit more. No clubs and that but maybe another shows, adult meals out.

I wouldn't want to go for more than maybe 3-4 days and definitely not as the sole destination. Why can't you go somewhere else as well?

Absolutely loved it. It is exactly as other PPs describe it, but I think if you know that before you go , it won't disappoint. Helicopter trip over GC is a must

Weird, disorientating, made me feel nauseous.

It’s definitely not worth a seven hour flight just to visit Vegas.

But it’s fine as a base to see the Grand Canyon, or as part of a two-centre holiday. A couple of days there is enough. And I agree the food isn’t great.

DM, who is usually extremely staid, took us on a Fear and Loathing road trip from LA to Vegas when I was a teenager, which in retrospect was a really bizarre choice on her part as she doesn’t even drink and we (DC) were early teens. But it was an interesting experience.

I’ve been since for a conference (as an adult), and again it was fine, the hotels are pretty crazy, but there isn’t much there aside from that. It’s like the Orlando Disney hotels without the actual theme park, essentially.

We were planning on going in the winter when it’s not so hot, but it would just be a week there, nowhere else. Sounds like that’s not the best of ideas

We went at Christmas and it was bloody freezing.

We loved it and really want to go again but Covid and lockdowns have put paid to that.

Should say myself and adult dc are not into gambling or drinking. We are also vegetarian/vegan. We did go to a lot of really nice restaurants and did a lot of walking. (forgot my driving licence so couldn’t hire the car we had ordered)

If we ever get the chance to go again we will definitely go in August…. And remember a driving licence

I think you make of it what you want to
You don’t have to eat at chain restaurants for every meal, you don’t have to drink or gamble. There were loads of choices.
We stayed for 4 days but could have done longer.

Having seen the prices of Airbnb’s I think we would book one of them rather than a hotel.

Las Vegas is nothing like Blackpool, they are poles apart. Having said this, I wouldn't venture far from the Strip so much homelessness, drug abuse and poverty. I've been a few times, once with older children who enjoyed it and it's worth staying in a more upmarket hotel than one of the more budget hotels. We spent some time visiting other hotels, some of the architecture is amazing; the Venetian has a canal with gondolas running through it and Caesars Palace is a good example of too much is never enough. New York New York has a rollercoaster running round the outside, the children enjoyed it. The food is excellent, you can eat at all the hotel buffets even if you don't stay at that particular hotel and as others have mentioned it's a great base for visiting Grand Canyon, Utah, Lake Mead and lots of other canyony places. We liked the Wholefood Supermarket where you can get reasonably priced takeaways (including meat and soup, not just veggie). Our favourite place to visit was the Museum of Organised Crime, which is an award winning museum with lots of fascinating stuff about the Mafia and the founding of Las Vegas. Also liked the Atomic Testing museum. Great shopping at two sets of Premiun outlets, Miracle Mile, Caesars Palace and Town Square where lots of locals go. It's probably not for everyone, but we really liked it, there's more to it than gambling and sleaze.

Loved it tacky yes money grabbing yes fakery yes but so much to see and gawp at live music everywhere ott ridiculousness everywhere partied hard saw some amazing shows ate fab food n cocktails brill shopping danced went on some great trips went downtown which was a eye opener and people watched tried a bit of gambling (spent 10 dollars) love love love

I have no idea why anyone would want to go there. Horrible, fake everything. The ultimate in consumerism. Building a city in the middle of a desert? Great idea.

Go somewhere nice instead.

I've been a few times and love it BUT:

• Cheap Vegas is shit. You need to stay somewhere like the Cosmo and be prepared to spend $$$$ eating at Hakkasan etc.

• You're not going to be lounging by the pool in the winter, it's coat weather in early December.

• 2/3 days are enough in Vegas proper. You could def spend some time at one of the big desert spa resorts, but again, not idea in the winter.

I got married in Vegas (but not the strip). I wasn't that fussed about going but DH has been many times as he lived in the US and loves it and to my surprise it was actually kind of fun. It is quite tacky and a bit grim (saw a guy shooting up on the verge as we walked along) but I'm glad I went. We didn't spend the entire trip there about 4 days and I think it was enough for me, it was out of season but still very hot. Didn't do any gambling because we're not into that but went shopping, saw the Body Works exhibition, went on a roller coaster and screamed the place down, explored the hotels and went up the Stratosphere tower which was cool. Went to Grand Canyon etc after.

TheMagiciansNiece

I have no idea why anyone would want to go there. Horrible, fake everything. The ultimate in consumerism. Building a city in the middle of a desert? Great idea

It was a great idea given the gambling laws in the US.

Have you ever been?

I must admit to being a bit sceptical but a couple of friends went with their family and really enjoyed it. They also are not into gambling etc.
Only mistake we made was the time of year we went. Would really like to go back in August when it is hot and I would definitely get an Airbnb with a swimming pool as opposed to bring cramped in a hotel bedroom.

I've been twice, once for a conference and second time on honeymoon we ended up driving there as it was snowing in June in Colorado where were originally meant to be staying.

I certainly wouldn't go for a week. I don't gamble and found it a real pain having to walk through all the casino part to get anywhere else. We did have an amazing night at the Grand Canyon, so that bit was good, but the rest of it was meh and I wouldn't go back unless someone else was paying for it.

I’m another “glad I saw it but wouldn’t go back”. We did a couple of days at the end of a US road trip, stayed at the Bellagio. Did the Hoover Dam and the atomic museum but otherwise stayed on the strip. I thought the food was pretty good and the alcohol was cheap (they want you drunk to gamble I guess). I HATED the fact that every time we stepped outside we were approached by people offering to send girls to our room. We did gamble a bit but unless you are willing to stake a lot each time it’s mostly automated tables and slots. Everywhere else we went on the trip (San Francisco, California coast, Yosemite, Grand Canyon, Palm Springs) was MUCH nicer. There are people that adore it though, I know someone who goes every year. So depends very much what you want in a holiday!

I went as part of a bigger trip and absolutely loved it, even took my kids. Can't wait to go back one day. Didn't spend a penny in a casino. Stayed at the Bellagio with a room overlooking the fountains - in August, which was super hot.