Non H&F: I did not like Vegas

[joenali]

I just got home after a week in Vegas and I really did not like it at all. It is the reason why other countries hate the U.S.. Over consumption of food, money wasting, drinking and other indulgences. I just felt like I did not fit in at all with Vegas.

I was there for a math conference with new co-workers so it was fun to meet them. We did go out a few nights and I had a good time, but dudes, I just didn't like it at all. Give me a beach in Hawaii and I would be sooo happy! Not a smelly, smokey casino in dirty Vegas!

[taratru]

When we go, we don't gamble. We lay by the pool, read, walk the Strip to people watch, catch a show, and eat at places with good (albeit expensive) food. We buy our own booze at a liquor store. There might be one night where we get hammered and gamble some. What I love about Vegas is that you can do either.

[joenali]

Jul 14, 2012 12:59:24 GMT -5 taratru said:

When we go, we don't gamble. We lay by the pool, read, walk the Strip to people watch, catch a show, and eat at places with good (albeit expensive) food. We buy our own booze at a liquor store. There might be one night where we get hammered and gamble some. What I love about Vegas is that you can do either.

Yeah, maybe if I went with the hubs or some friends that I actually know and wasn't there for a math conference it would have been more fun!

[kate1482]

I had been to Vegas before for work but never just for vacation. I got desperate to get out of Seattle march weather and went done for a weekend with dh. We both decided that trip would be our last! Vegas is just kind of gross. We were surprised how many families were down there with their stroller age kids. It's sad that the best part of the trip was getting some sun at the topless pool and the food!

[Deleted]

H and I have our first trip to Vegas planned for October. We don't gamble or drink much but we will probably catch a few shows, explore the strip and H is insisting that we visit the Pawn Stars pawn shop, which I am not looking forward too.

[Deleted]

I love Vegas but IMO it is only fun if you assume you'll blow through $500/day/person.Everything in Vegas that is fun - besides laying out by the pool - is expensive. I don't think I'd have a good time on a work trip (unless I had an awesome per diam, which I don't) because I wouldn't want to spend the money without DH there. Well, except at the spa. I could devote an entire trip to the Vegas spas.

[mx27]

i like vegas. i'm neither a partier nor a gambler. i enjoy seeing shows, shopping, eating, and visiting lounges.

and really, if gambling, eating, and partying are the reasons others don't like the u.s., then that says more about them than us - those pursuits are not strictly american and they certainly don't constitute all that is america. plenty of non-americans visit vegas all the time.

it's fun to let loose and indulge sometimes.

[AHappierHour]

I like Vegas for maybe 1 day then I'm over it and want to go home. I can't stand the smell and all the noise. I do enjoy eating and exploring the shops in the hotels.

[joenali]

I also felt uber guilty for throwing beer bottles in the trash. No recycling anywhere!!

[wannabe]

Jul 14, 2012 23:24:04 GMT -5 joenali said:

I also felt uber guilty for throwing beer bottles in the trash. No recycling anywhere!!

they could very well have a third party company who sorts through the trash for recyclables. the last house we lived in was in a city that handled it this way.

[Deleted]

Jul 14, 2012 23:24:04 GMT -5 joenali said:

I also felt uber guilty for throwing beer bottles in the trash. No recycling anywhere!!

I think it's sorted after it's tossed. You can't count on all those people to do recycling right!

[Wines Not Whines]

I had a lot of fun when I went to Vegas on an expense account, but much less fun when I went on my own dime. I agree with pp who said it's more fun if you don't have to worry about money and can eat at the best restaurants and see a different show every night. I also don't gamble, but I will gamble with other people's money if they let me.

[zitiqueen]

Jul 14, 2012 23:24:04 GMT -5 joenali said:

I also felt uber guilty for throwing beer bottles in the trash. No recycling anywhere!!

You don't know that. A lot of garbage companies do that themselves or hire it out.

And the buffets recycle their trash too. Mike Rowe did a Dirty Jobs on it.

Las Vegas isn't one of the top travel destinations in the world because foreigners hate what it represents so much.

[joenali]

Jul 15, 2012 11:21:21 GMT -5 zitiqueen said:

Jul 14, 2012 23:24:04 GMT -5 joenali said:

I also felt uber guilty for throwing beer bottles in the trash. No recycling anywhere!!

You don't know that. A lot of garbage companies do that themselves or hire it out.

And the buffets recycle their trash too. Mike Rowe did a Dirty Jobs on it.

Las Vegas isn't one of the top travel destinations in the world because foreigners hate what it represents so much.

Of course I don't know if they recycle. Nothing was clearly labled with "This gets sorted later" or "Make sure you watch Dirty Jobs and Mike Rowe will tell you it's sorted". IMO it should be clearly labled that trash is sorted and then recycled.

[foundmylazybum]

Joe I love you but I'm kind of LoLing right now. It seems like you had a kind of limited experience of Vegas.

My parents have a house there so I guess my impression is different.... Within an hour of Vegas is Red Rocks Preserve, Valley of Fire and Mt. Charleston--all really nice for hiking, running, and mountain biking.

You can go see Las Vegas Valley Springs Preserve which tells all about the social and natural history surrounding Vegas (and tells how many buildings around are green--a lot businesses there are LEED certified, focus on recycling, utilize local foods etc)

Also, you must have by passed the amazing shopping (one year I got a pair of Prada shoes for less than $100. It was ah mazing)

I also recently read an article about how the rest of the world views us. Your comments are very--very...I guess United States Centric--a lot of people from other countries could give two shits about us...they neither love us-nor hate us. They are too wrapped up in their own lives to worry about us. We aren't the "most important" country out there--you know?

Everyone has different things they value. You may look at some of the things happening in Vegas as "money wasting" but really who are you to say if someone IS really wasting that money or not? It's their money--and their choice to spend it how they wish. You prefer a beach--they honestly could look at you and say "What a waste of money!" They could look at you spending time--volunteering at the Olympic Trials, spending money on triathlons or bikes and say EXACTLY the same thing. You just value different things.

[starlily]

Jul 15, 2012 11:23:38 GMT -5 joenali said:

Jul 15, 2012 11:21:21 GMT -5 zitiqueen said:

You don't know that. A lot of garbage companies do that themselves or hire it out.

And the buffets recycle their trash too. Mike Rowe did a Dirty Jobs on it.

Las Vegas isn't one of the top travel destinations in the world because foreigners hate what it represents so much.

Of course I don't know if they recycle. Nothing was clearly labled with "This gets sorted later" or "Make sure you watch Dirty Jobs and Mike Rowe will tell you it's sorted". IMO it should be clearly labled that trash is sorted and then recycled.

No, your attitude is why foreigners hate American travelers.

[foundmylazybum]

Here is an article about recycling on the strip:

www.lasvegasweekly.com/news/2011/may/12/recycling-strips-best-kept-secret/

[fakejew]

Yeah, I agree with FMLB.

I didn't even have to open your post to know you never left the strip. I find that's the case 99% of the time when people say they didn't like Vegas.

I cannot for the life of me figure out why a person who enjoys the outdoors so much didn't actually, you know, go outdoors and enjoy everything the area has to offer. Although maybe your work function didn't allow you this kind of time which is fair enough. But then it becomes an issue of, "gee, it sucks that I never got a chance to explore the area due to work committtments," not "vegas sucks."

I don't even get the issue of recycling.

[mrsmac]

It's definitely not for everyone.
I happen to really like it - I'm not a big drinker or gambler but I love the atmosphere and the people watching. It's a great place to walk around and I love looking in all the shops.
I'm a little surprised (disappointed?) in the number of people taking their little children there. It's become way more family friendly but I don't think it's a family destination. I consider Vegas a good vacation to get away from the kids!

[Brie]

Vegas is fun. Lighten up. It's not like the people there live this way 24/7/365.

[al320]

Then you didnt do it right lol

[joenali]

Wow! Everyone! I didn't like it. I don't want to go back. And no, I did not have a chance to get off the strip, I was at a conference ALL DAY, FOR 4 DAYS! So that is why I didn't go off the strip. Why is everyone up my ass about this post? So you like Vegas, great, wonderful, fabulous, go back! I will not go back.

I too was also surprised about how many families were there as well. Totally not a family destination.

[teflep]

Jul 15, 2012 17:30:14 GMT -5 joenali said:

.

I too was also surprised about how many families were there as well. Totally not a family destination.

It certainly is. They could have just been on the strip that day or few days. Not every family wants to go to WDW for vacation.

[foundmylazybum]

Jul 15, 2012 17:30:14 GMT -5 joenali said:

Wow! Everyone! I didn't like it. I don't want to go back. And no, I did not have a chance to get off the strip, I was at a conference ALL DAY, FOR 4 DAYS! So that is why I didn't go off the strip. Why is everyone up my ass about this post? So you like Vegas, great, wonderful, fabulous, go back! I will not go back.

I too was also surprised about how many families were there as well. Totally not a family destination.

Again I say "limited experience."

If you don't want to go back fine Joe but don't shit all over it like "Over indulgence! Not family friendly! No recycling! ( ) You just said yourself you were in one tiny part and didn't see that much.

THAT is what people are giving you a hard time about!

[AHappierHour]

yes it can be family friendly. my kids like going to circus circus, the m & m factory, the sugar factory, the pools, the roller coasters, watching the pirate show, seeing the water show and much more.

[Deleted]

I love Vegas, I am a non-drinker, non-gambler and still love it. I like the people watching, Valley fo Fire and Red Rock, I love the window shopping and the lights at night. I also love that you can eat a light breakfast, lunch and be done with food for the rest of the day. Each to their own I guess.

[starlily]

Jul 15, 2012 18:06:26 GMT -5 foundmylazybum said:

Jul 15, 2012 17:30:14 GMT -5 joenali said:

Wow! Everyone! I didn't like it. I don't want to go back. And no, I did not have a chance to get off the strip, I was at a conference ALL DAY, FOR 4 DAYS! So that is why I didn't go off the strip. Why is everyone up my ass about this post? So you like Vegas, great, wonderful, fabulous, go back! I will not go back.

I too was also surprised about how many families were there as well. Totally not a family destination.

Again I say "limited experience."

If you don't want to go back fine Joe but don't shit all over it like "Over indulgence! Not family friendly! No recycling! ( ) You just said yourself you were in one tiny part and didn't see that much.

THAT is what people are giving you a hard time about!

FMLB nailed it.

[robin]

I enjoyed it and feel that even though I had 6 days there, there was so much I still didn't see. But, the smokiness killed me. I had black lung for a week after I left. Doesn't help that I'm asthmatic

[trigal]

I understand what you are saying. We only went to Vegas for a weekend (DH was doing the IM70.3 race). What I like about the area - it's beautiful when you get out of the city. We went to the Hoover Dam and Lake Mead, which were great. There are a lot of places to hike and such, but we just didn't have the time to do that. We spent one evening right on the strip and that just seems silly to me. So, if you only think of the strip when you are talking about Vegas, then I am in complete agreement. But, if you use the city as a base to go to other places, then you can have a great time.

[zitiqueen]

Jul 15, 2012 12:00:07 GMT -5 foundmylazybum said:

I also recently read an article about how the rest of the world views us. Your comments are very--very...I guess United States Centric--a lot of people from other countries could give two shits about us...they neither love us-nor hate us. They are too wrapped up in their own lives to worry about us. We aren't the "most important" country out there--you know?

Apparently this also needs to be put on signs everywhere in Las Vegas, otherwise how do ethnocentric Americans stand a chance of learning that we aren't the most important country out there?