I haven't been to vegas for a couple years except for a work trip where I didn't have time to do anything there.  Also had to cancel my CES trip due to work.

A lot of the really cheap stuff is gone like the cheap buffets, low bet gambling, free parking, cheap or free shows, etc.  only thing left is comp rooms in downtown but you end up gambling a bit more to get them nowadays.

You still get a good value experience over other places if you spend more.  Get luxury resorts for very reasonable prices off-peak, very good food and buffets in the $30 to $50 range, and lot of entertainment options.

I don't feel the desire to go as much nowadays since I don't gamble as much and front sight left.  But it's nice to live in luxury once in a while without breaking the bank.

Still remember that elderly Hawaii lady that got shot and killed in the parking lot.  All she wanted to do is visit Vegas like every other Hawaii resident loves to do.

Seems like a lot of this crap is happening lately.  Definitely not the Vegas I remember.




Read the comments.  Interesting.

Still remember that elderly Hawaii lady that got shot and killed in the parking lot.  All she wanted to do is visit Vegas like every other Hawaii resident loves to do.

Seems like a lot of this crap is happening lately.  Definitely not the Vegas I remember.




Read the comments.  Interesting.

If you're talking about the one at Fashion Show Mall parking lot a few years ago: She forgot her mask and her husband went back to the car to get it. This left her alone. Some criminals from CA saw this and took advantage.  They also killed a valet at Main Street hotel (I think it was Main st).

Fashion Show mall is a gun free zone as they have no guns allowed signage.  But none in the parking lot area.

Years ago, I saw a guy open carrying in Apple and security asked him to leave.

Now they have armed security as many vegas places do now.  Even the Walgreens has stores on the strip with armed security.  Like the one next to Planet Hollywood. The one next to Palazzo has unarmed security wearing an airsoft type vest.

MGM properties and Caesars properties have tactical security. Imagine guys who look like SWAT, but with no rifle. So place carrier, handgun, pistol and rifle mags and wearing green/brown.

why do they have rifle mags, but no rifle?

If you're talking about the one at Fashion Show Mall parking lot a few years ago: She forgot her mask and her husband went back to the car to get it. This left her alone. Some criminals from CA saw this and took advantage.  They also killed a valet at Main Street hotel (I think it was Main st).

Fashion Show mall is a gun free zone as they have no guns allowed signage.  But none in the parking lot area.

Years ago, I saw a guy open carrying in Apple and security asked him to leave.

Now they have armed security as many vegas places do now.  Even the Walgreens has stores on the strip with armed security.  Like the one next to Planet Hollywood. The one next to Palazzo has unarmed security wearing an airsoft type vest.

MGM properties and Caesars properties have tactical security. Imagine guys who look like SWAT, but with no rifle. So place carrier, handgun, pistol and rifle mags and wearing green/brown.

why do they have rifle mags, but no rifle?

I questioned this too. Seems like additional weight to have to carry around 99.99% of the time.

My thought is that in a rush scenario when they grab their rifle from the office/armory, then it's 1 less thing to grab as well.  Or if a Metro goes down and they need to pick up and use their rifle, then they have ammo too or if Metro runs out of ammo.

Also, they were the Pmags with the window. So it's not like they were carrying empty mags just for show like how the guard did at the airport after 9/11.

I questioned this too. Seems like additional weight to have to carry around 99.99% of the time.

My thought is that in a rush scenario when they grab their rifle from the office/armory, then it's 1 less thing to grab as well.  Or if a Metro goes down and they need to pick up and use their rifle, then they have ammo too or if Metro runs out of ammo.

Also, they were the Pmags with the window. So it's not like they were carrying empty mags just for show like how the guard did at the airport after 9/11.

in close quarters (inside a casino or hotel), the proper weapon would be a sidearm. 

if, however, a rifle is needed, the sidearm will hopefully be sufficient to protect the user while they try to get to wherever their rifle is stored.

Public perception regarding scary black rifles play a role, too.  I'm sure the property owners made the decision not to trigger any of their guests by the sight of an AR15 nearby, even if it's in the hands of a security guard.

Having the ammo already on them makes more sense when they have to waste time getting to the rifle and back to where it's needed.  No time to load up on ammo/mags.

Public perception regarding scary black rifles play a role, too.  I'm sure the property owners made the decision not to trigger any of their guests by the sight of an AR15 nearby, even if it's in the hands of a security guard.

I also think  if a guard where to get his weapon taken, then the lawyers will have a field day.  The scary rifle in court has more emotion than a handgun taken.

They often travel in 2-3, but i've seen some walking alone.

About a month ago, there was a guy open carrying his rifle and handgun on the strip. No one really noticed and no police interaction.

Or maybe while they are engaging the perps, back-up will be coming with the rifles.

Or maybe while they are engaging the perps, back-up will be coming with the rifles.

Who would be back-up?  From what i see, the security employees are already spread thin, handling complaints of rowdy customers, guarding the carts used to collect the money from slots, accompanying the chips as tables are replenished, etc.  i don't know if there are enough extra guards to run & grab the rifles. 

Anytime there is a disturbance, security's number one job is to protect the gaming areas they are assigned to.  i don't think someone on the other end of the casino will leave their area unguarded -- vulnerable to theft -- in order to grab rifles for security personnel engaging criminals on the other end of the casino.

i saw a woman at Circus Circus suffer a seizure while at the BJ table.  One guard stood over her while a second guard watched the table -- i suspect to make sure the chips didn't walk off.  An incident like that could be staged hypothetically to distract employees while someone grabs a fistful of chips or does something else shady.  The woman was thrashing on the floor for at least a couple of minutes until someone came to her aid.  Nobody -- not a customer and not an employee -- bothered to help her by placing anything between her teeth or holding her head to prevent injury.

That kind of tells me the staff has been instructed to do as they are trained, which means don't get distracted from protecting the casino's money.

Maybe after the mass shooting at the concert policies and security staff sizes were upgraded?  i just know what i saw that time at Circus Circus and other less serious situations where security had to get involved.

Security wearing tactical gear and rifles attract too much attention and make people feel uneasy which is opposite of what a casino wants to do.  If people see tactical security, they think why do they need them and is something bad going to happen?  Casino's want to make people feel at ease with no worries, and want them to just focus on gambling.

Suprised they walk around the casino in tactical gear

I used to think "Wow, look how seriously the casino is about protecting their customers".  I felt proud.  Wanted.  And happy that I was valued, loved, and treasured.

Then I found out they're not there for me........or anybody else gambling in the casino.

Security wearing tactical gear and rifles attract too much attention and make people feel uneasy which is opposite of what a casino wants to do.  If people see tactical security, they think why do they need them and is something bad going to happen?  Casino's want to make people feel at ease with no worries, and want them to just focus on gambling.

Suprised they walk around the casino in tactical gear

They also walk outside of the casino itself, on the sidewalk and chat with Metro, and walk from 1 property to another. I saw a few on the escalator by LINQ.  I assume they're going to Harrahs/Flamingo from Caesars as Planet Hollywood is a longer walk.

I used to think "Wow, look how seriously the casino is about protecting their customers".  I felt proud.  Wanted.  And happy that I was valued, loved, and treasured.

Then I found out they're not there for me........or anybody else gambling in the casino.

In general you're right. But they will escort you to your car or the cashier if you won something big.  I was on a table a few years ago at Harrahs playing Let It Ride.  A guy hit the straight flush and won $77K that's the progressive.  They paid him in chips and asked if he wants an escort to the cashier. He said no.

1 hotel seems to be going back to the old Vegas, even though they weren't around.

Resorts World not only has free parking till end of August, but now no resort fee.

We went there last month and it was dead. I was like 1 of 5 playing slots in the entire place. Tables had maybe 1 player at every other table.  This was a Wednesday around lunch time.

Half the food hall was still not open (as in shut down).

They opened just before covid.  You can tell Chinese is their target clientel.  Not as obvious as Lucky Dragon. When you cater to 1 culture, you alienate the others.

They had a new CEO a few months ago and he isn't there anymore.

They tried to have a Mr. Beast event a few months ago and it was a dud.  IIRC, it was like $1K for 2 days there (hotel stay included).  Mr. Beast didn't even show up.  Shitty gift bag that had like left overs from the Mr. Beast retail store, so like size S shirts and lame stickers and things like that.  People were told to wait in their room for a "surprise" that never came. So they were in their room for like 8 hours and nothing.  None of the Mr. Beast crew that's in his videos showed up either.  Sounds like RW bought the rights to use the name from Mr. Beast.  They offered refunds to all those who participated in it. There's also a class action lawsuit and IDK what the status is.  The new CEO left shorty after this event.

Charging for parking and resort fees are on the top of my list as to why I think Vegas is taking advantage of the visitors.

California Hotel, Main Street, and Fremont Downtown charging "resort fees" are a joke.  These properties are hardly "resorts" like the properties on the Strip and some upscale off-strip locales.

I feel free parking should be the norm.  People are gambling in the casinos and I feel it is a nice gesture to provide free parking while gamblers lose hundreds and even thousands in the casino.  Charging $30 and up for parking is just chicken sh*t.

Anyway, there are lots of videos out there saying the same thing:  Vegas is getting ridiculously expensive and the nickel and diming is off the charts.  Visitor numbers are down and are continuing the downward trend.

I've said this earlier and I still feel the same way.  I'll still go to Vegas but I don't feel the excitement, anticipation, and value like before. 

Charging for parking and resort fees are on the top of my list as to why I think Vegas is taking advantage of the visitors.

California Hotel, Main Street, and Fremont Downtown charging "resort fees" are a joke.  These properties are hardly "resorts" like the properties on the Strip and some upscale off-strip locales.

I feel free parking should be the norm.  People are gambling in the casinos and I feel it is a nice gesture to provide free parking while gamblers lose hundreds and even thousands in the casino.  Charging $30 and up for parking is just chicken sh*t.

Anyway, there are lots of videos out there saying the same thing:  Vegas is getting ridiculously expensive and the nickel and diming is off the charts.  Visitor numbers are down and are continuing the downward trend.

I've said this earlier and I still feel the same way.  I'll still go to Vegas but I don't feel the excitement, anticipation, and value like before.

Even thought the strip and downtown are down like 5% from last year, it's not like they're down 30%.  This is strictly gaming revenue.  So had they not pushed out the middle income and lower gamblers, I wonder if that would have made up for the 5% decrease.

One could argue that the richer spend more at other things that increase revenue like restaurants and the hotel fees, but I think these people would come anyways and making a little extra on fees is much less than a lower income gambler would lose.  Example: Average daily resort fee is like $50 per day. So a 5 day stay is $250 per room in resort fee revenue.  Assume a couple go and stay in the room and gamble a little bit.  They would def lose more than $125 each.

Of course some don't play at all, but the above is just an example on my non-expert Vegas economist professional opinion.

Then add in people are avoiding vegas 1 month before and after F1 due to the construction. So that's 2 months of loss/reduced travelers/revenue.

Ha ha, just watched this video where somewhere in Aria somebody is charging $26 for a bottle of water, LOL!

And elsewhere they are charging $60 for Early check-in fee.

Yeah, implode Vegas, implode.   I'll be home doing this:

Ha ha, just watched this video where somewhere in Aria somebody is charging $26 for a bottle of water, LOL!

And elsewhere they are charging $60 for Early check-in fee.

Yeah, implode Vegas, implode.   I'll be home doing this:

Who could have predicted water would cost so much in the middle of the fracking desert?

 

Ha ha, just watched this video where somewhere in Aria somebody is charging $26 for a bottle of water, LOL!

And elsewhere they are charging $60 for Early check-in fee.

Yeah, implode Vegas, implode.   I'll be home doing this:

Is this high, of course. But it isn't anything new. I've seen hotels charge about $18 for a small bottle of Fiji water over the years.  Aria didn't post the price, so when the person checked out, that's when they found out how much it is.

This guy is a moron for not asking first how much the water is and people are just looking for a reason to get mad at a billion dollar hotel.

The early check in sounds about right for the past many years too.  I've paid it only once. We landed on the red eye and I didn't sleep on the flight over.  Got to the lobby at 9am and I wanted to sleep, instead of waiting till 3pm.

All the other times we checked in early, it was waived due to our player status.

Sounds like minibar prices are no longer limited to the minibar. $$$$  The prices for in-room snacks and beverages are just crazy!   

i can see charging for early check-in or late check-out.  Housekeeping needs time to make rooms ready for new guests. 

Some services during your stay are not done daily.  But, when you check out, they have to perform every service before someone else checks in.  If the allotted time for that is cut by a 2-3 hours to accommodate late check-outs, then the hotel may need more housekeepers and room cleaning equipment.  Early check-ins also reduce that time available, making it harder to ensure you have a room ready upon arrival.