Labor Day weekend outlook: More visitors, less spending
Friday, Sept. 3, 2010 | 2:05 a.m.
Sun coverage
Sun archives
- Las Vegas sees visitor increase, room rates up 6 percent (8-12-2010)
- Too many rooms to fill: CityCenter’s opening felt, even as visitor volume grows (8-9-2010)
- Las Vegas sees 2 percent increase in May visitors (7-7-2010)
- Uptick in MGM Mirage bookings offers hope for Strip turnaround (6-7-2010)
- Will airlines’ summer travel surcharge hurt Vegas tourism? (6-5-2010)
- LVCVA report shows Las Vegas visitors spending less (3-22-2010)
- Will CityCenter change type of tourist in Vegas? (12-18-2009)
The outlook for Labor Day weekend in Las Vegas appears much like that for most holidays since the Great Recession took hold — visitors will still flock to the city but they will spend less.
The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority expects 290,000 visitors for the holiday weekend, a 2.8 percent increase from the 282,000 visitors the Las Vegas Valley saw Labor Day weekend 2009.
But the estimated nongaming economic impact is projected to be $160.7 million, a 3 percent drop from $165.6 million last year.
Although visitors will be spending less, there is a bright spot. The city ranks high on several travel lists for top Labor Day weekend destinations.
For the third straight year, Las Vegas tops travel booking website Orbitz.com’s annual list of Labor Day destinations. The list is based on vacation packages booked on Orbitz.com.
Orbitz spokeswoman Marita Hudson Thomas said Las Vegas continues to rank No. 1 because of its varied offerings and value.
“Las Vegas is a destination of great accessibility. Whether you are a domestic or international traveler, you can get there and you can get there very easily,” Hudson Thomas said. “Of course there is gaming, but now with the entertainment and what the city has done to market to families, anybody can find something to do once they get to the destination.”
The average daily room rate for a Las Vegas hotel room is $106, according to hotel bookings on Orbitz.com, which Hudson Thomas said is up 5 percent from last Labor Day but still down 23 percent from 2008.
“We are seeing higher airfare costs, but when you can have such a fantastic hotel rate, then your hotel costs are going to offset your airfare price,” Hudson Thomas said.
Hudson Thomas said all of the destinations on this year’s list are domestic, signaling that more travelers are driving.
Priceline.com’s annual Labor Day weekend list of top destinations, which put Las Vegas at No. 5, only listed four international destinations on its list of 30 top cities, all of which are in Canada. Last year, 11 international destinations made Priceline’s list.
Las Vegas also ranks No. 1 on AAA’s list of destinations for Southern Californians.
The Southern California branch of the travel club reported that more than 2.5 million Southern California travelers expected to take trips this holiday weekend — an 11 percent increase over last year’s 2.26 million travelers.
In the Mountain Region, which includes Nevada, 2.6 million people are expected to travel, a nearly 11 percent increase from last year.
Nationally, AAA said, 34 million people will travel this holiday weekend. That represents a 10 percent increase from 2009.
Travel and ticketing website Vegas.com, a sister company to the Las Vegas Sun, said its seen a 10 percent increase in bookings for this Labor Day holiday compared to 2009. The average daily room rate for rooms sold increased 11 percent, from $91 in 2009 to $101 this year.
Yvette Monet, a spokeswoman for MGM Resorts International, said the company is seeing visitors booking trips to its resorts this weekend at the last minute.
“We expect our Strip resorts to be completely full on Saturday night,” Monet said. “There is still some room availability at rates similar to last year’s room rates.”
Rates at MGM Resorts properties for the long weekend range from $87 at Circus Circus to $372 at Aria.
At Harrah’s Entertainment properties, the average daily room rate ranges from $85 at Imperial Palace to $279 at Caesars Palace. The company did not return calls for booking trend information.
The LVCVA expects hotel occupancy to dip 1.8 percent, primarily because of the addition of 7,500 rooms since last Labor Day holiday.
Discussion: 4 comments so far…
Comments are moderated by Las Vegas Sun editors. Our goal is not to limit the discussion, but rather to elevate it. Comments should be relevant and contain no abusive language. Comments that are off-topic, vulgar, profane or include personal attacks will be removed. Full comments policy. Additionally, we now display comments from trusted commenters by default. Those wishing to become a trusted commenter need to verify their identity or sign in with Facebook Connect to tie their Facebook account to their Las Vegas Sun account. For more on this change, read our story about how it works and why we did it.
Only trusted comments are displayed on this page. Untrusted comments have expired from this story.
Post a comment
Most Popular
- Viewed
- Discussed
- E-mailed
- Las Vegas traffic stop leads to ‘Suge’ Knight’s arrest
- Judge: Cops won’t be barred from trial involving Metro officer’s slaying
- Nick Diaz tests positive for marijuana at UFC 143
- After $500 offer from ‘Pawn Stars,’ charity nets $12,000 for movie script
- Okada gets favorable ruling in case against Wynn Resorts
- Lawmaker: ‘Illegal immigrants bilked $4.2 billion from the U.S. taxpayers’
- Vermillion drops lawsuit against Sisolak, county
- At UNLV basketball games, they call him Tiny, and that big kid can dance
- Strip casinos post 5.1 percent boost in winnings during 2011
- Hard-hit Nevada agrees to take foreclosure deal
Blogs
Elsewhere
Revel reveals smoke-free casino opening
Cirque du Soleil show in Sands China casino to close this month
Meet the woman behind Sheldon Adelson
The Kats Report
A sophisticated look at line-moving and dog-show handicapping from Wynn's Johnny Avello
Elsewhere
Update 2: Caesars IPO pricing delayed due to "glitch" - underwriter
The Kats Report
A party replete with Carrot Top, 'AGT' contestants, a couple of Blue Men, deep-fried Oreos ... oh, and the Super Bowl (2 Comments)
High School Sports Scene
High School Hoops Picks: Week 7 (1 Comment)
The Sun
Locally owned and independent for more than 50 years.



I have no problem spending money here but is a list of taxes and fees from my reservations.
Rental Car
Weekly RentalRate $144.01
Consolidated Facility Chg 3.75/D 22.50
Consolidated Recovery Fee 10% 15.15
Clark County Rental Fee 2% 2.88
Vehilcle License Fee 1.25/D 7.50
Sales Tax 11.66
NV Gov Surch 18.17
Total 221.00
Same deal with $25 resort fees plus taxes at the hotel..
Sorry Vegas isnt that nice of a place to visit, this is too much $$$ to hang out with drunks everwhere, the cast of the Jersey Shore and people famous from Reality Shows..
Get a job people and stop expecting tourists to support your entire economy.
Rental car fees/taxes have gotten out of control. I've been stickin' to taxis the last few trips and come out ahead and the best part is I don't have to be sober to get in a taxi :-)
Eww last time I took a cab is LV I had this 600 lbs cabbie crying the whole ride how he couldnt "make any money in this town and he was starving", finally I had to say "you dont look like your starving"
mslv,I think the last time I rented a car I also got hit with 'battery and tire disposal' fee. In other words,I a mpaying for these losers who don't dispose of these properly.
Oh and I forgot to mention the airline fees..baggage ect..
Rental car fees are higher in Phoenix and they have the same junk fees on hotels.
The main problem is that radio stations (like KXNT locally) run Dave Ramsey, a Tennessee tightwad radio talker who tells people not to spend money or gamble. He wants people to pay off their home loans and to eat beans and rice.
The roads to Arizona and California are substandard and the REID rail line should be built immediately to facilitate tourism.
Wouldn't a 'Weekly Rental Rate' be what you're actually paying for the car and not a tax? Right there, two-thirds of your 'taxes' are lopped off.
Cause the Airline tickets are almost like buying a house. People would have money to spend if they didn't have to take all their money to get there.
I wonder if during the life of a rental car,fees like tire & battery disposal fees,are actually aquiring fees and could in themselves pay for the new replacement vehicle?Ia'm going to start charging my wife a backseat driver charge,could pay for next car!
Nice to see the numbers are up again this year for Labor day weekend.
Last year holiday weekend was good to Vegas and this year is looking better. Glad to see this happen.
More people even if they are spending a bit less is good for the Valley.
Tourists, that is what Las Vegas is about and I am glad to see them coming back.
Vegas is still a lot cheaper place to visit than many "resort cities" in the United States.
To Mred:
LOL For a state with no income tax that is always crying about paying any taxes, you accuse tourists of being tightwads?.. about $80 tax on a rental car, $25 a night resort fees, room tax state tax....
Tourists arent tightwads or they would be home eatting rice and beans, we shouldnt be your states only source of tax revenue.
We should be getting a bunch of cheese heads from Wisconsin this weekend. Just be happy that people are actually coming here guys.
I'm outta here this weekend! heading to the indian casinos in California! Much better gamble! See ya!!!
You live in Vegas and you're headed to the Indian casinos? No you're not, but if you are, it verifies the logic used in most of your posts, which is generally "extreme".
Las Vegas is absolutely less-expensive than other cities... still...and deals abound and a couple people who hate where they live and pray for its demise on every single post they make doesn't change that. GO Las Vegas!
These "fees" are for the most part not taxes, but merely pricing ploys to fool you when you comparison shop on the internet. This would be like a restaurant charging you an extra fee because they have to pay rent, or buy food to prepare the meal. States that aren't afraid of the word "regulation" forbid this sort of nonsense. The only itemizations should be for truly optional costs and sales taxes that require separate listings. All the other "fees" are, well B***.
Other top Labor Day destinations are New York, Chicago, and Denver.
Hertz weekly rates for a Nissan Sentra, September 16-23:
New York LaGuardia: $436.49
Chicago O'Hare: $312.79
Denver International: $392.39
Las Vegas McCarran: $169.57
As for the taxes and fees, the biggest fee on the list is the airport facility fee. Here's a tip: don't rent at the airport.
I'm not accusing tourists of being tightwads, the author of the article is and the casino owners and tourist executives are as well. I'm saying that anti-business radio stations are running Dave Ramsey who TELLS people to be tightwads. Ramsey is anti-gambling, he says it is stupid and he doesn't do it, even though he claims to be rich.
The average room rate in Moscow is $409. In terms of the rest of the world, the USA is an inexpensive travel destination. I don't even think a US city is in the top ten most expensive travel destinations.
Ramsey is bad for the Vegas economy and should be taken off the air here. The Kook talk station that runs him is talking about moving him to the weekend anyway.
We should also build more high speed rail as in Europe, Japan and China to facilitate tourism. The trillion dollars the tea-party Republic-nuts spent on Bush Wars would have built a nice high speed rail line between several US cities.
how can you spend-less? more people than before, how can they spend less? every penny counts. i think they are trying to pull a fast one on the public.
Roguerunner really - you have posted 164 blogs in the 3 weeks you have been signed up. You need to get a life!! It makes it hard to take you seriously when you seem to know so much more than everyone else about everything. So if the rest of us intellectual low lifes would have posted half as many blogs (82) in twice as much time (6 weeks) and been the jack of only a few trades instead of all, maybe our tiny points of view could squeeze into the meritable column???
mslv is a disgruntled resident or former resident. Stop telling us what to do, and kindly stay away.
Leonard;This post was desinged to be funny,sorry u took it seriously.Leonard,Ia'm retired and living comfortably,a few tips to achieve this station in life seems to have been directed to the wrong guy.If we are at the point in society that we distain knowledge,God help us.I have already achived the things I wanted to do with my life,If u want the school of hard knocks u seem well on your way with that attitude.Sorry u don't appreciate someone taking their time to add a little insight to everyday problems,I see in your posts u sure haven't contributed to any intelligent discussion.I know what I'm doing here,what the hell are u doing here,Leonard.You should have listen to my first advice,use your brain.Thats bacically been my advice in a nutshell.But I opened that nutshell and found you.Thanks for letting me know u were just a waste of time .Iam sure a few people might have seen a little value to what I have contributed.I fail to see what your misdirectd attack has contributed.From now on I will only occasionally inject my dumb comments like you just to keep u happy Leonard!
mslv probably got fired from a Casino job.
P.S Leonard" it makes you hard to take u seriously when you seem to know so much more than everyone else about everything"Leonard.listen to your own words,I never thought this way about myself.You couldn't even respond to what I was talking about to you concerning your own world in particular.It would have been nice to have had the oppertunity to hear your point of view,but it never came.I spent more time thinking about your problem than u did,And now I deeply regret it.By the way u can butt in anytime,nobodys stopping ya.What great insight do u have so much time to offer us today?Ia'm waiting,not even about the prediciment you were in and I tried to get through a bit of understanding of a bigger world out there that affects you directly?Dont' worry Leonard,you will base your decisions on your limited knowledge and bounce around the hard way.Who is acting like the know it all Leonard?Never mind Leonard,Ive got it all figured out!
Leonard,Oh Leonard.That's right I will have to wait for another hit and run attack some where down the line.Oh well you blew your next opportunity to show how dumb Ia'm for waisting my time with you,I really did have some thing a little more interesting to say than all this,but I took the time to further the nonsense instead of further productive intelectual stimulation.Now's your chance Leonard,other wise I advise u to stay off and use your time more wisely,open a book for yourself and start reading a bit of what u need to know for yoursef to better prepare your future.Oh,I caught myself there Leonard,ignore that and just be on your merry way.Ill just do things like u,cause it works so well for u.Finger in ears,he we go LA LA LA LA LA.Thats more like it huh Leonard?
Rogie boy, thank you for proving my point.
Why rent a car? Taxes, busses, and the monorail all work. We budget for all of the above $100 for a 4-6 day stay. Airfare is always cheaper by calling them directly (my experience). Hotels can be had for free or reduced rates if you ask. If you don't ask, you won't get. Vegas is not cheaper than many cities if you like to gamble. If you don't gamble, or can keep it to a minimum, Vegas is the place to go. Taxi drivers may complain they can't make any money and they probably can't. The protocol for waiting in their lines is difficult. They might get one ride an hour. If going to the aiport, they might get $12 plus a $2 tip. That doesn't amount to much, but it is their chosen profession so don't feel too sorry for them. They will be okay. See you in 40 days (yes, I count down!).
What was your point in that 1 sentence,that u are a so called by yourself an "intellectual lowlife".No,I would say the whole point from your post was to show all how intellectually DEFICIENT people can remain if they can't use enough of their God given brain capabilites to recognize sensible advice,mull it over,offer their own point of view,weigh all sides carefully,then proceed based on an imformed,reasoned through decisions.What was your point again,Leonard,it must have been lost on me with that overabundant amount of information contained in that sentence!Now move along Leonard,it's time u opened that 1st.book.It's called the dummies guide to ignorance>It will show u how to remain on this self assembeled platau,The first chapter says not to even read it.Some things are right up your alley.
isupportvegas:Insightful comments pretaining to the subject,sorry I really was trying to do the same th... sorry what was that Leonard,he dont know what he's talkin bout? LALALALA Leonard.
Immigration into the US costs 14 dollars from now on. I don't like this. When Americans visit Europe, they don't have to pay anything. So what's the hassle?
As a response I will find ways to save 14 dollars elswehere before starting my regular vacation. Somebody else will have to pay for these 14 Dollars I will have to pay on the customs next month.
Greetings from Switzerland
Boris;Thanks for contributing.Your posts are usually one of the more knowledgeabe and insightful posts on this blog.I learn alot from u,and have even gone way back in your posts and have decided I had spent my time wisely.Thanks for your words of wisdom,especially from your foriegen perspective.I wish I could have dragged Leonard around on that journey.But here is my 2 cents that Ia'm sure Leonard will get a kick out of.If you are willing to change your destination country for only 14 bucks,who is the lucky country that gets your 14 bucks?I get ripped from fees in other guises,but I don't think it would be much to make me plan a whole new intenarary around it.Boris please give us one more chance to prove it to u that the extra 14 bucks was worth it. we'll make it up to u.We promise.Tell it like it is,as always Boris!
LOL..RPJ Lobo69..
I bet you live in a trailer park thats in forclosure, have no teeth and got fired from Walmart.
"Only losers stay in Las Vegas more then 3 days" -PARIS HILTON
roguerunner:
You may think it's not that we can afford 14 dollars, but there is a point when people get screwed or rather....discriminated. Not enough to answer these neverending ridiculous questions upon immigration, but now you get this extra portion of "hassle" by being charged 14 dollars for immigrating the U.S.
Yes, you get it right, to people with normal common sense, it is a matter of principles. You just don't do it. Still, the US government decided to do it, as thousands of immigrants daily mean milliions of extra revenues by the end of the year.
To make the point clear: Average European visitors bring a few thousand dollars to Las Vegas and we are willing to put that money at risk. No problem losing a couple of thousand, but there is a problem if you know that somebody believes you are stupid enough to throw your money out of the window.
This new regulation gives us the feeling like we're paying 14 bucks entry fee to watch the monkeys in a zoo. Is this making it clear for you?
You can be sure that this gives a lot of negativity impression to the average visitor, although 14 bucks is nothing for an overseas visitor. On the other hand, it rises the idea of visiting other countries except the US might be an alternative.
In terms of gambling, Macau has already pulled over Las Vegas, but Vegas is Vegas, baby. Still, if the hassle continues and people don't feel really welcome, they may opt to go elsewhere, my friend.
Greeings from Switzerland
My first trip to Vegas was Labor Day weekend about 8 years ago. I can't remember much about the trip, but do remember having a good time and was amazed at what the city has to offer. I did rent a car which turned out to be a waste of money. I don't think there was more than 20 miles put on the odometer. Having said that, I've been back twice since then and plan on going back in the spring time. The things I enjoy the most are the sights, food, sports books and playing casino war. My new favorite place to stay is Bill's - hands down the best value on the strip, no question.
I get it,happens all the time and when I can I refuse to participate in it too.I just about lost it when I read your analogy of the monkeys,too funny,never looked at it that way!You gotta wonder don't u Boris,why this country thinks it can do to other countries which it would not want done to itself.Can think of many,many ways this applies.I know I stick up on principal,sometimes to the point of devils advocacy here,but if I give u the 14 bucks will you still spread some of the other thousands around>Just kidding,trying to emphasise what u have already pointed out,little gouges here and there can add up to quite the hemmorage,thanks for pointing that out Boris.
Was that picture Photoshopped? If not -- whats the angle?
Boris,
Canada has been charging $15 for many years to leave their country. You can enter it for free but have to pay to leave. Good part is they will accept $15 American or Canadian so you use what is best at the time.
Many countries have either entrance or exit fee's, this is nothing new but I guess it does give you something to post about.
SheetWise, the picture is probably taken from a Helicopter hovering over the downtown area for this shot.
vegaslee
With all due respect, as a response, all US visitors should be charged a fee of 25 Euros or equivalent amount in US currency for entering any country in the European zone. Just as a "warm welcome". This entry fee would be good for 30 days and allow you enter other countries of this EU for "free". How would you like that?
Look, we are aware of the countless security hassles at the airports already. We know that these proceduces are "inevitable" to avoid future disastrous incidents (which will occur anyway if somebody from the inside is involved and the thing is planned professionaly).
We all know that these security measures meet only one purpose: To calm down the passengers and make them feel safe.
And then again, these thousands of employees cost a lot of money that's being paid by the passengers of course. It's all included in these airport taxes the people pay when purchasing a air-ticket.
It is correct that in many countries you have to pay such a fee, mostly in 3rd world countries. I remember having paid 100 dollars in Kenia years ago for exiting the country. Can only shake my head upon such a corrupt system. However, I would expect otherwise from a leading nation such as yours.
Well, this discussion leads to nothing and we can't change anything. You can only accept it or take your consequences.
It's not much different from the hotel resort fees impleemented by some "smart" marketing managers of the hotel chains. They falsely advertise inexpensive hotel rooms that later on turn to be "not-sooooo-inexpensive" , after all taxes and fees have been put upon that rate. I am sure that there are many tourists that opt to stay at the hotel with lesser or no resort fee.
And as we know, the 14 dollar "entry" fee is probably without tax, so it comes to 15 and something. Just to find out that in 2 or 3 years it will be 17, then 20 , then 25, etc....... Somebody has to pay for the trillions of dollars wasted in Iraq, hu? But this fee, however, doesn't even pay for the interest the tax payer will have to pay in order to make up for the missed budget deficit.
Greetings from Switzerland
One reason I love LV is that we do not need to rent a car, we can walk, or take the monorail, taxi or Duece, and we never have to worry about a DUI or other wild and wacky drivers. We got a pretty good deal on our hotel and flight, and plan to spend a fair amount. At the end of the day, we can fly, stay, eat and play all for the same cost of a week in Miami. The only thing we miss is the ocean, but we will be at the pool everyday.
Who can blame tourists for spending less? We are now capital of the $11 ham sandwich (chips & drink extra)...plus tip for the tip jar for the ham sandwich maker & money taker. Cocktail servers are invisible while gambling. Maybe hotel/motel rooms are a good value, but they get you everywhere else, and it stinks.
It's all principal.Look for me at the high roller baccarat table with bags of chips clipped to my shirt and drink cup holder accesories strapped to my shoulders.
Low room rates have brought a large number of jackasses to town for the holiday weekend. Also all these clueless people with their kids. Stay home or go to Disneyland. This is not a place that kids can enjoy.
bighitter1, I am 100 per cent with you on that one. But not only the families with kids is what are just filling up the rooms but doing nothing creative for the city, it's also these young idiots with the beer cans in their hands , walking up and down the Strip, spoiling the casinos and not giving much action. Who could blame them? They ain't got much money to burn, and the little money they have is for the booze they need and the clubs. It's definetely not the kind of customers Vegas needs to get out of the crisis.
From Switzerland
You are correct Boris,
Why rent rooms to those slugs that do nothing but actually pay for a room in Vegas when the economy/personal expendable funds are at an all time low. Better that the hotels refuse their money as the wait in anticipation for the hoards of "big spenders" such as yourself to swoop in and save the day.
Get a clue, Boris. You ideological views of "Vegas - the way it was" are gone for the unforeseen future. Perhaps you can stay at Environ mansion and reflect on the old days while in the mean time the casinos attempt to generate income by filling beds...
No one was gambling prior to the rooms being cheaper, so please spare me your argument of how casinos generate income via gambling, not occupancy. Not anymore, Boris, not anymore. Any dollar in Mr. MGM's pocket goes to paying debt - whether it comes from a James Bond wannabee such as yourself or Joe Dirt from Redneck, Arkansas.
Jesus loves you.
When I read your comment, Mr newman 2, I had quite a chuckle. In particular because filling rooms with guys that spoil the rooms and create no turn-over in the casino is actually not much promising. Unless on the weekends, of course, when the rooms are tripled-up for what reason ever.
These DUI's walking up and down the Strip with the big beer cans in their hand, with all due respect, I can't impossibly believe that this is the clientele needed for MGM Resorts International to solve its problem since they gambled big on the CityCenter Show. Such customers are generating good cash-flow at the McDonuds and Fed-Burger stands, but that's pretty much it.
Greetings from Switzerland
its all a wash; either you pay the tab and enjoy vegas or stop complaining and stay home. throw in the hassle and added fees at the airport (coming and going) and begin to realize this isnt vegas as it once was. enjoy the 6/5 blackjack and $9 bud lite, you're in the new vegas,baby!
Boris,
You're right. It's better for the city to remain a ghost town awaiting the influx of big spenders that surely will be coming soon...MGM will quietly accept empty rooms/restaurants knowing that the high money clientele are just around the corner.
Have you missed what is happening to the economy here? Are you bringing a conglomerate of big gambling Europeans to fill the beds and force out the "Beer Can Gang"? Didn't think so.
I guess Vegas will have to suffer along with selling rooms on the long weekends to the lower echelon of society as an attempt to produce income.
Most everything you post makes me chuckle.
Peace to you
Newman2, what are you talking about? Are you one of the poor home owners that opted "strategic foreclosure" just to find out that now justice is after you?
Perhaps you could start a career as a professional poker player and live in luxury and happiness. Would it make you stop grieving about your run-down economy?
I have some more ideas to help people looking to dig themselves out of where are are in right now. Send me an email if you like. But please do me a favor and stop babbling around about stuff you don't really understand. You almost sound like one of these beer drinking kids still staying at MGM Grand , showing off like they are the heroes of tomorrow.
From Switzerland
i have rented a car on my last 15 trips to vegas. waiting in a cab line is ridiculous on a week-end night. a cab downtown & back will set you back at least 40 bucks (more than the daily rate for a car. we also go to local resturants & visit 5-6 casinos each trip. valet is free everywhere & the fact we may only put 40-60 miles on the car it is well worth it for us.
the worst part of the cab scene is the last 2 times i was in a cab in vegas (the last 2yrs) the driver thought we were new to area & tried to take the long way each time. sorry folks but that is a form of robery. it took a heated arguement & a promise to report him/them to get them to turn around. this saved me a few bucks in 'tip' money but soured me on ever 'wanting' to take a cab in your city again.
mbags
I am glad to hear that I am not the only one mentioning such "highway robbery tactics". They really believe that all tourists flocking into Vegas are nothing but stupid, ignorant walking-wallets.
It's a long time that I have opted the "cab-vacation". I rather save on the hotel rate than on the rental car. As an overseas traveller, I usually book my car for 2 weeks or more. Quite an expensive matter, but it pays off if you use it and go away from the strip for dining and gambling, and perhaps even shopping.
The taxi fares are quite high in Las Vegas, which is a known fact. Plus then you add 2 dollars tip, even if you don't really feel good when you see that the driver has been "de-touring".
But what bothers me more than that is also the sometimes super long cab waiting lines for the passengers. And the guy blowing the whistle and opening the door to let you jump in. This guy usually expects the first tip, which , in my eyes, is totally exagerated. Let people pay it, if they like. However, I must work much harder over here for 1 dollar , so I can't pay 1 dollar to a guy blowing a whiste and waving over the next cab, just because I am on vacation.
Besides this, on a Saturday night, these cab lines are sometimes so long that you can easily waste 1 hour or so before even entering the cab. If you have only a limited time in Vegas, you are probably better off not taking a cab during the evenings and stay where you are until after midnight. Even driving around in your rental car might be something you should refraim from during some peak hours. I try to stay where I am between the hours of 5 p.m. and 10 p.m. and only drive during the odd hours. Traffic in Vegas can be really bad, especially on the main roads (Tropicana, Flamingo).
Greetings from Switzerland
$85 for the IP? $87 for Circus Circus? Come on now. I would not pay $10 to say at either one of those dumps.
I would imagine longhaulers are having a field day this weekend driving unsuspecting tourists out to the M Resort then dropping them off at Planet Hollywood.
Check out my always entertaining LV blog:
http://jimmyhoofa-lv.blogspot.com/
To all the cheap cry babies, just stay home!
eah BoreUS, this is Boris R on the microphone, let me throw in this anouncement:
Here's what you can do if you're interested to pick up some money: Get a paper and a pen ready, and put a note in your calendar.
October 11, which is a Monday. I will be playing at the Golden Nugget in Downtown, 1-2 no limit. Bring some friends and play your best game, it's a great opportunity for you to take me out. I will be in the poker room after 10 p.m. I feel like do some donations and help your struggling economy and its participants to get a little extra ;) So once again, that's 10/11 after 10 p.m. in the Golden Nugget Poker Room. Let's see if you have the balls to identify yourself and play poker with me, my friend :)
From Switzerland
p.s. our cows are happy, our milk tastes good and we have the best chocolate in the world. And our air is clean, too. What else do you need?
So many complaints. I live in Vermont and can't wait to get to Vegas on the 27th for our yearly visit. Since there are usually anywhere from four to eight of us we usually travel by Limo(it's cheaper than cabs). Have no complaints, try coming to a Vermont Ski Area and see what it cost you and what you get for your money. Viva Las Vegas!!
Oilman in Las Vegas
Well they say the oil business that it ain't fun,
but they keep sending money so I get the job done,
Jetting out to Vegas,staying at the WYNN,
with my homeboys and my next of kin,
I like to stay at hotels when stevie's in charge,
cause me and my homeboys like to live large,
When I roll Vegas they know it's white trash money,
RedMan dip, smiling funny,
I'll be playing Slots and Blackjack too,
Rollin for big money like I was Hebrew,
Out to the Pool for some sun bathin,
but not to much so I don't come out a raisin,
Headed over to PF Changs for some Asian cuisine,
then out to the clubs looking lean,
I'll cruze down Flamingo in my rental caddy,
Looking for cute girls so I can be there sugar daddy,
After my week in paradise it's back to the oil biz,
Texas or Canada where ever the money IS.
@bore-us
Listen to what I have to tell you, my friend. I don't have anything against critics, as long as it's legitimate. Come up with something serious and arguments, and I will listen to what you have to tell me. As long as 95 per cent of what you're saying is verbal attacks and offence, without much serious knowledge and truth, I will respond accordingly.
I don't know much about you, but from what you're writing I don't find much intellectual value or common sense. Much rather, I see that you're trying to make a joke about my person and like to critizize what I am contributing in this section.
If you have been a longterm Vegas citizen or at least a long term Vegas visitor, you must be aware of the fact that Vegas has dramatically changed to its negative. There are many great things left over, but unfortunately many good things disappeared and were replaced by bad ones. Some of these topics were mentioned over the past months and have caused heavy discussions, such as the implemented resort amenity fee, the 6:5 black jack (which is unique world wide!!!) and other hassle to take out tourists. Then, as a consequence, tourists spend less or stay away and go elsewhere. Don't ask yourself how is that. Much rather, ask yourself what can be done to make Vegas an attractive place worth visiting again. Or , in your case, perhaps stop commenting as your contributions are usually without much real value.
And also keep in mind please, this comment feature is not only designed for hard core Vegas republicans but open for the world wide reader community, interested in anythign that's going on in Las Vegas. I am one of these interested readers. Is this making it clear for you?
Have a nice day, greetings from Switzerland
aprilgirl12, I am with you. No reason to drive. In fact, I am in Vegas mode now walking lots per day to get ready for the long walking there. Why not get healthy while spending all that money?