Monday, September 14, 2009

Las Vegas on $1 a Day.



You know, I just laughed even writing that title.

Have you been there lately? The place is not exactly set up for person who doesn't have money to spend. Or lose.

I started going to Las Vegas back in the early 1990s. I remember when the Excalibur Hotel was the tail end of the strip, and there was not much else around it. Downtown had no Fremont Street experience, and it was advisable to be packing when you went down there. I also remember walking into Ceasar's Palace before they built the mall, and being quoted $45 for a night's stay. I also remember trying to decide if I wanted to splurge on that room, or if finding the Super 8 for $19.99 and saving those precious dollars for the $2 Blackjack table was a better idea.

One day some of the powers that be decided that Vegas could be "family friendly". They started building more and more giant themed resorts with world class amenities, things to occupy and satisfy all ages and lifestyles, and when people started coming, they started moving the prices up.

Today, though the Strip has gotten longer, the hotels have gotten even bigger, there are more rooms in Las Vegas than there are poker chips. They decided that Disneyworld is for the families, and have returned to their Sin City roots. On a Saturday night you can barely find a seat at a table, and if you find Blackjack for less than $15 a hand, you had better sneak a picture, because no one will believe you. And the only people who don't pay $250 a night on the weekend are the locals, and the whales.

For those who may not know, a whale is someone who gambles big, and is treated like royalty when they come to play. Comp'ed flights, limos, rooms, and more food and alcohol than the seven deadly sins advise. Whales are the stuff of legend for some people, but I happen to know two.

So this weekend I was treated to a bachelor party for a really nice guy, hosted by two whales. I lived a piece of their lives for 4 days, and in the process, may have ruined this city for myself by setting the bar for Las Vegas stays incomprehensibly high for a bluecollar fellow like me.

So I learned that you can't do Vegas for $1 a Day...I know, shocker. Maybe I should have titled this post "What you bring to Vegas Stays in Vegas".

Unless.........you win.

Interested to know how the whales roll? Tomorrow I'll give you a look at some of my trip highlights, wins, losses, and guppie mistakes. Including video. I smell a subpoena.



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All rights reserved. This content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form, by any means, without the prior written permission of the author.

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8 comments:

Secretia Teller said...

Oh I shouldn't read anything about Las Vegas, it's so tempting to go back there!

Secretia

The Mom Jen said...

Can't wait to hear more!

kisatrtle said...

I have never been to Vegas (gasp) I have always wanted to go, but I don't think my husband is game. Guess it will have to be a trip with the girls sometime.

Debz said...

Never been to Vegas. The closest I come to gambling is that once every few months lottery ticket I buy.
I like to know I'm gonna win something before I give over my money and I don't think they'll guarantee me anything in Vegas.
So I'll live vicariously through all of you Vegas groupies.
Can't wait to hear/see more.

Chrissy said...

I just went to Las Vegas this summer and even though we scored a super cheap deal on a room at MGM I still spent a ton of money... My one friend, who has never been to Vegas, wanted to bring $300 in spending money and no credit cards, etc for backup $$. I had to tell her there was no way that would be enough, even if you careful.

Lee said...

HA, even locals can't get a room cheaper than that.
Except our own damn house.

I wanted to go to the golden nugget... that is not cheap.

Tony@ That One Paticular Harbor said...

I work way to hard all my to give any amount of $$ away to the cess pool known as LV. Have you ever noticed when you leave it takes 2 weeks to get the smoke smell out of your clothes and hair?

Texasholly said...

I reserved a nice room at Caesars a few months ago for our stay next week at an obscene $215 a night rate for Th/Sun. A few weeks ago I called back to see if I could get an addition of a Wed. night and the Caesars reservation lady actually laughed when she quoted me the new price of $720. For. the. same. room. mid-week. Guess what? We aren't staying at Caesars on Wed.

posthumous pointer
To laugh often and love much; to win the respect of intelligent persons and the affection of children; to earn the approbation of honest citizens and endure the betrayal of false friends; to appreciate beauty; to find the best in others; to give of one's self; to leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch or a redeemed social condition; to have played and laughed with enthusiasm and sung with exultation; to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived - this is to have succeeded. - Emerson