What memories do you have of your first trip to Las Vegas? Whether it was just a few years ago, like it was for me, or if your first trip was 20-30 or more years ago, what was your first impression of Las Vegas?
My first trip to Las Vegas was 3 years ago. I remember landing at McCarren, where I couldn't believe the hotels and how close they were to the airport. Just walking through the airport, I couldn't believe all of the lights and slot machines. Driving up the strip I remember being awed by how large the hotels were. I almost felt like I was on another planet, because I had never seen anything like this before. I think the other thing that really struck me was the slot and video pokers machines everywhere, including gas stations, grocery stores, pharmacies etc. Obviously we had a great time in Las Vegas, because we just came home from our seventh trip! Each time I discover new and exciting things about this great city.
Lee Ann

My first visit was September 1993. I had just seen Atlantic City for the first time and thought it would be more of the same. But, like you, it was obvious at the airport that this place is different. While still on the plane I saw the big black pyramid and wondered what it could be. I remember staring at Treasure Island trying to figure out why it looked different and then realized that each window was really four windows. There was a fire at the Dunes which had recently closed. LV was clean, people were friendly, and food was great. AC is like the NorthEast. Walking on the strip is like walking on the moon: you see a hotel (a rock on the moon) and walk toward it. It looks close but as you walk it just keeps getting bigger. We returned in the Spring of 1994 and have been back every spring since.

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Brad in Indiana

My first trip to Las Vegas was in February, 1998. My son attends college in Santa Clara, CA. We went out to visit him and decided to check out Las Vegas on the way home. I was just curious as to what was there. If you had offered me a free trip to anyplace on earth, I would not have even considered Las Vegas.

My wife and I ended up staying in a real nice room in one of the towers at Circus Circus. The rate was $39. We learned how to play blackjack and video poker, visited many of the sites and most notably followed the advice of many of you on what to do an see. \

When it was time to come home we were not ready to leave. We had a wonderful time. We immediately made plans to return the next February. Now we are hooked. We love the action and know that in our two visits we have not scratched the surface of what there is to do and see.

This February we will be back for round three. Can't wait and hope to meet some of you guys there. Tom Casey

P.S. Got my first copy of LVA today. I am hooked.

The first time for me was in 1974. Linda and I were in Colorado and decided to take a weekend flight to Las Vegas. We stayed at the WestWard Ho. Back then Las Vegas was nothing like it is today. We took the bus all along the strip and visited just about every property. We ate at all the buffets and thought they were great. Boy, how things and people change<G>
I was hooked and have been back more times than I can count in the last 25 years.

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John
Moderator-Dining Forum

Started visiting Las Vegas in the early 90's, I think. Stayed at the new Excalibur.
Even returned for the casino's 5th anniversary and the crowd all toasted with champagne in the lobby.

We stayed in Philly overnight as we had an early flight. With my excitement, disliking to fly, and lack of sleep the night before, I arrived in LV with a splitting headache and nausea. Fred, his brother, and our sister-in-law walked the strip without me. Was very upset that I could not enjoy Las Vegas once I arrived.

Feeling better the next day we decided we wanted to go to the Hard Rock Cafe. Did not look far on a map so we walked to and from in the heat of the day. Nowadays we get a cab.

Took us two trips before we ever got downtown. Definitely knew we were going to return again......little did I know how MANY times.

Great idea Lee Ann!

I can't remember the year of our first trip but I think it was one year before the Excalibur opened. Mid 80's maybe? I asked some friends where to stay, wanted something with a nice pool. They recommended teh Riv. Once was enough . I hit a royal on my first trip. Itw as on a dollar machine at teh Circus. Had started playing one or two dollars at a time. Started winning and was playing 5 every hand. Was cashing out and had 2 odd dollars, put them in and hit the royal.

jm

Brad,
I had to laugh at your comment about a "rock on the moon". On our first trip to Las Vegas we didn't rent a car, but we still wanted to see everything, of course. We were staying at the Luxor, and we had tickets to see Mystre at Treasure Island. Michael suggested that we take the strip trolley to Treasure Island to pick up the tickets. I said that it wasn't that far, and we could easily walk it. It did look close by from the Luxor. We walked, and walked and walked. I thought that we would never get there. We of course took the bus back to the Luxor. <vbg>
Lee Ann

Tom,
Thanks for posting your memories. One thing seems to be common to most Las Vegas visitors. The first trip leads to the second, and the third, and so on. <vbg>
Hope we get to meet you sometime in Las Vegas.
Lee Ann

John,
I noticed that you said you went to Las Vegas for a weekend on your first trip. I know your trips now are much longer. <vbg> That's a trend that I am starting to notice in our trips. Our first visit was for 5 nights, and then we decided that we needed 6 nights, and now we have been visiting for 7 nights each time. <vbg> The funny thing is, now matter how many days we spend in Las Vegas, it never seems to be enough time.
Lee Ann

My first was by car from Chicago in December, 1981. I think phone calls were still a nickel (I had to keep calling my office by dialing the local long distance access code).

I drove in over the Hoover Dam through Boulder City in the evening. I was ferrying a car to my folks who spent the winters in Las Vegas. I had to meet them at the Stardust. I had no idea where it was, but I figured I'd ask for directions at some point. Well there was no need to. Driving in, I looked for the brightest lights and located the Strip from miles away and just kept driving toward it.

The Strip looked like the biggest carnival I'd ever seen. I felt like someone from another planet.
I was short on cash in those days and I gambled all of about $30.00 and flew out a day or two later.

I've been there about 40 times since.

Ken in Libertyville, IL

Beth,
Wow, you walked from Excalibur to the Hard Rock. That is a long, long walk. I wanted to see the Hard Rock on our first visit also, but after the Treasure Island walk, I knew I sure didn't want to try to walk there. That was before I knew about the shuttle that was available.
Lee Ann

Jeff,
Your comment about only staying at the Riviera once made me wonder how happy people are with the hotel that they stay at on their first trip to Las Vegas. We stayed at the Luxor on our first trip, and I know I wouldn't stay there again. Maybe sometimes it's because people are unhappy with the hotel and maybe sometimes they just want to stay someplace new. BTW, don't you just hate when you get a royal with less than the max coins in? It happened to me twice, both times in Las Vegas.
Lee Ann

Our first trip to LV was in 1986 we were on our honeymoon....we had spent 7 days in California and thelast 3 in Las Vegas. We booked a room with a sunken tub at Ballys (then it was the MGM). When we checked in they had given away our room-we were on our honeymoon-and they gave away our special room with the sunken tub (we thought a sunken tub for two was a great luxury in those days)....well the reservationist say oh I have a better room for you- being young ,innocent but from NY (we now live in VA) we said yeah right your giving us a better room?? What if we don't like it? Well the room was a huge suite- a full bar (with everything included)7 couches, a dining room table that seated 12, 3 bathrooms,an unbelievable bathroom and the bedroom was the way it was supposed to be for a honeymoon couple. Oh, there was even a doorbell to let us know if someone was there. What a wonderful introduction to LV. We were amazed at the free drinks everywhere, we went to see one of the production shows (it was the one where they sunk the ship on stage-can't remember the name) We were right up front- it was our first "topless show", Gene was drinking a beer when he looked up there was a topless lady on a swing well Gene thought he was drinking his beer-it never made it to his mouth-I never laughed so hard. We did the Wayne Newton thing (we promised each other we wouldn't tell any of our friends-as they would definitely make fun of us) but Wayne was great-so we told everyone!! That trip holds so many warm memories of our first LV experience.

One funny thing I remember about my first trip to Vegas was taking about $70. in quarters with me. I don't know what I was thinking as I brought my 3 containers of tupperware full a quarters. I guess I thought Vegas didn't have quarters.
Now I just take $100. bills and on some trips they only last as long as those quarters on our first trip in the late 80's.

We stayed at the Westward Ho. It was awful.

Thanks for bringing up the memories and giving me a chuckle.
Gale

Good subject!
My first vegas trip was 1971 or 1972 I was about 12 at the time. Dad, Mom, Sandy & I where to spend 5 nites in California (disneyland) and 5 nites in Las Vegas. Things that stuck with me. First Class seats on the plane, way cool! We had a blast at Disneyland and Dad had flight changed so we stayed in Cali an extra 2 days, thus shortening our Las vegas stay. I didn't care at the time. I also didn't relize at the time how much of a sacrfice my parents had made. They cut there time short, so I could have the fun in Disneyland.
Landing at the airport, and having to walk down the stairs they wheeled up to the plane in LV. The 1940 style bus we rode into the terminal, Staying at the Sands being a kid in an adult world, I was treated like royalty. Meet Danny Thomas in the Sands gift shop. He stopped and talked to me for a min or two. Security, chasing me out of the casino. The golf carts they used to get around the property like taxi cabs. The tempature HOT. The pool was so nice (fanciest pool I'd ever seen up to that point in my life) Sandy getting stuck watching me! Beleive it or not, I think that trip was the first time my sister & I actually got along. Some sort of Adult bevarage machine built into the wall of our hotel room, that part is very vague. My parents finally breaking down and getting me the slot maching bank I was begging for from the gift shop. (that's what I was looking at when I met Danny Thomas) I think everyone that worked at the Sands knew I wanted that machine. Having to leave to go home and thinking, boy I wish we would have came here for those 5 days like was originaly planned for.
Yes, at age 12, I knew I'd be back!
Lee-PA
One more thing I almost forgot. Seeing my Mom win 2 coin jackpots at the airport within minutes of each other and within minutes of departure time. Her stuffing all those coins in her purse and rushing to the Plane.

[This message has been edited by Lee-PA (edited July 31, 1999).]

Ken,
I loved your comment about driving towards the lights. I have been known to have a poor sense of direction. My husband says that even I shouldn't get lost in Las Vegas. LOL Especially now that the Stratosphere is there. I also laughed at your comment on having little money for gambling. It brought back memories of when Michael and I were in college and we would go to Atlantic City. I think we would take a grand total of $10 each to gamble with. Didn't go too far. LOL Unless of course we were lucky enough to be in town when Michael's parents were visiting. They would always give us a few extra dollars to gamble with.
Lee Ann

Carrie,
I loved your story of your first Las Vegas trip. I guess sometimes things do work out great! What wonderful honeymoon memories you must have! Tell Gene he really should keep his mouth closed when he drinks beer. Too bad you didn't have a camera to record that one.
Lee Ann

Gale,
Your quarter story is so funny. One question though. Did you set off the metal detector at the airport?
Lee Ann

Lee,
What great memories! Thanks for posting this. How exciting to meet Danny Thomas. Did you get his autograph? Your mom sounds like my kind of lady. Michael usually has to tell me that it's time to go, so I have to quit playing a machine. I always seem to find a hot machine just as we are ready to leave.
Lee Ann

Lee Ann,
I didn't set off the metal detector with all those quarters but at the time I didn't have a suitcase on rollers and that suitcase sure was heavy.
Gale