Look, I've been in some not so great places that some would call rather seedy. We've traveled across this country and have spent time in Ireland, Scotland, Spain, Greece, and Italy. I know high dollar and I know trash. It's not that a few things here and there have put a bad taste in my mouth. I've only spoken of a few examples. I could spend a great deal more time going over many more if I had the inclination.

My main point is downtown might be for some folks but it's just not for us. What I've spoken of is not hearsay. That would be something someone else had told me but I had not seen myself. What I've spoken of I have seen with my own eyes.

Yes I know Diablo's sits on an expensive piece of land and I know they put those girls in hot little costumes. But not so long ago Vegas was about getting people in the door with decent deals, showing them a good time, treating them to great service and getting them to sit down and gamble a little.

My problem is that now it's no better than any other place we can go for vacation. Vegas use to be great. Now it's no more than average at best.

Am I upset about the change? You bet. We use to enjoy the value, we enjoyed the gambling but, most of all we enjoyed the service and being made to feel special. Now the feeling is give us your money and go home. Nothing special, not so good of service (pretty bad to rotten service actually) and some of the higher prices I've seen when on vacation. It use to be rare to have bad service and high prices. This past trip that was the norm.

The baseball pic is in the enterance area for Love. To the right is the Love store. To the left would be the box office if you were standing about where I was when I snapped the picture. To the left of the baseball boys is the enterance area for the show.

Why the pics and the video? When it's suggested that I'm not seeing what I'm seeing (homeless, puking patrons on the streets, drunk and disorderly people) then I tend to attempt to back up my statements with visual proof.

Does stuff happen on the strip? Sure it does. Is downtown a little seedier and dirty than the strip? IMO you bet it is. To the point I don't feel safe downtown.

Obviously I've struck something of a nerve. No problem. Everyone has an opinion and I can respect that. But for us, downtown just ain't the place to be. Unfortunately, Vegas is fast becoming the place not to be which is why my posts here have become a lot fewer over the past couple of years. I only thought I'd post a few of my observations for discussion.

Before someone suggests it keep in mind we have cut back our trips to Vegas considerably. 3 to 5 trips a year wasn't unusual. Now it's generally once a year even though I can get cheap direct flights on Allegiant Airline.

doug...Thank God for the difference in opinions between many people! I have seen a female (I think) down on her/his knees in front of some dude a few feet off the strip at the rear/clear area between "Barbary Coast" and the "Bourbon Street" Casinos when with my wife and friends. I will admit that is not the norm but s**t happens and maybe I have been fortunate to not have seen such downtown. I have walked many times to the the "El Cortez" and a few times to the "Western" just for the heck of it. Of course I may be a tad older and we are most often in bed prior to midnight as I don't wish to turn into a pumpkin!!!
We all have our likes and dislikes along with our comfort zones. I have been everywhere in the Caribbean and in some places that one is warned not to go, but I like to see both ends of life...
No offense meant toward you on these posts and replies.....

It's the internet. I never take offense to anything posted. If everyone liked the same things then life would be a boring journey.

My two cents:

While it is true that prices are up in Las Vegas, prices for all hotels are way up everywhere. Just stayed in downtown Cleveland at Embassy Suites certainly nice but certainly not a Venetian, Wynn or Bellagio) after taxes $205/night weekday. We have been pricing Marco Island and Naples Florida for the end of the year, nothing below $350/night and most in the mid-$400's.

My first walk from Fremont Street to the Lady Luck was more than 15 years ago and I did not feel safe then. By and large, thanks to the ACLU and their ilk , it gets more difficult to control vagrants, panhandlers, and assorted bums. This is true everywhere.

Hey.....here in Middletown, NY - not exactly a A-1 tourist destination, most of the motels/hotels are over $100 a night...