It's been a couple of years since we've made more than one trip out to Vegas in a year. This year we'll make two trips partly because I've purchased more TS units and really need to use the HGVC unit this year rather than exchage it for a cruise like we've done the last couple of years.

Part of the reason we quit going 3 to 4 times each year was because the gambling odds have become so bad. I don't mind giving the casino my money over time but I'll be darned if I'm just going to walk up to the cashiers cage and hand it to them. In order to get at least fare odds this past trip we ended up driving 5 miles south of the strip to gamble at South Coast rather than put any money into the machines or tables on the strip.

We've also noticed that, while dining options may have improved, pricing has not. Gone seem to be the days of the "gamblers specials" for eating. The coffee shops, which used to have such good specials are now more expensive than similar options here at home. For that matter, I find eating out in other destinations less expensive than what I'm currently finding in Vegas.

Service is also becoming an issue. Over that last several years I've noticed that the mid range restaurants are getting slower and slower. We were at the Cafe in the Monte Carlo one evening. There were dozens of empty tables and we were the only ones in line. The hostess actaully said, "Let me see if we have a table available." I've NEVER heard that before no matter what time of day or night we were there. To top it all off, the crab leg special they had advertised wasn't so special. It was after the early Lance Burton show and they were OUT of crab legs. Not wanting to spend $10 on a hamburger of suspect quality we just got up and left (only had ordered water up to that point). I guess that doesn't happen that often as they acted more than a little surprised. Service was slow everwhere except for the higher end restaurants and the restaurants we ate at off the strip.

Vegas has been operating on a build it and they will come business model and they've been right so far. Still, I wonder just how much longer people will put up with bad odds, high prices and poor service. I know we've cut back and I have to say I'm not looking forward to our October trip as much as I have in the past.

Vegas just isn't Vegas anymore. It seems to me that the only thing that stays in Vegas is my money.

Last year we decided to do something different and took a road trip for our vacation. We take a lot of mini two three day vacations throughout the year to the various Indian Casinos around us.
We decided to book Vegas in May since its been a while and my wife said, this may be the last trip.

I like the weather, people watching etc, but like you mentioned the high prices, poor service, lack of caring. Basically if you not a comped player you have no name in Vegas.
I'm looking forward to going more because its a week off in a very hectic year rather than wow its Vegas Baby.

Maybe were just too old for Vegas now.They cater to the 25 to 35 somethings and there's nothing wrong with that except we feel we don't fit in anymore.

I miss the old vegas.The number crunchers have taken over and deals are few and far between.

Well, I sadly must agree on a few points here. I've watched the service end go down hill for many years. And as pointed out at the lower to mid range places on the strip. However, downtown is a nice throw-back and I find plenty of decent games and table min.
Yes the prices keep climbing, but arn't they everywhere. Just buy a gallon of gas, and tell me it's the same as 5yrs ago? Yeah right!
Vegas never does stand still, it's always changing, evolving. Remember a while back when it looked like it was going to be kiddie land, with all the rides and the theme parks. They are gone already too. I can't say I liked that anymore then the punks and gangsters hanging out on the strip.
One other note, Oneboater, your right about the comped player, they are king. It grizzeles me when I've been waiting in line for the next table to open and they just strole in, in front of me. Grrrrr! But they have always been king, as well.
This is something I've noticed lately and very sorry to admit. I remember blasting the music as loud as it would go, and my parents, would holler to turn that noise down. Lately, I find myself thinking that same music, seems just a little bit loud to me!
My point is, yes Vegas is changing, but so are we.
M2C

BTW, I still love Vegas, I still get excited about every visit. I have changed the way I play and the places I'll play. I enjoy a good meal and don't mind paying for it, in Vegas or elsewhere. I still look for bargin meals, and I remember some of those old cheap eats that I couldn't eat because they where so darn bad!

i gave up staying on the strip years ago.for me it was the traffic more than anything else.but cheap prices,food, rooms,still exist in the land of the locals.yes i still do the strip for a gourmet buffet or 150 dollar a ticket show(who wouda thunk i would ever spend 300 bucks for show tickets)but mystere at ti was 100 bucks years ago.yes i stay at the orleans or at the southpoint for 30 bucks a nite and i'm a nickle vp player.and we have other members who stay fully comped.so to me old vegas still exists,you just have to change your location a bit.<M2C>

As I was reading this string, I kept thinking about our upcoming trip to the South Point and all the good reveiws that I have read about it being Gaughin's way to bring back a bit of the old Vegas. Very clean, good service, low food prices, and, though I'm a bit skeptical, loose games. Dag, what has been your experience at the SP related to the above comments?

take a read thru my last trip report.i have never read that he was trying to bring back old las vegas.what is old las vegas anyway? respect, to me and my money is my answer.

Like Lee said, it is constantly reinventing itself. But I blame a lot of the complaints on the mega-mergers. You have just a few companies controlling most of the strip. There just isn't a demmand for competition. Nor is there a huge incentive to strive for excellence.

You can still get great deals in dining, rooms, entertainment, transportation and all other aspects of your vacation. Sadly, you have to search for them because it's not running rampant up and down the strip. You have to search pretty hard to find it on the strip.

I think the CEOs of the casino owners learned a lesson from the airlines and oil companies. The CEOs of the oil companies play golf together, have parties together, and raise their rates together. The airline bosses are at each others throats, they keep secrets, and try to undercut each other. The results are obvious.

I think that the best way to get the most out of your vacation is right here at TalkVegas. The sharing of ideas, experiences, and thoughts will help you up your odds in finding the better deals and knowing which areas to avoid. There is a wealth of information from a wide variety of people.

I agree that it ain't the same and it comes down to this IMHO, the power of the pen and has been taken away by corporate bean counters.

The best host I ever had was a guy at the Tropicana. If he wanted to, he had the power to make you feel special. Dinner comp at the steak house? He'd call the restaurant and it was done. Dinner at another properties steak house? No problem, he'd call another host at that property and it was done. He's just ask me to take care of the Matre'd.

The same thing with the Pit Boss. If they wanted to write a comp for you, they reached into their jacket pocket, pulled out a comp slip and wrote out whatever they wanted to give you.

Today the comp slips all have a carbon copy they keep in the pit and they all get on the computer first to see if they can justify what you're asking for.

Relationships used to really mean something in Vegas. They still do but not nearly to the extent they used to.

the bean counters say,stop giving things away that i can sell.i have a work friend that loses a thousand dollars a day at the mgm and for that he gets casino rate.i know,but i'm tired of telling him to get out of there and he never asks for anything.he never wins and never asks,the perfect gambler for mgm

The "hustle" and rip-offs exist everywhere not just in Vegas - I have certainly enountered many in Las Vegas. Your best defense is to recognize a hustle or rip-off when it is encountered - publize it in you Trip Report so that other TV personnel my profit from your experience. There are too many activities to choose from to avoid LV - they exist everywhere.

I come from the good OLD days in Las Vegas.. First trip was bck in the late 50's and I've been returning ever since.

The level of SERVICE we received back then in no longer available today unless you are a major player and the rooms rates are no longer attractive in tn the vast majority of cases and the enticing buffet prices are no longer enticing. In fact I would call them OFFENSIVE,

Back in the day, buffets were the bait that enticed the gamblers. Today I seldom (not always) enter a casino that has high priced buffets and I give most of my gambling dollars to those who offer a decent meal for my dining dollar.

But still, these places are packed on weekends. People simply don't know or else they don't remember how things USED to be and as a result they just DON'T expect too much from the town that USED to treat everyone like visiting royalty with little money in their pockets.

Will, also remember, what a dollar was really worth in 1950! I agree with Wendel, and The world in general is changing, not just Vegas.

I think we all touching on the same thing. It not necessarily money, service, etc maybe its value that we really crave.

For example, I really like Outback Steakhouse. I asked my wife and daughter to take me to ours for my birthday. I know the basic costs and I'm expecting and willing to pay the prices. The food is good, etc so its a nice treat for the money right.
We get there its a mad house. Wait for 45 minutes and thats ok too, the food will be great.
Waiter hasn't a clue. The menu is all different and of course the prices are way up there. Drinks are expensive now and no two for one deals.
The salad plate was huge. Unfortunately there was little salad in it. I mean don't insult me by giving a huge plate loaded with enough salad to just fill in a dixie cup.

I could have handled the higher prices, that's life. I can't handle the lousy service, and increse in costs and degrading of there food.

My attitude is if you raise your price raise your price. But don't become indignant and lower the service as well. I expect value for the increased price.

Will,

We've only been going out to Vegas since '98 and have noticed the decline. I can only guess how far south it's gone since the 50's.

Don't get me wrong folks. I know nothing ever stays the same. It's just disappointing that what was once such a good deal has become nothing more than what I can find somewhere else. Heck, even the Indian casino's can match the odds I find on the strip anymore. As few as 10 years ago, that wasn't true.

The old Silver City had a GREAT steak and eggs special that always drew us in. It also got us to drop a few coins in their machines while we were there.

And on that subject of "dropping coins in a machine." Has anyone noticed that over the last couple of years that you can't do that anymore? Now the change in my pocket stays the change in my pocket. I use to enjoy walking past the car carousel and dropping what change I had in, thinking that maybe I'd be driving a new car home from Vegas rather than flying home.

And those coffee shops. They USE to have some good deal. Now they're more expensive than what I can get at home. They use to have some variety. Now I think HET and MGM/Mirage have just put the same menu in all their coffee shops.

The buffet's have been fading fast for the budget minded. At the prices they charge, I'll take a table at a full service restaurant any day. Less expensive in most cases, better quality most of the time and, most importantly, someone waits on me rather then making me have to get up and fill my own plate from a service line where the food or serving spoons have been handled by everyone, including those who have used the bathroom but NOT washed their hands.