I've been to Las Vegas one new Years, I am currently thinking about doing it again. Anyone else planning a trip after the big thanksgiving blowout? As of right now, I don't have a trip booked beyond thanksgiving, and I just got a decent offer from the LV Hilton 3 nights and dinner and party, $299. With the monorail (running?) that isn't a bad location, it's where we stayed a few years ago for New Years and it worked out pretty good.
So, when is everyone going to vegas NEXT????

I just might be back out on the Strip for NYE again this year. If y'all are out there I'll try and find you among the 1/4 million tourist that night. LOL!!!

i tried the ol ya gotta do it once in your lifetime pitch but i could not sell it,so that will be a big no from me

The only trip we have planned after turkey day is a week on Singer Island, FL. We generally spend a week there in the warm sun listening to the ocean waves and getting the knots untied from everything that happened during the year.

Other than that our next trip out to Vegas will be next March. It will probably be our only trip to Vegas next year. Perhaps in 2009 or 2010 we'll make two trips. At least there should be some new resorts opening up by then to explore.

LOL, I can't even make the "ol ya gotta do in once" pitch to myself .. probably a sign of old age, but I like to go where the crowds aren't.

I'm hoping Orleans will invite me back to a VP tournament in January.

I'm normally not a crowd kinda guy either. But, it was fun, and I actually enjoyed my experiance a few years back. I'mm thinking of a different tact for this trip if we go. To enjoy what ever the hotel has to offer and stay with the program, and not do the strip crowd thing.

That all being siad, Sharon uncovered another offer from (of all places) the Flamingo. Free 3 night stay and a $25 commerative New year chip. This offer would actually put us on the strip without doing the crowd. Hmmmmm. Also that majic word FREE, stands out like a shinning star! LOL

Free sounds good. On the strip sounds good. Maybe you should wait for that Caesars Palace offer?

I think I will be in town on those dates. I have not heard of any special activities for New Years yet. I'll let you know if I do.

JMT,
I'm looking for decent airfare right now to seal the deal. Decent meaning rt for 2 people under 1K. I have already made up my mind, that no rental car will be used. It's only a long weekend trip, and I can live for 3 days without a car, as long as the monorail is running.

Now that is what you call gambling...depending on the monorail for transportation. LOL!!!

You may want to have a backup plan, like those mopeds running around the Strip. Nothing says TOURIST louder than cruising the Strip on a moped. :p

Nothing says dead tourist like mopeds on the strip.....Why would you do that in that kind of traffic. It sort of makes those ric-shaws look better.

Well, we have reservations at the Flamingo for New Years. Sharon and I agree this is not by any means our first choice of hotels anymore. It's closer to the other end of the list. But Free is a powerful word when airfare is over a grand.
I still don't have airfare, but it's coming!

I just got an email from someone who will be in town on New Year's Eve and wanted to know what to do while wandering up and down the strip at midnight with their 3 and 5 year olds..........shall I have them visit you at the Flamingo?
(Can you imagine bringing two toddlers for New Years Eve HERE?)

It has been said that Las Vegas averages 100,000 visitors per day. Can you imagine what the crowds will be like on New Years?? From what I have seen in news reports, you can't even move anywhere on the Strip, soooo, lots of luck - WOW!!

tater-take them to disneyland is my usual answer

I like that, dag............wish I'd thought of it. I will if anyone asks me again.

ok, I've done the strip before on New Years eve, it's a zoo. There is no way your friends will be able to strol up and down the strip on new years eve.
For the record Tater....I'm not kid friendly, when I'm drinking! Words tend to slip out, so a visit with a 3 or 5 or any year old ain't gonna fly. I do understand that disneyland is real nice this time of year though!

Hi Lee,
Those folks that wrote to me are not my friends. If they were, I would have told them not to bring their kids at that time. I answer some questions about Las Vegas on a different site, so I had to be polite and just answer their question. I DID tell them, however, that there are tons of drunks and porta potties around.

Good advice!
Hey, I like kids, I've even taken my daughter and her friend when they where 12. New Years is not the time for them. Also, a Vegas trip isn't the same with kids, they are excluded from a lot of things here and it's no fun for the parents as well.
I love my daughter, but back in the day, it sure was nice to get a break from that from time to time. That might even be part of the reason I look to Las vegas in such a fond way???
I don't remember the members name Gail, I think is bringing her 14 year old to Vgeas, but she got it right, a quick stop, a few days when it's slower in town. It will be a much more enjoyable trip for them both.
M2C

They could tie their strollers to a light post with the kiddies strapped in with some of that fine reading material that is distributed on the Strip and go inside to gamble. Start the kids out young. :p

Sort of like Nursery Porn??????

Yes, Lee, that was me bringing my 14-year-old to Vegas this weekend for 2 nites. If you go into it knowing that gambling is not on the agenda, then it's ok. I save that for another trip. My son and I get along really well and we find lots to do. It also makes me feel great that he's 6'1" -- sort of keeps the riff raff away from me. Unfortunately, there's no where for us to go to listen to live music together. I love those LV lounge acts where you can listen to great quality music and nurse a couple drinks. I can't really go alone cuz then I look like a woman asking for it. I've tried it before and it is very uncomfortable. My son is a jazz pianist and I know he would enjoy it but the casino police are on us like hawks if he even slows down while walking past. That's the most frustrating part of Vegas for me.

Clark county just closed down a venue, you both would have injoyed. (they closed it the day it opened) It was a mixed age music outlet, in some strip mall. But the law states that something like this can't be within 150 yards of a liquier outlet of any kind. There was a bar in the strip mall as well.
I'm looking forward to a report. I enjoyed taking the kids back in the day. But your correct, you got to expect a different trip and plan accordingly.

Gail, there are jazz bands that play at venues other than casino lounges. Have you tried those? I don't know if children are allowed or not.

The jazz brunch at Gordon Biersch and at Envy come to mind. There are many others in town. You'll need transportation of some kind.

I'm happy to take a cab if it's not too far. I just need to find out where to go.

House of Blue at Mandalay Bay still has their Gospel Brunch on Sundays - that might be a great way to start your trip.

Lee, All I've seen so far is The Doobie Brothers and The Bangles downtown at FSE for only $60. To be honest, I was a big Doobie Bros. fan in their time. I'd love to catch them at some place like the Suncoast for about $10 on some non eventful day.

Well, here's the update, as of yet, I've not purchased airfare, and the price doesn't seem to get better. First class is actually looking reasonable....so you know things are pretty high.
I've not given up though.....

Maybe you should just move to Vegas and go to PA a few times a year. I just booked three round trip fares from Vegas to Chicago for a grand total of $1120. Leaving LAS on 12/26 and returning before NYE on 12/29.

Oh, and that is non-stop on United both ways and not a red-eye either.

errr...You mean TED, don't you???

Well, Looks like New Years ain't gonna Happen in Vegas. The airfare keeps climbing and the good travel times are all but gone as well.
While I'm not giving up on the idea of New Years in Vegas.....I have a Plan B now.
Sharon got an offer for AC, that really is a nice one. 2 free nights (she could have had more) Dinner at our favorite Italian Resturant (Mia) and Pattie Labelle tickets for new years eve. The best part, no air fare needed, and all comped. LOL It ain't Vegas, but for the price of airfare they where asking I can make 2 trips another time of year. Now if by some fluke something changes in the airfare....I would rather be in Vegas, but at least plan B is better then sitting home! LOL

errr...Yeah, the reservation confirmation states "Operated by United for TED"

So what kind of surprises should I be aware of on TED?

I suppose that diabetic meal request I made is not going to be what I expected. :rolleyes:

Well Lee I'll take some pictures of the NYE action on the Strip and send them to you.

In return you can do enough drinking for me as well as you. The way things are going for me this may be my first sober NYE in 35 years.

Ralph, beleive it or not, I had plenty of sober NYE before. I never went out while I was married. After all it is amature night! Now I go out, I just put myself in a place where I don't have to drive.
As for drinking double.....I'm afraid I can't hold up my end of the bargin....I don't care for the feeling the next morning, and I know a 2 hr drive feeling that way isn't gonna be fun either! LOL

I found Lee's airfare
http://www.visitlasvegas.com/vegas/features/nye/index.jsp
One Entry/Ends Dec. 6

**Trip must be taken between December 21, 2007 - January 1, 2008.

(1) Grand Prize: 5-day/4-night trip for two to Las Vegas, including roundtrip airfare, hotel accommodations, and a $1,000 Visa gift card. ARV $4,500

I just had to go snoop and read the official rules since I wondered if you could just take the cash and run (not allowed), but I found lots of info and restrictions, including the statement below.

Limit one (1) entry per person or valid email address. Your entry constitutes your consent to participate in this Sweepstakes and your consent for Sponsor to obtain and deliver your name, e-mail address and other information to Centra Marketing and Communications, LLC for the purpose of administering this Sweepstakes and for other uses by Sponsor as permitted by applicable law.

I don't think I'd want to pay the taxes on this prize, and I'm darn sure I don't need another marketing group getting my address & phone number, both required fields in the entry.

Not with my Luck Larry! LOL
I leave all the contests to you!

Daisy, Taxes arn't a problem cuz you can write off any losses. I already have enough loosing lotto tickests from friends and the local party store to write off the motorcycle I won.
I have an email address just for contests so that's no problem eather

Larry, just think of it as less competition!

I wouldn't mind giving out my e-mail address, but I really don't like the part about my phone number - I get enough nuisance phone calls already!