“We will NEVER do that again!” Seasoned and newbie Las Vegas visitors alike make mistakes before and during their travels simply because of their humanity. The English poet Alexander Pope coined the phrase “To err is human … to forgive is divine.” Planning and executing an enjoyable Las Vegas getaway is truly a learned art and individual visitor accounting for their own real or perceived mistakes varies widely due to personal tastes, dislikes, budgets, and Las Vegas visiting experience. However, there are some common mistakes that many Las Vegas hikers have made (including this author). Here are ten common mistakes.
1. Underestimating the scale and size of the hotel: casinos on the strip:
I once turned the corner of Tropicana Avenue and Las Vegas Boulevard in front of the MGM Grand on foot with my partner. This was our initial trip to Las Vegas and we were in awe of the kitschy visual spectacle that the city is partially famous for. As we walked north in front of MGM, I spotted Caesar’s Palace, which seemed to be on the not-too-distant architectural horizon. You’re wrong, Bubba! As we approached Caesar’s, I was fully prepared to pay someone to throw me into Las Vegas Boulevard traffic. The inherent sheer size of the monstrous concrete monoliths we refer to as a casino (hotels can get us wrong) prone to judging walking distances. On each and every subsequent trip to Sin City, car rental has been a regular occurrence due to this experience.
2. Staying in game places too long :
Staying longer at a single table game or slot / video poker machines in an attempt to recoup losses is common and reckless. It is almost always wiser and cheaper to get up and do something else.
3. Poor or inadequate overall trip planning :
This mistake can add significant costs to the budget of a Las Vegas trip for those who find cost important. That said, it’s also nice to leave some time slots for spontaneous, unplanned activities (see next post).
Four. Excessive travel planning to Las Vegas:
Visitors who plan down to the last detail and minute can exhaust themselves and their entire travel group in a condition of extreme fatigue … or anarchy.
5. Failure to sign up for players club and / or casino website email memberships:
This is a massive no-brainer if any gambling is anticipated, particularly in light of the current economic environment in Las Vegas.
6. Betting on casino games that have an unbeatable house edge:
Keno comes to mind, even though this can upset a large collection of sweet grandmas.
7. Poor driving clothing:
That unique Vegas adrenaline rush can be a detrimental factor when driving. Driving like your hair is on fire to get to the next exciting event can be dangerous. On occasions this author has committed this crime.
8. Do not bring comfortable walking shoes:
Simply navigating within a single casino on foot can feel like a Trail of Tears at times. Have you ever wandered around MGM Grand or Mandalay Bay in uncomfortable shoes?
9. Do not use valet parking services when loading luggage:
This is particularly true for places that have parking garages that are one county away from hotel check-in counters. It’s a hike in some of these (eg MGM Grand) even without luggage. Consider valet services at any time to carry luggage from one place to another, such as on arrival and departure days or during hotel changes within the trip. The minimal costs (visitors can still choose to maneuver their own bags) are generally worth avoiding a marathon walk on concrete.
10. Not using alternative access routes to strip hotels when driving:
Driving on Las Vegas Boulevard in heavy traffic conditions can be prohibitively time consuming. There are some well-known alternative driving routes that can save you a lot of time and frustration. There are some avenues that are roughly parallel to Las Vegas Boulevard on the east (Koval Lane and Audrie Street) and west (Frank Sinatra Drive and Dean Martin / Industrial Road) sides that allow access to strip properties from behind.