Las Vegas as a destination...sucks. It seems like like the hotels nickel and dime people FOR EVERYTHING. Want to use the pool, or the gym, or the concierge? Well, today is your lucky day! The hotels took all of the services and activities that used to be FREE and used them as an excuse to charge a resort fee... If that wans't bad enough, now the hotels are charging for PARKING! But don't worry, they are only charging so they can provide you with new infrastructure and better service... if you believe that I know a Nigerian prince that would like to talk to you.
So you payed to park, you paid for your over priced room, and finally you paid the stupid resort fee. Now it should get better right? I mean, you payed so much the hotels have to offer something right? NOPE! Gone are free buffet vouchers, gone are free drinks, gone is pretty much any sign of value. The drinks at the casino bars are about 4-5x overpriced - NO, I don't want to pay 22 dollars for a real cadallac margarita (patron gold, lime juice, Contreau w/ Grand Marnier. I was told that Vegas is transitioning from a gambling destination to luxery nightclubs and high end pool parties. They wonder why people don't gamble as much, sure the economy plays a part but the main reason is: no one wins anymore!! The slots and other machines have been tightened down to the point where not only do you expect to lose money, it isn't even fun anymore. Put $100 bucks in lose it all before even 1 "bonus game" comes up. Don't get me wrong, you will "win". Ya, you "win" $0.15... too bad the spin cost ya $5. The casinos don't bother to run any worth while promos anymore, the slot and video poker machines have been tightened up, and the casinos don't comp shit anymore. Instead of a free buffet, now you get 10% off a buffet! Instead of a free night, you get a "Super Special Player's Club Rate" (great, 8% off...on the weekdays).
So back to this Luxery night club scene. Here is a Vegas night club explained: Charge guests at least $30 to get in, drinks have to be $20 each and be light on anything that is not RC Cola or cheap sugary syrup, for music - choose between electronic that all sounds the same after 45 minutes or whatever rap songs that everyone heard 1000 times on the radio making the drive, Man... really? Am I the ONLY one here that is sick of nightclubs?
I can't be the only one that is sick of these "cool" hotels. The only guy I know that brags about staying in the [Fancy Pants Hotel] is a 350 fat guy who posts quotes like "It's hard being friends with girls when all they want is sex" on Facebook daily - who although he swears he has "boned a ton of super hot girls, some models even", he has NEVER had a GF. In fact, no one has EVER seen him spit game, touch a girl (the notorious arm gram doesn't count, might even prove my point further), or bring a girl home (Maybe you have met his brother - the guy that is always showing of his bottle of Cristal, the same one he has had for 5 years...) . However, it seems that there are enough of these losers dying to impress women by their baller economy room with view "penthouse" that go to those Luxury nightclubs to make Vegas turn into douche bag central.
Sure, there are still a couple of good values left - but they are dying fast. One can get 4 real Patron Cadillac margaritas for the price of one at [fancy pants hotel] by taking a trip down the strip to Circus Circus or Stratusphere. If you can stomach the smell of regret and cheap hookers. The Hard Rock is still doing the 777 deal, however the cab ride is probably going to cost ya triple that each way. The Casino Royale has Michelobe Ultra's (a type of beer that no one knows exists outside that small casino) and what they call "margaritas" for $1. Plus they have the only 100x odds craps on the strip (which is actually pretty damn good, craps has one of the lowest house edges available). The Magnoila cafe has a descent prime rib dinner that with coupon comes to ~$10. Sure one can go downtown and have some fun for less, but lets be honest. If the fancy lights aren't above you, you have a good chance to getting robbed/mugged/assaulted.
The sad thing is I don't see the last good values lasting too long. Iconic hotels like the Riviera and the Sands is just the beginning, in a couple more years all the values on the strip will be replaced with "luxury hotels" following MGM's lead: Charge for Parking, Charge Resort fees, Charge for what used be complimentary. RAPE people for nightclub entrance, nightclub drinks and Shows (although last time I went I did get a good deal on Blue Man Group and Phantom of the Opera tickets...but only after I spent hours looking). One has to wonder, what the fuck are they going to charge for next? House keeping? Towels? Soap and Shampoo? Is there going to be a curtain over the window next time I go, with a dollar fee to open for 15 minutes? Is the AC going to be p4p?
Sorry for the rant, I just honestly think that resort fees and having to pay for parking in a place like Las Vegas should be criminal. I remember my mom grabbing a handful of my quarters (that I was using at the ARCADE) to play the slots while waiting for my pops to come down from the room and winning 400 in quarters. I remember my neighbor that would get so many free nights he couldn't possibly using them all just from comps from buying in $800 at the poker table. I remember my friends parents going to Vegas every weekend they could, and winning. They used to keep track of their winnings vs. money spent on gambling, room, food, etc. They said they hardly ever had years where they were in the red more than 1k - and most of the time they either didn't spend anything or came home with more than they left with. Those same people not only don't keep track anymore - they have basically stopped gambling. They both played Video Poker, and it has gotten to the point where they don't even enjoy it anymore. Last time I saw them in Vegas we met up at a hotel for dinner. I went to get my friend, her dad and I drinks from the bar (because all they would comp was "mixed drinks", that could best be described as a splash of the lowest of the low plastic bottle rum or vodka - honestly can't tell which its so god awful - combined with "soda" that makes those shitty bargain brand sodas seem like nectar of the gods). I was gone no longer than 5 minutes, and when I returned her dad wanted to leave. He had lost almost $300 dollars in video poker...in less than 5 minutes. He wasn't playing a crazy high roller machine either, he was playing $0.50/credit and 5 credits. He didn't win (not counting pairs) one hand. He didn't even get dealt a 3 of a kind (which anyone who plays video poker knows, is one of the most exciting things because your praying for that 4th one and a nice win!) once!
Tl;Dr: Vegas sucks. With the addition of resort fees and parking fees and the transition from a gambling destination to a luxury night club destination it is quickly turning into tool central.