"Topic Of The Week" "What's In Your Suitcase?"

[Steve]

This week's "Topic Of The Week" Question is:

What’s in your suitcase?? Usual and unusual items you pack for Vegas.

[MadMontie]

always nose drops as it is always so dry out there that I get bloody noses.

[vitocorleone]

a horse's head, a knive, and a comfy pillow

[divefl]

Lists of poker rooms. Lists of tournaments. Lists of Comps and promotions at different places. I never read any of them, but they are there.

[iam4nd]

We pack a one cup coffee maker (Black & Decker, I believe), two hard plastic mugs, a small container of coffee, and a box of granola bars. May seem silly but while on vacation we like to lounge in the morning and discuss the day ahead over coffee. Then we can have a leisurely shower and we're good until lunchtime. We usually just do two meals a day in Vegas, brunch or lunch, then dinner later.

Probably the other item strange to me but not to most of the ladies are the seven to ten pairs of shoes Cheryl brings along. Guess I'll just never understand.:confused:

[parisbill]

Needed in Las Vegas....

Lip balm & moisturizer, mini laptop computer, Red Sox hat for good luck & travel body wallet.

[lush702]

Ooooo - excellent Q.

I tend to show up w/ several oddities each trip - recently they have included:

- A little Jade Buddah > "rub the tummy for good luck"
- A small aromatherapy candle
- Sample pack of Viagra
- Some CD's (Sinatra, Elvis, Sade, Norah Jones, Diana Krall, Motley Crue)
- A typed up "must do this trip" list...rarely gets used
- My Saturday Night in Las Vegas socks. Only worn then...
- Black Cashmere sportcoat and clean white boxer shorts

AND,

- A big wad of cash

Damn Buddah hasn't helped. Guess I'll keep trying...

[MusicVixen]

I've been able to reduce my pairs of shoes down from 10 to 5....a HUGE accomplishment for me!!:) Shortalls with many pockets, lip balm, lotion, the normal shampoo, conditioner, etc. I don't wear makeup in Vegas because it tends to melt right off of me but I do bring an eyebrow pencil. 5 tank tops, 5 t-shirts, 5 pairs of shorts and 2 pairs of jeans (1-Black and 1-Blue). We usually stay in a condo with a washer and dryer in the unit so I end up not wearing over half of the clothes I bring. But I can say that I did wear all 5 pairs of my shoes at least 1 time each during my last trip. :) Oh....and of course the neccesary undergarments.:o

[LUZZYK]

nasal spray, lip balm and body cream for the dry climate; blanket & pillow for lounging in the early a.m. in the cold hotel room; lighted make-up mirror. DH sends his lucky Zippo cig lighter to the hotel by UPS several days before we leave and it's waiting for him when we get there - he won't play without it. LOVE the idea of the coffee maker -- we have one and I'm gonna add it to my suitcase. Thanks for the idea!!! :D

[Janine926]

a horse's head, a knive, and a comfy pillow


That is so hilarious, lmao!

[Sherry]

Since we own a timeshare we always take a lb. of coffee in a baggie, sugar and creamers, snacks, a minimum amount of clothing, 2 pairs of shoes, one pair for me other for hubby then I always leave plenty of room to carry all our winning back home just in case our ship comes in. Thanks, Sherry;)

[Janine926]

I always have to have a new "Vegas" fragrance when I go so I shop for perfume and take whatever I pick for that trip along with my many different kinds of make up, hair products and tons of clothes and shoes. I never go them all but you never know. I feel better just knowing I can change 3 times per day if I want. My son usually gives me a good luck charm to take. A couple years ago, he gave me a match box car (he was 4) and it worked great. I won that trip but so far, his other choices of good luck charms haven't workeded out quite so well.
I guess there really isn't anything unusual in my suitcase.

[Tricia]

;) This week's "Topic Of The Week" Question is:

What’s in your suitcase?? Usual and unusual items you pack for Vegas.



MONEY

[jslocke52]

The coffee maker is a good one since the rooms don't have coffee makers. Bringing your own avoids trips to the casino floor for high priced coffee, and then carefully bringing the cups back in a cardboard carrier, setting it down to show your room key to the guard, push elevator buttons and open the room door. When packing, be sure the coffee pot is well protected against breakage. Other things I've sometimes forgotten: cell phone charger, slot club cards (they will issue new ones for free, but it is nice not to have wait in line), spare eyeglasses in case yours get lost or broken, all needed accessories for laptop computer, extra credit cards. A universal remote control may get you access to a few more channels on the hotel room TV.:)

[Princess28]

I always have self address stamped envelopes in my suitcase. That way when I win some I can send it home. I'll send travelers checks (If I have any left) or I will get a money order from the Post office. What a nice thing to come home to.

[vegasjules]

Normal -
way too many clothes
way too many shoes with matching bags
toiletries packed in ziplocks

Maybe not too normal -
compact cooler - It's soft sided and folds up - for in-room beer
single serving coffee maker with supplies
a small fan (We sleep better with the white noise.)
scented candles :)

I don't believe in packing light. Whoever first thought of putting wheels on luggage is my hero! When I read trip reports about people who pack so light that they don't check in any luggage ... Well, I just don't comprehend.

[leighw55]

We packed binoculars last time and they came in handy. We usually have a room with a good view. And most of the other women can relate to this - I take a smaller seperate suitcase for just shoes and purses - we have to be color coordinated. A box of Folgers instant coffee bags (they are like tea bags, but have coffee instead, for those rooms we stay in that do not have a coffee maker in them), along with powdered creamer and sugar. I also pack a beach bag to take to the pool, it comes in real handy.

[SandiT]

Just read all those answers and I guess I am one that likes to bring everything but the kitchen sink!!! You never know whats going to happen and what your going to need. I do like the idea of nose spray thanks so much for that, I am not use to the very dry weather. I will be in Vegas in 4 short weeks and really looking forward to it. Thanks again for all the nefty ideas. Sandi T

[Marla Chi-to-Houston]

Nasal spray, lip balm, my little statue of Jesus, and Melatonin 3mg, since I can never fall asleep in Vegas. I can sleep on the plane, but not at the hotel!

[dragondoll]

I pack all the necessary stuff plus all my www.restaurant.com certificates and all my Vegas coupons. I also throw in a picture of my twin sister if she can not join us on the trip since people we meet there always want to know if we look alike. Sometimes I bring pictures of my twin brothers as well.

[Nancy from Indiana]

One year I took a suitcase with just shoes (and wore them all) but my husband convinced me I don't need that many so now I take just 4 pair.
We take plastic mugs & Tasters Choice coffee along with an electric travel water heater that attaches to the inside of the mugs. I also take along antibiotics & pain pills just in case. Since we rent a car & ask for a room with a refrigerator, I go to Albertsons & buy orange juice, diet coke, doughnuts, etc. Tops, slacks, shorts & swim suits, underwear & a little jewelry, makeup, meds, toiletries,perfume,players cards, travelers checks & cash. I think that's about it.

[deecbell]

We often stay at the excalibur which only has Pepsi
So the most important thing I pack is Caffeine Free Diet Coke at least a 12 pk
also a bottle of Vodka for my husband since the shops in the hotels are so expensive. He likes to drink in the room
Also take St. Jude prayer card, which has yet to get me a big jackpot.
Guess God doesn't think gambling is something He wants to get into!!

[Lori R]

If I'm flying in, I try not to check luggage so it's a couple of changes of clothes, some flip flops, sneakers, jammies, minimal amounts of makeup and protein bars. Usually a very casual trip.

If I'm driving in, more crap than you can image!

Seriously, though, it goes like this:

1. 2 or 3 changes of clothes per day.
2. Black dress shoes, sneakers, flip flops and sandals--casual and dressy.
3. The entire makeup collection (see #1 above--if you don't know what you're going to wear how do you know what makeup colors you need?)
4. Wolfgang Puck's capuccinos and lattes in the self-heating can. These are awesome with a nice, big Hostess blueberry muffin (they're in the suitcase as well). This is critical as I am prone to ulcers and I pretty much need to get something into my stomach within 1/2 hour of awakening. I rather enjoy the luxury of sitting in bed with my latte, a muffin and the morning news. And I don't have to clean up a coffee maker!
5. Advil. The knees and hips tend to get a little cranky with all the walking.
6. A case of bottled water. Obviously, this doesn't fit into the suitcase but it's a must.

[tryon4]

We bring binoculars as we like to do 2 things each trip. Watch planes land from our room and go out into the desert.

we also bring MONEY(change) we have saved from one trip to the next. This is not part of the budgeted allowance.:D

[SmeagolsMathom]

- band-aids for the inevitable blisters no matter what shoes I seem to wear.
- more clothes than I ever seem to need
- peptos
- extra room in the suitcase for the shopping
- long distance phone card so I can call home for more cash

[diana-al]

when we go to vegas there are so many great places to go shopping that we
need all the space we have to bring things back with us-love the primm
outlet mall & the fashion show mall-also that new one near downtown-they
have some great buys at the chico's outlet there-found some $55 capri's
there once for $1.50-so we bring very little to vegas-we tell people that we
need room to bring back all the money we win-ha ha

[gcw]

I am a list maker, so I have my lists of what coupons I have, special things to see, places to go, favourite casino's and freebies. I love to walk when in Las Vegas, but my Mom is happy in front of her slot machine. I don't like to leave her alone too long, which means I haven't been to a headliner show since 1989! She would much rather spin those lucky reels.

[smmoo]

differences. Never a coffee pot because we usually stay at Boulder Station and there is always a pot in the room but never enough cream so I do bring (or buy) non-dairy creamer. Only bring two carry ons each, one that fits under the seat and the other in the overhead bin, so we only bring the shoes we wear and one other pair. Have not worn make up since I was a teen, so don't need that stuff, and we don't dress unless their's a wedding, plus we always do laundry at my son's house mid-week so we don't need to bring much. We do bring the medical stuff in a small bag, prescriptions, aspirin, nose drops, chapstick, bandaids, rolaids, etc, etc. Our plane, room, car, and show confirmation papers, plus restaurant and places of interest print outs are in a 3 ring binder along with a map of Las Vegas and a magnifying glass to see the names and number on said map of Vegas. LOL!!! We also started bring a small DVD player with headphones and DVDs since we always fly SW and there is no entertainment, other than the flight attendants who are at times quite amusing. I always bring a couple of books to read on the plane and as a way to wind down at night before bed. That's it.:eek:

[luxorman]

I always bring a big zip-lock bag of Tang. It beats the killer prices of the soft drink machines in the hotels. I also bring a handful of good sized rubber bands.Wrap them around your wallet before putting it in your pocket-if somebody other than yourself tries to remove the wallet the rubber band makes it difficult!

[joannek1]

Shoulder Pads - a holdover from the "carry coins" era when my
shoulder got really sore. Also a nail brush -- and a wrist band.

JoanneK

[artie]

since i travel for a living, i know how to pack. i can go overseas for 8 weeks in 1 bag (that i carry on), plus my laptop. for vegas though, i pack even lighter. i just got back from a week there and all i took was shorts, two shirts, socks, and 1 pair of shoes on my feet. i bought several nice shirts and a new pair of hiking boots. i came home with much more than i left with.

i have, in the past, gone there for a weekend with nothing but my amex card. i hit a walmart (they are all 24-hour) when i get in late, and head out to belz (now the lv outlet stores) the next morning. this was of course before 9-11, so i may be viewed today as a "person of concern" by security at the airport.

oh yeah, i always take a pair of green dice from the hard rock. i don't know why, just a good luck charm.

[StenoAmy]

A four cup coffee pot and filters, coffee, some Creamora and Equal and two plastic coffee cups. We like to wake up slowly and not have to run downstairs to buy some coffee...

I also take eye drops...the dry air is very hard on my eyes...

[andrea]

All the hotels that do not have coffee pots in the room will probably have them available in the housekeeping department. Same for small refrigerators to hold your beer and sodas. Check with your hotel's housekeeping department before you leave.

[AnnPedi614]

I always take lip balm,nasel spray, moisturizer for my face, body lotion, travel size of my favorite aveda shampoo and conditioner,eye drops, nail polish remover pads and the nail polish I have decided to use that week in case it chips, tums, advil, excedrin, pretty much everything I might need from the bathroom then some and usually it is two of everything LOL.
I like many other ladies tend to bring too many pairs of shoes though I find I only end up wearing two or 3 pairs of them. I always bring gym clothes and sneakers so I can work out, but somehow never make it to the fitness center!! I definately over pack.

[Mulberryflash56]

Coupons, dinner certificates, wine, players club cards, and a list of Steve's Best Bets in Vegas (Ellis Island's $4.95 steak is a winner)..I LEAVE ALL INHIBITIONS AT HOME....

[BoozeBabe]

Nothing out of the ordinary. Make-up which is a must. One extra pair of shoes (comfy). One outfit for each day. One pair of undies per day plus one extra, for the occasion when I win a HUGE jackpot and need extra underwear because......well, you know!! :D :eek: . So far I always come home with one clean pair of undies.:rolleyes:

[Pops904]

For four or five days:

socks, boxers, jeans,and t-shirts...

just the comfy pair of sneakers that are on my feet...

earplugs (wife and I both SNORE!)...

Comdoms... (I don't know why, she's always too tired when in Vegas!)

A book for the plane ride home...

Used to take a big bag of beef jerky until the time it was in the wife's laptop bag and when it showed up on x-ray they were just SURE they had found a big bag of pot...(gee, I feel so much more secure under their watchful eyes!)

weedeater, snowblower, and garden gnome...

but that's just me...

[cookiep]

I have very little in my suitcase. I stay at hotels that have coffee makers in the room. :p I take a toothbrush, toothpaste, brush for my hair, two pairs of jeans, tops (one for each day), something a little dressy, undies, one pair of shoes on my feet and a pair that can go with my dressy stuff. :) And, the most important..MONEY, MONEY, MONEY;)

[magicfish]

I always have my overnight (carry it on going, it's checked coming back) and a tote bag (which carries my purse inside, with other items) - not to mention my luggage.

Saline nasal spray, Lists of things I want to do, at least 2 more outfits than I end up wearing, tons of slot cards, folders organized with "casino", "food and Drink", "attractions", "maps" - decaf tea bags, caffeine free diet coke, bottled water, a few small bags of snacks, a couple of pieces of fruit, eye mask and ear plugs, my sound machine in case of a noisy room neighbor:o , extra glasses and sunglasses, moisturizer, door stopper (great for keeping unwanteds out of room), soft rubbery type jar opener (great for stoppers in tubs and sinks that don't work properly), any coupons I might use, slippers for the plane (I carry totes slippers in my overnight and slip them on after being seated - take them off prior to landing - what a treat!), blow up travel pillow - (seldom used), everything from the medicine cabinet from pepto to bandaids to advil.

I also bring my cell phone charger, prepaid calling card (just in case), a small duffel that folds up (for dirty clothes on the way home), and last but not least ... a few little gifites for the buddies I have made during frequent trips to Vegas - just little things for my dealer, waitress, valet friends.

It seems like a lot, but I always have my overnight bag ready to go, and fill the tote bag just before the trip - of course, like most women, I bring too many shoes. I always carry an assortment of ziploc bags - so many uses, and I always take off my jewelry at home and put it in a ziploc - so I don't hold up the security line!!!

It seems like a lot but with the overnight and tote, it's pretty easy to carry it all. With the hooks on my luggage, it's easy to manage. I always bring my rolling garment bag, plus a small suitcase if I'm staying a week or more. Yes, I can travel lighter, but if you don't make yourself comfortable, who will?

[badlucknanc]

Actually, I pack pretty light usually, so what's in my suitcase is a lot of air. This is because I always power shop while in Vegas, and thus, return
with a very full suitcase! :D

[pateboo]

:p Normal stuff for the four days I go: one set of clothes per day and one spare in case something happens to the one I'm wearing, toiletries, and a ton of snacks. Weird stuff: that would be my supposedly lucky wanga doll, and a little plastic slot machine that a cashier gave me years ago.

[bsweetie]

a horse's head, a knive, and a comfy pillow
do ya watch too many movies???????? !!!!!!!!!! lol

[Lackqueen]

They still make Tang? That's so strange cause something made me think about that today and wondered if it was still around! Anyway, chapstick, Visene, makeup for sure. Hubby ALWAYS overpacks. He comes home with more clean clothes than dirty. I packed my swimsuit for about the first 3 years and since I never used it, no longer pack it. Also pack sneakers which I have very seldom worn. I just wear a pair of comfortable shoes & pack one more pair. I always check the forecast when we go in Spring & Fall & that basically decides how many pairs of shorts or jeans to pack. I'll pack one pair of dress slacks. Absolute vodka. We have friends who live in Vegas & last fall took a couple of pounds of Polish sausage. We had to keep it in our room for a couple of days & as soon as you got off the elevator to our room you could smell it! Another time, hubby made some pigs in the blanket & froze them & we took them for our friends. I guess that's one of the strangest things we've ever packed! :eek: Oh yeah, also my St. Anthony medal in my wallet. And a blank check, which thank God, we haven't had to use yet :D

[sonntex]

In my checked bag, I carry most of the usual stuff everyone has listed. Jeans, shirts, etc., plus a lighter, cigarettes, make-up mirror, vitamins, alarm clock, and all the usual personal stuff. Lot of things get stuffed in baggies. I will take an extra pair of shoes and a pair of slacks if we are going some place special to eat. I wear Reeboks most of the time.

In my fanny pack, I put my player cards, lipstick, chapstick, mirror, comb, credit cards, memo pad, pencil, small flashlight, pack of tissue, and our money. My fanny pack suffices as a purse during my stay.

The fanny pack then goes into my HUGE black purse along with our coupons, tickets, reservations, book, 2 packs of cigarettes, book of matches, cell phone, my jewelry in a baggie, lots of gum (for my ears on the plane), extra pair of undies and extra pair of socks (you never know when your luggage might get lost), deodorant, Zantac, aspirin, and a couple of extra baggies. This I keep under the seat on the plane where I can keep an eye on it and get to it if I need it. When unpacked, this purse remains in the bottom of the closet not to be used again until we pack for our return flight.

I sometimes get cold on the plane, so I wear a long sleeved shirt or jacket and that saves having to pack it.

Hubby takes all the usual stuff, plus his work. He is always getting phone calls, so he takes his briefcase with all his price lists and order pads. He also takes medical supplies like band-aids, salves, etc. If we are planning to go someplace nice to eat, he will take a sport jacket. He wears boots most of the time so he seldom takes any extra shoes.

Sometimes we are overpacked, but I would rather be safe than sorry. We always seem to have plenty of room left over to bring back all that money we don't win.

[jenbri53]

TOO MUCH!!!!!!!! Day clothes, that I usually never end up wearing because I'm by the pool all day. And also TOO MANY SHOES (normally 10 pairs) out of whish I normally only wear about 3. Have to be comfy.::eek:

[rbobst]

My wife and I are heavy coffee drinkers. We buy a cheap 10 cup coffee pot($10-$15), two cans of coffee and sugar for a 7 day trip. We buy a couple of coffee mugs at the giftshop that we keep to replace broken ones at home. We have one bag that we use for shoes and other awkward items that we pack our coffee supplies with. We enjoy coffee in the morning, along with Krispy Kreme donuts from the TI shop, watching the news and planning our day. We average 4 to 5 pots a day! It would cost us a fortune to buy as much coffee as we drink. At the end of the trip we trash the pot and keep the cups we bought as replacements at home!
Rick

[TisSweetDestiny]

Too many clothes- water bottles, water pills. Lots of snacks! I also back a few foldable carry on bags to bring home goodies in. I always bring a blanket too because the hotel blankets are full of invisible nasty things ewwww.

[SandyA]

Start out with $50 in singles for tips, replenish as needed. I travel pretty light, usually just with a carry on, I wear sneakers and pack a pair of sandals for summer, nice shoes for winter. Keep the wardrobe simple - slacks and jerseys that are mix/match, plus one "nicer" knit outfit. I carry a good sized tote that I put my purse in, plus books, snacks, etc. for the lonnnng plane ride - when I get to the hotel it doubles as my bag down at the pool. I have a zip bag for contact/glasses, one for makeup/meds, and the camera/cell charger...I keep these in my carryon all the time because I travel at least once a month...just toss the current stuff in and I'm ready to go!

[TJDEWITTIOT]

I always bring a big zip-lock bag of Tang. It beats the killer prices of the soft drink machines in the hotels. I also bring a handful of good sized rubber bands.Wrap them around your wallet before putting it in your pocket-if somebody other than yourself tries to remove the wallet the rubber band makes it difficult!

Luxorman. Another person who brings Tang. I also bring a can of Prune Juice to mix with it as I like a little "Prune-Tang" now and then.

Tang is also good for cleaning your automatic dishwasher. Fill up the soap dispenser with it and run the dishwasher (empty) through it's whole cycle. It really cleans up the inside of your dishwasher.

[stevevarro]

In addition to the "normal" items here is a list of the unique things I take with me...

1. My latest tips and ideas gleaned from the EVERYTHING LAS VEGAS newsletters, filled with new placed and specieal things to do on the trip.

2. The latest reading material from Magic Magazine

3. A few small magic tricks to share with friends

4. An envelope for each day I'd going to be in Vegas. I start by dividing my casino money. An equal amount goes into each envelope. A day of the week is marked on each envelope. Each day I start with a envelope filled with my "Fun" money for that day. When the envelope is empty, I'm finished for the day. If I have a nice win, those winnings go into that same envelope at the end of the day and isn't touched for the rest of the trip. I just move on to the next envelope. (I works for me)

5. My laptop filled with stuff to do in case my envelopes end up empty.

[lvandm]

After the 2nd trip we dropped the suitcases. We are now backpackers to Vegas.
Money and 3 to 4 days of comfortable clothes. Lip balm and and ID card.
Only time we bring a suitcase is if we stay over 3 nights.

I did like the one idea about self addressed envelopes to mail home winnings!!! LOL Like I have ever had those.

[cindyinnj]

Usual toiletries, but we do pack a lot of clothes. We have "daywear" which consists of jeans and t-shirts, and "eveningwear" which consists of nice outfits or even fancier clothes like a suit for hubby and expensive evening pants suit for me! Always pack 2-3 undies for each day and a lot of socks plus one outfit more than the 6 days we stay, in case of stains or rips :rolleyes: Light jackets or sweaters for cool days and/or nights (we always go to LV during winter months).

We have our "good" jewelry with me in my carry-on along with dollar bills for tips. Always have a book to read while on the plane. We always have 4 suitcases (2 for each of us) this way we're not over the weight limit for each suitcase!

I only pack one pair of shoes, my comfy heals, which are black so they go with all my evening wear, and I wear my sneakers during the day! I know, just one pair of shoes is unusual, but...I have very wide feet and it's very hard to find shoes that are comfy and stylish for nice outfits, so...I keep wearing these black shoes I have over and over again! Someday I'll find another pair of shoes that fit me right that look good! Hubby packs black and brown shoes, and of course wears his sneaker too!

Hubby never leaves the house without packing his cigars! :rolleyes:

That's pretty much what we put in our suitcases! :D

[Robbylou121]

Here's what in my case:
1) Snack size ziplock bags..(dollar bills are the exact size)..1 for each day with that day's gambling money. I use marker to write day on the outside.

2) Snack size bag of $2.00 bills..there's 2 of us. Much easier to use that have all those $1.00 bills.

3) Snack size bag of $10.00 bills..for food.

All baggies fit inside of our blue zipper bank bag. I just take out that days gambling money and use my belly bag when gambling.

Also, I use a hard case CD case (with the CD sleeves removed) for my makeup and tolietries. Perfect size and travels well.

We also take with us an insulated cooler with pop for the plane ride and for our hotel room. Everything else is normal stuff. T- 26!

[madrejulie]

This goes way back to our first Vegas trip so don't laugh too much. We didn't know how "bored" we would get so we packed playing cards (for the room) and a book. LOL

[meldodds]

Like most everyone we take too much stuff, but hate to be without. Just wanted to say I got a lot of ideas from this topic of the week, Thanks all
One little thing since we only eat 2 times a day, we take energy bars and snack zip lock bags of dried fruit, nuts trail mix, to eat while we are playing or walking. Keeps us from ice cream, donuts etc. and from getting too hungrey before meals. We used to do the coffe pot, but now indulge in Starbucks or Seatle's Best once a day. 11days and counting!:D

[ASTIDIXIE]

;) I bring enough clothes for a month long trip............
AT LEAST two of everything.........two black jeans, two gray jeans, two brown jeans and three or four blue jeans AND each must have AT LEAST two shirts that go with it! Enough personal items for double the amount of time I am staying.........and always tons of stuff that never leaves the suitcase!
ALWAYS an over packer...........:o

[bevierose]

I enjoyed reading what everyone else brings. These are the things I must have:
nasal spray, lip balm, hair iron curler, lighted portable mirror sold at Bed, Bath & Beyond; heavier shower cap, good moisturizing face cream like Oil of Olay (hotel provides body moisturizing cream); small 1 C coffeemaker, dry cream & sugar (I agree with the guy who said toting the coffees up on the elevator, taking out your roomcard, what a hassle, not to mention the cost of a coffee...$4!); small plastic bags in case you can sneak food out of the buffets, which is discouraged but helpful with fruits, bagels, croissants, etc.); coupons from this website or other LV websites that will help you save; try to plan ahead by looking at the shows, restaurant lists, shopping ventures, etc. so that you know how to make the best use of your limited time in Vegas (we found a bus that leaves from MGM going to the Fashion Outlets by reading about it a little late one trip but planned it for another and it was fun, not to mention a savings on Burberry, Fendi, etc.); get a bus pass when you go by bus (it's cheap and fun to take public transportation); get the prices of taxi fares from the concierge so you don't get ripped off; bring walking shoes of some kind ( I don't care about what they look like. You will need them for sure.); bring sunblock flip-flops if you plan to go to the pool (everything costs more than at home in the hotels, but if you must buy an emergency item, go to the ABC Store in the Desert Passage [Planet Hollywood, erst Aladdin] for excellent souvenirs and needs. Walgreens is on the Strip too but not as convenient unless you are on the MGM side near that area. Also, look for 2 for 1 booths for tickets to see top entertainers because you can save a ton of money by doing so.
You don't need many clothes for Vegas because who sees you??? A light sweater or jacket for at night since the a/c can be strong. Nobody dresses unless they go into the clubs in which case you will be crippled the next day from wearing high heels dancing. Believe me, been there, done that.
Make sure your bag has wheels. Take a small knapsack for sightseeing, if you choose to. I brought a small one on every trip as my carryon to tote makeup, meds, camera, film, Wet Ones, water bottles, munchies, etc.
Enjoy, Viva Las Vegas!;)

[Steve]

I actually have a "Vegas suitcase" all ready to go at any time. It has it's own toiletries, socks, underware and shoes. :D

Other than that I have to have Tylenols, Acid Reducers and Zanax. And of course..........Eileen :)

Steve

[bevierose]

Diana-al, no. 26,
Where is Chico's Outlet downtown? We love that place and would love to get a good buy. Is there a bus that goes there? Thanx.
Bevierose

[Jacqui, Duskette8]

Well I don't go until 7th June but here is what I have in my case ALREADY! : 16 tube tops; 20 t-shirts; 7 going-out tops; 12 skirts; 7 pairs of trousers; 6 pairs of shorts; 2 pairs of jeans; 4 bikinis; 6 pairs of shoes; 7 handbags; 4 hats; the usual toiletries; medication; make-up; jewellery; manicure set; hair straighteners; camcorder and camera (still to go in the case); my BIG Vegas folder with coupons, show ticket email print-outs, etc; underwear; and more to go in! I don't think that I take anything unusual though but I still have time to think of something to stuff at the edge of my case!

Believe it or not, I do actually wear everything that I take, bearing in mind that I go for 14 nights and change in the morning, pool at lunchtime, change in the afternoon then change at night.

Oh..... and I take an extra suitcase for my shopping sprees.... watch out Vegas, the "Queen of Shopping" will be there in t-21 !!!!! :D

[marmirdc]

We usually travel light when we go in the summer time. our luggage is only carry on and consists of:

shorts'
t's;
lights weight polos;
socks(if we are wearing shoes and not sandals);
underwear;
swimwear;
toiletries;
my hand-held video keno games(for the plane)
a couple boxes of Pop-tarts or fruit bars for breakfast;
my extra digital camera case that attaches to my belt for all my players cards;
gambling money;
the latest edtion of Casino Player Magazine(makes the flight go quicker);
a deck of cards;
and any other misc things that we think of at the last minute.
t-28 days and counting......

Mr. Keno

[ooberrydooberry]

Since we roll our cigerettes ( i know disgusting habit ) i spend about a few weeks rolling what we may need before we go and put my ciggys in a box in the freezer, when we are then ready to go on holiday the ciggys go from freezer to suitcase to las vegas. Lots to do on holiday so no time to roll ciggys, so there thats my most unusual thing in my suitcase

[jo45an]

We only take carrry on bags, so I bring sample sizes of my cosmetics, which I save up for our trip. The only full size product I bring along is Sunscreen. When I think back to our
first trip and all the luggage we brought, I have to laugh! If
you forget to pack something, you can always buy it once you
get to Vegas! But, you really don't need a ton of stuff...just
money and/or credit cards!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:D

Joan in PA.

[account_deleted]

My loving wife (now fifty,,ish) was told long ago (thirty,,,ish).
When going to Vegas, You pack it.... you schlep it.

She figure out what to pack by the next trip.

PS: Why pack coffee? A coffee, Baileys and whip cream is a $1.00 tip. Drink 5 between 6:00AM and 9:00AM it cost $5.00. and the whip cream serves as breakfast.

[pooh48]

We always take home canned green beans. We have a daughter that lives there and she just loves homes canned green beans so everytime that we go we take her green beans.

[sandlind]

This week's "Topic Of The Week" Question is:

What’s in your suitcase?? Usual and unusual items you pack for Vegas.
I ALWAYS PACK A CANDLE CUZ ONCE THE POWER WENT OUT AND IT CAME IN HANDY. AND ALWAYS EAR PLUGS CUZ MY FRIEND SNORES.

[whobeme]

Lists of poker rooms. Lists of tournaments. Lists of Comps and promotions at different places. I never read any of them, but they are there.

Ditto. I spend months making plans, pack all my notes and list and never in over 10 trips have looked at them once on the trip. Oh, the ritual of vacation.

[MissConduct]

Since the divorce I learned to pack a whole lot lighter since I have to carry my own bags. My cellphone is now my alarm clock and I will patiently wait for housekeeping to bring me an iron.

I always stay where the room has a coffee maker and fridge. I do bring lots of Crystal Light individual serving packs for water bottles. I pack snacks for the plane/room including trail mix, protein shakes, jerky and nuts. Also protein bars which one goes with me every time I leave the room. No telling when I will be glued to a lucky machine.

I must have every trial size item Clinique makes so the travel makeup bag is always ready as well as the toiletries bag. All I add is clothes and slot cards.
I used to bring several changes of clothes a day but found I rarely returned to the room before crashing for the night (or rather morning). Sometimes I pack old underwear I keep stashed in the laundry room to wear once and throw away. Lightens the dirty clothes bag coming home. Oh and extra contact lens... my eyes always get so dry and I stay up so long without sleep I usually tear one or two. In my daily bag I have individual one use vials of saline for rewetting. I will have to remember the tip learned here to bring nose spray. Moleskin to prevent blisters from all the walking (works better than bandaids).

Since 9/11 I check my bag which is the max size allowed as carryon, but I cringe at the thought of security going through my stuff that will not fit back in if unpacked. I do bring on the place a rolling backpack that contains an insulated lunchbag with frozen sports bottle of water, yogurt, snacks, etc.
One thing that works great is I pack a travel size pillow for which I made a satin pillowcase for. This goes in one of those travel space bags where you can roll out all the air. This fits great in the carry on bag. I refuse to use a pillow someone else has slobbered on. Add an mp3 player and unless a kid is kicking the back of my seat, no one on the plane bothers me. Another must have is a decongestant to prevent ear pain and ambien so I can sleep on the plane and not stress over not having a cigarette for over 5 hours.

Im ready!!

[King of Kurtopia]

Hmmm..I've never really thought about it. I just pack. So, in thinking about this, I guess I do bring a few unusual things.

A small flashlight....you never know when the power might go out.
A piece of polished amazonite stone......I'm tellin' ya, it's lucky!
A whole bag of hair ties.....A different color combination each day for luck keeps my ponytail in order. :)
Matches....the TSA takes my lighter every time!
A folder containing my itinerary, print outs for hotel rooms, flight, etc.
Ipod....watched Vegas Vacation on the last flight on it.
Slot cards.

Hmmmm...the rest is all standard fare.

Kurt

[Kathy]

Of course our coffee maker, with all the fixings,sugar, creamer, and regular coffee mugs. We put this small 4 cup pot in a "six pack" cooler with all the stuff and then it doubles for a cooler in the car for cool bottled water for our little side trips. Hubby HAS to have Hostess cupcakes,peanut butter crackers, and Pringles(easy for packing).:p a night light to plug in near the bed, for potty trips during the night. The blackout drapes afford no light in....and boy that early morning sun...is too early:eek: especially after a long night! A corkscrew for a bottle of wine and a stemmed glass(that's if you pick up a bottle in the gift shop). Cheap huh?? but then I have more $$$ for downstairs!!!

[Tammy]

This is a good time to post as we are going June11th.......

A few years ago I got really - really sick in Vegas so I will definitely pack:
Zyrtec, Flonase, Albuterol, Advil, Prednisone, cough medicine with Vicodin in it (great stuff - works great), antibiotic, saline spray and eye drops. :eek:

Girly stuff - makeup, hairspray, lotion, etc. ;)

Very little clothes this time. I never wear everything I pack and I plan on doing some "good" shopping.
I don't know what I'm more excited about - the shopping or the gambling. :D

[Tammy]

I just bought violet contact lens and they look really cool.
Definitely a good Vegas blend. ;)

[cyngia]

I pack my moisturizer, make up, curling iron, blow dryer, all hair products needed, soap, and toothpaste. Extra reading glasses and sunglasses. Aleave, Tums, Perfume, day clothes, evening clothes about 2 or 3 outfits per day. Lots of undies and a couple of different night gowns. You know, one pretty night gown and the ugly leave me alone gown. A bathing suit and big towel which I never use. 5 or 6 pair of shoes. 1 purse for the day and 1 for the evening. Jewelry to match the outfits and a camera.
Moisturizer, did I mention that already? Well, I need lots of it, don't want my face to crack!

My husband packs just as many clothes as I. Slacks, dress shirts, sport coats, shoes, underware and socks.
Cologne, sunglasses, reading glasses. Swimsuit and big towel which he has never used.

We also take a list of things and places we want to do and see. Coupons, players cards, phone chargers. We don't drink coffee so we have lots of bottled water in the room and Cokes.

We carry on a change of clothes and our medicines. I take a small pillow and a small blanket, we like to travel early in the day and it is always cold on the plane. Also magazines or the newspaper from home. My husband brings his DVD with earphones and movies.

I know we don't need all the clothes. Sometimes the day goes by so fast we won't go back to change into our evening clothes! Silly I know, but we are prepared for the nights we do. LOL.

Did I forget anything? Hope not!

Cynthia

[Chris in Ct]

MY bright pink boa, a long white penoir set..........bubble bath ...........:)

[Silversmiff]

After a long round of playing nickles back in the day when they used nickles I looked down at my fingertips and they were black:eek: since then I pack a few hanfulls of single use hand sanitizers. I know they are available at the booths but ugggg sometimes Its a little more convenient to have a supply with you.

[Bama]

We pack all the usual things most folks mention inc too many clothes. I guess the most unusual thing we take is a small clock radio. I like to wind down at bedtime with a bit of classical music and I love NPR's Morning Edition. After having crappy radios in the room for a couple of trips I decided just to bring my own along.:rolleyes:

[togabill]

- 2 sets of clothes per day
- portable dvd player and laptop for the plane (5 hours each way)
- cell phone charger
- xtra drivers license (a friend of mine lost his while in LV, was detained for 2 hours by security at the airport and missed his plane)
- lots of smokes

[rickvoo]

I always pack a small fan. Comes in handy in a stuffy hotel room.

[wiley]

We go with casual clothes (no make-up or dressy clothes for Vegas and no jewelry except what I'm wearing on the plane), a couple of pairs of jeans, and a tee shirt for each day plus an extra and a couple of denim shirts that can go with any of them. I take 2 pairs of sneakers and a pair of flip flops or sandals to give my feet a break. I pack a bathing suit in case there's time to go to the pool - there hasn't been yet, but maybe next time... And warm nightgowns because Hubby likes the room pretty cold.

We pack an alarm clock, an ear-phone radio, the usual toiletries, sunblock, vitamins, tums for Hubby, sunglasses, a camera with a new battery and lots of film, an umbrella just in case (we walk alot), my folder with our list of things to do and see, confirmation numbers for shows, restaurants, hotel, and Avistar parking, maps, coupons, POV, and all our casino cards.

I bring the latest "Casino Player" to read on the plane, and Hubby brings his hand-held poker game and Tootsie Pops for the plane and the Race Book. I pack a light-weight fold-up carry-on to bring home tee shirts for the grandkids (and us) and other shopping finds. I agree with Tammy that I'm almost as excited about shopping as gambling.

And, of course, I wear my purple rubber lucky Las Vegas bracelet.

T-5 months.

[KenoCaryl]

We always take a fork, knife, and spoon..Sometimes we like to get our food to go, and just sit up in the room and relax, and watch the strip as we have lunch, or dinner..Hate to eat with the plastic utensils !....!

[henshep1]

We pack enough clothes for a month(We only go for a week.)We also take a small fan for the white noise. We don't go without Prilosec and Tums(For when prilosec doesn't do the job.)

[powernailer]

:cool: It's Vegas, and I like to help my wife pack so she doesn't forget to take along some sexy clothes for the nights out. The smaller the outfits, the lighter the suitcase. And of course comfortable shoes.

[shamrock77]

I do carry on:

small flashlight
night light for bathroom
clothes pins for curtains
tea bags/ hot water heater/ cup
few books
Bose headphones / noise reduction
shorts/ swimwear
1 pair jeans
1 pair dress slacks
2 shirts per day
usual toiletries/ advil for hangovers
fanny pack/ slot card
cell phone with charger

anything else I just buy - will have to add nasal spray to that list

[Nevada]

I Alsotake eye drops allways end up with red eyes. Must be all the sleep:rolleyes: Must have chap stick reading glasses and sun tan lotian. I take very little clothing footwear being what ever pair of sneakers I wear on plane. One can of deodorant spray and I,m ready to gamble:eek:

[Vegas Queen]

I travel only with essentials, make-up, curling iron and coffee maker. I fill my suitcase with newspaper so it has weight as we buy all our clothes in Vegas, very reasonable and very different from what we have in Canada. We shop, shop and usually buy another suitcase to come home. LOVE VEGAS

[fungirl]

The usual stuff I guess...lots of dress up clothes, casual clothes, a pair of sheos to go with each outfit, lots of band-aids for my poor feet! LOL!

Alka-Seltzer Morning Relief (that stuff if the BOMB for a hangover!!)

Tums and Pepcid ( I love a good strong Bloody Mary but my stomach doesn't always like them)

Small bottles of shampoo, conditioner, body wash, lotion, etc.

Too much make up!

I guess that's about it!

[Tweeets]

I take the usual things to Vegas; clothes, shoes,toothbrush, etc. Oh, and money of course. However after my last trip, (when fell in a slippery bathtub, that had a defective grab bar, AND a slow drain) I will now carry a rubber mat for the bathtub!

[Spieler]

Most important item packed is a "Fun Planner." With so much to do, I need to budget my time between sightseeing, gambling, restaurants, trips to the desert and photo ops.

Since we rent a car a good street atlas is important. And don't forget the Rat Pack CDs

Highlighted copies of MRVEGAS98; a great source of local info.

Camera with extra media cards and RoadStor DVD writer

Extension cords for camera electronics

Postcard addresses and telephone numbers

Lastly, a deck of cards and some gambling "How To" literature.

[legalois]

Carry-ons are the only way to go. Like I've said before, if it doesn't fit, it stays home.

We each take one carry-on that goes in the overhead bin, and I bring a large tote that fits nicely under the seat in front of me, yet leaving me with plenty of foot room.

We bring one outfit per day, with one or two extra tops/shirts. The sneakers we wear on the plane become our only footwear for the trip. (Last trip I broke down and brought a pair of sandals with me.)

Extra underwear, just in case.

When it's getting close to trip time, and the toothpaste is running out, I put that tube aside so we can use it up on the trip.

Snacks for the plane ride.

Most important, three books for me. I read one going out, one coming back and have an extra in case I don't like one of the other two.

Lois - hoping to go in October, but no plans made as yet.

[gina777]

I bring all the usual stuff: clothes, tolietries, makeup, way too many pairs of shoes, players cards, and books/ magazine to read while at the pool. I also bring my small cooler on wheels for my soda, water and alcohol. One unusual item i always bring is a large kitchen clip ---works great to hold the drapes together so no light sneaks in!!!

[ChicChas]

I'm more interested in the unusual things everyone takes back home.:D

BTW, for those of you who take coffee makers, my friend Justin recently told me he takes a small thermos with him and buys a large coffee before going to his room at night. He transfers the contents to the thermos and it stays hot until morning. I'm going to try that on next trip in August.

[Boston_Bill]

I bring my own asprin for those morning hangovers.
I hate buying anything like that at the hotel shops

[James]

i bring some liquor along with me. that way i don't lose money at a cold table just because i'm waiting for a drink to come.

[kassa]

I pack the usual (I like to change clothes after a mid-day nap, but a pair of sneakers and a pair of shoes suffice for me, footwear-wise!)

Two things we always bring and have found invaluable: 1) little packaged crackers with peanut butter (great for when you aren't quite ready to leave for dinner but must.have.something, or whenever you just want a little something and don't want to hike back out in search of it.)

2) Ziploc bags. They're good for all sorts of unexpected problems (wet bathingsuits on the last day, breakable/leakable items bought during the trip, etc.). The biggest use, however, is that we always pack one away when we leave the room. When we return to the room, we make a quick stop at the ice machine, fill it up, and hobble on to the room. Once there, the door shuts and nobody has to be the one to go get ice! After a long Vegas day/night on your feet, it's nice to just walk in, sit down, pour a drink, and put your feet up!

[Bevhill1]

What isn't in my suitcase. Change for the slot machines and my clothes that I can only get away with wearing in Vegas.:D

[RWHannu]

Nightlight. Gotta have it to avoid stumbling around in the dark in strange surrounding.