New Years Eve in Vegas

[SPEEDER]

What is it like? Everyone out on the Strip, fireworks from the hotel roofs?

[misterKeno]

I did it one time only - this was last year. Wont do it again.

There's a million people on the strip (from the Strat to Russell). However, 2/3 of the strip IS TAKEN UP by the police.. there is a huge huge police presence. Only a small portion of the actual street is used by peds & onlookers.

It's cold -- or at least it was last year -- 38 degrees.

The fireworks were pretty good -- but, only lasted 4 minutes.

The crowd is rowdy, fun, energetic, goofy, you name it.

Bathrooms are VERY VERY hard to come by. And, casinos CLOSE and LOCK their doors after 9pm.... and, so, you can only come/go if you're a guest at that hotel. Remains that way til like 1:30 or 2:00am.

mK

[livinthedream]

does not sound like fun to me for a local

[dean_1492]

And, casinos CLOSE and LOCK their doors after 9pm.... and, so, you can only come/go if you're a guest at that hotel. Remains that way til like 1:30 or 2:00am.

mK

Wow, thats insane. I never though the casinos EVER locked anybody out...lol

[corinne]

This thread reminds me of New Year about three years ago when staying at The Flamingo. It was very windy and after standing outside for ages only some of the hotels had fireworks and what we could see were actually very good but only about half were let off. Went back inside Flamingo and about 12.15am all the whole place was plunged into darkness. About four casinos evidently were affected. Guess what was first to light up? Yep, the slot machines. Only problem was when they came alive every single one in the whole casino said 'Hand Pay - await Cashier'. We all had to wait for one person to come around and write all the machine numbers down and the amount owed and then a while later two people came around with envelopes with money in for everyone. What a nightmare, people shouting and getting very angry. The lifts didn't work until about 2am and when we finally got to the room there was only emergency lighting, then the fire alarm went off. Everyone stood in the corridor all saying we were sure it was a false alarm due to the electricity cut off. Lots of very drunk people all in nightclothes, what a sight? Eventually after about what seemed like half an hour but could have been shorter there was an announcement somehow saying to go back to the rooms. We could have all been fried alive by then because no one attempted to go down the stairs and get out! Anyway all's well that ends well and I'm still here to tell the tale. Wouldn't go to Vegas again at New Year, it's far too cold, unless I was young and could cope with the nightclubs, which I can't these days. Leave it to the youngsters.

[Steve]

I just put a link to New Year's Even in Las vegas in the newsletter I sent out today.

I have been there twice for NYE and it was packed. Be careful when you are stuck in groups of crowds as that is the best opportunity for pickpockets and gropers to do their thing.

I would classify the crowd on the Strip as rowdy.

Steve

[Boston_Bill]

I did it one time only - this was last year. Wont do it again.

There's a million people on the strip (from the Strat to Russell). However, 2/3 of the strip IS TAKEN UP by the police.. there is a huge huge police presence. Only a small portion of the actual street is used by peds & onlookers.

It's cold -- or at least it was last year -- 38 degrees.

The fireworks were pretty good -- but, only lasted 4 minutes.

The crowd is rowdy, fun, energetic, goofy, you name it.

Bathrooms are VERY VERY hard to come by. And, casinos CLOSE and LOCK their doors after 9pm.... and, so, you can only come/go if you're a guest at that hotel. Remains that way til like 1:30 or 2:00am.

mK

I watched the concert from Downtown that was on DirecTV(hope its on again this year) looked crazy even on TV.

[misterKeno]

This year -- the FSE will have the Bengals & the Doobie Brothers.

matthew

[Boston_Bill]

This year -- the FSE will have the Bengals & the Doobie Brothers.

matthew

and it will not be on DirecTV this year :(

[flamingofun]

Ah yes, it was 1999. We had to see what it was like. Managed to stay out on the Strip & all was fun. Then at 11:30 pm it swelled with drunk college kids to the point of suicide. Scared, we then went to our IP room, turned on Jay Leno & ordered a pizza! Luckily we had a Strip view over Harrah's Carnival Courts black tie party & enjoyed music. Winds too strong for fireworks. Next day we learned 'older' folks enjoyed downtown, but took hours getting back to Strip after midnight. So, we wouldn't go again, was great to experience tho. VIVA