The collapse of US tourism could cost $21 billion in revenue for 2025

It was just a ferrytale.🙄

That's right Kevin.  The Coho runs from Victoria to Port Angeles and it's sailings are down. Their economy is really hurting now which is sad because Victoria loves Port Angeles. The shops are unique, they have great crabfests, beerfests, and a nice casino package for Canadians.  It's just a 90 minute ride. 

The Clipper runs to Seattle a few times a day and it's a lovely excursion.  Canadians love Seattle too.  It has so much to offer for a weekend getaway.  I hope the situation improves in 2026. 

Well, it won't improve unless Trump croaks AND the Democrats retake the House and the Senate. Even then, Vance would be the president, and that lickspittle liar appears to fully support everything Trump does. So, unlikely overall.

Tell us this: you're Canadian. How do Canadians feel about us right now? Do you all understand that the flood of unjustified.hatred coming your way is solely the product of one evil, stupid man?

Really, we love your beautiful country and its totally cool people and personally, it breaks my heart to see Trump shit on you.

I wonder if that asshole even realizes that if Canada became the 51st state, it would vote heavily Democrat and the House for certain, and the Senate as well probably, would be locked-in blue. And the Electoral College would add something like 40 votes to the blue side. Ultimately, you could help us achieve true single payer healthcare and save us trillions 💰 💰 💰 💰 💰!

Hmm. Wanna join up? There wouldn't be any tariffs across the border any more! And you guys would vote out all the MAGAs. McDonald's would have maple syrup shakes. And Tim Horton's would quintuple in size. We'd play 🏒 all year. Seems like a win-win to me!

Also, we could use your cool plastic money with the holograms and loonies and toonies instead of our dull green stuff!

We know where it's all coming from. In Victoria I can see Port Angeles across the water and take the ferries frequently.  All my life I have been crossing the border and regard Americans as our wonderful neighbours.  I still go to Las Vegas at least 6 times a year and don't plan to change anything. 

Right on, Barbara!!

Good to hear. I do realize that in addition to idiot Trumpiffs making stuff more expensive for both you and us, the Canadian dollar is relatively weak right now, so that may also be inhibiting Canada-to-US tourism.

Here's a little vignette that came to mind when you mentioned Vegas. Many moons ago, I worked as an assistant Keno supervisor at the Comstock casino in Reno. We marketed heavily to Canadians and at times, such as late winter when people who live in northern latitudes are going a bit nuts, practically every customer in the building was from the Frozen North. We held tournaments and handed out drink tokes like they were candy and generally made sure everyone had a rip roaring good time.

But one thing in particular that we did, I can hardly believe. We exchanged Canadian cash AT PAR at the cashier's cage (for chips). The Canadian dollar was around $0.80 US at the time, so Canadian visitors got a 25% bonus right off the top! Such a deal!!

And when I quit that job ..I drove to Vancouver and purchased $4000 cash. I then made my way back to Reno and bought chips at the Comstock. They never said that you had to be Canadian to get the bonus! They sold me the chips without batting an eye, and I had made $800!

We ought to let Canadian tourists exchange money at par to make up for Trump's shit.

I love that story. They should exchange at par!! We need a break. Honestly, the LVA rewards coupons are so important to me and give me a boost to the start of each trip.  I remember back a few years, the Golden Gate would exchange at par too.  But it got out of hand and they stopped. If casinos would offer Canadians, even a small set amount at par, and advertise it in Canada, things would change and Canadians would return.

At least the airfare is cheap.  I am booking a trip in April and the flights are $83 U.S. each way, Victoria to Las Vegas.  I can't fly anywhere in Canada for that!!  

Kevin, I have been on many bus trips to Reno.  They would pick you up at your house on Vancouver Island and take you across the border.  A stop at Eugene, Oregon and then Reno.  It was $299 Canadian for a 7-day trip. So much fun.  The bus drivers were lovely and would take you to several casinos, and Virginia City for shopping. Lots of free play, and food credits. You had choices for the hotels, too.     

So you know Reno! A better destination than Vegas IMHO. And now they have better gambling. Virginia City and Lake Tahoe are awesome side trips.

The Comstock promo was limited to $400 in any one day but otherwise unlimited. That amount was like $1000 now, so it was enough for almost every visitor. The Comstock tried to make sure all Canadian visitors knew about it and encouraged us at the keno counter to tell everybody. Not all of them knew at first, and their expressions when we told them--"We can do WHAT??"-- were priceless.

Casinos used to know that if they gave people money up front, they'd get it all back eventually, and the only real effect was that it took slightly longer for them to go broke. More fun for them, no cost to the casinos. I mean, duh! But Corporate Vegas doesn't understand that.

Yes, indeed, if any casino offered a par exchange, even a small amount, and advertised it in Canada, they'd attract a huge number of customers. The bean counters would have to be convinced of the overall profitability of that "expense." The Comstock did that promo because their location was crappy, away from Virginia Street (much like where the Downtown Grand is in Vegas), and they needed to attract business. I can think of several Vegas casinos that are in the same boat. 

I can envision a "Maple Leaf Package" that would include special room rates, currency exchange bonuses, show us your airline ticket and get a dinner comp for the steakhouse, that sort of thing. They could also call it the "We Apologize For Trump Package." 😄

We want you folks back! (I'm happy to hear that you're still regularly visiting.)

Kevin, you should be the US Ambassador to Canada.  We need you up here!!

So many of my friends and family took those trips to Reno and it was a beautiful scenic drive.  I would fly to Reno but it is much more expensive than Las Vegas. My late husband and I would drive, but I find it too daunting now.

Anyway, the airlines are giving us rockbottom fares to get to Vegas and every day, too. With free rooms on Fremont Street and a few comps, I am still coming and enjoying it.  Everyone is so pleasant and welcoming!!

I know the bus system and ride for $1 a trip.

Kevin, you should write a book on Las Vegas and Reno. You have such interesting stories to tell and so much information and tips for visitors to save $$$.

Thanks Barbara, I've been told I should write a book many times, but as explained in a recent QoD, there just ain't no money in it. I do write articles for fun and I've had a few published, for which I usually receive a pittance. 😛

I did briefly have an LVA blog that dealt with what you suggest, but a frequent poster who is prone to political rants (and is very much still here) took exception to something I wrote and flooded my private as well as my blog inboxes with spam. He also figured out a way to make tens of thousands of gibberish comments on my blog entries. I got tired of cleaning up his shit every day, and I was worried about identity theft, so I pulled the plug. Anthony didn't want me to stop the blog. And of course the perpetrator denies that he did anything.

I would LOVE to be ambassador to Canada, but the Trump administration wouldn't appoint me, since I'm not a convicted felon.

Glad to hear that you're getting Vegas deals. Those plus the MRB = Fun For Cheap, a worthy goal if there ever was one.