Over the past years, especially since covid, the trend to rip-off tourists in a way never seen before has become worse and worse. With resort fees being raised continuously, parking fees, amenity fees, reservation fees, this is one thing that I personally don't like at all. Then most casinos stopped the buffets and replaced that eatery system by fast food courts or overcharged cafés, restaurants, whatever. With prices being raised as high as possible, the tipping goes up. Is the average income of the American family also going up at the same pace? And what about all the homeless and the pan handlers that you get to see. The metro police keeps pushing these people away from the Strip so the tourists don't get to see too many of them, but they eventually come back an hour later. Where else would they go if they need money to get food or whatever they need for their sad life.
The casinos got bigger and bigger and then came the sport and entertainment idea. The F1 is the peak of what I personally believe the most useless thing to be brought to the Strip. For weeks before and after the event it blocks important roads and makes it even harder for tourists and probably locals as well to commute and get from one place to the other. Not my problem, I have walked away from the Strip long time ago.
But then there are thousands of employees that have their jobs on the STRIP. The city's concept is based on entertainment and casino life. With an airport right next to the action, the concept couldn't be any better. And the weather is nice all year though. So why is it changing to the worse for most of us tourists and do they really think all tourists are plain idiots? With a coffee in the morning at a vending place in a hotel/casino on the Strip being sold for 12 dollars or more ( plus tax plus tip of course), do they really think that a tourist doesn't realize what's going on?
And what's the point in charging 24 or 30 or more for parking if somebody wants to come and visit a casino? Is it to make money or is it rather to keep people from parking there and go elsewhere?
Speaking about Las Vegas' place where it all began (besides the Flamingo): The Downtown district.
The Fremont Street Experience looks nice if you see it the first time you get there. The next year maybe when you come back it's still nice but not so nice anymore. And then with all the pan handlers and exhibitionists showing their skills but actually begging for money, it is something that I have seen and don't want to see any longer. If I go to a casino, I am there to gamble, and to eat, and drink. But I'm not going to Vegas to stand around in a big crowd with booze in their hand and being unable to speak because the band battles and the extra noise from DJs and private entertainers or whatever you want to call these people. I feel that the whole trend is going into a direction that is no longer making sense. To me it looks like a desperate effort to make money, no matter what.
A place like Caesar's Palace one was a great casino to visit. It was classy and legendary. And then came the greed. Bigger and even bigger and more towers and the Mall adjacent and more shops and more rooms and more ...DEBT!!! Now the casinos owe so much money that they have to generate so much cash just to pay off the interest for all the billions they owe. And do they really think that by charing 12 or 15 dollars for a coffee in the morning, offering 6:5 black jack with a minimum bet of 15 or 25 dollars /hand, triple zero roulette and 4-5-6 videopoker will do the job?
I once believed in Vegas, because it was a value place to visit. There is still value and good gaming and genuine casino customer service available, but not on the STRIP. Hopefully these last few places have understood that they are doing the things right and won't change. Because if they do, then it's really the moment when Vegas better shuts down the lights for good.
From Switzerland
Boris