Your 1st Vegas hotel?

1984. 25th. anniversary. First time away without our 4 children. The travel agent suggested The Frontier because it was center strip. We were like 2 little kids. Our children threw us a party with 200 of our friends and relatives on Sat. night. We still don't know how we made that early Sun. fleight. We have been back over 40 times. We have stayed at almost every hotel on & off the strip. Many not there any more.

Sept 1986, I was single, had a heavyweight corporate job, and wore Armani suits off the rack.
I had taken up BJ card counting as a hobby and played regularly in Atlantic City.
I get a corporate relocation to Los Angeles and decide Las Vegas here I come.
There were planes leaving LAX every hour or so, and round trip airfare was something like $29.

I decide to book a room at Binions Horseshoe casino for one night.
I get there and can't believe what a dump the place is.
I sit down to play BJ and I am very excited because I am seeing single deck BJ for the first time.
After about 20 minutes the dealer says "You seem like a nice guy, so let me give you some good advice.
See that very large man at the door., He is coming over here in a few minutes to tell you to leave.
Just get up and walk away."

I checked out and went across the street to the Golden Nugget. For the next couple of years I was a loyal GN customer. Never felt the need to stay anywhere else. This was a very long time ago.

Feb 2005 at the Excalibur. Ate at the buffet within 30 minutes of checking in, trip to the bathroom 30 minutes later. Despite that I've been back at least once a year (to Vegas) since. 13th (I think) trip coming up in a month.

1989 Imperial Palace.....We had a great time....Room looked over what is now Harrah's (It was under construction)....We also saw the Mirage being built...Went to Desert Inn, Dunes, Stardust, Frontier, Barbary Coast (free Cigs while we played BJ)....We walked and walked....

Downtown Fremont Street was still really a street......We won at Red Dog (acey ducey)...stayed up over 24 hours.....Good Old Days....Now we're in for the night by 11...lol....L.

LVH summer of 87 or 88, when it was the largest hotel in America. Now I don't think it is in the top 10 in Vegas

Late 1970s at Vegas World (now the Strat). Bob Stupak offered a $396 vacation with rooms for 3 nights, a couple of buffets, a free plastic camera, a picture taken with him and a couple of shows. Martin & Rossi was a great show.

The kicker was that he also gave you $800 one-time-use funny money. If you could play basic blackjack, you would win $350-$400+ of your money back with that.

It was spring of 1983. Braniff (there's a blast from the past) was offering two for one trips from Dallas to destinations all over the country. My husband decided on Vegas. I did not want to go. I said "What will I do in Vegas? I don't know how to gamble." We stayed at the old Aladdin and saw Sammy Davis Jr. walking through the casino on our first night. My husband showed me how to play video poker and within minutes I was hooked.
I had some kind of terrible allergic reaction and when we went to see Jubilee my eyes were almost swollen shut. Ended up at an all-night clinic where I got a shot and some prednisone. But that experience could not dissuade me from Vegas. I had the same reaction to a lesser and lesser degree for the next few times that we visited but I soldiered through. Never did figure out what I was allergic to - maybe money?
We have been back to Vegas probably 40 times since then and my husband bemoans the fact that it was the most expensive "bargain" trip he has ever had!

First trip Labor Day weekend 1981 at the Sahara. US Jaycees did much fundraising for MDA and my home state, NH earned 2 trips to the telethon. Never realized it would turn me into a Vegas regular have been going there on a regular basis ever since.

Charlie NH

August 92, after a real long AMTRAK ride from Chicago in coach class. Chose Hotel Nevada across the street from the ole Union Station 'cause we got the impression that Plaza's too upscale. Only +: Check-in at 06:30am.

Probably late 80's, @ Excalibur. Actually thought the buffet was good eats!

Visited over Columbus Day weekend, didn't realize at the time what a zoo it is during long weekends. Had to move twice during trip, also staying at maxim and flamingo, where we stayed in the old-style cabana rooms by the pool, where we felt a sense of history. Won a $50 jackpot in nickels at Circus Circus. To this day still haven't gone to vegas without switching rooms mid-trip. Stayed at 30 hotels now, want to get to 50