Trip musings

 Since last April, I have made 4 separate trips to Vegas. The last 3 were for 17,10 and 18 days each. As one can tell, I like Vegas and since I have retired I have taken advantage of the time to visit often and for long stretches of time. I have been visiting Vegas for over 30 years and have utilized the wise lessons from Jean Scott and other sources/books to build up my profile so that I receive many offers for free rooms and free play. I have narrowed down the list of casinos I visit (and I find to be safe to stay at) to the Sun Coast, South Point, California and El Cortez. I rent almost all of my car rentals thru Autoslash, and for my last 2 trips I rented from Hertz - they had the best quotes. I recommend to all that wish to rent a car in Vegas to at least check the rental car pricing utilizing Autoslash. If nothing else, they will give one a ballpark figure for the rental car costs one will see for their future rental. 1). South Point - I stay there when I first get to Vegas and end my Vegas stay by staying there at the end of each trip. South Point is close to the car rental agency and airport making my start and end of my trips easy to navigate to and from the airport and car rental agency. South Point also has their buffet open and it is very reasonable pricewise. 2). Staying downtown at the Cal and El Cortez allows me to enjoy downtown without having to deal with the masses on Freemont street under the canopy. I try not to stay downtown on the weekends - too crowded and too many people who don't understand wearing a mask, social distancing, and how alcohol makes one stupid. The Cal is really nice, not crowded and their rooms, though small, are nicely set up. My only complaint about the Cal is there is no coffee maker in the rooms. 3). El Cortez has remodeled their rooms and done a nice job with them. They have decent Video poker and $5 blackjack with 3/2 payout for blackjacks. They also have coffee makers in the rooms. 4). Sun Coast, though on the far west side, is close to Red Rock and the Rampart casinos. Rooms at the Sun Coast are large and comfortable with coffee makers in the rooms. I use the Sun Coast as a base location so that I can also gamble at Red Rock and Rampart. Some notes; 1) the El Cortez and the Cal bean counters have once again shown up. If one wishes to get more than $500 from their bank accounts(checking/savings) from the ATM, the machine will only allow a maximum of $500 per transaction. Therefore if one wants to get more than $500 they will have to make more than one transaction at $3.50 per transaction. I can get up to $2000/ day at the South Point and Sun Coast in one transaction for $3.50. Also, I checked the ATM pricing @ Circa - they charge $6.99 per transaction. 2). I find that the South Point and Sun Coast do the best jobs of cleaning throughout their respective casinos,especially when crowded with visitors. Each trip I utilize mask wearing and distancing. I have returned from each trip without getting sick. I have proven, at least to myself, that visiting Vegas can still be enjoyable - and safe. I also have a 2 week trip planned for the first 2 weeks in December. I always fly non stops on Southwest to and from Vegas. Southwest does not tolerate those who do not want to wear a mask and those imbeciles are not being allowed to fly on their airplanes. A word to the wise, as I see it, do not visit Vegas during holidays - there are too many idiots who seem to think that the corona virus will not affect them. 

Good info, Thanks.

Really good information, David Miller.   You have 'done' Vegas enough to know the good, the better, and the best for your personal preferences.   I am not at all in doubt about the virus being real and deadly, but you put it in perspective with facts.  We take all the precautions, so unless something freakish happens I am optimistic that we will be safe. 

How nice to spend so many nights on each trip, making the plane fare worth it.  I try to look on the bright side, and one bright side is two upcoming flights practically for free once the fares were lowered and we changed, and changed, and changed (as per my tiresome reports) until now we got what we wanted, e.g. non-stops on SWA.  Yes, we will be there over the holidays, but that is when my husband can come along. Sometimes you take the bad with the good.  Glad to know that Southwest doesn't put up with foolish non-compliers.

$6.99 is standard ATM fees on the Strip, plus another dollar or two levied by the home bank.  I try to not to use them.  I really want to try South Point sooner than later.  Haven't read a bad thing about that place.

Thanks again for your trip details.

Candy

Thanks for your viewpoint. FYI Bank of America has a branch one block off Fremont close to 4 Queens no charge for ATM. If you have a car why not just stop at a bank or atm?

I got reaqainted with Southpoint this last trip and am staying over Christmas they have lovely restaurants. the scent at El Cortez is way to awful and strong for me but I do like the cabana rooms.

I agree with no DT on weekends it also goes for the strip what a difference in crowds and clientele on the weekends.

The $6.99 gouge fee for ATM's is just another reason I avoid ALL Strip Casinos. They will never get my play. swist852 - I am not sure when you were last in the El Cortez, but I did not notice a disagreeable "scent" there during my last visit 2 weeks ago. 02bnVegas - my airfare on Southwest is free because I have a Southwest Visa card that I use for all of my purchases which gives me plenty of points that I use for airfare. I plan my trips well in advance (when fares are low) and constantly recheck the fares as they do change often. If I find a fare, that I have booked, that has been lowered, I rebook that same fare at the lower price and Southwest then refunds the excess points to my account. Presently I have almost 30,000 points in my account, that when used frugally allows me to schedule several future flights. Presently flights from Houston to Vegas are 3588 points (a $57.00 fare) each way. So, in essence, my trips to Vegas really only cost me for my rental car and for parking of my car (in Houston). 

Except...Southwest is doing away with their no-middle-seats-sold policy. Holiday travel will be cheek by jowl with your fellow virus carriers. Delta is now the only US domestic airline that still doesn't sell middle seats.

Visiting Vegas, or any other place where there will be a lot of people, isn't "safe" or anything close to it. People who have gone there and come back without getting sick have dodged a bullet. It isn't "safe" any more than running across the interstate is "safe" because you've survived it.

I know that everyone wants life to return to normal and feels entitled to resume their normal pleasures. To that end, many (many, many) folks are rationalizing away the danger of travel. That's precisely why we haven't beaten the pandemic. It's also why we'll see a dramatic increase in hospitalizations and deaths in December and January.

Of course, this is each individual's decision. But it shouldn't be! Irresponsible, dangerous behavior is illegal in other situations and contexts. Why should it be just swell in the midst of a deadly pandemic? Stay home for Chrissake.

 Actually, the reason "we haven't beaten the pandemic" is because of those who "have rights" and refuse to wear masks, social distance and stay out of large gatherings. If people had followed those proven guidelines all along the number of Americans who have become sick and/or died would be considerably lower. An example of the stupidity of people, especially young "adults", I witnessed during my last stay in Vegas. I went to the valet to get my car while staying at the El Cortez. It was Halloween night and in the valet waiting area was a group of 11 young adults sitting/standing/talking - all without masks. They are the classic example of the mindset of so many living in America (and around the world, I suspect). I wonder just how many of that group are now sick? Hopefuly none of them. 

Well, "stay out of large gatherings" would seem to me to include "don't fly in a crowded plane" and "don't go to places. like casinos, where there are large groups of people." So as much as I would like to take a Vegas trip right now, I don't think I should. And that's not just from the standpoint of my own personal safety. If I travel and/or join gatherings, I endanger others.

My decision would probably be different if on my one short trip to Vegas in September, I had seen mask compliance and social distancing. But what I actually saw was pretty alarming.

This article highlights the sad fact that the virus supposedly does not exist in Trump Land. Particularly troubling is how those who do wear masks are insulted and shamed. I don't know if this link actually works--it was a NYT story. You might be able to read it on msn.com.

1 America, 1 Pandemic, 2 Realities (msn.com)

I don't think we, as a nation, have the fortitude to wait this out. But good God, it would sure have been easier if not wearing a mask hadn't been touted as a sign of fealty to the Orange One.

This is not political, it's common sense.  Wear a mask, wash hands, and practice social distancing!!! 

I find it amazing that a simple trip report should evolve into another political bashing by Kevin.